The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 5: London, British Library, MS Additional 35287 (M)
author: William Langland
source date: early 15th century
edition published: 2005
language: lat; fre; ger
availability: copyright 2005, by SEENET

Assit principio filius Mariae meo

[M.P.0: The heading is written in a similar ink to that of the text but in a much less formal style, and is probably later than the main scribe. Though rubbed, it appears originally to have read Assit principio Sancta Maria meo with Sancta then deleted by way of underlining and replaced by filius, and Maria altered to Mariae. Christopher de Hamel notes that "invocations such as 'assit principio meo ihesus maria'" were typical pen-trials "written in tiny script along the very upper margin of the first page" (Medieval Craftsmen: Scribes and Illuminators [London, 1992] p. 37).]

Prologue

I N a somer seson  whanne softe was the s onne
I sho op me into[^1] shroudes  as I a sheep were
In habit as an hermite  vnholy of werkes
Wente wyde in þis world  won dres — to here
Ac[^2] on a may mornynge  on maluerne hulles
Me byfel a ferly  of fair y me thouȝte
I was wery for-wandred  and wente me to reste
Vndur a brod bank  by a bo urnes syde
And as I la y and lened  and loked on þe wateres
I slombrede in a slepinge  it swey ed so merye .

[^1: M.P.2: M's original reading without to agreed with GYOC2CLH.]

[^2: M.P.5: Kane and Donaldson note that Ac is erased. But the word is simply worn—as are many places on this first leaf.]

Thanne gan I to meten  a meru eilous sweuene
That I was in a wildernesse  wyste I[^3] neuere where
And as I bihelde in -to[^4] þe est  an heiȝgh to þe s onne
I sa y a tour on a tofte rielyche[^5] y-maked
A de ep dale bynethe  a doungeoun þere- Inne
With depe diches & derke  and dredeful of sighte
A fair field ful of folk  fond I there bitw ene
Of alle manere of men  þe mene and þe ryche
Worchinge and wandrynge  as þe world askeþ .
Summe put hem to þe plow  pleied ful selde
In settynge and sowynge  swonken ful harde
And wonnen that wastours  with glotonye destruyeth .
And summe putten hem to pr yde  apparailled hem þer - aft rr aft er[^6] .
In continaunce of clothynge  comen disgised .

[^3: M.P.12: M's original reading without I agreed with Cr.]

[^4: M.P.13: It may be that the original reading was As I bihelde into, but the corrector miscalculated the space and so had to put in above the line.]

[^5: M.P.14: The erasure of what is probably a <t> is evidence of discomfort with the rare word trielyche. The same erasure is found in C, while H reads ryaly and HmCr12 read rychely.]

[^6: M.P.23: The scribe usually wrote aftur, and the corrector occasionally alters to after, e.g. at M.1.70. Here he miscorrects.]

In praiers and in penaunce  putten hem manye
Al for loue of oure lord  lyueden ful streyte
In hope for to haue  heuenriche blisse .
As ancres and herm ytes  that holden hem in here selles .
And coue iten nouȝt in contre  to kairen a-bouten
For no likerous l iflode  her lykame to plese

And somme chosen chaffare  thei cheued the bettr e
As it semeþ to oure siȝt  þat suche men thryueth
And somme murthes to make  as mynstrales conneth
And geten gold with here glee  syn nelees I leue[^7]
As[^8] iapers and iangelers  Iudas chyldren
Þat[^9] Faynen hem fantasies  and fooles hem maketh
And han h ir wyt at wille  to worchen if þei sholde .
That poul precheþ of hem  I nel no ght preue it heere .
Qui loquitur turpiloquium & cetera. est seruus diaboli[^10]

[^7: M.P.34: A wormhole has damaged half the <u>.]

[^8: M.P.35: The <s> on As has an extra blot of ink, but it is the same hand and ink as the rest of the word, pace Kane and Donaldson.]

[^9: M.P.36: The addition of Þat brings M into agreement with YOC2.]

[^10: M.P.39: The abbreviated reading has been expanded by two different fifteenth-century hands. No other manuscript (in any version) lacks the supplied loquitur . The second half-line is lacking also in LCr1C; other manuscripts have is luciferes hyne or variants upon it, of which the added est seruus diaboli in M is a translation. No direct source for the line has been found (see John Alford, Piers Plowman: A Guide to the Quotations [Binghamton, 1992] p. 33), so that the additions presumably derive from another text of the poem.]

Bidders and beggers  faste aboute yede
Wyþ here bely and here bagge  of breed ful ycrammed .
Faiteden for here fode  fouȝten atte ale 
In glotonye god it wot  goon thei to bedde
And rysen with rybaudie  þo Roberdes knaues .
Sleep and sory sleuthe  suweth hem euere .

Pilg ymes Pilg [r]ymes[^11] and palmers  pliȝted hem to-g idre
To seke seint Iames  and saint ys in Rome .
Thei wenten forth in here way  with many wyse tales
And hadden leue for to lie  al hire l yf a fter .
I seigh somme that saiden  þei had ysouȝt seint es
To eche a tale that þei toolde  here tonge[^12] was tempred to lie
More than to saie soth  it semed by here speche .

[^11: M.P.46: Pilgymes was formed inadvertently when the corrector combined the <r>and the <i> to form a <y>.]

[^12: M.P.51: The intent was to alter the <u> of tunge to <o>, but the result looks more like <a>.]

Hermytes on a heep  with hokud staues
Wenten to walsingham  and here wenches aftur .
Grete lobyes and longe  þat loþe weren to swynke
Cloþ eden hem in Copus  to be knowen from othere
And shoopen hem heremytes  here ese to haue .

I fo ond there frer es  off[^13] alle the foure ordres
con tra Glosers euaungeli
Precheden þe p eple  for profit of hem-seluen
Glosud þe gospell  as hem good liked
For couetise of copus  construede it as þei wolde
Many of þise maystur freres  mowe clothen hem at likynge
For here money and marchaundise  marchen to-g idre .
For sith charitee haþ be chapman  and chief to shryue lordus
Many ferlis han fallen  in a fewe yeeres .
But holy churche[^14] amend it[^15]  and holde bettur to-g idres
proverb.
The mooste meschief on molde  is mountynge . vpwardis Fast[^16]

[^13: M.P.58: The addition of off brings M into agreement with H.]

[^14: M.P.66: And hij has been crossed through. Kane and Donaldson erroneously read hir, combining the top of the punctus elevatus with the <j>.]

[^15: M.P.66: This addition, along with the following and, is in a different hand and ink than the surrounding text. The alteration does not agree with any other B manuscripts.]

[^16: M.P.67: The alteration is not supported by any other B manuscript. The same scribe is probably responsible for drawing the hand in the left margin and for the underlining, and perhaps also the alteration in M.P.66 above.]

Þere prechud a pardoner  a preest as he were .
Brouȝte forth a bulle  with bisshopus seales
And saide þat hym-selue myȝte  assoillen hem alle .
Of falshed of fastynge  of vowes y-brokun .

con tra pardoners
Lewede men leued hym wel  and lykede his wordus .
Comen vp knelynge  to kiss en his bulles 
He blessid[^17] hem with his breuet  and blered hire e yes
And rauȝte with his raggeman  rynges and broches 
Þus þei g iuen hire gold  glotones to kepe
And leneth it[^18] such loselus  þat lecherie haunten
Were þe bisshop y-blessud  or worth boþe his eres
His seel shulde not be sent  to desceyue þe p eple .
Ac it is nouȝt by þe bysshop  þat þe boy precheth .
For þe parissh preest and þe pardoner  parten þe syluer .
+
That the pore poraile[^19] of þe parissh  shul de haue if þei ne were .

[^17: M.P.74: The substitution of blessid for bonched is much later than the main hand. The altered reading blessid agrees with FH.]

[^18: M.P.77: M's original reading without it agreed with OC2CLH.]

[^19: M.P.82: The original word was shorter than poraile. F has men but most A manuscripts have peple, which may well be M's original reading.]

¶ Persones and parisch preestus  playned hem to þe bisshop
Þat here parisshes were pore  sith þe pestilence tyme .
con tra Episcopos & Curatos
To haue a licence and leue . at london to dwelle
And syngen þere[^20] for symonye  for siluer is swete .

[^20: M.P.86: M's original reading without þere was shared by H.]

Bisshoppus and bachelers  boþe maistrus and doctours
Þat han cure vndur Crist  and crouned[^21] in tokene
And signe þat þei shulden  shryuen here paroschiens
Prechen and prayen for hem  and þe pore fede 
Liggen in london  in lenten and elles
S o mme seruen þe kyng  and his syluer tellen
In chekker and in Chauncerye  chalengen his dettes
Of wardes and wardemotes  weyues and streyues

[^21: M.P.88: M's reading is not shared by other B manuscripts, which vary, though most read crownynge.]

And somme seruen as seruauntz  lordus and ladys
And in stede of stywardus  sitten and demen
Here messes[^22] and hire matynes  and many of here houres
Arn don vndeuoutlich  drede is atte þe laste .
Lest Crist in Consistorie  acorse ful manye
I parceiuede of þe power  þat Petur had to kepe .
To bynde and to vnbynde  as þe book telleþ .
How he lefte it[^23] with loue  as oure lord highte
Amonges foure vertues  þe beste of alle vertues
Þat Cardinales ben called  and closynge yates
Þere Crist is in kyngedome  to close and to shutte .
mistice loquitur
And to open it to hem  and heuene blisse shewe
Ac of þe Cardinales atte Court  þat cauȝt of þat name
And power presumed in hem  a Pope to make
To han þat power þat Petur hadde  inpugnen I nelle
For in loue and lettrure  þe eleccioun bilongeth .
For-þi I can and can nouȝt  of court speke more .
Þanne com þere a kyng  knyȝthode hym ladde
Miȝt of þe comunes  made hym to regne
And þanne com kynde w it &[^24] clerkus he made .
For to conseille þe kyng  and þe comune saue .

[^22: M.P.97: M shares the form messes with Cr. Other B manuscripts have messe.]

[^23: M.P.102: The revised reading lefte it is shared with CrFH; OC2 have it self; other B manuscripts have it lefte.]

[^24: M.P.114: It looks likely that the earlier reading was witte followed by and inserted above. The corrector makes the usual alteration to wit and that leaves space for &. No other manuscript omits and.]

The kyng and þe knyȝthode[^25]  and the clergie[^26] boþe
Kesten þat þe comune  shulde hem-selue fynde .

[^25: M.P.116: M shares the reading þe kniȝthode with Hm. Most other B manuscripts omit þe.]

[^26: M.P.116: Above the rewritten clergie is an erasure, apparently of the same word written as a guide to the corrector. All other B manuscripts read clergie.]

Þe comune contreued  of kynde wit craftus .
And for profit of þe p eple  plowmen ordeine de
To til en[^27] and to trauaille  as trewe lif asketh
Þe kyng and þe comune  and kynde wit þe þridde .
Shoop lawe and leaute  eche man to knowe his owne .

[^27: M.P.120: In place of the revised form tilen all other B manuscripts read tilie.]

Thanne lokud vp a lunatyk  a lene þing with -alle
And knelynge to þe kyng  clergealy he saide .
Crist kepe þe sire kyng  and þ i[^28] ky ngryche
And lene þe to lede þi lond so  þat[^29] le ute þe louye .
And for þi riȝtful rewlyng  be rewardud in heuene

[^28: M.P.125: All B manuscripts share M's revision þi, except for G which reads the.]

[^29: M.P.126: M's inclusion of þat is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

And sithen in þe e ir an heiȝgh  an angel of heuene
Lowed to speke in latyn  for lewede men ne couþe .
Iangle ne iuge  þat iustice[^30] hem shulde .
But suffren and seruen  for-þ i saide þe angel .
vox angeli
Sum rex . sum princeps  neutrum fortasse deinceps .[^31]
O qui iura regis . Cristi[^32] specialia regis .
Hoc quod agas melius  iustus es esto pius
Nudum ius a te vestiri vult pietate
Qualia vis metere  talia grana sere
Si ius nudatur . nudo de iure metatur .
Si seritur pietas  de pietate metas .

[^30: M.P.130: M shares the reading iustice with C2. Other B manuscripts read Iustifie.]

[^31: M.P.132: In addition to the underlining, these Latin verses are bracketed with a curly bracket in the left margin. The same marginal hand, which is much later than the main text (perhaps 16th-17th century), has written vox angeli in the left margin.]

[^32: M.P.133: The first graph of this abbreviation is written over an erasure.]

Thanne greuede hym a Goliardeys  a glotoun of wordus .
A nd to þe angel an heiȝh  answere d[^33] aftur .
Dum rex a regere . dicatur nomen habere[^34]
Nomen habet sine re nisi studet iura tenere[^35]
Thanne bigan[^36] al þe comune crie . in vers of latin[^37]
To þe kyng & his[^38] conseill  construe whoso wolde
Precipta Prec[e]pta Regis sunt nobis vincula legis .

[^33: M.P.140: In place of M's revised form answered LR have the present tense. Hm also corrects.]

[^34: M.P.141: Kane and Donaldson record this line as being written in the margin. This line, however, is written in the main text area, although the following three are added in the margin.]

[^35: M.P.142: Underlining, in red ink, from the main text to the margin indicates the intended location of the inserted lines.]

[^36: M.P.143: M's reading of bigan is not shared by other B manuscripts, which, except for F, read gan.]

[^37: M.P.143: The end of the word is lost in the binding.]

[^38: M.P.144: M's reading of kyng & his is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read kynges.]

The route off Ratons
With þat ran þere a route  of ratones at ones
And smale mys wyth hem  mo þan — a þousand .
And comen to a conseil  for here comune profit
For a Cat of a contre  cam whanne hym lik ed .
And ouerle ep hem liȝtly  and lauȝte hem atte his wille .
And pleyde with hem perillou sly  and possed hem aboute .
For doute of diuerse dredus  we dar nouȝt wel looke .
And if we grucchen . of his gamen  he wil greuen vs alle .
Cracche vs and clawe[^39] vs   and in his clochus holde
Þat vs lotheth þe lif  er he lete vs passe
Miȝte we wiþ any wit  his wille with-stonde
We myȝten be lordus a-lofte  and l yuen at oure ese .

[^39: M.P.154: M's original reading clawes is shared by no other B manuscripts, most of which read clawe vs, though in the b-verse Cr has clawes instead of clochus.]

A Ratoun of renoun moost renable of tonge .
Seide for a souerain  help to hym-selue .
I haue y-se yn segges quod he  in þe Cite of Londoun
Beren biȝes ful briȝt  abouten here nekk es .
And summe Colers of crafty werk  vncoupled þei wen ten[^40]
Boþe in wareine and in waste  where hem leue like d[^41]
And oþerwyle þai arne ellus-where  as I here telle .
Were þere a belle on hire[^42] beiȝe  by Ihesu as me th ynkeþ .

[M.P.166: Something no longer legible is erased in the right margin. Likely it was a guide for alteration to renne.]

Men myȝten witen wher þei wente  and away renne
And riȝt so quod þat Ratoun  resoun me sheweþ
To bugge a belle of bras  or of briȝt siluer
And knytten it[^43] on a Coler  for oure comune profite .
And hangen it vpon þe Cattus hals  þanne heere we mowen .
Where he rit or rest  or renneth to playe
And if hym lust for to layke  þanne loke we mowen .
And peren in his presence  þere whyle hym plaie likeþ .
And if him wrattheth be war  and his wey shonye .

[^40: M.P.162: M's original reading agreed with YOC2CLR. The alteration brings M into agreement with WHmCrG.]

[^41: M.P.163: M shares its revised form liked with WCr1GH. Other manuscripts have the present tense.]

[^42: M.P.165: The original reading may have been his, as in G.]

[^43: M.P.169: M's original reading without it was shared by Cr23GOC2CL. The alteration brings M into agreement with all other B manuscripts.]

Al þis route of ratouns  to þis resoun assent ed
Ac þo þe belle was y-bouȝt  and on þe beiȝe hanged .
Þere nas ratoun in þe route  for al þe reume of Fraunce
Þat durste haue bonden þe bie[^44]  a-boute þe cattus nekke .
Ne hangen it[^45] aboute þe cattus hals  al Englon d — to wynne .
And helden hem vn-hardy  and here conseill feble
And leten here labour lo st  and here longe studye .

[^44: M.P.178: M shares bie with Hm. Other B manuscripts have belle.]

[^45: M.P.179: M's original reading without it agreed with GL.]

A mous þat moche good  couthe as me thouȝte
Stro ok forþ sternly  and stood byforn hem alle .
And to þe route of Ratons  reherced þes wordus .
Thouȝgh we cullede þe cat  yet shulde þer come a-noþur .
To cacche[^46] vs and all oure kynde  þouȝ we croupe vndur benches .
Forthi I conseille all þe comune  to late þe cat worþe .
And be we neuere so bolde  þe belle hym to shewe .
For I herde my sire sain  is seuen yere y-passed .
Þere þe cat is a kytoun  þe court is ful elenge .
#
Þat w ytnesseþ holy writ  whoso wol it rede .
Ve terre vbi puer rex est & cetera .
For may non renc þere reste haue  for ratones by nyȝte
Þe while he caccheþ conynges  he coueiteþ nouȝt oure caroine .
But fet hym wiþ venesoun  defame we hym neuere
For bettur is a litul losse  than a long sorwe .
Þe mase among vs alle  þouȝ we mysse a shrewe
For many mann es malt  we mys wolde destru ye
And also ye route of ratouns  rende menn es clothes
Nere þe cat of þat court  þat can yow ouer -lepe .
For hadde ye rattes youre wille  ye couthe not reule youre-selue
I say for me quod þe mous  I see so mukel aftur .
Shal neuere þe catt / ne þe kytoun  by my conseill be greued .
Ne carpinge of þis coler  þat costud me neuere .
And þouȝ it had costed me . catel  byknowen it I nolde .
But suffre as hym-self wolde  to do as hym likeþ .
Coupled and vncoupled  to cacche what þei mowe .
For-þi eche a wyse wiȝt I warne  wite wel his owne .

[^46: M.P.186: M's original reading cracche agreed with OYCLR.]

What þis meteles bemeneth  ye men þat ben merie
Dyuyne ye for I ne dar  by dere god in heuene .

Yet houed þere an hundred  in ho vues of silk
Sergeauntes it semed  þat serued atte þe barre
# Momming off Men off law For Mone
Pleteden for penies  and poundes þe lawe
And nouȝt for loue of oure lord  vnlose here lippus onys .
Þow miȝtest bettur mete þe myst  on maluerne hulles
Than gete a momme of here mouth  but monoye were shewed

Barouns and burgeis  and bonde-men als .
I sa y in þis assemble  as ye shul here aftur
Baxters and brewsters  and bochers manye
Wollenwebsters  and weuers . of lynnen
Taillours and tynkers  and tollers in marketes
Masouns and mynours  and many mo[^47] craftes
Of alkyn libbyng laborers  lopun forþ summe
As dikers & deluers  þat doth here dedes ille
And dryuen forþ þe longe[^48] day  with dieu vous saue dame Emme .
Cokus and hire knaues  crieden hote pies hote
Gode grys and gees  gowe go we dyne gowe go we .

[^47: M.P.222: M's reading of mo is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read oþer.]

[^48: M.P.225: M shares its revised adjective longe with the majority of B manuscripts, but L has dere and F fayre.]

Tauerners vn-til hem  toolde þe same
Whit wyn of Oseye  and red wyn of Gascoigne
Of þe ryne and of þe rochell  þe rost to defie
Al þis seiȝ I slepinge  and seuen sythes more .

Passus primus de Visione .

W hat þis montaigne bymeneth  and þe merke dale
And þe field ful of folk  I shal yow faire shewe .
A louely lady of lere  in lynnen y-clothed .
Come doun from a castel  and called me faire
And saide sone slepest þou  seest þou þis p eple .
How bisi þai ben alle[^49] abouten þe mase
Þe mooste partie of þis p eple  þat passeþ on þis erþe
# off them þat will non other heven but this
Haue þei w orshipe in þis world  þai wilnen no bettur .
Of oþur heuene than here  holde þei no tale .

[^49: M.1.6: The addition of alle brings M into agreement with WHmCRG.]

I was a-ferd of hire face  þouȝ she fair were
And saide mercy ma-dame  what is þis to mene .
Þe tour vp þe tofte quod she  truthe is þere- inne[^50] .
And wolde þat ye wrouȝten  as his word techeþ .
For he is fadur of faiþ  fourmed yow alle
Boþe with fel and with face  and yaf yow fyue wittes
Forto w orshupe hym þerewith  þe while þat ye ben here .
And herfore[^51] he hiȝte þe erthe  to helpe yow echone
Of wollen of lynnen  of lyflode at nede .
In mesurable manere  to make yow at ese .

[^50: M.1.12: Originally the scribe wrote innne, corrected by erasing the first two minims. See Introduction III.1.]

[^51: M.1.17: In place of herfore all other B manuscripts read þerfore.]

# iij thingis in Comon
And comaunded of his curtesie  in comune þre þinges
Arn non nedful but þo  and nempne hem I thinke .
And rekkene hem by resoun  reherce ye[^52] hem aftur .
Þat on is vesture  from chele þe to saue .
And mete atte mele  for mysese of þ y -selue .
And drynke whanne þou driest  ac do nouȝt out of resoun .
Þat þou worþe þe worse  whanne þou worche shuldest

[^52: M.1.22: M's original reading without a pronoun here agreed with GY. M's altered reading of ye agrees with HmCrOC2F. Other B manuscripts read þow. The correction was first written in the margin as ȝe, and this insertion was presumably so spelled, and later revised in line with the spelling corrector's usual form.]

For loth in his liue-days  for likynge of drynke
Did by his douȝteres  þat þe Deuel likede
Delited hym in drinke . as þe deuel wold
And leccherie hym lauȝte . and lay by hem boþe .
And al he witte it þe wyn . þat wykk ed dede .
Inebriamus eum vino . dormiamusque cum eo .
Vt seruare possimus de patre nostro semen .
Thourgh wyn & þourȝ wymen  þere was loth accombred
And þere he gat in glotonye . gerles þat were cherles
For-thi drede delitable drinke  and þou shalt do þe bett re
Mesure is medycyne þouȝ [^53] þou muche yerne
It is nouȝt al go od to þe goost  þat þe gutte axeþ .
Ne liflode to þi likam  þat lief is to þe soule[^54]
Leue not þi likam  for a liere hym techeþ[^55]
Þat is þe wrecchede world  wolde þe bitraye
+
For þe fende and þi flessh  folweþ þe tog idre .
This and þat s eeþ[^56] þe[^57] soule  and saith[^58] it in þin herte
And for þou shuldest ben war  I wisse the[^59] þe beste

[^53: M.1.37: The punctus elevatus, placed at the wrong point in the line, is inserted over an erasure.]

[^54: M.1.39: M originally shared the omission (through eyeskip on likam) of this b-verse and the following a-verse with WHmCL.]

[^55: M.1.40: The line is inserted with a red cross and line in the right margin. The end of the last word has been lost in the binding. This same line, in smaller script and marked with a black cross, is erased immediately following in the margin. The omission of the line was apparently noted in one effort and formally addressed in another.]

[^56: M.1.43: This alteration occurs at a point where B manuscripts are especially diverse in their readings. Seeth, sees, seiþ, seest, sueth, sewe, and sleth are all attested.]

[^57: M.1.43: All other B manuscripts read þi. Kane and Donaldson record the <e> as written over an erasure, but this does not seem to be the case.]

[^58: M.1.43: M's reading of saith is unique among B manuscripts, which attest a wide variety of readings.]

[^59: M.1.44: The correction the is written over the line and then erased and inserted within the line.]

Ma-dame mercy quod I  me liketh wel youre word es
Ac þe monoye of þis molde  þat men so faste holdeþ
Telle me to whom ma-dame  þat tresor appendeþ

Go to þe gospell quod she  þat god saide hym-seluen .
Þo þe p eple hym appos ed  wiþ a peny in þe temple .
Wheþer þei shulde þerwith  worshipe kyng[^60] Cesar
And god asked of hem  of whom spak þe lettre .
And þimage is[^61] ylik  þat þere-inne stondeþ .
Cesares þei saide  we seen hym wel echone .

[^60: M.1.50: M shares the reading kyng with F; all other B manuscripts have þe kyng.]

[^61: M.1.52: M's reading of is is not shared by other B manuscripts, though among A manuscripts ChLE include is. The other B manuscripts which have a form of be here, W and F, read was.]

Reddite[^62] Cesari quod god  þat Cesari bifalleth .
Et que sunt dei deo . or elles ye doon ille .
For riȝtful resoun  shulde reule yow alle .
And kynde wit be wardein  yowre welthe to kepe .
And tutour of youre treso r  and take it yow at nede
For housbondrie and hij  holden to-gadre .
Þanne I fraynede h ire faire  for hym þat h ire made
Þat dongoun in þe dale  þat dredful is in[^63] siȝte
What may it be to mene  ma-dame I yow biseche .

[^62: M.1.54: The scribe initially began this line immediately following M.1.53, but realized he wished to leave a blank line before he completed the first graph. The partially completed <R> is still visible in the space separating strophes.]

[^63: M.1.61: M's reading of in is unique among B manuscripts, most of which read of.]

Þat is þe castel of care  whoso comeþ þere-inne .
May banne þat he borne was  to body or to soule
Þere-inne woneth a wiȝte  þat wrong is y-hote
Fad er of falsede  and founded it hym-selue .
Adam and Eue  he egged to ille
Conseiled Caym  to kullen his broþur
Iudas he iapud  with iewen siluer
And sitthe on an eldre  hanged hym aft er
He is lettere of loue  and lieth hem alle .
Þat trusten on his tresor  by-traieth he sonnest

Þanne had I wound er in my wit  what womman it were
Þat suche wise wordus  of holy writ shewede
And asked hire on þe heiȝe name  ar heo þen es yede .
What she were witt erly  þat wiss ed me so faire .

Holichurche I am quod she  þow ouȝtest me to knowe
I vndurf enge þe furste  and þe faith tauȝte .
And brouȝtest me borwes  my biddinge to fulfulle

[M.1.80: The added and erased material is illegible under ultra-violet light. Most likely it indicated the alteration leally.]

And to loue me leally  þe while þi lif dureth 

[M.1.81: The added and erased material is illegible under ultra-violet light. Most likely it indicated the alteration &.]

Thanne I courbed on my knes  & criede hire of grace
And praide hire pitously  praie for my synnes .

[M.1.83: The added and erased material is illegible. Most likely it indicated the alteration kenne me.]

+

[M.1.81: The <+> is added in a large drypoint in the right margin.]

And also kenne me[^64] kyndely  on crist to bileue .
Þat I miȝte worchen his wille  þat wrouȝte me to man .
Teche me to no tresour  but telle me þis ilke .
How I may sauen my soule  þat sainte art y-holden .

[^64: M.1.83: M's omission of these two words was not shared by other B manuscripts.]

# truth is the best
Whanne alle tresores ben tried quod she  truþe is þe beste /
I do it on deus caritas  to deme þe soþe 
It is as derworth a drwery  as dere god hym-seluen .

Who-so is trwe of his tonge  and telleþ noon oþur
And doþ þe werkes þere-wiþ  and wi lneth noman ille .
He is a god by þe gospell  a grounde and on lofte
And I- lyk to oure lord  be saint lukes wordus .
Þe clerk es þat knoweþ þis  shulde kenne it aboute .
For cristene and vncristen  claim eþ it ichone .

Kynges and knyȝtus  shulde kepen it by resoun
#
R iden and rappen doun  in reumes aboute 
An taken transgressores  and tien hem faste
Til trewthe had y-termyned  hire trespasse to þe ende /
And þat is þe p rofessioun appertely  þat appendeth to knyȝtes
# Fasting on Fryday
And nouȝt to fasten a Fryday  in fyue score wynt er .
But holden wyþ hym and with hire  þat wolden alle truthe
And neuere leue hem for loue  ne for lacchinge of siluer

For dauid in his dayes  dubbed knyȝt es .
And d ide hem swere on here swerd  to serue truthe euere .
And who-so passe d[^65] þat poyn t  is[^66] Apostata in þordre .

[^65: M.1.106: The erased reading passeth is an A text reading adopted by Kane and Donaldson against the reading passed of all the B manuscripts. They do not note that M is rewritten. See next note.]

[^66: M.1.106: The word is, written over an illegible erasure, is the reading of YOC2 and A manuscripts. Other B manuscripts have was. See previous note.]

nota ¶
But crist kyngene kyng  knyȝted ten
Cherubin and seraphin  suche seuene and on oþur .
And yaf hem miȝt in his mageste  þe murger hem þouȝte .
And ouere his mene maynee  made hem archangeles
Tauȝte hem by þe trinite  truþe to knowe .
To be bux ome at his biddynge  he bad hem nouȝt elles

the Fall off luceffer
Lucifer with legionus  lernede it in heuene
But for he brak bux omnesse  his blisse gan he tyne
And fel fro þat felash ype  in a feendus likknesse
In-to a depe derk helle  to dwelle þere for euere 
And mo þousandes with hym  þan — man couthe nombre
Lopen out wiþ lucifer  in lothliche fourme .
For þei leueden vp-on hym  þat lied in þis manere
Ponam pedem in aquilone . & similis ero altissimo .

And alle þat hopud it miȝte be so  no on heuene miȝte hem holde
But fellen out in feendus likkenesse  nyne dayes to-gydres .
Til god of his goodnesse  gan stablen and stynte .
And garte þe heuene to steke  and stonden in quiete .

Whanne þise wikk ed wente out  wonderwise þey f ellen
Somme in þerthe somme in þe eire  and somme in helle depe .
Ac lucifer lowest  lith of hem alle .
For Pride þat he putte out  his payne haþ none ende .
And alle þat worcheþ with wrong  wenden þei shullen
Aft er hire deþ-day  and dwelle with þat shrewe
Ac þo þat worcheþ wel  as holy w ryt telleþ
And enden as I eer[^67] saide  in truthe þat is beste /
Mowe be siker þat here soules  shal wenden to heuene
Þere truthe is in trinite  and troneþ hem alle
#
For-þi I saie as I saide eer  bi siȝte of þ ise text es .
Whanne alle tresores arne triede  þanne[^68] truþe is þe beste
Lereth it ye[^69] lewde men  for lettred men it knowe .

[^67: M.1.132: M's erased reading agreed with G, but this is a spurious agreement since the reviser is correcting M's spelling of er as again at M.1.135. See Introduction IV.1.2.7.]

[^68: M.1.136: M shares þanne with Y. All other B manuscripts omit.]

[^69: M.1.137: The erasure occurs at a point where most B manuscripts read this or þise. GF have thys ye.]

Þat trwthe is tresor[^70]  triedest on erthe

[^70: M.1.138: M shares the reading tresor with G and with A manuscripts. Most other B manuscripts have tresor þe.]

Yet haue I no kynde knowynge quod I  yet mote ye kenne me b ettre
By what crafte in my corps  it comseth and where

Þow doted daffe quod she [^71] . dulle arn þi witt es
To litul latyn þow lernedest  lede in þi youthe .
Heu michi quia sterilem . duxi vitam iuuenilem .

[^71: M.1.141: No B manuscript omits quod she.]

It is a kynde knowynge quod she[^72]  þat kenneth in þin herte
For to loue thy lord  leuer þan — þi-seluen .
# dye rather then do dedly syn
No dedly synne to do  deiȝe þouȝ þou shuldest
Þis I trowe be truthe  who can teche þe b ettre

[^72: M.1.144: M's original reading of he agreed with CCrL.]

Loke þou suffre hym to saie  and sithen lere it aft er
For þus wittnesseþ his word  worche þou þere-aft er .
For truthe telleþ þat loue  is triacle of[^73] heuene .
May no synne be on hym seene  þat vseth þat spice
And alle his werkes he wrouȝte  wiþ loue as hym luste
And lered it Moyses for þe leueste þing  and moost lik to heuene
And also þe pleente of pees  moost precious of vertues .

[^73: M.1.150: For M's revised reading of, Cr has for and YOC2 has in.]

For heuene miȝte nouȝt holden it  it was so heuy of hym-sel ue
Til it hadde of þe erthe  eten his fille .

And whanne it had de of þis foold  flessh and blood taken .
Was neuere leef vpon lynde  liȝter þer -aftur
And portatif and persaunt  as þe point of a n edle
Þat miȝte non armure it lette  ne none heiȝe walles

For-þi is loue led ere  of þe lord es folk of heuene
And a Mene as þe Maire is  bitwexe þe kyng and þe comune
Riȝt so is loue a leder  and þe lawe shapeþ .
Vpon man for his mysdedes  þe mercimentz[^74] he taxeth .
And for to knowe it kyndly  it comseth by miȝte

[M.1.166: This erased word is legible with ultraviolet light.]

And in þe herte þere is þe  heed[^75] and þe heiȝe welle

[^74: M.1.164: M's plural is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

[^75: M.1.166: This word is perhaps followed by a punctus.]

nota
For in kynde knowynge in herte  þere a miȝt bigynneth
And þat Falleþ to þe fad er  þat fourmede vs alle .
Lo kede on vs with loue  and lete his sone de ye .
Mekely for oure mysdedes  to amende vs alle 
And yet wolde he hem no wo . þat wrouȝte hym þat paine
But mekeliche with mouthe . mercy he bisouȝte
To haue pite on þat p eple . þat pynede hym to dethe

Here miȝt þou see ensamples . in hym -selue[^76] one .
Þat he was myȝtful and meke  and mercy gan graunte
To hem þat hongen hym on heiȝ . and his herte þirled .

[^76: M.1.174: M's original reading without hym agreed with Cr.]

For-þi I rede yow riche . haueth reuthe of þe pouere
Thouȝ ye be miȝtful to mote . beth me ke in youre werkes[^77]

[^77: M.1.178: In place of M's revised reading werkes, H has werk, F has herte and G has seluen.]

For þe same mesures þat ȝe mete . amys oþer elles .
Ye shullen ben weien þerwith . whanne ye wende henn es
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis / remecietur vobis
#
For þouȝ ye be trwe of yowre tonge . and trweliche wynnen
And as chaste as a child  þat in ch yrche wep eth .
But[^78] ye loue lelliche . and lene þe Pouere .
Such good as god yow sent . goodlich parteth
Ye haue na more merite  in masse ne in houres
notabile off Malkyns maydenhed

[M.1.187: Notabile is in a different hand from the rest of this marginal insertion.]

Þan malkyn of hire maydenhede  þat noman disireth

[^78: M.1.184: M's reading But is paralleled only among A manuscripts. F has & But; all other B manuscripts have But if.]

For Iames þe gentil . iuggede in his bokes .
Þat faith withouten þe[^79] fait  is riȝt no þing worthi
And as ded as a dore-tre . but if þe[^80] dedes folwe .
Fides sine operibus mortua est. & cetera

[^79: M.1.189: M's original reading without þe agreed with YF and most A manuscripts.]

[^80: M.1.190: M's original reading without þe agreed with FH.]

For[^81] chastite with-oute charitee . worth cheyned in helle
It is as lewde as a laumpe . þat no liȝt is inn e

[^81: M.1.192: M shares the reading For with G; other B manuscripts have forþi.]

Nota de Chast chapeleyns
Many ch apleyns arn chaste . ac[^82] charitee is a-waye
Arn no men auaurouser þan hij . whan þei ben auaunced
Vnkynde to hire kyn . and to alle cristene
Chewen here charitee . and chiden aft er more .
Such chastitee with-outen charite . worth cheyned in helle

[^82: M.1.194: Kane and Donaldson's reading of this word as ne is an error.]

x
Many curatours kepen hem . clene of here bodies
Thei ben accombred with couetise  þei k o nne not do it from hem .
So harde hath auarice . yhasp ed hem to-gedres
And þat is no truthe of þe Trinite . but trecherie of helle
And lernynge to lewde men . þe latter for to dele .
For-þi þes wor des  ben writen in þe gospell
Date & dabitur vobis[^83]  for I dele yow alle
And þat is þe lok of loue . þat[^84] lateth out my grace
To conforte þe careful . accombred with synne .

[^83: M.1.205: The underlining of the phrase is done in a later ink.]

[^84: M.1.206: M shares its revised reading þat with CrGFH. Other B manuscripts have and.]

Loue is leche of lif  and next oure lord seluen
And also þe graithe gate . þat goth in-to heuene
For-þi I say as I saide . er by þe textis .
Whanne alle tresores ben tried . truth is þe beste
Now haue I tolde þe . what truthe is . þat no treso r is b ettre
I may no lenger lenge þe with . now loke þe oure lord .

Passus secundus de visione  vt supra [M.2.0: No blank line follows this rubric, which is centered.]

Y et[^85] I courb ed on m y knees . and criede hire of grace
And saide mercy ma-dame . for marie loue of heuene .
Þat bar þat blisseful barn . þat bouȝte vs on þe rode
Kenne me by som crafte  to knowen þe fals .

[^85: M.2.1: The main scribe always spells yet with initial <ȝ> and it is always corrected. Here it looks as though the guide letter has been altered to a <y>. At any event, the initial <Y> was painted after the general correction of the <ȝ> to <y>.]

Loke vppon thy lefte half . and lo where he stondeth
Boþe fauel and fals[^86] . and here feres manye

[^86: M.2.6: M reverses the order of the names found in the other B manuscripts.]

I loked on my lifte half as þe lady me tauȝte .
#primam apparicionem mede
And was war of a womman . worth ily y-clothed
Purfiled with pelure . þe finest vpon erthe .
Y-crouned with a croune  þe kyng haþ non bett re
Fetislich hire fyngres weren  fretted with g old wyr
And þere-on rede rubies  as red as any glede
And diamauntz of derreste pris  and double manere sa phires
Orientales and ewages . venymes to destr uye

H ir robe was ful riche . of red skarlet engreyned
With ribanes of rede gol d . and of riche ston es
Hire arra y me rauysshede . such richesse saw I neuere
I hadde wonder what she was . and whas w yf she were .

What is þis womman quod I  so wondurly[^87] atyred

[^87: M.2.19: M's reading of wondurly is not attested among other B manuscripts, most of which read worþili.]

That is mede þe mayden quod she  haþ noied me ful ofte
And ylakked my lemman  þat leaute is hoten .
And bilowen hire to lord es . þat lawes han to kepe .
In þe popes Palais . she is priue as my-selue
But sothnesse wolde nouȝt so  for she is a basta rd

For fals was hire fadur  þat ha þ[^88] a fikul tonge
And neuere soth saide  sith he com to þe[^89] erþe

[^88: M.2.25: In place of M's corrected haþ, YOC2 read hadde.]

[^89: M.2.26: M is the only B manuscript to include þe at this point.]

And Mede is manered aftur hym . riȝt as kynde askeþ
Qualis pater talis filius . bonus arbor bonum fructum facit .
I auȝte to ben heiȝer þan she . I cam of a bett re

My fad er þe grete god is . & ground of alle graces .
O god wyth-outen gynnynge . and I his goode douȝtur
#
And haþ youe me[^90] mercy . to marye with my-selue
And what man be merciful . and lelly me lou ye
Shal be my lord and I his leef  in þe heiȝe heuene .

[^90: M.2.32: M's orginal omission of me agreed with G.]

And what man takeþ mede  my lif dar I laye
Þat he shal lese for hire loue  a lappe of caritatis
How construeth kyng dauyd[^91] . of men þat take mede
And men of þis moolde . þat mainteigneth truthe .
And how ye shal saue youre-selue . þe sauter bereth w ytnesse .
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo . & cetera .

[^91: M.2.37: M's reading of kyng dauyd is not shared by other B manuscripts, which except for F read Dauid þe kyng.]

¶
And now worth þis mede y-maried . to[^92] a mansed shrewe .
# maritage medis
To o on fals fik el tonge . a fend es biyete .
Fauel þourȝ his faire speche  haþ þis folk enchaunt ed
And al is lieres ledynge  þat she is þus y-weddud .

[^92: M.2.41: The original reading alto is in line with YOC2L. The corrected reading is shared with GFH, whereas WHmCr have vnto.]

To-morwe worth y-made  þe mayd en es brydale
And þere miȝt þow wyte if þou wolt . whiche þei ben alle .
Þat longeth to þat lordshipe  þe lasse and þe more .
Knowe hem þere if þou kanst . and kepe þou þi[^93] tonge
And lakke hem nouȝt . but lat hem worthe . til leawte be iustice .
And haue power to punissh hem . þanne put forþ þi resoun

[^93: M.2.48: M's altered reading þou þi agrees with WHmCrGMH. YOC2F read wel þi; CLR read thy.]

Now I bikenne þe Crist quod she  and his clene mod er
And late no conscience acombre þe  for couetise of mede .

Thus lefte me þat lady . liggynge a-slepe .
And how mede was y-maried . in meteles me þouȝte .
Þat alle þe riche retenaunce  þat regneth with þe fals
Weren boden to þe bridale . on boþe two sid es 

# thassemble at medis mariage
Of alle manere of men . þe mene and þe riche
To marie þis ma yden . was many man assembled
As of kniȝtes and clerkes . and oþur comune p eple
As sisours and sompnours . shereues and hire clerkes
Bedelles and Bailliues . and Brokours of chaffares[^94] .
Forg oeris and vitaillers . and vocates of þe arche s
I can not rekkenen þe route . þat ran aboute Mede .

[^94: M.2.61: M alone of the B manuscripts has the plural form of the word.]

Ac symonye and Cyuile . and sisours of courtes
Were mo ost priue with Mede  of any men as[^95] me thouȝte
Ac Fauel was þe furste  þat fet here out of boure
And as a brok our brouȝte hire . to be with fals enioyned .
Whanne symonye and Cyuyle  seiȝ hire boþere wille .
Thei assented for siluer . to saie as boþe wolde
Thanne leep liere forth . and saide lo here a chartre
Þat Gile with his grete othes . gaf hem to-gedre .
And preide Cyuile to see . and Symonie to rede it
Þanne symonye and Cyuile . stoden forth bothe .
A nd vnfolden þe Feffement . þat fals ha þ y-maked
And þus bigynnen þes gomes . to greden ful heiȝe
Sciant presentes & futuri & cetera .

[^95: M.2.65: M alone among B manuscripts includes as at this point.]

Medis Fefment
Witeth and wittenesseth . þat wonieth vpon þis erþe
Þat Mede is y-maried . more for hire good es
Than for any vertue or fairenesse . or for any free kynde .
Falsenesse is fain of hire . for he wot hire riche
And fauel with his fikel speche . feffeth by þis chartre
To be with[^96] princes in pride . and pouerte to despise
To bakbyte[^97] : to boosten . and beren fals w ytnesse
To scorne and to scoolde . and sclaundre to make
Vnbuxome : and bolde : to breke þe ten heestus .

[^96: M.2.82: The inserted with is not attested in any other B manuscript.]

[^97: M.2.83: M shares the reading bakbyte with H; all other B manuscripts read bakbyte and.]

And þerldome of enuye . and wrath to-gedres .
With þe chastlet of cheste  and chatering out of resoun
Þe countee of Coueityse . and alle þe coo stes aboute
That is vsure and Auarice . alle I hem graunte .
In bargaines and in brocages . with all þe b urgh of thefte .

And all þe lordshipe of lecherie . in lengthe and in brede
#
As in werkes and in word es . and waitinges with eiȝes .
And in wed es and wysshinges . and with idel thouȝt es .
#
There as wille wolde . and wer kmanship failleth
Glotonye he gaf hem eke . and grete othus to-gedre
And all day to drinke . at diuerse tauernes
And þere to iangle and to iape  and iuggen here euene-cristene .
And in fastinge-days to frete . ar ful tyme were .
And þanne to sitten and soupen  til slep h em[^98] assaille .
And bred en as burgh swyn . and bedden hem esily
Til sleuthe and sle ep . sliken hi r[^99] sides
And þanne wanhope to awake hym so  with no wille to amende
nota
For he leueth b e l ost[^100] . þis is here laste ende .

[^98: M.2.99: M's revised reading is that of all B manuscripts except F which has hym.]

[^99: M.2.101: M's alteration of the word to hir brings it into agreement with HmCrYH. Other B manuscripts have hise.]

[^100: M.2.103: M's revised reading is that of most B manuscripts except Cr which has by lust.]

And þei to haue and to holde . and h ir heires a fter
A dwellinge with þe deuel  and dampned be for euere
With alle þe purteinaunce of purgatorie . in-to þe pyne of helle .
Yeldinge for þis þing . at on yeres eende
Here soules to s athan . to suffre with hym paines .
And with hym to wonye in wo  whil god is in heuene .

In wittnesse of w hich þing  wrong was þe furste .
And Piers þe Pardoner . of Paulines doctrine
Bette þe Bedelle . of Bokyngham shire .
Raynalde þe Reue . of Rotlande sokene
Munde þe Mellere  and many mo othere
#
In þe date of þe deuel . þis dede I assele .
Bi siȝte of sire Symonye . and Ciuiles leue .

# Irascebatur theologia ¶
Thanne tened hym Theologie . whan he þis tale herde
And saide to Cyuyle . now sorwe moot þow haue .
Suche weddinges to worche . to wratthe with truthe
And er þis weddyng be wrouȝt  wo þe bitide[^101]

[^101: M.2.120: first vowel is damaged by a wormhole.]

/
For mede is m oliree of amendes engendred
And god graunteth to gyue  mede to truthe
And þow hast giuen hire to a gilour  now god yeue þe sorwe
Thi tixte telleþ þe not so . truthe wot þe soþe .
For dignus est operarius . his hire to haue .
And þou hast fest hire to fals . fy on thi lawe .
For al by lesinges þou l yuest . and leccherouse werkes .
Symonye and þi-self . shenden holichurche
Þe notaries and ye . noieth þe p eple
Ȝe shul abiggen it boþe . by god þat me made .

¶[^102] Wel ye wyten wernardes . but if youre wit faille
That fals is faitheles . and fikul in his werkes
And was a bastard ybore . of belsabubbes kynne .
And mede is moylere . a mayden of gode .
And miȝte kysse þe kyng . for cosin and she wolde

[^102: M.2.131: The <//> is to indicate that a paraph should be rubricated. See Introduction I.7.]

For-þi worcheþ bi wisdome . and by wit also
And ledeth here to londoun . þere þe[^103] lawe is shew ed
If any lawe wol loke  þei liggen to-gedres .
And þouȝ Iustices iugge hire  to be ioyned with fals
Yet be war of weddynge . for witty is truthe .
And conscience is of his conseille . and knoweth yow echone
Notate verba
And if he fynde yow in defaute . and with þe fals holde
It shal bisitte youre soules . ful soure atte laste .

[^103: M.2.137: M shares the reading þe with H. Other B manuscripts omit.]

¶[^104]Herto assent ede Cyuyle . ac symonye ne wolde
Til he had siluer for his seruice . and also þe Notaries .

[^104: M.2.144: The scribe did not fill the space left for a capital letter but instead wrote an indication for a paragraph mark which was never inserted.]

Thanne fette fauel forth . flo ryns y-nowe .
And bad gile to geue . gold alaboute al aboute .
And namelich to þe Notaries  þat hem non faille
And feffe fals wittnesses[^105] . with Flor yns y-nowe .
For they[^106] may mede amaistrye  and maken at my wille /

[^105: M.2.149: M shares the plural form wittnesses with W. See Introduction IV.2.2.4.]

[^106: M.2.150: M's altered reading agrees with WHmCrGYOC2CH. LRF read he.]

Tho þis gold was g yue  grete was þe þonkynge
To fals and to fauel . for here faire yiftes
And comen to conforte . from care þe fals .
And saiden certes sire . cesse shal we neuere .
Til mede be þi wedded wif . þoruw witt es of vs alle
For we haue mede amaistriede . with oure merie speche
That she graunteþ to gon . with a gode wille .
To londoun to loke . if þat þe lawe wolde
Iuggen yow ioyntly . in ioye for euere .

Thanne was fals enesse fayn . and fauel as blithe
And leten sompne alle segges . in shyres aboute
And bade[^107] alle ben boun  beggers and othere
To wende with hem to westmynstre  to w itnesse þis dede

[^107: M.2.162: M alone omits the word hem at this point.]

Ac þanne carede þei for capl es . to kayren hem þidur .
And fauel fette forth þanne . fol es ynowe .
And sette mede vpon a shyreue . shood al newe
And fals sat on a sisour . þat softely trotted
And fauel on a flaterere . fetisliche attired

Tho h ad þe[^108] notaries none . annoyede thei were .
For Symonye & Cyuyle  shulde on here feet gange

[^108: M.2.169: M uniquely reads þe at this point, though the reading is shared with two A manuscripts.]

Ac þanne swo or Symonye . and Cyuyle bothe
That sompnours shulde be sadlede . and seruen hem echone .
And lat apparaille þes prouisours . in palfrays wise .
Sire Symonye hym-seluen . shal sitte vpon hire bakkes

Denes and su bdenes . drawe yow to-g ydres
Erchedekenes and Officiales . and alle youre Registrers .
Lat sadle hem with siluer . owre synne to suffre
As auoutrie and deuorses . and derne vsurye
To bere bisshopes aboute . abr ood in visitinge .

Paynles[^109] prives . for plei ntes in þe consistorie
Shullen seruen my-selue . þat Ciuyle is nempned
And carte-sad le oure Comm issar ie  oure carte shal he lede
And fecchen vs vit ailes  at Fornicatores .

[^109: M.2.180: M's reading of Paynles is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read Paulynes.]

And makeþ of liere a longe carte . to leden alle þes oþ ere
As Freres and fa ytours  þat on hire fete rennen
And þus fals and fauel . fareth[^110] to-gidres
And Mede in þe mydd es . and alle þes oþere aft er .

[^110: M.2.186: All other B manuscripts except for H have forþ after fareth.]

I haue no tome to telle . þe ta yl þat hem folw ed[^111]
Of many manere of m en[^112] . þat on þis moolde libbeth
Ac gile was forgo ere  and giede hem alle

[^111: M.2.188: M's altered reading folwed agrees with WH. All other B manuscripts record present tense.]

[^112: M.2.189: Among B manuscripts only MH read of men, though it is the A text reading. Cr23 have men; other B manuscripts have man. In M the vowel of men has been altered.]

Sothnesse seiȝ hym wel  and saide but litul
And priked his palfray . and passede hem alle .
And com to þe kyngges court  & co nscience it tolde .
And co nscience to þe kyng . carped it after

# quo modo Rex Iurauit punicionem maleffactorum
Now bi crist quod þe kyng . and I cacche myȝte
Fals o r fauel . or any of his feeres
I wolde be wroke n of þo wrecches . þat wercheþ so ille
And don hem hange by þe hals . and alle þat hem mainteneth .
Shal neuere man of þis[^113] molde . mainprise the leeste
But riȝt as þe lawe wol loke . lat falle on hem alle .

[^113: M.2.199: M's original reading without þis is shared by HmYOC2CLRFH.]

And comaunded a conestable . þat com atte f yrste
To attache þo tirauntes . for eny þin g I hote
And fettereth faste falsnesse . for enykynnes yift es
And gurdeth of giles hed . and lat hym go no ferther
And if ye lacche lier e[^114] . lat hym nouȝt ascapen
Er he be putte on þe pilor y . for any-þing[^115] I hoote
And bringeþ mede to me . maugre hem alle .

[^114: M.2.205: It appears here that a letter, perhaps <-e>, has been erased to make space for a punctus, and the curl then added to final <r>. See Introduction III.1.]

[^115: M.2.206: M's reading of any-þing, an echo from M.2.202, is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read any prayere.]

¶
Drede at þe dore stood . and þe doom herde
# drede stetit ad hostium & audiuit mandatum Regis
And how þe kyng comaunded . constables and seriauntz
Falsenesse and his felash ipe . to fettren & to bynden
Þanne drede wente wiȝtliche . and warned þe fals
And bad hym flee for feere  and his felawes alle .

¶ Falsenesse for fere þanne[^116] . fledde to þe Freres
And gile doþ him to go . agast for to dye
Ac marchauntz mette with hym . and made him abide
And bishetten hym in here sho p . to shewen hire ware .
And apparailled hym a s aprentice . þe p eple to serue .

[^116: M.2.213: M's original reading without þanne is shared by HmHm2GF.]

Liȝtlich lier . leep a-way þanne .
Lorkyng thor w lanes . to be[^117] lugged of manye
He was nawher welcome  for his manye tales .
Ouer-al yhowted . and yhote trusse
Til pardoners ha dde pite . and pulled hym to house
Thei wesshen hym and wipped hym  and wounden hym in cloutes
And senten hym with seles  on sondays to churches .
# pardoun For pens & powndmele & cetera
And gaf pardoun for pens  poundmele a-boute

[^117: M.2.219: The addition of be, in an unfamiliar hand and ink, brings M into agreement with Cr1.]

Þanne loured leches . and lettres þei sente
Þat he shulde wonye with hem . wateres to loke
Spicers spoke with hym . to spien here ware .
For he couthe of hire craft . and knew many gommes

Ac mynstrals and messagers . mette with hym ones
And helden hym an half yeer and elleuen daies .

#
Freres with fair speche . fetten hym þennes
#
And for knowynge of comers . coped hym as a Frere
Ac he hath leue to lepe out . as ofte as him liketh
And is welcome whanne he wille  and woneth with hem ofte

Alle fledden for fere . and flowen in-to hernes
Saue mede þe mayden . namo durste abide
Ac truly to telle  she tremblede for drede
And ek wepte and wronge  whanne she was atached ~

Passus iijus tertius [M.3.0: The numeral is possibly written over an erasure.]

N ow[^118] is Mede þe mayde . and namo of hem alle
With bedellus and Baillifs . brouȝt bifore þe kynge
Þe kyng called a Clerk . can I nouȝt his name .
To take mede þe mayde . and make hire at ese
I shal assaien hire my-self .  and sotheliche appose .
What man of þis molde  þat hire were leueste
And if she worche by my wit  and my wille folwe
I wyl forgyf hire þis gilt  so me god helpe .

[^118: M.3.1: Some brown ornamentation seems to have been erased from the center of this decorated capital. Compare with the capital at the beginning of passus 4.]

Curteselich þe Clerk þanne  as þe kyng h yghte
To k mede by þe mydul  and bro ghte hire into chambre
And þere was murthe and mynstralcie  mede to plese
Þei þat woneth at Westm ynstre  worshepeth hire alle .
Gentliche with ioye  þe Iustices summe
Buskede hem to þe boure . þere þe burde dwelled
To conforte hire kyndlich . by clergise leue .
And saiden mourne þow nouȝt mede  ne make þou no sorwe
For we wol[^119] wisse þe kyng  and þi wey shape .
To be wedd ed a t þi wille  and where þe le ef liketh
For al conscience cast  or craft as I trowe .

[^119: M.3.17: M's original reading without wol was shared by YOC2CL.]

Mildeliche mede þanne  merciede hem alle .
Of hire grete goodnesse [^120] gaf hem echone
Coupes of clene gold . and Cuppus of siluer
Rynges with rubies . and richesses manye
Þe leste man of hire mayne  a motoun of golde
Þanne lauȝte þei leue  þise lord es at Mede .

[^120: M.3.21: All other B manuscripts have the word and at this point.]

With þat comen clerkes . to conforten hire þe same
And beden hire be blithe . for we ben þine owne
For to worche thi wille . while þou miȝt laste .
Hendeliche heo þanne  bihiȝte hem þe same
To loue hem[^121] lelly . and lordes to make .
And in þe consistorie atte courte  do calle yowre names
Shal no lewdenesse lette  þe leode þat I louye
That he ne worth furst auaunced  for I am biknowen .
Þere connynge clerkus  shul clokke byhynde .

[^121: M.3.30: M's revised reading hem puts it into agreement with most B manuscripts. LR read ȝow; Bm reads hym.]

# # the Frere & mede in shryft
Þanne com þere a Confessour  copud as a Frere .
To mede þe mayden  he melled þes word es .
And saide ful softely  in shryfte as it were .
Theiȝ lewde men and lered men  had layne by þe boþe .
And falsnesses had folwede þe  all thise fifty wynter[^122]
I shal assoille þe my-selue  for a seme . of whete
And also be þi bedman  and bere wel þi message
Amonges knyȝtes . and clerkes  conscience to tourne .

[^122: M.3.39: The end of this line was rewritten perhaps to repair the omission of all.]

Thanne mede for here mesdedes  to þat man knelede
And shro of hire of hire shrewdenesse  shameles I trowe
Tolde hym a tale  and toke hym a noble .
For to ben here bedman  and hire brok our als

Þanne he assoillede hire sone  and sithen he saide
We han a wyndowe a-worchinge  wol sitten vs ful heiȝe
Woldest þow glase þat gable  and graue þere-inne þi name .
Siker shulde þi soule be . heuen to haue .

Wiste I þat quod þe womman  I wolde nouȝt spare
For to be youre freend Frere  and faille yow neuere
Whil ye loue lord es  þat leccherie haunteth
And lakkeþ nouȝt ladies  þat loueþ wel þe same .
It is a frelte of Flessh  ye fynde it in bok es .
And a cours of kynde . where-of we comen alle .
Who may skape þe sclaundre  þe skaþe is sone amend ed
It is the[^123] synne of seuene  sunneste relessed

[^123: M.3.58: This insertion is in a different ink. Other B manuscripts have the word before seuene.]

Haue mercy quod Mede  on men þat it haunte
And I shal keuere yowre kirke  yowre cloistre do maken
Wowes do whyten  and wyndowes glasen
Do paynten and purtreien  and paie for þe makynge
Þat euerey segge shal sayn . I am sustre of yowre hou se
Ac god to alle gode folk  such grauynge deffendeth
To wryten in wyndowes . of hire wel-dedus .
On auenture pruyde be painted þere  and pompe of þe worlde .
For crist knoweth þi conscience  and þi kynde wille
And þi cost and þi couetise  and who þe catel ouȝte .

For-þi I lere yow lord es  leue suche werkes
To writen in wyndowes  of youre wel-dedes .
Or to greden aftur godes men  whanne ye delen doles
An auenture ȝe haue ȝoure hire here  and ȝoure heuen als
Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextera .
Lat nouȝt þi lefte half  late ne rathe
Wyte what þou worchest  with þi riȝt syde .
For þus biddeth þe gospell  gode men do here almes .

Meires and macers  þat menes be bitwene
Þe kyng and þe comune . to kepen þe lawes
To punisshen on pilories . and pynynge stoles
Brewsters and baksteres . bochers and cokus
For þise arn men on þis molde  þat most harm worcheth
To þe pore p eple  þat parcelmele buggen

For þe i poysoun þe p eple  priueliche and ofte
Þei richen þorw regraterie  and rentes hem biggen
W ith þat þe pore p eple  shulde putte in hire wombes
For took þei on truly  þei tymbred nouȝt so heiȝe
Ne bouȝten non burgages  be ye ful certein

Ac mede þe mayde  þe mayre hath bisouȝt
Of alle suche sellers  siluer to take
Or presentz with -owten pens  as peces of siluer
Rynges or othere richesse  þe regrateres to mainteigne

For my loue quod þat lady  loue hem echone
And suffre hem to selle  sumdel aȝeins resoun

Sal omon þe sage  a sermon he made
For to amende maires  and men þat kepen lawes
And tolde hem þis teme  þat I telle þenke
Ignis deuorabit tabernacla tabernac[u]la eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera & cetera
Amonge þes lettr ede ledes  þis latin is to mene .

That fyre shal falle and berne  al to blo askes[^124]
Þe houses and þe homes  of hem þat desireth
Yiftes or yeresyeues  bi-cause of here offices

[^124: M.3.99-101: The extensive rewritings of M.3.99-101 are likely to have been prompted by the desire to re-spell, since there are no significant variants among B manuscripts. Most obviously, the yoghs have been altered to <y> in Yiftes or yeresyeues. The vowel of blo has also evidently been changed.]

The kyng fro conseill cam  and called aft er Mede
And of-sen te hire alsswythe als swythe  with sergeauntz manye
Þat brouȝten hire to bowre  with blisse and with ioye

Curtesely þe kyng þanne  comsed to telle
To mede þe Mayden  melleth þes wordes
Vnwittely womman  wrouȝt hast þow ofte
Ac worse wrouȝtest þow neuere  þan þo þow fals tooke
But I forgeue þe þat gilt  and graunte þe my grace .
Henus[^125] to þi deþ-day  do so namore

[^125: M.3.110: The scribe may have intended Henns.]

# vtrum Mede vult maritare cum conciencie
I haue a knyȝt conscience  cam late fro biȝounde
If he wilneth þe to wyf  wilt þow hym haue .

Ye lord quod þat lady  lord forbede it[^126] elles
But I be holely at yowre heste  lat hange me sone

[^126: M.3.113: The addition of it brings M into agreement with WHmB.]

And þanne was conscience calde  to come and appiere
Bifore þe kyng and his conseill  as clerkes and oþ ere
Knelynge conscience  to þe kyng louted
To wite what his wille were  and what he do shulde

Woltow wedde þis womman quod þe kyng  if I wol assente
For she is fayn of þi felawship .  for to be þi make

Quod conscience to þe kyng  crist it me forbede
# Consciencie con tradicit matrimonium et accusat Mede
Ar I wedde such a wif  wo me bitide
For she is frele of hire faith  fikel of hire speche
And makeþ men mysdo  many score tymes
Trust of hire tresor  treieth ful manye
Wyues and widowes  wan townes[^127] she techeþ
And lereth hem leccherie  þat loueþ hire yift es
Yowre fadre she fellede . þorw fals bih — este
And haþ apoyson ed popes . &[^128] peired holichurche
Is nauȝt a bett re baude  by hym þat me made
By-twene heuene and helle  in erthe þowȝ men souȝ te .
For she is tikil of hire tayl . talewys of hire tonge .
#
As comune as a cartewey . to ech knaue þat walketh
To Monkes to mynstrales . to meseles in hegges
Sisours and Sompnours . suche men h ire praiseth
Shireues of shires . were shent if she ne re
For she doþ men lesen hire lond . and hire lif boþe
She letteþ passe prisoneres . and paieþ for hem ofte
& gyueth[^129] gailers gold . and grot es to-gedres
To vnfettre þe fals . flee where hem likeþ
And takeþ þe trwe by þe top . and tieþ hem faste
And hangeth hem for hattrede . þat harm d ide neuere

[^127: M.3.126: Readings in B manuscripts vary between wantounnesse and wantounes; WCrGLH have the latter.]

[^128: M.3.129: M's original reading without & is shared by CBL.]

[^129: M.3.139: M alone among B manuscripts omits the word the at this point.]

To be curs ed in Consistorie . she counteþ nouȝt a risshe
#
For she copeth þe Comyssarie . and coteth his clerkes
She is assoilled as sone  as hire-seluen liketh
And may neiȝe as moche do . in a monethe one
As youre secre[^130] seel . in sex score daies .
For she is priue with þe pope . prouisours it knoweth
For sire Symonye . and here-seluen  seallen h ire bulles

[^130: M.3.147: All other B manuscripts read secret.]

She bless eth þ ise bisshop es . þeiȝ þei ben lewde
Prouendreth persones . and preest es mainteineth
To haue lemman s . and lotebies  al hire lif-day es
And bringen forth barns . aȝeins forboden lawes .
# quia

[M.3.154: Something, no longer legible, is erased in the right margin.]

There she is wel with þe kyng  wo[^131] is þe reume
For she is fauorable to þe fals . and fouleth trwþe ofte .

[^131: M.3.154: M's original reading of worthe is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

Bi iesus with hire iuweles  yowr e Iustices she shendeth
And lith aȝein þe lawe  and letteþ hym þe gate .
Þat faiþ may not hauen his forth  here flo rins go so[^132] þikke .
She ledeþ þe lawe as hire lust . and loue-days makeþ .
And doþ men lesen þorw here loue . þat lawe miȝte wynnen .
Þe mase for a mene man . þouȝ he mote hire euere .
#
Lawe is so lordliche  and loth to maken ende
With-outen presentz or pens . she pleseþ wel fewe

[^132: M.3.158: The only variants for go so are fli in Cr1 and to in Cr23. It looks as though M may have read gon, omitting so.]

Barouns and burgeis  she bringeth in sorwe
And alle þe comune in kare  þat coueyten lyue in truþe .
For clergie and couetise  she coupleþ to-g ydres .
Þis is þe lif of þat lady  now lord yeue hire sorwe .
And alle þat mainteineth here men  meschaunce hem bityde
For pore men mowe haue no power  to playne þouȝ þei smerte .
Such a maist er is Mede . among men of gode

Thanne mourned Mede  and m eued[^133] hire to þe kynge
To haue space to speke  spede if she miȝte

[^133: M.3.171: The scribe originally wrote moued, which the corrector changed to meued (or mened). Cr has meued, and although Kane and Donaldson record all other B manuscripts as mened, some of them might equally be read as meued.]

The kyng graunted hire grace . with a gode wille
Excuse þee if þow canst  I can namore seggen .
For co nscience accuseþ þe  to congeye þe for euere .

# # Excusacio medis
Nay lord quod þat lady  leueþ hym þe worse .
Whanne ye wyten witt erly . where þe wrong liggeth .
Þere þat meschief is gret . mede may helpen .
And þow knowest Conscience  I cam not to chide
Ne depraue þi persone  with a proud herte
Wel þow wost wernard  but if þou wilt gabbe
Þow hast hanged on myn half  elleuen times
And also gripud my gold  g yue it where þe like d[^134]
And whi þow wratth est þe now  wond er me þinkeþ
Yit I may as I miȝte  menske þe with yift es
And mainteigne þi manhede . more þan — þow knowest

[^134: M.3.183: M's original reading was shared with H, and is also the reading of many A manuscripts. The alteration brings M into agreement with the rest of the B manuscripts.]

Ac þow hast famed me foule  bifore þe kyng heere .
For k ylled I neuere kyng  ne conseilled þere-aft er .
Ne dede as þow demeste  I do on þe kynge

#
In Normandye was he nouȝt  n oyed for my sake[^135]
Ac þou þi-selue soþely  shamedest hym often .
Crope in-to a kaban for cold of þi nayles .
Wendest þat wynt er . wolde haue last ed euere .
And dreddest to be ded . for a dym cloude
And hyedest homward . for hungur of þi wombe[^136]

[^135: M.3.190: This paragraph is bracketed on the left and the right with # nota in the right margin.]

[^136: M.3.195: There is an illegible erasure in the right margin. It may be the guide for the correction wombe.]

#
With-oute pite pilour  pouere men þow robbedeste
And bere hire bra s at þi bak . to Calays to selle
Þere I lafte with my lord . his lif for to saue
I made his men meri . and mournynge lette
I baterede hem on þe bak . and bolded hire hert es
And d ide hem hoppe for hope  to haue me at wille
Hadde I ben marchal of his men . by marie of heuene
I durste haue layd my lif . and no lasse wedde
He shulde haue be lord of þat lond . in lengthe and in[^137] brede .
And also kyng of þat kyth . his kyn forto for to helpe
Þe leeste broll of his blode . a barouns piere

[^137: M.3.204: In place of M's altered in, YOCLR have a.]

Cowardliche þow Conscience  conseiledest hym þanne
To leuen his lordshipe . for a litul siluer
Þat is þe richeste rewme . þat Rain ouer-oueth[^138]

[^138: M.3.209: Initial <h> has been dropped from houeth. See Introduction IV.1.2.6.]

It bicometh to a kyng . þat kepeþ a rewme[^139]
#
To yeue mede to men  þat mekelich him serueth
To aliens and to alle men .[^140] honouren hem with gift es
Mede makeþ hym biloued . and for a man holden
Emperours and erles . and alle manere lord es .
For yiftes han yonge men . to rennen and to ride
The pope and alle prelates  presentz vndurfongen
And medeth men hem-selue  to mainteine hire lawes
S eriauntz[^141] for hire seruice . we seth wel þe sothe
Taken mede of hire maistres  as þei mowe accorde
Beggers for here byddynge . bidden men mede
Mynstrals for here merthe . mede þei asken
Þe kyng hath mede of his men  to make pees in londe
Men þat techen children . craue of hem mede .
Prest es þat precheþ þe p eple . to gode asken mede
And masse-pens and here mete . atte þe mel-tymes
Alkynn es crafti men crauen mede for hire prentys
Marchauntz and mede  mote ned es go to-gidres
No wi ght as I wene . with-outen mede may libbe

[^139: M.3.210: This paragraph is bracketed in the left margin.]

[^140: M.3.212: Among other B manuscripts, all read to at this point, except for H which reads þat. The word is also omitted by three A manuscripts.]

[^141: M.3.218: For rewritten seriauntz, YCr23OBLF have seruauntz, as do most A manuscripts.]

# Rex est ex parte mede
Q uod þe kyng to Conscience . bi crist as me þ inketh
Mede is wel worthi  þe maistrie to haue .

# Replicacio consciencie
Nay quod Conscience to þe kyng . and kneled to þerþe .
Þere arn two maneres[^142] of medes . my lord with yowre leue
Þat on god of his grace . graunteþ in his blisse
To þo þat wel worchen . whil þei ben here .
Þe prophete precheþ þer-of and putte it in þe sautiere
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo .
Lord who shal wonye in þi wones . and with þine holy seintes
Or resten on þi holy h illes  þis askeþ Dauid .

[^142: M.3.232: M's plural with <-s> is unique among B manuscripts.]

And dauid assoilleth it hym-selue  as þe Sautiere telleþ .
Qui ingreditur sine macula  & operatur iusticiam 

Tho þat entren of on colour . and of on wille
And han wrouȝt werk es . with riȝt and with resoun
And he þat vseth nauȝt . þe lif of vsure
And enfourmeth pore men . and pursueth treuthe
Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram . & munera super innocentem & cetera
And alle þat helpeth þe innocent . and halt with þe riȝtful
With-oute mede doþ hem go od . and þe treuthe helpeth .
Suche manere men my lord . shal haue þis furste mede
Of god at hir[^143] grete nede  whanne þei gon henn es .
Þere is an-other mede mesureles  þat maistres desireth
To mainteigne mysdoers  mede þei take
And þerof saith þe Sauter  in a salmes ende
In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt . dextera eorum repleta est muneribus .
And he þat gripeth h ire gold . so me god helpe
Shal abien it bitt re  or þe book lieth .

[^143: M.3.249: The alteration hir puts M into agreement with Hm and Cr. Most other B manuscripts read a.]

¶Prest es and persones . þat plesinge desireth
Þat taken mede or[^144] monoye . for messes þat þei singeth
Taketh here mede here . as mathew vs techeth
Amen amen recipiebant mercedem suam .

[^144: M.3.257: M's original reading for is not attested in other B manuscripts. The alteration brings M into agreement with Hm. Other B manuscripts read and.]

That laborers and mene[^145] folk . taketh of hire maistres
It is no manere mede . but a mesurable hire
In Marchaundise it[^146] is no mede  I may it wel avowe
It is a permutacioun apertly . on penyworth for anoþere .

[^145: M.3.260: M's reading of mene is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read either lowe or lewed.]

[^146: M.3.262: M's reading of it is not attested by other B manuscripts.]

Nota
Ac reddest þow neuere Regum  þow recraide Mede
Whi þe veniaunce fel  on Saul and his Children .
God sente to Saul  by Samuel þe prophete
Þat agag of amalek  and al his p eple aft er
Shulden deie for a dede  þat don hadde hire eldres

For-thi saide Samuel to Saul . god hym-selue hoteth
The / be buxom at his bidding  his wille to fulfille
Wende to Amalec with þin hoste[^147] . and what þow fyndest —[^148] sle it
Biernes and best es . brenne hem to d ethe[^149]
Wyd ewes and wyues . wymmen and children
Moebles and vnmoebles  and al þat þou miȝt fynde
Brenne it bere it nouȝt away  be it neuere so riche .
For mede ne for monoye . loke þow destru ye it
Spille it and spare it nouȝt  þow shalt spede þe be ttre
And for he coueited h ire catel . and þe kyng spared
Forbare hym and his best es boþe  as þe bible witnesseth
Oþ er-wise than he was . warned of þe prophete
God saide to Samuel  þat Saul shulde deie .
And all his seed for þat synne . shenfulliche enden
Such a meschief Mede . made  Saul þe kyng to haue .
Þat god hated hym for euere  and alle his heirs aftur
# the Culorum
The culorum of þis cas  kepe I nouȝt to shewe
An auenture it noied men  non ende wil I make
For so is þe world went . with hem þat han power
Þat who-so saith hem sothes . is sonnest y-blamed

[^147: M.3.271: M's original boste is not attested in other B manuscripts.]

[^148: M.3.271: M's erasure of þere places it in agreement with HmF.]

[^149: M.3.272: In place of the revision dethe, YOC2CBLR have dede.]

I Co nscience knowe þis . for kynde wit me[^150] tauȝte
Þat resoun shal regne . and rewmes gouerne
And riȝt as Agag hadde hap[^151] . happe shul somme
Samuel shal sleen hym . and Saul shal be blamed
And dauid shal be diademed . and daunten hem alle .
And on cristen kyng . kepen hem echone[^152]

[^150: M.3.289: No other B manuscript omits it in this b-verse, though its placement varies. The word, however, is omitted in most A manuscripts.]

[^151: M.3.291: M's addition of hap here is unattested among other B manuscripts.]

[^152: M.3.294: M's alteration to hem agrees with all B manuscripts except F. The alteration to echone is shared with Bm and agrees with Cr. Other B manuscripts read alle. In L, hem is added by a corrector, and its original reading was possibly the same as M's, where faint traces of alle appear to underlie the revision.]

Shal namore Mede be maist er  as she is nouthe
Ac loue and lownesse[^153] . and leute to-gidres
x
Þise shul be maistres . on molde treuthe to saue .

[^153: M.3.296: In place of the revision lownesse, CBoCot have lewednese.]

And whoso trespasseth aȝein truthe . or takeþ aȝein his wille
Leute shal do hym lawe . and no lif elles .
Shal no seriaunt for h is[^154] seru yce . were a silk howue
Ne no pelure in his cloke . for pledynge atte barre .
Mede of mysdoers  maketh many lordes
And ouer lordes lawes  ruleth þe rewmes

[^154: M.3.300: The alteration puts M in agreement with WCrGH.]

# quod lex laborabit
Ac kynde loue shal come yet . and conscience to-gidres
And make of law a laborer . such loue shal arise .
And such a pees among þe p eple  and a parfit truthe
Þat iewes shal wene in hire wit  and w exen wond er glade
Þat Moises or Messie  b e come[^155] in to þis erthe
And haue wond er in h ire hert es  þat men ben so trwe

[^155: M.3.308: For the alteration be come, C2 has by comen.]

# prophesiam
Alle þat bereth baslard . brode swerd or launce
Ax oþer hachet . or any wepen elles
Shal be demed to þe deth . but if he do it smythie
In-to sik el or to sithe . to share or to Cultre
Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres . & cetera
Ech man to play with a plo ugh . pikoise or spade
Spinne or sprede donge . or spille hym -sel f with sleuthe

Prestes and persones . with Placebo to hunte
And dingen vpon dauid . eche a day til eue .
# prestes to lese ther beneffys For huntyng
Huntynge or haukynge . if any of hem vse
His bost of his benefice . worth bynome hym after
Shal neiþer kyng ne kniȝt . conestable ne maire
Ouer-lede þe comune  ne to þe court sompne
Ne putte hem in panel . to don hem pliȝte here truthe
But aft er þe dede þat is don . on dome shal rewarde
Mercy or non mercy . as treuthe wil accorde .

#
Kynges court and comune court  Consistorie and chapitele
#
Al shul be but on court . and on baroun be iustice
Þanne worth trwe tonge a tidy man  þat tened me neuere
Batailles shal non be  ne no man bere wepne
And what smyth þat ony smytheth[^156]  be smite þere-with to deþe
Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium & cetera

[^156: M.3.330: This alteration to M occurs at a place where B manuscripts vary considerably in their readings. W reads smyþeþ, Cr has smithed; some other manuscripts have smyteth.]

#
And er þis fortune falle . fynde men shal þe worste
# propheciam de vj sunnis & a ship
By syx sonnes and a shipp  and half a shef of arwes
And þe mydul of a mone . shal make þe iewes to turne
And saracenes for þat siȝte . shullen synge Gloria in excelsis & cetera
For Mak omete and me de  mysshapp shal þat tyme
For melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe & cetera

# # Responsio mede ad replicacionem
As wroth as þe wynd . wex Mede in a w hile
I can no latyn quod she . clerkes wo ot þe sothe
Se what sal omon seith . in sapience bokes
Þat hij þat yeueth yiftes  þe victorie wynneth
And moche worsh ip hadde[^157] þerewith  as holy writ telleth
Honorem adquiret . qui dat munera & cetera. .

[^157: M.3.342: M's altered reading hadde agrees with WOCBR; CrHmF attest the present tense, but M is apparently just respelling worshipp had.]

I leue wel lady quod co nscience  þat þi latyn be truwe .
Ac þow art lik a lady . þat redde a lessoun ones .
Was Omnia probate . and þat ples ed h ire herte
For þat line was no lenger . atte þe leues ende
Had she[^158] loked þat oþ er half  and þe lef tourned .
She[^159] shulde haue founden fele wordes  folwynge þere aft er 
Quod bonum est tenete . truthe þat texte made .

[^158: M.4.348: For M's revision she, BL read Ȝe. See the note to the next line."]

[^159: M.3.349: For She, BL read Ȝe; R has Heo.]

And so ferde ye ma-dame . ye couthe namore fynde .
Þo ye lo ked on sapience  sittinge in youre studie
Þis tixte þat ȝe[^160] tolde . were gode for lord es
Ac yow faillede a co n nyn ge clerk . þat couthe þe lef haue tourned
And if ye seche sapience eft . fynde shal ye þat folweth
A ful teneful tixte . to hem þat takeþ Mede .
And þat is animam autem aufert accipientium . & cetera
And þat is þe ta yl of þe texte . of þat þat she[^161] shewed
Þat þeiȝ we wynne worshippe . and with mede haue victorie
Þe soule þat þ e soude taketh  by so muche is bounde

[^160: M.3.353: M alone among B manuscripts lacks the word han here.]

[^161: M.3.358: M's altered reading she agrees with WHmCr1GH. Other B manuscripts read ye.]

Passus quartus de visione vt supra

C Esseth seith þe kyng . I suffre yow no lenger
Ye shal sauȝtene for sothe . and serue me bothe
Kisse hire quod þe kyng . Conscience I hote .

Nay bi Crist quod Conscience . congeie me for euere
But resoun rede me þerto  rather wol I deie .

# Rex mandauit Conscientiam adquirere Racionem
And I comaunde þe quod þe kyng . to conscience þanne
Rape þe to ride . and resoun þow fecche .
Comaunde hym þat he come . my conseill to here
For he shal reule my rewme . and rede me þe beste
And acounte with þe conscience . so me crist helpe
How þou lern est þe p eple . þe lered and þe lewede

I am fayn of þat forward . saide þe freke þanne .
And rit riȝt to resoun . and rowneth in his ere
And saide as þe kyng — bad — . and sithen to ok his leue

I shal arraie me to ride . quod resoun reste þe a while
And called Catoun his knaue . curteis of speche
#

[M.4.17: The text from here to the end of the page is marked with a bracket in the left margin.]

And also tomme trewe tonge  telle me no tales
Ne lesynge to lawȝe of  for I loued hem neuere /
Sette[^162] my sadel vpon suffre . tyl I se my tyme
And lete warrok it wel  with witty wordes gerthes
And hange on hym þe heuy bridul . to holde his hed lowe
For he wol make wehe . twye er he be þere .

[^162: M.4.19: All other B manuscripts except F begin the line with And. M's omission of the word agrees with the A text.]

Thanne Conscience vpon his . caple . kaireth forth faste
And resoun with hym rit  rownynge to-g idres
Whiche maistries Mede . makeþ on þis erthe .

Oon waryn wisdom  and witt y his fere
Folwed hem faste  for he[^163] h adde to doone
In þe chekker and chauncerie  to be descharged of þinges .
And riden faste for resoun shulde  rede hem þe beste
For to saue hem for siluer  from shame and from harmes

[^163: M.4.27: M's reading of he is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read þei.]

And Conscience knew hem wel  þei louede coueitise
And bad resoun ride faste . and recche of here neyþer
Þere arn wiles in h ire wordes  and with Mede þei dwelleth
Þere as wratthe and wrangelynge is  þere wynne þei syluer .

Ac þere is loue and lewte  þei wol not come þere .
Contricio & infelicitas in vijs eorum & cetera
Þei ne g yuen nouȝt of god  on gose wynge .
Non est timor dei ante oculos eorum
For wot god þei wolde do more  for a dosein of Chikenes
Or as many Capouns  or for a seem of Otes
Þan — for loue of oure lord  or alle his leue seint es
For-þi resoun l at hem ride  þo Riche by hem-selue
For Conscience knoweth hem nouȝt . ne Crist as I trowe
And þanne resoun rood faste  þe riȝte heiȝe weye[^164]
As Conscience hym kenn ed . til þei come to þe kyng

[^164: M.4.44: M's reading of weye is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read gate.]

# Rex obuiauit cum racione
Curteisly þe kyng þanne . com aȝein resoun
And bitwene hym-self and his sone . sette — hym on benche
And wordeden wel wysely . a gret while tog idres

# conquestus est pax contra Iniuriam
And þanne com pees in-to parlement . and put forth a bille
How wro ong aȝeins his will  had his wif taken
And how he[^165] rauysshede Rose . Re ignaldes loue
And Margrete[^166] of hire maydonh ede[^167] . mawgre hire chek es
Boþe my gees and my grys / his gadlinges feccheth

[^165: M.4.51: The original reading may have omitted how, as F.]

[^166: M.4.52: It was evidently important to someone reviewing the text that the proper name begin with a capital letter.]

[^167: M.4.52: The form maydonhode has been altered to maydonhede, the reading of WCrF.]

I dar nouȝt for feere of hym . fiȝte ne Chide 
# the borowing off bayerd
He borwede of me bayard . he brouȝte h ym hom neue re
Ne no ferthyng þerefore  for nouȝt I coude plede
He mainteigneth his men . to morthere my ne hewen[^168]
Forstalleth my feires . and fiȝteth in my chepinge
And breketh vp my berne dore . and bereth awey my whete
And taketh me but a taille . for ten quarter[^169] Ot es
And yet he beteth me þerto  and l yth by my mayde .
I nam[^170] nouȝt hardy for hym . vnnethe to loke

[^168: M.4.57: For rewritten hewen RF have hennes.]

[^169: M.4.60: M shares the reading quarter with Cr. Kane and Donaldson record the erased letter as <s>, which would agree with the form in all other B manuscripts, but the letter seems clearly to be an <e>.]

[^170: M.4.62: M's revised reading, motivated by the otiose initial <h>, is shared with CL.]

Þe kyng knew he saide soth . for conscience hym tolde .
Þat wrong was a wikked li ft[^171]  and wrouȝte moche sorwe

[^171: M.4.64: This use of lift puzzles the scribes, who write lust GBR, luske Cr, as well as wilder variants.]

Wrong was a-fer ed þanne . and wisdome he souȝte
To — make pees with his pens . he[^172] proferede hym manye
And saide hadde I[^173] loue of my lord þe kyng  litul wolde I recche
Theiȝ pees and his power  playnede hym euere

[^172: M.4.66: M's he agrees with F; other B manuscripts have and.]

[^173: M.4.67: M's original reading without I agreed with F.]

# wyt & warin wisdom
Þo w ente[^174] w isdome . and sire warin þe witty
For þat wrong had y-wrouȝt . so wikked a dede
And warned wrong þo . with suche a w ys tale .
Whoso worcheþ by my wille . wratthe makeþ ofte
I seie it by my[^175] -self . þou shalt it wel fynde .
But if Mede it make  þi meschief is vppe
For bothe þi lif and þi lond  lith in his grace .

[^174: M.4.69: The altered word brings M into line with most B manuscripts, though LR read wan, and CBoCot read whan.]

[^175: M.4.73: M's altered reading my agrees with most B manuscripts. YOC2LRF read thy.]

Þanne wowede wrong . wisdom ful yerne
#
To make his[^176] pees with his pens  handi-dandi payed
Wisdom and wit  þanne wenten to-g idres
And tooken m ede myd hem  mercy to wynne .

[^176: M.4.77: M's original reading without his agreed with WH.]

Pees put forth his hed  and his panne blody
With-outen gilt god it wot . gat I þis skaþe
Conscience and þe comune . knowen þe sothe

Ac wysdom and witty[^177] . weren abouten faste
To ouercome þe kyng . with catel if þei miȝte

[^177: M.4.83: M's reading witty is not attested in other B manuscripts, which read wit.]

Þe kyng swo or by crist . and by his crowne boþe
Þat wronge for his werkes . shulde wo þolie
And comaunded a Conestable  to caste hym in yrens
And lete hym nouȝt  þis seuen yere seen his fe et ones .

God wot quod wysdom  þat were nouȝt þe beste
And he amendes mowe make . lat meymprise hym haue .
And be borwe for his bale . and biggen hym bote
And so amende þat is mysdo . and euer-more þe bett re

# nota

[M.4.93: This paragraph is marked with lines in the right margin.]

Wit accord ed here[^178] -wiþ . and saide þe same
Bett re is þat b ote . bale a-doun bringe
Þan bale be y-bet e . and bote neuer þe bett re

[^178: M.4.93: M's reading here is unattested among other B manuscripts, which read þer.]

And þanne gan Mede to mongen[^179] here . and mercy she bisouȝte[^180]
nota
And profred pees a present . al of pure golde .
Haue þis man of me quod she  to amende þi skaþe .
For I wol wage for wrong  he wol do so namore

[^179: M.4.96: M's reading of mongen is not shared by other B manuscripts. The majority reading is mengen.]

[^180: M.4.96: This paragraph is marked with a bracket.]

Pitousely pees þanne . praide to þe kynge
To haue mercy on þat man . þat mysd ide hym ofte[^181] .
For he[^182] waged me wel . as wisdome hym tauȝte
And I for giue him þat gilt . with a gode wille
So þat þe kyng assente  I can seie no bett re
For Mede haþ made me amendes . I can[^183] no more axen .

[^181: M.4.101: It is likely that the original reading was him so ofte as in most B manuscripts. Only G shares M's omission of so, though it is the reading of A manuscripts. Here there are apparently two correctors at work. The first is responsible for ide hi, while a second has altered the second <i> to <y> and added <m> for hym.]

[^182: M.4.102: M alone among B manuscripts lacks haþ at this point.]

[^183: M.4.105: M's reading of can is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read may.]

nota
Nay quod þe kyng þo . so me crist helpe
Wrong wendeth not so away . arst wil I wite more
# Bene Iudicatus est Rex
For loupe he so liȝtly . lawghen he wolde
And eft þe balder be . to beten myn hynen
But resoun haue reuthe on him . he shal reste in my stokkus .
And þat as longe as he liueþ . but lowenesse hym borwe

Summe men redde Resoun  to[^184] ruwe[^185] on þat shrewe
And for to con seille þe kynge . and co nscience aft er
Þat Mede moste be mainpernour . resoun þei bisouȝte

[^184: M.4.112: The reading to is shared with H. Other B manuscripts have þo to.]

[^185: M.4.112: M's reading of ruwe is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read have ruþe.]

Rede me nouȝt quod resoun . no reuthe to haue
# optime dicit Racio
Til lord es and ladies . louen alle truthe .
And haten al harlotrie . to heren[^186] or to mouthe it
#

[M.4.118-125: These lines are marked with a bracket in the right margin.]

Til pernels purfil . be put in here hucche .
And Children cherisshinge  be chastinge with yerd es .
And harlotes holinesse . be holden for an hyne .
Til clerken coueitise be  to clothe pore[^187] and fede .
And religious rom eres . Recordare in hire cloistres .
As seint Bernard hem bad . Benet[^188] and Fraunceis
And til prechours prechinge  be preued on hem-seluen
Til þe kynges con seill . be þe comune profit .
Til bisshopes baiardes . be beggers chambres
Hire haukes and hire houndes . help to pore Religious

[^186: M.4.117: M's revised reading agrees with WHmCrG. Other B manuscripts have heren it.]

[^187: M.4.121: The reading pore is shared with Hm. Other B manuscripts have þe pore.]

[^188: M.4.123: All other B manuscripts have the names Bernard and Benet in the other order.]

And til seint Iames be souȝt . þere I shal assigne
Þat no man go to Galis . but if he go for euere
And alle Rome renneres  for robbers of biȝende
Bere no siluer ouer see  þat signe of kyng sheweþ
Neithur graue ne vngraue  gold neith er siluer
Vpon forfeture of þat fee  whoso fynt him at Douere
But it be marchaunt or his man  or messager with lettres
Prouisour or preest  or penaunt for his synn es

And yet quod Resoun by þe Rode  I shal no reuthe haue
Whil Mede haþ þe maistrie . in þis mote halle
Ac I may shewe emsamples  as I se other -while
I saie it by my-self quod he  and it so were
That I were kyng with crowne  to kepen a reume .
Shulde neuere wrong in þis world . þat I wyte miȝte
Ben vnpunisshede in my power . for peril of my soule
Ne gete my grace for gift es . so me god saue .
Ne for no mede haue mercy  but mekenesse it make .

nota
For nullum malum þe man . mette with inpunitum
And bad nullum bonum . be irremuneratum .

Lat youre confessour sire kyng . construe þis vnglos ed
# quod lex laborabit & lede a-Feld dong
And if ye werken it in werk . I wedde myn eres .
Þat lawe shal ben a laborer . and lede a-field donge
And loue shal lede þi lond  as þe lief likeþ .

Clerkes þat were confessours . coupled hem to-gedres .
Alle to construe þis clause . for þe kynges Profit
Ac nouȝt for confort of þe comune  ne for þe kynges soule

For I seiȝ Mede in þe moothalle . on men of lawe wynken
And þay lawghynge lope to hire . and lafte resoun manye

Waryn wisdom . wynkede vpon mede .
And saide ma-dame I am youre man . what so my mouth iangeleth
I faille[^189] Flor ynes quod þat freyke . and faille speche ofte .
¶ Alle riȝtful recorded . þat resoun truthe tolde
And wit accord ed her -with[^190] . and comend ed his word es
And þe mooste p eple in þe halle . and manye of þe grete
And leten mekenesse a maister . and Mede a mansud shrewe

[^189: M.4.158: M's altered reading faille agrees with Cr. Hm also alters the word to fayle. Most B manuscripts read falle in, and an erased in is likely here.]

[^190: M.4.160: M's reading of her-with is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read þerwith.]

¶ nota
Loue le et of hire liȝte . and lewte yet lasse
And saide it so heiȝe . þat all þe halle it herde
Whoso wilneþ hire to wif  for welthe of hire god es
But he be knowe for a cokewold  kutte of my nose .

Mede mournede þo  and made heuy chere .
# þat mede is Callyd a hore
For þe mooste comune of þe court  callud hire an hore
Ac a sisoure and a sompno ur  suwed hire faste
And a shireues clerk  bishrewed al þe route .
For ofte haue I quod she[^191]  holpe yow at the ba rre
And yet yeue ye me neuere  þe worth of a russhe

[^191: M.4.171: M's original he agrees with FH. Hm also alters he to she.]

The kyng called conscience . and aft erwardes resoun
And recorded þat resoun  had riȝtfulliche shewed e .
And modiliche vpon mede  with miȝt þe kyng loked
And gan waxe wroth with lawe . for mede . hadde almoost[^192] shent it .
And saide þorwgh youre lawe as I leue . I lese many chetes
Mede ouermaistreth lawe . and mochul truþe letteþ
Ac resoun shal rekene with yow  if I regne any while .
And deme yow by þis day . as ye han deserued
Mede shal nouȝt mainprise yow . by þe marie of heuene
I wil haue lewte in lawe . and lette al yowre iangelinge
And as mo ost folk wittnesseth wel . wrong shal be demed

[^192: M.4.176: All other B manuscripts except Y reverse the order of hadde almoost.]

Quod conscence to þe kyng . but þe comune wil assente
It is ful hard by myn hede  herto to bringe it .
Alle youre lige leodes . to lede þus euene

By hym þat rauȝte on þe Rode  quod resoun to þe kynge
But if I rule þus yowre rewme  rende out my gutt es
If ye bidden buxomn sse buxomn [e]sse  ben of myn assent

And I assente seith[^193] þe kyng  by seinte marie my lady
Be my conseill ycomen  of clerk es and of erles .
Ac redily resoun  þow shalt nouȝt ride from me
x
For as longe as I l yue . lete þe I nille

[^193: M.4.190: B manuscripts vary considerably at this point between quod and various forms of seith.]

I am aredy quod resoun . to reste with yow euere
So co nscience be of yowre[^194] conseille . I kepe no bett re
And I graunte quod þe kyng . god forbede it fa ile
As longe as owre[^195] lif lasteth . lyue we to g idres

[^194: M.4.195: M and C2 agree in reading yowre, corrected from ȝowre in M; all other B manuscripts have oure, except for H which has my. The majority of A manuscripts have ȝour.]

[^195: M.4.197: All B manuscripts read oure.]

Passus quintus de Visione . [M.5.0: This passus rubric is centered on its own line. In the left margin, the guide for the rubricator has apparently been erased and the rubricator has noted Quintus .]

T he kyng and his knyȝtes . to þe kirke wente
To here matines of þe day . and þe messe aft er
Þanne wakede I of myn wynkynge  and wo was withalle
Þat I nadde slept saddere . and yseiȝen more
Ac er I hadde faren a fourlonge . faintise me hente
Þat I ne miȝte ferthere a fo ot . for defaute of slepinge
And sat softely doun[^196] . & saide my bileue .
And so I bablede on my bed es  þei brouȝte me a-slepe

[^196: M.5.7: M shares the reading doun with H. Other B manuscripts have adoun.]

And þanne sawe I moche more . þan — I bifore of[^197] tolde
For I sawȝgh þe field ful of folk . þat I bifore of seide
And how resoun gan araien hym . alle þe reume to preche
And with a crosse a-fore þe kyng . coms ed þus to techen

[^197: M.5.9: The insertion of of brings M into line with WCr.]

# quia peccatum est Causa vindicti
He preued þat þise pestilences . was al[^198] for pure synne .
And þe southwest wynd . on a Saturday atte euen
Was pertliche for pure pride . and for no point elles
Piries and plumptrees . were puffud to þe erþe .
In ensample ye segges  ye shulden do þe bett re
Beches and brode ok es . weren blowen to þe grounde .
Turned vpward h ire tailles . in tok enyng of[^199] drede .
Þat dedly synnne synne er Domusday . shal fordo on hem alle

[^198: M.5.13: M shares the reading was al with Y. Other B manuscripts omit al.]

[^199: M.5.19: M's original reading without of agreed with F, which, however, has knowlechynge in place of tokenyng.]

Of þis matere I miȝte . mamely ful longe
# quomodo predicabat Racio
Ac I shal saie as I saw . so me god helpe
How pertly afore þe p eple . resoun gan to preche

He bad wastour go worche . what he best couthe .
And wynnyn his wastynge . with s om — manere crafte .

And praide pernelle . hire purfil to lete .
And kepe it in hire cofre . for catel at hire nede .
Thomme stowue he tauȝte . to take two staues
And fecchen felice hom . from þe wyuen pyne

# þat wattis wyff was to blame
He warned watte  his wif was to blame
Þat hire hed was worth half a[^200] mark [^201] his ho od nouȝt worth a grote .
And bad Bette kutte  a bowe oþer tweyne
And bete Betun þer -with  but if she wolde worche
And þanne he charged chap men  to chastisen hire children
Late no wynnynge hem for-weny . w hil þei ben yonge
Ne for no pouste of pestilence . plese hem nouȝt out of resoun

[^200: M.5.31: M's original reading without a agrees with WHmOBRF.]

[^201: M.5.31: The and which was added was later deleted. Its absence here agrees with GYOC2CLR.]

My sire saide so to me . and so dud my dame
Þat þe leuere child . þe more lore byhoueth
And sal omon saide þe same . þat sapience made
Qui parcit virge odit filium suum[^202] .
Þe englissh of þis latin is . who-so wol it knowe
Who-so spareth þe spring . spilleþ his children

[^202: M.5.40: M alone among B manuscripts includes the word suum at the end of this Latin tag.]

And sitthen he praide Prelates . & preest es to-gedres
notate predicatores Nota bene

[M.5.44: This odd nota bene sign resembles a few instances below.]

Þat ye prechen to þe peple  proue it on yowre-seluen
And doth it in dede  it shal drawe yow to goode .
If ye l yuen[^203] as ye leren vs . we leuen[^204] yow þe bett re

[^203: M.5.46: WC2CH read leuen, "believe." The spelling lyuen is usually a correction in M, since the original scribe does not distinguish between leuen and lyuen.]

[^204: M.5.46: The reading leuen is shared with F. Other B manuscripts supply shul.]

And sithen he radde Religioun  hire rule to holde
nota. nota.
Lest þe kyng and his conseil  yowre comunes appaire
And be styward es of yowre stedes . til ye be ruled bett re

And sithen he conseilled þe kyng . þe comune to louye
# bene dicit
It is þi tresour if tresoun ne were . and triacle at þi nede

And sithen he praiede þe pope . haue pite on holychurche
And er ye[^205] gyue any grace  gouerne furst yowre-seluen[^206]

[^205: M.5.53: All other B manuscripts read he at this point. Kane and Donaldson's apparatus suggests that only the first letter of the word has been altered, but the erasure is considerably more extensive.]

[^206: M.5.53: M's reading of yowre-seluen is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read hymseluen.]

# quomodo laudatur veritas
And ye þat han lawes to kepe  lat truthe be yowre coue itise
More þan — gold or gift es . if ye wil god plese .
For whoso contrarieþ treuthe . he telleþ in þe gospell
Þat god knoweþ him nouȝt . ne no — saint of heuene
Amen dico vobis nescio vos. & cetera

And ye þat seke seint Iames . and seintes of Rome
nota
Sekeþ seint truthe  for he may saue yow alle ~
# Finem sermonis
Qui cum patre & filio . þat faire hem bifalle
Þat suweth my sermon . and þus saide resoun
Þanne ran repentaunce . & rehercede his teme
And garte wille to wepe . water with his eyen

# Superbia
Pernelle proude-herte . platte here to þe erthe
And lay longe er she lok ed . and lord mercy cried
And bihiȝte vn-to hym . þat vs alle made
She shulde vnsowen hire serke . and sette þere an heire
To affaiten hire flessh . þat fiers was to synne
Shal neuere heiȝe herte me hente . but holde me lowe
And suffre to be[^207] myssaid  and so did I neuere .
But now wille I meke me . and mercy biseche
For all þis I haue . hated in myn herte .

[^207: M.5.71: M's original reading without be agreed with F.]

Luxuria
Þanne lecchour saide allas . and on owre lady he criede
To make mercy for his my sdedes . by-twene god and his soule
With þat he shulde þe saturday . seuene yere þer -aft er
Drinke but myd þe doke . and dyne but ones .

Inuidia
Enuie with heuy herte . axede aftur shrifte .
And carefuliche mea culpa  he comsed to shewe
He was as pale as a pelete  in þe pals ye he semed
#
And clothed in a kaurimaury . I couthe it nouȝt discreue
In kurtul and courte py  and a knyf by his side
# the Freris Fore-slevis
Of a freres frokke . were þe forsleues
And as a leke hadde yleye . longe in þe sonne
So lok ed he with lene chek es . lourynge foule .

His body was to-bolle for wrathe . þat he bo ot his lippus
And wryngynge he yede with þe fist . to wreke hym-self he þouȝte
With werkus or with wordus . whanne he seighe his tyme .
Ecche a word þat he warp  was of an addres tonge
Of chidinge and chalaungynge . was his chief liflode .
With bakbytynge and bismer  and berynge of false wittnesse
Þis was al his curtesie . where þat euere he shewede hym .

I wolde by[^208] shriuen quod þis shrewe  and I for shame durste
I wolde be gladd er by god . þat gibbe hadde meschaunce
Þan — þouȝ I hadde þis woke y-wonne . a weye of essex chese
I haue a neiȝgbore neiȝ me . I haue anoyed[^209] hym ofte .
Bylowen[^210] him to lord es . to do on hym lese his silue r
A nd made his frendus to ben[^211] his fon . þourgh my false tonge .
His grace and his gode happus . greueth me ful sore .
Bytwene many and many . I make debate ofte .
Þat bothe lif and lyme . is lost þour gh my speche
# discripcionem invidie
And whanne I mete hym in markete  þat I moste hate
I hailse hym hendliche . as I his frend were .
For he his douȝtier þan I  I dar do non othur
Ac hadde I maistrie and miȝt . god wot my wille .

[^208: M.5.93: M's reading by is not attested in other B manuscripts, which read ben.]

[^209: M.5.96: In place of the rewritten anoyed (as in WG) other B manuscripts have noyȝed, enuyed, and envied.]

[^210: M.5.97: The scribe originally wrote A as a form of And (see a similar instance at M.9.57). This was erased and By written in. (Compare A variants at K.5.76: Bi-lowen and And belowen.) The erasure has affected the bottom of the <I> in the previous line. Other B manuscripts begin the line with And lowen on hym.]

[^211: M.5.98: The reading to ben is shared with B. Other B manuscripts read be or omit entirely.]

And whanne I come to þe kirke  and shulde knele to þe Rode
And praie for þe p eple  as þe preest techeth .
For pilgrymes and palmeres  for alle þe peple aftur .
Þanne I crie on my knees  þat crist yeue hem sorwe .
Þat bar away my bolle  and my broke shete .

Away from þautiere þannne þanne  turne I myn eiȝen
And bih olde[^212] how Eleyne  ha th[^213] a newe cote .
I wisshe þanne it were myn  and alle þe webbe aftur

[^212: M.5.112: M's altered reading agrees with most B manuscripts. C2F here read bihelde.]

[^213: M.5.112: R reads hath on; F reads hadde on. The erasure here may conceal such a reading.]

And of m an y a[^214] lesinge I lauȝghe  þat akeþ[^215] myn herte .
And for hire wynnynges[^216] I wepe  and waille þe tyme

[^214: M.5.114: M's reading of many a is perhaps altered from mennes, the reading of all other B manuscripts.]

[^215: M.5.114: The reading akeþ is shared with B. Most other B manuscripts read likeþ.]

[^216: M.5.115: M's plural is unique among B manuscripts.]

And deme þat hij don ille  þere I do wel worse
Who-so vndurnemeth me þere-of[^217]  I hate hym dedly aftur .
I wolde þat eche a wiȝt . were my knaue .
For who-so haþ more þan — I  þat angreth me sore .
And þus I lyue loueles . lik a luther dogge .
Þat all my body bolneþ . for bitter of my galle

[^217: M.5.117: The reading þere-of is shared with F. Most other B manuscripts read hereof.]

I miȝte nouȝt ete many yeres . as a man ouȝte
For enuye and yuel wille  is yuel to diffien
May no sugre ne swete þin g . asswage my swellynge
Ne no Diapenidion  dryue it from myn herte
Ne nowther shrifte ne shame . but ho-so shrape my mawe

Yus redily quod repentaunce  and radde hym to þe beste
Sorwe of synnes  is sauacioun of soules

I am sory quod þat segge  I am but selde oth er .
And þat makeþ me þus megre [^218] for I ne may me venge .
Amonges Burgeises haue I be . dwellinge at londoun
And garte bakbytinge be a brocoure . to blame me n nus ware
Whanne he solde and I nouȝt  þan was I redy
To lie and — —[^219] to loure on my neiȝgbore . and to lakke his chaffare
I wil amende þis if I may  þorw miȝt of god almiȝty

[^218: M.5.130: The final three letters of the erased megre are themselves a correction, but so messily written that the scribe has rewritten the word above.]

[^219: M.5.134: The scribe's repetition loure on to loure on has been corrected by erasure of the first two words. The reading without to agreed with HmCr23.]

Ira
Now awaketh wratthe . with two white eyen
And neuelinge with þe nose . and þe[^220] nekke hangynge

[^220: M.5.137: The reading þe is shared with G. All other B manuscripts read his.]

[M.5.138-143: This paragraph is bracketed in the left margin.]

nota#
I am wratthe quod he  I was sumtyme a Frere .
A nd þe Couentus gardiner . for to graffe ympus
#
On limitours and list res . lesinges I ympud
Til þei bare leues of lowe speche  lordus to plese
And siþþe þei blo smed so brode[^221] . in boure to here shriftus .
And now is fallen þereof a fruite . þat folk han wel leuere
Shewen hire shriftus to hem  þan — to hire persones[^222] .

[^221: M.5.142: M's reading so brode is not attested in other B manuscripts, most of which read abrood.]

[^222: M.5.144: M's unmetrical form of the b-verse is shared with GYCot. Most manuscripts read with W þan shryue hem to hir persons.]

# the Cause off grugge betwen Curatis & Freris
And now persons han[^223] perceiued . þat Freres parte with hem
Þis possessioneres preche . and depraue Freres .
And Freres findeþ hem in defaute . as folke bereth wittnesse
That whanne — — þei preche þe p eple . in many place aboute
I wratthe walke with hem . and wisse hem of my bokus
Þus þei speken of my[^224] spiritualte . til[^225] eith er despiseth othur .
Til þei be bothe beggers . and by my spiritualte libben
Or ellus alle riche . and riden aboute
I wrathe reste neuere  þat I ne moste folwe
This wikkud folk . for such is my grace .

[^223: M.5.145: M's original reading without persons han is not attested in other B manuscripts.]

[^224: M.5.150: M's original reading without my agreed with YOC2CBLF.]

[^225: M.5.150: The reading til is shared with F; most other B manuscripts read þat.]

I haue an aunte to Nonne . and an[^226] abbesse bothe
Hire were leuere swowe or swelte . þan suffre any peyne
I haue ben cook in here kychen . and þe couent serued
Many monthes with hem . and with monkes bothe
#
I was þe priouresses potagier . and oþur pore ladyes
And made hem ioutes of iangelinge . þat dame Ione was a bastard
And dame Clarice a kniȝtus douȝtur  ac a kokewald was hire sire

[M.5.162: Something, no longer legible, is erased in left margin.]

And dame Pernelle a prestus file  priouresse worth she neuere
#
For she hadde child in chirityme . al owre chapitre it wiste

[^226: M.5.155: M's original reading without an agreed with OCot.]

Of wikked wordus I wrathe . made here wortus[^227]
Til þow lixt . and þow lixt . lopen oute at ones
#
And either h ytte oþur . vndur þe cheke
+
Hadde þai hadde knyues by crist . here eithur hadde kullud oþur

[^227: M.5.164: M's syntax here is unique among B manuscripts, the rest of which place the object before the verb.]

Seint Gregorie was a gode Pope . and hadde a gode forwit
Þat no priouresse were preest . for þat he ordeinede
Þay hadde þanne ben infamis . þai can so euele hele conseille

Amonge —— monkes I miȝte be  ac many tyme y shonye
For þere ben many fel le Frekes . my feres to aspien
Bothe priour and subpriour  and oure Pater Abbas
And if I telle any tales . þei taken hem to-g idres
And don me fasten Frydais . to bred and to watur
And am chalanged in þe Chapitelhous . as I a Child were .
#
And baleised on þe bare ers . & no breche bitwene .
For -þi haue I no lykynge . with þo leodes to wonye
I ete þere vnthende Fissh . and fieble ale drinke .
Ac othurwhile whanne wyn cometh . whanne I drinke wyn at eue
# the Flix off the Foule mowth
I haue a flux of a foul mouth  wel fyue daies aftur .
Alle þe wikkudnesse þat I wot  by any of oure breþeren
I couthe it in oure cloistre  þat alle oure Couent wote it .

Now repente þe quod Repentaunce  and reherce it[^228] neuere
Conseill þat þou knowest  by conte naunce ne bi riȝt
And drinke not to delicatly . ne to[^229] depe nowther
Þat þi wille b y cause þereof  to wratthe miȝte tourne
Esto sobrius he saide  and assoillud hym[^230] aftur
Auaricia .
And bad hym[^231] wilne to wepe  his[^232] wikkudnesse to amende .

[^228: M.5.184: M's reading here is unique. The other B manuscripts read þow or you. F reads þou yt.]

[^229: M.5.186: M's reading of to is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read ouer.]

[^230: M.5.188: The alteration to hym here brings M into agreement with Cr. All other B manuscripts read me. A similar situation is found in the next line.]

[^231: M.5.189: The alteration to hym brings M into agreement with Cr. All other B manuscripts read me. A similar situation exists in the previous line.]

[^232: M.5.189: The alteration to his brings M into agreement with Cr. All other B manuscripts read my.]

And þanne com Cou eitise . can I him nouȝt discriue
So hungriliche and holwe . sire h eruy[^233] hym lokud
# optima descriptio Auaricie
He was baberlippud . and bitelbrowed[^234] also
With to blerede eien  as a blynd hagge
And as a letheren Purs . lollud his chekus
Wel siddere þan his chin . they cheueled for elde
And as a bondman of his bacon  his berde was bidraueled
With an hode on his hed . a lousie hatte abouen
And in a tawny tabard . of twelue yere[^235] age
Al to-torn and baudy  and ful of lis crepynge
But if þat a lous couthe  þe bett re haue lopen[^236]
/
She shulde nouȝt haue walkud on þat welthe  so was it thredbare .

[^233: M.5.191: While it is not possible to read what lies under this erasure, GCLR read Henry here.]

[^234: M.5.192: All other B manuscripts have the words baberlippud and bitelbrowed in the other order.]

[^235: M.5.198: The reading yere is shared with F. All other B manuscripts read wynter.]

[^236: M.5.200: M's b-verse reverses the syntax of the other B manuscripts. Compare W's han lopen þe bettre.]

I haue ben cou eitous quod þat[^237] Cay tif . I biknowe it here .
For so m -tyme I serued  symme at þe stile
And was his prentys y-pliȝt . his profit to waite
Furst I lerned to lie . a lief or tweyne
Wikkudliche to weie . was my furst lessoun
#
To wy and to wynchestre . I went to þe faire
With many manere Marchyndise . as my maistre me hiȝte
Nad þe grace of gil e  gon among my ware
I t hadde ben vnsold þis seuen yer  so me god helpe
Þanne drowe I me among drapers  my donet to lurne
To drawe þe lisor along  þe lengere it semede
Among þe riche Rays . I rendrede a lessoun
To broche hem with a paknedle[^238]  and plait e[^239] hem to-g edre
And putte hem in a presse  and pynned hem þereinne
Til ten yerdus or twelue  tollud out threttene

[^237: M.5.202: M's reading of þat is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read þis. It is the reading of some A manuscripts.]

[^238: M.5.214: M's altered reading paknedle agrees with most B manuscripts. LRF read batnedle.]

[^239: M.5.214: The altered reading is shared with W. YC2OLR have the past tense, as M may have had; other manuscripts have other verbs.]

My wif was a webbe  and wollen cloþ made
She spak vnto[^240] spinnesters  to spynnnen spynnen it oute
Ac þe pound þat she paide by[^241]  weied a quartroun more .
Þan myn owne auncer  who-so weied truthe

[^240: M.5.218: M's reading of vnto is not attested in other B manuscripts, which read to.]

[^241: M.5.219: M's original reading without by agreed with B.]

I bouȝte hire barly malt  she b rew it to selle
Penyale Peny ale and poding Ale  she pourede to-g idres
For laborers and lowefolk lowe folk  þat lay by hem-selue

The beste ale lay in my boure . or in my bed chambre
#
And whoso bummud þereof . bouȝte it þere-aftur
A galoun for a gr ey[^242] grote . god wot no lasse .
And yit it cam in cuppemele  þis craft my wif vsed
Rose þe regratere . was hire riȝte name .
She haþ holden hukrie  al hire lyf-tyme .

[^242: M.5.226: M's reading of grey is not shared by other B manuscripts, which have no adjective here. Perhaps the scribe inadvertently wrote grote twice and the first was corrected to grey.]

Ac I swere now so theik . þat synne wil I lete .
And neuere wikkudlich weie  ne wikke chaffare vse
But wenden to walsingham . and my wif also .
And bidde þe Rode of Bromholme . bringe me out of dette .

# questiones Repentencie
Repentestow þe euere quod Repentaunce  ne restitucioun madest .

Yus ones I was herberwed quod he . with an hepe of chapmen
nota X
I roos whanne þei were areste  and rifled hire males .
That was no restitucioun quod repentaunce . but a robers thefte
Þow haddest be[^243] bettur worthy . ben hanged þerfore
Þan for alle þat / þat þow  hast here y-shewed

[^243: M.5.238: M's original reading without be agreed with LR.]

nota
I wende riflinge were restitucioun . for[^244] I lerned neuere to[^245] rede on boke
And I can no — Frensh in feith . but of þe furthest ende of Northfolke .

[^244: M.5.240: The reading for is shared with Hm. Most other B manuscripts read quod he or quod he for.]

[^245: M.5.240: The corrected to is unique. Other B manuscripts omit it, and many other also omit rede.]

Vsudestow euere vsurie quod Repentaunce . in alle þi lif-tyme

Nay sothly he saide . saue in my yowthe
I lerned amonges lombardus . and iewes a lessoun
To weie pens with a peis . and pare awe y[^246] þe heuie ste
And lene it for loue of þe crosse . to legge a wed and lese it .
Suche dedus I d ide do[^247] write  if he is[^248] day brreke breke
I haue mo maneres þorw rerages . þan thurgh miseretur & comodat

[^246: M.5.245: M's reading of awey is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

[^247: M.5.247: M's reading of do is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

[^248: M.5.247: is, "his."]

I haue lent lordus  and ladies my chaffare
And ben hire brocour aftur . and bouȝte it my-seluen
Eschaunges and cheuisaunces . with such chaffare I dele .
And lene folk þat lese wol . a lippe at euery noble .
And w ith . lombardus lettres . I ladde gold to Rome
And toke it bi ta le[^249] here . and tolde hem þere lasse

[^249: M.5.254: Before it was altered, this word was probably taile, the reading of most B manuscripts.]

L entestow euere lordus  for loue of hire mainteinaunce

Ye I haue lent lordus  loued me neuere aftur
And haue made[^250] many a kniȝt . boþe mercer and draper
Þat paiede neuere for his prentishode . nouȝt a paire gloues .

[^250: M.5.257: M's original ymade is shared with LWR.]

Hastow pite on poremen pore men . þat moten nedes borwe .

#
I haue as moche pite on pore men . as pedlere haþ of cattus
Þat wolde kylle hem ȝif he cacche hem miȝte  for coueitise of hire skynn es

Artow manlich among þi neiȝborwes  of þi mete & drinke .

I am holden quod he as hende  as hound is in k ych ene
Among my neiȝbores nameliche  such a name I haue

Now god leue neure quod repentaunce  but þou repente —[^251] rather
Þe grace on[^252] þis grounde . þi good wel[^253] bisette
Ne þin heirs[^254] aftur þe . haue ioie of þat þou wynnest
Ne þin executours wel bisette . þe siluer þat þou hem leuest
X
And þat was wonnen with wrong . with wikkud men be despendud .
# x
For were I Frere of þat hous  þere go od faith and charite is
I nolde cope vs with þi catel . ne oure kirke amende
Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce of þin  by my soule hele
For þe beste book[^255] in oure hous  þeiȝ brent gold were þe leues
And I wiste witturly þou were . such as þou tellest
Seruus es alterius cum fercula pinguia queris
Pane tuo pocius vescere liber eris

[^251: M.5.265: Other B manuscripts read þe before rather.]

[^252: M.5.266: For on BoGCot have of.]

[^253: M.5.266: M here omits to, found in most B manuscripts.]

[^254: M.5.267: M's altered reading heirs agrees with most B manuscripts. L reads ysue, R reads vssue, and F oddly reads houswif.]

[^255: M.5.273: The final <e> on beste is squeezed into the line without erasure; book is inserted in a different, paler, ink.]

Thou art an vnkynde creature  I can þe nouȝt assoille
Til þow make restitucioun  and rekene with hem alle
And s ythen þat resoun rolle it  in þe Registre of heuene
Þat þou — hast made eche man gode  I may þe nouȝt assoille
Non dimittur dimitt[it]ur peccatum . donec restituatur ablatum. & cetera

For alle þat hath of þi good . haue god my trouthe
mirabile dictum
Is holden at þe heiȝe dome . to helpe þe to restitue
And who[^256] leueth nouȝt þis be soth . loke in þe saut er boke[^257]
In miserere mei deus . where I mene truthe
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti & cetera

[^256: M.5.284: M's reading of who is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read whoso.]

[^257: M.5.284: M's boke is shared only by G. Most other B manuscripts read glose.]

Shal neuere werkeman in þis world . þryue with þat þow wynnest
Cum sauncto saunctus eris . construe me þis on englissh

Þanne wex þat shrewe in wanhope . and wolde haue hanged himself
N adde repentaunce þe rather recounforted  hym in þis manere
Haue mercy in þi mynde . and with þi mouth biseche it .
For godes mercy is more . þan — alle hise othere werkes
# quod misericordia eius super omnia opera
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius & cetera .

And all þe wikkednesse in þis wor ld . þat man miȝte worche or thinke
Ne is no more to þe mercie of god  þan — in þe see a glede .
Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei est quasi[^258] sintilla in medio maris

[^258: M.5.296: M's original reading without quasi is shared by L.]

For-þi haue mercy in þ y mynde . and marchaundise leue it
For þow hast no good ground . to gete þe with a wastell .
But if it were with þ y tonge  or[^259] with þine two handus .
For þe good þat þow hast geten . bigan al with falsenesse[^260]
And as longe as þow lyuest þere-with . þow yeldest not but borwest

[^259: M.5.299: All other B manuscripts here include ellis.]

[^260: M.5.300: The reading falsenesse is shared with F. All other B manuscripts read falshede.]

And if þow wite neuere to whiche . ne[^261] whom to restitue
Bere it to þe bisshop . and bidde hym of his grace .
Bysette it hym-selue . as best is for þi soule
For he shal answere for þe  at þe heiȝe dome
For þe an d for many mo  þat man shal yeue rekenynge[^262]
What he lerede[^263] yow in lenten . leue ye non othur
Gula
And what he lente yow of owre[^264] lordes good  to lette yow from synn e

[^261: M.5.302: The addition of to above the line, later erased, would have placed M in agreement with HmCr.]

[^262: M.5.306: The reading rekenynge is shared with F. All other B manuscripts read a rekenynge.]

[^263: M.5.307: M's reading of lerede is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read lerned.]

[^264: M.5.308: This erasure brings M into agreement with all other B manuscripts except YOC2CB, which read his.]

N ow biginneth glotoun  for to go to shrifte
And kaires him to kirkewarde  his coupe to shewe

Ac betoun þe brewestere . bad him gode morwe
And axede him with þ at word[^265]  whiderward he wolde

[^265: M.5.312: M's added reading of word is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

To holichurche quod he  for to here messe
And siþþe I wil be shriuen  and synn en nomore no more .

I haue gode ale gossib quod she  glotoun wiltow assaie
Hastow ouȝt in þ y Purs  any hote spices

I haue pepur and piones quod she[^266] . and a pound of garlik
A ferthing worth of fenel sied . for fastinge-daies .

[^266: M.5.317: M's original reading of he agreed with GCrYCBL.]

Þan goth glotoun yn . and grete othes aftur[^267]
Cisse þe sowsteresse[^268] . sat —[^269] on þe benche
Watte þe warner . and his wif boþe .
T omme[^270] þe tynkere  and tweine of his prentis
H ikke þe hakene yman . and hugh þe neldere
Clarice of cokkeslane  and þe Clerk of þe churche .
Da vy[^271] þe dikere  and a doseine oþere .
Sire pieres of pridie  and pernelle of Flaundres
A Ribebour a Ratoner  a Rakere of Chepe .
A Ropere a reding kyng  and Rose þe disshers
Godfray of garlekhide  and grifin þe walssh
And vpholders an hep . erly by þe morwe
Geuen glotoun with glad chiere  go od ale to hanselle

[^267: M.5.319-331: This paragraph is bracketed in the right margin.]

[^268: M.5.320: The form of the word varies (souteresse, sowestere, sowter). M's form is unique.]

[^269: M.5.320: Although it is not possible to read what has been erased, BmBoCot here read upon.]

[^270: M.5.322: The name varies widely in the manuscripts. FGC2 have Tomme, WLO have Tymme.]

[^271: M.5.325: M's altered reading Davy agrees with Cr23. All other B manuscripts read Dawe.]

Clement þe Cobelere  caste of his cloke
And at þe newe faire  he nempned it to selle
H ykke þe hakene yman  h yt his ho od after
And bad bette þe bochere . ben on his side .
Þere were chappemen y-chosen . þis chaffare to praise
Whoso haueþ þe ho od shal haue  amendes of the cloke

Two risen vp in rape  and rounen[^272] tog idres
And praiseden þes peniworthes  apart by hem -seluen[^273]
Þei couthen nouȝt by here conscience  accorden in truthe
Til Robin þe Ropere  arose by þe sothe[^274]
And nempnede hym for a nounpere  þat no debate nere

[^272: M.5.338: All other B manuscripts have the verb in the past tense.]

[^273: M.5.339: In place of the altered reading hem, HmRF have hym.]

[^274: M.5.341: Most other B manuscripts read southe. This line is "the locus classicus for the corruption of the B archetype" (Ralph Hanna, III, Pursuing History: Middle English Manuscripts and their Texts [Stanford, 1996] p. 217. Beta manuscripts read by the southe, and the unique M reading, originally by sothe, with þe inserted, is a desperate attempt to make sense of this.]

Hikke þostelere  hadde þe cloke
In couenant þat Clement  shulde þe cuppe fille
And haue hikkes hood þe hostiler  and holde him yseru ed
x
And whoso repentud raþe st  shulde a-rise aft er
And grete sire glotoun . with a galoun ale

Þere was lawynge and louringe  and let go þe cuppe
And seten so til euensong  and songen vmwhile .
Til glotoun hadde y- globbed [^275] a galon and a gille 
His guttes g onne to godly  as two gredy sowes
#
He pissud a potel  in a pat ernost er -while
And blewe his rounde ruwet  at his rugge bon es ende
Þat alle þat herde þat horn  helde here nos es[^276] aft er
And wissheden it hadde ben wexud  with a wispe of Furses

[^275: M.5.350: The altered reading globbed is shared by many B manuscripts, though Cr and A manuscripts have forms of gulped.]

[^276: M.5.354: M's altered reading noses agrees with WHmGCot. Other B manuscripts read nose.]

He miȝte neither steppe ne ston de  er he his staff hadde
And þanne gan he go lich  a gle e -mann es bicche
Som — -tyme aside  and s om— -tyme ariere
As who-so laith lynes  for to kacche[^277] foules .

[^277: M.5.359: M's original reading was shared with HmGF; the altered reading agrees with other B manuscripts.]

And whanne he drow to þe dore  þanne dymmeden his eiȝen
#
He stombled[^278] on the thr essh folde  and threw to þe erthe
Clement þe cobeleri cobeler  cauȝte him by þe myd del
For to l yfte hym a-lofte  and laide him on his knowes
Ac glotoun was a grete ch erl  and a grim in —[^279] liftyng
And coghed vp a caudel . in Clementus lappe
take hede good gossip
Is non so hungry hound  in herteforde shire
Durst lapen of þe[^280] leuynges  so vnlouely it smauȝte

[^278: M.5.361: M's altered reading agrees with most B manuscripts. LR read trembled.]

[^279: M.5.364: Most B manuscripts read þe here. M's erasure of the word brings it into agreement with HmCr3C2.]

[^280: M.5.367: Kane and Donaldson record the word as þo. The reading þe is shared by GLR.]

With alle þe wo of þe wo rld  his wif and his wenche
Baren hym hom to his bed  and brouȝten hym þere-inne
And aftur al þis excesse  he hadde an accidie
Þat he slep saturday and sonday  til s onne yede to reste
Þanne wakenede he of his wyn kkynge  and wipud his eiȝen
Þe furste word þat he warp  was . where is þe bolle
His wi f[^281] gan edwite hym þo  how wikkudliche he liuede
And repentaunce riȝt so  rebukede hym þat tyme

[^281: M.5.374: M's altered reading agrees with WCr1. Most B manuscripts read wytte.]

As þow with wordus and werkes hast wrouȝte  euel in þ y liue
Shriue þe and be shamed þereof  & shewe it with þ y mouthe

I glotoun quod the[^282] gomme  gulti me yelde
Þat I haue trespassud with my tonge  I can nouȝt telle how ofte
Sworn godsoule  and selpe me god[^283] and halydome
Þere no — nede ne was  nyne hundr ed tymes

[^282: M.5.378: M's original reading he was shared with G.]

[^283: M.5.380: While this b-verse has widely varying readings among B manuscripts, M is the only beta-family manuscript to share RF's syntax so help me god, in contrast to the other beta manuscripts which read so god me help.]

And ouer -seien me at my soper  and som — tyme at nones .
Þat I glotoun gurte vp  er I hadde goon a myle
And spilte þat miȝte han ben spared  and spendud on s omme hon grie
Ouerdelicately on fastinge-daies  drunken and eten bothe
And sate so longe þere — somtyme[^284]  þat I slep and e et atte ones
For loue of tales in tauernes  to drinke þe more I dine[^285]
And h yed to þe mete e r noon  whanne fastinge-daies were

[^284: M.5.386: The syntax of the a-verse is not attested in other B manuscripts, which read som tyme so longe þere.]

[^285: M.5.387: M is the only B manuscript to attest the present tense of the verb.]

This shewinge shrifte quod repentaunce  shal be merite to þe

And þanne gan glotoun gre de[^286]  and gret doel to make
For his l uther lif  þat he liued hadde .
And avowed to[^287] faste  for hungre or for[^288] thurste
Shal neuere fi ssh on Friday  defien in my wombe
Til abstinen ce myn aunte  haue youen me leue
Accidia
And yet haue I hatud hire  al my liftyme

[^286: M.5.390: M's altered reading grede agrees with Cr1. Most B manuscripts read greete.]

[^287: M.5.392: M's original reading without to agreed with GLR.]

[^288: M.5.392: M's original reading without for is not attested in other B manuscripts, except F, which has and in place of or.]

Þanne com slewthe al bislabred  with two slym y eiȝen
I mo ste sitte saide þe segge  or ell es shulde I nappe
I may not stonde ne stoupe  ne with -oute a sto ol knele .
Were I brouȝt on bedde  but if my tail — ende it made
Shulde no thyng[^289] do me rise  til[^290] I were ripe to dine
He bigan benedicite with a bolk  and his brest knockede
A nd raskled[^291] and rored  and rutte at þe laste

[^289: M.5.400: M's altered reading thyng agrees with B and two C manuscripts. Other B manuscripts read ryngynge.]

[^290: M.5.400: M's reading of til is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read er. It is the reading of the C text.]

[^291: M.5.402: M's reading raskled is shared with Cr and most C manuscripts; most other B manuscripts read roxed.]

What awake renc quod Repentaunce  and rape þe to shrifte .
If I shulde deie by þis day  me lust nouȝt to loke
I can nouȝt parfitely my Pat er-nost er  as þe preest it singeþ
But I can rimes of Robin hode  & Randolf — erl of chestre
Ac nowther of oure lord ne oure lady  þe leeste þat euere was ma ked

I[^292] made vowes fourty . and fo rgat hem on —[^293] morwe
I parfourmede neuere penaunce  as þe preest me hiȝte
Ne riȝt sor y for my s ynn es  yet was I neuere .
And if I bidde any bed es  but[^294] it be in wratthe
Þat I telle with my tonge  is two myle from myn herte
I am ocupied eche day  halyday and othur
With ydel tales atte ale  and otherw hile in churches .
God es paine and his passioun  ful selde þenke I on it[^295]

[^292: M.5.408: M alone among B manuscripts omits the word haue here.]

[^293: M.5.408: Most B manuscripts read þe here. M's erasure of the word brings it into agreement with OCBRF.]

[^294: M.5.411: The reading but is shared with F. All other B manuscripts read but if.]

[^295: M.5.415: The addition of it brings M into agreement with W. M's omission of the word agreed with OC2C. Most B manuscripts read theron.]

I visitede neuere fieble men  ne fettrud men in puttus
I haue leuere here herlotrie  or a somer gamen of souteres
And[^296] lesinges to lauȝgwe n at  and bilye myn neiȝeburgh
Þan all þat euere mark made  Mathew Ion and lucas
[^297]Vigilies and fastinge-daies  alle þese late I passe .
And ligge abedde in lent en  and my lemman in myn armes
Til matynes and Masse be do  & þan go I to þe freres .
Come I to Ite missa est  I holde me y-serued .
I nam nouȝt shryuen s om -tyme  but sekenesse it make
Nouȝt twies in two ye er  and þanne vp gesse I shriue me .
Contricio et infelicitas in vijs eorum & cetera[^298]

[^296: M.5.418: M's reading And is unique among B manuscripts, which read Or.]

[^297: M.5.420: M alone among B manuscripts lacks the word And here. Manuscripts of the C text also lack the word.]

[^298: M.5.426: This line, which occurs only in M among the B manuscripts, is the only Latin tag written in red ink. It is in a different hand from the main text and is written in a paragraph space. The same Latin tag is found at M.4.36.]

I haue be prest and person —  passinge þretty wynt er
# de presbiteris venatoribus
Yet can I neither solfe ne synge  ne saintus liu es reden .
But I can fynde in a field  or in a fourlong an hare
Bett re þan — in Beatus vir or in Beati omnes .
Construe oon clause wel  and kenn e it to my paris shens
I can holde louedaies  and h ere a Reues Rekenynge
Ac in Canoun ne in þe Decretales  I can nouȝt rede a lyne .

If I bigge and borwe it  but if it be tailled
I forȝete it as yerne  and[^299] men me it axe
Six sithes or seuene  I forsake it with othes
And þus tene I trwe men  ten hundred tymes .

[^299: M.5.435: M alone among B manuscripts omits the word if here.]

And my seruauntz som -tyme  hir salarie is bih ynde
Reuthe is to here rekenynge  whanne we shal rede acompt es[^300]
So with wikk ede wille & wrath  my werkemen I paie .
If any man doþ me a bienfaite  or helpeþ me at nede
I am vnkynde aȝeinz his curteisie  and can nouȝt vndurstonde it
For I haue and haue had  somdeel — haukes maners
I nam nouȝt lured with loue  but þer ligge auȝt  vndur þe thombe

[^300: M.5.439: The revised reading is that of most B manuscripts. Cr23 read account.]

Þe kyndnesse þat my euene-cristene  kydde me f ernyere
Sixty sithes I slewthe  haue forȝete it siþþe
In speche and in sparinge of speche  y-spilt many a tyme
Bothe Flessh and Fissh  and many othur vitailles
Bothe bred and ale  mylk butt re[^301] and chese
For-sle uthed in my seruice  til it miȝte seruen no man

[^301: M.5.449: M alone among B manuscripts lists mylk before buttre.]

I ran a-boute in yowthe  and yaf me nouȝt to l erne
And euere sitth haue[^302] ben beggere  for my foule slewthe .
Heu michi quia sterilem duxi vitam iuuenilem .

[^302: M.5.452: M's original reading without haue agreed with LR.]

Repentestow þe nauȝte  quod repentaunce . and riȝt with þat he swonede
Til vigilate þe veille  fette watur at his eiȝen .
And flatte it vpon[^303] his face  and faste vpon[^304] hym criede
# quod misericordia superest omnem iniquitatem
And saide war þe from wanhope  wolde þe bitraie
I am sor y for my synn es  saie so to þ i -selue
And bete þi-selue on þi breste  and bidde hym of grace
For is non gulte here so gret  þat his godnesse nys[^305] more .

[^303: M.5.456: M's reading of vpon is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read on.]

[^304: M.5.456: M's reading of vpon is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read on.]

[^305: M.5.460: The rewritten nys brings M into agreement with WL. Other B manuscripts have is.]

Þann e sat sleuthe vp  and sainede him swythe
And made avowe to-fore god  for his foule sleuthe
Shal no s onday be þis seuene yere  but if sekenesse it lette
Þat I ne shal do me er day  to þe dere churche
And heren matines and messe  as I a monke were
Shal no on ale aftur metes[^306]  holden me þennes
Til I haue euensonge herd . I bihote to þe Rode .
And yet wol I yelde aȝein  if I so muche haue
All þat I wikkudly wan  syth I wit hadde .

[^306: M.5.466: M alone among B manuscripts attests the plural.]

And þouȝ my liflode lakke  l eten I nelle .
Þat eche man ne shal haue his  er I henn es wende
And with þe Re sydue and þe rem enaunt  by þe rode of Chestre
I shal seke truthe erst  ar I se Rome

# de Robert the robber
Robert þe Robbe re  on reddite loked
nota
And for þer nas[^307] nauȝt whereof .  he we ep swithe &[^308] sore .
Ac yet þe synneful shrewe  saide to him-seluen
Crist þat — vpon[^309] Caluarie  vpon þe crosse de yedest
Þo dismas my broþur  bisouȝte yow of grace .
And haddest merci on þat man  for memento sake
So ruwe on þis robbere  þat reddere ne haue th[^310]
Ne neuere wene to wynne  with craft þat I owe
But for þi mikel mercy  mitigacioun I biseche
Ne dampne me nouȝt at domesday  for þat I d ide so ille .

[^307: M.5.475: M's reading of nas is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read was.]

[^308: M.5.475: Between swithe and sore there is a faint insertion caret and a mark which is perhaps best interpreted as an ampersand. There is no support for this among the variants.]

[^309: M.5.477: M's reading of vpon is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read on.]

[^310: M.5.480: M's original haue (followed by an overwritten punctus) agreed with most B manuscripts. The alteration brings M into agreement with Cr23, while Cr1OC2 read hath.]

What bifel of þis feloun  I can nouȝt faire shewe
#
Wel I wo ot he wepte faste  watur with boþe his eiȝen
And knowlechede his gult to Crist . yet eftesones .
Þat penitencia his pik  he shulde Polisshe newe
And lepe with him ouerland  all his liftyme
For he hadde l eyn bi latro  luciferes aunte

the prayer of Repentance
And þanne hadde repentaunce reuthe  and redde hem alle to knele
For I shal biseche for alle sinneful  oure saueoure of grace
To amende vs of oure misdedes  and do mercie to vs alle .

nota bene
Now god quod he þat of þ y goodnesse  gunne þe world make
And of nauȝt madest ou ght . and man mooste liche þi-selu en
And siþþe suffredest for to synne . a sekenesse to vs alle .
And all for þe beste as I bileue . what euere þe boke telleþ
de necessitate peccati
O felix culpa . o necessarium . ade peccatum . & cetera .
For þor gh þat synn e þi sone  sent was to þe erthe
And bicam man of a maide . mankynde to saue
And madest þiself with þ y — sone . and vs synneful y-liche
Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem & simlitudinem sim[i]litudinem nostram
Et alibi qui manet in caritate . in deo manet & deus in eo .

nota bene
And suth with þ y — selue sone . in oure sute deiedest
On godefriday for ma n n es sake . at ful tyme of þe day
Þere þi-selue ne þ y — sone  no sorwe in deth feledest
But in oure secte was þe sorwe  and þ y sone it ladde
Captiuam duxit captiuitatem

Þe sonne for sorwe herof[^311]  les his[^312] liȝt[^313] for a ty me
Aboute midday whanne moost liȝt is  and mele-tyme of seint es
Feddest with þi Fressh blod  owre forfadres in derkenesse .
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam & cetera
And þo rgh þe liȝt þat lepe out  þ o[^314] lucifer was blent
And blewe alle þine blessud  in-to þe blisse of Paradys

[^311: M.5.508: M's reading herof is unattested among other B manuscripts, which read þerof.]

[^312: M.5.508: This insertion brings M into agreement with C2YOCot.]

[^313: M.5.508: It seems probable that M originally read siȝte, agreeing with BoHmGCBmCotLRF. The alteration brings M into agreement with WCrYOC2.]

[^314: M.5.512: M originally read out þe, with þe then altered to þo and a punctus elevatus inserted between the two words. Most other B manuscripts read out of þee.]

Þe þridde da y aftur  þow yedest in oure sute
# Sinffull Mare nota

[M.5.515: The ink of nota differs from that of Sinffull Mare.]

And synful Marie þe seiȝ . er seinte Marie þi dame
And al to solace sinneful . þou suffredest it so were
Non veni vocare iustos . set peccatores ad penitenciam

optime dictum
And al þat mar k haþ y-made  Mathew Ion and lucas .
Of þine douȝtieste dedes . weren don in oure armes
Verbum caro factum est & habitauit in nobis
And by so muche me semeþ . þe sekerer we mowe
Bidde and biseche . if it b e[^315] þ y wille .
Þat art oure fadur and oure brothur . be merciable to vs .
And haue reuthe on þes Ribaudes . þat repente hem so[^316] sore
Þat euere þei wratthed þe in þis world . in word . þouȝt . or dede

[^315: M.5.522: M's original bi was unattested in other B manuscripts.]

[^316: M.5.524: M's reading of so is unique among B manuscripts, many of which read here.]

# de hope
Þanne hente hope an horn  of deus tu conuersus viuificabis
And blewe it with Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates
x
Þat alle seint es in heuene  songen at ones .
Homines & iumenta saluabis . quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus & cetera

A thousand of men þo  throngen to- gydres
Criede vp to crist-warde[^317] . and to his clene modur
To haue grace to go with hem  treuthe to seke
Ac þere was wiȝt non so wis  þe we y þ ydur couthe
But blustrede forþ as best es  ouer bankes and hull es .
Til late was and longe  þat þei a l eede mette
Apparailled as a payni m  in pilgrimes wise
He bar a burdoun y-bo un den  with a brode liste
In a withwyndes wise  y-wo un den aboute
A Bolle and a bagge  he bare bi his side
And an[^318] hundred of ampulles  on his hat seten
Signes of sinay  and shelles of galice
A nd many a[^319] cr ouch on his cloke  and keies of Rome
And þe vernicle bifore  for men shulde knowe
And se bi his sign es  whom he souȝt had de

[^317: M.5.531: M's syntax here is unique among B manuscripts, the rest of which read vpward to Crist.]

[^318: M.5.540: M's revised reading And an is shared with F and is the reading of C manuscripts. Other B manuscripts have An.]

[^319: M.5.542: M's original reading without a agreed with YCR.]

Þis folk frainede him furst  from w hennes he coome

From sinay he saide  and from oure lordes sepulcre .
In Bedlem and in Babiloine  I haue ben in boþe
In Ermonie in alisaundre  in many othur places
#
Ye may se by my signes  þat sitt en on myn hatte
Þat I haue walkud ful wide  in wete and in drie .
And souȝt gode seintus  for my soule helþe .

questio vbi veritas moratur
Knowestow ouȝt a corseint  þat men callen treuthe
Coudestow ouȝt wiss en vs þe we y  where þat wy won yeth[^320]

[^320: M.5.553: M shares the reading wonyeth with Cr. It is also the reading of C manuscripts. Other B manuscripts have dwelleþ.]

nota bene
Nay so me god helpe  saide þe gome þanne
I se ygh neuere Palmere  with pik ne with skrippe
Axen aftur hym  til[^321] now in þis Place .

[^321: M.5.556: M shares the reading til with F. Other B manuscripts have alliterating er or er til.]

nota
Petur quod a plowman  and putte forth his hede
I knowe him as kyndeliche  as clerk doþ his bokus
# quia dicit Petrus ploughman optime cognoscere veritatem
Conscience and kende wit  kende me to his place
And deden me seuren hym sikerly  to seruen him for euere
Bothe to sowe and to sette  whil I swyn ke miȝte .
I haue ben his folware  al þis fourty wyntur
Bothe sowen his sede  and suede his bestus .
With- Inne and with-outen  waited his profit
I dike and I delue . I do þat treuthe hoteth
Somme-time I sowe  and s om— -tyme I thresshe
In taillours craft and tynkers  what treuthe can diuise
I weue and I w inde  and do what treuthe hoteth

For þoȝ I seie it my-selue  I serue him to paie
I haue myn hire wel  and othurwhiles more
He is þe presteste paiere  þat pore man[^322] knoweth
He ne withh oldeþ[^323] non h ewe his hire  þat he nath it at euen
He is as lowe as a lomb  and loueliche of speche .
# quomodo docet viam viam viam ad veritatem
And if ye wilneth to witen  where þat he dwelleþ
I shal wisse yow witturly  þe we y to his place

[^322: M.5.571: M alone among B manuscripts attests the singular. It is the reading of the C text.]

[^323: M.5.572: The altered form withholdeþ is shared with G. Other B manuscripts read withhalt.]

Ye leue piers quod þis pilgrimes . and proferede hym h yre
X #
For to wenden with him  to truthes dwelling -place

nota
Nay by my soules helthe quod piers  and gan for to sweren
I nolde fange a ferthing  for seinte Thomas shrine
#
Treuthe wolde loue me þe lasse  a longe tyme aftur .
Ac if ye wilneth to wende wel  þis is þe we y þ yder .
nota primum mandatum
Ye moten go þor gh me kenesse . bothe men and wyues
Til ye come in to conscience . þat Crist wo ot[^324] þe sothe
Þat ye louen oure lord god . leuest of alle þinges[^325]
And þanne youre neiȝgbores next . in nonwise non wise appairen
Othere-wise þan — þow woldest . he wrouȝte to þ y— -seluen

[^324: M.5.583: M's altered reading woot (presumably originally wote) agrees with F. Other B manuscripts have wite.]

[^325: M.5.584: M's original form without <-s> was shared by F.]

And so boweþ forþ by abroke a broke . beth bux om of speche
Til ye fynde a for d  youre fadres honoureth
Honora patrem & matrem & cetera .
Wadeth in þat watur  and wassh yow wel þer Inne[^326]
And ye shullen lepe þe liȝtloker . al yowre lif-tyme
And so shalt þow se[^327] swere nouȝt . but if it be for nede .
An nameliche an ydel . þe name of god almiȝty

[^326: M.5.590: The addition of Inne brings M into agreement with WF.]

[^327: M.5.592: M's original reading without se agreed with HmYOC2.]

Þanne shalt þou come by a croft . but come þow nouȝt þer inne
Þat Croft hat coueite nouȝt . me n n es catel ne hire wyues
Ne none of here seruauntz . þat noien hem miȝte
Loke ye breke none bowes þere  but if it be youre owne

Two stokkes þere ston den  ac stonde[^328] ye nouȝt þere .
Þei hatten stele nouȝt . ne slee nouȝt  strik forby[^329] boþe .
And leue hem vpon[^330] þ y[^331] luft half . and loke nouȝt þere-aftur .
+
And holde wel þin halyday  heiȝe til euene .
Þanne shaltow blenche at a burgh . bere no false w ytnesse
He is — frithed in — with Flo rynes . and oþere foes many
Loke þow ne[^332] plukke no plaunte þere  for peril of þ y soule

[^328: M.5.598: M's stonde is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read stynte.]

[^329: M.5.599: M's reading of forby is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read forþ by.]

[^330: M.5.600: M's reading of vpon is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read on.]

[^331: M.5.600: For M's altered þy CrG read þe.]

[^332: M.5.604: M's ne is unattested in other B manuscripts.]

Þanne shul ye se[^333] sey soth  so it be to done
In no manere elles nouȝt . for no ma n n es bidding

[^333: M.5.605: The erased supralinear swere is legible with ultraviolet light. There are no parallels in other B manuscripts.]

Þanne shaltow come to a court . as clier as þe s onne
Þe mote is of mercy  þe manere aboute .
And alle þe walles ben of wit . to holde wil oute
And kernelled with Cristendome  m ankynde to saue
Boterasud with bileue so  or þow beest nouȝt y-saued

And alle þe houses ben heled . halles and chambres
With no led . but with loue  and lowe speche as Breþeren
Þe brugge is of bidde wel . þe bet may þou spede 
Eche piler is of penaunce . and[^334] of praiers to seint es
Of almesdedus arn þe hokes . þat þe gatus hangen on .

[^334: M.5.615: The addition of and brings M into agreement with HmF.]

Grace hat þe gatewarde . a gode man for sothe
His man hatte amende yow  for many man him knoweth
Telleþ him þis tok ene . þat truthe wite þe sothe
I parfournede þe penaunce  þe prest me enioinede
And am ful sori for my synus  and so I shal euere
Whanne I thenke þere-on  thei gh I were a pope .
Biddeth amende yow meke him  to his maist er ones
# appyllis vnrosted
To wayue vp þe wikat  þat þe wo m man shette
Tho Adam and Eue et en  ap ples vnrostud .
Per evam cunctis clausa est . & per mariam virginem patefacta est .

For he hath þe keie and þe klikat . þouȝ þe kyng slepe
And if grace graunte þe to go in : in[^335] þis wise .
Þow shalt seen in þ y— -seluen  treuthe sitte in þin herte .
In a Chei ere[^336] of charitee  as þow a Childe were .
To suffren him and segge nouȝt  aȝein þi sires wille

[^335: M.5.628: M shares the reading in in with L. Other B manuscripts simply have in.]

[^336: M.5.630: Most B manuscripts here read cheyne. The altered reading of M agrees with Cr3Bm.]

Ac be war þanne of wratthe  þat is a wikk ed shrewe
He hath enuye to him  þat in þine herte sitteth
And pokeþ forth pr yde  to praisen þi-seluen

[M.5.635: This erased marginal note was likely a guide for the correction þe boldnesse.]

Þe boldnesse of thy bienfaitz . makeþ þe blynd þanne .
And þanne worthestow driuen out as dew  and þe dore closud
Kaied and kli ketted  to kepe þe with-oute
Happ yly an hu ndred wynt er  er þou eft entre
Thus miȝt þou lesen his loue  to late wel by þi-seluen
And neuere aftur happiliche[^337] entre  but grace þow haue

[^337: M.5.640: M's reading of aftur happiliche is unique among B manuscripts, the rest of which read happily eft.]

Septem sorores que seruiunt ad veritatem
Ac þere arn seuene sustren  þat seruen truthe euere
And arn Porters of[^338] þe posternes . þat to þe place longeþ .
Þat on h yȝte abstinence . and humilite þat[^339] oþur
Charite an chastite  ben his chief mayden es
Pacience & pees  moche p eple þei helpuþ .
Largenesse þe lady  she[^340] leteþ in ful manye
She[^341] haþ holpen a þousan d out  of þe deueles penfold

[^338: M.5.642: For M's altered of, F reads at, Cr23 read to, and R reads ouer.]

[^339: M.5.643: M's reading þat is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read an.]

[^340: M.5.646: The altered form she is shared with most B manuscripts. L has heo and R he.]

[^341: M.5.647: The altered form She is shared with most B manuscripts. WLR have Heo.]

And who is sib — to þis seuene  so me god helpe
He is wondurliche welcome  and faire vndurfongen .
And but ye be sibbe  to somme of þes seuene
It is ful hard by myn he ed . quod Piers  for any of yow alle
To geten ingonge at any gate þere . but grace be þe more

# Cutpurse
Now by Crist quod a cuttepurs . I haue no kyn — þere
Ne I quod an apeward  by auȝt þat I knowe .

Wo ot[^342] god quod a wafrer . wiste I þis for sothe
Shulde I neuere ferther a fote  for no Frerus prechinge .

[^342: M.5.655: Other B manuscripts read Wite or Wold for M's Woot, which is probably altered from Wote.]

Yus quod Pieres Plowman[^343]  and pokud hem alle to gode
# quia misericordia super omnia
Mercy is a mayden þere  hath miȝt ouere hem alle
And she is sibbe to alle synneful  and here sone also
And thurgh the help of hem two  hope þow non other
Þow miȝt gete grace þere  so þow go bytyme

[^343: M.5.657: M's Plowman agrees with F; other B manuscripts read þe Plowman.]

By seinte poul quod a Pardoner . an[^344] auenture  I be nouȝt knowen þere
I wil go fecche my box with my breuetes  and a bulle with bisshopus lettres
By Crist quod a comune womman  þi companie wil I folwe .
Þow shalt seie I am þi sust er  I not where þei b ycome .

[^344: M.5.662: M's addition of an brings it into agreement with Cr. Most B manuscripts read par.]

Passus sextus de visione vt supra [M.6.0: This rubric is centered in the line.]

T his were a wikk ede way  but whoso hadde a gyde
Þat wolde folwen vs eche a fote  þus þis folk hym[^345] monede[^346]
Qu od perkin þe Plowman  b i seint petur of Rome
I haue an halue-acre to erien  by þe heie w eye
Hadde I eried þis halue-acre  and y-sowen it aftur
I wolde wende with yow . and þe we y teche .

[^345: M.6.2: M's reading of hym is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read hem.]

[^346: M.6.2: In place of M's monede, all other B manuscripts have mened.]

Þis were a long lettynge  quod a lady in a sklayre
What shulden we wymmen  worchen þere-whilus

S omme shal sowen sakkus[^347]  for spillinge[^348] of þe whete
And ye louely ladies  with yowre longe fingres
Þat ye han silk and sandel  to sowen whanne tyme is
Chesibles for chapleines  ch yrchus to . honoure

[^347: M.6.9: In place of M's reading sakkus, all other B manuscripts have þe sak, except L which has sakke. This is followed by quod Piers in all manuscripts except G, which has quod he.]

[^348: M.6.9: M's reading of spillinge is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read shedyng. It is the reading of two A manuscripts.]

Wyues and widowes  wolle and flex spinneth
Maketh cloth I conseille yow  and kenneth so yowre douȝt res
Þe nedy and þe nakud  nymeth hiede how hij liggeth .
And casteþ hem clothus . for so comandeth treuthe
For I shal lenen hem liflode . but if þe lond faille
Flessh and bred bothe  to riche and to pore .
As longe as I liue for oure  lordus loue of heuene

And alle manere of men . þat þorwȝ mete and drinke libbeth
Helpeth hym to worche witȝly . þat wynneth yowre fode

By Crist quod a knyȝt þo  he kenneth vs þe beste
Ac on þe teme truly  tauȝt was I neuere
# quomodo miles optulit seipsum ad aratrum
Ac kenne me quod þe kniȝt  and by crist I wil assaie

By seint Poule quod perkin  ye profre yow so faire
# the Covenaunt by-twene the knyght & the plowman
Þat I shal swinke and swete  and sowe for vs bothe
And oþur labours do for þi loue . al my lif-tyme .
In couenaunt þat þow kepe . holikirke and my-seluen
From wastours and wikkyde men . þat þis wo rld struyeth

And go hunte harddiliche . to hares and to foxes
To bores and to brokkus  þat breketh a-doun myn hegges
And go affaite þi faucounes . wilde foules to kulle
For suche cometh to my croft . and croppuþ myn whete

Curteiselich þe kniȝt þanne . com sed þis wordus
By my powere piers quod he  I pliȝte þe my truthe
To fulfulle þis forwarde  þouȝ I fiȝte shulde
Als longe as I liue . I shal þe mainteine .

# quia bene dicit
Ye and yet a point quod Piers  I praie yow of more
Loke ye tene no tenaunt  but trwþe wil assente
And þogh ye mowe amercie hem . lat mercy be taxour
And mekenesse þi Maist er  Maugre medes chekus
And þowȝ pore men profre yow  presentus and yiftus
Nym h em[^349] nauȝt an auenture  ye may it nauȝt deserue
For þow shalt yelde it aȝein  at on yeres ende
In a ful perillous place  purgatorie it hiȝte

[^349: M.6.43: M's original reading him was unattested in other B manuscripts. The altered reading of hem is shared with F and is the reading of some A manuscripts. Most B manuscripts read it.]

# the knyghtis Bondman
And mysbede nouȝt þi bonde-men  þe bett re may þow spede
Þowȝ he be þin vndurling he[^350]  wel may happe in heuene
Þat he wortheþ worthier y-s ett  and with more blisse
Amice ascende superius
nota #
For in Charneles[^351] atte churche . cherlus ben euele to knowe
Or a kniȝt from a knaue þere  knowe þis in þin herte .
And þat þow be trwe of þ y tonge  and tales þat þow hate
x
But if þei ben of wisdom or of wit  þi werkemen to chaste
Hold with none harlotus  ne here nouȝt h yre tales .
# the devils dysowrs
And nameliche atte mete . suche men eschuwe
For it ben þe deueles disours  I do þe to vndurstonde

[^350: M.6.47: M's original reading here is attested in most B manuscripts. The altered reading is unattested among B manuscripts.]

[^351: M.6.50: M shares plural Charneles with G. Other B manuscripts have the singular.]

I assente by seint Iame . saide þe kniȝt þanne
For to worche by þ y wordus . þe while my lif dureth

And I shal apparaille me quod Piers[^352] . in pilgrimes wise
And wende with yow I wil  til we fynde truþe

[^352: M.6.59: M shares the form Piers with F, for Perkyn in other B manuscripts.]

And cast on my clothus  y-clowted and hole
My cokurs and my Cuffus . for colde of my nailles
And hange myn hopur at myn hals  in stede of a scrippe
A busshel of bredcorn  bringe me þere-inne[^353] .
For I wil sowe it my-selue . and sithenes wil I wende
To pilgrimages as palmeres doon  pardoun forto haue

[^353: M.6.64: The correction has been made by erasing the first two minims. See Introduction III.1.]

Ac whoso helpuþ me to erien . or sowen here ar I wende
He[^354] shal haue leue by oure lorde . to lese here in heruest
And make hem myrie þere mid . maugree[^355] whoso bigruccheþ it

[^354: M.6.68: M shares the reading He with F, omitted by other B manuscripts.]

[^355: M.6.69: M's original reading without maugree is an A reading not paralleled in other B manuscripts.]

And alle kin crafty men . þat k onne lyuen in truthe
I shal finden hem fode . þat faithfulliche libbetth
Saue Iak þe iogulour . and Ionete of þe stuwes
# quia oblaciones non debent recepi de hijs quorum nomina deleantur & cetera
And danyel þe dys plaiere  and Denot þe bawde
And Frere þe faitour . and folk of his ordre
And Robin þe Ribaudour . for his rusty wordus
Truthe tolde me ones . and bad me telle it aftur
Deleantur de libro viuencium . I shulde nouȝt dele with hem
For holichurche is hote . of hem no tythe to take .
Quia cum iustis non scribantur
Thei ben ascapud good auenture . now god hem amende

Dame worche whan tyme is . piers wif hiȝte
His douȝt er hiȝte do riȝt so /  or þi dame shal þe bete
His sone hiȝte suffre þi souerains . to hauen hire wille
Deme hem nouȝt for if þow doost  þou shalt it dere abigge
Lat god y-worthe with-al  for so his word techeþ
For now I am old and hore . and haue of myn owene
To penaunce and to pilgrimage . I wil passe with othere
For-þi I wil er I wende . do write my biqueste
the testament of Piers
In dei nomine amen . I make it my-selue
He shal haue my soule  þat beste hath it[^356] disserued
And fro þe fende it defende . and[^357] so I bileue
Til I come to his acomptus  as my Credo me telleþ
To haue a relees and a remissioun . on þat rental I leue

[^356: M.6.90: All other B manuscripts place this it at the end of the line. M's original reading without it is unattested in other B manuscripts but is the reading of the A version. Kane and Donaldson record the rest of the line as over erasure, perhaps referring to disserued, but only its final <-e> is erased.]

[^357: M.6.91: M's reading of and is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read for. It is the reading of the C version.]

The kirke shal haue my caroigne . and kepe my bones
For of my corn and catel . he crauede þe tithe
to pay preestly is nothing for they be all receyvers

[M.6.96: An example of the marginal commentator's anticlericalism?]

I paiede him ful[^358] prestly . for peril of my soule
For-þi is he holden I hope . to haue me in his masse
An mengen in his memorie . amonges alle cristene

[^358: M.6.96: M's reading him ful is unattested in other B manuscripts. W reads it ful; most other B manuscripts read it hym.]

My wif shal haue of þat I wan . with truthe and namore
And delen among my douȝteres . and my dere children
For þowȝ — I deie to-day  my dettus arn quitte
I bare hom þat I borwede  er I to bedde yede .

And with the resydue and þe rem enaunt . by þe Rode of lukes
I wil worshipe þere-with . truthe by my lyue
And ben his pilgrim atte plowgh . for pore menn es sake
My plowgh foot shal be my pike -staf . and p ycche atwo þe Rotus
And helpe my Cultre to kerue . and clense þe forwes

¶
Now is perkin and his pilgrimes . to þe plowgh faren
To erie þis halue-acre  holpen him manye
Dykers and deluers . diggeden vp þe balkes
Þere-with was perkyn appaied . and praised hem faste
Othere werkemen þere were . þat wrouȝte ful faste[^359]
Eche man in his maner . made hym-selue to doone
And s omme to plese perkyn . pikede vp þe wedus

[^359: M.6.112: M shares the reading faste with C, for yerne in other B manuscripts. It is the reading of A manuscripts.]

Atte heiȝe prime pers . let þe plow stonde
To ouer -seen hem him-selue . and whoso best wrouȝte
He shulde ben h yred þere-aftur . whanne heruest -tyme come .

And þanne seten summe . and songen at þe nale
And holpen erien his halue-acre . with how trolly-lolly
Now b y þe peril of my soule . quod Piers . al in pure tene
But ye arise þe rathur . and rape yow to worche
Shal no greyn þat her[^360] groweth . glade yow at nede
# the devill haue þat Reccheth
And þo wgh ye deiȝe for do el . þe deuel haue þat reccheth

[^360: M.6.122: M's addition of her is an AC reading unattested in other B manuscripts.]

Tho were faitours a-fierde . and feinede hem blinde
# # quomodo truffatores Fingunt se Fere mitulati m[uti]lati & Ceci
Summe leide here legges a-leri . as suche losels conneth
And made here mone to pier s . and praide hym of grace
For we haue no limes to labore with . lord y-graced be ye

Ac we praie for yow piers . and for yowre plow bothe
Þat god of his grace . yowre gra yn multiplie
And yelde yow of yowre almes . þat ye yeueþ vs here
For we may nouȝt swynke ne swete . such sekenesse vs ailleth

If it be soth þat ye sain[^361] quod Piers . I shal it sone aspie .
Ye ben wastours I wot well . and truthe wot þe sothe
And I am his olde hyne . and hiȝte him to warne .
Whiche þei were in þis world . his werkemen appaire d

[^361: M.6.132: M's reading of þat ye sain quod Piers reverses the syntax of most other B manuscripts, which read quod piers þat ye seyn. G omits quod Piers entirely; YOC2CB omit þat ye seyn.]

Ye wasten þat men wynnen . with trauaille and with tene
# Contra wasters
Ac treuthe shal teche yow . his teme to driue
Or ye shal ete barly bred . and of þe broke drinke
But if he be blind or[^362] broke-leggud . or bolted with yrnes
He shal ete whete breed . and drinke with my-selue
Til god of his godnesse . amendement hym seende
Ac ye miȝte trauaille as truthe wolde . & take mete & huyre
To kepe kyne in þe field . þe corn fro þe bestes
Diken or deluen  or dingen vppon sheues
Or helpe make morter . or bere mukke afield .

[^362: M.6.139: M's altered reading or agrees with most B manuscripts. L reads and.]

[^363]In leccherie and in losengerie . ye lyuen and in sleuthe
qui parcit virgam perdit filium
And al is þorw suffraunce . þat veniaunce yow ne taketh

[^363: M.6.146-155: This paragraph and the next two are bracketed in left margin and marked heresi in a seventeenth-century hand. It is not immediately clear which of the ideas in these paragraphs prompted the comment of "heresy."]

Ac ancres and herm ytes . þat eten but at nones
And namore er morwe . myne almesse shul þei haue
heresi
And of my catel to cope hem with . þat han cloistres and churches
Ac Robert renne aboute . shal nouȝt haue of myne
Ne posteles but þei preche conne . and haue power of þe bisshop
Þay shal haue payn and potage . and make hem-selue at ese
# con tra fratres
For it is an vnresonable Religioun . þat haþ riȝt nouȝt of certeyn

And þanne gan a wastour to wrathe hym . and wolde haue y-fouȝte
And to piers þe[^364] plowman  he prof rede his gloue
A Bretoner a braggere . abostede Piers als
And bad hym go pisse with his plowe . for-pynede shrewe .
Wiltow or niltow . we wil haue oure wille
Of þi flour and þy flessh . fecche whann e vs liketh
And make vs merie þere-with . maugre þine chekus

[^364: M.6.156: M's original reading without þe agreed with OC2F.]

# quomodo queritur piers ad militem
Þanne Piers þe Plowman  plained hym to þe kniȝte
To kepe hym as couenaunt was . fram curs ede shrewes
And from þis wastours woluesskynnes . þat makeþ þe world deere
For þei waste and wynnnen wynnen nouȝt . and þat ilke while
Worth neuere plente among þe peple . þere while my plow liggeth

Curteisly þe kniȝt þanne . as his kynde wolde
Warnede wastour . and wissud hym bett re
Or þow shalt abbigge by þe lawe . by þordre þat I bere

X

[M.6.170: The <X> is written drypoint.]

I was nouȝt I-won t to worche quod wastour . and now wole — I not bigynne
And lete liȝt of þe lawe . and lasse of þe knyȝte
And sette piers at a pese . and his plow bothe
And manaced piers and his men . if þei mette eft -sone
Now bi þe perill of my soule quod piers  I shal appaire yow alle
# the hopyng after hunger
And houpud aftur hongur . þat herde him atte furste
A-wreke me on[^365] þes wastours quod he  þat þis world schendeth

[^365: M.6.176: M shares the reading on with Hm, for of in other B manuscripts.]

Hon ger in haste þo hente  wastour by þe mawe
# quod Fames venit ad puniendum vastum
And wrong hym so bi þe wombe  þat bothe his eiȝhen wat rede
He buff etted þe bretoner . aboute þe chekes .
Þat he lokud lik a lanterne . al his lif aftur
He bette hem so bothe . he barste nere here guttus
Nadde Piers with a pese lof  preid hungur to cesse
Þei hadden ben doluen bothe  deme þou non othur
Suffre hem liue he saide  and late hem eten with hogges
O r ellus benes and bren . baken to-gedres
Er[^366] ellus me lk and mene ale  þus praide piers for hem .

[^366: M.6.186: M's Er is unique. All other B manuscripts read Or.]

Faitours for fere hereof . flowen in-to bernes
And flapten on with flailes . fram morwe til euene
That hungur was nouȝt so hardy . on hem for to loke
For a potful of peses . þat Piers hadde I-mak ed[^367][^368]
An hepe of hermitus . henten hem spadus
And kuten — hire copes  and court pis hem maden
And wenten as werkemen . with spadus and with shoueles
And doluen and dikeden . to driue awey hungur

[^367: M.6.190: Something, no longer legible, is erased in the left margin.]

[^368: M.6.190: In the lower right corner of this leaf is a mark of some sort, about 1cm high, whose significance is unknown. It seems to correspond to a similar mark, also visible on the current image, in the lower left corner of the facing leaf.]

Blynde and bedredene . were bo otned a þousand
That seten to begge silu er . sone were þei hel ed
# that was baken For bayerd
For þat was baken for baiard . was bote for many hungri
And many a begger for benes . ful[^369] buxom was to swynke
And eche pore man wel paied . to haue pesen for his huyre
And what Piers praide hem to done  as prest as a sparhauk
And þere-of was Piers proud . and putte hem to werke
And yaf hem mete as he miȝte forthe[^370] . and mesurable hyre

[^369: M.6.198: M's ful is unattested in other B manuscripts, except F, which reads ful bown.]

[^370: M.6.202: Most B manuscripts read aforþe; Cr reads ford.]

And[^371] þanne hadde Piers pite . and praide hungre to wende
Hom in-to his owne yerd[^372] . and holden him þere
For I am wel awroke now . of wastours þorwȝ þi miȝte
Ac I pray þe er thow passe . quod Piers to hungur
Of beggers and bidders . what best be to done
For I wo ot[^373] be þow went . þei wil worchen —[^374] ille
For meschief it makeþ . þei be so meke nowthe
And for defaute of hire fode . þis folk is atte my wille
Þey arn my blody breþeren . quod pieres . for god bouȝte vs alle .[^375]
Treuthe tauȝte me ones . to louen hem echone
And to helpen hem of alle þing . ay as hem nedeth
And now wolde I witen of þe . what were þe beste
And how I miȝte amaistren hem . and make hem to worche

[^371: M.6.203: M's reading And is unattested in other B manuscripts.]

[^372: M.6.204: The alteration to yerd brings M into agreement with WHmCr. M's original erd agreed with LR.]

[^373: M.6.208: M alone among B manuscripts lacks the word wel here.]

[^374: M.6.208: Among other B manuscripts only G omits ful.]

[^375: M.6.211: It seems probable that M originally agreed with A and C in lacking quod pieres, and so the corrector needed to rewrite the b-verse and insert another punctus.]

# concilium Famis con tra audaces mendicantes
Here now quod hungur . and holde it for a wisdome
Bolde beggers and bigge . þat mowe here bred swynke
With houndus bred . and horsbred  holde vp hire hertus
Abate hem with benes . for bollinge of hire wombe
And if þe grom es[^376] grucche  bidde hem go swynke
And he shal soupe swett er . whanne he it haþ deserued

[^376: M.6.220: M's gromes is unattested among other B manuscripts, most of which read gomes. The AC reading is also gromes, though this is not immediately obvious from Kane and Russell-Kane.]

And if þow fynde any freke . þat fortune hath appaired
Or any manere fals men . fonde þow suche to knowe
Conforte hem with þi catel . for cristus loue of heuene
Loue hem and lene hem . so lawe of god techeþ .
Alter alterius onera portate .
And alle manere of men . þat þow miȝt aspien
Þat nedy ben and nauȝty . help hem with þ y god es .
Loue hem and lakke hem nouȝt . and late[^377] god take þe veniaunce
The ygh þei done yuele  lat god aworthe
Michi vindictam & ego retribuam

[^377: M.6.229: M shares the reading and late with Hm; other B manuscripts omit and.]

And if þow wilt be graciou s to god . do as þe gospul techeþ
And bilowe þe amonges lowe men . so shalt þow lacche grace
Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis

I wolde nouȝt greue god quod Piers . for al þe good on grounde
Miȝte I do synnele es[^378] as þou saist . saide Piers þanne
Ye I bihote þe quod hung er  or ellus þe bible lieth
Go to Genesis þe gyaunt . þe engendrour of vs alle
In sudore / and in swynk  þow shalt þi brede[^379] tillie
And labour e for þ y ly flode . and so oure lord hi ghte
And sapience saith þe same  I seie it in þe bible

[M.6.242: This erasure is legible under ultraviolet light.]

Piger pro frigore . no feld wolde[^380] tilie
And þerfore he shal begge and bidde  & no man bete his hongur

[^378: M.6.236: M's reading of do synnelees is unique among B manuscripts. All other B manuscripts read synnelees do.]

[^379: M.6.239: M's reading of brede is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read mete.]

[^380: M.6.242: M's altered reading wolde agrees with HmCrFR. All other B manuscripts read nolde.]

Mathew with ma n n es face  mouthed þis wordus .
besaunte

[M.6.245: This gloss on nam appears directly over the word. WHmL also attest this gloss.]

Þat seruus nequam had a nam . and for he wolde not chaff are
He hadde maugre of his maistur . for euermore aftur
besaunt

[M.6.247: This gloss is in different hand than that two lines up, and is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

And by-nam hym[^381] his nam . for he nolde worche .
And yaf him[^382] þat Mnam . þat ten Mna m mes hadde
And with þat he saide . þat holichurche it herde
He þat hath shal haue . and helpe þerewith þat[^383] nedeth
And he þat nouȝt hath . shal nouȝt haue . and no man him helpe
And þat he weneth wel to haue . I wil it him reue[^384] .

[^381: M.6.247: M's original reading without hym was shared by L.]

[^382: M.6.248: Most other B manuscripts omit the word him here and include to him after the first Mnam.]

[^383: M.6.250: M's reading of þerewith þat is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read þere it.]

[^384: M.6.252: M's reading reue is unique. Other B manuscripts have bireue.]

Kynde w it wolde . þat eche a wiȝght wrouȝte
Or in dikinge or in deluynge . or trauaillinge in praiers
Contemplatif lif or actif lif . Crist wolde men wrouȝte
The sauter saieth in þe salme  of Beati omnes
Þe freke þat feduth him-selue . with his faithful labour
He is blessud by þe boke  in body and in soule
Labores manuum tuarum quia manducabis & cetera[^385]

[^385: M.6.259: F ends this Latin tag with manducabis batus es &c; most B manuscripts end after tuarum.]

Yet I praie yow quod Piers . par charitee and ye k onne
Eny leef of lechecraft . lere it me[^386] dere
For s omme of my seruauntz . and my-selue bothe
Of all a wyke wor che nouȝt . so oure wombes[^387] aketh
I wot wel quod hungur . what sekenesse yow ailleth
# con tra manging to moch
Ye han manged ouer-muche . and þat maketh yow grone .
Ac I hote þe quod hungur . as þow þin hele wilnest
Þat þow ne[^388] drinke no — day . til[^389] þow haue dined[^390] sumwhat
Ete nouȝt I hote þe . er hungur þe take
And sende þe of his sauce . to sauoure þy[^391] lippus
And kepe som til soper[^392] . and sitte nouȝt to longe
Ar ys vp er appetit . haue eten his fulle
Lat nouȝt sire surfait . sitten atte þ y borde
Loue him nouȝt . for he is leccherous . and likerous of tonge
And aftur many maners[^393] of mete . his mawe is afingred

[^386: M.6.261: M here lacks my, which is attested in all other B manuscripts save F.]

[^387: M.6.263: This plural is unattested in other B manuscripts. Kane and Donaldson state that "s added over erasure another ink," but the full half-line is rewritten.]

[^388: M.6.267: M's ne is unattested in other B manuscripts.]

[^389: M.6.267: M's reading of til is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read er. For the same variation see M.5.400.]

[^390: M.6.267: M's reading of haue dined is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read dyne.]

[^391: M.6.269: M shares the reading þy with F, for with þy in other B manuscripts. It is an A version reading.]

[^392: M.6.270: M shares the reading soper with F, for soper tyme in other B manuscripts.]

[^393: M.6.274: M shares the reading maners with C, for maner in other B manuscripts.]

And if þow diete þee[^394] þus . I dar legge myn eres .
That Phisik shal his furred hodes . for his fode selle
And his Clokes[^395] of Calabre . with alle þe knappus of golde
con tra medicos
And be fain by my faith . his phisik to lete .
And l erne to laboure with lond . for l yflode is swete
For mortherers arn many leches . lord hem amende .
Þei doo men deien þorwgh hire drinkes . ar destine it wolde .

[^394: M.6.275: M's original reading without þee was shared with CCot.]

[^395: M.6.277: M's plural is unattested in other B manuscripts.]

By seint Poule quod Piers . þi se arn profitable wordus
Wende now hon ger whanne þow wolt . þat wel be þow euere
For þis is a louely lessoun . lord it þe forȝelde

By-hote god quod hungur . hennes ne wille I w ende
Til I haue dined by þis day . and y-dronke bothe

I haue no peny quod Piers  poletes to bigge
Ne neithur gees ne gris . but two grene cheses
A fewe Cruddes and Creme  and a hauer kake .
And two loues of benes and bran  y-bake for my faunttis
And[^396] I sey by my soule . I haue no salt bacoun .
Ne no cokeney by crist  colopus for to maken
Ac I haue percile and porettus . and many ko ol plauntus
And ek a cow . and a calf  and a carte-mare .
To drawe a-felde my donge . þe while þe drouȝ te lasteth
And by þis liflode we moten liue . til lammes tyme
And by þat I hope to haue . heruest in my crofte
And þanne may I diȝte þi dyner . as me dere liketh .
Alle þe pore peple tho . Pesecoddes fetten
Benes and baken apples . þei brouȝten in hire lapp es .

[M.6.301: The deleted text is legible under ultraviolet light.]

Chibollus and Cheruell[^397]  and ripe[^398] chiries manye
And profr ede piers þis present  to plese with —[^399] hunger

[^396: M.6.291: All other B manuscripts here include yet.]

[^397: M.6.301: All other B manuscripts except Cr attest this word with plural <-s>. F reads chirne mylk.]

[^398: M.6.301: The insertion of ripe brings M into line with all other B manuscripts.]

[^399: M.6.302: M's original inclusion of his placed it in agreement with Cr3OC2CBmBo.]

Al hungur eet in haste  and ax ed aftur more
Þanne pore folk for fere  fedde hungur yerne
With grene porete and pesen  to poisun hungur þei þouȝte
By þat it[^400] neiȝed ner heruest  newe corn com to chepinge
Þanne was folk fa yn . and fedde  hung er with þe beste
With gode ale as glotoun tauȝte . and gerte hungre goo slepe

[^400: M.6.306: M's original reading without it agreed with YC.]

And þo wolde wastour not worche . but wandren a-boute
Ne no begger eten breed . þat benes inne were .
But of coket or clermatin . or ellus of clene whete
Ne non halpeny ale  in none wise drinke
But of þe beste and þe brunneste  þat in burgh is to selle
Laborers þat haue no land  to lyuen on but hire hondus
Deined nouȝt to dyne[^401] . niȝt olde wortus
May no penyale hem paie . ne no — pece of bacoun
But it be[^402] fressh flessh . or fissh rosted[^403] or baken[^404]
And þat chaud or plus chaud . for chillinge of hire mawe .

[^401: M.6.315: All other B manuscripts here include a day, except F which has or suppe.]

[^402: M.6.317: M shares the reading it be with F; other B manuscripts have if it be or omit the phrase.]

[^403: M.6.317: M's reading of rosted is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read fryed.]

[^404: M.6.317: This half line is written over a significantly longer erasure.]

A nd but he be hyliche yhyred . elles wil he chide
And þat he was werkman y-wrouȝt . wail eþ he þe while[^405] .
Aȝeins Catones conseill . comsuth he to iangle
Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento .

[^405: M.6.320: M's b-verse is unique among B manuscripts. Most other B manuscripts read waille þe tyme.]

He greueth h im aȝeins god . and gruccheþ aȝeins resoun .
And þanne curs eth he þe king . and al his conseill aftur
Suche lawes to loke . laborers to greue .
Ac whiles hunger was hire maist er . þere wolde non of hem chide
Ne striue aȝeins his statut  so sternelich he lok ed

Ac I warne yow werkemen . wurche[^406] wil ye mowe
For hungur hiderward . hasteþ h im faste
He shal awake with watur . wastours to chaste
Ar fyue be fulfullude . such famyn shal rise[^407] .
Þo rugh flodus and foule wedres . fruitus shal falle[^408]
Nota
And so saide saturne . & sente yow to warne
Whanne ye se þe s onne amys . & two Monkes heddes
And a mayde haue þe maistrie . and multipli ed[^409] bi eighte
Þanne shal deþ with-drawe . & derthe be Iustice
And dawe þe dikere . deie for hunger .
But if god of his goodnesse . graunte vs a t rewe

[^406: M.6.328: M's reading of wurche is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read wynneþ.]

[^407: M.6.331: M's reading rise is unique among B manuscripts, the rest of which read aryse.]

[^408: M.6.332: M's reading of fall is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read faille, though it is the reading of six A manuscripts.]

[^409: M.6.335: M's altered reading multiplied agrees with LRF. Other B manuscripts read multiplie.]

Passus septimus de Visione

T Reuthe herde telle hereof . and to piers he sente .
To taken his teme . an tilien þe erthe
And purchaced[^410] a pardoun . a pena & a culpa .
For him and for his heires . for euermore aftur
And bad him halde him at home . and erien his leies .
And alle þat halpe h im to erien  to setten or sowen .
Or any oþur mister . þat miȝte piers auaillen .
Pardoun with piers plowman . treuthe haþ y-graunt ed
Kynges and kniȝtus . þat kepun holychurche
And riȝtfulliche in reumes  reulen þe p eple .
Hath pardoun in[^411] purgatorie . to passen ful liȝtly
With Patriarkus and prophetus . in parad is to be Felawes .

[^410: M.7.3: Other B manuscripts, except Cr, have purchaced hym.]

[^411: M.7.11: M's reading of in is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read þoruȝ.]

Bisshopus y-blessud . if þei ben as þei shulden .
Legistres of boþe þe lawes . þe lewede þere-with to preche
And in as muche as þei mowe . amende alle synnefull .
Aren pieres with appostoles[^412] . þus pardoun piers sheweþ .
And atte þe day of dome . at[^413] heiȝe de ys to sitten .

[^412: M.7.16: M shares the reading with F. Other B manuscripts have þe Apostles.]

[^413: M.7.17: M shares the reading with R. Other B manuscripts have at þe.]

# quod mercatores non sunt soluti a pena & culpa quia non sanctificant sabatum
Marchauntz in þe margyne  hadden many yeres
Ac no on a pena & a culpa . þe pope nolde hem graunte .
For þei holden not here halidy halid[a]y  as holichurch techeþ
And for þei swere by hire soule  and als[^414] god hem helpe .
A yein clene Conscience  here Catel . to selle .

[^414: M.7.21: M's reading of als is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read so.]

Ac vndur his secreet seel . truthe sente hem a lettre
Þat þei shulden bugge boldly  þat hem best likud .
And siþþe sellen it aȝein  and saue þe wynny ng
And amende mesondeux þere-mid . & mises ed folk helpe .
And wikkud weies . wiȝtliche hem . amende .
And to[^415] do bote to brugges . þat tobroken weren
Marien mayd en s . or maken hem nonnes .
Pore p eple and prisouns . fynden hem hire fode .
#
And setten scolers to scole . and somme to[^416] oþere craftus
Releue religioun . and rente hem yet[^417] bettr e[^418]
And I shal sende yow my-selue  seint Michel myn Archangel
Þat no deuel shal derie yow[^419] . ne fere yow in yowre deyyng[^420]
And witen yow from wanhope  if ye will e thus werche
#
And sende yowre soules in sauftee  to my seint es in Ioye .
Þanne weren Marchauntz merie . and wept en for ioie
And praiseden Piers plowman[^421] . þat purchacede þis bulle .

[^415: M.7.28: M's reading of to is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

[^416: M.7.31: M's reading of and somme to is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read or to som.]

[^417: M.7.32: M's yet is not attested in other B manuscripts.]

[^418: M.7.32-35: A bracket in the left margin runs from this line to the bottom of the page.]

[^419: M.7.34: M's syntax, derie yow, is the reverse of the other B manuscripts, which read yow dere.]

[^420: M.7.34: In place of the rewritten yowre deyyng, YCrOC2CB read your doyinge.]

[^421: M.7.38: Other B manuscripts except G have þe Plowman.]

# de legum peritis quia minime de Indulgencia recipiunt
Men of lawe lest pardoun hadde . þat[^422] pleteden for mede
For þe sauter saueth hem nouȝt . such as takeþ yiftus .
And namelich of Innocentz . þat non yuel k onneth .
Super Innocentem munera non accipies .
Pledours shulde painen hem  to plede for such and helpe .
Princes and Prelat es  shulde paien for hire trauaille
A Regibus & principibus  erit merces eorum .

[^422: M.7.39: M's original reading without þat, not noted by Kane and Donaldson, agreed with G.]

Ac many a Iustice and Iurour . wol for Iohan doo moore .
Þan — pro dei pietate . leue þow non oþur
Ac he þat spendeþ his speche . and spekeþ for þe poore .
Þat is Innocent and nedy  and noman no man appaireth 

[M.7.50: The deleted text is legible under ultraviolet light.]

Conforteþ him in þat cas  withoute coueitise of yiftus .
And sheweþ lawe for oure lordes loue  as he it haþ lurned
Shal no deuel at his deþday . deren him a m yte
Þat he no[^423] worth sauf and his soule  þe sautier bereth w ytnesse
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo . & cetera .

[^423: M.7.53: Other B manuscripts read ne.]

nota
Ac to bugge watur ne wynd  ne witte ne fire[^424] þe ferthe
# quia deus Creauit quatuor in adiutorium Comune
This foure þe fadur of heuene  made to þis folde in comune
Þise ben trwthes tresors  trwe folk to helpe
Þat neuere shal waxe ne wanye  withouten god him-seluen

[^424: M.7.55: The correction was first entered supralinearly and then incorporated in-line.]

Whanne þei drawen on to deiȝen  and Indulgences wolden hauen
Here pardoun is ful petite  at hire partinge[^425] henn es .
Þat any me de of mene men  for hire motinge taketh 
Ye legistres and law yeres  holdeþ þis for truthe
Þat if þat I lie . mathew is to blame
For he bad me seyn[^426] yow þis  and þis prouerbe me toolde 
Quodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines / facite eis. & cetera

[^425: M.7.60: M's original plural is not attested in other B manuscripts.]

[^426: M.7.64: For seyn most B manuscripts read make, though OC2 have take and Cr has tel.]

Alle libbinge laborers  þat liuen with hire hondus
Þat truliche taken  and trweliche wynn en
And liuen in loue and in lawe . for hire lowe hertus
Haueth þe same absolucioun  þat sent was to Pieres

Beggers and[^427] bidders  ne beth nouȝt in þe bulle
But if þe suggestioun be soth  þat shapeþ hem to begge .
For he þat beggeth or bit  but if he haue nede .
He is fals with þe feend  and defraudeþ þe nedy
argumentum

[M.7.74: Whatever has been deleted here is illegible even under ultraviolet light.]

And als[^428] he bigileþ þe gyuer  ageins his wille
For if he wiste he were nouȝt nedy  he w olde yeue þat anothur
Þat were more nedi —[^429] þan he  so þe nedieste shulde be holpen
Catoun kenneþ men þis[^430]  and þe Clerk of þe stories .
opinio # quia remandat elimosina in Manu donec videas Cui des secundum Catoun

[M.7.78: The word opinio is followed by a curly brace connecting the label to all three lines of the Latin that follows.]

Cui des videto . is catouns techinge .
And in þe stories he techeþ  to bistowe þin almes
Sit elemosina in manu tua . donec studes cui des .

[^427: M.7.70: M shares the reading and with Cr and also with A and C manuscripts. Other B manuscripts have ne.]

[^428: M.7.74: For als, other B manuscripts have also.]

[^429: M.7.76: M's original nediere agreed with RF.]

[^430: M.7.77: M's reading of þis is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read þus.]

Responsio —Et tamen vide Gregorius
Ac Gregorie was a gode man  and bad vs gyuen to[^431] alle
Þat asketh for his loue  þat vs all leneth
Non eligas cui miserearis . ne forte pretereas illum qui meretur accipere
Quia incertum est pro quo de o —[^432] magis placeas

[^431: M.7.81: M's addition, in a later hand, of to is unattested in other B manuscripts.]

[^432: M.7.84: M's original reading deum agreed with YOC2CBmBoLRF. See John Alford, Piers Plowman: A Guide to the Quotations (Binghamton, 1992) p. 54.]

For wite ye neuere who is worthy  ac god wot who hath nede
Solucio

[M.7.86: Originally, walke was written in the margin for later correction. After the correction was made, this word was erased and a later annotator added Solucio. See line M.7.81 above.]

In him þat takeþ is þe treccherie  if any tresoun walke[^433] .
For he[^434] þat yeueþ yeldeþ  and yarkeþ him to reste .
And he þat biddeþ borweth  and bringeþ him-self in dette
For beggeres borwen euermo  and hire borgh is god almiȝty
To yelden hem þat yeueþ hem  and yet vsure more
Quare non dedisti p eccuniam meam ad mensam . vt ego veniens & cetera[^435]

[^433: M.7.86: In place of the rewritten walke, L has the synonym wawe.]

[^434: M.7.87: M's original reading without he agreed with Cot.]

[^435: M.7.91: All other B manuscripts complete the Latin tag with some version of W's cum vsuris exigere. Kane and Donaldson fail to record M's & cetera .]

For-þi biddeþ nouȝt ye beggers  but if[^436] ye haue gret nede .
For who-so haþ to b yggen him bred  þe boke bereth wittnesse
He haþ ynow . þat haþ bred y-nowgh  þo wgh he haue not elles
Satis diues est qui non indeget pane .

[^436: M.7.92: M's original reading without if agreed with F.]

Lat vsage be yowre solas . on[^437] seintus liues r edinge
Þe bo ok blameþ begg eri e  and banneth[^438] hem in þis manere .
Iunior fui & enim senui . & non vidi iustum derelictum & cetera[^439] .

[^437: M.7.96: M's reading of on is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read of.]

[^438: M.7.97: Compared with other B manuscripts, M interchanges blameþ and banneth in this line, as does F. F, however, has byddis for banneth.]

[^439: M.7.98: The end of this Latin tag is variously attested in B manuscripts. As in M.7.91, M's version is uniquely abbreviated.]

For ye liuen in no — loue  ne no lawe holde
# quia mendicantes operantur tanquam bestie Cum we he
Many of yow ne wedde nouȝt  þe wymmen þat ye delen with[^440]
#
But as wilde beestus with w e he . worthen vp and worchen
And bringeþ forth bar nes  þat bastardus men callen .
Or þe bakk or som — bo on  he brekuþ in his youthe .
And suthe goon fay ten with yowre fauntes  for eueremore aftur .
Þer is more mysshap en[^441] p eple  amonges þes beggers
Þan — of alle manere men  þat on þis molde walkeþ
And þe y þat liuen þus hire lif . mow lothen þe tyme .
That euere he was man wrouȝt  whanne he shal hen n us wende[^442]

[^440: M.7.100: M's syntax is the reverse of the other B manuscripts, which read wiþ dele.]

[^441: M.7.105: M's original reading mysshapp was shared with CrYC.]

[^442: M.7.108: M's reading of wende is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read fare.]

Ac olde men and hore  þat helpeles ben of strengþe
And wommen with Childe  þat worchen ne mowe .
Blynde and bedrede  and broken hire membres
Þat takeþ þis meschief mekeliche  as meseles and othur
Han as plain pardoun  as þe Plowman him -seluen .
For loue of hire lowe hertus  oure lord haþ hem graunted
Here penaunce and hire purgatorie  here on þis erthe

nota
Piers quod a preest þo  þ y pardoun moste I rede
For I wil construwe eche a clause  and kenne it þe on englissh

# Bulla petri ploughman
And Piers at his praiere  his pardoun vnfoldeth .
And I bih ynde hem bothe  bihuld all þe bulle .
Al in two lynes it lay  and nouȝt a leef more
& was writen riȝt þus  in wittnesse of trewthe
Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam
Qui vero mala in ignem eternum 

Petur quod þe preest þo  I can no — pardoun fynde .
But dowel and haue well  and god shal haue þ y soule .
#
And do yuele and haue[^443] yuele  hope þow non othur
Þat aftur þi deþ-day  þe deuel shal haue[^444] þ y soule

[^443: M.7.126: The guide word was entered above the line and then erased, with the correction inserted within the line.]

[^444: M.7.127: The guide word was entered above the line and then erased, with the correction inserted within the line.]

And piers for pure tene  pullud it a-tweyne
And saide . Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis . non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es .

I shal cesse of my sowynge quod piers  and swynk nouȝt so harde .
#
Ne aboute my beli ioie  so b isy be nomore no more .
Of preiers and of penaunce  my plowgh shal ben here-aftur
And wepen whanne I shulde slepe  þo wgh whete bred me faille

The[^445] prophete his pain ete  in penaunce and in sorwe
By þat þe sawter sai th  so dede oþur manye
Þat loueth god lelly  his liflode is ful es y 
Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte

[^445: M.7.134: The first two letters are in a hand and ink which differ from the surrounding text.]

And but if luk lie / he lereth vs by foules
We shulde nouȝt be to bisie  aboute worldus[^446] blisse .
Ne solliciti sitis . he sa yth in þe gospell 
And sheweþ[^447] bi ensamplus  vs-seluen to wisse
Þe foules on[^448] þe field  who fint hem mete at wynter
Haue þei no garnere to go to  but god fint hem alle

[^446: M.7.139: Other B manuscripts except F have þe worldes.]

[^447: M.7.141: Other B manuscripts except Cr23 have sheweþ vs.]

[^448: M.7.142: M shares the reading on with L. Most other B manuscripts have in.]

What quod þe preest to perkin  petur as me þinketh
Þow art lettr ed a litul  who lurned þe on boke .

Abstinence þe Abbesse quod piers  myn Abc. me tauȝte
And Co nscience com aftur[^449]  and kenn ed me moche more

[^449: M.7.147: M's reading of aftur is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read afterward. Some A manuscripts read after.]

Were thow a preest Piers quod he . þow miȝte st  pre che where þow shuldest
As dyuynour in diuin ite  with Dixit incipiens in[s]ipiens to þi teme .

Lewde lorell quod Piers  litul lokest þow on þe bible
On salamones sawes  selden þou bih oldest
Ecce[^450] derisores et iurgia . cum eis ne crescant & cetera

[^450: M.7.152: Kane and Donaldson record this word as Eice.]

Þe preest and perkin  apposeden either othur
And I þourȝ here wordus awo ok  and waitud e aboute
& se ygh þe s onne in þe southe  sitten at[^451] þat tyme .
Meteles & moneiles  on maluerne hullus
Musinge on þis metles  on[^452] my wa y ich yede
Many tyme þis metles  haþ makud me to studie .
Of þat I se ygh slepinge  if it be so[^453] miȝte
And als for Piers plowȝman[^454]  ful pensif in herte
And w hich a pardoun piers hadde  all þe p eple to conforte
And how þe preest inpugned it  with two propre wordus
Ac I haue no sauour in sowngewarie  for I se it ofte faille .
Catoun and Canonistres  conseilleth vs to leue 
# opinionem de sompnis
To setten saddnesse in soungewarie  for Sompnia ne cures .

[^451: M.7.155: Other B manuscripts except B omit at.]

[^452: M.7.157: M's reading of on is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read and.]

[^453: M.7.159: M shares the reading be so with G. Other B manuscripts have so be.]

[^454: M.7.160: Other B manuscripts except F have þe Plowman.]

Ac for þe boke bible ber eth wittnesse .
How Danyel diuynede  þe dremes of a kyng
Þat was Nabugodonosor  nempned of clerkus
Daniel saide sire king  þi dremeles bitokeneth
Þat vnkouthe kniȝtus shullen come  þi kingedome to cleue
Amonges lower lordus  þi lond shal ben departed
And as Daniel diuinede  in dede it fell aftur
Þe king le es his lordeschipe  and lowere men it hadde .

And Ioseph mette merueillously  how þe mone and þe[^455] s onne .
And þe elleuene sterres  heilsude him alle
Þanne Iacob iuggud  Ioseph s sweuene
Beau fitz quod his fadur  for defaute we shullen
I my-selue and my sonus . sechen þe for nede

[^455: M.7.174: M's original reading without þe agreed with OC2F.]

It bifell as his fadur saide . in pharahoes tyme
Þat Ioseph was iustice  Egipte to loken
It bifell as his fadur tolde  his frendes þere him souȝten
And all þis makeþ me  on þis met eles to þinken

And how þe preest proued  no pard oun to dowell
# quod dowell superest Indulgencias
And demede þat dowel  Indulgences pass ede
Biennales an triennales  and bisshopus lettres .
And how dowell atte þe day of dome  is digneliche vndurfon gen
And passuth al þe pardoun . of seint Pietres churche

Now haþ þe Pope power pardoun  to graunte to þe[^456] p eple
With-owten any penaunce  to passen in to heuene
Þis is oure bileue  as lettrede men vs techen
Quodcumque ligaueris super terram . erit ligatum . & in celis & cetera
And so I leue lelly  lordus forbode ellus
Þat pardoun and penaunce  and preiers doon saue
Soules þat haue synn ed  seuene sithes dedly
Ac to truste to þis triennales  trwly me þinkeþ
Is nouȝt so sikur for þe soule  certus as is dowell .

[^456: M.7.188: M shares the reading to þe with G. Other B manuscripts have þe.]

For-þi I rede yow renkus  þat riche ben on þis erthe
Vppon trust to[^457] yowre tresour  triennales to haue
Be ye neuere þe balder  to breken þe ten heestus .
And namelich ye maires  maistres[^458] and iuge s
Þat han þe welthe of þe[^459] world  and for wise men ben holden
To purchace yow pardoun . and þe popus bulles
At þe dredful doom  whanne dede shull arisen
And comen alle bifore Crist  acomptus to yelden .
How þou laddest þi lif  and his lawes keptest
de indulgencijs
And how þow dedest day by day  þe doom wil reherce
A pokeful of pardoun þere  ne prouinciales lettres
Theigh ye ben founden in þe Fraternitee  of alle þe foure ordres
And haue Indulgences double-folde  but if dowell yow helpe
nota d
I sette youre patentes . and yowre pardoun  at a pie[^460] hele 
For-þi I counseille alle Cristen  to crien god mercy
And Marie his modur . be oure mene bitwene
Þat god yeue vs grace here  er we goon henn es
Suche werkus to worchen  whil we ben heere
Þat aftur oure deþ-day  Dowell reherce .

[M.7.216: Something, no longer legible, is erased in the right margin. The erasure damaged the passus heading for passus 8, which was subsequently repaired in brown ink.]

At þe day of dome  we dide as he hiȝte .

[^457: M.7.198: M's reading of to is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read on or of.]

[^458: M.7.200: M's order—maires, maistres—is reversed in other B manuscripts.]

[^459: M.7.201: M's reading of þe is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read þis.]

[^460: M.7.210: Other B manuscripts have pies or pese.]

[M.8.0: Something, no longer legible, is erased in the right margin.]

Passus octauus de visione . et incipit inquisicio prima de dowell [M.8.0: The <ll> is touched up in a brown ink which differs from the surrounding text.]

T hus I-robed in Russet . I romede aboute
Al a somer sesoun  for to seke dowell
And frainede ful ofte  of folk þat I mette
If any wiȝt w yste w here  Dowel was at inn e
And what man he miȝte be  of many folk[^461] I ax ede

[^461: M.8.5: M's folk is not attested in other B manuscripts, which read man or men.]

# the questioun askyn of Freris of dowell
Was neuere wiȝt as I wente  þat me wisse couthe
Where þis leede l ongud[^462] . lasse ne more

[^462: M.8.7: M's revised reading longud is found in many C manuscripts, but B manuscripts have lenged.]

Til it fell[^463] vpon[^464] a Fryday  two Frerus I mette
Maistres of þe Menours  men of grete witte
I hailsud hem hendly  as I hadde lerned
And praied hem par charitee  ar þei passud further
If þei knewe any Cuntre  or coostus as þei wente
Where þat Dowell dwelleþ  doþ me to wyten

[^463: M.8.8: For fell, all other B manuscripts except F read bifel.]

[^464: M.8.8: M's reading of vpon is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read on.]

For þei be men on þis moolde  þat moost wyde walkun
And knowen Con — tres and Courtes  and many kynne places
Bothe Princes Paleisus  and pore me n nus cotus
And dowell and do yuel  where þei dwelle bothe

Amongus vs quod þe menours  þat man is dwellinge
And euere hath as I hope  and euere shal here-aftur

Contra quod I as a Clerk  and coms ede to disputen
#

[M.8.21: Something, no longer legible, is erased in the right margin.]

And saide soþly sepcies  in die cadit iustus
Seuen sithe saith þe book  synn eth þe riȝtful
And whoso sinneth I saide  doþ yuel as me th inkeþ
And dowell and do iuel  may nouȝt dwelle to-gidre
Ergo he nys nauȝt alway  amonges yow Frerus
He is otherwhile elles where  to wisse þe p eple
I shal seie þe my sone . saide þe Frere þanne
How seuen sithes þe sad man  on þe day synneth
By a forbisene quod þe Frere  I shal þe faire shewen

Lat bringe a man in a bote  amidde þe brodur[^465] watur
Þe wynd and þe watur  and þe boot waggynge
Makeþ þe man many a tyme  to falle and to stonde
For stonde he neuere so st yf  he stumbleth if he moue
Ac yet is he sau f and sound  and so him bihoueth
For if he ne arise þe rather  and rauȝte to þe steere
Þe wynd wolde with þe watur  þe boot ouerethrowe
And þanne were his lif lo st  þourgh lachesse of him-seluen

[^465: M.8.30: M's brodur is not attested in other B manuscripts, most of which read brode.]

And þus it falleþ quod þe Frere  bi folk here on erthe
Þe watur is likkned to þe world  þat wa nyeth and wexeþ
Þe goodus —[^466] of þis grounde arn like  to þe grete wawes
Þat as wyndus and wedres  walweþ[^467] aboute .
Þe boot is likkened to oure body  þat brutel is of kynde
Þat þourȝ þe flessh and þe feend[^468]  and þe frele worlde

[M.8.44: The deleted text is legible under ultraviolet light.]

Synneth þe sad man  a day seuen sithes[^469]

[^466: M.8.40: M's original reading arne was unattested in other B manuscripts.]

[^467: M.8.41: M's reading walweþ is shared with L and with some A and C manuscripts. Other B manuscripts read walkeþ. Compare a similar variant at M.9.56.]

[^468: M.8.43: M's reading of flessh and þe feend is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read feend and þe flessh.]

[^469: M.8.44: M's original reading times placed it in agreement with HmCrG. In M, sithes is written over the erased times, although for some reason both tymes and sithes are erased in the margin.]

Ac dedly synne doþ he nouȝt  for dowel him keputh[^470] .
# quod Caritas maxime adiuuat con tra peccatum
And þat is charitee þe champioun  chief helpe aȝein synne
For he strengtheþ man to stonde  and stereth ma n n es soule
And þou — gh þi body bowe . as a[^471] boot  doth in þe watur
Ay is þe soule sauf  but þou þi-seluen wole
Do a dedly synne  and drenche so þ y soule
God w ole suffre wel þ y sleuthe  if þ y -seluen likeþ
For he yaf þee to yeresyeue  to yeme wel þ y -seluen
And þat is wi t a[^472] frewille fre wille  to euery wiȝt a porcioun
To fleinge foules  to fisshes and to beestus
Ac man haþ moost þer -of  and moost is to blame
But if he worche well þerwith  as dowell him techeþ

[^470: M.8.45: The erased reading appears to be helpeth which is the reading of F and of versions A and C.]

[^471: M.8.48: M's inserted a is unattested in other B manuscripts.]

[^472: M.8.53: As in L, a is to be understood as "and," the reading of other B manuscripts.]

I haue no kynde knowynge quod I  to conce iue alle yowre wordus
Ac if I may lyue and loke  I shal go l erne bett re
I bykenne þe crist  þat on crosse deide
And I saide þe same  saue yow from mischaunce
And yeue yow grace on þis grounde  gode men to worthen

And þus I wente wyde-where  walkynge bi[^473] myn one .
By a wilde wildurnesse  and be a wode syde .
Blisse of þe briddus  brouȝte me a-slepe
And vndur a linde vpon a launde  lened I a stounde
To lithe þe laies  þe louely foules maden .
Murthe of here mouthes  made me a-slepe[^474]
Þe merueillouseste me tels  mette me þanne
Þat euere dremed wiȝt  in world as I wene

[^473: M.8.62: The addition of bi brings M into agreement with BF.]

[^474: M.8.67: M's reading a-slepe is shared with F; other B manuscripts read þer to slepe.]

# quomodo thought primo apparuit in sompno
A — muche man as[^475] me þouȝte  and lik vn-to my-seluen .
Com and callud me  by my riȝte name
What artow quod I þo  þat[^476] my name knowest
Þat þow woost well quod he  and no w yght bett re

[^475: M.8.70: M's original reading without as is not found in other B manuscripts but is shared with A and some C manuscripts.]

[^476: M.8.72: M alone among B manuscripts omits þou at this point, but it is the reading of A and most C manuscripts. Most B manuscripts read þat þou; Cr reads thou þat.]

Wot I what þou art  þowght . saide he þanne
I haue suwede þe þis seuen yeer  say þow me no rathur

Art þou þo wght . quod I þo  þow couthest me wisse
Where þat Dowel dwelleþ  and do me that to knowe

# prima discripcio de dowell
Dowell and do-bet  and dobest  þe þridde quod he
Aren þre faire vertues  and beth nouȝt fer to fecche[^477]
Whoso is trwe of his tonge  and of his two handes
And þourgh his labour or þourgh his lond  his liflode wynneþ
And is trusty of his tail — ende  takeþ but his owne
And is nouȝt dronkenlewe . ne dedeigno us  Dowell him folweth

[^477: M.8.79: M's reading of fecche is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read fynde.]

Do-bet doþ riȝt þus  ac he doþ muche more
He is as lowe as a lomb  and louelich of speche
And helpuþ alle men  aftur þat hem nedeth
Þe baggus and þe bigurdeles  he haþ to-broken hem alle
Þat þe erl Auarous  heeld and his heires
And þus with mamon aes moneie  he makeþ[^478] him freendus
And is r onnen in-to Religioun  and haþ rendred þe bible
And precheþ to þe p eple  seint Poules wordus
Libenter suffertis insipientes . cum sitis ipsi sapientes
And suffreþ . þe vnwise  with yow for to libbe
And with glade wille doþ hem good  for so god yow hoteþ .

[^478: M.8.89: M alone among B manuscripts has the present tense. Other B manuscripts attest the present perfect or past perfect.]

# discripcio de do-best ad episcopos pertinet
Do-best . is a-boue bothe  and bereth a bisshopus croos
Is hokud on þat on ende  to halen men from helle
A pik is on þat potente  to putte a-doun þe wikk ed .
Þat waiten any wikk ednesse  dowel to tene
And dowell and dobet  amonges hem ordeinede
# On to be kyng & Rule all
To croune on . to be kyng  to reulen hem bothe
Þat if dowell or do-bet  do aȝeins dobest
Þanne shal þe kyng comen  and caste hem in irens
And but if dobest bidde for hem  þei to ben  þere for euere

Thus dowell and dobet  and dobest þe þridde
Crouned on to be kyng  to kep en hem alle
And to reulen þe Reume  by hire þre wittus
And in non other wise  but as þei þree assentud
I thonkede þouȝt þo  þat he me þus tauȝte .
Ac yet sauoreth me nouȝt þi segginge  I coueite to lurne
How dowel dobet . and dobest  don amonges þe p eple

But . wit . conne wisse þe quod þouȝt  where þo þree dwellen
Elles wot I non þat can  þat now is a-liue .

# quomodo will & thought primo obuiauerunt cum witt
Þouȝt and I þus  þre daies we yeden
Disputinge vppon Dowell  day aftur othur
And ar we were war  wyth . wit gan we mete
He was long and lene  and lich to non othur
Was no pr yde on his apparaille  ne pouerte nowther
Sad of his semblaunt  and of softe chiere .
I durste moeue no matiere  to maken him to iangle
But as I bad þou ȝt þo  be mene bytwene
And putte forth som — purpos  to prouen his wittus
What was Dowell . from dobet  and dobest fram hem boþe .

Þanne þouȝt in þat tyme  saide þise wordus
Where Dowell dobet  and dobest ben[^479] in londe
will

[M.8.125: This erasure is illegible even under an ultraviolet lamp.]

Here is . will . wolde y-wyte  if wit couthe teche hym .
And wh eiþer he be man . or womman  þis man ——[^480] wolde aspie
And worchen as þ ei thre wolde  þis is his entente .

[^479: M.8.124: M's original reading without ben agreed with RF.]

[^480: M.8.126: M's original reading agreed with WCrLRF. M's erasure of fayne brings it into agreement with HmGYOC2CB.]

Passus nonus de Visione

nota bene
S Ire Dowell dwelleþ quod witt  nouȝt a day henn es
In a Castell þat kynde made  of foure kynnes þinges
Of erthe and eire is it ma ad  medled to-gidres
With wynd and with watur  witturly enioined
Kynde hath clos ed þere- inne  craftely with-alle
A lemman þat he loueth  lik to him-seluen
Anima she hatte  ac enuie h ire hateþ .
A proud prikere of Fraunce  Princeps huius mundi
And wolde wynnen hire a-we y  with wilus and he miȝte .

Ac kynde knoweth þis wel  and kepuþ hire þe bett re
And hath doon hire with sire Dowell  is Duc of þis Marches
# secunda discripcio de dowell
Dobet is hire damoisell  sire Dowelles douȝtur
To serue þis lady lelly  bothe late and rathe
Do-best is a-bouen bothe  a Bisshopus piere
Þat he bit moot be don  he reuleþ hem alle .
Anima þat lady  is lad — by hire lering[^481]

[^481: M.9.16: For hire all other B manuscripts read his; for the final word, B manuscripts vary between leryng and lernyng.]

Ac þe Constable of þat Castell  þat kepuþ al þe wacche
# quia Inwitt habet quinque Filios vt patet
I s a wys kniȝte with-alle  sire Inwit he hiȝte .
And hath fyue faire sones  bi his furste wiff .
Sire sewell and saiwell  and herewell þe heende
Sire worche well with þine hand  a wiȝt man of stren gthe
And sire Godfrey gowell  grete lordus for soþe .
Þes fiue ben set  to saue þis lady anima

[M.9.24: Something, no longer legible even under the ultraviolet lamp, has been erased from the margin.]

Til kynde come or seende .  to saue hire for euere .

What kinnes thing is kynde[^482]  canst þow me telle .

[^482: M.9.25: All other B manuscripts, and some C manuscripts, here include quod I, but it is not in A manuscripts.]

# quod natura est Creator omnium rerum
Kynde quod wit — is[^483] creatour  of alle kynnes þinges
Fadur and fourmer of al  þat euere was makud
And þis[^484] is þe grete god  þat gynnynge ha d neuere .
Lord of lif and of liȝt  of blisse[^485] and of peine
Angeles and alle þing  arn at his wille
# quia dixit & facta sunt mandauit & Creata sunt
Ac man is him moost lik  of mark and of shafte
For þor gh þe word . þat he spak  wexen forth beestus .
Dixit & facta sunt & cetera[^486]

[^483: M.9.26: Kane and Donaldson record both M and R as omitting this a, which they reject as unauthorial, but without noting that the a, attested in all other B manuscripts, is clearly legible under an erasure in both manuscripts.]

[^484: M.9.28: M's reading of þis is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read þat.]

[^485: M.9.29: With the alteration of lisse to blisse, M joins BCrGRF.]

[^486: M.9.33: Kane and Donaldson fail to note the & cetera at the end of this tag, which is overlapped by the right end of the box that surrounds this text.]

.id est. adam

[M.9.34: L shares this gloss on man.]

And made man  likkest to him[^487] one .
And Eue of his Ribbe-bon  with-owten any mene
For he was singuler him-self  and saide faciamus
As who saith more mot herto  þan my word one .
My miȝt moot helpe  now with my speche
Riȝt as a lord shulde make lettres  and him lakkud parchemyn .
Þo wgh he couthe write neue r so well  if he hadde no penne .
Þe lettre for al þe lordshipe  I leue worth[^488] neuere y-makud .

[^487: M.9.34: All other B manuscripts read himself.]

[^488: M.9.41: M's reading of worth is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read were.]

And so it bisemeth[^489] bi him  as þe bible telleth .
# quia non solum verbo sed opere facta sunt
Þere he saide dixit & facta sunt. & cetera[^490]
He moste w erche with his wordus[^491]  and his wit shewe
And in þis manere was man ma ad  þor gh myȝt of go d almiȝty
With his word and werkemanshippe  and with lif to laste .
And þus god ga f him a goost  of þe godhede of heuene .
And of his grete grace  graunted him blisse
And þat is lif þat ay shal laste  to al linage aftur
And þat is þe Castell þat kynde made  Caro it hatte
# the makyng off man with the sowle
And is as muche to mene  as man with a soule .
And þat he wrouȝte with werke  and with word boþe
Þourgh miȝt of þe mageste  man was y-makud

[^489: M.9.42: For M's bisemeth most other B manuscripts read semeþ.]

[^490: M.9.43: The & cetera has been added in a different hand and ink. This addition brings M into agreement with GY.]

[^491: M.9.44: M alone among B manuscripts attests the plural.]

Inwit and alle wittus  closud ben þere-inn e
For loue of þe Lady anima  þat lif is y-nempned
Ouer -al in mann es body  he waweth[^492] an d wandreth
Ay[^493] in þe herte is hire home  and hire mooste reste
Ac inwit is in þe hed  and to þe herte he loketh
What anima is lief or loth  he lat hire at his wille
nota
For aftur þe grace of god  þe gretteste is inwit

[^492: M.9.56: Most B manuscripts have walkeþ, though F has walweþ. The reading waweth is not shared with other B manuscripts, though it is the majority reading of A manuscripts; others have walweth. See MED s.v. walwen (OE walwian), "to roll over," and wawen (OE wagian) "to go back and forth." See also the variants at M.8.41.]

[^493: M.9.57: The scribe originally wrote A as a form of And, the reading of W, and another hand has filled the space after the initial letter to read Ay, a reading not elsewhere attested. Other B manuscripts read Ac or But.]

# de hijs

[M.9.61: The deleted text replaced by de hiis is illegible under ultraviolet light.]

quorum deus venter est
Muche wo worth þat man  þat mysruleth his inwit

[M.9.62: The deleted text is legible under ultraviolet light.]

And þat ben glotonus globbers  hire god is hire wombe .
Quorum deus venter est
For þei seruen sathan  here soule shal he haue .
Þat liueth synn eful lif heere  here soule is lich þe deuel .
And alle þat liuen good lif  aren lik — to god almiȝt y .
Qui manet in caritate in deo manet & cetera

con tra potentiam potationis
Allas þat drinke shal for-do  þat god dere bouȝte
And doþ god forsaken hem [^494] he shop to his likknesse
Amen dico vobis nescio vos . & alibi . Et dimisi eos secundum desideria eorum ibunt[^495] & cetera

[^494: M.9.69: M alone among B manuscripts here lacks the word þat.]

[^495: M.9.70: M's ibunt is not attested in other B manuscripts.]

nota bene
Folus þat fauten Inwit  I fynde þat holichurche
# that holy Church shuld help Folis
Shulde fynden hem þat hem fautede  and faderles Childeren
And widowes þat han nouȝt wherwith  to wynnen hem here fode
Madde men and maydenes  þat helpeles were .
Alle þes lakketh inwit  and lore bihoueth

Of þis matere miȝte I[^496]  make a longe tale .
And finde fele wittnesses  among þe foure doctours
And þat I lie nouȝt of þat I lere þe  Luk bereth wittnesse

[^496: M.9.76: M's reading of miȝte I is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read I miȝte.]

# ad Compatres
Godfadur and god-modur  þat seen hire god-children
At mesese and meschief  and mowe hem amende
Shal haue penaunce in purgatorie  but if þei hem helpe
# what belongyth to the litle Barn
For more bilongeth to þe litul barn  ar he þe lawe knowe
Þan nempnynge of a name  and he neuere þe wisur .
Shulde no — Cristen creature  crien at þe yate .
# ad prelatos
Ne faille pain ne potage  and prelatus d id as þei shulden
A Iew wold not see a I ew  go iangelinge for defaute
For alle þe moebles on þis molde  and he amende it miȝte .

Allas þat a cristen creature shal be so  vnkinde to anothur
# maiorem caritatem in Iudeis quam in cristianis
Siþ Iuwes þat we iugge  Iudas felawes
Aythur of hem helpeþ oþur  of þat þat[^497] him nedeth
Why nil we Cristen . of Cristes good  be as kynde. willed .[^498]
As Iuwes þat ben oure lores-men  shame vnto[^499] vs alle
Þe comune for hire vnkindenesse  I drede me shull abie .

[^497: M.9.90: M's original reading without the second þat agreed with Hm.]

[^498: M.9.91: M's addition of this word is unattested in other B manuscripts.]

[^499: M.9.92: M's reading of vnto is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read to.]

# con tra truffatores
Bisshopus shullen be blamede  for beggers sake .
He is wors þan Iudas  þat yeueth a iaper silu er
nota
And biddeþ þe begger go  for his broken clothes
Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda . qui patrimonium Cristi minus distribuit . & alibi Perniciosus despensator est . qui res pauperum Cristi . multipliciter[^500] consumit
He doth nouȝt wel þat doþ þus  ne drat nouȝt god almiȝty
Ne loueþ nouȝt salamones sawes  þat sapience telleþ .[^501]
Inicium sapiencie timor domini .

[^500: M.9.97: M's reading of multipliciter is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read inutiliter.]

[^501: M.9.99: M's reading of telleþ is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read tauȝte.]

# Tertia discripcio de dowell
Þat dredeth god he doþ well  þat dred him for loue .
And nouȝt for drede of veniaunce  doþ þerfore þe bett re
He doþ best þat with-draweþ him  by day and bi nyȝte .
To spille any speche  or any space of tyme .
Qui offendit in v no[^502] in omnibus est reus

[^502: M.9.105: M's altered reading vno agrees with most B manuscripts. LR read verbo; F reads vno verbo.]

Lesinge of tyme  truthe wot þe sothe .
Is moost yhatud vpon[^503] erthe  of hem þat ben in heuene
[^504] a. And sithen to spille speche  þat enspired[^505] is of grace
b And goddes gleman  and a game of heuene[^506]
c Wolde neuere þe fait hful fadur  his fithel were vtempred v[n]tempred
d Ne his gleman a gedling  goinge[^507] to tauernes .
To alle trwe tidy men  þat trauaille desiren .
Oure lord loueþ hem and lent  loude oþur stille
Grace to go to hem  and agon hire liflode
Inquirentes autem dominum . non minuentur omni bono .

[^503: M.9.107: M's original reading of vp was shared by CLR.]

[^504: M.9.108: As a result of eyeskip on heuene (M.9.107 and M.9.109), the scribe initially omitted M.9.108-109. The missing lines were then written in the right margin next to M.9.110-111. Subsequently, a line of text was erased at the bottom of the folio and the two omitted lines were supplied there, the corrector labeling lines 108-111 with the letters a-d to indicate their proper order, and the marginal correction was erased. No other B manuscript omitted these two lines.]

[^505: M.9.108: M shares with Cr the reading enspired. Other B manuscripts read spire, spicerie or spicere. Kane and Donaldson note that the word is "over erasure another hand." While it is true that the entirety of lines M.9.108-109 is written as an addition at the bottom of the leaf in another ink, and that a line has been erased to make space for line 108, the individual word enspired is consistent in hand and ink with the rest of this addition.]

[^506: M.9.109: The erasures on the right margin of this paragraph are still partly legible. Under ultraviolet light and a game of heuene is clear.]

[^507: M.9.111: M's reading of goinge is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read a goere.]

# Quarta discripcio de dowell
Trewe weddud libbinge folk  in þis world is dowell
For þei moote w erchen and wynnen  and þe world susteine
For of here kynde þai comen  þat Confessours ben nempned
Kynges and kniȝtes  kaisers and cherles .
Maydenes and martires  out of on man come
Þe wif was made þe weie  for to helpun worchen
And þus was wedlok y-wrouȝt  with a mene persone
Furst bi þe fadres will  and þe freendus conseille
And sithenes by assent of hem-self  as þei two miȝten accorde
And þus was wedlok y-wrouȝt  and god him-self — it made
In erthe and in heuene —[^508]  him-self was þe wittnesse .

[^508: M.9.126: M's original reading In erthe þe heuene is agreed with YHmGOCBL. The addition of and and in and the erasure of þe and is brings M into agreement with WCr.]

# con tra hos qui concipiuntur absque matrimonio
Ac false folk faith — les  theues and liers .
Wastours and wrecches  out of wedlok y trowe .
Conceiued ben in yuel tyme  as Caym was on Eeue .
Of suche synneful shrewes  þe sautier makeþ mynde
Concepit in dolore & peperit iniquitatem. & cetera .
And alle þat come of þat Caym  come to yuel ende .
For god sente to Seem  and saide bi an angel
Þin issue . in þin issue  I wol þat þei be wedd ed
And nouȝt þ y kynde with Caymes  ycoupled ne[^509] spoused .

[^509: M.9.135: The ne is written over an erasure, with the erased correction above. WCr read nor; Hm has ner.]

# that Seem and Caymes kynd shuld not Cople
Yet seem[^510] aȝein þe sonde . of oure  saueoure of heuene
Caymes kynde and his kyn[^511]  coupled to-gedres .
Til god wratthud with hire werkus  and such a word saide .
Þat I makud man  now . me it athinketh
Penitet me fecisse hominem .

[^510: M.9.136: M's alteration agrees with Cr's Sem. Other B manuscripts read some.]

[^511: M.9.137: M's reading of kyn is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read kynde.]

And com to Noe a-non  and bad him nouȝt lette
Swithe go shape a shipp  of shides & of bordus .
Þ y -seluen and þine sones þre  and sithen youre wiues
Buske ȝow to þat bote  and bide ȝe þere- innne inne .
Til fourty daies be fulfulde  and[^512] flode haue y-wasshen
Clene away þe cursud blod  þat Caim haþ y-makud

[^512: M.9.145: M's reading of and is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read þat.]

Beestus þat now ben  shullen banne þe tyme .
Þat euere þat cursud Caym  com on þis erthe .
Al shal deie for his dedus  by dales and[^513] hullus
And þe foules þat f leen  forth with oþur beestus .
E xcepte onliche of  iche kinde a couple
Þat in þ y shinglede shipp  shullen ben ysaued
nota
Here abouȝte þe barn  þe belsires gultus
And alle for hire forfadres  þei ferden þe worse
Þe gospell is here aȝein  in o degre I fynde .
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris . & pater non portabit iniquitatem & cetera[^514]

[^513: M.9.149: M shares the reading and with R; other B manuscripts have and by.]

[^514: M.9.156: Various B manuscripts end this Latin tag at various points. M's ending is unique, though it lacks only filij after iniquitatem in order to agree with the fullest version of the line.]

Ac I finde if þe fadur  be fal s and a shrewe
Þat sumdel þe sone shal  haue þe sires tacches

Impe on an elleren . and if þine apple be swete
Muche meruaille me thinketh  and more of a shrewe .
Þat bringeþ forth any barn  but if he be þe same .
And haue a sauour after þe sire  seelde seest þow oþur
Numquam colligitur de spinis vua[^515] . nec de tribulis ficus .

[^515: M.9.163: The erasure of <s> brings M into agreement with WHmCr.]

And þus thorgh cursud Caym  cam care vpon erthe
And all for þei wroȝte wedlokes  aȝeins goddus wille
For-þ y haue þei maugre . for hire mariages  þat marie so hire children
For somme as I see now  soth for to tellen
For couetise of catel  vnkindliche ben wedded .
As careful Concepcionus[^516]  comeþ of suche mariages .
As bifel of þe folk  þat I[^517] of tolde .
.id est. boni

[M.9.171: The two glosses are shared by L.]

bonas
For goode shulde wedde goode  þo wgh þei no good hadde
I am via & veritas saith Crist  I may auaunce n alle

[^516: M.9.169: M's plural is unique among B manuscripts.]

[^517: M.9.170: M alone among B manuscripts lacks the word bifore at this point.]

nota con tra matrimonium inordinatum
It is an vncomely[^518] couple  bi Crist as me thinkeþ .
To yeuen a yong wenche  to an old fieble
Or wedden any widowe  for welthe of hire godus
Þat neuere shal barn bere  but it be in armes
Many a paire siþþen þe pestilence  han pliȝt hem to-gedres
nota
Þe fruit þat þei bringe forth  arn foule wordus .
#
In ialousie ioieles  and ianglinge on bedde .
Haue þei none children but cheeste  and chidynge[^519] hem bitwene

[^518: M.9.173: This insertion in M occurs at a place where B manuscripts attest a variety of readings. M's altered state agrees with most B manuscripts. L has comely with on added above the line.]

[^519: M.9.180: M's reading of chidynge is not shared by other B manuscripts, which attest this word variously. It does, however appear as a variant of cheeste in A manuscripts (K.10.193).]

# Bacoun off dunmow
And þough þei don hem to D onmowe  but if þe deuel helpe
To folwen aftur þe Fli cche  fecche þei it neuere
And but þei boþe be forsworne  þat bacoun get they neuyr .[^520]
For-þi I conseille alle Cristen  coueite nouȝt to be wedded
For couetise of catell  ne of kyndered riche
Ac maidenes and maydenes  macche yow to-gedres
Widowes and widowers  worche ye[^521] þe same
For no lond es but for loue  loke ye be weddud
And þanne gete ye þe grace of god  and good ynowgh to liuen with

[^520: M.9.183: M's altered b-verse is unique; the original reading was probably that of all other B manuscripts, which read þat bacoun þei tyne. See the Introduction, II.1.]

[^521: M.9.187: M shares the reading ye with F; other B manuscripts omit it.]

And euery manere seculer  þat may nouȝt continue
Wysly go wedde  and war him from synne .
For leccherie in likinge  is limȝerde of helle
#
Whiles þou art yong  and þ y wepene kene .
Wreke þe with wyuynge  if þow wolt ben excused
Dum sis vir fortis ne des tua robora scortis
Scribitur in portis . meretrix est ianua mortis

nota de puritate Coitus in matrimonio
Whan ye haue wyued be war  and worcheþ in tyme
Nouȝt as Adam and Eue  whanne Caym was engendred
For in vntyme truly  by-twene man and womman
Ne shulde no bourde on bedde be  but if þei bothe were clene
Bothe of l if and of soule  and in parfit charitee
Þat ilke derne dede do  no man ne shulde
And if þei leden þus hire lif  it liketh god almiȝty
For he made wedlok furst  and him-seluen it saide
Bonum est vt vnusquisque vxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionem

And þai þat othurgatus ben geten  for gedlinges arn holden
As fals folk fondelinges  faitours and liers
Vngracious to geten good  or loue of þe p eple .
Wandren and wasten  what þei cacche mowe
A yeins dowell þei doon yuele  and þe deuel serue .
And aftur here deth-day shullen  dwellen with þe same
But god yeue hem grace here  hem-self to amende

# Quinta discriptio de dowell
Dowell my freend is  to do as þe lawe techeþ
To loue þ y freend and þ y foo  leue me þat is dobet
To yeuen and to yemen  boþe yonge and olde .
To helen and to helpen  is do-best of alle .

And dowell is to drede god  and dobet to suffre .
And so cometh dobest of boþe  and bringeþ a-doun þe mody .
And þat is wikkud wille  þat many werk sheendeth
And driueth a-way dowel  þourgh dedly synnes 

Passus decimus de Visione & ijus secundus de Dowel .

T hanne hadde wit a wyf  was hoten dame studie
Þat lene was of lere  and of liche bothe
She was wondurly wroþ  þat wit me þus tauȝte
And al staringe dame sstudie studie  sturneliche seide
Wel art þow wys quod she to wit  any wysdomes to tellen
To flaterers or to folis  þat frantik ben of wittes
# quod perlis non debent mitteri Coram porcis
And blamede him and bannede him  & bad him be stille
With suche wyse wordus  to wyssen any sottus
#
And saide Noli mittere man  margerie perles
Amonges hogges þat han  hawes at wille
Þei doon but drauelen þere-on  draff were hem leuere
#
Þan — alle þe preciouse perre e  in paradys þat wexeþ[^522]
I saie it b y suche quod she  þat sheweþ by[^523] werkes
Þat hem were leuere lond  & lordshipe on erthe
Or richesses[^524] or rentus  and reste at hire wille
Þan — alle þe sothe sawes  þat sal omon saide euere

[^522: M.10.12: M's b-verse reverses the syntax of other B manuscripts, which read þat in paradis wexeþ.]

[^523: M.10.13: All other B manuscripts read hir at this place. An insertion line has been drawn between by and werkes, and a line drawn out to something, illegible even under ultraviolet light, erased in the margin, where there is also an erased <X>.]

[^524: M.10.15: Other B manuscripts read richesse. For the same variation, see M.15.183.]

d
Wisdom and wit  is now[^525] not worth a carse
But it be carded with couetise  as clothers kemben here wolle
Whoso can contreue desceitus  and conspiren wronges
And lede forth a loueday  to l ette with truthe
He þat suche craftus can  to conseill is clepud
Þei leden lordus with lesinges  and bilien truþe

[^525: M.10.17: M's reading of is now is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read now is.]

Iob þe gentil  in his gestus wittnesseþ
Þat wikkud men þai welden  þe welthe of þis world .
# quare impij bene viuunt
And þat þei ben lordus of iche a lond  þat out of lawe libbeth
Quare impij viuunt . &[^526] bene est omnibus qui preuaricantur & inique agunt .

[^526: M.10.26: M's reading of & is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

Þe sauter sai th þe same  by suche þat don ille
Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes in seculo obtinuerunt diuicias .
Lo saiþ holy lettrure . whiche lordus beþ þes shrewes
Þilke þat moost good god yeueþ[^527]  leest good þei deleþ
And moost vnkynde ben[^528] to þe comune  þat moost catel weldeþ
Que perf ecisti destruxerunt . iustus autem & cetera .
Harlotus for here herlotrie  may hauen of hire godus
And Iapers and iogelours  & Ianglers of gestus .
Ac he þat haþ holi writ  ay in his mouthe
And can telle of Tobye  & of þe[^529] twelue apposteles
Or prechen of þe penaunce  þat Pilat wrouȝte
To Ihesu þe gentil  þat Iewes to-drowe
Lytul is he loued  þat such a lesson sheweþ
Or daunted or drawen forth  I do it on god him-seluen

[^527: M.10.30: M's a-verse is unique among B manuscripts. All others begin Thilke þat god; WHmCr continue gyueþ moost while OC2 have most good gyueþ.]

[^528: M.10.31: This insertion brings M into agreement with Cr.]

[^529: M.10.36: M's original reading without þe agreed with WY.]

But þo þat fainen hem folus  and with faiting libbeþ
A yein þe lawe of oure lord  and lien on hem-seluen
# con tra Ribaldis
Spitten and spuwen  and speken foule wordus
Drinken and driu elin  and doon men for to gapen
Likkene men and lie on hem  þat leneth hem none yiftus
Þei conn e no more mynstraulcie  ne musyk men to glade
Þan — Munde þe Meller  of multa fecit deus .
Ne were here vile harlotrie  haue god my truthe
Shulde neyþur[^530] kyng ne kniȝt  ne chanoun of seint Poules
Yif hem to here yeres yeue  þe yifte of a grote

[^530: M.10.49: For neyþur all B manuscripts except F read neuere.]

¶
Ac murthe and mynstraulcie  amonges men is nouthe
Leccherie and losel rie[^531]  &[^532] loselles tales
Glotonye & grete othus  þis glee[^533] þei lou yeth

[^531: M.10.52: M's altered reading of loselrie is unique among B manuscripts, the rest of which read losengerye.]

[^532: M.10.52: The <&> is either rewritten or touched up.]

[^533: M.10.53: M's glee is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read murþe. A manuscripts read gamys.]

Ac if þei carpen of Crist  þise clerkus and þis lewede
# quod non laudatur disputare doctor in convivijs #
Atte mete in here murthus  whanne Minstralles ben stille
Þanne telleþ þei of þe trinitee  a tale oþur tweyne
#
And bringen forth a balled resoun  & taken Bernard to w ytnesse
And putten forth a presumpcioun  to preuen þe soþe
Þus þei dryuelen at hire de ys  þe deite to knowe .
#
And gnawen god with þe gorge  whanne hir[^534] guttes be[^535] fulle

[^534: M.10.60: M's alteration to hir may conceal þe, the reading of Hm.]

[^535: M.10.60: Before alteration, M may have agreed with YLR: gutte is. B manuscript readings vary between be (is, er, been) fulle and fullen.]

Ac þe careful may crie  and carpen atte yate
Bothe afyngred and a-thurst  and for chele quake
Is non to nymen him In[^536]  no r his no y to amende
But hunten[^537] him as —[^538] an hound . & hoten him go þenn es
Litul loueþ he þat lord  þat lente him al þat blisse
Þat þus parteth with þe pore  a parcel whanne him nedeþ
Ne were mercy . in mene men  more þan — in Riche
Mendinauntz meteles  miȝte go to bedde
God is muche in þe gorge  of þis grete maistres
Ac amonges mene men  his mercy and his werkes
terribile
And so saiþ þe sauter  I haue seen it ofte 
Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata inuenimus eam in campis silue 
Clerkus and oþer kyn s — men  carpen of god faste
And haue him muche in mouthe[^539]  but mene men in herte .

[^536: M.10.63: The addition of In is an A text reading not attested in other B manuscripts.]

[^537: M.10.64: M's altered hunten agrees with WHmCr. Other B manuscripts have heon on and variants upon it.]

[^538: M.10.64: M's original inclusion of on agreed with Cot.]

[^539: M.10.74: M shares the reading mouthe with B; other B manuscripts have þe mouþ or here mouþ.]

fratres d
Frerus and fa ytours han  founden suche questionus
To plese with proude men  siþ þe pestelence tyme .
And prechen at seint Poules  for pure enuye of Clerkus
Þat folk nys[^540] nouȝt fermed in[^541] feith  ne free of hire goodes
Ne sori of[^542] hire synnus  so is pride waxen
In religioun and in all þe Reume  amonges riche and pore
Þat praiers haue no — power  þe pestilence to lette
And yit þe wrecches of þis world  is non y-war by oþur .
Ne for drede of deth  withdrawe nouȝt here pride
Ne beth plentiuous to þe pore  as pure charite wolde
But in gaynesse & glotonye  for-gluttun here go od hem-seluen
And breken nouȝt to þe begg er  as þe bok techeþ
Frange esurienti panem tuum . & cetera[^543]
And þe more he wynneth and weldeth  welthes & richesse[^544]
And lordeþ in londes /  þe lasse good — he deleth

[^540: M.10.78: M's nys is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read is.]

[^541: M.10.78: M alone among B manuscripts here lacks þe.]

[^542: M.10.79: M's of is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read for.]

[^543: M.10.87: The underlining and & cetera are later additions. M's original reading without the & cetera agreed with C2F.]

[^544: M.10.88: The omission of & weldeþ was noted in the margin and then erased when incorporated into the text, an alteration which resulted in the entire b-verse being rewritten.]

Thobie telleth yow not so  take heede ye Riche
How þe boke bible  of him bereth w ytnesse
Si tibi sit copia habundanter tribue  si autem exiguum illud impertire[^545] libenter
Whoso haþ muche spene manliche  so meneth Thobie
And whoso litul weldeþ  rule hym þer -aftur .
For we haue no lettre of oure lif /  how longe it shal dure .
Suche lessouns lordus  shulde loue to here /
And how he miȝte moost meyne  manlyche fynde .

[^545: M.10.92: M alone among B manuscripts here lacks stude, though RF transpose its position with libenter.]

# # fratres
Nouȝt to fare as a Frere or a fytheler[^546]  for to seke feestus
Homeliche at oþer me n nus houses  and haten her owen
El enge[^547] is þe halle  eche day in þe wyke /
[^548]Ther þe lord ne þe lady  lykeþ nouȝt to sitte
# quomodo laudat hospitalitatem
Now haþ iche Riche a rule  to eten by him-seluen
In a priue parlour  for pore me n nus sake
Or in a chambre with a Chimyne  and leue þe chief halle
Þat was made for meles  men to eten inne /
And alle to spare to spille  þat spende shulde on oþur[^549]

[^546: M.10.98: M's Frere or a fytheler is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read fiþeler or a frere.]

[^547: M.10.100: M's original reading perhaps agreed with CotLR, which have Elynge.]

[^548: M.10.101-106: A bracket begins here in the left margin and continues for rest of the paragraph. The last four lines are also bracketed on the right.]

[^549: M.10.106: M's shulde on oþur is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read shal anoþer.]

I haue herd heigh men  etyng / at þe table
Carpen as þei Clerkes were  of Crist & his[^550] miȝtes .
And le yd fautes vpon þe fadur  þat fourmede vs alle
And carpen a yein Clerkus /  crabbede wordus
Whi wolde oure saueour suffre  such a worm in blisse[^551]
That bigiled þe womman  and þe man aftur
Thor gh whiche wiles and wordus  þei wenten to helle
And al hire seed for hire synne  þe same deth suffred
nota .id est. mentitur

[M.10.115: This gloss is not attested in other B manuscripts.]

Here lieþ youre lore  þise lordus gynneth dispute
Of þat ye clerkes vs kenneth  of crist by þe gospell
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris & cetera
# why men perissh For Adams syn
Whi shulde we þat now ben  for þe werkes of Adam .
Roten and rende  reson wold it neuere
Vnusquisque portabit onus suum & cetera
Swiche mo tyues þei moeue  þise maistres in hire glorie
And make men in mys bileue . þat muse  muche on hire wordus
Ymagynatyf here afturward  shal onswere to youre purpos
Augustyn to swiche arguers  he telleth hem þis teme
Non plus sapere quam oportet .
Wilneþ neuere to wite  whi þat god wolde
Suffre Sathan  his seed to bigile
Ac bileueþ lelly . in þe lore  of al[^552] holy churche
x
And praie hym of pardoun  and penaunce in þi liue
And for his muche mercy  to amende yow here .
nota non sunt omnes cause querende
For alle þat wilneth to wite  þe whyes of god almyghty
I wolde his eiȝe were in his ers  and his fynger after
# quia talibus vellet oculum in ano
That euere wilneth to wite  whi þat god wolde
Suffre sathan . his seed to bigile
Or Iudas to þe Iuwes  Ihesu bitraye
Al was as þow woldest  lord y-worshiped be þow .
And al worth as þow wolt  what so we dispute .

[^550: M.10.108: For his all B manuscripts except F read of his.]

[^551: M.10.111: M's altered in blisse agrees with F. Other B manuscripts read in his blisse. Here begins a series of altered readings agreeing with F: M.10.178, M.10.241, and M.10.295.]

[^552: M.10.128: M's insertion of al is not attested by other B manuscripts.]

And þo þat vsen þise hauelons  to blende mennus wittes
What is dowel fro do-bet  now deef mote he worthe
Sithe he wilneth to wite  w hiche þei ben bothe
But if he lyue in þe lif  þat longeth to dowell
bene loquitur
For I dar ben his bolde borgh  þat do-bet wol he neuere
Theiȝ do-best drawe on hym . day aftur oþur .

And whan þat wit was ywar  what dame studie tolde
He bicom so confus  he couthe nouȝt loke
And as doumb as deth  and drowe hym arere .
And for no carpynge I couthe after  ne knelynge to þe grounde
I miȝte gete no greyn  of his grete wittes
But al laughynge he louted  and loked vp-on studye
In signe þat I shulde  biseche hire of grace .

And whan I was war of his wille  to his wif gan I loute
And saide mercy ma-dame  ȝowre man shal I worthe
As longe as I liue  bothe late and rathe
For to wurche yowre wille  þe while my lif dureth
With þat ye kenne me kyndely  to knowe what is do-wel

For thi mekenesse man quod she  and for þi mylde speche
I shal kenne þe to my cosyn  þat clergie is hoten
noticia ad scripturam
He hath wedded a wif  with-Inne þis sex monthes
Is sib — to þe seuene artz  scripture is hire name
Thei two as I hope  aftur my techynge
Shullen wissen þe to dowel  I dar it vndurtake .

Than was I als fayn  as fow l — of faire morwe
And gladdere þan þe gleman  þat gold haþ to yifte
And axede hire þe heie wa y  where þat clergie dwelte

[M.10.165: Something, no longer legible, has been erased from the right margin.]

And telle me summe tok n e quod I  for tyme is þat I wende .

nota de paciencia
Axe þe heiȝe w ey quod she  hennus to suffre
Bothe wele and wo  if þat þou wolt l erne .
And ride forth by richesse  ac reste þow not þer -Inne .
For if þow couplest þe þer -wiþ  to clergie comest þow neuere .

# qui claricare velit neque deuicijs neque luxurijs Frequentet
And also þe likerouse launde  þat leccherie hatte
Leue hym on þe[^553] lifte half  a large myle or more .
Til þow come to a courte  kepe wel þi tonge
Fro lesynges and lither speche  and likerouse drynkes .

[^553: M.10.171: M's þe is not attested in other B manuscripts, which read þi.]

Thanne shalt þow se sobrete  and synnplete sy[m]plete of speche
Þat ech wight be in wille  his wit þe to shewe .
And þus shalt þow come to clergie  þat can many þinges .

Seie hym þis signe  I sette hym to scole

[M.10.178: The erasure of a note in the right margin has affected the final six letters of the line. As a result, bokes has been re-inked. Probably there is no alteration to the text.]

And þat I grette wel his wif  for I wrot hire bokes[^554]
And sette hire to Sapience  and to þe sauter glose .
Loghyke I lerned hire  and many oþ er lawes
And alle þe musons in musike  I made hire to knowe

[^554: M.10.178: M's reading bokes agrees with F. Other B manuscripts read manye bokes.]

Plato þe poete  I putte hym furst to boke
Aristotle . and oþur moo  I tauȝte to argue[^555] .
Gramere for gerls  I gerte first to write
And bette hem with a baleys  but if þei wolde l erne
Of alle kynn es craftus  I contreuede toles
Of carpentrie of keruers  and compassed masons
And lerned — hem leuel and lyne  þowgh I loke dymme .

[^555: M.10.183: M and Hm reverse the syntax of all other B manuscripts, which read to argue I tauȝte.]

Nota
Ac theologie haþ tened me  ten score tymes[^556]
Þe more I muse þere-inne  þe mistier it semeþ
And þe depper I dyuyne  þe derker me it þinkeþ
It is no science for-soþe  for to sotile inne .
A ful lethy þing it were  if þat loue nere .
Ac for it stant[^557] bi loue  I loue it þe bettre .
# quia vbi amor ibi gratia
For þere as loue is ledere  ne lakked neuere grace .
Loke þow loue lelly  if þe liketh dowel .
For do-bet and do-best  ben of loues kynne

[^556: M.10.189-197: This paragraph is marked by a curly bracket on the right side.]

[^557: M.10.194: M's reading stant is unattested among other B manuscripts, most of which read let best, although F also omits best.]

In other science it seith  I seiȝ it in Catoun
Qui simulat verbis nec[^558] corde est fidus amicus
Tu quoque fac simile  sic ars deluditur arte .
# quia non solum amicis sed eciam inimicis bona operemur
Whoso gloseþ as gylours don  go me to þe same
And so shalt þow fals folk  and faitheles bigile
This is Catons kennyng  to clerkus þat he lereth
Ac Theologie techeþ nouȝt so  whoso taketh yeme .
He kenneth vs þe contrarie  aȝein catons wordus
For he bit vs be as bretheren  and bidde for oure enemys
And loue hem þat lien on vs  and lene hem whan hem nedeth
And do good aȝeins yuel  god hym-self it hoteh hote[t]h[^559]
Dum tempus habemus . operemur bonum ad omnes / maxime autem ad domesticos fidei .
Poule preched þe poeple  þat parfitnesse louede
To do good for godes loue  and yeuen men þat asked .
And nameliche to suche  þat suweth oure bileue
And al þat lakkeþ vs and lieþ on vs[^560]  oure lord techeþ vs to lou ye
And nouȝt to greuen hem þat greueþ vs  god hym-self forbad it .
# quia amor maxime profficit ad salutem anime
Michi vindictam & ego retribuam 
For-þi loke þou louye  as longe as þou l yuest[^561]
For is no science vndur s onne  so souerain for þi soule .
Ac astronomye is an hard þing  and yuel for to knowe
# con tra Astronomiam
Geometrie and geomesye  is gynful of speche
Whoso þenkeþ worche with þo two  thryueþ ful late
For sorcerye is þe souerein book  þat to þe science longeth

[^558: M.10.199: M's original reading agreed with WLR. M's altered reading nec agrees with most B manuscripts.]

[^559: M.10.208: For similar instances of a dropped <t> see M.11.98, M.13.157, and M.14.307.]

[^560: M.10.213: M's original reading of lieþ vs was shared by YOC2CLR. In the B manuscripts the addition of on is attested only in F, which reads lyȝe on vs, though is is the reading of A manuscripts.]

[^561: M.10.216: M's lyuest is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read durest.]

# Fybicchis
Yet ar þere fybicches in Forcers  of fel l[^562] mennus makyng
Experimentz of Alkenamye  þe p eple to desceiue .
If — þow þen ke to do wel  dele þere-with neuere
Alle þise sciences I my-self  sotiled and ordeinede
And founded hem formest  folk to desceiue

[^562: M.10.222: For M's altered reading fell, C reads fell but all other B manuscripts have fele which seems to be M's original reading.]

Telle clergye þise tokn es  and scripture aftur
To counseille þe kyndly  to knowe what is dowel

I saide graunt mercy ma-dame  and mekelyche hire grette
And wente wiȝt — liche a-way  with-outen more lettyng
And til I com to clergye  I couthe neuere stente .
And grette þe godeman  as studie me tauȝte
And aft erwardus þe wif  and worshepede hem boþe .
And tolde hem þe tokenes  þat me tauȝt were .
Was neuere gome vpon þis grounde  siþ god the world made[^563] .
Fairer vndurfoungen  ne frendeloker at ese
Than my-self soþely  soone so he wiste
That I was of wittus hous  and with his wif dame Studye .
I saide to hym soþely  þat sent was I thider .
Do-wel and dobet  and dobest to lurne .

[^563: M.10.235: The syntax of M's reading of the world made agrees with F's þis world made; other B manuscripts read made þe world.]

It is a comune lif quod clergie  on holychurche —[^564] bileue .
# de trinitate
Wiþ alle þe articles of þe feith  þat falleþ be[^565] to knowe
And þat is to bileue lelly  boþe lered and lewed
On þe grete god  þat gynnynge hadde neuere .
And on þe soþefast sone  þat sauede mankynde
From þe dedly de þ  and þe deueles power
Thoru — gh þe help of þe holy goost  þe w hich goost is of boþe
Thre persones  ac nouȝt in plurel nombre
For al is but oon god  and ech is god hym-seluen .
Deus pater . deus filius . deus spiritus . sanctus .
God þe fadur . god þe sone  god holy goost of boþe .
Makere of mankynde  and of bestus boþe .

[^564: M.10.241: The erasure of to brings M into agreement with F.]

[^565: M.10.242: The insertion appears to be misplaced. All other B manuscripts place this word after to.]

Austyn the olde  here-of made bookes .
And hym-self ordeynede  to sadde vs in bileue
Who was his auctour  alle þe foure euaungelistes
And Crist cleped hym-self so  þe Euaungelistes bereth wittnesse .
Ego in Patre & pater in me est . et qui videt me videt & patrem meum
# de Fide autem noli disputare
Alle þe Clerkes vndur Crist  ne couthe þis assoille
But þus it bilongeth to bileue  to lewed þat wolen dowel
# Sexta discripcio de dowell
For hadde neuere fr eke fyn wit  þe feith to dispute .
Ne man hadde no merite  myȝte it be[^566] proued
Fides non habet meritum . vbi humana racio prebet experimentum .

[^566: M.10.261: The erasure of <y> brings M into agreement with GBRF.]

Thanne is dobet to suffre  for þi soules helthe
Al þat þe book bit  bi holychurche techynge .
And þat is man by þi miȝt  for mercies sake
Loke þow worche it in werk  þat þi word sheweþ .
Swich as þow semest in sighte  be in assay yfounde
Appare quod es . vel esto quod appares
And lat no-body be  by þi beryng bigiled
But be such in þi soule  as þow semest withoute

Thanne is do-best to be bold  to blame þe gulty
Sithenes þow seest þi-self  as in soule clene
Ac blame þow neuere body  and þow be blame-worthy .
Si culpare velis . culpabilis esse cauebis
Dogma tuum sordet . cum te tua culpa remordet .

God in þe gospel  grymly reproueth
Al þat lakken any lif  and lakkes han hem-seluen .
Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui . trabem in oculo tuo & cetera[^567]
Whi meuestow þi mode for a mote  in þi broþeres eiȝe
Sith a beem in þin owne  ablyndeth þi-selue
Eice primo trabem de oculo tuo & cetera
W hich letteþ þe to loke  lasse oþur more

[^567: M.10.278: Kane and Donaldson erroneously record M as omitting & cetera .]

# to abbottis and priours
I rede ich a blynde bosard  do bet[^568] to hym-selue
For abbotes . and for priours  and for alle manere prelatus
As persons and parisshe preestus  þat preche shulde & teche
Alle manere of[^569] men  to amenden by hire miȝte
Þis tixte was told yow  be[^570] war er ye tauȝte
Þat ye were suche as ye saide  to saluen with oþere
For godes word wol[^571] not be lost  for þat wercheþ euere .
If it auailled nouȝt þe comune  it miȝte auaille yow-seluen .
Ac it semeþ now[^572] sothely  to þe worldus sighte
That godes word w ercheþ nouȝt  on lered ne on lewed
But in suche a manere as . Mar k  meneth in þe gospell
Dum cecus ducit cecum ambo in foueam cadunt

[^568: M.10.283: M shares the reading bet with C2; other B manuscripts have boote.]

[^569: M.10.286: The addition of of brings M into agreement with HmYOC2CBF.]

[^570: M.10.287: For be all B manuscripts except F read to be(n).]

[^571: M.10.289: The erasure, perhaps of <-d> attested in other B manuscripts, brings M into agreement with Bm.]

[^572: M.10.291: The <w> is written over a <t>; F's reading is not.]

Lewede men may likkne yow þus  —[^573] þe beem lith in youre eighen
And þe festu is fallen  for yowre defaute
# con tra mansid prestis
In alle manere men þorugh  mansede prestus
Þe bible bereth wittnesse  þat alle þe folk of Israel
Bittre abouȝte þe gultes  of two badde preestus
# Offny and Fynes
Off ny[^574] and fynes  for hire couetise
Archa dei mishapped . and Ely brak his nekke

[^573: M.10.295: M's original reading agreed with most B manuscripts; the deletion of þat brings M into agreement with GF.]

[^574: M.10.300: M's original Offun agreed with Bm and probably Hm, which have also been altered to Offny, agreeing with BoCot and with C2. C2 originally had Offyn, which is the reading of other B manuscripts.]

For-þi ye corectours claweth here-on  & corecteþ furst yow-seluen
And þanne mowe ye saufly seie  as dauid made þe sauter
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis . arguam te & statuam contra faciem tuam .

And þanne shul borel clerkes ben abasshed  to blame yow or to greue
And carpen nouȝt as þei carpen now  and calle yow doumbe houndes .
Canes non valentes latrare .
And drede to wratthe yow in any word  yowre werkemanship to lette
And be prest er at yowre praiere  þan — for a pound of nobles .
And al for yowre holinesse  haue ye þis in herte

# Contra Religiosos extra vagantes
In scole þere is scorn  but if a clerk wol lerne
And gret loue and likyng  for ech of hem loueþ oþur
Ac now is Religion a ridere  a Romere by stretes
A leder of louedays  and a lond-bugger
A priker on a palfray  fro manoir to manoir
An[^575] hep of houndes at his ers  as he a lord were .
# con tra kneling off the knave
And but if his knaue knele  þat shal his cuppe bringe
He loureth on hym and axeth hym  who tauȝte hym curtesie .
Litel hadde lordes to done  to yeue lond from hire heires
To Religious þat haue no reuthe  thouȝ it reyne on hire auteres

[^575: M.10.316: C here reads And, which may be M's original reading. Bo shows a similar alteration.]

In many places þere hij persones ben  be hem-self atese at ese .
Of þe pore haue þei no pitee  and þat is hire charitee
Ac þei leten hem as lordus  here lond lith so brode

#
Ac þere shal come a kyng  and confesse yow religiouses
And bete yow as þe bible telleþ  for brekyng of yowre[^576] rule .
And amende monyales  Monkes and Chanouns .
And puten hem to hire penaunce Ad pristinum statum ire .
And Barons with Erles beten hem  þoruȝ Beatus Virres techyng
That hire barnes claymen  and blame yow foule .
Hij in curribus hij[^577] in equis . ipsi obligati sunt & cetera .

[^576: M.10.325: M's addition of <y> brings it into agreement with all other B manuscripts.]

[^577: M.10.330: M shares the reading hij with L; other B manuscripts have & hij.]

And þanne Freres in hire Fraitour  shul fynden a keye
Off Costantynes cofres  in w hich is þe catel
That Gregories godchildren  han yuele despended .

Thabbot of Abyndoun

[M.10.334: Abyndoun is in a different ink, but there does not seem to be an erasure here.]

And þan shal þe Abbot of Abyndon  and al his issue for euere
Haue a knok of a kyng  and incurable þe wounde
That þis worth soth seke ye  þat ofte ouersee þe bible 
Quomodo cessauit exactor . quieuit tributum contriuit dominus baculum impiorum & virgam dominancium . credencium plaga insanabili & cetera
Ac er þat kyng come  Caym shal awake
Ac dowel shal dynge hym doun  and destruyen his miȝte
Thanne is dowel and dobet quod I  dominus and knyȝthode .

I nel not scorne quod scripture  but if scryueyns lye
# quod kynghod helpith not to heuenward
Kynghode ne knyȝthode  by auȝt I can awayte
Helpeþ nouȝt to heuenward  one heres ende
Ne richesse riȝt nouȝt  ne rea llte of lordes .

Poule preueth it impossible  riche men haue heuen
Sal omon saith also  þat siluer is worst to louye .
Nichil iniquius quam amare pecuniam
And Caton kenneth vs to coueite it nauȝt  but as nede techeth
Dilige denarium . set parce dilige formam .

And patriarches and prophetes  and poetes boþe
Wryten to wissen vs  to wilne no richesse
And praiseden pouerte wiþ pacience  þapost eles bereþ w ytnesse
That þai han heritage in heuene  and by trwe riȝte
There riche men no riȝt may clayme  but of ruthe and grace .
nota
Contra quod I by Crist  þat can I reproue
And proue it by Petre  and by Poule bothe .
That ben baptised . ben saued  be þei riche or pouere .

That is in extremis quod Scripture  amonges Sar syns & Iewes
Þei mowe be saued so  and þat is oure bileue .
# quod inffidelis in casu potest Baptizare inffedelis
That an vncristen . in þat cas  may cristen an heþen .
And for his lele bileue  whan he þe lif tyneþ
Haue þe heritage of heuene  as any man cristen .

Ac Cristen men with-outen more  may not come to heuene
For þat Crist . for Cristen men deide  and confermed þe lawe
That whoso wolde and wilneth  with Crist to arise
Si cum Cristo surexistis . & cetera
He shulde louye and lene  and þe lawe fulfulle
That is loue þi lord god  leuest abouen alle
And aftur alle cristene creatures  in comune eche man other
+
And þus bilongeth to louye  þat leueth to be saued
And bote we do þus in dede  er þe day of dome .
It shal bi-sitten vs ful soure  þe siluer þat we kepen .
.id est. vestes clothis

[M.10.373: The gloss vestes is the same ink and hand as the main text. The hand of the later gloss clothis resembles that of the Latin note at the top of fol 104v, as well as that of the verses about the mace at the foot of that leaf. The sidenote fiat voluntas on fol. 64v may also be compared. A gloss on bakkes in L reads id est panni.]

And oure bakkes þat motheten ben  & seen beggers go naked
Or delite in wyn and wildfoule  and wot any in defaute
For euer y cristen creature  shulde be kynde til other
And sithen . hethen to helpe  in hope of amendement
God hoteth boþe heighe and lowe  þat no man hurte oþer
And saith sle nouȝt þat semblable is  to myn owne likkenesse
But if I sende þe som token  and saith . non occides[^578]
I[^579] sle nouȝt but suffre  and al for þe beste
For I shal punisshe hem in purgatorie  or in þe put of helle .
Eche man for his mysdedes  but mercy it lette .

[^578: M.10.379: M's occides, written over a longer erasure, is unique. This word is attested variously among B manuscripts: mecaberis, necaberis, necabis. The corrector recognized Langland's error, as does one A text scribe. See Luke 18.20, and Skeat's explanation of the readings (2.160). John Alford provides further comment (Piers Plowman: A Guide to the Quotations (Binghamton, 1992) pp. 68-69).]

[^579: M.10.380: M's altered reading I agrees with Cr23YOC2CB. Most other B manuscripts read Is.]

This is a long lesson quod I  and litel am I þe wyser
Where dowel is or dobet  derkeliche ye shewen
Many tales ye tellen  þat theologye lerneth
And þat I man made was  and my name y-entred
In þe legende of lif  longe er I were .
Or elles writen for som wikkednesse  as holy writ w ytnesseth
Nemo ascendit in celum nisi qui de celo descendit .

I leue it wel[^580] quod I  and on no lettrure bettre
For sal omon þe sage  þat sapience tauȝte
God gaf hym grace of wit  and alle his godes aftur
He demed wel and wisely  as holy writ telleth
# opinionem quomodo Salamoun et Aristotill dampnantur
Aristotle and he  who wissud men bettre .
Maistres þat of godes mercy  techen men and prechen
Of hire wordus þei wissen vs  for wisest in hire tyme
And al holy churche  holdeþ hem bothe ydampned .
And if I shulde werke bi here werkes  to wynnen me heuene
That for hire werkes and wit  now woneth in pyne
Thanne wrouȝt I vnwisely  what so euere ye preche

[^580: M.10.390: Most B manuscripts include either here or after quod I the phrase, by oure lord.]

Ac of fel e witty in feith  litel ferly I haue
Thouȝ hire goost be vngracious  god for to plese .
For many men[^581] on þis molde  more sette hire hertes
In good þan in god  for-þi hem grace failleth
At hire moost meschief  whan þei shul lif lete
As sal omon d ide and suche oþ ere  þat s hewede grete wittus .
Ac hire werkes as holy writ seith  was euere þe contrarie .
For-þi wise witted men  and wel y-lettred clerkes
As þei saien hem-self  selden don þere-aftur
Super cathedra moysy . & cetera .

[^581: M.10.403: M's addition of men is attested in most B manuscripts.]

Ac I wene it worth of many  as was in Noe s tyme .
Tho he shop þat sh ipp  of shides and bordus
Was neuere wriȝte saued þat wrouȝte þere-on  ne oþur werkeman elles .
# archam Noe
But briddes and bestes  and þe blessud Noe
And his wif with his sones  and also hire wifes
And[^582] of wr yghtes þat it wrouȝt  was non of hem y-saued .[^583]
God lene it fare not so bi folk  þat þe feith techen
Of holy churche þat herberwe is  and godes hous to saue .
And shilde vs fram shame þere-Inne  as Noes shipp dede bestes
And men þat maden it  ——[^584] amydde þe flood adreynten
The culorum of þis c lause[^585]  is Curatours to mene
#
That ben carpentiers holy kyrke to make  for cristus owne bestus
Homines & iumenta saluabis domine & cetera

[^582: M.10.416: M alone among B manuscripts begins the line with And.]

[^583: M.10.416: This line was added in a darker ink, but probably by the main hand, in a space dividing paragraphs. In this omission, M originally agreed with GYOC2CB, which also omit this line.]

[^584: M.10.420: The corrector most likely erased an extra amydde.]

[^585: M.10.421: M's original reading may have agreed with OC2, which read cause.]

On gode friday I fynde  a feloun was y-saued
Þat hadde y-l iued al his lif  with lesynges and with thefte
# Felon on Good Fryday
And for he by-knew on þe cros  and to Crist shrof hym
He was s onner saued  þan — seint Iohan þe baptist
And er Adam or ysaie  or any of þe prophetes
That hadde y-layn with lucifer .  many longe yeres
A robbere was y-raunceoned  rather þan — þei alle
With-owten any penaunce of purgatorie  to perpetuel blisse

Than Marie Magdaleyne  what womman dede worse
Or who worse þan dauid  þat vries deth conspired
Or Poul e . þe appostele  þat no pite hadde 
[^586]Muche Cristene kynde  to kille to dethe
And now ben þes as souereins  with saintes in heuene
Tho þat wrouȝten wikkedliest  in world þo þei were

[^586: M.10.435: The scribe begins by writing to the right of the box as he had done in the first quire; then, realizing his misplacement, writes the next initials in their correct position.]

And þo þat wysely wordeden  and wryten many bookes
Of wit and of wisdom  with dampnede soules wonye .
That Salamon seith I trowe be soth  and certeyn of vs alle
Sine iusti atque sapientes . & opera eorum in manu dei sunt & cetera

Ther aren witti and wel libbynge  ac hire werkes ben yhudde
In þe hondes of almiȝty god  and he wot þe sothe .
Wher for loue a man worth allowed þere  and his lele werkes
Orelles Or elles for his yuel wil  and enuie of herte
And be allowed as he liuede so  for by lither men knoweth the goode
And wherby w iste[^587] men which is white  if alle þing blak were
And who were a gode man  but if þere were sum shrewe
For-þi lyue we forth wiþ liþere[^588]  I leue fewe ben goode .
For quant oportet vient en place  il ny ad que pati .
And he þat al may[^589] amende  haue mercy on vs alle .
Nemo bonus
For soþest word þat euere god seide  was þo he saide nemo bonus

[^587: M.10.447: This alteration occurs at a place where B manuscripts attest a wide variety of readings. Bm also has the last three letters of wist over an erasure; many other manuscripts have a form of witen.]

[^588: M.10.449: M alone among B manuscripts here lacks the word men.]

[^589: M.10.451: M shares the reading al may with Y; other B manuscripts have may al.]

Clergye tho of Cristes mouth  comended was it litel .
For he saide to saint petre  and to suche as he louede
Dum steteritis ante Reges & cetera[^590]
Though ye come bifo re kynges  and clerkes of þe lawe .
Beth nouȝt abasshed . for I shal  be in yowre mouthes
And yeue yow wit and wille  and konnynge to conclude
Hem alle þat aȝeins yow  of cristendome disputen

[^590: M.10.455: M's version of this Latin tag is the shortest among B manuscripts. Most other B manuscripts continue with & presides after reges.]

Dauyd maketh mencion  he spak among kynges
And miȝte no kyng ouercome hym  as bi konynge of speche
But wit ne wisdome  ne wan neuere þe maistrie
Whan man was at meschief  with-oute þe more grace

The doughtieste doctour  and diuinour of þe Trinitee .
Was Augustyn þe olde  and heiȝest of þe foure
Saide þus in a sermon  I seigh it writen ones
Ecce ipsi ydioti rapiunt celum . vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur
And is to mene to englessh men  more ne lasse
Aren none rather rauysshed  fro þe riȝte bileue
......

[M.10.470: There is a word of five or six letters written faintly in the lower right corner of the leaf.]

Than aren þise konynge clerkes  þat k on nen many bokes .
Ne none sonner saued  ne sadder of bileue
Than plowmen and pastours  and pore comune laborers
Souters and shepherdes  and suche lewede iottes
Percen with a pater -noster  þe paleys of heuene
And passen purgatorie penaunceles  at hire hennus partynge
Into þe blisse of paradys  for hire pure bileue
That parfitely[^591] h ere  knewe and eke lyueden .

[^591: M.10.477: Other B manuscripts share M's original reading inparfitely, except for BF with in parfit lif.]

Men haue knowen[^592] clerkes  þat han cursed þe tyme
That euere þei couthe or knewe moore  þan Credo in deum patrem
And principaly hire pater noster . many a persone haþ wysshed

[^592: M.10.478: All B manuscripts except F read Ye men knowe(n), which was perhaps M's original reading. F has Men knowe cunne.]

I se emsamples e[n]samples my-self  and so may[^593] many — othur
That seruauntz þat s er uen lordus  selden falle in arrerage
But tho þat kepen þe lordes catel  clerkes and reues .
Right so lewede men  and of litel knowynge
Selden fallen þei so foule  and so fer in synne
As clerkes of holykyrke  þat kepen cristes tresore
The w hich is ma n n es soule to saue  as god saith in þe gospell .
Ite vos in vineam meam. & cetera .

[^593: M.10.481: M's original ending of the line was probably as in Hm so many an oþer. The altered reading is in line with most B manuscripts.]

Passus x j us vndecimus [M.11.0: The passus heading is corrected in brown ink and cor appears in the left margin.] de visione

T hanne scripture scorned me  and a skyl tolde
And lakked me in latyn  and light by me she sette
And saide . Multi multa sciunt  & se ipsos nesciunt
Tho wepte I for wo  and wrathe of hire speche
And in a wyn kynge wrathe  wex I a-slepe
A merueillous sweuene  mette me þanne .
That I was rauysshed riȝt there  and fortune me fette
And in-to þe lond of longynge  allone she me brouȝte
And in a Mirrour þat highte mi ddelerd  she made me to by-holde
Sithen she saide to me  here miȝt þow se wondres
And knowe þat þou coueitest  and come þerto par -aunt er

Than hadde fortune folwyng hire  two faire damoyseles
Concupiscencia carnis .  men called þeldere mayden[^594]
And couetise of eighes  y-called was þat oþur
Pride of parfit lyuynge  pursuede hem bothe
And bad me for my continaunce  acounte clergye light .
Concupiscencia carnis colled me aboute þe nekke
And saide þou art yong / and yepe  and hast yeres ynowe
For to lyue longe  and ladies to louye
And in þis Mirrour þou miȝt se  murthes ful manye
That leden þe wille to lykynge  al thi lif-tyme

[^594: M.11.13: For mayden, other B manuscripts have mayde.]

The secounde saide þe same  I shal sue þi wille
Til þow be a lord . and haue lond  leten þe I nelle .
That I ne shal folwe þi felashipe  if fortune it like
He shal fynde me his frend  quod fortune þer -aftur
The fr eke þat folwed my wille  failled neuere blisse

Than was there oon þat highte elde  þat heuy was of chere
Man quod he if I mete with þe  by marye of heuene
Thow shalt fynde fortune þe faille  at þi mooste nede .
And Concupiscencia carnis clene þe forsake
Bitterliche shaltow[^595] banne þanne  bothe dayes & nyȝtes
Coueitise of eighe  þat þow hire euere knewe[^596]
And pride of parfit lyuynge  to muche peril þe bringe

[^595: M.11.31: There is an otiose curl over the <o> in shaltow.]

[^596: M.11.32: M's b-verse syntax is unique among B manuscripts, the rest of which read þat euere þow hir knewe.]

# Recheles
Ye recche[^597] neuere quod rechelesnesse  stood forth in ragged clothes
Folwe forth þat fortune wole  þow hast wel fer to elde .
A man may stoupe tymes y-now  whan he shal tyne þe crowne .
Homo proponit quod a poete  and plato he highte
And deus disponit quod he  lat god don his wille
If tru the wol witnesse it be w el do  Fortune to folwe
Concupiscencia carnis  ne coueitise of eiȝes
Ne shal nouȝt greue þe gretly  ne bigile þe but if þow wol le

[^597: M.11.34: M alone among B manuscripts here lacks a pronoun. Most B manuscripts read þee; Hm reads þou.]

.id est. yowth
Ye fare-wel phippe quod Faunteltee  and forth gan me drawe
Til Concupiscencia carnis accorded alle my werkes

Allas eighe quod Elde  and holynesse bothe
That wi t shal turne to wrecchednesse  for wil to haue his lykynge

Couetise of eighes  conforted me a-non aftur .
And folwed me fourty wynter  and a fifte moore
That of dowel ne do-bet  no deynte me ne thouȝte[^598] .
I had no likynge / leue me if þe lest  of hem auȝt to knowe .
Coueitise of eighes  cam oft er in mynde .
Than do-wel or do-bet  among my dedes alle
Coueitise of eighes  conforted me ofte
nota pro fratribus
And saide haue no co nscience  how þow come to good
nota
Go confesse þe to s om frere  and shewe hym þi synnes[^599]
#
For whiles fortune is þi frend  Freres wol þe louye
And fecche þe to hire fraternitee  and for þe biseche
To hire Priour prouyncial  a pardon for to haue
And praien for þe . pol by pol  if þow be pecuniosus .
Set pena pecuniaria non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis

[^598: M.11.48: M shares the reading ne thouȝte with L; other B manuscripts have þouȝte.]

[^599: M.11.54-57: These lines are bracketed in the left margin by the marginal annotator.]

By wissynge of þis w enche I wrouȝte  hire wordus were so swete
Til I for yat youthe  and yarn in-to Elde .
And þanne was fortune my foo  for al hire faire biheste
And pouerte pursuede me  and putte me lowe
nota #
And þo fonde I þe Frere aferd  and flittynge bothe
A yeins oure furst forward  for I saide I nolde
Be buried at hire hous  but at my parissh churche
# quia vbi baptizatur ibi sepeliri debet
For I herde ones  how conscience it tolde
That þere a man were cristenede  be kynde he shulde be buried
Or where he were parisshen  right þere he shuld be grauen

#
And for I seide þus to Freres  a fool þei me helden
And loued me þe lasse  for my lele speche
Ac yet I criede on my confessour  þat held hym-self so konnyng
nota
B y my faith Frere quod I  ye faren lik þese wowers .
That wedden none widowes  but for to welde hire goodes .
Right so by þe Rode  rouȝte ye neuere
Where my body were buried  so[^600] ye hadde my siluer
I haue muche merueille of yow  and so haþ many a-nother .
Whi youre Couent coueiteþ  to confesse and to burye
Rather þan to baptize barns  þat ben catekumelynges
Baptisynge and burienge  bothe ben ful nedful
# quia magis conuenit Baptismum quam sepulcrum
Ac muche more meritorie  me þinketh it is to baptise
For a baptized man  may as Maistres telleþ
Þor wgh contricion come  to þe heiȝe heuene Sola contricio & cetera[^601]
Ac a barn with-oute bapteme  may not so be saued .
Nisi quis renatus fuerit loke ȝe lettred men  wher I lye or I[^602] do nouȝt .

[^600: M.11.76: Most B manuscripts read by so. M's omission of by is shared with GF. The possible insertion of the word noted by Kane and Donaldson is the lower portion of an imperfectly erased <ȝ> in the line above.]

[^601: M.11.83: Kane and Donaldson's apparatus, which records KD.11.81α as in margin, is here perhaps misleading. M treats Sola contricio & cetera as the end of KD.11.81.]

[^602: M.11.85: M's I is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

And leaute loked on me  and I loured after .
Wherfore lourest þow quod leaute  and loked on me harde
If I durste quod I amonges men  this metels a vowe .
Ȝe by petur . and by poule quod he  and take hem[^603] to w ytnesse
Non oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo . set publice argue illos

[^603: M.11.89: M alone among B manuscripts lacks boþe here.]

Thei wolen alleggen also . quod I  and by þe gospel preuen .
Nolite iudicare quemquam .

And wherof serueth lawe quod leaute  if no lif vndurtoke it
Falsnesse ne faytrie  for sumwhat þe appostel saide
Non oderis fratrem . and in þe sauter also  saith dauid þe prophete
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis & cetera
It is licitum for lewed men  to segge þe sothe
If hem liketh and lust  eche a lawe[^604] graunteh graunte[t]h
Excepte persones and prestus  and prelates of holychurche .
It falleth not for þat folk  no tales to telle
Though þe tale were trwe  and it touched synne .

[^604: M.11.98: M alone among B manuscripts lacks it here.]

Thing þat al þe world wot  wherfore shuldestow spare
&[^605] reden it in Rethorik  to arate dedly synne
#
Ac be neueremore þe furste  þe defaute to blame
Though þow se yuel . s ey it not furst  be sory it nere amended .
No thing þat is priue  puplice þow it neuere .
Neither for loue laude it nouȝt  ne lakke it for enuye
Parum lauda vitupera parcius .

[^605: M.11.103: The <&> is most likely a correction for A, meaning "and," but there is no way to be certain.]

He saith soth quod scripture þo  and skipte an heigh and preched
Ac þe matire þat she mouede  if lewede men it knewe
The lasse as I leue  louyen it þei wolde

multi sunt vocati
This was hire teme and hire tixte  I took ful good hede .
Multi to a mangerie  and to þe mete were s ompned
And whanne þe p eple was plener comen  þe porter vnpynned þe yate
pauci vero electi
And plukkud in Pauci priueliche  and le et þe rem en aunt go rome

Al for tene of hire tixte  trembled myn herte
And in awere a were gan I wexe  and with my-self to dispute
Whether I were chosen or nouȝt chosen  on holi churche I thouȝte
That vndurfeng me at þe font  for oon of godes chosen .
For crist cl epud vs alle  come if we wolde
Saracenes and scismatikes  and so he dide þe Iewes .
O vos omnes scicientes venite & cetera .
An d bad hem souke for synne  saufli at his breste
And drinke bote for bale  brouke it whoso miȝte

Thanne may alle cristen come quod I  and clayme there entre

[M.11.126: Something, no longer legible, has been erased in the left margin.]

By þe blood þat he bouȝte vs with  and thorugh baptesme aftur .
Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit 

[M.11.128: The erased side note must have read Renoying of Crestyndom.]

For though a cristen man coueited  his cristendom to renoie
Rightfulliche to ren oie  no resoun it wolde .

# quia Rusticus non debet seipsum manumiscere absque licencia domini sui
For may no cherle chartre make  ne his catell selle
With-outen leue of his lord  no lawe wil it graunte
Ac he may renne in arerage  and rome so from home
And as a reneyed caityf  rechesly abowte
Ac reson shal rekene — with him  and caste him in arrerage
And putten aftur in a prisoun  in purgatorie to brenne .
For his arrerages rewarde hym there  to the day of dome .
But if contricion wol come  and crie by his lyue
Mercy for his mysdedes  with mouthe or with herte .

That is soth saith[^606] scripture  may no synne lette
# quia misericordia super omnia opera
Mercy all to amende  and mekenesse hire folwe
For þei beth as oure bookes telleth  aboue godes werkes .
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius .

[^606: M.11.139: M alone among B manuscripts attests the verb in the present tense. Other B manuscripts have past tense.]

Baw For bookes
Yee baw for bookes quod on  was broken out of helle
Troianus #
Highte Troianus hadde ben a trewe . kniȝt  took witnesse at a pope
How he was ded and dampned  to dwellen in pyne
For an vncristene creature  clerkes witen þe sothe
That alle þe clerkes[^607] vndur crist  mighte me cracche from helle .
But oonliche loue and leawte  and my laweful domes

[^607: M.11.147: M's reading of clerkes is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read clergie.]

Gregory wiste þis wel  and wilned to my soule
Sauacion . for sothenesse  þat he seigh in my werkes
And after þat he wepte and wilned  þat[^608] me were graunted
Grace with-owten any bede-biddynge  his bone was vndurfongen
And I saued as ye may see  withouten syngynge of masses
Bi loue and by lurnynge  of my lyuynge in trwþe
Brouȝte me from bitt er peyne  þere no bede[^609] mighte

[^608: M.11.151: M's reading of þat is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

[^609: M.11.155: M shares the reading bede with F; other B manuscripts have biddyng.]

# quia valet veritas
Lo ye lordes what leaute d ide  by an Emperour of Rome
That was an vncristen creature  as clerkes fynde in bookes
Nouȝt þor ugh preiere of a pope  but of[^610] his pure treuthe
Was þat Sarasene saued  as seint Gregorie bereth wittnesse

[^610: M.11.158: M's reading of of is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read for.]

Wel ouȝte ye lordes þat lawes kepe  þis lesson to haue in mynde
# quia iusticia eius manet in seculum seculi
And on Troianus trouthe to thenke  and do truthe to þe p eple
Lawe with-outen loue quod Troianus  leye þere a bene
Or any science vnder s onne  þe seuen artes and alle .
# quia magis propter amorem quam pecunie stipendium
But þei ben lerned for oure lordus loue  lost is al þe tyme
For no cause to cacche siluer þerby  ne to be called a maist er
But al for loue of oure lord  and þe bet to loue þ e peple .
For seint Iohan seide it  and sothe arn his wordes .
Qui non diligit manet in morte .

Who-so loueth[^611] nouȝt leue me  liueth in deth dei ynge
And þat alle manere men  ennemys and frendes
Louen hire either other  and loue[^612] hem as hire-selue
Whoso leneth[^613] nouȝt  he loueth nouȝt  god wot þe sothe
And comaundeth eche creature  to conforme hym to louye
And souereinliche pore p eple  and hire enemys after .
For hem þat haten vs  is oure merite to louye
And pore peple to plese  hire praiers may vs helpe .
# quia in similitudine pauperum visus erat Ihesus
For oure ioie and oure hele  Ihesu crist of heuene .
In a pore man nes apparaille  pursue th vs euere .
And loketh on vs in hire likkenesse  and þat with louely chere
To knowen vs by oure kynde herte  and cast inge of oure eighen
Whether we loue þe lordus here  bifore oure lord of blisse .
And exciteth vs by þe eu au ngelie  þat whan we maken festes .
We shuld not clepe oure kyn þerto  ne none kynnes riche .
Cum facitis conuiuia nolite inuitare amicos .

[^611: M.11.169: The reading is clearly loueth, but the vowel has perhaps been altered. See lines 171 and 172.]

[^612: M.11.171: As in M.11.172, the vowel has been altered, so that the reading should perhaps be lene, as in most B manuscripts.]

[^613: M.11.172: As in M.11.171, the vowel has been altered, so that the reading should perhaps be loueth. Hm also alters <o> to <e>. Most B manuscripts have leneþ.]

Ac calleth þe careful þer-to  þe croked . and þe pore .
For yowre frendes wol feden yow  and fonde yow to quite
Youre festynge and youre faire yifte  eche frende quiteþ —[^614] other .

[^614: M.11.187: M's erasure of so brings it into agreement with G.]

Ac for þe pore I shal paie  and pure wel quite hire trauaille
That yeueth hem mete or moneye  and loueth hem for my sake .
For þe beste ben somme riche  and somme beggers and pore
For alle arn we cristus creatures  and of hise co fres riche .
And bretheren as of on blood  as wel beggers as erles .
For on Calu arye of Cristes blode  cristendom gan springe .
no vileyn butt by Syn
And blodi bretheren we bicome there  of o body ywonne .
As Quasi modo geniti[^615]  and gentel-men echone
No begger ne boy amonges vs  but if it synne made
Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccati & cetera .

[^615: M.11.195: The red overlining extends all the way to the end of gentel, but the underlining appropriately ends after geniti.]

In þe olde lawe  as holy lettre telleth
Mennes sones  men called vs echone
Of Adames issue and Eue  ay til god/man deide .
And after his resureccioun  Redemptor was his name
And we hise bretheren þorwgh hym y-bouȝt  bothe riche & pore
# quia Iocundum est habitare Fratres in vnum
For-thi loue we as leue bretheren shal  and eche man laughe vp other .
And of þat iche man may forbere  amende þere it nedeth
And euery man helpe other  for hennes shul we alle
Alter alterius onera portate .

And be we nouȝt vnkynde of oure catel  ne of oure konnynge neither .
For noot no man how neigh it is  to be ynome from bothe .
X
For-þi lakke no lif other  þouȝ he more latyn knowe .
Ne vnder-nyme nouȝt foule  for is noon withouten faute
For what-euere clerkes carpe  of cristendome or elles .
Crist to a comune womman saide  in comune at a feeste
# quia per Fidem saluata est peccatrix
That fides sua shulde sauen hire  and saluen hire of hire synnes .

Thanne is bileue a lele helpe  aboue logyk or lawe .
Of logyke ne of lawe  in legenda sanctorum
Is litel allowance made  but if bileue hem helpe .
For it is ouer-longe er logyke  any lessoun tassoille[^616]
nota legis
And lawe is lothe to louye  but if he lacche syluer
Bothe logyke and lawe  þat louyth nought to lye
I conseille alle cristen  clyue nouȝt þere-on to sore
For s om wordes I fynde wryten  were of faithes techinge
That saued synful men  as seint Iohan bereth witnesse .
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis . remencietur[^617] vobis .

[^616: M.11.217: A small <t> is added faintly before assoile. It is not in other B manuscripts.]

[^617: M.11.223: BM alone read remencietur. Most other manuscripts have remecietur.]

For-þi lerne we þe lawe of loue  as oure lord tauȝte
And as seint Gregorie saide  for mannes soule helthe
Melius est scrutari scelera nostra quam naturas rerum .

Why I moeue this matere  is most for þe pouere
For in hire liknesse oure lord  ofte hath ben yknowen .
Wyttnesse in þe paske wyke  whan he wente[^618] to Emaus .
Cleophas knewe him nouȝt  þat he Crist were
For his pouere apparaille  and pilgrimes wedes
# quia in Fraccione panis cognouerunt eum
Til he blessed and brak  þe bred þat þei eten .
So by his werkes þei wisten  þat he was Ihesus
Ac by clothinge þei knewe hym nouȝt  ne by carpynge of tonge .

[^618: M.11.229: M's reading wente is shared with F. Other B manuscripts read yede.]

And al was ensample  to vs synneful here
That we sholde be lowe  and loueliche of speche
And apparaille vs nouȝt ouere proudly  for pilgrimes arn we alle
And in þe apparaille of a pouere man  and pilgrimes liknesse
Many tyme god hath ben met  amonge nedy poeple .
There neuere segge hym seigh  in secte of þe riche .

Seint Iohan and other seintes  were seien in pore clothinge
And as pouere pilgrimes  preide me n nus godes .
Ihesu crist on a Iewes douȝghter a-lighte  gentile womman þouȝ she were
Was a pure pouere mayde  and to a pore man y-wedded .

Martha on Marie Magdaleyne  an huge pleinte she made
And to oure saueour self  saide þise wordes .
Domine non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me sola ministrare . & cetera

Nota quomodo laudatur paupertas
And hastil iliche god answerede  and eytheres wille folwede
Bothe Marthaes and Maries  as Mathew bereth witnesse
Ac pouerte god putte bifore  and praised it þe bettre .
Maria optimam partem elegit . que non & cetera .
And alle þe wyse þat euere were  by aught I can aspye
# pouerte For the best
Praiseden[^619] pouerte for þe[^620] beste lif  if pacience it folwe .
And bothe better and blesseder  by many fold þan richesse
Al-þouȝgh it be soure to suffre  ther cometh swete after
As on a walnote withoute  is a bittre barke .
And after þat bittre barke  be þe shelle awaye .
Is a kyrnel of confort  kynde to restore .

[M.11.259: Although this erasure is illegible even under ultraviolet light, it is likely a guide for the addition of penaunce to the line.]

So is after pouerte or penaunce  pacientlyche ytaken[^621]
For it maketh a man to haue mynde in god  and a grete w ille
To wepe and to wel bidde  wherof wexeth mercy
Of w hich crist is a kernele  to conforte the soule .
And wel sikerer he slepeþ  þe man þat is pore
And lasse he dredeþ þe[^622] deth  and in derk to ben robbed
Than he þat is riȝt riche  reson bereth w ytnesse .
Pauper ego ludo dum tu diues meditaris 
Al-though Sal omon saide  as folk saide[^623] in þe bible
Diuicias nec paupertates & cetera

[^619: M.11.253: M shares the past tense Praiseden with W; other B manuscripts have the present.]

[^620: M.11.253: M shares the reading þe with Cot; other B manuscripts omit it.]

[^621: M.11.259: There is also an erased correction above penaunce indicated with two carets. See the image for the complex erasure above and within this line and in the right margin. For penaunce OC2 read pacience.]

[^622: M.11.264: M's reading of þe is shared only with F.]

[^623: M.11.267: M alone among B manuscripts has saide. GCr have the present tense; other B manuscripts have seeþ.]

Wyser þan sal omon was  bereth w ytnesse and tauȝte .
That parfit pouerte was  no possession to haue .
And lif moost lykynge to god  as Luc bereth w ytnesse
Si vis perfectus esse vade & vende & cetera

And is to mene men[^624]  þat on þis molde lyuen
Whoso wole be pure parfit  moot possession forsake
Or selle it as saithe þe —— book  and þe syluer dele
To beggers þat gon and begge  and bidden g ood for godes loue

[^624: M.11.273: M's erasure of to brings it into agreement with Cr1.]

For failled neuere man mete  þat myȝtful god serued
As dauid saith in þe sauter  to such þat ben in wille
To seruen god goodliche  ne greueth hem no penaunce
Nichil impossibile volenti .
Ne lakketh neuere liflode  lynnen ne wollen
Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono .

If prestes were parfite  þei wolde no siluer take
For Masses ne for matyns .  nouȝt hire mete of vsure res
Ne neither curtel ne cote  þough þei for cold shulde deye
And þei hire deuoir dide  as dauid saith in þe sauter
Iudica me deus & discerne causam meam
Spera in deo . speketh of prestes  þat haue no spendynge siluer
That if þei trauaille trwlyche  and truste in god almyghty
Hem shulde lakke no liflode  neither wollen ne lynnen .
And þe title þat thei t oke[^625] ordres b y  telleþ ye ben auaunced
Thanne nedeth yow nouȝt to take syluer  for masses þat ye syngen
nota
For he þat took yow youre title  shulde take yow yowre wages
pro presbiteris
Or the bisshop þat blesseth yow  if þat ye ben worthy
For made neuer kyng no knyght  but he hadde catel to spende
As bifel for a knyght  or fond him for his strengthe
# a Careffull knyght
It is a careful knyght  and of a cayty f — kynges makynge
That hath no londes[^626] ne lynage riche  ne good loos of hise handes
The same I segge for sothe  bi alle suche preestes
That han neither co n nynge ne kyn  but a crowne one
And a title a tale of nouȝt .  to his liflode at meschief .
He hath more bileue as I leue  to lacche þorugh his crowne
Cure . þan for konnynge  or knowen for clene of ber ynge .
I haue wondur and wh y  and wherfore the bisshopp
Makeþ suche prestus  þat lewed men bitrayen

[^625: M.11.291: M's altered reading toke agrees with Cr. Other B witnesses have the present tense.]

[^626: M.11.298: M alone among B manuscripts attests the plural.]

A Chartre is chalangeable  bifore a chief Iustice
If fals latyn be in that lettre  þe lawe it inpugneth
Or paynted parentrelinarie  parcelles ouerskipped
The gome þat gloseth so chartres  for a goky is holden .

# con tra Idiotes prestis
So is it a goky bi god  þat in his gospell failleth
Or in masse or in matynes .  makeþ any defaute
Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus . & cetera
And also in þe sauter . saith  dauid to ouerskippers
Psallite deo nostro psallite . quoniam rex terre deus[^627] psallite sapienter

[^627: M.11.314: M shares the reading deus with Hm; other B manuscripts have deus Israel.]

The bisshop shal be blamed  bifore god as I leue
That crowneth suche goddes knyghtes  þat konneþ nouȝt sapienter
Synge ne psalmes rede  ne segge a messe of þe day
Ac neuer neither is blameles  the bisshop ne the Chaplein
For hire either is endited  and þat of ignorancia .
Non excusat episcopos  nec idiotes prestes

This lokynge on lewede prestes  hath don me lepe fram pouerte .
The w hich I praise there pacience is  moore than — parfit[^628] richesse

[^628: M.11.322: M's than parfit is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read parfit þan.]

Ac muche more in metynge þus  with me gan on dispute
And slepynge I seigh al this  and sithen cam kynde .
And nempned me by my name  and bad me nymen hiede .
And þo rugh the won — dres of þis world  w it for to take .
And on a mountaigne þat Middelerd highte  as me tho thoughte
I was fet forth  . by ensamples to knowe .
Thorugh iche a creature and kynde  my creatour to louye .
I seigh the s onne and þe see  and þe sonde after
And where that briddes and bestes  by hire make thei yeden .
# For wormys & Foulis & cetera
Wilde wormes in wodes  and wonderful fowles
With flekkede fetheres  and of fele colours
Man and his make  I might bothe byholde .
Pouerte and ple n- tee .  bothe pees and werre
Blisse and bale  bothe I seigh atones at ones
And how men token mede  and mercy refused
Resoun I seigh sothely  suwen alle bestes
In etynge in drinkynge  and in engendrynge of kynde .
And after cours of Concepcioun  noon took kepe of other
As whan þei hadde ride in Rotey-tyme  anoon-right ther-after
Males drowen hem to males  a-morwenynges by hem-selue
And in euenynges also  the males from þe females
There ne was cowe ne cowkynde  þat conceiued hadde
That wolde belwe after boles  ne boor after a sowe[^629] .
Bothe hors and houndes  and alle other bestes
Medled nouȝt with hire makes  that with fole were .

[^629: M.11.345: M's a sowe is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read sowe.]

Briddes I biheld  þat in buskes made nestes
Hadden[^630] neuere wye wit  to worche þe leeste
# pye Nest
I hadde won — dur at whom  and where þe pye lerned .
To legge the stikkes  in whiche she leith and bredeth
Ther nys wr yȝte as I wene shuld  worche hire nest to paie
If any Mason made a moold þerto  muche wondur it were

[^630: M.11.349: M alone among B manuscripts attests the ungrammatical plural Hadden.]

And yet me merueilled more  how many other briddes
Hudden and heleden  hire egges ful derne .
In marreys and Moores  for men shuld not fynde hem[^631] .

[M.11.357: Something, no longer legible, has been erased in the right margin. It is likely a guide for the addition of þai to the line.]

And hudden hire egges  whan þai therfro wente
For fere of other foules  and for wilde bestes

[^631: M.11.356: M's not fynde hem is not attested in other B manuscripts, which read hem noȝt fynde.]

And summe troden hire makes  and on trees bredden
# concepcionem Byle
And brouȝghten forth hire briddes so  al aboue the grounde
And summe briddes at the bile  þorugh brethinge conceyuede
And som me kauked I took keep  how pecokes bredden .
Muche meruaillede me  what Maist er þei hadde .
And who tauȝte hem on trees  to tymbre so heighe
There neither buirn ne beest  may hire briddes rechen .

And sithen I loked vpon þe see  and so forth vpon the sterres .
Many selcouthes I s eiȝ  ben nouȝt to seie nouthe

I seigh floures in þe fryth  and hire faire colours .
And how among the grene gresse  grewe so manye h eewes
And somme soure . and summe swete  selcouthe me thouȝte
Of hire kynde and hire colour  to carpe it were to longe .
Ac þat moost moeuede me  and my mood chaunged
That reson rewarded  and reuled alle bestes .
Saue man and his make  many tyme and ofte .
No resoun hem folwed  and thanne I rebuked
Resoun . and right til hym-seluen saide
I[^632] wond re of the quod I  that witty art holden .
Whi thow ne suwest man and his make  þat no mysfait hem folwe .

[^632: M.11.377: M alone among B manuscripts lacks the word haue here.]

And Reson arated me  and saide recche the neuere .
Whi I suffre or nouȝt suffre  thi-self hast nouȝt to done
Amende thow if þow myght  for my tyme is to abide
Suffraunce is a soueraine vertue  and a swift vengeaunce
Who suffreth moore þan — god quod he  no gome as I leue .
He mighte amende in a mynute-while  al þat mys standeþ .
Ac he suffreþ for s om mannes goode  and so is oure bettre

The wyse and þe witty  wrot þus in þe bible
De re que te non molestat . noli certare .

# quod non decet Forma hominis vituperari quia non Formosa
For be a man fair or foul  it falleth not for to lakke
The shap ne the shafte  þat god shoop him-selue
For al þat he dede was wel ydo  as holy writt w ytnesseth
Et vidit deus cuncta que fecerat . et erant valde bona
And bad euery creature  in his kynde encresce
Al to murthe with man  þat mo ste[^633] wo tholie
In fondynge of the Flessh  and of þe feend bothe .
For man was made of suche a matire  he may not wel asterte
That ne s omtyme it[^634] bitit  to folwen his kynde .
Caton accordeth therwith  Nemo sine crimine viuit .

[^633: M.11.393: It looks as though moost, "most," was altered to moste, "must." M's original reading agreed with all B manuscripts except WHmBm, which have spellings of "must."]

[^634: M.11.396: M's reading of it is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read hym.]

Tho caughte I colour a-non  and comsed to ben ashamed .
And awaked ther-with  wo was me þanne
That I in meteles ne mighte  more haue y-knowe
And þanne saide I to my-self  and chidde þat tyme
Now I wot what dowel is . quod I  by dere god as me thynketh
And as I caste vp myne eighen  oon loked on me and axed
Of me . what thing it were  ywis sire I saide
Septima discriptio de dowell
To se muche and suffre moore  certes quod I is dowel .

Haddestow suffred he saide  slepynge tho thow were .
Thow shuldest haue knowen þat clergye kan  & conceiued more þorugh resoun
For Resoun wolde haue reherced þe  right as clergye saide
Ac for þin entremetynge  here art þow forsake 
Philosophus esses si tacuisses .

Adam whiles he spak nouȝt  hadde Paradys at wille
Ac whanne he mameled aboute mete  and entremeted hym to knowe .
The wisdome and þe wit of god  he was put from blisse
And right so ferde reson by þe  þow with rude speche .
Lakkedest and losedest thing  that longed not to be done
Tho hadde he no likynge  for to lere þe more .

Pride now and presumpcioun  parauenture wol the appele
That clergye þi compaignye  ne kepeth nouȝt to suwe .
Shal neuere chalangynge ne chidynge  chaste a man so sone
As shal shame and shenden hym  and shape hym to amende
# dronkyn daffe
For lat a dr onken daffe  in a dike falle
Let hym ligge loke nouȝt on hym  til hym lest to rise
For though reson rebuked h im þanne  it were but pure synne
Ac whan nede nymeth hym vp  for doute leste he sterue .
And shame shrapeth his clothes  and his shynes wassheth
Thanne woot þe dr onken daffe  wherfore he is to blame .

Ye siggen soth quod I  ich haue yseyen it ofte
There smyt no-þing so smerte  ne smelleþ so soure
As shame þere he sheweth hym  for euery man hym shonieth
Whi ye wisse me þus quod I  was for I rebuked resoun

Certes quod he þat is soth  and shop hym for to walken .
And I aroos vp right with þat  and folwed hem[^635] after
And praide hym of his curtesie  to telle me his name

[^635: M.11.432: M's reading of hem is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read hym.]

Passus duodecimus

I am ymagynatif quod he  idel was I neuere
Tho wgh I sitte by my-self  in sekenesse ne in helthe
I haue y-folwede þe in faith  þis fyue and fourty wyntur .
And many tymes haue I[^636] meued þe  to þenke on þyn ende .
And how fele ferneȝeres arn faren  and so fewe to come
And of thy wylde wantonesse  tho þow yong were .
To amende it in þy mydel age  leste myght þe faile
In þin olde Elde  that yuele can suffre
Pouerte or penaunce  or preiers[^637] bidde .
Si non in prima vigilia . nec in secunda . & cetera .
Emendemus dum temporem habemus
Amende the whil thow might  thow hast ben warned ofte
With poustes of pestilences  with pouerte . and with angres
And with þise bittere baleises  god beteþ his dere children .
Quem diligo castigo
And dauid in the Sauter seith  of suche þat louen Ihesus
Virga tua & baculus tuus  ipsa me consolata sunt & cetera .
Al-though þow strike me with þi staff  with stikke or with yerde .
It is but murthe as for me  to amende my soule
And þow medlest þe with makynge  and myȝtest go seie thi sauter
And bidde for hem þat yeueth the bred  for there ben bokes ynowe
To telle men what dowel is  do-bet . and dobest bothe .
And prechours to preue what it is  of many a peire —[^638] Freres .

[^636: M.12.4: M's reading of haue I is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read haue. Hm reads y haue.]

[^637: M.12.9: Bleedthrough has affected the <p>, the <i>, and the <s> of this word.]

[^638: M.12.22: M's original reading of of was unique among B manuscripts.]

I seigh wel he saide me soth  and s omwhat me to excuse .
Saide Caton conforted his sone  that clerk though he were
To solacen hym s om-tyme  as I do whan I make .
Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis & cetera
And of holy men quod I  i herde[^639] how[^640] otherwhyle
þei[^641] Pleyden . þe parfiter  to ben in many places
Ac if þere were any wight  that wolde me telle
What were dowel . and dobet  and dobest at þe laste .
Wold I neuere do werke  but wende to holy churche
And þere bidde my bedes  but whan I ete or slepe .
Octava descripcio de dowell
Poule in his pistel quod he  preueth what is dowel
Fides spes caritas & maior horum & cetera .
Feith / hope / and charite  & alle ben goode
And sauen men s ondry tymes  ac non so sone as charite .
For he doth wel with-outen doute  that doth as leaute techeþ .
That is if þou be man maried  thy make þow louye
And lyue forth as lawe wole  while ye lyuen bothe .

[^639: M.12.27: M's order of quod I i herd is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which have I herd quod I.]

[^640: M.12.27: M alone among B manuscripts lacks the word þei here, which is inserted in a different ink at the beginning of the next line.]

[^641: M.12.28: No other B manuscript attests þei at this place.]

Right so if þow be Religious  ren þow neuere ferther
To Rome ne to Rochemadore  but as thy reule techeþ .
And holde þe vndur obedience  þat heigh w ey is to heuene

And if þow be mayden to marie  and myght wel continue
Seke þow neuere seint ferther  for no soule helthe .
For what made Lucifer  to lese þe heigh heuene .
Or Sal omon his sapience  or Sampson his strengthe .
Iob þe iew his ioie . dere he it abouȝte
Aristotle and other mo  ypocras and virgile .
Alisaundre þat al wan  elengeliche ended

Catel and kynde wit  was combraunce to hem alle
Felice hire fairnesse  fel hire al to sklaundre
# Rosamondis Beaute
And Roseamonde right so  rewfully bisette .
The beaute of hire body  in badnesse she despended
Of many suche I may rede  of men and of wymmen .
That wise wordes wolde shewe  and werchen þe contrarie
Sunt homines nequam bene de virtute loquentes .

And riche renkes right so  gadere — and sparen .
And þo men þat þei moost haten  mynystren it at þe laste
And for þei suffren and see  so many nedy folkes
And louen hem nouȝ nouȝ[t] as oure lord bit  lesen hire soules .
Date & dabitur vobis. & cetera .

And richesse right so  but if þe Rote be trwe
Ac grace is a gresse ther -of  the greuaunces to abate
Ac grace groweth nouȝt  but amonges lowe
Pacience and pouerte  þe place is þere it groweth
And in lele lyuyng men  and in lif holy
And þo rugh þe gifte of þe holygoost  as þe gospell telleth
Spiritus vbi vult spirat. & cetera

Nota
Clergye and kynde wit  cometh of sight . and techynge
As þe book bereth w ytnesse  to buirnes þat kan rede
Quod scimis scim[u]s loquimur quod vidimus testamur .
Of quod scimus cometh clergye  and konnynge of heuene
And of quod vidimis vidim[u]s cometh kynde wit  of sight of diuerse poeple
# de aduentu Gracie
Ac grace is a gifte of god  and of gret loue springeth
Knew neuere clerk how it cometh forth  ne kynde wit þe weyes .
Nescit aliquis vnde venit . aut quo vadit & cetera .
Ac yet is clergye to comende  and kynde wit bothe .
And namelich clergye for cristus loue  þat of clergie is Rote
For Moyses w ytnesseth þat god wrot  for to wisse þe p eple
In þe olde lawe as þe lettre telleþ .  þat was þe lawe of Iewes .
That what womman were in auoutrie taken  were she riche or pore
With stones men shulde hire strike  and stone hire to dethe
# adulterium Muleris Mul[i]eris
A womman as we fynden  was gulty of þat dede
Ac Crist of his curtesie  þorugh clergye hire sauede .
For þoruȝ carettes þat crist wroot  þe Iewes knew hem-seluen .
Giltier as afore god  and gretter in synne
Than þe womman þat þere was  and wenten away for shame
The clergye þat þere was  conforted þe womman
Holy kyrke knoweth þis  that cristes wrytynge saued hire[^642]
# quia sciencia scripturarum conffortat bonos // malos autem condempnat
So clergye is confort  to creatures þat repenten
And to mansed men  myschief at hire ende .

[^642: M.12.89: This alteration puts M in agreement with WHmCr. F has hire savede.]

For godus body miȝte not be  of bred withouten clergye
The w hich body is bothe  bote to þe rightful
And deth and dampnacioun  to hem þat deien yuele
As cristes carette conforted  and bothe coupable sheweth[^643]
The womman þat þe Iewes brouȝte  þat Ihesus þouȝte to saue .
Nolite iudicare & non iudicabimini. & cetera .
Right so godes body bretheren  but it be worthily taken .
Dampneth vs at þe day of dome  as[^644] carettes dide þe Iewes
# quia scienciam delige
For-þi I conseille the for cristes sake  clergye þat þow louye
For kynde wit is of his kyn  and neihe cosyns bothe .
To oure lord leue me  for-thi loue hem I rede .
For bothe ben as Mirrours  to amenden oure defautes .
And leddres for lewede men  and for lettred bothe .

[^643: M.12.95: M's present tense form of the verb is unattested in other B manuscripts, most of which read shewed.]

[^644: M.12.99: M alone among B manuscripts lacks the word þe here.]

For-þi lakke þou neuere logyk  lawe ne his custumes
Ne contreplede clerkes  I conseille the for euere .
For as a man may not see  þat mysseth hise eighen
Nomore No more kan no clerk . but if he cauȝte it furst of[^645] bokes
Al-þough men made bookes  god was þe Maistre
And seint spirit þe samplarie . and saide  what men shulde write .

[^645: M.12.108: For of, Cr has by, F has in, and other B manuscripts have þoruȝ.]

And right as sighte serueth a man  to se þe heighe st erre[^646]
Right so ledeþ lettrure  lewed men to Resoun
And as a blynd man in bataille  bereth wepne to fiȝte
And hath non happe with his axe  hys enemy to h ytte
Nomore No more can a kynde- wittedman witted man  but if clerkes hym teche
Come for al his kynde wit  to cristendome and be saued
W hich is þe coffre of cristes tresour  and clerkes kepe þe keyes
To vnlouken it at hire lykynge  and to þe lewede p eple
Yeuen mercy for hire mysdedes  if men it wole aske .
Buxumliche and benygneliche  and bidden it of grace .

[^646: M.12.111: M's altered reading of sterre is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read strete, though among C manuscripts P2 and D2 (and X by alteration) read hye þe sterre. The line is omitted by WHmCr.]

Archa dei in þolde lawe  leuytes it kepten .
Hadde neuere lewede man leue  to leggen hond on þe cheste .
# quia in veteri testamento licitum erat presbiter procreare Filios
But he were preste or preste s sone  patria rk or prophete

For clergye is kepere  vndurcrist vndur crist of heuene .
Was þere neuere no knyght  but clergye hym made .
Ac kynde wit cometh  of alle kynnes sightes
Of briddes and of bestes . of tastes . of truthe & of deceites

[M.12.128: Something, now illegible even under ultraviolet light, has been erased from the margin.]

Lyueres to-forn vs  vsuden to marke
The selkouthes þat þei seighen  hire sones for to teche
And helden it an heigh science  hire wittes to knowe
Ac þo rugh hire science sothely  was neuere no soule ysaued
Ne brouȝt by hire bookes  to blisse ne to ioye
For alle hire kynde knowynges  come but of diuerse sightes

Patriarkes and prophetes  reprouede hire science
And saiden hire wordus ne hire wisdomes  nas but a folye
As to þe clergye of Crist  counted it but a t rufle
Sapiencia huius mundi . Stulticia est apud deum .
For the heighe holy goost  heuene shal to-cleue
And loue shal lepe out aftur  into þis lowe erthe
And clennesse shal cacchen it  and clerkes shullen it fynde .
Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem

He speketh there of riche men right nouȝt  ne of right wytty .
Ne of lordes þat were lewedmen lewed men  but of þe hexte lettr ed oute
Ibant magi ab oriente & cetera

con tra fratres molestus est
If any Frere were founden there  ich yeue þe fyue shylynges .
# quia non natus erat Cristus in diuersorio
Ne in none beggers cote  was þat barn borne .
But in a Burgeis es place  of Bedlem þe beste
Set non erat locus in diuersorio . & pauper non habet diuersorium

To pastoures and to poetes  appiered þat[^647] angel
And bad hem go to bethlem  goddes burthe to honoure .
And songe a song of solace  Gloria in excelsis deo .

[^647: M.12.149: M shares the reading þat with L; other beta manuscripts have þe.]

Clerkes knewen it well  and comen with hire present z
And deden hire homage honurably  to hym þat was almyghty
Why I haue tolde al this  I took ful gode hiede
How þow contrariedest clergye  with crabbude wordes .
How þat lewed men liȝtliker  þan — lettred men[^648] were saued
Than — clerkes or kynde witted men  of cristen p eple

[^648: M.12.156: M shares the reading lettred men with F; other B manuscripts have lettrede.]

And þow saidest soth of summe  ac se in what manere
# de duobus natatoribus
Take two stronge men  and in temse caste hem .
And bothe nakede as[^649] nedle  hire noon sikerer[^650] þan oþur
That oon hath konnynge and kan  swymmen and dyuen .
That other is lewede of þat labour  lerned neuere to swymme
W hich trowest þow of þo two  in temse is moost in drede .
He þat neuere dyuede  ne nouȝt can of swymmynge
Or the swymmere þat is sauf  by so hym-self like
There is felawe fleet forth  as þe flood liketh
And is in drede to drenche  þat neuere dide swymme

[^649: M.12.160: M alone among B manuscripts lacks the word a here.]

[^650: M.12.160: M's original reading of siker agreed with LR.]

That swymme can nouȝt I seide  it semeth to my wittus

X
Right so quod the renk  Resoun it sheweth[^651]
That he þat knoweth clergye  kan s onner arise
Out of synne and be saued[^652]  though he synne ofte
# quod contricio delit peccatum
If hym liketh and lest  than any lewede lelly .
For if þe clerk be ko n nynge  he knoweth what is synne .
And how contricioun with-outen confessioun  conforteth þe soule .
As þow seest in þe sauter  in spalmes[^653] oon or tweyne
How contricoun is comended  for it caccheþ away synne .
Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates . & quorum tecta sunt & cetera
And this conforteth ech a clerk  and keuereþ hym from wanhope
In w hich flood þe feend  fondeth a man hardest .
There þe lewede lith stille  and loketh after lente
And hath no contricioun er he come to shrifte  & þanne can he litel telle
And as his loresman leres hym  bileueth and troweth
And þat is after person . or parisshe preest . and parauenture
Vnkonnynge to lere lewede men  as Luc bereth wittnesse .
Dum cecus ducit cecum & cetera

[^651: M.12.169: The scribe began writing M.12.169 immediately following M.12.168, but realized his error before completing the line and erased his false start in order to leave a blank line between strophes.]

[^652: M.12.171: M's reading of saued is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read saaf.]

[^653: M.12.175: M's original reading spalme agreed with LRF.]

Wo was hym marked þat wade  moot with þe Lewede
# quia ad scolam optime valet
Wel may the barn blisse  that hym to booke sette
That lyuynge after lettrure  saued hym lif and soule
Dominus pars heriditatis mee  is a mury verset .
That haþ taken from Tibourne  twenty stronge theues
There lewed theues ben lolled vp  loke how þei ben saued
x
The thef þat hadde grace of god  on gode friday as þow speke
Was for he yald hym recreaunt[^654] to crist on the cros  & knowleched hym gylty .
And grace axed of god  and he is euer e redy .
That buxomliche biddeth it  and ben in wille . to amende hem .
Ac though þat thef hadde heuene  he hadde noon heigh blisse
As seint Iohan and other seintus  þat desserued hadde bettre
Right as s om men yeue me mete  and sette me amyddes þe flore
Ich haue mete more þan — y-nowgh  ac nouȝt so muche worshipe
de latronibus pendentibus ad passionem domini
As þo þat sitten at þe side tables[^655]  or with þe soueraines of þe halle
But sitte as a begger bordlees  by my-self on þe ground
So it fareth by þat feloun  þat on gode friday was saued
He si t neither by seint Iohan  Symonde ne Iude
Ne wiþ maydenes ne with martires  confessours / ne widewes
But by[^656] hym-selue as a solayn  and serued on the erthe
For he þat is ones a thef  is eueremore in daunger
And as lawe liketh  to lyue or to deie
De peccato propiciato noli esse sine metu
And for to seruen a seint  and such a thef to-gederes
It were neither resoun ne right  to rewarde hem[^657] yliche

[^654: M.12.193: M shares the reading recreaunt with R; most other B manuscripts have creaunt.]

[^655: M.12.200: Only M and Cr have plural tables. Kane and Donaldson erroneously record <-s> as possibly added.]

[^656: M.12.205: What is still visible of the erased reading suggests the line began with By as in GCB. The word But was then supplied to the left of the line, but then erased and rewritten in place of By, with by then inserted as the second word.]

[^657: M.12.210: M shares the reading hem with F; most other B manuscripts read hem boþe.]

And right as Troianus þe trewe knyght  tilde nouȝt depe in helle
That oure lord ne hadde hym liȝtliche out  so leue I þe thef be in heuene
For he is in þe loweste heuene  if oure bileue be trwe
And wel loseliche he lolleth there  by þe lawe of holy churche
Qui[^658] reddit vnicuique iuxta opera sua. & cetera

[^658: M.12.215: M's original reading was probably Quia, agreeing with YOC2CL.]

[M.12.216: Something to the left of the first word, now illegible, has been erased.]

And whi that on thef on the crosse  creaunt hym yel ded
Rather þan — þat other thef  þowȝ þow wold est[^659] appose
Alle þe clerkes vndur crist  ne kouthe þe skyll assoille
Quare placuit . quia voluit
And so seie I[^660] by þe  þat sekest after the whyes
And aresonedest Resoun  a rebukynge as it were
And of þe floures in þe f ryth  and of hire faire h ewes
Where-of þei cacchen hire colours  so clere and so brighte
And wilnest of briddes and of bestes  and of hire bredynge to knowe
Why somme be a-lowe and somme a-lofte  thi lykynge it were .
And of þe stones and of þe sterres  þow studyest as I leue
How euere best or brrid — brid —  hath so breme wyttes .

[^659: M.12.217: M's altered reading woldest agrees with WHmCrFR; other B manuscripts have wolde.]

[^660: M.12.220: M's reading of seie I is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read I seye.]

Clergye ne ky nde wit  ne knewen neuere the cause 
# quia naturale scimus
Ac kynde knoweth þe cause hymself  no creature elles
He is þe pyes patroun  and putteth it in h ire ere
That þere þe thorn is thikkest  t o buylden and brede
And kynde kenned þe pecok  to cauken in such a kynde
And kenned Adam  to knowe his priue membres
And tauȝte hym and Eue  to hilien hem with leues

Lewed men many tymes  maistres thei apposen .
# why Adam couered his licam rather than his mowth
Why Adam ne hiled nouȝt first  his mouth þat ete the Appul
Rather þan his likam a-lowe  lewed axen thus clerkes
Kynde knoweth why he ded so  ac no clerk elles
Ac of briddes and[^661] beestes  men by olde tyme
Ensamples token and termes  as telleth þise poetes .
And þat þe fairest foule  foulest engendreth
And feblest foule of flight is  þat fleeth or swymmeth
And þat is þe pecok and þe po hen proude  riche men þei tokenen[^662]
For þe pecok and men pursue hym  may nouȝt flee heighe
For þe trayllynge of his ta yl  ouer -taken is he sone .
And his flessh is foule flessh  and his feet bothe
And vnlouelich of leden  and laithe for to here .

[^661: M.12.239: M alone among B manuscripts lacks the word of here.]

[^662: M.12.243: M's reading tokenen is not shared by other B manuscripts, which have forms of bitokeneþ.]

Riȝt so the riche  if he his richesse kepe .
And deleth it nouȝt til his deth-day  þe tail —[^663] of al — is[^664] sorwe .
Right as the pennes of þe pecok  payn eþ hym in hys fliȝt
So is possessioun payne  of pens and of nobles
To alle hem þat it holdet h  til hire t ayl — be plukk ed
And þouȝgh þe riche r epente thanne  and by-rewe þe tyme .
con tra auaros & cupidos
That euere he gadred so grete  and gaf ther -of so litel
Though he crie to Crist þanne  with kene wille I leue
His ledene be in oure lordes ere  lyke a pyes chiteryng[^665]
And whanne his caroigne shal come  in caue to be buryed
I leue it flaumbe ful foule  the fold alaboute al aboute .
And alle the othere th ere it lith  enuen ymeth[^666] thurgh his attre
By the pofeet is vndurstonde  as I haue lern d in auynet .
Executours false frendes  that fulfille nouȝt his wille
That was wryten and thei w ytnesse  to worche riȝt as it wolde
Thus the poete preues . that the pecok  for his fetheres is reuerenced
Right so is the riche  by reson of his godes .

[^663: M.12.249: Most B manuscripts have M's altered reading of tail, with only LR having M's original reading taille, i.e. "tally."]

[^664: M.12.249: M's reading of is is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

[^665: M.12.256: The addition of chiteryng is paralleled in WF, while HmCr have chatrynge. All other B manuscripts omit the word.]

[^666: M.12.259: In place of M's altered reading enuenymeth, CrLR have enuenimed.]

The larke that is a lasse foule  is more loueliche of ledene
And welaway of wynge  swifter þan þe pecok
And of flessh by fele folde  fatter and swetter
To lowe libbynge men  the larke is resembled

# quia de aristotile dubitatum vtrum saluatur
Aristotel the grete clerk  suche tales he telleth
Thus he likkeneth in his logyke  the leest foule oute
And wher he be sauf . or nouȝt sauf  the sothe wot no clergie
Ne of Sortes ne of Sal omon  no scripture kan telle
Ac god is so good I hope  þat sith he gaf hem wittes
To wyssen vs waies therwith  that wissen vs to be saued
And þe bettre for hire bokes  to bidden we ben holden
That god for his grace  gif hire soules reste
For lettred men were lewedmen lewed men yet  ne were lore of hire bokes .

Al thise clerkes quod I tho  that on crist leuen 
Siggen in hire sermones  that nother saresenes ne Iewes
Ne no creature of cristes likknesse  with -outen cristendom beth[^667] saued .

[^667: M.12.280: M's reading of beth is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read worþ.]

Contra quod ymaginatif tho  and comsed for to loure
And saide . Saluabitur vix iustus in die Iudicij .
Ergo saluabitur quod he  and saide no more latyn .
# quia Troianus saluatur propter iusticiam

[M.12.284: This marginal comment is written over an erased Troianus .]

Troianus was a trewe knyght  and took neuere cristendom
And he is sauf so seith the book  and his soule in heue ne
For þere is fullynge of font  and fullynge of[^668] blood shedynge .
And þurgh fy r is fullyng  and þat is ferme bileue .
Aduenit ignis diuinus non comburens set illuminans & cetera

[^668: M.12.286: M shares the reading of with Hm; other B manuscripts have in.]

Ac treuthe that trespassed neuere  ne trauersed aȝeins his lawe .
Nota bene
But liueth as hise lawe techeth  and leueth ther be no bettre .
And if þer were he wolde amende  and in such wille dei eth
Ne wolde neuere trwe god  but trewth were alowed .
And were it worth or worth nouȝt  the bileue is gret of treuthe
And an hope hangynge there-inne  to haue mede for his treuthe
For deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam suis. hoc est fidelibus
Et alibi  Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis .
The glose graunteth vpon that vers  a gret mede to truthe
And wit and wysdome quod that wy  was sumtyme tresore .
To kepe with a comune  no catel was holden bettre .
And muche murthe and manhod  and right with þat he vanisshed .

Passus xiijus tertiodecimus [M.13.0: The guide to the passus heading is erased beneath the heading itself.]

A nd I awaked ther-with  w ytles nerehande
And as a freke that free were  forth gan I walke
In manere of a mendinaunt  many yer after
And of þis metynge many tyme  muche thouȝt I hadde
Furst how fortune me failled  at my moost nede
And how þat Elde manaced me  miȝte we euere mete
nota con tra fratres
And how þat Freres folweden  folk þat was riche .
And folk þat was pouere  at litel pris þei setten .
And no corps in hire kyrk yerd  ne[^669] in hire kyrk was buried .
But quik he biquethe hem aught  or shulde helpe quite hire dettes
And how this couetise ouerecom  clerkes and preestus .
# quia in defectis Curatoribus multi periunt
And how þat lewede men ben ladde  but oure lord hem helpe
Thorugh vnkonnynge curatours  to incurable peynes

[^669: M.13.9:The erasure may have been a misplaced punctus elevatus.]

And how þat ymaginatif  in dremeles me tolde
Of kynde and of his konnynge  and how curteis he is to bestes
And how louynge he is to bestes  on lond and on watre
Leneth he no lif  lasse ne more .
The creatures that krepen  of kynde ben engendred
And sithen how ymaginatif . saide  Vix Iustus saluabitur .
And whan he hadde said so  how sodeinliche he passed .

I lay down longe in this thouȝt  and at þe laste I slepte
And as crist wolde there com conscience  to conforten me þat tyme .
And bad me come to his court  with clergye shulde I dyne .

And for conscience of clergie spak  I com wel[^670] the rather
And þere I s ay a maist er  what man he was I neste .
That lowe louted  and loueliche to scripture

[^670: M.13.24:Kane and Donaldson read wol which is possible though not shared with other B manuscripts. For another ambiguous case cf. M.13.347.]

# conveuium consciencie
Conscience knew hym wel  and welcomed hym faire
They — wesshen[^671] and wypeden  and wenten to the dyner .
Ac pacience in þe paleys stood  in pilgrymes clothes
And praide mete for charite  for a pouere hermyte .

[^671: M.13.28:Probably <h> has been erased; cf. M.15.199 whasshen.]

Conscience called hem[^672] In  and curteyselich saide
Welcome wy and go[^673] wasshe  thow shalt sitte sone .
This maister was made sitte  as for þe mooste worthi
And þanne clergye . and conscience  and pacience come after

[^672: M.13.31:M's hem is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read hym.]

[^673: M.13.32:M's and go is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read go and, which is likely to be the erased reading.]

Pacience and I  were p ut to be macches .
And seten by oure-selue  at a syde borde

Conscience called after mete  and þanne com scripture
And serued hem þus sone  of sundry metes manye
Of austyn . of ambrose  of alle þe foure euaungelistes .
Edentes & bibentes que apud eos sunt
Ac þis maist er ne his man  no manere flessh eten
Ac þei eten mete of more cost  mortreux and potages .
Of þat men myswonne  thei made hem wel atese at ese
Ac here sauce was ouere sour  and vnsauorly grounde
In a morter post mortem
In a Morter post Mortem  of many a[^674] bitter payne
But if þei singe for þe soules  and wepe salte teres
nota terribile valde
Vos qui peccata hominum commeditis nisi pro eis lacrimas & orationes effuderitis[^675]  ea que in delicijs comeditis in tormentis euometis 

[^674: M.13.45:The addition of a brings M into agreement with WBF.]

[^675: M.13.47:The manuscripts split between effunderitis (present) and effuderitis (past subjunctive). Both Hm and M erase the <n>.]

Conscience ful curteisly tho  comaunded scripture
By-fore pacience bred to bringe  and me þat was his macche
He sette a sour lof to-forn vs  and saide agite penitentiam
# diuersitatem ciborum ad Conuiuium Consciencie
And sith he drough vs drynke  di u[^676] perseuerans
As longe quod I as I lyue  and lycame may dure
Here is propre seruice quod pacience  þer fareþ no prince bettre .

[^676: M.13.51:Both M and Bm alter to diu. The manuscripts split between dia and diu. For discussion of the variants see John Alford, Piers Plowman: A Guide to the Quotations (Binghamton, 1992), pp. 82-83.]

And þanne he brouȝte vs forth a Mees  of oþer mete . of Miserere mei deus .
And he brouȝt vs of . Beati quorum of Beatus vires makynge
Et quorum tecta sunt peccata in a dissh .
Of derne shrifte dixi  and Confitebor tibi .
Brynge pacience some pitaunce  priueliche quod conscience

And þanne had pacience a pitaunce  Pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno
And conscience conforted vs  and carped vs mery tales .
Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies .

Pacience was proud  of þat propre seruice
And made hem murthe with his mete  ac I mournede euere .
For þis doctour on þe heigh dees  drank wyn[^677] faste .
Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum .
He eet manye sundry metes  mortreux and podynges
Wombe cloutes and wilde brawne  and egges yfryed with gre s
Thanne seide I to my-self so  pacience it herde
It is nouȝt foure dayes go[^678]  þat þis freike  byfore þe dean of poules
Preched of penaunce  þat poule þapostoille suffrede
In fame & frigore  and flappes of scourges
Ter cesus sum et a iudeis quinquies quadragenas & cetera
Ac o word þei ouerehuppen  at ech a tyme þat þei prechen
That Poule in his pistell  to al þe p eple tolde .
Periculum est in falsis fratribus
Holy writ biddeþ men be war  I wil nouȝt write it here
On ynglissh an auenture  it shulde be reherced to ofte
And greue þerewith þat goode ben  ac gramariens shul rede
Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat . quia vt dicitur periculum est in falsis fratribus

[^677: M.13.64:M alone among B manuscripts here lacks the word so.]

[^678: M.13.69:M alone among B manuscripts attests go here. Most B manuscripts lack the word entirely; F attests the word before foure dayes.]

Iocose loquitur & vera quidem dicit
Ac I wist neuere freke þat as a frere yede  bifore men on englissh
Taken it for h is[^679] teme  and tellen it with -outen glosyng
Thei prechen þat penaunce  is profitable to þe soule
And what meschief and male-ese  crist for man tholed .
Ac þis goddus glotoun quod I  with hise grete chekes .
Hath no pite on vs pouere  he parfourneth euele
That he precheþ he preueþ nouȝt  to pacience I tolde
And w isshed[^680] witterly  with wille ful egre .
That disshes and doblers  bifore þilke doctour
Were molten led in his mawe  and mahoun amyddes .
I shal iangle to þis Iurdan  with his Iuste wombe
To telle me what penaunce is  of w hich he preched rather .

[^679: M.13.81:M's original hire agreed with CrYOC2CBLR. The alteration is in a different ink than the surrounding text.]

[^680: M.13.87:Probably <h> has been erased. Cf. M.13.28 above and M.15.199 whasshen.]

# wynkyng off paciens
Pacience parceiuede what I thouȝte  and wynked on me to be stille
And saide þou shalt see thus soone  whan he may no more .
He shal haue a penaunce in his paunche  and puffe at ich a worde
And þanne shul his gutt es gothele  and he shal galpen after .
For now he hath drunken so depe  he wol diuine. soone
And preue it by hire pocalipse  and passioun of seint Auereys .
That neither bacoun ne brawne  blamanger ne mortreux
Is neither fissh ne flessh  but fode for a penaunt
And þanne shal he testifye of a trinite  and take his felawe to wittnesse .
What he fond in a frayele  aftur a Freres lyuyng
But[^681] if þe furste lyne be lesynge  leue me neuere after .
And þanne is tyme to take[^682]  and to appose þis doctour .
Of[^683] dowell and of dobet  and if do-best be any penaunce .

[^681: M.13.102: M shares the reading But with G; other B manuscripts have And but.]

[^682: M.13.103:The <k> is oddly formed, looking almost like an <l>. OC2R have talke.]

[^683: M.13.104: For M's altered Of, F reads If.]

And I sete stille as pacience seide / and þus sone þis doctour
As rody as a Rose . rubbed his chekes
Coughed & carped . and conscience him herde
And tolde hym of a Trinite and towardes vs he lokede

What is dowel sire doctour quod I . is dowel any penaunce .

nona discriptio de dowell
Dowel quod þis doctour . and took þe Cuppe and drank
Do non euel to þine euenecristen . nouȝt by þi poer

By þis day sire doctour quod I . thanne be ye nouȝt in dowell .
For ye han harmed vs two in þat ye eten þe pud dyng
Mortreux and other mete . and we no mossell hadde .
And if ye fare so in youre fermorie . ferly me thynketh .
But cheste be þere charite . shulde be . and yonge children durste pleyne
I wolde permute my penaunce . with youre . for I am in point to dowel .

Thanne conscience curteslich . a contenaunce he made .
And preinte vp-on pacience . to preie me to be stille .
And saide hym-self . sire doctour and it be youre wille .
What is dowel and dobet . ye diuynours knoweth .

decima

[M.13.122:The arabic numeral "10" has been written 01, placing the numeral indicating units to the left of the numeral indicating tens. Treatises on computation instruct writers to begin writing numerals with the units and to proceed with the tens, hundreds, etc., moving, as Arabic scripts do, from right to left. The form here reflects that order of digits, but not that direction of the script. Cf. The Earliest Arithmetics in English, ed. Robert Steele. EETS ES 118, pp. 1-8.]

discriptio de dowell
Dowel quod þis doctor . do as Clerkes techeþ
And dobet is he þat techeþ . and trauailleth to teche oþere
And do-best doth hym-selue so . a s he saith and precheþ .
Qui facit & docuerit magnus vocabitur in regno celorum .

Now thow Clergye quod conscience . carpest what is dowel .
Nota bene
I haue seuene sones he saide . seruen in a castell
There þe lord of lif . wonyeth . to leren hym what is dowel .

Til I se þo seuene . and my-self accorden .
I am vnhardy quod he . to any wight to preue it .
For oon Piers þe ploughman . haþ inpugned vs alle .
piers

[M.13.132:This marginal comment is very faint.]

And se t alle sciences at a sop . saue loue one[^684] .
But dilige deum and Domine quis habitabit & cetera
And saith þat dowel & dobet . aren two infinites
W hiche Infinites with a feith . fynden out dobest .

[^684: M.13.132:Both M and Cot here omit KD.13.126.]

Which shal saue manus soule . thus saieth Piers þe ploughman

I kan nouȝt here-on quod conscience . ac I knowe Piers .
He wol nouȝt aȝein holy writ speken . I dar wel vndurtake
Thanne passe we ouer til piers come . and preue þis in dede .
Pacience hath ben in many places[^685] . and parauenture knoweth
That no clerk ne kan . as Crist bereth wyttnesse
Pacientes vincunt . & cetera
A t[^686] youre praiere quod pacience . þo . so no man displese hym .
Disce . quod he . doce dilige inimicos .
Disce and dowel / doce and dobet /
Dilige and dobest . þus tauȝte me ones .
A lemman þat I louede . loue was hire name
With wordes and with werkes quod she . and wille of þin herte .
Thow loue lelly þi soule . al þi lif-tyme .
And so thow lere þe to louye . for þe lordes loue of heue ne
Thyn enemy in alle wyse . euene-forth with þi-seluen .
Cast coles on his hed . of[^687] al kynde speche .
Bothe with workes and with wordus . fonde his loue to wynne
And leye on hym þus with loue . til he laughe on the
And but he bowe for þis betynge . blynde moot he worthe .

[^685: M.13.140:M's altered reading places is shared by CrGYOC2CB. Other B manuscripts have the singular.]

[^686: M.13.143:M's original reading of Ac was shared with WHmCotL.]

[^687: M.13.152:M's original reading and was shared with Cr23CYOC2BL.]

con tra quod
Ac for to fare þus with þi frend / folie it were
For he þat loueth þe lelly . litel of þyne coueiteh coueite[t]h .
Kynde loue coueiteth nouȝt . no catel but speche
#
With half a laumpe lyne in latyn . Ex vi transicionis

I bere ther-Inne aboute . faste ybounde dowel
In a signe of þe saturday . þat sette furst þe k alender
# Misticum
And al þe wit of wodnesday[^688] . of þe nexte wyke after
The middel of þe mone . is þe myght of bothe .
And here-with am I welcome . þere I haue it with me .

[^688: M.13.162: M shares the reading wodnesday with C; other B manuscripts have þe wodnesday.]

Vndo þis[^689] lat þe[^690] doctour — deme . if dowel be þere-inne .
For by hym þat me made . miȝte neuere pouerte
Miseise ne mischief ne man with his tonge
Cold ne care . ne companye of þeues .
Ne neither hete ne hayle . ne noon helle pouke
Ne neyther fuyr . ne flode . ne fere of þin enemy
Tene þe any tyme . and þow take it with the .
Caritas nichil timet
It is but a dido quod þis doctour . a disoures tale
Al þe wit of þis world . and wighte mennus strengthe
Kan nouȝt confourmen a pes . bytwene þe pope and his enemys .
Ne bitwene no[^691] cristen kynges . kan no wight pees make
Profitable to either poeple . and putte þe table from h ym .
And took clergye and conscience . to conseill as it were .
That pacience þou[^692] most passe . for pilgrimes kunne wel lye

[^689: M.13.165:M's þis is not attested in other B manuscripts, which read it.]

[^690: M.13.165: M shares the reading þe with F; other B manuscripts have þis.]

[^691: M.13.176:M's no is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read two.]

[^692: M.13.179:M's altered reading agrees with WCr1. Most B manuscripts read þo.]

Ac conscience carped loude . and curteisliche seide
Frendes fareþ wel . and faire spak to clergye
For I wol go with þis gome . if god wol yeue me grace .
And be pilgrime with pacience . til I haue preued more .

What quod Clergye to conscience . ar ye coueitous nouthe
After yeresȝeues or yiftes . or yernen to rede redeles .
I shal bringe yow a bible . a book of þe olde lawe
And lere yow if yow like . þe leeste point to knowe
That pacience þe pilgrim . parfitely knew neuere

Nay by Crist quod Conscience to clergye . god þe forȝelde
For al þat pacience me profreth . proud am I litel
Ac þe wille of[^693] wye . and þe wille of[^694] folk here .
Hath moued my mood . to mourne for my synnes
The good wille of a wight . was neuere bouȝt to þe fulle
For þere is no tresour þerto . to a trewe wille

[^693: M.13.191:M alone among B manuscripts lacks a determiner for wye. Most B manuscripts read þe; CB read þat.]

[^694: M.13.191:M's original reading without of agreed with CBLR.]

Hadde nouȝt Magdaleyne more for a box of salue
Than — Zacheus for he saide . dimidium bonorum meorum do & cetera[^695]
And þe pouere widewe . for a paire[^696] mytes
Than — alle þo þat offreden in[^697] gazaphilacium .

[^695: M.13.196:M's ending of this line is unique among B manuscripts. Y ends the Latin passage after meorum; all other B manuscripts follow do with pauperibus rather than M's & cetera .]

[^696: M.13.197:M alone among B manuscripts lacks the word of here.]

[^697: M.13.198:M's in is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read into, though F has gold in.]

# how Consiens Conged the Frere
Thus curteisliche conscience . congeide þe Frere
And sithen softelyche he seide . in clergies ere .
Me were leuere by oure lord . and I lyue sholde
Haue pacience parfiteliche . þan half þi pak of bokes .

Clergye of[^698] conscience . no congye wolde take
But saide ful sobreliche . þow shat sha[l]t see þe tyme
Whan þow art wery for-walked . wilne me to counsaille .
That is soth saide conscience . so me god helpe .
# that paciens must be party Felow with Clergie
If pacience be oure partynge felawe . and pryue with vs bothe
Ther nys wo in þis world . þat we ne shulde amende
And confourmen kynges to pees . and alle kynnes londes .
Sarasenes and Surrie . and so forth alle þe Iewes .
Turne in-to þe trwe feith . and in-to on bileue .

[^698: M.13.203:M's altered reading of agrees with WCrG. The original reading was probably to, agreeing with HmYOC2CBL. R has and and F has ne.]

That is soth quod Clergye . I se what þou menest
I shal dwelle as I do . my deuoir to shewen
And confermen fauntekyns . and other folk y-lered
Til pacience haue preued the . and parfit þe maked

Conscience þo with pacience passed . pilgrimes as it were
# vitayles off paciens sobrete & soft spech
Thanne hadde pacience as pilgrimes han . in his poke vitailles
Sobrete and simple speche . and sothfast bileue
To conforten hem[^699] and conscience . if þei come in place
There vnkyndenesse and coueitise is . hungry con tres bothe

[^699: M.13.219:M's hem is probably a spelling of hym, the reading of all other B manuscripts. The spelling hem has been corrected to him or hym at M.16.86 and M.19.227, and likely as well at M.4.55, M.6.323, M.6.329, M.7.6, M.11.423, M.13.177, and M.19.74.]

And as þei wente by þe way . of dowel þei carped
They mette wiþ a Mynstrall . as me þo þouȝte
Pacience apposed him furst . and praide hym he shulde —[^700] telle .
To conscience what craft he kouthe . and to what countre he wolde .

[^700: M.13.223:M's original reading was shared by HmC2Cot. The alteration brings M into agreement with Cr. WGYOCBmBoLR read hem.]

I am a Mynstral quod þat man . my name is Actiua vita .
Alle ydel ich hate . for of actif is my name .
A wafrer wol ye wite . and serue many lordes
And fewe robes I fonge . or furred gownes .
Couthe I lie to do men laughe . þanne lacchen I shulde .
Other mantel or Monoye . amonges lordes Mynstralles
# con tra Ferters and Fithellers
Ac for I can neither taboure ne . trompe . ne telle none gestes .
Farten ne fithelen . at feestes ne harpen
Iape ne iogely . ne gentiliche pipe .
Ne neither sailly ne saute . ne synge with þe gyterne .
I haue none goode giftes . of þise grete lordes
For no bred þat I bringe forth . saue a beneceon on þe S onday
Whan þe prest praieth þe poeple . hire pater noster to bidde
For pieres þe ploughmam ploughma[n] . and þat hym profite wayten .
And þat am I actif . þat ydelnesse hatye .
For alle trewe trauaillours . and tiliers on þe[^701] erthe .
Fro Mi ghelmesse . to Mighelmesse . I fynde hem with my[^702] wafres .
Beggers and bidders of my bred crauen
Faitours and Freres . and folk with brode crounes
I fynde pain for þe pope . and prouendre for his palfray
And I hadde neuere of hym . haue god my trouthe
Neither prouendre ne personage . yit of þe popes yifte .
# pardoun with ij pollis
Saue a pardoun with a peis of lede . and two polles amydde .
Hadde I a clerk þat couthe write . I wolde caste hym a bulle[^703]
That he sente me vndur his seel a salue for þe pestilence .
And þat his blessinges[^704] and his bulles . bocches miȝte destru ye
In nomine meo demonia eic ient[^705] super egros manus imponent & bene habebunt .
And þanne wolde I be prest to þe[^706] peple . past for to make
And buxom and bisy . aboute bred and drinke
# quia dubitari
For hym and for al hise . founde I that his pardon .
Miȝte lechen a man as I bileue it shulde
For sithe he hadde[^707] þe powere . þat peter hym-selue hadde .
He hath þe pot with þe salue . sothly as me thynketh .
Argentum & aurum non est michi . quod autem habeo tibi do . in nomine domini surge & ambula

[^701: M.13.240: M's reading on þe is not shared by other B manuscripts. F has on; others have of þe or of.]

[^702: M.13.241:M's original reading without my agreed with BHmGYCLR. The addition of the word brings M into agreement with WCr. Kane and Donaldson's apparatus is misleading: only the my (not the with) is written above the line.]

[^703: M.13.248:M's bulle is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read bille.]

[^704: M.13.250:M alone among B manuscripts attests the plural.]

[^705: M.13.251:M's original reading may have been eiciunt as in L. M's eicient agrees with Hm; other B manuscripts have eicient &.]

[^706: M.13.252:M's original reading without þe agreed with HmL.]

[^707: M.13.256:M's hadde is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read haþ.]

Ac if myȝt of miracle hym faille . it is for men ben not worthi
To haue þe grace of god . and no gylt of þe pope .
For may no blessynge do vs bote . but if we wol amende .
Ne mannes masse make pees . amonges cristen p eple .
Til pride be purelich fordo . and þorugh pain defaute .

For er I haue bred of mele . ofte moot I swete
And er þe comune haue corn ynough . many a cold mournyng
So er my wafres ben y-wrought . muche wo I tholie

Al London I leue . liketh wel my wafres .
# quando Cartis off Stratfford
And louren whan þei lakken it . it is nouȝt longe y-passed
There was a careful comune . whan no carte cam to towne .
With bred from Stratford . þo g o nnen beggers wepe
And werkm en were agast a litel . þis wol be thought longe
In þe date of oure driȝte . in a drie Aprill .
A thousand and threhundred thre hundred . thries[^708] twenty and ten .
My wafres þere were gesen . whan Chichestre was Maire

[^708: M.13.273:M's altered reading is unparalleled. Presumably it was originally twies twenty, the reading of most manuscripts. LR have tweis thretty; in Hm syxty and nyne is written over an erasure which seems to have read thries twenty & nyne. Evidently scribes took their own measures to correct an archetypal reading which so obviously got the date (1370) wrong.]

—
I to ok go od kepe by Crist . and Conscience boþe
Of haukyn þe actifman actif man . and how he was y-clothed
He hadde a cote of Cristendome . as holy kyrke bileueth
Ac it was mol ed . in many places . with many s ondry plottes .
Of pride here a plot . and þere a plot . of vnbuxom speche
Of scornynge and of scoffynge . and of vnskilful berynge
As in apparaille & in porte . proud amonges þe p eple
O þerwise þan he hath . with herte or siȝte shewynge .
Hym willynge þat alle men wende . he were þat he is nouȝt
For why he bosteþ and braggeth . with many bolde othes .
And inobedient to ben vnd ernome . of any lif lyuyng .
And so singuler by hym-self . ne non so pon p -holy[^709] .
Y-habited as an hermyte . an ordre by hem-seluen[^710] .
Religion saunz rule . and resonable obedience
Lakkynge lettred men . and lewede men bothe
In likynge of lele lif . and a liere in soule
With inwit . and with oute-wit ymagynen and studyen
As best for his body be . to haue a badde name
And entremeten hym ouerall . ther he hath nouȝt to done
Wilnynge þat men wende . his wit were þe beste
And if he yeue ouȝt to pouere gomes . telle what he deleth
Pouere of possessioun . in purse . and in cofre bothe
And as a lyon on to loke . and lordlich of speche[^711] .

[^709: M.13.286:Kane and Donaldson read poup, noting that the last letter is written over an erasure, but the reading is clearly ponp. WHmL have the same word pomp, which may have been M's original spelling, while other B manuscripts have pope or poppe.]

[^710: M.13.287:All other B manuscripts save Hm read hymselue.]

[^711: M.13.297:A line is drawn from the paragraph space following this line to the middle of the page, left margin, where there is a large, fancy A. The line and letter are drawn in a faded purple-brown ink. In the right margin at this place, something has been erased.]

Baldest of beggers . a bostere þat nouȝt hath
In towne and in tauernes . tales to telle
And segge þing þat he neuere seigh . and for a[^712] sothe sweren it .
Of dedes þat he neuere dede . w ytnesse and seggen[^713]
Lo if ye leue me nouȝt . or þat I lye wenen
Axeþ at hym or at hym . and he yow can telle
What I suffrede and seigh . and s omtymes hadde .
And what I couthe . and knewe . and what kyn I com of .
Al he wolde þat men wiste . of werkes and of wordes
W hich miȝthte plese þe p eple . and praisen hym-seluen .
Si hominibus placerem Cristi seruus non essem .
Et alibi  nemo potest duobus dominis seruire 

[^712: M.13.300:The addition of a brings M into agreement with Hm.]

[^713: M.13.301:Through eyeskip on dede, M has omitted a b-verse and the following a-verse: demen and bosten / And of workes þat he wel dide (in the spelling of W).]

By Crist quod Conscience tho . thy beste Cote Haukyn .
Hath many moles and spottes . it moste ben ywasshe

Ye whoso toke h ede quod haukyn . byhynde . and before .
What on bak . what[^714] on body half . and by þe two sydes .
Men shulde fynde many frounces . and many foule plottes
And he turned hym as tit . and þanne took I hede .
It was fouler by fele folde . þan it furst semede .
It was bidropped with wrathe . and wikked wille
With enuye and euel speche . entisynge to fiȝte
Lyinge and laughynge . and leue tonge to chide .
Al þat he wist wikked . by any wight to[^715] tellen it
And blame men by-hynde hire bak . and bidden hem mischaunce
And þat he wiste by will . tellen it watte
And þat watte wiste . will wiste it after .
And made of freendes foos . þorugh a fals to nge
Or with might of mouthe or þorugh mann es streng the
Auenge me fele tymes . other frete my-selue .
Withinn e as a[^716] shepsteres shere . I shrewede men and cursed
Cuius maledictione os plenum est & amaritudine sub lingua eius labor & dolor .
Et alib i . filij hominum dentes eorum arma . & sagitte & lingua eorum gladius acutus

[^714: M.13.313: M shares the reading what with C; other B manuscripts have and what.]

[^715: M.13.320: M shares the reading to with B; other B manuscripts omit it.]

[^716: M.13.327:M's original reading without a agreed with Cot.]

There is no lyf þat I louye . lastinge any while .
For tales þat I telle . no man trusteth to me .
nota
And whan I may nouȝt haue þe maistrie . such[^717] malencolie I take .
That I cacche þe cr ampe . the cardiacle s omtyme
Or an ague in suche an angre . and som -tyme a feuere .
# quia contradicit wich Craftis
That taketh me al a twelue-monthe . til þat I dispise .
Lechecraft of oure lord . and leue on a wicche .
A nd segge þat no clerk ne[^718] kan . ne Crist as I leue .
To þe souter of soutwerk . or of shord ych dame. Emme
And segge þat no goddes word . gaf me neuere bote .
But þoruȝ a charme hadde I chaunce . and my chief hele .

[^717: M.13.332:M's altered reading agrees with WCRF, and with Hm also by correction. Most B manuscripts read wiþ.]

[^718: M.13.337:M's original reading without ne agreed with GF.]

I wayted wisloker . and þanne was it soilled .
With lykynge of leccherie . as by lokynge of his eighen[^719]
nota
For ech a mayde þat he m ette . he made hire a signe
con tra luxuriam
Semynge to synward . and som -tyme he gan taste .
Aboute þe mouth or bynethe . bigynneth to grope .
Til eitheres wille waxeth kene . and to þe werke yeden .
As well[^720] in fastyngdays . & frydays and forboden nyghte s
And as wel in lente . as out of lente . alle tymes yliche .
Suche werke s with hem were neuere out of sesoun
Til þei mighte no more . and þanne hadde merie tales .
And how þat lecchours louyen . laughen and Iapen .
And of hire harlotrie and hordome . in hire elde tellen .
Thanne pacience parceiuede . of pointes of[^721] his cote .
W ere[^722] colomy þorugh couetyse . and vnkynde desirynge .
x
Moore to good þan — to god . þe gome his loue caste .
And ymaginede . how he it miȝt haue .
con tra Auariciam
With fals mesures and met . and with false wittnesse .
L ened[^723] for loue of þe wed . and loth to do trewthe .
And awayted þorugh whiche weye . he myghte bigyle[^724]
And menged his marchaundise . and made a good monstre
The worste withnne with[i]nne was . a grete wit I lete it .
And if my neigbore had any hyne . or any beste elles .
More profitable þan myn . many sleightes I made
How I miȝte haue it . al my wit I caste
And but I it hadde by other weye . at þe laste I stale it .
Or priueliche his purs shook . vnpiked hise lokkes .
Or by nighte or by day . aboute was I euere .
Thorugh gile to gaderen . the goode þat I haue .

[^719: M.13.342: M shares the reading eighen with F; other B manuscripts have eiȝe.]

[^720: M.13.347:Kane and Donaldson read woll which is possible, but cf. M.13.24 for another ambiguous case.]

[^721: M.13.353:M's original reading without this of agreed with LR.]

[^722: M.13.354: Only W agrees with the altered M reading; all other B manuscripts read was, referring to cote.]

[^723: M.13.358: M's altered reading lened agrees with most B manuscripts, but C2 has louede.]

[^724: M.13.359:M's altered reading he myghte bigyle agrees only with Cr. B reads he myȝte best bigile; other B manuscripts read to bigile, which appears to have been M's original reading.]

If I yede to þe plough . I pynchede so narwe
That a foot lond or a forwe . fecchen I wolde .
Of my nexte neighbore . nymyn of his erthe .
And if I rope ouer -reche . or yaf hem red þat ropen .
And seise to me with hire sikel . þat I ne s iew neuere .

And who-so borwe d —[^725] at[^726] me . abou ȝte[^727] þe tyme
With presentes priuelyche . or paied som certein
So wolde he or nouȝt wolde he . wynnen I wolde .
And bothe to kith and to kyn . vnkynde of þat I hadde .

[^725: M.13.374:M's original reading was probably borweth, as in most B manuscripts. WCrR have the past tense.]

[^726: M.13.374:M's at is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read of.]

[^727: M.13.374: GCr3LR read aboute, perhaps M's original reading.]

And whoso chep ed my chaffare . chiden I wolde
But he profred to paie a peny or tweyne
More þan — it was worth . and yet wold I swere .
That it coste me muche moore . swor I[^728] many othes

[^728: M.13.381:M's swor I is unique among B manuscripts. HmF read y swoor; all other manuscripts omit the pronoun.]

In halydays at holychirche . whan I herde masse
Hadde I neuere wille wot god . .itturliche[^729] to byseche .
Mercy for my mysdedes . þat I ne mourned moore
For losse of good . leue me . þan for my likames giltes .
As if I hadde dedly synne don[^730] . I dredde not þat so sore .
As whan I lened . and leued it lost . or longe er it were paied
So if I kydde any kyndenesse . myn euen-cristen to helpe
Vupon Vpon a cruwel coueitise . myn herte gan hangen
And if I sente ouer see . my seruauntz to brugges
Or into Pruslond[^731] my prentys . my profit to wayten
To marchaunden with monoie . and maken hire eschaunges
Mighte neuere me conforte . in þe mene-tyme
Neither messe ne matyns . ne none manere sightes
Ne neuere penaunce parfourmede . ne pater -noster saide
That my mynde nas[^732] more . on my good in a doute
Than — in þe grace of god . and hise grete helpes .
Vbi thesaurus tuus ibi & cor tuum .

[^729: M.13.383:The first letter of this word, which is written over an erasure, is illegible. All other B manuscripts read witterliche.]

[^730: M.13.386:Though it would be possible to render this doun , all other instances of this word are spelled don or done.]

[^731: M.13.391:It is possible that <s> is erased before Pruslond, though the <P> is clearly capital. GCCotF read spruce land.]

[^732: M.13.396: M's reading nas is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which have ne was.]

# Branches off Slewth
W hiche ben the braunches . that bringen a man to sleuthe
H e that ——[^733] mourneth nouȝt . for his mysdedes ne makeþ no sorwe
A nd þe[^734] penaunce þat þe prest enioyneth . parfourneth euele
Doth non almes dedes[^735] . dred hym of no synne .
Lyueth aȝein þe bileue . and no lawe holdeth
Eche day is an halyday with hym . or an heigh feire[^736]

[M.13.405:This erasure is legible with ultraviolet light. The comment was rewritten in its proper place below.]

If[^737] he ouȝt wol here . it is an harlotes tonge .
Whanne men carpen of crist . or of clennesse of soule
He wexeth wroth . and wol not here . but wordes of murthe .
Penaunce and pouere men . and þe passion of seintes
He hateth to here þere-of . and alle þat it telleth .
Thise ben þe braunches be-war . that bringeth a man to w anhope .
con tra Sage Folis
Ye lordes and ladyes . and leg ates of holy churche
That fedeth fooles sages . flaterers and liers .
And han likynge to lithen hem . to do yow to laughe
Ve vobis qui ridetis & cetera
And yeueth hem mete and mede . and pouere men refuse
In youre deth deiȝnge . I drede[^738] me ful soore
Lest þo thre manere men . to muche sorwe yow bringe .
Consencientes & agentes pari pena punientur
Patriakes and prophetes . and prechours of godes wordes
Sauen þorugh here sermon . mannes soule from helle .
Right so flaterers and fooles . arn þe fendes disciples
To entice men thorugh here tales . to synne and to[^739] harlotrie
Ac clerkes þat knowen holy writ . sholde kennen lordes
What dauid saith of suche men . as þe sauter telleth[^740]
Non habitat in medio domus mee . qui facit Superbiam & qui loquitur iniqua 
Sholde non harlot haue audience . in halle ne in Chambres .
There wisemen were . w ytnesseth godes wordes
Ne no mysproud man . amonges lordes ben allowed .

[^733: M.13.400:M originally agreed with GYCLR; M's altered reading agrees with WHmCr.]

[^734: M.13.401:M's added þe is not attested in other B manuscripts. For And þe, YOBL read Ac, WHmCrC2CR have And.]

[^735: M.14.402:M's altered reading almesdedes agrees only with Cr. Most B manuscripts read almesdede.]

[^736: M.13.404: M's reading feire is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which have ferye.]

[^737: M.13.405:M alone among B manuscripts lacks And at the beginning of the line.]

[^738: M.13.416:The erased reading may be I dre, which is without parallel.]

[^739: M.13.422:M's addition of to brings it into agreement with WG.]

[^740: M.13.424:The right end of the red box is written over an incompletely erased facit.]

Ac flaterers and foles . þorugh . here foule wordes
Leden þo þat louen hem . to Luciferes feste .
With turpiloquio . a lay of sorwe . and luciferes fithele
Thus haukyn þe actif man . hadde ysoyled his cote
Til conscience acouped hym þere-of . in a curteis manere .
Why he n e h adde wasshen it . or wyped it wiþ a brusshe .

Passus xiiijus quartodecimus. [M.14.0: Unlike most other Passus headings in M, the text follows immediately afterwards, with no skipped line. The erased guide for the rubricator is visible above the passus heading.]

I haue but oon hool hatre . quod haukyn . I am þe lasse to blame
Though it be soilled and selden clene . I slepe þere-inne a-nyghtes
And also I haue an houswyf . hewen and children .
Vxorem duxi & ideo non possum venire .
That wolen bymolen[^741] it many tyme . maugre my chekes .

[^741: M.14.5: In place of M's altered reading bymolen, C reads bifoule and B read defoule.]

I t haþ ben laued in lente . and out of lente bothe .
With þe sope of seknesse . þat sekeþ wondur depe
And with þe losse of catel . loth for to agilte .
God or any good man . by ought þat I wiste .
And was shriuen of þe preest . þat gaf me for my synnes
To penaunce pacience . and pouere men to fede .
Alfor Al for coueitise of my cristendom . in clennesse to kepen it

# quia difficile est sane viuere
And couthe I neuere by crist kepen it[^742] clene an houre
That I ne soilled it with sighte . or som ydel speche
Or þorugh werk . or þorugh . word or wille of myn herte .
That I ne flob ere it foule . from morwe til euen .

[^742: M.14.13: M's original reading without it agreed with G.]

And I shal kenne þe quod Conscience . of contricion to make .
That shal clawe þi cote . of alle kynnes filthe
Cordis contricio & cetera
decima [vn]decima discripcio de dowell
Dowel shal[^743] wasshen it . and wryngen it . þoruȝ a wys confessour .
Oris confessio & cetera
Dobet shal beten it and bouken it . as bright as any scarlet
And engreynen it with gode wille . and godes grace to amende the
And sithen sende þe . to satisfaccioun . for to sowen it aftur .
Satisfaccio dobest
Shal neuere myst bimoulen it . ne mothe after biten it
Ne fende ne fals man . defoulen it in þi liue
Shal non heraude ne harpour . haue a fa irer garnement
Than haukyn þe actif man . and þow do by my techinge
Ne no mynstral be more worth . amonges pouere and riche .
Than haukynes wif þe wafrer with his actiua vita

[^743: M.14.20: M's original reading without shal agreed with GYCBLRF.]

# prouicio paciencie
And I shal purueie þe past quod pacience . though no plough erye
And flour to fede folk with . as best be for þe soule .
Though neuere greyn growed . ne grape vpon vyne
Alle þat liueth and loketh . liflode wolde I fynde
And þat y-nough shal noon faille . of þing þat hem nedeth .
We sholde nouȝt be to bysie . aboute oure liflode .
Ne solliciti sitis & cetera . volucres celi deus pascit & cetera
Pacientes vincunt & cetera .

Thanne laughed haukyn a litel . and liȝtly gan swerye
Who-so leueth yow by oure lord . I leue nouȝt he be blessede .

# vitells off paciens
No quod pacience paciently . and out of his poke hente
Vitailles of grete vertues . for alle manere bestes
And saide lo here liflode y-nough . if oure byleue be trewe .
For lent neuere was lif . but liflode were shapen .
Where-of . or wherfore . or where-by to libbe .

Furst the wilde worme . vnder weet erthe
Fisshe to lyue in the flood . and in þe fuyr þe krykat .
The corluwe by kynde of þe eyr . moost clennest flessh of briddes
And beestes by gras . and by greyn . and by grete[^744] Rotes
In menynge þat alle men mighte . do þe same .
Lyue þorugh lele bileue . and loue . as god w ytnesseth .
Quodcunque Quodcu[m]que pecieritis a patre . in nomine meo & cetera Et alibi 
Non in solo pane viuit homo set in omni verbo quod procedit de ore dei

[^744: M.14.50: M's grete is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read grene.]

fiat voluntas
But I loked what liflode it was . þat pacience so praysede
And þan was it[^745] a pece of þe pater-noster Fiat voluntas tua .

[^745: M.14.56: M's original reading without it agreed with OHmCrRF. O shares M's alteration.]

¶
Haue haukyn quod pacience . and ete þis whan þe hungreth
Or whan þow clomsest for cold . or clyngest for drie .
Shul neuere gyues the greue . ne grete lordes wratthe .
Prisone ne peyne for Pacientes vincunt .

Byso By so þat þow be sobre . of sighte and of tonge
In etynge and in handlynge . and in alle þi fyue wittes
Darstow neuere care for corn / ne lynnen c loth ne wollen
Ne for drynke ne deth drede / but deie as god liketh
Or þoruȝ honger or þoruȝ hete at his wille be it
For if þow lyuest after his loore . þe shorter lif þe better
# et iterum #
Si quis amat Cristum mundum non diligit istum .

¶ For thorugh his breth . bestes woxen . and abrode yeden
Dixit & facta sunt & cetera
Ergo tho ruȝ his breth . mowen men and bestes liuen .
As holy writ w ytnessth w ytness[e]th . whan men seggen hire graces
Aperis tu manum tuam  & imples omne animal benediccione .

nota
¶It is founden that fourty wynter . folk lyued with-oute t yly ing
And out of þe flynt . sprong the flod . þat folk and beestes drunken .
And in Elyes tyme . heuene was yclosed .
That no rein roon . þus men rede[^746] in bokes .
That many wyntres men lyueden . and no mete ne tulieden .
# de septem dormientibus
Seuene slepe as s eith the book . seuene hunder wyntur
And lyueden with-oute liflode . and at þe laste thei woken .
And if men lyueden as mesure wolde . shulde neuere more be defaute
Amonges cristen creatures . if cristes wordes ben truwe .
Ac vnkyndenesse caristia . maketh . amonges cristen poeple
And ouere-plente maketh pride . amonges pouere and riche .
Ac mesure is so muche worth . it may not be to deere
For þe meschief and þe mesch aunce . amonges men of Sodome .
Wex þoruȝ plente of payn . and of pure sleuthe
Ociositas & habundancia panis . peccatum turpissimum nutriuit
For þei mesured not hem-self . of þat þei eten and dronke
Diden in[^747] dedly synne . þat þe deuel liked .
So vengeaunce fel vpon hem . for hire vile synnes .
Thei sonken in-to helle . tho Citees ychone .

[^746: M.14.76: M shares the reading men rede with F; other B manuscripts reverse the order.]

[^747: M.14.89: M's added reading of in is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

¶ For-þi mesure we vs wel . and make oure faith oure sheltrom
# quia contricio delit peccatum a Mortale in veniale
And þoruȝ faith cometh contricioun . conscience woot wel
W hich dryueþ a-way dedly synne . and maketh[^748] it to be venial

[^748: M.14.94: M's maketh is unique among B manuscripts, the rest of which read dooþ.]

And þouȝgh a mon miȝte nouȝt speke . contricion miȝte hym saue .
# bene
And bringe his soule to blisse . for[^749] so þat feith bere[^750] w ytnesse .
That whiles he lyued . he bileued . in the lore of holychurche
Ergo contricion faith and conscience . is kyndelych dowell
And surgiens for dedly synnes . whan shrifte of mouthe failleth

[^749: M.14.96: M's for agrees with W. CrLRF read be; other B manuscripts lack the word.]

[^750: M.14.96: M's original reading of bereth agreed with HmF.]

¶ Ac shrifte of mouthe more worthi is . if man be ynlich contrit
For shrifte of mouthe sleeth synne . be it neuere so dedly .
# quia per conffescionem occiduntur peccata sed per contricionem delentur in veniale
Per confessionem to a preest . peccata occiduntur .
Ther contricioun doth but dryueth doun[^751] . in-to a venial synne
As dauid saith in þe sautier . Et quorum tecta sunt peccata
Ac satisfaccion seketh out þe roote . and bothe sleeth and voideth
And as it neuere hadde y-be . to nouȝt bringeth dedly synne .
That it neuere efte is sene ne sore . but semeth a wounde yheled .

[^751: M.14.103: Only M and Cr omit it before doun.]

Where woneth charite quod haukyn . I wiste neuere in my lyue
Man þat with him spak . as wide as I haue passed .

There parfite truthe and pouere herte is . and pacience of tonge
There is charitee —[^752] þe chief chambre . for god him-selue .

[^752: M.14.111: M's original reading of is not attested in other B manuscripts.]

questio
Whether pacien t[^753] pouerte quod haukyn . be more plesaunt to oure driȝte .
Than richesse riȝtfulliche y-wonne . and resonabliche y-spended .

[^753: M.14.112: M's original reading agreed with HmGYC2CBRF.]

Ye quis est ille quod pacience quik . lauda bimus eum .
# terribile hoc
Thouȝ men rede[^754] of richesse . riȝt to þe worldes ende
I wiste neuere renke þat riche was . þat whan he rekkene shulde .
Whan he drouȝ to his deth-day . þat he ne dredde hym soore .
And at þe rekenynge in arrerage fel . rather þan out of dette .

[^754: M.14.115: M's original drede was not attested in other B manuscripts.]

There þe pouere dar plede . and proue by pure resoun .
To haue allowance of his lord . by þe lawe he it claymeth
Iooie þat neuere ioie hadde . of riȝtful Iuge he axeth .
And seith lo briddes and bestes . þat no blisse ne knoweth
And wilde wormes in wodes . þoruȝ wyntres þow hem greuest
And makest hem wel neiȝe meke . and mylde for defaute
And after þow sendest hem somer . þat is hire soueraigne ioie
Mordoun

[M.20.163: See also M.20.163 and Introduction I.11 "Provenance."]

And blisse to alle þat ben . bothe wilde and tame .
Than may beggers as[^755] bestes . aftur bote wayten .
That al hire lyue han lyued . in langour and in defaute
But god sente hem s omtyme . som manere of[^756] Ioie
Owther here or elles-where . kynde wolde it neuere
For to wrotherhele was he wrouȝt . þat neuere was ioie shaped

[^755: M.14.127: M's revised reading agrees with WCrL. M's original reading was perhaps and, the reading of the other B manuscripts.]

[^756: M.14.129: M shares the reading of with F; other B manuscripts omit it.]

Angeles þat in helle now ben . hadden ioie s omtyme
# notabile bonum pro eo qui pacienter suffert paupertatem
And Diues in deintees liued . and in douce vie
Right so reson sheweth . þat þo men þat were riche
And hire makes also . lyued hire lif in murthe

Ac god is of a wondur wille . by þat kynde wit sheweth
To yeue many men his mercimonye . er he it haue deserued .
Right so fareth god by somme riche . ruthe me it thinketh .
#
For þei han h ir / hire heere . an heuene as it were .
And gret likynge to lyue . with -oute labour of body
And whan he deieth ben disalowed . as dauid seith in þe sautier .
Dormierunt & nichil inuenerunt .
And in a-nother stede also . Velud sompnum surgencium domine In ciuitate tua . & ad nichilum rediges

# periculum in diuicijs
Allas þat richesse shal reue . and robbe mann es soule
From þe loue of oure lord . at his laste ende .

Hewen þat han hir hire a-fore . aren eueremore nedy
And selden deieth he out of dette . þat dyneth er he deserue it
And til he haue doon his deuoir . and his daies iourne
For whan a werkeman hath wrouȝt þan may men se þe sothe
What he were worthy for his werk . and what he hath deserued
And nouȝt to fonge byfore . for drede of disallowynge .

So I segge by yow riche . it semeth not þat ye shulle
Haue heuene in yowre here b eynge[^757] . and heuene here-aftur .
Right as a seruaunt taketh his salarie bifore . and sith wold cl ayme more
As he þat non hadde . and hath hire at þe laste
# bene
It may not be ye riche men . or Mathew on god lieth
De delicijs ad delicias deficile est transire

[^757: M.14.153: Scribes had difficulty with the phrase and there are many variations on it. M shares its revised reading with OCr23LR.]

Ac if þe riche haue ruthe . and rewarde wel þe pouere
And lyuen as lawe techeth . doon leaute to hem alle .
Crist of his courtesie . shal conforte yow at þe laste
And rewarde yow[^758] alle double richesse . þat reweful hertes habbeth
And as an hyne þat hadde . his hire er he bygonne
And whan he hath doon his deuoir wel . men doth hym other bounte .
# a Cote above his Couenaunt ¶
Yeueth hym a cote aboue his couenaunt . riȝt so Crist yeueth heuene
Bothe to riche and to nouȝt riche . þat rewfulliche libbeth
And alle þat doon hire deuoir . well . han double hire for hire trauaill .
X
Here forȝiuenesse of hire sinnes . and heueneblisse heuene blisse after

[^758: M.14.161: The addition of yow brings M into agreement with Cr.]

#
Ac it nys but selde yseyyn . as by holy seintes liues
That god rewarded double reste . to any riche wye
For muche murthe is amonges riche . as in mete and clothynge
And muche murthe in May is . amonges wilde beestes
And so forth whil somer lasteth . hire solace dureth
Ac beggers aboute Midsomer . bredles þei soupe
And yet is wyntur for hem worse . for wete-shod þei gange .
A-furst sore and afyngred . and foule y-rebuked
And arated of riche men . þat ruthe is to here
Now lord sende hem somer . and som manere ioie
Heuene aftur hire hennes-goynge . þat here han such defaute
For al miȝtest þow haue maad . noon menere þan other
And yliche witty and wys . if þi wille hadde liked
# quia orat pro diuitibus
And haue ruthe on þise riche men . þat reward nouȝt þi prisoners
Of þe good þat þow hem yauest[^759] . ingrati ben manye
Ac god of þi goodnesse . g if hem grace to amende
For may no d erþe be hem deere . drouȝte ne wete
X
Ne neither hete ne haille . haue þei hire hele .
Of þat þei wilne and wolde . wanteth hem nouȝt here

[^759: M.14.182: M alone among B manuscripts has the verb in the past tense.]

Ac pore p eple þi prisoners . lord in þe put of meschief
Conforte þo creatures . þat muche care suffren
Thorugh derthe . þorugh drouȝte . alle hire daies here
Wo in wyntertymes wyntur tymes . for wantynge of clothes
And in somer tyme selde . soupen to þe fulle
Conforte þi careful . crist in þi rich esse[^760]
For how þow confortest alle creatures . clerkes bereth w ytnesse
Conuertimni Conuertim[i]ni ad me & salui eritis

[^760: M.14.192: This alteration occurs at a place where WHmCr also attest richesse and YGOC2CBLRF attest riche.]

Thus in genere of gentryes . Ihesu Crist saide
To Robbers and to reuers . to riche and to pore .
Thow tauȝtest hem in þe trynite . to take baptesme
And be clene þoruȝ þat cristenynge . of alle kynnes s ynnes
And[^761] vs fel þoruȝ folye . to falle in synne aftur .
Confession and knowlechyng . and crauynge þi mercy .
Shulde amende vs as many sithes . as man wolde desire .
Ac if þe pope wolde plede here aȝein . and punisshe vs in conscience
He shulde take þe aquitaunce as quik . and to þe qued shewe it
Pateat & cetera per passionem domini .
nota bene
And putten of so þe pouke . and preuen vs vndur borwe
Ac þe parchemyn of þe patente . of pouerte be moste
And of pure pacience and parfit bileue
Of pompe and of pride . þe parchemyn decorreth
And prncipaliche pr[i]ncipaliche of alle þe puple . but þei be pouere of herte
Elles is al on ydel . al þat euere we wryten .
Paternostres and penaunce . and pilgrimage to Rome .
But oure spenses and spendynge . springe . of a trwe welle
Elles is al oure labour lost . lo how men write th
In fenestres at þe freres . if fals be þe foundement
For-þi Cristene shulde ben in comune riche . noon coueitous for hym-selue

[^761: M.14.199: Apparently an insertion has been subsequently erased between and and vs. WCrFR attest if at this point.]

For seuene synnes þat þere ben . assaillen vs euere
The feend folweth hem alle . and fondeth hem to helpe
# quia per diuicias cicius Fallimur
Ac with richesse þat Ribaud . rathest men bigileth
For þere þat richesse regneth . reuerence folweth
And þat is plesaunt to pride . in pouere and in riche
And þe riche is reuerenced . by reson of his richesse
There þe pouere is put byhinde . and parauenture k an more
Of wit and of wisdome . þat fer awey is bettre
Than richesse or reaute . and rather y-herd in heuene
For þe Riche haþ muche to rekene . and riȝt softe walkeþ
The heiȝe waye to heueneward . ofte richesse letteth .
Ita impossibile diuiti & cetera .

# Audaciam paupertatis with a pak at his rugge
There þe pouere presseth bifore þe riche . with a pak at his rugge
Opera enim illorum sequntur illos .
Batauntliche as begers doon . and baldeliche he craueth
For his pouerte and pacience a perpetuel blisse .
Beati pauperes quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum
And pride in richesse regneth . rather þan in pouerte .
Arst in þe maist er þan in þe man . som mansioun he ha ueth
Ac in pouerte þere pacience is . pride hath no mighte
Ne noon of þe seuene synnes . sitten ne mowe þere longe
Ne haue power in pouerte . if pacience it folwe
For þe pouere is ay prest . to plese þe Riche .
And buxom at his biddynge . for his broke loues
# Buxom & bost be euer at werre
And bux omnesse and boost . aren euere-more at werre
And either hateth other . in alle manere of[^762] werkes
If wrathe wrastle with þe pouere . he hath þe worse ende
For if þei bothe pleyne . þe pouere is but fieble
And if he chide or chatre . hym cheueth þe worse

[^762: M.14.241: M shares the reading of with F; other B manuscripts omit it.]

And if couetise cacche þe pouere . þei may nouȝt come to-gedres .
And by þe nekke namely . hire non may hente other .
For men knowen wel þat couetise . is of a kene wille
And hath hondes & armes . of a longe lengthe
And pouerte nys but a petit thyn g . appereth nouȝt to his nauele
# layke bytwen long & short
And louely layke was it neuere . bytwen e þe longe and þe shorte
And þouȝ Auarice wolde angre þe pouere . he hath but litel miȝte
For pouerte hath but pokes . to putten in hise goodis .
Ther Auarice hath Almaries . and yren-bounden coffres
And whether be liȝter to breke . & lasse boost maketh[^763]
A beggers bagge . þan an yren-bounden cofre

[^763: M.14.254: The corrector brings the line into agreement with WCr, adding an <&>, first misplaced after lasse and then moved, and erasing it before maketh.]

Leccherye loueth hym nouȝt . for he yeueth but litel siluer
Ne doth hym nouȝt dyne delicatly . ne drynke wyn ofte
# stewes syde
A straw for þe stuwes . it stode nouȝt I trowe
Hadde þei no þing . but of pou re men . hire houses stode vntiled

And þo wgh sleuthe suwe pouerte . and serue nouȝt god to paie
Mischif is his maist er and maketh hem[^764] to thenke
That god is his grettest help . and no gome elles
And he[^765] his seruaunt as he saith . and of his suyte bothe
And whether he be or be nouȝt . he bereth þe signe of pouerte .
And in þat secte oure saueour . saued al mankynde
For-þi al pouere þat pacient is . may claymen and asken
After hire endynge here . heueneriche blisse .

[^764: M.14.261: M shares the reading hem with Cr1; other B manuscripts read hym.]

[^765: M.14.263: The addition of he brings M into agreement with WCrRF.]

Muche hard ier may he axen . þat here miȝte haue his wille
In lond and in lordshipe . and likynge of bodye
And for godus loue leueth all . and l iueth as a begger
And as a mayde for mann es loue . hire modur forsaketh
# quia puella dimittit patrem & matrem pro viro suo
Hire fad er and[^766] hire frendes . and folweth hire make
Muche is such a mayden to loue . of hym þat such oon taketh
More þan a mayden is . þat is maried þoruȝ brokage .
As by assent of sundry parties . and siluer to bote
More for coueitise of go od . þan kynde loue of bothe

[^766: M.14.272: M alone among B manuscripts here omits alle.]

So it fareth by ech a persone . þat possession forsaketh
And put hym to be pacient . and pouerte weddeth .
The w hich is sib — to god him-self . and so to hise seintes

Haue god my trowthe . quod haukyn . ye prraysen praysen faste pouerte
What is pouerte with pacience quod he . proprely to mene

# discripcionem paupertatis
Paupertas quod pacience est odibile bonum Remocio curarum . possessio sine calumpnia . donum dei . sanita tis[^767] mater Absque solicitudine semita . sapiencie temperatrix . negocium sine dampno . Incerta fortuna . absque solicitudine felicitas .

[^767: M.14.282: M's original reading agreed with WCr1YCB. The alteration brings it into agreement with HmCr23GOC2LF.]

I kan nouȝt construe al þis quod haukyn . ye moste kenne þis on englissh

In englissh quod pacience . it is wel hard . wel to expounen
Ac somdel I shal sain it . by so þow vndurstonde
Pouerte is þe furste point . þat pride moost hateth
Than is it good by goode skile . al þat agasteth pride
Right as contricioun is confortable þing . conscience woot wel
And a sorwe of hym-self . and a solas to þe soule .
So pouerte propreliche . penaunce and ioie
Is to þe body . pure spiritual helthe
Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum
And Contricio[^768] confort . and Cura animarum

[^768: M.14.293: For M's Latin Contricio, other B manuscripts have Contricion, except F, which reads Contricio is.]

Selde sit pouerte . þe sothe to declare
For[^769] as Iustice to iugge men . enioigned is no pouere
Ne to be a Maire aboue men . ne Mynistre vnder kynges
Selden is any pouere put . to punisshen any p eple
Remocio curarum
Ergo pouerte and pore men . parfournen þe comandement
Nolite iudicare quemquam . the thridde

[^769: M.14.295: Most B manuscripts read Or. M's alteration brings it into agreement with WCr1.]

Selde is any pouere riche . but of riȝtful heritage
Wynneth he nouȝt with wiȝtes false . ne with vnseled mesures
Ne borweth of his Neiȝbores . but þat he may wel paie .
Possessio sine calumpnia

The ferthe is a fortune . þat florissheth þe soule .
With sobrete from alle synne . and also yet moore

[M.14.307: Something, perhaps a <¶>, has been erased in the left margin.]

It affaiteh affaite[t]h the flessh . from folies ful manye
A collateral confort . Cristes owne yifte
Donum dei .
¶
The fifte is modur of helthe . a frend in alle fon dynges
And for þe land euere a leche . a lemman of alle clennesse
Sanita tis[^770] mater

[^770: M.14.312: M's original reading agreed with WCr1YCB. Cf. M.14.282.]

The sixte is a paath of pees . ye þoruȝ þe paa s[^771] of aultoun
Pouerte miȝte passe . wiþ-oute perill of robbynge
For þere[^772] pouerte passeth . pees folweth after .
And euere þe lasse þat he bereth . the hardier he is of herte
For-þi saith Seneca / Paupertas est absque sollicitudine semita .
And an hardy man of herte . among an heep of theues .
Cantabit paupertas coram latrone viatore

[^771: M.14.313: Apparently a long <s>has been replaced with an 8-shaped <s>. The main scribe usually writes sigma-<s> finally.]

[^772: M.14.315: M alone among B manuscripts here omits þat.]

The seuen the is welle of wisdom . and fewe wordus sheweth
For lordes alloweth hym litel . or listeneth to his resoun .
He tempreth þe tonge to truwtheward . and no tresour cou eiteth
Sapiencie temperatrix .

The eig teth is a lele labour . and loth to take more
Than he may well deserue . in somer or in wyntur
And if he chaffare he chargeth no losse . mowe he charite wynne
Negocium sine dampno .

The nynthe is swete to þe soule . no sucre is swettere
For pacience is pain . for pouerte hym-seluen
And sobrete swete drynke . and gode leche in sekenesse
Thus lerede me a lettred man . for oure lordus loue[^773]
Seint austyn a blessud lif . with-owten bisinesse ladde[^774]
For body and for soule absque sollicitudine felicitas
Now god þat al good yeueth . graunte his soule reste
That þus furst wrot . to wysse men . what pouerte was to mene .

[^773: M.14.331-333: These lines are variously divided by the manuscripts and M's revised version is unique. Most manuscripts divide after loue and bisinesse as M did originally. WCr divide after loue of heuene and ladde; F divides after heuene and bisinesse.]

[^774: M.14.332: The addition of ladde brings M into agreement with WCr.]

¶
Allas quod haukyn þe actif man tho . þat after my cristendom

[M.14.337: Something now illegible has been erased in the margin.]

I ne hadde ben ded and doluen . for doweles sake
# quia defficele est sine peccato viuere
So harde it is quod haukyn . to lyue and to do synne
Synne suweth vs euere quod he . and sory gan wexe .
And wepte water with his eighen . and weyled þe tyme
That euere he d ide deede . þat dere god displesed .
Swowed and sobbed . and siked ful ofte
That euere he hadde lond . or lordshipe . lasse other moore
Or maystrie ouere any man . mo þan hym-seluen .
I were nouȝt worthy woot god quod haukyn . to werye any clothes
Ne neyther sherte ne shone . saue for shame one .
To couere my caroigne quod he . and cryde mercy faste
And wepte and wayled . and therwith I awakede .

passus xv quintodecimus

A c aftur my wakynge . it was wondur longe
Er I koude kyndly . knowe what is[^775] dowel .
And so my wit wexe and wa n yed . til I a fool were
And somme lakked my lif . allowed it but[^776] fewe .
And leten me[^777] for a lorel . and loth to reuerencen .
Lordes or ladyes . or any lif elles
As persouns in pellure . with pendauntz of siluer .
To sergauntz ne to suche . saide I[^778] nouȝt ones .
God loke yow lordus . ne louted faire
That folk helden me a fool . and in þat folye I rauede
Til reson hadde ruthe on me . and rokked me a-slepe
Til I seigh as it sorcerie were . a sotil þing with -alle
Oon with -outen tonge or teeth . tolde me whider I sholde
And whereof I cam and of what kynde . I coniured hym atte laste
If he were crist es creature . for crist es loue me to tellen

[^775: M.15.2: M's is is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read was.]

[^776: M.15.4: M's but is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

[^777: M.15.5: M's original reading without me was shared by HmGYOC2CL.]

[^778: M.15.8: The addition of I puts M in agreement with WHmCr.]

I am cristes creature . quod he . and cristen in many a place
In crist es Court I knowe wel . and of his kyn a partie .
Is neither Pet er — þe porter . ne Poule with his fauchoun .
That wol deffende me þe dore . dynge I neuere so late
At mydnyȝt at mydday . my vois so is y-knowe
That ech a creature of his court . welcometh me faire

What ar ye called in þat Court quod I . among cristes p eple
# discripcionem anime
The w hiles I quyke þe corps . quod he . called am I Anima .
And whan I wilne and wolde . Animus ich hatte
And for þat I kan and knowe . called am I . mens
And whan I make mone to god . memoria is my name
And whan I deme domes . and do as truthe techeth .
Than is Racio . my riȝt name . resoun on ynglissh .
And whan I feele þat folk telleth . my furste name is Sensus .
And þat is wit and wisdome . þe welle of alle craftus .
And whan I chalange . or chalange nouȝt . chepe or refuse
Than am I Co nscience y-called . godes clerk and his Notarie
And whan I loue lelly . oure lord and alle oþer
Thanne is lele loue my name . and in latyn Amor .
And whan I fl ee from þe flessh . and forsake þe caroigne
Thanne am I spirit specheles . spiritus þanne ich hatte
Austyn and ysodorus . either of hem bothe .
Nempned me þus to name . now þow myȝt chese
How þou coueitest to calle me . now þow knowest alle my names

Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur . dum viuificat corpus anima est . dum vult animus est . dum scit mens est . dum recolit memoria est . dum iudicat racio est . dum sentit sensus est . dum amat amor est . dum negat vel consentit consciencia est . dum spirat Spiritus est .

Ye ben as a bisshop quod I . al bourdynge þat tyme
For bisshopus yblessud . bereth many names .
Presul . and Pontifex . and Metropolitanus .
And othere names an heep Episcopus and pastor .

That is soth saide he . now I se þi wille
Thow woldest knowe and kunne . þe cause of alle hire names
And of myn if þow miȝtest . me thynketh by þi speche .

Ye sire I saide by so no man . were agreued
Alle þe sciences vndur sonne . and alle þe sotil craftes .
I wolde I knewe and couthe . kyndly in myn herte .

Thanne art þow inparfit quod he . and oon of prides knyȝtes
For suche a lust and likynge . lucifer fell from heuene .
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone & similis ero altissimo .

It were aȝeins kynde quod he . and alle kynnes resoun .
That eny creature shulde konne al . except Crist one .
Aȝeins suche sal omon speketh and despiseth hire wittus .
And saith Sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum .
Sic qui scrutator est magestatis opprimitur a gloria .

To ynglissh men þis is to mene . þat mowen speke and here .
The man þat muche hony eteth . his mawe it engleymeth
And þe more þat a man . of good matire hereth
But he do theraftur it doth him double scathe
Beatus est seith Bernard . qui scripturas legit
Et verba vertit in opera . fulliche to his power
Coueitise to k onne . and to knowe science
Pu tte[^779] out of paradis . Adam and Eue
Sciencie appetitus hominem inmortalitatis gloriam spoliauit
And riȝt as hony is yuel to deffie . and englemeth þe mawe
Riȝt so þat þoruȝ reson . wolde þe rote knowe
# non plus sapere quam oportet
Of god and of hise grete miȝtes . his graces it letteth
For in þe likynge lith a pride . and a licames coueitise
A yeins Cristes conseille . and alle clerkes techinge
That is Non plus sapere quam oportet sapere .

[^779: M.15.66: M's original pulte agreed with LR. OC2 have pullede. Other B manuscripts read putte.]

Freres and fele othere maistres . þat to þe lewed men prechen
Ye mouen matires in-mesurables . to tellen of þe Trinite
That ofte tymes þe lewed poeple . of hire bileue douten
Bettre were many doctours . leu e suche techinge[^780]
And tellen men of þe ten comandementz . and techen[^781] þe seuen synnes
And of þe braunches þat burioneth of hem . and bringeth men to helle
And how þat folk in hire[^782] folies . myspenden here fyue wittes
As wel Freres as othere folk . folilich þei spenden .
In housynge in hateringe . and in-to heiȝe clergie shewynge
¶
More for pompe þan for pure charite . þe poeple woot þe sothe .
That I lye not loo . for lordus ye plesen .
And reuerencen þe Riche . the rather for hire siluer .
Confundantur omnes qui adorant sculptilia . Et alibi 
Vt quid diligitis vanitatem & queritis mendacium .
Go to þe glose of þe vers . ye grete clerkes
.nota de fratribus.
If I lie on yow to my lewde wit . ledeth me to b rennyng
For as it semeth ye forsaketh . no ma n n es almesse
Of vsurers of hores . of auerous chapmen .
And louten to þese lordes . þat mowen lene yow nobles
A yein youre Rule and religioun . I take record at Ihesus
That saide to his discipules . ne sitis personarum acceptores

[^780: M.15.77: The line has been rewritten and then revised. The final version is unique but closest to W's Bettre it were to many doctours to leuen swich techyng. L has Bettre byleue were mony doctoures such techyng, and Y has Better to leue were many doctours swich techynge.]

[^781: M.15.78: M's techen is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read touchen.]

[^782: M.15.80: M's hire is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

Of þis matere I miȝte make a long bible
Curatis loquitur
Ac of curatours of cristen p eple . as clerkes bereth wytnesse
I shal tellen it for truthes sake . take hede who-so like th
As holinesse and honestee . out of holy ch yrche[^783] spryngeth[^784]
Thoruȝ lele libbynge men . þat godes lawe techen
Right so out of holy churche . alle yueles spredeth
There inparfit presthod is . prechours & techers
And se it b y ensample . in somer tyme on trowes
There somme bowes beth leued . and somme bereth none
There is a meschief in þe more . of suche manere bowes
# de prelatis & Curatis
Riȝt so persones and prestes . and men[^785] of holychurche
That arn rote of þe riȝt feith . to rule þe p eple
Ac þere þe rote is roten . reson wot þe sothe
Shal neuere flour ne fruyt . ne faire leef be grene
For-þi wolde ye lettrud leue . the leccherie of clothinge
And be kynde as bifel for clerkes . and curteis e of cristus goodus .
Truwe of yowre tonge . and of youre tail bothe
And haten to here harlotrie . and nouȝt to vndurfonge
Tithes of vntrewe thing . ytilied or chaffared .

[^783: M.15.98: The alteration of <u> to <y> is slightly misplaced.]

[^784: M.15.98: M's revision spryngeth is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read spredeþ.]

[^785: M.15.105: M's men is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read prechours.]

Lothe were lewed men . but þei yowre loore folwede
Curattis
And amenden hem þat mysdoun . moore for youre ensamples
Than — for to prechen and pre uen it nouȝt . ypocrisie it semeth .
For ypocrisie in latyn . is likned to a donghull .
That were bisnewed with snow . and snakes withinne

Or to a wal þat were whitlymed withouten and were foul withinne[^786]
Ri ght so many preestus . prechours and prelatus
Ye arn blaunched[^787] with bele paroles . and with clothes also .
Ac youre werkes and yowre wordes . þerevndur arn ful vnloueliche
Iohannes Crisostomus of clerkus speketh and preestus .
NB

[M.15.124: The same ornate abbreviation is found on fol. 73v.]

Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur . sic de templo omne malum procedit . Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit tota floret ecclesia Si autem coruptum fuerit omnium fides marcida est . Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis totus populus conuertitur ad peccandum . Sicut cum videris arborem pallidam & marcidam . intelligi s quod vicium habet in radice . Ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum & irreligiosum / sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum .

[^786: M.15.119: M's revised line is unique. Most B manuscripts lack withouten; Cr23YOC2 have withouten but lack were in the b-verse.]

[^787: M.15.121: M shares the reading blaunched with F; other B manuscripts have enblaunched.]

If lewed men wiste . what þat þis latyn meneth .
And who was myn auctour . muche wondur me þinketh
# prestis Baselardis
But if many preest beere . for hire baselardus and hire brooches
A peire of bedes in hire hand . and a book in[^788] hire arme
Sir Iohan and sire Geffray . hath a gerdel of siluer .
A baselard or a ballo k knyf with botones ouergilte
Ac a porth ors þat —— sholde be his plow . placebo to segge
Hadde he neuere seruice to saue siluer þer-to . seith it with idel wille

[^788: M.15.128: M's in is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read vnder.]

Allas ye lewede men muche lese ye on preestus
Ac þing þat is wikkedliche[^789] y-wonnen . and with false sleightes
Wolde neuere wit of witty god . but wikked men it hadden .
The w hiche arn prestus inparfite . and prechours aftur siluer .
Executours[^790] and suddenes . somonours and hire lemmans
This þat with gile was geten . vngraciousliche is spended
So harlotes and hoores . arn holpen with suche goodus
And godes folk for defaute therof . forfaren and spillen .

[^789: M.15.134: M's is wikkedliche is not shared by other B manuscripts, which reverse the order.]

[^790: M.15.137: M's revised form Executours agrees with WHmCr; other B manuscripts have sectours or something similar.]

Curatours of holikyrke . as clerkes þat ben auerouse
con tra Curatos Auaros
Ligthliche þat þei leuen . loseles it habbeth
Or de yeth intestate . and þanne þe bisshop entreth
And maketh murthe þerewith . and hise men bothe
And seggen he was a Nygard . þat no go od myȝte spare .
To freend ne to fremmed . the fiend haue his soule
For a wrecched hous he held . al his lif-tyme
And þat he spared and sperede[^791] . spene we in murthe

[^791: M.15.148: M shares the reading sperede with F; other B manuscripts have bisperede.]

B e it lered . be it lewed[^792] . þat loth is to spende
Thus goon hire goodus . be þe goost faren .
Ac for goode men god woot . grete doel men maken .
And bymeneþ goode mete yeuers . and in mynde haueth .
.quid est caritas
In preiers and in penaunces . and in parfite charite

[^792: M.15.149: The revised a-verse agrees with Hm. The original reading is that of most B manuscripts, including WCr.]

What is charitee quod I thoo . a childissh þinge h e saide
Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli . non intrabitis in regnum celorum .
With-outen fauntelte or folye . a fre liberal wille

Where shulde men fynde such a freend . with so fre an herte .
longe will
I haue liued in londe quod I . my name is longe wille
And fonde I neuere ful charite . bifore ne by-h ynde
Men ben merciable . to mendinauntz and to pore
And wolen lenen þere þei leue . lelly to be paied .

Ac charite þat Poule preiseth best . and moost plesaunt to oure Saueour
Is[^793] . non inflatu r non est[^794] ambiciosa . non querit que sua sunt .
I seigh neuere such a man . so me god helpe .
That he ne wolde aske aftur his . and otherwhile coueite
Thing þat neded hym nouȝt . and nyme it if he myghte

[^793: M.15.163: M's altered reading of Is agrees with WHmCr. YOC2LRF read As.]

[^794: M.15.163: It is likely that the original reading was that of L, which has inflatus and omits est.]

Clerkes kennen me . þat Crist is . in alle places
Ac I seigh him neuere soþely . but as my-sel f in a Mirour
Hic[^795] in enigmate tunc facie ad faciem .
And so I trowe truly by þat men telleth of charite
It is nouȝt champions fiȝt . ne chaffare as I trowe

[^795: M.15.169: M's Hic agrees with RF; other B manuscripts read Ita, It, or omit.]

Charite quod he ne chaffareth nouȝt . ne chalangeth ne craueth
quomodo laudatur caritas
As proude of a peny . as of a pound of golde
And is as glad of a gowne . of a gray russet
As of a tunicle of Tarse . or of trye scarlet
He is glad with alle glade . and good til al wikked .
And leneth and loueth . al þat oure lord made
Curseth he no creature . ne he kan bere no wrathe
Ne no likynge hath to lye . ne laughe men to scorne
Al þat men saien he leet it soth . and in solace taketh
And alle manere myschi efs . in myldenesse he suffreth
Coueiteth he noon erþeli[^796] good . but heuene-riche blisse .

[^796: M.15.182: The form underlying erþeli was probably erly, as in F.]

questio de Caritate
Hath he any rentes or richesses[^797] . or any riche freendes .

[^797: M.15.183: M's richesses is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read richesse. For other examples see M.10.15 and M.15.184.]

Of rentes ne of richesses[^798] ne reccheth he neuere
For a frend þat fyndeth hym . failled hym neuere at nede
Fiat voluntas tua . fynt hym euere-moore .
And if he soupe eteth . but a sop . of Spera in deo .
He kan purtreie wel þe Pater-noster . and peinte it with aues
And otherwhile is his wone . to wenden in pilgrimage
There pouere men and prisones liggeth . hire pardon to haue .
Though he bere hem no bred . he bereth swetter liflide lifl[o]de .
Loueth hem as oure lord biddeth . and loketh how þei fare .

[^798: M.15.184: M's original richesse agreed with all other B manuscripts. For other examples see M.10.15, M.15.183.]

And whan he is wery of þat werk . þan wol he somme-tyme
Labouren in lauendrie . wel þe lengthe of a myle .
And yerne in-to youthe and yepliche speke .
Pride with alle þappurtenaunces . and pakken hem to-gedre
And bouken hem at his brest . and beten hem clene
And leggen on longe . with laboraui in gemitu meo
And with warme watur at his eighen . whasshen hem aftur
And þanne he syngeth whanne he doth so . and som -tyme saith wepynge
Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despici as[^799]
By Crist I wolde þat I knew hym quod I . no creature leuere

[^799: M.15.201: M's revised despicias is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read despicies.]

With-oute[^800] helpe of piers þe[^801] plowman quod he . his persone seest þow neuere

[^800: M.15.203: The scribe wrote the first letter of this line immediately below the preceding line. He then realized he needed to leave space for a new verse paragraph and erased the <W>.]

[^801: M.15.203: M shares the reading þe with R; all other B manuscripts omit it.]

Wher clerkes knowen hym quod I . þat kepen holy kyrke

Clerkes haue no knowynge quod he . but by werkes and by wordes
Ac Piers þe plowman parceyueth moore depper
What[^802] is þe wille . and wherefore . þat many wiȝt suffreth .
Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum
For þere arn ful proude-herted men . pacient of tonge
And buxome as of berynge . to burgeys and to lordes
And to pouere poeple han peper in þe nose
And as a lyon he loketh . þere men lakken his werkes

[^802: M.15.207: M's original reading is not legible here. LRF read Þat.]

For þere arn beggers and bidders . bedmen as it were
Loken as lambren . and semen lif-holy
Ac it is more to haue hire mete . with such an esy manere
Than — for penaunce and parfitenesse . þe pouerte þat suche taketh

Therfore by colour ne by clergie . know shalt þow hym neuere
Neither þoruȝ wordus ne werkes . but þoruȝ wille oone
And þat knoweth no clerk . ne creature in erthe
But piers þe plowman . Petrus id est Cristus
Caritas omnia libenter suffert
For he ne is not in lollers . ne in londlepers hermytes
Ne at ancres þere a box hangeth . alle suche þei faiten
Fy on faitours and in fautores suos .
For charite is godes champioun . and as a good child hende
And þe merieste of mouthe . at mete where he sitteth
Þe loue þat lith in his herte . maketh hym light of speche
And is companable and confortatif . as crist bit hym-seluen .
Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes . & cetera
For I haue sein hym in silk . and some-tyme in russet
Bothe in grey and in grys . and in gilt herneys .
And as gladliche he it gaf . to gomes þat it neded .

Edmond and Edward either were kynges
And be[^803] seintes y-set . for[^804] charite hem folwed

[^803: M.15.233: M's addition of be is attested in F.]

[^804: M.15.233: M's revised for is the reading of WCr, and of Hm by correction. The erased reading looks as though it was til, as in all other B manuscripts except RF which have so.]

I haue seiȝen charite also . syngen and reden. /
[^805]Riden and rennen in ragged wedes
nota de mendicantibus
Ac biddynge as a begger e[^806] . biheld I hym neuere
Ac in riche Robes . rathest he walketh
Y-called and y-crymylled . and his croune shaue
And in[^807] a Freres frokke . he was founden oones
audi frater
Ac it is ferre a-goo . in seint Fraunceys tyme
In þat secte sithe to selde . hath he ben knowe

[^805: M.15.235: Along the top and the left margin there is written, in light, large, pencil: Cruke Cruke Iohanes Iohanes Iohanes Cruke.]

[^806: M.15.236: M's original beggers agreed with all other B manuscripts except BF, which have the singular.]

[^807: M.15.239: The scribe has avoided a 2 cm slit in the parchment. No text has been lost.]

Riche men he recomendeth . and of hire robes taketh
That with -outen wyles . ledeth hire lyues
Beatus est diues qui & cetera

#
In kynges court he cometh ofte . þere þe counseill is trewe
Ac if coueitise be of þe conseill . he wil not come þere-inne .
In court amonges Iapers . cometh he[^808] but selden .
For braulynge and bakbytynge and beryng of fals wittnesse

[^808: M.15.247: M's cometh he is not shared by other B manuscripts, which reverse the order.]

In þe Consistorie bifore þe Commissarie . he cometh not ful ofte
con tra legum doctores
For hire lawe dureth ouer -longe . but if þei lacchen siluer .
And matrimoigne for moneye . þei[^809] maken and vnmaken .
And þat conscience and crist . hath y-kny t — faste
Thei vndoon it vnworth ily þo doctours of lawe .

[^809: M.15.251: M's þei is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

Ac I lakke[^810] no lif . but lord amende vs alle
And gif vs grace goode god . charite to folwe .
For whoso miȝte mete with hym . swyche maners hym eileth
Neither he blameþ . ne he[^811] banneþ . boosteth ne preiseth
Lakketh n e loseth . ne loketh vp sterne
Craueth ne coueiteth . ne crieth aftur moore
In pace in idipsum dormiam & cetera
The mooste liflode he lyueth by . is loue in godes passion .
Neither he biddeth ne beggeth . ne borweth to yelde
Misdoth he no man . ne with his mouth greueth .

[^810: M.15.254: M shares the reading lakke with F; other B manuscripts have ne lakke.]

[^811: M.15.257: M's he is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

Amonges cristen men þis myldenesse shulde laste
# quanta erat humilitas Cristi
In alle manere angres . haue þis at herte
That þouȝgh þei suffre al þis . god suffreth[^812] for vs more
In ensample we shulde do so . and take no vengeaunce .

[^812: M.15.266: Both verbs in the line are in the past tense in all other B manuscripts, except F, which has suffre in the a-verse.]

Of oure foes þat doth vs falsenesse . þat is oure fadres wille .
For wel may euery man wite  if god hadde wolde hym-seluen
Shulde neuere Iudas ne iewe . haue Ihesu doon on rode 
Ne han martired pet er ne poule . ne[^813] in prisoun holden .
Ac he suffrede in ensample  þat we shulde suffre also .
And saide to suche þat suffre wolden . þat Pacientes vincunt .
Verbi gracia quod he . and verrey ensamples manye
In legenda sanctorum . the lif of holy seintes .
What penaunce and pouerte . and passion þei suffrede
de paupertate & paciencia
In hunger in hete in alle manere angres .
Antonye and Egidie . and other holy fadres .
Woneden in wildernesse  amonges wilde beestes
Mon kes and mendinauntz  men by hem-seluen .
In spekes and spelonkes . selden speken to-g ydre .
Ac neither Antonye ne Egidie . ne heremite that tyme .
Of lyons ne of lypardes . no liflode ne toke
But of fowles þat fleeth . þus fyndeth men in bokes .
Excepte þat Egidie . aftur and an[^814] hynde criede
And þoruȝ þe mylk of þat mylde beest . the man was susteigned .
And day by day hadde he hire nouȝt . his hunger for to slake
But selden and sundr y tymes . as saith the book and techeth .

[^813: M.15.271: M's original reading without ne agreed with G.]

[^814: M.15.285: An error for an as in all other B manuscripts, perhaps through confusion with the form an for and as at M.6.98, M.7.2, M.7.185, etc.]

Antony a dayes . aboute nones[^815] tyme
Hadde a brid that brouȝte hym bred . that he by lyuede .
And þouȝ þe gome hadde a gest . god fonde hem bothe
Poule primis prim[u]s heremita . hadde parrokede hym-seluen .
That no man miȝte hym se . for mosse and for leues
Fowles hym fedde fele wyntres / with-alle .
quid coqueris
Til he founded Freres . of Austyns ordre .
Poule after his prechinge . panyers he made .
And w an with his hon des . þat his wombe neded . /
Pet er fisshed for his fode . and his felawe Andrew .
Som þei solde . and som thei sothe . and so þei liued bothe
And also Marie Maudeleyne . by mores l iued[^816] and dewes .
Ac moost þoruȝ deuocioun . and mynde of god almiȝty .
I shulde not þise seuene dayes . seggen hem alle
That lyueden þus for oure lordes loue . many longe yeres
Ac þere ne was lyo n ne lypard . þat on laundes wenten .
Neither beere ne boor . ne other beest wilde
That ne felle to hire feet . and fawned with þe tailles
And if þei couthe han y-carped . by crist as I trowe
They wolde haue y-fed þat folk . byfore wylde fowles .
Ac god sente hem fode by fowles . and by no fierse beestes .[^817]
In menynge þat meke þing . mylde þing shulde fede .
As whoso[^818] seith Religious . riȝtful men sholde fynde
con tra rapacitatem dominorum super tenentibus
And laweful men to lif-holy men . liflode bringe .
And þanne wolde lordes and ladyes . be loth to agylte
And to take of hire tenauntz . more þan truthe wolde
# Frater
Founde þei þat Freres . wolden forsake hire almes .
And bidden hem bere it . þere it was y-borwed
For we ben godes Fowles . and abiden alwey
Til briddes bringe vs . þat we shulde lyue by .
For hadde ye potage and payn y-nough . and penyale to drynke
And a me s þere-myde . of on manere kynde
Ye hadden riȝt y-nough ye religious . and so youre reule me tolde .
Numquam dicit Iob rugit onager cum herbam habuerit  aut mugiet bos . cum ante plenum presepe steterit  brutorum animalium natura te condempnat quia cum eis pabulum comune sufficiat . ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua .

[^815: M.15.289: For M's nones other B manuscript read noon or none.]

[^816: M.15.300: The notion that Mary Magdalene lived on love-affairs and dews, though delightful, has no support from the other manuscripts. The reading amores has been corrected to mores, i.e. "roots," the reading of all other B manuscripts.]

[^817: M.15.309-312: The first four lines are bracketed in right margin. There is a large NB ornament in the left margin.]

[^818: M.15.311: M shares the reading whoso with F; other B manuscripts read who.]

If lewed men knewe þis latyn . þei wolde loke whom þei yeue 
con tra mort Main
And auyse hem byfore . a fyue dayes or sexe
Er þei amortisede to m onkes . or Chanouns hire rentes .
Allas lordes and ladys . lewede conseill haue ye .
To yeue from youre heires . þat youre aieles yow lefte .
And yeueth to bidde for yow . to suche as ben riche .
And ben founded and feffed eke . to bidde for othere

Who parfourneth þis prophecie . of þe p eple þat now libbeth .
Optime dicit & verum
Dispersit dedit pauperibus & cetera .
If any poeple parfourne þat texte . it aren þise pouere freres .
For þat þei beggen aboute . in buyldynge þei spene
And on hem-selue som . and suche as ben hire laborers .
And of hem þat habbeth þei taken . and yeueth hem þat ne habbeth .

Ac clerkes and knyȝtes . and Comuners þat ben riche .
Fele of yow fareth . as if I hadde a Forest[^819]
That were ful of faire trees . and I fonded and caste
How I miȝte mo þere-inne . amonges hem sette .
Right so ye riche ye robeth[^820] . þat ben riche .
And helpeth hem þat helpeth yow . and yeueth þere no need is .
As whoso fillede a tonne . of a fressh ryuer
And wente forth with þat water to woke with Themese
Right so ye riche . ye rob eth[^821] . and fedeth .
Hem þat han as ye han . hem ye make at ese

[^819: M.15.337: M's syntax hadde a Forest is not attested in other B manuscripts, which read a Forest hadde.]

[^820: M.15.340: M's original reading was probably robbeth, agreeing with the majority of B manuscripts. WYCL have M's revised reading robeth.]

[^821: M.15.344: M's original reading was probably robbeth, agreeing with the majority of B manuscripts. WL alone have M's revised reading robeth.]

Ac Religious þat riche ben . sholde rather feeste beggers
Than burgeys þat riche ben . as þe book techeth
Quia sacrilegium est . res pauperum non pauperibus dare .[^822]
/nota /
Item peccatoribus dare  est demonibus immolare
Item monache si indiges & accipis . pocius das quam accipis
Si autem non eges & accipis  rapis .
Porro non indiget monachus  si habeat quod nature sufficit .
nota bene

[M.15.353-364: This and the next eleven lines are bracketed in the left margin.]

# quia super omnia Caritas
For-þi I counseille alle cristene . to confourmen hem to charite
For charite withouten chalangynge  vnchargeth þe soule .
And many a prisoner[^823] from purgatorie  þor wgh his praiers he deliuereth
Ac þere is a defaute in þe folk . þat þe feith kepeth .
Wherfore folk is þe febler . and nouȝt ferme of bileue
As in lussheburwes is a lether alay . and yet loketh he lik a sterling
lussheborewes
Þe merk of þat monee is good . ac þe metal is feble .
And so it fareth by somme folke now . þei han a faire speche
Croune and cristendome . þe kynges merke of heuene .
Ac þe metal þat is mann es soule  with synne is foule alayed
Bothe lettred and lewede beth now alayed with synne .
That no lif loueth other . ne oure lord as it semeth .
For þoruȝ werre and wykked werkes and wederes vnresonable
Weder-wise shippmen . and witty clerkes also .
Han no bileue to þe[^824] lifte . ne to þe loore of philosophres

[^822: M.15.348: This long Latin quotation is boxed in two separate boxes: one containing the first three lines, the other the final two.]

[^823: M.15.355: For the abbreviation see M.14.187, prisoners. The majority of B manuscripts read prison, but CrGC2CotF read prisoner(s). The rather ambiguous abbreviation in M explains the variation.]

[^824: M.15.367: The alteration is made in a hand in which <þ> is indistinguishable from <y>.]

# Facultas Astrologorum
Astron omiens[^825] alday al day . in hir art faillen .
That whilom warned bifore . what shulde falle after .
Shippmen and sheperdes . þat with shipp . and sheep wenten .
Wisten by the walkene . what sholde bytyde .
Fallacia signorum preteritorum & Futurorum

[M.15.372: This note is written over a drypoint <X>.]

As of wederes and wyndes . þei warned men ofte .
Tiliers þat tileden þe erthe . tolden hire maistres .
By þe seed þat þei s ewe what þei selle mighte
And what to leue . and to l iueby l iue by . þe lond was so trewe .
Now failleth þe folk of þe flood . and of þe lond bothe
Sheperdes and shippmen . and so do þise tiliers
Neither þei k onneth ne knoweth . oon cours byfore another .
[^826]Astronomiens also aren at hire wittus ende .
# New Gramer
Of þat was calkulede of þe element . þe contrarie þei fynde
Gramer þe ground of al . bigileth now children .
For is noon of þise newe clerkes . whoso nymeth hede
That kan versifien faire . ne fourmeliche enditen .
Ne nouȝt oon among an hundered . þat an Auctour kan construe
Ne rede a lettre in any langage . but in latyn or in englissh .
con tra Gyle & Flatere
Go now to any degre . and but if gile be maist er
And flaterer his felawe . vnder hym to fourmen .
Muche wonder me thynketh . amonges vs alle .
Doctours of decres . and of diuynite maistres
That shulden k o nne . and knowe . alle kynnes clergye
# Responsum ad quodlibet
And answere to argumentz . and also to a Quodlibet
I dar nouȝt seggen it for shame . if swiche weren apposed .
That[^827] shulde faille in hire philosophie . and in hire Phisik bothe
Wherfore I am aferd . of folk of holy kyrke
Lest þei ouerehuppen as other doon  in office and in houres .
Ac if þei ouer huppe as I hope nouȝt . oure bileue suffiseth .
# festum Corporis Cristi
As Clerkes in Corpus Cristi feeste . syngen and reden .
That sola fides sufficit . to saue with lewede poeple

[^825: M.15.368: While M's original reading is not legible, the word is variously spelled in the manuscripts.]

[^826: M.15.379-383: This line and the next four are bracketed in the left margin.]

[^827: M.15.393: M's That is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read Thei.]

Nota
And so may Sarasines ben saued . scribes and Iewes .
Allas þanne but oure loresmen . lyuen as þei leren vs
And for hire lyuynge þat lewede men . ben þe lother god agulten .
For Sarasines han sumwhat . semynge to oure bileue
For þei loue and bileue . in oon persone almiȝty
And we lered and lewede . in oon god bileueth
Machamit
And on Makometh . a man . in mysbileue
Brouȝte Sarasines of Surr ie and se in what manere
This Makometh was a Cristen . and for he moste not be pope
In-to surrye he souȝte . and þorugh his sotile wittes
Dawunted a dow ue . and day and niȝt hire fedd .
The corn þat she kroppud . he kast it in his ere
And if he among þe p eple preched . or in places come
x

[M.15.412: The <x> is written in drypoint.]

Þanne wolde þe coluere . come to þe clerkes ere
Menynge as after mete . thus makometh hire enchauntede
And dede folk þanne falle on knees . for he swoor in his prechynge
That þe coluere þat com so . c oom from god of heuene
As messager to Makometh . men for to techen .
And þus þoruȝ wyles of his wit . and a whit dowue
# disceptionem Machamitis
Makometh in mysbileue . men and wymmen brouȝte
That lyued þo þere and l yuen yet[^828] . lieuen on hise lawes

[^828: M.15.419: M's original reading in the a-verse was perhaps that of L, which has þat lered þere and lewed ȝit. Most B manuscripts have similar readings. The alterations bring M into agreement with WCr.]

And sith oure saueour suffred . þo[^829] sarasines so bigiled
Thoruȝ a cristene clerk . acursed in his soule
And for drede of þe deth . I dar nouȝt telle þe truthe
# Englissh Clerkis Fede Couetise
How englissh clerkes a coluere feden . þat coueitise hatte
And ben manered after Makometh . þat no man vseth truthe .

[^829: M.15.420: M's þo is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read þe.]

Ankres and hermytes . monkes and Freres .
Peren to apostoles . þoruȝ hire parfit lyuynge
Wolde neuere þe faitheful fader . þat hise Mynystres shulden
# ¶ quod de rebus male adquisitis non debet dari elemosina
Of tirauntes þat teneth trwe men . taken any almesse
But doon as Antony dide . Domynyk and Fraunceys
Benet and Bernard . þe w hiche hem furst tauȝte
To lyue bi litel and in lowe houses . by lele menn es almesse
Grace shulde growe and be grene . þoruȝ hire goode lyuynge
And folkes shulde fynde . þat ben in diuerse sekenesse
The bettre for hire biddynges . in body and in soule .
Hire praiers and[^830] penaunces . to pees shulde bringe .
Alle þat ben at debate . and bedemen were truwe
Petite & accipietis & cetera .
Salt saueth catel seggen þise wyues .
Vos estis sal terre & cetera
The heuedes of holychurche . and þei holy were
Crist calleth hem salt . for cristene soules .
Et si sal euanuerit  in quo salietur
Ac Fressh flessh or fisshe . whan it salt failleth
It is vnsauori for sothe . y-so de or y-baake
Notate qui Curam habetis
So is mann es soule sothly . þat seeth noo good ensample
Of hem of holychurche . þat þe heiȝe wey sh olde teche
And be gyde . and go bifore . as a good baneour
And hardien hem þat byhinde ben . and yeuen hem gode euidence

[^830: M.15.435: M alone among B manuscripts lacks the word hir here.]

Elleuene holy men . alle þe world turned
In-to lele bileue . the liȝtloker me thinketh
Shulde alle manere of men . we han so many maistres
Preestus and prechours . and a pope a-boue
That goddus salt shulde be . to saue mann es soule .

Al was hethen[^831] s omtyme . Inglond and wales
Til Gregorie gerte clerkes . to go h ere and preche .
Austyn at Canturbury . cristened þe kyng
And þoruȝ miracles as men[^832] rede . al þat marche he turnede
To crist and to cristendome . and cros to honoure .
And fulled folk faste . and þe feith tauȝte
More þoruȝ miracles . þan — þoruȝ muche prechinge .
As wel þoruȝ hise werkes . as þoruȝ his holy wordus
And seiden hem what fullynge . and feith was to mene

[^831: M.15.454: M's hethen is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read hethynesse.]

[^832: M.15.457: M alone among B manuscripts lacks mow here.]

Nota bene
Cloth þat cometh from þe weuynge . is nouȝt comely to were
Til it is fulled vnder foot . or in fullynge stokkes
Fullyng
Wasshen wel with watres[^833] . and with taseles cracched
Y-touked and y-teynted . and vndur taillours hande
And so it fareth by a barn . þat born is of a wombe
Til it be cristened in cristes name . and confermed of þe bisshop
It is hethen as to heueneward . and helpeles to þe soule

[^833: M.15.465: In place of watres, all other B manuscripts read watre. The <s> is oddly formed and possibly an addition.]

Hethene it is to mene after heth . and vntiled erthe
As in wilde wildernesse . wexeth wilde beestes
Rude and vnresonable . rennynge withoute cropers

deficit

[M.15.473: Kane and Donaldson argue that the sidenote indicates that "a corrector of M knew of a manuscript which possessed XV 472-85, missing from the larger group" (p. 51n7). This seems unlikely, since the note is placed ten lines too early, and furthermore Kane and Donaldson themselves admit that "there is no evidence that M was corrected to (RF)." The note may simply refer to the fact that M alone among B manuscripts lacks how before a man.]

Ye mynnen wel how Mathew saith . a man made a feeste
He fedde hem with no venysoun . ne fesauntz y-bake .
But with fowles þat from hym nolde . but folwed his whistylinge
Ecce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt & cetera
And with calues flessh he fedde .[^834] folk þat he loued
The calf bitokeneth clennesse . in hem þat kepeth lawes

[^834: M.15.477: M alone among B manuscripts lacks þe here.]

For as þe kow þoruȝ kynde mylk . þe calf norissheth til an oxe
So loue and leaute lele men susteigneth
And maydens an mylde men . mercy desiren .
Right as þe cow calf coueiteth swete mylk
So doon riȝtful men . mercy and trewthe

Ac who be tho[^835] þat excusen hem . þat arn persones and preestus
That hedes of holy churche ben . that han hire wille here
With-outen trauaille . þe tithe deel . þat trwe men biswynken
Thei wole be wroth for I write thus . ac to w ytnesse i take
Bothe Mathew and Mark . and Memento domine dauid .
What pope or prelate now . parfourneth þat Crist highte
Ite in vniuersum mundum & predicate & cetera .

[^835: M.15.484: M's be tho is unparalleled. Other B manuscripts read beþ, which could have given rise to M's reading.]

Alas þat men so longe on . Mak emeth . shulde bileue
So many prelates to preche . as þe pope maketh
Of Nazareth . of Nynyue / of Neptalim and Damaske
That þei ne wente as crist wisseth . sith þei wil haue name
To be pastours and preche . þe passion of Ihesus
And as hym-seluen saide / so to lyue and deye 
Bonus pastor animam suam ponit & cetera .
And saide it in sauacion . of Sarasynes and other
For cristene and vn-cristen . crist saide to prechours
Ite vos in vineam meam & cetera
And sith þat þise Saras enes . scribes and Iuwes
Han a lippe of oure — bileue . the liȝtloker me thinketh
Thei shulde tourne who -so trauaille d[^836] . to teche hem of þe Trinite
Querite & inuenietis & cetera

[^836: M.15.503: M's altered form trauailled, apparently over trauailleth, agrees with WHmCr23. Most other B manuscripts read trauaile wolde.]

It is ruthe to rede . how riȝtwise men lyuede
How þei defouled hire flessh . forsoke hire owne wille
Fer from kith and[^837] kyn . euele clothed yeden .
Badly y-bedded . no book but conscience
Ne no richesse . but þe Rode . to reioise hem Inne 
Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri & cetera

[^837: M.15.507: M alone among B manuscripts lacks fro here.]

And þo was plente and pees . amonges pouere and riche
# the Red noble
And now is routhe to rede how þe rede noble
Is reuerenced er þe Rode . resceyued for þe worthier
Than cristes cros that ouercam . deth and dedly synne

And now is werre and wo . and whoso wh y — axeth
For couetise after cros . the crowne stant in golde
Bothe riche and Religious . that rode þei honoure
That in grotes is y-grauen . and in golde nobles
For coueitise of þat cros . men of holy kyrke
Shul tourne as Templers deden . the tyme approcheth faste

Wyte ye nouȝt wyse men  how þo men honourede
More tresour þan — truthe . I dar not sey[^838] the sothe
Reson and riȝtful doom . tho Religious demed
Rightso Right so ye clerkes for youre coueitise . er longe
Shal thei demen doos ecclesie . and youre pride depose
Deposuit potentes de sede . & cetera

[^838: M.15.522: M's sey is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read telle.]

con tra possessiones ecclesie
If kniȝthode and kynde wit . and comune by[^839] conscience
To-geders loue lelly . leueth it wel ye bisshopes .
The lordshipe of londes . for euere shul ye lese .
And lyuen as Leuitici . as oure lord yow techeth
Per primicias & decimas & cetera .
Whanne Costantyn of curteisie . holykyrke dowed
With londes and ledes . lordshippes and rentes
quere veritatem .id est. lucifer

[M.15.534: The identification by a later hand of the angel with Lucifer is curiously inappropriate.]

An angel men herden . an he ygh at Rome crye
Dos ecclesie þis day . hath y-dronken venyme
And þo þat han petres power . arn enpoisened alle

[^839: M.15.527: M's addition of by, not present in most B manuscripts, brings it into agreement with WCr.]

Malicia procedens ex cupiditate absque caritate

[M.15.537: The sidenote is written in an italic hand over a partially erased note in one or two fifteenth-century hands.]

A medecyne mot þer -to . that may amende prelates
That shulden praien for þe pees . possession hem letteth
Taketh hire landes ye lordes . and leteth hem lyue by dymes
If possession be poisoun . and imparfite hem make
Good were to deschargen hem . for holy churches sake
And purgen hem of poysoun . er moore perill falle .

If presthode were parfit . the peple shulde amende
That contrarien cristes lawe . and cristendome despise
For alle paynymes praieth . and parfitliche bileueth
In þe holy grete god . and his grace þei axen .
And make hire moone to Makometh . hire message to shewe
Thus in a feith leue þat folk . and in a false mene .
And þat is routhe for riȝtful men . þat in þe Reume wonyen .
And a pereril peril to þe pope . and prelates þat he maketh
That bere bisshopus names . of Bedleem and Babiloyne
That huppe aboute in Englonde . to halwe mennus autiers .
And crepe amonges Curatours . confessen a-geyn the lawe
Nota bene
Nolite mittere falsem in messem alienam . & cetera
Many man for cristus loue . was martired in Romaigne
Er any cristendome was knowe there . or any crosse honoured

Euery bisshop þat bereth Cros . by þat he is holden .
Thoruȝ his prouince to passe . and to his p eple to shewe hym .
Tellen hem and techen hem . on þe Trinite to bileue .
And feden hem with goostly foode . and gyue þere it nedeth .
In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum
Et ideo nolite constituere me Regem .
Ozias saith for swiche . þat seke ben and fieble
Inferte omnes decimas in orreum meum vt cibus in domo mea . & cetera[^840]
Ac we cristene creatures . þat on þe crosse bileuen
Aren ferme as in þe feith . god[^841] forbode ellus
And han clerkus to kepen vs þere-inne . and hem þat shul come after vs .

[^840: M.15.564: Kane and Donaldson fail to record this & cetera , which appears outside the red box, but which is itself written in red ink. HmR also attest this & cetera .]

[^841: M.15.566: This alteration places M in agreement with HmCr23G, though HmG read forbode as forbede. The confusion seems to arise from interference between two set phrases God's forbode and God forbid.]

¶
And Iewes lyuen in lele lawe . oure lord wroot it hym-seluen
In stoon for it st ydfast was . and stonde shulde euere .
Dilige deum & proximum[^842] . is parfit Iuwen lawe
And tooke it Moises to teche men . til Messye come
And on þat lawe þei leuen yit and leten it þe beste

[^842: M.15.570: The <p> has an otiose abbreviation loop.]

And[^843] knewe þ ey Crist . þat Cristendom tauȝte
For a parfit prophete . þat muche p eple saued
Of selcouthe sores . þei seien it ofte
Bothe of miracles and meruailles . and how he men fested
With two fisshes and fyue loues . fyue thousand peple .
And by þat mangerye men miȝte wel se . þat messye he semede
And whan he lifte vp lazar . þat layd was in graue
And vnder stoon ded and stank . with styf voys hym callede
Lazare veni foras 
Did hym rise and rome . riȝt byfore þe Iuwes
Ac þei saiden and sworen . with sorcerye he wrouȝte
And studyeden to struyen hym . and stroyden hem-seluen
And þoruȝ his pacience . hire power . to pure nouȝt he brouȝte .
Pacientes vincunt .

[^843: M.15.573: M alone among B manuscripts lacks ȝit here.]

Danyel of hire doynge . dyuyned and saide .
Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat . cessabit vnxio vestra
And yet wenen þo wrecches . þat he were pseudo propheta .
And þat his loore be lesynges . and lakken it alle
And hopen þat he be to come . þat shal hem relieue
Moyses efte or Messye . hire maistres yet dyuyneth

# quod de necligencia prelatorum in articulis Fidei
Ac pharesees and Sarasenes . Scribes and Grekes
Aren folk of oon feith . þe fader god þei honouren .
And sithen þat þe Sarasenes . and also þe Iewes
Konne þe furste clause of oure bileue . Credo in deum patrem omnipotentem
Prelates of cristen prouinces . sholde preue if þei miȝte
To[^844] Leren hem litlum and litlum . et in Ihesum Cristum filium .
Til þei kouthe speke and spelle . et in spiritum sanctum .
And reden it and recorden it . wiþ remissionem peccatorum .
Carnis resureccionem & vitam eternam . ameN

[^844: M.15.598: The addition of To brings M into agreement with WCrB.]

passus xvjus sextus decimus

N ow faire falle yow quod I tho . for youre faire shewyng
For haukyns loue þe actifman actif man . euere I shal þe[^845] louye
Ac yet I am in a w eer . what charitee is to mene

[^845: M.16.2: M's þe is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read yow.]

# declaracionem caritatis
It is a ful trie tree quod he . truly to telle .
Mercy is þe more þereof . þe mydelstok mydel stok is ruthe
The leues ben bele wordus . þe lawe of holy churche
The blosmes ben bux om speche . and benyngne lokynge
Pacience hatte þe pure tree . and pouere symple of herte
And so þoruȝ god and þoruȝ good men . groweth þe fruyt charite .

I wolde trauaille quod I þis tree to see . twenty hund red myle .
And for to haue my fulle of þat fruyt . forsake al other saulee
Lord quod I if any wiȝt wite . whider out it groweth

nota bene
It groweth in a gardyn quod he . þat god made hym-seluen
Amyddes ma n n es body . þe more is of þat stokke
Herte hatte the herber . that it inne groweth
And liberum arbitrium . hath þe lond to ferme
Vnder piers þe plouwman . to pike it and to wede it

Piers þe plowman quod I tho . and al for pure ioye
That I herde nempne his name . anoon I swowned after
And lay longe in a loue-drem . and atte þe laste me thouȝte
That piers þe plowman . al þe place me shewede
And bad me toten on þe tree . on top and on rote
# thre pylis off Charite
With thre piles was it vndur-pi ȝte . I parceyued it soone .
Piers quod I pray[^846] þe . why stonden þise piles here .
For wyndes wilt þow wyte quod he . to wyten it fram fallynge .
Cum ceciderit iustus non collidetur . quia dominus supponit manum suam .
And in blowynge tyme abite þe flours . but if þise piles helpe
The world is a wikked wynd . to hem þat willen truthe .
Coueitise cometh of þat wynd . & krepeth among þe leeues
And forfret neigh þe fruyt . þoruȝ many faire siȝtes
Than with þe furste pile I palle hym doun . þat is potencia dei patris
The flessh is a fell wynd and in flourynge tyme
Thoruȝ likynge and lustes . so loude he gynneth blowe
Þat it norissheth nyce sightes . and somm -tyme wordes
And wykked werkes þer -of . wormes of synne .
And forbiteth þe blos mes . riȝt to þe bare leeues .
Thanne sette I to þe secounde pile Sapiencia dei patris
That is þe passioun and þe power . of oure prince Ihesu
Thorugh preiers and þoruȝ penaunce . and goddes passion in mynde
I saue it til I see it ripen . and somdel yfruyted
And þanne fondeþ þe feend . my fruyt to destruye
With alle þe w yles þat he kan . and waggeth þe Roote
And casteth vp to þe crop . vnkynde neiȝbores .
Bakbiters brokke[^847] cheste . brawlers and chiders .
And l eyeth a laddre þere-to . of lesynges arn þe ronges .
And feccheth a-way my floures sumtyme . afore bothe myn eiȝen .
Ac liberum arbitrium letteth hym som -tyme
Þat is lieutenaunt to loken it wel . by leue of my-seluen .
Videatis qui peccat in spiritum sanctum . nunquam remittetur & cetera
Hoc est idem qui peccat per liberum arbitrium non repugnat .
Ac whan þe feend and þe flessh . forth with þe world
Manacen byh ynde me . my fruyt for to fecche
Þanne liberum arbitrium . laccheth þe furste plaunte
And palleth a-doun þe pouke . pureliche þoruȝ grace .
And help of þe holy goost . and þus haue I þe maistrie

[^846: M.16.24: M's reading quod I pray is shared with R; other B manuscripts read quod I I preie.]

[^847: M.16.44: M's altered reading brokke is unique among B manuscripts. Many other B manuscripts read breke, and R has brewe.]

Now faire falle yow piers quod I . so faire ye descryuen
The poer of þise postes . and hire propre miȝte .
Ac I haue þouȝtes a threve . of þise thre piles .
In what wode þei wexen . and where þat þei groweþ[^848]
For alle ar þei a-liche longe . noon lasse þan other
And to my mynde as me thinketh . on o moore þai growede
And of on grettnesse . and grene of greyn þei semen .

[^848: M.16.59: M alone among B manuscripts attests the word in the present tense. Other B manuscripts attest the past.]

That is soth quod piers . so it mai bifallen .
I shal telle þe as tit . what þis tree hatte .
The ground þere it . groweth . godnesse it hiȝte
And I haue tol d — þe what hiȝte þe tree . þe trinite it meneth
And egreliche he loked on me . and þerefore I spared .
To asken hym any moore . þer -of . and bad hym ful faire .
To discryue þe fruyt . þat so faire hangeth
Here now binethe quod he þo . If I nede hadde
Matrymoigne I may nyme . a moiste fruyt with-alle
And[^849] Continence is neer þe crop . as kayleway bastard
Þanne bereth þe crop kynde fruyt . and clennest of alle
Maydenhede angeles pieres . and rathest wol be ripe .
And swete withouten . swellynge . sour worth it neuere
I praide piers to pulle a-doun . an appul and he wolde
And suffre me to assaie . what sauour it hadde

[^849: M.16.72: M's revised reading And is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read Thanne or Þat.]

And pieres caste to þe crop . and þanne comsed it to crye
And wagged wydowhode . and it wepte after .
And whan it moued Matrimoigne . it made a foul noise
Þat I hadde reuthe whanne piers rogged . it gradde so rufullyche
For euere as þei dropped adoun . þe deuel was redy .
And gadred hem alle to-geders . bothe grete and smale
Adam and Abraham . and Ysaie þe prophete
Nota notabile
Sampson and Samuel and seint Iohan þe Baptiste
Bar hem forth boldly . no-body h im[^850] lettud
And made of holy men his hoord . in limbo inferni
There is derkenesse and drede . and þe deuel Maister

[^850: M.16.86: M's original reading of hem placed M in agreement with YGOC2R.]

And piers for pure tene . þat oon pile he laug hte
And hytte after hym . happe[^851] how it miȝte
Filius by þe fader wille . and frenesse of Spiritus sancti .
To go robbe þat raggeman . and reue þe fruyt fram hym .

[^851: M.16.90: In place of M's revised reading happe, WCr have hitte.]

And þanne spak Spiritus sanctus . in gabrieles mouthe
To a mayden þat hiȝte Marie a meke þing with-alle
That oon Ihesus a Iustice sone . moste iouke in hire chambre
Til Plenitudo temporis fully comen were
That Piers fruyt floured . and felle to be ripe .
And þanne shulde Ihesus . iuste þerfore . by iuggement of armes
Whether shuld fon ge[^852] þe fruyt . þe fend or hym-seluen

[^852: M.16.99: M's original reading of fonde agreed with CYBLR.]

The mayden myldeliche þo . þe messager graunted
And saide hiendeliche to hym . lo me his hand-mayden
For to w yrchen is wille . with-outen any synne
Ecce ancilla domini fiat michi & cetera
And in þe wombe of þat wenche . was he fourty wokes
Til he wex a faunt þoruȝ hire flessh . and of fiȝtynge kouthe .
To haue y-fouȝte with þe feend . er ful tyme come .
And piers þe plowman . parceiued plener tyme .
And lered hym lechecraft . his lif for to saue
That þouȝ he were wound ed with his enemy . to warisshe him-seluen
And d ide hem[^853] assaie his surgerye on hem þat seke were .
Til he was parfit practisour . if any perill fille
And souȝte out þe seke . and þe syn — ful bothe
And salued seke and syn —full . bothe blynde and crokede
And comune wymmen conuerted . and to goode turned .
Non est sanis opus medico set & cetera[^854]
Bothe mesels and mute . and in þe menesoun blody
Ofte he heled suche . he hel d for no maistrie
Saue þo he leched lazar . þat hadde I-leye in graue
# Resurreccionem lazaris
Quatriduanus quelt . quik d id hym walke
Ac as he made þe maistrye . mestus cepit esse .
And wepte water with his eiȝen . þere seiȝen it manye
Somme þat þe seighte seiȝen . saide þat tyme
That he was leche of lif . and lord of heiȝe heuene
Iuwes iangled þere-aȝein . and iugged lawes
And saiden he wrouȝte . þoruȝ wychecrafte . and with þe deueles miȝte
Demonium habes & cetera .

[^853: M.16.110: M's hem is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read hym.]

[^854: M.16.115: The quotation breaks off at different points in other B manuscripts. M shares set & cetera with Cr12.]

Thanne aren ye cherles quod ich . and yowre children bothe
And Sathan youre saueour yow-self now —[^855] wittnessen
For I haue saued yow-self saith Crist . and youre sones after
Youre bodyes youre beestes . and blynde men holpen
And fedde yow with ij two[^856] fisshes . and with fyue loues
And lefte basketes ful of broke mete . bere away who-so wolde
And mysseide þe Iuwes manliche . and man aced hem to bete
# Fugacionem Iudeorum de Templo
And knokked on hem with acorde a corde . and caste a-doun hire stalles
That in churche chaffareden . or chaungeden eny moneye
And saide it in sighte of hem alle . so þat alle herden
I shal ouertourne þe[^857] temple . and a-doun throwe
And in thre dayes aftur . edified[^858] newe .
And make it as muche or more . in alle maner poyn tes
As euere it was and as wyde . wherfore I hote yow .
Of praiere[^859] and of parfitnesse this place þat ye callen .
Domus mea domus oracionis vocabitur

[^855: M.16.128: The erasure of a word here, which in most B manuscripts is ye, brings M into agreement with OC2F. However, these manuscripts read your-self for yow-self which therefore makes sense. M shares yow-self with YLR which retain ye.]

[^856: M.16.131: M's original reading without this number agreed with GYOC2CBLR.]

[^857: M.16.137: M's þe is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read þis.]

[^858: M.16.138: M uniquely has a preterite form here. Most other manuscripts have edifie it. At M.18.45 a similar elision has been corrected.]

[^859: M.16.141: M alone among B manuscripts has praiere in the singular.]

Enuye and yuel wille . was in þe Iewes
Thei kesten and contreueden . to kulle hym whan þei miȝte
Eche day after other . hire tyme þei awayted
Til it fel[^860] on a Friday . a litel byfore paske
The thorusday þere[^861] bifore . ther he ma de his maundee
Sittynge at þe soper . he saide þise wordes .
I am sold þoruȝ oon of yow . he shal þe tyme rewe
That euere he his saueour solde . for siluer orelles or elles
Iudas iangeled þere-a yein . ac Ihesus hym tolde
It was hym -self[^862] sothely . and saide tu dicis
Thanne wente forth þat wikked man . and with þe Iewes mette
And tolde hem a tokene . how to knowe Ihesus
And w hich tok ne to þis day . to muche is y-vsed
That is kyssynge and faire contenaunce . and vnkynde wille
And so was with Iudas þo . þat Ihesus bytraiede
Aue raby quod þat ribaude . and riȝt to hym he yede
# quomodo Iudas tradidit Cristum
And k issed hym to by[^863] cauȝt þer -by . and kulled of þe Iewes .

[^860: M.16.146: M's fel is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read bifel.]

[^861: M.16.147: M's þere is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

[^862: M.16.152: M's original reading without self agreed with L.]

[^863: M.16.159: The reading by, shared with F, is not recorded by Kane and Donaldson. Other B manuscripts have be.]

Thanne Ihesus to Iudas . and to þe Iewes saide
Falsenesse I fynde . in þi faire speche
And gile in þi glad chere . and galle is in þi laughynge
Thou shalt ben a Mirrour . to many men to desceyue
Ac þe worse and þe wikkednesse . shal worthe vpon þi-sel ue
Necesse est vt veniant scandala . Ve homini illi per quem scandalum venit .
Þouȝ I by treson be y-take . at youre owne wille
Suffreth myn appostles in pais . and in pees gange
On a thorsday in thesternesse . thus was he taken .
Thoruȝ Iudas and Iewes . Ihesus was his[^864] name
That on þe Fryday folwynge . for mankynde sake
Iusted in Ierusalem . a ioye to vs alle
On cros vpon Caluarie . crist took þe bataille
A yeins deth and þe deuel . destruyed bothe hire miȝtes
Deiede and deth fordede . and day of niȝt made .

[^864: M.16.169: The alteration brings M into agreement with all other B manuscripts except F, which for his name reads þan taken.]

I[^865] awaked þere-with . and wip ed myne eiȝen
And after piers þe plowman priede and stared .
Estward and westward . I wayted after faste
And yede forth as an idiote . in con tre to aspye
After piers þe plowman . many a place I souȝte
And þanne mette I with a man . on[^866] mydlentoun s onday
As hoor as an hawthorne . and Abraham he hiȝte
I frayned hym furst . from whennes he come .
And of whenn es he were . and whyderward[^867] he thouȝte

[^865: M.16.175: M alone among B manuscripts begins this line with I. Most B manuscripts begin And I; F begins Þan I.]

[^866: M.16.180: M's revised reading on agrees with Cr23GYOC2F. Other B manuscripts have a.]

[^867: M.16.183: M's whyderward is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read whider or whider þat.]

I am faith . quod þat Freke . it falleth not to lye .
# de Fide
And of Abrahames hous . an heraud of armes .
I seke after a segge . þat I seigh oones
A ful bold bacheler . I knewe hym by his blasen
What bereth þat burne quod I tho . so blisse þe bityde
de fide de trinitate
Thre leodes in o lyth[^868] non lenger þan a-nother[^869]
Of oon muchel and miȝt . in mesure and in leng the
That on doth alle don . and ichon[^870] doth by his oone

[^868: M.16.189: For M's revised lyth B reads liche.]

[^869: M.16.189: M alone reads a-nother; all other B manuscripts read ooþer.]

[^870: M.16.191: M's ichon is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read ech.]

The furste hath miȝt and maieste . maker of alle þinges
Pater is his propre name . a persone by hym-seluen .

The secounde of þat sire is . sothfastnesse filius
Wardeyn of þat wit haþ . was euere with -outen gynnyng

The thridde hatte þe holigoost . a persone by hym-seluen .
The liȝt of al þat lif hath . a londe and on[^871] watre
Confortour of creatures . of hym cometh alle blisse
So thre bilongeth for a lord . þat lordshipe claymeth
Might and a mene to knowe his[^872] owne miȝte
Of hym and of his seruaunt . and what þei suffre bothe
So god þat gynnynge hadde neuere . but tho hym good þouȝte
Sente forth his sone . as for seruaunt þat tyme .
To ocupie hym here . til issue were y-sprongen .
That is children of charite . and holy churche þe modur
Patriarkes and prophetes . and appostoles weren þe child ren
And Crist and cristendome . and cristen holy churche
In menynge þat man moste . on o god bileue .
And þere hym likede . and louede . in thre persones hym shewede
And þat it may be so and soth . manhode it sheweth
Wedloke and w ydwehode . with virginite y-nempned
In tokenynge of þe trynite . was taken out of man .
Adam oure aller-fader . Eue was of hym-selue
And þe issue þat þei hadde . it was of hem bothe
And either is otheres ioye . in thre sondry persones .
And in heuene and heere . oon singuler name
And þus is mankynde . or manhode . of matrimoigne y-spronge
And bitokeneth þe trinite . and truwe bileue .

[^871: M.16.197: M's on is followed by an erased supralinear correction. Other B manuscripts read a for on.]

[^872: M.16.200-201: In this line and the next, the scribe has written around a 3cm hole, at one time sewn. No text was lost.]

Miȝt is matrimoigne . þat multiplieth þe erthe
Nota
And bitokeneth truly . telle if I durste
He þat furste fourmed al . þe fader of heuene
The sone if I durste seye . resembleth wel þe widowe .
Deus meus . deus meus vt quid dereliquisti me
That is creatour wexe creature . to knowe what was bothe
As widowe with-oute wedloke . was neuere yet I-seiȝe .
Namore miȝte god be man . but if he a[^873] modur hadde
So widewe with-oute w edlok . may nouȝt wel stande .
Ne matrimoigne with-outen moillerye . is nouȝt muche to preise
Maledictus homo qui non reliquit semen in israel & cetera

[^873: M.16.226: The addition of he a brings M into agreement with Hm. Other B manuscripts read he.]

Thus in thre persones is parfitliche manhode
That is man and his make . and moyllere children
And is nouȝt but gendre of generacioun . bifore Ihesu crist in heuene
So is þe fader forth with þe sone . and fre wille of hem[^874] bothe .
Spiritus procedens a patre & filio . & cetera .

[^874: M.16.233: M's reading of hem is shared with Cr; other B manuscripts read of.]

Abraham
W hich is þe holigoost of alle . and alle is but o god
Thus in a somer I hym seiȝ . as I sat in my porche
I roos v p and reuerenced hym . and riȝt faire him grette .
Thre men to my sighte[^875] I made wel at ese
Wessh hire feet and wypped h em[^876] . and aftur[^877] þei eten .
Calues flessh and cakebreed . and knewe what I thouȝte
Ful trewe tokenes betwene vs is . to telle whan me liketh
Furst he fonded me . whether[^878] I loued bettre .
Hym or Ysaak myn heir . þe w hich he hiȝte me kulle .
He wiste my wille by hym . he wil me it allowe
I ham ful siker in soule þerof . and my sone bothe
I circuncyded circu[m]cyded[^879] my sone . sythen for his sake .
My-self and my meigne . and alle þat male were
Bledde blood for þat lordes loue . and hope to blesse þe tyme .
Myn affiaunce and my feith . is ferme in þis bileue
For hym-self bihiȝte to me . and to myn issue bothe
Lond and lordshippe . and lif with -outen ende
To me and to myn issue . moore yet he me graunted .
Mercy for oure mysdedes . as many tymes as we asken .
Quam olim abrahe promisisti . & semini eius .
And sith he sente me to saye . I shulde do sacrifice
And doon hym worshep with breed . and with wyn bothe
And called me foot of his feith . his folk for to saue
And defenden hem from þe feend . folk þat on me leueden .
Thus haue I ben his heraud . here and in helle
And conforted many a careful . þat after his comynge wayten
And þus I seke hym he saide . for I herde sai late
Of a barn þat baptised hym . Iohan baptiste was his name
That to patriarkes and to prophetes . and to oþere peple in derkenesse
Saide þat he seiȝ here . þat shulde saue vs alle .
Ecce agnus dei & cetera .

[^875: M.16.238-239: The scribe has written around a 3cm hole, at one time sewn. No text was lost.]

[^876: M.16.239: M's original reading hym was not attested in other B manuscripts.]

[^877: M.16.239: Only Cr1 shares M's omission of ward after aftur.]

[^878: M.16.242: M's reading whether is shared with Cr; other B manuscripts read if.]

[^879: M.16.246: See MED s.v. circumciden (Lat. circumcidere) and circumcisen (from the Lat. ppl.). MBmBo have the former verb; the other manuscripts have the latter.]

I hadde woundur of hise wordes . and of his wyde clothes
For in his bosome he bar a thing . þat he blessud euere
And I loked on his lappe a lazar lay þer -inne .
Amonges patriarkes and prophetes . pleyinge to-gideres
What awaitest þow quod he . and what woldest þou haue
I wolde wyte quod I tho . what is in youre lappe

Loo quod he and leet me see . lord mercy I seide
This is a present of muche pris . what prince shal it haue
It is a preciou s present quod he . ac þe pouke hath it atached
And me þere-myd e quod þat man . may no wed vs quite
Ne no burn be oure borwgh . ne bringe vs fram his daunger
Out of þe Poukes pyndfold . no mainprise may vs fecche
Til he come þat I carpe of . / Crist[^880] is his name
That shal deliueren vs somday . out of þe deueles power
And bettre wed for vs legge . þan we ben alle worthy
That is lif for lif . or ligge þus euere
Lollinge in my lappe . til such a lord vs fecche

[^880: M.16.278: The punctus has been lined through.]

All as I saide þat synne . so longe shal lette
The miȝt of godus mercy þat miȝte vs alle amende
I wepte for his wordus . with þat I saugh another
Rapeliche renne forth . þe riȝte wey he wente
I frained hym furst . from whennes he come
And what he hiȝte . and whider he wolde . and wightliche he tolde .

passus xvijus decimo septimus

I[^881] am Spes quod þat[^882] spye . and spire aftur a knyȝt
That took me a maundement . vpon the mounte of Synay 
To rule alle reaumes with . I bere þe writte here .

[^881: M.17.1: A 3-4 line capital has been outlined in text ink, but the scribe has only left space for a one-line passus initial. This has been painted in roughly and in a red ink different from that of the passus heading.]

[^882: M.17.1: M's þat is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read he a.]

¶Is it aseled I saide . may men see the lettres
Nay he saide I seke hym . þat hath þe seel to kepe
And þat is cros and cristendome . and crist þereon to honge
And whan it is asseled so . I woot wel þe sothe
That Luciferes lordship . last shal no lenger
Lat se þi lettres quod I . we miȝte þe lawe knowe

Thanne plukkud he forth . a patente . a pece of an harde roche
Wher-on were wryten two wordes . on þis wise y-glosed .
Dilige deum & proximum tuum & cetera
This was the tixte truly . I took ful gode yeme
The glose was gloriousliche . writen . with a gilte penne
In hijs duobus mandatis . tota lex pendet & prophete .

Ben here alle þi lordus lawes quod I[^883] . ye leue me wel he saide .
And whoso w ercheþ after þis writ . I wol vndertaken
Shal neuere deuel hym dere . ne deth in soule greue
For þogh I sey it my-seluen . I haue saued with þis charme
Of men and wymmen . many score thousandes

[^883: M.17.16: M's original reading I seide is not attested in other B manuscripts.]

He sai th soþ saiþ þis heraud I haue it founde[^884] ofte
Loo here in my lappe . þat leued on þat charme
Iosue and Iudith . and Iudas Macabeus
Ye and sixti þousand biside forth . þat ben not seien here

[^884: M.17.21: M shares the reading it founde with Cr. Other B manuscripts reverse the order.]

Youre wordes arn wond erful . quod I tho . which of ȝow is truwest .
In quem
And lelest to leue on . for lif and for soule
Tres vidit vnum adorauit
Abraham seiþ þat he seiȝ . hoolly the Trinite
Thre persones in parcelles . departable from other
And alle þre but o god . þus Abraham me tauȝte
And haþ saued þat bileued so . and sory for hire synnes
He kan nouȝt segge þe somme . and somme arn in his lappe .
What neded it þanne . a newe lawe to bigynne
Sith þe furste suffiseþ . to sauacion and to blisse

And now comeþ . Spes . & spekeþ . þat haþ aspied þe lawe
And telleþ nouȝt of þe Trinite . þat took hym hise lettres
To bileue and louye . in o lord almyȝti
And sith riȝt as my-selue . so louye all þe p eple

X
The gome þat goþ with o staf . he semeþ in gretter hele
Than — he þat goþ with two staues . to siȝte of vs alle
And riȝt so by þe Rode . resoun me sheweþ.[^885]
It is liȝter to lewed men . o lessoun to knowe
Þan for to techen hem two . and to hard to lerne þe leste
It is ful hard for any man . on Abraham bileue
And w el aw ey worse yet . for to loue a shrewe
It is liȝter to l eue in thre louely persones
Than for to loue and leue . as wel lorelles as lele

[^885: M.17.40: In the left margin by this line is what looks like an erased large <S>.]

Go þi gate quod I to Spes . for[^886] so me god helpe .
Tho þat lerneþ þi lawe . wel litel while vsen it .
And as we wenten þus[^887] þe wey . wordynge to-gidres
Thanne seiȝe we a Samaritan sittynge on a Mule
Rydynge wel[^888] raply þe riȝte way we yeden .
Comynge from a countre . þat men called Ierico
To a Iustes in Iherusalem . he chaced a-way faste
.id est. Cristus

[M.17.54: The same marginal gloss is found in L.]

Boþe þe heraud and hope . and he mette at onoes
Where a man was wounded . and with theues taken
He miȝte neiþer steppe ne stonde . ne stere foot ne handes .
Ne helpe him-self sothly . for semyuyf he semed .
And as naked as a ne dle . and noon help aboute hym .

[^886: M.17.47: M shares the reading for with Cr. Other B manuscripts omit it.]

[^887: M.17.49: M alone among B manuscripts here lacks a word which in most B manuscripts is in.]

[^888: M.17.51: Only MCr have wel; other B manuscripts have ful.]

Faith hadde furste siȝte of hym . ac he fleiȝ a-side
And nolde nouȝt neighen hym . by nine londes lengþe

Ho pe cam hippinge aftur . þat hadde so y-boosted
How he with Moyses maundement hadde many men y-holpen
Ac whanne he hadde sighte of þat segge . a-side he gan hym drawe
Dredfully by þis day . as doke doth from[^889] faucoun

[^889: M.17.64: All other B manuscripts except Cr read from þe.]

Ac so soone so þis[^890] Samaritan . hadde siȝte of þis lede
He liȝte adoun of liȝard . and heeld[^891] hym in his honde .
And to þe wye he wente . hise woundes to biholde
And parceiued by his pous . he was in perill to de ye
And but if he hadde recouerier þe rather þat rise shulde he neuere
With wyn and with oyle . hise woundes he wasshed
Enbaumed hym and bonde his hed . and in his lappe hym layde
And ladde hym so forth on liȝard . to lex Cristi a graunge
Wel sex myle or seuene . biside þe newe Market
Herb erwed hym at an hostrye . & to þe host yler called .
And seide haue kepe þis man . til I come from þe Iustes
And loo hire[^892] siluer he saide . for salue to hise woundes
And he took hym two pans . to liflode as it were
And saide what-so[^893] he spendeþ moore . I make it[^894] good her -aftur
For I may not lette quod þat leode . and lyȝard he bystrydeþ
And raped hym to Iherusalem-ward . þe riȝte wey to ryde

[^890: M.17.65: All other B manuscripts except Cr read þe.]

[^891: M.17.66: M's original reading without a word here was shared by CB. M's addition, which Kane and Donaldson erroneously record as held, is not attested in other B manuscripts, most of which read ladde.]

[^892: M.17.76: M's reading hire is shared with C2; other B manuscripts read here.]

[^893: M.17.78: M's what-so is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read what, except for Cr which has whoso for what-so he.]

[^894: M.17.78: For it all other B manuscripts except Cr read þee.]

Faith folwed aftur faste . and fonded to mete hym .
And Spes spakliche hym spedde . spede if he miȝte
To ouertake hym and talke to hym . er þei to toune come .

And whanne I seiȝe þis I soiourned not . but shoop me to renne
And suwed þat samaritan . þat was so ful of pitee
And graunted hym to ben his grome . gramercy he seide .
Ac þi freend and þi felawe . þou fyndeste me at nede .

And I thanked him tho . and sith I hym tolde
How þat feith fleiȝ a-way . and Spes and his[^895] felawe bothe
For siȝte of þe sorewful man . þat robbed was with þeues

[^895: M.17.89: M's reading and his is shared with Cr1; other B manuscripts read his.]

Haue hem excused quod he . hire help may litel auaille
May no medcyne on moolde . þe man to hele bringe
Neither feith ne fyne hope / so feestred ben hise woundes
With-oute þe blood of a barn . born of a mayden
And he be baþed in þat blood . baptised as it were
And þanne plastred with penaunce . and passion of þat baby
He shulde stonde and steppe . ac stalworth worth he neuere
Til he haue eten al þe barn . and his blood ydronken .
For wente neuere wie in þis world . þoruȝ þat wildernesse
That he ne was robbed or rifled . rode he þere or yede
Saue feith and his felawe . Spes and my-seluen .
And þi-selue now . and suche as suwen oure werkes

For outlawes in þe wode . and vndur bank es[^896] lotyeþ
And mowe ech man see and go od mark take
Who is bihynde . and who bifore . and who ben on horse .
For he halt hym hardier on horse þan he þat is on foote
For he seiȝ me þat am Samaritan . suwen faith and his felawe
On my capul þat hiȝte Caro . of mankynde I took it .
He was vnhardy þat herlot . and hudde hym in inferno .
Ac er þis day thre daies . I dar vndurtaken
That he worth fettred þat feloun . faste with cheynes
And neuere eft greue gome . þat goþ þis ilke gate

[^896: M.17.103: M's altered reading bankes is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read bank except for F's balkis.]

And þanne shal feiþ be Forestier here  and in þis Fryth walke
And kennen out comune men . þat knoweth nouȝt þe Cuntre .
W hich is þe wey þat I wente . and wherforth to Ierusalem .
And hope þe host yllers man shal be . þere þe man lith at[^897] helynge
And all þat feble and feinte be . þat feith may nouȝt teche
Hope shal lede hem for[^898] loue . as his lettre tell eth
And host ellen hem and hele . þoruȝ holy churches[^899] bileue
Til I haue salue for alle sike . and þanne shal I reteurne
A nd come ayeyn by thys contree . and conforte alle seke
Þat craueth it or coue iteþ it . an d crieth þere-after
For þe barn was born in Bedleem . þat with his blood shal saue .
Alle þat lyueþ in feith and folweth hise felawes techinge

[^897: M.17.116: M's at is unique among B manuscripts, which read an, in, or to.]

[^898: M.17.118: M's for agrees with Cr1; other B manuscripts read forþ with.]

[^899: M.17.119: The altered form agrees with CB. Other B manuscripts have genitive chirche.]

A swete sire I saide þo . wh ere shal I bileue
As feith and his felawe . enfourmed me bothe
In thre persones departable  þat perpetuel were euere
And alle þre but o god . þus Abraham me tauȝte
And hope afterward he bad me to louye
O god with all my good / and alle gomes after
Loue hem li k my-selue . ac oure lord a-bouen alle

After abraham quod he . þat heraud of armes .
Sette faste þi feith . and ferme bileue
And as hope hiȝte þe . I hote þe þat þou louye
Thyne euene-cristen eue rmore euen forth with þi-seluen
And if conscience carpe þer aȝein / or kynde wit eyther
Ostende manum quia deus assimulatur ad manum
Or heretikes with argumentes . þin hond þou hym shewe
For god is after an hand . y-here now and knowe it

The fadir was furst as a fust / with on fynger foldynge
Til hym loued and luste . to vnlosen his fynger
And profre it forth as with a paume . to what place it sholde
The paume is purely þe hand . and profreth forth þe fyngres
To mynistre and to make . þat miȝt of hand knoweth
And bitokeneþ truly . telle who-so likeþ
The holy goost of heuene he is as þe paume
The fyngres þat fre ben . to foolde and to serue
Bitokeneþ sotly sot[h]ly þe sone / þat sent was til erþe
That touched and tasted . at techynge of þe[^900] paume
Seinte Marie a Maide / and mankynde lauȝte
Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto & cetera
The fader is þanne as a fust . with fynger to touche
Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum . & cetera
Al þat þe paume parceyueth . profitable to feele
Thus arn þei alle but on . as it an hond were
And thre sundry siȝtes . in oon shewynge
Þe paume for he putteþ forth . fyngres and fust bothe
Riȝt so redly / reson it sheweþ .
þat[^901] He þat is holygoost . sire and sone preueth
And as þe hand halt harde . and alle þing f aste
Thoruȝ foure fyngres and a thombe . for th with[^902] þe paume
Right so þe fadur . and þe sone . and seint spirit þe þridde .
With-Inne hem thre . the wyde world holden[^903]
Bothe welkyne and þe wynd . water and erthe
Heuene and helle / and al þat þere-inne is .
Thus it is nedeþ no man / trowe noon other
That thre þinges bilongeth . in oure lord of heuene
+
And arn serelepes by hem-selue . a-sundry were þai neuere
Nomore No more þan — myn hand . may moeue with-oute my fyngres

[^900: M.17.148: The corrector first misplaced of after þe and then erased it, placing it correctly.]

[^901: M.17.158: Most B manuscripts begin this line with How. This addition brings M into agreement with Cr1.]

[^902: M.17.160: M's original reading for with agreed with Cot.]

[^903: M.17.162: This entire line is written over an erasure. M and Cr agree in giving the a- and b-verses of this line in an order reversed from the rest of the B manuscripts. L reads Halt al the wyde worlde within hem thre. It is probably the tail of <H> that is still visible at the start of the line.]

And as my fust is ful hand . yfoolde to-gedres
So is þe fadur a ful god . fourmeour and shepper
Tu fabricator omnium & cetera .
And al þat[^904] miȝt mid — hym / is in makynge of þinges

[^904: M.17.172: All other B manuscripts except Cr1 read þe.]

The fyngres fourmen a ful hand . to purtrey or to peinte .
Keruynge and compassynge . as crafte of þe fyngres
Right so is þe so ne . þe science of þe fadur
And ful god as is þe fader . no febler ne non bettre
# discripcionem trinitatis ad similitudinem manus
The paume þat[^905] is pureliche þe hand . haþ power by hym-seluen
Other-wyse þan — þe wrythen fust or werkemanshippe of fyngres .
For þe paume haþ power . to putte out alle þe iointes
And to vnfolde þe foolden fust . at þe fyngres wille
So is þe holigoost god / neyther gretter ne lesse
Þan — is þe sire and þe sone / and in þe same miȝte
And alle ar þei but o god / as is myn hand and my fyngres
Vnfolden and[^906] foolden . my fust and my paume
Al is but on hand . how-so I tourne it[^907]
Ac whoso is hurt in þe hond . euene amyddes
He may resceyue riȝt nouȝt . resoun it sheweth
For þe fyngres þat foolde sh olde / and þe fust make .
For peyne of þe paume . power hem failleth
To cluche or to clawe . to clippe or to hoolde

[^905: M.17.177: M's addition of þat brings it into agreement with Cr.]

[^906: M.17.184: M's and agrees with Cr1; other B manuscripts read or.]

[^907: M.17.185-186: The scribe omitted M.17.185b and M.17.186a, an omission shared with WHmGYC2CB, caused by eyeskip on hand. The corrector has erased euene in þe myddes after 185a, replaced it with the lost b-verse, writing 186 in the margin with a red line to indicate its insertion. The additional material brings M into agreement with CrLRF. For Ac F has But and Cr And; whoso is shared only with Cr, LRF reading who. All other B manuscripts read in þe middes for the correction amyddes, and the spacing of the partly legible erasure under 185b shows that in þe myddes was the original reading in M.]

Were þe myddel of myn hand . ymaymed or perisshed
I shulde resceiue riȝt nouȝt . of þat I reche miȝte
Ac þouȝ my þombe and my fyngres . boþe were to- swollen[^908] .
And þe myddel of myn hand . with-outen malese
In many kynnes maners . I miȝte my-selue helpe
Boþe moeue and amende . thogh all my fyngres oke .
# de peccato con tra spiritum sanctum
By þis skille me þinkeþ . I see an euidence
Þat whoso s inneþ in þe seint spirit / assoilled worth he neuere
Neiþer heere ne elles-where / as I here telle 
Qui peccat[^909] in spiritu sancto & cetera
For he p rykkeþ god as in þe paume . qui[^910] peccat in spiritu sancto .
¶ For god þe fadur is as a fust . þe sone . is as a fynger .
The holygoost of heuene is as it were þe paume
So whoso sinneþ in þe seint spirit / it semeþ þat he greueþ
God þat he gripeþ with . and wolde his grace quenche

[^908: M.17.193: Most B manuscripts here read shullen. The alteration brings M into agreement with Cr23HmRF.]

[^909: M.17.200: Kane and Donaldson record this as pectat but <c> and <t> are not always clearly distinguishable, and the scribe presumably intended peccat.]

[^910: M.17.201: All other B manuscripts except Cr read þat for M's qui.]

nota # Aliam discripcionem trinitatis ad similitudinem Candeli
And to a torche or a tapur . þe trinite is likkened
As wex and a weke . were twyned to-g idre
And þanne a fyr flam mynge . forþ out of bothe .
And as wex and weke . and hoot fyr to-gidre s .
Fostren forth a flaumbe . and a feir leye
So doþ þe sire and þe sone . and also Spiritus sanctus
Fostren forth amonges folk . loue and bileue
That alle kynne cristene . clenseþ of synnes .
And as þou seest som — -tyme . sodeynly a torche
The blase þere-of yblowen out . yit brenneþ þe weke .
With-oute leye or liȝt . þat þe macche brennneþ brenneþ
So is þe holygoost god . and grace with-oute mercy
To alle vnkynde creatures . þat coueite to destruye .
Lele loue oþer lif . þat oure lord shapte 

And as gloynge gledes . gladieþ nouȝt þise werkemen
That worchen and waken in wyntres niȝtes
As do þ a kex or a candele þat cauȝt haþ fyr and blaseþ
Nomore No more doþ sire ne sone . ne seint spirit to-g ydres
Graunte no grace . ne for yifnesse of synnes
Til þe holy goost gynne . to glowe and to blase
So þat þe holy goost . glooeth but as a glede
Til þat lele loue ligge on hym and blowe .
And þanne flaumbeþ he as fyr / on fader and on filius .
And melteþ hire miȝt in-to mercy . as men may s ee in wyntre
Yshekeles in eueses . þoruȝ hete of þe s onne
Melteþ in a mynut-while . to myst and to watre
So grace of þe holy goost . þe grete miȝt of þe Trinite
Melteþ to mercy . to mercyable . and to noon othere
And as wax with-outen moore . on a warme glede
Wol b rennen . and blasen all[^911] to-gedres
And solacen hem þat mowe se . þat sitten in derkenesse
So wol þe fadur for yeue . folk of mylde hertes
That rufulliche repenten . and restitucion maken
In as muche as þei mowen . amenden and paien .
And if it suff ise not for assetz þat in such a wille de yeth
Mercy for his mekenesse . wol make good þe rem enaunt
And as þe weyke and þe[^912] fyr . wol make a warm fla wme[^913]
For to murthe men with . þat in merke sitten .
# de gratitudine Cristi bene loquitur
So wol crist of his curtesye . and men crien hym mercy
Boþe for yeue and for yete . and yet bidde for vs
To þe fadur of heuene for yeue nesse to haue

[^911: M.17.235: M shares all with Cr; other B manuscripts read be þei.]

[^912: M.17.242: M's addition of þe is not attested by other B manuscripts.]

[^913: M.17.242: The corrector has converted three minims to a <w> and written a minim followed by <e> at the end of the word. The original spelling was probably flaumbe as at M.17.250.]

Ac hewe fyr at þe[^914] flynt . foure hundred wyntur
But þow haue tow to take it with . tundur or broches
Al þi labour is lost . and[^915] þi longe trauaille
For may no fyr flaumbe make . faille it his kynde
So is þe holy goost god . and grace with-outen mercy
To alle vnkynde creatures . crist hym-self w ytnesseþ .
Amen dico vobis . nescio vos & cetera .

[^914: M.17.247: M's reading þe agrees with Cr. All other B manuscripts read a, except R, which omits the word.]

[^915: M.17.249: M's and agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts read and al.]

# de Ingratitudine bene loquitur
Be vnkynde to þine euenecristen . and al þat þou kanst bidde
Delen and do penaunce . day and nyȝt euere
And purchace al þe pardoun . of Pampiloun and Rome
And indulgences y-nowe and be ingratus[^916] to þi kynde
The holy goost hereþ þe nouȝt . ne helpe may þe by resoun .
For vnkyndenesse quencheþ hym . þat he kan not shyne
Ne brenne ne blase clere . for brennynge[^917] of vnkyndnesse
Poule þe appostel . proueþ wher I lye
Si linguis hominum Loquar & cetera
Wher fore[^918] beþ war ye wisemen . þat with þe world deleth
Þat riche ben and resoun knoweþ . ruleth wel youre soule
Beth nouȝt vnkynde I conseille yow . to youre euene-cristen .
For many of yow riche men . by my soule men telleth
Ye brenne but ye blasen nouȝt . þat is a blynd bekene .
Non omnis qui dicit domine domine intrabit & cetera .
Diues deyed dampned . for his vnkyndnesse
Of his mete and his money . to men þat it neded .
notate divites
Eche a riche I rede . reward at hym take
And yif youre g ood to youre[^919] god . þat grace of ariseþ .
For þat ben vnkynde to hise . hope I noon other
But þei dwelle þere Diues is . dayes with-outen ende
Thus is vnkyn — denesse þe contrarie þat quencheþ as it were
The grace of þe holy goost . goddes owne kynde
For þat kynde doþ . vnkyndnesse fordoþ . as don[^920] þise co rsed þeues .
Vnkynde cristen men . for couetise and enuye 
Sleth a man for hise moebles . with mouþe or with handes .
For þat þe holygoost haþ to kepe . tho harlotes destru yeth
The w hich is l yf and loue . þe leye of mann es body .
For euery manere gode man . may be likkened to a torche
Or ellus to a tapre . to reuerence þe Trinite
And who þat[^921] murþereþ a good man . me[^922] thinkeþ by myn Inwit
He fordoþ þe leuest liȝt . þat oure lord loueth

[^916: M.17.257: M's original vnkynde was not attested in other B manuscripts, though several have some difficulty with the reading.]

[^917: M.17.260: M's brennynge agrees with Cr1; other B manuscripts read blowynge.]

[^918: M.17.263: M's original reading of ffor (i.e. For) was shared by Cr1. All other B manuscripts read Forþi. A later hand has altered ffor to fore and added Wher in the margin. Further to the left is a large erasure.]

[^919: M.17.272: M's youre agrees with Cr1; other B manuscripts read þat.]

[^920: M.17.277: M shares the reading don with Cr. Other B manuscripts omit the word, though F supplies ben above the line.]

[^921: M.17.284: M's reading þat agrees with Cr. All other B manuscripts read so, except WL, which omit the word.]

[^922: M.17.284: There is apparently an erased abbreviation for er after the first two minims.]

hic Nota hic bene
Ac yit in many moo maners . men offenden þe holy goost
Ac þis is þe worste wyse . þat any wiȝt miȝte
Synnen aȝein þe seint spirit . assenten to destruyen
For coueitise of any kynnes þing . þat crist deere bouȝte
How miȝte he axen mercy . or any mercy hym helpe
That wikkedlich and willefulliche . wolde mercy anynte
I nnocence is next god . and nyȝt . and day it cryeth
Vengeaunce vengeaunce for yeue be it neuere
That shent vs and shadde oure blood . forshappte vs as it were .
Vindica sanguinem iustorum
Thus vengeaunce vengeance . verrey charite askeþ
And sith holy churche and charite chargeþ þis so soore
Leue I neuere þat oure lord . wol loue þat charite lakkeþ
Ne haue pitee for any praiere . þer þat he pleyneþ

# questionem de peccato con tra spiritum sanctum
I pose I hadde synned so and sh olde now de ye
[^923]Now am I sory þat I so . þe seint spirit agulte
Confesse me and crye his grace . god þat al made
And myldliche his mercy axe . miȝte I nouȝt be saued 

[^923: M.17.301: M alone lacks the word And here.]

Yus saide þe samaritan so wel þou miȝt repente
Þat riȝtwisnesse þoruȝ repentaunce . to ruþe miȝte tourne
Ac it is but selden y-seiȝe . þere soþnesse bereþ wittnesse
Any creature þat is coupable . bifore a kynges Iustice
Be raunsomed for his repentaunce . þere alle reson hym dampneþ
For þere þat partie pursueþ . þe p lee[^924] is so huge
Þat þe kyng may do no mercy . til boþe men accorde
And eyþer haue equite . as holy writ telleþ

[M.17.312: A very faint mark, not unlike a squat arabic numeral <2>, is in the left margin.]

Numquam dimittitur peccatum & cetera
Thus it fareþ by suche folk . þat falsly al hire lyues
Yuele l yuen and leten nouȝt . til lif hem forsake
# terribile
Gode hope þat helpe shulde . to wanhope tourneþ
Nouȝt of þe nounpower of god . þat he ne is miȝtful .
To amende al þat amys is . and his mercy gretter
Than alle oure wikkede werkes . as holy writ telleþ
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius & cetera .
Ac er his riȝtwysnesse to ruthe tourne . som restitucion byhoueþ
His sorwe is satisfaccioun . for hym þat may not paie

[^924: M.17.309: M's altered reading here agrees only with Cr. RLF read peel; WHmGYC2CB read peple.]

# a wikkyd wyff
Thre þinges þer ben þat don a man by strengþe
For to fleen his owne hous / as holy wr yt sheweþ .
That oon is a wikked wif . þat wil nouȝt be chastised
Here feere fleeth f rom hire . for fere of hire tonge
And if his hous be vnheled . and reyne on his bedde
He sekeþ and sekeþ . til he slepe drye
And whanne smoke and smoldre . sm yt in his siȝte
It doþ hym worse þan his wif or wete to slepe
For smoke and smolder . smyteþ[^925] in[^926] hise eiȝen
Til he be blereed or blind / and hoors in þe þrote
Cougheþ and curseþ . þat Crist yeue hym sorwe
Þat shulde bringe in bettre wode . or blowe it til it brende

[^925: M.17.330: An extra minim has been erased from the <m>.]

[^926: M.17.330: M's original reading without in agreed with GCLRF.]

Thise þre þat I telle of . ben þus to vndurstonde
Þe wif is oure wikked Flessh . þat wol not be chasted
For kynde clyueþ on hym euere . to contrarie þe soule
And þouȝ it falle it fynt skylles . þat freelte it made
And þat is liȝtly for yeuen . and for yeten boþe
To man þat mercy askeþ . and amende þenkeþ

The rayn þat reyneþ . þere we reste shulde
Ben sekenesses and sorwes þat we suffren ofte .
As poule þappostel . to þe poeple tauȝte
Virtus in infirmitate perficitur & cetera
And þouȝ þat men make muche doel in hire angre
And inpacient in hire penaunce . pure resoun knoweþ
# pro hijs qui male possunt pati
Þat þei han cause to contrarien . by kynde of hire sekenesse
And liȝtlich oure lord . at here lyues ende
Haþ mercy on suche men . þat so yuele may suffre .

Ac þe smoke and þe smoldre . þat smyt in oure eiȝen
Þat is coueitise and vnkyndnesse . þat quencheþ godes mercy .
For vnkyndenesse is þe contrarie of alle kynnes resoun
For þer nys seek ne sory . ne noon so muche wrecche
Þat he ne may louye and hym like . and leue of his herte
Good wille and good word / boþe wysshen and willen .
Alle manere of[^927] mercy and forȝefnesse
And louye hym[^928] lich hym-self . and his lif amende
I may no lenger lette quod he . and lyȝard he prikede
And wente a-way as wynd . and þerwith I waked .

[^927: M.17.355: M's reading manere of agrees with Cr. All other B manuscripts read manere men, except F, which reads manere of men boþe.]

[^928: M.17.356: M shares the reading hym with Cr1; other B manuscripts read hem.]

Passus xviijus decimus octauus

de passione Cristi
W olleward and weteshod . wente I forþ after
As a recheles renk þat of no wo reccheþ
And yede forþ lik a lorell . al my lif-tyme
Til I wex wery of þe world / and wylned efte to slepe
And lened me to a lent en . and longe tyme I slepte
And of cristes passioun and penaunce . þe poeple þat of rauȝte
Reste me þere and rutte faste . til Ramis palmarum
Of gerl is and of Gloria laus gretly me dremed .
And how Osanna be orgonye . olde folk songen

Oon semblable to þe samaritan . and somdel to piers þe plowman
Barfoot on an asse bak . boteles cam prikye
With-outen spores or spere . spaklich he loked
As is þe kynde of a kniȝt . þat comeþ to be dubbed
To geten hym gilte spores . or galo ches y-couped

Thanne was feith in a Fenestre . and cried a . fili dauid
As doþ an heraud of armes . whan auntur ous comeþ to Iustes
Olde Iewes of Ierusalem . for ioy þei songen
Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini .

Thanne I frayned at Faith . what al þat fare bymente
And who shulde iuste In Ierusalem . Ihesus he seide
And fec h þat þe feend claymeþ piers fruyt þe plowman

Is piers in þis place quod I . and he prente on me
This Ihesus of his gentris . wol iuste in piers armes
In his helme and his haubergeon humana natura
That crist be not knowen here / for Consummatus deus
In piers paltok þe plowman / þis priker shal ride
For no dynt shal hym deere / as in deitate patris

Who shal Iuste with Ihesus quod I . Iewes or scribes

Nay quod he þe foule fend . and fals dome and deþ
Deþ saiþ he shal fordo . and a-down bringe
Al þat lyueþ or lokeþ in lond or in watre .
Lif sai th þat he[^929] lieþ . and ley th his lif to wedde
That for al þat deþ kan do . withinne þre daies
To walke and fecche from þe fend . Piers fruyt þe plouwman
And legge it þere hym likeþ / and Lucifer bynde
And forbete and doun bringe bale deþ for euere
O mors ero mors tua .

[^929: M.18.32: M's original reading without he agreed with C.]

Than cam pilatus with muche poeple Sedens pro tribunali
To se how doug htyliche . deþ shulde do . and deme hire boþes riȝte
The Iuwes and Iustice . aȝein Ihesu þei were
And al þe court vpon[^930] hym criede Crucifige sharpe
Tho putte hym forth a pilour . byfore Pilat and saide
This Ihesus of oure Iewes temple iaped and dispised
To fordoon it in oon day . and in þree days after
Edifie[^931] it eft newe . here he stant þat saide it
And yit maken it as muche . in alle maner e poyntes
Boþe as longe and as large . by lofte and by grounde

[^930: M.18.41: M's vpon is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read on.]

[^931: M.18.45: M's original Edified, was not attested in other B manuscripts, which read present tense. Compare M.16.138.]

Crucifige quod a c achepoll . I warante hym a wicche
Tolle tolle quod anoþer / and took of kene þornes
And bigan of kene þorn . a garlond for[^932] to make
And sette it soore on his hed . and seide in enuye
Aue raby . quod þat ribaude . and þrewe redes at hym
Nayled hym with þre nailes . naked on þe roode
And poisoun on a pole . þei putte vp to his lippes
And beden hym drynken his deþ yuel deþ yuel . his dayes were y-done
And if þat þow sotil be . help now þi-seluen
If þow be crist and kynges sone . com doun of[^933] Rode
Thanne shul we leue þat lif þe loueþ / and wol nouȝt lete þe d eye

[^932: M.18.50: M's for is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

[^933: M.18.57: M alone among B manuscripts here lacks þe.]

Consummatum est quod crist . and comsed for to swowe
Pitouslich and pale / as a prisoun doþ[^934] þat deieþ
Þe lord of lif and of light / þo leyde hise eiȝen to-gedres
The day for drede with-drowe . and derk bicam þe sonne
The wal wagged and clef . and al þe world quaued
Dede men for þat dyne . come out of depe graues
And tolde why þat tempest . so longe tyme dured
For a bittur bataille . þe ded body saide
Lif and deþ in þis derknesse . hire oon fordoþ hire oþur
Shal no wight wite witurly . who shal haue þe maistrye
Er sonday aboute s onne rysynge . and sank with þat til erþe .
Somme saide þat he was godes sone . þat so faire deied .
Vere filius dei erat iste & cetera
And somme saide he was a wicche . good is þat we assaien
Wher he be ded or nouȝt ded / doun er he be taken

[^934: M.18.60: M shares the reading doþ with Cr. The word is omitted in other B manuscripts.]

T owo[^935] þeues also . þoled deþ þat tyme
Bi-sides crist vpon a crosse[^936] . so was þe comune lawe
A cacchepol com forth . and kraked boþe here legges
And hire armes after of eþther e[y]ther of þo þeues
Ac was no boy so bold / godes body to touche
For he was kniȝt and kynges sone . kynde forȝaf þat time
Þat noon harlot were so hardy . to lay n hond vp-on hym

[^935: M.18.74: This alteration is clumsily executed over damaged parchment. The final letter looks like an <o> but is perhaps the final stroke of <w>.]

[^936: M.18.75: M's Bi-sides crist vpon a crosse agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts reverse the syntax.]

Ac þere com forþ a kniȝt . with a kene spere ygrounde
X
Hiȝte Longeus as þe lettre telleþ . and longe hadde lore his siȝte
Bifore pilat and oþer poeple / in þe place he houed
Maugre e his many teeth . he was mad þat tyme
To taken þe spere in his hond / and Iusten with Ihesus .
For alle þai were vnhardy . þat houed on hors or stoode
To touchen hym or tasten hym . or taken doun of Rode
But þis blynde bacheler . bar him þoruȝ þe herte
The blood sprang doun by þe speere . and vnspered þe knyȝtes eiȝen
Thanne fel þe kniȝt vpon knees . and criede hym mercy
Aȝein my wille it was lord . to wounde ȝow so soore
He seiȝhed and seide . soore it me a-thynkeþ
For þe dede þat I haue doon . I do me in youre grace
Haue on me ruthe riȝtful Ihesu . and riȝt with þat he wepte

Thanne gan feyþ felly . þe false Iewes despise
Called hem caitifs . accursed for euere
For þis foule vil einye . vengeaunce to yow alle
To do þe blynde bete hym y-bounde . it was a boyes conseill
Cursed caytif[^937] . kniȝthod was it neuere
To misdo a ded body . by day / ne[^938] by niȝte
The gree yet haþ he geten / for al his grete wounde

[^937: M.18.99: It appears that plural endings have been added to adjective and noun and then incompletely erased. OHmCrBRF have the plural.]

[^938: M.18.100: M's ne is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read or. Cr has nor.]

For youre champion chiualer / chief knyȝt of yow alle
Yelt hym recreaunt rennyng . riȝt at Ihesus wille
For b e[^939] þis derkenesse y-do . his deþ worth avenged
And ye lurdeyns han y-lost . for lif shal haue þe maistrye
And youre Fraunchise þat fre was . fallen in his[^940] þraldom
And ye ch erles and youre children / chieue shullen ye neuere .
Ne haue lordshipe in londe . ne no lond tilye
But al bareyne be . and vsurie vsen
Which[^941] is lif þat oure lord . in alle lawes acurseþ
Now youre goode dayes arn doon . as danyel prophecie d[^942]
Whanne crist com of[^943] hire kyngedom . þe croune shulde cesse
Cum venerit[^944] sanctus sanctorum tunc[^945] cessabit vnctio vestra

[^939: M.18.104: M's original reading by agreed with Cr12.]

[^940: M.18.106: M's in his is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read is in.]

[^941: M.18.110: The corrector has made a hole in the parchment by too vigorous erasure. The remains of an initial <T> remain, and Which has been rewritten to the right of the hole.]

[^942: M.18.111: M's original reading of danyeles prophecies was unattested in other B manuscripts.]

[^943: M.18.112: M's addition of of, inserted subsequent to the erasure of the <e> of come, puts it into agreement with WHmCr1.]

[^944: M.18.113: M's venerit agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts read veniat.]

[^945: M.18.113: M's tunc is shared with Cr; other B manuscripts omit the word.]

What for feere of þis ferly . and of þe false Iewes
I drouȝ — me in þat derkenesse to descendit ad inferna .
And þere I sauȝ soþly . secundum scripturas
Out of þe west coste . a wenche as me thouȝte
Kam walkynge in þe wey . to helleward she loked
Mercy hiȝte þat mayde . a meke þinge with-alle
A ful benigne burde . and buxom of speche

Hire sustre as it seme d . cam soþly walkynge
Euene out of þe Est . and westward she loked
A ful comely creature . truþe she hiȝte .
For þe vertue þat hire folwede . aferd was she neuere

Whanne þise maydens mette . mercy and truþe
Eyþer axed oþer of þis grete merueille[^946]
Of þe dyne and of þe derkenesse . and how þe day rowed
And w hich a liȝt and a leme . lay bifore helle
Ich haue ferly of þis fare . in faiþ saide truþe
And am wendynge to wyte . what þis won der meneþ

[^946: M.18.126: M's original reading truþe, is unattested in other B manuscripts, most of which read wonder. M's altered reading merueille puts M in agreement with Cr.]

Haue no merueille quod mercy . murthe it bitokeneþ
A mayden þat hatte marie . and modur withoute felynge
Of any k ynnes creature . conceiued þoruȝ speche
And grace of þe holy goost . wex gret with childe
Withouten wem . in-to þis world she brouȝt hym .
And þat my tale be truwe . I take god to w ytnesse
Siþ þis barn was born . ben .xxxti þretty wyntur passed
W hich deied and deþ þoled . þis day a-boute midday
And þat is cause of þis clips . þat closeþ now þe s onne
In menynge þat man shal . from merkenesse be drawen
The w hich þis liȝt . and þis leem . shal lucifer a-bleende
For patriakes and prophetes . han preched here-of often .
Þat man shal man saue . þoruȝ a mai dens helpe .
And þat was tynt þoruȝ tree . tree shal it wynne
And þat deþ doun brouȝte . deþ shal releue

That þou tellest quod truþe . is but a tale of waltrot
For Adam and Eue . Abraham and oþer
Patriarkes and prophetes þat in peyne liggen .
Leue þow neuere þat yon liȝt . hem a-lofte brynge .
Ne haue hem out of helle . holde þi tonge mercy
It is but a trifle þat þou tellest . I truþe wot þe soþe
For þat is ones in helle . out comeþ it[^947] neuere .
Iob þe prophete patriarke . reproueþ þi thy[^948] sawes
Quia in inferno nulla est redemp cio[^949]

[^947: M.18.152: A gap has been left to avoid damaged parchment.]

[^948: M.18.153: M's reading þi thy is unique. As in the previous line the scribe left a gap to avoid damaged parchment. The corrector mistakenly assumed a word had been erased.]

[^949: M.18.154: The scribe wrote around a pre-existing hole. No text has been lost.]

Thanne mercy ful myldly . mouþed þise wordus
Thoruȝ experience quod she . I hope þei shul be saued .
For venym[^950] fordoþ venym . and þat I proue by resoun
For of alle venymes . foulest is þe scorpioun
May no medicyne helpe . þe place þere he styngeþ
Til he be ded and do þerto . þe yuel he destr uyeth
The furste venymoustee . þoruȝ venym of hym-selue
So shal þis fordo[^951] . I dar my lif legge
Al þat deþ did furste . þoruȝ þe deueles entysynge
And riȝt as þoruȝ gile / man was bigiled
So shal grace þat bigan . make a good sleighte
Ars vt artem falleret 

[^950: M.18.157: Most of the initial letter has been lost through damage.]

[^951: M.18.162: In place of fordo, all other beta manuscripts except Cr1 have deeþ fordo; the alpha reading is deeþ do.]

Now suffre we saide truþe . I se as me þinkeþ
Out of þe nyppe of þe North . nouȝt ful fer hennes
Riȝtwysnesse come rennynge . reste we þe while
For he woot more þan we . he was er we boþe

That is soþ saide mercy . and I se heere by southe
Where pees comeþ playnge . in pacience cloþ ed
Loue haþ coueited hire longe . leue I non other
But he sente hire som lettre . what þis liȝt bymeneþ
That ouer-houeþ helle þus . she vs shal telle .

Whanne pees in pacience y-cloþud . approched neer hem tweyne
Riȝtwisnesse hire reuerenced . for hire riche cloþinge
And praide pees to telle hire / to what place she wolde
An d in hire gay garnementz whom she grete þouȝte .
¶ My wille is to wende quod she . and welcome hem alle
That many day miȝte nouȝt se . for merkenesse of synnne synne
Adam and Eue . and oþer mo in helle
Moises and many mo . mercy shul haue
And I shal daunce þerto . do þow so sust er
For Ihesus iusted wel . ioye bygynneþ dawe .
Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus & ad matutinum leticia
Loue þat is my lemman . suche lettres me sente
That mercy my sust er and I . mankynde shulde saue
And þat god haþ forȝeuen . and graunted me pees and mercy
To be mann es mainpernour . for euere-more after
Lo here þe patente quod[^952] pees . In pace inidipsum in idipsum .
And þat dede shal dure Dormiam & requiescam .

[^952: M.18.191-192: The scribe has written around a hole in the parchment. No text was lost.]

What rauestow quod riȝtwisnesse . or þou art riȝt dron ke
Leuest þow þat yond liȝt . vnlouke miȝte helle .
And saue ma n n es soule . suster wene it neuere
At þe bygynnynge . god yaf þe doom hym-selue .
That Adam and Eue . and alle þat hem suwed
Shulde deiȝe doun-riȝt . and dwelle in pyne after
If þat þei touched a tree . and þe fruyt eten
Adam aftur-ward . aȝeins his defence
Freet of þat fruyt . and forsook as it were
The loue of oure lord . and his loore boþe
And folwed þat þe feend tauȝte . and his felawes wille
Aȝeins reson and riȝtwisnesse . recorde þus with truþe
That hire payne be perpetuele . and no praiere hem helpe
For-þi lat hem chewe as þei chese . and chide we nouȝt sustres .
For it is booteles bale / þe bite þat þei eten

Nota bene
And I shal preue quod pees . hire payne moo t haue ende
And wo in-to wele mot[^953] . weende at þe laste
For hadde þei wist of no wo . / wele hadde þei not knowen
For no wiȝt woot what wele is . þat neuere wo suffred .
Ne what is hoot hungur . þat neuere hadde defaute
If no niȝt nere . no man as I leue
Shulde wite witturly . what day is to mene
Shulde neuere riȝt riche man . þat lyueþ in reste and ese
W yte what wo is . ne were þe deþ of kynde
So god þat bigan al . of his goode wille
By-cam man of a mayde . mankynde to saue
And suffred to be sold . to[^954] þe sorwe of deynge 
The w hich vnknitteþ alle care . and comsynge is of reste
For til Modicum mete with vs . I may it wel auowe
W oot no wiȝt as I wene . what is yno wgh to mene

[^953: M.18.209: The addition of <t> brings M into agreement with F. Most B manuscripts have the verb mowe.]

[^954: M.18.219: M's to is shared with Cr1; other B manuscripts have to se.]

nota bene
For-þi god of his goodnesse . þe furste gome Adam
Sette hym in solace and in soueraigne murthe[^955]
And sith he suffred hym synne . sorwe to fele
To wyte what wele was . kyndlich to knowe it
And aftur god auent ured hym-self . and took Adames kynde
To wyte what he haþ suffred . in þre sundry places
Boþe in heuene and in erthe . and now to helle he þinkeþ
To wite what alle wo is . þat woot of al ioye

[^955: M.18.224: An extra minim has been deleted from the <m> of murthe.]

So it shal fare by þis folk . hire foly . and hire synne
Shal lere hem what langour is . and l isse withouten ende
Woot no wiȝt what werre is . þere þat pees regne þ
Ne what is witturly wele . til w eylaway hym teche

Thanne was þere a wiȝt . with two broode eiȝen
# de Iuramento Boke
Book highte þat beupere . a bold man of speche
By godes body quod þis book . I wol bere w ytnesse
That þo þis barn was y-born . þere blased a sterre
That alle þe wise of þis world . in on wit a-corden
That suche a barn was y-born . in Bethleem Citee .
That ma n n es soule shuld saue . and synne destroye
And alle þe elementes quod þe book . here-of bereþ w ytnesse
Þat he was god þat al wrouȝte . þe walkene furst shewede
Tho þat weren in heuene . token Stella com ata[^956]
And tendeden hire as a torche . to reuerencen his burþe
The liȝt folwed þe lord in-to þe lowe erþe
That water w ytnessed . þat he was god . for he wente on it
Petur þapostoille / parceiued his gate
And as he wente on þe water . wel hym knew and saide
Iube me venire ad te super aquas
And lo how þe s onne gan louke . hire liȝt in hire-selue
Whanne she seigh hym suffre . þat s onne & see made
The erthe for heuynesse . þat he wolde suffre
Quaked as quik þing . and al by-quasshet þe roche
Loo helle miȝte nouȝt holde . but opened þo god þolede
And leet out symondes sones . to seen hym hange on rode
And now shal lucifer leue it . þouȝ hym loth þinke
For gigas þe geaunt . wiþ a gyn engyned 
To breke and to bete a-doun . þat ben aȝeins Ihesus
And I book wol be brent . but Ihesus rise to lyue
In alle miȝtes of man . and his modur gladye .
And conforten al his kyn . and out of care bringe
And alle þe Iewen ioye / vnioynen and vnlouken
And but if þei reuerensen[^957] his rode  and his Resurectioun
And bileue on a newe lawe . be lost lif and soule .

[^956: M.18.244: The revised spelling comata brings M into line with most B manuscripts; WHmCr23G have cometa.]

[^957: M.18.264: The original was probably reuersen, the reading of WCr1. The alteration brings M into line with the other B manuscripts.]

Suffre we saide truþe . I here and se boþe
How a spirit spekeþ to helle and bit vnspere þe yates .
Attollite portas & cetera
A vois loude in þat liȝt . to lucifer cryeth
Princes of þis place . vnpynneþ and vnlouketh
For here comeþ with croune . þat kynge is of glorie

Than siked Sathan . and saide to hem alle
Such a liȝt aȝeins oure leue . lazar it fette
Care and combraunce . is comen to vs alle
If þis kyng come In . mankynde wol he fecche
And lede it þere hym likeþ . and liȝthliche me bynde
Patriarkes and prophetes . han parled here-of longe
Þat suche a lord and a liȝt . shulde lede hem alle henn es

Lusteneþ quod Lucifer . for I this lord knowe
Boþe þis lord and þis liȝt . is longe a-go I knew hym .
May no deþ hym dere . ne no feendus[^958] coyntise
And where he wol is his way . ac war hym of þe perilles
If he reue me my riȝt . he robbeþ me be maistrie
For by riȝt and by resoun . þo renkes þat ben here
Body and soule ben myne . boþe gode and ille .
For him-self sayde . þat sire is of heuene
If Adam ete þe . appul al sholde deiȝe
And dwelle with vs deueles . þis þretynge he made
And he þat sothnesse is . saide þise word es
And sithen I seised . seuen hundre wynt er
I leue þat lawe nil nouȝt . leuen[^959] hym þe leeste .

[^958: M.18.281: In place of feendus all other B manuscripts except Cr1 have deueles.]

[^959: M.18.291: M's leuen agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts read lete.]

That is soth saide Sathan . but I me soore drede
For þow hem[^960] gete with gile . and his gardyn breke
And in semblaunce of a serpent sat vp-on þe appultree
And eg gedest[^961] hem to ete . Eue by hire-selue .
And toldest hire a tale . of tresoun were þe wordes .
And so þow haddest hem out . and hider at þe laste
It is nouȝt graythely geten . þere gile is þe Roote
For god wol not be bygiled . quod goblyn ne be-iaped .
We haue no truwe title to hem . for þoruȝ treson weren þei dampned
Certes I drede me quod þe deuel . lest truþe wol hem fecche

[^960: M.18.293: All other B manuscripts place hem after gete.]

[^961: M.18.295: The original reading was perhaps eggest as in GYC.]

This þritty wynter as I wene . he hath goon[^962] and preched
I haue assailled hym with synne . and som -tyme y -asked
Wher he were god or godes sone . he yaf[^963] me short answere
And þus haþ he trolled forth . þise two and þretty wynter
And whan I seiȝ it was so . lepynge[^964] I wente
To warne pilatus wif . what done man was Ihesus
For Iewes hateden hym . and han don hym to deþe .
I wolde haue lengthed his lif . for I leued yf he deiȝed
That his soule wolde suffre . no synne in his sighte .
For þe body whil it on bones yede . aboute was euere .
To saue men from synne . if hem-selue wolde .
And now I se where a soule . comeþ hiderward seillynge
With glorie and with grete liȝt . god it is I woot wel
I rede we flee quod he . faste / alle hennus .
For vs were bettre nouȝt be . þan — byden his siȝte .
For þi lesynges lucifer . lost is al oure praye
Furste þoruȝ þe . we fellen from heuene so heiȝ e
For we leued þi lesynges . y -lore we haue Adam .
And al oure lordshipe I leue . a lond and on watre .
Nunc princeps huius mundi eicietur foras .
Efte þe liȝt bad vnlouke . and lucifer answerede
What lord art þou . quod lucifer quis est iste
Rex glorie þe liȝt soone saide
And lord of miȝt and of mayn . and alle manere vertues
Dominu s virtutum .
Dukes of þis dym place . anoon vndo þe[^965] yates
Þat crist may come yn[^966] / þe kyngesson kynges sone of heuene[^967]
And with þat breþ / helle brak with beliales barres
For any wye or warde / wyde opene þe yates

[^962: M.18.302: M shares the syntax he hath goon only with Cr.]

[^963: M.18.304: The alteration to yaf brings M into line with WOC2BF; other B manuscripts have alliterating gaf.]

[^964: M.18.306: The erasure of the <s> brings M into agreement with WHmCr1.]

[^965: M.18.327: M's þe agrres with Cr1; other B manuscripts read þise.]

[^966: M.18.328: Original inne has been altered to yn by erasure of the first and last letters and the alteration of <n> to <y>.]

[^967: M.18.328-330: These lines were omitted through eye-skip on yates. M.18.328 is written in the blank line separating paragraphs. The next two were written at the bottom of the page. The correct placement of the lines is indicated with red carets. All three are in a different ink but in the main hand and were later altered in the usual fashion. No other B manuscripts share this omission.]

Patriakes and prophetes . Populus in tenebris
Songen seint Iohannes song Ecce agnus dei
Lucifer loke ne miȝte . so liȝt hym ablente
And þo þat oure lord loued . in-to his liȝt he lauȝte
And saide to sathan . lo here my soule to amendes
For alle synneful soules . to saue þat ben worthy
Myne þay be and of me . I may þe bet hem clayme
Al-þouȝ reson recorde . and riȝt of my-sel ue
That if þei ete þe appul . alle / shulde de ye .
I bihiȝte hem nouȝt here . helle for euere
For þe dede þat þei d ide þi desceyte it made
With gile þou hem gete . a yein alle resoun .
For in my paleis paradys . in persone of an eddre
Falsliche þou fecchedest þere . þing þat I louede

# deceptionem demonis in Forma lizard
Thus ylik[^968] a lusard . with a lady visage
Thefliche þou me robbedest . þe olde lawe graunteth
That gilours be bigiled . and þat is good resoun
Dentem pro dente . & oculum pro oculo .
Ergo soule shal soule quyte . and synne to synne wende
And al þat man haþ misdo . I man wol amende
Membre for membre . be þolde lawe was amendes
And lif for lif also . and by þat lawe I clayme it
Adam and alle his issue . at my wille her -aftur
And þat deþ in hem fordede . my deth shal releue
And boþe quykene and quyte . þat queynt was þoruȝ synne .
And þat grace gile destruye . good feiþ it askeþ
So leue thow[^969] nouȝt lucifer a yein þe lawe I fecche hem .
But bi riȝt and by resoun . ranceome here[^970] my liges
Non veni soluere legem sed ad implere
Þow fettest myne . in my place . a yeins alle resoun
Falsliche and felounliche . good faith me it tauȝte
To recouere hem by[^971] raunceoun . and by no resoun elles
So þat þoruȝ gile þou gete . þoruȝ grace it is y-wonnen
Thow lucifer in likkenesse . of a luther addre
Gettest by gile . þo þat god louede

[^968: M.18.345: The original scribe has corrected his initial spelling with <I> to <y>, and the corrector has subsequently deleted <-e>.]

[^969: M.18.357: In its original reading I, M agreed with WHmCrGYOC2CB. It shares the alteration of I to thow with G. LRF have it.]

[^970: M.18.358: M's original reading without here was shared by GC2.]

[^971: M.18.362: M's by agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have þoruȝ.]

And I in likkenesse of a leode . þat lord am of heuene
Graciousliche þi gile haue quyt . go gile a yein gile
And as Adam and alle þoruȝ a tre de yeden
Adam & alle þoruȝ a tree . shul tourne a yein to lyue
And gile is bigiled . and in his gile fallen .
Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit .
Now bigynneþ þi gile . agein þe to torne
And my grace growe[^972] ay grettere and widder[^973]
The bitternesse þat þow hast browe . brouke it þi-seluen
That art doctour of deeþ . drynk þat þou madest

[^972: M.18.373: M's growe agrees with Cr1; other B manuscripts have to growe.]

[^973: M.18.373: M's original reading of gretter agreed with RF.]

For I þat am lord of lif . loue is my drynke
And for þat drynke to-day . I de yed vpon erþe
I fauȝt so me þresteþ yit . for ma n n es soule sake
May no drynke me moiste . ne my þurst slake
Til þe vendage falle . in þe vale of Ios aphat .
That I drynke riȝt ripe Must . Resurectio mortuorum .
And þanne shal I come as a kyng . crowned with angeles
And haue out of helle . alle me n n es soules

nota lucifer
Fendes and fendkyns . bifore me shul stande
And be at my biddinge . where-so-euere me likeþ
And to be merciable to man . þanne my kynde it askeþ
For we been breþeren of blood . but nouȝt of[^974] baptesme alle
Ac alle þat ben myn hole breþeren . in blood and in baptesme
Shul nouȝt be dampned to þe deþ . þat is with-outen ende
Tibi soli peccaui & cetera
It is not vsed in erþe . to hangen a feloun
Ofter þan ones . þouȝ he were a tretour
And if þe kyng of þat kyngedome come in þat tyme
There[^975] þe feloun thole sholde deth oþer[^976] elles [^977]
Lawe wolde he yaf hym lif / if he loked on hym
And I þat am kyng of kynges . shal come such a tyme
Þere doom to þe deþ / dampneth alle w ikkede
And if lawe wol I loke on hem . it lieþ in my grace
Whether þei de ye or de ye nouȝt . for þat þei d iden ille
Be it any þing aboute[^978] . þe boldnesse of hire synnes
I do mercy þoruȝ riȝtwisnesse . and alle my word es trewe
And þouȝ holy writ wil þat I be wroke . of hem þat d iden ille
Nullum malum impunitum & cetera
Thei shul be clensed clerliche and wasshen of hire synnes
In my prison purgatorie . til parce it hote
And my mercy shal be shewed . to many of my breþeren .
For blood may suffre blood . boþe hungry and a-cale
Ac blood may not se blood . blede but hym rewe
Audiui archana verba que non licet homini loqui
# quia Iusticia in misericordiam vertetur
Ac my riȝtwisnesse and riȝt shul reulen all helle
And mercy al mankynde . bifore me in heuene .
For I were an vnkynde kyng . but I my kynde helpe
And nameliche at suche a nede . þere nedes help bihoueþ
Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo .

[^974: M.18.387: M's of agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have in.]

[^975: M.18.394-397: It looks as though the scribe had initially written M.18.397 following M.18.393, through eyeskip on There (394, 397) compounded by confusion resulting from repetition of 393b in 396b and 395b in 398a. Erasing all but the first word of 394, he has overwritten the erasure with the remainder of that line and copied 395-397 in the margin. The lines were later altered.]

[^976: M.18.394: M's oþer agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have or ooþer.]

[^977: M.18.394: M's elles is shared with Cr. Other B manuscripts read Iuwise or wise.]

[^978: M.18.400: In place of aboute all other B manuscripts read abouȝt.]

Thus bi lawe quod þis[^979] lord . lede I wol from henn es
Tho þat me louede and leued in my comynge
And for þi lesynge lucifer . þat þou leigh til Eue
Thow shalt abye it bittre . and bond hym wiþ cheynes
Astarooth and al þe route . hidden hem in hernes
Thei dorste not loke on oure lord . þe boldest of hem alle .
But leten hym lede forþ what hym liked . & lete what hym leste .
Many hundred of angeles . harpeden and songen
Culpat caro p urgat caro . regnat deus dei caro .

[^979: M.18.415: M's þis agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have oure.]

Than piped pees . of poesye a note
Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus post inimcicias inim[i]cicias & cetera
After sharpe shour es quod pees . moost shene is þe s onne
Is no weder warmer . þan after wattri cloudes .
Ne no loue leuer . ne leuere frendes
Than — after werre and wo . whan loue & pees ben maistres
Was neuere werre in þis wo rld . ne wikkednesse so kene .
That —[^980] loue and hym liste . to lawghynge ne brouȝte
And pees þoruȝ pacience . alle perilles stoppe þ[^981]
Trewes quod truþe . þow tellest vs sooth by Ihesus
Clippe we in couenaunt . and ich of vs kisse other
And lete no poeple quod pees parceyue þat we chide
For impossible is noþing . to hym þat is al- miȝty[^982]

[^980: M.18.431: M's original reading agreed with WHmCr23GYOC2L. The alteration in M brings it into agreement with Cr1CBF.]

[^981: M.18.432: M's original stopped agreed with most B manuscripts. The alteration brings M into agreement with WF.]

[^982: M.18.436: M's original reading agreed with F.]

Thow saist soth saide[^983] riȝtwisnesse . and reuerentliche hire kiste
Pees and pees here Per secula seculorum
# Iusticia & pax Osculati sunt
Misericordia & veritas obuiauerunt sibi . iusticia & pax osculate sunt
Truþe trompede þo . and song Te deum laudamus
And þanne l ewted loue in a lo wd[^984] note
Ecce quam bonum & quam iocundum & cetera .

[^983: M.18.437: M's reading of saide agrees with L; all other B manuscripts have quod.]

[^984: M.18.441: M's altered reading agrees with all B manuscripts except C, which reads lowe, and F, which reads luddere.]

Til þe day dawed þise damoisells daunced
That men rongen to þe resurexion . and riȝt with þat I waked
And called kitte my wif . and kalot my douȝter
Ariseþ and reuerenceþ quod I[^985] . godes resureccioun .
And krepeþ to þe crosse on knees . and kisseþ it for a Iuwel
For goddes blessed body . it bar for oure boote
And it afereþ þe feend . for such is þe miȝte
May no grisly goost . glyde þere it shadeweþ. .

[^985: M.18.446: M's addition of quod I is unattested in other B manuscripts.]

Passus xixus decimus nonus

T hus I walked[^986] and wroot . what I hadde dremed .
And diȝte me derelyche . and dide me to churche
To here holly þe masse . and to ben houseled after
In myddes of þe masse . þo men wente to þe[^987] offrynge
I fell eft -soones a-slepe . and sodeinly me mette
That piers þe plowman . was painted al blody
And com In with a cros . bifore þe comune p eple
And riȝt lik in alle lymes . to oure lord Ihesu .
Than called I conscience . to kenne me þe soþe
Is þis Ihesus þe Iuster quod I . þat Iewes d id to dethe
Or it is piers þe ploweman . who painted hym so rede

[^986: M.19.1: M's walked agrees with Cr12; other B manuscripts have some form of (a)waked.]

[^987: M.19.4: M's þe is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

nota
Quod co nscience and kneled þo . þise arn piers armes
His colours and his cote armure . ac he þat comeþ so blody
Is crist with his crosse . conquerour of cristene

# quare Cristus magis quam Ihesus X
Why calle ye hym crist quod I . sith Iewes callen hym Ihesus
Patriarkes and prophetes prophecied bifore
That alle kynne creatures . shulden knelen and bowen .
A-noon as men nompned . þe heiȝe name of[^988] Ihesu .
Ergo is no name . to þe name of Ihesus
Ne noon so nedful to n empne . by nyȝt and[^989] by day e
For alle derke deueles . arn a-dred — to here it
And synneful arn solaced . and saued by þ at[^990] name .
And ye callen hym crist . for what cause telleþ me .
Is crist more of miȝt . and more worthy name
Þan — Ihesu or Ihesus . þat al oure ioye com of

[^988: M.19.18: M's reading heiȝe name of is shared with Cr. Most other B manuscripts have name of god.]

[^989: M.19.20: M's and is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read ne.]

[^990: M.19.22: M's original reading þe is not shared with other B manuscripts.]

Thow knowest wel quod co nscience . and þow k o nne resoun
That kniȝth kyng conquerour . may be opersone o persone
To ben called a knyght is fair . for men shul knele to hym
To be called a kyng is fairer . for he may knyghtes make
Ac to be Conquerour called . þat comeþ of speciale grace
And of hardinesse of herte . and of hiendenesse
To make lord es of ladd es . of lond þat he wynneþ
And free men foule þralles . þat folwen not his lawes

The Iewes þat were gentil men . Ihesu þei despised
Boþe his loore and his lawe . now ar þei lowe cherles
As wyde as þe world is . woneth þere noon ther-Inne[^991]
But vndur tribute and t aillage . as tikes and cherles
And þo þat bicome cristene by conseille of þe bapteme
Arn Fraunkeleins free men . þoruȝ fullynge þat þei toke .
And gentil men with Ihesu . for Ihesus was y-fulled
And vpon caluery on cros . y-crouned kyng of Iewes .

[^991: M.19.36: This addition brings M into agreement with Cr.]

It bicomeþ to a kyng . to kepe and to deffende
And Conquerour of conqueste his lawes and his large
And so d ide Ihesus þe Iewes . he iustified and tauȝte hem .
The lawe of lif . þat laste shal euere .
And fended from foule yueles . feueres and fluxes
And from feendes þat in hem were . and false bileue
Tho was he Ihesus of Iewes called . gentil e[^992] prophete
And kyng of kyngdome . and croune bar of þornes

[^992: M.19.48: The erasure of the <e> and its replacement suggest confusion on the corrector's part whether the word was gentil or gentile.]

And þo conquered he on crosse . as conquerour noble
Miȝte no deþ hym for-do . ne a-doun bringe
That he naroos and regned . and rauysshed helle
And þo was he Conquerour called . of quik and of dede
For he yaf Adam and Eue . and oþur mo blisse
Þat longe hadden leyn biforn . as luciferes cherles

And sith he yaf largely . alle his lele liges
Places in paradys . at hire partynge henn es
He may wel be called conquerour . and þat is crist to mene

Ac þe cause þat he comeþ þus with cros of þe[^993] passioun
Is to wissen vs þere-with . þat whanne þat we ben tempted
Þere-with to fiȝte and fenden vs from fallynge in-to synne
And se by his sorwe . þat whoso loueth ioye
# quia necesse est penitenciam agere
To penaunce and to poue rte he moste pute hym-seluen
And muche wo in þis world . willen and suffren

[^993: M.19.59: M's reading þe is shared with Cr1; other B manuscripts read his or omit.]

Ac for[^994] to carpe moore of crist . and how he com . to þat name
Faithly for to speke . his furste name was Ihesus
Þo he was born in Bedleem . as þe book telleþ .
And cam to take mankynde . kynges and angeles
Reuerenced hym faire . with richesse of this erthe[^995]
Angeles out of heuene comen . knelynge and songe
Gloria in excelsis deo . & cetera .

[^994: M.19.65: M's reading for is shared with Cr; other B manuscripts omit the word.]

[^995: M.19.69: M's alteration to this agrees with Cr. Other B manuscripts do not have the word.]

Kynges comen after . kneled and offred
Mirre an muche gold . withouten mede —[^996] askynge
Or any kynnes catel . but knoweliche[^997] hym soueraign
Boþe of sond / s o nne and see . and sithenes þei wenten
In-to hire kengene kith . by conseill of angeles .
And þere was þat word fulf ylled . the w hich þow of speke
Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Ihesu .
For alle þe angeles of heuene / at his burþe kneled
And al þe wit of þe world . was in þo þre kynges
Reson and riȝtwisnesse . and ruthe þei offred
Wherfore and whi . wise men þat tyme
Maistres and lettred men . Magi hem called

[^996: M.19.73: The erased words appear to be muche gold, repeated from the a-verse. M's alteration to mede agrees with Cr. Most B manuscripts read mercy.]

[^997: M.19.74: M's reading knoweliche is shared with Cr1; other B manuscripts have the present participle or the past tense.]

bene loquitur
That oon kyng come with resoun . couered vndur sence
The secounde kyng soþely sitthen[^998] he offrede[^999]
Riȝtwisnesse vndur reed[^1000] goold . resones felawe
# discripcionem trium Munerum
Gold is likkened to leaute . þat laste shal euere
And reson to riche gold . to riȝt and to truþe
The þridde kyn g þo com . knelynge to Ihesu
And presented hym with pitee . appieringe to myrre
For myrre is mercy to mene . and mylde speche of tonge .
Thre yliche honeste þinges . were offred þus at ones
Thoruȝ þre kynne kynges . knelynge to Ihesus

[^998: M.19.85: M's soþely sitthen agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts reverse the order.]

[^999: M.19.85: The alteration of offrede to he offrede brings M into agreement with CrBF.]

[^1000: M.19.86: the second letter is unclear, and the word might as easily be transcribed roed.]

Ac for alle þise preciouse presentes . oure lord Prince Ihesus
Was neither kyng ne Conquerour til he gan to wexe
In þe manere of a man . and þat by muche sleighte
As it bycomeþ a Conquerour . to kunne many sleightes
And many wiles and wit . þat wol ben a leder .
And so dide Ihesus in his dayes . whoso hadde tyme to telle it
Som -tyme he suffred . and som -tyme he hidde hym
And som -tyme he fauȝt faste . and fleigh oþere-while
And som -tyme he gaf go od and graunted hele boþe
Lif and lyme . as hym luste he wrouȝte .
As kynde is of a Conquerour . so comsed Ihesu
Til he hadde alle hem . þat he fore bledde

In his Iuuente þis Ihesus . at Iewene feeste
Water in-to wyn tourned . as holy writ telleþ .
And þere bigan god . of his grace to dowel
For wyn is likkened to lawe . and lif of holynesse
And lawe lakked þo . for men loueden not hire enemys .
And crist conseilleth þus . and comaundeth boþe
Boþe to leered and to lewed . to louye oure enemys
So at þe feste furst . as I bifore saide[^1001]
Bigan god of his grace . and goodnesse to dowell
And þo was he clepud and called . nouȝt / oonly[^1002] crist but Ihesu
# bene
A faunt fyn ful of wit . filius marie .

[^1001: M.19.113: M's saide agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have tolde.]

[^1002: M.19.115: M's altered reading agrees with CrF and is also a C text reading. Most B manuscripts read holy.]

Bifore[^1003] his modur Marie . made he þat wondur
That she furst and formest . ferme sholde bileue
That he þo ruȝ grace was gete . and of no gome elles .
dixit & facta sunt
He wrouȝte þat by no wit . but by[^1004] word one .
After þe kynde þat he ca m of . þer comsed he to dowel[^1005]
And whan he was waxen more . in his modur absence
He made lame to lepe . and ȝaf liȝt to blynde
And fedde with two Fisshes . and with fyue loues
Sore afyngred folk mo þan fyue þousand .
Thus he conforted carefull . and cauȝte a gretter name
The w hich was do-bet . w here þat he wente
For deue þoruȝ his doynges to here . and dombe to speke he made
And alle he heled and halp . þat hym of grace asked
And þo was he called in c ontre of þe comune p eple
For þe dedes þat he d ide . Fili dauid Ihesus
For dauyd was douȝtiest . of dedes in his tyme .
The burdes þo songen . Saul interfecit mille . & Dauid decem milia
For-þi þe c ontree þer Ihesu cam . called hym Fili dauid .
And nempned hym of Nazareth . and no man so worthy
To be kaiser or kyng . of þe kyngedom of Iuda
Ne ouere Iewes Iustice . as Ihesus was hem þouȝte

[^1003: M.19.117: M's Bifore agrees with Cr; most B manuscripts have For bifore.]

[^1004: M.19.120: M's by agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts except have þoruȝ.]

[^1005: M.19.121: B manuscripts other than CrC2 omit to, and M has rewritten the phrase perhaps to include it.]

Whereof Cayphas hadde enuye . and oþ ere of þe Iewes
And for to doon hym to deþ . day and niȝt þei kasten
Kulleden him on cros-wyse . at Caluarie on Fryday
And sithen burieden his body . and beden þat men sholde
Kepen it from nyȝtcomers . with knyȝtes y-armed .
For no freendes shulde hym fecche . for prophetes hem too lde
Þat þat blessud body . of burieles shulde arise .
And goon into Galilee . and gladen his appostoles
And his moder Marie . þus men bifore demed .

The knyȝtes þat kepten it . byknewe it[^1006] hem-seluen
Þat angeles and archangeles . er þe day spronge
Comen knelynge to þe corps . and songen Cristus resurgens .
Verray man bifore hem alle . and forth with hem he yede

[^1006: M.19.147: The scribe perhaps began by omitting it as in F and C manuscripts.]

The Iewes prayden pees . and bisouȝten þe kniȝtes
Telle þe comune þat þere cam . a compaignye of hise appost eles
And biwiccheden hem as þei wook . and away stolen it .

Ac Marie Magdaleyne . mette hym by þe weye
Goynge toward Galilee . in godhede and manhede
And lyues & lokynge . and she a-loud cryede
In eche a companye þer she cam . Cristus resurgens
Thus cam it out . þat crist ouer -cam . recouered and lyuede
Sic oportet Cristum pati . & intrare & cetera .
# women kepe no Cowncell
For þat þat wymmen witeth . may not wel be conseille

Peter parceyued þis[^1007] . and pursuwed after
Boþe Iames and Iohan . Ihesu for to seche
Thaddee and ten mo . with Thomas of Inde
And as alle þise wyse wyes . weren to-gedres
In an hous al bishette . and hire dore y-barred
Crist cam in and al closed . boþe dore & yates
To petur and to hise appostoles . and seide Pax vobis .
And took Thomas by þe hand . and tauȝte hym to grope
And fele with hise fyngres . his flesshliche herte

[^1007: M.19.161: M's þis agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have al þis.]

Thomas touched it . and with hise tonge seyde
Deus meus & dominus meus .

Thow art my lord I byleue . god lord Ihesu
Þow deiedest and deþ þol edest . and deme shalt vs alle
And now art lyuynge and lokynge . and laste shalt euere .

Crist carpede þanne . and curteisliche saide .
Thomas for þow trowest þis . and truwliche bileueste it
Blessud moote þow be . and be shalt for euere .
And blessed mote þei alle be . in body and in soule
Þat neuere shul se me in sighte . as þow doost nowþe
And lelliche beleuen al þis . I loue hem and blesse hem . all[^1008]
Beati qui non viderunt & cetera .

[^1008: M.19.180: The addition of all in a late hand is unattested in other B manuscripts.]

And whan þis dede was I-doon . dobest he tauȝte .
And yaf piers power . and pardon he graunted
To alle manere men . mercy and for yifnesse
Hym myȝt —[^1009] to assoillen . of alle manere synnes
In couenant þat þei come . and kneweliche to paie
To piers pardoun þe ploweman . redde quod debes

[^1009: M.19.185: Most B manuscripts here read men. The deletion of the word brings M into agreement with WCrOF.]

Th us haþ piers power . be[^1010] his pardon y-paied
To bynde and vnbynde . boþe here & elles-where
And assoille men of alle . synnes saue of dette oone

[^1010: M.19.188: M's altered reading be agrees with HmCrGYOCBmL. WC2BoCot read by; F reads for.]

Anon after an he ygh . vp in-to heuene
He wente and woneþ þere . and wol come atte laste
And rewarde hym riȝt wel . þat redd it — quod debe t[^1011] .
Paieth parfitliche as . pure trwthe wolde
And what persone paiþ it nouȝt . punysshen he þinkeþ
And demen hem at domes-day . boþe quyke and dede
The goode to þe godhed . and to gret ioye
And w ikked to wonye . in wo with -outen ende
Thus conscience of crist . and of þe cros carped
And conseilled me to knele þerto . and þanne cam me þouȝte
Oon Spiritus paraclitus . to piers and to hise felawes
In likknesse of a liȝtnynge . he liȝte on hem alle
And made hem k onne and knowe . alle kynne lan gages

[^1011: M.19.193: M's original reading of debes agreed with F.]

I won — dred what þat was . and wagged conscience
And was a-ferd of þe liȝt . for in fires likkenesse
Spiritus paraclitus . ouerspradde hem alle

Quod conscience and kneled . þis is cristes messager
And comeþ from þe grete god . and grace is his name
Knele now quod conscience . and if þou kanst synge
Welcome hym and worshipe hym . with Veni creator spiritus

Thanne song I þat song . and so d ide[^1012] many hundred
And cryeden with conscience . helpe vs god of grace
And þanne bigan grace . to go with Piers plowman
And counseilled hym and conscience . þe comune to sompne
For I wol dele to-day . and diuyde grace .
To alle kynne creatures . þat han hire f yue wittes
Tresour to l yue by . to hire lyues ende
And w apyn[^1013] to fiȝte with . þat wol neuere faille
For antecrist and hise . al þe world shul greue
And acombre þe conscience . but if crist helpe[^1014]

[^1012: M.19.211: This is a very clear instance of how the corrector has both changed the main vowel and added a final <-e>.]

[^1013: M.19.218: The altered spelling wapyn is not a London but a northern form; see Jordan, para. 49, remark 2. Compare the spelling wepne at M.19.226. There are no variants at this point.]

[^1014: M.19.220: M's helpe agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have þee helpe.]

And false prophetes fele . flatereres and gloseres
Shullun come and be curatours . ouer kynges and Erles
And pride shal be pope . prince of holy churche
Couetyse and vnkyndenesse . cardynales hym to lede
For-þi quod grace er I go . I wol yeue[^1015] yow tresour
And wepne to fiȝte with . whan antecrist yow assaileth
And yaf ech man a grace . to guye with h ym-seluen
Þat idelnesse encombre hym nouȝt . enuye ne pride
# Gyftis off grace
Diuisiones graciarum sunt & cetera .

[^1015: M.19.225: The rewritten <y> of yeue probably conceals a <ȝ>, though other B manuscripts have alliterating gyue.]

Some[^1016] he yaf wit . with word es to shewe 
Wit to wynne hire liflode with . as þe world askeþ .
As prechours and pre estus and prentices of lawe
They lelly to l yue . by labour of tonge .
And by wit to wissen oþ ere . as grace hem wolde teche .

[^1016: M.19.230: The <S> of Some is unusually ornate.]

And somme he kenned craft . and konnynge of siȝte
With sellynge and biggynge . hire liflode to wynne
And somme he lered to laboure . a lele lif and a trwe
And somme he tauȝte to tilye . to diche and to þecche .
To wynne with hire liflode . by loore of his techynge
Somme[^1017] to dyuyne and to[^1018] dyuyde . nombres to kenne
And somme to compa sse craf tily . and colours to make
And somme to see and to seie . what sholde bifalle
Boþe of wele and of wo . telle it er it felle .
As astronomyens thorgh astronomye . and philosophres wise
And somme to ride and to recoueren . þat vnriȝtfuly was wonnen .
He wissed hem wynnen it aȝein . þoruȝ w yȝtnesse of handes .
# Folviles lawes
And fecchen it from[^1019] false men . with folviles lawes .
And somme he lered to lyue . in longynge to ben henn es
In pouerte and in penaunce . to praye for alle cristene
And alle he lered to be lele . and ech a craft loue oþur
And forbad hem alle debat . þat noon were among hem .
Thouȝ somme be clenner þan — somme . ye se wel quod grace
That he þat vseth þe fairest craft . to þe fouleste I kouþe haue put hym
Þenkeþ alle quod grace . þat grace comeþ of my yifte .
Looke þat noon lakle lak[k]e oþur . but loueþ alle as breþeren .

[^1017: M.19.240: M's Somme agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have And some.]

[^1018: M.19.240: M's to is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

[^1019: M.19.247: Here and in the following line the scribe anticipates the b-verse.]

And who þat moost maistries kan . be myldest of berynge
And crouneþ conscience kyng . and makeþ cr aft yowre styward
And after craftes conseille . clotheþ yow and fede
For I make Piers þe plowman . my procuratour and my reue
And Registrour to resceiue . Redde quod debes
My prowor and my plowman . piers shal ben on erþe
And for to tilie truþe . a teme shal he haue .

A New plouh
Grace gaf piers a teme . foure grete oxen
X
Tha t oon was Luc . a large beest . and a lowe chered
And Mark and Mathew þe þridde . myghty beestes boþe
And ioigned to hem oon . Ion . most gentil of alle
The pris neet of piers plowe . passynge alle oþ ere

And grace gaf piers also[^1020] . goode[^1021] foure stottes .
Al þat his oxen eryed . þei to harwe it after
Oon hiȝte Austyn . and Ambrose a-noþer
Gregori þe grete clerk . and Ierome þe goode
Thise foure þe faithe to teche . folweth piers teme
And harwed in an hand -whyle . all hol y scripture
With two harwes þat þei hadde . an old and a newe
virtutes Cardinales
Id est vetus testamentum & nouum 

[^1020: M.19.268: M's altered reading also is not attested in other manuscripts of B or C, which read of his. The correcting hand is unfamiliar.]

[^1021: M.19.268: M's goode is not shared by other manuscripts of B or C, which read goodnesse, which is presumably M's original reading.]

And gr ace gaf greynes . þe cardynales vertues
And suwen it in ma n n es soule . and siþen he toolde hire names .
Spiritus prudencie . þe furste seed hiȝte
And whoso eteþ[^1022] þat . ymagynen he sh olde
Er he dide any dede . dyuyse wel þe ende .
And lerned[^1023] men a ladel bigge . with a longe stele
That caste for to kepe a crokke . to saue þe fatte a-bouen

[^1022: M.19.279: M's eteþ agrees with Cr. Other B manuscripts have ete.]

[^1023: M.19.281: For M's altered lerned HmG have lered and C2 has lerneth.]

The secunde seed hiȝte . Spiritus temperancie
He þat ete of þat seed . had such a kynde
Shulde neuere mete ne muchel drynke . make hym to swelle .
Ne shulde no scorner ne scolde . out of skyle hym bringe
Ne wynnynge ne welthe . of w orldly richesse
Waste a[^1024] word of ydelnesse . ne wikked speche moeue
Shuld no curyous cloth . comen on his rugge
Master Iohan spisyd
Ne no mete in his mouth . þat maistre Iohan spiced

[^1024: M.19.288: M's added a is not shared by other B manuscripts.]

The thridde seed þat piers sewe . was Spiritus fortitudinis .
And whoso ete of þat seed . hardy was euere
To suffre al þat god sente . sekenesse or[^1025] angres
Miȝte no lesynges ne lier e . ne losse of worldly catel
Maken hym for any mournynge . þat he nas murie in soule
And bold and abydynge . bismers to suffre
And pleieþ al wiþ pacience . and Parce michi domine .
And couered hym vndur . counseill . of catoun þe wyse
Esto forti animo . cum sis dampnatus inique

[^1025: M.19.293: M's or agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have and.]

The ferþe seed þat piers sewe . was Spiritus iusticie
And he þat ete of þat seed . shulde be euere trwe
With god and nouȝt agast . but of gile oone
For gile goþ so priuely . þat gode faith oþur-while
May not ben aspied . for spiritus Iusticie 
Spiritus Iusticie . spareþ nouȝt to spille 
¶ Hem þat ben gulty . and for to correcte .
The kyng if he falle . in gult or in trespas
For counteþ he no kynges wrathe . whan he in courte sitteþ
To demen as a doomes man . a-dred was he neuere .
Neither of Duc ne of deth . þat he ne d ide lawe
For present or for praiers[^1026] . or any princes lettres
He dide equite to alle . euene-forth his power

[^1026: M.19.311: M's praiers agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have the singular.]

Thise foure sedes piers s ew . and sith he d ide hem harwe
With olde lawe and newe lawe . þat loue miȝte wexe
A-mong þe foure vertues . and vices destroye

For comunlich in contrees . cammokes and wedes .
Fouleþ þe fruyt in þe feeld . þere þei growe to-g ydres .
And so doon vices . vertues worthy .
Quod piers harweþ alle þat k o n neþ[^1027] kynde wit . by counseill of þise doctours .
And tylieþ after hire techynge . þe cardinale vertues

[^1027: M.19.319: The word originally read kuuereþ. The <u> was converted to an <o>. There is an erased er abbrevation curl above the <u> which is converted to a macron.]

A yeins þi greynes quod grace . gynneþ for to ripe
Ordeigne þe an hous quod piers . to herberwe Inne þi cornes

By god grace quod piers . ye moten yeue tymb er
And ordeigne þat hous . er ye henn es weende .

And grace yaf hym þe cros . with þe crownne of þornes
That crist vpon caluarye . for mankynde on pyned
And of his baptesme and blood . þat he — bledde on Rode
He made a manere Morter . and mercy hit hiȝte
And þere-with grace bigan . to make a good foundement
And walled it and wattlede[^1028] it . with his paynes and his[^1029] passioun
And of al holy wryt . he made a roof after
And called þat hous Vnite . holychurche on englissh
And whan þis dede was doon . grace dyuysed
peers sheves
A carte hiȝte cristendom . to carien piers sheues
And gaf hym caples to his carte . contricioun and confessioun
And made preesthode hayward . whil hym-sel f wente
As wyde as þe world is . with piers to tylie truþe .

[^1028: M.19.330: M's wallede ... wattlede agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts reverse the order.]

[^1029: M.19.330: M's original reading without this word agreed with Hm.]

Now is piers to þe plow . and pryde it aspiede
And gadred hym a grete oost . to greuen he thinketh
Conscience and alle cristene . and cardynale vertues
Blowe hem doun and breke hem . and bite a-two þe mores
¶ And sente forth surquydous . his sergeaunt of armes
And his spye spille-loue . oon speke yuel byhynde
Thise two comen to conscience . and to cristen p eple
And toolden hym tydynges . þat tyne þei shulde þe seedes
That piers þere hadde y-sowen . þe Cardynale vertues
And piers bern worth y-broke . and þei þat ben in vnitee
Shul come out and conscience . and yowre two caples
Confessioun and contricioun . and youre carte þe bileue
Shal be coloured so queyntly . and couered vnder oure sophistrye
/nota /
That conscience shal not . knowe by contricion
Ne by confessioun . who is cristen ne[^1030] hethen
Ne no manere Marchaund . þat with money deleeth
Wher he wynne with riȝt . with wrong or with vsure

[^1030: M.19.352: M's ne agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have or.]

With suche colours and coueityse[^1031] : comeþ pride y-armed
With þe lord þat liueþ : aftur þe luste of his body .
To wasten on welfare . and on wikked kepyng
Al þe world in a while . þoruȝ oure wit quod pride .

[^1031: M.19.355: M's reading coueityse is shared with Cr1; most other B manuscripts read queyntise.]

Quod conscience to alle cristen þo . my counseill is to wende
Hastlych in-to vnite . and holde we vs þere .
And pray we þat a pees were . in piers berne þe plowman
For witturly I woot wel . we beth not of streng the
To goon a yein pride . but grace were with vs .

And þanne cam kynde wit . conscience to teche
And cryde and comaunded . alle cristen p eple
For to deluen a dych . / depe a-boute vnite
That holychurche stood in vnitee . as it a p ile were

Conscience comaunded þo . alle cristene to delue
And make a muche moot . þat miȝte ben a streng the
To helpe holichurche . and hem þat it kepeþ

Thanne alkynne cristene . saue comune wymmen
Repenteden and refuseden synne . saue þei oone
And false men flaterers . vsurers and þeues
Lyers and questmongers . þat weren forsworne ofte
Wytynge and willfully . with þe false helden .
And for siluer were forswore . soþely þei wiste it .

Ther nas no cristene creature . þat kynde wit hadde
¶ Saue sherewes one . suche as I spake of .
That he ne halp a quantite . holynesse to wexe
Somme þoruȝ bedes biddynge . and somme þoruȝ pilgrymage
And oþer pryue peines[^1032] . and somme þoruȝ penyes delynge .

[^1032: M.19.381: M's peines agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts except have penaunce(s).]

And þanne welled water . for wikked werkes
Egrelyche ernynge . out of me n n es eighen
Clennesse of þe comune . and clerkes clene lyuynge
Made vnite holychurche . in holynesse to ston de

I care nouȝt quod conscience . þouȝ pryde come nouþe
The lord of lust shal be letted . al þis lente I hope
Comeþ quod conscience : ye cristene —— and dyneþ
That han laboured lelly . al þis lenten tyme .
Here is bred y-blessud . and goddes body þer -vndur
Grace þoruȝ godes word . gaf piers power
Mightes to maken it . and men to eten it[^1033] aftur
In help of hire hele . oones in a monthe
Or as ofte as þei hadden nede . þo þat hadden y-payed .
To piers pardon þe plowman . Redde quod debes

[^1033: M.19.392: M's original reading without it agreed with Y.]

How quod al þe comune . þou conseillest vs to yelde
Al þat we owen any wight . er we go to housel .

That is my conseill quod conscience . and cardynales[^1034] vertues
That ech a[^1035] man for yeue oþur . and þat wol þe pater-noster
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra & cetera .
And so to ben assoilled . and sithen[^1036] y-houseled

[^1034: M.19.398: M's cardynales is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read cardinale. See M.19.413, 417. At M.19.276, however, most B manuscripts share this form, which is a French plural.]

[^1035: M.19.399: M's altered reading ech a is shared with Hm. Other B manuscripts have ech.]

[^1036: M.19.401: M's sithen agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have sithen (to) ben.]

[^1037] Ye baw quod a brewer . I wil nouȝt be ruled
By Ihesu for al youre iangelynge . wiþ Spiritus iusticie
Ne after conscience by crist . whil I can selle
Boþe dregges and draf . and drawe it at oon hole
Þikke ale and þinne ale . for þat is my kynde
And nouȝt hakke aftur holynesse . holde þi tonge conscience
Of Spiritus iusticie þow spekest muche on ydel

[^1037: M.19.402: A later hand has drawn a line between the verse paragraphs.]

Caytif quod conscience . cursede wrecche
Vnblessed artow . Brewer . but if[^1038] god helpe .
But þow l iue by lore . of spiritus iusticie
The chief seed þat piers sew . y-saued worstow neuer
But conscience þe comune fede . and cardynales[^1039] vertues
Leue it wel þei ben lost . boþe lif and soule .

[^1038: M.19.410: M alone among B manuscripts lacks the object pronoun þe in this b-verse. Most B manuscripts attest it after if, F after god.]

[^1039: M.19.413: M's cardynales is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read cardinale See M.19.398, 417.]

# lewed vicare
Thanne is many a man y-lost . quod a lewed vicory
I —[^1040] am a c uratour of holykyrke . and cam neuere in my tyme
Man to me þat me coude telle . of cardynales[^1041] vertues
Or þat acounted conscience . at a kokkes fether or an hennes .
I knewe neuer cardynal . þat he ne cam from þe pope
And we clerkes whanne þei comen . for hire comunes paieth .
For hire pelures[^1042] and hire palfrayesmete palfrayes mete . and pilours þat hem folweþ .
The comune clamat cotidie . ech a man to other
The con — tre is þe curseder . þat Cardynales come Inne
And þere þei ligge and lenge . moost leccherye þer regneth
For-þi quod þis vicory . by verray god I wolde
Þat no cardynal come . among þe comune p eple
But in hire holynesse . holden hem stille
At Auynoun amonge þe Iewes . Cum sancto sanctus eris & cetera
Or in Rome as hire Rule wole . þe relikes to kepe
And þou conscience in kynges courte . & shuldest neuere come þennes
And grace þat þou gredest so of . gyour of alle clerkes
And piers with h is newe plow . and eke with his olde
Emperour of al þe world . þat alle men were cristene

[^1040: M.19.416: M's original And was not attested in other B manuscripts, most of which read I. Cr reads That.]

[^1041: M.19.417: M's cardynales is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read cardinale. See M.19.398, 413.]

[^1042: M.19.421: M's pelures agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have the singular.]

Inparfit is þat pope . þat al þe p eple shulde helpe
And seendeth hem þat sleeth suche . as he shulde saue
And wel worth piers þe plowman . þat pursueþ god in doynge
Qui pluit super iustos & iniustos attones att ones .
And sent þe sonne to saue . a cursed mannus tilþe .
As briȝte as to þe beste man . and to þe beste womman .
Right so Piers þe plowman . peyneþ hym to til ye
As wel for a wastour . and wenches of þe stwes
As for hym-self and his seruauntz . saue he is furst y -serued .
And trauailleþ and tilieþ . for a tretour al so soore .
As for a trwe tydy man . alle tymes y-like .
And worsheped be he þat wrouȝte al . boþe goode and wykke
And suffreþ þat synneful be . til som -tyme þat þei repente
# con tra talem papam
And god amende þe pope . þat pileþ holy kyrke .
And cleymeþ byfore þe kyng . to be kepere ouer cristene
And counteþ nouȝt þouȝ cristen ben . kulled and robbed
And fynt folk to fiȝte . and cristen blood to spille
A yein þolde lawe and newe lawe . as Luc þer -of w ytnesseþ
Non occides michi vindictam & cetera .
It semeþ by so . hym-self hadde his wille .
Þat he ne reccheþ riȝt nouȝt . of al þe rem enaunte
And crist of his curtesye . þe Cardinales saue .
And tourne hire wit to wysdom . and to wele of soule
For þe Comune quod þis curatour . counten ful litel .
The counseill of conscience . or of[^1043] cardinale vertues
But if þei seie as by sighte . s omwhat to wynnynge
Of gyle ne of gabbynge . gif þey neuere tale
For Spiritus prudencie . among þe p eple is gyle
And alle þo f oule vices . as vertues[^1044] þai semede
Ech man sotileþ a sleighte . s ynnne s ynne for to hide
And coloureþ it for a konynge . and a clene lyuynge

[^1043: M.19.458: M's original reading of cardinale vertues agreed with F. Other B manuscripts read or cardinale vertues.]

[^1044: M.19.462: M's altered form of foule vices as vertues agrees with Cr. Other B manuscripts read faire vertues as vices, but M's original reading seems to have been faire vices as vertues.]

Thanne lough þere a lord . and by þis liȝt . saide
I holde it riȝt and reson . of my reue to take
Al þat myn Auditour . or ellus my styward
Counseilleth me by hire acounte . and my clerkes wrytynge

With Spiritus intellectus . þei seke þe reues Rolles
And with spiritus fortitudinis . fecche it I wole

nota
And þanne com þere a kyng . and by his crowne sayde .
I am a kyng with croune . þe Comune to rule
And holy kyrke and clergy . from cursed men to defende
And if me lakkeþ to lyue by . þe lawe wil I take it .
There I may hastlokest it haue . for I am hed of lawe
For ye ben but membres . and I abouen alle
And sith I am youre aller hed . I am youre aller hele .
And holy church es chief help . and chieftayn of þe comune
And what I take of yow two . I take it of[^1045] þe techinge
Of Spiritus iusticie . for I iugge yow alle
So may I[^1046] boldlich ben houseled . for I borwe neuere .
Ne craue of my Comune . but as my kynde askeþ 
In condicion quod conscience . þat þow k onne deffende
& rule þy reaume by[^1047] reson . riȝt wel and in truþe
Take þou may in resoun . as þi lawe askeþ .
Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum  set non ad depredandum .
The viker hadde fer hoom . & faire took his leue
And I awaked þer -with . and wroot as me mette .[^1048]

[^1045: M.19.479: M's of agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts read at.]

[^1046: M.19.481: M's may I agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts reverse the order.]

[^1047: M.19.484: M's altered reading by agrees with HmCrO. Most B manuscripts read in.]

[^1048: M.19.488: M's original thouȝte is not attested in other B manuscripts, though it is in three C manuscripts.]

Passus xxus vicesimus [M.20.0: The guide to the rubricator in the left margin has been erased, though passus xxus et primus de dobeste is still legible under ultra-violet.]

T Hanne as I wente by þe wey . whan I was þus awaked
Heuy chered I yede . and elenge in herte
I ne wiste where to ete . ne at what place
And it neiȝed neiȝe þe noon . and with nede I mette .
That afrounted me foule . and faitour me called
Kanstow nouȝt excuse the . as dede þe kyng and oþere
That þow took to þi by liue[^1049] . to cloþes and to sustenaunce
As by techinge and by tellynge . of spiritus temperancie .
And þow nome nomore no more . þan — nede þe tauȝte
And nede haþ no lawe . ne neuere shal falle in dette
For þre þinges he takeþ . his lif for to saue
That is mete whanne men hym werneth . and he no moneye weldeþ .
Ne wight noon wol ben his borwe . ne wed — haþ non to legge
And he cauȝte in þat cas . and come þerto by sleightes[^1050]
He synneþ nouȝt sothely . þat so wynneþ his fode
And þouȝ he cam[^1051] so to a cloþ . and kan ne no bettre cheuysaunce .
Nede a-noon riȝt . nymeþ him vnder maymprise
And if hym lust for to lape . þe lawe of kynde wolde
That he dronke at ech a[^1052] dich er he for th urst dey de
So nede at grete nede . may nymen as for his owene
With-outen conseille of conscience . or[^1053] cardynale vertues
So þat he suwe and saue . Spiritus temperancie

[^1049: M.20.7: The reading of a number of manuscripts, including Cr, is bileue, yet it seems clear that it is a <y> and not an <e> that has been erased here.]

[^1050: M.20.14: M's sleightes agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts except have the singular.]

[^1051: M.20.16: M shares the reading cam with Cr; other B manuscripts have come or comeþ.]

[^1052: M.10.19: M's altered reading agrees with YC2. As at M.19.399, the added a is written over the erased <-e>.]

[^1053: M.20.21: M's original reading, concealed by the revision or, is likely to have been and, shared with G.]

For is no vertue by fer . to Spiritus temperancie
Neyther Spiritus iusticie . ne Spiritus fortitudinis
For Spiritus fortitudinis . forfeteþ ful ofte
He shal do more þan mesure . many tyme and ofte
And bete men ouer bittre . and somme of hem to lytul
And greueth men gretter . þan — go od faith it wolde

And Spiritus iusticie . shal iuggen wol he nel he .
After þe kynges conseille . and þe Comune like
And Spiritus prudencie . in many a point shal faille
Of þat he weneþ wolde falle . if his wit ne were
Wenynge is no wysdome . ne wy s ymagynacioun
Homo proponit deus disponit . and gouerneþ alle goode vertues
Ac nede is next hym . for a-non he meketh hym[^1054]
And as lowe as a lomb . for lakkyng of þat hym nedeþ
Wise men forsooke wele . for þei wolde be nedy .
And woneden in wildernesse . and wolden not be ryche

[^1054: M.20.35: M's addition of hym brings it into agreement with Cr.]

And god al his grete ioye . goostly he lefte
And cam and took mankynde . and bycom nedy
So nedy he was as seith þe book . in many sondry places .
That he saide in his sorwe . on þe selue Roode
Boþe fox and fo wl . may flee . and[^1055] to hole crepe
And þe Fissh haþ fynne . to flete with to reste
There nede haþ ynome me . þat I moot nede abide
And suffre sorwes ful soure . þat shul to ioy tourne
For-þi be nouȝt abasshed . to byde and to be nedy
Sith he þat wrouȝte al þe world . was willefulliche nedy .
Ne neuere noon so nedy . ne porer e deyde .

[^1055: M.20.43: M's syntax agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts supply and before crepe rather than before to.]

Whanne nede hadde vndurnome me[^1056] þus . a-noon I fell on slepe
And mette ful merueillousliche . þat in ma n n es forme[^1057]
Antecrist cam þanne . and al þe crop of treuþe .
Turned it vpso-doun . and ouer-tilte þe Roote
And fals springe and sprede . and spede me n nus nedes
In ech a countre þer he cam . he kutte a-way treuþe[^1058]
And gerte gile growe þere . as he a god were
Freres folwed þat fend . for he gaf hem copes[^1059]
And religiouse reuerenced hym . and rongen hire belles
And al þe couent forþ cam . to welcome þat tyraunt
And alle hise as wel as hym . saue onelyche fooles
W hiche foles were wel leuere . to deye þan — to lyue
Lengere . sith lenton . was so rebuked
And a fals feend antecrist . ouer alle folk regned .
And þat were mylde men and holy . þat no meschief dredden .
Deffieden alle falsnesse . and folk þat it vsed .
And what kyng þat hem conforted . knowynge hem any while
Thei cursed and hire counseille . were it clerk or lewede

[^1056: M.20.50: M's original reading without me agreed with OR.]

[^1057: M.20.51: M's original reading must have been likkenesse (for the spelling cf. 19.202, 205), a reading not shared by any B or C manuscripts.]

[^1058: M.20.55: The text of a-way treuþe is damaged as a result of staining and/or erasure.]

[^1059: M.20.57: Presumably the erasure is the anticipated b-verse of M.20.58. There are no variants at this point.]

Antecrist hadde þus soone . hundredes at his baner
And pride it bar . boldely aboute .
With a lord þat lyueth after . þe[^1060] likynge of his body
That cam aȝein conscience . þat keper was and gyour
Ouer kynde Cristene . and cardynale vertues

[^1060: M.20.70: M's þe agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts omit the word.]

I counseille quod conscience[^1061] . comeþ with me fooles[^1062]
In-to vnite hol y churche . and holde we vs þere
And crye we to kynde . þat he come and defende vs
Fooles from þise feendes lymes . for Piers loue þe plowman
And crye we to al þe comune . þat þei come to vnite
And þere abyde and bykere a yein . Beliales children

[^1061: M.20.73: M's conscience agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts follow the word with þo or ye.]

[^1062: M.20.73: M's fooles agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts read ye/you fooles.]

Kynde conscience þo herde . and com out of þe planetes
And sente forth his Forreours . feueres and fluxes
Koughes and cardiacles . crampes and tothaches
Rewmes and radegoundes . and roynouse scalles
Biles and bocches . and bren nynge agues
Frensyes and foule yueles . foragers of kynde
Hadde y-prikked and prayed . polles of þe p eple
That largeliche a legion . loren hire lif soone[^1063]

[^1063: M.20.86: M's original reading after was not attested in other B manuscripts.]

There was harrow and help . here comeþ kynde
With deth þat is dredful . to vndoon vs alle

The lord þat lyued aftur lust . tho aloud cryde
After confort a kniȝt . to come and bere his baner
Alarme alarme quod þat lord . ech lif kepe his owne

And þanne mette þise men . or[^1064] mynstrales myȝte pipe
And or[^1065] heraudes of armes . had descryued lord es .

[^1064: M.20.92: M's original reading hire, as in the next line, is paralleled by Cr's their. Other B manuscripts have er. This is a rare example of M moving away from a Cr reading, but the revising hand is crude and late. See also the note to M.20.101.]

[^1065: M.20.93: M's original reading hire is shared with Cot (also corrected) and paralleled by Cr's their. See note to previous line. Other B manuscripts have er.]

Elde þe hore he was . in þe vauntwarde
And bar þe baner bifore deþ . by riȝt he it cleymed .
Kynde cam after . with many kene soores
As pokkes and pestilences . and muche p eple shente
So kynde þoruȝ corupciouns . kulled ful manye .
Deth cam dryuynge after . and al to dust passhed
Kynges and kaysers . knyghtes[^1066] . and popes
Lered ne lewede . he —[^1067] leet no man stonde
That he hit euene . þat euere stood[^1068] aftur
Many a louely lady . and lemmans of knyghtes
Swoneden and swelten[^1069] . for sorwe of deþes dyntes

[^1066: M.20.100: M's kaysers knyghtes agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts reverse the order.]

[^1067: M.20.101: In erasing ne M again departs from a Cr reading. Cf. notes to M.20.92-93.]

[^1068: M.20.102: M's stood agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have stired.]

[^1069: M.20.104: M's swelten agrees with Cr1; other B manuscripts have the past tense.]

Conscience of his curtesye . to kynde he bisouȝte
To cesse and suffre . and se where þei wolde
Leue pride priuely . and be parfite cristene

And kynde cessed þo . to se þe p eple amende
Fortune gan flateren þanne . þo fewe þat weren alyue
And by-highte hem long lif . and leccherye he sente
Amonges alle manere men . wedded and vnwedded
& gadred a gret hoost : al again conscience

This leccherye leide on . with a laughynge chiere
And with a[^1070] pryue speche . and peintede wordus
And armed hym in ydelnesse . and in heighe berynge
He bar a bowe in his hand . and many blody arwes
Weren fetherd wiþ faire biheste . and many a fals treuþe
Wiþ his vntydy tales . he tened ful ofte
Conscience and his compaignye . of holy churche þe techers

[^1070: M.20.114: Only MCr read a.]

Thanne com coueitise . and caste how he miȝte
Ouercome conscience . and cardynale vertues
And armede hym in auarice . and hungriliche lyuede .
His wep ene was al wyles . to wynnen and to hiden
With glosynges and with gabbynges . he giled þe p eple .
Symonye him sente . to assaille conscience
And preched to þe p eple . and prelates þei maden[^1071]
To holden with antecrist . hire temperaltees to sauen
And com to þe kynges conseill . as a kene baroun
And kneled to conscience . in court afore hem alle
And garte good feith flee . and fals to abide
And boldliche bar adoun . with many a bright noble
Muche of þe wit and wisdom . of westm ynstre halle
He iugged til a Iustice . and iusted in his ere
[^1072]And ouertilte al his treuthe . with take þis vp amendement
And to þe arches in haste . he yede anoon aft er
And turned cyuyle in-to symonye . and sith he took þe official
# the mantell off Mynever
For a man tel of Menyuer . he made lele matrimoigne
Departen er deth cam . and diuorse shapte

[^1071: M.20.126: All B manuscripts except MCr read hem maden.]

[^1072: M.20.134: The decoration to the left of the first letter resembles a paraph, but is presumably not intended as one.]

Allas quod conscience þo[^1073] . wolde crist of his grace
That coueityse were a[^1074] cristene . þat is so kene fiȝther[^1075]
And bold and bidynge . while his bagge lasteþ .

[^1073: M.20.139: M's þo agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have and cryde þo.]

[^1074: M.20.140: Only MCr read a.]

[^1075: M.20.140: M's reading of fiȝther agrees with G. All other B manuscripts read a fightere, except for RF which read to fiȝte.]

And þanne lough lif . and leet dagge hise cloþes .
And armed hym in haste . in harlotes wordes
And h eld holynesse a iape . and heendnesse a wastour
And leet leautee a cherle . and lyer a freman
Conscience and counseill . he counted it a foly

Thus relyed lyf . for a litel fortune
And priked forth with pride . praised he no vertue
He careþ nouȝt how kynde slow . and shal come at þe laste
And kulle alle erþely creatures[^1076] . saue conscience oone .
Lyf l eep a-side . and cauȝte[^1077] hym a lemman .
Hele and I quod he . and heynesse of herte
Shal do þe nouȝt drede . neyther deþ ne elde
And to forȝete deþ[^1078] . and yeue nouȝt of synne

[^1076: M.20.150: M's original reading creature agreed with YLR. All other B manuscripts attest the plural.]

[^1077: M.20.151: M shares the reading cauȝte with Cr1; other B manuscripts have lauȝte.]

[^1078: M.20.154: M shares the reading deþ only with Cr1. Other B manuscripts read sorwe.]

This liked lif . and his lemman fortune
And geten in hire glorie . a gadlynge at þe laste
Oon þat muche wo wrouȝte . slewþe was his name
Slewþe wex wo n— dur[^1079] yerne . and soone was of age
And wedded on wanhope . a wenche of þe stewes .
Hire sire was a Sisour / þat neuere swor treuþe
# Tom twotonge
Oon thomme twotonge . atteint of[^1080] ech a queste .

[^1079: M.20.158: The correction was orginally written woundur and has been corrected a second time.]

[^1080: M.20.161: M shares the reading of with Cr1; other B manuscripts have at; F reads in.]

This sleuþe was war of werre . and a slynge made
mordon

[M.20.163: See Introduction, I.11 "Provenance."]

And þrew drede of despair . a dozeyne myle a-boute
For care conscience þo . cryed vpon elde
And bad hym fonde to fiȝte . and afere wanhope .

And elde hente gode hope . and hastliche he shifte hym .
And wayued a-way wan — hope . and with lif he fiȝteth
And lif fleigh for feere . to phisyk aftur helpe
And bysouȝte hym of his socour . and of his salue hadde .
And gaf hym gold good woon . þat gladed his herte
And þei geuen hym agayn . a glasen howue
Lyf leued þat lechecraft . lette sh olde elde
# con tra phisicos
And dryuen awey deth . with Dyas and dragges 
And elde auntered hym on lyf . and at þe laste he h ytte
A phisicien with a furred hood . þat he fel in þe[^1081] pallesye
And þere deied þat doctour . er three daies after
Now I see saide lif . þat surgienrye ne phisik
May nouȝt a myte auaille . to medle a yein elde
And in hope of his hele . good herte he hente
And rood so to Reuel . a ryche place and a murye
The compaignye of confort . men cleped it s om-tyme
And elde anoon after me . and ouer myn hed yede
And made me balled by-fore . and bare on þe cro vne
So harde he ȝede ouer myn hed . it wol be seene euere

[^1081: M.20.175: M's original reading was shared by O. M's addition of þe brings it into agreement with CrYC2CB. Others have a.]

Sire yuele y-tauȝt Elde quod I . vnhiende go wiþ þe
Siþ whanne was þe wey . ouer menn es hedes
X
Haddest þow ben hende quod I . þow woldest haue asked leue

Ye leue lordeyn quod he . and layde on me with age
And h ytte me vnder þe eere . vnnethe may ich heere
He buffeted me a-boute þe mouth . and beet out my teth
And gyued me in goutes . I may not goo at large
And of þe wo þat I was ynne . my wyf hadde reuthe
And whisshede ful w yt erly . þat I were in heuene
For þe lyme þat she loued me fore . and leef was to feele
On nyȝtes namely . whan we naked were
I ne myȝte in no manere . maken it at hire wille
So Elde and she soþly . hadden it forbeten —[^1082]

[^1082: M.20.197: M's original reading was probably close to that of Cr, which has had beaten it. The alteration brings M into agreement with most B manuscripts.]

And as I sat in þis sorwe . I seigh kynde passed
And deþ drouȝ neer me . for drede gan I quake
And cryde to k ynde . out of care me brynge
Loo Elde þe hoore . haþ me by-se ye .
A-wreke me if yowre wille be . for I wolde ben henn es
If þow wolt been y-wroken . weende in-to vnitee
And holde þe þere euere / til I seende for þe
And loke þow konne som craft . er þow come þennes .

Counseille me kynde quod I . what craft is best to lerne

Lerne to loue quod kynde . and leue of alle oþur

How shal .I. come to catel so . to cloþe me and —[^1083] fede .

[^1083: M.20.208: The erasure of to brings M into agreement with HmGF.]

And þow loue lelly quod he . lakke shal þe neuere
Mete ne worldly wede . whil þi lif lasteth .

And þere by conseill of kynde . I comsed to rome
Thoruȝ contricioun and confessioun . til I com to vnite .
And þere was conscience Conestable . cristene to saue
And biseged soþly with seuen grete gyauntes
That with Antecrist helden . harde a yein conscience

Slewþe was[^1084] his slynge . and an[^1085] hard assaut made
Proude preestes come with hym . mo þan a þousand
In paltokes and piked shoes . and pissers longe knyues
Comen a yein conscience . with coueityse þei h elden

[^1084: M.20.216: M's was agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have wiþ.]

[^1085: M.20.216: M's original reading of and without an agreed with Cr1,3YCBoR. The other B manuscripts read an but no others have and an.]

# the prest off Irlond
By marie quod a mansed preest . of þe marche of Irlond
I counte namore conscience . by so I cacche siluer
Than — I do to drynke . a draughte of gode ale .
And so saiden sixty . of þe same countre
And shoten a yein with sho t . many a shef of othes
And broode hoked arwes . godes herte and his nailes
And hadden almoost vnyte . and holynesse a-downe

Conscience cryed help clergye . orelles or elles I falle
Thoruȝ inparfite preestes . and prelates of holy churche
bene vales consciencia
Freres herden hym crye . and comen hym to helpen
Ac for þei koude nouȝt wel hire craft . conscience forsook hem .

Nede neighed þo neer . and conscience he toolde
That þey come for coueityse . to haue cure of soules
And for þei arn pouere parauenture . for patrimoigne hem failled[^1086]
#
Thei[^1087] flatere to fare wel . folk þat ben riche
And sithe þei chosen chele . and cheitif pouerte .
Lat hem chewe as þei chosen . and charge hem with no cure .
.id est. sepius

[M.20.237: This gloss on lomer also appears in L.]

For lomer he lyeþ . þat liflode moot begge
#
Than — he þat laboureþ for liflode . and leueþ it beggers
And sith Freres forsooke . þe felicitee of[^1088] erþe .
Lat hem be as beggers . or lyue by angeles foode .

[^1086: M.20.233: M alone among B manuscripts attests the past tense of the verb. Other B manuscripts attest the present.]

[^1087: M.20.234: M's Thei agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have They wol.]

[^1088: M.20.239: M's original reading þe was also attested in CrG.]

Conscience of þis conseille þo . comsed to laughe
And curteislich conforted hem . and called in alle Freres .
And saide sires soþly . welcome be ye alle
To vnite and holychurche . ac oþing o þing I yow praie
Holdeþ yow in vnite . and haueþ noon enuye
To lered ne to lewed . but lyueth aftur youre rule
And I wol be yowre borwe . ye shul haue breed & clothes
And oþere necessaries y-nowe . yow shal no þing faille
With þat ye leue logyk . and l erneþ to[^1089] lo uye
For loue lafte[^1090] þei lordshipe . boþe lond and scole
Frere Fraunceys . and Domynyk . for loue to ben holy

[^1089: M.20.249: M's to agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have for to.]

[^1090: M.20.250: It is possible that lafte has been altered from loste, the reading of CrBmCot.]

And if ye coueiteþ cure . kynde wil yow teche
That in mesure god made . alle manere þinges
And sette it at a certein . and at a siker nombre
And nempned names newe . and nombred þe sterres
Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum . & omnibus eis & cetera .

Kynges and knyghtes . þat kepen and defenden
Han officers vnder hem . and ech of hem a[^1091] certeyn
And if þei wage men to werre . þei wryte hem in nombre
Or þei wil[^1092] no tresour hem paye . trauaille þei neuere so soore
Alle oþur in bataille . ben holden bribours
Pilours and pikehernois . in ech a place a-cursed

[^1091: M.20.258: M's original reading without a was shared by CrGYC2CLR.]

[^1092: M.20.260: M's revised reading Or þei wil is shared only with Cr. Most B manuscripts have Wol, which was M's original reading, but F has Ellys will and B has And þerfore wollen.]

Monkes and monyales . and alle men of Religioun
Hire ordre and hire rule wolde[^1093] . to han a certein nombre
Of lered and of lewed . þe lawe wol and axeth .
A certein for a certein . saue oonly of freres .
For-þi quod conscience by crist . kynde wit me telleþ .
It is wikked to wage yow . ye wexe out of nombre
Heuene haþ euene nombre . and helle is with-oute nombre
For-þi I wolde witt erly . þat ye were in —[^1094] Registre[^1095]
And yowre nombre vndur notaries signe . and neither mo ne lasse

[^1093: M.20.264: M's wolde agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have wole or wel.]

[^1094: M.20.270: The erasure of þe brings M into agreement with O and most C manuscripts.]

[^1095: M.20.270: M's original plural agreed with Cr.]

Enuye herde þis and bad[^1096] . Freres go to scole
And l erne logyk and lawe . and ek contemplacioun
And preche men of plato . and proue it by Seneca
That alle þinges vndur heuene . ouȝten to ben in comune

[^1096: M.20.272: The addition of bad brings M into agreement with Cr. Most other B manuscripts read heet.]

And yet he lieþ as I leue . þat to þe lewed so precheþ .
For god made men[^1097] / a lawe / . and Moyses it tauȝte
Non concupisces rem proximi tui .
#
And yuele is þis y-holde . in parisshes of Inglond
For persones and parissh preestes . þat shulde þe p eple shriue
Ben curatours called . to knowe and to hele
Alle þat ben hire parisshenes . penaunce to enioigne
And sholden ben ashamed in hire shrifte . ac shame makeþ hem wende
And fleen to þe Freres . as fals folk to westm ynstre
Þat borweþ and bereþ þider . and þanne biddeþ freendes
Yerne of for yeuenesse . or lenger yeres loone

[^1097: M.20.277: M's men agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have to men.]

Ac whil he is in westm ynstre . he wol be bifore
And maken hym merie . with oþur me n n es goodes
And so it fareþ with muche folk . þat to þe Freres shryueþ
As sisours and Executours . þei wol yeue þe Freres
A parcel to pray for hem . and make hem-selue murye
With þe residue and þe rem enaunt . þat oþer men byswonke
And suffre þe dede in dette . to þe day of dome .

Enuye herfore . hated conscience .
And Freres to philosophye . he fond hem to scole
X
The while coueitise and vnkyndnesse . conscience assailled
In vnite holy churche . conscience held hym
And made pees porter . to pynne þe yates
Of alle tale-tellers . and titerers in ydel
Ypocrysye and he . an hard assaut þei made
Ypocrisye at þe yate . harde gan to fighte
And wounded wel wikkedly . many wise techeres
That with conscience acorded . and cardynale vertues
Conscience called a leche . þat koude wel shryue
To[^1098] salue þo þat seke ben . and[^1099] þoruȝ synne y-wounded
Shrifte shoop sharpe salue . and made men do penaunce
For hire misdedes . þat þei wrouȝt hadden
And þat Piers were paied . Redde quod debes

[^1098: M.20.305: M's original reading Go agreed with HmCrYOLR; the altered reading agrees with C2CBF; W's To go attests both readings.]

[^1099: M.20.305: M's original reading without and agreed with GYOC2CBL.]

Somme liked nouȝt þis leche . and lettres þei senten
If any surgyen w ere þe segge . þat softer coude plastre
# syr leff to live in lecherye
Sire lef to lyue in leccherie . lay þere and groned
For fastynge of a Fryday . he ferde as he wolde deye

There is a surgien in þis segge .[^1100] þat softe kan handle
And more of phisik he can[^1101] . & fairer he plastereþ
nota
Oon Frere flaterer . is phisicien and surgien

[^1100: M.20.313: In place of M's altered reading segge ("man"), all other B manuscripts except Hm have sege ("place"). Confusion was perhaps prompted by M.20.310 above.]

[^1101: M.20.314: M's he can agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have be fer. F has he can be feer.]

Quod contricion to conscience . do hym come to vnite
For here is many a man . hurt þoruȝ ypocrisie .

We haue no nede quod conscience . I woot no bettre leche
Than person or parissh preest . penitauncer or bisshop
.id est. papa
Saue Piers þe plowman . þat haþ power ouer hem alle
And indulgence may do . but if dette lette it
I may wel suffre saide conscience . syn ye desiren
That Frere flaterere be fet . and phisike yow syke

The Frere hereof herde . and hiede ful faste
To a lord for a lettre . leue to haue to curen
As a curatour he were . and cam with hise lettres .
Baldly to þe Bisshop . and his brief hadde
In countrees þere he com ynne[^1102] . confessiouns to here
And cam þere conscience was . and knokked at þe yate

[^1102: M.20.328: The first two minims have been corrected by converting them to a <y>. See Introduction III.1.]

Pees vnpynned it . was porter of vnite
And in haste asked . what is wille were

I faith quod þis Frere . for profit and for helthe
Carpe I wolde with contricioun . and þerfore com .I.[^1103] hider
He is seek saide pees . and so is many a-noþer[^1104]
Ipocrysie haþ hurt hym . ful harde is if he coeuere

[^1103: M.20.333: M's original word order agreed with C2Cr.]

[^1104: M.20.334: M's is many a-noþer agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have are manye oþer.]

I am a surgien seyde þe segge . and salues can make
Conscience knoweþ me wel . and what I kan do boþe

I pray þe quod pees þo . er þow passe ferther
What h ightest /[^1105] þow I pray þe . hele nouȝt þ y name

[^1105: M.20.339: M's altered reading hightest is shared only with Cr. Other B manuscripts have hattest.]

Cert es seide his felawe . sire Penetrans domos

Ye go þi gate quod pees . by god for al þi phisik
But þow konne som craft . þow comest not here-inne
I knewe such oon ones . nouȝt eighte wynt er passed
Com in þus ycoped . at a court where I dwelled
And was my lordes leche . and my ladyes boþe
And at þe laste þis lymitour . þo my lord was oute
He salued so oure wymmen . til some weren with childe

Heende speche heet pees . opene þe yates
Lat in þe frere and his felawe . and make hem fair chere
He may see and here . so it may bifalle
That lif þoruȝ his loore . shal leue coueityse
And be adrad of deth . and withdrawe hym from pride
And acorde with conscience . and kisse hire either other

Thus þoruȝ heende speche . entred þe frere .
And com in to conscience . and curtey sely hym grete

Thow art welcome quod conscience . kanstthow kanst thow hele þe seke
Here is contricioun quod conscience . my cosyn y-wounded
Conforte hym quod conscience . and take keep to his soores
The plastres of þe person . and poudres biten to soore .
He let hem ligge ouer-longe . and loth is to chaungen hem .
From lent enn to lent enn[^1106] . he let his plastres biten .

[^1106: M.20.361: In both instances, the second vowel lentoun has been altered from <o> to <e>.]

That is ouer-longe quod þis lymytour . I leue I shal amenden it
And gooth and gropeþ contricioun . and gaf hym a plastre
Of a pryuie paiement . and I shal praye for yow
For alle þat ye ben holden to . al — my lif-tyme
And make yow my lady . in masses[^1107] and in matyns
As freres of oure fraternite . for a litel siluer

[^1107: M.20.366: M's masses agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have the singular.]

Thus he gooth and gadereþ . and gloseþ þere he shryueþ
Til contricioun hadde clene for yeten . to crye and to wepe
And wake for hise werkes[^1108] . as he was wont to doone
For confort of his confessour . contricioun he loste
That is þe souereigneste salue . for alle kynne synnes

[^1108: M.20.370: M's werkes agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have wikked werkes.]

Sleuwthe seigh þat . and so d ide pryde
And come with a kene wille . conscience to assaille
Conscience cryed eft . and bad clergye helpe hym
And also contricioun . for to kepe þe ȝate .

He lyth and dremeþ . saide pees  and so do many oþere
The Frere with his phisik . þis folk haþ en-chaunted
And plastred hem so esely . þei drede no synne .

By crist quod conscience þo . I wol bycome a pilgrym
And walken as wide . as al þe world lasteth
To seke piers þe plowman . þat p ryde may destruye
And þat freres hade a fyndynge . þat for nede flateren
And contrepledeth me conscience . now kynde me auenge
And sende me hap and hele  til I haue piers þe plowman
And sith he gradde after grace . til I gan a-wake

Explicit hic dialogus petri plowman [^1109]

[^1109: M.20.386: This form of explicit occurs also in B manuscripts CC2GLOWY.]

Penna precor siste  quoniam liber explicit iste [^1110]

[^1110: M.20.386: The Colophons de manuscrits occidentaux des origines au XVIe siècle (Fribourg, 1965-) lists four other manuscripts, two in Britain, two on the continent, that include this explicit.]

Explicit iste liber . qui obsecro transeat liber[^1111]

[^1111: M.20.386: The third explicit, in a different hand, is also found as the first line of the explicit to Gower's Confessio Amantis, as was pointed out to us by George Shuffleton. See Siân Echard, "Last Words: Latin at the End of the Confessio Amantis" in Interstices: Studies in Middle English and Anglo-Latin Texts in Honour of A. G. Rigg, ed. Richard Firth Green and Linne R. Mooney (Toronto, 2004) pp. 99-121. This includes an appendix listing the witnesses to the explicit. It is likely that the scribe of this third explicit in M took the line from a Gower manuscript, and therefore that he had London connections.]