The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 3: Oxford, Oriel College, MS 79 (O) version of 30 December 2003
author: William Langland
source date: late 14th or early 15th century
edition published: 2004
language: lat; fre; ger
availability: copyright 2004, by SEENET Published in the United Kingdom by Boydell and Brewer for The Medieval Academy of America and SEENET Manufactured in the United Kingdom No part of this publication may be reproduced, stored in a retrieval system, or transmitted in any form or by any means, electronic, mechanical, or otherwise, without the written permission of the publisher.

P ers plowman [O.P.000: A vertical line, hooked at the top, three line-spaces in height, precedes the title. The following lines appear at the head of the text: Et sine verborum  sonitu . fit doctor eorum Ipse tuam mentem  regat & faciat sapientem Recte credentem  monitos que bonos retinentem Vt bene viuendo  mandata que sana sequendo Leticiam vere  lucis . merearis habere Q ue tenebras nescit  miro que decore nitescit Et cuicum que datur  sine fine beatificatur H oc tibi det munus  qui regnat trinus & vnus . amen. In the endleaves of the manuscript, Skeat describes these lines as "the tag-end of a Latin poem of small merit" which "has no connection whatever with Pers Plowman." They are the final eight lines of the Carmen Paraeneticum ad Rainaldum , a twelfth-century poem of unknown authorship (PL 184, 1307A-1314C). Thanks are owed to Michael Blum for the research that led to the identification of this fragment.]

I N a somer sesoun  whanne soft was þe sunne
I schope me in schroudes  as I a scheep were
In habyt as an heremyt  vnholi of werkis
Wente wyde in þis world  wondres to heere
Ac on a may mornyng  on Maluerne hillis
Me befel a ferly  of fayrie me þouȝte
I was wery for-wandrid  and wente me to rest
Vndir a brood bank  bi a bornes syde
And as I lay & lenede  & lokede in þe watris
I slumbrede in a slepyng  it sweyuede[^1] so myrie
¶ Þanne gan I to meten  a merueylous sweuene
Þ at I was in wildernesse  wiste I neuere where
As I behelde in-to þe est  on hyȝ to þe sunne
I sawȝ a toure on a toft  triedliche[^2] I-maked
A deep dale byneþe  a dongeoun þer -Inne
Wiþ depe dichis & derke  & dredeful of syȝt
A faire feeld ful of folk  fonde I þere bitwene
Of al manere of men  þe mene & þe riche
Worchynge & wandrynge  as þe world askiþ
Summe putte hem to þe plow  pleyede ful seelde
In settynge & souwynge  swonken ful harde
And wonnen þat wastouris  in[^3] glotenye distroyen
¶ And summe putten hem to pride  apparayleden hem þer -after
In countenaunce of cloþing  coomen disgysed
In preyere[^4] & in penaunce  putten hem many
Al for loue of oure lord  lyueden ful streyte
In hope for to haue  heuene-riche blisse
As ancres & heremytis  þat holden hem in her selles
And coueyten not in contre  to cayren aboute
For no likerous lijflode  her lickam to plese
¶ And summe chosen chaffare  þei cheuen þe better
As it semet to oure siȝt  þat swiche[^5] þryuen
Minystralis
And summe myrþes to make  as mynystrales kunnen
And geten gold wiþ her gle  not[^6] synles I leue
As iapers & iangeleris  Iudas children
Þat[^7] feynen hem fantasies  & foles hem maken
And han her witt at her wille  to wirche if þei schulden[^8]
Qui non laborat non manducet

[O.P.38: This line is divided after laborat , so that it appears opposite ll. 38-39. Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude this gloss, which occurs only in OC2, on the grounds that it is scribal.]

Þat poul prechiþ of hem  I nyle not preue it heere
Qui turpiloquium loquitur  is lucifers knaue
¶ Bidderis & beggeris  faste aboute ȝieden[^9]
Wiþ her bely & her baggys  of breed ful I-crammyd
Faiteden for her fode  fauȝten at[^10] ale
In glotenye . god it woot  goon þei to bedde
And rysen wiþ ribaudie  þe[^11] roberdis knaues
Sleep & sory slouþe  suen hem euere
¶ Pilgrymys & palmeris  pliȝteden[^12] hem to-gyderes
Pilgrimys
To seke seynt Iames  & seyntis in Rome
Þey wenten forþ in her wey  wiþ many wise tales
And hadden leue for to lye  al her lijf after
I seyȝ summe þat seyden  þei hadden I-souȝt seyntis
To iche a tale þat þei tolden[^13]  her tunge was temperid to lye
More þan[^14] seye soþ  it semede . bi her speche
¶ Heremytis on an heep  wiþ hoked staues
Wenten to walsyngham  & her wenchis after
heremytis
Grete lobyes & longe  þat loþ weren to swynke
Cloþeden hem in copis  to be knowen from oþere
And schopen hem heremytis  her ese to haue
¶ I fonde þere freris  alle þe foure ordres
Freris
Precheden þe peple  for profiȝt of hem-seluen
Gloseden þe gospel  as hem good likede
For coueytise of copes  construeden it . as þei wolden[^15]
Many of þeise maystre freris  mowen cloþen hem at likyng
For her money & marchaundises[^16]  marchen to-gyderis
For siþ charite haþ ben chapman  & cheef to schryue lordis
charitas
Many ferlies han fallen  in a fewe ȝieris
But holi chirche & þei  holde bettre to-gyderis
Þe moost myscheef on erþe[^17]  is mountynge vp wel[^18] faste
Perdonneris
¶ Þere prechede a pardoner  as he a preest were
Brouȝte forþ a bulle  wiþ bischoppis seelis
And seyde þat hym-self myȝte  assoylen hem alle
Of falshed of fastyng  & of vowes Ibroken
¶ Lewede men leueden[^19] hym wel  & likeden hise wordis
Comen vp knelynge  to kissen hise bulles
He bunchede hem wiþ his breuet  & blerede her yen
And rauȝte wiþ his ragman  rynges & broches
Þus þei gyuen her gold  glotounes to kepe
And louen[^20] siche loselis  þat leccherie haunten
Were þe bischop Iblessid  & worþ hise boþe[^21] eres
His seel schulde not be sent  to disceyue þe peple
Ac it is not bi þe bischop  þat þe boye prechiþ
For þe parisch preest & þe pardoner  parten þe siluer
Þat þe pore porayle[^22] of þe parisch  schulde haue . if þei ne were
Curatis
¶ Persounes & parisch prestis  pleyneden[^23] hem to þe bischop
Þ at her parisches weren pore  siþ þe pestelence tyme
To haue a licence & leue  at london to dwelle
And syngen þere for symonye  for siluer is swete
¶ Bischoppis & bacheleris  boþe maystres & doctouris
Þat han cure vndir crist  & crownyng in tokene
And signe . þat þei schulden  schryuen her parischenes
Prechen & preye for hem  & þe pore fede
Liggen in london  in lenten and ellis
Summe seruen þe kyng  & his siluer tellen
In checker & in chauncerie  chalengen hise dettis
Of wardis of[^24] wardmotes  of weyues of[^25] streyues
¶ And summe seruen as seruauntis  lordis & ladyes
And in stede of stiwardis  sitten & demen
Her messe & her mateyns  & many of her ouris
Arn doon vn-deuoutliche  drede is at þe last
¶ Lest crist in consistorie  curse[^26] ful many
I parceyuede of þe power  þat peter hadde to kepe
To bynde & to vnbynde  as þe book telliþ
How he . it self[^27] wiþ loue  as oure lord hyȝte
Amongys foure vertues  þe best of alle vertues
Þat cardynalis ben clepid  & closyng ȝatis
Þere crist is in kyngdam  to close & to schitte
And to opene it to hem  & heuene blis schewe
Ac of þe cardynalis at court  þat cauȝten of þat name
Ac[^28] power presumeden[^29] in hem  a pope to make
To haue þat power þat petir hadde  Impugne it[^30] I nylle
For in loue & lettrure  þe eleccioun bilongeþ
For-þi I can & I[^31] can not  of court speke more
¶ Þanne cam þer a kyng  knyȝthod hym ladde
Myȝt of þe comunes  made hym to regne
And þanne kam kynde witt  & klerkis he made
For to counceyle þe kyng  & þe comune saue
¶ Þe kyng & knyȝthod  & clergye boþe
Casten þat þe comune  schulden[^32] hem-self fynde
¶ Þe comune contreuede  of kynde witt . craftes
And for profiȝt of al þe peple  plowmen ordeyneden[^33]
To tilie & trauayle  as trewe lijf askeþ
Þe kyng & þe comune  & kynde witt . þe þridde
Schopen lawe & leute  iche man to knowe his owne
¶ Þanne lokede vp a lunatyk  a lene þing wiþ-al
And knelynge to þe kyng  clergiali he seyde
Crist kepe þee sir kyng  & þi kyng-riche
And lene þee to[^34] lede þi lond  so leute þee louye
And for þi riȝtful rewlyng  be rewardid in heuene
And siþþen in þe eir on hyȝ  an aungel of heuene
Lowede to speke in latyn  for lewede men ne kouden[^35]
Iangle ne Iugge  þat Iustifie hem schulde
But suffren & seruen  for-þi seyde þe aungel
versus
Sum rex sum princeps  neutrum fortasse deinceps
O qui iura regis  cristi . specialia regis
Hoc quod agas melius  iustus es . esto pius
Nudum ius a te  vestiri vult pietate
Qualia vis metere  talia grana sere
Si ius nudatur  nudo de iure metatur
Si seritur pietas  de pietate metas[^36]
¶ Þanne greuede hym a goliardeys  a glotoun of wordis
And to þe aungel on hyȝ  answerede after
versus
Cum[^37] rex a regere  dicatur nomen habere
Nomen habet sine re  nisi studet iura tenere[^38]
¶ Þanne gan alle þe comunes  crie . in vers of latyn
To þe kyngys counceyl  construe . who-so wolde
versus
Precepta regis  sunt nobis vincula legis[^39]
Ratounes .
¶ Wiþ þat ran þer a route  of ratounes at ones
And smale myce wiþ hem  moo þan a þousand
And comen to a counceyl  for her comune profiȝt
For a cat of a court  cam whanne hym likede
And ouerleepe hem lyȝtly  & lauȝte hem at his wille
And pleyede wiþ hem perelouslich  & possede hem aboute
For doute of dyuerse dedes[^40]  we doren[^41] not wel loke
And if we grucchen of hys gamen  he wole greue vs alle
Cracche vs & clawe vs  & in hise cloches holde
Þ at vs loþeþ þe lijf  or he lete vs passe
Myȝten[^42] we wiþ any witt  his wille wiþ-stonde
We myȝten be lordis a-loft  & lyuen at oure ese
¶ A Ratoun of renoun  moost renable of tunge
Seyde for a souereyn  help . to hym-seluen[^43]
I haue seyn segges quod he  in þe cite of london
Beren byes ful bryȝt  abouten her neckis
And summe colers of crafty werk  vncoupled þei wenden
Boþe in wareyn & in wast  where hem leue likiþ
And oþer -whyle . þei arn ellis -where  as I here telle
Were þer a belle on her byes[^44]  bi iesu as me þinkeþ
Men myȝten wite where þei wenten[^45]  & awey renne
And riȝt so quod þe[^46] ratoun  resoun me schewiþ
To bigge a belle of brasse  or of bryȝt siluer
And knytte on a koler  for oure comune profiȝt
And hange it vp-on þe cattis hals  þanne . here we mowen[^47]
Where he rit or restiþ  or renneþ to pleye
And if hym liste for to layke  þanne loke we mowen
And peren in his presence  þer -while hym pleye likiþ
And if hym wraþþeþ be ywar  & his weye schonye
¶ Al þis route of ratounes  to þis resoun assenteden[^48]
Ac þoo þe belle was I-bouȝt  & on þe bye hangyd
Þ er ne was ratoun in al þe route  for al þe rewme of fraunce
Þat durste haue bounde þe belle  aboute þe cattis necke
Ne hangen it aboute þe cattis hals  al Englond to wynne[^49]
And helden hem vnhardi  & her counceyl feble
Myce
And leeten her labour lost  & her longe studie
¶ A mous þat myche good  couþe . as me þouȝte
Stroke forþ sterneli  & stode bi-forn hem alle
And to þe[^50] ratounes  rehercede þeise wordis
Þouȝ we killeden[^51] þe cat  ȝet schulde þer come an-oþer
To cracche vs and al oure kynde  þouȝ we cropen vnder benchis
For-þi I counceyle al þe comune  to latte þe cat worthe
And be we neuere so bold  þe belle hym to schewe
For I herde my sire seyn  is seuene ȝer ypassed
Þere þe cat is a kitoun  þe court is ful elenge
Þat witnessiþ holi writ  who-so wole it rede
Ve terre  vbi puer est Rex[^52] & cetera .
For may no renke þere rest haue  for ratouns bi nyȝt
Þe whyle he cacchiþ conynges  he coueitiþ not oure careyne
But fet hym wiþ venysoun  defame we hym neuere
For better is a litil losse  þan a longe sorwe
Þe mase amongys vs alle  þouȝ we mysse a schrewe
For many mennys malt  we myce wolden distroye
And also þe route of ratouns  rende mennys cloþis
Nere þat cat of þat court  þat can ȝow ouer -lepe
For hadden[^53] ȝe rattis ȝoure wille  ȝe couþen[^54] not reule ȝow-selue
I seye for me quod þe mous  I se so mykil after
Schal neuere þe cat ne þe kitoun  bi my counceyl be greuyd
Ne carpyng of þis coler  þat costede me neuere
And þouȝ it hadde cost me catel  biknowe it . I nolde
But suffre . as hym-self wolde  to do as hym likiþ
Couplid & vncouplid  to cacche . what þei mowen
For-þi . iche a wyse wyȝt  I warne . wite wel his owne
¶ What þeise[^55] metels bemenett[^56]  ȝe men þat ben myrie
Dyuyne ȝe . for I ne dar  bi dere god in heuene
¶ Ȝet houeden[^57] þere an hundred in howues of silk
Sergeauntis it semeden  þat serueden at þe barre
Plededen for penyes  & poundis . þe lawe
And not for loue of oure lord  vnlose her lippis ones
Þow myȝtist better . mete þe myst  on malueren hillis
Þan gete a mumme of her mouþe  but money be schewid
¶ Barouns & burgeys  and bonde-men also
I seyȝ in þis assemble  as ȝe schul here after
Baxters & brewsters  and bocheris manye
Wollen websteris  and weueris of lynnen
Taylouris & tynkeris  & tolleris in markettis
Masouns & mynouris  & many oþere craftis
Of alle kyn libbynge laboreris  lopen forþ summe
As dykers & deluers . þat doon her dedis ille[^58]
And dryuen forþ þe longe day . wiþ dieu vous saue dame Emme
Cookes
Cookes & her knaues  cryeden hote pyes hote
Goode gees & grys  go we dyne go we
Tauerners vn-til hem  tolden þe same
Whyte wiyn of Oseye  & rede wiyn of Gascoigne
Of þe Ryne & of[^59] Rochel  þe roost to deffye
Al þis sawe I slepynge  & seuene syþes more .

[^1: O.P.10: This word caused scribal confusion. YC2CL share the reading of O; other variants include sweyd (G), swyȝed (HmCRF), sweyed (WM), and sweuenyd (H). Although the MED relates the form swiȝede in the corresponding line of the C-text (Trinity MS) to swevenen, "to dream," Skeat's gloss on sweyued as meaning "flowed, rippled along" (Dan. svæve) accords better with the sense of the line. However, the MED lists no forms of sweien with a medial <u>. Schmidt (363) adopts the reading of ZA, sweyed, which he glosses as "sounded." Kane and Donaldson adopt this form as well.]

[^2: O.P.14: The form triedliche, meaning "excellently," appears in ME only here and in The Destruction of Troy 3054, 9786, 10583 (cited in MED). Variants include trieliche (WGYLF), trychlych (Cr3), ryaly (H), rieliche (CM), rychely (HMCR12), and reallecle (C2). Kane and Donaldson adopt trieliche.]

[^3: O.P.22: GOC2 alone have in in place of correctly alliterating with.]

[^4: O.P.25: OC2 alone have the singular form.]

[^5: O.P.32: OC2 alone lack a word between swiche and þryuen; most B manuscripts have men.]

[^6: O.P.34: OC2 alone include the negative.]

[^7: O.P.36: YOC2M alone include Þat.]

[^8: O.P.37: OC2 alone have the form schulden; most B manuscripts have schulde.]

[^9: O.P.40: OC2 alone have the form ȝieden; all other beta witnesses have yede.]

[^10: O.P.42: OC2 alone lack þe before ale.]

[^11: O.P.44: OC2 alone have þe; most B manuscripts have þo.]

[^12: O.P.46: OC2 alone have the form pliȝteden; variants include plyght (Cr), plighted (YLM), pyghtyn (F), pyth (H), gedir (C), and pliȝten (WHmG).]

[^13: O.P.51: OC2 alone have the form tolden in place of tolde.]

[^14: O.P.52: OC2 alone lack to before the infinitive.]

[^15: O.P.61: OC2 alone have the form wolden; most B manuscripts have wolde.]

[^16: O.P.62: OYC2C alone have the plural form.]

[^17: O.P.67: OC2 alone have erþe in place of molde.]

[^18: O.P.67: OC2 alone include both vp and wel.]

[^19: O.P.72: O alone has the form leueden; most B manuscripts have leued.]

[^20: O.P.77: OC2 alone have louen; most B manuscripts have leneþ.]

[^21: O.P.78: O alone transposes boþe hise.]

[^22: O.P.82: YOC2M alone have pore porayle; variants include pore men (F), poraille (WHmCL), and pouerty (Cr). Kane and Donaldson emend to pouere peple.]

[^23: O.P.83: O alone has the form pleyneden; most B manuscripts have pleyned.]

[^24: O.P.94: HmOC2H alone have of; variants include & (CrGYCLM) and and of (WRFH).]

[^25: O.P.94: HmOC2 alone have of in place of and before streyues.]

[^26: O.P.99: OC2 alone have curse; most B manuscripts have acorse.]

[^27: O.P.102: OC2 alone have self; most B manuscripts have lefte.]

[^28: O.P.108: O alone has Ac; all other beta witnesses have And.]

[^29: O.P.108: O alone has presumeden; all other beta witnesses have presumed.]

[^30: O.P.109: OC2 alone include it before I.]

[^31: O.P.111: OC2H alone include I before the second occurrence of can.]

[^32: O.P.117: OC2 alone have the form schulden in place of sholde.]

[^33: O.P.119: O alone has the form ordeyneden; all other beta witnesses have ordeyned.]

[^34: O.P.126: OYC2M alone include to before lede.]

[^35: O.P.129: OC2M alone have the form kouden; all other beta witnesses have koude.]

[^36: O.P.138: A bracket in the right margin connects the preceding seven lines; horizontal wavy lines join each line of text to the bracket.]

[^37: O.P.141: YOC2C alone have Cum in place of Dum .]

[^38: O.P.142: A bracket in the right margin connects the preceding two lines; a wavy line joins l. 141 to the bracket.]

[^39: O.P.145: This line is followed by three ticks.]

[^40: O.P.152: OC2 alone have dedes in place of drede(s).]

[^41: O.P.152: O alone has doren; all other beta witnesses have dar.]

[^42: O.P.156: OC2 alone have the form Myȝten; all other beta witnesses have Miȝte.]

[^43: O.P.159: OC2 alone have hym-seluen; all other beta witnesses have hymselue.]

[^44: O.P.165: YOC alone have the plural form.]

[^45: O.P.166: OC2 alone have the form wenten in place of wente.]

[^46: O.P.167: GOC2F alone have þe in place of þat.]

[^47: O.P.170: This and the preceding line are encompassed by a very lightly written red parenthesis in the right margin.]

[^48: O.P.175: O alone has the form assenteden in place of assented.]

[^49: O.P.179: The letter <E> has been rewritten in the right margin in the main scribal hand, apparently because the <E> in Englond is ill-formed.]

[^50: O.P.184: OC2 alone here lack the object of the prepositional phrase, and thus the first alliterating stave. Most B manuscripts have route of.]

[^51: O.P.175: O alone has the form killeden; variants include haddyn kyllyd (F), had Iculled (R), kylled (C2), kulled (CLM), killen (WHmG), and kylle (HYCr).]

[^52: O.P.192: HmOC2R alone transpose Rex est .]

[^53: O.P.201: O alone has the form hadden in place of hadde or omission.]

[^54: O.P.201: O alone has the form couþen in place of kouþe.]

[^55: O.P.209: YOC2 alone have the plural form.]

[^56: O.P.209:It would seem that O alone has bemenett, which Kane and Donaldson do not record. C2 has bemenet.]

[^57: O.P.211: O alone has the form houeden; most B manuscripts have houed.]

[^58: O.P.224: In the top right margin of this folio is a mark resembling an <n>, partially effaced by smearing with water. The hand responsible cannot be identified with certainty, but resembles hand 2.]

[^59: O.P.230: O alone lacks þe before Rochel.]

Primus passus [O.1.000: The heading is divided after Primus , so that it appears as two lines.]

W Hat þis mountayn bemeneþ  & þe merk dale
And þe feeld ful of folk  I schal ȝow fayre schewe
A louely lady of lere  in lynnen I-cloþed
Come doun from a castel  & callede me fayre
And seyde sone slepist þou  seest þou þis peple
How bisy þei been  aboute þe mase
Þe moost partie of þis peple  þat passen on þis erþe
Haue þei worschip in þis world  þei wilnen no better
Of oþer heuene þan here  holden þei no tale
¶ I was a-feerd of hir face  þouȝ sche fayr were
And seyde mercy ma-dame  what is þis to mene
Þe tour vp þe toft quod sche  truþe is þer -inne
And wolde þat ȝe wrouten  as his word techiþ
For he[^60] fadir of feiþ  formede ȝow alle
Boþe wiþ felle & wiþ face  & ȝaf ȝow fyve wittis
For to worschipe hym þer -wiþ  þe whyle ȝe been here
And þer -fore . he hyȝte þe erþe  to helpe ȝow ichone
Of wollen . of lynnen  of lyflode at nede
In mesurable maner  to make ȝow at ese
And comaundede of his curteisie  in comune . þre þingys
Arn noon nedeful but þoo [^61] nempne hem I þinke
And reckene hem bi resoun  reherce ȝe hem after
Þat oon . is vesture  from chele þee to saue
And mete at meele  for myseise of þi-selue
And drynk whanne þou dryest  ac do not out of resoun
Þ at þou worþe þe werse  whanne þou worche schuldest
¶ For loth in his lijf-dayes  for likyng of drynk
Dide bi hise douȝtres  þat þe deuel likede
Delitede hym in drink  as þe deuel wolde
And leccherie hym lauȝte  & lay bi hem boþe[^62]
Inebriemus eum vino . dormiamusque cum eo vt seruare possimus de patre nostro semen .
Þoruȝ wiyn & þoruȝ wommen  þere was loth acombred
And þere he gate in glotenye  gyrles þat weren cherles
For-þi drede delitable drynk  & þou schalt do þe better
Mesure is medicyne  þouȝ þou myche ȝerne
It is not al good for þe goost  þat þe gutte askeþ
Ne lijflode to þi likham  þat leef is to þi[^63] soule
Leeue þou not[^64] þi likham  for a lyer hym techeþ
Þat is a[^65] wrecchid world  wolde þee bitraye
For þe feend & þi flesch  folewen þee to-gydere
Þis & þat seeþ þi soule  & seiþ[^66] in þin herte
And for þou schuldest been I-war  I wisse þee þe bettre[^67]
¶ Ma-dame mercy quod I  me likeþ wel ȝoure wordes
Ac þe money of þis moold  þat men so fast holden
Telle me to whom ma-dame  þat tresore appendeþ
¶ Go to þe gospel quod sche  þat god seyde hym-seluen
peple

[O.1.47: A solidus/punctus above temple and another above the marginal addition indicate that it is intended as a substitution, although such a reading is unattested elsewhere and to adopt it would destroy the sense of the line.]

To[^68] þe peple þat[^69] hym apposede  wiþ a peny in þe temple
Wheþer þei schulden þer -wiþ  worschipe þe kyng Cesar
And god askede of hem  of whom spake þe lettre
And þe ymage Ilike  þat þer -inne[^70] stondiþ
Cesaris . þei seyden  we seen hym wel ichone
Reddite cesari . quod god  þat cesari bifalleþ
Et que sunt dei . deo  or ellis ȝe doon yuele[^71]
For riȝtful resoun  schulde rule ȝow alle
And kynde witt be wardeyn  ȝoure welþe to kepe
And tutour of ȝoure tresore  & take it ȝow at nede
And[^72] housbondrie & þei[^73]  holden to-gydere
¶ Þanne I fraynede hir faire  for hym þat hir made
Þat dongeoun in þe dale  þat dredeful is of syȝt
What may it be to mene  ma-dame . I ȝow biseche
¶ Þat is þe castel of care  who-so comeþ þer -inne[^74]
May banne . þat he born was  to body &[^75] to soule
Þ er -inne wonyeþ a wyȝt  þat . wrong . is I-hote
Fadir of falshed  and foundede it hym -selue
Adam and Eue  he eggede to ille
Counceylede Caym  to killen his broþer
Iudas he iapede  wiþ Iuwen syluer
And siþen on an eller  hangede hym after
He is letter of loue  & lyeþ hem alle
Þat tristen on his tresore  bitrayeþ he sunnest
¶ Þanne hadde I wonder in my witt  what womman it were
Þat swyche wyse wordis  of holi writ schewede
And askede hir in[^76] þe hye name  er sche þennys ȝede
What sche were wittirli  þat wissede me so faire
Holi chirche
¶ Holi chirche I am quod sche  þou ouȝtest me to knowe
I vnderfonge þee first  & þee[^77] feiþ tauȝte
And þou[^78] brouȝtest me borwes  my biddyng to fulfille
And to loue me leelli  þe while þi lijf dureþ
¶ Þanne I courbede on my knees  & cryede hir of grace
And preyede hir pitousli  preye for my synnes
And also . kenne me kyndeli  on crist to beleeue
Þ at I myȝte worche his wille  þat wrouȝte me to man
Teche me to no tresore  but telle me þis ilke
How I may saue my soule  þat seynt art yholden
¶ Whanne alle tresores been I-tryed[^79]  truþe is þe best
I do it on deus caritas  to deme þe soþe
It is as derworþe a drurye  as dere god hym -seluen
Who-so is trewe of his tunge  & telliþ noon oþer
And[^80] þe werkis þer -wiþ  & wilneþ no man ille
He is a god bi þe gospel  on ground & on loft
And Ilike to oure lord  bi seynt lukes wordis
Þe clerkis þat knowen þis  schulden kenne it aboute
For cristen & vncristen  cleymen it ichooun
¶ Kyngys & knyȝtis  schulden kepen it bi resoun
Riden & rappen adoun  in rewmes aboute
Knyȝthode
And take transgressouris  & tyen hem fast
Til truþe hadde I-termyned  her trespasse to þe eende
And þat is þe[^81] professioun apertli  þat appendiþ to knyȝtis
And not to fasten a fryday  in fyue score wynter
But holden wiþ hym & wiþ hir  þat wolden al truþe
And neuere leue hem for loue  ne for lacchyng of syluer
For dauid in his dayes  dubbede knyȝtis
And dide hem swere on her swerd  to serue truþe euere
And who-so passede þe[^82] poynt  is[^83] apostata in þe ordre
But crist kyngen kyng  knyȝtede ten
Cherubyn & Seraphyn  swyche seuene & an-oþer
And ȝaf hem myȝt in his mageste  þe myrier hem þouȝte
And ouer hise mene meyne  made hem archaungelis
Tauȝte hem bi þe trinite  truþe to knowe
To be buxum at his biddyng  he bade hem nouȝt ellis
¶ Lucifer wiþ legiounes  lernede it in heuene
But for he brake buxumnesse  his blis gan he tyne
And fel fro þat felawschipe  in a feendis liknesse
In-to a depe derk helle  to dwelle þere for euere
And moo þouȝsandis wiþ hym  þan man couþe noumbre
Loopen out wiþ lucifer  in loþeliche forme
For þei leeueden vp-on hym  þat lyede in þis manere
Ponam pedem meum[^84] in aquilone & similis ero altissimo
And alle þat hopeden it myȝte be so  noon heuene myȝte hem holde
But fellen out in feendis liknesse  nyne dayes to-gydere
Til god of his goodnesse  gan stable & stynte
And garte þe heuene to stekye  & stonden in quiete
Whanne þeise wickide wenten out  wonderwyse þei fellen
Summe in þe erþe[^85] . summe in þe eyre  & summe in helle depe
Ac lucifer lowest  liyþ of hem alle
For pride þat he puttede[^86] out  his peyne haþ noon eende
And alle þat worchen wiþ wrong  wenden þei schulle
After her deþ-day[^87]  & dwelle wiþ þat schrewe
Ac þoo þat worchen wel  as holi writ telleþ
And eenden as I erst[^88] seyde  in truþe þat is best
Mowen be siker þat her soule  schal wende to heuene
Þ ere truþe is in trinite  & troneþ hem alle
For-þi . I seye as I seyde eer  bi siȝt of þeise textis[^89]
Lereþ it þeise[^90] lewede men  for lettred men it knowen
Þ at truþe is tresore  þe triest on erþe
¶ Ȝit haue I no kynde knowyng quod I  ȝit mote ȝe kenne me better
Bi what craft in my coors  it comseþ & where[^91]
¶ Þ ou doted daffe quod sche  dulle arn þi wittis
To litel lateyn þou lernedest  leode in þi ȝouþe
Heu michi quia sterilem  duxi vitam Iuuenilem
¶ It is a kynde knowyng quod he[^92]  þat kenneþ in þin herte
For to louye þi lord  leuere þan þi-seluen
No dedli synne to do  deye þouȝ þou schuldest
Þis I trowe be truþe  who can teche þee bette[^93]
Loke þou suffre hym to seye  & siþen lere it after
For þus witnessiþ his word  worche þou þer -after
For truþe telleþ þat loue  is triacle in[^94] heuene
May no synne be on hym sene  þat vseþ þat spice
And alle hise werkis he wrouȝte  wiþ loue as hym liste
And lernede it Moyses for[^95] leuest þing  & moost like[^96] in[^97] heuene
And also þe plente of pees  moost precious of vertues
For heuene myȝte not holde it  it was so heuy of hym -selue
Til it hadde of þe erþe  eten his fille
¶ And whanne it hadde of þe folde  flesch & blode[^98]
Was neuere leef vp-on lynde  liȝter þer -after
And portatyf & persaunt  as þe poynt of a nedel
Þat myȝte noon armure it lette  ne noon hye wallis
For-þi . is loue leder  of þe lordis folk of heuene
And a mene as þe meyr is  bitwixe þe kyng & þe comouns
Riȝt so is loue a leder  & þe lawe schapiþ
Vp-on man for hise mysdedis  þe mercyment he taxiþ
And for to knowe it kyndeli  it comseþ bi myȝt
And in þe herte . þer is þe hed  & þe hye welle
For in kynde knowyng in herte  þere a myȝt bigynneþ
And þat falliþ to þe fadir  þat formede vs alle
Lokede on vs wiþ loue  & leete his sone deye
Mekeli for oure mysdedis  to amende vs alle
And ȝit wolde he hem no woo  þat wrouȝten hym þat peyne
But mekelich bi[^99] mouþe  mercy he bisouȝte
To haue pite on þat peple  þat peynede hym to deþ
Here myȝtist þou se ensaumples  in hym-seluen[^100] one
Þ at he was myȝtful & meke  & mercy gan graunte
To hem þat hongen hym on hyȝ  & his herte þirled
For-þi I rede ȝow riche  haue reuþe of þe pore
Þouȝ ȝe been myȝtful to mote  beþ meke in ȝoure werkis
For þe same mesures þat ȝe meten  amys oþer ellis
Ȝe schul be weyen þerwiþ  whanne ȝe wenden hennys
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis  remecietur vobis
For þouȝ ȝe be trewe of ȝoure tunge  & trulich wynnen
And as chaast as a chiyld  þat in chirche wepiþ
But if ȝe loue lellich  & lene þe pore
Swich good as god ȝow sente  goodelich parteþ 
Ȝe ne han no more meryte  in masse ne in oures
Þan malkyn of hir maydenhood  þat no man desireþ
For Iames þe gentil  iuggede in hise bokis
Þ at feiþ wiþ-outen þe feite  is riȝt no-þing worþi
And as deed as a dore-tre  but if þe dedis folewen[^101]
Fides sine operibus  mortua est .
For-þi . chastite wiþ-outen charite  worþ cheyned in helle
It is as lewed as a laumpe  þat no liȝt is Inne
Many chapeleyns arn chaast  ac charite is a-weye
Arn no men auerouser þan þei  whanne þei been auaunced
Vnkynde to her kyn  & to alle cristen
Chewen her charite  & chiden after more
Swich chastite wiþ-outen charite  worþ cheyned in helle
¶ Many curatouris kepen hem  clene of her bodies
Þei been acombred wiþ coueytise  þei cun not do it from hem
So harde haþ auarice  yhasped hem to-gyderis
And þat is in[^102] truþe of þe trinite  but treccherie of helle
And lernyng to lewede men  þe latter for to deele
For-þi . þeise wordis  ben writen in þe gospel
Date & dabitur vobis  for I deele ȝow alle
And þat is þe lokke of loue  & lateþ out my grace
To counforte þe careful  acombrid wiþ synne
Loue is leche of liyf  & next oure lord seluen[^103]
And also þe greiþ gate  þat goþ in-to heuene
For-þi I seye as I seyde erst[^104].  bi þe trewe[^105] textis
Whanne alle tresores been ytried  truþe is þe best
Now haue I told þee what truþe is  þat no tresore is better
I may no lenger lenge þee wiþ  now loke þee oure lord

[^60: O.1.14: O alone lacks is before fadir.]

[^61: O.1.21: OC2 alone lack and before nempne.]

[^62: O.1.30: OC2 here lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "And al he witte it wyn þat wikked dede."]

[^63: O.1.37: Of the manuscripts which include the line in this form, OC2RF alone have þi in place of þe.]

[^64: O.1.38: OC2 alone have þou not in place of nauȝt.]

[^65: O.1.39: OC2 alone have a in place of þe.]

[^66: O.1.41: OC2 alone lack it before in .]

[^67: O.1.42: OC2 alone have bettre in place of beste.]

[^68: O.1.47: OC2 alone have To; most B manuscripts have Tho.]

[^69: O.1.47: OC2 alone include þat.]

[^70: O.1.50: An otiose tilde appears above the <i> in inne.]

[^71: O.1.53: OC2 alone have yuele in place of ille.]

[^72: O.1.57: OC2 alone have And in place of For.]

[^73: O.1.57: GOC2 alone have þei in place of a correctly alliterating pronoun beginning with <h> (he, heo, hij, hy).]

[^74: O.1.61: An otiose tilde appears above the <i> in inne.]

[^75: O.1.62: GOC2H alone have & in place of or.]

[^76: O.1.73: HmOC2C alone have in; most B manuscripts have on.]

[^77: O.1.76: O alone has the form þee; most B manuscripts have þe.]

[^78: O.1.77: HmOC2 alone have And þou in place of And or Thou alone.]

[^79: O.1.85: OC2 alone have I-tryed; most B manuscripts have tried quod she.]

[^80: O.1.89: OC2 alone lack some variant of doþ before þe werkis, obscuring the sense of the line.]

[^81: O.1.98: A small round hole in the vellum, present at the time of copying, appears between is and þe.]

[^82: O.1.104: OC2 alone have þe in place of þat.]

[^83: O.1.104: YOC2M alone have the present-tense form.]

[^84: O.1.118: GOC2 alone include meum with pedem , although H has the reading sedem meam.]

[^85: O.1.124: OC2MF alone have þe erþe in this position in the line. Variants include Eyr (HmCrGL), þe eyr (WCH), and erthe (YR).]

[^86: O.1.127: OC2 alone have the form puttede; most B manuscripts have putte.]

[^87: O.1.128: A double solidus over each word indicates transposition of original day deþ.]

[^88: O.1.130: OC2 alone have erst; most B manuscripts have er.]

[^89: O.1.133: OC2 alone lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "Whan alle tresors arn tried truþe is þe best."]

[^90: O.1.134: WYOC2 alone have þeise; variants include this (HmCrCLR), thys ye (GF), and ye (M).]

[^91: O.1.137: A small round hole in the vellum, present at the time of copying, appears in the right margin.]

[^92: O.1.141: A solidus/punctus above sche and the marginal addition indicate that it is intended as a substitution. As he is not the feminine singular pronoun used by the main scribe, the correction may represent either an error or an attempt to bring the text into conformity with the corrector's own dialect.]

[^93: O.1.144: O alone has bette in place of bettre.]

[^94: O.1.147: YOC2 alone have in; most B manuscripts have of.]

[^95: O.1.150: OC2F alone lack þe before leuest.]

[^96: O.1.150: A solidus/punctus above like, accompanied by a marginal caret/punctus, mark like for deletion.]

[^97: O.1.150: OC2 alone have in in place of to.]

[^98: O.1.153: OC2 alone lack take(n) at the end of this line.]

[^99: O.1.169: OC2 alone have bi in place of wiþ.]

[^100: O.1.171: OC2 alone have hym-seluen in place of hymself.]

[^101: O.1.187: OC2 alone have the form folewen; all other beta witnesses have folwe.]

[^102: O.1.199: OC2 alone have in, which has been added above the line. All other beta witnesses have no.]

[^103: O.1.205: OC2 alone have seluen in place of selue.]

[^104: O.1.207: OC2 alone have erst; most B manuscripts have er.]

[^105: O.1.207: OC2 alone include trewe, which is marked for deletion by a solidus/punctus above and a caret/punctus in the right margin.]

Secundus Passus . [O.2.000: The heading is divided after Secundus , so that it appears as two lines.]

Ȝ it I courbede on my knees  & criede hir of grace
And seyde mercy ma-dame  for marie loue of heuene
Þat bare þat blisful barn  þat bouȝte vs on þe rode
Kenne me bi sum craft  for[^106] to knowe þe fals
¶ Loke vp-on þi left half  & lo where sche[^107] standiþ
Boþe fals & fauel  & her feres many
I lokede on my left half  as þe lady me tauȝte
And was war of a womman  worþili I-cloþed
Purfilid wiþ pelure  þe fynest vp-on erþe
I -crownyd wiþ a crowne  þe kyng haþ noon better
Fetislich hir fyngres weren  fetrid[^108] wiþ gold wire
And þer -onne reede rubies  as reede as any glede
And dyamauntis of derrest price  & double manere saphers
Orientalis & ewages  envenymes to distroye
Hir robe was ful riche  of reede scarlet engreyned
Wiþ ribans of reed gold  & of riche stonys
Hire aray . me raueschede  swich richesse sawe I neuere
I hadde wondir . what sche was  & whos wijf sche were
What is þis womman quod I  so worþili atired
Þat is mede þe mayden quod sche  haþ noyed me ful ofte
And Ilackide my lemman  þat leute is hoten
And bilowen hir to lordis  þat lawes han to kepe
In þe popis paleys sche is  pryue as my-selue
But soþnesse wolde not so  for sche is a bastard
For fals was hir fadir  þat hadde[^109] a fikel tunge
And neuere soþ seyde  siþ he come to erþe
And Mede is manered after hym  riȝt as kynde askeþ
Q ualis pater talis filius . Bona arbor bonum fructum facit
I auȝte been heyer þan sche  I cam of a better
My fadir þe greet god is  & ground of alle graces
O god wiþ-outen gynnyng  & I his good douȝter
And haþ ȝyuen me mercy  to marie wiþ . me-selue[^110]
And what man be mercyful  & lelli me loueþ
Schal be my lord & I his leef  in þe hye heuene
And what man takeþ mede  my lijf[^111] dar I legge
Þ at he schal lese for hir loue  a lappe of caritatis
How construeþ dauid þe kyng  of men þat taken mede
And men of þis moold  þat mayntenen truþe
And how ȝe schul saue ȝow-seluen[^112]  þe sauter beriþ witnesse
D omine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo & cetera
And now worþ þis mede I-maried  al to a mansed[^113][^114]
To oon fals fikel tunge  a feendis biȝete
Fauel þoruȝ his faire speche  haþ þeise folk enchauntid
And al is liers ledyng  þat sche is þus Iweddid
To-morwe worþ ymaad  þe maydenes brydale
And þer myȝtist þou wite if þou wilt  whiche þei been alle
Þat longen to þat lordschipe  þe lesse & þe more
Knowe hem þere if þou canst  & kepe wel þi tunge[^115]
And lacke hem not but late hem worþe  til leute be iustise
And haue power to punysche hem  þanne putte forþ þi resoun
Now I bikenne þee crist quod sche  & his clene modir
And late no conscience acombre þee  for coueytise of mede
¶ Þus lafte me þat ladi  liggyng a-slepe
And how Mede was ymaried  in metels me þouȝte
And[^116] al þe riche retenaunce  þat regneþ wiþ þe fals
Weren boden to þe bridale  on boþe two sydes
Of alle manere of men  þe mene & þe riche
To marie þis mayden  was many man assembled
As of knyȝtis & clerkis  & oþere comune peple
As sisours & sumpnours  scherreues & her clerkis
Bedellis & baylifs  & brokouris of chaffare
Forgoeris & vitayleris  & vocates of þe arches
I can not reckene þe route  þat ran aboute mede
Ac symonye & Cyuyle  & sisouris of courtis
Weren moost priue wiþ mede  of any men me þouȝte
Ac fauel was þe first  þat fette hir out of boure[^117]
Whanne symonye & Cyuile  saw her boþer wille
Þei assenteden[^118] for syluer  to seye as boþe wolden[^119]
Þanne leepe lier forþ  & seyde . lo here a chartre
Þat gyle wiþ hise grete oþis  gaf hem to-gyderis
And preyede Cyuyle to see  & symonye to rede it
Þanne Symonye & Cyuyle  stonden forþ boþe
And vnfolden þe feffement  þat fals haþ I-makid
And þus bigynnen þeise gomes  to greden ful hye
Sciant presentes & futuri & cetera
Carta .
Witeþ & witnesseþ  þat wonyeþ vp-on þis erþe
Þat Mede is maried  more for hir goodes
Þan for any vertu of fayrnesse  or for[^120] any fre kynde
Falsnesse is fayn of hir  for he woot hir riche
And fauel wiþ his fikel felaw[^121]  feffeþ bi þis chartre
To be princesse[^122] in pride  & pouerte to dispise
To bacbite & to boste  & bere fals witnesse
To scorne & to scoolde  & sclaundre to make
Vnbuxum . & boold  to breke þe ten heestes
¶ And þe eerldom of enuye  & wraþþe to-gyderes
Wiþ þe chastilet of Cheest  & chateryng out of resoun
Þe Countee of Coueytise  & alle þe coostes aboute
Þat is vsure & auarice  alle I hem graunte
In bargeyns & in brocages  wiþ al þe boruȝ of þeft
And al þe lordschip of lecherie  in lengþe & in breede
As in werkis & in wordis  & waytyngys wiþ yen
And in wedes & wisschyngys  & wiþ ydel þouȝtis
Þere as wille wolde [^123] werkmanschip fayliþ
Glotenye he gaf hem eke  & grete oþes to-gyderes
And al day to drynke at dyuers tauernes .
And þere to iangle & to iape  & iugge her euene-Cristen
And in fastyng-dayes to frete  er ful tyme were
And þanne to sitte & to[^124] soupe  til sleep hem assayle
And breden as boruȝ swyne  & bedden hem esyli
Til sleuþe & sleelp sleep  sliken hise sydes
And þanne wanhope to a-wake hym so  wiþ no wille to amende
For he leueþ . he[^125] be lost  þis is her last ende
¶ And þei to haue & to holde  & her eires after
A dwellyng wiþ þe deuel  & dampned be for euere
Wiþ al þe purtenaunce of purgatorie  in -to þe pyne in[^126] helle
Ȝeldynge for þis þing  at oon ȝeres ende[^127]
Her soulis to sathan  to suffre wiþ hym peynes
And wiþ hym to wonye in woo  whyle god is in heuene
¶ In witnesse of which þing  wrong was þe first
And pers þe pardouner of paulynys doctryne
Bette þe bedel  of bokyngham-schyre
Reynold þe reue  of Ruteland sokene
Munde þe myluer  & many moo oþere
¶ In þe date of þe deuel  þis dede I assele
Bi syȝt of sir symonye  & Cyuelis leeue
. Teologia
¶ Þanne tenede hym theologie  whanne he þis tale herde
And seyde to Cyuyle  now sorwe mote þow haue
Sich weddynges to worche  to wraþþe wiþ truþe
Ac[^128] er þis weddyng be wrouȝt  woo þee be-tyde
For Mede is Mulirie[^129]  of amendis engendrid
And god grauntede to gyue  Mede to truþe
And þow hast gyuen hir to a gylour  now god gyue þee sorwe
Þi text telliþ þee not so  truþe woot þe soþe
For dignus est eperarius [o]perarius  his hyre to haue
And þow hast fest hir to fals  fy on þi lawe
For al . bi lesyngys þow lyuest  & lecherouse werkis
Symonye & þi-self  schenden holi chirche
Þe notaries & ȝe  noyen þe peple
Ȝe schul abiggen it boþe  bi god þat me made
Wel ȝe witen wernardis  but if ȝoure witt fayle
Þ at fals is feiþlees  & fikel in hise werkis
And was a bastard I-born  of belsabubbes kyn
And Mede[^130] Mulere  a mayden of goode
And myȝte kysse þe kynge  for cosyn & sche wolde
For-þi worcheþ bi wisdam  & bi witti[^131] also
And ledeþ hir to london  þere lawe is I-schewid
If any lawe wole loke  þei ligge to-gyderes
And þouȝ iustises iugen hir  to be ioyned wiþ fals
Ȝit beþ war of weddyng  for witty is truþe
And concience is of his counceyl  & knowiþ ȝow ichone
And if he fynde ȝow in defaute  & wiþ þe fals holde
It schal bisitte ȝoure soulis  ful soure at þe last
Her-to assentiþ Cyuyle  ac symonye ne wolde
Til he hadde siluer for his seruyse  & also þe notaries
Þanne fette fauel forþ  floreyns I-nowe
And bade Gyle go gyue  gold al aboute
And nameli to þe notaries  þat hem noone[^132] fayle
And feffe false witnesse  wiþ floreyns I-nowe
For þei may Mede amaystrye  & maken at my wille
Þoo þis gold was gyue  greet was þe þankyng
To fals & to fauel  for her faire ȝiftes
And comen to counforte  from care þe fals
And seyden . certis sire  ceece schal we neuere
Til Mede be weddid þi[^133] wijf  þoruȝ wittis of vs alle
For we han Mede amaystryed  wiþ oure myrie speche
Þat sche graunteþ to goon  wiþ a good wille
To london to loke  if þat þe lawe wolde
Iugge ȝow ioyntli  in Ioye for euere
Þanne was falnesse fal[s]nesse fayn  & fauel as bliþe
And leeten sumpne alle segges  in schires aboute
And bade hem alle be boun  beggers & oþere
To wende wiþ hem to westmynystre  to witnesse þis dede
Ac þanne careden[^134] þei for caples  to carien hem þider
And fauel fette forþ þanne  foolis ynowe
And sette Mede vp-on a schirreue  schod al newe
And fals sate[^135] on a sisour  þat softelich trottede
And fauel on a flaterer  fetislich atired
Þoo hadden notaries noon  anoyed þei weren[^136]
For symonye & Cyuyle  schulden on her feet gange
Ac þanne swore symonye  and Cyuyle boþe
Þ at sumpnouris schulden[^137] be sadelid  & serue hem ichoon
And late appareyle þeise prouysouris  in palfreys wyse
Sire symonye hym-seluen  schal sitte vp-on her bakkis
Denes & sudenes  drawe ȝow to-gyderes
Erchedekenes & officialis  & alle ȝoure Registreris
Official
Late sadele hem wiþ syluer  oure synne to suffre
As auoutrie & deuorces  & derne vsure
To bere bischoppis aboute  a-brood in visytynge[^138]
Paulynes preues  for pleyntis in þe consistorie
Schul serue my-seluen[^139]  þat Cyuyle is nempned
And Cartesadele oure Comyssarie  oure cart schal he lede
And fecchen vs vitaylis  at fornicatores
And makeþ of lyer a longe cart  to lede alle þeise oþere
Freris
As freris & fautouris[^140]  þat on her feet rennen
And þus fals & fauel  fareþ forþ to-gyderes
And Mede in þe myddis  & alle þeise oþere after
I haue no toom to telle  þe tayl þat hem folewiþ
Of many manere man  þat on þis molde libbeþ
Ac gyle was forgoer  & guyede hem alle
¶ Soþenesse sawȝ hym wel  & seyde but a litil
And prikede his palfrey  & passede hem alle
And come to þe kyngys court  & concience it tolde
And concience to þe kyng  carpede it after
¶ Now bi crist quod þe kyng  & I cacche myȝte
Fals or Fauel  or any of hise feres
I wolde be wroken of þoo wrecchis  þat worchen so ille
And do hem hange bi þe hals  & alle þat hem mayntenen
Schal neuere man on molde  maynprise þe leeste
But riȝt as þe lawe wole loke  late falle on hem alle
And comaundede a cunstable  þat come at þe first
To atache þoo tirauntis  for any þing I hote
And fetereþ fast falsnesse  for any kyns ȝiftes
And gyrdeþ of . gyles hed  & late hym goo no ferþer
And if ȝe lacche lyer  late hym not ascapen
Er he be put on þe pilerie  for any preyer I hote
And bryngeþ Mede to me  maugrey hem alle
Drede at þe dore stode  & þe doom herde
And how þe kyng comaundede  cunstables & sergeauntis
Falsnesse & his felawschip  to feteren & to bynden
Þanne drede wente wyȝtlich  & warnede þe fals
And bade hym flee for feer  & hise felawis alle
how falsnesse fley to þe freris.

[O.2.212: This rubric is divided after falsnesse, and the two lines of the rubric are connected by a bracket on the right.]

Falsnesse for feer þanne  fley to þe freris
And gyle dooþ hym to goo  agast for to dye
Marchauntis
Ac marchauntis metten hym wiþ[^141]  & maden hym abide
And bischetten hym in her schop  to schewen her ware
And apparayleden[^142] hym as a prentise  þe peple to serue
Liȝtlich lyer  leepe awey þanne
Lorkynge þoruȝ lanes  to-lugged of many
He was nouȝwher welcome  for hise many talis
Ouer -al I-howted  & I-hote . trusse
Pardouneres
Til pardouneres hadden pite  & pulleden hym in -to house
Þe Þe[i] wesschen hym & wipeden hym  & wounden hym in cloutes
And sente hym wiþ seeles  on sundayes to chirche[^143]
And gaf pardoun for pens  poundmele aboute
Leches
Þanne loureden leches  & lettres þei senten
Þ at he schulde wonye wiþ hem  watris to loken[^144]
Spiceers
Spiceers spoken wiþ hym  to spien her ware
For he kouþe of her craft  & knewe many gommes[^145]
Ac mynystralis & messageers  metten wiþ hym ones
And helden hym an half ȝeer  & elleuene dayes
Freris
Freris wiþ faire speche  fetten hym þennes
And for knowyng of komers  kopede hym as a frere
Ac he haþ leeue to lepe out  as ofte as hym likeþ
And is welcome whanne he wole  & woneþ wiþ hem ofte
Alle fledden for feer  & flowhen in-to hirnes
Saue Mede þe Mayden  no moo dursten abide
Ac truli to telle  sche tremblede for drede
And eke wepte & wronge  whanne sche was attached

[^106: O.2.4: GOC2 alone include for.]

[^107: O.2.5: OC2 alone have sche; most B manuscripts have he.]

[^108: O.2.11: OC2C alone have fetrid in place of fretted.]

[^109: O.2.25: YOC2 alone have the preterite form.]

[^110: O.2.32: OH alone have me-selue in place of myselue.]

[^111: O.2.35: YOC2M alone have my lijf in place of myn heed.]

[^112: O.2.39: OC2 alone have ȝow-seluen in place of ȝow-self.]

[^113: O.2.41: The scribe has written the gloss id est cursid above the line.]

[^114: O.2.41: OC2 alone lack sherewe at the end of this line.]

[^115: O.2.48: YOC2F alone have wel þi tonge; variants include þow þi tonge (WHmCrGMH) and thy tonge (CLR).]

[^116: O.2.55: OC2 alone have And in place of That.]

[^117: O.2.66: OC2 alone lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "And as a Brocour brouȝte hire to be wiþ fals enioyned."]

[^118: O.2.68: O alone has the form assenteden in place of assented.]

[^119: O.2.68: OC2 alone have the form wolden in place of wolde.]

[^120: O.2.78: YOC2M alone have or for; most B manuscripts have or.]

[^121: O.2.80: OC2 alone have felaw in place of speche.]

[^122: O.2.81: OC2H alone have princesse; most B manuscripts have princes.]

[^123: O.2.93: YOC2C alone lack and (the) before werkmanschip, which is essential to the sense of the line.]

[^124: O.2.98: OC2 alone include to before soupe.]

[^125: O.2.102: OC2 alone include the second he.]

[^126: O.2.105: O alone has in in place of of.]

[^127: O.2.106: The letter <d> is rewritten in the left margin, apparently because the <d> in Ȝeldynge is spoiled by an inkblot.]

[^128: O.2.119: O alone has Ac in place of And.]

[^129: O.2.120: O alone has the form Mulirie; most B manuscripts have muliere.]

[^130: O.2.133: HmOC2 alone lack is (a) before Mulere.]

[^131: O.2.135: OC2 alone have witti; most B manuscripts have wit.]

[^132: O.2.147: The ne in noone seems to have been added over an erasure after the initial copying, in a hand too similar to that of the main scribe to be attributed with certainty to another.]

[^133: O.2.154: OCr23C2 alone transpose þi wedded.]

[^134: O.2.163: O alone has the form careden ; most B manuscripts have cared.]

[^135: O.2.166: A double solidus above each word indicates transposition of original sate fals.]

[^136: O.2.168: The letter <d> is rewritten above the line, apparently because the <d> in anoyed is spoiled by an inkblot.]

[^137: O.2.171: OC2 alone have the form schulden in place of sholde.]

[^138: O.2.178: The letter <d> is rewritten above the line, apparently because the <d> in a-brood is spoiled by an inkblot.]

[^139: O.2.180: OC2 alone have my-seluen in place of my-self.]

[^140: O.2.184: O alone has fautouris in place of Faitours. The terms are distinct. The MED defines fautour as "an adherent, supporter, follower," "one who encourages or connives in reproachable action or belief," and faitour as "a deceiver, imposter, cheat; esp., a beggar or vagabond who feigns injury or disease."]

[^141: O.2.214: OC2 alone transpose wiþ hym.]

[^142: O.2.216: O alone has And apparayledenn ; variants include Apparayleden (HmHm2), And apparailled (YC2CLMRH), & paraylid (F), and Apparailed (WCrG).]

[^143: O.2.223: YHmOC2 alone have the singular form.]

[^144: O.2.226: OC2 alone have the form loken in place of loke.]

[^145: O.2.228: The marginal addition is apparently intended as a substitution for gomes; it is gums, or pastes, and not men, of which spicers have knowledge. The error is shared by GC2.]

Passus tertius [O.3.000: The heading is divided after Passus , so that it appears as two lines.]

N Ow is Mede þe mayde  & no mo of hem alle
Wiþ bedellis & baylis  brouȝt bifore þe kyng
Þe kyng callede a clerk can I not his name
To take mede þe mayde  & make hir at ese
I schal assaye hir my-self  & soþelich appose
What man of þis molde  þat hir were leuest
And if sche worche bi my witt  & my wille folewe
I wole forgyue hir þis gylt  so me god helpe
¶ Curteyslich þe Clerk þanne  as þe kyng hyȝte
Toke Mede bi þe myddil  & brouȝte hir in[^146] chaumbre
And þere was myrþe & mynystralcie  Mede to plese
Þei þat wonyen in westmynstre  worschipeden hir alle
Ientilich wiþ ioye  þe iustises comen[^147]
Buskede hem to þe boure  þere þe bryde dwellide
To counforte hir kyndeli  bi clergise leue
And seyde morne þou not Mede  ne make þou no sorwe
For we wissen[^148] þe kyng  & þi weye schapen[^149]
To be weddid at þi wille  & where þee leue likiþ
For al concience cast  or craft as I trowe
Mildelich þanne Mede[^150]  mercyede hem alle 
Of her greet goodnesse  & gaf hem ichon 
Coupis of clene gold  & cuppes of syluer
Ryngys wiþ rubies  & richesses many
Þe leest man of hir meyne  a motoun of gold
Þanne lauȝten[^151] þei leue  þeise lordis at Mede
Clerkis
Wiþ þat comen clerkis  to counforte hir þe same
And beden hir be bliþe  for we been þine owne
For to wirche þi wille  þe while þou myȝte laste
Heendelich sche þanne  bihyȝte hem þe same
To loue hem lelli  & lordis to make
[^152] In þe consistorie at court  do calle ȝoure name[^153]
Schal no lewidnesse lette  þe lede þat I loue
Þ at he ne worþ first auaunced  for I am biknowen
Þere kunnynge clerkis  schul clokke bihynde
Confessours
Þanne come þere a confessour  coped as a frere
To Mede þe mayde  he medelede[^154] þeise wordis
How freris schryuen folk

[O.3.37: The rubric is divided after freris, so that it appears as two lines.]

And seyde ful softelich  in schrift as it were
Þouȝ lewid men & lered men[^155]  hadden leyn bi þee boþe
And falsnesse hadde I-foulid[^156] þee  al þis fifti wynter 
I schal assoyle þe my-self  for a seem of wheete
And also be þi bede-man  & bere wel þi message
Amongys knyȝtis & clerkis  concience to turne
¶ Þanne Mede for hir mysdedis  to þat man knelede
And schroue hir of hir schrewidnesse  schameles I trowe
Tolde hym a tale  & toke hym a noble
For to be hir bedeman  & hir brocour als
Þanne he assoylede hir soone  & siþen he seyde
We han a wyndow in wirchyng  wil sitten vs ful hye
Woldist þou glase þat gable  & graue þer -inne þi name
Siker schulde þi soule be  heuene to haue
Wiste I þat quod þat womman  I wolde not spare
For to be ȝoure freend frere  & fayle ȝow neuere
Whyle ȝe louen lordis  þat leccherie haunten
And lakken not ladyes  þat louen wel þe same
It is a frelete of flesch  ȝe fynden it in bokis
And a cours of kynde  wher-of we comen alle
Who-so may scape þe sclaundre  þe scaþe is soone amendid
It is synne of þe seuene  is[^157] sonnest releced
Haue mercy quod Mede  of men þat it haunten
And I schal keuere ȝoure kirke  & ȝoure cloystre do make[^158]
Wowes do whyten  & wyndowes glasyen
Do peynten & purtreye  & paye for þe makyng
Þ at euery segge schal seye  I am sister of ȝoure hous
¶ Ac god to alle goode folk  sich grauyng defendiþ
To writen in wyndowes  of her wel-dedis
On auenture pride be peyntid þere  & pompe[^159] of þe world
For crist knowiþ þi concience  & þi kynde wille
And þi cost & þi coueytise  & who þe catel ouȝte
¶ For-þi I lere ȝow lordis  leueþ siche werkis
To writen in wyndowis  of ȝoure wel-dedis
Or to greden after goddis men  whanne ȝe delen doles
On auenture ȝe han ȝoure hyre heer  & ȝoure heuene als
Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra
Late not þi lift half  late no[^160] raþe 
Wite what þou worchest  wiþ þi riȝt syde
And[^161] þus bit þe gospel  goode men do her almesse
¶ Meires & maystres[^162]  þat menes been bitwene 
Þe kyng & þe comunes[^163]  to kepe wel[^164] þe lawes
To punyschen on pyleries  & pynynge stoolis
Breusters & bakesters  bochers & cokis
For þeise arn men on þis molde  þat moost harm worchen
To þe pore peple  þat parcelmele biggen
For þei punyschen[^165] þe peple  priueylich & ofte
Þei richen þoruȝ regraterie  & rentis hem biggen
Wiþ þat þe pore peple  schulde putte in her wombe
For toke þei on truli  þei tymbreden not[^166] so hye
Ne bouȝte noon burgages  be ȝe ful certeyn
¶ Ac Mede þe mayde  þe Meir haþ bisouȝt
Meyres .
Of alle siche sellers  syluer to take
Or presentes wiþ-oute pens  as peces of syluer
Ryngys or oþer richesse  þe regrateris to mayntene
¶ For my loue quod þat lady  loue hem ichone
And suffre hem to selle  sumdel aȝeyn resoun
¶ Salomon þe sage  a sermoun he made
For to amende Meyris  & men þat kepen lawes
And tolde hem þis teme  þat I telle þenke
Ignis deuorbit[^167] tabernaculam eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera & cetera[^168]
Þat is[^169] . fijr schal falle & brenne  al to bloo askes
Þe housis & þe homes  of hem þat desyren 
Ȝiftis or ȝeresyues  bi cause of her offices
¶ Þe kyng fro counceyl cam  & callede after Mede
And ofsente hir als swyþe  wiþ sergeauntis manye
Þat brouȝten hir to boure  wiþ blis & wiþ ioye
Curteyselich þe kyng þanne  comsede to telle
To Mede þe mayde  melleþ þeise wordis
Vnwittili womman  wrouȝt hast þow ofte
Ac wers wrouȝtist þou neuere  þan þoo þou fals toke[^170]
But I forgyue þee þis[^171] gylt  & graunte þee my grace
Hennys to þ y[^172] deþ-day  do so no more
I haue a knyȝt concience  cam late fro biȝonde
If he wilneþ þee to wijf  wilt þow hym haue
Ȝhe lord quod þat lady  lord forbede ellis
But I be holly at ȝoure heest  latte hange me soone
An An[d][^173] þanne was concience called  to come & apere
Bifore þe kyng & his counceil  as clerkis & oþere .
Knelynge concience  to þe kyng lowtede
To wite what his wille were  & what he do schulde
¶ Wilt þou wedde þis womman  quod þe kyng . If I wole assente
For sche is fayn of þi felawschip  for to be þi make
Concience
Quod Concience to þe kyng  crist it me forbede
Er I wedde sich a / wijf  woo me be-tyde
For sche is frele of hir feiþ  fikel of hir speche
And makiþ men mysdo  many score tymes
Trust of hir tresore  treyeþ ful many
Wyues & wydewes  wantownesse sche techeþ
And lereþ hem leccherie  þat louen hir ȝiftis
Ȝoure fadir[^174] felde  þoruȝ fals biheest
And haþ a-poysowned popes  & peyrid holy chirche
I s not a better bawde  bi hym þat me made .
Bitwene heuene & Helle[^175]  in erþe þouȝ men souȝten[^176]
For sche is fikil[^177] of hir tayl  tale-wijs of hir tunge
As comune as a cartewey  to ich a knaue þat walkiþ
To monkys . to mynystralis  to meseles in heggis
Sisouris & sumpnouris  siche men hir preysen
Schirreues of schires  weren schent . if sche nere
For sche dooþ men lese her lond  & her lijf boþe
Sche leteþ passe prisouneris  & payeþ for hem ofte
And gyueþ þe gayleris gold  & grotes to-gyderis
To vnfetere þe fals  flee where hym likiþ
And takiþ þe trewe bi þe top  & tieþ hym faste
And hangeþ hym for hatered  þat harm dide neuere
To be cursid in consistorie  sche countiþ not a rische
For sche copiþ þe comyssarie  & coteþ hise clerkis
Sche is assoylid as soone  as hir-self likiþ
And may nyȝ as myche do  in a moneþ ones
As oure[^178] secret seel  in sixe score dayes
For sche is pryue wiþ þe pope  prouysouris it knowen
For sire symonye & hir-self  seleþ her bullis
Sche blessiþ þeise bischoppis  þouȝ þei been lewide
Prouendreþ persounes  & preestes maynteneþ
To haue lemmans & lotebies  alle her lijf-dayes
And bryngen forþ barnes  aȝeyn forboden lawes
Þ ere sche is wel wiþ þe kyng  woo is þe rewme
For sche is fauerable to þe fals  & fouliþ truþe ofte
Bi iesus wiþ hir Iuelis  ȝoure iustises sche scheendiþ
And lyeþ aȝeyn þe lawe  & lettiþ hym þe gate
Þ at feiþ may not haue his forþ  hir floreynes goon so þikke
Sche lediþ þe lawe as hir liste  & loue-dayes makiþ
And dooþ men lese þoruȝ hir loue  þat lawe myȝte wynne
Þe mase for a mene man  þouȝ he moote heer[^179] euere
Lawe is so lordlich  & loþ to make an[^180] ende
Wiþ-outen presentis or pens  sche plesiþ wel fewe
Barounes & burgeyses  sche bryngeþ in-to[^181] sorwe
And al þe comunes[^182] in -to[^183] care  þat coueyten lyue in truþe
For clergye & coueytise  sche coupliþ to-gyderes
Þis is þe lijf of þat lady  now lord ȝyue hir sorwe
And alle þat mayntenen hir men  meschaunce hem be-tide
For pore men mowen haue no power  to pleyne hem þouȝ þei smerten[^184] .
Sich a maystre is Mede  amongys men of goode
¶ Þanne mornede Mede  & menede hir to þe kyng
To haue space to speke  spede if sche myȝte
¶ Þe kyng grauntede hir grace  wiþ a good wille
Excuse þee . if þou canst  I can no more seggen
For concience accuseþ þee  to congeye þee for euere
¶ Nay lord quod þat lady  leueþ hym þe werse
Whanne ȝe witen wittirli  where þe wrong liggeþ
Þ ere þat mescheef is greet  Mede may helpe
And þou knowist concience  I cam not to chyde
Ne depraue þi persoone  wiþ a proude herte
Wel þou wost wernard  but if þou wilt gabbe
Þ ou hast hanged on myn half  elleuene tymes
And also gryped my gold  gyue it where þee likide
And why þou wraþþist þee now  wondir me þinkiþ
Ȝit I may as I myȝte  menske þee wiþ ȝiftis
And mayntene þi manhod  more þan þou knowist
Ac þou hast famed me foule  bifore þe kyng heer
For killede I neuere no kyng  ne counceylede þer -after
Ne dide as þou demest  I do it on þe kyng
In normaundye was he not  noyed for my sake
Ac þou þi-self soþeli  schamedest hym ofte
Crope in-to a caban  for cold of þi naylis
Wendist þat wynter  wolde haue durid[^185] euere
And dreddist to be deed  for a dym cloude
And hyedest þee[^186] homward  for hungre of þi wombe
Wiþ- oute pite pilour  pore men þou robbedist
And bare her bras at þi bak  to caleys to selle
Þ ere I lafte wiþ my lord  his lijf for to saue
I made hise men myry  & mornyng lettede
And[^187] I baterede hem on þe bak  & boldede her hertis
And dide hem hoppe for hope  to haue me at wille
Hadde I be marschal of[^188] men  bi marie of heuene
I durste haue leyd my lijf  & no lesse wed
He schulde haue be lord of þat lond  a lengþe & abrede
And also kyng of þat kiþþe  his kyn for to helpe
Þe leest brolle of his blood  a barouns pere
Cowardlich þou concience  counceyledist hym þanne[^189]
To leue his lordschip  for a litil syluer
Þat is þe richest rewme  þat reyn ouer -houeþ
I t bicomeþ to a kyng  þat kepeþ þe rewme
To ȝyue mede to men  þat myldelich[^190] hym seruen
To alienys & to alle men  to honoure hem wiþ ȝiftes
Mede makiþ hym beloued  & for a man holden
Emperouris & Erles  & alle manere lordis
For ȝiftes han ȝonge men  to renne & to ride
Þe pope & alle prelatis  presentis vnderfongen
And meden men hem-seluen  to mayntene her lawis
S eruantis for her seruyse  we seen wel þe soþe
Taken mede of her mayster[^191]  as þei mowen acorde
Beggers for her biddyng  bidden men mede[^192]
Mynystralis for her myrþe  mede þei asken
Þe kyng haþ mede of his mene[^193]  to make pees in londe
Men þat techen children  crauen of hem mede
Preestis þat prechen þe peple  to goode asken mede
And masse-pens & her mete  at þe male-tymes[^194]
Alle kyns crafti men  crauen mede for her prentises
Marchauntis & mede  mote nede go to-gyderes
No wyȝt as I wene  wiþ-out mede may libbe
¶ Quod þe kyng to concience  bi crist as me þinkeþ
Mede is wel worþi  þe maystrie to haue
¶ Nay quod concience to þe kyng  & knelede to þe erþe
Þ er arn two manere of medis  my lord wiþ ȝoure leue
Þat oon . god of his grace  grauntiþ in his blisse
To þoo þat wel wirchen  whyle þei been heer
Þe propheet precheþ þerof  & puttiþ[^195] it in þe sauter
D omine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo & cetera
Lord who schal wonye in þi wones  & wiþ þin holi seyntis
Or resten in þine holy hillis  þis askeþ Dauid
And dauid assoyliþ it hym-self  as þe sauter telliþ
Q ui ingreditur sine macula  & operatur iusticiam
Þoo þat entren of o colour  & of oon wille
And han wrouȝt werkis  wiþ riȝt & wiþ resoun
And he þat ne vseþ not  þe lijf of vsure
And enformeþ pore men  & pursueþ truþe
Q ui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram & munera super innocenteer inocente[m] amp; cetera
And alle þat helpen þe innocent  & halt wiþ þe riȝtful
Wiþ-oute mede dooþ hem good  &[^196] truþe helpiþ
Sich manere men my lord  schul haue þe first mede
Of god at greet[^197] nede  whanne þei goon hennys
Þ er is an-oþer mede mesureles  þat maystris desyren
To mayntene mysdoers  mede þei taken
And þerof seiþ þe sauter  in a salmes eend
In quo rum manibus iniquitates sunt  dextra eorum repleta est muneribus
And he þat gripeþ her gold  so me god helpe
Schal abie it bittirli  or þe book lyeþ
¶ Preestis & persouns  þat plesyng desiren
Þat taken mede & money  for messis þat þei syngen
Taken her mede heer  as Matheu vs telliþ[^198]
Amen amen receperunt mercedem suam
¶ Þ at laboreris & low folk  taken of her maystris
It is no manere mede  but a mesurable hyre
In marchaundise is no mede  I may it wel auowe
It is a permutacioun aperteli  a penyworþ for an-oþer
Ac reddist þou neuere Regum  þou recreyed mede
Why þe veniaunce fel on saul  & on hise children
God sente to saul  bi samuel þe prophete
Þ at agag of amalek  & al his peple after
Schulden dye for a dede  þat doon hadden[^199] her eldris
For-þi seyde samuel to saul  god hym-self hotiþ [^200]
Þee to[^201] be buxum at his biddyng  &[^202] his wille[^203] fulfille
Wende to amalek wiþ þin oost  & what þou fyndist þere . slee it
Bernes & beestis  brenne hem to dede
Wydewis & wyues  wommen & children
Mebles & vnmebles  & al þat þou myȝte fynde
Brenne it . bere it not awey  be it neuere so riche
For Mede nor for money  loke þou distroye it
Spille it & spare it not  þou schalt spede þe better
¶ And for he coueytide her catel  & þe kyng sparede
Forbare hym & hise beestis boþe  as þe bible witnessiþ
Oþer -wise þan he was  warned . of þe profeet
God seyde to samuel  þat saul schulde dye
And al his seed for þat synne  schenfullich ende
Swich a mescheef mede made  saul þe kyng to haue
Þ at god hatede hym for euere  & alle hise eires after
Þe culorum of þis caas  kepe I not to schewe
On auenture it noyede men  noon eend wolde[^204] I make
For so is þis world went  wiþ hem þat han power
Þ at who-so seiþ hem soþes  is sunnest I-blamed
I concience knowe þis  for kynde witt me tauȝte it[^205]
Þ at resoun schal regne  & rewmes gouerne
And riȝt as agag hadde  happe schul summe
Samuel schal slee hym  & saul schal be blamed
And dauid schal be diademed  & daunten hem alle
And oon cristen kyng  kepen hem alle
Schal no more Mede be mayster  as sche is nouþe
Ac loue & lownesse  & lewte to-gyderis
Þeise schul be maystris on moold  truþe to saue
And who-so trespasseþ aȝeyn truþe  or takiþ aȝeyn his wille
Lewte schal doo hym lawe  & no lijf ellis
Schal no seriaunt for her seruyse  were a silken howue
Ne no pelure in his cloke  for pledyng at þe barre
Mede of mysdoeris  makiþ many lordis
And ouer lordis[^206] lawes  ruliþ þe rewmys
¶ Ac kynde loue schal come ȝet  & concience to-gyderes
And make of lawe a laborer  swich loue schal arise
And swich a pees amonge þe peple  & a parfiȝt truþe
Þ at Iues schul wene in her witt  & waxe wondir glad
Þ at Moyses or Messye  be comen in-to þis erþe
And haue wondir in her hertis  þat men been so trewe
Alle þat beren basalard  brode swerd or launce
Ax oþer hachet or any wepene ellis[^207]
Schal be demed to þe deþ  but if he do it smyþe[^208]
In-to sikil or to syþe  to schar or to culter
Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres
Ich man to pleye wiþ a plow  pikeys or spade
Spynne or sprede dung  or spille hymself wiþ sleuþe
Preestis & persounes  wiþ placebo to hunte
. nota . huntynge curatis .

[O.3.317: The rubric is divided after nota and huntynge, so that it appears as three lines.]

And dynge vp-on dauid  ich a day til euen
Huntynge or haukyng  if any of hem vse
His boost of his benefice  worþ bynome hym after
Schal neiþer kyng ne knyȝt  cunstable ne meyr
Ouer -lede þe comune  ne to þe court sompne
Ne putte hem in panel  to do hem plyȝte her truþe
But after þe dede þat is doon  oo doom schal rewarde
Mercy or no mercy  as truþe wole acorde
Kyngys court & comune court  consistorie & chapitle
Al schal be but o court  & o baroun be iustise
Þanne worþ trewe tunge a tidy man  þat tenede me neuere
Bataylis schul noon be  ne no man bere wepen
And what smyþ þat any smyþeþ  be smyten þer -wiþ to deþe
Non leuabit gens con tra gentem gladium[^209]
And er þis fortune falle  fynde men schul þe werst
Bi sixe sunnes & a schippe  & half a scheef of arwes
And þe mydele of a mone  schal make þe Iues to turne
And sarasenys for þat syȝt  schul synge . Gloria in excelsis
For . Machometh & Mede  myshappe schul þat tyme
For . melius est bonum nomen  quam diuicie multe
¶ Also wroþ as þe wiynd  wex Mede in a whyle
I can no latyn quod sche  clerkis woten[^210] þe soþe
See what salomon seiþ  in sapience bokis
Þ at he þat[^211] ȝyueþ ȝiftes  þe victorie wynneþ
And myche worschip hadde þerwiþ  as holi writ telliþ
Honorem adquiret  qui dat munera & cetera
¶ I leue wel lady quod concience  þat þi latyn be trewe
Ac þou art like a lady  þat redde a lessoun ones
Was Omnia probate  & þat plesede hir herte
For þat lyne . was[^212] lenger  at þe leues eend
Hadde sche lokid þat oþer half  & þe leef turned
Sche schulde haue founden fele wordis  folwynge þer -after
Quod bonum est tenete  truþe þat text made
And so ferde ȝe madame  ȝe coude no more fynde
Þoo ȝe lokede on sapience  sittynge in ȝoure studie
Þis text þat ȝe han told  were good for lordis
Ac ȝow faylede a cunnynge clerk  þat couþe þe leef haue turnyd[^213]
And if ȝe seke sapience eft  fynde schul ȝe þat folewiþ
A ful teneful text  to hem þat taken Mede
And þat is Animam autem aufert accipientium & cetera
And þat is þe tayl of þe text  of þat þat ȝe scheweden[^214]
Þ at þouȝ we wynne worschip  & wiþ Mede haue victorie
Þe soule þat þe soude takiþ  bi so myche is bounden[^215].

[^146: O.3.10: OC2 alone have in; most B manuscripts have into.]

[^147: O.3.13: OC2 alone have comen; variants incude some (Hm2Cr1C), sone (B), came (Cr23G), þan (H), manye (F), and somme (WHmYLMR).]

[^148: O.3.17: OC2 alone have the form wissen; most B manuscripts have wisse.]

[^149: O.3.17: OC2 alone have the form schapen; most B manuscripts have shape.]

[^150: O.3.20: OC2 alone transpose Mede þanne.]

[^151: O.3.25: O alone has the form lauȝten; most B manuscripts have lauȝte.]

[^152: O.3.31: OC2F alone lack a conjunction at the beginning of this line; most B manuscripts have And.]

[^153: O.3.31: OC2F alone have the singular form.]

[^154: O.3.36: OC2 alone have he medelede; variants include he melled (CCrBLMRH), & meelyd (F), he medled (Y), he mened (WHmHm2), and he mouthed (G).]

[^155: O.3.38: The original reads lered men & lewid men; a double solidus above both lered and lewid indicates transposition.]

[^156: O.3.39: OCr3C2 alone have I-foulid; variants include folwed (YGM), yfouloed (Cr2), fowled (HmHm2H), defoulyd (F), and yfolwed (WGBLR).]

[^157: O.3.58: OC2 alone repeat is.]

[^158: O.3.60: OC2 alone have the form do make; most B manuscripts have do maken.]

[^159: O.3.66: The letter <p> is rewritten above the line, perhaps in hand 3, apparently because <p> in pompe is spoiled by an inkblot.]

[^160: O.3.74: OL alone have no; most B manuscripts have ne.]

[^161: O.3.76: OC2 alone have And in place of For.]

[^162: O.3.77: OCr23C2 alone have maystres; most B manuscripts have Maceres.]

[^163: O.3.78: OGC2F alone have the plural form.]

[^164: O.3.78: OC2F alone include wel.]

[^165: O.3.83: OC2 alone have punyschen in place of (en)poisone.]

[^166: O.3.86: OC2 alone have tymbreden not; most B manuscripts have tymbred nouȝt.]

[^167: O.3.97: OC2 alone have deuorbit; most B manuscripts have deuorabit.]

[^168: O.3.97: OC2H alone lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "Among þise lettrede l[or]des þis latyn [amounteþ]."]

[^169: O.3.98: OC2 alone include is.]

[^170: O.3.107: A dash followed by double virgules appears in the right margin, in ink too faint for the hand to be identified.]

[^171: O.3.108: OC2 alone have þis in place of þat.]

[^172: O.3.109: This revision of þi to þy is odd. The corrected form appears only here.]

[^173: O.3.114: Although an is recorded by the MED as a variant form of and, it is not used elsewhere by this scribe and appears to be an error.]

[^174: O.3.127: OC2 alone lack the subject pronoun here; most B manuscripts have sche.]

[^175: O.3.130: The ascender of the <H> in Helle is about two lines in height and decorated with bars.]

[^176: O.3.130: OC2 alone have the form souȝten in place of souȝte.]

[^177: O.3.131: OC2 alone have fikil in place of tikil.]

[^178: O.3.146: OC2 alone have oure in place of ȝoure (i.e., the king's).]

[^179: O.3.160: YOC2 alone have moote heer; variants include moote (GF), mote hire (WCBLMR), mote hure (Hm), mote her (Cr), and mote with hyr (H).]

[^180: O.3.161: OC2CotF alone include an.]

[^181: O.3.163: OC2 alone have in-to in place of in.]

[^182: O.3.164: OC2F alone have the plural form.]

[^183: O.3.164: OC2 alone have in-to in place of in.]

[^184: O.3.168: OC2 alone have the form smerten in place of smerte.]

[^185: O.3.192: OC2 alone have durid in place of (y)last(ed).]

[^186: O.3.194: OC2 alone include þee.]

[^187: O.3.199: OC2 alone include And.]

[^188: O.3.201: OC2 alone lack his before men.]

[^189: O.3.206: YOC2M alone have þanne; most B manuscripts have þennes.]

[^190: O.3.210: OC2 alone have myldelich; all other beta witnesses have mekely.]

[^191: O.3.218: OC2LF alone have the singular form.]

[^192: O.3.219: A double solidus over each word indicates transposition of original mede men.]

[^193: O.3.221: OC2 alone have mene in place of men.]

[^194: O.3.224: OC2 alone have at þe male tymes; most B manuscripts have at þe meel tymes.]

[^195: O.3.234: OC2 alone have the form puttiþ; all other beta witnesses have putte.]

[^196: O.3.246: OC2F alone lack þe before truþe.]

[^197: O.3.248: GOC2 alone lack an article or possessive pronoun before nede.]

[^198: O.3.257: HmOC2F alone have telliþ in place of techeþ.]

[^199: O.3.267: O alone has the form hadden in place of hadde.]

[^200: O.3.268: In the right margin of this line occurs the first of many marginal crosses, this one slanting and about three characters in height. The hand responsible cannot be identified with certainty, but resembles hand 3.]

[^201: O.3.269: HmOC2 alone include to before be.]

[^202: O.3.269: OC2H alone include & before his.]

[^203: O.3.269: OH alone lack to before fulfille.]

[^204: O.3.285: OC2 alone have wolde in place of wol.]

[^205: O.3.288: OC2 alone place it at the end of the line; most B manuscripts have me yt taughte.]

[^206: O.3.302: A solidus/punctus above londis and above marginal lordis indicate substitution. The uncorrected reading is shared with C2.]

[^207: O.3.310: A cross appears in the left margin of ll. 309-310.]

[^208: O.3.311: OC2C alone have smyþe; most B manuscripts have smyþye.]

[^209: O.3.330: OC2FH alone lack & cetera at the end of this line.]

[^210: O.3.338: OC2 alone have the form woten; most B manuscripts have wote.]

[^211: O.3.340: Cr23OC2 alone have Þat he þat; variants include That þei that (WHCr1GB), they that (Hm), þat þei (H), That hij that (YCLMR), and Of hem þat (F).]

[^212: O.3.346: OC2 alone lack no before lenger .]

[^213: O.3.353: A solidus/punctus above turnyd accompanied by a caret/punctus in the right margin mark it for deletion.]

[^214: O.3.357: O alone has the form scheweden; most B manuscripts have shewed.]

[^215: O.3.359: OC2 alone have the form bounden; most B manuscripts have bound.]

passus iiijus

C Eceþ seiþ þe kyng  I suffre ȝow no lenger
Ȝe schul sauȝtle for-soþe  & serue me boþe
Kisse hir quod þe kyng  concience I hote
Nay bi crist quod concience  cungeye me raþer
But resoun rede me þerto  raþer wole I dye

[O.4.5 This quire signature is almost entirely illegible, having been cropped off except for the top of the <b>.]

And I comaunde þee quod þe kyng  to concience þanne
Rape þee to ride  & Resoun þou fecche
Comaunde hym þat he come  my counceyl to here
For he schal reule my rewme  & rede me þe beste
Of Mede & of moo oþere  & what man schal hir wedde
And acounte wiþ þee concience  so me crist helpe
How þou lernest þe peple  þe lered & þe lewid
¶ I am fayn of þat forward  seyde þe freke þanne
And rit ryȝt to resoun  & rowneþ in his ere
And seyde as þe kyng bade  & siþen toke his leue
I schal araye me to ride . quod Resoun  reste þee a whyle
And callede catoun his knaue  curteys of speche
And also tomme trewe tunge  telle me no tales
Ne lesyngys[^216] to lauȝhe at[^217]  for I louede hem neuere
And sette my sadel vp-on suffre  til I see my tyme
And lete werroke it wel  wiþ witty wordis gerþes
And hange on hym þe heuy bridel  to holde his hed lowe
For he wole make we-he  twyes or he be þere
Þanne concience vp-on his caple  cayreþ forþ faste
And resoun wiþ hym rit  rownynge to-gyderes
Whiche maystries Mede  makiþ on þis erþe
Oon waryn wisdam  & witti his fere
Foleweden[^218] hem faste  for þei hadden to done
In þe checker & in þe chauncerie  to be discharged of þingys
And riden fast for resoun  schulde rede[^219] þe beste
For to saue hem for syluer  from schame & from harmes
And concience knewe hem wel  þei loueden coueytise
And bade Resoun ride fast  & recche of her neiþer
Þei arn wyli[^220] in her wordis  & wiþ Mede þei dwellen
Þ er as wraþþe & wranglyng is  þere wynnen[^221] þei syluer
¶ Ac þer is loue & lewte  þei wolen[^222] not come þere
Contricio & infelicitas in vijs eorum & cetera
Þei ne gyuen not of god  oon goos weenge
Non est tymor domini ante oculos eorum & cetera
For woot god . þei wolden[^223] do more  for a doseyn chykenes
Or as many capouns  or for a seem of otis
Þan for loue of oure lord  or alle hise leue seyntis
For-þi Resoun . latte hem ride  þoo riche bi hem-seluen
For concience knowiþ hem not  ne crist as I trowe
And þanne Resoun rode faste  þe riȝt hye gate
As concience hym kennede  til he[^224] come to þe kyng
¶ Curteyslich þe kyng þanne  come aȝeyn resoun
And bitwene hym-self & his sone  sette hym on benche
And wordeden wel wiseli  a greet whyle to-gyderes
And þanne come pees in-to parlement  & puttede[^225] forþ a bille
How wrong aȝens his wille  hadde his wijf taken
And how he rauyschede rose  reynoldis loue
And margarete of hir maydenhood  maugrey hir chekis
Boþe my gees & my grijs  hise gadelynges fecchen
I dar not for feer of hym  fiȝte ne chide
He borwede of me bayard  he brouȝte hym hoom neuere
Ne no ferþing for hym[^226]  for ouȝt þat[^227] I coude plede
He maynteneþ hise men  to murþere myne huen
Forstalleþ my feyres  & fiȝtiþ in my chepyng
And brekiþ vp my berne dores  & bereþ awey my whete
And takeþ me but o tayle  for ten quarters of otis
And ȝit he bet me þerto  & lijþ bi my mayde
I am not hardy for hym  vnneþe to loke
¶ Þe kyng knewe . he seyde soþ  for concience hym tolde
Þ at wrong was a wickid lift  & wrouȝte myche sorwe
¶ Wrong was a-feerd þanne  & wisdam he souȝte
To make pees wiþ hise pens  & proferede hym manye
And seyde hadde I loue of my lord þe kyng  litil wolde I recche
Þouȝ pees & his power  pleynede hym euere
Þoo wente wisdam & sire  waryn þe witty
For þat wrong hadde I-wrouȝt  so wickede a dede
And warnede wrong þoo  wiþ swich a wise tale
Who-so worcheþ bi my[^228] wille  wraþþe makiþ ofte
I seye it bi þi-self  þou schalt it wel fynde
But if Mede it make  þi mescheef is vppe
For boþe þi lijf & þi loond  lijþ in his grace
¶ Þanne wowede wrong  wisdam ful ȝerne
To make his pees wiþ hise pens  handi-dandi payed
Wisdam & witt þanne  wenten to-gyderes
And toke Mede myd hem  mercy to wynne
Pees put forþ his hed  & his panne blody
Wiþ-outen gylt . god it woot  gate I þis skaþe
Concience & þe comune  knowen þe soþe
Ac wisdam & witt  weren aboute faste
To ouercome þe kyng  wiþ catel if þei myȝten
Þe kynge swore bi crist  & bi his crowne boþe
Þ at wrong for hise werkis  schulde woo þolie
And comaundede a cunstable  to caste hym in Irnes
And latte hym not þis seuene ȝer  seen hise feet ones
¶ God woot quod wisdam  þat were not þe beste
And he amendis mowe make  latte maynprise hym haue
And be boruȝ for his bale  & biggen hym bote
And so amende þat is mys-doon  & euere-more þe better
¶ Witt acordede þer -wiþ  & seyde þe same
Better is þat bote  bale adoun brynge
Þan bale be Ibete  & bote neuere þe better
¶ And þanne gan Mede to mengen hir  & mercy sche besouȝte
And proferede pees a present  al of pure gold
Haue þis man of me quod sche  to amende þi scaþe
For I wole wage for wrong  he wole do so no more
¶ Pitousli pees þanne  preyede to þe kyng
To haue mercy of[^229] þat man  þat mysdide hym so ofte
For he haþ waged me wel  as wisdam hym tauȝte
And I forgyue hym þat gylt  wiþ a good wille
So þat þe kyng assente  I kan seye no better
For mede haþ maad me amendis  I may no more aske
Nay quod þe kyng þoo  so me crist helpe
Wrong wendiþ not so awey  erst wole I wite more
For lope he so[^230] liȝtli  lauȝwhen he wolde
And efte þe balder be  to bete myne huen
But Resoun haue ruþe on hym  he schal reste in my stokkis
And þat as longe as he lyueþ  but lownesse hym borwe
Summe men radden Resoun þoo  to haue ruþe on þat schrewe
And for to counceyle þe kyng  & concience after
Þ at Mede muste be maynpernour  Resoun þei besouȝten[^231]
Rede me not quod Resoun  no ruþe to haue
Til lordis & ladyes  louen alle truþe
And haten al harlotrie  to here it or to mouþen it
Til pernelis purfyle  be put in hir hucche
And children cherischyng  be chastysyng wiþ ȝerdis
And harlottes holynesse  be holden for vnheende[^232]
Til clerken coueytise be  to cloþe þe pore & to fede
And religious romers  recordare in her cloystres
As seynt benet hem bade  bernard & fraunceys
And til prechouris prechyng  be preued on hem-seluen
Til þe kyngys counceyl  be þe comune profiȝt
Til bischoppis bayardes  be beggers chaumbres
Her haukis & her houndes  helpe to pore religious
Pylgrimage
And til seynt Iames be souȝt  þere I schal a-sygne
Þ at no man goo to galis  but if he go for euere
And alle rome renners  for robbers of biȝonde
Bere no syluer ouer sehe  þat signe of kyng schewiþ
Neiþer grauen ne vngrauen  gold neiþer siluer
Vp-on forfeture of þat fee  who-so fynt hym at Douere
But if he be marchaund or his man  or messager wiþ letteris
Prouysour or preest  or penaunt for hise synnes
And ȝit quod resoun bi þe rode  I schal no ruþe haue
Whyle Mede haþ þe maystrie  in þis moot-halle
Ac I may schewe ensaumples  as I see oþer-whyle
I seye it bi my-self quod he  & it so were
Þ at I were kyng wiþ corown  to kepen a rewme
Schulde neuere wrong in þis world  þat I wite myȝte[^233]
Be vnpunyschid in my power  for perel of my soule
Ne gete my grace for gyftis  so me god saue
Ne for no Mede haue me rcy  but mekenesse it make
For nullum malum þe man  mette wiþ impunitum
And bade nullum bonum . be irremuneratum
Latte ȝoure confessour sir kyng  construe þis vnglosid
And if ȝe worken it in werk  I wedde boþe[^234] myne eris
Þ at lawe schal been a laborer  & lede a-feeld dunge
And loue schal lede þi lond  as þee leef likiþ
¶ Clerkis þat weren confessouris  coupleden hem to-gyderes
Alle to construe þis clause  for þe kyngys profiȝt
Ac not for counfort of þe comune  ne for þe kyngys soule
For I syȝ Mede in þe moot-halle  on men of lawe wynken
And þei lawȝhynge lopen to hir  & lafte resoun . manye
Waryn wisdam  wynkede vp-on Mede
And seyde . ma-dame . I am ȝoure man  what so my mouþ iangleþ
I falle in floreyns quod þat freke  & fayle speche ofte
Alle riȝtful recordeden[^235]  þat resoun truþe tolde
And witt acordede þer -wiþ  & commendede hise wordis
And þe moost peple in þe halle  & many of þe grete
[^236] Leten mekenesse a mayster  & Mede a mansed[^237] schrewe
Loue lete of hir liȝt  & lewte ȝit lasse
And seyde it so hye  þat al þe halle it herde
Who-so wilneþ hir to wijf  for welþe of hir goodis
But he be knowen for a cokwold  cutte of my nose
¶ Mede mornede þoo  & made heuy chere
For þe moost comune of þat court  callede hir an hore
Ac a sisour & a sumpnour  sueden hir faste
And a schirreues clerk  beschrewede al þe route
For ofte haue I quod he  holpen ȝow at þe barre
And ȝit ȝyue[^238] ȝe me neuere  þe worþe of a rische
Þe kyng callede concience  & afterward resoun
And recordede þat Resoun  hadde riȝtfullich schewed
And modilich vp-on Mede  wiþ myȝt þe kyng lokede
And gan waxe wroþ wiþ lawe  for Mede almost hadde schent it
And seyde . þoruȝ ȝoure lawe as I leue  I lese many chetis
Mede ouer -maystrieþ lawe  & myche truþe letteþ
Ac Resoun schal reckene wiþ ȝow  if I regne any whyle
And deme ȝow bi þis[^239] day  as ȝe han deserued
Mede schal not meynprise ȝow  bi þe marie of heuene
I wole haue lewte in lawe  & lete be ȝoure Ianglyng
And as moost[^240] witnessen wel  wrong schal be demed
¶ Quod concience to þe kyng  but þe comune wole assente
It is ful hard bi myn hed  her-to . to brynge it
Alle ȝoure lege lordis  to lede þus euene
¶ Bi hym þat rauȝte on þe rode  quod Resoun to þe kyng
But if I rule þus ȝoure rewme  rende out my guttis
If ȝe bidden buxumnesse  be of myn assent
And I assente quod þe kyng  bi seynt marie my lady
Be my counceyl comen  of clerkis & of erles
Ac redili Resoun  þow schalt not ride fro me
For as longe as I lyue  lete þee I nylle
I am a-redy quod Resoun  to reste wiþ ȝow euere
So concience be of oure counceyl  I kepe no bettere
¶ And I graunte quod þe kyng  goddis forbod it fayle
As longe as oure lijf lasteþ  lyue we to-gyderes

[^216: O.4.19: OGC2F alone have the plural form.]

[^217: O.4.19: OC2H alone have at in place of of.]

[^218: O.4.28: O alone has the form Foleweden; most B manuscripts have Folwed.]

[^219: O.4.30: OC2 alone lack hem before þe.]

[^220: O.4.34: YOC2 alone have Þei arn wyli; most B manuscripts have Ther are wiles.]

[^221: O.4.35: OC2 alone have the form wynnen; most B manuscripts have wynne.]

[^222: O.4.36: O alone has the form wolen; most B manuscripts have wol.]

[^223: O.4.40: O alone has the form wolden; most B manuscripts have wolde.]

[^224: O.4.46: GOC2 alone have he in place of þei. He is not the form of the plural normally used by the O-scribe, and the context suggests the singular may have been intended.]

[^225: O.4.50: O alone has puttede; most B manuscripts have putte.]

[^226: O.4.57: YOC2 alone have for hym in place of þerfore.]

[^227: O.4.57: GOC2 alone include þat.]

[^228: O.4.73: OC2M alone have bi my; most B manuscripts have by alone.]

[^229: O.4.102: OG alone have of in place of on.]

[^230: O.4.109: The scribe has added the same word in the left margin as well.]

[^231: O.4.115: OC2 alone have the form besouȝten in place of bisouȝte.]

[^232: O.4.121: YO alone have vnheende; most B manuscripts have an hyne. Kane and Donaldson emend to an [heþyng].]

[^233: O.4.142: A line of dashes extends from the end of this line across the right margin.]

[^234: O.4.149: OC2H alone include boþe.]

[^235: O.4.160: O alone has the form recordeden; most B manuscripts have recordede.]

[^236: O.4.163: YOC2H alone lack an introductory conjunction or pronoun; most B manuscripts have And.]

[^237: O.4.163: The scribe wrote in the right margin the gloss cursid for mansed.]

[^238: O.4.173: O alone has the form ȝyue; most B manuscripts have yeue.]

[^239: O.4.181: A solidus/punctus above on a and above the marginal addition indicate that it is intended as a substitution. The uncorrected reading is shared by C2 alone.]

[^240: O.4.184: OC2 alone lack the subject of this clause; all other beta witnesses have folk.]

Passus quintus [O.5.000: The heading is divided after Passus , so that it appears as two lines.]

Þ E kyng & hise knyȝtes  to þe kirke wenten
To here mateyns of þe day  & þe masse after
Þanne wakede I of my wynkyng  & woo was wiþ-alle
Þ at I ne hadde slepid sadder  & I-sye more
Ac er I hadde faren a forlong  a[^241] feyntise me hente
Þ at I ne myȝte ferþer a fote  for defaut of slepyng
And sate softli a-doun  & seyde my beleue
And so I babelede of[^242] my bedis  þei brouȝten me a-slepe
why pestilence
¶ And þanne sawȝ I myche more  þan I bifore tolde
For I saw þe feeld ful of folk  þat I bifore of seyde
And how resoun gan arayen hym  al þe rewme to preche
And a[^243] crosse a-fore þe kyng  comsede þus to teche
He preueþ[^244] þat þise pestelences  was for pure synne
And þe souþwest wijnd  on saterday at euene
Was pertlich for pure pride  & for no poynt ellis
Piries & plumtrees  weren puffed to þe erthe
In ensaumple . ȝe segges  ȝe schulden do þe better
Beches & brode okes  weren blowen to þe grounde
Turneden[^245] vpward her tayles  in tokenyng of drede
Þat dedli synne er domes-day  schal fordo hem alle
Of þis mater I myȝte  mamele ful longe
Ac I schal seye as I saw  so me god helpe
How pertlich bifore þe peple  resoun gan to preche
nota sermo
¶ He Bade wastour . go wirche  what he best couþe
Quomodo racio predicat
And wynnen his wastyng  wiþ summe manere craft .[^246]
And preyede peronelle  hir purfile to lete
And kepe it in hir cofer  for catel at hir nede
Tomme stowe he tauȝte  to take two staues
And fecche felice hom  from þe wyuen pyne
And[^247] warnede watte  his wijf was to blame
Þ at hir hed was worþ half mark  his hood not worþ a grote
And bade bette kutte  a bowȝ oþer tweyen
And bete betoun þer -wiþ  but if sche wolde wirche
And þanne he chargede chapmen  to chastisen her children
Latte no wynnyng hem forwenye  whyle þei be ȝonge
Ne for no pouste of pestilence  plese hem not out of resoun
My sire seyde so to me  & so dide my dame
Þ at þe leuer child  þe more lore bihoueþ
And salomon seyde þe same  þat sapience made
Qui parcit virge  odit filium .
Þe englisch of þis latyn  is . who-so wole it knowe[^248]
Who-so spariþ þe spryng  spilliþ hise children
¶ And siþen he preyede prelatis  & preestis to-gyderes
Þat ȝe prechen to þe peple  preue it on ȝoure-seluen
And doþ it in dede  it schal drawe ȝow to goode
If ȝe lyuen as ȝe leren vs  we schul leue ȝow þe better
¶ And siþen he radde religioun  her reule to holde
Lest þe kyng & his counceyl  ȝoure comunes appeyre
And been stywardis of ȝoure stedis  til ȝe been rulid better
¶ And siþen he counceylede þe kyng  þe comunes to louye
It is þi tresore if tresoun ne were  & triacle at þi nede
¶ And siþen he preyede þe pope  haue pite on holi chirche
And er he gyue any grace  gouerne first hym-seluen
¶ And ȝe þat han lawes to kepe  latte truþe be ȝoure coueytise
More þan gold & oþer[^249] gyftes  if he[^250] wole god plese
For who-so contrarieþ truþe  he telliþ in þe gospel 
Þ at god knowiþ hym not  ne no seynt of heuene[^251]
Amen dico vobis  nescio vos .[^252]
Pylgrimes .
And ȝe þat seken seynt iames  & seyntis of rome
Sekeþ seynt truþe  for he may saue ȝow alle
Q ui cum patre & filio  þat faire hem befalle
Þat suen my sermoun  & þus seyde resoun . Amen .
¶ Þanne ran repentaunce [^253] reherede reher[c]ede[^254] his teme
And gerte wille to wepe  water . wiþ hise yen
¶ Perenel proude-hert  platte hir to þe erþe
Superbia .
And lay longe er sche lokede  & lord mercy criede
And bihyȝte vn-to[^255] hym  þat vs alle made
Sche schulde vnsewen hir serk  & sette þere an heyre
To affayten hir flesch  þat fers was to synne
Schal neuere hye hert me hente  but holde me lowe
And suffre to be mysseyd  & so dide I neuere
But now wil I meke me & mercy beseche
For al þis I haue  hatid in myn herte
¶ Þanne lecchour seyde allas  & on oure lady criede
luxuria
To make mercy for hise mysdedis  bitwene god & his soule
Wiþ þat he schulde þe satirday  seuene ȝer þerafter 
Drynke but myd þe doke  & dyne but ones
¶ Envie wiþ heuy herte  askede after schrifte
Envie .
And carfullich mea culpa  he comsede to schewe
He was as pale as a pelet  in palsie he semede
And cloþed in a caurymaury  I couþe it not discriue
In kirtil & courtebi  & a knyf bi his syde
Of a freris frokke  weren þe forsleues
And as a leek hadde I-ley  longe in þe sunne
id est empti

[O.5.85: The marginal gloss is for lere.]

So lokede he wiþ lere[^256] chekis  lourynge foule
His body was to-bollen for wraþþe  þat he bote hise lippis
And wryngynge he ȝede wiþ his[^257] fist  to wreke hymself he þouȝte
Wiþ werkis or wiþ wordis  whanne he saw his tyme
Ich a word þat he warpe  was of an addres tunge
Of chydyng[^258] of chalengyng  was his cheef lijflode
Wiþ bacbytyng & bismere  & beryng of falswytnesse fals wytnesse
Þis was al his curteysie  where þat euere he schewede hym
I wolde be schryuen quod þis schrewe  & I for schame durste
I wolde be gladder bi god  þat gybbe hadde meschaunce
Þan þouȝ I hadde þis woke I-wonnen[^259]  a weye of Esex chese
I haue a neiȝbore nyȝ me  I haue enuyed hym ofte
And lowen on hym to lordis  to do hym lese his syluer
And made hise frendis be hise foon  þoruȝ my fals tunge
His grace & hise goode happis  greuen me ful sore
Bitwene many & many  I make debate ofte
Þ at boþe lijf & lym  is lost þoruȝ my speche
And whanne I mete hym in market  þat I moost hate
I haylse hym heendelich  as I his freend were
For he is douȝtier þan I  I dar do noon oþer
Ac hadde I maystrie & myȝt  god woot my wille
And whanne I come to þe kyrke  & schulde knele to-for[^260] þe rode
And preye for þe peple  as þe preest techeþ
For pilgrymes & for palmers  for al þe peple after
Þanne I crye on my knees  þat crist ȝyue hem sorwe
Þat baren awey my bolle  & my broken schete
Awey fro þe auter  þanne turne I myne yen
And biholde how eleyn  haþ a newe cote
I wissche þanne . it were myn  & al þe web after
And of mennys leesyng I lawȝhe  þat myn herte akeþ
And for her wynnyng I wepe  & wayle þe tyme
And deme þat þei doon ille  þer I do wel wers
Who-so vndirnymeþ me her-of  I hate hym dedli after
And[^261] I wolde þat ich a wyȝt  were myn owne[^262] knaue
For who-so haþ more þan I  þat angreþ me sore
And þus I lyue loueles  lijk a liþer dogge
Þ at al my body bolneþ  for bittre of my galle
I myȝte not ete many ȝeris  as a man ouȝte
For enuye & yuele wille  is yuele to diffye
May no sugre ne swete þing  asswage my swellyng
Ne no diapendion  dryue it fro myn herte
Ne neiþer schrift ne schame  but who-so schrape my mawe
¶ Ȝis rede I[^263] quod repentaunce  & radde hym to þe beste
Sorwe of synnes  is sauacioun of soulis
I am sory quod þat segge  I am but selden oþer
And þat makiþ me þus megre  for I ne may me avenge
Amongys burgeycis haue I been  dwellynge at lundoun
And gerte bacbityng be a brokour  to blame mennys ware
Whanne he solde & I not  þanne was I redy
To lye & to loure on my neiȝbore  & lakke his chaffare
I wole amende þis if I may  bi myȝt of god almyȝti
Ira .
Now awakiþ wraþþe  wiþ two whyte yen
Freris
And nyuelynge wiþ þe nose  & his necke hangynge
I am wraþþe quod he  I was sum-tyme a frere
And[^264] couentis gardener  for to graffen Impes
On lymytouris & legistreris[^265]  lesyngys I Impede
Til þei bere leues of lowe speche  lordis to plese
And siþen þei blosmeden[^266] abrode  in boure to here schryftes
And now is fallen þerof a fruyt  þat folk han wel leuere
Schewen her schryftes to hem  þan schryue hem to her persouns
And now han persouns parceyued  þat freris parten wiþ hem
Þeise possessioners prechen  & deprauen freris .
And freris fynden hem in defaute  as folk beren witnesse
Þ at whanne þei prechen[^267] þe peple  in many places aboute
I wraþþe walke wiþ hem  & wisse hem of my bokis
Þus þei speken of spiritualte  þat eiþer dispiseþ oþer
Til þei been boþe beggers  & bi my spiritualte libben
Or ellis alle riche  and riden aboute
I wraþþe reste neuere  þat I ne muste folewe 
Þeise wickide folk  for swich is my grace
I haue an aunte to Nunne  &[^268] abbesse boþe
Hir were leuere swowe or swelte  or[^269] suffre any peyne
I haue been cook in hir kychen  & þe couent seruede
Many moneþis wiþ hem  & wiþ monkes boþe
I was þe prioresse potager  & oþere pore ladies
And made hem iowtes wiþ iangelyng  þat dame Ione was a bastard
And dame Clarice a knyȝtis douȝter  & a cokwold was hir sire
And dame peronel a preestis file  prioresse worþ sche neuere
For sche hadde child in chirie-tyme  al oure chapitre it wiste
Of wickide wordis I wraþþe  her wortes I-made[^270]
Til þou lixt & þou lixt  loupen out at ones
And eiþer hitte oþer  vndir þe cheke
Hadden[^271] þei had knyues bi crist  eiþer hadde killed oþer
Seynt gregori was a good pope  & hadde a good forwit
Þ at no prioresse were preest  for þat he ordeynede
Þei hadden þanne been infamis  þei[^272] kun so yuele holde counceyl
¶ Among munkes I myȝte be  ac many tyme I schonye
For þei been many felle frekis  my feres to aspye
Boþe priour & suppriour  & oure pater Abbas
And if I telle any tales  þei taken hem to-gyderes
And do me faste fridayes  to breed & to water
And am chalengid in þe chapitre hous  as I a child were
And baleysed on þe bare ers  & no breech bitwene[^273]
I ete þere vnheende fisch  & feble ale drynke
Ac oþer -whyle whanne wiyn comeþ  & I drynke it at euene
I haue a flux of a foule mouþ  wel fyue dayes after
Al þe wickidnesse þat I woot  bi any of oure breþeren
make knowe

[O.5.182: The scribal gloss in the right margin is to couþe.]

I couþe it in oure cloyster  þat al þe couent woot it
Now repente þee quod repentaunce  & reherce þow neuere 
Counceyl þat þou knowist  bi contenaunce ne bi syȝt[^274]
And drynke not ouer -delicatly  ne to depe neiþer
Þ at þi wille be cause þerof  to wraþþ myȝte turne[^275]
Esto sobrius . he seyde  & assoylede me after
And bade me wilne to wepe  my wickidnesse to amende
Auaricia
¶ And þanne cam coueytise  I can hym not discryue
So hungryli & holewe  sire heruy hym lokede
He was bitilbrowed  and babirlippid also
Wiþ two blered yen  as a blynde hagge
And as a leþeren purs  lolleden hise chekis
Wel sydder þan his chyn  þei chyueleden[^276] for eelde
And as a bonde-man of his bakoun  his beerd was bidrauelid
Wiþ an hood on his hed  a lousy hat a-boue
And in a tawney taberd  of twelue wynter of[^277] age
Al to-torn & baudy  & ful of lijs crepynge[^278]
But if þat a lous kouþe  haue lopen þe better
Sche schulde not haue walked þer -on[^279]  so was it þreed-bare
I haue been coueytous quod þis caytyf  I beknowe it heer
For sum -tyme I seruede  symme at þe style
And was his prentice I-pliȝt  his profyt to wayte
First I lernede to lye  a leef oþer tweyen
Wickedlich to weye  was my first lessoun
fare

[O.5.206: A solidus/punctus above marginal fare and a caret/punctus beside it indicate that it was intended as a substitution for feyre, although the reading is unattested elsewhere.]

To wye & to wynchestre  I wente to þe feyre
Wiþ many manere marchaundises  as my mayster me hyȝte
Ne hadde þe grace of gyle  goo among my chaffare
It hadde been vnsold þis seuene ȝer  so me god helpe
Þanne drowȝ I me among drapers  my donet to lerne
To drawe þe lesere a-long  þe lenger it semede
Among þe riche rayes  I rendride a lessoun
To broche hem wiþ a pacnedel  & playtede hem to-gyderes
And put hem in a presse  & pynnede hem þer -inne
Til ten ȝerdis or twelue  hadde told[^280] out þrittene
My wijf was a webbe  & wollen cloþ made
Sche spake to spynsters  to spynnen it oute
Ac þe pound sche payede bi  weyede a quartroun more
Þan myn owne aunser  who-so weyede truþe
I bouȝte hir barli malt  sche brewe it to selle
Peny ale & puddyng ale  sche pourede to-gyderes
For laboreris & lowe folk  þat lay bi hem-seluen
Þe best ale lay in my boure  or in my bed-chaumbre
And who-so bummyd þerof  he bouȝte it þer -after
A galoun for a grote  god woot no lesse
And ȝit it come in . cupmele  þis craft my wijf vsede
Rose þe regrater  was hir riȝt name
Sche haþ holden hukrie  al hir lijf-tyme
Ac I swere now . so the ik  þat synne wole I lete
And neuere wickydlich weye  ne wickide caffare[^281] vse
But wenden to walsyngham  & my wijf als
And bidde þe rode of bromholm  brynge me out of dette
Repentist þow euere quod repentaunce  or restitucioun madiste
Ȝis ones I was herborwid quod he  wiþ an heep of chapmen
I roos whanne þei weren a-rest  & riflede her malis
Þat was no restitucioun quod repentaunce  but a robbers þeft
Þow haddist been better worþi  to be[^282] hangyd þerfore
Þan for al þat þow hast  heer now schewid[^283]
I wende riflyng were restitucioun quod he  I lernede neuere on book
And I can no frensch in feiþ  but of þe ferþest eend of norþfolk
Vsedist þow euere vsurie quod repentaunce  in al þi lijf-tyme
Nay soþeli he seyde  saue in my ȝouþe
I lernede amongys lumbardis  & Iues a lessoun
To weye pens wiþ a peys  & pare þe heuyest
And lene it for loue of þe crosse  to legge a wed & lese it
Swiche dedis I dide write  if he his day brook
I haue mo maners þoruȝ rerages  þan þoruȝ miseretur & comodat
I haue lent lordis  & ladies my chaffare
And been her brokour after  & bouȝte it my-selue
Eschaunges & cheuysaunces  wiþ swich chaffare I dele
And lene folk þat lese wole  a lippe at euery noble
And wiþ lumbardis lettres  I ladde gold to Rome
And toke it bi tayle heer  & tolde[^284] þere lesse
Lentist þou euere lordis  for loue of her mayntenaunce
Ȝhe . I haue lent lordis  þat loueden me neuere after
And haue maad many knyȝt  boþe mercer & draper
Þat payede neuere for his prentyshod  not a peyre gloues
Hast þou pite on pore men  þat moten nedis borwe
I haue als myche pite on hem  as pedler haþ of kattis
Þat wolde kille hem if he myȝte  for coueytises coueytise of her skynnes
Art þou manlich a-mong þi neiȝbores  of mete & of drynk
I am holden as heend quod he  as hound is in kychyn
Among my neiȝbores namelich  swich a name ich haue
God lene neuere quod repentaunce  but þow repente þee þe raþer
Þe grace on þis ground  þi good wille[^285] to bisette
Ne þine eyres after þee  haue ioye of þat þou wynnest
Ne þine exsecutours bisette þi[^286] syluer  þat þou hem leuest
And þat was wonnen wiþ wrong  wiþ wickide men be dispendid
For were I frere of þat hous  þere good feiþ & charite is[^287]
I nolde cope vs wiþ þi catel  ne oure kirke amende
Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce of þin  bi my soule hele
For þe best book in oure hous  þouȝ brent gold were þe leues
And I wist witterli þou were  swich as þou tellist
Or ellis þat I koude knowe it  bi any skyns wise[^288]
Seruus es alterius cum fercula pynguya queris
Pane tuo pocius  vescere . liber eris
Þ ou art an vnkynde creature  I can þee not assoyle
Til þou make restitucioun  & reckene wiþ hem alle
And siþen þat resoun rolle it  in þe registre of heuene
Þ at þou hast maad ich man good  I may þee not assoyle
Non dimittitur peccatum  donec restituatur ablatum & cetera
For alle þat han of þi good  haue god my truþe
Been holden at þe hye doom  to helpe þee to restitue
And who-so leueþ not þis be soþ  loke in þe sauter glose
In Miserere mei deus  wher I mene truþe
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti & cetera
Schal neuere werkman in þis world  þryue . wiþ þat þou wynnest[^289]
Cum sancto  sanctus eris & cetera construe me þat on englisch
Þanne wexe þat schrewe in wanhope  & wolde haue hangyd hymself
Ne hadde repentaunce þe raþer  recounfortede hym in þis manere
Haue mercy in þi mynde  & wiþ þi mouþ beseche it
For goddis mercy is more  þan alle hise oþere werkis[^290]
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius[^291]
And al wickednesse of[^292] þis world  þat man myȝte do or þenke
Nis no more to þe mercy of god  þan in þe sehe a glede
O mnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei  est quasi sintilla in medio maris
For-þi haue mercy in þi mynde  & merchaundise leue it
For þou hast no good ground  to gete þee wiþ a wastel
But if it were wiþ þi tunge  or ellis wiþ þi two handis
For þe good þat þou hast geten  bigan al wiþ falshed
And as longe as þou lyuest þer -wiþ  þou ȝeldist not but borwyst
And if þou wost neuere to whiche  ne whom to restitue
Bere it to þe bischop  & bidde hym of his grace
Bisette it hymself  as best is for þi soule
For he schal answere for þee  at þe hye doom
For þee & many moo  þat man schal ȝyue a reckenyng
What he lernede ȝow in lenten  leue ȝe noon oþer
And what he lente ȝow of his good  to wite ȝow fro synne
For he schulde helpe ȝow  of oure lordis good[^293]
Gula
¶ Now bigynneþ glotoun  for to goo to schryft .
And kaires hym to kyrkeward  his coupe to schewe
Ac Betoun þe breuster  bade hym . good morwe
And axede of hym wiþ þat  whyderward he wolde
To holi kirke quod he  for to here masse
And siþen I wole be schryuen  & synne no more
¶ I haue good ale gossip quod sche  glotoun wilt þou assay
Hast þou ouȝt in þi purs  any hote spices
I haue peper & pionyes quod sche  & a pound of garlyk
A ferþingworþ of fenel seed  for fastynge-dayes
Þanne gooþ glotoun in  & grete oþes after
Cesse þe souteresse  sate on þe benche
Watte þe warner  & his wijf after[^294]
Tymme þe tynker  & tweyen of hise prentices
Hicke þe hakeney-man  & hue þe nedeler
Clarice of cokkislane  &[^295] clerk of þe chirche
Dawe þe diker  & a doseyn oþere
Sire peers of pride  & peronel of flaundris
A ribibour a ratouner  a raker of chepe
A roper a redyngkyng  & rose þe discher
Godfrey of garlikhyþe  & griffyn þe walsche
And vpholders an heep  erli bi þe morwe
Gyuen glotoun wiþ good chere  good ale to ansel
¶ Clement þe cobler  caste of his cloke
And at þe newe feyre  he nempnede it to selle
Hikke þe hakeney-man  hitte his hood after
And bade bette þe bocher  been on his syde
Þere weren chapmen chosen  þis chaffare to preyse
Who-so hadde þe hood . schulde  haue amendis of þe cloke
Two risen vp in rape  & rouneden to-gyderes
And preyseden þeise penyworþis  a-part bi hem-selue
Þei couþen not bi her concience  acorden in truþe
Til robyn þe roper  aroos bi þe souþe
And nempnede hym for a nounper  þat no debate nere
For to trye þis chaffare  bitwixen hem þre[^296]
Hikke þe hostler  hadde þe cloke
In couenaunt þat clement schulde þe cuppe fille
And haue hikkis hood hostler  & holde hym serued
And who þat repentiþ raþer  schulde arise after
And grete wel sire[^297] glotoun  wiþ a galoun ale
Þ ere was lawȝhyng & louryng  & latte goo þe cuppe
And so seten[^298] til euensong  & sungen oþer -whyle[^299]
Til glotoun hadde glubbed  a galoun & a gylle
Hise guttis bigune to gotheli[^300]  as two gredy sowes
He pissede a potel  in a pater-noster whyle
And blewe his rounde ruet  at his rigge-bonys ende
Þ at alle þat herden þat horn  helden her nose after
And wischeden it hadde be waxed  wiþ a wispe of firses
He myȝte neiþer steppe ne stonde  er he his staf hadde
And þanne gan he to goo  lijke a glewmannys bicche
Sum tyme a-syde  & sum tyme a-rere
As who-so leiþ lynes  for to lacche foules
And whanne he drowȝ to þe dore  þanne dymmeden hise yen
He stumblede on þe þreschold  & þrewȝ to þe erþe
Clement þe cobler  cauȝte hym bi þe myddel
For to lifte hym a-lofte  & leyde hym on hise knees
Ac glotoun was a greet cherl  & grymme in þe liftyng
And cowȝhede vp a caudel  in clementis lappe
Is noon so hungry hound  in hertford-schire
Durste lape of þat leuenynges[^301]  so vnlouelich þei smauȝten[^302]
Wiþ al þe woo of þis world  his wijf & his wenche
Baren hym hoom to his bed  & brouȝten hym þer -inne
And after al þis accesse  he hadde an accidie
Þ at he slepe saterday & sunday  til sunne wente to rest
Þanne wakede he of his wynkyng  & wipede hise yen
[^303] First word þat he warpe was  where is þe bolle
His witt gan edwite hym þoo  how wickidlich he lyuede
And repentaunce riȝt þoo  so[^304] rebukede hym þat tyme
As þou wiþ wordis & werkis  hast wrouȝt ille in þi lyue
Schryue þee & be a-schamed þerof  & schewe it wiþ mouþe
I glotoun quod þe goom  gylti me ȝelde
Þ at I haue trespassed wiþ my tunge  I can not telle how ofte
Sworen goddis soule  & so god me helpe & halidam
Þere no nede ne was  nyne hundrid tymes
And ouersey me at[^305] soper  & sum-tyme at nones
Þ at I glotoun gyrd vp  er I hadde goon a myle
And spilte þat myȝte be spared  & spendid on sum hungry
Ouer -delicatli on fastynge-dayes  dronken & eten boþe
And sate sum-tyme so longe þere  þat I slepte & ete at ones
For loue of tales in tauernes  to drynke þe more I dynede
And hyede to þe mete er noon  whanne fastynge-dayes weren[^306]
Þis schewynge schrift quod repentaunce  schal be meryte to þee
And þanne gan glotoun grete  and greet deel made
For his liþer lijf  þat he lyued hadde
And vowede to faste  for hunger or for þrist
Schal neuere fisch on fryday  diffyen in my wombe
Til abstynence myn aunte  haue ȝyuen me leue
And ȝit haue I hated hir  al my lijf-tyme
. Accidia .
¶ Þanne cam sleuþe al beslabred  wiþ two slymy yen
I muste sitte seyde þe segge  or ellis I schulde[^307] nappe
I may not stonde ne stoupe  ne wiþ-outen a stool knele
Were I brouȝt a-bedde  but if my tayl-eend it made
Scholde no ryngyng do me rise  or I were ripe to dyne
He bigan benedicite wiþ a bolk  & his brest knokkede
And roxede & rorede  & rutte at þe last
A -wake renk quod repentaunce  & rape þee to schrift
If I schulde dye bi þis day  me liste not to loke
I can not parfiȝtli my pater -noster  as þe preest syngeþ
But I can rymes of robyn hood  & randolf of chester
Ac neiþer of oure lord ne oure lady  þe leest þat is maad
I haue maad vowes fifty  & forȝeten hem on morwe
I parfornede neuere penaunce  as þe preest me hyȝte
Ne riȝt sori for my synnes  ȝit was I neuere
And if I bidde any bedes  but if it be in wraþþe
Þat I telle wiþ my tunge  is two myle fro myn herte
I am occupied ich day  halyday and oþer
Wiþ ydel talis at þe ale  & oþer -whyle in chirches
Goddis peyne & his passioun  ful selden[^308] þenke I on[^309]
I visitede neuere feble men  ne fetered folk in pittis
I haue leuere here an harlotrie  or a somer game of souters
Or lesyngys to lawȝhe at  & bilye my neiȝboris
Þan al þat euere mark made  Matheu Ion & lucas
And vigilies & fastynge-dayes  alle þeise late I passe
And ligge a-bedde in lenten  & my lemman in myne armes
Til mateyns & messe be doon  & þanne goo to þe freris
Come I to Ite missa est  I holde me serued
I nam not schryuen sum-tyme  but seeknesse it make
Not twyes in two ȝer  & þanne vp gesse I schryue me
I haue been preest & persoun  passynge þritti ȝer
Ȝit can I neiþer solfe ne synge  ne seyntis lyues rede
But I can fynde in a feeld  or in a furlong an hare[^310]
Better þan in Beatus vir  or in beati omnes
Construe o clause wel  & kenne it to my parischenes
I can holde loue-dayes  & here a reues rekkenyng
Ac in canoun ne[^311] decretalis  I can not rede a lyne
If I bigge & borwe it  but if it be tayled
I forȝete it as soone[^312]  & if men me it axe 
Sixe syþes or seuene  I forsake it wiþ oþes
And þus tene I trewe men  ten hundrid tymes
And my seruauntis sum-tyme  her salerie is bihynde
Reuþe is to here þe rekkenyng  whanne we schul rede acountis
So wiþ wickide wille & wraþþe  my werke-men I paye
If any man do me a benfeet  or helpe me at nede
I am vnhende[^313] aȝens his curtesye  & can not vnderstonde it
For I haue & haue had  sumdel haukes maneres
I nam[^314] not lered[^315] wiþ loue  but if ouȝt lye vnder þe þumbe[^316]
Þe kyndenesse þat myne euene-cristene  kydden[^317] me ferne-ȝer
Sixti siþes I sleuþe  haue forȝeten it siþþe
In speche & in sparyng  I spilte many tyme
Boþe flesch & fisch  butter mylk & chese
Boþe breed & ale  & many oþere vitaylis
Forsleuþede in my seruyse  til it myȝte serue no man
I ran aboute in ȝouþe  & ȝaf me not to lerne
And euere siþ haue I been[^318] begger  for my foule sleuþe
Heu michi quia sterilem  vitam duxi iuuenilem
Repentist þou not quod repentaunce  & riȝt wiþ þat he swownede
Til vigilate þe veyl  fette water at hise yen
And flatte it on his face  & fast on hym criede
And seyde . war þee for wanhope  wolde þee bitraye
I am sori for my synnes  seye to þi-selue
And bete þi-self on þe brest  & bidde hym of grace
For is no gylt heer so greet  þat his goodnesse is more
Þanne satte sleuþe vp  & seynede hym swyþe
And made avow to-for god  for his foule sleuþe
Schal no sunday be þis seuene ȝer  but seeknesse it lette
Þ at I ne schal do me er day  to þe dere chirche
And here mateyns & messe  as I a monke were
Schal noon ale after mete  holde me þennys
Til I haue euensong herd  I bihote to þe rode
And ȝit wole I ȝelde aȝeyn  if I so myche haue
Al þat I wickidlich wan  siþen I witt hadde
And þouȝ my lijflode lakke  leten I nylle
Þ at ich man schal haue his  er I hennys wende
And wiþ[^319] residue & þe remenaunt  bi þe rode of chestre
I schal seke truþe erst  er I se Rome
Robert þe robber  on reddite lokede
And for þer was not wher-of  he wepede swyþe[^320]
Ac ȝit þe synful schrewe  seyde to hym-selue
Crist þat on þe[^321] caluarie  vp-on þe crosse dyedist
dismas
Þoo dismas my broþer  bisouȝte ȝow of grace
And haddist mercy of[^322] þat man  for Memento sake[^323]
So rewe on þis robber  þat reddere ne haþ
Ne neuere wene to wynne  wiþ craft þat I owe
But for þi mykel mercy  mytigacioun[^324] biseche
Ne dampne me not at domesday  for þat I dide[^325] ille
What bifel of þis schrewe[^326]  I can not faire schewe
Wel I woot he wepte fast  water . wiþ boþe hise yen
And knowlechede his gylt to crist  ȝit efter-soones[^327]
Þ at penytencia his pijk  he schulde polische newe
And lepe wiþ hym ouer lond  al his lijf-tyme
For he hadde leyn bi latro  lucifers aunte
And þanne hadde repentaunce ruþe  & radde hem alle to knele
For I schal beseche for alle synful  oure saueour of grace
To amende vs of oure mysdedis  & do mercy to vs alle
Now god quod he of þi goodnesse  þat gunne þe world make
And of nouȝt madest ouȝt . & man  moost lijk to þi-selue
And siþen suffrest for synne  a seeknesse to vs alle
And al for þe best as I beleue  what-euere þe book telliþ
O felix culpa o necessarium ade peccatum & cetera
For þoruȝ þat synne þi sone  sent was to þis erþe
And bicam man of a mayde  mankynde to saue
And madest þi-self wiþ þi sone  & vs synful yliche[^328]
Faciamus hominem ad ymagynem & similitudinem nostram
Et alibi Qui manet in caritate  in deo manet & cetera[^329]
oure sute
And siþ wiþ þi self sone  in oure sute deydist
On good fryday for mannys sake  at ful tyme of þe day
Þ ere þi-self ne þi sone  no sorwe in deþ feledist
But in oure secte was þe sorwe  & þi sone it ladde
Captiuam duxit captiuitatem & cetera
Þe sunne for sorwe þerof  lees hys liȝt for a tyme
Aboute mydday whanne moost liȝt is  & meel-tyme of seyntis
Feddest wiþ þi fresch blood  oure forfadris in derkenesse
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam
And þoruȝ þe liȝt þat leepe out of þee  lucifer was blent
And blewe alle þi blessede  in-to þe blis of paradice
Þe þridde day after [^330] ȝedist in oure sute
And synful marie þee seyȝ  er seynt marie þi dame
And[^331] to solace synful  þou suffredist it so were
Non veni vocare iustos  set peccatores ad penitenciam
And al þat mark haþ I-maad  matheu jon & lucas
Of þi douȝti dedis  weren doon in oure armes
V erbum caro factum est  & habitauit in nobis
And bi so myche me semeþ  þe sikerer we mowe 
Bidde & biseche  if it be þi wille
Þat art oure fadir & oure broþer  be merciable til vs
And haue ruþe on þis ribawdis  þat repenten hem heer sore
Þ at euere þei wraþþeden[^332] þee in þis world  in word . þouȝt or dede
Þanne hente hope an horn  of deus tu conuersus viuificabis
And blewe it wiþ Beati quorum  remisse sunt iniquitates
Þ at alle seyntis in heuene  sungen at ones
Homines & Iumenta saluabis quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus & cetera
A þousande of men þoo  þrungen to-gyderes
Cryeden vpward to crist  & to his clene modir
To haue grace to go wiþ hem  truþe to seke
Ac þer was wyȝt noon so wijs  þe weye þidir couþe
But blustreden forþ as bestes  ouer bankes & hilles
Til late was & longe  þat þei a lede metten
Apparaylid as a paynym  in pilgrimys wise
He bare a burdoun ybounden  wiþ a brood liste
In a swiþe wyndes[^333] wise  ywounden aboute
A bolle & a bagge  he bare bi his syde
An hundryd of ampulles  on his hat sete
Signes of synay  & schellis of galis
And many a crouche on his cloke  & keyes of rome
And þe vernycle bifore  for men schulden[^334] knowe 
And se bi hise signes  whom he souȝt hadde
Þeise folk freyneden[^335] first  from whennys he come
Fro synay he seyde  & fro oure lordis sepulcre
In bedlem & in babiloyne  I haue been in boþe
I n Ermonye in alisaundre  in many oþere places
Ȝe mowen se bi my sygnes  þat sitten on my hat
Þ at I haue walked ful wyde  in wete & in drye
And souȝte goode seyntis  for my soulis helþe
Knowist þou ouȝt a corseynt  þat men callen truþe
Koudist þou wissen vs þe weye  where þat he dwelliþ
Nay so me god helpe  seyde þe goom þanne
I seyȝ neuere palmer wiþ pijk  ne wiþ scrippe wende[^336]
Axen after hym  er now in þis place
Petre quod a plowman  & putte forþ his hed
I knowe hym as kyndeli  as clerk doþ his book
Concience & kynde witt  kennede me to his place
And dide me swere sikirli  to serue hym for euere
Boþe to sowe & to sette  þe whyle I swynke myȝte
I haue been his folewer  al þis fifti wynter
Boþe sewe[^337] his seed  & fedde[^338] hise bestes
Wiþ-inne and wiþ-outen  waytede his profiȝt
I dyke & I delue  & do þat truþe hotiþ
Sum-tyme I sowe  & sum-tyme I þresche
In taylouris craft & tynkers craft  what truþe can deuyse
I weue & I wynde  & do what truþe hoteþ
For þouȝ I seye it my-self  I serue hym to pay
Ich haue myn hyre wel  and oþer -whyles more
He is þe prestest payer  þat pore men knowen
He wiþhalt non hewe his hyre  þat he ne haþ it at eue
He is as lowe as a loomb  & louelich of speche
And if ȝe wilneþ to wite  where þat he dwelliþ
I schal wisse ȝow wittirli  þe weye to his place
Ȝ he leue peers quod þeise pilgrimys  & profreden hym hyre
For to wende wiþ hem  to truþis dwellynge place[^339]
Nay bi my soule quod peers  & gan for to swere
I nolde fonge a ferþing  for seynt thomas schryne
Truþe wolde loue me þe lesse  longe tyme after
. nota . how þou schalt goo on pilgrymage
Ac if ȝe wilneþ to wende wel  þis is þe weye þidir .[^340]
Þat I schal seye to ȝow  & sette ȝow in þe soþe[^341]
Ȝe moten goo þoruȝ mekenesse  boþe men & wyues
Til ȝe come to concience  þat crist wite þe soþe
þe ten comaunde mentis .

[O.5.586: The rubric is divided after comaunde-, so that it appears on two lines.]

Þ at ȝe loue[^342] oure lord god  leuest of alle þingys
And þanne ȝoure neiȝboris next  in noon wise appeyre
Oþer -wise þan þou woldest  he wrouȝte to þe-selue þ[i]-selue
And so boweþ forþ bi a brook  beþ buxum of speche
Til ȝe fynden a foorþe  ȝoure fadris ȝe honoure
honora prtrem p[a]trem & matrem & cetera[^343]
Wadeþ in[^344] water  & wasche ȝow wel þere
And ȝe schul lepe þe liȝtlier  al ȝoure lijf-tyme
And so schalt þou[^345] swere not  but if it be for nede
And namelich in ydel  þe name of god almyȝti
Þanne schalt þou come bi a croft  but come not þer -Inne
Þat croft hatte coueyte not  mennys catel ne her wyues
Ne noon of her seruauntis  þat noyen hem myȝte
Loke ȝe breke no bowes þere  but if it be ȝoure owne
Two stokkis þer stonden  ac stynte ȝe not þere
Þei hatten stele not ne slehe not  strike forþ bifore
And leue hem on þi left half  & loke not þer -after
And holde wel þin haliday  hye til euene
Þanne schalt þou blenche at a beruȝ[^346]  bere no fals witnesse
He is fryþid in . wiþ floreyns  and oþere foos many
Loke þou plukke no plante þere  for perel of þi soule
Þanne schul ȝe se . seye soþ  so it be do[^347] done
In no manere ellis not  for no mannys biddyng
Þanne schalt þou come to a court  as cleer as þe sunne
Þe moot is[^348] mercy  þe manere aboute
Alle þe wallis been of witt  to holde wille oute
And kirneled wiþ cristendoom  mankynde to saue
Botraced wiþ beleue so  or þou beest not saued
[^349] Alle þe housis been hiled  halles & chaumbres
Wiþ no leed but wiþ loue  & lowe speche as breþeren
Þe brigge is of bidde wel  þe bette may þou spede
Ich piler is of penaunce  of preyer to seyntis
Of almesdedis arn þe hokis  þe gates hangen onne
Grace hatte þe gateward  a goode man for-soþe
His man hatte amende ȝow  for many men hym knowen
Telleþ hym þis tokene  þat truþe wite þe soþe
I parfornede þe penaunce  þe preest me enioynede
And am ful sori for my synnes  & so I schal euere
Whanne I þenke þer-on  þouȝ I were a pope
Biddeþ . amende ȝow . meke hym  to his mayster ones
To wayue vp þe wiket  þat þe womman schette
Þoo adam & eue  eten appelis vnrosted
P er Euam cuntis[^350] clausa est  & per mariam virginem patefacta est & cetera
For he haþ þe keye & þe cliket  þouȝ þe kyng slepe
And if grace graunte þee  to goo in þis wise
Þ ou schalt se in þi-self  truþe sitte in þin herte
In a cheyne of charite  as þou a child were
To suffre hym & segge nouȝt  aȝeyn þi sires wille
Ac be war þanne of wraþþe[^351]  þat is a wicked schrewe
He haþ enuye til hym  þat in þin herte sittiþ
And poukeþ forþ pride  to preyse þi-seluen
Þe boldenesse of þi beenfetis  maken[^352] þee blynde þanne
And[^353] worþest þou dryuen out as dew  & þe dore closed
Keyed & cliketid  to kepe þee wiþ-outen
Happeli an hundrd hundr[e]d wynter  er þou eft entre
Þus myȝtist þou lesen his loue  to lete wel bi þi-seluen
And neuere happeli eft entre  til[^354] grace þou haue
Ac þer been seuene sistren  þat seruen truþe euere
And been porters of þe posternes  þat to þe place longen
Þat oon hatte abstynence  & humylite an-oþer
Ccharite Charite & chastite  been hise cheef maydenes
Pacience & pees  myche peple þei helpen
Largenesse þe lady  sche lete out[^355] ful many
Sche haþ holpen a þousande  out of þe deuelis pynfold
And who-so is sibbe to þeise seuene  so me god helpe
He is wondirlich . welcome  & fayre vndirfongen
And but if ȝe be sibbe  to summe of þeise seuene
It is ful hard bi myn hed quod peers  for any of ȝow alle
To gete ingong at þe gate þere  but grace be þe more
A Cutpurs .
¶ Now bi crist quod a cutpurs  I haue no kyn þere
Non No[r] I quod an apeward  bi ouȝt þat I knowe
Wite god quod a waferer  wiste I þis for soþe
Schulde I neuere ferþer a fote  for no freris prechyng
Ȝis quod peers þe plowman  & poukede alle[^356] to goode
Mercy is a mayden þere  haþ myȝt ouer alle
And sche is sibbe to alle synful  & hir sone also
And þoruȝ þe help of hem two  hope þou noon oþer
Þ ou myȝtist[^357] gete grace þere  bi so þou go bi-tyme
A pardoner
Bi seynt poule quod a pardouner  parauenture I be not knowe þere .
I wole fecche my box wiþ my breuettis  & a bulle wiþ bischoppis lettres .....
A comune womman

[O.5.666: The rubric is divided after comune, so that it appears as two lines.]

Bi crist quod a comune womman  þi companye wole I folewe
Þow schalt seye I am þi sister  I ne woot where þei bicomen[^358]

[^241: O.5.5: OC2FG alone include the article.]

[^242: O.5.8: OC2 alone have of; most B manuscripts have on.]

[^243: O.5.12: OC2 alone have a; all other beta witnesses have wiþ a.]

[^244: O.5.13: OC2 alone have preueþ; all other beta witnesses have preued.]

[^245: O.5.19: O alone has the form turneden in place of turned.]

[^246: O.5.25: The rubric is divided after racio , so that it appears on two lines.]

[^247: O.5.30: OC2 alone lack the subject he.]

[^248: O.5.41: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate.]

[^249: O.5.55: C2 alone shares the uncorrected form of this phrase.]

[^250: O.5.55: OC2 alone have he in place of ȝe.]

[^251: O.5.57: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate.]

[^252: O.5.58: This line is followed by three ticks in red.]

[^253: O.5.63: OC2 alone lack and before reherede.]

[^254: O.5.63: OC2 alone have reherede in place of rehercede.]

[^255: O.5.67: YOC2M alone have vn-to in place of to.]

[^256: O.5.85: OC2 alone have lere, "empty," in place of lene.]

[^257: O.5.87: OC2Cot alone have his; most B manuscripts have þe.]

[^258: O.5.90: OC2 alone lack and between the prepositional phrases.]

[^259: O.5.95: OC2 alone have the form I-wonnen in place of (y)wonne.]

[^260: O.5.106: OC2F alone have to-for in place of to.]

[^261: O.5.118: OC2 alone include And.]

[^262: O.5.118: OC2 alone have myn owne in place of my.]

[^263: O.5.127: OC2 alone have rede I; most B manuscripts have redily.]

[^264: O.5.139: OC2 alone lack þe before couentis.]

[^265: O.5.140: OCr23C2 alone have legistreris in place of some variant of listre(s).]

[^266: O.5.142: OC2 alone have the form blosmeden; all other beta witnesses have blosmede.]

[^267: O.5.148: OC2 alone have the form prechen in place of preche.]

[^268: O.5.155: OCot alone lack a word or words between Nunne and abbesse; all other beta witnesses have an.]

[^269: O.5.156: OC2 alone have or; most B manuscripts have þan.]

[^270: O.5.164: OC2LR alone include the metrically required second I.]

[^271: O.5.167: O alone has the form Hadden; most other B manuscripts have Hadde.]

[^272: O.5.170: Only YOC2M have þei alone; most B manuscripts which contain the line in this form have þe firste day þei.]

[^273: O.5.177: OC2 alone lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "Forþi haue I no likyng, [leue me], wiþ þo leodes to wonye."]

[^274: O.5.184: OCr23 alone have syȝt; most B manuscripts have riȝt.]

[^275: O.5.186: A caret/punctus, indicating intended deletion, appears in the extreme right margin, but no word or phrase on the line is marked for deletion.]

[^276: O.5.194: O alone has the forms ryueleden or chyueleden; most B manuscripts have chyueled.]

[^277: O.5.197: YOC2F alone include the second occurrence of of.]

[^278: O.5.198: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate.]

[^279: O.5.200: GYOC2 alone have þer-on; variants include on þat welche (LR), on þat welþe (WCr1M), on þe welte (Cr23), on þat web (F), and there (HmCB).]

[^280: O.5.215: OC2 alone have hadde told; variants include tolled (LMRF), hadden tollid (B), and hadden tolde (Hm).]

[^281: O.5.230: caffare, "dealings." A dialectal variant of chaffare.]

[^282: O.5.237: Cr3YOC2 alone have to be in place of ben.]

[^283: O.5.238: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate.]

[^284: O.5.253: OC2 alone among beta witnesses lack hem before þere.]

[^285: O.5.265: HmCr1OC2 alone have wille; most B manuscripts have wel.]

[^286: O.5.267: GYOC2 alone have þi in place of þe.]

[^287: O.5.269: The right margin contains the first of a number of similar marginal designs that appear throughout the manuscript: a cross composed of four dots, with an additional flourish at the bottom. The hand responsible is probably the main scribal hand, but the function of this addition, whether emphasis or ornament, is unclear.]

[^288: O.5.274: Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude this line, which occurs only in Cr23YOC2CB, as scribal.]

[^289: O.5.287: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate.]

[^290: O.5.292: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate.]

[^291: O.5.293: YOC2 alone lack & cetera at the end of this line.]

[^292: O.5.294: OC2 alone have of in place of in.]

[^293: O.5.309: Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude this line, which occurs only in Cr23YOC2CB, on the grounds that it is scribal.]

[^294: O.5.322: OC2 alone have after in place of boþe.]

[^295: O.5.325: OC alone lack þe before clerk.]

[^296: O.5.344: Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude this line, which occurs only in Cr23YOC2CBHt, on the grounds that it is scribal.]

[^297: O.5.349: YOC2F alone include both wele and sire.]

[^298: O.5.351: O alone has so seten; variants include sytten so (Cr1GR), so satten (C2), so seten they (YC), so sytten they (Cr23), so þei setten (B), and seten so (WHmLMF)]

[^299: O.5.351: OYC2C alone have oþer-while; most B manuscripts have vmwhile.]

[^300: O.5.353: O alone has the form gurle; variants include gothely (YC), godly (LMR), gowle (GF), grouly (B),gotheli to grulle (C2), and goþelen (WHmCr).]

[^301: O.5.369: A solidus/punctus above both leuynges and marginal leuenynges indicate substitution. The word leuenynge, which appears in connection with this line only in O, is glossed by the MED as "lightning" or "shining," which has no application to this context. The scribe's motive for this substitution is unclear.]

[^302: O.5.369: O alone has the form smauȝten; most B manuscripts have smauȝte.]

[^303: O.5.375: YOC2C alone lack The before first.]

[^304: O.5.377: OC2 alone incude both þoo and so.]

[^305: O.5.384: OC2CotF alone lack an article, demonstrative, or possessive pronoun before soper; most B manuscripts have my.]

[^306: O.5.390: OC2 alone have the form weren; all other beta witnesses have were.]

[^307: O.5.399: OC2BmBo alone transpose sholde I; other variants include must I (G), I most (Cot), I must nedes (Cr), and omission (F).]

[^308: O.5.417: OC2 alone have selden in place of selde.]

[^309: O.5.417: Only OC2 conclude this line with on alone; most B manuscripts have theron.]

[^310: O.5.430: A small cross appears in the left margin; the hand cannot be identified with certainty, but resembles hand 3.]

[^311: O.5.434: OC2 alone lack in (þe) before decretalis.]

[^312: O.5.436: Cr23OC2 alone have soone; most B manuscripts have yerne.]

[^313: O.5.443: O alone has vnhende (vnhynde C2); most B manuscripts have correctly alliterating vnkynde.]

[^314: O.5.445: OLM alone have nam in place of am.]

[^315: O.5.445: YGOC2 alone have lered; most B manuscripts have lured.]

[^316: O.5.445: A cross appears in the left margin, in a hand which, although not identifiable with certainty, resembles hand 3. It may represent an attempt by a corrector to point out the error of lered for lured.]

[^317: O.5.446: OC2 alone have the form kydden in place of kidde.]

[^318: O.5.453: WHmOC2 alone have haue I been; variants include be (LR), haue be (YcrCM), I haue be (GBmCot), I haue iben (Bo), and I am þe (F).]

[^319: O.5.473: OC2 alone lack þe before residue.]

[^320: O.5.476: OC2 alone lack soore following swyþe.]

[^321: O.5.478: OC2 alone include þe.]

[^322: O.5.480: YOC alone have of in place of on.]

[^323: O.5.480: Four dashes follow this line, becoming a continuous line below dismas which extends to the end of the margin.]

[^324: O.5.483: OC2 alone lack a first-person pronoun before biseche; all other beta witnesses have I.]

[^325: O.5.484: Cr23OC2 alone lack so before ille.]

[^326: O.5.485: OC2 alone have schrewe in place of a correctly alliterating word; most B manuscripts have feloun.]

[^327: O.5.487: O alone has the form efter; most B manuscripts have eft.]

[^328: O.5.501: A solidus/punctus above wiþ marks it for deletion.]

[^329: O.5.503: YOC2 alone have & cetera in place of & deus in eo .]

[^330: O.5.515: OC2 alone lack þow before ȝedist.]

[^331: O.5.517: OC2 alone lack al before to.]

[^332: O.5.526: OC2 alone have the form wraþþeden; most B manuscripts have wraþed.]

[^333: O.5.539: YOC2C alone read swiþe wyndes, a nonsense reading perhaps reflecting scribal unfamiliarity with wythewyndes, "woodbines," which is preserved in various spellings by WHmGLMR.]

[^334: O.5.544: OC2 alone have the form schulden in place of sholde.]

[^335: O.5.546: OC2 alone lack an object pronoun before first; most B manuscripts have hym.]

[^336: O.5.556: OC2 alone include wende.]

[^337: O.5.564: OC2 alone have sewe; most B manuscripts have sowen.]

[^338: O.5.564: OC2CCot alone have fedde; most B manuscripts have some variant of correctly alliterating suwed.]

[^339: O.5.578: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate.]

[^340: O.5.582: The rubric is divided after goo, so that it appears as two lines. Short flourishes in red appear at the left and right of nota .]

[^341: O.5.583: Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude this line, which occurs only in Cr23YOC2CBHt, on the grounds that it is scribal.]

[^342: O.5.586: OC2 alone have the form loue in place of louen.]

[^343: O.5.591: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after patrem , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^344: O.5.592: OC2 alone lack þat before water.]

[^345: O.5.593: HmYOC2 alone lack se before swere.]

[^346: O.5.604: OR alone have beruȝ; variants include burgh (M), berch (Cr), berneȝ (C2), beech (F), brygge (GCot), and Bergh (WHmYCBL).]

[^347: O.5.607: OC2 alone have do in place of to.]

[^348: O.5.610: OC2 alone lack of before mercy; C2 has þe in place of is.]

[^349: O.5.614: OC2 alone lack introductory And.]

[^350: O.5.627: The misspelling of cunctis is shared by WGCLF and may therefore result from copying rather than a slip of the pen.]

[^351: O.5.634: O alone has the form wraþþe; no other variants include two thorns.]

[^352: O.5.637: OC2 alone have the form maken; variants include make (GYCBmBoF) and makeþ (WHmCrCotLR).]

[^353: O.5.638: OC2F alone lack þanne between And and worþest.]

[^354: O.5.642: OC2 alone have til; most B manuscripts have but.]

[^355: O.5.648: OC2F alone have out in place of in.]

[^356: O.5.659: Only in OC2 does alle appear without a preceding pronoun or article.]

[^357: O.5.663: OC2 alone have myȝtist in place of myȝt.]

[^358: O.5.667: OC2 alone have the form bicomen; most B manuscripts have bicome.]

Passus Sextus [O.6.000: The heading is divided after Passus , so that it appears as two lines.]

Þ Is were a wickide weye  but who-so hadde a guyde
Þat wolde folewe vs ich a fote  þus þeise folk hem meneden[^359]
Quod perkyn þe plowman  bi seynt peter of rome
I haue an half acre to erie  bi þe hye weye
Hadde I eried þis half acre  & sowen it after
I wolde wende wiþ ȝow  & þe weye teche
Þis were a longe lettyng  quod a lady in a sleyre
What schulden we wommen  worche þe whyles
Summe schul sowe þe sakke quod peers  for schedynd schedyn[g] of þe whete
And ȝe loueli ladies  wiþ ȝoure longe fyngris
Þ at ȝe haue silk & sendel  to sewe whanne tyme is
Chesibles for chapeleyns  chirches to honoure
Wyues & wydowes  wolle & flex spynneþ
Makeþ cloþ I counceyle ȝow  & kenne so ȝoure douȝtres
. nota .

[O.6.15: The word nota is accompanied by a flourish at the bottom.]

Þe nedy & þe na kyd  nyme[^360] heed . how þei liggen
And casteþ hem cloþis  for so biddiþ[^361] truþe
For I schal lene hem lijflode  but if þe loond fayle
Flesch & breed boþe  to riche & to pore[^362]
As longe as I lyue  for oure[^363] lordis loue of heuene
And alle manere of men þat þoruȝ  mete & drynk libben
Helpeþ hym to worche wyȝtliche  þat wynneþ ȝoure fode[^364]
Bi crist quod a knyȝt þoo  he kenneþ vs þe best
Ac on þe teem truli  tauȝt was I neuere
Ac kenne me quod þe knyȝt  & I wole assaye
Bi seynt poule quod perkyn  ȝe proferen[^365] ȝow so faire
Þ at I schal swynke & swete  & sowe for vs boþe
And oþere labouris do for þi loue  al my lijf-tyme
. þe lyuyng of trewe knyȝtis

[O.6.28: The rubric is divided after of, so that it appears as two lines. A flourish (two rays and a central punctus, arranged vertically) appears at its left. The hand responsible cannot be identified with certainty, but the flourish resembles those surrounding words written in the main scribal hand.]

In couenaunt þat þou kepe  holy kirke & my-selue
Fro wastouris & wikkide men  þat þis world stroyen
And go hunte hardili  to hares & to foxes
To bores & to brokkes  þat breken adoun myn hegges
And go affayte þi faukouns  wylde bestis[^366] to kille
For swyche comen to my croft  & croppen my whete
Curteyselich þe knyȝt þanne  comsede hise[^367] wordis
Bi my power peers quod he  I pliȝte þee my truþe
To fulfille þis forward  þouȝ I fiȝte schulde
As longe as I lyue  I schal þee mayntene
Ȝhe & ȝit a poynt quod peers  I preye ȝow of more
Loke ȝe tene no tenaunt  but truþe wole assente
And þouȝ ȝe mowe amercye hem  latte mercy be taxour
And mekenesse þi mayster  maugrey Medis chekis
And þouȝ pore men proferen[^368] ȝow  presentis & ȝiftis
Nyme it not in auenture  ȝe mowen it not deserue
For þou schalt ȝelde it aȝeyn  at oon ȝeris eende
In a ful perelous place  purgatorie it hatte
Mysbede not þi bonde-men  þe better mayst þou spede
Þouȝ he be þin vndirlyng heer  wel may happe in heuene
Þ at he worþier sitte  & wiþ more blysse
Amice ascende superius[^369]
Þan þou but þou do bette  & lyue as þou schuldist[^370]
For in charnel &[^371] cherche  cherlis been yuel to knowe
Or a knyȝt from a knaue  knowe þis in þin herte
And be trewe of þi tunge  & loke þou talis hatye
But if it be of wisdam or witt  þi werkemen to chastise
Holde wiþ noon harlottes  ne here not her talis
And namelich at mete  swiche men eschewe
For it been þe deuelis disouris  I do þee to vndirstonde
¶ I assente bi seyn Iames  þe knyȝt seyde þanne
For to worche bi þi wordis  þe whyle my lijf dureþ
how peers gooþ on pilgrimage . .

[O.6.60: The rubric is divided after gooþ, so that it appears on two lines. Two ticks in black, underlined in red, follow the rubric.]

¶ I schal apparayle me quod perkyn  in pilgrimes wise
And wende wiþ ȝow I wole  til we fynde truþe
And caste on my cloþes  ycloutid & hole
My cokeris & my cuffes  for coold of my nayles
id est a seed leep

[O.6.64: A rubricated solidus/punctus above hoper and above seed identify the latter as a gloss.]

And hange myn hoper at myn hals  in stede of a scrippe
A busschel of breed-corn  brynge me þer -inne
For I wole sowe it my-self  & siþen wole I wende
To pilgrimage as palmers doon  pardoun[^372] to haue
Ac who-so helpiþ me to erie  or sowe . er I wende 
Schal haue leue bi oure lord  to lacche hire in heruest
And make myrie þer -myd  maugrey who-so grucchiþ
And alle kyn crafti men  þat kunnen lyue in trouþe
I schal fynde hem fode  þat feiþfulliche libben
Saue iakke þe iogelour  & ionet of þe stues
And danyel þe dees player  & enot þe bawde
And þe frere[^373] faytour  & folk of his ordre
And robyn þe ribaudour  for hise rusti wordis
Truþe tolde me ones  & bade me telle it after
Deleantur de libro viuencium  I schulde not dele wiþ hem
For holi chirche is hoten[^374]  of hem no tiþe to take
Quia cum iustis non scribantur
Þei been ascaped good auenture  but[^375] god hem amende
¶ Dame worche whanne tyme is  Peers wijf hyȝte
His douȝter hiȝte do riȝt so  or þi dame schal þee bete
His sone hiȝte suffre  þi souereynys[^376] haue her wille
Deme hem not . for if þou do  þou schalt ful[^377] dere abigge
Latte god worþe wiþ al  for[^378] his word techiþ
For now I am oold & hoor  & haue of myn owne
þeise

[O.6.88: The marginal word is apparently intended as a substitute for þis, but it is not marked for change.]

To penaunce & pilgrimage  I wole passe wiþ þis oþere
For[^379] I wole er I wende  do write my biquest
Testamentum petri . Plowman

[O.6.90: The rubric is divided after Testamentum , so that it appears as two lines.]

In dei nomine amen  I make it my-selue
He schal haue my soule  þat best haþ yserued it
And fro þe feend it defende  for so I beleue
Til I come to hise acountis  as m y credo me telliþ
To haue a relees & remissioun  on þat rental I leue
Þe kirke schal haue my careyn  & kepe my bones
For of my corn and catel  he crauede þe tiþe
I payede it hym prestli  for perel of my soule
For-þi is he holden I hope  to haue me in his messe
And mengen in his memorie  amonge alle cristen
My wijf schal haue of þat I wan  wiþ truþe & no more
And dele among my douȝtres  & my dere children
For þouȝ I dye to-day  my dettes arn quytte
I bare hoom þat I borwede  er I to bedde ȝede
And wiþ þe residue & þe remenaunt  bi þe rode of lukes
I wole worschipe þerwiþ  truþe bi my lyue
And be his pilgryme at[^380] plow  for pore mennys sake
My plowfoot schal be my pijkstaf  & picche atwo þe rotis
And helpe my cultur to kerue  & clense þe forwes
Now is perkyn & hise pilgrimes  to þe plow faren
To erie þis half acre  holpen hym manye
Dikers & deluers  diggeden vp þe balkes
Þ er -wiþ was perkyn appayed  & preysede hem faste
Oþere werkemen þer weren  þat wrouȝten ful ȝerne
Ich man in his manere  made hym-self to done
And summe to plese perkyn  pikeden vp þe wedis
At hye pryme peers  lete þe plow stande
To ouerseen hem hym-self  & who-so best wrouȝte
He schulde be hyred þer -after  whanne heruest tyme come
And þanne seten summe  & sungen at þe nale
And holpen erie his half acre  wiþ hey trolly lolly
Now bi þe perel of my soule quod peers  al in pure tene
But ȝe arise þe raþer  & rape ȝow to worche
Schal no greyn þat growiþ  glade ȝow at nede
And þouȝ ȝe dye for deel  þe deuel haue þat reccheþ
Þoo weren faytouris a-feerd  & feynede hem blynde
Summe leyden her leggys a-liry  as swiche loseles kunnen
And made her moone to peers  & preyeden hym of grace
For we han no lymmes to laboure wiþ  lord y-gracied be ȝe
Ac we preyen[^381] for ȝow peers  &[^382] ȝoure plow boþe
Þ at god of his grace  ȝoure greyn multiplie
lyue

[O.6.130: A solidus/punctus above ȝyuen and marginal lyue indicate that the latter is intended as a substitution.]

And ȝelde ȝow of[^383] almes  þat ȝe ȝyuen vs heer
For we mowen not swynke ne swete  swich seeknesse vs eyliþ
Of ydel beggers
If þis be soþ quod peers  I schal it soone aspye
Ȝe been wastours I woot wel  & truþe woot þe soþe
And I am his olde hyne  & hyȝte hym to warne
Whyche þei weren in þis werld  hise werkemen appeyreden[^384]
Ȝe wasten þat men wynnen  wiþ trauayle & tene
Ac truþe schal teche ȝow  his teem to dryue
Or ȝe schul ete barli breed  & of þe brook drynke
But if he be blynde or broken-legged  or bolted wiþ Irnes
He schal ete swete[^385] breed  & drynke wiþ my-selue
Til god of his goodnes  amendement hym sende
Ac ȝe myȝten[^386] trauayle as truþe wolde  & take mete & hyre
To kepe kijn in þe feeld  þe corn fro þe bestis
Diken or deluen  or dyngen vp-on scheues
Or helpe make morter  or bere muk -feeld
In leccherie & losengerie  ȝe lyuen & in sleuþe
Of heremytis
And al is þoruȝ sufferaunce  þat veniaunce ȝow ne take[^387]
Ac ancres & heremytis  þat eten not but at nones
And no more er morwe  myn almesse schul þei haue
And catel to cope hem wiþ  þat han cloystres & chirches
Ac roberd renne-aboute  schal not haue of myn
Ne posteles but þei preche kunne  & haue power of þe bischop
Þei schul haue payn & potage  & make hem at ese
For it is an vnresounable religioun  þat haþ no þing in certeyn
Þanne gan a wastour to wraþþe hym  & wolde haue yfouȝten[^388]
And to peers[^389] plowman [^390] proferede his gloue
A britoner a bragger  a[^391] bostede peers als
And bade hym go pisse hym[^392] wiþ his plow  forpyned schrewe
Wilt þou or nylt þou  we wole haue oure wille
Of þi floure & of þi flesche  fecche whanne vs likeþ
And make vs myrie þer -myd  maugrey þi chekes
Þanne peers[^393] plowman  pleynede hym to þe knyȝt
To kepe hym as couenaunt was  fro curside schrewis
And fro þeise wastours wolf-skynnes  þat maken þe werld dere
For þoo wasten & wynnen nouȝt  & þat ilke whyle 
Worþ neuere plente amonge þe peple  þe whyle my plow liggeþ
Miles
Curteyslich þe knyȝt þanne  as his kynde wolde
Warnede wastour  & wissede hym þe[^394] better
Or þou schalt abigge bi þe lawe  bi þe ordre þat I bere
wastour
I nas[^395] not wont to wirche quod wastour  & now I nylle bigynne
And lete liȝt of þe lawe  & lesse of þe knyȝt
And sette peers at a pese  & his plow boþe
And manacede peers & hise men  if þei mette eft-soone
Now bi þe perel of my soule quod peers  I schal appeyre ȝow alle
And houpede after hungur  þat herde hym at þe first
A -wreke me of þeise wastouris quod he  þat þis werld schenden
Hungur in hast þoo  hente wastour bi þe mawe
And wronge hym so bi þe wombe  þat boþe hise yen wattreden[^396]
He buffatede þe britoner  aboute þe chekis
Þ at he lokede lijk a lanterne  al his lijf after
He bette hem so boþe  he braste neer her guttis
Ne hadde peers wiþ a peyse loof  preyede hungur to cece
Þei hadden been doluen boþe  ne deme þou noon oþer
Suffre hem lyue he seyde  & latte hem ete wiþ hogges
Or ellis benes & bran  ybaken to-gyderes
Or ellis mylk & meyne ale  þus preyede peers for hem[^397]
Fawtours[^398] for feer þerof  flowen in-to bernes
And flappeden on wiþ fleyles  fro morwen til euen
Þ at hungur was not so hardy  on hem for to loke
For a potful of pesen  þat peers hadde y-maked
An heep of heremytis  henten hem spades
And kitten her copis  & curtbies hem made
And wenten as werkemen  wiþ spades & schouelis
And delueden & dikeden  to dryue awey hungur
nota how beggers & wastouris been chastised

[O.6.196: The rubric appears in the top right margin, divided after nota ,& and been, so that it appears as four lines. The word nota is accompanied by flourishes at left, right, and bottom.]

Blynde & bedered  weren botened a þousande
Þat seten to begge syluer  soone weren þei heled
For þat was baken for bayerd  was bote for many hungry
And many begger for benes  buxum was to swynke
And ich a pore man wel payed  to haue pesen for her[^399] hyre
And what peers preyede hem to do  as prest as a sperauk
And þerof was peers proude  & putte hem to werke
And ȝaf hem mete as he myȝte aforþe  & resounable[^400] hyre
Þanne hadde peers pite  & preyede hungur to wende 
Hoom . in-to his owne erþe  & holden hym þere
For I am wel awroken now  of wastouris þoruȝ þi myȝt
Ac I preye þee er þou passe  quod peers to hungur
Of beggers of[^401] bidders  what best be to done
For I woot wel . be þou went  þei wolen do[^402] ful ille
For myscheef it makiþ  þei been so meke nouþe
And for defaute of her fode  þis folk is at my wille
And ȝit þei[^403] arn my blody breþeren quod peers  for god bouȝte vs alle
Truþe tauȝte me ones  to loue hem ichone
And to helpe hem of al þing  ay as hem nediþ
And now wolde I wite of þee  what were þe best
And how I myȝte amastrie hem  & make hem to worche
Bolde beggers
¶ Here now quod hungur  & holde it for a wisdam
Bolde beggers & bigge  þat mowen her breed biswynke
Wiþ houndis breed & hors breed  holde vp her hertis
Abate hem wiþ benes  for bolnyng of her wombe
And if þei grucche þanne  bidde hem go swynke
And he schal soupe swetter  whanne he it haþ deserued
And if þou fynde any freek  þat fortune haþ appeyrid
Or any manere fawti[^404] man[^405]  fonde þou swiche to knowe
Counforte hem wiþ þi catel  for cristis loue of heuene
Loue hem & lene hem  for so þe lawe techiþ
Alter alterius onera portate & cetera
And alle manere of men[^406]  þou myȝtist[^407] aspye
Þat nedy been & nouȝti  helpe hem wiþ þi goodes
Loue hem & lakke hem not  latte god take þe veniaunce
Þouȝ þei doon yuele  latte god worthe
Michi vindictam & ego retribuam
Ac[^408] if þou wilt be gracious to go[^409]  do as þe gospel techiþ
And biloue þee amongys low men  so schalt þou lacche grace
Facite vobis amicos  de mammona iniquitatis
I wolde not greue god quod peers  for al þe good on ground
Myȝte I synneles do as þou seyst  seyde peers þanne
¶ Ȝhe I bihote þee quod hungur  or ellis þe bible lieþ
Go to genesis þe geaunt  þe engendrour of vs alle
In sudore & in swynk  þou schalt þi mete tilie
And laboure for þi lijflode  & so oure lord hiȝte
And sapience seiþ þe same  I seyȝ it in þe bible
Piger pro frigore  no feeld nolde tilie
And þerfore schal he begge & bidde  & no man bete his hungur
Mathew wiþ mannys face  mouþed þeise wordis
Þ at seruus nequam hadde a nam  & for he nolde not chaffare
He hadde maugre of his mayster  for euere-more after
And bynam hym hys nam  for he ne wolde worche
And ȝaf þat nam to hym  þat ten nammes hadde
And wiþ þat he seyde  þat holi chirche it herde
He þat haþ schal haue  & helpe þere it nediþ
And he þat nouȝt haþ schal not haue  & no man hym helpe
And þat he weneþ wel to haue  I wole it hym bereue
Kynde witt wolde  þat ich a wyȝt wrouȝte
Or in dykyng or in deluyng  or trauaylynge in preyeris
Contemplatijf lijf or actijf  crist wolde þei wrouȝten
Þe sauter seiþ in þe salme  of beati omnes
Þe freek þat fediþ hym-self  wiþ his feiþful labour
He is blessid bi þe book  in body & in soule
Labores manuum tuarum & cetera[^410]
Ȝit I preye ȝow quod peers  pur charite & ȝe kunne
Any leef of leche-craft  lere it me my dere
For summe of my seruauntis & my-self  been seek oþer -whyle[^411]
Of al þe[^412] weke worchen not  so oure wombe akeþ
I woot wel quod hungur  what seeknesse ȝow eyliþ
Ȝe han manged to myche  & þat makeþ ȝow to grone
And I hote þee quod hungur  as þou þin hele wilnest
Þ at þou drynke no day  er þou dyne sum-what
Ete not I hote þee  er hungur þee take
And sende þee of his sauce  to sauere wiþ þi lippis
And kepe sum to soper tyme  & sitte not to longe
And rise vp er appetijt  haue eten his fille
Latte not sire surfayt  sitten at þi boord
Leeue hym not for he is leccherous  & likerous of his tunge
And after many manere metis  his mawe is a-fyngred
And if þou diete þee þus  I dar legge my eres
Þ at phisik schal his furred hood  for his fode selle
And his cloke of calabre  wiþ alle þe knappis of gold
And be fayn bi my feiþ  his phisik to lete
And lere to laboure wiþ loond  for lijflode is swete
For murþerers arn many leches  lord hem amende
Þei doon men dye þoruȝ her drynkis  er destyne wolde
Bi seynt poule quod peers  þeise arn profitable wordis
[^413] Wende now hungur whanne þou wilt  þat wel be þee euere
For þis is a loueli lessoun  lord it þee forȝelde
Bihote god quod hungur  hennys wole I not wende
Til I haue dyned bi þis day  & ydrunke boþe
I haue no peny quod peers  polettis for to bigge
Ne neiþer goos ne grijs  but two grene chesis
A fewe cruddis & creem  & an hauer cake
And two loues of benes & bran  ybaken[^414] for my fauntis
And ȝit I seye bi my soule  I haue no salt bakoun
Ne no cokeney bi crist  coloppis to[^415] make
Ac I haue percel & porettis  & many cole plantes
And eek a cow & a calf  & a cart mare
To drawe a-feeld my dung  þe whyle þe wedir is drye
And bi þis lijflode we moten lyue  til heruest-tyme come[^416]
And bi þat I hope to haue  heruest in my croft
And þanne may I dyȝte þi dyner  as me dere likeþ
Al þe pore peple  þoo pescoddis fetten
Benes & baken appeles  þei brouȝten in her lappis
Chibolles & cheruelles  & ripe chiries many
To make peers a present  to plese wiþ his hungur
Al . hungur eete in hast  & askede after more
Þanne pore folk for feer  fedden hungur ȝerne
Wiþ grene porettis & pesen  to poysen hungur þei þouȝten
By þat neyȝhede it[^417] heruest  newe corn come to chepyng
Þanne was folk fayn  & fedde hem[^418] of þe best
Wiþ good ale as glotoun tauȝte  & gerte hungur go slepe
And þoo wolde wastour not wirche  but wandrede aboute
Ne no begger ete breed  þat benes Inne weren
But of coket or cleer-matyn  or ellis of clene whete
Ne noon halpeny ale  in no wise drynke
But of þe best & þe brounest  þat in boruȝ is to selle
Laboreres þat hadde[^419] no loond  but lyue wiþ[^420] her handis
Wolden ete no nyȝt-olde[^421] wortis  ne drynke no peny-ale[^422]
But fresch flesch oþer fisch  fryed oþer baken[^423]
And þat chaud or plus chaud  for chillyng of her mawe
And but he be hye[^424] hyrid  ellis wole he chyde
Aȝens catouns counceyl  comseþ he to iangle
Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento
He greueþ hym aȝeyn god  & grucchiþ aȝeyn resoun
And he curseþ þe kyng  & al his counceyl after
Swiche lawes to loke  laboreris to greue
And whyles hungur was her mayster  wolden þei not[^425] chyde
Ne stryue aȝens his statute  so sternelich he lokede
Ac I warne ȝow werkemen  wynneþ while ȝe mowen
For hungur hidirward  hastiþ hym faste
He schal awake wiþ water  wastouris to chastise[^426]
Er fyue ȝeer be fulfild  swich famyn schal arise
Þoruȝ flodes & foule werdis[^427]  frutes schul fayle
And so seyde saturne  & sente ȝow to warne
Whanne ȝe seen þe sunne amys  & two monkes hedis
And a mayde haue þe maystrye  & multiplye bi eyȝte
Þanne schal deþ wiþdrawe  & derþe be iustise
And dawe þe dyker  deye for hungur
But if god of his goodnesse  graunte vs a trewe

[^359: O.6.2: O alone has the form meneden; most B manuscripts have mened.]

[^360: O.6.15: O alone has the form nyme; most B manuscripts have nymeþ.]

[^361: O.6.16: OC2 alone have biddiþ in place of some variant of correctly alliterating comaundeþ.]

[^362: O.6.18: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate.]

[^363: O.6.19: OC2M alone have oure in place of þe.]

[^364: O.6.21: The word fode is written in a different ink, possibly over an erasure; the supralinear <e> is written above a faded <e>.]

[^365: O.6.25: OC2 alone have the form proferen in place of profre.]

[^366: O.6.32: OC2 alone have bestis; most B manuscripts have correctly alliterating foweles.]

[^367: O.6.34: OC2 alone have hise in place of þise.]

[^368: O.6.42: OC2 alone have the form proferen in place of profre.]

[^369: O.6.49: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^370: O.6.50: Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude this line, which appears only in Cr23YOC2CBHt, on the grounds that it is scribal.]

[^371: O.6.51: Only O has & unaccompanied by any other word, rendering the line unintelligible. It is unintelligible as well in the reading of Cr23YC2CB, & in. WHmCr1GLMRF have at(te) alone.]

[^372: O.6.67: GOC2F alone lack for before to.]

[^373: O.6.75: A double solidus over each word indicates transposition of original frere þe.]

[^374: O.6.79: OC2 alone have the form hoten; all other beta witnesses have hote.]

[^375: O.6.81: OC2 alone have but in place of now or nothing at all in this position.]

[^376: O.6.84: OC2RF alone lack to before haue.]

[^377: O.6.85: OC2 alone have ful; most B manuscripts have it.]

[^378: O.6.86: YOC2 alone lack so before his, obscuring the sense of the line.]

[^379: O.6.89: OC2 alone have For; most B manuscripts have Forþi]

[^380: O.6.106: YGOC alone have at in place of atte.]

[^381: O.6.129: O alone has the form preyen; most B manuscripts have preie.]

[^382: O.6.129: OC2 alone lack for before ȝoure.]

[^383: O.6.131: OC2 alone lack youre before almes.]

[^384: O.6.136: O alone has the form appeyreden; most other B manuscripts have apeired.]

[^385: O.6.141: OC2 alone have swete; all other beta witnesses have whete.]

[^386: O.6.143: O alone has the form myȝten; most B manuscripts have myȝte.]

[^387: O.6.148: OC2 alone have the form take in place of takeþ.]

[^388: O.6.156: OC2 alone have the form yfouȝten; variants include fought (CrHmGCBF) and yfouȝte (WYLMR).]

[^389: O.6.157: OC2F alone lack þe before plowman.]

[^390: O.6.157: OC2 alone lack he before proferede.]

[^391: O.6.158: a, "he."]

[^392: O.6.159: GOC2 alone include hym.]

[^393: O.6.163: OC2 alone lack þe before plowman.]

[^394: O.6.169: Cr3OC2 alone include þe.]

[^395: O.6.171: OC2 alone have nas in place of was.]

[^396: O.6.179: O alone has boþe hise yen wattreden; most B manuscripts have boþe hise eiȝen watrede.]

[^397: O.6.187: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate.]

[^398: O.6.188: O alone has this form in place of some variant of Faitours. See the note at 2.184.]

[^399: O.6.200: OC2 alone have plural her in place of his or omission.]

[^400: O.6.203: Cr3OC2 alone have resounable in place of correctly alliterating mesurable.]

[^401: O.6.208: Only OC2 have of alone; variants include and (CrYCBM) and and of (WHmGLRF).]

[^402: O.6.209: HmOC2 alone have do in place of werche or worchen.]

[^403: O.6.212: Only YOC2 have And ȝit þei; all other beta witnesses have Thei alone.]

[^404: O.6.224: Cr3OC2 alone include some variant of fawti; most B manuscripts have false.]

[^405: O.6.224: Cr3OC2 alone have the singular form.]

[^406: O.6.228: OC2C alone lack þat before þou.]

[^407: O.6.228: OC2 alone have the form myȝtist in place of myȝt.]

[^408: O.6.233: O alone has Ac in place of And.]

[^409: O.6.233: A solidus/punctus above go, accompanied by a caret/punctus in the right margin, indicate deletion, but no substitute is supplied. The error is shared by Cr3C2.]

[^410: O.6.260: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after manuum , and a red parasign appears at the beginning of the second line.]

[^411: O.6.263: YOC2 alone have ben seke otherwhyle in place of boþe.]

[^412: O.6.264: OC2F alone have þe in place of a.]

[^413: O.6.284-285: These lines are transposed.]

[^414: O.6.291: OC2 alone have the form ybaken; variants include bake (CrG), y bok yt (F), I take (CB) and ybake (WHmYLMR).]

[^415: O.6.293: OC2 alone have to; most B manuscripts have for to.]

[^416: O.6.297: YOC2 alone include come.]

[^417: O.6.307: OC2 alone transpose it neyȝhede.]

[^418: O.6.308: OC2CF alone have hem in place of hunger.]

[^419: O.6.315: OC2 alone have the preterite form.]

[^420: O.6.315: YOC2F alone have but lyue wiþ in place of to lyue on but.]

[^421: O.6.316: An otiose mark appears above the <o> in olde.]

[^422: O.6.316: YOC2 here spoil the alliteration by conflating the following two lines: "Deyne[þ] noȝt to dyne a day nyȝt olde wortes. May no peny ale hem paie, ne no pece of bacoun."]

[^423: O.6.317: O alone has fryed oþer baken; variants include fryed ouþer ybake (WBo), fryed othur bake (HmCr3YCBmL), Fried oþer bakon (C2), fryed or bake (GCot), fried ether or bake (Cr12), rosted or baken (M), and omission.]

[^424: O.6.319: OC2 alone have hye in place of heiȝliche.]

[^425: O.6.325: O alone has wolden þei not; variants include þanne wolde none (F), þer wolde noon of hem (WHmLMR), non off þem wold (G), not one of hem wold (Cr), and wolde they nat (YC2CB).]

[^426: O.6.329: OC2 alone have chastise; most B manuscripts have chaste.]

[^427: O.6.331: OC2Bm alone have werdis; most B manuscripts have wedres.]

Passus . 7us septimus . [O.7.000: The hand which wrote this passus heading, one contemporary with the main scribe, is not seen elsewhere in the manuscript.]

T Ruþe herde tell her-of  & to peers sente
To taken hys teem  & tilie þe erþe
A pena & a culpa

[O.7.3: The rubric is divided after a, so that it appears as two lines. Three ticks, the first underlined in red, follow it.]

And purchacede hym a pardoun  a pena & a culpa
For hym & for hise eires  for euere-more after
And bade hym holde hym at home  & erien hise leyes
And alle þat holpen hym to erie  to sette or to sowe
Or any oþer myster  þat myȝte peers auayle
P ardoun wiþ peers plowman  truþe haþ ygrauntid
Kyngys & knyȝtis  þat kepen holy chirche
And riȝtfulli in rewmes  rulen þe peple
Han pardoun þoruȝ purgatorie  to passe ful liȝt
Wiþ patriarkes & prophetis  in paradice to be felawe
Bischoppis yblessid . if þei been . as þei schulden
Legistres of boþe þe lawes  þe lewid . þer -wiþ to preche
[^428] In as myche as þei mowen  amende alle synful
Arn peres wiþ þe apostelis  þis pardoun Peers schewiþ
And at þe day of doom  at þe hye deys to sitte
Marchauntis

[O.7.18: Another hand, apparently hand 3, has substituted a supralinear <d> for the <t> in Marchauntis.]

¶ Marchauntis in þe margyne  hadden many ȝeres
Ac noon a pena &[^429]culpa  þe pope nolde hem graunte
For þei holden not her halidayes  as holi chirche techiþ
And for þei sweren bi her soule  & so god muste hem helpe
Aȝens clene concience  her catel to selle
Ac vndir her[^430] secreet sehel  truþe sente hem a lettre
Þ at þei schulden bigge boldli  þat hem likede best[^431]
And siþen selle it aȝeyn  & saue þe wynnyng
How þou schalt do þin almes

[O.7.26: The rubric is divided after do, so that it appears as two lines.]

And amende mesondeux þer-myd  & myseyse folk helpe
And wikkide weyes  wyȝtliche hem amende
And do bote to brygges  þat to-broken weren
Marien maydenes  or maken hem nunnes
Pore peple & prysones  fynde hem her lijflode
And setten scolers to scole  or to summe oþere craftes
Releue religioun  & renten hem better
And I schal sende ȝow my-self  seynt Myhel myn archaungel
Þ at no deuel schal ȝow dere  ne fere ȝow in ȝoure doynge
And wite ȝow fro whanhope  if ȝe wole þus worche
And send ȝoure soulis in-to[^432] sauete  to my seyntis in Ioye
Þanne weren marchaundis myrie  &[^433] wepten for Ioye
And preyseden peers þe plowman  þat purchacede þis bulle
Men of lawe leest pardoun hadde  þat pleteden for mede
For þe sauter saueþ hem not  swyche as taken ȝiftis
And nameli of Innocentis  þat noon yuel kunnen
Super Innocentem munera non accipies
Pledours schulden[^434] pyne hem  to plede for swiche & helpe
Prynces & prelatis schulden  paye . for her trauayle
A regibus & principibus erit merces eorum
Ac many iustises & iurour  wolden for ion do more
Þan pro dei pietate  leue þou noon oþer
Ac he þat spendiþ his speche  & spekiþ for þe pore
Þat is Innocent & nedy  & no man appeyreþ
Counfortiþ hym in þat caas  wiþ-outen coueytise of ȝiftis
And schewiþ lawe for oure lordis loue  as he it haþ lerned
Schal no deuel at his deþ-day  deren hym a myte
Þ at he ne worþ saaf & his soule  þe sauter bereþ witnesse
D omine quis habita... bit in tabernaculo tuo .
Ac to bigge water ne wijnd  ne witt ne fijr þe ferþe
Þeise foure þe fadir of heuene  made to his folde in comune
Þeise been truþis tresoris  trewe folk to helpe
Þat neuere schul waxe ne wanye  wiþ[^435] god hym-selue
Whanne þei drawen vn-to þe deþ  & Indulgences wolden haue
His pardoun is ful petyt  at her partyng hennys
Þat any mede of mene men  for his motyng takiþ
Ȝe legistres & lawyers  holden þis for truþe
Þat if þat I lye  mathew is to blame
For he bade me make[^436] ȝow þis  & þis prouerbe me tolde[^437]
Quodcum que vultis vt faciant vobis homines  facite eis
Alle libbynge laborers  þat lyuen wiþ her handis
Þat trulich taken  & truliche wynnen
And lyuen in loue & in lawe  for her lowe hertis
Han[^438] þe same absolucioun  þat sent was to peers
Beggers ne bidders  ne been not in þe bulle
But if þe suggestioun be soþ  þat schapiþ hem to begge
For he þat beggyþ or bit  but if he haue nede
He is fals wiþ þe feend  & defraudiþ þe nedy
And also he bigyleþ þe gyuer  aȝeynys his wille
For if he wiste he were not nedy  he wolde it gyue an-oþer
Þat were more nedy þan he  so þe nedyest schulde be holpen
Catoun kenneþ me þus  & þe clerk of stories
catoun of almes-dedis

[O.7.78: The rubric is divided after of, so that it appears as two lines.]

Cui des videto  is catounys techynge
And in þe stories he techiþ  to bestowe þin almes
Siþ Si[t] elemosina tua in manu tua donec studes cui des
Ac gregori was a good man  & bade vs ȝyuen[^439] alle
Þat asken for his loue  þat vs alle leneþ
Non eligas cui miserearis ne forte pretereas illum qui meretur accipere / Quia
Incertum est pro quo deum magis placeas
For ȝe woten neuere who is worþi  ac god woot who haþ nede
In hym þat takeþ is þe trecherie  if any tresoun walke
For he þat ȝyueþ ȝeldiþ  & ȝarkeþ hym to rest
And he þat biddiþ borweþ  & bryngeþ hym-self in dette
For beggers borwen euere-moo  & her boruȝ is god almyȝti
To ȝelden hem þat ȝyuen hem  & ȝit vsure more
Q uare non dedisti pecuniam meam ad mensam vt ege[^440] veniens cum vsuris exigere & cetera
Of false

[O.7.92: The <l> and <s> in false are connected by a ligature because of a cut in the vellum.]

beg geris

[O.7.92: The rubric is divided after beg-, so that it appears as two lines.]

For-þi biddeþ not ȝe beggers  but if ȝe han nede
For who-so may bigge hym breed  þe book beriþ witnesse
He haþ ynow þat haþ breed ynow  þowȝ he haue not ellis
Satis dyues est qui non indiget pane
Latte vsage be ȝoure solace  of seyntis lyues redyng
Þe book banneþ beggrie  & blameþ in þis manere
Iunior fui etenim senui & non vidi iustum derelictum nec semen eius querens panem & cetera
For ȝe lyuen in no loue  ne no lawe holden
Many of ȝow ne wedden[^441] not  þe womman ȝe wiþ delen
But as wylde beestis wiþ we-he  &[^442] worþ vp & worchen
And bryngen forþ barnes  þat basterdis men callen
Or þe bak or sum boon  he brekiþ in his ȝouþe
And siþþen goon faiten wiþ her[^443] fauntis  for euere-more after
Þ er is moo mysschappid peple  amongys þeise beggers
Þan of alle manere men  þat on þis moolde walken
And þei þat lyuen þus her lijf  mowen loþe þe tyme
Þ at euere he was man wrouȝt  whanne he schal hennys fare
Ac olde men & hore  þat helples been of strengþe
Þe pardoun of peris Plowman .

[O.7.110: The rubric is divided after pardoun and peris, so that it appears on three lines.]

And wommen wiþ childe  þat worche ne mowen
Blynde & bedrede  & broken her membres
Þat taken þeise mescheues mekeliche  as meseles & oþere
Han a[^444] pleyn pardoun  as þe plowman hym-seluen
For loue of her lowe hertis  oure lord haþ hem grauntid 
Her penaunce & her purgatorie  heer on þis erþe
Peers quod a preest þoo  þi pardoun muste I rede
For I wole construe ich a clause  & kenne it þee on englisch
And peers at his preyer  þe pardoun vnfoldiþ
And I bihynde hem boþe  bihelde al þe bulle
Al in two lynes it lay  & not a leef more
And was writen riȝt þus  in witnesse of truþe
Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam . qui vero mala in ignem eternum
Peter quod þe preest þoo  I can no pardoun fynde
But do wel & haue wel  & god schal haue þi soule
And do yuele & haue yuele  hope þou noon oþer
But after þi deþ day  þe deuel schal haue þi soule
And peers for pure tene  pullede it atweyne
And seide . si ambulauero in medio vmbro mortis non timebo[^445] quoniam tu mecum es[^446]
I schal cecen of my sowyng quod peers  & swynke not so harde[^447]
Ne be aboute my beli ioye  so bisili no more
Of preyeris & pen. aunce my plow  schal be her-after
And wepe whan I schulde slepe  þouȝ whete breed me fayle
Þe prophete his payn eete  in penaunce & in sorwe
Bi þat þe sauter seiþ  so diden many oþere
Þat loueþ god lelly  his lijflode is ful esye
Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte
And but if luke lye  he lereþ vs bi foulis
We schulden not be to bisye  aboute þe werldis blis
Ne soliciti sitis  he seiþ in þe gospel
And schewiþ vs bi ensaumples  oure-seluen to wisse
Þe foules in þe feeld  who fynt hem mete at wynter
Haue þei no gerner to go to  but god fynt hem alle
What quod þe preest to perkyn  peter as me þinkeþ
Þ ou art letterid a litil  who lernede þee on booke
Abstynence þe abbesse quod peers  myn a b c me tauȝte
And concience come afterward  & kende me myche more
Were þou a preest peers quod he  þou myȝtist preche where þou schuldist
As dyuynour in dyuynyte  wiþ dixit insipiens to þi teme
Lewid lorel quod peers  litil lokest þou on þe bible
Or[^448] on salomons sawes  selden þou biholdist
Eice derisores & iurgia cum eis ne crescant & cetera
Þe preest & perkyn  apposede eyþer oþer
And I þoruȝ her wordis  a-woke & waytede aboute
And seyȝ þe sunne in þe souþ  sate þat tyme
Meteles & monyles  on maluerne hilles
Musynge on þeise metelis  & my weye ich ȝede
Many tyme þeise metelis  han maad me studie
Of þat I seyȝ slepynge  if it so be myȝte
And also for peers þe plowman  ful pensyf in herte
And whych a pardoun peers hadde  alle þe peple to counforte
And how þe preest impugnede it  wiþ two propre wordis
Ac I haue no sauour in sompnewarie[^449]  for I see it ofte fayle
Catoun & canonystres  counceylen vs to leue
To sette sadnesse in sompnewarie  for sompnia ne cures
Ac for þe book of þe bible  bereþ wittenesse
How danyel dyuynede  þe dremes of a kyng
Þat was Nabugodonosor  nempned of clerkis
Danyel seyde sire kynge  þi dremelis bitokenen
Þ at vnkouþe knyȝtis schul come  þi kyngdam to cleue
Amongys lower lordis  þi loond schal be departid
And as danyel dyuynede  in dede it fel after
Þe kyng lees his lordschip  & lower men it hadde
And Ioseph mette merueylouslich  how þe mone &[^450] sunne
And þe elleuene sterres  haylesede hem alle
Þanne iacob iuggede  iosephs sweuene
Bew fitz quod his fadir  for defaute we schullen 
I my-self & my sones  seche þee for nede
It bifel as his fadir seyde  in pharaoes tyme
Þ at ioseph was iustise  egypt to loken
It bifel as his fadir tolde  hise frendis þere hym souȝten
And al þis makiþ me  on þeise meteles to þenke
And how þe preest preuede  no pardoun to do-wel
And demede þat . do-wel  indulgences passede
Byennalis & tryennalis  & bischoppis lettres
And how do-wel at þe day of doom  is dignelich vndirfonge
And passeþ al þe pardoun  of seynt peteris chirche[^451]
now haþ þe per .

[O.7.187: The marginal addition is divided after þe, so that it appears as two lines. Any text that may have followed has been lost to cropping; it would have appeared as a continuation of the first marginal line, since per appears alone on the second with blank space following it. It would seem to have been a version of the first missing line following l. 186, "Now haþ þe pope power pardon to graunte."]

For-þi I rede ȝow renkes  þat riche been on þis erþe
Vp-on trist of ȝoure tresore  triennalis to haue
Be ȝe neuere þe balder  to breke þe ten hestis
And namelich ȝe maystris  meyres & iugges
Þat han þe welþe of þis werld  & wise men been holden
To purchace ȝow pardoun  at[^452] þe popes bulles
At þe dredeful doom  whanne dede schul arise
And come[^453] al bifore crist  acountis to ȝelde
How þou laddist þi lijf heer  & hise lawes keptest
And how þou didist day bi day  þe doom wole reherce
Of pardoun .
A poke-ful of pardoun þere  ne prouyncialis lettres
Þouȝ ȝe be founden in þe fraternyte of alle þe foure ordris
And haue indulgences double-foold  but if do-wel ȝow helpe
I sette ȝoure patentes & ȝoure pardoun  at a pies hele
For-þi I counceyle alle cristen  to crye god mercy
And marie his modir  be oure mene bitwene
Þ at god gyue vs grace heer  er we goon hennys
Swiche werkis to wirche  whyle we been heer
Þ at after oure deþ-day  do-wel reherce
At þe day of doom  we diden[^454] as he hyȝte

[^428: O.7.15: OC2 alone lack introductory And.]

[^429: O.7.19: CrO alone lack a second a before culpa .]

[^430: O.7.23: OC2 alone have plural her in place of his.]

[^431: O.7.24: OC2 alone transpose best likede.]

[^432: O.7.36: OC2 alone have in-to in place of in.]

[^433: O.7.37: YOC2M alone have and in place of correctly alliterating manye.]

[^434: O.7.43: O alone has the form schulden; most B manuscripts have sholde.]

[^435: O.7.58: OC2 alone lack oute(n) after wiþ, so that the sense of the line is destroyed.]

[^436: O.7.64: OC2 alone have take.]

[^437: O.7.64: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate.]

[^438: O.7.69: OC2 alone have Han; variants include Haueþ (WCrYLMR), haue (HmG), þey have (F), Has (C), and Haþ (B).]

[^439: O.7.81: OC2 alone have the form ȝyuen in place of gyuen.]

[^440: O.7.91: OC2 alone have ege in place of ego .]

[^441: O.7.100: OC2 alone have ne wedden; most B manuscripts have ne wedde.]

[^442: O.7.101: OC2 alone include this ampersand, which weakens the sense of the line.]

[^443: O.7.104: OC2 alone have her; most B manuscripts have youre.]

[^444: O.7.113: OC2F alone have a; most B manuscripts have as.]

[^445: O.7.128: OC2 alone lack mala or malum following timebo .]

[^446: O.7.128: Line 128 is divided after tu , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^447: O.7.129: Line 129 is divided after not, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^448: O.7.150: OC2 alone include Or.]

[^449: O.7.162: OC2F alone have the form sompnewarie in place of songewarie.]

[^450: O.7.173: OC2F alone lack þe before sunne.]

[^451: O.7.186: OC2 alone lack the following nine lines attested by all other B manuscripts: "Now haþ þe pope power pardon to graunte [Th]e peple wiþouten penaunce to passen [to ioye] This is [a leef of] oure bileue, as lettred men vs techeþ Quodcumque ligaueris super terram erit ligatum & in celis & And so I leue lelly, lor[d] forb[e]de ellis, That pardon and penaunce and preieres doon saue Soules þat haue synned seuen siþes dedly. Ac to trust [on] þise triennals, trewely, me þynkeþ It is noȝt so siker for þe soule, certes, as is dowel."]

[^452: O.7.192: OC2 alone have at; all other beta witnesses have and.]

[^453: O.7.194: OC2 alone have the form come in place of comen.]

[^454: O.7.206: OC2 alone have the form diden in place of dide.]

Passus octauus [O.8.000: The heading is divided after Passus , so that it appears as two lines. Flourishes consisting of two rays with a central tick, arranged vertically, appear at the left and right of the heading.]

Þ vs yrobed in russet  I romede aboute
Al a somer sesoun  for to seke do-wel
And fraynede ful oft  of folk þat I mette
If any wiȝt wiste where  do-wel . was at Inne
And what man he myȝte be  of many man I axede
Was neuere wiȝt as I wente  þat me wisse kouþe[^455]
Til it be-fel on a fryday  two freris I mette
Maystris of þe menouris  men of greet witte
I haylesede hem heendeli  as I hadde lerned
And preyede hem pur charite  er þei passeden ferþer
If þei knewen any cuntre  or coostes as þei wenten[^456]
Where þat . do-wel . dwelliþ  doþ me to witen
For þei been men of þis moold  þat moost wijlde walken
And knowen cuntrees & courtis  & many kyns places
Boþe princes paleycis  & pore mennys cotes
And do-wel & do-yuele  where þei dwellen boþe
Amongys vs quod þe menouris  þat man is dwellynge
And euere haþ as I hope  & euere schal her-after
Contra
Contra quod I as a clerk  & comsede to dispute
Sepcies in die cadit iusti

[O.8.20: The rubric is divided after sepcies , die , and cadit , so that it appears as four vertical lines in the right margin opposite ll. 8.20-8.23.]

And seyde hem soþeli  sepcies in die cadit iustus
Seuene siþes seiþ þe book  synneþ þe riȝtful
And who-so synneþ he seyde[^457]  doþ yuele as me þinkeþ[^458]
Ergo he is not alwey  amongys ȝow freris
He is oþer -whyle ellis-where  to wisse þe peple
I schal seye þee my sone  seyde þe frere þanne
How seuene siþes þe sadman  on a day synneþ
Bi aforbisen a forbisen quod þe frere  I schal þe fayre schewe
Latte brynge a man in a boot  a-myd þe brode water
Þe wijnd & þe water  & þe boot waggynge
Makeþ a man many tyme  to falle & to stumble[^459]
For stonde he neuere so stiffe  he stumbleþ if he meueþ
Ac ȝit is he saaf & sound  & so hym bihoueþ
For if he ne arise þe raþer  & rauȝte to þe stere
Þe wijnd wolde wiþ þe water  þe boot ouerþrowe
And þanne were his lijf lost  þoruȝ laccheyse of hym-seluen
And þus it falliþ quod þe frere  bi folk heer on erþe
Þe water is likned to þe werld  þat wanyeþ & waxeþ
Þe goodes of þis ground arn lijk  to þe grete wawes
Þat as wyndes & wederes  walken aboute
Þe boot is likned to oure body  þat brotel is of kynde
Þat þoruȝ þe feend & þe flesch  & þe frele werld
Synneþ þe sadman  a day seuene siþes
Ac dedli synne doþ he not  for do-wel hym kepeþ
And þat is charite þe champioun  cheef help aȝens synne
For he strengþede[^460] man to stonde  & steriþ mannys soule
And þouȝ þi body bowe  as boot doþ in þe water
Ay is þi soule saaf  but if þi-self wole 
Do a dedli synne  & drenche þi soule
God wole suffre wel þi slouþe  if þi-self likeþ
For he ȝaf þee to ȝersȝyue  to ȝeme wel þiselue
And þat is witt & fre wille  to euery wiȝt a porcioun
To fleynge foules to fischis  & also to beestis
Ac man haþ moost þerof  & moost is to blame
But if he wirche wel þerwiþ  as do-wel hym techeþ
I haue no kynde knowyng quod I  to conceyue alle ȝoure wordis
Ac if I may lyue & loke  I schal go lerne better
I bikenne þee crist  þat on þe crosse dyede
And I seyde . þe same  saue ȝow fro meschaunce
And gyue ȝow grace on þis ground  goode men to worþe
And þus I wente wyde-where  walkynge myn oone
Bi a wylde wildernesse  & bi a wode-syde
Blis of þe bryddis  brouȝte me a-slepe
And vndir a lynde vp-on a launde  lenede I a stounde
To lyþe þe layes  þoo loueli foules maden
Mirþe of her mouþes  made me þere to slepe
Þe meruelousest meteles  mette I[^461] me þanne
Þat euere dremede wiȝt  in werld as I wene
A myche man as me þouȝte  & lijk to me-selue
Come & callede me  bi my kynde name
What art þou quod I þoo  þat þou my name knowist
Þat þou wost wel quod he  & no man[^462] better
Woot I what þou art  þouȝt . seyde he þanne
I haue sued þee þis seuene ȝer  seyȝ þou me no raþer
Art þou þouȝt . quod I þoo  þou koudest me wisse
Where þat do-wel dwelliþ  & do me þat to knowe
Do-wel & do-bette & do-best [^463] þridde quod he
Arn þre fayre vertues  & been not feer to fynde
Who-so is trewe of his tunge  & of hise two handis
And þoruȝ his labour or hise londes  his lijflode wynneþ
And is tristi of[^464] taylyng  takiþ but his owne
And is not drunklew ne dedeynous  do-wel hym folewiþ
Do-bette doþ riȝt þus  & he doþ mych more
He is as lowe as a lombe  & louelich of speche
And helpiþ alle men  after þat hem nediþ
Þe baggys & þe bigyrdeles  he haþ to-broke hem alle
Þat þe erle auarous  helde . & hise eyris
And þus wiþ mammonaes money  he haþ maad hym freendis
And is runne to religioun  & haþ rendrid þe bible
And prechede to þe peple seynt poulis wordis
Libenter suffertis insipientes cum sitis ipsi sapientes
And suffren[^465] þe vnwyse  wiþ ȝow for to libbe
And wiþ glad wille doon hem good  for so god ȝow hotiþ
Do-best
Do-best is aboue hem[^466] boþe  & bereþ a bischoppis croos
Is hoked on þat oon eende  to hale men fro helle
A pyke is on þe potent  to pilte[^467] adoun þe wikkide
Þat wayten any wikkidnesse  do-wel to tene
And do-wel & do-bette  amongys hem ordeyneden[^468]
To crowne oon to be kyng  to rulen hem boþe
Þ at if do-wel or do-bette  doþ[^469] aȝens do-best
Þanne schal þe kyng come  & casten hem in Irnes
And but if do-best bidde for hem  þei be þere for euere
Þus do-wel & do-bette  & do-best þe þridde
Crowneden[^470] oon to be kyng  to kepen hem alle
And to rule þi[^471] rewme  bi her þre wittis
And noon oþer -wyse but as þei þre assenteden[^472]
I þankede þouȝt þoo  þat he me þus tauȝte
Ac ȝit saueriþ me not þi seggyng  I coueyte to lerne
How do-wel . do-bette & do-best  doon amongys þe peple
But witt kun wisse þee quod þouȝt  where þoo þre dwellen
Ellis woot I noon þat can  þat now is a-lyue
Þouȝt & I þus  þre dayes ȝeden
Disputynge vp-on do-wel  day after oþer
And er we weren ywar[^473]  wiþ witt gonne I[^474] mete
He was longe & lene  liche to noon oþer
Was no pride on his apparayle  ne pouerte neyþer
Sad of his semblaunt  & of softe chere
I durste meue no matere  to make hym to iangle
But as I bade þouȝt þoo  be mene bitwene
And putte forþ sum purpos  to prouen hise wittis
What was do-wel fro do-bette  & do-best fram hem boþe
Þanne þouȝt in þat tyme  seyde þeise wordis
Where do-wel . do-bette . & do-best  been in londe
Heer is wille wolde wite  if witt kouþe teche hym
And wheþer he be man or womman  þis man wolde asspye
And worche as þei þre wolden[^475]  þis is his entent

[^455: O.8.6: OC2 alone lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "Where þis leode lenged lasse ne moore."]

[^456: O.8.11: OC2 alone have as þei wenten; all other beta witnesses have as þei wente.]

[^457: O.8.22: OC2C alone have he seyde; variants include I say (Cr), I seide (WGYLMR), as y seyde (Hm), seide he (B), and in doynge he (F).]

[^458: O.8.22: OC2 alone lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "[That] dowel and do yuele mowe noȝt dwelle togideres."]

[^459: O.8.30: OC2 alone have stumble; all other beta witnesses have stonde.]

[^460: O.8.45: OYCr1 alone have the preterite form.]

[^461: O.8.66: YOC2 alone include I.]

[^462: O.8.71: OC2 alone have man in place of correctly alliterating wiȝt.]

[^463: O.8.76: OC2 alone lack þe before þridde.]

[^464: O.8.80: GOC2 alone lack his before taylyng.]

[^465: O.7.91: OC2 alone have the form suffren; most other B manuscripts have suffreþ.]

[^466: O.8.93: OC2F alone include hem.]

[^467: O.8.95: OC2 alone have pilte. Variants include pulte (L), pelte (R), pul (Cr), pulle (Y), pytten (F), putte (WHmBM), pute (C), and put (G); Kane and Donaldson emend to punge. The form pilte is defined by the MED as "to thrust, push, strike"; pulte and pelte are listed as variants. The form pungen is listed as a variant of pingen, "to push (a door), batter; shove," "to pierce or stab." Skeat (Vol. II, 419) notes that the word's literal meaning is "goad."]

[^468: O.8.97: O alone has ordeyneden; variants include han ordeyned (WHmCr), ordeyned (YGC2CLMR), and ordeyneþ (B).]

[^469: O.8.99: A solidus/punctus above the word and a caret/punctus in the left margin indicate deletion of doþ, but no substitute is supplied. OC2 alone have doþ; most B manuscripts have the preterite.]

[^470: O.8.103: O alone has the form crowneden; all other beta witnesses have crouned.]

[^471: O.8.104: OC2 alone have þi in place of (al) þe.]

[^472: O.8.105: O alone has assenteden; most B manuscripts have assented.]

[^473: O.8.113: O alone has weren ywar; most B manuscripts have were war.]

[^474: O.8.113: OC2 alone have I in place of we.]

[^475: O.8.125: OC2 alone have the form wolden in place of wolde.]

Passus nonus [O.9.000: The heading is divided after Passus , so that it appears as two lines.]

S Ire dowel dwelliþ quod witt  not a day hennys[^476]
In a castel þat kynde made  of foure kyns þingys
Of erþe & eyr it is maad  medelid to-gyderes
Wiþ wynde & wiþ water  wittili[^477] enioyned
Kynde haþ closid þer -Inne  craftili wiþ-alle
A lemman þat he loueþ  lyke to hym-selue
Anima sche hatte  ac envye hir hatiþ
A proude priker of fraunce  princeps huius mundi
And wolde wynne hir awey  wiþ wyles and he myȝte
Ac kynde knowiþ þis wel  & kepiþ hir þe better
And haþ doon hir wiþ sire do-wel  duke of þis marches
Do-bette is hir damysel  sire do-welis douȝter
To serue þis lady lelly  boþe late & raþe
Do-best is aboue boþe  a bisschopps pere
Þat he bit mote be doon  he ruliþ hem alle
Anima þat lady  is lad bi his leryng
Ac þe cunstable of þat castel  þat kepiþ al þe wacche
Is a wise knyȝt wiþ-al  sire Inwitt he hatte
And haþ fyue fayre sones  bi his first wijf
Sire . se wel . & seye wel  & here wel þe hende
Sire . wirche wel . wiþ þin hand  a wiȝt man of strenkþe
And . sire godfrey . go wel  grete lordis for-soþe
Þeise fyue been set  to saue þis lady anima
Til kynde come or sende  to sauen hir for euere
¶ What þing is kynde quod I  canst þou me telle
Kynde quod witt is a creature  of alkyns þingys
Fadir & formour of al  þat euere was maked
And þat is þe greet god  þat gynnyng hadde neuere
Lord of lijf & of liȝt  of lisse & of peyne
Aungelis & al þing  arn at his wille
Ac man is hym moost lijke  of mark & of schaft
For þoruȝ þe woord þat he spake  wexen forþ beestis
Dixit & facta sunt & cetera[^478]
And made man likkest  to hym-selue oone
And eue of his ribbe-boon  wiþ-outen any mene
For he was synguler hym-self  & seyde faciamus
As who seyþ . more mut þerto[^479]  þan my word oone
My myȝt mut helpe now  wiþ my speche
Riȝt as a lord schulde make lettres  & hym lakkede parchemyn
Þouȝ he kouþe write neuere so wel  if he hadde no penne
Þe lettres[^480] for al þe lordschip  I leue were neuere ymaked
And so it semeþ bi hym  as þe book telleþ
Þ ere he seyþ . dixit & facta sunt
He muste wirche wiþ his word  & his witt schewe
And in þis manere was man maad  þoruȝ myȝt of god almyȝti
Wiþ his word & werkmanschip  & wiþ lijf to laste
And þus god gaf hym a goost  of þe godheed of heuene
And of his greet grace  grauntede hym blysse
And þat is lijf þat ay schal laste  to alle lynages after
And þat is þe castel þat kynde made  caro it hatte
And þat[^481] is as myche to mene  as man wiþ a soule
And þat he wrouȝte wiþ werk  & wiþ word boþe
Þoruȝ myȝt of þe mageste  man was ymaked
Inwitt & alle wittis  closed been þer -Inne
Anima
For loue of þe lady anima  þat lijf is ynempned
Ouer -al in mannys body  he walkiþ & wandriþ
Ac in þe herte is hir home  & hir moost rest
Ac inwitt is in þe hed  & to þe herte he lokiþ
What anima is leef &[^482] looþ  he latte hir at his wille
For after þe grace of god  þe grettest is inwitt
Mich woo worþ þat man  þat mysruliþ his inwitt
And þat been glotouns glubbers  her god is her wombe
Quorum deus venter est[^483]
For þei seruen sathan  her soulis schal he haue
Þat lyuen synful lijf heer  her soule is like þe deuelis[^484]
And alle þat lyuen good lijf  arn like to god almyȝti
Q ui manet in caritate in deo manet & cetera[^485]
Allas þat drynk schal fordo  þat god dere abouȝte
And dooþ god forsaken hem  þat he schope to his liknesse
Amen dico vobis . nescio vos / & alibi / & dimisi eos secundum desideria eorum & cetera
fooles[^486] þat fauten Inwitt  I fynde þat holi chirche 
Schulde fynde hem þat hem fauteþ  & fadirles children
And wydwes þat han not wher-wiþ  to wynne hem her fode
Madde men & maydenes  þat helples weren
Alle þeise lakken Inwitt  & lore bihoueþ
Of þis[^487] matere I myȝte  make a longe tale
And fynde fele witnesse  amongys þe foure doctouris
And þat I lye not of þat I lere þee  luke bereþ witnesse
¶ Godfadir & godmodir  þat seen her god-children 
At mysese & meschef  & mowen hem amende
Schul haue penaunce in purgatorie  but if þei hem helpe
For more bilongeþ to þe litil barn  er he þe lawe knowe
Þan nempnyng of a name  & he neuere þe wyser
. . . nota . . .

[O.9.84: The word nota is accompanied by flourishes at right, left, and bottom.]

¶ Schulde no cristen creature  crye at þe ȝate
Ne fayle payn ne potage & prelatis  diden as þei schulden
A Iu wolde not seen a Iu  go iangelyng for defaute
For alle þe mebles on þis moold  & he amende it myȝte
Allas þat a cristen creature  schal be so vnkynde to an-oþer
Siþen Iues þat we Iuggen  Iudas felawis
Eyþer of hem helpeþ oþer  of þat þat hym nediþ
Why nylen[^488] we cristen of cristis  good . be as kynde
As Iues þat been oure lorismen  schame to vs alle
Þe comune for her vnkyndenesse  I drede me schul abye
Bisschopis schul be blamed  for beggers sake
He is wers þan Iudas  þat ȝyueþ iapers syluer
And biddiþ þe begger goo  for hise broken cloþes
Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda  qui patrimonium christi minus distribuit / Et alibi / Perni ciosus dispensator[^489]  qui res pauperum invtiliter consumit
He dooþ not wel þat dooþ þus  ne drat not god almyȝti
Ne loueþ not salomons sawes  þat sapience tauȝte
Inicium sapiencie timor domini & þou doost bette[^490]
Drede god for loue & þou doost wel  but not for veniaunce
Þ ou doost best if þou wiþdrawe  bi day & bi nyȝt 
To spille any speche  or any space of tyme
Q ui offendit in vno  est in omnibus reus
Leesyng of tyme  truþe woot þe soþe
Is moost hatid vp-on erþe  of hem þat been in heuene
And siþþe to spille speche  þat spire is of grace
And goddis gleman  & a game of heuene
Wolde neuere þe feiþful fadir  his fiþele were vntempred
Ne his gleman a gedelyng  a goer to tauernes
To alle trewe tydymen  þat trauayle desiren
Oure lord loueþ[^491] & lent  loude eiþer stille 
Grace to goo to hem  & a-goon her lijflode
Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono[^492]
Trewe weddid libbynge folk  in þis werld is do-wel
For þei musten[^493] wirche & wynne  & þe werld susteyne
For of her kynde þei came  þat confessouris been nempned
Kyngys & knyȝtis  kayseris & cherlis
Maydenes & martiris  out of a man come
Þe wijf was maad þe weye  for to helpe worche
And þus was wedlok ywrouȝt  wiþ a mene persoone
First bi þe faderis wille  & þe frendis counceyl
And siþþe bi assent of hem-selue  as þei two myȝten a-corde
And þus was wedlok ywrouȝt  & god hymself it made
In erþe þe heuene is  hym-self was þe witnesse
Ac false folk feiþles  þeues & lyeris
Wastouris & wrecches  out of wedlok I trowe 
Conceyued been in yuele tyme  as caym was of eue
Of swiche synful schrewes  þe sauter makiþ mynde
Concepit in dolore & peper it iniquitatem & cetera[^494]
And alle þat come of þat caym  come to yuele eende
For god sente to sem  & seyde bi an aungel
Þin issu in þin issu  I wole þat þei be ioyned[^495]
And not þi kynde wiþ caymes  ycouplid ne spousid
Ȝit summe aȝens[^496] þe soonde  of oure saueour of heuene
Kaymes kynde & his kynde  ycouplede[^497] to-gyderis
Til god wraþþede wiþ her werkis  & swich a word seyde
Þ at I makede man  now me it aþinkiþ
Penitet me fecisse hominem[^498]
And come to noe anoon  & bade hym not lette
Swiþe go schape a schip  of schidis & of boordis
Þi-self & þi þre sones  & siþþen ȝoure wyues
Buske ȝow to þat boot  & bideþ ȝe þer -Inne
Til fourty dayes be fulfillid  þat flood haue ywasschen 
Clene awey þe cursid blood  þat caym haþ ymaked
Beestis þat now been  schul banne þe tyme
Þ at euere þat cursid caym  come on þis erþe
Alle schul dye for hise dedis  bi dales & bi hilles
And þe foules þat flyen  forþ wiþ oþere beestis
Except onelich of ich  a kynde & a couple[^499]
Þat in þi schyngled schip  schul been ysaued
Heer bouȝte þe barn  þe bele-sires gyltes
And al for her forfadris  þei ferden þe wers
Þe gospel is her-aȝeyn  in o degre I fynde
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris & pater non portabit & cetera[^500][^501]
Ac I fynde if þe fadir  be fals & a schrewe
Þ at sumdel þe sone  schal haue þe sires tacches
Impe on an ellerne . & if  þin appil be swete
Miche merueyle me þinkiþ  & more of a schrewe
Þat bryngeþ forþ any barn  but if he be þe same
And haue a sauour after þe sire  selden seest þou oþer
Numquam colligimus de spinis vuas nec de tribulis ficus[^502]
And þus þoruȝ cursid caym  cam care vp-on erþe
And al for þei wrouȝten wedlok  aȝens goddis wille
nota . Of wedlok

[O.9.165: The word nota is surrounded by red and black flourishes at top right and left and beneath.]

For-þi . haue þei maugre  þat so marien her children
For summe as I see now  soþe for to telle
For coueytise of catel  vnkyndelich been weddid
Ac careful concepcioun  comeþ of swiche mariages
As bifel of þe folk  þat I bifore of . tolde
For goode schulden wedde good  þouȝ þei no good hadde
I am via & veritas [^503] I may auaunce alle
It is an vncomeli couple  bi crist as me þinkiþ
To ȝyue a ȝonge wenche  to an olde feble
Or wedden any wydowe  for welþe of hir goodis
Þat neuere schal barn bere  but if it be in armes
Many a peyre siþ þe pestilence  han pliȝt hem to-gyderis
Þe fruyt þat þei bryngen forþ  arn foule wordis
In ielousye ioyles  & ianglyng on bedde
Haue þei no children but chest  & choppyng hem bitwene
And þouȝ þei do hem to donmowe  but if þe deuel helpe
To folewen after þe flicche  fecche þei it neuere
And but þei boþe be forsworen  þat bacoun þei tynen[^504]
For-þi I counceyle alle cristen  coueyte not be weddid
For coueytise of catel  ne of kynred riche
Ac maydenes & maydenes  macche ȝow to-gyderis
Widowes & widowers  wircheþ þe same
For no londes but for loue  loke ȝe be weddid
And þanne geten[^505] ȝe þe grace of god  & good ynow to lyue wiþ
And euery manere seculer  þat may not contene
Wiseli go wedde  & war hym fro synne
For leccherie in lokyng  is lyme-ȝerd of helle
Whiles þou art ȝong  & þi wepen kene
Werke[^506] þee wiþ wyuyng  if þou wilt been excusid
Cum sis vir fortis  ne des tua robora scortis
Scribitur in portis  meretrix est ianua mortis .
Whanne ȝe han wyued . beþ war  & wircheþ in tyme
Not as adam & eue  whanne caym was engendrid
For in vntyme truli  bitwene man & womman
Ne schulde no bourde on bedde be  but if þei boþe weren[^507] clene
Boþe of lijf & of soule  & in parfiȝt charite
Þat ilke derne dede do  no man ne schulde
Ac[^508] if þei leden þus her lijf  it likeþ god almyȝti
For he made wedlok first  & hym-self it seyde
Bonum est vt vnusquisque vxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionem
And þei þat oþer -gates been geten  for gedelynges been holden
As fals folk fondelynges  faytouris & lyeris
Vngracious to gete good  or loue of þe peple
Wandren & wasten  what þei cacche mowen
Aȝens do-wel þei doon yuele  & þe deuel seruen
And after her deþ-day  schul dwelle wiþ þe same
But god gyue hem grace heer  hem-self to amende
Do-wel my freend . is to do  as þe lawe techiþ
To loue þi freend & þi foo  leue me . þat is do- bette
To ȝyuen & to ȝemen  boþe ȝonge & olde
To helen & to helpen  is . do-best . of alle
And . do-wel . is to drede god  & . do-bette . is to suffre
And so comeþ . do-best . of boþe  & bryngeþ adoun þe mody
And þat is wickid wille  þat many werk schendiþ
And dryueþ awey . do-wel  þoruȝ dedly synne

[^476: O.9.1: A small cross, in an unidentifiable hand, appears in the near left margin of this line.]

[^477: O.9.4: OC2 alone have wittili in place of witterly.]

[^478: O.9.33: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after Dixit , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^479: O.9.37: GOC2 alone have þer-to in place of herto.]

[^480: O.9.41: OCr23C2 alone have the plural form.]

[^481: O.9.51: OC2 alone include þat.]

[^482: O.9.59: OC2 alone have & in place of or.]

[^483: O.9.63: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after deus , so that it appears as two lines.]

[^484: O.9.65: OC2 alone have the possessive form.]

[^485: O.9.67: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after caritate , so that it appears as two lines.]

[^486: O.9.71: A caret beside marginal fooles indicates that it was intended as a substitute for Foules.]

[^487: O.9.76: A solidus/punctus appears over the <s> in þis, for no apparent reason.]

[^488: O.9.91: O alone has nylen; variants include ne woll (HmBR), nel (WGYC2CLM), wyl not (Cr23), and wil (Cr1F).]

[^489: O.9.97: OC2 alone lack est before qui .]

[^490: O.9.100: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after sapiencie and domini , and red parasigns precede the last two lines of text.]

[^491: O.9.112: OC2 alone lack hem before &.]

[^492: O.9.114: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after non , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^493: O.9.116: OC2 alone have musten; most B manuscripts have mote.]

[^494: O.9.130: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after dolore , so that it appears as two lines.]

[^495: O.9.133: Cr23OC2 alone have ioyned in place of wedded.]

[^496: O.9.135: The <e> in aȝens seems to have been written over an <o>.]

[^497: O.9.136: OC2 alone have ycouplede; all other beta witnesses have coupled.]

[^498: O.9.139: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^499: O.9.150: YOC2 weaken the sense of this line by adding a before kynde, and OC2 destroy it by adding & before couple.]

[^500: O.9.155: OC2 alone have portabit & cetera ; variants include & cetera (GYCB), portabit iniquitatem filij (RCrF), portabit iniquitatem filij & cetera (WHmL), and portabit iniquitatem & cetera (M).]

[^501: O.9.155: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after patris , so that it appears as two lines.]

[^502: O.9.162: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after vuas , and a red parasign precedes the second line.]

[^503: O.9.171: OC2 alone lack the phrase seiþ crist or seid crist before the second occurrence of I.]

[^504: O.9.182: OC2 alone have tynen in place of tyne.]

[^505: O.9.188: O alone has geten in place of gete.]

[^506: O.9.193: OC2 alone have Werke in place of Wreke.]

[^507: O.9.199: O alone has weren in place of were.]

[^508: O.9.201: YO alone have Ac; most B manuscripts have And.]

P assus . decimus . [O.10.000: The heading is divided after P assus , so that it appears as two lines.]

Þ Anne hadde witt a wijf  was hoten . dame studye .
Þat lene was of leere  & of liche boþe
Sche was wondirlich wroþ  þat witt me þus tauȝte
And al staryng dame studie  sternelich seyde
Wel art þou wijs quod sche to witt  any wisdams to telle
To flatereris or to foolis  þat frenetyk been of wittis
And blamede hym & bannede hym  & bade hym be stille
Wiþ swiche wise wordis  to wisse any sottes
And seyde . noli mittere . man  margerie perles
Amongys hoggys . þat han  hawes at wille
Þei doon but drauelen þer -on  draf were hem leuere
Þan al þe precious perre  þat in paradice waxeþ
I seye it by swiche quod sche  þat schewen bi her werkis
Þ at hem were leuere lond  & lordschip on erþe
Or richesse or rentis  & rest at her wille
Þan alle þe soþe sawes  þat salomon seyde euere
Wisdam & witt now  is not .... worþ a kerse
But if it be carded wiþ coueytise  as cloþeris kemben wolle
Who-so can contreue deceytis  & conspire wrongys
And lede forþ a loueday  to lette wiþ truþe
He þat swyche craftes can  to counceyl is clepid
Þei leden lordys wiþ lesyngys  & bilyeþ truþe
Iob þe gentel in hise gestes  gretly witnessiþ
Þ at wickide men welden  þe welþe of þis werld
And þat þei been lordis of ich loond  þat out of lawe libben
Q uare impij viuunt bene est hominibus qui preuaricantur & inique agunt
Þe sauter seiþ þe same  bi swiche þat doon ille
Ecce ipsi peccatores &[^509] habundantes in seculo obtinuerunt diuicias
Lo seiþ þe[^510] holi lettrure  whiche lordis been þeise schrewis
Þilk þat god moost good gyueþ[^511]  leeste good þei delen
And moost vnkynde to þe comune  þat moost catel welden
Que perfecisti  destruxerunt  iustus autem & cetera
Harlottes for her harlotrie  mowen haue of her goodes
And iaperis & iogelouris  & iangeleris of gestes
nota  how good carpyng is not loued

[O.10.35: This rubric is divided after good and not, so that it appears as three lines. Three ticks follow it. The word nota is accompanied by flourishes at right and left.]

Ac he þat haþ holi writt  ay in his mouþe
And can telle of tobye  & of þe twelue apostelis
Or prechen of penaunce  þat pilat wrouȝte
To iesu þe ientil  þat Iues to-drowen
Litil is he loued  þat swich a lessoun schewiþ
Or dauntid or drawen forþ  I do it on god hym-selue
Of mynystralis
But þoo þat feynen hem folis  & wiþ faytyng libben
A -[^512]ȝeyn þe lawe of oure lord  & lyen on hem-selue
Spitten & spewen & speken foule wordis
Drynken & drauelen  & doon men for to gape
Likken men & lyen on hem  þat lenen hem no gyftis
Þei kunnen no more mynystralcye  ne musik men to glade
Þan Munde þe myluer  of multa fecit deus
Ne were her vile harlotrie  haue god my truþe
Schulde neuere kyng ne knyȝt  ne chanoun of seynt poulis
Ȝyue hem to her ȝerisȝyue  þe value[^513] of a grote
Ac myrþe & mynystralcie  amongys men is nouþe
Leccherie & losengerie  & losellis talys
Glotenye & grete oþis  þeise[^514] myrþes[^515] þei louen
Ac if þei carpen of crist  þeise clerkis & þeise lewede
At mete in myrþes  whanne mynystralis been stille
Þanne tellen þei of þe trinyte  a tale oþer tweyen
And bryngen[^516] a balled resoun  & taken bernard to witnesse
And putten forþ a presumpcioun  to preue þe soþe
Þus þei dryuelen at her deys  þe deyte to knowe
And gnawen god wiþ þe goorge  whanne her guttes been fulle
Ac þe careful may crye  and carpen at þe ȝate
Boþe an-hungred & a-þrist  & for chele quake
Is noon to nymen hym neer  his noye to amende
But howen on hym as an hound  & hoten hym go þennes
Litil loueþ he þat lord  þat lente hym al þat blisse
Þat þus parten[^517] wiþ þe pore  a parcel whanne hem[^518] nediþ
Ne were mercy in mene men  more þan in riche
¶ Mendynauntis . meteles  myȝten go to bedde
God is myche in þe goorge  of þeise grete maystris
Ac amongys mene men  his mercy & hise werkis
And so seiþ þe sauter  I haue seyn it ofte
Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata  inuenimus eam in campis silue
Clerkis & oþere kyns men  carpen of god faste
And han hym myche in þe mouþ  ac mene men in herte
[^519] Freris & faytouris  han founden swiche questiouns
To plese wiþ . proude men  siþ þe pestilence tyme
And prechen at seynt poulis  for pure envie of clerkis
Þ at folk been[^520] not fermed in þe feiþ  ne free of her goodis
Ne sory for her synnes  so is pride waxen
In religioun & in al þe rewme  amongys riche & pore
Þ at preyeris han no power  þe pestilence to lette
And ȝit þe wrecchis of þis world  is noon ywar bi oþer
Ne for drede of þe deþ  wiþ-drawen not her pride
Ne been plentyuouse to þe pore  as pure charite wolde
But in gaynesse & glotenye  forglutten her good hem-selue
And breken not to þe begger  as þe book techiþ
Frange esurienti panem tuum & cetera[^521]
And þe more he wynneþ & welt  welþis & richessis 
And lordiþ in londis  þe lesse good he deleþ
Tobie telliþ ȝow not so  take heed ȝe riche
How þe book of þe bible  of hym beriþ witnesse
De elemosina
Si tibi copia sit  habundanter tribue  si autem exiguum  impertir i stude libenter
Who-so haþ myche . spende myche  so meneþ tobie
nota

[O.10.94: The word nota is surrounded at right, left, and bottom with red and black punctuses and flourishes.]

And who-so litil weldiþ  rule hym þer -after
For we han no letter of oure lijf  how longe it schal dure
Swiche lessouns lordis  schulden louye to here
And how he myȝte moost  meyne . manlich fynde
Ac[^522] not to fare as a fiþeler or a frere  for to seke feestis
Homelich at oþer mennys housis  & haten her owne
Elenge is þe halle  ich day in þe woke
Þ ere þe lord & þe lady  liken[^523] not[^524] sitte
Now haþ ich riche a rule  to ete bi hym-selue
pure
In a pryuey parlour  for pore[^525] mennys sake
Or in a chaumbre wiþ a chymeney  & leue þe cheef halle
Þat was[^526] for meles  men to eten Inne
And[^527] to spare to spille  þat spende schal an-oþer
I haue herd hye men  etynge at þe table 
Carpen as þei clerkis weren[^528]  of crist & of hise myȝtis
And leyden fautes on þe fadir  þat formede vs alle
And carpen aȝeyn clerkis  crabbede wordis
Why wolde oure saueour suffre  swich a worme in his blisse
Þat bigylede þe womman  & þe man after
Þoruȝ whiche whyles[^529] & wordis  þei wenten to helle
And al her seed for her synne  þe same deþ suffreden
Heer lijþ ȝoure lore  þat[^530] þeise lordis gynnen dispute
Of þat ȝe clerkis[^531] vs kennen  of crist bi þe gospel
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris & cetera[^532]
Why schulden we þat now been  for þe werkis of adam
Roten & renten[^533]  resoun wolde it neuere
Vnusquisque portabit onus suum & cetera[^534]
Swiche motyues þei meuen  þeise maystris in her glorie
And maken men in mysbileue  þat musen myche on her wordis
Ymagynatijf her-afterward  schal answere to ȝoure purpose
Austyn to swiche argueris  telliþ his[^535] teme
Non plus sapere quam oportet & cetera[^536]
Wilneþ neuere[^537] wite  why þat god wolde 
Suffre sathan  his seed to be-gyle
Ac bileueþ lelli  in[^538] lore of holi chirche
And preye hym of pardoun  & penaunce in þi lyue
And for his myche mercy  to amende ȝow heer
For alle þat wilnen to wite  þe whyes[^539] of god almyȝti
I wolde his ye were in his ers  & his fynger after
Þat euere wilneþ to wite  why þat god wolde
Suffre sathan  his seed to bigyle
Or Iudas to þe Iues  iesu bitraye
Al was as þou woldist lord  worschipid be þow
And al worþ as þou wilt  what-so we disputen[^540]
And þoo þat vsen þeise hauylounes  to blynde mennes wittes
What is . do-wel . fro . do-bette  now deef[^541] mote he worþe
Siþ he wilneþ to wite  whiche þei been boþe
But if he lyue in þe lijf  þat longeþ to do-wel
For I dar be his bold boruȝ  þat do bette wole he neuere
Þouȝ do-best drawe on hym  day after oþer
And whanne þat witt was ywar  what dame studie tolde
He bicome so confuse  he couþe not loke
And as doombe as deþ  & drowȝe hym arere
And for no carpyng I couþe after  ne knelyng to þe ground
I myȝte gete no greyn  of hise grete wittis
But al lawȝhynge he loutede  & lokede vp-on studie
In signe þat I schulde  biseche hir of grace
And whanne I was war of his wille  to his wijf gan I loute
And seyde mercy ma-dame  ȝoure man schal I worþe
As longe as I lyue  boþe late & raþe
For to wirche ȝoure wille  þe whyle my lijf dureþ
Wiþ þat ȝe kenne me kyndeli  to knowe what is do-wel
¶ For þi mekenesse man quod sche  & for þi mylde speche
I schal kenne þee to my cosyn  þat clergye is hoten
He haþ weddid a wijf  wiþ-Inne þis sixe moneþes
Is sibbe to þe seuene artis  scripture is hir name
Þei two as I hope  after my techyng
Schul wisse þee to . do-wel  I dar it vndirtake
Þanne was I also fayn  as foul of fayre morwe
And gladder þan þe gleman  þat gold haþ to ȝyfte
nota to lerne holi writ

[O.10.164: This rubric is divided after lerne, so that it appears as two lines. The word nota is accompanied by flourishes at left and beneath.]

And axede hir þe hye weye  where þat clergie dwelte
And telle me sum tokene quod I  for tyme is þat I wende
Axe þe hye weye quod studie  hennys to suffre
Boþe wel & woo  if þat þou wilt lerne
And ride forþ bi richesse  but[^542] reste not þere-inne
For if þou couplist þee þerwiþ  to clergie comest þou neuere
And also þe likerouse launde  þat leccherie hatte
Leue it on þi left half  a large myle & more
Til þou come to a court  kepe wel þi tunge
Fro lesyngys & liþer speche  & likerouse drynkes
Þanne schalt þou see sobretee  & sympletee of speche
Þ at ich wyȝt be in wille  his wite þee to schewe
And þus schalt þou come to clergye  þat can many þingys
Seye hym þis signe  I sette hym to scole
And þat I grette wel his wijf  for I wrote hir many bokes
And sette hir to sapience  & to þe sauter glose
Logyk I lernede hir  & many oþere lawes
And alle þe musons of[^543] musyk  I made hir to knowe
Plato þe poete  I putte hym first to boke
Aristotle & oþere moo  to argue I tauȝte
Gramer for gyrles  I garte first write
And bette hem wiþ a baleys  but if þei wolden[^544] lerne
Of alle kyns craftes  I contreuede tooles
Of carpentrie of keruers  & compassede masouns
And kennede[^545] hem leuel & lyne  þouȝ I loke dymme
Teologie haþ tened me  ten score tymes
Þe mor I muse þer -Inne  þe mystier it semeþ
And þe depper I dyuyne  þe derker me it þinkeþ
It is no science for-soþe  for to sutile Inne
And[^546] ful leþi þing it were  if þat loue nere
And for it let best bi loue  I loue it þe better
For þere þat loue is leder  ne lakkeþ no grace
Loke þou loue lelli  if þee likeþ do wel
And[^547] do-bette & do-best  been of loues kyn
In oþere science it seiþ  I seyȝ it in catoun
Qui simulat verbis  nec corde est fidus amicus[^548]
Tu quo que fac simile  cum[^549] ars dilluditur arte[^550]
Who-so glosiþ as gylours doon  do hem þe same
And so schalt þou false folk  & feiþles bigyle
Þis is catouns kennyng  to clerkis þat he leriþ
Ac teologie techeþ not so  who-so takeþ ȝeem
And kenneþ vs þe contrarie  aȝens catouns wordis
For he bit vs . be as breþeren  & bidde for oure enemyes
And loue hem þat lyen on vs  & lene hem whanne hem nediþ
And do good aȝens yuel  god hym-self it hotiþ
Dum tempus habemus  operemur bonum ad omnes maxime autem ad domesticos fidei
Poule prechede þe peple  þat parfiȝtnesse louede
To do good for goddis loue  & gyue men þat asken
And namelich to swiche  þat suen oure bileue
And al þat lakkiþ vs & lieþ vs  god techeþ vs to loue
And not to greue hem þat greuen vs  god þat forbediþ
Michi vindictam & ego retribuam .[^551]
For-þi loke þou louye  as longe as þow durest
For is no concience vndir sunne  so souereyn for þe soule
Ac astronomye is an hard þing  & yuele for to knowe
Geometrie & geomesye  is gynful of speche
Who-so þenkiþ wirche wiþ þoo two  þryueþ ful late
For sorcerie is þe souereyn book  þat to þe science longeþ
Ȝit arn þer fybicchis[^552] in forceris  of fele mennys makyng[^553]
Experymentis of alkenemye  þe peple to disceyue
If þou þenke to do-wel  dele þer -wiþ neuere
Alle þeise science[^554] I my-self  sutilede & ordeynede
And foundede hem formest  folk to deceyue
Telle clergie þise tokenes  & scripture after
I counceyle þee kyndeli  to knowe what is do-wel
I seyde graunt mercy ma-dame  & mekeli h ir grette
And wente wyȝtlich awey  wiþ-oute more lettyng
And til I come to clergye  I couþe neuere stynte
And grette þe good man wel  as studie me tauȝte
And afterwardis þe wijf  & worschipede hem boþe
And tolde hem þe tokenes  þat me tauȝt weren[^555]
Was neuere goom vp-on þis ground  siþ god made þis[^556] world
Fayrer vndir-fongen  ne frendeleker at ese
Þanne my-self soþeli  soone so he wiste
Þ at I was of wittes hous  & wiþ his wijf dame studie
I seyde to hym soþeli  þat sent was I þider
Do-wel & do-bette  & do-best to lerne
It is a comune lijf quod clergie  on holi chirche to beleue
Wiþ alle þe articules of þe feiþ  þat fallen to be knowen
And þat is to beleue lelli  boþe lered & lewid 
On þe greet god  þat gynnyng hadde neuere
And on þe soþfast sone  þat sauede mankynde
Fro þe dedli deþ  & þe deuelis power
Þoruȝ þe help of þe holi goost  þe wich goost is of boþe
Þre persoones . ac not  in plurel noumbre
For al is but o god  & ech is god hym-selue
Deus pater deus filius deus spiritus sanctus[^557]
God þe fadir . god þe sone  god holi goost of boþe
Maker of mankynde  & of beestis boþe
Austyn þe olde  her-of made bokis
And hym-self ordeynede  to sadde vs in beleue
Who was his autour  alle þe foure euangelistes
And crist clepede hym-self so  þe euangelist bereþ witnesse
Ego in patre & pater in me est & qui videt me  videt & patrem meum
Alle þe clerkis vndir crist  ne couþen þis assoyle
But þus it longeþ to beleue  to men þat wolen do-wel
For hadde neuere freek fyn witt  þe feiþ to dispute
For[^558] man hadde no meryte  myȝte it been yproued
Fides non habet meritum  vbi humana racio prebet experimentum
Þanne is do-bette to suffre  for þi soulis sake
Al þat þe book bit  bi holi chirche techyng
And þat is man bi þi myȝt  for mercyes sake
Loke þou wirche it in werk  þat þi word schewiþ
Swich as þou semest in syȝt  be in assay founden[^559]
Appare quod es  vel esto quod appares[^560]
And latte no-body be  bi þi beryng bigylid
But swich in þi soule  as þou semest wiþ-oute
Þanne is do-best to be boold  to blame þe gylty
Siþen þou seest þi-self  as in soule clene
Ac blame þou neuere body  & þou be blame-worþi
Si culpare velis culpabilis esse cauebis[^561]
Dogma tuum sordet cum te tua culpa remordet[^562]
God in þe gospel  grymli reproueþ
Alle þat lakken any lijf  & lakkes han hem-selue
Q uid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui  trabem & cetera
Why meuest þou þi mood for a mote  in þi broþeris ye
Siþen a beem in þin owne  blyndeþ þi-selue
Eice primo trabem de oculo tuo & cetera[^563]
Which lettiþ þee to loke  lesse oþer more
I rede . ich a blynde bosard  do boot to hym-selue
For abbotes & priouris  and alle manere of prelatis[^564]
As persounes & parisch preestis  þat preche schulden[^565] & teche
Alle manere of men  to amende bi her myȝt
Þis text was told ȝow . to be  war . er ȝe tauȝten[^566]
Þ at ȝe weren[^567] swiche as ȝe seyden[^568]  to salue wiþ oþere
For goddis word wolde not be lost  for þat wirchiþ euere
If it auaylede not þe comune  it myȝte auayle ȝow-seluen
Ac it semeþ now soþeli  to þe werldis siȝt
Þ at goddis word wirchiþ not  on lered ne on lewid
But in swich manere as mark  meneþ in þe gospel
Dum cecus ducit cecum ambo in foueam cadunt[^569]
Lewide men mowen likken ȝow  þat þe beem lijþ in ȝoure yen
And þe festu is fallen  for ȝoure defaute
In alle manere men  þoruȝ mansed preestis
Þe bible bereþ witnesse  þat alle þe folk of israel
Bitter bouȝte þe gyltes  of two badde preestis
Offyn & fynees  for her coueytyse
Archa dei mys-happede  & eli brake his nekke
For-þi . correctouris claweþ her-on  & correcteþ first ȝoure-seluen
And þanne mowen ȝe saafli seye  as dauid made þe sauter
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis . arguam te & statuam con tra faciem tuam
Þanne schul borel clerkis be abassched  to blame ȝow or to greue
And carpe not as þei doon now  & calle ȝow doombe houndis
Canes non valentes latrare[^570]
And drede to wraþþe ȝow in any word  ȝoure werkmanschip to lette
And be prestier at ȝoure preyer  þan for a pound of noblis
An al for ȝoure holynesse  haue ȝe þis in herte
[^571] In scole þer is a scoorn  but if a clerk wole lerne
And greet loue & lykyng  for ich of hem loueþ oþer
Religioun
And now is religioun a rider  a romer bi stretis
A leder of louedayes  & a loond bigger
A priker on a palfrey  fro maner to maner
An heep of houndis at his ers  as he a lord were
And but if his knaue knele  þat schal hym þe cuppe brynge
He loureþ on hym & axeþ  who tauȝte hym curteysye
[^572] Litil hadden lordis to do  to ȝyue loond fro her eyris
To religiouse þat han no ruþe  þouȝ it reyne on her auteris
In many places þere þei persouns been  be hem-selue at ese
[^573] Of[^574] pore han þei no pite  & þat is her charite
And þei leten hem as lordis  her loond lijþ so brode
Ac þer schal come a kyng  & confesse ȝow religiouse
And bete ȝow as þe bible telleþ  for brekyng of ȝoure rule
And amende monyales  monkis & chanounes
And putte hem to her penaunce  ad pristinum statum ire
And barouns & erles bete hem  þoruȝ beatus vir techyng
Þat her barnes cleymen  & blamen ȝow foule
Hij in curribus & hij in equis ipsi obligati sunt & cetera
And þanne freris in her freytour  schul fynde a keye
Of constantynys tresore  in which is þe catel 
[^575] Þat gregories god-children  han yuele dispendid
And þanne schal þe abbot of abyngdon  & al his issu for euere 
Wiþ What

[O.10.335: The purpose of the marginal addition is not apparent.]

Haue a knok of a kyng  & incurable þe wounde
Þ at þis worþe soþ seke ȝe  þat ofte ouerseen þe bible
Q uomodo cessauit exactor quieuit tributum contriuit dominus baculum impiorum & virgam dominancium credencium plaga insanabili[^576]
Ac er þat kyng come  caym schal awake
And do-wel schal dynge hym adoun  & distruye his myȝt
Þanne is do-wel & do-bette quod I  dominus & knyȝthode
I nyle not scorne quod scripture  but if scryueyns lye
Kynghood & knyȝthood  bi nouȝt I can awayte 
Helpeþ not to heueneward  oon heris eende
Ne richesse riȝt nouȝt  ne rialte of lordis
Poule preueþ[^577] impossible  riche men to haue heuene
Salomon seiþ also  þat siluer is werst to louye
Nichil iniquius  quam amare pecuniam .
And catoun kenneþ vs to coueyte  not . but as it nediþ
Dilige denarium set parce dilige formam[^578]
And patriarkes and prophetis  & poetis boþe
Writen to wissen vs  to wilne no richesse
And preyseden pouerte wiþ pacience  þe apostelis beren witnesse
Þ at þei han eritage in heuene  & bi trewe riȝt
Þ ere riche men no riȝt mowen cleyme  but of ruþe & grace
Contra quod I bi crist  þat can I repreue
And preue it bi peter  and bi poule boþe
Þat been baptizid been saued  be þei riche or pore
Þat is in extremis quod scripture  amongys sarazens & Iues
Þei mowen be saued so  & þat is oure beleue
Þ at an vncristen in þat caas  may cristen an heþen
And for his lele beleue  whanne he þe lijf tyneþ
Haue þe heritage of heuene  as any man cristen
Ac cristen men wiþ-outen more  mowen not come to heuene
For þat crist for cristen men deyede  & confermede þe lawe
Þ at who-so wolde & wilneþ  wiþ crist to arise
Si cum christo surrexistis & cetera[^579]
He schulde louye & lene  & þe lawe fulfille
Þat is . loue þi lord god  leuest aboue al þing
And after . alle cristen creaturis in comune ich man oþer
And þus bilongeþ to loue  þat leueþ to be saued
And but we do þus in dede  er þe day of doom 
It schal bisitten vs ful soure  þe syluer þat we kepen
And oure bakkis þat moþ-eten been  & seen beggers go nakid
Or delite vs in wijn & wyldefoule  & woot any in defaute
For euery cristen creature  schulde be kynde til oþer
And siþen heþen to helpe  in hope of amendement
God hoteþ boþe hye & lowe  þat no man hirte oþer
And seiþ . sleeþ[^580] not þat semblable is  to myn owne liknesse
But if I sende þee sum tokne  & seiþ . non necabis[^581]
I slee not but suffre  & al for þe beste
For I schal punysche hem in purgatorie  or in þe pitte of helle
Ich man for hise mysdedis  but mercy it lette
Þis is a longe lessoun quod I  & litil am I þe wyser
Where do-wel is or do-bette  derklich ȝe schewen
Many talis ȝe tellen  þat theologie lerneþ
And þat I man maad was  & my name yentred
In þe legende of seyntis[^582]  longe er I were
Or ellis writen for wickidnesse  as holy writ witnesseþ
Nemo ascendit in[^583] celum  nisi qui de celo descendit[^584]
I leue[^585] wel bi oure lord quod I  & on no lettrure better
For salomon þe sage  þat sapience tauȝte
God gaf hym grace of witt  & alle hise goodis after
He demede wel & wiseli  as holi writ telliþ
Aristotle & he  who wissede men better
Maystris þat of goddis mercy  techen men & prechen
Of her wordis þei wissen vs  for wisest as in her tyme
And al holi chirche  holt hem boþe ydampned
And if I schulde wirche bi her werkis  to wynne me heuene
Þat for her werkis & witt  now wonyeþ in pyne
Þanne wrouȝte I vnwiseli  what-so-euere ȝe prechen[^586]
And[^587] fele witty in feiþ  litil ferli I haue
Þouȝ her goost be vngracious  god for to plese
For many men on þis moold  more setten her hertis
In good þan in god  for-þi hem . grace fayleþ
Ac þe moost myscheef is[^588]  whanne þei schul lijf lete
As salomon dide & swiche oþere  þat scheweden grete wittes
Ac her werkis as holi writ  seiþ . was euere þe contrarie
For-þi wise-witted men  & wel ylettered clerkis
As þei seyen hem-self  selden doon þer -after
Super cathedram Moysy & cetera[^589]
Ac I wene it worþ of many  as was in noes tyme
Þoo he schope þat schip  of schides & bordis
Was neuere wriȝt saued þat wrouȝte þeron  ne oþer werkman ellis
But briddis & beestis  & þe blissid noe
And his wijf wiþ hise sones  & also her wyues
God lene it fare not so bi folk  þat þe feiþ techen 
Of holi chirche þat herberwe is  & goddis hous to saue 
And schilde vs fram schame þer -inne  as noes schip dide beestis
And men þat maden it  amydde þe flood adreynten
Þe culorum of þis cause[^590]  curatouris is to mene
Þat been carpenteris holi chirche to make  for cristis owne beestis
Homines . & iumenta saluabis domine & cetera[^591]
On good fryday I fynde  a feloun was saued
Þat hadde lyued al his lijf  wiþ lesyngys & wiþ þefte
And for he biknewe on þe crosse  & to crist schroue hym
He was sunner saued  þan seynt Ion þe baptist
And er adam or ysaye  or any of þe prophetis
Þat hadde yleyn wiþ lucifer  many longe ȝeris
A robber was raumsomed  raþer þan þei alle
Wiþ-outen any penaunce of purgatorie  to perpetuel blisse
And[^592] marie magdalene  what womman dide wers
Or who wers þan dauid  þat vries deþ conspirede
Or poule þe apostle  þat no pite hadde
Miche cristen kynde  to kille to deþ
And now been þeise as souereynes  & seyntis in heuene
Þoo þat wrouȝten wickedest  in world þoo þei weren[^593]
And þoo þat wiseli wordeden  & writen many bokis
Of witt & of wisdames[^594]  wiþ dampned soulis wonyen
Þat salomon seiþ I trowe be soþ  & certeyn of vs alle
Siue iusti atque sapientes & opera eorum in manu dei sunt .[^595]
Þ er arn witti & wel libbynge  & her werkis been hid
In þe hondis of almyȝti god  & he woot þe soþe
Where for loue a man worþ alowid  þere & hise lele werkis
Or ellis for his yuele wille  & envie of herte
And be alowid as he lyued þere[^596]  as[^597] liþer men knowen goode
And wher-bi witen[^598] men which is whyte  if al þing blak were
And who were a good man  but if þer were sum schrewe
For-þi lyue we forþ wiþ liþer men  I leue fewe[^599] goode
For quant oportet comeþ in place  il nad que pati
And he þat may alle amende  haue mercy of vs alle
For soþest word þat euere god seyde  was þoo he seyde . nemo bonus
Clergie[^600] of cristis mouþ  commendid was litil
For he seyde to seynt petir  & to swiche as he louede
Dum steteritis ante reges & presides & cetera[^601]
Þouȝ ȝe come bifore kyngys  & clerkis of þe lawe
Beþ not abassched . for I schal  be . in ȝoure mouþes
And ȝyue ȝow witt & wille  & kunnyng to conclude 
Hem alle . þat aȝens ȝow  of cristendoom disputen
Dauid makiþ mencioun  he spake amongys kyngys
And myȝte no kyng ouercome hym  as bi kunnyng of speche
But witt ne wisdam  wan neuere þe maystrie
Whanne man was at mescheef  wiþ-oute þe more grace
Þe douȝtiest doctour  & dyuynour of þe trinyte
Was austyn þe olde  & hyest of þe foure
Seyde þus in a sermoun  I seyȝ it writen ones
Ecce ipsi ydeote yd[i]ote rapiunt celum  vbi[^602] sapientes in inferno mergimur[^603]
And is to mene on englisch  to more & to lesse
Arn noon oþere raþer rauyschid  fro þe riȝt beleue
Þan arn þise kunnynge clerkis  þat kunne many bokis
Ne noon sunner saued  ne sadder of bileue
Þan plowmen & pastouris  & oþere comune laboreris
Souters & scheepheerdis  & swiche lewid iottes[^604]
Percen wiþ a pater noster[^605]  þe paleys of heuene
And passen purgatorie penaunceles  at her hennys partynge
In-to þe blisse of paradice  for her pure bileue
Þat imparfiȝtli heer  knewen and eke lyueden
Ȝhe . men knowen[^606] clerkis  þat han cursid þe tyme
Þ at euere þei couþen[^607] on þe book  more þan . Credo in deum
And principali her pater noster  many a persone haþ wisschid
Exemplum . bonum .

[O.10.480: This rubric is divided after Exemplum , and a red bracket at the left connects the two lines of text.]

I see ensaumples many[^608] my-selue  & so mowen oþere
Þ at seruauntis þat seruen lordis  selde falle in areragis
But þoo þat kepen þe lordis catel  clerkis & reues
Riȝt so lewede men  & of litil knowyng
Selde fallen þei so foule  & so fer in synne
As clerkis of holi kirke  þat kepen cristis tresore
Þe which is mannys soule to saue  as god seiþ in þe gospel
Ite vos in vineam meam

[^509: O.10.28: OC2 alone include &.]

[^510: O.10.29: OC2 alone include þe.]

[^511: O.10.30: O alone has moost good gyueþ; variants include moost gyueth (YGBL), gyueþ moost (WHmCr), most good ȝeueþ (C2), most greueth (CR), moost greve (F), and god yeueþ (M).]

[^512: O.10.42: A slash appears in this space; perhaps characters have been erased.]

[^513: O.10.50: YGOC2 alone have value; variants include worth (RF), ȝifte (WHmBLM), and gift (CrC).]

[^514: O.10.53: OC2 alone have þeise; most B manuscripts have þis. Kane and Donaldson emend to þise arn.]

[^515: O.10.53: OC2 alone have myrþes; most B manuscripts have murþe. Kane and Donaldson emend to games.]

[^516: O.10.57: OC2F alone lack forþ before a.]

[^517: O.10.66: OC2 alone have the form parten in place of parteþ.]

[^518: O.10.66: OGC2F alone have hem in place of hym.]

[^519: O.10.75: A cross composed of dots appears in the left margin, with red rays emanating from the dots; like others of this type, it appears to be in the main scribal hand.]

[^520: O.10.78: OC2 alone have been; most B manuscripts have is.]

[^521: O.10.87: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^522: O.10.98: O alone has Ac in place of And or nothing at all.]

[^523: O.10.101: OC2 alone have the form liken; all other beta witnesses have likeþ.]

[^524: O.10.101: O alone lacks to before sitte.]

[^525: O.10.103: Supralinear pure is apparently intended by the corrector as a substitution for pore. See also 11.243.]

[^526: O.10.105: OC2 alone lack the first alliterating stave, maad, before for.]

[^527: O.10.106: OC2 alone lack al before to.]

[^528: O.10.108: OC2 alone have the form weren in place of were.]

[^529: O.10.113: OC2 alone have whyles in place of wiles.]

[^530: O.10.115: OC2F alone include þat.]

[^531: O.10.116: An otiose flourish appears above the <s> in clerkis.]

[^532: O.10.117: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^533: O.10.119: OC2 alone have renten; variants include rende (GYCBMF), torente (HmCr23), toreue (R), to reade (Cr1), and torende (WL).]

[^534: O.10.120: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^535: O.10.124: OC2 alone have his in place of þis.]

[^536: O.10.125: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^537: O.10.126: OC2 alone lack to before wite.]

[^538: O.10.128: OC2F alone lack þe before lore.]

[^539: O.10.131: GYOM alone have whyes in place of weyes.]

[^540: O.10.137: OC2 alone have the form disputen in place of dispute.]

[^541: O.10.139: A double solidus over each word indicates transposition of original deef now.]

[^542: O.10.168: OC2F alone have but; most B manuscripts have and.]

[^543: O.10.181: HmOC2 alone have of in place of in.]

[^544: O.10.185: O alone has the form wolden in place of wolde.]

[^545: O.10.188: OC2 alone have kennede in place of lerned.]

[^546: O.10.193: OC2 alone have And in place of A.]

[^547: O.10.197: OC2F alone have And in place of For.]

[^548: O.10.199: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^549: O.10.200: YOC2 alone have cum in place of sic .]

[^550: O.10.200: This line is written in the right margin and connected with the preceding line by brackets at both sides; it is followed by the number 26, indicating the verse of the Disticha Catonis which is quoted.]

[^551: O.10.215: This line is written in the right margin and followed by three ticks. It is divided after ego , and the second line is preceded by a red parasign.]

[^552: O.10.222: Fybicchis is a nonce-word. Skeat (Vol.II, 154) notes that he "cannot trace any such word in English, French, or Scandinavian," and elsewhere (Vol. II, 353) tentatively glosses it "contrivances." The MED repeats Quirk's suggestion that the word may derive from Pebichios, the name of an early alchemist, and tentatively defines it as "some kind of alchemical manipulations or tricks."]

[^553: O.10.222: Two crosses, approximately two lines in height and apparently in hand 2, appear in the bottom margin under arn and þer of this line.]

[^554: O.10.225: OC2CL alone have the singular form.]

[^555: O.10.234: OC2 alone have the form weren in place of were.]

[^556: O.10.235: OC2 alone have þis; most B manuscripts have þe]

[^557: O.10.250: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^558: O.10.261: OC2 alone have For in place of Ne.]

[^559: O.10.267: OC2 alone have founden; most B manuscripts have yfounde.]

[^560: O.10.268: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after esto , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^561: O.10.274: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^562: O.10.275: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after re- in remordet , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^563: O.10.281: This line is written in the right margin and underlined twice.]

[^564: O.10.284: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate.]

[^565: O.10.285: O alone has the form schulden ; all other beta witnesses have sholde.]

[^566: O.10.287: OC2 alone have the form tauȝten; all other beta witnesses have tauȝte.]

[^567: O.10.288: O alone has the form weren in place of were.]

[^568: O.10.288: OC2 alone have the form seyden; most B manuscripts have seyde.]

[^569: O.10.294: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after ambo , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^570: O.10.307: This line is written in the bottom right margin, and is preceded by a red parasign. At the bottom of the leaf there appear traces of a quire signature which has been lost to cropping.]

[^571: O.10.311: A cross about three characters in height, apparently by hand 2, appears in the left margin between l. 311 and l. 312. It may have been intended to point to the faulty alliteration of l. 311.]

[^572: O.10.319: A cross composed of dots, with a flourish at the bottom, appears in the left margin; like others of this type, it is probably by the main scribal hand.]

[^573: O.10.322: A cross about two characters in height, probably by hand 2, appears in the left margin. It may have been intended to point to the faulty alliteration of l. 322.]

[^574: O.10.322: OC2F alone lack þe before pore.]

[^575: O.10.333: A cross about three characters in height, probably by hand 2, appears in the left margin. It may have been intended to point to the faulty alliteration of l. 333.]

[^576: O.10.337: This line is divided after credencium , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^577: O.10.345: OC2 alone lack it before impossible.]

[^578: O.10.349: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after dilige , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^579: O.10.366: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^580: O.10.378: O alone has sleeþ in place of slee.]

[^581: O.10.379: Cr1OC2 alone have necabis ; WHmCBRF have mecaberis .]

[^582: O.10.387: A solidus/punctus above seyntis marks it for deletion, but no substitute is supplied. OC2 alone have seyntis in place of correctly alliterating lif.]

[^583: O.10.389: OC2M alone have in in place of ad .]

[^584: O.10.389: A double solidus over descendit and celo indicates transposition of original descendit de celo. The erroneous word order is shared with C2F.]

[^585: O.10.390: OC2 alone lack it before wel.]

[^586: O.10.400: OC2 alone have the form prechen in place of preche.]

[^587: O.10.401: OC2 alone lack of before fele.]

[^588: O.10.405: OC2 alone include is.]

[^589: O.10.410: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^590: O.10.420: OC2 alone have cause in place of clause.]

[^591: O.10.422: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after Homines , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^592: O.10.431: A red flourish decorates the <A> in And.]

[^593: O.10.436: OC2 alone have the form weren in place of were.]

[^594: O.10.438: OC2 alone have the plural form.]

[^595: O.10.440: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after opera , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^596: O.10.445: OC2 alone have þere; most B manuscripts have so.]

[^597: O.10.445: OC2 alone have as; most B manuscripts have for.]

[^598: O.10.446: OC2 alone have witen; variants include -iste (M), wist (Bm), wite (YC), wete (Hm), wote (LR), wytty (G), and wiste (WCrBoCotF).]

[^599: O.10.448: OC2 alone lack any form of the verb to be in the clause fewe [ben] goode.]

[^600: O.10.452: OC2 alone lack þo before of.]

[^601: O.10.454: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after & , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^602: O.10.466: OC2 alone lack nos before sapientes .]

[^603: O.10.466: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after vbi , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^604: O.10.472: Iottes is a nonce-word, defined conjecturally by the MED as "a person of poor estate" and by Skeat (II, 377) as "peasants, low people, men of small intelligence."]

[^605: O.10.473: A decoration composed of vertical lines and horizontal slashes descends two line spaces from the long <s> in noster .]

[^606: O.10.477: OC2 alone have the form knowen; most B manuscripts have knowe.]

[^607: O.10.478: OC2 alone have the form couþen in place of kouþe or omission.]

[^608: O.10.480: OC2 alone place many before my-selue; all other B manuscripts place it before oþere in the b-verse.]

Passus . XIus vndecimus .

Þ Anne scripture scornede me  & a skil tolde
And lakkede me in latyn  & liȝt bi me sette
And seyde . Multi multa sciunt  & seipsos nesciunt
Þoo wepte I for woo  & wraþþe of hir speche
And in a wyndynge wraþþe  wexe I a-slepe
A merueylous sweuene  mette I[^609] me þanne
Þ at I was rauyschid riȝt þere  & fortune me fette
And in-to þe loond of longyng  alone sche me brouȝte
In a myrour þat hyȝte mydleerd  sche made me beholde
Siþen sche seyde vnto[^610] me  heer myȝte þou see wondres
And knowe þat þou coueytist  & come þerto paraunter
Þanne hadde fortune folwynge hir  two fayre damysellis
Concupiscencia carnis  men calleden[^611] þe elder mayde
And coueytise of yen  called was þat oþer
Pride of parfiȝt lyuyng  pursuede hem boþe
And bade me for any[^612] contenaunce  acounte clergye liȝt
Concupiscencia carnis  collede me aboute þe nekke
And seyde þou art ȝonge & ȝeep  & hast ȝeris ynowe
For to lyue longe  & ladyes to louye
And in þis myrour þou myȝte see  myrþes ful many
Þat lede þee wolen to likyng  al þi lijf-tyme
Þe secounde seyde þe same  I schal sue þi wille
Til þou be a lord & haue loond  lete þee I nylle
Þ at I ne schal folewe þi felawschip  if fortune it like
He schal fynde me his freend  quod fortune þer -after
Þe[^613] freek þat folewede my wille  faylede neuere blisse
Þanne was þer oon þat hiȝte elde  þat heuy was of chere
Man quod he . if I mete[^614] wiþ þee  bi marie of heuene
Þ ou schalt fynde fortune þee fayle  at þi moost nede
And concupiscencia carnis  clene þee forsake
Bittirlich schalt þou banne þanne  boþe dayes & nyȝtis 
Coueytise of ye  þat euere þou it knewe
And pride of parfiȝt lyuyng  to myche perele þee brynge
Ȝhe . recche þee neuere quod recchelesnesse  stode forþ in raggide cloþis
Folewe forþ þat fortune wole  þou hast wel far[^615] to elde
A man may stoupe tyme ynow  whanne he schal tyne þe crowne
Homo proponit quod a poete  & plato he hyȝte
And . deus disponit quod he  latte god do his wille
If truþe wole witnesse . it be wel do  fortune to folwe
Concupiscencia carnis  ne coueytise of yen
Ne schal not greue þee gretli  ne bigyle þee but þou wilt
Ȝhe fare-wel phippe quod fauntelte  & forþ gan me drawe
Til concupiscencia carnis  acordede alle my werkis
Allas ye quod Elde  and holynesse boþe
Þ at witt schal turne to wrecchednesse  for wille to haue his likyng
Coueytise of yen  counfortede me soone after
And folewede me fourti wynter  or fifty or[^616] more
Þ at of do-wel . ne do-bette  no deynte me þouȝte
I hadde no likyng ne lust[^617]  of hem ouȝt to knowe
Coueytise of yen  cam ofter in my mynde
Þan do-wel or do-bette  amongys my dedis alle
Coueytise of yen  counfortede me ofte
And seyde . haue no concience  how þou come to good
Freris
Go confesse þee to sum frere  & schewe hym þi synnes
For whyles fortune is þi freend  freris wolen þe louye
And fecche þee to her fraternyte  & for þee biseche
To her priour prouyncial  a pardoun forto haue
And preye for þee pol bi pol  if þou be pecuniosus
Set pena pecuniaria non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis[^618]
Bi wyssyng of þis wenche I wrouȝte  her wordis weren so swete
Til I forȝate ȝowþe  & ȝerne in-to elde
And þanne was fortune my foo  for al hir fayre biheste
And pouerte pursuede me  & putte me lowe
Freris
And þoo fonde I þe frere a-ferd  & flittynge boþe
Aȝens oure first forward  for I seyde I nolde 
Be biryed at her hous  but at my parisch chirche
For I herde ones  how concience it tolde
Þ at þere a man were cristened  bi kynde he schulde be biryed
Or where he were parischen  riȝt þere he schulde be grauen[^619]
And for I seyde þus to freris  a fool þei me helden
And louede me þe lesse  for my lele speche
Freris
And ȝit I criede on my confessour  þat helde hymself so kunnynge
Bi my feiþ frere quod I  ȝe faren lijk þeise wowers
. Exemplum .
Þat wedden no wydewis  but forto welde her goodes
Riȝt so bi þe rode  rouȝten[^620] ȝe neuere
Where my body were biryed  bi so ȝe hadde þe siluer
Ich haue myche merueyle of ȝow  & so haþ many oþer
Why ȝoure couent coueytiþ  to confesse & to birie
Raþer þan to baptise barnes  þat been cathecumynys
Baptisyng & biryeng  boþe been ful nedeful
Ac myche more merytorie me þinkeþ  is to baptise
For a baptised man may  as maystres tellen
Þoruȝ contricioun come  to þe hye heuene
Sola contricio delet peccatum[^621]
Ac a barn wiþ-outen bapteem  may not be saued
Nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua & cetera[^622]
Loke ȝe lettred men  wheþer I lye or not
And lewte lokede on me  & I lourede after
Wher-fore lourest þou quod lewte  & lokede on me harde
If I durste quod I amongys men  þeise metelis auowe
Ȝhe . bi petir & bi poule quod he  & toke boþe to witnesse
Non oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo . set puplice argue illos[^623]
Þei wolen alegge also quod I  & bi[^624] þe gospel preue
Nolite iudicare quemquam .[^625]
And wher-of serueþ lawe quod lewte  if no lijf vndir-toke[^626]
Falnesse Fal[s]nesse ne faytrie . for sumwhat  þe apostle seyde
Non oderis fratrem . & in þe sauter also  seiþ dauid þe prophete
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis & cetera
It is leueful[^627] for lewide men  to segge þe soþe
If hem likeþ or[^628] liste  iche a lawe it grauntiþ
Except persouns & preestis  & prelatis of holy chirche
It falleþ not for þat folk  no tales to telle
Þouȝ þe tale were trewe  & it touchede synne
Þing þat al þe werld woot  wherfore schuldist þou spare
And reden it in rethorik  to arate dedli synne
Ac be neuere-more þe first  þe defaute to blame
Þouȝ þou see yuel . seye it not first  be sory it nere amendid
And[^629] þing þat is pryue  puplice þow it neuere
Neiþer for loue laude it not  ne lakke it for envie
Parum lauda vitupera parcius[^630]
He seiþ soþ quod scripture þoo  & skipte on hyȝ & prechede
Ac þe matere þat he meuede  if lewide men it knewe
Þe lasse as I leue  louen it þei wolden[^631]
Þis was her teme & her text  I toke ful good heed
Multi to a mangerie  & to þe mete weren sumpned
And whanne þe peple was plener comen  þe porter vnpynnede þe gate
And plukkide in pauci priueliche  & lete þe remenaunt go roome
Al for tene of her text  tremblede myn herte
And in a weer gan I waxe  & wiþ my-self dispute
Wheþer I were chosen or not  on holy chirche I þouȝte
Þat vndirfonge me at þe founte  for oon of goddis chosen
For crist clepede vs alle  come if we wolden[^632]
Sarasens & scismatikes  & so he dide þe Iues
O vos omnes scicientes venite & cetera[^633]
And bade hem souke for synne  saueli at his brest
And drynke bote for bale  broke it who-so myȝte
Þanne mowen alle cristen come quod I  & cleyme þere entree
Bi þe blood þat he bouȝte vs wiþ  & þoruȝ baptisme after
Qui crediderit & baptizat us fuerit & cetera[^634]
For þouȝ a cristen man coueytede  his cristendoom to reneye
Riȝtfullich to reneye  no resoun it wolde
For may no cherl chartre make  ne his catel selle
Wiþ-outen leue of his lord  no lawe wole it graunte
Ac he may renne in arerage  & roome so fro home
And as a reneyed caytijf  recchelesly aboute
Ac resoun schal rekene wiþ hym  & caste hym in arerage
And putte hym after in prisoun  in purgatorie to brenne
For his arerage rewarde hym þere  to þe day of doom
But if contricioun wole come  & crie bi his lyue 
Mercy for hise mysdedis  wiþ mouþ or wiþ herte
Þat is soþ quod scripture  may no synne lette 
Mercy alle to amende  & mekenesse hir folewe
For þei been . as oure bokis tellen  aboue goddis werkis
Misericordia[^635] super omnia opera eius[^636]
Ȝhe . bawe for bokis quod oon  was broken out of helle
Hiȝte troianus hadde been a trewe knyȝt  toke witnesse at þe pope
Troianus
How he was deed & dampned  to dwellen in peyne
For an vncristen creature  clerkis witen þe soþe
Þ at al þe clergye vndir crist  myȝte me cracche fro helle
But onelich loue & lewte  & my laweful domus[^637]
Gregory wiste þis wel  & wylneþ to my soule 
Saluacioun . for soþnesse  þat he seyȝ in my werkis
And after þat he wepte  & wilnede me were grauntid
. nota . þe ground of trentalis .

[O.11.154: The rubric is divided after nota .]

Grace . wiþ-outen any bede biddyng  his boone loue[^638] was vndirfongen
And I saued as ȝe mowen[^639] see  wiþ-out syngyng of masses
Bi loue & bi lernyng  of my lyuyng in truþe
Brouȝte me fro bitter peyne  þere no biddyng myȝte
Lo ȝe lordis . what lewte dide  bi an emperour of rome
Þat was an vncristen creature  as clerkis fynden in bokis
Not þoruȝ preyer of a pope  but for his pure truþe 
Was þat sarasen saued  as seynt gregory bereþ witnesse
Wel ouȝten ȝe lordis þat lawes kepen  þis lessoun haue in mynde
And on troianus truþe to þenke  & do truþe to þe peple
Exemplum Romanus

[O.11.164: This rubric, written in a larger and more formal script than that of the rest of the text, may not be written in the main scribal hand. It is divided after Exemplum , so that it appears as two lines.]

Lawe wiþ-outen loue quod troianus  ley þere a bene
Or any science vndir sunne  þe seuene artis & alle
But þei be lerned for oure lordis loue  lost is al þe tyme
For no cause to cacche syluer þerbi  ne to be called a mayster
But al for loue of oure lord  & þe bette to loue þe peple
For seynt ion seyde it  & soþe arn hise wordis
Qui non diligit manet in morte[^640]
Who-so loueþ not leue me  he lyueþ in deþ-deyinge
And þat alle manere men  enemyes & frendes 
Loue her eyþer oþer  & lene hem as hem-seluen
Who-so leneþ not he loueþ not  god woot þe soþe
And comaundede[^641] iche creature  to conforme hym to louye
And souereynli pore peple  & her enemyes after
For hem þat haten vs  is oure meryte to louye
And pore peple to plese  her preyeris mowen vs helpe
For oure ioye & oure hele  iesu crist of heuene
In a pore mannys apparayle  pursueþ vs euere
And lokiþ on vs in her liknesse  & þat wiþ loueli chere
To knowe vs bi oure kynde herte  & castyng of oure ye
Wheþer we louen[^642] þe lordis heer  bifore oure lord of blisse
And exciteþ vs bi þe euangelie  þat whanne we maken feestis
We schulden not clepe oure kyn þerto  ne no kyn riche
Cum facitis conuiuia nolite inuitare a micos[^643]
Ac calleþ þe careful þerto  þe croked & þe pore
For ȝoure frendis wolen fede ȝow  & fonde ȝow to quyte 
Ȝoure feestynge & ȝoure fayre ȝiftes  iche freend quyteþ so oþer
Ac for þe pore I schal paye  & pure wel quyte her trauayle
Þat ȝyueþ hem mete or money  & loueþ hem for my sake
For þe beste been summe riche  & summe beggers & pore
For alle arn we cristis creaturis  & of hise coferis riche
And breþeren as of blood  as[^644] beggers &[^645] erles[^646]
For on caluarie of cristis blood  cristendom gan sprynge
And blody breþeren we become  þere . of oo body wonne
As quasi modo geniti  & gentil men ichone
Ne[^647] begger ne boye amonge vs  but if it synne made
Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccati[^648]
In þe olde lawe  as holi lettre telliþ
Mennys sones  men callede vs ichone
Of adamþis adamis issu & eue  ay til god-man deyede
And after his resureccioun  redemptor was his name
And we hise breþeren þoruȝ hym bouȝt  boþe riche & pore
For-þi . lyue[^649] we as leue breþeren schul  & iche man lawȝhe on[^650] oþer
For[^651] if þat iche man may forbere  amende þere it nediþ
And euery man helpe oþer  for hennes schul we alle
Alter alterius onera portate & cetera[^652]
And be we not vnkynde of oure catel  ne of oure kunnyng neiþer
For noot no man how it is  to be ynome fro boþe
For-þi . lakke no lijf oþer  þouȝ he more latyn knowe
Ne vndirnyme not foule  for is noon wiþ-outen faute
For what-euere clerkis carpen[^653]  of cristendom or ellis
Crist to a comune womman seyde  in comune at a feeste
Þ at fides sua schulde sauen hir  & saluen hir of synnes
Þanne is beleue a lele helpe  aboue logyk or lawe
Of logyk ne of lawe  in legenda sanctorum
Is litil allowaunce maad  but if beleue hem helpe
For it is ouerlonge . er logyk  any lessoun assoyle
And lawe is loþ to louye  but if he lacche syluer
But[^654] logyk & lawe  þat louen[^655] not to lye
I counceyle alle cristen men  cleue not þer -on to sore
For summe wordis I fynde writen  weren[^656] of feiþes techyng
That sauede synful men  as seynt Ion bereþ witnesse
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis  remecietur vobis[^657]
For-þi lerne we þe lawe of loue  as oure lord tauȝte
And as seynt gregori seyde  for mennys[^658] soule helþe
Melius est scrutari scelera nostra[^659] quam naturas rerum[^660]
Why I meue þis mater  is moost for þe pore
For in his liknesse . oure lord  ofte haþ been yknowe
Witnesse in þe paske weke  whanne he ȝede to Emaus
Cleophas knewe hym not  þat he crist were
For his pore apparayle  & pilgrimes wedis
Til he blessede & brake  þe breed . þat þei eten
So bi hise werkis þei wisten  þat he was Iesus
Ac bi cloþing þei knewen hym not  ne bi carpyng of tunge
And al was in ensaumple  to vs synful heer
Þ at we schulden[^661] be lowe  & louelich of speches[^662]
And apparayle vs not proudeli  for pilgrimes arn we alle
And in þe apparayle of a pore man  & pilgrimes liknesse
Many tyme god haþ been met  amonge nedy peple
Þat[^663] neuere segge hym seyȝ  in secte of þe riche
pure

[O.11.243: Because pore is accompanied by a solidus/punctus above, and marginal pure by a caret/punctus, it seems clear that substitution is intended.]

Seynt ion & oþer seyntis  weren seyn in pore cloþing
And as pore pilgrimes  preyeden mennys goodis
Iesu crist on a Iues douȝter aliȝte  gentil womman þouȝ sche were
[^664] Was a pure pore mayde  & to a pore man weddid
Martha on marie magdalene  an huge pleynt sche made
And to oure saueour self  seyde þeise wordis
Domine non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me solam & cetera[^665]
And hastili god answerede  & eyþeris wille folewede
Boþ in marthas & in maries  as matheu bereþ witnesse
Ac pouerte god putte bifore  & preysede it þe better
Maria optimam partem elegit que non auferetur ab ea[^666]
And alle þe wise þat euere weren[^667]  bi ouȝt I can aspie
Preysen pouerte for best lijf  if pacience it folewe
And boþe better & blessider  bi many foold þan richesse
And þouȝ it be soure to suffre  þer comeþ swete after
As on a walnote wiþ-outen  is a bitter bark
And after þat bitter bark  be þe schelle aweye
Is a kirnel of kounfort  kynde to restore
So is after pouerte or pacience[^668]  pacientlich ytake
For it makiþ man to haue mynde in god  & a greet wille 
To wepe & to wel bidde  wher-of wexeþ mercy[^669]
And wel sikerer he slepiþ  þe man þat is pore
And lasse he drediþ deþ  & in derk to be robbed 
Þan he þat is riȝt riche  resoun bereþ witnesse
Pauper ego ludo  dum tu diues meditaris[^670]
And þouȝ salomon seyde  as folk seen in þe bible
Diuicias nec paupertates & cetera[^671]
Wiser þan salomon was  bereþ witnesse & tauȝte
Þ at parfiȝt pouerte was  no possessioun to haue
And lijf moost likyng to god  as luke bereþ witnesse
Si vis perfectus esse vade & vende & cetera[^672]
And is to mene to men  þat on þis moold lyuen
war munkes & chanouns

[O.11.275: This rubric is divided after &, so that it appears as two lines.]

Who-so wole be pure parfiȝt  mote possessioun forsake
Or selle it as seiþ þe book  & þe syluer dele
To beggers þat goon & beggen[^673]  & bidden good for goddisloue goddis loue
. nota .

[O.11.278: The word nota is surrounded at left, right, and bottom by flourishes in black and red.]

For faylede neuere man mete  þat myȝtful god seruede
Non vidi iustum derelictum nec semen eius querens panem[^674]
As dauid seiþ in þe sauter  to swiche þat ben in wille 
To serue god goodlich  ne greueþ hym no penaunce
Nichil impossibile volenti[^675]
Ne lakkeþ neuere lijflode  lynnen ne wollen
Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono .[^676]
Of annueleris preestis
If[^677] preestis weren parfiȝt  þei wolden no syluer take
For masses ne for mateyns  not her mete of vsureris
Ne neiþer kirtel ne kote  þouȝ þei for coold schulden deye
And þei her deuer dide as dauid  seiþ . in þe sauter
Iudica me deus  & discerne causam & cetera[^678] spera in deo & cetera[^679]
Spekiþ of preestis  þat han no spendynge syluer
Þ at if þei trauayle trulich  & triste in god almyȝti
Hem schulde lakke no lijflode  neiþer wollen ne lynnen
And þe title þei taken ordre bi  telleþ . ȝe been auaunced
Þanne nediþ not ȝow take syluer  for masses þat ȝe syngen
For he þat toke ȝow ȝoure title  schulde take ȝow ȝoure wages
Of þe bisschop þat blessiþ ȝow  if þat ȝe been worþi
For made neuere kyng no knyȝt  but he hadde catel to spende
As bifel for a knyȝt  or fonde hym for his strenkþe
It is a careful knyȝt  & of caytijf kyngys makyng
Þat haþ no loond ne lynage riche  ne good loos of hise handis
Þe same I seye for-soþe  bi alle swiche preestis
Þat han neiþer kunnyng ne kyn  but a crowne oone
And a title a tale of nouȝt  to his lijflode at mescheef
He haþ more bileue as I[^680] leue  to lacche þoruȝ his crowne 
Cure . þan for kunnyng or knowyng  for clene of beryng
I haue wonder & why  & wherfore þe bisschop
Makeþ swiche preestes  þat lewide men bitrayen[^681]
A chartre is chalengeble  bifore a cheef Iustise
If fals latyn be in þat lettre  þe lawe it impugneþ
Or peyntid par interlynarie  parcellis ouer -skippid
Þe goom þat gloseþ so chartres  for a goky is holden
So it is a goky bi god  þat in his gospel fayliþ
Or in messe or matyns  makiþ any defaute
Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus[^682]
And also in þe sauter seiþ  dauid . to ouerskippers
Psallite deo nostro psallite / quoniam rex terre deus israel sallite [p]sallite sapienter
Þe bisschop schal be blamed  bifore god as I leue
Þat[^683] swiche goddis knyȝtis  þat kunne not sapienter 
Synge ne salmes rede  ne segge a messe of þe day
Ac neuere neiþer is blameles  þe bisschop ne þe chapleyn
For euere eiþer is enditid  & þat of ignorancia 
Non excusat episcopos  nec ydiotes preestis
Þis lokyng of[^684] lewid preestis  haþ doon me lepe fro pouerte
Which I preyse þere pacience is  more parfiȝt þan richesse
Ac myche more in metyng þus  wiþ me gan oon dispute
And slepyng I seyȝ al þis  & siþen cam kynde
And nempnede me bi name  & bade me nyme[^685] heed
And þoruȝ þe wondris of þis world  witt for to take
And on a mounteyn þat mydleerd hyȝte  as me þoo þouȝte
I was fet forþ  bi ensaumples to knowe 
Þoruȝ iche a creature & kynde  my creatoure to louye[^686]
I seyȝ þe sunne & þe sehe  & þe sond after
And where þat briddis & beestis  bi her make ȝeden
Wylde wormes in wodis  & wondirful[^687] foulis
Wiþ flekked feþeris  & of fele colouris
Man hadde[^688] his make  I myȝte boþe beholde
Pouerte & plente  boþe pees & werre
Blisse & Bale  boþe I seyȝ at ones
And[^689] men token mede  & mercy refuseden[^690]
Resoun I seyȝ soþeli  suen alle beestis
In etyng & drynkyng  & in engendryng of kynde
And after cours of concepcioun  noon toke keep of oþer
And whanne þei hadden riden in rotey tyme  anoon-riȝt þerafter
Males drowen hem to males  on morwenynges[^691] bi hem-seluen[^692]
In[^693] euenynges also  þe males fro þe femeles
Þere was cow ne cowkynde  þat conceyued hadde
Þat wolde belue after boles  ne boor after sowe
Boþe hors & houndis  & alle oþer beestis
Medeleden[^694] not wiþ her makes  þat wiþ foole weren[^695]
Briddes I behelde  þat in buskes maden nestis
Hadde neuere wye witt  to worche þe leeste
I hadde wondir at whom  & where þe pye lernede 
To legge þe stykkes  in whiche he leiþ & brediþ
Þ er nys wyȝt[^696] as[^697] I wene  schulde wirche hir nest to paye
If any masoun made a moold þerto  myche wondre it were
And ȝit me merueylede more  how many oþere briddes 
Hidden & hileden  her eyren[^698] ful derne
In mareys & mooris  for men schulde hem not fynde
And hydden her eggys  whanne þei þerfro wenten
For feer of oþere foulis  & for wylde beestis
And summe troden her makis  & on trees bredden
And brouȝten forþ her bryddis so  al aboue þe grounde
And summe briddes at þe bible bile  þoruȝ bredyng[^699] conceyueden[^700]
And summe kakeleden[^701] I toke keep  how pecokkis bredden
Miche merueylede me  what mayster þei hadden[^702]
And who tauȝte hem on trees  to tymbre so hye
Þere[^703] neiþer barn ne beest may her briddis reche
And siþen I lokede on þe sehe  & so on þe sterres
Many selkouþis I seyȝ  been not to seye nouþe
I seyȝ flouris in þe friþ  & her fayre colouris
And how among þe grene gresse  grewe so many hewes
And summe soure & summe swete  selcouþe me þouȝte
Of her kynde & her colour  to carpe . it were to longe
Ac þat moost meuede me  & my mood chaungede
Þ at resoun rewar dede  & rulede alle beestis
Saue man & his make  many tyme & ofte
No resoun hem folewede  & þanne I rebukede 
Resoun . & riȝt to[^704] hym-seluen seyde
I haue wondre of þee quod I  þat witty art holden
Why þou ne sueste man & his make  þat no mysfayt hym folewe
And resoun aratede me  & seyde recche þee neuere
Why I suffre or not suffre  þi-self hast not to done
Amende þou if þou myȝte  for my tyme is to abide
Sufferaunce is suereyn vertu  & of[^705] swift veniaunce
Who suffrede[^706] more þan god quod he  no goom as I leue
He myȝte amende in a mynute whyle  al þat mysstondeþ
Ac he suffrede[^707] for summe mans good  & so is oure bettre
Þe wise & þe witti  wroote þus in þe bible
De re que te non molestat noli certare[^708]
For . be a man fayre or foule  it falleþ not to[^709] lakke 
Þe schappe ne þe schaft  þat god schope hym-seluen[^710]
For al þat he dide was wel do  as holi writ witnessiþ
Et vidit deus cuncta que fecerat & erant valde bona . .[^711]
And bade euery creature  in his kynde encrece
Al to myrþe wiþ . man  þat moost woo þolieþ[^712]
In fondyng of þe flesch  & of þe feend boþe
For man was maad of swych a mateer  he may not wel asterte[^713]
Þ at ne sum -tyme hym bitid  to folewe his kynde
Catoun acordeþ herwiþ[^714]  nemo sine crimine viuit
Þoo cauȝte I colour anoon  & comsede to be a-schamed
And I[^715] awakede þer -wiþ  woo was me þanne .
Þ at I in metels ne myȝte  more haue I-knowen
Þanne seyde I to myself  & chidde þat tyme
Now I woot what do-wel is quod I  bi dere god as me þinkeþ
And as I caste vp myne yen  oon lokede on me & axede 
Of me . what þing it were  I-wisse sire I seyde
To see myche & suffre more  certis quod I is do-wel
Haddist þou suffred . he seyde  slepynge þoo þou were
Þou schuldist haue yknowe þat clergie can  & conceyued more þoruȝ resoun
For resoun wolde haue reherced þee  riȝt as clergie seyde
And for þin entremetyng heer  art þou forsaken
Philosophus esses si tacuisses[^716]
Adam whylis he spake nouȝt  hadde paradijs at wille
Ac whanne he mamelede aboute mete  & entremette hym to knowe 
Þe wisdam of þe witt of god  he was put fro blisse
And riȝt so ferde resoun bi þee  þou wiþ rude speche
Lakkedist & losedest þing  þat longede not to done
Þoo hadde he no lykyng  for to lerne þee more
Pride now & presumpsioun  paraunter wolen þee appele
Þ at clergie þi companye  ne kepeþ not to sue
Schal neuere chalengyng ne chydyng  chastise[^717] a man so soone
As[^718] schame & schenden hym & schape hym to amende
For latte a drunken daffe  in a diche falle
Latte hym ligge loke not on hym  til hym liste to rise
For þouȝ resoun rebukede hym þanne  it were but pure synne
And whanne nede nymeþ hym vp  for doute lest he sterue
And schame schrapiþ hise cloþis  & hise schyns wasschiþ
Þanne woot þe drunkun daffe  wherfore he is to blame
Ȝe seggen soþ quod I  ich haue yseyn it ofte
Þ er smyt no þing so smerte  ne smelleþ so soure
As schame þere he schewiþ hym  for euery man hym schonyeþ
Why ȝe wissen[^719] me þus quod I . was  for I rebukede resoun
Certis quod he þat is soþ  & schope hym for to walke
And I a-roos vp riȝt wiþ þat  & folewede hym after
And preyede hym of his curtesie  to telle me his name

[^609: O.11.6: YOC2 alone include I.]

[^610: O.11.10: OC2 alone have vnto in place of to.]

[^611: O.11.13: O alone has the form calleden in place of called.]

[^612: O.11.16: OC2F alone have any in place of my.]

[^613: O.11.26: The initial thorn has a rubricated ascender.]

[^614: O.11.28: The first <t> in mette is superpuncted as well as subpuncted.]

[^615: O.11.35: A solidus/punctus appears over far and two spaces follow it in which characters have been erased; Kane and Donaldson believe that far has been substituted for faire, the reading of Y.]

[^616: O.11.47: OGC2 alone have or fifty or; variants include or fifty and (Cr23YCB) and and a fifte (WHmCr1LMRF).]

[^617: O.11.49: OC2 alone have ne lust; variants include if þe leste (L), if þe lest (M), if þee list (W), ȝif thu list (Hm), if ye list (Cr1), and ne no luste (Cr23GYCB).]

[^618: O.11.59: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after pro , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^619: O.11.69: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate.]

[^620: O.11.75: OC2 alone have the form rouȝten in place of rouȝte.]

[^621: O.11.84: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^622: O.11.86: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^623: O.11.92: This line is written in the left margins of ll. 91-94. It is divided after fratres , corde , and puplice , so that it appears as four lines.]

[^624: O.11.93: The <b> of bi has been altered from another letter.]

[^625: O.11.94: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^626: O.11.95: OC2 alone lack it at the end of this line. A solidus/punctus appears over the line following vndir-toke, followed by a space in which characters have been erased. In the right margin is a caret/punctus and the word it, faintly visible though erased, suggesting that it may originally have appeared at the end of the line and later have been erased in response to a corrector's instruction to delete.]

[^627: O.11.99: O alone has the form leueful; most B manuscripts have licitum .]

[^628: O.11.100: OC2 alone have or in place of and.]

[^629: O.11.108: OC2C alone have And; variants include a (GYB), No (WHmCrLMR), and & ony (F).]

[^630: O.11.110: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after vitupera , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^631: O.11.113: OC2 alone have the form wolden in place of wolde.]

[^632: O.11.122: OC2 alone have the form wolden in place of wolde.]

[^633: O.11.124: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^634: O.11.129: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^635: O.11.144: OC2 alone among beta witnesses lack eius before super .]

[^636: O.11.144: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^637: O.11.150: O alone has domus in place of domes.]

[^638: O.11.154: Because marginal loue is placed directly above boone, and both are accompanied by a solidus/punctus, it seems likely that it is intended as a substitution. Perhaps a gloss, and not substitution, is intended; however, the words do not have the same meaning, and it seems unlikely that the word boone would have been unfamiliar to any reader.]

[^639: O.11.155: O alone has the form mowen; most B manuscripts have may.]

[^640: O.11.170: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after in , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^641: O.11.175: OC2RF alone have the preterite form.]

[^642: O.11.183: OC2 alone have the form louen in place of loue.]

[^643: O.11.186: This line is written in the left margin opposite ll. 185-188. It is divided after conuiuia and <a> in amicos , so that it appears as three lines.]

[^644: O.11.194: OC2F alone lack wel after as.]

[^645: O.11.194: OC2F alone have & in place of as.]

[^646: O.11.194: At the bottom right margin of this page, boxed catchwords have been lost to cropping; only the top of the box is visible.]

[^647: O.11.198: OC2 alone have Ne in place of No.]

[^648: O.11.199: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after est , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^649: O.11.205: O alone has lyue in place of loue.]

[^650: O.11.205: GOC2F alone have on; most B manuscripts have of.]

[^651: O.11.206: OC2 alone have For in place of And.]

[^652: O.11.208: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^653: O.11.213: OC2 alone have the form carpen in place of carpe.]

[^654: O.11.221: OC2 alone have But in place of Boþe.]

[^655: O.11.221: OC2 alone have the form louen in place of loueþ.]

[^656: O.11.223: O alone has weren; most B manuscripts have were.]

[^657: O.11.225: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after the caesura, and the second line is preceded by a red parasign.]

[^658: O.11.227: OC2 alone have the plural form.]

[^659: O.11.228: A double solidus indicates transposition of original nostra scelera .]

[^660: O.11.228: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after naturas , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^661: O.11.238: OC2 alone have the form schulden in place of sholde.]

[^662: O.11.238: YO alone have the plural form.]

[^663: O.11.242: OC2 alone have Þat; most B manuscripts have Ther.]

[^664: O.11.246: A cross about two characters in height appears in the near left margin between this line and the next; the hand responsible cannot be identified with certainty, but resembles hand 3.]

[^665: O.11.249: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after mea , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^666: O.11.253: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after que , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^667: O.11.254: OC2 alone have the form weren in place of were.]

[^668: O.11.261: OC2 alone have pacience in place of penaunce.]

[^669: O.11.263: OC2 alone lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "Of which crist is a kernell to conforte þe soule."]

[^670: O.11.267: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after diues , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^671: O.11.269: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^672: O.11.273: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after & , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^673: O.11.277: OC2 alone have the form beggen; all other beta witnesses have begge.]

[^674: O.11.279: This line, which occurs here only in OC2, is written in the right margin. It is divided after derelictum , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text. The word nota is surrounded at left, right, and bottom by flourishes in black and red. This line has occurred previously at 7.98; Kane and Donaldson (221) exclude it as a "contamination," probably inserted from memory.]

[^675: O.11.282: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^676: O.11.284: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after mi- in minuentur , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^677: O.11.285: The <I> in If is decorated with flourishes.]

[^678: O.11.289: OC2 alone have & cetera in place of meam .]

[^679: O.11.289: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after & cetera , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^680: O.11.304: The <I> seems to have been written over an anticipated <l> from leue.]

[^681: O.11.307: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this and the preceding line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as failure to alliterate.]

[^682: O.11.314: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^683: O.11.318: OC2 alone lack croune(þ)(d) before swiche, and thus lack the first alliterating stave.]

[^684: O.11.323: OGC2F alone have of in place of on.]

[^685: O.11.327: OC2 alone have the form nyme in place of nymen.]

[^686: O.11.331: The <o> in louye is written over an illegible character.]

[^687: O.11.334: The <u> in wondirful seems to have been written over an <o>.]

[^688: O.11.336: OC2 alone have hadde in place of and.]

[^689: O.11.339: OC2F alone lack how before men.]

[^690: O.11.339: O alone has the form refuseden; all other beta witnesses have refused.]

[^691: O.11.344: O alone has on morwenynges ; variants include all mornynge (Hm), on morninge (Cr3), on morwnynge (C2), on mornings (Cr2), on mournes (G), amornynges (LCr1), amorwenges (YC), amorwynges (Cot), and amorwenynges (WBmBoMR).]

[^692: O.11.344: O alone has the form seluen in place of selue.]

[^693: O.11.345: OC2 alone lack introductory And.]

[^694: O.11.349: OC2 alone have the form Medeleden; all other beta witnesses have Medled.]

[^695: O.11.349: OC2 alone have þat wiþ foole weren; most B manuscripts have þat wiþ fole were.]

[^696: O.11.354: OC2 alone have wyȝt; most B manuscripts have wryȝt.]

[^697: O.11.354: The <a> in as seems to have been written over an <a>.]

[^698: O.11.357: OC2 alone have the form eyren in place of egges.]

[^699: O.11.363: OC2 alone have bredyng in place of breþyng.]

[^700: O.11.363: O alone has the form conceyueden in place of conceyued.]

[^701: O.11.364: OC2 alone have the form kakeleden; most B manuscripts have caukede.]

[^702: O.11.365: OC2 alone have the form hadden; most B manuscripts have hadde.]

[^703: O.11.367: The thorn in Þere is decorated with flourishes in red and black.]

[^704: O.11.378: An otiose tilde appears above the <t> in to.]

[^705: O.11.384: OC2 alone have of in place of a.]

[^706: O.11.385: WYOC2 alone have the preterite form.]

[^707: O.11.387: OC2 alone have the preterite form.]

[^708: O.11.389: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^709: O.11.390: GOC2 alone among beta witnesses have to in place of for to.]

[^710: O.11.391: O alone has seluen in place of selue.]

[^711: O.11.393: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after fecerat , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^712: O.11.395: OC2RF alone have wo þolieþ most B manuscripts have wo þolie. These scribes seem to have understood moost as a superlative, where others interpreted it as a modal.]

[^713: O.11.397: The word asterte was rewritten in the right margin, apparently because the er suspension in the first occurrence was misplaced and smudged.]

[^714: O.11.399: OC2 alone have herwiþ; most B manuscripts have þerwiþ.]

[^715: O.11.401: YOC2F alone include I.]

[^716: O.11.412: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^717: O.11.420: HmOC2F alone have chastyse; most B manuscripts have chaste.]

[^718: O.11.421: HmOC2 alone lack shal before schame.]

[^719: O.11.432: OC2 alone have ȝ wissen in place of ye wisse.]

Passus duodecimus [O.12.000: The heading is divided after Passus , so that it appears as two lines.]

I Am ymagyntijf ymagyn[a]tijf quod he  idel was I neuere
Þouȝ I sitte bi myself  in seeknesse & in helþe
I haue folewed þee in feiþ  þis fyue & fourty wynter
And many tymes haue meued þee  to þenke on þin ende
And how fele ferneȝeris arn faren  & so fewe to come
And of þi wylde wantounesse  þoo þou ȝonge were
To amende it in þi mydel age  lest . myȝt þee fayle 
In þin olde elde  þat yuele can suffre 
Pouerte or penaunce  or preyeris bidde
Si non in prima vigilia nec in secunda[^720]
Amende þee whyle þou myȝte  þou hast been warned ofte
Wiþ poustees of pestelences  wiþ pouerte & wiþ angres
And wiþ þeise bittir baleyses  god beteþ hise dere children
Quem diligo castigo[^721]
And dauid in þe sauter seiþ  of swiche þat louen Iesus
v irga tua & baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt /[^722]
Al-þouȝ þou strike me wiþ þi staf  wiþ stikke oþer[^723] ȝerde
It is but myrþe as for me  to amende my soule
And þou medelest þee wiþ maystries  & myȝtist go seye þi sauter
And bidde for hem þat ȝyuen þee breed  for þer been bokes [^724]
To telle me . what do-wel is  do-bette & do-best boþe
And prechouris to preue what it is  of many a peyre freris
I seyȝ wel . he seyde me soþ  & sum -what me to excuse 
Seyde . catoun counfortede his sone  þat clerk þouȝ he were
To solacen hym sum -tyme  as I do whanne I make
Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis .[^725]
And of holy men I herde quod I  how þei oþerwyle 
Pleyeden . þe parfiter  to be in many places
Ac if þer were any wyȝt  þat wolde me telle
What were do-wel & do-bette  & do-best at þe last
Wolde I neuere do werk  but wende to holy chyrche
And þere bidde my bedis  but whanne ich eete or sleepe
Poule in his pistle quod he  preueþ what is do-wel
Fides . spes . caritas & maior horum & cetera[^726]
Feiþ hope & charite  & alle been goode
And sauen men sundri tymes  ac noon so soone as charite
For he doþ wel wiþ-outen doute  þat dooþ as lewte techiþ
Þat is if þou be man maried  þi make þou louye
And lyue forþ as lawe wole  whyle ȝe lyuen heer
Riȝt so if þou be religious  renne þou neuere ferþer
To rome ne to rochemadour  but as þi rule techeþ
And holde þee vndir obedience  þat hye weye is to heuene
And if þou be mayden to marien[^727]  & myȝte wel contene[^728]
Seke þou neuere seynt ferþer  for no soule helþe
For what made lucifer  to lese his[^729] hye heuene
Or salomon his sapience  or sampson his strenkþe
Iob þe Iue his ioye  dere it he[^730] abouȝte
Aristotle & oþere moo  ypocras & virgile
Alexandre þat al wan  elengeli endeden[^731]
Catel & kynde witt  was combraunce to hem alle
Felice hir fayrenesse  fel hir al to sclaundre
And rosamound riȝt so  rufulli bisette 
Þe bewtee of hir body  in badnesse sche dispendide
Of many swiche I myȝte rede  of men & of wommen
Þat wise wordis kun seye  & wirche þe contrarie
Sunt homines nequam de virtute bene loquentes[^732]
And riche renkes riȝt so  gaderen & sparen
And þoo men þat þei moost haten  mynystren it at þe laste
And for þei suffren & seen  so many nedy folkes
And louen hem not as god bit  lesen her soulis
Date & dabitur vobis & cetera[^733]
And richesse riȝt so  but if þe rote be trewe
Ac grace is a grasse þerof  þe greuaunce to abate
Ac grace ne growiþ not  but among þe[^734] lowe
Pacience & pouerte  þe place is þere it groweþ
And in lele lyuynge men  & in lijf-holy
And þoruȝ þe gyfte of þe holy goost  as þe gospel telleþ
Spiritus vbi vult spirat[^735]
Clergye & kynde witt  comeþ of siȝt & techyng
As þe book bereþ witnesse  to barnes þat kun rede
Quod scimus loquimur quod vidimus testamur[^736]
Of quod scimus . comeþ clergie  & kunnyng of heuene
[^737] Of quod vidimus comeþ kynde witt  of siȝt of dyuerse peple
And grace is a gyft of god  & of greet loue spryngeþ
Knewe neuere klerk how it komeþ forþ  þe[^738] kynde witt þe weyes
Nescit aliquis vnde venit aut quo vadit & cetera
Ac ȝit is clergie to commende  & kynde witt boþe
And nameli clergie for cristis loue  þat of clergie is rote
For Moyses witnesseþ þat god wroote  for to wisse þe peple
In þe olde lawe as þe lettre telleþ  þat was þe lawe of Iues
Þ at what womman were in auoutrie taken  riche oþer pore
Wiþ stoones men schulden hir strike  & stonye hir to deþe
A womman as we fynden  was gylti of þat dede
Ac crist of his curtesye  þoruȝ clergie hir sauede
For þoruȝ carectis þat crist wrouȝte  þe Iues knewen hem -selue
Gyltier as a-fore god  & in gretter[^739] synne 
Þan þe womman þat þere was  & wente awey for schame
Þe clergie þat þere was  counfortede þe womman
Holy kirke knowiþ þis  þat cristis writyng sauede
So clergie is counfort  to creaturis þat repenten
And to mansede men  mescheef at her ende
For goddis body myȝte not be  of breed . wiþ-out clergie
Þe which body is boþe  bote to þe riȝtful
And deþ & dampnacioun  to hem þat dyen yuele
As cristes carectes counforteden[^740]  & boþe coupable scheweden[^741]
Þe womman þat þe Iues brouȝten[^742]  þat Iesus þouȝte to saue
Nolite iudicare & non iudicabimini[^743]
Riȝt so goddis body breþeren  but it be worþili taken
Dampneþ vs at þe day of doom  as þe carectes diden þe Iues
For-þi I counceyle þee for cristis sake  clergie to louye
For kynde witt is of his kyn  & nyȝ cosyns boþe 
To oure lord leue me  for-þi loue hem I rede
For boþe been as myrouris  to amende oure defautes
And leders for lewede men  & for lettered boþe
For-þi . lakke þou neuere logyk  lawe ne his customes
Ne counterplede clerkis  I counceyle þee for euere
For as a man may not see  þat mysseþ hise yen
No more can a[^744] clerk but if he cacche[^745] it  first þoruȝ bokis
Al-þouȝ men maden bokes  god was þe mayster
And seynt spirit his saumplarie  & seyde . what man[^746] schulde write
And riȝt as siȝt serueþ a man  to see þe hye strete
Riȝt so lediþ lettrure  lewide men to resoun
And as a blynde man in batayle  bereþ wepene to fyȝte
And haþ noon hap wiþ his ax  hise enemyes[^747] to hitte
No more can a kynde-wittid man  but if clerkis hym teche 
Come . for al his kynde witt  to cristendom and be saued
Which is þe cofre of cristis tresore  & clerkis kepen þe keyes
To vnloken it at her lykyng  & to þe lewede peple 
Ȝeue mercy . for her mysdedis  if men it wole aske 
Buxumlich & benynglich  & bidden it of grace
Archa dei in þe olde lawe  leuytes it kepten
Hadde neuere lewed man leue  to legge hoond on þe cheste
But he were preest or preestes sone  patriark or prophete
For clergie is keper  vndir crist of heuene
Was þer neuere no knyȝt  but clergie hym made
Ac kynde witt comeþ  of alle kyns siȝtis
Of briddis[^748] of beestis of taastes  of truþe & of deceytis
Lyuyers to-forn vs  vseden to marke
Þe selcouþe þat þei seyȝen  her sones for to teche
And helde it an hye science  her wittes to knowe
Ac þoruȝ her science soþeli  was neuere soule saued
Ne brouȝt bi her bokes  to blisse ne to ioye
For al her kynde knowyng come  but of dyuerse siȝtis
Patriarkes & prophetes  repreueden her science
And seyden her wordis ne her wisdomes  nas but a folye
As to þe clergie of crist  counted but a trifule
Sapiencia hui us mundi stultitia apud deum[^749]
For þe hye holy goost  heuene schal to-cleue 
And loue schal lepe out after  in-to his[^750] lowe erþe
And clennesse schal cacchen it  & clerkis schul it fynde
Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem[^751]
He spekeþ þere . of riche men nouȝt  ne of riȝt witty
Ne of lordis þat weren[^752] lewede men  but of þe hyest lettred oute
Ibant magy ab oriente[^753]
I f any frere were founden þere  I ȝyue þe fyue schillyngys
Ne in no beggers cote  was þat barne born
But in a burgeyces place  of bedlem þe beste
Set non erat locus in diuersorio & pauper non habet diuersorium[^754]
To pastouris & to poietes[^755]  apperede þe aungel
And bade hem go to bedlem  goddis birþe to honoure
And sungen a song of solace  gloria in excel sis deo
Clerkis knewen it wel  & comen wiþ her presentes
And diden her homage honourabli  to hym þat was almyȝti
And goddis sone þat sittiþ in heuene  & schal saue vs alle[^756]
Why I haue told þee al þis  I toke ful good heed
How þou contrariest clergie  wiþ crabbede wordis
How þat lewede men liȝtliker  þan lettred weren saued
Þan clerkis or kynde-wittid men  of cristen peple
And þou seydist soþ of sum  ac se ȝit in what manere
Take two stronge men  & in tamise hem caste[^757]
And boþe nakide as a nedele  arn[^758] noon sikerer þan oþer
Þat oon haþ kunnyng  & kan swymme & dyue
Þat þer is lewed of þat labour  lernede neuere to symme s[w]ymme
Which trowist þou of þe[^759] two  in temise is in moost drede
He þat neuere ne dyvede  ne nouȝt can of swymmyng
Or þe swymmer þat is saaf  bi so . hym-self lyke
Þere his felaw flet forþ  as þe flood likeþ
And is in drede to drenche  þat neuere dide swymme
Þat swymme can not I seyde  It semeþ to my wittis
Riȝt so quod þe renke  resoun it schewiþ
Þ at he þat knowiþ clergie  can sonner arise 
Out of synne & be saaf  þouȝ he synne ofte
If hym likeþ & liste  þan any lewed lely
For if þe clerk be kunnyng  he knowiþ what is synne
And how contricioun wiþ-out confessioun  counfortiþ þe soule
And þou seest in þi sauter  in salmes oon or tweyne
How contricioun is commendid  for it caccheþ awey synne
Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates & quorum tecta & cetera[^760]
And þis counfortiþ iche a clerk  & keuereþ hym fro wanhope
In which flood þe feend  fondeþ a man hardest
Þere þe lewed lijþ stille  & lokeþ after lenten
And haþ no contricioun er he come to schrift  & þanne can he litil telle
And as his loresman lereþ hym  bileueþ & trowiþ
And þat is after persoun or parischpreest  & parauenture he [^761]
Vnkunnynge te t[o][^762] lere lewede men  as luke bereþ witnesse
Dum cecus ducit cecum Ambo in foueam[^763] & cetera[^764]
Woo was hym marked þat  wade mote wiþ þe lewede
Wel may þe barn blesse  þat hym to book sette
Þat lyuynge after lettrure  sauede hym lijf and soule
D ominus pars hereditatis mee & cetera  is a myrie verset
Þat haþ taken fro tybourne  twenty stronge þeues
Þ ere lewed þeues been lolled vp  loke how þei been saued
Þe þeef þat hadde grace of god  on good fryday as ȝe[^765] speken[^766]
Was . for he ȝalte hym creaunt to crist  on[^767] crosse & knewe hym gylti
And grace axede of god  & he is euere redy
Þat buxumli bidden it & been  in wille to amenden hem
And þouȝ þat þeef hadde heuene  he hadde noon hye blisse[^768]
As seynt Ion & oþere seyntis  þat deserued hadden[^769] better
Riȝt as summe men ȝyuen me mete  & setten me amydde þe flore
Ich haue mete more þan ynow  ac not so myche worschip 
As þoo þat sitten at þe table  or wiþ souereyns of þe halle
But sitte as beggers bordles  bi my-self on þe ground
So it fareþ bi þat feloun  þat on good friday was saued
He sittiþ neiþer bi seyn seyn[t] Ion  symond ne Iude
Ne wiþ maydenes ne martires  confessoures ne wydewes
But bi hymself as a soleyn  & serued on þe erþe
For he þat is ones a þeef  is euere-more in daunger
And as lawe likeþ  to lyue or to dye
De peccato propiciato  noli esse sine metu[^770]
And for to serue a seynt  & swich a þeef to-gyderes
It were neiþer resoun ne riȝt  to rewarde hem boþe yliche
And riȝt as troianus þe trewe knyȝt  tilte[^771] not depe in helle[^772]
Þ at oure lord ne hadde hym liȝtlich out . so leue I  þe þeef be in heuene
For he is in þe lowest heuene  if oure beleue be trewe
And wel loselich he lolleþ þere  bi þe lawe of holy chirche
Quia reddit vnicui que iuxta opera sua[^773]
And why . þat oo þeef on þe crosse  creaunt hym ȝelte 
Raþer þan þat oþer þeef  þouȝ þou wolde appose
Alle þe clerkis vndir crist  ne couþe þe skyle assoyle
Quare placuit  quia voluit .[^774]
And so I seye bi þee  þat sekest after þe whyes
And aresoundest resoun  a rebukyng as it were
And of þe floures in þe friþ  & of her fayre hues
Wher-of þei cacchen her colouris  so clere & so bryȝt
And willest . of briddis & beestis  & of her bredyng knowe
Why summe been a-lowe & summe a-loft  þi likyng it were
And of þe stones & of þe sterres  þou studiest as I leue
How-euere beeste or brid  haþ so breme wittis
Clergie ne kynde witt  ne knewe neuere þe cause
Ac kynde knowiþ þe cause hym-self  & no creature ellis
H e is þe pies patroun  & putteþ in hir ere
Þ at[^775] þere þe þorn is þikkest  to bylden & brede
And kynde kenneþ þe pocok  to kauken in swich a kynde
And kennede adam to knowe  hise pryue membris
And tauȝte hym & eue  to hilen hem wiþ leeues
Lewede men many tymes  maystres apposen
Why adam hilede not first  his mouþ þat eete þe appel
Raþer þan his likham a-low  lewede axen þus clerkis
Kynde knoweþ why . he dide so  & no clerk ellis
Ac of briddes & of beestis  men bi olde tyme
Ensaumples token & termes  as tellen þe poetes
And þat þe fayrest foul  foulest engendriþ
And feblest foul of fliȝt is  þat flyeþ or swymmeþ
And þat is þe pocok &[^776] pohenne  proude riche men þei betoknen
For þe pocok . & men pursuen hym  may not flye hye
For þe traylyng of his tayl  ouer -taken is he soone
And his flesch is foule flesch  & hise feet boþe
And vnlouelich on[^777] ledne  & layþ for to here
Riȝt so þe riche  if he his richesse kepe
And deleþ it not til his deþ-day  þe tayl of al sorwe
Riȝt as þe pennys of þe pocok  peyneþ hym in his fliȝt
So is possessioun peyne  of pens & of nobles 
To alle hem þat it holden  til her tayl be plukked
And þouȝ þe riche repente hym[^778] þanne  & birewe þe tyme 
Þ at euere he gaderede so grete  & gaf þerof so litil
Þouȝ he crie to crist þanne  wiþ kene wille . I leue
His leden is in oure lordis ere  yliche[^779] a pies
And whanne his careyn schal come  in caue to be biried
I leue it flawme ful foule  þe folde al aboute
And al þe erþe[^780] þere it lijþ  enuenemyþ þoruȝ his attir
Bi þe poo feet is vnderstonden  as I lernede in auynet 
Exsecutours false frendis  þat fulfillen not his wille 
Þat was writen . & þei witnesse  to wirche as it wolde
Þus þe poete preueþ þe pocok  for hise feþeris is reuerencid
Riȝt so is þe riche  bi resoun of hise goodes
Þe lark þat is a lasse foul  is more louelich of leddene
And wel awey of weenge  swifter þan þe pocok
And of flesch bi fele folde  fatter & swetter
To lowe libbynge men  þe lark is resembled
Aristotle þe greet clerk  swiche tales telleþ
Þus he lykneþ in his logyk  þe leeste foul oute
And wher he be saaf or not  þe soþe woot þe[^781] clergie
Ne of sortes ne salomon  no scripture can telle
Ac god is so good I hope  þat siþ he gaf hem wittis 
To wissen vs weyes þer -wiþ  þat wissen vs to be saued[^782]
And þe better for her bokes  to bidden we been holden
Þ at god of his grace  gyue her soulis reste
For lettred men weren lewede ȝit  ner lore of her bokes
Alle þeise clerkis quod I þoo  þat on crist leuen
Seggen in her sermouns  þat no sarasens ne Iues
Ne no creature of cristes liknesse  wiþ-outen cristendom worþ saued
Contra quod ymagynatijf þoo  & comsede for to loure
And seyde saluabitur vix iustus  in die iudicij .
Ergo saluabitur quod he  & seyde no more latyn[^783]
Troianus was a trewe knyȝt  & toke neuere cristendom
And he is[^784] as seiþ þe book  & his soule in heuene
For þer is fullyng in[^785] founte  & fullyng in blood schedyng
And þoruȝ fijr is fullyng  & þat is ferme beleue
Aduenit ignis diuinus non comburens set illuminans .[^786]
Ac truþe þat trespassede neuere  ne trauersede aȝens his lawe
But lyueþ as his lawe techeþ  & leueþ þer be no better[^787]
And if þer were he wolde amende  & in swich wille deyeþ
Ne wolde neuere trewe god  but truþe were alowed
And were it worþ or not  þe beleue is greet of truþe
And an hope hangynge þer -Inne  to haue mede for his truþe
Quia deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam suis hoc est fidelibus . Et alibi / Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis & cetera[^788]
Þe glose graunteþ vp-on þat vers  a greet mede to truþe
And witt & wisdam quod þat wye  was sum -tyme tresore 
To kepe wiþ a comune  no catel was holden better
And myche myrþe & manhood  & riȝt wiþ þat he vanyschede

[^720: O.12.10: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^721: O.12.14: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after diligo , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^722: O.12.16: This line is set in slightly from the left margin and preceded by a red parasign with a trailing descender.]

[^723: O.12.17: YOC2C alone lack wiþ before ȝerde.]

[^724: O.12.20: OC2 alone lack some form of ynowe at the end of this line.]

[^725: O.12.26: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^726: O.12.34: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^727: O.12.43: OC2 alone have the form marien in place of marye or omission.]

[^728: O.12.43: OC2 alone have contene in place of continue.]

[^729: O.12.45: OC2 alone have his in place of þe.]

[^730: O.12.47: OC2 alone have dere it he; variants include dere he (B), dere ytt (G), dere he it (HmCrYLMR), ful deere (W), and deere (F).]

[^731: O.12.49: O alone has the form endeden; most B manuscripts have ended.]

[^732: O.12.56: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after bene , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^733: O.12.61: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^734: O.12.64: OC2 alone have among þe in place of amonges.]

[^735: O.12.68: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^736: O.12.71: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after quod , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^737: O.12.73: OC2 alone lack introductory And.]

[^738: O.12.75: OC2 alone have þe; most B manuscripts have ne.]

[^739: O.12.86: OC2 alone transpose gretter in.]

[^740: O.12.95: O alone has the form counforteden ; most B manuscripts have confortede.]

[^741: O.12.95: O alone has the form scheweden; most B manuscripts have shewed.]

[^742: O.12.96: OC2 alone have the form brouȝten; all other beta witnesses have brouȝte.]

[^743: O.12.97: This line is written in the left margin of ll. 98-99; it is divided after iudicare , so that it appears as two lines. The word iudicabimini is underlined twice.]

[^744: O.12.108: GOC2 alone have a in place of no.]

[^745: O.12.108: OC2F alone have cacche in place of cauȝte.]

[^746: O.12.110: OC2RF alone have the singular form.]

[^747: O.12.114: OC2 alone have the plural form.]

[^748: O.12.127: OC2 alone lack and before of beestis.]

[^749: O.12.137: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^750: O.12.139: OC2 alone have his; most B manuscripts have þis.]

[^751: O.12.141: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^752: O.12.143: OC2 alone have the form weren in place of were.]

[^753: O.12.144: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after ab , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^754: O.12.148: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after & , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^755: O.12.149: A solidus/punctus appears over the first <e> in poietes, indicating an intended correction, although poietes is not apparently incorrect. Perhaps deletion of the <i> is intended. Hm alone has a different reading, pore men.]

[^756: O.12.154: Kane and Donaldson (223) exclude this line, which occurs only in GYOC2CB, on the grounds that it is scribal.]

[^757: O.12.160: OC2F alone transpose cast hem.]

[^758: O.12.161: O alone has arn; variants include er (YC), ar (C2), þat (B), ther (Cr), hir, and omission.]

[^759: O.12.164: OC2 alone have the definite article; variants include those (Cr), þes (G), this (Y), hem (CBF), and þo (WHmLMR).]

[^760: O.12.178: This line is written in the left margin of ll. 178-179. It is divided after sunt , so that it appears as two lines.]

[^761: O.12.184: OCr23C2 alone include he.]

[^762: O.12.185: Although the MED lists te as a variant of to, it is not the scribe's usual form of the word, nor is it attested by other manuscripts; it is thus probably unintended.]

[^763: O.12.186: OC2 alone include the last three words of this quotation from Matthew 15:14.]

[^764: O.12.186: This line is written in the left margin of ll. 187-188. It is divided after cecum , so that it appears as two lines.]

[^765: O.12.193: OC2 alone have the plural form; all other beta witnesses have þow.]

[^766: O.12.193: OC2 alone have the form speken; variants include speke (YBLMRF), spake (CrGC), and spekest (WHm).]

[^767: O.12.194: OC2 alone among beta witnesses lack an article before crosse.]

[^768: O.12.197: Two crosses, about two lines in height and apparently by hand 2, appear in the right margin of this line.]

[^769: O.12.198: O alone has the form hadden ; most B manuscripts have hadde.]

[^770: O.12.209: This line is written in the right margin, followed by a cc parasign apparently in hand 2.]

[^771: O.12.212: OC2 alone have the form tilte; most B manuscripts have tilde.]

[^772: O.12.212: Two crosses about two lines in height, apparently in hand 2, appear in the right margin; to their right, in the extreme right margin, appears a cross composed of dots with red flourishes radiating from them, probably in the main scribal hand.]

[^773: O.12.216: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after opera , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^774: O.12.220: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^775: O.12.232: The ascender of thorn in Þat is decorated with a small spray in red.]

[^776: O.12.244: OC2 alone lack the definite article before pohenne.]

[^777: O.12.248: OC2 alone have on in place of of.]

[^778: O.12.254: OC2 alone include hym.]

[^779: O.12.257: OC2 alone have yliche; all other beta witnesses have lik.]

[^780: O.12.260: A solidus/punctus appears above erþe, indicating deletion; a word has apparently been substituted in the left margin, of which only one character, perhaps <d>, remains uncropped. OC2 alone have erþe; most B manuscripts have oþere.]

[^781: O.12.272: GOC2 alone have þe in place of no.]

[^782: O.12.275: Two crosses about two lines in height appear in the right margin, probably by hand 2. They may have been intended to point out the defectiveness of the line.]

[^783: O.12.284: Two crosses about two lines in height appear in the margin, probably by hand 2.]

[^784: O.12.286: OC2 alone lack saaf before as; C2 has seiþ, O nothing at all. These manuscripts thus lack the first alliterating stave.]

[^785: O.12.287: Cr23OC2 alone among beta witnesses have in in place of of.]

[^786: O.12.289: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^787: O.12.291: Two crosses about two lines in height appear in the right margin, probably by hand 2.]

[^788: O.12.296: This line begins in the right margin of l. 295, breaks after vitam , and wraps around to occupy the next full line space.]

Passus tertiodecimus [O.13.000: The heading is divided after Passus , so that it appears on two lines.]

A Nd I wakede[^789] þer -wiþ  witles neer-hande
And as a freek þat fre were  forþ gan I walke
In manere of a mendynaunt  many ȝeer after
And of þis metyng many tyme  myche þouȝt Ich hadde
First how fortune me faylede  at my moost nede
And how þat eelde manacede me  we myȝten neuere[^790] mete
Freris
And how þat freris foleweden  folk þat weren riche
And folk þat weren pore  at litil price þei setten
And no coors in her kirk-ȝerd  ne in her kirke was biried
But quyk he bequeþe hem ouȝt  or schulde helpe quyte her dettis
Curatis
And how coueytise ouercome  clerkis & preestes
And how þat lewed men been lad  but oure lord hem helpe
Þoruȝ[^791] vnkunnynge curatouris  to incurable peynes
And how þat ymagynatyf  in dremeles me tolde
Of kynde & of kunnyng  & how curteys he is to beestis
And how louynge he is to beestis  on loond & on water
Leneþ he no lijf  lasse ne more
Þe creatures þat crepen  of kynde been engendrid
And how ymagynatyf seyde  vix saluabitur iustus[^792]
And whanne he hadde seyd so  how sodeynlich he passede
I lay doun longe in þis þouȝt  and at þe last I slepte
And as crist wolde þer come conscience  to counforte me þat tyme
And bade[^793] come to his court  wiþ clergie schulde I dyne
And for concience of clergie spake  I come wel þe raþer
And þere I seyȝ a mayster  what man he was I nyste 
Þat lowe loutede and  louelich to scripture
Concience knewe hym wel  & welcomede hym fayre
Þei wasscheden & wypeden  & wente to dyner
Ac pacience in þe paleys  stode in pilgrimes cloþis
And preyede mete par[^794] charite  for a pore heremyte
Concience callede hym In  & curteyslich seyde
Welcome wye . go & wasche  þou schalt sitte soone
Þis mayster was maad sitte  & for þe moost worþi
Þanne clergie & concience  & pacience cam after
Pacience and I  weren put to be macches
And sitte[^795] bi oure-selue  at a syde-boord
Concience callede after mete  & þanne cam scripture
And seruede hem þus soone  of sundry metes many
Of austyn of ambrose  of alle þe foure euangelistes
Edentes & bibentes que apud eos sunt[^796]
Ac þis mayster ne his man  no manere flesch eeten
Ac þei eeten mete of more cost  mortrewes & potages
Of þat men myswonnen  þei maden hem wel at ese
Ac her sauce was euere soure  & vnsauery[^797] ygrounden[^798]
In a morter post mortem  of many bitter peynes
But if þei synge for þe soulis  & wepe salte teres
vos qui peccata hominum comeditis nisi pro eis lacrimas & oraciones effuderitis  ea que in delicijs comeditis in tomentis to[r]mentis euometis[^799]
Concience curteyslich þoo  comaunded scripture 
Bifore pacience breed to brynge  & me . þat was his make
He sette a soure loof to-fore vs . & seyde  agite penitenciam
And siþen he drowe vs drynk  diu perseuerans
As longe quod he[^800] as I lyue  & likham may dure
Heer is propre seruyse quod pacience  þer fareþ no prynce better
And þanne he brouȝte forþ oþer mete  of miserere mei deus
And of beati quorum  of beatus vir makyng
Et quorum tecta sunt  peccata . in a dische
Of derne schrifte dixi  and confitebor tibi
Brynge pacience sum pitaunce[^801]  quod concience
And þanne come to pacience  a pitaunce ybrouȝt
Of pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus  in tempore oportuno
And concience counfortede vs  & carpede vs myry wordis[^802]
Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies[^803]
Pacience was proud  of þat propre seruyse
And made hym myrþe wiþ his mete  ac I mornede euere
For þis doctour on þe hye deys  dranke wiyn so faste
Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum[^804]
He eete many sundry metes  mortrewes & puddynges
Wombe cloutis & wylde brawn  & egges fryed wiþ grece
Þanne seyde I to my-self  so pacience it herde
Freris
It is not foure dayes þat þis freek  bifore þe deen of poulis
Prechede of penaunces  þat poule þe apostle suffrede
In fame & frigore  & flappes of scourges
Ter cesus sum & a Iudeis quinquies quatragenas[^805]
Ac oo word þei ouerhippen  at iche tyme þat þei prechen
Þat poule in his epistle[^806]  to[^807] þe peple tolde
Periculum est[^808] falsis fratribus nota[^809]
Holy writ bit men . be war  I wole not write it heer 
On englich . an aunter it schulde  be reherced to ofte
And greue þer -wiþ þat good been  ac gramariens schul rede
. nota .

[O.13.80: A red flourish appears beneath the word nota .]

Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat[^810] quia vt dicitur . periculum est in falsis fratribus
Ac I wiste neuere freek . þat as a frere ȝede  bifore men . on englisch 
Take it for her teme  & telle it wiþ-oute glosyng
Þei prechen þat penaunce is  profitable to þe soule
And what mescheef or malese  crist for man þolede
Ac þis goddis glotoun quod I  wiþ hise grete chekis
Haþ no pite on vs pore men  he parforneþ yuele 
Þat he precheþ . he preueþ not  to pacience I tolde
And wisschede wittirli  wiþ wille ful egre
Þ at dissches & doubleris  bifore þis ilke doctour 
Were molten leed in his mawe  & mahoun amyddis
I schal iangle to þis iurdan  wiþ his Iuste[^811] wombe
To telle men[^812] what penaunce is  of whych he prechede raþer
Pacience parceyuede what I þouȝte  & wynkede on me to be stille
And seyde . þou schalt see þus soone  whanne he may no more
He schal haue a penaunce in his paunche  & puffe at iche a word
And þanne schal hise guttes groþele[^813]  & he schal galpen after
Doctours of freris
For now he haþ drunken so depe  he wole dyuyne soone
And preue it bi her pocalips  & passioun of seynt auereys
[^814] Þ at neiþer bakoun ne brawn  blankmanger ne mortrewes
Is neiþer fisch ne flesch  but fode for a penaunce
And þanne schal he testifie of a trinyte  & take hise felawes to witnesse
What he fonde in a frayel  after freris lyuyng
And but if þe first leef[^815] be leesyng  leue me neuere after
And þanne is tyme to talke[^816]  & appose þis doctour
Of do-wel & do-bette  & if do-best  be any penaunce
And I sete stille as pacience seyde  & þus soone þis doctour 
As rody as a rose  rubbede hise chekes
Cowȝhede & carpede  & concience hym herde
And tolde hym of a trinyte  & toward vs he lokede
What is do-wel sire doctour quod I  is do-wel any penaunce
Do-wel quod þis doctour  & toke þe cuppe & dranke
Do noon yuel to þin euene-cristen  not bi þi power
Bi þis[^817] sire doctour quod I þanne  be ȝe not in do-wel
For ȝe[^818] harmed vs two  in þat ȝe eete þe puddyng
Mortrewis & oþer mete  & we no mussel hadden[^819]
And if ȝe faren so in ȝoure fermorie  ferli me þinkeþ 
But cheste[^820] þere charite schulde . be  & children dursten[^821] pleyne
I wolde permute my penaunce wiþ ȝoure  for I am in poynt to do wel
Þanne concience curteyslich  a countenaunce made
And preynte vp-on pacience  to preye me be stille
And seide hym-self . sire doctour  & it be ȝoure wille
What is do-wel & do-bette  ȝe dyuynouris knowen
Do-wel quod þis doctour  do as clerkis techen
And do-bette is he þat techeþ  & trauayliþ to teche oþere
And do-best dooþ hym-self so  as he seiþ & precheþ
Qui fecerit[^822] & docuerit magnus vocabitur in regno ce.. lorum[^823]
Now þou clergie quod concience  carpest what is do-wel
I haue seuene sones he seyde  seruen at a castel
Þ ere þe lord of lijf woneþ  to lerne what is do-wel
Til I se . þo seuene  & myself acorden
I am vnhardy quod he  to any whyȝt to preuen it
For oon peers þe plowman  haþ impugned vs alle
And sette alle science[^824] at a soppe  saue loue oone
And no texte ne takiþ  to mayntene his cause
But dilige deum  & domine quis habitabit . & cetera
And seiþ[^825] do-wel & do-bette  arn two infinites
Whiche infynytes wiþ a feiþ  fynden out do-best
Which schal saue mannys soule  þus seiþ peers[^826] plowman
I can not her-onne quod concience  ac I knowe peers
He wole not aȝeyn holi writ speke  I dar vndirtake
Þanne passe we ouer til peers come  & preue þis in dede
Pacience haþ been in many places  & parauenture knoweþ 
Þat . no clerk[^827] knoweþ[^828]  as crist bereþ witnesse
Pacientes vincunt & cetera[^829]
At ȝoure preyer quod paciens þoo  so no man displese hym
Disce quod he &[^830] doce  & dilige inimicos
Disce and do-wel  doce and do- bette[^831]
[^832] A lemman þat I louede  loue was hir name
Wiþ wordis & werkis quod sche  & wille of þin herte
Þ ou loue lelly þi soule  al þi lijf-tyme
And so þou lere þee to louye  for þe lordis loue of heuene 
Þin enemy . in al wyse  euene-forþ wiþ þi-selue
Caste coles on his hed  & al kynde speche
Boþe wiþ werk & word  fonde his loue to wynne
And leye on hym þus wiþ loue  til he lawȝhe on þee
And but he bowe for þis betyng  blynde mote he worþe
Ac for to fare þus wiþ þi freend  folye it were
For he þat loueþ þee lelly  litil of þin coueytiþ
Kynde loue coueytiþ not  no catel . but speche
Wiþ half a laumpe-lyne  in latyn ex vi transgressionis[^833]
memorandum
I bere þer-Inne a bewte[^834]  fast ybounde . do-wel
In a signe of þe saterday  þat sette first þe kalender
In[^835] al þe witt of þe wednesday  of þe nexte woke after
Þe myddel of þe mone  is þe myȝt of boþe
And her-wiþ am I welcome  þer I haue it wiþ me
Vndo it . latte þis doctour deme  if do-wel be þer -inne
For bi hym þat me made  myȝte neuere pouertee
Misese ne mescheef  ne man wiþ his tunge
Colde ne care  ne cumpanye of þeues
Ne neiþer hete ne hayl  ne noon helle pouke
Ne neiþer fijr ne flood  ne feer of þin enemyes[^836] 
Tene þe any tyme  & þou take it wiþ þee
Caritas nichil timet[^837]
It is but a dido quod þis doctour  a disouris tale
Al þe witt of þis world  & wiþ[^838] mennes strengþe
Can not conformen a pees  bitwene þe pope & hise enemyes
Ne bitwene two cristen kyngys  kan no wyȝt pees make 
Profitable to eiþer peple  & putte þe table fro hym
And toke clergie & concience  to counceyl as it were
Þ at pacience þoo muste passe  for pilgrymes kun wel lye
Ac concience carpede loude  & curteyslich seyde
Frendis fareþ wel  & fayre spake to clergye
For I wole goo wiþ þis goom  if god wole gyue me grace
And be pilgryme wiþ pacience  til I haue proued more
What quod clergie to concience  ar ȝe coueytous nouþe
After ȝeresȝeues & ȝiftes  or ȝernen to rede ridels
I schal brynge ȝow a bible  a book of þe olde lawe
And lere ȝow if ȝow like  þe best poynt to knowe
Þat pacience þe pilgryme  parfiȝtly knewe neuere
Nay bi crist quod concience to clergie god þee forȝelde
For al þat pacience me profereþ  proude am I ful[^839] litil
Ac þe wille of þe wye  & ȝe wolen[^840] of folk here 
Haþ moued my mood  to morne for my synnes
Þe good wille of a wyȝt . was  neuere bouȝt to þe fulle
For þer is no tresore þerto  to a trewe wille
[^841] Hadde not magdaleyn more  for a boxe of salue
Þan zacheus for he seyde  dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus
And þe pore wydowe  for a peyre of mytes
Þan alle þoo þat offreden  in-to gazophilacium
Þus curteysliche concience  congeyede þe frere
And siþen softlich he seyde  in clergyes ere
Me were leuere bi oure lord  & I lyue schulde
Haue pacience parfiȝtli  þan half þi bakke[^842] of bookis
Clergie to concience  no cungeye wolde take
But seyde ful sobrelich  þou schalt se þe tyme
Whanne þou art wery for-walked  wylne me to counceyl
Þat is soþ quod concience  so me god helpe
If pacience be oure partynge felawe  & priuey wiþ vs boþe
Þ er is no woo in þis world  þat we ne schulde amende
And confourmen kyngys to pees  and al kyns londis
Sarasens & surry  & so forþ alle þe Iues
Turne in-to þe trewe feiþ  & in-til oon beleue
Þat is soþ quod clergie  I see what þou menest
I schal dwelle as I do  my deuoyr to schewen
And confermen fauntkyns  & oþere folk ylered
Til pacience haue serued[^843] þee  & parfiȝt þee makede[^844]
Concience þoo wiþ pacience passede  pilgrymes as it were
Þanne hadde pacience as pilgrimes han  in his poke vitaylis
Sobrete & symple speche  & soþfast beleue
To counforte hym & concience  if þei come in place
Þ ere vnkyndenesse & coueytise is  hungry cuntrees boþe
And as þei wenten bi þe weye  of do-wel þei carpeden
Þei metten wiþ a mynystral  as me þoo þouȝte
Pacience apposede hym þoo[^845]  & preyede . he schulde hem telle 
To concience . what craft he couþe  & to what cuntre he wolde
I am a mynystral quod þat man  my name is actiua vita
And[^846] alle ydel ich hate  for[^847] actijf is my name
A waferer . wole ȝe wite  & serue many lordis
And fewe robes I fonge  or furred gounes
Kouþe I lye to do men lawȝhe  þanne lacchen I schulde 
Ouþer mantel or money  amongys lordis mynystralis
Ac for I can neiþer taboure ne trompe  ne telle noon geestis
Farten ne fiþelen  at feestis ne harpen
Iape ne iogele  ne ienteliche pipe
Ne neiþer sayle ne saute  ne synge wiþ þe gyterne
I haue no goode gyftes  of þeise grete lordis
For no breed þat I brynge forþ  saue a benysoun on þe sunday
Whanne þe preest preyeþ þe peple  her pater -noster to bidde
For peris þe plowman  & þat hym profiȝt wayten
And þat I am actijf  þat ydelnesse hatye
For alle trewe trauaylouris  & tilyers of erþe
Fro myȝhel-messe to myȝhel-messe  I fynde hem[^848] wafres
Beggers & bidders  of my breed crauen
Faytouris & freris  & folk wiþ brode crownes
I fynde payn for þe pope  & prouendre for his palfrey[^849]
And I hadde neuere of hym  haue god my truþe
Neiþer prouendre ne personage  ȝit . of þe popis ȝifte
Saue a pardoun wiþ a peys of leed  & two polles a-myddis 
Hadde iche ich[^850] a clerk þat couþe write  I wolde caste hym a bille
Þ at he sente me vndir his sceel  a salue for þe pestilence
And þat his blessyng & hise bulles  myȝte bocches[^851] distroye
In nomine meo demonia eicient & super egros manus imponent & bene habebunt
And þanne wolde I be prest to þe peple  paast for to make
And buxum & bisy  aboute breed & drynke
For hym & for alle hise  fonde I . þat his pardoun 
[^852] Myȝte lechen a man  as I beleue[^853] schulde
For siþ he haþ þe power  þat petir hym-self hadde
He haþ þe potte wiþ þe salue  soþeli as me þinkeþ
Argentum & aurum non est michi . quod autem habeo hoc tibi do .[^854] surge & ambula[^855]
Ac if myȝt of myracle hym fayle  it is for men been not worþi 
To haue þe grace of god  & no gylt of þe pope
For may no blessyng don vs bote  but if we wolen amende
Ne mannes masse make pees  amongys cristen peple
Til pride be pureliche fordo  & þat þoruȝ payn defaute
For er I haue breed of meele  erst mote I swete
And er þe comune haue corn ynow  many colde mornyng
So er my wafres be wrouȝt  myche woo I þolye
Al london I leue  likeþ wel my wafres
And louren whanne þei lakken[^856] it  is not longe passed
Þ er was a careful comune  whanne no cart come to toune
Wiþ breed fro stratford  þoo gonnen beggers wepe
And werkmen weren agast a litil  þis wole be þouȝt longe
memorandum
In þe date of oure dryȝte  in a drye april
A þousande & þre hundrid  twyes twenti & ten
My wafres weren gesen  whanne chichestre was meyr[^857]
I toke good keep bi crist  & concience boþe
Of haukyn þe actijf man  & how he was cloþid
He hadde a cote of cristendam  as holi chirche beleueþ
Ac it was moled in many places  wiþ many sundry plottes
Of pride heer a plot & þere a plot  of vnbuxum speche
Of scornyng & of scoffyng  & of vnskilful beryng
As in apparayle and in poort  proud amongys þe peple
Oþer -wise þan he haþ wiþ herte  or ye schewynge
Hym willynge þat alle men wenden[^858]  he were þat he is not
For-why he bosteþ & braggeþ  wiþ many bolde oþes
And inobedient to be vndirnome  of any lijf lyuynge
And so synguler bi hym-self  ne noon so poppe-holy
In habyte as an heremyte  an ordre bi hym-self
Religioun saunz rule  & resounable obedience
Lakkynge lettred men  & lewede men boþe
In liknyng[^859] of lele lijf  & a lyer in soule
Wiþ inwit & wiþ outwit  ymagynen & studien
As best for his body be  to haue a badde name
And entermete hym ouer al  þere he haþ not to done
Wilnynge þat men wende  his witt were þe best
And if he gyue ouȝt to pore gomes  telleþ what he deleþ
Pore of possessioun in purs  & in cofres boþe
And as a lyoun on to loke  & lordlich of speche
Baldest of beggers  a boster þat nouȝt haþ
In toune & in tauernes  tales to telle
And segge þing þat he neuere seyȝ  & for soþe sweren it
Of dedes þat he neuere dide  demen & bosten
And of werkis þat he wel dide  witnesse & segge[^860]
Loo if þou leue me not  or þat I lye wene[^861]
Axeþ at hym or at hym  & he ȝow can telle
What I suffrede & seyȝ  & sum -tymes hadde
And what I kouþe & knewe  & what kyn I come of
Al he wolde þat men wisten[^862]  of werkis & of wordis
Whiche myȝte plese þe peple  & preysen hem-seluen[^863]
Si hominibus placerem christi seruus non essem / & alibi nemo potest duobus dominis seruire & cetera[^864]
Bi crist quod concience þoo  þi best cote haukyn
Haþ many moles & spottes  it muste been ywasschid
Ȝhe . who-so toke heed quod haukyn  bihynde & bifore
What on bakke & on body  & bi þe twey sydes
Men schulden fynde many frounces  & many foule plottes
And he turnede hym as tijt  & þanne toke I heed
It was fouler bi fele foold  þan it first semede
It was bidroppid wiþ wraþþe  & wikkide wille
Wiþ enuye & . yuel .[^865] speche  entycynge to fiȝte
Liynge & lawȝhynge  & leef tunge to chyde
Al þat he wiste wickid  bi any wiȝt tellen it
And blame men bihynde her bak  & bidde hem meschaunce
And þat he wiste bi wille  telle it to watte
And þat watte wiste  wille wiste it after
And made of frendis foos  þoruȝ a fals tunge
Or wiþ myȝt of mouþe  or þoruȝ mannes strengþe
Auenge me fele tymes  ouþer frete my-selue
Wiþ-Inne as a schepsters schere  yschrewede men & cursede
Cuius malediccione os plenum est & amaritudine sub lingua eius & cetera[^866] & alibi . Filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte & cetera[^867]
Þ er is no lijf þat I louye  lastynge any whyle
For tales þat I telle  no man tristeþ to me
And whanne I may not haue þe maystrie  wiþ malencolie I take 
Þ at I cacche þe crampe  þe cardiacle sum -tyme
Or an ague in swich an angre  & sum -tyme a feuere
Þat[^868] takiþ me al a twelue-moneþ  til þat I dispise 
Lechecraft of oure lord  & leue on a wicche
And seggeþ[^869] þat no clerk ne can  ne crist as I leue
To þe souter of souþwerk  &[^870] of sordich[^871] dame emme
And seggeþ[^872] þat no goddis word  gaf me neuere bote
But þoruȝ a charme hadde I chaunce  & my cheef hele
I waytede bisiloker  & þanne was it suylid
Wiþ likyng of lecherie  & bi lokyng of his ye
For iche a mayden[^873] þat he mette  he made hir a syngne
Semynge to synne-ward  & sum -tyme he gan taste 
Aboute þe mouþe or bi-neþe  bigynneþ to grope
Til eyþer wille waxeþ kene  & to þe werk ȝeden
As wel in fastynge-dayes as fridayes  & forboden nyȝtis
And as wel in lente as out of lente  alle tymes yliche
Swiche werkis wiþ hem  weren[^874] neuere out of sesoun
Til þei myȝten no more  & þanne hadden myry tales
And how þat lecchouris louyen  lawȝhen & iapen
And of her harlotrie & horedam  in her elde . tellen
Þanne pacience parceyuede  of poyntis of his cote
Was culmy þoruȝ coueytise  & vnkynde desyryng
More to good þan to god  þe goom hys loue caste
And ymagynede how  he it myȝte haue
Wiþ false mesure[^875] & met  & wiþ fals witnesse
Lenede it[^876] for loue of þe wed  & loþ to do truþe
And I[^877] awaytede þoruȝ . which . weye to bigyle
And mengede his marchaundise  & mad a good moustre
Þe wors[^878] wiþ-Inne was[^879]  greet witt I lete it
And my neiȝbore hadde any hyne  or any beeste ellis
More profitabel þan myn  many sleyȝtis I made
How I myȝte haue it  al my witt I caste
And but I hadde bi oþer weye  at þe laste I stale it
Or pryuyliche his purs schoke  vn-pikede hise lokkis
Or bi nyȝt or bi day  aboute was Ich euere
Þoruȝ gyle to gaderen  þe good þat I haue
If I ȝede to þe plow  I pynchede so narwe
Þ at a foote loond or a foruȝ  fecchen I wolde
Of my next neyȝbore  nymen of his erþe
And if I repe . ouer -reche  &[^880] ȝaue hem reed þat rope[^881]
And seyse to me wiþ my sykil  þat I sewe neuere
And who-so borweþ of me  abouȝte þe tyme
Wiþ presentis priueylich  or payede sum certeyn
So wolde he or he nolde  wynnen I wolde
And boþe to kiþ & to kyn  vnkynde of þat ich hadde
And who-so chepede my chaffare  chiden I wolde
But he proferede me to paye  a peny or tweyne
More þan it was worþ  & ȝit wolde I swere
Þ at it coste me myche more  & swore many oþes
In halidayes in holi chirche  whanne ich here[^882] messe
Hadde I neuere wille woot god  witterli to beseche 
Mercy for my mysdedis  þat I ne mornede more 
For losse of good . leue me  þan for my likhams gyltes
As if I hadde dedli synne doon  I drede not þat so sore
As whanne I lenede[^883] . levede it lost  or longe . er it were payed
So if I kidde any kyndenesse  myn euene-cristene to helpe
Vp-on[^884] cruel coueytise  myn herte gan hange
And[^885] I sente ouer sehe  my seruantis to brugges
Or in-to pruselond my prentice  my profiȝt to wayten
To marchaunden wiþ money  & make her eschaunges
Myȝte neuere me counforte  in þe mene tyme
Neiþer messe ne mateyns  ne no manere siȝtis
Ne neuere penaunce parfornede  ne pater -noster seyde
Þ at my mynde ne was more  on my good in[^886] doute
Þan in þe grace of god  & hise grete helpes
Vbi thesaurus tuus ibi & cor tuum .[^887]
Whyche been þe braunches  þat bryngen a man to sleuþ 
Is whanne a man[^888] morneþ not for hise dedis[^889]  ne makeþ no sorwe
Ac penaunce þat þe preest enioyneþ  parforneþ yuele
Dooþ noon almes-dede  drediþ hym of no synne
Lyueþ aȝeyn þe beleue  & no lawe holdeþ
Iche day is an holy-day[^890]  &[^891] an hyȝ ferie
And if he ouȝt wole here  it is an harlottis tunge
And[^892] whanne men carpen of crist  or clennesse of soule
He waxeþ wroþ & wole not here  but wordis of myrþe
Penaunce & pore men &[^893] passioun of seyntis
He hateþ to here þerof  & alle þat it telliþ
Þeise been þe braunches . be war  þat bryngen a man to wanhope
Ȝe lordis & ladies  & legates of holy chirche
Þat feden[^894] foles sage[^895]  flaterers & lyeris
And han likyng to liþen hem  to do ȝow to lawȝhe
Ve vobis qui ridetis & cetera[^896]
And ȝyuen hem mete & mede  & pore men refusen[^897]
In ȝoure deþ-deiynge  I drede me ful sore
Lest þe þre manere men  to myche sorwe ȝow brynge
Consencientes & agentes  pari pena punientur
Patriarkes & prophetis  & prechouris of goddis wordis
Sauen þoruȝ her sermoun  mannes soule from helle
Riȝt so flaterers & foles  & þe feendis disciplis
To entice men þoruȝ her tales  to synne & harlotrie
As[^898] clerkis þat knowen holy writ  schulden kenne lordis
What dauid seiþ of swiche men  as þe sauter telliþ
Non habitabit in medio domus mee qui facit superbiam & qui loquitur iniqua
Schulde noon harlot haue audience  in halle ne in chaumbres
Lo lordis & prelatis

[O.13.427: The rubric is divided after lordis, so that it appears as two lines.]

Þ ere wise men weren  witnesse goddis wordis
Ne no mysproude man . amongys  lordis . be alowed
Ac flaterers & foles  þoruȝ her foule wordis
Leden þoo þat louen hem  to luciferes feeste
Wiþ turpiloquio a lay of sorwe  & lucifers fiþele
Þus haukyn þe actijf man  hadde ysuyled his cote
Til concience acoupede hym þerof  in a curteys manere
Why he ne hadde wasschen it  or wiped[^899] wiþ a brusche

[^789: O.13.1: OC2 alone have the form wakede in place of awaked.]

[^790: O.13.6: O alone has we myȝten neuere; most B manuscripts have myȝte we euere.]

[^791: O.13.13: The ascender of the thorn in Þoruȝ is decorated with a small spray in red.]

[^792: O.13.19: Two crosses, about two lines in height, appear in the right margin, probably in hand 2. They may have been intended to point to the faulty alliteration of l. 19.]

[^793: O.13.23: Cr1OC2 alone lack me before come.]

[^794: O.13.30: WYGO alone have par ; variants include pur (BF), por (C2), and for (HmCrCLMR).]

[^795: O.13.36: OC2 alone have the form sitte; most B manuscripts have seten.]

[^796: O.13.40: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after que , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^797: O.13.44: YOC2 alone have vnsauery in place of vnsauourly.]

[^798: O.13.44: OC2 alone have the form ygrounden; most B manuscripts have grounde.]

[^799: O.13.46: This line begins in the right margin of l. 46, breaks after hominum , and wraps around to occupy the next full line space, breaking again after to[r]mentis and ending in the right margin of l. 48. A red parasign precedes euometis .]

[^800: O.13.52: OC2RF alone have he; most B manuscripts have I.]

[^801: O.13.58: OC2 alone lack priueliche before quod, and thus lack the third alliterating stave.]

[^802: O.13.61: OC2 alone have wordis in place of tales.]

[^803: O.13.62: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after deus , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^804: O.13.66: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after ad , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^805: O.13.73: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^806: O.13.75: O alone has the form epistle in place of pistle.]

[^807: O.13.75: OC2F alone lack al before þe peple.]

[^808: O.13.76: OR alone lack in before falsis .]

[^809: O.13.76: This line is written in the right margin. The word nota is accompanied by red and black flourishes at left, right, and bottom.]

[^810: O.13.80: A double solidus above each word indicates transposition of original custodiat se . C2 alone shares the uncorrected order.]

[^811: O.13.91: A solidus/punctus over Iutte and another over marginal Ius seem to indicate substitution; however, Ius is a fragment the remainder of which has been lost to cropping. The corrector's intention was apparently to substitute Iuste, the majority reading, for Iutte, a reading shared only by OC2. Iuste as an adjective is related conjecturally by the MED to the noun of the same form meaning "a vessel with a narrow, long neck and a large bottom"; a juste wombe is thus defined as "a belly as large as the bottom of such a receptacle...." Neither the MED nor Skeat lists iutte as an adjective, although jutt(ei)en appears in the MED as a verb meaning "to project or jut out."]

[^812: O.13.92: OC2 alone have men in place of me.]

[^813: O.13.96: YGOC2 alone have groþele; variants include gothelyn (Hm), gottilen (Cr), godele (LR), gowle (F), gruwe (B), and goþele (WCM).]

[^814: O.13.99: In the left margin there appears a cross composed of dots with smaller dots and rays, both in red, interspersed; like other, similar designs in this manuscript, it is apparently in the main scribal hand.]

[^815: O.13.103: OC2Cot alone have leef; variants include leyeffe (G), lif (CBmBo), life (Y), lyue (Cr), lyue (?lyne) (WHmLMR), and lyȝne (F).]

[^816: O.13.104: OC2R alone have talke; all other beta witnesses have take.]

[^817: O.13.113: OC2 alone lack day before sire, and thus lack the first alliterating stave.]

[^818: O.13.114: OC2 alone lack han before harmed.]

[^819: O.13.115: OC2 alone have the form hadden in place of hadde.]

[^820: O.13.117: GYOC2 alone among beta witnesses lack be before þere.]

[^821: O.13.117: OC2 alone have dursten ; most B manuscripts have dorste.]

[^822: O.13.126: OC2 alone have fecerit in place of facit .]

[^823: O.13.126: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after magnus , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^824: O.13.133: OC2R alone have the singular form.]

[^825: O.13.136: OC2 alone lack þat before do-wel.]

[^826: O.13.138: An otiose mark appears above the first <e> in peers.]

[^827: O.13.143: OC2RF alone lack ne before knoweþ.]

[^828: O.13.143: OC2 alone have knoweþ; all other beta witnesses have kan.]

[^829: O.13.144: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^830: O.13.146: HmOC2F alone include the first ampersand.]

[^831: O.13.147: OC2 alone lack the final phrase of this line, dilige and dobest.]

[^832: O.13.148: OC2 alone among beta witnesses lack the introductory clause Þus tauȝte me ones.]

[^833: O.13.160: OC2 alone have transgressionis in place of transicionis .]

[^834: O.13.161: OC2 alone have a bewte; variants include aboute (WCrLMRF), abounte (HmY), a beaute (GB), and a beaut (C). Kane and Donaldson emend to a bouste.]

[^835: O.13.163: OC2 alone have In in place of And.]

[^836: O.13.171: OC2 alone have the plural form.]

[^837: O.13.173: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^838: O.13.175: OC2Cot alone have wiþ; all other beta witnesses have wiȝt.]

[^839: O.13.191: OC2 alone have ful in place of but or omission.]

[^840: O.13.192: O alone has the form wolen; variants include wille (CHmBmBoLM), wull (C2), wol (YCot), and wil (WCrGRF).]

[^841: O.13.196: Two crosses, one below the other and each about two lines in height, appear in the left margin, probably in hand 2. They may have been intended to point to the defective alliteration of ll. 196-198.]

[^842: O.13.203: OC2 alone have bakke in place of pak.]

[^843: O.13.216: OC2 alone have serued; most B manuscripts have preued.]

[^844: O.13.216: Make should probably read makede, the reading of all manuscripts except C2, which has made; the <d> (and perhaps a final <e>) has apparently been lost to tearing and patching of the right corner of the leaf.]

[^845: O.13.224: OC2 alone have þoo; most B manuscripts have first.]

[^846: O.13.227: OC2 alone include introductory And.]

[^847: O.13.227: YOC2F alone lack a word between for and actijf; most B manuscripts have of.]

[^848: O.13.242: OC2 alone lack wiþ before wafres.]

[^849: O.13.245: Two crosses, each about two lines in height, appear in the right margin, probably in hand 2.]

[^850: O.13.249: Although the MED lists iche as a variant of ich, it is not this scribe's usual form, nor is it attested by other manuscripts; it is thus probably an error.]

[^851: O.13.251: OC2 alone transpose the order bocches myȝte.]

[^852: O.13.256: Two crosses, each about two lines in height, appear in the left margin, probably by hand 2. They may have been intended to point to the defective alliteration of ll. 256-258.]

[^853: O.13.256: OC2 alone among beta witnesses lack it before schulde.]

[^854: O.13.259: OC2 alone lack in nomine domini before surge.]

[^855: O.13.259: This line begins in the right margin of l. 258, breaks after aurum , then wraps around to occupy the next full line space.]

[^856: O.13.269: OC2 alone lack an additional pronoun between lakken and it; most B manuscripts have hem.]

[^857: O.13.275: The letter <h> is rewritten in the right margin, apparently to reinforce its insertion above the line.]

[^858: O.13.284: OC2 alone have the form wenden in place of wende.]

[^859: O.13.291: OC2 alone have liknyng; all other beta witnesses have likyng.]

[^860: O.13.303: OC2 alone have segge; most B manuscripts have siggen.]

[^861: O.13.304: OC2 alone have wene; most B manuscripts have wenen.]

[^862: O.13.308: OC2 alone have the form wisten; most B manuscripts have wiste.]

[^863: O.13.309: OC2CR alone have hem-seluen in place of hym-selue(n).]

[^864: O.13.310: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after seruus and duobus , and red parasigns precede the last two lines of text.]

[^865: O.13.319: OC2 alone have the incorrectly alliterating reading wicked, though marked for deletion.]

[^866: O.13.329: OC2RF alone lack the final phrase et lingua eorum gadius acutus ; OC2 alone substitute & cetera for it.]

[^867: O.13.329: This line begins in the right margin of l. 328, breaks after malediccione , and wraps around to the next full line space, ending in the right margin.]

[^868: O.13.335: The ascender of the thorn in Þat is decorated with a flourish.]

[^869: O.13.337: OC2 alone have the form seggeþ; all other beta witnesses have seye.]

[^870: O.13.338: OC2 alone have &; most B manuscripts have or.]

[^871: O.13.338: OC2F alone have the form sordich; most B manuscripts have Shordych.]

[^872: O.13.339: OC2 alone have seggeþ; most B manuscripts have seye.]

[^873: O.13.343: OC2 alone have the form mayden in place of maide.]

[^874: O.13.349: O alone has the form weren; most B manuscripts have were.]

[^875: O.13.357: OC2 alone have the singular form.]

[^876: O.13.358: YOC2 alone include it.]

[^877: O.13.359: OC2 alone include I.]

[^878: O.13.361: OC2 alone have wors in place of worste.]

[^879: O.13.361: OC2 alone lack a before greet.]

[^880: O.13.372: GOC2 alone have & in place of or.]

[^881: O.13.372: OC2 alone have rope; variants include repen (CrYBoCotR), repen it (F), and ropen (WHmGCBmLM).]

[^882: O.13.382: OC2 alone have the present-tense form; all other beta witnesses have the preterite.]

[^883: O.13.387: YOC2C alone lack a word between lenede and levede; most B manuscripts have and.]

[^884: O.13.389: OC2 alone lack a before cruel.]

[^885: O.13.390: OC2 alone lack if before I.]

[^886: O.13.396: GOC2F alone lack a before doute.]

[^887: O.13.398: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^888: O.13.400: OC2 alone have the reading Is whanne a man. Variants include Is qwan man (B), hys woman (GYCLR), He þat (WHmCrM), and þat (F).]

[^889: O.13.400: OC2 alone lack some variant of mys- before, or in place of, dedis.]

[^890: O.13.404: OC2 alone lack the phrase with hym before &.]

[^891: O.13.404: OC2 alone have &; most B manuscripts have or.]

[^892: O.13.406: OC2 alone include introductory And.]

[^893: O.13.408: OC2 alone lack þe before passioun .]

[^894: O.13.412: Carets accompanying þat and marginal feden indicate that the corrector's intention was to insert feden as the second word in the line. Most B manuscripts have fedeþ.]

[^895: O.13.412: OC2F alone have the singular form.]

[^896: O.13.414: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after vobis , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^897: O.13.415: OC2 alone have the form refusen; most B manuscripts have refuse.]

[^898: O.13.423: OC2 alone have As; most B manuscripts have Ac.]

[^899: O.13.434: OC2 alone lack it before wiþ.]

Passus quartodecimus . [O.14.000: The heading is divided after quarto- , so that it appears as two lines.]

I haue but an hool hater quod haukyn  I am þe lesse to blame
Þouȝ it be suyled & foule  I slepe þer -inne on nyȝtis
And also I haue a wijf  huen & children
Vxorem duxi & ideo non possum venire[^900]
Þat wolden bemolen it many tyme  maugre my chekis
It haþ been laued in lenten  & out of lenten boþe
Wiþ þe sope of sekenesse  þat sekeþ wondir depe
And wiþ þe losse of catel  loþ for to a-gylte 
God or any good man  bi ouȝt þat I wiste
And was schryuen of þe preest  þat gaue me for my synnes
To penaunce pacience  & pore men to fede
Al for coueytise of my cristendom  in clennesse to kepe it
And kouþe I neuere bi crist  kepe it clene an oure
Þ at I ne suylede it wiþ siȝt  or sum ydel speche
Or þoruȝ werk or word  or wille of myn herte
But I ne floboure it foule  fro morwen[^901] til euen
And I schal kenne þee quod concience  of contricioun to make
Þat schal clawe þi cote  of al kyns synnes[^902]
Cordis contricio & cetera[^903]
Do-wel schal wasschen it & wryngen it  þoruȝ a wise confessour
Oris confessio & cetera[^904]
Do-bette schal beten it & bouken it  as briȝt as any scarlet
And engreynen it wiþ good wille  & goddis grace to amende þee
And siþen sende þee satisfaccioun  for to sewe[^905] after
Satisfaccio & cetera[^906]
Do-best schal neuere myst bymolen it  ne moþþe after biten it
Ne feend ne fals man  defoulen it in þi lyue
Schal no heraud ne harpour  haue a fayrer garnement
Þan haukyn þe actijf man  & þou do bi my techyng
Ne no mynystral be more worþ  amongys pore & riche
Þan haukyns wijf þe waferer  wiþ his actiua vita
And I schal purueye þee paast quod pacience  þouȝ no plow erie
And flour to fede folk wiþ  as best be for þi soule
Þouȝ neuere greyn growede  ne grape vp-on vyne
Alle þat lyuen & loken  lijflode . wolde I fynde
And þat ynow . schal noon fayle  of þing þat hem nedeþ
We schulden[^907] not be to bisy  abouten oure lijflode[^908]
Ne solliciti sitis & cetera volucres celi deus pascit & cetera Pacientes vincunt & cetera
Þanne lowȝ[^909] haukyn a litil  & liȝtli gan swere
Who-so leueþ ȝow bi oure lord  I leue not he be blessid
No quod pacience pacientli  & out of his poke hente 
Vitayles of grete vertues  for alle manere beestis
And seyde . lo heer lijflode ynow  if oure beleue be trewe
For lent neuere was lijf  but lijflode were schapen
Wher-of or wherfore  &[^910] wher-by to libbe
First þe wylde worm  vndir wete erþe
Fisch to lyue in þe flood  & in þe fijr þe criket
Þe curlu bi kynde of þe eir  moost clennest flesch of briddis
And beestis bi grasse & greyn  & bi grene rotes
In menyng þat alle men  myȝten do þe same
Lyue þoruȝ lele bileue  & loue . as god witnesseþ
Quodcum 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 .[^911]
But I lokede . what lijflode it was  þat pacience so preysede
And þanne was it a pece of þe pater noster  fiat voluntas tua
Haue haukyn quod pacience  & ete þis whanne þee hungreþ
Or whanne þou clomsest for coold  or chillist[^912] for drie
Schulden[^913] neuere gomes[^914] þee greue  ne grete lordis wraþþe
Prisoun ne peyne  for pacientes vincunt
Bi so þat þou be sobre  of siȝt & of tunge
In etyng & in handelyng  & alle þi fyue wittis
Þarst þou neuere care for corn  ne lynnen cloþ ne wollen
Ne for drynk ne deþ drede  but deye as god likiþ
Or þoruȝ hungre or þoruȝ hete  at his wille be it
For if þou lyuest after his lore  þe schorter lijf þe better
Si quis amat christum mundum non diligit istum[^915]
For þoruȝ his breþ beestis wexen  & abrode ȝeden
Dixit & facta sunt[^916]
Ergo þoruȝ his breþ  mowen men & beestis lyue[^917]
As holy writ witnessiþ  whanne men seggen her graces
Aperis tu manum tuam & imples omne animal benediccione[^918]
It is founden þat fourty wynter  folk lyueden wiþ-outen tiliyng
And out of þe flynt spronge þe flood  þat folk & beestis drunken
And in elies tyme  heuene was y-closed
Þ at no reyn ne roon  þus reden[^919] men in bokis
Þ at many wyntres men lyueden  & no mete ne tiliden
Seuene slepen . as seyþ þe book  seuene hundrid wynter
And lyueden wiþ-outen lijflode  & at þe laste þei woken
And if men lyueden as mesure wolde  schulde neuere be defaute
Amongys cristen creaturis  if cristis word[^920] be trewe
Ac vnkyndenesse . caristia makeþ  amongys cristen peple
And ouerplente makiþ pride  amonge pore & riche
Ac mesure is so myche worþ  it may not be to dere
Of Sodom . & gomor .

[O.14.83: The rubric is divided after Sodom ., so that it appears as two lines.]

For þe mescheef &[^921] meschaunce  among men of sodom
Wexe þoruȝ plente of payn  & of pure sleuþe
Ociositas & habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutriuit .[^922]
For þei mesureden not hemself  of þat þei eten & drunken[^923]
Diden dely de[d]ly synne  þat þe deuel likede
So veniaunce fel vp-on hem  for her vile synnes
Þei sunken in-to helle  þe citees ichone
For-þi mesure we vs wel  & make oure feiþ oure scheltroun
And þoruȝ feiþ comeþ contricioun  concience woot it[^924] wel
Which dryueþ awey dedli synne  & dooþ it to be venyal
And þouȝ a man myȝte not speke  contricioun myȝte hym saue
And brynge his soule to blisse  so þat feiþ heer[^925] witnesse 
Þ at whyles he lyuede he beleuede  þe lore of holy chirche
Ergo contricioun . feiþ & concience  is kyndeli . do-wel
And surgien[^926] for dedli synnes  whan schrift of mouþ faylede[^927]
Ac schrift of mouþe more worþi is  if man be inlich contrijt
For schrift of mouþe sleeþ synne  be it neuere so dedli
P ar confessionem to a preest  peccata occiduntur
Þer contricioun dooþ . but dryueþ it doun  in -to a venyal synne
And dauid seiþ in þe sauter  & quorum tecta sunt peccata
Ac satisfaccioun sekeþ out þe rote  & boþe sleeþ & voydeþ
And as it neuere hadde be . to nouȝt  bryngeþ dedli synne
Þ at it is neuere eft sene ne sore  but semeþ a wounde heled
Where is charite

[O.14.106: The rubric is divided after is, so that it appears as two lines. Four ticks follow it.]

Where woneþ charite quod haukyn  I wiste neuere in my lyue 
Man þat wiþ hym spake  as wyde as I haue passed
Þere parfiȝt truþe & pore herte is  & þanne[^928] pacience of tunge
Þere is charite þe cheef chaumbrer  for god hym-selue
Wheþer paciente pouerte quod haukyn  be more plesaunt to oure driȝten[^929]
Þan richesse riȝtfulli wonnen  & resounablich spendid
Ȝhe . quis est ille quod pacience  quyk laudabimus eum
Þouȝ men redden[^930] of richesse  riȝt to þe werldis ende
I wiste neuere renke þat riche was  þat whanne he rekene schulde
Whanne he drowȝ to his deþ-day  þat he ne dredde hym sore
And þat at þe rekkenyng in arerage fel  raþer þan out of dette
Þere þe pore dar plede  & preue bi pure resoun
To haue a-lowaunce of his lord  bi þe lawe . he it cleymeþ 
Ioye þat neuere ioye hadde  of riȝtful Iuge he axeþ
And seiþ . lo briddis & beestis  þat no blisse ne kouþe
And wylde wormes in wodes  þoruȝ wyntres þou hem greuest
And makest hem welny meke  & mylde fordefaute for defaute
And after þou sendest hem somer  þat is her souereyn ioye
And blisse to alle þat been  boþe wylde & tame
Þanne may beggers & beestis[^931]  after bote wayten
Þat al her lijf han lyued  in langour & in defaute
But god sente hem sum -tyme  sum manere ioye
Ouþer heer or ellis -where  kynde wolde it neuere
For to ouer -myche woo . was he wrouȝt  þat neuere was ioye schaped
Aungelis þat in helle now been  hadden ioye sum -tyme
And dyues in deyntees lyuede  & in douce[^932] vie
Riȝt so resoun schewiþ  þat þoo men þat weren riche
And her makes also  lyueden her lijf in myrþe
Ac god is of a wonder wille  bi þat kynde witt schewiþ
To ȝyue many men his mercymonye  er he it haue deserued
Riȝt so fareþ god bi summe riche  ruþe me it þinkeþ
For þei han her hyre heer  & heuene as it were
And eke[^933] greet likyng to lyue  wiþ-oute labour of body
And whanne he deyeþ be disalowed  as dauid seiþ in þe sauter
Dormierunt & nichil inuenerunt[^934]
And in an-oþer stede also . velut sompnum surgencium domine in ciuitate tua[^935] ad nichilum rediges
Allas þat richesse schal reue  & robbe mannes soule
From þe loue of oure lord  at his laste ende
Huen þat han her hyre a-fore  arn euere-more nedy
And selden dyeþ he out of dette  þat dyneþ er he deserue it
And til he haue doon his deuoyr  & his dayes iourne
For whanne a werkeman haþ wrouȝt  þanne mowen men[^936] see þe soþe
What he were worþi for his werk  & what he haþ deserued
And not to fonge bifore  for drede of disalowyng
So I segge bi ȝow riche  it semeþ not þat ȝe schul 
Haue heuene in ȝoure heer beyng  & heuene her-after
Riȝt as a seruaunt takiþ his salerie bifore  & siþ wolde cleyme more
As he þat noon hadde  & haþ hyre at þe laste
It may not be . ȝe riche men  or Matheu on god lyeþ
De delicijs ad delicias difficile est transire[^937]
Ac if ȝe riche men[^938] haue ruþe  & rewarde wel þe pore
And lyuen as lawe techeþ  doon lewte to hem alle
Crist of his curtesye . schal  counforte ȝow at þe laste
And rewarde alle . double richesse  þat ruful hertes habben
And as an hyne[^939] hadde  his hire . er he bigunne
And whanne he haþ doon his deuoyr wel  men doon hym oþer bounte
Ȝyuen hym a cote aboue his couenaunt  riȝt so crist ȝyueþ heuene
Boþe to riche & to not riche  þat rufullich libben
And alle þat doon her deuoir wel  han double hyre for her trauayle
Heer forȝyuenesse of her synnes  & heuene blisse after
Ac it nys but selden seen  as bi holi seyntis lyues[^940]
Þ at god rewarded double reste  to any riche wye
For myche myrþe is among riche  as in mete & cloþing
And myche myrþe in may is  amonge wylde beestis
And so forþ whyle somer lasteþ  her solace dureþ
Ac beggers aboute mydsomer  breedles þei soupen[^941]
And ȝit is wynter for hem wers  for wete-schod þei gangen[^942]
A -first sore & a-fyngred  & fouliche rebuked
And a-rated of riche[^943]  þat ruþe is to here
Now lord sende hem somer  & sum manere ioye
Heuene after her hennys goyng  þat heer han swich defaute
For alle myȝtist þou haue maad  noon mener þan oþer
And yliche witti & wise  if þi wille hadde liked
And haue ruþe of þeise riche men  þat rewarden not þi prisouneris
Of þe good þat þou hem gyuest  vnkynde[^944] been many
Ac god of þi goodnesse  gyue vs[^945] grace to amende
For may no derþe[^946] hem dere  drouȝþe ne wete
Ne neiþer hete ne hayle  haue þei her hele
Of þat þei wilnen & wolden[^947]  wanteþ hem not heere
Ac pore peple þi prisouneris  lord in þe pitte of mescheef
Counforte þoo creaturis  þat myche care suffren
Þoruȝ derþe & drouȝþe  alle her dayes heere
Woo in wynter tymes for wantyng of cloþis
And in somer -tyme selden  soupen to þe fulle
Counforte þi careful  crist in þi riche
For how þou counfortist alle creaturis  clerkis beren witnesse
Conuertimini ad me & salui eritis[^948]
Þus in genere of gentrice  iesu crist seide
To robbers & to reueris  to riche & to pore
Þ ou tauȝtiste hem in þe trinite  to[^949] take baptisme
And be clene þoruȝ þat cristynyng  of alle kyns synnes
And vs fel þoruȝ folye  to falle in synne after
Confessioun & knowlechyng  & crauynge þi mercy
Schulde amende vs as many siþes  as man wolde desire
Ac if þe pope wolde plede her-aȝeyn  & punysche vs in concience
He schulde take þe acquytaunce as quyk  & to þe quede schewe it
Pateat & cetera per passionem domini & cetera[^950]
And putten of þe pouke  & preuen vs vndir borwe
Ac þe parchemyn of þis patent  of pouertee be . muste
And of pure pacience  and parfiȝt beleue
Of pompe & of pride  þe parchemyn decorreþ
And principali of alle peple  but þei be pore of herte
Elles is al on ydel  al þat euere we writen
Pater - noster & penaunce  & pilgrimage to rome
But oure spences & spendyng  sprynge of a trewe wille
Ellis is al oure labour lost  lo how men writen
In fenestres at þe freris  if fals be þe foundement
For-þi cristen schulde[^951] in comune riche  noon coueyte for hym-selue
For seuene synnes þer been  assaylen þee[^952] euere
Þe feend folewiþ hem alle  & fondeþ hem to helpe
Ac wiþ richesse þat ribaude  raþest men bigylyþ
For þere þat richesse regnet  reuerence folewiþ
And þat is plesaunt to pride  in pore & in riche
And þe riche is reuerenced  bi resoun of his richesse
Þ ere þe pore is put bihynde  & paraunter can more
Of witt & of wisdam  þat fer awey is better
Þan richesse or realte  & raþer herd in heuene
For þe riche haþ myche to rekkene  & riȝt softe walkeþ
Þe hye weye to heuene-ward  often[^953] richesse letteþ
Ita possibile diuiti & cetera[^954]
Þ ere þe pore preseþ biforn þe riche  with a pak at his rigge
Opera enim illorum sequntur illos[^955]
Batauntliche as beggers doon  & boldliche he craueþ
For his pouerte & pacience  a perpetual blisse
Beati pauperes quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum[^956]
And pride in richesse regneþ  raþer þan in pouerte
Arst in þe mayster þan in[^957] man  sum mansioun he haþ
Ac in pouerte þere pacience is  pride haþ no myȝte
Ne noon of þe seuene synnes  sitte ne mowen þere longe
Ne haue power in pouerte  if pacience it folewe
For þe pore is ay prest  to plese þe riche
And buxum at his biddyng  for hise broken looues
And buxumnesse & boost  arn euere-more at werre
And eiþer hateþ oþer  in al manere werkis
If wraþþe wrastele wiþ þe pore  he haþ þe wers ende
For if þei boþe pleyne  þe pore is but feble
And if he chide or chatre  hym cheueþ þe wers
And if coueytise cacche þe pore  þei mowen not come to-gyderes
And bi þe nekke nameli  her noon may hente oþer
For men knowen[^958] þat coueytise  is of a kene wille
And haþ hondes & armes  of a longe lengþe
And pouerte is but[^959] petit þing  appereþ not to his nauele
And louelich layk was neuere  bitwene þe longe & þe schorte
And þouȝ auarice wolde angre þe pore  he haþ but litil myȝt
For pouerte haþ but pokis  to putten in . hise goodes
Þere auarice haþ almaries  & iren-bounden cofres
And wheþer be liȝter to breke  lesse boost it makeþ
A beggers bagge  þan an iren-bounden cofre
Leccherie loueþ hym not  for he ȝyueþ but litil syluer
Ne doþ hym not dyne delicatli  ne drynke wiyn ofte
A straw for þe stuwes  it stode not I trowe
Hadden[^960] þei no þing but[^961] pore men  her housis stoden vnhiled[^962][^963]
And þouȝ sleuþe sue pouerte  & serue not god to paye
Mischeef is his mayster  & makeþ hym to þenke 
Þ at god is his grettest helpe  & noo goom ellis
And his seruaunt as he seiþ  & of his sute boþe
And wheþer he be or be not  he bereþ þe signe of pouerte
And in þat secte . oure saueour  sauede al man-kynde
For-þi al pouerte þat pacient is  may cleymen & asken 
After her endyng heer  heuene-riche blisse
Michel hardier may he axen  þat heer myȝte haue his wille
In lond & in lordschip  & likyng of body
And for goddis loue leueþ al  & lyueþ as a begger
And as a mayde for mannys loue  hir modir forsakiþ
And[^964] fadir & alle hir frendis  & folewiþ hir make
Myche is swich a mayden[^965] to loue  of hym þat swich oon takiþ
More þan a mayden is þat is  maried þoruȝ brocage
And bi assent of sundry parties  & syluer to bote
More for coueytise of good  þan kynde loue of boþe
So it fareþ bi iche a persoone  þat possessioun forsakeþ
And puttiþ hym to be pacient  & pouerte weddeþ
Paupertas .

[O.14.277: This word is preceded by a parasign two lines in height, touched in red, and decorated with a flourish at the right and vertical slashes beneath. It may have been intended as a heading for l. 280, since it appears over that portion of the line that extends into the right margin.]

Þe which is sibbe to god hym-self  & so to hise seyntis
Haue god my truþe quod haukyn  ȝe preysen fast pouerte
What is pouerte wiþ pacience[^966]  propreli to mene
Paupertas quod pacience est odibile bonum . remocio curarum . possessio sine calumpnia . donum dei . sanitatis . mater . absque solitudine semita . sapiencie temperatrix . negocium sine dampno . incerta fortuna . absque sollicitudine felicitas[^967]
I can not construe þis quod haukyn  ȝe musten seye it on englisch
In englisch quod pacience . it is wel hard  wel to expoune
Ac sumdel I schal seyen it  bi so þow vnderstonde
Pouerte is þe first poynt  þat pride moost hateþ
Þanne is it good bi good skile  al þat agasteþ pride
Riȝt as contricioun is counfortable þing  concience it[^968] woot wel
And a sorwe of hym-self  & solace to þe soule
So pouerte propreliche  penaunce & ioye 
Is to þe body  pure perpetuel[^969] helþe
Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum[^970]
And contricioun counfort  & cura animarum þe secounde
Selde sitte pouerte  þe soþe to declare
Or as iustise to iugge men  enioyned is no pore
Ne to be a meyr abouen men  ne mynystre vndir kyng[^971]
Selden is any pore put  to punysche any peple
Remocio curarum .[^972]
Ergo pouerte & pore men  perfornen þe comaundement
Nolite iudicare quemquam þe þridde
Selden is any pore . riche  but of riȝtful heritage
Wynneþ[^973] not wiþ weyȝtis false  ne vnselid mesures
Ne borweþ of hise neiȝboris  but þat he may wel paye
Possessio sine calumpnia .[^974]
Þe ferþe is a fortune  þat florischeþ þe soule
Wiþ sobrete from alle synnes[^975]  & also ȝit more
It affaytiþ þe flesch  from folies ful manye
A collateral counfort  cristis owne ȝifte
Donum dei[^976]
Þe fifte is moder of helþe  a freend in alle fondyngys
And for þe lewede euere a leche  a lemman of al clennesse
Sanitatis mater .[^977]
Þe sixte is a paþþe of pees  ȝhe þoruȝ þe pace of aultoun 
Pouerte myȝte passe  wiþ-oute perele of robbyng
For þere þat pouerte passeþ  pees foleweþ after
And euere þe lasse[^978] he bereþ  þe hardier he is of herte
For-þi seiþ seneca  paupertas est absque sollitudine semita[^979]
And an hardy man of herte  among an heep of þeues
Cantabit pauper[^980] coram latrone viator[^981]
Þe seuente is welle of wisdom  & fewe wordis schewiþ
For lordis alowen hym litil  or listenen to his resoun
He tempereþ þe tunge to truþe-ward  & noo tresore coueytiþ
Sapiencie temperatrix .[^982]
Þe eyȝtiþ is alele a lele labour  & loþ to take more 
Þan he may wel deserue  in somer or in wynter
And if he chaffare . he chargiþ no losse  mowe he charite wynne
Negocium sine dampno .[^983]
Þe nyneþe is swete for[^984] þe soule  no sugre swetter
For pacience is payn  for pouerte hym- selue
And sobrete swete drynke  & good leche in sekenesse
Þus lerede me a lettered man  for oure lordis loue
Seynt austyn a blissid lijf  wiþ-outen bisynesse
For body & soule absque sollicitudine felicitas
Now god þat al good gyueþ  graunte his soule reste
Þat þus first wrote to wissen men  what pouerte was to mene
Allas quod haukyn þe actijf man þoo  þat after my cristendoom
I ne hadde be deed & doluen  for do-welis sake
So hard it is quod haukyn . to lyue & to do synne
Synne sueþ vs euere quod he  & sory gan waxe
And wepte water wiþ hise yen  & weylede þe tyme
Þ at euere he dide dede  þat dere god displesede
Swowede[^985] & sobbede  & sykede ful ofte
Þ at euere he hadde londe or lord[^986]  lesse oþer more
Or maystrie ouer any man  moo þan of hym-selue
I werere were not worþi quod haukyn  to were any cloþis
Ne neiþer schirte ne schoone  saue for schame one
To couere my careyn quod he  & cryede fast mercy
And wepte & weylede  & þer -wiþ I a-wakede

[^900: O.14.4: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after possum , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^901: O.14.16: OC2 alone have the form morwen in place of morwe.]

[^902: O.14.18: OC2 alone have synnes in place of some variant of fylthe.]

[^903: O.14.19: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^904: O.14.21: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^905: O.14.24: OC2 alone have sewe; most B manuscripts have sowen. OC2 alone among beta witnesses lack it before after.]

[^906: O.14.25: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^907: O.14.37: OC2 alone have the form schulden in place of sholde.]

[^908: O.14.37: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on the basis of "prosiness and verbosity."]

[^909: O.14.39: OC2 alone have the form lowȝ in place of laughed.]

[^910: O.14.45: OC2R alone have & in place of or.]

[^911: O.14.52: This line begins in the right margin of l. 51, breaks after the first occurrence of in , and wraps around to occupy the next full line space, ending in the right margin.]

[^912: O.14.56: OC2 alone have chillist in place of clyngest.]

[^913: O.14.57: O alone has the form Schulden; most B manuscripts have Shul.]

[^914: O.14.57: OC2 alone have gomes; most B manuscripts have gyues.]

[^915: O.14.65: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after non , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^916: O.14.67: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^917: O.14.68: OC2 alone have the form lyue in place of lyuen.]

[^918: O.14.70: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after omne , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^919: O.14.74: O alone has the form reden; most B manuscripts have rede.]

[^920: O.14.79: O alone has the singular form.]

[^921: O.14.83: OC2F alone lack þe before meschaunce.]

[^922: O.14.85: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after panis , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^923: O.14.86: OC2 alone have the form drunken; most B manuscripts have dronke.]

[^924: O.14.91: HmOC2 alone include it.]

[^925: O.14.94: OC2 alone have heer; most B manuscripts have bere(þ).]

[^926: O.14.97: OC2 alone have the singular form. In O, there is evidence that an <s> may have been erased.]

[^927: O.14.97: OC2 alone have the preterite form.]

[^928: O.14.108: OC2 alone include þanne.]

[^929: O.14.110: O alone has the form driȝten; variants include d (cropped, W), sight (CB), lorde (GR), saueoure (C2), and driȝte (LHmCrYM).]

[^930: O.14.113: OC2 alone have the form redden ; most B manuscripts have rede.]

[^931: O.14.125: A solidus/punctus above bidders and above marginal beestis indicate that substitution was intended. O alone has bidders; all other B manuscripts have beestes, except C2 which has breddis.]

[^932: O.14.131: A supralinear <d> was added, apparently because the <d> in douce is spoiled by a blot.]

[^933: O.14.138: YOC2 alone read And eke; variants include and ys (GCBmLR), And his (BoCot), and And (WHmCrMF).]

[^934: O.14.140: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after nichil , so that it appears as two lines.]

[^935: O.14.141: OC2RF alone lack et before ad .]

[^936: O.14.147: OC2 alone have mowen men ; variants include men may (HmBoCotF), men (Cr), and may men (WGYCBmLMR).]

[^937: O.14.155: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after delicias , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^938: O.14.156: OC2F alone include men or man.]

[^939: O.14.160: OC2F alone lack þat before hadde.]

[^940: O.14.166: YOC2M alone have lyues in place of bokes.]

[^941: O.14.171: OC2 alone have the form soupen; most B manuscripts have soupe.]

[^942: O.14.172: OC2 alone have the form gangen; most B manuscripts have gange.]

[^943: O.14.174: OC2 alone lack men before þat.]

[^944: O.14.180: OC2 alone have vnkynde in place of ingrati , thus spoiling the alliteration.]

[^945: O.14.181: OC2 alone have vs in place of hem.]

[^946: O.14.182: OCr23C2 alone among beta witnesses lack be before hem.]

[^947: O.14.184: OC2 alone have the form wolden; all other beta witnesses have wolde.]

[^948: O.14.192: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after me , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^949: O.14.195: A supralinear <o> is added, apparently because the <o> in to is spoiled by a blot.]

[^950: O.14.202: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after & cetera , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^951: O.14.213: OC2 alone lack be before in.]

[^952: O.14.214: OC2 alone have þee in place of vs.]

[^953: O.14.224: OC2 alone have often; most B manuscripts have ofte.]

[^954: O.14.225: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^955: O.14.227: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^956: O.14.230: This line begins above l. 229. It is divided after est , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^957: O.14.232: O alone among beta witnesses lacks þe before man.]

[^958: O.14.245: HmOC2 alone lack wel before þat.]

[^959: O.14.247: OC2 alone lack a before petit.]

[^960: O.14.257: O alone has the form Hadden in place of Hadde.]

[^961: O.14.257: OC2 alone lack of (a) before pore.]

[^962: O.14.257: OC2 alone have vnhiled in place of vntyled.]

[^963: O.14.257: Three small slashes, stacked vertically, appear in the right margin; the hand responsible cannot be identified with certainty. Although they may point to the error of vnhiled, no such device appears elsewhere in this manuscript.]

[^964: O.14.270: OC2Cot alone have And; most B manuscripts have Hir.]

[^965: O.14.271: OM alone have mayden; most B manuscripts have mayde.]

[^966: O.14.279: OC2 alone lack quod he before propreli.]

[^967: O.14.280: This line begins in the right margin of l. 279 and breaks after est , mater , and sollicitu- , wrapping around to occupy the next two full line spaces and ending in the right margin of l. 281. A red parasign precedes the final line of text.]

[^968: O.14.286: OC2 alone include it before woot, although Cr include it after.]

[^969: O.14.289: OC2 alone have perpetuel in place of spiritual.]

[^970: O.14.290: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^971: O.14.294: OC2 alone have the singular form.]

[^972: O.14.296: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^973: O.14.300: OC2 alone lack he before not.]

[^974: O.14.302: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after ca- in calumpnia , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^975: O.14.304: YOC2 alone have the plural form.]

[^976: O.14.307: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^977: O.14.310: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^978: O.14.314: OC2 alone lack þat before the first occurrence of he.]

[^979: O.14.315: The form solitudine is shared by C2BRF. OC2 alone copy this line before l. 316.]

[^980: O.14.317: OC2Cot alone have pauper in place of paupertas .]

[^981: O.14.317: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after latrone , so that it appears as two lines.]

[^982: O.14.321: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^983: O.14.325: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after Negocium , so that it appears as two lines.]

[^984: O.14.326: OC2 alone have for in place of to.]

[^985: O.14.340: OLMR alone have the form Swowede; most B manuscripts have Swouned.]

[^986: O.14.341: A solidus/punctus above larde and above marginal lord indicate that substitution was intended. C2 shares the erroneous reading. Other B manuscripts have lordshipe.]

Passus quintodecius quintodeci[m]us [O.15.000: The heading is divided after Passus , so that it appears as two lines.]

A C after my wakyng  it was wondre longe
Er I koude kyndeli knowe  what was do-wel
And so my witt wexe & wanyede  til I a fool were
And sum lakkede my lijf  aloweden[^987] it fewe
And leeten for a lorel  & loþ to reuerencen
Lordis or ladyes  or any lijf ellis
As persouns in pelure  & wiþ pendauntis of siluer
To sergeauntis ne to swiche  seyde not ones
God loke ȝow lordis  ne loutede fayre
Þat folk helden me a fool  & in þat folye I rauede
Til resoun hadde ruþe on me  & rokkede me a-slepe
Til I seyȝ as it sorcery were  &[^988] sotil þing wiþ-alle
Oon wiþ-outen tunge & teeþ  tolde me whider I schulde
And wher-of I cam & what kynde  I coniurede hym at þe laste
If he were cristis creature  for cristis loue me to telle
I am cristis creature quod he  & cristen in many a place
In cristis court I-knowe wel  & of his kyn a partye
Is neyþer peter þe porter  ne poule wiþ his fauchoun
Þat wole defende me þe dore  dynge ich neuere so late
At mydnyȝt . at mydday  my voyce so is knowen[^989]
Þat iche a creature of his court  welcomeþ me fayre
What ar ȝe callid in þat court quod I  among cristis peple
Anima .
Þe whiles I quyk was in þe coors quod he  called am I anima
And whanne I wilne or[^990] wolde  animus ich hatte
And for þat I kan & knowe  called am I mens
And whanne I make mone to god  memoria is my name
And whanne I deme domes  & do as truþe techiþ
Þanne is racio my riȝt name  &[^991] resoun on englisch
And whanne I fele þat folk telleþ  my first name is sensus[^992]
And þat is witt & wisdam  þe welle of alle craftis
And whanne[^993] chalenge or chalenge not  clepe[^994] or refuse
Þanne am I concience called  goddis clerk & his notarie
And whanne I loue lelly  oure lord . & alle oþer
Þanne is leel loue my name  & in latyn amor
And whanne I flye fro þe flesch  & forsake þe careyne
Þanne am I spirit specheles  spiritus þanne ich hatte
Austyn & þs idorus [y]sidorus  eyþer of hem boþe
Nempnede me þus to name  now þou myȝtist[^995] chese
How þou coueytist to calle me  now knowest þou 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 . .[^996]
Ȝe been as a bischop quod I  al bourdynge þat tyme
For bisschoppis yblissid  beren many names
Presul & pontifex  and metropolitanus
And oþere names an heep  episcopus & pastor
Þat is soþ seyde he  now I se þi wille
Þ ou woldest knowe & kunne  þe cause of alle her names
And of myn if þou myȝtist  me þinkeþ bi þi speche
Ȝhe sire I seyde bi so  no man were a-greued
Alle þe science vndir sunne  & alle þe sutil craftes
I wolde knowe & kunne  kyndeli in myn herte
Þanne art þou vnparfiȝt quod he  & oon . of prides knyȝtis
For swich a lust & likyng  lucifer fel from heuene
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone  & similis ero altissimo
It were aȝens kynde quod he  & al kyns resoun
Þ at any creature schulde kunne al  except crist oone
Aȝens swiche salomon spekiþ  & dispisiþ her wittis
And seiþ . sicut qui mel comedit multum  non est ei bonum . sic qui scrutator est magestatis opprimitur a gloria[^997]
To englische men . þis is to mene  þat mowen speke & here
Þe man þat myche hony eteþ  his mawe it engleymeþ
And þe more þat a man  of good mater hereþ
But he do þer -after  it dooþ hym double scathe
Beatus est . seiþ seynt Bernard  qui scripturas legit
Et verba vertit in opera  fulliche to his power
Coueytise to kunne  & to knowe science
Pullede[^998] out of paradice  adam & eue
Sciencie appetitus hominem immortalitatis gloria spoliauit .[^999]
And riȝt as hony is yuele to defye  & engleymeþ þe mawe
Riȝt so . þat þoruȝ resoun  wolde þe rote knowe 
Of god . & of hise myȝtis  his grace it lettiþ
For in þe likyng . lijþ a pride  & a likhams coueytise
Aȝens cristis counceyl  & alle clerkis techyng
Þat is . non plus sapere quam oportet sapere .[^1000]
Freris & fele oþere maystris  þat to lewede men prechen
Meuen materes immesurables  to tellen of þe trinite
And[^1001] ofte tymes þe lewed peple  of her beleue douten
Better to bileue were[^1002] many  doctouris . swich techyng
And telle men of þe ten comaundementes  & touche þe seuene synnes
And of þe braunches þat boriounen of hem  & bryngen men to helle
And how þat folk in folies  myspenden her fyue wittis
Pride of Freris

[O.15.80: The rubric is divided after of, so that it appears as two lines.]

As wel freris as oþere folk  foliliche þei spenden[^1003]
In housyng in hateryng  & hye clergie schewynge
More for pompe þan for pure charite  þe peple woot þe soþe
Þ at I ne[^1004] lye not . loo  for lordis ȝe plesen
And reuerencen þe riche  þe raþer for her goodis[^1005]
Confundantur omnes qui adorant sculptilia & cetera & alibi / vt qui d diligitis vanitatem & queritis mendacium[^1006]
Freris

[O.15.86: The letter <V>, about two lines in height, appears in the extreme right margin, written apparently by hand 2.]

Go to þe glose of þe vers  ȝe grete clerkis
If I lye on ȝow to my lewede witt  ledeþ me to brennyng
For as it semeþ . ȝe forsaken  no mannes almesse
Of vsureris of horis  of auarouse chapmen
And louten to þeise lordis  þat mowen lene ȝow nobles
Aȝeyn ȝoure rule & religioun  I take record of iesus
Þat seyde to hise disciplis  ne sitis personarum acceptores
Of þis mateer I myȝte  make a longe bible
Curatis
Ac of curatouris of cristen peple  as clerkys[^1007] beren witnesse
I schal tellen it for truþes sake  take heed . who-so likiþ
As holynesse & honeste  out of holy chirche sprediþ
Þoruȝ lele libbynge men  þat goddis lawe techen
Riȝt so . out of holy chirche  alle yueles spreden
Þere imparfiȝt preesthode is  prechouris & techeris
And see it bi ensaumple  in somer -tyme on trowes
Þ ere summe bowis been leued  & summe beren noon
Þ ere is a myscheef in þe moore  of swiche manere bowis
Riȝt so persouns & preestis  & prechouris of holi chirche
Þat arn rote of þe riȝt feiþ  to rule þe peple
Ac þere þe rote is roten  resoun woot þe soþe
Schal neuere floure ne fruyt  ne fayre leef be grene
For-þi wolden[^1008] ȝe lettred men leue  þe lecherie of cloþing
And be kynde . as fel[^1009] for clerkis  & curteys of cristis goodis
Trewe of ȝoure tunge  & of ȝoure tayl boþe
And hate to here harlotrie  & not to vndirfonge 
Tyþes of vntrewe þing  ytilied or chaffared
Loþe weren lewede men  but þei ȝoure lore foloweden[^1010]
And amenden hem þat mysdoon  more for ȝoure ensaumples 
Þan for to preche & preuen it not  ypocrisie it semeþ
For ypocrisye in latyn  is likned to a dong-hil
Þat were besnewid wiþ snow  & snakes wiþ-Inne
Or to a wal þat were whyȝt-lymed  wiþ-out & foul wiþ-inne
Riȝt so many preestis  prechouris & prelatis
Arn emblaunched wiþ bele paroles  & wiþ cloþes also
Ac ȝoure werkis & wordis þer -vndir  arn ful vnlouelich
Iohanne[^1011] crisostomus  of clerkis spekiþ & preestis
Sicut de templo omne bonum egreditur  Sic de templo omne malum procedit / Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit  tota floreret[^1012] ecclesia / Si autem corruptum fuerit  omnium fides marcida est / Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis  totus populus conuertitur ad peccandum / Sicut cum videris arborem marcidam & pallidam  intelligis quod vicium habet in radice / Ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum & irreligiosum  sine dubio . sacerdocium eius non est sanum[^1013]
Prestis .
If[^1014] lewede men wisten  what þis latyn meneþ
And who was myn autour  myche wondir me þinkeþ
But if many a preest heer[^1015]  for her baslardis & her brohchis
Schulden go synge seruyseles  wiþ sire philip þe sparwe[^1016]
Sire ion & sire ieffrey  han gyrdeles[^1017] of siluer
A baslard &[^1018] ballok-knyf  &[^1019] barres[^1020] ouer -gylt
Ac a porthos þat schulde be his plow  placebo to segge
Hadde he neuere[^1021] seruyse to saue syluer þerto  for spendyng at ale[^1022]
Allas ȝe lewede men  myche lesen[^1023] ȝe on preestis
Ac þing þat wickidlich is wonnen[^1024]  & wiþ false sleyȝtis
Wolde neuere . of witty god þe witt  but wickide men it hadde
Þe whyche arn preestis imparfiȝt  & prechouris after siluer
Sectouris & suddenes  somonours & her lemmans
Þis þat wiþ gyle was geten  vngraciousli is spendid
So harlottis & hores  arn holpen þoruȝ[^1025] swiche goodis
And goddis folk for defaute þerof  forfaren & spillen
Curatouris of holy chirche  as clerkis þat been auarouse
Liȝtlich þat þei leuen  losellis it habben
Or dyen intestat  & þanne þe bischop entreþ
And makeþ myrþe þer -wiþ  & his men boþe
And seggen . he was a nygard  þat no good myȝte spare
To freend ne to fremde  þe feend haue his soule
For a wrecchid hous he helde  al his lijf-tyme
And þat he sparede & bisperde  spende we in myrþe
Be þei lered . be þei lewide[^1026]  þat loþ is to spende
Þus goon her goodis  be þe goost faren
Ac for goode men god woot  greet deel men maken
And bymeneþ goode mete-ȝyueris  & in mynde hauen 
In[^1027] preyeris & in penaunce  & in parfiȝt charite
What is charite quod I þoo  a childisch þing he seyde
Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli non intrabitis & cetera[^1028]
Charite
Wiþ-outen fauntee[^1029] or folye  a fre liberal wille
Where schulden[^1030] men fynde swich a freend  with so fre an herte
Longe wille

[O.15.156: The rubric is divided after Longe, so that it appears as two lines.]

I[^1031] haue lyued in londe quod I  my name is longe wille
And fonde I neuere ful charite  bifore ne bi-hynde
Men been mercyable to mendynauntis  & to þe[^1032] pore
And wolen lene þere þei leuen[^1033]  lelli to be payed
Ac charite þat poule precheþ[^1034] best  & moost pleseþ oure saueour
As . non inflatur . non est ambiciosa . non querit que sua sunt
I[^1035] seyȝ neuere swich a man  so me god helpe
Þ at he ne wolde aske after his  & oþer -wyle coueyte 
Þing þat nediþ hym not  & nyme it if he myȝte
Clerkis tellen[^1036] me þat crist  is . in alle places
Ac I seyȝ hym[^1037] soþeli  but as my-self in a myrour
Ita in enigmate . tunc facie ad faciem[^1038]
And so I trowe truly  bi þat men tellen of charite
It is not champiouns fiȝt  ne chaffare as I trowe
Charite
Charite quod he ne chaffareþ not  ne chalengeþ ne craueþ
As proude of a peny  as of a pound of gold
And is as glad of a gowne  of a grey russet
As of a tunycle of tarse  or of tried scarlet
He is glad wiþ al glad  & good til alle wickide
And leneþ & loueþ alle  þat oure lord made
Curseþ he no creature  ne[^1039] can bere no wraþþe
Ne no likyng haþ to lye  ne lawȝhe men to scorn
Al þat men seyen . he lat it soþ  & in solace takeþ
And alle manere mescheues  in myldenesse he suffreþ
Coueytiþ he noon erþeli good  but heuene-riche blisse
Haþ he any rentes or richesse  or any riche freendis 
Of rentes ne of richesse  reccheþ he neuere
For a freend þat fyndeþ hym  faylede hym neuere at nede
Fiat voluntas tua  fyndiþ hym euere-more
And if he soupe . he etiþ but a soppe  of spera in deo
He can portreye[^1040] þe pater -noster  & peynte it wiþ auees
And oþer -wyle he is wone  to wende on pilgrimage
Þ ere pore men & prisouners been[^1041]  her pardoun to haue
Þouȝ he bere hem no breed  he bereþ hem swetter[^1042]
Loueþ hem as oure lord biddiþ  & lokeþ how þei faren
And whanne he is wery of þat werk  þanne wole he sum -tyme
Labouren in lauendrie[^1043]  þe lenkþe of a myle
And ȝerne in-to ȝouþe  & ȝepli speke[^1044]
Pride . wiþ al þe apurtenaunce  & pakken hem to-gyderes
And bowken hem at his brest  & beten hem clene
And leggen on . longe  wiþ laboraui in gemitu meo
And wiþ warm water at hise yen  wasschen hem after 
And þanne he syngeþ whanne he dooþ so  & sum -tyme seiþ wepynge
Cor contritum & humiliatum[^1045] non despicies[^1046]
Bi crist I wolde þat I knewe hym  no creature leuere
Wiþ-outen help of peers plowman quod he  his persoone seest-þou neuere
Wher clerkis knowen hym quod I  þat kepen holy chirche
Clerkis han no knowyng quod he  but bi werkis & wordis
Ac peers þe plowman  parceyuede[^1047] more depper
Where is þe wille & wherfore  þat many a[^1048] wiȝt suffreþ
Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum[^1049]
For þer arn ful proude-herted men  pacient of tunge
And buxum as of beryng  to burgeys & to lordis
And to pore peple  han peper in þe nose
And as a lyoun he lokeþ  þere men lakken hise werkis
For þer arn begger s & bidders  bedemen as it were
Loken as lambren  & semen lijf-holy
Ac it is more to haue her mete  in swich esy manere
Þan for penaunce or parfiȝtnesse  þe pouert þat swiche taken
Þ erfore bi colour ne bi clergie  knowe schalt þou hym neuere
Neiþer þoruȝ wordis ne werkis  but þoruȝ wille one
And þat knowiþ no clerk  ne creature in erþe
Petrus
But peers þe plowman  petrus id est christus
For he is not in losellis[^1050]  ne in land-lepers heremytis
Ne in ankris þere a box hangeþ  alle swiche þei fayten
Fy on faytouris  and in fautores suos
For charite is goddis champioun  & as a good chyld . heende
And þe myriest of mouþe  at mete . where he sittiþ
Þe loue þat lijþ in his herte  makiþ hym liȝt of speche
And is companable & confortatijf  as crist bit hym-selue
Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes[^1051]
For I haue seen hym in silk  & sum -tyme in russet
Boþe in grey & in griys  & in gylt harneys
And as gladlich he it gaaf  to gomes þat it nedede
Edmund & Edward  eyþer were kyngys
And seyntis yset  til charite hem folewede
I haue seen charite also  syngen & reden
Riden & rennen  in raggede wedis
Ac biddynge as beggers  bihelde I hym neuere
Ac in riche robes  raþest he walkiþ
Ycalled[^1052] ycrymaylid  & his crowne schauen
And clenlich ycloþed  in cipres & in tartaryne[^1053]
And in a freris frokke  he was founden onys
Ac it is fer agoo  in seynt fraunceys tyme
And in þat secte siþþe  to selden[^1054] haþ be knowen
Riche men he recommendiþ  & of her robes takeþ
Þat wiþ-outen wyles  leden her lyues
Beatus est diues qui & cetera[^1055]
In kyngys court he comeþ often[^1056]  þere þe counceyl is trewe
Ac if coueytise be of þe counceyl  he wole not come þer -Inne
In court among iapers  he comeþ not but selde
For braulyng & bacbytyng  & beryng of fals witnesse
Consistorie
In þe consistorie bifore þe comyssarie  he comeþ not ful ofte
For her lawe dureþ ouer -longe  but if þei lacchen siluer
And matrimoyne for money  maken & vnmaken
And þat concience & crist  haþ yknyt faste
Þei vndoon it vnworþili  þoo doctouris of lawe
Ac I ne lakke no lijf  but lord amende vs alle
And gyue vs grace goode god  charite to folewe
For who-so myȝte mete wiþ hym  swiche maneres hym ayliþ
Neiþer he banneþ ne blameþ  boosteþ ne preyseþ
Craueþ ne coueytiþ  ne crieþ after more
Lakkeþ ne loseþ  ne lokeþ vp sterne
In pace in idipsum dormiam & cetera[^1057]
Þe moost lijflode he lyueþ bi  is loue in goddis passioun
Neiþer he biddiþ ne beggeþ  ne borweþ to ȝelde
Misdooþ he no man  ne wiþ his mouþ greueþ
Amongys cristen men  þis myldenesse scholde laste
In alle manere angres  haue þis at herte
Þ at þouȝ þei suffreden[^1058] al þis  god suffrede for vs more
In ensaumple we schulden[^1059] do so  & take no veniaunce 
Of oure foos þat doon vs falsnesse  þat is[^1060] fadris wille
For wel may euery man wite  if god hadde wolde hym-selue
Schulde neuere iudas ne iew  haue iesu doon on rode
Ne haue martired petir ne poule  ne in prisoun holden
Ac he suffrede in ensaumple  þat we schulden[^1061] suffre also
And seyde[^1062] to swiche þat suffre wolden  þat pacientes vincunt
Verbi gratia quod he  & verrey ensaumples many
In legenda sanctorum  þe lijf of holy seyntis
What penaunce & pouerte  & passioun þei suffreden[^1063]
In hungre & in hete  in alle manere angrees
Antony & egidie  & oþere holi fadris
Woneden in wildernesse  amonge wylde beestis
Monkes & mendynauntis  men bi hem-seluen
In spekis & spelonkis  selden speke to-gyderes
Ac neiþer antony ne egydie  ne heremyte þat tyme
Of lyouns ne of lepardes  no lijflode ne token
But of foulis þat flyen[^1064]  þus fynden men in bokis
Except þat egidie  after an hynde criede
And þoruȝ þe mylk of þat mylde beeste  þe man was sustened[^1065]
And day bi day hadde he hir not  his hungre for to slake
But selden & sundri tymes  as seiþ þe book & techiþ
Antony a-dayes  aboute þe[^1066] noon tyme
Hadde a brid þat brouȝte hym breed  þat he by . lyuede
And þouȝ þe goom hadde a gest  god fonde hem boþe
Poule primus heremita  hadde parroked hym-selue
Þ at no man myȝte hym see  for mosse & for leues
Foules hym fedden[^1067]  fele wyntres wiþ-alle
Til he foundede freris  of austyns ordre
An-oþer[^1068] poule after his prechyng  panyeris he made
And wan wiþ hise handis  þat his wombe nedede
Petir fischede for his fode  & his felaw andrew
Sum þei solden[^1069] & sum þei soþen  & so þei lyueden boþe
And also marie magdaleyn  bi moores lyuede & dewes
Ac moost þoruȝ deuocioun  & mynde of god almyȝti
I schulde not þis seuene dayes  seggen hem alle
Þat lyueden þus for oure lordis loue  many longe ȝeris
Ac þer ne was lyoun ne leparde  þat on laundes wenten
Neiþer bere ne boor  ne oþer beest wylde
Þat ne fel to her feet  & fauneden[^1070] wiþ þe taylis
And if þei couþen[^1071] haue ycarped  bi crist as I trowe
Þei wolden haue yfed þat folk  bifore wylde foulis
Ac god sente hem fode bi foulis  & bi no ferse beestis
In menyng þat meke þing  mylde þing schulde fede
As who seiþ . religiouse  riȝtful men schulde fynde
And laweful men to lijf-holy men  lyuelode brynge
And þanne wolden[^1072] lordis & ladies  be loþ to agulte
And to take of her tenauntis  more þan truþe wolde
Founden[^1073] þei þat freris wolden  forsaken[^1074] her almesse
And bidden hem . bere it  þere it was yborwid
Dietyng of religious

[O.15.316: The rubric is divided after of, so that it appears as two lines.]

For we bee goddis fowles[^1075]  and abide[^1076] alwey .
Til briddis brynge vs mete  þat we schulden lyue by .
For haue[^1077] ȝe potage & payn[^1078]  & peny-ale to drynke
And a messe þer -wiþ  of any manere kynde
Ȝe han[^1079] riȝt ynow ȝe religious  & so ȝoure rule me tolde
Numquam dicit iob rugit onager  cum herbam habuerit[^1080] / aut mugiet bos  cum ante plenum presepe steterit / Brutorum animalium natura te condempnat [^1081] cum eis pabulum comune sufficiat . ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua[^1082]
If lewede men knewen[^1083] þis latyn  þei wolden[^1084] loke whom þei ȝyuen[^1085]
And avise hem bifore  fyue dayes or sixe
Of ȝiftis into Religious

[O.15.324: The rubric is divided after into, so that it appears as two lines.]

Er þei mortiseden[^1086] to monkes  or chanouns her rentis
. nota .

[O.15.325: The word nota is accompanied by a flourish beneath.]

Allas lordis & ladies  lewed counceyl han ȝe
To ȝyue from ȝoure eires  þat ȝoure ayles ȝow laften[^1087]
And ȝyuen to bidde for ȝow  to swiche þat been riche
And been founded & fessed fe[ff]ed eke  to bidde for oþere
Who parforneþ þe prophecie  of[^1088] peple þat now libbeþ
Dispersit . dedit pauperibus[^1089]
If any peple parforne þis text  it arn þe pore freris
. Deridendo . .
For þat þei beggen aboute  in beeldyng þei spenen[^1090]
And on hem-self sum  & swiche as been her laboreris
And of hem þat habben þei taken  & ȝeuen hem þat ne habben
Ac clerkis & knyȝtis  & comuneris þat been riche
Feel of ȝow faren  as if I a forest hadde
Þat were ful of fayre trees  & I fondede & caste 
How I myȝte . moo þerinne  amonges hem sette
Riȝt so ȝe riche  ȝe robben[^1091] þat ben riche
And helpen hem þat helpen ȝow  & ȝyuen þere no nede is
As who-so fillede a tunne  of a fresch ryuer
And wente forþ wiþ þat water  to wooke wiþ þe[^1092] temse
Quid est dare impijs
Riȝt so ȝe riche  ȝe robben & feden 
. Of munkys .

[O.15.344: The word munkys is accompanied by a flourish beneath.]

Hem . þat han as ȝe han  hem ȝe maken at ese
Ac religious þat riche been  schulden raþer feste beggers
Þan burgeys þat riche been  as þe book telleþ
Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum  non pauperibus dare / Item peccatoribus dare  est demonibus immolare / Item . Monache si indiges & accipis  pocius das quam accipis / Si autem non eges & accipis  rapis / Porro non indiget monachus . si habeat quod nature sufficit[^1093]
For-þi I counceyl alle cristen  to conforme hem to charite
For charite wiþ-outen chalengyng  vnchargeþ þe soule
And many a prisoun fro purgatorie  þoruȝ hise preyeris delyuereþ
Ac þer is a defaute in þe folk  þat þe feiþ kepen
Wherfore folk been[^1094] þe febeler  & not ferme of bileue
And in luschburues is a liþer alay  & ȝit lokeþ he lijk a sterlyng
Þe merk of þat money is[^1095] good  ac þe metal is feble
And so it fareþ bi summe folk  now þei han a fayre speche
Crowne & cristendom  þe kyngys merk of heuene
Ac þe metal þat is mannes soule  wiþ synne is ful[^1096] allayed
Boþe lettred & lewede been  now allayed[^1097] wiþ synne
Þ at no lijf loueþ oþer  ne oure lord as I leue[^1098]
For þoruȝ werre & wickede werkis  & wedres vnresounable
Wedre-wise schipmen  &[^1099] clerkis also
Han no beleue to þe lifte[^1100]  ne to þe lore of philosophres
Astromyens alday  in her arte faylen
Þat wylom warneden[^1101] bifore  what schulde falle after
Schipmen & heerdis[^1102]  þat wiþ schip & scheep wenten
Wisten bi þe welken  what schulde bityde
As of wedres & wyndes  þei warneden[^1103] men ofte
Tilyeris þat tiliden þe erþe  tolden her maystres 
Bi þe seed þat þei sewen  what þei selle myȝten[^1104]
And what to leue & what to lyue by  þe londe was so trewe
Now faylen[^1105] þe folk of[^1106] flood  & of þe loond boþe
Schepheerdis & schipmen  & so doon þeise tilieris
Neiþer þei kunnen ne knowen  oo cours bifore an-oþer
Astronomyens also  arn at her wittis ende
Of þat was calculed of þe elementis  þe contrarie þei fynden[^1107]
Gramer þe ground of al  bigyleþ now children
For is noon of þeise newe clerkis  who-so nymeþ heed
Þat can versifye fayre  ne formelich endyten
Is[^1108] not oon amongys an hundrid  þat an autour can construe
Ne rede a lettre in any langage  but latyn & englisch
Go now to any degree  & but if gyle be mayster
And flaterer his felaw  vndir hym to formen
Miche wonder me þinkiþ  amongys vs alle
Doctours of decrees  & of dyuinite maystres
Þat schulden kunne & knowe  al kyns clergye
And answere to argumentis  & also to a quodlibet
I dar not segge it for schame  if swiche weren apposed
Þei schulden fayle of her phylosophie  & in her[^1109] phisik boþe
Wherfore I am a-feerd  of folk of holy chirche
Lest þei ouerhippe[^1110] as oþere doon  in offices & in houris
Ac if þei ouerhippen as I hope not  oure bileue suffiseþ
As clerkis in corpus christi feeste  syngen & reden
Þ at sola fides sufficit  to saue wiþ lewede peple
And so mowen sarasens be saued  scribes & Iues
Allas þanne . but oure lores-men  lyuen as þei leren vs
And for her lyuyng þat lewide men  be þe loþer god to agulten[^1111]
For sarasens han sumwhat  semynge to oure beleue
For þei louen[^1112] & bileuen[^1113]  in oo persoone almyȝti
And we lered & lewede  in oo god beleuen
And oon Makomede  a man of[^1114] mysbeleue
Brouȝte sarasens of surre  & se in what manere
Machomede wiþ his dowue .

[O.15.402: This rubric is divided after wiþ, so that it appears as two lines.]

Þis makomede was cristen  & for he muste not be a pope
Into surre he souȝte  & þoruȝ hise sutile wittis
Dauntede a dowue  & day & nyȝt hir fedde
Þe corn þat sche croppede  he caste it in his ere
And if he among þe peple preched  or in place come
Þanne wolde þe culuer come  in-to[^1115] þe clerkis ere
Menynge as after mete  þus makomede hir enchauntede
And dide folk þanne falle on knees  for he swore in his prechyng
Þ at þe culuer þat come so  come fro god of heuene
As messager to makomede  men for to teche
And þus þoruȝ wyles of his witt  & a whyte dowue
Makomede in mysbeleue  men & wommen brouȝte
Þ at lered & lewede  ȝit leuen on hise lawes
And siþen oure saueour suffrede  þe sarasenes so bigyled
Þoruȝ a cristen clerk  a-cursid in his soule
. nota .

[O.15.417: The word nota is accompanied by a flourish beneath.]

And for drede of þe deþ  I dar not telle truþe
How englisch clerkis a culuer feden  þat coueueytise coueytise hatte
And been manered after makomede  þat no man vseþ truþe
Ancres & heremytes  & monkes & freris
Peren to apostelis  þoruȝ her parfiȝt lyuyng
Wolde neuere þe feiþful fadir  þat hise mynystres schulden 
Of tyrauntis þat tenen trewe men  take any almesse
But do as domynyk dide  antony[^1116] & fraunceys
Benet & bernard  þe whiche hem first tauȝte
To lyue bi litil[^1117] in lowe howsis  bi lele mennes almesse
Grace schulde growe & be grene  þoruȝ her good lyuyng
And folkes schulden fynde  þat been in dyuerse sekenesse
Þe better for her biddynges  in body & in soule
Her preyeris & her penaunces  to pees schulde brynge
Alle þat been at debate  & bedemen were trewe
Petite & accipietis & cetera[^1118]
Salt saueþ catel  seggen þeise wyues
Vos estis sal terre & cetera[^1119]
Þe heedis of holy chirche  & þei holy weren[^1120]
Crist calleþ hem salt  for cristene soulis
Et si sal euanuerit  in quo salietur[^1121]
Ac fresch flesch oþer fisch  whanne it salt fayliþ
[^1122] Is vnsauery for soþe  ysoþe or ybake
So is mannes soule soþeli  þat seeþ no good ensaumple
Of hem of holy chirche  þat þe hye weye schulde teche
And be gyde & go bifore  as a good baneour
And hardye hem þat been bihynde[^1123]  & ȝyue hem good euydence
Elleuene holy men  al þe werld turnede
In-to lele bibeue bi[l]eue  þe liȝtliker me þinkeþ 
Schulden alle manere men  we han so many maystres
Preestis & prechouris  & a pope aboue
Þat goddis salt schulden be  to saue mannes soule
Al was heþenesse sum -tyme  Englond & Wales
Til gregory gerte clerkis  to go & to preche
Austyn at cauntirbiry  cristenede þe kyng
And þoruȝ myracles as men mowen rede  al þat marche he turnede 
To crist & to cristendom  & crosse to honoure
And fullede folk faste  & þe feiþ tauȝte
More þoruȝ myracles  þan þoruȝ myche prechyng
As wel þoruȝ hise werkis  as wiþ hise holi wordis
And seyde hem . what fullyng & feiþ was to mene
Cloþ þat comeþ fro þe weuyng  is not cumly to were
Til it be fullid vndir fote  or in fullynge stokkis
Wasschen wel wiþ water  & wiþ taseles cracched
Ytouked & yteyntid  & vndir taylouris hand
And so it fareþ bi a barn  þat born is of wombe
Til it be cristened in cristis name  & confermed of þe bisschop
It is heþene as to heueneward  & helples to þe soule
Heþen is to mene after heþ  & vntiled erþe
As in wylde wildirnesse  waxen wylde beestis
crepers

[O.15.467: Substitution is indicated by a caret/punctus accompanying marginal crepers, but the reason for it is unclear since no change is made. Of all B manuscripts, only R has the correct reading, keperes.]

Rude & vnresounable  rennynge wiþ-oute crepers
Ȝe; menen wel how mathew seyde[^1124]  how a man made a feeste
He fedde hem wiþ no venysoun  ne fesauntis ybake
But wiþ foulis þat from hym nolde  but foleweden[^1125] his whystelyng
Ecce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt & cetera[^1126]
[^1127] Wiþ calues flesch he fedde  þe folk þat he louede
Þe calf bitokeneþ clennesse  in hem þat kepen lawes
For as þe cow þoruȝ kynde mylk  þe calf nurischiþ til an oxe
So loue & lewte  lele men susteneþ
And maydenes & mylde men  mercy desiren
Riȝt so[^1128] þe cow calf  coueytiþ swete mylk
So doon riȝtful men  mercy & truþe
Ac who been þat excusen hem  þat arn persouns & preestis
Þat hedes of holy chirche been  þat han her wille heer
Wiþ-oute trauayle þe tiþe del  þat trewe men biswynken
Þei wolen[^1129] be wroþ for I write þus  ac witnesse I take 
Boþe mathew & mark  & memento domine dauid
What pope or prelat now  parforneþ þat crist hiȝte
Ite in vniuersum mundum & predicate[^1130]
Allas þat men so longe . on makomede  schulden so[^1131] beleue
So many prelatis to preche  as þe pope makeþ
Of nazareth of Nynyue  of neptalym & damask
Þ at þey ne wente as crist wisseþ  siþ þei wolen haue name 
To be pastouris & preche  þe passioun of iesus
And as hym-self seyde  so to lyue & dye
Bonus pastor animam suam ponit & cetera[^1132]
And seyde it in[^1133] saluacioun  of sarasens & oþere
For cristen & vncristen  crist seyde to prechouris
Ite vos in vineam meam & cetera[^1134]
And siþ þat þeise sarasens  scribes & Iues
Han a lippe of oure bileue  þe liȝtliker[^1135] me þinkeþ 
Þei schulden[^1136] turne who-so trauayle wolde  to teche hem of þe trinite
Querite & inuenietis & cetera[^1137]
It is ruþe to rede how  riȝtwise men lyueden
How þei defouleden[^1138] her flesch  forsoken her owne wille
Fer fro kyþ & fro kyn  yuele ycloþede ȝeden
Badly ybeddid  no book but concience
Ne no richesse but þe rode  to reioycen[^1139] hem Inne
Absit michi[^1140] gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri & cetera[^1141]
And þoo was plente & pees  amongys pore & riche
And now is ruþe to rede  how þe reed noble
Is reuerenced er þe rode  receyued for þe worþier 
Þan cristes crosse þat ouercam  deþ . & dedli synne
And now is werre & woo  & who-so why askeþ
For coueytise after crosse  þe crowne stant in gold
Boþe riche & religious  þat rode . þei honouren 
Þat in grotes is grauen  & in golden[^1142] nobles
For coueytise of þat crosse  men of holi chirche
Schul turne as templeris diden  þe tyme approcheþ faste
Wite ȝe not wise men  how þoo men honoureden[^1143] 
More tresore þan truþe  I dar not telle þe soþe
Resoun & riȝtful doom  þoo religious demeden[^1144]
. war .

[O.15.519: The word war is accompanied by a flourish beneath.]

Riȝt so ȝe clerkis for ȝoure  coueytise . er longe
Schul þei deme dos ecclesie  & ȝoure pride depose
Deposuit potentes de sede & cetera[^1145]
If knyȝthood & kynde witt  & comune concience
To-gyderes loue lely  leueþ it wel ȝe bisschoppis
Þe lordschip of londis  for euere ȝe schul lese
And lyue as leuytici  as oure lord ȝow techeþ
Per primicias & decimas & cetera[^1146]
Whanne constantyn of curteysie  holy chirche dowede
Wiþ londis & leedis  lordschippis & rentis
An aungel men herden  on hyȝ at rome crie
Hodie venenum est effusum in ecclesia dei[^1147]
Dos ecclesie þis day  haþ ydrunken venym
And þoo þat han peteres power  arn appoysouned alle
A medycyn muste þerto  þat may amende prelatis
Þat schulden preye for þe pees  possessioun hem lettiþ
Takeþ her londes ȝe lordis  & latte hem lyue bi dymes
If possessioun be poysoun  & imparfiȝt hem make
Good were to dischargen hem  for holy chirchis sake
And purgen hem of poysoun  er more perel falle
If preesthode were parfiȝt  þe peple schulde amende
Þat contrarien cristes lawe  & cristendom despisen[^1148]
For alle paynemys preyen  & parfiȝtly bileuen
In þe holy greet god  & his grace þei axen
And maken her mone to makomede  her message to schewe
Þus in a feiþ leuen þat folk  & in a fals mene
And þat is ruþe for riȝtful men  þat in þe rewme wonyen
And in[^1149] perel to þe pope  & prelates þat he makeþ
And[^1150] beren bisschoppis names  of bethlem & of babiloyne
Þat hippen aboute[^1151] englond  to halewe mennes auteris
And crepen amongys curatouris  confessen aȝens þe lawe
Nolite mittere falcem in messem alienam[^1152]
Many man for cristes loue  was martirid in romayne
Er þan any[^1153] cristendom was knowen[^1154] þere  or any crosse honoured
Euery bisschop þat bereþ crosse  bi þat . he is holden
Þoruȝ his prouynce to passe  & to his peple schewe hym
Telle hem & teche hem  of[^1155] þe trinite to beleue
And fede hem wiþ goostli fode  & gyue þere it nediþ
In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum & ideo nolite constituere me in regem
Osias seiþ for swiche  þat seek been & feble
Inferte omnes decimas in orreum meum vt sit cibus in domo & cetera[^1156]
Ac we cristen creatures  þat on þe crosse bileuen
Arn ferme as in þe feiþ  goddis forbode ellis
And han clerkis to kepe vs þer -Inne  & hem þat schul come after
And Iues lyuen in leel lawe  oure lord wrote hym-selue
In stoon . for it stedefast is  & stonde schal euere
Dilige deum & proximum tuum  is parfiȝt Iues lawe
And toke it moyses to teche  men . til messie come
And[^1157] þat lawe þei leuen ȝit  & leten it þe beste
And ȝit knowen[^1158] þei crist  þat cristendom tauȝte
For a parfiȝt profeet  þat myche peple sauede
Of selcouþe sores  þei seiȝen it ofte
Boþe of myracles & merueylis  & how he men festede 
Wiþ two fisches & fyue loues  fyue þousande peple
And bi þat mangerie men myȝten[^1159] see  þat messye he semede
And whanne he lifte vp lazar  þat leyd was in graue
And vnder stoon deed & stanke  wiþ stiffe voyce he callede
Lazare veni foras[^1160]
Dide hym rise & rome  riȝt bifore þe Iues
Ac þei seyde & sworen  wiþ sorcerie he wrouȝte
And studieden to struye[^1161] hym  & struyeden hem-selue
And þoruȝ his pacience . her power  to pure nouȝt he brouȝte
Pacientes vincunt .[^1162]
Danyel of her vndoyng  dyuynede & seyde
Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat . cessabit vnctio vestra[^1163]
And ȝit wenen þoo wrecches  þat he were pseudo propheta
And þat his lore be lesyngys  & lakken it alle
And hopen þat he be to come  þat schal hem releue
Moyses eft or messye  her maystryes[^1164] ȝit deuyneþ
And sarasens & pharisees  scribes & grekis
Arn folk of oo feiþ  þe fadir god þei honouren
And siþþen þat þe sarasens  & also þe Iues
Kun þe first clause of oure bileue  credo in deum patrem & cetera[^1165]
P relates of cristen prouynces  schulden[^1166] preue if þei myȝten[^1167]
Lere hem litlum & litlum  & in iesum christum filium eius & cetera
Til þei couþen speke & spelle  & in spiritum sanctum
And rede it & recorde it  wiþ remissionem peccatorum
Carnis resurreccionem & vitam eternam amen .[^1168]

[^987: O.15.4: OC2 alone have the form aloweden; most B manuscripts have allowed.]

[^988: O.15.12: OC2 alone have & in place of a.]

[^989: O.15.20: OC2 alone have the form knowen; variants include yknowe (HmBLMR), y-knawen (C), well Iknowe (GF), and knowe (WCrY).]

[^990: O.15.24: OC2 alone have or in place of and.]

[^991: O.15.28: GYOC2 alone include &.]

[^992: O.15.29: A parasign, with a long horizontal stroke extending from the top, appears in the right margin. The hand responsible cannot be identified with certainty, but resembles hand 2.]

[^993: O.15.31: OC2 alone lack I before chalenge.]

[^994: O.15.31: YOC2 alone have clepe in place of chepe.]

[^995: O.15.38: OC2 alone have myȝtist; most other B manuscripts have myȝt.]

[^996: O.15.40: This line begins in the right margin of l. 39 and breaks after diuersis , scit  , and sensus est dum , wrapping around to occupy the next three full line spaces.]

[^997: O.15.57: This line begins in the right margin of l. 56, breaks after qui , and wraps around to occupy the next full line space, ending in the right margin.]

[^998: O.15.65: OC2 alone have Pullede; most B manuscripts have Putte.]

[^999: O.15.66: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after mortalitatis , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1000: O.15.72: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after quam , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1001: O.15.75: OC2 alone have And in place of That.]

[^1002: O.15.76: OC2 alone have to bileue were; variants include were (M), byleue were (L), beleue were (Hm), beleue where (Cr1), to leue were (YCr23GCCot), to leue weren (BmBo), byleue (R), and it were (WF).]

[^1003: O.15.80: YOC2M alone have þei spenden; variants include spenen (CrCLR) and speken (B).]

[^1004: O.15.83: YOC2 alone include ne.]

[^1005: O.15.84: OC2 alone have goodis in place of siluer.]

[^1006: O.15.85: This line is divided after vanitatem , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1007: O.15.94: An irregular tear in the vellum, present at the time of copying, appears between clerkys and beren.]

[^1008: O.15.107: O alone has the form wolden in place of wolde.]

[^1009: O.15.108: GOC2 alone have fel in place of bifel.]

[^1010: O.15.112: OC2 alone have the form foleweden in place of folwede.]

[^1011: O.15.121: OC2 alone lack <s> in Iohannes.]

[^1012: O.15.122: OC2 alone have floreret in place of floret .]

[^1013: O.15.122: This line begins in the right margin of l. 121, breaks after egreditur  , ecclesia Si , con- in conuertitur , vicium , and sacer- in sacerdocium eius , wraps around to occupy the next four full line spaces, and ends at bottom right of the fifth line. A red parasign precedes the last line of the text, which is followed by five ticks in black and red.]

[^1014: O.15.123: The initial capital is larger than usual and decorated with flourishes.]

[^1015: O.15.125: OC2 alone have heer in place of some variant of bere.]

[^1016: O.15.126: OC2 alone substitute this line for the completely different one which appears in other manuscripts and which Kane and Donaldson render as "[And beere] bedes in hir hand and a book vndir hir arme." See Skeat's note in Vol. II, 218. In his description of this manuscript in the endleaves, Skeat writes: "There is one variation in it which must not be passed over, viz. the allusion to Sir Philip the Sparrow in the line 'Schulden go synge seruyseles / wiþ sire philip þe sparwe' which, as explained in the footnote to xv. 119, is totally different from the corresponding line in the other copies."]

[^1017: O.15.127: OC2F alone have the plural form.]

[^1018: O.15.128: O alone lacks a before ballok-knyf.]

[^1019: O.15.128: OC2F alone have & in place of wiþ.]

[^1020: O.15.128: OC2 alone have barres in place of botons.]

[^1021: O.15.130: An irregular tear in the vellum, present at the time of copying, appears between neuere and seruyse.]

[^1022: O.15.130: OC2 alone have for spendyng at ale; all other beta witnesses have seiþ it with ydel wille. Kane and Donaldson divide the line into two, the second with a conjectural a-verse.]

[^1023: O.15.131: OC2 alone have the form lesen in place of lese.]

[^1024: O.15.132: OC2 alone have the form wonnen; most B manuscripts have wonne.]

[^1025: O.15.137: OC2 alone have þoruȝ; all other beta witnesses have wiþ.]

[^1026: O.15.147: OC2 alone include both occurrences of þei; although HmBM also have Be, most B manuscripts have By lered by lewed.]

[^1027: O.15.151: The initial capital is decorated with a flourish.]

[^1028: O.15.153: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after efficiamini , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1029: O.15.154: OC2 alone have the form fauntee; most B manuscripts have faunteltie.]

[^1030: O.15.155: O alone has the form schulden in place of sholde.]

[^1031: O.15.156: The initial capital is decorated with a flourish.]

[^1032: O.15.158: OC2 alone include þe.]

[^1033: O.15.159: OC2 alone have the form leuen; most B manuscripts have leue.]

[^1034: O.15.160: OC2 alone have precheþ in place of preiseþ.]

[^1035: O.15.162: The initial capital is accompanied by a flourish.]

[^1036: O.15.165: OC2 alone have tellen in place of some variant of correctly alliterating kennen.]

[^1037: O.15.166: OC2 alone lack neuere before soþeli.]

[^1038: O.15.167: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after facie , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1039: O.15.176: HmOC2 alone lack he before can.]

[^1040: O.15.186: OC2 alone lack wel before þe.]

[^1041: O.15.188: OC2 alone have been in place of some variant of liggen.]

[^1042: O.15.189: OC2 alone lack a noun after swetter; most B manuscripts have liflode.]

[^1043: O.15.192: OC2F alone lack wel before þe.]

[^1044: O.15.193: A caret/punctus appears in the extreme right margin. Correction of speke may have been intended, since the reading of Bx is seche.]

[^1045: O.15.199: OC2F alone lack deus before non .]

[^1046: O.15.199: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after contritum , and a red parasign precedes the ampersand.]

[^1047: O.15.204: OC2C alone have the preterite form.]

[^1048: O.15.205: GOC2 alone include a.]

[^1049: O.15.206: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after deus , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text, which appears above the first.]

[^1050: O.15.219: Cr2OC2 alone have losellis; most B manuscripts have lolleris]

[^1051: O.15.226: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after sicut , so that it appears as two lines.]

[^1052: O.15.236: OC2 alone lack and before ycrymaylid.]

[^1053: O.15.237: Kane and Donaldson (223) exclude this line, which occurs only in GYOC2CB, on the grounds that it is scribal.]

[^1054: O.15.240: OC2 alone lack he before haþ.]

[^1055: O.15.243: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1056: O.15.244: OC2 alone have often in place of ofte.]

[^1057: O.15.259: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1058: O.15.265: OC2 alone have the form suffreden; most B manuscripts have suffrede.]

[^1059: O.15.266: O alone has the form schulden; most B manuscripts have sholde.]

[^1060: O.15.267: OC2 alone lack any word between is and fadris; most B manuscripts have oure.]

[^1061: O.15.271: OC2 alone have the form schulden in place of sholde or omission.]

[^1062: O.15.272: O alone has the form seyde in place of seide.]

[^1063: O.15.275: OC2 alone have the form suffreden in place of suffrede.]

[^1064: O.15.283: O alone has flyen; most B manuscripts have fleeþ.]

[^1065: O.15.285: In the extreme bottom right margin there appears a quire signature, so severely cropped as to be illegible.]

[^1066: O.15.288: HMOC2 alone include þe.]

[^1067: O.15.293: OC2 alone have the form fedden in place of fedde.]

[^1068: O.15.295: OC2 alone include An-oþer . The presence of a caret/punctus in the left margin and a solidus/punctus above An indicates intended deletion of An or perhaps An-oþer .]

[^1069: O.15.298: OC2 alone have the form solden in place of solde.]

[^1070: O.15.305: O alone has the form fauneden ; most B manuscripts have fawned.]

[^1071: O.15.306: O alone has the form couþen in place of kouþe.]

[^1072: O.15.312: O alone has the form wolden in place of wolde.]

[^1073: O.15.314: OC2 alone have the form Founden; all other beta witnesses have Founde.]

[^1074: O.15.314: OC2 alone have the form forsaken in place of forsake.]

[^1075: O.15.316: A solidus/punctus above fowles, accompanied by a caret/punctus in the left margin, indicate deletion, although no substitute is supplied. The only variant reading, Foles, is attested by Cr23; Kane and Donaldson emend to behestes.]

[^1076: O.15.316: OC2 alone have the form abide in place of abiden.]

[^1077: O.15.318: YOC2 alone have the present-tense form.]

[^1078: O.15.318: GOC2F alone lack ynogh before &.]

[^1079: O.15.320: OC2 alone have the present indicative form.]

[^1080: O.15.321: A double solidus above both words indicates transposition of original habuerit herbam . The reading is shared with RF.]

[^1081: O.15.321: OC2 alone lack quia before cum .]

[^1082: O.15.321: This line begins in the right margin of l. 320, breaks after iob , steterit , and prodijt , wrapping around to occupy the next two full line spaces and ending in the right margin of l. 322. A red parasign precedes the last line of text.]

[^1083: O.15.322: O alone has the form knewen in place of knewe.]

[^1084: O.15.322: OC2 alone have the form wolden in place of wolde.]

[^1085: O.15.322: OC2 alone have the form ȝyuen in place of yeue.]

[^1086: O.15.324: OC2 alone have the form mortiseden in place of amortisede(n) or enmorteisid.]

[^1087: O.15.326: OF alone have laften; most B manuscripts have lefte.]

[^1088: O.15.329: OC2 alone lack þe before peple.]

[^1089: O.15.330: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1090: O.15.332: O alone has spenen; variants include spende (GBR), spendyn (C2), spene (YLM), it spende (HmF), and spende it (WCrC).]

[^1091: O.15.339: OC2 alone have the form robben; variants include robbeþ (HmBR), robbe (CrGF), and robeþ (WYLMR).]

[^1092: O.15.342: OC2F alone include þe.]

[^1093: O.15.347: This line begins in the right margin of l. 346 and breaks after non , ac- in accipis , and monachus . , wrapping around to occupy the next two full line spaces and ending in the right margin of l. 348. A red parasign precedes the last line of text. A wavy red bracket connects the first two lines of text with the rubric in the right margin of l. 344. Line 347 is followed by three ticks.]

[^1094: O.15.352: OC2 alone have been in place of is.]

[^1095: O.15.354: The word is seems to have been written over a punctus elevatus.]

[^1096: O.15.357: OC2 alone have ful; all other beta witnesses have foule. The MED lists ful as a variant of foule.]

[^1097: O.15.358: YOC2M alone transpose alayed now.]

[^1098: O.15.359: OC2 alone have I leue in place of it semeþ.]

[^1099: O.15.361: OC2 alone lack witty before clerkis, and thus lack the third alliterating stave.]

[^1100: O.15.362: A solidus/punctus above lifte, accompanied by a caret/punctus in the right margin, indicate deletion, although no substitute is supplied.]

[^1101: O.15.364: O alone has the form warneden in place of warned.]

[^1102: O.15.365: OC2 alone have heerdis in place of shepherdes.]

[^1103: O.15.367: O alone has the form warneden in place of warned.]

[^1104: O.15.369: OC2 alone have the form myȝten in place of myȝte.]

[^1105: O.15.371: OC2 alone have the form faylen in place of faileþ.]

[^1106: O.15.371: OC2 alone lack þe before flood.]

[^1107: O.15.375: OC2 alone have the form fynden in place of fynde.]

[^1108: O.15.379: OC2 alone have Is; most B manuscripts have Ne.]

[^1109: O.15.388: OGC2M alone include her.]

[^1110: O.15.390: OC2 alone have the form ouerhippe in place of ouerhuppen.]

[^1111: O.15.396: O alone has agulten; variants include agulte (HmCrC), to agylte (G), to gulten (C2), þey gilte (F), and agulten (WYBLMR).]

[^1112: O.15.398: O alone has the form louen; most B manuscripts have loue.]

[^1113: O.15.398: OC2 alone have the form bileuen in place of bileue.]

[^1114: O.15.400: YOC2F alone have of in place of in.]

[^1115: O.15.407: GOC2 alone have into in place of to.]

[^1116: O.15.424: OC2 alone transpose antony and domynyk.]

[^1117: O.15.426: OC2F alone lack and before in.]

[^1118: O.15.432: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1119: O.15.434: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1120: O.15.435: OC2 alone have the form weren in place of were.]

[^1121: O.15.437: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1122: O.15.439: OC2 alone lack introductory It.]

[^1123: O.15.443: GOC2 alone transpose bihynde been.]

[^1124: O.15.468: OC2 alone have the preterite form.]

[^1125: O.15.306: O alone has the form foleweden ; most B manuscripts have folwede.]

[^1126: O.15.471: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after Ecce , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1127: O.15.472: OC2 alone lack And before Wiþ.]

[^1128: O.15.477: OC2 alone have so in place of as.]

[^1129: O.15.482: O alone has the form wolen; most B manuscripts have wol.]

[^1130: O.15.485: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1131: O.15.486: OC2 alone include the second occurrence of so.]

[^1132: O.15.492: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1133: O.15.493: The hand supplying this interpolation resembles, and indeed may be, hand 2.]

[^1134: O.15.495: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1135: O.15.497: O alone has the form liȝtliker; variants include lyȝtloker (HmYBLMRF), lyghlier (Cr3), and lightlier (WCr12GC2C).]

[^1136: O.15.498: OC2 alone have the form schulden in place of sholde.]

[^1137: O.15.499: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1138: O.15.501: OC2 alone have the form defouleden in place of defouled.]

[^1139: O.15.504: OC2 alone have the form reioycen in place of reioisse.]

[^1140: O.15.505: OC2 alone have michi ; most B manuscripts have nobis .]

[^1141: O.15.505: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1142: O.15.513: OC2 alone have golden in place of gold or omission.]

[^1143: O.15.516: OC2 alone have the form honoureden in place of honoured.]

[^1144: O.15.518: OC2 alone have demeden; most B manuscripts have demede.]

[^1145: O.15.521: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1146: O.15.526: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1147: O.15.530: Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude this gloss, which occurs only in OC2, on the grounds that it is scribal.]

[^1148: O.15.540: OC2 alone have the form dispisen in place of dispise.]

[^1149: O.15.546: Only GOC2 have yn alone; most B manuscripts have a.]

[^1150: O.15.547: OC2 alone have And in place of That.]

[^1151: O.15.548: OC2 alone lack in before englond.]

[^1152: O.15.550: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after mittere and messem , so that it appears as three lines.]

[^1153: O.15.552: OC2 alone have Er þan any; variants include Er (F), Ar (R), er þan (Hm), Er any (WCrGM), Er þat eny (B), and Er ar any (YCL).]

[^1154: O.15.552: OC2 alone have the form knowen in place of knowe.]

[^1155: O.15.555: OC2BoCot alone have of in place of on.]

[^1156: O.15.559: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after meum , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1157: O.15.567: OC2 alone lack on before þat.]

[^1158: O.15.568: OC2 alone have the form knowen; most B manuscripts have knewe.]

[^1159: O.15.573: O alone has the form myȝten; in place of myȝte.]

[^1160: O.15.576: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1161: O.15.579: OC2 alone have the form struye; most B manuscripts have struyen.]

[^1162: O.15.581: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after Pacientes , so that it appears as two lines.]

[^1163: O.15.583: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after sanctorum , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1164: O.15.587: OR alone have maystryes in place of maistres.]

[^1165: O.15.591: Only OC2 have & cetera alone; variants include omnipotentem & cetera (HmR), omnipotentem (WLMF), and omission.]

[^1166: O.15.592: OC2 alone have the form schulden; most B manuscripts have sholde.]

[^1167: O.15.592: OC2 alone have the form myȝten in place of myȝte.]

[^1168: O.15.596: This line is written in the right margin. It wraps around beneath after eter- , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

Passus xvjus sextus decimus .

N Ow fayre falle ȝow quod I þoo  for ȝoure fayre schewyng
For haukyns loue þe actijf man  euere I schal ȝow louye
Ac ȝit I am in a weer  what charite is to mene
It is a ful tried tree quod he  trulich to telle
Mercy is þe moore þerof  þe myddel stokke is ruþe
Þe leues been lele wordis  þe lawe of holy chirche
Þe blosmes been buxum speche  & benynge lokyng
Pacience hatte þe pure tree  & pure symple of herte
And so þoruȝ god & good men  groweþ þe fruyt charite
I wolde trauayle quod I . þis tree to see  twenty hundrid myle
And to haue my fille of þat fruyt  forsake al oþer saule
Lord quod I if any wyȝt wite  whider out it groweþ
It groweþ in a gardeyn quod he  þat god made hym-selue
Amyddis mannes body  þe moore is of þat stokke
Herte hatte þe herber  þat it Inne groweþ
And liberum arbitrium  haþ þe loond to ferme
Vndir peers þe plowman  to piken it and weden it
P eers[^1169] þe plowman quod I þoo  & al for pure Ioye
Þat I herde nempne his name  anoon I swownede after
And lay longe in a loue-dreem  & at þe last me þouȝte
Þat peers þe plowman  al þe place me schewede
And bade me toten on þe tree  on toppe & on rote
Wiþ þre piles was it vndir-piȝt  I parceyuede it soone
Peers quod I . I preye þee  why stonden þeise piles heer
For wyndes . wilt þou wite quod he  to witen it fram fallyng
Cum ceciderit iustus  non collidetur quia dominus supponit manum suam
And in blowynge tyme abite þe flowris  but if þeise piles helpe
Þe werld is a wykkid wijnd  to hem þat willen truþe
Coueytise comeþ of þat wijnd  & crepeþ among þe leues
And forfretiþ nyȝ þe fruyt  þoruȝ many fayre siȝtis
Þanne wiþ þe first pile I pulle hym doun  þat is potencia dei patris
Þe flesch is a felle wijnd  & in flouryng tyme
Þoruȝ likyng of[^1170] lustis  so lowde he gynneþ blowe
Þat it norischeþ nyce siȝtes  & sum -tyme wordis
And wickede werkis þerof  wormes of synne
And forbiteþ þe blosmes  riȝt to þe bare leues
Þanne sette I to . þe secounde pile  sapiencia dei patris
Þat is þe passioun & þe power  of oure prynce iesus
Þoruȝ preyeris & penaunce  & goddis passioun in mynde
I saue it til I see it ripe  & sumdel yfruytid
And þanne fondiþ þe feend  my fruyt to distruye
Wiþ alle þe wyles þat he can  & waggede[^1171] þe rote
And casteþ vp to þe croppe  vnkynde neyȝboris
Bacbiters breke-cheste  brawlers & chideris
And leiþ a ledder þerto  of lesyngys arn þe ronges
And feccheþ awey my flouris sum -tyme  afore boþe myne yen
Ac liberum arbitrium  letteþ hym sum tyme
Þat is lutenaunt to loken it wel  bi leue of my-selue
videatis qui peccat in spiritum sanctum  numquam remittetur & cetera hoc est idem qui peccat per liberum arbitrium non repugnat[^1172]
Ac whanne þe feend & þe flesch  forþ wiþ þe werld
Manacen bihynde me  my fruyt for to fecche
Þanne liberum arbitrium  laccheþ þe first plante
And palleþ adoun þe pouke  puriliche[^1173] þoruȝ grace
And help of þe holy goost  & þus haue I þe maystrie
Now fayre falle ȝow peers quod I  so fayre ȝe discryuen
Þe power of þeise postes  & her propre myȝte
And I haue þouȝtes a þreue  of þeise þre piles
I[^1174]n what wode þei waxen  & where þat þei groweden[^1175]
For al yliche been þei longe[^1176]  non lasse þan oþer
And to my mynde as me þinkeþ  on oo moore þei growen[^1177]
And of oo gretnesse & grene  of oo[^1178] greyn þei semen
Þat is soþ quod peers  so it myȝte[^1179] bifalle
I schal telle þee as tyte  what þis tree hatte
Þe ground þere it groweþ goodnesse it hiȝte
And I haue told þee . what hiȝte þe tree  þe trinite it meneþ
And egrelich he lokede on me  & þerfore I sparede 
To axen hym any more þerof  & bade hym ful fayre 
To discryue þe fruyt  þat so fayre hangeþ
Heer now bi-neþe quod he þoo  if I nede hadde
Matrimoyne I may nyme  a moyst fruyt wiþ-alle
Þat[^1180] contynence is neer þe crop  as a[^1181] calewey bastard
Þanne bereþ þe crop kynde fruyt  & clennest of alle
Maydenhed aungelis peres  & rapest[^1182] wolde[^1183] be ripe
And swete wiþ-outen swellyng  sour worþ it neuere
I preyede peers to pulle adoun  an appel & he wolde
And suffre me to assaye  what sauour it hadde
And peers caste to þe crop  & þanne comsede it to crye
And waggede wydewehod  & it wepte after
And whanne it mouede matrimoyne  it made a foule noyce
Þ at I hadde ruþe whanne peers roggede  it gradde so rufulliche
For euere as þei droppeden[^1184] adoun  þe deuel was redy
And gaderede hem alle to-gyderes  boþe grete & smale
Adam and eue[^1185]  and ysaac[^1186] þe prophete
Sampson & samuel  & seynt Ion þe baptist
Bar hem forþ boldeli  no-body hem lettede
And made of holy[^1187] his hoord  in lymbo inferni
Þ ere is derkenesse & drede  & þe deuel mayster
And peers for pure tene  þat oo pile he lauȝte
And hitte after hym  happe how he[^1188] myȝte
Filius bi þe fadir wille  & freenesse of spiritus sancti
To go robbe þat ragman  & reue þe fruyt from hym
And þanne spake spiritus sanctus  in gabrieles mouþe
To a mayden þat hiȝte marie  a meke þing wiþ-al
Þ at oon iesus a iustises sone  muste iouke in hir chaumbre
Til plenitudo temporis  fulli comen were
Þat peers fruyt flourede  & fel to be ripe
Annis quingentis decies rursumque ducentis
vnus defuerat cum deus ortus erat[^1189][^1190]
And þanne schal[^1191] iesus iuste þerfore  bi iugement of armes
Wheþer schulde fonge þe fruyt  þe feend or hym-selue
Þe mayden myldeliche þoo  þe massager grauntede
And seyde heendeliche to hym  lo me his hande-mayden
For to wirchen his wille  wiþ-outen any synne
Ecce ancilla domini fiat michi & cetera[^1192]
And in þat[^1193] wombe of þat wenche  was he fourty wokis
Til he wexe a faunt þoruȝ hir flesch  & of fyȝtyng couþe
To haue fouȝten wiþ þe feend  er ful tyme come
And peers þe plowman  parceyuede plener tyme
And lerede hym lechecraft  his lijf forto saue
Þ at þouȝ he were woundid wiþ his enemy  to warische hymselue
And dide hym assaye his surgerie  on hem þat seek weren
Til he was parfiȝt practisour  if any perel fel
And souȝte out þe seke  & þe synful boþe
And saluede seke & synful  boþe blynde & croked
And comune wommen conuertede  & to good turnede
Non est sanis opus medico Set infirmis & cetera[^1194][^1195]
Boþe meseles & mute  & in þe menysoun blody
Ofte he helede swiche  he helde it for no maystrie
Saue þoo he lechede lazar  þat hadde yleyn in graue
Q uotriduanus quelt  quyk dide hym walke
Ac as he made þe maystrie  mestus cepit esse
And wepte water wiþ hise yen  þere seyȝen it many
Summe þat þe siȝt seyȝen  seyden þat tyme
Þ at he was leche of lijf  & lord of hye heuene
Iues iangleden[^1196] þer -aȝens  & iuggeden[^1197] lawes
And seyde he wrouȝte wiþ wichcraft  & wiþ þe deuelis myȝt
Demonium habes & cetera[^1198]
Þanne arn ȝe cherlis quod ich  & ȝoure children boþe
And sathan ȝoure saueour  ȝoure-self now[^1199] witnessen
For I haue saued ȝoure-self seiþ crist  & ȝoure sones after
Ȝoure bodyes . ȝoure beestis  & blynde men holpen
And fedde ȝow wiþ fisches  & wiþ fyue loues
And lafte baskettis ful of breed broken[^1200]  bere awey who-so wolde
And mysseyde þe Iues manlich  & manacede hem to bete
And knokkede on hem wiþ a koorde  & caste adoun her stalles
Þat in chirche chaffareden  or chaungeden any money
And seyde[^1201] in syȝt of hem alle  so þat alle herden
I schal ouer -turne þis temple  & adoun þrowe
And in þre dayes after  edifien[^1202] it newe
And maken it as myche ouþer more  in al manere poyntis
As euere it was . & as wyde  wherfore I hote ȝow
Of preyeris &[^1203] parfiȝtnesse  þis place þat ȝe calle
Domus mea domus oracionis vocabitur[^1204]
Enuye & yuele wille  was in þe Iues
Þei casteden[^1205] & contreueden  to kille hym whanne þei myȝten[^1206]
Iche day after oþer[^1207]  tyme þei awayteden
Til it befel on a friday  a litil bifore paske
Þe þorusday bifore  þere he made his maundee
Sittynge at þe soper  he seyde þeise wordis
I am sold þoruȝ oon of ȝow  he schal þe tyme rue 
Þ at euere he[^1208] his saueour solde  for siluer or ellis
Iudas ianglede þer -aȝens  ac iesus hym tolde
It was hymself soþeli  & seyde . tu dicis
Þanne wente forþ þat wickede man  & wiþ þe Iues mette
And tolde hem a tokene  how to knowe wiþ iesus
And which tokene to þis day  is to myche[^1209] vsed
Þat is kyssyng & fayre contenaunce  & vnkynde wille
And so was wiþ Iudas  þoo he iesus bitrayede
Aue raby quod þat ribaude  & riȝt to hym he ȝede
And kiste hym to be cauȝt þerby  & killed of þe Iues
Þanne iesus to Iudas  & to þe Iues seyde
Falsnesse I fynde  in þi fayre speche
And gyle in þi glad chere  & galle in þi lawȝhyng
Þow schalt be a[^1210] myrour  to many men to deceyue
Ac þe wers & þe wickednesse  schal worþe on[^1211] þi-selue
Necesse est vt veniant scandala ve homini illi per quem & cetera[^1212]
Þouȝ I . bi tresoun be taken  at ȝoure owne wille
Suffreþ myne apostelis in pays  & in pees gange
On a þorusday in þe[^1213] þesternesse  þus was[^1214] he taken
Þoruȝ Iudas & Iues  iesus was his name
Þat on þe friday folewynge  for mankyndes sake 
Iustede . in ierusalem  a ioye to vs alle
On crosse vp-on caluarie  crist toke þe batayle
Aȝens þe deþ & þe deuel  distruyede her boþer myȝtes
Diede & deþ fordide  & day of nyȝt made
And I awakede þer -wiþ  & wipede myn yen
And after peers plowman  priede & starede
Estward & westward  I waytede after faste
And ȝede forþ as an idiot  in cuntree to aspie[^1215]
And þanne mette I wiþ a man  on mydde-lente sunday
As hoor as an hawe-þorn  & abraham he hyȝte
I[^1216] fraynede hym first  fram whennys he come
And of whennys he were  & whyder[^1217] he þouȝte
I[^1218] am feiþ quod þis freek  it falleþ not to lye
And of abrahams hous  an heroud of armes
I seke after a segge  þat I seyȝ onys
A ful boold bacheler  I knowe hym bi his blasen
What bereþ þat barn quod I þoo  so blisse þee be-tide
Þre leodes on oo lith  noon lenger þan oþer
Of oo mychel & oo mageste[^1219]  in mesure & in lenkþe
Þat oon dooþ alle dooþ  & iche dooþ bi his one
Þe first haþ myȝt & mageste  maker of al þinge
Pater is his name  a persoone bi hym-selue[^1220]
Þe secounde is of þat sire  soþfastnesse filius
Wardeyn of al[^1221] þat witt haþ  was euere wiþ-out gynnyng
Þe þridde hatte[^1222] þe holi goost  a persoone bi hym-selue
Þe liȝt of al þat lijf haþ  a londe & on water
Counfortour of creaturis  of hym comeþ al blisse
So þre bilongeþ for a lord  þat lordschip cleymeþ
Myȝt & mene  to knowe his owne myȝt
Of hym & of his seruaunt  & what þei suffren[^1223] boþe
So god þat bigynnyng[^1224] hadde neuere  but þoo hym good þouȝte
Sente forþ his sone  as for seruaunt þat tyme
To occupien hym heer  til issu were sprungen[^1225]
Þat is children of charite  & holi chirche þe modir
Patriarkis & prophetis  & apostelis weren þe children
And crist & cristendom  & cristen holy chirche
I I[n] menyng þat man muste  on oo god beleue
And þere hym likede & louede  in þre persoones hym schewede[^1226]
Wedlok & wydewehood  &[^1227] virgynyte ynempned
In tokenyng of þe trinyte  was taken out of a man
Adam oure alþer fadir  eue was of hym-selue
And þe issu þat he hadde  it was of hem boþe
And eiþer is oþeres ioye  in þre sundry persoones
And in heuene & in erþe  oon synguler name
And þus is mankynde or manhed  of matrimoyn ysprungen[^1228]
Myȝt is matrimoyn  þat multiplieþ þe erþe
And bitokeneþ truli  telle it if I durste
He þat first formede al  þe fadir of heuene
Þe sone is if I durste seye  resemblant to widewe
Deus meus deus meus vt quid dereliquisti me[^1229]
Þat is . creatour wexe creature  to knowe what was boþe
As widewe wiþ-outen wedlok  was neuere ȝit yseye
No more myȝte god be man  but if he modir hadde
So wydewe wiþ-oute wedlok  may not wel stonde
Ne matrimoyne wiþ-outen mulerie  is not myche to preyse
Maledictus homo qui non reliquit semen in israel .[^1230]
Þus in þre persoones  is parfiȝtlich manhood
Þat is man & his make  & mulerer[^1231] children
And is not but gendre of generacioun  bifore iesu crist in heuene
So is þe fader forþ wiþ þe sone  & fre wille of boþe
Spiritus procedens &[^1232] patre & filio[^1233]
Which is þe[^1234] goost of al  & al is but oo god
Þus in somer I hym seyȝ  as I sate in my porche
I aroos vp & reuerencede hym  & riȝt fayre hym grette
Þre men to my siȝt  I made wel at ese
Wessche her feet & wipede hem  & afterward þei eten
Calues flesche & cake breed  & knewen what I þouȝte
Ful trewe tokenes bitwene vs been  to telle whanne me likeþ
First he fondede me  if I louede better 
Hym . or ysaak myn heir  þe which he hiȝte me kille
He wiste my wille bi hym  he wole me it alowe
I am ful siker in soule þerof  & my sone boþe
I circumciside my sone  siþ for his sake
My-self & my meyne  & alle þat male weren
Bledden blood for þat lordis sake[^1235]  & hopen to blisse þe tyme
Myn affiaunce & my feiþ  is ferme in þis beleue
For hym-self bihyȝte to me  & to myn issu boþe 
Loond . & lordschip  & lijf wiþ-outen ende
To me & to myn issu  more ȝit he me grauntede 
Mercy . for oure mysdedis  as many tyme as we axe
Quam olim abrahe promisisti & semini eius[^1236]
And siþ he sente me to seye  I schude schu[l]de do sacrifise
And do hym worschip wiþ breed  & wiþ wyn boþe
And callede me forþ[^1237] of his feiþ  hise folk for to saue
And defendede hem fro þe feend  folk þat on me leneden
Þus haue I been his heraud  heer & in helle
And counfortede many careful  þat after his comyng wayten
And þus I seke hym he seyde  for I herde seyn late
Of a barn þat baptisede hym  ion baptist was his name
Þat to patriarkes & prophetis  & oþere peple in derkenesse
Seyde . þat he seyȝ hym[^1238]  þat schulde saue vs alle
Ecce agnus dei & cetera[^1239]
I hadde wondir of hise wordis  & of hise wyde cloþis
For in his bosum he bare a þing  þat he blessede euere
And I lokede on his lappe  a lazar lay þer -inne
Amongys patriarkes & prophetis  pleyinge to-gyderes
What awaytist þou quod he þoo[^1240]  & what woldist þou haue
I wolde wite quod I þoo  what is þis[^1241] in ȝoure lappe
Loo quod he & lete me see  lord mercy I seyde
Þis is a present of myche price  what prynce schal it haue
It is a precious present quod he  ac þe pouke it haþ atached
And me þer -myd quod þat man  may no wed vs quyte
Ne no barn be oure boruȝ  ne brynge vs fram his daunger
Out of þe poukis pynfold  ne no meinprise[^1242] vs fecche
Til he come þat I carpe of  crist is his name
Þat schal delyuere vs[^1243] out  of þe deuelis power
And better wed for vs legge  þan we been alle worþi
Þat is lijf for lijf  or ligge þus euere
Lollynge in my lappe  til swich a lord vs fecche
Allas I seyde þat synne  so longe schal lette 
Þe myȝt of goddis mercy  þat myȝte vs alle amende
I wepte for hise wordis  wiþ þat sawȝ I an-oþer
Rapelich renne forþ  þe riȝt weye he wente
I fraynede hym first  from whennys he come
And what he hiȝte & whidir he wolde  & whiȝtlich he tolde

[^1169: O.16.18: A decorative pattern of red and black vertical and horizontal lines, five line spaces in length, is appended to the descender of the <P> in Peers.]

[^1170: O.16.33: OC2 alone have of; all other beta witnesses have and.]

[^1171: O.16.42: OC2C alone have the preterite form.]

[^1172: O.16.49: This line begins in the right margin of l. 48, breaks after in , then wraps around to occupy the next full line space.]

[^1173: O.16.53: OC2 alone have the form puriliche; all other beta witnesses have pureliche.]

[^1174: O.16.58: This capital is decorated with an elaborate spray in black and red, four lines in height.]

[^1175: O.16.58: O alone has the form groweden; most B manuscripts have growed.]

[^1176: O.16.59: OC2 alone have this form of the a-verse; most B manuscripts have "For alle are þei aliche longe."]

[^1177: O.16.60: GYOC2 alone have a present-tense form.]

[^1178: O.16.61: OC2 alone include the second occurrence of oo.]

[^1179: O.16.62: GOC2 alone have myȝte in place of may.]

[^1180: O.16.71: GYOC2 alone have Þat in place of Thanne.]

[^1181: O.16.71: OC2 alone include a.]

[^1182: O.16.73: YOC2 alone have rapest in place of raþest.]

[^1183: O.16.73: OC2 alone have wolde in place of wole.]

[^1184: O.16.81: O alone has the form droppeden in place of dropped.]

[^1185: O.16.83: GYOC2 alone have eue in place of Abraham.]

[^1186: O.16.83: OC2 alone have ysaac in place of Ysaye.]

[^1187: O.16.86: OC2 alone lack men before his.]

[^1188: O.16.89: CR23OC2 alone have he; most B manuscripts have it.]

[^1189: O.16.98: A red parasign at the left, two lines in height and with a trailing descender, connects the preceding two lines, which appear in the bottom margin.]

[^1190: O.16.97: Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude ll. 97-98, which occur only in OC2, on the grounds that they are scribal.]

[^1191: O.16.99: COC2 alone have schal in place of sholde.]

[^1192: O.16.104: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after fiat , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1193: O.16.105: OC2 alone have þat in place of þe.]

[^1194: O.16.116: OC2 alone include both infirmis and & cetera .]

[^1195: O.16.116: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after medico , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1196: O.16.125: O alone has the form iangleden; most B manuscripts have iangled.]

[^1197: O.16.125: O alone has the form iuggeden; all other beta witnesses have Iuggede.]

[^1198: O.16.127: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after demonium , so that it appears as two lines.]

[^1199: O.16.129: OC2MF alone lack a word between now and witnessen; most B manuscripts have ye.]

[^1200: O.16.133: O alone has breed broken in place of broke mete.]

[^1201: O.16.137: GOC2 alone lack a word between seyde and in; all other beta witnesses have it.]

[^1202: O.16.139: OC2 alone have the form edifien; most B manuscripts have edifie.]

[^1203: O.16.142: GOC2 alone lack of before parfiȝtnesse.]

[^1204: O.16.143: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1205: O.16.145: OC2 alone have the preterite form.]

[^1206: O.16.145: OC2 alone have the form myȝten in place of myȝte.]

[^1207: O.16.146: OC2 alone lack hir before tyme.]

[^1208: O.16.151: A double solidus over each word indicates transposition of original he euere.]

[^1209: O.16.156: GOC2 alone have ys to myche; most B manuscripts have to muche is.]

[^1210: O.16.164: YOC2M alone include a.]

[^1211: O.16.165: GOC2F alone have on in place of vpon.]

[^1212: O.16.166: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after scandala , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1213: O.16.169: OC2 alone include þe before þesternesse.]

[^1214: O.16.169: An otiose mark appears above the <s> in was.]

[^1215: O.16.179: OC2 lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "After Piers þe Plowman  many a place I souȝte."]

[^1216: O.16.182: The initial capital is decorated with a red spray three lines in height.]

[^1217: O.16.183: GYOC2 alone lack a word between whyder and he; most B manuscripts have þat.]

[^1218: O.15.184: The initial capital is usually large and ornate.]

[^1219: O.16.190: OC2 alone have mageste in place of myght.]

[^1220: O.16.193: The scribe here copies, then cancels, l. 197.]

[^1221: O.16.195: OC2 alone include al.]

[^1222: O.16.196: The error is shared by BmBo.]

[^1223: O.16.201: OC2 alone have the form suffren; most B manuscripts have suffre.]

[^1224: O.16.202: OC2Cot alone have bigynnyng in place of gynnyng.]

[^1225: O.16.204: OC2 alone have sprungen; most B manuscripts have spronge.]

[^1226: O.16.209: Cr23OC2 lack the following line attested by all other B manuscripts: "And þat it may be so and sooþ [sheweþ it manhode]."]

[^1227: O.16.210: OC2F alone have & in place of wiþ.]

[^1228: O.16.216: O alone has ysprungen; most B manuscripts have spronge.]

[^1229: O.16.221: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after dereliquisti , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text, which appears above the first.]

[^1230: O.16.227: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after qui , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1231: O.16.229: O alone has the form mulerer; most B manuscripts have mulliere.]

[^1232: O.16.232: OC2 alone have & in place of a .]

[^1233: O.16.232: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1234: O.16.233: OC2 alone lack holy before goost.]

[^1235: O.16.246: OC2 alone have sake in place of loue.]

[^1236: O.16.252: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after promi- , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1237: O.16.255: OC2 alone have forþ; most B manuscripts have foot.]

[^1238: O.16.262: GOC2 alone have hym ; most B manuscripts have here.]

[^1239: O.16.263: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1240: O.16.268: OC2 alone include þoo.]

[^1241: O.16.269: OC2 alone include þis.]

[^1242: O.16.275: OC2 alone lack may before vs.]

[^1243: O.16.277: OC2 alone lack som day before out, and thus lack the second alliterating stave.]

Passus decimo septimus [O.17.000: The heading is divided after Passus and decimus- , so that it appears as three lines.]

I Am spes quo quo[d] he . a spye  & spire after a knyȝt
Þat toke me a maundement  vp-on þe mount of synay
To rule alle rewmes wiþ  I bere it[^1244] writen[^1245] heer
Is it asseled I seyde  may men see þe lettres
Nay he seyde . I seke hym  þat haþ þe seel to kepe
And þat is crosse & cristendom  & crist þer -on to hange
And whanne it is asseled so  I woot wel þe soþe
Þ at lucifers lordschip  laste schal no lenger
Latte see þi lettres quod I  we myȝte þe lawe knowe
Þanne plukkede he forþ a patent  a pece of an hard roche
Where-onne weren writen two wordis  on þis wise yglosed
Dilige deum & proximum[^1246] & cetera[^1247]
Þi s was þe text truli  I toke ful good ȝeem
Þe glose was gloriousli writen  wiþ a gylt penne
In hijs duobus mandatis tota lex pendet & prophete & cetera[^1248]
Been heer alle þi lordis lawis quod I  ȝhe leue me wel he seide
Who-so wirchiþ after þis writ  I wole vndirtake
Schal neuere deuel hym dere  ne dette in soule greue
For[^1249] þouȝ I seye it myself  I haue saued wiþ þis charme
Of men & of wommen  many score þousandis
He seiþ soþ seiþ[^1250] þe heraud  I haue founden it ofte
Loo heer in my lappe  þat leuede on þat charme
Iosue & iudith  and Iudas machabeus
Ȝhe & sixti þousande biside forþ  þat been not seen heer
Ȝoure wordis been wondirful quod I which of ȝow is truest
And lellest to leue onne  for lijf & for soule
Abraham seiþ . þat he seyȝ  holli þe trinyte
Þre persoones in parcellis  departable from oþer
And alle þre but oo god  þus abraham me tauȝte
And haþ saued þat beleuede so  & sory for her synne
I[^1251][^1252] can not segge þe summe  & summe arn in my[^1253] lappe
What nediþ þee[^1254] þanne  a newe lawe to bigynne
Siþ þe first suffiseþ  to sauacioun & to blisse
And now bigynneþ[^1255] spes & spekiþ  þat haþ aspied þe lawe
And telleþ not of þe trinyte  þat toke hym hise lettres
To[^1256] beleue & louye  in oo lord almyȝti
And siþ . riȝt as my-self  so louye alle peple
Þe goom þat gooþ wiþ a staffe  he semeþ in gretter hele
Þan he þat gooþ wiþ two staues  to siȝt of vs alle
And riȝt so bi þe rode  resoun me scheweþ
It is liȝter to lewede men  a lessoun to knowe
Þan for to techen hem two  & to hard to lere þe leste
It is ful hard for any man  on abraham beleue
And welawey wers ȝit  for to louye a schrewe
It is liȝter to leue  in þre loueli persoones
Þan for to loue and lene  as wel lorellis as lelles
Go þi gate quod I spes  so me god helpe
Þoo þat leren[^1257] þi lawe[^1258]  litil whyle vsen it
And as we wenten þus in þe weye  wordynge to-gyderes
Þanne seyȝ we a samarithan  sittynge on a mule
Ridynge ful rapeli  þe riȝt weye we ȝeden
Comynge from a cuntree  þat men calleden[^1259] Ierico
To a iustes in ierusalem  he chacede awey faste
Boþe þe heraud & hope  & he mette at[^1260] oones
Where a man was wounded  & wiþ þeues taken
He myȝte neiþer steppe ne stonde  ne stere foot ne handes
Ne helpe hym-self soþeli  for semyuyf he semede[^1261]
And as naked as a nedel  & noon help aboute hym
Feiþ hadde first siȝt of hym  ac he fleyȝ on syde
And nolde not neyȝhe hym  bi nyne londis lenkþe
Hope cam hippynge after  &[^1262] hadde so ybosted
How he wiþ Moyses maundement  hadde many men yholpen
Ac whanne he hadde siȝt of þat segge  a-syde he gan hym drawe
Dredefulli bi þis day  as doke dooþ fram þe faucoun
Ac so soone so þe samaritan  hadde siȝt of þis leode
He liȝte a-doun of lyard  & ladde hym in his hand
And to þe wye he wente  hise woundis to beholde
And parceyuede bi his pouce  he was in perel to dye
And but if he hadde recouerer þe raþer  þat rise schulde he neuere
Wiþ wyn & wiþ oyle  hise woundis he waschede
Enbaumede hym & bonde his hed  & in his lappe hym leyde
And ladde hym so forþ on lyard  to lex christi a graunge
Wel sixe myle or seuene  bi-syde þe newe market
Herborwede hym at an ostrie  & to þe hosteler callede
And seyde . haue . kepe þis man  til I come fro þe iustis
And loo heer siluer he seyde  for salue to hise woundis
And he toke hym two pens  to lijflode as it were
And seyde . what he speneþ more  I make þee good her-after
For I may not[^1263] quod þat leode  & lyard he bistrode
And rapede hym to ierusalem -ward  þe riȝt weye to ride
Feiþ folewede after faste  & fondede to mete wiþ[^1264] hym
And spes spakliche hym spedde  spede if he myȝte
To ouer -take hym & talke til hym  er þei to toune come
And whanne I seyȝ þis I soiournede not  but schope me to renne
And suede þat samaritan  þat was so ful of pite
And grauntede hym to be his groom  graunt mercy he seyde
Ac þi freend &[^1265] felaw  þou fyndest me at nede
And I þankede hym þoo  & siþ I hym tolde
How þat feiþ fleyȝ awey  & spes his felaw boþe
For siȝt of þe sorweful man  þat robbed was wiþ þeues
Haue hem excused quod he  her help may litil auayle
May no medicyne on moold  þe man to hele brynge
Neiþer feiþ ne fyne hope  so festred been hise woundis
Wiþ-outen þe blood of a barn  born of a mayden
And he be baþed in þat blood  baptised as it were
And þanne plastred wiþ penaunce  & passioun of þat baby
[^1266] Ac þe smoke & þe smolder  þat smyt in oure yen
Is coueytise & vnkyndenesse  þat quencheþ goddis mercy
For vnkyndenesse is þe contrarie  of al kyns resoun
For þer nys seeke ne sory  ne noon so yuele a[^1267] wrecche
Þ at he ne may louye and hym like  & lene of his herte
Good wille & good word  boþe wisschen & willen
Alle manere men  mercy & forȝyuenesse
And louye hem lijk my-self[^1268]  & his lijf amende
I may no lenger lette quod he  & harde prikede forþ[^1269]
And wente[^1270] as wynde  & þerwiþ I awakede .

[^1244: O.17.3: YOC2 alone have it in place of þe.]

[^1245: O.17.3: OC2 alone have writen; most B manuscripts have writ(t)(e).]

[^1246: O.17.12: Cr23OC2 alone lack tuum after proximum .]

[^1247: O.17.12: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after dili- , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1248: O.17.15: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after duobus and tota , and red parasigns precede the last two lines of text.]

[^1249: O.17.19: The initial capital is decorated with a small spray.]

[^1250: O.17.21: OC2M alone have the present-tense form.]

[^1251: O.17.31: The initial capital is decorated with a flourish.]

[^1252: O.17.31: Cr23OC2 alone have I in place of He.]

[^1253: O.17.31: CR23OC2 alone have my in place of his.]

[^1254: O.17.32: OC2 alone have þee in place of it.]

[^1255: O.17.34: YOC2 alone have bigynneþ; most B manuscripts have comeþ.]

[^1256: O.17.36: The initial capital is decorated with a flourish at lower left.]

[^1257: O.17.48: OC2 alone have leren; most B manuscripts have lernen..]

[^1258: O.17.48: GOC2 alone lack wol or wel before litil.]

[^1259: O.17.52: O alone has the form calleden; most B manuscripts have called.]

[^1260: O.17.54: The <t> of at seems to have been written over another character.]

[^1261: O.17.57: Traces of a quire signature, almost entirely lost to cropping, are visible at the bottom of this leaf.]

[^1262: O.17.61: GYOC2 alone have & in place of þat.]

[^1263: O.17.79: OC2 alone lack some variant of lette before quod, and thus lack the first alliterating stave.]

[^1264: O.17.81: OC2 alone include wiþ.]

[^1265: O.17.87: GYO alone lack þi before felaw.]

[^1266: O.17.97: In the center top margin of this leaf the words Three leaves missing appear in a modern hand. Beginning on this leaf, each folio has two numbers entered in the top right margin: the first one continuing the "old" foliation, and the second, in brackets, a higher number to account for the three missing leaves. The lines numbered by Kane and Donaldson 17.99-346 are missing.]

[^1267: O.17.100: O alone has yuele a in place of some form of muche.]

[^1268: O.17.104: O alone has my-self in place of hymself.]

[^1269: O.17.105: O alone includes forþ.]

[^1270: O.17.106: O alone lacks awey before as.]

Passus decimus octauus [O.18.000: The heading is divided after decimus, , so that it appears as two lines.]

W Olleward & wetschod  wente I forþ after
And as[^1271] reccheles renke  þat of no wo reccheþ
And ȝede forþ lijk a lorel  al my lijf-tyme
Til I wexe wery of þe werld  & wilnede efte to slepe
And lenede me to a lenten  & longe tyme I slepte
And of cristis passioun & penaunce  þe peple ofte of tauȝte
Reste me þere & rutte faste  til ramyspalmarum ramys palmarum
Of gyrles[^1272] of gloria laus  gretli me dremede
And how osanna bi orgonye  olde folk[^1273] sungen[^1274]
Oon semblable to þe samaritan  & sumdel to peers plowman
Barfoot & on an asse bak  boteles gan prykye
Wiþ-outen spores or spere  spakliche he lokede
As is þe kynde of a knyȝt  þat comeþ to be dubbed
To gete hym gylt spores  & galaches ycouped
Þanne was feiþ in a fenestre  & criede . a fili dauid
As doþ an heraud of armes  whanne auntrous comeþ to iustes
Olde Iues of ierusalem  for ioye þei sungen
Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini & cetera[^1275]
Þanne I fraynede at feiþ  what al þat fare bemente
And who schulde iuste in ierusalem  Iesus he seyde
And fecche þat þe feend cleymeþ  peers fruyt þe plowman
Is peers in þis place quod I  & he preynte on me
Þis iesus of his gentrice  wole iuste in peers armes
In his helm &[^1276]habourioun  humana natura
Þ at crist be not yknowen[^1277] heer  for consummatus est
memorandum

[O.17.26: A rubricated dot precedes memorandum , but at such a distance from it that it does not seem to punctuate it.]

In peers paltok þe plowman  þis priker schal ride
For no dynt schal hym dere  as in deitate patris
Who schal iuste wiþ iesus quod I  Iues or scribes
Nay . quod he þe foule feend  & fals doom & deþ
Deþ seiþ . he schal fordo  & adoun brynge
All þat lyueþ or lokeþ  in loond or in water
Lijf seiþ þat he lyeþ  & leiþ his lijf to wedde
Þat for al þat deþ can do  wiþ-inne þre dayes
To walke & fecche fro þe feend  peers fruyt þe plowman
And legge it þere hym likeþ  & lucifer bynde
And for to bete & adoun brynge  bale & deþ for euere
O mors ero mors tua & cetera[^1278]
Þanne cam pilatus wiþ peple  sedens pro tribunali
To see how douȝtilich deþ schulde do  & deme her boþeres myȝt[^1279]
Þe Iues & þe iustises  aȝeyn iesu þei weren
And al þe court on hym criede  crucifige scharpe
Þoo putte hym forþ a pilour  bifore pilat & seyde
Þis iesus of oure Iues temple  iapede & dispisede
To fordo . it on a day  & in þre dayes after
Edifie it . eft newe  heer he stant þat seyde it
And ȝit maken it as myche  in al manere poyntis
Boþe as longe & as large  bi lofte & bi grounde
Crucifige quod a cacchepool  I waraunte hym a wycche
Tolle tolle quod an-oþer  & toke of kene þornes
And bigan of kene þorn  a garlond to make
And sette it sore on his hed  & seyde in envie
Aue raby quod þat ribaude  & þrew redes at hym
Naylede hym wiþ þre nayles  naked on þe rode
And poysoun on a pole  þei putte vp to hise lippes
And beden hym drynke his deþ yuel  hise dayes weren done
And if þat þou sutile be  help now þi-seluen
If þou be crist & kyngys sone  come doun of þe rode
Þanne schul we leue þat lijf þee loueþ  & wole not latte þee dye
Consummatum est . quod crist  & comsede for to swowe
Pitousli & pale  as a prisoun þat deyeþ
Þe lord of lijf & of liȝt  þoo leyde hise yen to-gyderes
Þe day for drede wiþdrow  & derke bigan[^1280] þe sunne
Þe wal waggede & cleef  & al þe werld quauede[^1281]
Dede men for þat dene  comen out of depe graues
And tolden why þat tempest  so longe tyme durede
For a bitter batayle  þe deed body seyde[^1282]
Lijf & deþ in þis derkenesse  her oon fordooþ her oþer
Schal no wiȝt wite witterli  who schal haue þe maystrie
Er sunday aboute þe[^1283] sunne risyng  & sanke wiþ þat til erþe
Summe seyden . þat he was goddis sone  þat so faire deyede
vere filius dei erat iste & cetera[^1284]
[^1285] And summe seyden . he was a wicche  good is þat we assaye
Wher he be deed or not deed  doun er he be taken
Two þeues also  þoleden deþ þat tyme
Vp-on a crosse biside crist  so was þe comune lawe
A cacchepolle cam forþ  & crakede boþe her leggys
And her armes after  of eiþer of þoo þeues
Ac was no boy so boold  goddis body to touche
For he was knyȝt & kyngys sone  kynde forȝaf þat tyme
Þ at no harlot were so hardy  to leye hand vp-on hym
Ac þer cam forþ a knyȝt  wiþ a kene spere ygrounden[^1286]
Hyȝte longeus as þe letter telleþ  & longe hadde lorn his siȝt
Bifore pilat & oþer peple  in þe place he houede
Maugre hise many teeþ  he was maad þat tyme 
To take þe spere in his hand  & iuste wiþ iesus
For alle þei weren vnhardye  þat houeden on hors & stoden[^1287]
To touche hym or taste hym  or take hym doun of rode
But þis blynde bacheler þanne  bare hym þoruȝ þe herte
Þe blood spronge doun bi þe spere  & vnsperede hise yen
Þanne fel þe knyȝt vpon knees  & criede hym mercy
Aȝeyn my wille it was lord  to wounde ȝow so sore
He siȝhede & seyde  sore it me aþinkeþ
For þe dede þat I haue doon  I do me in ȝoure grace
Haue on me ruþe riȝtful iesu  & riȝt wiþ þat he wepte
Þanne gan feiþ felly  þe false Iues dispise
Callede hem caytyues  a-cursed for euere
For þis foule vilenye  veniaunce to ȝow alle
To do þe blynde . bete hym bounden[^1288]  it was a boyes counceyl
Cursede caytyues castyng[^1289]  knyȝthood was it neuere
To mysdo a deed body  bi day or bi nyȝt
Þe gree ȝit haþ he geten  for al his greet wounde
For ȝoure champioun chyualer  cheef knyȝt of ȝow alle
Ȝelte hym recreaunt rennynge  riȝt at iesues wille
For be þis derkenesse ydo  his deþ worþ avenged
And þe lurdeynes han ylost  for lijf schal haue þe maystrie
And ȝoure fraunchise þat free was  fallen is in þraldom
And ȝe cherles & ȝoure children  cheue schul ȝe neuere
Ne haue lordschip in honde[^1290]  ne no loond tilye
But al bareyn be  and vsurie vsen
Which is lijf þat oure lord  in alle lawes acurseþ
Now ȝoure goode dayes been doon  as danyel prophecyede
Whanne crist cam . her kyngdam  & crowne schulde cece
Cum veniat sanctus sanctorrum cessabit vnctio vestra[^1291]
What for feer of þis ferly  & of þe false Iues
I drowe me in þat derkenesse  to descendit ad inferna
And þere I sawe soþeli  secundum scripturas
Out of þe west cost  a wenche as me þouȝte
Cam walkynge in þe weye  to helleward sche lokede
Mercy hiȝte þat mayde  a meke þing wiþ-al
A ful benyngne beerde  & buxum of speche
Hir sister as it semede  cam softeli walkynge
Euene out of þe est  & westward sche lokede
A ful comeli creature  truþe sche hiȝte
For þe vertu þat hir folewede  a-feerd was sche neuere
Whanne þeise maydens metten  mercy & truþe
Eyþer axede oþer  of þis greet wonder
Of þe dene & of þe derkenesse  & how þe day rowede
And which a liȝt & a leem  lay bifore helle
Veritas .
Ich haue ferli of þis fare  in feiþ seyde truþe
And am wendynge to wite  what þis wondre meneþ
Misericordia.
Haue no merueyle quod mercy  myrþe it bitokeneþ
A mayden þat hatte marie  & modir wiþ-outen felyng 
Of any kyns creature  conceyuede þoruȝ speche
And grace of þe holi goost  wexe greet wiþ childe
Wiþ-outen wemme in -to þis werld  sche brouȝte hym forþ[^1292]
And þat my tale be trewe  I take god to witnesse
Siþ þis barn was born  been þritti wynter passed
Which deyede & þolede  þis day aboute mydday
And þat is cause of þis clipse  þat closeþ now þe sunne
In menyng þat man schal  fro merkenesse be drawe
Þe whyle þis liȝt & þis leem  schal lucifer ablende
For patriarkes & prophetis  han preched her-on[^1293] often
Þ at man schal man saue  þoruȝ a maydenes helpe
And þat was tynt þoruȝ tree  tree schal it wynne
And þat deþ doun brouȝte  deþ schal releue
Þat þou tellest quod truþe  is but a tale of waltrot
For adam & eue  and abraham wiþ oþere
Patriarkes & prophetis þat in peyne liggen
Leue[^1294] neuere þat ȝon liȝt  a-lofte schal hem[^1295] brynge
Ne haue[^1296] out of helle  holde þi tunge mercy
It is but a trufle þat þou tellest  I truþe woot þe soþe
For þat is ones in helle  out comeþ it neuere
Iob þe propheet patriark  reproueþ þi sawes
Q uia in inferno nulla est redempcio[^1297]
Þanne mercy ful myldeliche  mouþede þeise wordis
Þoruȝ experience quod sche  I hope þei schul be saued
For venym fordoþ venym  & þat I preue bi resoun
For of al venym  foulest is þe scorpioun
May no medicyne helpe  þe place þere it[^1298] styngeþ
Til he be deed & do þerto  þe yuel he distruyeþ
Þe first venym is moost[^1299]  þoruȝ venym of hym-selue
So schal þis deþ fordo  I dar my lijf legge
Al þat deþ dide first  þoruȝ þe deuelis entysyng
And riȝt as þoruȝ gyle  man was bigyled
So schal grace þat bigan  make a good sighte[^1300]
Ars vt artem falleret[^1301]
Now suffre we seyde truþe  I se as me þinkeþ
Out of þe nyppe of þe norþ  not ful fer hennys
Iusticia .
Riȝtwisenesse cam rennynge  reste we þe whyle
For he woot more þan we  he was er we boþe
Þat is soþ seyde mercy  & I see heer bi souþe
Pax .
Where pees comeþ pleyenge  in pacience ycloþed
Loue haþ coueytid hir longe  leue I noon oþer
But he sente hir sum lettre  what þis liȝt bemeneþ
Þat ouer -houeþ helle þus  sche vs schal telle
Whanne pees in pacience cloþed  approchede nyȝ hem tweyne
Riȝtwisenesse hem reuerencede  for her riche cloþing
And preyede pees to telle hir  to what place sche wolde
And in hir gay garnementes  whom sche grete þouȝte
My wille is to wende quod sche  & welcomede[^1302] hem alle
Þat many day myȝte I not see  for merkenesse of synne
Adam & eue  and oþere mo in helle
Moyses & many moo  mercy schul haue
I schal daunce þerto  do þow so sister
For iesus iustede wel  Ioye bigynneþ to dawe
Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus & ad matutinum leticia[^1303]
Loue þat is my lemman  swiche lettres me sente
Þ at mercy[^1304] sister & I  mankynde schulde saue
And þat god haþ forgyuen  & grauntede me pees & mercy
To be mannes meynpernour  for euere-more after
Lo heer þe patent quod pees  In pace in id-ipsum
And þat þis dede schal dure  dormiam & requiescam
What rauest þou quod riȝtwisenesse  or þou art riȝt drunken
Leuest þou þat ȝonder liȝt  vnlouke myȝte helle
And saue mannes soule  sister wene it neuere
At þe bygynnyng god  gaaf . þe doom hym-selue
Þat adam & eue  & alle þat hem sueden[^1305] 
Schulden deye doun -riȝt  & dwelle in pyne after
If þat þei toucheden[^1306] a tree  & þe fruyt eeten
Adam afterward  aȝens his defense
Freete of þat fruyt  & forsoke as it were 
Þe loue of oure lord  & his lore boþe
And folewede þat þe feend tauȝte  & his felawes wille
Aȝens resoun & riȝtwisenesse  recorde þus wiþ truþe
Þat her peyne be perpetuel  & no preyere hem helpe
For-þi . latte hem chewe as þei chosen  & chide we not sister
For it is bootles bale  þe bite þat þei eeten
And I schal preue quod pees  her peyne muste haue eende
And woo in-to wele . mowe  wende at þe laste
[^1307] For hadde þei wist of no woo  wele . hadde þei not knowen
For no wiȝt woot what wele is  þat neuere woo suffrede
Ne what is hoot hungre  þat hadde neuere defaute
If no nyȝt ne were  no man as I leue 
Schulde wite witterli  what day is to mene
Schulde neuere riȝte riche man  þat lyueþ in reste & ese
Wite what woo is  ne were þe deþ of kynde
So god þat bigan al  of his good wille
Bicam man of a mayden[^1308]  mankynde to saue
And suffrede to be sold  to see þe sorwe of deyeng
Þe which vnknyttiþ al care  & comsyng is of reste
For til modicum mette wiþ hym[^1309]  I may it wel auowe
Woot no wiȝt as I wene  what is . ynow . to mene
For-þi god of his goodnesse  þe first goom adam 
Sette hym In[^1310] solace  & in souereyn myrþe
And siþ he suffrede hym synne  sorwe to fele
To wite what wele was  kyndelich to knowe it
And after god grauntede hymself & toke adams kynde
To wite what he haþ suffred  in þre sundri places
Boþe in heuene & in erþe  & now to helle he þinkeþ
To wite what al woo is  þat woot of al ioye
So it schal fare bi þis folk  her folye & her synne 
Schal lere hem what langour is  & lisse wiþ-outen eende
Woot no wiȝt what werre is  þere þat pees regneþ
Ne what is wittirli wele  til welawey hym teche
Þanne was þer a wiȝt  wiþ two brode yen
Book hiȝte þat bewpeer  a boold man of speche
Bi goddis body quod þis book  I wole bere witnesse
Þ at þoo þis barn was born  þer blasede a sterre
Þ at alle þe wise of þis world  in oo witt acordeden
Þ at swich a barn was born  in bethelem citee
Þat mannes soule schulde saue  & synne distruye
And alle þe elementis quod þe book  her-of beren witnesse
Þ at he was god þat al wrouȝte  þe walkene first schewede
Þoo þat weren in heuene  token stella comata
And tendeden hir[^1311] a torche  to reuerence his birþe
Þe liȝt folewede þe lord  in-to þe lowe erþe
Þe water witnessiþ þat he was god  for he wente on it
Peter þe apostle  parceyuede his gate
And as he wente on þe water  wel hym knewe & seyde
Iube me venire ad te super aquas[^1312]
And lo how þe sunne gan louke  hir liȝt in hir-selue
Whanne sche seyȝ hym suffre  þat sunne & see made
Þe erþe for heuynesse  þat he wolde suffre
Quakede as quyk þing  & al biquaschte þe roche
Lo helle myȝte not holde  but openede þoo . god þoolede
And lete out symoundis sones  to see hym hange on rode
And now schal lucifer leue it  þouȝ hym loþ þinke
For gigas þe ieaunt  wiþ a gynne engynede 
To breke & to bete adoun  þat been aȝeyns iesus
And I book wole be brent  but iesus rise to lyue
In alle myȝtes of man  & his modir gladye
And counforte alle hise kyn  & out of care brynge
And al þe Iuen ioye  vnioyne & vnlouke
And but þei reuerence his rode  & his resurreccioun
And leue[^1313] on a newe lawe  be lost lijf & soule
And þis I book witnesse  & ȝit myche more[^1314]
Suffre we seyde truþe  I here & se boþe
How a spirit spekeþ to helle  & bit vnspere þe ȝates
Attollite portas & cetera[^1315]
A voyce loude in þat liȝt  to lucifer criede[^1316]
Prynces of þis place  oppeneþ[^1317] & vnloukeþ
For heer comeþ wiþ crowne  þat kyng is of glorie
Þanne siȝkede sathan  & seyde to hem alle
Swich a liȝt aȝens oure leue  lazar it fette
Care & cumbraunce  is comen to vs alle
If þis kyng kome in  man-kynde wole he fecche
And do[^1318] it þere hym likeþ  & liȝtliche me bynde
Patriarkes & prophetis  han parled her-of longe
Þat swich a lord & a liȝt  schulde lede hem alle hennys
Listeneþ quod lucifer  for I þis lord knowe
Boþe þis lord & þis liȝt  is longe a-goo I knewe hym
May no deþ hym dere  ne no deuelis quentise
And where he wole . is his weye  ac war hym of þe pereles
If he reue me my riȝt  he robbeþ me bi maystrie
For bi riȝt & resoun  þoo renkes þat ich haue[^1319]
Body & soule been myne  boþe goode & ille
If adam eete þe appel  alle schulden[^1320] deye
And dwelle wiþ vs deuelis  þis þretyng he made
And he þat soþenesse is  seyde þeise wordis
And siþen is[^1321] ysesid[^1322]  many[^1323] hundrid wynter
I leue þat lawe wole not  late hym þe leest
Þat is soþ seyde sathan  but I me sore drede
For þou gete hem wiþ gyle  & his gardeyn breke
And in semulaunt of a serpent  satte on þe appeltre
And eggedest hem to ete  eue bi hir-selue
And toldest hir a tale  of tresoun weren[^1324] þe wordis
And so þou haddist hem oute  & hidir at þe laste
It is not grayþeli geten  þere gyle is þe rote
For god wole not be bigylid  quod goblyn ne byiaped
We han no trewe title to hem  for þoruȝ tresoun weren þei dampned
Certis I drede me quod þis deuel  lest truþe wole hem fecche
Out of oure pouste  & leden hem hennys[^1325]
Þis þritti wynter as I wene  haþ he goon & preched
I haue assayled hym wiþ synne  & sum -tyme I-askede
Wher he were god or goddis sone  he ȝaf me schort answere
And þus haþ he trolled forþ  þis two & þritti wynter
And whanne I seyȝ it was so  slepynge I wente
Of a dreem .
To warne pilatis wijf  what dones[^1326] man was iesus
For Iues hateden hym  & han doon hym to deþe
I wolde haue lengþed his lijf  for I leuede ȝif he deyede
Þat his soule wolde suffre  no synne in his siȝt
For þe body . while it on bones ȝede  abouten[^1327] was euere 
To saue men fro synne  if hem-self wolden[^1328]
And now I se where a soule comeþ  hidirward saylynge
Wiþ glorie &[^1329] greet liȝt  god it is I woot wel
I rede . we flee . quod he  faste alle hennys
For vs were better . not be  þan biden his siȝt
For þi lesyngys lucifer  lost is al oure pray
First þoruȝ þee we fellen  fro heuene so hye
For we leueden[^1330] þi lesyngys  ylore we han adam
And al oure lordschip I leue  a loond & on water
Nunc princeps huius mundi eicietur foras[^1331]
Efte þe liȝt bade . vnlouke  & lucifer answerede
What lord art þou . quod lucifer  quis est iste
Rex glorie  þe liȝt soone seyde
And lord of myȝt &[^1332] mayn  & alle maneere vertues
Dominus virtutum[^1333]
Dukes of þis dymme place  anoon vndo ȝeise [þ]eise ȝates
Þ at crist may come in  þe kyngys sone of heuene
And wiþ þat breþ helle brake  wiþ belial[^1334] barres
For any wye or warde  wyde open þe ȝates
Patriarkes & prophetis  populus in tenebris
Sungen seynt iones song  ecce agnus dei
Lucifer loke ne myȝte  so liȝt hym ablente
And þoo þat oure lord louede  in-to his liȝt he lauȝte
And seyde to sathan lo heer  my soule to amendes
For alle synful soulis to saue  þoo þat been worþi
Myne þei been & of me  I may þe bette hem cleyme
Al-þouȝ resoun recorde  & riȝt of my-seluen[^1335]
Þ at if þei eeten þe appel  alle schulden deye
I bihiȝte hem not heer  helle for euere
For þe dede þat þei diden  þi deceyt it made
Wiþ gyle þou hem gete  aȝeyn al resoun
For in[^1336] place paradice  in persoone of an addre
Falsli þou feccest[^1337]  þing þat I louede
Þus iliche a lusard  wiþ a lady visage
Þeeflich þou me robbedest  þe olde lawe graunteþ
Þ at gylouris be bigylid  & þat is good resoun
Dentem pro dente & oculum pro oculo[^1338]
Ergo soule schal soule quyte  & synne to synne wende
And al þat man haþ mysdo  I may wel[^1339] amende
Membre for menbre me[m]bre bi þe olde  lawe . was amendes
And lijf for lijf also  & bi þe[^1340] lawe I cleyme it[^1341]
Adam & al his issu  at my wille her-after
And þat deþ in hem fordide  my deþ schal releue
And boþe quyke & quyte  þat queynt was þoruȝ synne
And þat grace gyle distruye  good feiþ it askeþ
So leue I not lucifer  aȝeyn þe lawe I fecche hem
And[^1342] bi riȝt & resoun  raunsome heer my leges
Non veni soluere legem set adimplere[^1343]
Þ ou fettest myne in my place  aȝeyns al resoun
Falslich & felounlich  good feiþ me it tauȝte
To recorue reco[uere] hem þoruȝ raunsom  & bi no resoun ellis
So þat þoruȝ gyle þou gete  þoruȝ grace is it[^1344] wonne
Þ ou lucifer þoruȝ[^1345] liknesse  of a liþer addre
Getest bi gyle  þoo þat god louede
And in liknesse of a lede  þat lord am of heuene
Graciousli þi gyle haue quyt  go gyle aȝeyn gyle
And as adam & alle  þoruȝ a tre deyeden
Adam & alle þoruȝ a tre  schul turne aȝeyn to lyue
And gyle is bigyled  & in his gyle fallen
Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit[^1346]
Now bigynneþ þi gyle  aȝeyn þee to turne
And my grace to growe  ay gretter & widder
Þe bitternesse þat þou brewe  brouke it in[^1347] þi-selue
Þat art doctour of deþ  drynke þat þou madest
For I þat am lord of lijf  loue is my drynk
And for þat drynk to-day  I deyede vp-on erþe
I fauȝte so me þristeþ ȝit  for mannes soule sake
May no drynk me moyste  ne my þrist slake
Til þe vendage falle  in þe vale of Iosaphath
Þ at I drynke riȝt ripe must  resurreccio mortuorum
And þanne schal I come as a kyng  crowned wiþ aungelis
And haue out of helle  alle mannys[^1348] soulis
Fendis & feendkyns  bifore me schul stande
And be at my biddyng  where-so-euere me likeþ
And to be mercyable to man  þanne my kynde[^1349] askeþ
For we been breþeren of blood  but not in baptisme alle
Ac alle þat been myne hole breþeren  in blood & in baptisme
Schul not be dampned to þe deþ  þat is wiþ-outen eende
Tibi soli peccaui & cetera[^1350]
It is not vsed in erþe  to hangen a feloun
Oftener[^1351] þan ones  þouȝ he were a traytour
And if þe kyng of þat kyngdom  come in þat tyme
Þ ere þe feloun schulde þole[^1352] deþ  ouþer[^1353] oþer wise
Þe[^1354] lawe wolde he ȝaue hym lijf  If he lokede on hym
And I þat am kyng of kyngys  schal come swich a tyme
Where þe[^1355] doom to þe deþ  dampneþ alle wikkede
And if lawe wole . I on hym loke[^1356]  it lijþ in my grace
Wheþer he[^1357] deye or deye not  for þat þei diden ille
Be[^1358] any þing[^1359] . þe boldenesse of her synnes
I do mercy þoruȝ riȝtwisenesse  & alle my wordis been[^1360] trewe
And þouȝ holi writ wole . þat I be wroken[^1361]  of hem þat diden ille
For[^1362] nullum malum impunitum & cetera[^1363]
Þei schul be clensid clerlich  & wasschen of her synnes
In my prisoun purgatorie  til parce it hote
And my mercy schal be schewed  to many of my breþeren
For blood may suffre blood  boþe hungry & a-cale
Ac blood may not see blood  blede . but hym rue
Audiui archana verba que non licet homini loqui[^1364]
Ac my riȝtwisenesse & riȝt  schul rulen al helle
And mercy . al mankynde  bifore me in heuene
For I were an vnkynde kyng  but I my kynde helpe
And namelich at swich a nede  þere nedes help bihoueþ
Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo domine[^1365][^1366]
Þus bi lawe quod oure lord  lede I wole from hennys
Þoo þat me louede  & leuede in my comyng
And for þi lesyng lucifer  þat þou leyȝ til eue
Þ ou schalt abye it bitterli[^1367]  & bonde hym wiþ cheynes
Astaroth & al þe route  hidden hem in hirnes
Þei dursten not loke on oure lord  þe boldest of hem alle
But lete hym lede forþ what hym likede  & leete what hym liste
Many hundred of aungelis  harpeden & sungen
Culpat caro purgat caro regnat deus dei caro[^1368]
Þanne pipede pees  of poysie a note
Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus
Post inimicicias clarior est & amor .[^1369]
After scharp schoures quod pees  most schene is þe sunne
It is no weder warmer  þan after watry cloudis
Ne no loue leuer  ne more better[^1370] freendis
Þan after werre & woo  whanne loue & pees been maystres
Was neuere werre in þis werld  ne wickednesse so kene
Þ at ne loue & hym liste  to lawȝhyng ne brouȝte
And pees þoruȝ pacience  alle pereles stoppede
Trews quod truþe  þou tellest vs soþ bi iesus
Clippe we in couenaunt  & iche of vs kisse oþer
And latte no peple quod pees  parceyue þat we chiden
For impossible is no þing  to hym þat is almyȝti
Þ ou seist soþ quod riȝtwisenesse  & reuerenlich hir kiste
Pees & pees heer  per secula seculorum
Misericordia & veritas obuiauerunt sibi . Iusticia & pax osculate sunt & cetera[^1371]
Truþe trumpede þoo  & songe . te deum laudamus
And þanne lutede loue  in a loude note
Ecce quam bonum & quam iocundum & cetera[^1372]
Til þe day dawede  þeise damyselis daunceden[^1373]
Þ at men rongen to þe resureccioun  & riȝt wiþ þat I wakede
And callede kitte my wijf  & calot my douȝter
Ariseþ & reuerenceþ  goddis resureccioun
And crepeþ to þe crosse on knees  & kisseþ it for a Iuel
For goddis blessid body  it bare for oure bote
And it afereþ þe feend  for swich is þe myȝt
May no griseli goost  glide . þere it schadewiþ

[^1271: O.18.2: O alone lacks a before reccheles.]

[^1272: O.18.8: O alone lacks and before of gloria .]

[^1273: O.18.9: The subpunction of men, together with the addition of folk above the line, indicate that substitution was intended by the corrector.]

[^1274: O.18.9: A bracket in the right margin, with intersecting leftward-slanting rays emanating from it and red dots inside it, encompasses this line and the five following; to the right of the bracket are written, in a modern hand, the initials A-S, the <A> and the <S> about three lines in height. The left stroke of the <A> has a trailing flourish another four lines in length.]

[^1275: O.18.18: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1276: O.18.24: O alone lacks his before habourioun .]

[^1277: O.18.25: O alone has the form yknowen; variants include yknowe (GC2CBm), knowe (YBoCot), knowen (HmCrM), and biknowe (WLRF).]

[^1278: O.18.37: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1279: O.18.39: O alone has myȝt in place of right(ys).]

[^1280: O.18.62: YOF alone have bigan in place of bicam.]

[^1281: O.18.63: The word werld has been added in the margin, in hand 3, apparently because of its poor legibility on the line. The <d> is very difficult to make out.]

[^1282: O.18.66: The first two letters of seyde are barely legible owing to scuffing.]

[^1283: O.18.69: OB alone have aboute þe; most B manuscripts have aboute.]

[^1284: O.18.71: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after dei , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1285: O.18.72: The corner of the top left page-frame contains a double heart design with rays emanating from the heart on the right. The hand responsible cannot be identified.]

[^1286: O.18.81: O alone has the form ygrounden; most B manuscripts have ygrounde.]

[^1287: O.18.86: O alone has the form stoden; all other beta witnesses have stode.]

[^1288: O.18.98: O alone has hym bounden; most B manuscripts have hym ybounde.]

[^1289: O.18.99: O alone includes castyng.]

[^1290: O.18.108: YOC2C alone have honde in place of londe.]

[^1291: O.18.113: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after sanctorum , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text, which appears above the first.]

[^1292: O.18.135: O alone includes forþ.]

[^1293: O.18.142: O alone has on in place of of or omission.]

[^1294: O.18.149: O alone lacks þow before neuere.]

[^1295: O.18.149: O alone includes hem.]

[^1296: O.18.150: O alone lacks hem or hym before out.]

[^1297: O.18.154: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1298: O.18.159: O alone has it in place of he.]

[^1299: O.18.161: O alone has venym is moost; most B manuscripts have venymouste.]

[^1300: O.18.165: Sighte appears to the right of the marginalia. A caret/punctus beside it and a solidus punctus above seeþ indicate that substitution was intended. O alone has seeþ; most B manuscripts have sleighte. The phrase maken seth (with seeþ(e) as a variant spelling) is recorded by the MED as meaning "to be enough for," "to satisfy one's desire," especially with reference to Christ's atonement for the sins of mankind.]

[^1301: O.18.166: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1302: O.18.180: O alone has the preterite form in place of the infinitive.]

[^1303: O.18.186: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after fletus , so that it appears as two lines, the second written above the first.]

[^1304: O.18.188: ORF alone lack the word my before sister, and thus lack the second alliterating stave.]

[^1305: O.18.197: O alone has sueden; most B manuscripts have suwede.]

[^1306: O.18.199: O alone has toucheden in place of touchede.]

[^1307: O.18.210: A cross composed of dots with a flourish at the bottom, probably in the main scribal hand, appears in the left margin.]

[^1308: O.18.218: OC alone have mayden in place of mayde.]

[^1309: O.18.221: OCr23 alone have hym in place of vs.]

[^1310: O.18.224: The <I> of In is written over another partially formed character, apparently an <o>.]

[^1311: O.18.245: O alone lacks as before a torche.]

[^1312: O.18.250: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after super and a red parasign precedes the second line of text, which appears above the first.]

[^1313: O.18.265: O alone has the form leue; most B manuscripts have bileue.]

[^1314: O.18.266: Kane and Donaldson (223) exclude this line, which occurs only in GYOC2CBHt, on the grounds that it is scribal.]

[^1315: O.18.269: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1316: O.18.270: GOC alone have the preterite form criede in place of the present tense, although CR23 have sayd.]

[^1317: O.18.271: O alone has oppeneþ; most B manuscripts have vnpynneþ.]

[^1318: O.18.277: O alone has do in place of lede, and thus lacks the first alliterating stave.]

[^1319: O.18.285: O alone has ich haue in place of ben here.]

[^1320: O.18.287: O alone has schulden; most B manuscripts have sholde.]

[^1321: O.18.290: YGOC2 alone have is; variants include y was (F), I (WHmLMR), and he (CrCB).]

[^1322: O.18.290: O alone has the form ysesid; most B manuscripts have seised.]

[^1323: O.18.290: YO alone have many, and thus lack the third alliterating stave; most B manuscripts have seuene.]

[^1324: O.18.296: O alone has weren in place of were.]

[^1325: O.18.302: Kane and Donaldson (224) exclude this line, which occurs only in Cr23GYOC2CBHt, on the grounds that it is scribal.]

[^1326: O.18.308: GOL alone have the form dones; most B manuscripts have done.]

[^1327: O.18.312: OF alone have abouten in place of aboute.]

[^1328: O.18.313: O alone has wolden in place of wolde.]

[^1329: O.18.315: ORF alone lack with before greet.]

[^1330: O.18.320: O alone has leueden; variants include beleued (Cr), belevedyn (F), lyuyden (Hm), loueden (B), and leued (WGYC2CLMR).]

[^1331: O.18.322: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after mundi , so that it appears as two lines.]

[^1332: O.18.326: O alone lacks of before mayn.]

[^1333: O.18.327: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1334: O.18.330: YOC alone have belial in place of Belialles.]

[^1335: O.18.339: O alone has seluen in place of selue.]

[^1336: O.18.344: O alone lacks my before place.]

[^1337: O.18.345: A solidus/punctus above fettest and above marginal feccest indicate intended substitution.]

[^1338: O.18.349: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1339: O.18.351: OCr23 alone have may wel; most B manuscripts have man wole.]

[^1340: O.18.353: YO alone have þe in place of þat.]

[^1341: O.18.353: Traces of a quire signature, almost entirely lost to cropping, appear at the bottom of this leaf.]

[^1342: O.18.359: O alone has introductory And in place of But.]

[^1343: O.18.360: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after adim- and a red parasign precedes the second line of text, which appears above the first.]

[^1344: O.18.364: O alone has is it; most B manuscripts have it is.]

[^1345: O.18.365: O alone has þoruȝ in place of in.]

[^1346: O.18.372: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1347: O.18.375: O alone includes in.]

[^1348: O.18.384: YOC2 alone have mannys; most B manuscripts have mennes.]

[^1349: O.18.387: WO alone lack a word or phrase between kynde and askeþ; most B manuscripts have it.]

[^1350: O.18.391: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1351: O.18.393: O alone has the form Oftener in place of Ofter.]

[^1352: O.18.395: O alone transposes þole schulde.]

[^1353: O.18.395: O alone has ouþer; most B manuscripts have or.]

[^1354: O.18.396: Cr23O alone include Þe.]

[^1355: O.18.398: O alone includes þe before doom.]

[^1356: O.18.399: O alone transposes loke on hem; the form hym is shared only with Cot.]

[^1357: O.18.400: O alone has he in place of þei.]

[^1358: O.18.401: O alone lacks it before any.]

[^1359: O.18.401: GYOC2 alone lack a word between þing and þe; most B manuscripts have abouȝt.]

[^1360: O.18.402: OC2 alone include been.]

[^1361: O.18.403: O alone has wroken in place of wroke.]

[^1362: O.18.404: O alone includes introductory For.]

[^1363: O.18.404: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1364: O.18.410: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after licet , and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1365: O.18.415: OF alone include domine .]

[^1366: O.18.415: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after seruo and a red parasign precedes the second line of text, which is written above the first.]

[^1367: O.18.419: GOF alone have bitterli; most B manuscripts have bittre.]

[^1368: O.18.424: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after regnat , so that it appears as two lines.]

[^1369: O.18.426: This line and the preceding one are written in the right margin. They are divided after post by two solidi, one red and one black, and a red parasign precedes the second line of text.]

[^1370: O.18.430: O alone includes more. The reading better is shared only with Cr23; most B manuscripts have leuer.]

[^1371: O.18.440: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1372: O.18.443: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1373: O.18.445: O alone has daunceden; all other beta witnesses have dauncede.]

Passus decimus . nonus [O.19.000: The heading is divided after Passus , so that it appears as two lines.]

Þ Vs I awakede & wrote  what I hadde dremed
And diȝte me dereli  & dide me to chirche
To here holli þe messe  þoo men ȝeden to offryng
Þanne[^1374] peers þe plowman  was . peynted alle blody
And come in . wiþ a crosse  bifore þe comune peple
And riȝt lijk in alle lymes  to oure lord iesu
Þanne callede I concience  to kenne me þe soþe
Is þis iesus þe iuster quod I  þat Iues diden hym[^1375] to deþe
Or it is peers þe plowman  who peyntede hym so rede
Quod concience & knelede þoo  þeise arn peers armes
Hise colouris & his cote armure  ac he þat comeþ so blody
Is crist wiþ his crosse  conquerour of cristene
Why calle ȝe hym crist quod I  siþ Iues calleden[^1376] hym iesus
Patriarkes & prophetis  propheciede bifore
Þ at alle kyns creaturis  schulden knelen & bowen
Anoon as men nempneden[^1377]  þe name of god iesu
Ergo . is no name  to þe name of iesus
Ne noon so nedeful to nempne  bi nyȝt ne bi day
For alle derke deuelis . arn  adrad to here it
And synful arn solaced  & saued bi þat name
And ȝe callen hym crist  for what cause telleþ me
Is crist more of myȝt  & more worþi name
Þan iesu or iesus  þat al oure ioye come of
Þ ou knowest wel quod concience  & þou canst[^1378] resoun
Þ at kyng . knyȝt[^1379] . conquerour  may be oo persoone
To be called a knyȝt . is fayr  for men schul knele to hym
And[^1380] to be called a kyng[^1381] . fayrer  for he may knyȝtis make
And to be coquerour co[n]querour called  þat come come[þ] of special grace
And of hardynesse of herte  & of heendnesse boþe
To make lordis of laddis  of loond þat he wynneþ
[^1382] And free men foule þralles  þat folewen not hise lawes
Þe Iues þat weren ientil men  iesu þei dispiseden[^1383]
Boþe his lore & his lawe  now arn þei lowe cherlis
As wyde as þe werld is  wonyeþ þer noon
But vndir tribute & talliage  as tikes & cherlis
And þoo þat bicoomen[^1384] cristen  bi counceyl of þe baptisme
Arn fraunkeleyns &[^1385] free men  þoruȝ fullyng þat þei token[^1386]
And ientil men wiþ iesu  for iesus was yfullid
And vp-on caluarie on crosse  ycrowned kyng of Iues
It bicomeþ to a kyng  to kepe &[^1387] defende
And conquerour of conquest  hise lawes & his large
And so dide iesus þe Iues  he iustifiede & tauȝte hem
Þe lawe of longe[^1388] lijf  þat laste schal euere
And fende hem from[^1389] foule yuelis  feueres & fluxes
And[^1390] feendis þat[^1391] hem werren[^1392]  & al[^1393] fals beleue
Þoo was he iesus of Iues  called ientil prophete
And kyng of her kyngdom  & crowne bare of þornes
And þoo conquerede he on crosse  as conquerour noble
Myȝt no deþ hym fordo  ne adoun brynge
Þat he no roos[^1394] & regnede  & rauesschede helle
And þoo was he conquerour called  of quyke & of dede
For he ȝaf adam & eue  & oþere moo blisse
Þat longe hadden leyn bifore  as lucifers cherlis
And siþen he ȝaf largeli  alle hise lele leges
Places in paradice  at her partyng hennes
He may wel be called conquerour  & þat is crist to mene
Ac þe cause þat he comeþ þus  wiþ crosse of his passioun 
Is to wissen vs þerwiþ  þat whann þat we been tempted
Þer -wiþ to fiȝte & fende vs  fro fallyng in-to synne
And se bi his sorwe  þat who loueþ ioye
To penaunce & to pouerte  he muste putte hym-selue
And myche[^1395] in þis werld  willen & suffren
Ac to carpe more of crist  & how he come to þat name
Feiþli for to speke  his first name was iesus
Þoo he was born in bethlem  as þe book telleþ
And come to take man-kynde  kyngys & aungelis 
Reuerenceden hym fayre  wiþ richesse of erþe
Aungelis out of heuene  coom knelynge & sungen
Gloria in excelsis deo[^1396]
Kyngys coomen after  knelynge[^1397] & offreden
Myrre & myche gold  wiþ-outen mercy askyng
Or any kyns catel  but knowlechynge hym souereyn
Boþe of soond & sunne[^1398] & sehe  & siþen þei wenten
Into her kyngnelith[^1399]  bi counceyl of aungelis
And þere was þat word fulfild  þe which þou of speke
O mnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine iesu[^1400]
For alle þe aungelis of heuene  at his birþe kneleden[^1401]
And al þe witt of þe world  was in þoo þre kyngys
Resoun & riȝtwisenesse  & ruþe þei offreden
Wherfor & why  wise men þat tyme
Maystres & lettered men  magy hem callede
Þat oo kyng cam wiþ resoun  couered vndir sense
Þe secounde kyng siþþe  soþeli offrede
Riȝtwysenesse vndir reed gold[^1402]  resouns felawe
Gold is likned to lewte  þat laste schal euere
And resoun to riche gold  to riȝt & to truþe
Þe þridde[^1403] þoo coom  knelynge to iesu
And presentede hym wiþ pite  apperynge bi myrre
For myrre is mercy to mene  & mylde speche of tunge
Þre yliche honeste þingys  weren[^1404] offred þus at ones
Þoruȝ þre kyn kyngys  knelynge to iesu
Ac for alle þeise preciouse presentis  oure lord prince iesus
Was neiþer kyng ne conquerour  til he gan to waxe
In þe manere of a man  & þat bi myche sleyȝt
As it bicomeþ a conquerour  to kunne many sleyȝtis
And many whyles & witt  þat wole been a leder
And so dide iesus in hise dayes  who-so hadde tyme to telle it
Sum tyme he suffrede  & sum -tyme he hidde hym
And sum -tyme he fauȝte fast  & fleyȝ oþer -while
And sum -tyme he gaf good  & grauntede hele boþe
Lijf & lym  as hym liste he wrouȝte
As kynde is of a conquerour  so comsede iesu
Til he hadde alle hem  þat he fore bledde
In his Iuuentee þis iesus  at þe Iuen feeste
Water in-to wyn turnede  as holi writ telleþ
And þere bigan god  of his grace do-wel
For wyn is likned to lawe  & lijf of holynesse
And lawe lakkede þoo  for men loueden not her enemyes
And crist counceyleþ vs  & commaundeþ boþe
Boþe to lered & to lewed  to lou ye oure enemyes
So at þe feest first  as I bifore tolde
Bigan god of his grace  & goodnesse to do wel
And þoo was he cleped & called  not holy crist . but iesu
A faunt fyn ful of witt  filius marie
For bifore his modir marie  made he þat wondre
Þat sche first & formest  ferme schulde beleue
Þat he þoruȝ grace was geten[^1405]  & no goom ellis
He wrouȝte þat bi no witt  but þoruȝ word one
After þe kynde þat he coome of  þere comsede he do wel
And whanne he was waxen more  in his modir absence
He made lame to lepe  & ȝaf liȝt to blynde
And fedde wiþ two fisches  & wiþ fyue loues
Sor a-fyngred folk  moo þan fyue þousande
Þus he counfortede careful  & cauȝte a gretter name
Þe which was . do-bette  where þat he wente
For deefe þoruȝ hise doynges to here  & dombe . speke he made
And alle he helede & halpe  þat hym . of grace askede
And þoo was he called in cuntre  of þe comune peple
For þe dedis þat he dide  iesu fili dauid
For dauid was douȝtiest  of dedis in hys tyme
Þe beerdes[^1406] þat sungen . saul interfecit mille & dauid decem milia
For-þi þe cuntre þere iesu coome  callede hym fili dauid
And nempnede hym of nazareth  & no man so worþi
To be cayser or kyng  of þe kyngdom of iuda
Ne ouer Iues iustise  as iesus was hem þouȝte
Wher-of cayphas hadde enuye  & oþere of þe Iues
And for to do hym to deþ  day & nyȝt þei casten
Kylleden hym on croswise  at caluarie on fryday
And siþen birieden his body  & beden þat men schulden[^1407] 
Kepe it fro nyȝt-comers  wiþ knyȝtis yarmed
For no freendis schulden hym fecche  for prophetis hem tolden
Þat þat blissid body  of birielis schulde rise
And go in-to galile  & gladen hise apostelis
And his modir marie  þus men bifore demeden[^1408]
Þe knyȝtis þat kepten hym  biknewen it hem-seluen
Þat aungelis & archaungelis  er þe day sprunge
Coomen knelynge to þe coors  & sungen christus resurgens
Verray man bifore hem alle  & forþ wiþ hem he ȝede
Þe Iues preyeden hem pees  & bisouȝten þe knyȝtis
Telle[^1409] þat þer coomen[^1410]  a companye of hise apostelis
And biwicchede hem as þei woken  & awey stoolen it
Ac marie magdalene  mette hym bi þe weye
Goynge toward galile  in godhed & manhed
And on lyue & lokynge  & sche aloude cryede
In iche a companye þere sche coome  christus resurgens
Þus cam it out . þat crist ouercam  recouerde & lyuede
Sic oportebat[^1411] christum pati & intrare & cetera[^1412]
For þat þat wommen witen  may not wel be counceyl
Peter parceyuede al þis  & pursuede after
Boþe iames & ion  iesu for to seke
Tadde & ten moo  wiþ thomas of Inde
And as alle þeise wise wyes  weren to-gyderes
In an hous al bischette  & her dore yspered
Crist cam in . al closed  boþe dore & ȝates
To Peter & to hise aposteles  & seyde . pax vobis
And toke thomas bi þe hoond  & tauȝte hym to grope
And fele wiþ hise fyngres  his fleschliche herte
Tomas touchede it  & wiþ his tunge seyde
Deus meus & dominus meus[^1413]
Þ ou art my lord I beleue  god lord iesu
Þ ou deyedest & deþ þoledest  & deme schalt vs alle
And now art lyuynge & lokynge  & laste schalt þou[^1414] euere
Crist carpede þanne  & curteysliche seyde
Thomas for þou trowest þis  & truliche leuest[^1415] it
Blessed mote þou be  & be schalt for euere .
And blessed moten[^1416] þei alle be  in body & in soule
Þat neuere schul see me in siȝt  as þou seest[^1417] nouþe
And leliche beleue al þis  I loue hem & blesse hem
Beati qui crediderunt & non viderunt[^1418]
And whanne þis dede was doon  do-best he tauȝte
And ȝaue peers power  & pardoun he grauntede
To alle manere men  mercy & forȝyuenesse
Hym myȝt . to assoyle men  of[^1419] alle manere synnes
In couenaunt þat þei come  & knowleche to paye
To peers pardoun þe plowman  redde quod debes
Þus[^1420] peers power  be his pardoun payed
To bynde & vnbynde  boþe heer & ellis-where
And assoyle men of alle synnes  saue of dette one
Anoon after on hyȝ  vp in-to heuene 
He wente & wonyeþ þere  & wole come at þe laste
And rewarde hym riȝt wel  þat reddit quod debet
And payeþ parfiȝtli  as pure truþe wolde
And what persoone payeþ it not  punyschen he þenkeþ
And demen hym at domes-day  boþe quyk & deed
Þe goode to þe godhed  & to greet Ioye
And wickede to wonye  in woo wiþ-outen ende
Þus concience of crist  & of[^1421] crosse carpede
And counceylede me to knele þerto  & þanne cam me þouȝt
On Spiritus paraclitus  to peers & to hise felawes
In liknesse of a liȝtnyng  he liȝte on hem alle
And made hem kunne & knowe  alle kyns langages
I wondrede what þat was  & waggede concience
And was a-feerd of þat liȝt  for in feers liknesse 
Spiritus paraclitus  ouer -spradde hem alle
Quod concience & knelede  þis is cristis messager
And comeþ fro þe greet god  & grace is his name
Knele now quod concience  & if þou canst . synge
Welcome hym & worschipe hym  wiþ veni creator spiritus
Þanne songe I þat soong  & so diden many hundred
And crieden wiþ concience  helpe vs god of grace
And þanne bigan grace to goo  wiþ peers þe[^1422] plowman
And counceylede hym & concience  þe comune to sompne
For I wole dele to-day  & dyuyde grace
To alle kyn creaturis  þat han her fyue wittis
Tresore to lyue bi  to her lyues eende
And wepne to fiȝte wiþ  whan antecrist ȝow assayleþ
And ȝaf[^1423] man a grace  to go wiþ hym-selue
Þ at ydelnesse encombre hym not  enuye ne pride
Diuisiones graciarum sunt & cetera[^1424]
Summe he ȝaf witt  wiþ wordis to schewe 
Witt . to wynne her lijflode wiþ  as þe werk[^1425] askeþ
As prechouris & preestis  & prentices of lawes[^1426]
Þei leli to lyue  þoruȝ[^1427] laboure of tunge
And bi witt to wissen oþere  as grace hem wolde teche
And summe he kennede craft  & kunnyng of siȝt
Wiþ sellyng & biggyng  her bileue to wynne
And summe he lerede to laboure  a lele lijf & trewe
And summe he tauȝte to tilye  to diche & to hegge
To wynne wiþ her lijflode  bi lore of his techyng
And summe to dyuyne & dyuyde  noumbres to kenne
And summe to compasse craftili  & colouris to make
And summe to see & summe to seye  what schulde befalle
Boþe of wel & of woo  telle it er it felle
As astronomyens þoruȝ astronomye  on[^1428] philosophres wise
And summe to ride & summe to recouere  þat vnriȝtfulli was wonnen
He wissede hem to wynne it aȝeyn  þoruȝ wiȝtnesse of handis
And fecche it fro false men  wiþ foluyles lawes
And summe he lerede to lyue  in longynge to be hennys
In pouerte & in penaunce  to preye for alle cristene
And alle he lerede to be lele  & iche a craft loue oþer
And forbade hem al debate  þat noon were amonge hem
Þouȝ summe be clenner þan summe  ȝe seen wel quod grace
[^1429] Þ at he þat vseþ þe fayrest craft  to þe foulest I couþe haue put hym[^1430]
Loke þat noon lakke oþer  but loueþ alle as breþeren
And who þat mooste maystries can  be myldest of beryng
And crowne concience kyng  & make craft ȝoure styward
And after craftis counceyl  cloþeþ ȝow & fedeþ[^1431]
For I make peers þe plowman  my procuratour & my reue
And registrer to receyue  redde quod debes
My prowyour & my plowman  peers schal be on erþe
And for to tilye truþe  a teem schal he haue
Grace gaue peers a teem  foure grete oxen
Þat oon was luke . a large beest  & a lowe chered
And mark & matheu þe þridde  myȝti beestis boþe
And ioynede to hem oon Ion  þe moost gentil of alle
Þe price neet of peers plow  passynge alle oþere
And grace gaf peers  of his goodnesse foure stottes
Al þat hise oxen eriedem eriede[n]  hem[^1432] to harewen after
Oon hiȝte austyn  & ambrose an-oþer
Gregori þe greet clerk  & ierom þe goode
Þeise foure . þe feiþ to teche  folewen peers teeme
And hareweden in an hand-whyle  al holy scripture
Wiþ two harewes þat þei hadden  an oold & a newe
Vetus testamentum & nouum[^1433]
And grace gaf greynes  þe cardynales vertues
And sewe it in mannes soule  & siþen tolde her names
quattuor virtutes cardinales

[O.19.267: This rubric appears as two lines, with each word begun below and continued above, an arrangement not seen elsewhere in the manuscript.]

Spiritus prudencie  þe first seed hiȝte
And who-so eete þat  ymagyne he schulde
[^1434] Or he dide any dede  deuyse wel þe eende
And lernede men a ladel to bigge  wiþ a longe stele
To[^1435] caste for to kepe a crokke  to saue þe fatte aboue

[O.19.271: The top right corner of the box is touched in red; the bottom of the box has been lost to cropping. O here lacks one leaf, encompassing Kane and Donaldson's ll. 281-358.]

[^1436] To goo ageyn pride  but grace were wiþ vs
Þanne cam kynde witt  concience to teche
And criede & comaundede  alle cristen peple
For to deluen & dichen[^1437]  depe aboute vnite
Þ at holi chirche stode in vnite  as it a pile were
Concience comaundede þoo  alle Cristen to delue
And make a myche moot  þat myȝte been a strenkþe
To helpe holi chirche  & hem þat it kepen
Þanne alle kyn cristene  saue comune wommen
Repenteden & refuseden  synne . saue þei one
And false men flatereris  vsureris & þeues
Lyeris & questmongers  þat weren forsworen often[^1438]
Wytyngli & wilfulli  wiþ þe false helden
And for siluer weren[^1439] forsworen  soþeli þei wisten it
Þ er nas no cristen creature  þat kynde witt hadde
Saue schrewes  &[^1440] swiche as I spake of
Þ at he ne halpe a quantite  holynesse to waxe
Summe þoruȝ bedis biddynge & summe þoruȝ pilgrimage
And oþere pryue penaunce  & summe þoruȝ pens delyng
And þanne wellede water  for wikkide werkis
Egrelich rennynge  out of mennys yen .
Clennesse of þe comune  & clerkis clene lyuyng
Made vnite holi chirche  in holynesse to stonde
I care not quod concience  if[^1441] pride come nouþe
Þe lord of lust schal be lettid  al þis lente I hope
Comeþ quod concience  iche[^1442] cristen & dyneþ
Þat han labourid lelli  al þis lenten tyme
Heer is breed yblessed  & goddis body þer -vndir
Grace þoruȝ goddis word  gaaf peers power 
Myȝtis to maken it  & men to ete it after
In help of her hele  onys in a moneþe
Or as ofte as þei hadden nede  þoo þat[^1443] ypayed 
To peers pardoun þe plowman  redde quod debes
How quod al þe comune  þou counceylest vs to ȝelde
Al þat we owen any wyȝt  er we go to housel
Þat is my counceyl quod concience  & cardynale vertues
That iche man forȝyue oþer  & þat wole þe pater -noster
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra[^1444][^1445]
And so to been assoylid  & siþen to be houseled[^1446]
Ȝhe . baw quod a brewer  I wole not be ruled 
Bi iesu for al ȝoure ianglyng  wiþ spiritus Iusticie[^1447]
Ne after concience bi crist  while I can selle 
Boþe dregges & draf  & drawe at[^1448] oon hole 
Þikke ale & þinne ale  for þat is my kynde
And not hakke after holynesse  holde þi tunge concience
Of spiritus iusticie  þou spekest myche on ydel
Caytijf quod concience  cursed wrecche
Vn-blessid art þou brewer  but if þee god helpe
But þou lyue bi lore  of spiritus iusticie 
Þe cheef seed þat peers sewe  ysaued worþest þou[^1449] neuere
But concience þe comune seed[^1450]  & cardynal vertues[^1451]
Leue it wel þei been lost  boþe lijf & soule
Of cardynalis
Þanne is many a man lost  quod a lewed vicorie
I am a curatour of holi kirke  & cam neuere in my tyme 
Man . to me þat me couþe telle  of cardynal vertues
Or þat countede concience  at a cokkes fe þer or an hennys
I knewe neuere cardynal  þat he ne cam fro þe pope
And we clerkis whanne þei comen  for her comunes payen
For her pelure & her palfreys mete  & pilouris þat hem folewen
Þe comune clamat cotidie  iche[^1452] man to oþer
Þe cuntre is þe curseder  þat cardynalis comen Inne
And þere þei liggen & lengen[^1453]  moost leccherie þere regneþ
For-þi quod þis vicorie  bi verrey god I wolde 
Þ at no cardynal coome  among þe comune peple
But in her owne[^1454] holynesse  holde[^1455] hem stille at home[^1456]
At avioun avi[n]oun among þe Iues  cum sancto sanctus eris & cetera
Or in rome as her rule wole  þe relikes to kepe
And þou concience in kyngys court  & schuldest neuere come þennys
And grace þat þou gredist so  of gyour of alle clerkis
And peers wiþ his newe plow  & eke wiþ his olde
Emperour of al þe world  þat alle men weren cristene
De papa .
Imparfiȝt is þe pope . þat al  þe peple schulde helpe
And sendiþ hem þat sleeþ swiche  as he schulde saue
And wel worþ peers þe plowman  þat pursueþ god in doynge
Q ui pluit super iustos & iniustos at ones
And sente þe sonne to saue  a cursed mannes tilþe
As briȝt as to þe best man  & to þe best womman
Riȝt so peers þe plowman  peyneþ hym to tilye
As wel for a wastour  & wenches of þe stues
As for hym-self & hise seruauntis  saue he is first serued
And trauayliþ & tilieþ  for a traytour also sore
As for a trewe tidy man  alle tymes yliche
And worschipid be he þat wrouȝte al  boþe good & ille
And suffreþ þat synful be  til sum -tyme þat þei repente
And god amende þe pope  þat pileþ holi chirche
And cleymeþ bifore þe kyng  to be[^1457] ouer cristene
And counteþ at[^1458] nouȝt þouȝ cristene  be killed & robbed
And fynt folk to fiȝte  & cristen blood to spille
Aȝen þe olde lawe & newe lawe  as luke þerof witnesseþ
Non occides & cetera Michi vindictam & cetera[^1459]
It semeþ bi so hym-seluen[^1460]  hadde his owne[^1461] wille
Þ at he ne reccheþ riȝt nouȝt  of al þe toþer[^1462] remenaunt
And crist of his curteysie  þe cardynalis saue
And turne her witt to wisdom  & to wele of soule
For þe comune quod þis curatour  counten ful litil 
Þe counceyl of concience  or cardynal vertues
But if þei seen[^1463] as bi siȝt  sumwhat to wynnyng
Of gyle ne of gabbyng  gyuen[^1464] þei neuere tale
For spiritus prudencie  among þe peple . is gyle
And alle þe fayre vertues  as vices þei semen
Iche man sutileþ a sleyȝt  synne for to hyde
And coloureþ it wiþ a cunnyng  & a clene lyuyng
Þanne lowȝ þer a lord  & bi þis liȝt seyde
I holde it riȝt & resoun  of my reue to take 
Al þat myn auditour  or ellis my styward 
Counceyliþ me bi her acounte  & my clerkis wrytyng
Wiþ spiritus intellectus  to seke þe reues rollis
And wiþ spiritus fortitudinis  fecchen it I wole
And[^1465] cam þer a kyng  & bi his crowne seyde
I am kyng wiþ crowne  þe comune to rule
And holy chirche & clergye  fro cursede men[^1466] defende
And if me lakkiþ to lyue bi  þe lawe wole I take it 
Þ ere I may hastlokest[^1467] it haue  for I am hed of lawe
For ȝe been but membris  & I abouen alle
And siþen I am ȝoure alþer hed  I am ȝoure alþer[^1468] hele
And holi chirches cheef help  & cheftayn of þe comune
And what þat[^1469] I take of ȝow two  I take it at þe techyng 
Of spiritus iusticie  for I iugge ȝow alle
So I may boldli be houseled  for I borwe neuere
Ne craue of my comune  but as my kynde askeþ

[O.19.391: A design of wavy vertical lines filled in with ink, about four lines in length, appears in the extreme bottom right margin above the quire signature.]

In condicioun quod concience  þat þou kunne defende
And rule þi rewme bi resoun  riȝt wel & in truþe
De potestate regis .
Take þou may in resoun  as þe lawe askeþ
Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum set non ad deprehendandum[^1470]
Þe vicorie[^1471] hadde fer hoom  & fayre toke his leue
And I awakenede þer -wiþ  & wrouȝte[^1472] as me mette

[^1374: O.19.4: O alone has Þanne in place of That.]

[^1375: O.19.8: O alone includes hym .]

[^1376: O.19.13: O alone has calleden; variants include called (HmGYCB), calle (WCrC2L), callen (M), and named (F).]

[^1377: O.19.16: O alone has nempneden; most B manuscripts have nempned.]

[^1378: O.19.24: O alone has canst; most B manuscripts have konne.]

[^1379: O.19.25: O alone transposes knyȝt kyng.]

[^1380: O.19.27: O alone includes And.]

[^1381: O.19.27: O alone lacks is before fayrer.]

[^1382: O.19.31: The number <1>, written in a modern hand and followed by a punctus, appears in the top right margin.]

[^1383: O.19.32: O alone has dispiseden in place of despised.]

[^1384: O.19.36: O alone has bicoomen; most B manuscripts have bicome.]

[^1385: O.19.37: OF alone include &.]

[^1386: O.19.37: O alone has token; all other beta witnesses have toke.]

[^1387: O.19.40: HmOCot alone lack to before defende.]

[^1388: O.19.43: O alone includes longe.]

[^1389: O.19.44: Only OHm have hem from; most B manuscripts have from alone.]

[^1390: O.19.45: OF alone lack from before feendis.]

[^1391: O.19.45: O alone lacks in before hem.]

[^1392: O.19.45: O alone has werren; most B manuscripts have were.]

[^1393: O.19.45: O alone includes al.]

[^1394: O.19.50: HmGO alone have ne roos in place of naroos or aros.]

[^1395: O.19.62: O alone lacks wo before in, and thus lacks the first alliterating stave.]

[^1396: O.19.69: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1397: O.19.70: Cr23YO alone have the present participle in place of a preterite form.]

[^1398: O.19.73: YO alone have & sunne; most B manuscripts have sonne.]

[^1399: O.19.74: O alone has the nonsense form kyngnelith (or kyngnelich?); variants include kingdome kyth (Cr), kyngdomes (G), kyngenelich (C), kyngenlith (Y), kyngelich (C2), kyngriche (B), and kyngene kiþ (WHmLMF).]

[^1400: O.19.76: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after terrestria and a red parasign precedes the second line of text, which appears above the first.]

[^1401: O.19.77: O alone has kneleden; all other beta witnesses have knelede.]

[^1402: O.19.84: A double solidus over each word indicates transposition of original gold reed.]

[^1403: O.19.87: O alone lacks kyng before þoo, and thus lacks the first alliterating stave.]

[^1404: O.19.90: O alone has weren; most other B manuscripts have were.]

[^1405: O.19.117: O alone has geten; all other beta witnesses have gete.]

[^1406: O.19.131: LO alone have the form beerdes; most B manuscripts have burdes.]

[^1407: O.19.139: O alone has schulden in place of sholde.]

[^1408: O.19.144: O alone has demeden in place of demede.]

[^1409: O.19.150: O alone lacks the first alliterating stave; most B manuscripts have þe comune.]

[^1410: O.19.150: O alone has coomen in place of cam.]

[^1411: O.19.157: O alone has the form oportebat in place of oportet .]

[^1412: O.19.157: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1413: O.19.169: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1414: O.19.172: O alone includes þou after schalt, although F includes it before.]

[^1415: O.19.174: O alone has leuest; all other beta witnesses have bileuest.]

[^1416: O.19.176: O alone has moten; most B manuscripts have mote.]

[^1417: O.19.177: O alone has seest; most B manuscripts have doost.]

[^1418: O.19.179: This line is written in the right margin. A double solidus over each word indicates transposition of original crediderunt and viderunt ; evidently noting that transposition of these two words alone would not correct the reading, the corrector wrote non viderunt et crediderunt over the line. The correction is written in a fifteenth-century hand similar to that of the main scribe, perhaps hand 3.]

[^1419: O.19.183: Cr23O alone have men of; most B manuscripts have of.]

[^1420: O.19.186: OF alone lack haþ before peers.]

[^1421: O.19.197: O alone lacks þe before crosse.]

[^1422: O.19.211: O alone includes þe.]

[^1423: O.19.217: O alone lacks ech before man.]

[^1424: O.19.219: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1425: O.19.221: O alone has werk; all other beta witnesses have world.]

[^1426: O.19.222: O alone has the plural form.]

[^1427: O.19.223: O alone has þoruȝ in place of by (a).]

[^1428: O.19.234: O alone has on in place of and.]

[^1429: O.19.243: A cross consisting of five dots, one red, with red rays radiating outward, appears in the left margin. It is probably in the main scribal hand. It may have been intended to point to the defectiveness of l. 243.]

[^1430: O.19.243: Kane and Donaldson (193) conjecturally exclude this line on grounds of "prosiness and verbosity" as well as its failure to alliterate.]

[^1431: O.19.247: O alone has fedeþ in place of fede.]

[^1432: O.19.258: O alone has hem in place of þei.]

[^1433: O.19.264: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1434: O.19.270: A cross composed of dots with a flourish at the bottom, probably in the main scribal hand, appears in the left margin.]

[^1435: O.19.272: O alone has To; most B manuscripts have That.]

[^1436: O.19.272: In the center top margin of this page, on a level with the quire number, one leaf missing is written in a modern hand.]

[^1437: O.19.275: O alone has dichen; variants include dyke (HmBF), digge (Cr), and dych (WGYC2CLM).]

[^1438: O.19.283: O alone has often in place of ofte.]

[^1439: O.19.285: O alone has weren; all other beta witnesses have were.]

[^1440: O.19.287: GO alone have &; most B manuscripts have one.]

[^1441: O.19.295: O alone has if in place of þouȝ.]

[^1442: O.19.297: O alone has iche; most B manuscripts have ye.]

[^1443: O.19.303: O alone lacks some variant of hadde before ypayed.]

[^1444: O.19.309: YOF alone lack & cetera at the end of this line.]

[^1445: O.19.309: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1446: O.19.310: A poorly formed second <e> in houseled prompted the scribe to rewrite the letter above the line.]

[^1447: O.19.312: Traces of a quire signature, almost entirely lost to cropping, appear at the bottom of this leaf.]

[^1448: O.19.314: O alone has at; most B manuscripts have it at.]

[^1449: O.19.322: OG alone have worþest þou; most B manuscripts have worstow.]

[^1450: O.19.322: O alone has comune seed; most B manuscripts have comune fede.]

[^1451: O.19.322: A caret/punctus appears in the extreme left margin, signaling deletion. In view of the fact that the reading seed is found in GO alone, perhaps the intention was to delete it.]

[^1452: O.19.331: GOF alone lack a word between iche and man; most B manuscripts have a.]

[^1453: O.19.333: O alone has lengen; all other beta witnesses have lenge.]

[^1454: O.19.336: O alone has her owne in place of hir.]

[^1455: O.19.336: O alone has holde; variants include holden (YHmLM), & þere holde (F), helidem (BmBo), holidem (Cot), and helden (WCrGYC2R).]

[^1456: O.19.336: O alone includes at home.]

[^1457: O.19.357: O alone lacks a word between be and ouer; most B manuscripts have kepere.]

[^1458: O.19.358: O alone includes at.]

[^1459: O.19.361: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1460: O.19.362: OC2 alone have hym-seluen in place of hymself.]

[^1461: O.19.362: OF alone include owne.]

[^1462: O.19.363: O alone includes toþer .]

[^1463: O.19.368: O alone has seen; variants include sowne (F), sowe (L), seiȝe (WHm), seiȝ (C2C), seie (BM), see (CrG), and sight (Y).]

[^1464: O.19.369: O alone has gyuen; most other B manuscripts have gyue.]

[^1465: O.19.380: O alone lacks þanne before cam.]

[^1466: O.19.382: OF alone lack to before defende.]

[^1467: O.19.384: OCotLM alone have the form hastlokest; variants include hastlyest (C), hastlyere (F), hastylyche (G), moost hastely (Cr), and hastilokest (WHmYC2BmBo).]

[^1468: O.19.386: OF alone have the form alþer; most B manuscripts have aller.]

[^1469: O.19.389: O alone includes þat.]

[^1470: O.19.395: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after defendendum and a red parasign precedes the second line of text, which appears above the first.]

[^1471: O.19.396: O alone has the form vicorie in place of viker.]

[^1472: O.19.397: Cr3OBoCot alone have wrought; most B manuscripts have wroot.]

Passus vicesimus. [O.20.000: The heading is divided after vice- , so that it appears as two lines.]

Þ Anne as I wente bi þe weye  whanne I was þus awaked
Heuy chered I ȝede  & elenge in herte
I ne wiste where to ete  ne at what place
And it neyȝhede neer þe noone  & wiþ nede I mette
Þat frountede[^1473] me ful[^1474] foule  & faytour me callede
Kanst þou not excuse þee  as dide þe kyng & oþere
Necessitas
Þat þou toke to þi bilyue  to cloþes & to sustenaunce
And bi techyng & tellyng  of spiritus temporancie
And þou nome no more  þan nede þe tauȝte
And nede haþ no lawe  ne neuere schal falle in dette
For þre þingys he takiþ  his lijf for to saue
Þat is mete whanne men hym warnen  & he no money weldiþ
Ne wiȝt noon . wole be his borwe  ne wedde haþ noon to legge
And he cauȝte in þat caas  & come þerto bi sleyȝt
He synneþ not soþeli  þat so wynneþ his fode
And þouȝ he come so to a cloþ  & can no better cheuysaunce
Nede anoon-riȝt  nymeþ hym vndir meinprise
And if hym liste to lape  þe lawe of kynde wolde
Þ at he drunke at iche diche  er he for þirst deyede
So nede at greet nede  may nyme as for his owne
Wiþ-outen counceyl of concience  or cardynal vertues
So þat he sue & saue  spiritus temperancie
For is no vertue bi fer  to spiritus temporancie
Neiþer spiritus iusticie  ne spiritus fortitudinis
For spiritus fortitudinis  forfeteþ ful ofte
He schal do more þan mesure  many tyme & ofte
And bete men ful[^1475] bitterlie  & summe of hem to litel
And greue men gretter  þan good feiþ wolde
And spiritus iusticie schal iuggen  wole he or[^1476] nyle he
After þe kyngys counceyl  & þe comune like
And spiritus prudencie  in many a poynt schal fayle
Of þat he weneþ wolde falle  if his witt ne were
Wenyng is no wisdam  ne wise ymagynacioun
Homo proponit & deus disponit  & gouerneþ alle goode vertues
Ac nede is next hym  for anoon he mekeþ
And as lowe as a loomb  for lakkyng of þat hym nedeþ
Wise men forsoken wel  for þei wolden be nedy
And woneden in wildernesse  & wolden not be riche
And god al his greet ioye  goostliche he lefte
And cam & toke mankynde  & becam nedy
So nedy he was as seiþ þe book  in many sundri places
Þ at he seyde in his sorwe  on þe self rode
Boþe fox & foul  mowen flee to hole & crepe
And þe fisch haþ fynne  to flete wiþ to reste
Þ er nede haþ ynomen[^1477] me  þat I mote nede abide
And suffre sorwes ful soure  þat schul to ioye turne
For-þi beþ not abassched  to bidde & to be nedy
Siþ he þat wrouȝte al þe world  was wilfullich nedy
Ne neuere noon so nedy  ne also[^1478] porer deyede
Whanne nede hadde vndirnomen[^1479][^1480]þus  anoon I fel a-slepe
And mette ful merueylousliche  þat in mannes foorme
. Antecrist .
Antecrist cam þanne  & al þe croppe of truþe 
Ieronimus super illud Danielis . 12 . Beatus qui expectat & peruenit vsque ad dies . 1335 . Beatus inquit qui interfecto anti christo . dies supra numerum perfinitum . 45 . prestolatur quibus & dominus saluator in sua magestate venturus est

[O.20.53-60: The Latin lines appear in a column in the right margin, parallel to ll. 53-60 of the text. The passage is taken almost verbatim from Saint Jerome's commentary on Daniel 12.12; see Commentariorum in Danielem, Libri III (IV), S. Hieronymi Presbyteri Opera, Pars I,5, ed. Francisci Glorie, Corpus Christianorum, Series Latina 75A (Turnhout: Brepols, 1964): [IV].xii.12, pp. 943-44.]

Turnede it vp-so-doun  & ouer -tilte þe rote
And fals spronge & spredde  & spedde mennys nedis
In iche a cuntre þere ho h[e] coome  he cutte awey truþe
And gerte gyle growe þere  as he a god were
. Freres .

[O.20.57: The marginal Freres is surrounded by the long Latin gloss beginning opposite l. 52.]

Freres foleweden þat feend  for he gaf hem copes
And religious reuerencede hym  & rongen her bellis
And al þe couent forþ cam  to welcome þat tyraunt
And alle hise as wel as hym  saue oneli fooles
Whiche fooles weren wel leuere  to deye þan to lyue 
Lenger þan lenten  to be so rebuked
And a fals freend[^1481] antecrist  ouere alle folk regnede
And þat weren[^1482] mylde men & holy  þat no mescheef dredden
Diffieden al falsnesse  & folk þat it vsede
And what kyng þat hem counfortede  knowynge hem any while
Þei curseden[^1483] & her counceyl  were it clerk or lewed
Antecrist hadde þus soone  hundredis at his banere
And pride it bare  booldeliche abouten[^1484]
Wiþ a lord þat lyueþ after  lust &[^1485] likyng of body
Þat cam aȝeyn concience  þat keper was & guyour
Ouer kynde cristene  & cardynal vertues
I counceyle quod concience þoo  comeþ wiþ me ȝe foles
In-to vnite holi chirche  & holde we vs þere
And crie we to kynde þat he  come & defende vs 
Foles . fro þe feendis lymes  for peers loue þe plowman
And crye we to al þe comune  þat þei come to vnite
And þere abide & bikere  aȝeyns belialis children
Kynde . concience þoo herde  & come out of þe planetis
And sente forþ hise forreouris  feueres & fluxes
Cowȝhes & cardiacles  crampes & toþ-aches
Rewmes & radegoundes  & ruynouse scalles
Biles & bocches  & brennynge agues
Frenesies & foule yuelis  forragers of kynde
Hadde priked & preyd  polles of þe peple
Þ at largeli a legioun  loren her lijf soone
Þ er was harrow & help  heer comeþ kynde
Wiþ deþ þat is dredeful  to vndo vs alle
Þe lord þat lyuede after lust  þoo a-lowde cryede 
After counfort . a knyȝt  to come & bere his baneer
A -larme alarme quod þat lord  iche lijf kepe his owne
And þanne metten þeise men  er mynystrales myȝten pipe
And er heraudes of armes  hadden discryued lordis
Kynde kam after  wiþ many kene sores
As pokkes & pestelences  þat[^1486] myche peple schente
So kynde þoruȝ corrupciouns  killede ful many
Deþ cam dryuynge after  & al to dust passchede
Kyngys & knyȝtis  kaysers & popis
Lered ne lewed  he leete no man stonde
Þ at he ne[^1487] hitte euene  þat neuere[^1488] sterede after
Many a louely lady  & lemmans of knyȝtis
Swowneden & swelteden[^1489]  for sorwe of deþes dyntis
Concience of his curteysie  to kynde he besouȝte
To cece & suffre  & see wher þei wolden[^1490] 
Leue pride pryueyli  & be parfiȝt cristene
And kynde cecede þoo  to see þe peple amende
Fortune gan flatere þanne  þoo fewe þat were on lyue
And bihiȝte hem longe lijf  & leccherie he sente
Amongys al manere men  wedded & vnweddid
And gaderede a greet hoost  al a-gyn concience
Þis leccherie leyde on  wiþ a lawynge chere
And wiþ pryue speche  & peynted wordis
And armede hym in ydelnesse  & in hye beryng
He bare a bowe in his hand  & many blody arewes
Weren feþered wiþ fayre bihest  & many a false truþe
Wiþ hise vntidy talis  he tenede ful ofte 
Concience & his company  of holi chirche þe techers
Þanne cam coueytise  & caste how he myȝte 
Ouercome concience  & cardynal vertues
And armede hym in auarice  & hungriliche lyuede
His wepene was alle whyles  to wynne & to hyde[^1491]
Wiþ glosyngys & gabbynges  to bigyle[^1492] þe peple
Symonye hym sente  to assayle concience
And precheden[^1493] to þe peple  & prelates þei hem maden
To holden wiþ antecrist  her temperaltees to saue
And coomen to þe kyngys counceyl  as a kene baroun
And kneleden[^1494] to concience  in court afore hem alle
And gerte good feiþ flee  & fals to abide
And boldliche bare adoun  wiþ many a bryȝt noble 
Miche of þe witt & wisdam  of westmynystre halle
He iuggede til a iustise  & iustede in his ere
And ouer -tilte al his truþe  wiþ take þis vp amendement
And to þe arches in haast  he ȝede anoon after
And turnede cyuyle in-to symonye  & siþ he toke þe official
For a mantel of menyuere  he made lele matrimonye 
Departe[^1495] . er deþ cam  & dyuorce schapte
Allas quod concience & cryede þoo  wolde crist of his grace
Þ at coueytise were cristen  þat is so kene a fiȝter
And boold & abidynge  whyle his bagge lasteþ
And þanne lowȝ lijf  & leete dagge hise cloþes
And armede hym in haast  in harlottes wordis
And helde holynesse . a iape  & heendenesse a wastour
And leete lewte a cherl  & lyer . a fre man
Concience & counceyl  he countede it folye
Þus relyede lijf  for a litil fortune
And prikede forþ wiþ pride  preyseþ he no vertu
He careþ not how kynde slowȝ  & schal come at þe laste
And kille alle erþeli creaturis  saue concience one
Lijf leepe a-syde  & lauȝte hym a lemman
Hele & I quod he  & hynesse of herte
Schal do þee not drede  neiþer deþ ne eelde
But[^1496] to forȝete sorwe  and gyue nouȝt of synne
Þis likede lijf  & his lemman fortune
And geten in her glorie  a gedelyng at þe laste
Oon þat myche woo wrouȝte  sleuþe was his name
Sleuþe wexe wondir ȝerne  & soone was of age
And weddede oon wanhope  a wenche of þe stues
Hir sire was a sisour  þat neuere swore truþe
Oon tomme two-tunge  ateynt at iche a quest
Þis sleuþe wexe werre &[^1497] werre  & a slynge made
And þrewe drede &[^1498] dispeyr  a doseyne myle aboute
For care concience þoo  criede vp-on eelde
And bade hym fonde to fiȝte  & afere wanhope
And eelde hente good hope  & hastiliche[^1499] schifte hym
And wayuede awey wanhope  & wiþ lijf he fiȝteþ
And lijf fleyȝ for feer  to phisik after help
And bisouȝte hym of socour  & of his salue hadde
And gaue hym gold good woon  þat gladede his herte
And þei ȝyuen[^1500] hym aȝeyn  a glasen howue
Lijf leuede þat leche-craft  lette schulde eelde
And dryue awey deþ  wiþ dias & draggas
And eelde auntrede hym on lijf  & at þe laste he hitte
A phisicien wiþ a furred hood  þat he fel in[^1501] palsye
And þere deyede þat doctour  er þre dayes after
Now I see seyde lijf  þat surgerie ne phisik 
May not a myte avayle  to medele aȝeyns eelde
And in hope of his hele  good hope[^1502] he hente
And rode so to reuel  a riche place & a myrie
Þe companye of court  men clepeden it sum -tyme
And eelde anoon after me  & ouer myn hed he[^1503] ȝede
And made me balled bifore  & bare on þe crowne
So harde he ȝede ouer myn hed  it wole be seene euere
Sire yuele ytauȝt . eelde quod I  vnheende go wiþ þee
Siþ whanne was þi[^1504] weye  ouer mennes hedis
Haddest þou been heende quod I  þou woldest haue asked leue
Ȝhe . leue lordyng quod he  & leyde on me wiþ age
And hitte me vndir þe ere  vnneþe may ich here
He buffetede me aboute þe mouþe  & bette me on þe teeþ
And gyede[^1505] me in goutis  I may not goo at large
And of þe woo þat I was Inne  my wijf hadd reuþe
And wisschede ful witterli  þat I were in heuene
For þe lyme þat she louede me fore  & leef was to fele
On nyȝtes nameli  whanne sche[^1506] naked were
I ne myȝte in no manere  make it at hir wille
So eelde & sche soþeli  hadden it forbeten
And as I satte in þis sorwe  I seyȝ how kynde passede
And deþ drowȝ nyȝ me  for drede gan I quake
And criede to kynde  out of care me brynge
Loo eelde þe hoore  haþ me beseye[^1507]
A -wreke me if ȝoure wille be  for I wolde be hennys
If þou wolt be ywroken  wende in-to vnite
And holde þee þere euere  til I sende for þee
And loke þou cunne sum craft  or þou come þennes
Counceyle me kynde quod I  what craft is best to lerne
Lerne to loue quod kynde  & leue of . alle oþere
How schal I come to catel so  to cloþe me & to fede
And þou loue lelli quod he  lakke schal þee neuere 
Mete ne worldli wede  whyle þi lijf lasteþ
And þere bi counceyl of kynde  I comsede to roome
Þoruȝ contricioun & confessioun  til I coome to vnite
And þere was concience cunstable  cristene for[^1508] to saue
And bisegede soþeli  wiþ seuene grete geauntes
Þat wiþ antecrist helden  harde aȝens concience
Sleuþe wiþ his slynge  an harde assaute made
Proude preestis coomen wiþ hym  moo þan a þousande
In paltokis & piked schoos  & pissers longe knyues
Coomen aȝens concience  wiþ coueytise þei helden
Bi marie quod a mansed preest  of þe marche of irloond
I counte no more bi[^1509] concience  bi so I cacche syluer
Þan I do to drynke  a drauȝt of good ale
And so seyden sixti  of þe same cuntre
And schoten aȝeyn hym wiþ schotte  with many scheef of oþes
And brode hoked arwes  goddis herte & hise nayles
And hadden almost vnite  & holynesse adoun
Concience criede . helpe clergye  or ellis I falle
Þoruȝ imparfiȝt preestis  & prelatis of holi chirche
Freris herden hym crye  & coomen . hym to helpe
And for þei couþen[^1510] not wel her craft  concience forsoke hem
Nede neyȝhede þoo neer  & concience he tolde
Þ at þei coomen[^1511] for coueytise  to haue cure of soules
And for þei arn pore paraunter  for patrimoyne hem fayleþ
Þei wolen flatere to fare wel  folk þat been riche
And seyen[^1512] þei chosen chele  & chaytijf pouert
Latte hem chewe as þei chosen  & charge hem wiþ no cure
For lomer he lijþ  þat lijflode mote bigge[^1513]
Þan he þat laboureþ for lijflode  & leneþ it to[^1514] beggers
And siþen freris forsoken[^1515]  þe felicite of erþe
freris Freris .

[O.20.238: The first of these additions appears in the extreme left margin, the other in the left margin just opposite the line. Lines 238-250 are written around a very large keyhole-shaped tear in the vellum, at about the center of the leaf, which existed at the time of copying.]

Latte hem be as beggers  or lyue bi aungelis fode
Concience of þis counceyl þoo  comsede forto lawȝhe
And curteysliche counfortede hem  & callede in alle freris
And seyde sires soþeli  welcome be ȝe alle
To vnite[^1516] holi chirche  ac oo þing I ȝow preye
Holdeþ ȝow in vnite  & haueþ noon envie
To lered ne to lewed  but lyueþ after ȝoure rule
And I wole be ȝoure borwe  ȝe schul haue breed & cloþes
And oþere necessaries ynowe  ȝe schul no þing fayle
Wiþ þat ȝe leue logyke  & lerne for to louye
[^1517] For loue laften[^1518] þei lordschipe  boþe lond & scole
Freres fraunceys & domynyk  for loue to be holy
And if ȝe coueyte cure  kynde wole ȝow teche
Þ at in mesure god made  alle manere þingys
And sette it at a certeyn  & at a siker noumbre
And nempnede names newe  & noumbrede þe preestis
Q ui numerat multiudinem stellarum[^1519] & cetera[^1520]
Kyngys & knyȝtis  þat kepen & defenden
Han officeris vndir hem  & of[^1521] iche of hem a certeyn
And if þei wage men to werre  þei writen hem in noumbre
Wole no tresourerer hem paye  traueyle þei neuere so sore
Alle oþere in batayle  been yholden brokouris[^1522]
Pilouris & pikeharneys  in iche a place a-cursid
Monkes & monyalis  & alle men of religioun
Her ordre & her rule wole  to haue a certeyn nowmbre
Of lewed & of lered  þe lawe it[^1523] wole & askeþ
A certeyn for a certeyn  saue onliche of freris
For-þi quod concience bi crist  kynde witt me telleþ
It is wikked to wage ȝow  ȝe waxen out of nowmbre
Euene[^1524] haþ euene nowmbre  & helle is wiþ-oute nowmbre
For-þi I wolde witterli  þat ȝe weren in[^1525] registre
And ȝoure nowmbre vndir notaries sygne  & neiþer mo ne lasse
Enuye herde þis . & leete[^1526]  freris . go to scole
And lerne logyk & lawe  & eke constellacioun[^1527]
And preche men of plato  & preue it bi seneca
Þ at alle þingys vndir heuene  ouȝten[^1528] be in comune
And ȝit he lieþ as I leue  þat to þe lewed so precheþ
For god made to men a lawe  & moyses it tauȝte
Non concupsces concup[i]sces rem proximi tui & cetera[^1529]
And yuele is þis yholden[^1530]  in parissches of englond
For persounys & parisch preestis  þat schulden þe peple schryue
Been curatouris called  to knowe & to hele 
Alle þat been her parischenes  penaunce to enioyne
And schulden be a-schamed in her schrifte  ac schame makeþ hem wende 
And flee to þe freris  as false folk to westmynyster
. westmynyster .
Þat borwen & beren þidir  & þanne bidden frendis 
Ȝerne of forȝyuenesse  or lenger ȝeris lone
Ac whyle he is in westmynyster  he wole be bifore
And make hym myrie  wiþ oþere mennys goodis
And so it fareþ bi[^1531] myche folk  þat to þe freris hem[^1532] schryuen
As sisouris & exsecutouris  þei wolen[^1533] ȝyue þe freris
A parcel to preye for hem  & make hem-seluen[^1534] myrie
Wiþ þe residue & þe remenaunt  þat oþere men biswonken
And suffre þe dede in dette  to þe day of doom
Enuye her-fore  hatede concience
And freris to philosophie  he fonde[^1535] to scole
Þe while coueytise & vnkyndenesse  concience assayleden[^1536]
In vnite holi chirche  concience helde hym
And made pees porter  to pynne þe ȝates
For[^1537] alle tale- telleris  & titerers in ydel
Ypocrisie & he  an harde saute þei maden
. ypocrisie .
Ypocrisie at þe ȝate  harde gan to fiȝte
And woundede wel wikkidli  many wise techeris
Þat wiþ concience acordede  & cardynal vertues
Concience callede a leche  þat wel couþe schryue
Go salue þoo þat seke been  þoruȝ synne &[^1538] woundid
. schrifte .
Schrifte schope scharpe salue  & made men do penaunce
For her mysdedis  þat þei wrouȝten[^1539] hadde
And þat peers were payed  redde quod debes
Summe likeden not þis leche  & letteres þei senten
If any surgien were þe segge  þat softer couþe playstre
Sire leef to lyue in lecherie  lay þere & gronede
F .. or fastyng of a friday  he ferde as he wolde deye
Þ er is a surgien in þis þis þis sege  þat softe can handele
And more of phisik bi fer  & fayrer he playstreþ
. Frere flaterer .
Oon frere flaterer  is phisicien & surgien
Quod contricioun to concience  do hym come to vnite
For heer is many a man hirt  þoruȝ ypocrisie
We han no nede quod concience  I woot no better leche
Þan persoun or parisch preest  penytauncer or bisschop
Saue peers þe plowman  þat haþ power ouer hem alle
And indulgence may do  but if dette lette it
I may wel suffre seyde concience  siþ ȝe desiren
Þ at frere flaterer be fet  & phisike ȝow seke
Þe frere her-of . herde  & hyede hym faste
To a lord for a letter  leue to haue cure
And as a curatour he were  & cam wiþ hise lettres
Booldli to þe bisschop  & his breef hadde
In cuntrees þer he coome inne  confessioun[^1540] to here
And cam þer concience was  & knokkede at þe ȝate
Pees vnpynnede it  was porter of vnite
And in hast askede  what his wille were
In feiþ quod þis frere  for profiȝt & for hele[^1541]
Carpe I wolde wiþ contricioun  & þerfore cam I hider
He is seek seyde pees  & so arn many oþere
Ypocrisie haþ hirt hem  ful hard is if þei keuere
I am a surgien seyde þe segge  & salues can make
Concience knoweþ me wel  & what I kan do boþe
. Frere leche .
I preye þee quod pees þoo  er þou passe forþer
What hattest þou I preye þee  hele not þi name
Certis felaw seyde[^1542] he  sire penetrans domos
Ȝhe go þi gate quod pees  bi god . for al þi phisik
But þou kunne sum craft  þou comest not heer-inne
I knewe swich oon ones  not eyȝte wynter passed
Coome in . þus y-coped  at a court þere I dwelte
And was my lady[^1543] leche  & my lordis boþe
And at þe last þis lymytour  þo my lord was oute
He saluede so oure wommen  til summe were wiþ childe
Heende speche heete pees  to opene þe ȝates
Latte in þe frere & his felaw  & make hem fayre chere
He may see & here  so it may be-falle
Þ at lijf þoruȝ his lore  schal leue coueytise
And be adrad of deþ  & wiþdrawe hym fro pride
And a-corde wiþ concience  & kisse her eiþer oþer
Þus þoruȝ heende speche  entrede þe frere
And cam in . to concience  & curteysli hym grette
Þ ou art welcome quod concience  canst þou hele þe seke
Heer is contricioun quod concience  my cosyn ywounded
Counforte hym quod concience  & take keep to hise sores
Þe playstres of þe persoun  & poudres biten to sore
He leete hem ligge ouer -longe  & loþ is to chaunge hem
Fro lenten to lenten  he latte hise playstres byte
. Frere confessour .

[O.20.360: A flourish appears centered beneath the marginal addition.]

Þat is ouer -longe quod þis lymytour  I leue I schal amende it
And gooþ & gropeþ contricioun  & gaue hym a playstre
Of a pryue payement  & I schal preye for ȝow
And for alle þat ȝe been holden to  al my lijf-tyme
And make ȝow . my lady  in messe & in matynes
As frere[^1544] of oure fraternyte  for a litil syluer
Þus he gooþ & gadereþ  & gloseþ þere he schryueþ
Til contricioun hadde clene forȝeten  to crie & to wepe
And wake for hise wikkede werkis  as he was wont to done
For counfort of his confessour  contricioun he lafte
Þat is þe souereynest salue  of[^1545] alle kyn synnes
Sleuþe þanne saw[^1546] þat  & also[^1547] dide pride
And cam wiþ a kene wille  concience to assayle
Concience criede efte  & bade clergye helpe
And also contricioun  for to kepe þe ȝate
He lijþ & dremeþ seyde pees  & so doon many oþere
Þe frere wiþ his phisik  þeise[^1548] folk haþ enchauntid
And playstred hem so esily  þei dreden no synne
Bi crist quod concience þoo  I wole bicome a pilgryme
And walken as wyde  as þe werld lasteþ
To seke peers þe plowman  þat pride may distruye
And þat freres hadden a fyndyng  þat for nede flateren
And counterpleden me concience  now kynde me auenge
And sende me happe & hele  til I haue peers þe plowman
And siþ he gradde after grace  til I gan awake[^1549]

[^1473: O.20.5: O alone has the form frountede in place of afrounted.]

[^1474: O.20.5: O alone has ful in place of wel or omission.]

[^1475: O.20.27: O alone has ful in place of ouer.]

[^1476: O.20.29: OC2 alone have he or in place of he or or alone.]

[^1477: O.20.45: O alone has ynomen; most B manuscripts have ynome.]

[^1478: O.20.49: Only O has ne also; most B manuscripts have ne alone.]

[^1479: O.20.50: O alone has vndirnomen; most B manuscripts have vndernome.]

[^1480: O.20.50: OR alone lack me before þus.]

[^1481: O.20.63: GYOC2 alone have freend in place of fend.]

[^1482: O.20.64: O alone has weren; most B manuscripts have were.]

[^1483: O.20.67: O alone has curseden in place of cursed.]

[^1484: O.20.69: O alone has abouten; most B manuscripts have aboute.]

[^1485: O.20.71: O alone includes lust.]

[^1486: O.20.96: O alone has þat in place of and.]

[^1487: O.20.100: YOC2Cot alone include ne.]

[^1488: O.20.100: CrO alone have neuere in place of euere.]

[^1489: O.20.102: O alone has swelteden ; most B manuscripts have swelted.]

[^1490: O.20.104: O alone has wolden in place of wolde.]

[^1491: O.20.121: O alone has hyde; most B manuscripts have hiden.]

[^1492: O.20.122: O alone has the infinitive form in place of the preterite.]

[^1493: O.20.124: O alone has precheden in place of preched.]

[^1494: O.20.127: O alone has kneleden in place of kneled.]

[^1495: O.20.136: O alone has Departe; most B manuscripts have Departen.]

[^1496: O.20.152: OF alone have But in place of And.]

[^1497: O.20.160: O alone has two instances of werre &, apparently as the result of dittography. However, because the line makes sense as it stands (if werre is understood as meaning "worse"), it may possibly be the result of deliberate scribal intervention.]

[^1498: O.20.161: O alone has &; all other beta witnesses have of.]

[^1499: O.20.164: O alone lacks he before schifte.]

[^1500: O.20.169: OC2 alone have ȝyuen; variants include gyue (C), gafen (BmBo), gaue (CrCotF), and gyuen (WHmGYLMR).]

[^1501: O.20.173: O alone lacks an article before palsye.]

[^1502: O.20.177: O alone has hope in place of herte.]

[^1503: O.20.180: O alone includes he; most B manuscripts include no pronoun.]

[^1504: O.20.184: GOC2 alone have þi in place of þe.]

[^1505: O.20.189: OC2 alone have gyede; most B manuscripts have gyued.]

[^1506: O.20.193: O alone has sche in place of we.]

[^1507: O.20.199: This and the following eleven lines are written around a very large keyhole-shaped tear in the vellum, at about the center of the leaf.]

[^1508: O.20.211: O alone includes for before to.]

[^1509: O.20.219: OB alone include bi.]

[^1510: O.20.228: O alone has couþen in place of kouþe.]

[^1511: O.20.230: O alone has coomen; most B manuscripts have come.]

[^1512: O.20.233: GO alone have seyen; most B manuscripts have siþen.]

[^1513: O.20.235: GO alone have bygge; most B manuscripts have begge.]

[^1514: O.20.236: O alone includes to.]

[^1515: O.20.237: O alone has forsoken in place of forsoke.]

[^1516: O.20.242: O alone lacks and before holi.]

[^1517: O.20.238-248: This and the preceding ten lines are written around the same keyhole-shaped tear in the manuscript described at O.20.199.]

[^1518: O.20.248: O alone has ynomen; variants include þerof lofte (Bo), þerof loste (BmCot), lost (Cr), þei (GC2), and lafte (WHmYCLMRF).]

[^1519: O.20.254: OR alone lack et omnibus eis after stellarum.]

[^1520: O.20.255: This line is written in the right margin. It is divided after numerat and a red parasign precedes the second line of text, which appears above the first.]

[^1521: O.20.256: O alone has & of in place of and or of alone.]

[^1522: O.20.259: O alone has brokouris; most B manuscripts have Brybours.]

[^1523: O.20.263: OHm alone include it.]

[^1524: O.20.267: Although the MED lists Euene as a form of the word Heaven, this is the only occurrence of the form in this manuscript, and O is the only B manuscript in which the form occurs in this line.]

[^1525: O.20.268: OM alone among beta witnesses lack þe before registre; in M it has been erased.]

[^1526: O.20.270: O alone has leete; most B manuscripts have heet.]

[^1527: O.20.271: O alone has constellacioun in place of contemplacion.]

[^1528: O.20.273: OF alone lack to before be.]

[^1529: O.20.277: This line is written in the right margin.]

[^1530: O.20.277: O alone has yholden; variants include holde (Cr), to hold (G), ȝolden (B), and yholde (WHmYC2LMRF).]

[^1531: O.20.287: HmYO alone have bi in place of with.]

[^1532: O.20.287: WOF alone include hem.]

[^1533: O.20.288: O alone has wolen; all other beta witnesses have wol.]

[^1534: O.20.289: O alone has hem-seluen ; all other beta witnesses have hemself.]

[^1535: O.20.293: O alone lacks a word between fonde and to; most B manuscripts have hem.]

[^1536: O.20.294: O alone has the form assayleden in place of assaillede.]

[^1537: O.20.297: O alone has introductory For; most B manuscripts have Of.]

[^1538: O.20.303: O alone includes & before woundid.]

[^1539: O.20.305: O alone has wrouȝten in place of wroȝt.]

[^1540: O.20.326: CrO alone have the singular form.]

[^1541: O.20.330: O alone has the form hele; most B manuscripts have helþe.]

[^1542: O.20.338: O alone has felaw seyde in place of seide; all manuscripts except OF have felaw as subject and place it in final position in the a-verse.]

[^1543: O.20.343: O alone has lady; most B manuscripts have lordes.]

[^1544: O.20.365: WHmO alone have the singular form frere in place of the plural, although Y has suster.]

[^1545: O.20.370: O alone has of in place of for.]

[^1546: O.20.371: O alone has þanne saw; most B manuscripts have seigh.]

[^1547: O.20.371: O alone has also in place of so.]

[^1548: O.20.376: YOC2 alone have the plural form.]

[^1549: O.20.384: This line is followed by six ticks.]

E xplicit[^1550] hic dialogus petri plowman[^1551] L auderis[^1552] christe  quia finitur liber iste[^1553][^1554]

[^1550: O.20.385: The initial capital of the word E xplicit is heavily ornamented and outlined in red.]

[^1551: O.20.385: This line is underlined both above and below in red. Small red ticks appear between each of the preceding words and after plowman.]

[^1552: O.20.385: The initial capital of Lauderis is ornamented and outlined in red.]

[^1553: O.20.385: Small red ticks appear between each of the preceding words; three ticks in black appear at the end of the line.]

[^1554: O.20.385: The word finit, written unevenly in a large, crude hand, appears centered in the bottom margin about three vertical spaces below the final trailer.]