The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. WHAT?VOLUME: San Marina, CA, Huntington Library, MS 137 (P)
author: William Langland
source date: early 15th century
edition published: WHAT?YEAR
language: lat; fre; ger; AN
availability: Commercially available: copyright WHAT?YEAR, by SEENET

Homo sine pecunia est quasi corpus sine anima A man without money is as a bodie without shoull.

[P.1.0: The page is cropped and badly rubbed. The transcription of marginalia from this page is owed to Consuelo Dutschke's Guide To Medieval and Renaissance Manuscripts in the Huntington Library (San Marino: Huntington Library, 1989): ???*** Available online at http://sunsite3.berkeley.edu/hehweb/HM137.html.]

Hic incipit Visio Willelmi de petro ploughman

I N asomere a somere seyson  whan softe was þe sonne
Y shop[^a1] in to shrobbis  as y[^a2] shepherde were
In Abit as an Ermite  vnholy of werkes
I ch[^1] wente forth in þe worle  wonders to hure
And sawe meny cellis  and selcouthe þynges
Ac on a · may morwenyng*  on Maluerne hulles
Me byfel for to slepe  for weyrynesse of wandryng*
And in a launde as ich lay  lenede ich and slepte
And Merueylously me mette  as ich may ȝow telle
Al þe welþe of þis wordle[^2]  & þe woo boþe
Wynkyng* as it were  wyterly ich saw hyt
Of tryuþe & of tricherye  of tresoun[^a3] and of gyle[^a4]
Al ich saw slepynge  as ich shal ȝow telle
Esteward ich byhulde  after þe sonne
And sawe a toure as ich trowede  truthe was þer-ynne
Westwarde ich waitede · in a wyle after
And sawe a deep dale · deþ as ich lyuede[^a5]
Wonede in þo wones · and wyckede spiritus
Afair A fair feld fol of folke · fonde ich þer bytwyne
Alle manere of men · þe mene & þe ryche
Worchynge and wandrynge · as þe worlde askeþ
Somme pute hem to[^a6] plow · and pleiden fol seylde {e overwitten?}
In settyng and in sawyng* · swonken ful harde
And wonne þat þuse wasters · wit glotenye distryeþ
Somme putte hem to pruyde · & parailede hem þer -after
In contenuance & in[^a7] cloþynge · in Meny kynne gyse
In praiers & in penaunces[^a8] · putten hem Manye
Al for þe loue of oure lorde · lyuend[^a9] ful harde
In hope to haue a goud ende · & heuene-ryche Blysse
As ancres and Eremites · þat holden hem in hure cellys
Coueytynge[^a10] noȝt in contrees · to tarien a-boute
For no lykerouse lyflode · hure lykame to plese
And somme chosen cheffare · þey cheffede þe betere
As hit sem eþ to oure syght · þat soche men þryueþ
And somme murthes to make · as mynstrals conneþ
Þat wollen · neyþer swynke ne swete bote swery grete oþes
And fynde vp foule fantesyes · and foles hem maken
And hauen witte at wylle · to worche yf þey wolde
Þat Paul . prechi þ of hem · prouen hit ich myghte
Q ui turpiloquium loquitur · ys lucyfers knaue
Bydders and Beggers · faste a-boute ȝoden
<d> (?)

[P.1.42: The added letter is underlined and surrounded by a triangle of points. A doodled letter appears in the bottom left margin.]

Tyl hure bagge and hure bely · were bred ful ycrammyd
Faytynge for hure fode · and fouhten atten Ale
In glotenye tho gomes · goth þey to bedde
And aryseþ[^a11] wit ribaudrie · tho Roberdes knaues
Slep & synful sleuthe · seweþ suche euere
Pylgrimis & palmers · plyȝhten hem to-gederes
To siche seint Iame · and se yntys of rome
Wenten forth in hure way · wit meny vn-wyse tale[^a12]
And hauen leue to lye · al hure lyf-tyme ·
Eremytes on an hep · with hokede staues
Wenten to Walsyngham · and hure wenches after
Grete lobies and longe · & loth were to swynke
Cloþede hem in copis · to be knowe fro oþere
And made hem-silue Eremytes · hure eise to haue
Ich fond þer frerus[^a13] · alle þe foure ordres
Prechynge þe peple · for profit of þe wombe
And glosynge þe godspel · as hem good lykede
For couetise of copes · contrariede som doctors
Meny of þis maistres · of mendinant freres
Hure monye & marchaundise · marchen to-gederes
Ac sutth charite hath be chapman · and chef to shryue lordes
Many ferlies han fallen · in a fewe ȝeres
Bote holy churche & charite · choppe a-doun swich shryuers
Þe moste myschif of[^a14] molde · Mounteþ vp faste
Ther preched a pardoner · as he a prest were
And broute forþ abulle · with bisshopis seles
And[^a15] seide þat hym-selue myȝthe · asoilie hem alle
Of falsnesse of fastinges · of vowes to broke
Lewede men lyuede hym wel · and likeden hus wordes
Comen & kneleden · to kyssen his bulles
He blessede hem with hus bulles · and blerede hure eye
And raghte with hus rageman · rynges an Broches
Thus ȝe ȝeueþ ȝoure golde · glotones to helpe
And leneþ it to loreles · þat lecherie haunten
Were þe bisshop blessid · eþer[^a16] worth boþe hus eren
Hus sele sholde noȝt be sent · in deceit of þe puple
Ac it ys noȝt by þe bysshop · þat þe boye precheþ
Þe parsheprest parshe prest and þe pardoner · parten þe seluer
Þat poore[^a17] puple in parshes · sholde haue yf þei ne were
P ersones & parsheprestes · pleynede to þe bisshop
Þat hure parshen ben poore · sitthe þe pestelence tyme
To haue licence & leue · in londone to dwelle
And synge þer for symonye · þe wyle[^a18] seluer ys swete
Bisshopes and bachilers · boþe maisters and doctors
Þat han cure vnder cryst · and crownynge in tokne
Ben chargid wit holy churche · charyte to tulie
Þat is leel loue and lif · a-mong* lered and lewed
Thei leyen in londene · in lentene and elles
Somme seruen þe kynge · and hus seluer tellen
In þe chekkere and þe chauncelrie · chalengynge hus dettes
Of wardes & of wardemotes · wayues and strayues
Somme aren as seneschals · and seruen oþere lordes
And ben in stede of stywardes · and sitten & demen
Concience cam & acusede hem · and þe comune herde hit*
And seide ydolatrie ȝe soffren · in sondrye places menye
And boxes ben yset forþ · bounden with yre
To vnder-take þe tool · of vntrewe sacrifice
In menynge of miracles · muche wex hongeþ þere
Al þe wordle wot wel · hit myȝte nat be trywe
Ac for it profitiþ ȝow to porswarde · ȝe prelates soffren
Þat lewede men in mysbylyue · leuen & deien
Ich lyue[^a19] wel · by oure lorde · for loue of ȝoure couetyse
Þat al þe wolde[^a20] wo[r]lde be þe wors · as holy wryȝt telleþ
What cheste & meschaunce · to children of israel
Ful on hem þat free were · þorwe two false preestes
For þe synne of ophin ·[^a21] · and of finéés[^a22] · hus brother
Þei were disconfit in bataille and losten Archa . dei[^3]
And fore hure syre sauh hem syngen · and soffrede hem don ille
And noȝt chasted hem þer -of · and wolde noȝt rebuke hem
A -non as it was ytold[^a23] hyme · þat þe children of israel
Weren disconfit in bataille and Archa dei . ylore[^a24]
And hus sones slayen · anon he ful for sorwe
Fro hus chaire þare he sat · and brak hus necke a-tweyne
And al was for veniaunce · þat he but[^4] noȝt hus children
And for þey were preestes · and men of holychurche
God was wel þe wroþer · and tok þe raþere veniaunce
For þei[^a25] ich seȝe ȝe preestes and men of holychurche
Þat soffren men do sacrifice · and worshepen Maumettes
And ȝe sholde be here fadres · and techen hem betere
God shal take veniaunce · in[^a26] alle swiche preestes
Wel harder and grettere · on suche shrewede faderes
Þan euere he dude on ophin · and finéés · or in here fader
For ȝoure shrewede suffraunce · and ȝoure owene synne
Ȝoure masse & ȝoure matynes and meny of ȝoure houres
Aren don vndeuotlich* · drede ys at þe laste
Leste crist in hus constorie · of ȝow · a-corse menye
Ich parceuede of þe power · þat peter . hadde to kepe
To bynden and vnbynden · as þe boke telleþ
How he[^a27] loste[^a28] wit[^5] loue · as oure lorde wolde
Amonges foure vertues · most vertuose of vertues
That cardinales ben callid · and closynde ȝates
Ther crist is in kyngdome · to closye with heuene
Ac of þe cardinales at court · þat chaut[^a29] han such* a name
An power presumen in hem-self · a pope to make
To haue þe power þat peter . hadde · repugnen[^a30] ich nelle
For in loue and in letterure · lith þe grete eleccion
Countrepleide it noȝt quaht[^6] Conscience . for holy churches sake
Þanne cam þer akyng a kyng* · knyȝt-hod hym ladde
The meche myȝte of þe men · made hym to regne
And þanne cam a kynde[^a31] witte · & clerkus he made
A nd conscience[^a32] & kynde wit · and knyȝt-hod to-gederes
Caste þat þe comune · sholde hure comunes fynde
Kyndewit & þe comune · contreuede alle craftes
And for most profytable to þe puple · a plouh þei gonne make
Wit leel labour to lyue · wyl lyue and londe lasteth
Than kynde wit to þe kyng · and to þe comune seide
Crist kep þe kyng* · and þy kynryche
And lyue[^a33] þe lede so þy lon de · þat leaute þe louye
And for þy ryȝtful ruelyng* · be rewardid in heuene
Conscience · to cleregie · and to þe kyng saide
Sum rex sum princeps · venturum[^a34] fortasse deinceps
O qui iura regis · Christi[^7] specialia regis
Hoc vt agas melius · iustus & esto pius
Nudum ius a te · vestiri vult pietate
Qualia vis metere · talia grana sere
Si seritur pietas · de pietate metas
Conscience . and þe kyng* · in-to þe court wenten
Wer houede an hondred · in houes of silke ·
Seriauntes hij[^a35] semede · þat seruen atte þe barre
To plede for penyes · and poundes þe lawe
And nat for oure lordes loue[^a36] · vnlose hure lyppe ones
Þow myȝt[^a37] bet[^a38] mete þe myst · on maluerne hulles
Þan gete a mom of hure mouth · til moneye be hem[^a39] shewid
Thanne ran þer a route · of ratones as it were
And smale mys with hem · mo þan a þousand
Come to on[^a40] counsail · for hure comune profit
For a cat of a court · cam wanne hym lykyde
And ouer-leep hem lyȝtlyiche · and lauhte hem at wille
And pleide with hem[^a41] periloslich · & putte hem þer hym lykyde
And if we grucche of hys game · he wol greue ous sarrer
To hus clees clawen ows · and in hys cloches holde
Þat ous loþeth þe lyf · er he lete ows passe
Myȝte we wit[^8] eny wyȝt[^a42] · hus wil to with-sette
We myȝte be lordes aloft · and lyue as vs lusten
Tho saide a raton of renoun · mest[^9] resonable of tonge
Ich haue yseie[^a43] grete syres · in sytees and in tounes
Bere byȝes of bryȝt gold · al aboute hure neckes
And colers of crafty werke · boþe knyȝtes and squiers
Were þer abelle a belle on hure byȝe · by Ihesus me[^a44] þynkeþ
Men myȝte wite wer þei wenten · an d hure wey roume
Ryȝt so quaþ þe raton · reison me shewith
A belle to byggen of bras · oþer of bryȝt seluer
And knytte it on a coler · for oure comune profit
And honge aboute þe cattys hals · þanne hure we mowe
Wer he ryt oþer rest · oþer romyþ to pleye
And yf hym luste for to layke · þanne loke we mowe
And appere in hus presence · wil hym pleye lykeþ
And yf he wratthe we mowe be war · and hus way roume
Al þe route of þe[^a45] ratons · to þys reison a-sentede
Ac þo þe belle was ybouȝth and þe[^a46] byȝe hongede
Ther was no raton of[^a47] al þe route · for al þe reame of fraunce
Þa[^a48] þerste[^a49] haue bounde þe belle · a-boute þe cattes necke
Ne haue it hongid a-boute hus hals · al engelonnd to wynne
And leten hure labour ylost · and al hure longe trauail
A mous þat muche good couthe · as me þo þouthe
Strok forþ sturneliche · and stod by-for hem alle
And to þe route of ratones · rehercede þuse wordes
Thauh we hadde ycullid þe catte · ȝut sholde þer come anoþer
To chracchen ous & al oure kynde · þouh we crepe vnder benches
For þei[^a50] ich consaile for comune profit · lete þe cat worthe[^a51]
And neuere be we so bold · þe belle hym to shewe
For ich hurde my syre sayn · seuen ȝer passed
Ther þe cat nys[^a52] bote a kyton · þe court is ful elynge
Witnesse of[^a53] holy wryt · who-so can rede
Salamon .
U E terre ubi puer est Rex .
Ich sigge it for me quaþ þe mous · ich seo so muchel after
Shal neuere þe cat ne þe kyton · by my consail be greuede
Ne carpen of hure colers · þat costide me neuere
And þauh it costned me catel · by-knowe ich ne wolde
Bote soffren and sigge nouht · and so is þe beste
Tyl myschief a-menden hym[^a54] · þat meny men chasteþ
And[^a55] meny mannys malt · we myes wolde distrye
And ȝe route of ratons · of rest men a-wake ·
Ne were þe cat of þe court · And ȝonge kytones to- warde
For hadde ȝe ratones ȝoure reed · ȝe couthe nat ruelie[^a56] ȝow-selue
Wat this metals by-meneþ · ȝe men þat but[^a57][^10] murye
Diuine ȝe for ich ne dar · by dere god almyȝty
Ȝut mete[^a58] me more · of mene and of ryche
As barouns & burgeis · and bonde-men of þroupes
Al ich sauh slepyng* · as ȝe shullen hure after
Boþe bakers and brywers · bouchers and oþere
Webbesters and walkers · an wynners with handen
As taylours and tanners · and tyliers of erthe
As dikers and deluers · þat don here dedes ille
And dryueþ forþ hure daies · with deux saue dame emme
Kokes and here knaues trieden · hote pyes · hote
Good goos and grys · go we dyne gowe
Tauerners a tast for nouht · tolden þe same
Whit wyn of oseye · and of gastoyne
Of þe ruele and of þe rochel · wyn þe roste to defye
Al þis ich sauh slepynge · and seuene sythes more

[^a1: shop (P E) | shope me (All other mss)]

[^a2: y (P R) | y a (All other mss)]

[^a3: of tresoun (P Ec Nc) | tresounn (Most other mss)]

[^a4: of gyle (P Ec Nc) | gyle (All other mss)]

[^a5: lyuede (P) | leue (Most other mss)]

[^a6: to (P Mc Sc Fc Nc) | to þe (All other mss)]

[^a7: & in (P Ec) | of ~ & in (All other mss)]

[^a8: in penaunces (P Ec Sc) | penaunce ~ penaunces (Most other mss)]

[^a9: lyuend (P) | lyuede(n) (Most other mss)]

[^a10: Coueytynge (P Ec) | Coueyten (Most other mss)]

[^a11: aryseþ (P Ec) | ryseþ (All other mss)]

[^a12: tale (P Ec Vc) | tales (All other mss)]

[^a13: frerus (P Rc Mc) | of Freris (Most other mss)]

[^a14: of (P Ec) | on ~ in (Most other mss)]

[^a15: And (P P2 Uc) | He ~ nil (All other mss)]

[^a16: eþer (P Ec) | and ~ or (Most other mss)]

[^a17: poore (P Rc Vc Ac) | þe pore (Most other mss)]

[^a18: þe wyle (P Ec Mc) | while (Most other mss)]

[^a19: lyue (P) | leue (All other mss)]

[^a20: wolde (P) | world (All other mss)]

[^a21: þe synne of ophin · (P Ec Vc Ac) | Offines synne (Most other mss)]

[^a22: of finéés (P Ec) | fines (All other mss)]

[^a23: ytold (P Rc) | tolde (Ec)]

[^a24: ylore (P Ec Mc Vc Ac) | lorn (Most other mss)]

[^a25: For þei (P) | Forthy (Most other mss)]

[^a26: in (P Ec) | on (Most other mss)]

[^a27: he (P Dc Ec) | he it (Most other mss)]

[^a28: loste (P Ec Ac Sc) | lefte (Most other mss)]

[^a29: chaut (P) | caught (Most other mss)]

[^a30: repugnen (P Ec) | impugne (hem) (Most other mss)]

[^a31: a kynde (P) | kynde (All other mss)]

[^a32: A nd conscience (P) | Conscience (Most other mss)]

[^a33: lyue (P) | lene (Most other mss)]

[^a34: venturum (P Nc) | neutrum (All other mss)]

[^a35: hij (P Ec Q Sc Fc) | it (Most other mss)]

[^a36: oure lordes loue (P Ec Rc Vc Ac) | loue of oure lord (All other mss)]

[^a37: myȝt (P Uc Ec) | myghtest (All other mss)]

[^a38: bet (P Ec Vc Ac Qc Sc) | betre (All other mss)]

[^a39: be hem (P Ec) | be (Most other mss)]

[^a40: on (P Ec) | a (Most other mss)]

[^a41: hem (P Uc Dc Ec Mc) | somme (All other mss)]

[^a42: wyȝt (P) | wyt (All other mss)]

[^a43: yseie (P Ec Mc Fc) | seyen (All other mss)]

[^a44: me (P Ec Rc Vc Ac) | as me (All other mss)]

[^a45: of þe (P Sc) | of (All other mss)]

[^a46: þe (P) | on (Most other mss)]

[^a47: of (P Ec Gc) | in (Most other mss)]

[^a48: Þa (P) | That (All other mss)]

[^a49: þerste (P) | derste (All other mss)]

[^a50: For þei (P) | Forthy (Most other mss)]

[^a51: worthe (P Qc Fc) | yworthe (Most other mss)]

[^a52: nys (P P2 Ec) | is (All other mss)]

[^a53: of (P Ec Nc) | at (Most other mss)]

[^a54: hym (P Bm) | hem (All other mss)]

[^a55: And (P Ec) | For (All other mss)]

[^a56: ruelie (P Ec) | reule (All other mss)]

[^a57: but (P) | ben (All other mss)]

[^a58: mete (P Dc) | mette (Most other mss)]

[^1: P.1.4: This spelling appears only here and in P17.199. We initially transcribed this instance as "Ic," but the superscription in addition to the scribe's failure to spell out any forms other than iche ~ i ~ y suggests he intended it as an abbreviation.]

[^2: P.1.10: Wordle, "world." For the forms, see MED, s.v. world n. and LALME 4.86-87. The scribe's more usual form is world(e) (42x). The spelling wordle appears some fifteen times. FINISH THIS ***???]

[^3: P.1.108: It is odd that dei was not also rubricated and written in textura, but it does not appear to have been added after initial copying.]

[^4: P.1.115: but, "beat, punished."]

[^5: P.1.130: wit, "with."]

[^6: P.1.38: quaht, quath. See the linguistic description at ???***.]

[^7: The scribe uses the brevigraph derived from Greek Chi and rho to represent the stem Christ-, but here takes it to reflect the letter combination <Ch>.???]

[^8: P.1.174: wit, "with."]

[^9: P.1.176: The spelling, on the basis of the Russell and Kane apparatus, was unique at this point in C witnesses.]

[^10: P.1.217: The scribe probably wrote but for buth. See the Linguistic Description, §??{xref}***???]

E xplicit passus primus .

I Ncipit passus secundus .

W hat þe montayne by-meneþ · and þe merke dale
And þe feld ful of folke · ich shal ȝow fayre shewe
A loueliche lady of lere · in lynnen y-cloþid
Cam doun fro þat castel · and calde me by name
And seide wille slepest þow · syxt þow þis puple
How busy þai ben · a-boute þe mase
The most partie of þe puple · þat passeþ on þis erthe
Haued thei worship in þis worlde · þei willen no betere
Of oþer heuene þan here · þei · holden no tale
Ich was aferd of hure face · thauh hue faire were
And saide mercy ma dame · wat may þys be to mene
The tour vp on toft[^a59] quaþ hue · treuthe ys þer-ynne
And wolde þat ȝe wrouhte · as hus word techeþ
For he is fader of faith · and formour of alle
To be faith-ful to hym · he ȝaue ȝow fyue wittes
For to worshepen hym þer -with · wile ȝe lyuen here
Werfore he het þe elemens · to helpe ȝow alle tymes
And brynge forth ȝoure bylyue · boþe lynnen and wollen
And in mesure þouh hit muche were · to make ȝow at ese
He comaundid of his cortesye · in comun e þre þynges
Aren non nudful bote þo þre · nempnen hem ich þenke
And rekene hem by rewe · reherce hem wer þe lykeþ
Ther[^a60] ferst of þo ys* fode · an vesture þe secounde
And drynke þat do þe good · ac drynk nat oute of tyme
Lo loth in hus lyue · þorw Lecherouse drenke
Wikkydlich wroghte · a n d wratthede god al·myghty
In hus dronknesse a day · hus douhtres he dighte
And lay by hem boþe · as þe bok telleþ ·
In hus glotenie by-gat[^a61] · þat wereren weren[^a62] churles
And al he wited þe wyne · hus wikked dede
Genesis .
I ebriamus I [n]ebriamus[^a63] eum uino et dormiamus cum eo ut seruare possimus de patre nostro semen .
Thorgh wyn and þorw wommen · þer was loth · encombred
For þy dred dilitable drynke · boþe day and nyȝtes
Mesure is a[^a64] medecyne · þauh þou muche wylne
Al is noȝt good to þe gost · þat þe gout askeþ
Ne liflode to þe licame · þat leof is to þe saule
Lyef noȝt þy licame · for alyere a lyere hym techeth
Þat is þ ys[^11] wrecchede worlde · þat wolde þe bygyle
For þe fend and þy flesch · folwen to-gederes
And þat seyþ þe saule · and setth hit the in herte
And wisseþ þe to be ware · and what[^a65] wolde þe deceyuye
A · ma·dame[^12] mercy quaþ ich · me lykeþ wel ȝoure wordes
Ac þe moneye of þis molde · þat men so faste kepeþ
Telle ȝe me now to wham · þat tresour by-longeþ
Go to þe gospel quaþ hue · and see what god sayde
Wanne þe puple a-posed hym · of a peny in þe temple
And god askede of hem · whas[^13] was þe coygne
Cesares þei seiden · sothliche we knowen
Reddite cesari . seide god · þat to cesar . by-falleþ
Et que sunt dei deo . oþer[^a66] ellys ȝe don ille
For ryhtfulliche reson · sholde ruele ȝow alle
And kynde wit be wardeyn · ȝoure welþe to kepe
And tutour of ȝowre tresoure · and take ȝow atte[^a67] nede
For hosboundrie and he · holdeþ to-gederes
Ich fraynede hure faire þo · for hym þat hure made
The dupe dale and durke[^a68] · vn-semely to see to
What may hit by-mene · madame ich by-seche
That is þe castel of care · who-so comeþ þer-ynne
May banne þat he bore was · in body and in soule
Ther-ynne wonyeþ a wyȝt · þat wrong is his name
Fader of falshede · fond hit furst of alle
Adam and Eue · he egede to don ille
Consailde cayme · to cullen hus broþer
Iudas he by-raped · þorgh Iewene seluer
An afterward he heng hym · hye on an ellerne
He ys a lett are of loue · and lyeth alle tymes
Þat tryst in erthely tresour · be by-traieþ sonnest
To en-combrye men with couetyse · that his hus[^14] kynde
Thanne hadde ich wonder in my wit · w hat womman hue were
Þat suche wyse wordes · of holy wryȝt shewede
And hanslede[^a69] hure on þe heie name · er hue þennys wente
What hue were whiterly · þat wissede me so and tauhte
Holychurche ich am quaþ hue · þow oghtest me knawe[^a70]
Ich vnder-feng þe formest · and fre man þe made
Þow broghtest me borwes · my byddyng to fulfille
To lyue[^a71] on me and louye me · al þy lyue-tyme
Thanne knelede ich on my knees · criede[^a72] hure grace[^a73]
And preiede hure pytosly to preie · for me to amende
Also to kenne me kyndelich · on crist to by-lyue
And teche me to no tresour · bote telle me þys ilke
How ich may sauy my saule · þat seynt ert yholde
Qwenne[^15] alle tresours ben · tried qua þ hue[^a74] · treuþe is þe beste
Ich do hit on Deus caritas to deme þe soþe
Hit is as derworthe a druwery · as dere god hem-selue[^a75]
For he is trywe of hus tonge · and of hus two handes
And doþ þe werkes þer -with · and wilneþ no man ille
He is a god by þe gospel · and graunty may hele
And like oure lorde also · by seynt lukys wordes
Clerkus þat knowen þys · shoulde kennen hit a-boute
For cristene and vncrestine · cleymen it echone
Kynges and knyȝtes · shoulde kepen hit by reson
Ryden and rappe a-doune · In reames a-boute
And to take trespassours · and tyen hem faste
Til trewþe hadde ytermenyde[^a76] · here trespas to þe ende
And holde with hym and with hure · þat han triwe action
And for no lordayne loue · leue þe trewe partye
Trewely to take · and treweliche to fyȝete
Ys þe profession and þe poure[^16] ordre · þat apendeþ to knyȝtes
Wo-so passeþ that poynt · ys aposteta[^a77] of knyȝt-hod
For þei shoulde nat faste · ne for-bere sherte[^a78]
Bote feithfullich defende · and fyȝte for truthe
And neuere leue for loue · In hope to lacche seluer
Dauid by hus daies · dobbede knyȝtes
And dude hem swerye in[^a79] here swerde · to serue truthe euere
Wanne god by-gan heuene · in þat grete blysse
He made knyȝtes in hus court · creatures tene
Cherubin and seraphin suche seuene[^a80] another
Lucifer . louelokest þo · ac lytel wile it laste[^a81]
He was an archangel of heuene · on of godes knyȝtes
He and oþer with hym · þat hulde[^a82] nouȝt w ith treuthe
Lopen out in loþliche forme · for hus false wille
He hadde lust to be lyke · hus lord god almyghty
P onam pedem meum in aquilone & ero similis altissimo ·
Lord why wolde he þo · þulke[^a83] wrechede[^a84] lucifer .
Lepen on a-lofte[^a85] · in þe north syde
To sitten in þe sonne side · þer þe day roweþ
Ne were it for norþerne men · a-non ich wolde telle
Ac ich wolle lacke no lyf · quaþ þat lady sotthly
Hit is sykerer by southe · þer þe sonne regneth
Þan in þe north by meny notes · no man loyue lo[uy]e[^a86][^17] oþer
For þider as þe fend flegh · hus fote for to sette
Ther he failede and fuel · and hus felawes alle
And helle is þer he ys · and he þer ybounde
Euene contrarie sitteþ criste · clerkus knowen þe soþhe
D ixit dominus domino meo sede a dextris meis .
Ac of þis matere · no more meue ich nelle
He was[^a87] in þe halyday · after heten[^a88] wayten
Þey care noȝt þauh it be cold · knaues wen þei worchen
In wonderwyse holy wryt · tellith how þei fullen
Somme in erþe somme in aier · somme in helle dupe
Ac lucifer lowest · lith of hem alle
For prude þat hym pokede · hus peyne hath no ende
Alle þat worchen þat wikkede ys · wenden þei shulle
After hure deþ day · and dwelle þer wrong ys
And alle þat han wel y-wroght · wenden þey shulle
Estwarde to heuene · euere to abyde
Ther treuthe is þe trone · þat trinite ynne sitteþ
Lere it þus lewede men · for lettrede hit knoweþ
That treuthe & trewe loue · ys no tresour bettere
Ich haue no kynde knowyng quaþ ich · ȝe mote kenne me bettere
By wat wey hit wexith · and wonder[^a89] out of my menyng*
Thow dotede daffe quaþ hue · dolle aren þy wittes
Ich lyue þow lornedist to lyte · latyn in þy ȝowethe
H eu michi quod sterilem duxi uitam iuuenilem .
Hit is a kynde knowyng* · þat kenneþ in þyn herte
For to louye þy lord · luuest of alle
And deye raþere · þan to do eny dedlich* synne
M elius est mori . quam male uiuere .
And þis ich trowe be treuthe · w ho-so can teche þe betere
Loke þow soffrie hym to say · and so þow myght lerne
For treuthe telleþ þat loue · ys tryacle for synne
And most souereyne salue · for saule and for body
Loue is þe plonte of pees · and most[^a90] preciouse of vertues
For heuene holde hit ne myȝte · so heuy hit semede
Til hit hadde on erthe · ȝoten hym-selue
Was neuere vp-on lynde · lef[^a91] lygheter þer-after
As wanne hit hadde of þe flod · flesch and blod ytake
Tho was it portatyf and pershaunt · as þe poynt of anelde a nelde
May non Armure hit lette · noþer hye walles
For-þy is loue ledere · of oure lordes folke in[^a92] heuene
And mene[^a93] as þe meyere is · by-twyne þe kyng & þe comune
Ryȝt so is loue aledere a ledere · and þe lawe shappeþ
Vp man for hus mysdedes · þe mercement he taxeþ
And for to knowe it kyndeliche · hit comseþ by myghte
In þe herte þer is þe hefd · and þe hye welle
Of kynde knowyng in herte · þer comseþ amyghte a myghte
That falleþ in-to[^a94] þe Fader · þat formede ous alle
On ous he lokyde with loue · and let hus sone deye
Meekliche[^18] for oure mysdedes · to a-mendyn[^19] ous alle
And ȝut wolde he hem no wo · þat wroght hym al þat tenne[^a95]
Bote myldeliche with mouthe · mercy he by-souhte
To haue pyte on þat puple · þat paynede hym to deþe
Her myȝt þow see ensample · In hym-self one
That he was myghtful & meuk[^20] punctus; and mercy gan graunte
To hym[^a96] þat henge hym hye · and hus herte þorlede
For-þy ich rede ȝow ryche · haue reuthe of[^a97] þe poure
Þauh ȝe be myghty to mote · beeþ meuk in ȝoure workes
Þe same mesure þat ȝe meteþ · amys oþer ellys
Ȝe shulleþ be weyen þer-with · wanne ȝe wenden hennes
E adem mensura qua mensi fueritis remicietur nobis
Thauh ȝe be trywe of ȝoure tonge . and triwelich* wynne
And be as chast as a chyld · þat noþer chit ne fyghteþ
Bote yf[^a98] loue leelliche · and lene to[^a99] þe poure
Of such good as god sent · goodliche parte
Ȝe haue no more meryt · in masse ne in houres
Than malkyn of hure maidenhod · wam no ma ma[n] desireþ
For Iamys þe gentel · suggeþ[^a100] in his bokes
Þat feith with-oute fet · ys febelere þan nouht
And ded as a dore nayle · bote yf þe dede folwe
F ides sine operibus mortua est .
Chastite with -oute charite · worth cheynid in helle
Hit is[^21] as lewede as a lampe · þat no lyght ys ynne
Meny chapelayns aren chast · ac charite hem faileþ
Aren none hardur ne hongryour · þan men of holy churche
Auerouse & veuele[^22] willed · wanne thei ben auaunsed
And vnkynde to hure kyn · and to alle crystine
Thei chewen here charite · and chiden after more
And encombred with couetyse · þei conne nat out crepe
So harde hath aueryce · hasped hem to-gedderes
And þat ys no treuthe of þe trinite bote trecherie and synne
And luþer ensample leyf me · to þe lewede puple
For chees aren wordes · wryten in þe euangelye
D ate et dabitur uobis[^a101] .
And þat is þe lok of loue · þat vnloseþ grace
Þat confortetth alle cristine · encombred with synne
So loue ys lech* of lyue · and lysse of alle pyne[^a102]
And þe graffe of grace · an grayþost to[^a103] heuene
For-þy ich may say as ich seide · by syght of þe[^a104] tixt
Wenne alle tresours ben tryed · treuth ys þe best
Loue it quaþ þe[^a105] lady · lette may ich no lengere
To lere þe wat loue ys · and leue at[^a106] hue lauhte

[^a59: toft (P Ec) | þe toft (Most other mss)]

[^a60: Ther (P) | The (All other mss)]

[^a61: by-gat (P Ec) | bygat gurles (All other mss)]

[^a62: wereren weren (P) | were(n) (Most other mss)]

[^a63: I ebriamus I [n]ebriamus (P) | Inebriemus (Most other mss)]

[^a64: is a (P) | is (All other mss)]

[^a65: and what (P Ec Qc Sc Fc) | what (Most other mss)]

[^a66: oþer (P Ec) | or (All other mss)]

[^a67: atte (P) | at (All other mss)]

[^a68: durke (P Ec Qc Sc Fc) | þe derk (All other mss)]

[^a69: hanslede (P X Rc Vc Ac) | halsede (Most other mss)]

[^a70: knawe (P Nc) | to knowe (Most other mss)]

[^a71: lyue (P Nc) | leue (All other mss)]

[^a72: criede (P) | and criede (All other mss)]

[^a73: grace (P) | of grace (All other mss)]

[^a74: tried qua þ hue (P Ec Rc Mc Vc Ac P2) | tried (Most other mss)]

[^a75: hem-selue (P) | hym-selue (Most other mss)]

[^a76: ytermenyde (P Uc Ec Mc) | termyned (Most other mss)]

[^a77: aposteta (P Ec Gc) | appostata (All other mss)]

[^a78: sherte (P Rc Mc Ac Fc Dc) | serk (All other mss)]

[^a79: in (P Ec) | on (All other mss)]

[^a80: seuene (P Gc) | seuene and (Most other mss)]

[^a81: laste (P Ec) | duyred (Most other mss)]

[^a82: hulde (P Dc Ec Vc Ac) | helde(n) (All other mss)]

[^a83: þulke (P Mc Vc Ac Qc Sc Gc) | þat (Most other mss)]

[^a84: wrechede (P) | wykkede (Most other mss)]

[^a85: on a-lofte (P Ec) | alofte (Most other mss)]

[^a86: loyue lo[uy]e (P) | leue (Most other mss)]

[^a87: He was (P Ec) | Hewes (Most other mss)]

[^a88: heten (P Vc Ac) | hete (All other mss)]

[^a89: wonder (P Ec) | wheder (Most other mss)]

[^a90: and most (P Ec) | most (All other mss)]

[^a91: vp-on lynde · lef (P Ec) | lef vppon lynde (Most other mss)]

[^a92: in (P Ec Fc) | of (All other mss)]

[^a93: mene (P Ec) | a mene (All other mss)]

[^a94: in-to (P Ec Mc) | to (All other mss)]

[^a95: tenne (P) | tene (Most other mss)]

[^a96: hym (P) | hem (All other mss)]

[^a97: of (P Ec) | on (Most other mss)]

[^a98: yf (P) | yf ȝe (All other mss)]

[^a99: lene to (P Ec) | lene (Most other mss)]

[^a100: suggeþ (P) | iugeth (Most other mss)]

[^a101: uobis (P Ec) | uobis for y dele ȝow alle (All other mss)]

[^a102: pyne (P) | payne (Most other mss)]

[^a103: to (P Ec Rc Vc Ac) | way to (All other mss)]

[^a104: þe (P Sc) | this (Most other mss)]

[^a105: þe (P Sc) | þat (All other mss)]

[^a106: at (P) | at me (All other mss)]

[^11: P.2.38: ----CHECK MS--- The original scribe's þe (the reading of most X manuscripts) was changed to þys, the dominant reading in the P family. ***??? Does this go with other evidence that P's exemplar agreed with X and changed? I'm confused????]

[^12: P.2.42: The scribed occasionally used raised points to indicate compound words.]

[^13: P.2.47: whas, "whose." A nonce spelling for this manuscript.]

[^14: P.2.68: his hus, "is his."]

[^15: This is the only occurrence of <Qw> in the manuscript]

[^16: P.2.98: poure, "pure." The <o> is squeezed in awkwardly, and the scribe may have intended to write his usual form pure.]

[^17: P.2.120: Russell and Kane read loyne.]

[^18: Darker ink and some roughness to the letters. Erasure would also explain the lack of rubrication in first letter. The ruling has been affected by the erasure.]

[^19: P.2.169: RK read amendy, a reading shared by E. However, a tilde appears over the <y>. CHECK MS/TIFF]

[^20: P.2.174: Meuk is almost a unique spelling, not listed in head words of MED but consistent with Southwest and West Midlands forms meok, moeke, muke, etc. It appears here and at P2.177.]

[^21: P.2.192: The scribe appears to have re-inked several letters in this line and the next.]

[^22: P.2.195: This is a nonce spelling for "evil." The scribe's usual form is vuel(e) (P6.165, P11.17, 27, 309; P14.120, P16.93, P223, 281, etc.]

E xplicit passus secundus .

I Ncipit passus tercius .

A nd þanne ich knelede on my knees · and cryede to hure of grace
And seide mercy madame · for marye loue of heuene
Þat bar þat blessede barn · þat boughte vs on þe rode
Kenne me by som craft · to knowe þe false
Loke vpon þy lyft half quath hue · lo war he standiþ
Boþe fals and fauel · and fykel tonge lyere
And menye of hure maners · boþe men and wommen
Ich lokid on my lyft half · as þe lady me tauhte
And sauh a wommon as yt were · wonderlich riche cloþed
He was purfild wit peloure · non purer in erthe
And coronede in a corone · þe kynge hath no betere
On alle hure fyue fyngres · rycheliche y-rynged
And þer-on rede rubies · and oþer riche stones
Hure robe was ryccher · þan ich rede couthe
For to telle of hure atyre · no tyme haue ich nouth
Hure arays wit hure rychesse · rauesshede myn herte
Was wyf hue were · and what was hure name
Luue lady quaþ ich þo · layn nat yf ȝe knowen
Þat ys mede þe mayde quaþ hue · þat hath noyed me ofte
And lowen up-on my lemmen · þat leaute ys hoten
And lackyd hym to lordes · þat lawes han to kepe
In kynges court & in comune court · contrarieþ my techynge
In þe popes paleys hue is · pryuy as my-selue
Ac soþnesse wold noȝt so · for hue is a bastarde
On fauel was hure fader · þat hath a fykel tonge
An seilde soth seith · bote he souche gyle[^23]
And mede ys manered after hym · as men of kynden karpen
T alis pater talis filius .
For shal neuere brere bere · beries as a vyne
No on croked kene þorne · kynde fygys wexe
B ona arbor bonum fructum facit .
Ich ouhte be herrer þan hue · ich kam of kynde betere
The fader þat me forth brouhte filius dei he hoteþ
Þat neuere lyede ne lauhwede · in al hus lyf-tyme
Ich am hus dure douheter · duchesse of heuene
What man þat me louyeþ · and my wille folweþ
Shal haue grace to good ynow · and a good ende
And wat man þat loueþ mede · my lyf ich dar wedde
He shal luse for hure loue · a lappe of trywe charite
That most helpeþ men to heuene · mede most letteþ
Ich do hit vpon dauid . þe dommbe wol noȝt lye
D omine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo . et cetera
Dauid vn-doþ hit hym-self · as þe dumbe sheweþ
E t super innocentem munera non accepit .
To-morwe worth mede wedded to amansed a mansed wrecche
To on fals faithles · of þe feendes kynne
Fauel þorgh is[^24] flateryng* speche · hath mede foule enchantid
And al is lyers ledyng* · þat lady is þus ywedded
Soffre now and þow shalt see · suche as ben apaiede
Þat mede ys þus ymaryed · to-morwe þow shalt aspie
Know hym wel yf þow kanst · and kep þe fro hem alle
Þat louyeþ hure lordsheps · lasse oþer þe more
Lacke hem noȜt bote lete hem worthe · tyl leaute be Iustice
significant mark?
And haue power for to punyshe hem · þen put forþ þy reson
For ich by-kenne þe crist quaþ hue · and hus clene moder
Encombre neuere þy conscience · for couetyse of mede
Thus left me þat lady · lyggynge a-slepe
And ich sauh how mede was maried · metyng as it were
And al þe riche retynaunce · þat roteþ hem on fals lyuynge
Were bede to þat brudale · on boþe half þe contreie
Of many maner men · þat were of medes kunne
Of knyȝtes of clerkes · of oþer comune puple
As sysours and somners · shereyues and here clerkes
Budels and bailifs · and brokours of chaffare
Vorgheours[^a107] and vytailers · and vokettus of arches
Ich kan noȝt rekenye þe route · þat ran a-boute mede .
Ac symonye and ciuile · an[^25] sisours of contreis
Were most pryuye wit mede of eny men of þe route
Ac fauel was þe ferste · þat fette hure of chambre
And as abrocour a brocour broghte hure · forth to be ioynid wit fals
Wanne symonye and cyuyle · sauh here boþeres wil
Thay assented þer-to · at seluers praiere
Thenne leep liere forþ · and seide lo here a chartre
That gyle hath gyue to falsnesse · and graunted to mede
And preyþ cyuyle it to see · and symonye it to rede
Þanne symonye and cyuyle · stod forth boþe
And vnfeeld þat feffement · þat fals hadde makede
Þanne sayde symonye · þat cyuyl it herde
Alle þat louen & bylyuen · vp lykyng of mede
Leueþ hit leelly · thys worth hure laste mede
Þat folwen falsnesse · fauel and lyere
And me and shiche[^a108] men · þat after mede wayten
C arta . Sciant presentes et futuri . et cetera .
Wetyn alle and witnesen · þat wonen here on erthe
Þat mede . ys y-maried more · for hure mechel richesse
Þan for holynesse oþer hendenesse · oþer for hye kynde
Falsnesse his[^26] fayne of hure · for he wot hure riche
And fauel hath with fals speche · feffed hem by þis lettere
To be prynces of prude · and pouerte to dispice
To bagbyten and to bosten · and bere fals whitnesse
To scornie and to scolde · sclaundres to make
Boþ vnbuxom and bold · to breke þe ten hestes
The erldom of enuye · and yre he hym graunteþ
W ith þe castel of cheste · and chatering out of reson
The countee of couetise · he consenteþ to boþe
W ith vserye and Auerice · and oþer false sleithes
In bargeyn s and in brocages · with þe borghe of þufþe
And al þe lordshep of lecherye · in lengþe and in Brede
As in workes and in wordes · waitenges of eyes
In wedes and wisshenges · and with ydel þouhtes
Þer þat wil wolde · and werkmanshup faileþ
Glotenye he geueþ hym · and grete oþes to-gederes
Al day to drynke · at dyuerse tauernes
Ther to Iangly and to Iape · and Iuge her emcristine
And fastingdayes to frete · by-for noon an[^27] drynke
W ith spicerie spek ydelnesse · In veen speche and spene
·???
And suwye forþ swych felaushep · tyl þei ben fallen in slewþe
And a-wake with wanhope · and no wil to amende
For he leyueþ be ylost wen he hus lyf leteþ
This lif to folwie falsnesse · and folk þat on hym lyueþ
After hure deþ dwelling · day with -outen ende
In luciferes lordshup · as þys lettere sheweþ ·
W ith al þe portinaunce of purgatorye · and þe payne of helle
In witnesse of þis þyng · wrong was þe ferste
And Peres þe pard oner · of paulynes queste
Bette þe budele · of banneburies sokne
Reynald þe reue · and þe Redyngkynges menye
Munde þe mylnere · and meny mo oþere
In þe date of þe deuel · þis dede ys a-selede
By syght of syre symonye · and cyuyles leue
Thanne tuemede tue[n]ede[^a109] hym theologye · wenne he þys tale herde
And seyde to syre symonye · now sorwe þow mote haue
Such* a weddyng to worche · þat wrathe myghte treuhþe
And er þis weddyng be wroughte · wo to al ȝoure consail
For mede is moillere · amendes was here dame
Þouh fals were hure fader · and fykel tonge hure syre
Amendes was hure dame · by trewe men lokyng*
W ith -oute hure moder amendes mede . may noght be wedded
For treuth plyghte hure treuthe · to wedde on of hure douhteres
And god grauntede it were so · so þat no gyle were
And þow hast ygeue hure as gyle taughte · god ȝyue þe sorwe
For cyuyl and þy-selue · selde fulfilleth*
Þat god wolde were ydo · with -oute som deceite
Ich theologie þe tixt knowe · and trewe dome wytnesseþ
Þat Laurens þe leuite · lyggynge on þe gredire
Loked vp to oure lorde · and a-loud seide
God of þy grace · heuene gates opene
For ich man of þy mercy mede haue deserued
And sythþe man may an hey mede of god deserue
Hit semeþ fulsothly · ryght so on erthe
That mede may be wedded · to no man bote to treuthe
And þow hast feffyd hure · with fals · fy on suche lawe
For þorw lesynges ȝe lauhte · largeliche mede .
Þat ȝe nemeþ & notaries · to nauht by-gynneþ brynge
Holy churche and charite · ȝe cheweþ and deuoureþ
Ȝe shulle a-bygge boþe · bote ȝe a-mende þe sonnere
For wel ȝe wyten wernardes · as holy wryt telleþ
Þat fals ys faithles · þe fend ys hus syre
And as a bastard ybore · byȝute was he neuere
And mede ys moillere · amaiden a maiden of goode
Hue myghte cusse þe kyng · as for hus kynswomman
For-þy worcheþ by wisdome · and by witte also
And ledeþ hure to londen · wer lawe may declare
Yf matrimonie may be · of mede and of falshede
And þow Iustice en-ioynen hem · þorgh Iurers oþes
Ȝut be-war of þe wedyng · for wytty is treuthe
And conscience is of hus consail · and knoweth ȝow alle
And yf he fynde ȝow indefaute in defaute · with þe falseholde
Hit shal sitte ȝoure soules · ful soure at þe laste
Her to a-sentyd cyuyle · ac symonie ne wolde
Tyl he hadde seluer for þe seel · a[^a110][^28] sygnes of notaries
Tho fette fauel forþ · floreynes y-nowe
And bad gyle go gyue · gold al a-boute
Nameliche to notaries · þat non of hem faille
And feffe falsnesse · wit floreynes ynowe
For he may mede amaistren with hus myry speche
Tho þis gold was gyuen · gret was þe þonkynge
That fals and fauel hadde · for here faire ȝyftes
And comen ful courteislich* · to conforte þe false
Thei seide to hym softeliche · cesse shulle we neuere
Til mede be þy wedded wyf · we wolle nouht stynte
For we han mede a-maistrid þorw oure myrye tonge
Þat hue graunteþ to go · with a good wille
To londen and loke · yf lawe wol Iuge
To be maried for monye mede . hath a-sented
Than was fauel fayne · and falsnesse blyþe
And leten sompne alle segges · In eche syde a-boute
And bed hem alle ben boun · beggeres and oþere
To wenden with hem to westemynstre · hus weddyng to honoure
Ac hakeneyes hadde þei none · bote hakeneyes to hyre
Thenne gan gyle borwe hors · at meny grete maistres
And shope þat a shereyue · sholde bere mede .
Softliche in saumbury · fram syse to syse
Fals and fauel sholde · fecche forth sisours
And ride on hem & on reues · ryght faste by mede .
Symonye an[^29] cyuyle · seiden and sworen ·
That prestes and prouisours · sholde prelates seruen
And ich my-self cyuyle · and symonye my felawe
Wollen ryden vp-on rectours · and riche men deuoutours
And notories and persons · þat permuten ofte
And on poure prouysors · & on a-peles on þe arches
Somenours and southdenes · þat supersedeas . takeþ
On hem þat louyeþ lecherie · lepeþ vp and rydeþ
On executores and suche men · comeþ softliche after
And let cople þe comissarie · oure cart shal he drawe
And fecche forth oure vitailes · of fornicators
Makeþ of lyer a lang cart · to lede alle þes oþere
As fobbes and faitours · þat on hure fet rennen ·
Thanne fals and fauel · ryden forth to-gederes
And mede in þe myddes · and alle þuse men after
Ich haue no tome to telle · þe tail þat hem folweþ
Of many manere men · for medes sake seut after
Ac gile was forgoere · to gyen al þe puple
For to wisse hem þe weye · and with mede a-byde
Sothnesse seih hem alle · and seide bote a lytel
And priked forth on pacience · an[^30] passede hem alle
And cam to þe kynges court · to conscience he tolde
And conscience to þe kyng** · carped it after
Now by cryst quath þe kyng** · and ich cacche myghte
Fals oþer fauel · oþer here felawe lyere
Ich wolde be wreke on þo wrecches · and on here werkus alle
And do hem hongy by þe hals and alle þat hem maynteneþ
Shal neuere man on þis molde · maynpryse þe leste
And ryght as þe lawe lokeþ · let falle on hem alle
He comaundyd a constable · þat cam at þe furste
Go atache þo tyrauns · for eny tresour ich hote
Let feterye fast falsnesse · for eny kynnes ȝiftes
And gurd of gyles hefd · and lete hym go no wyddere
And brynge mede . to me · maugre hem alle
And if ȝe lacche lyere · let hym nat a-skapie
Er he be put on pullery · for eny preior ich hote
Drede stod at þe dore · and al þat duene herde
What þe kynges wil was · and whyghtlyche he wente
And bad falsnesse to flee · and hus feren alle
Falsnesse for fere · flegh to þe freres
And gyle dud hym to gon · agast for to deye
Ac marchauns metten with hym and made hym abyde
And shutten hym in here shoppes · to shewen here ware
And parailed hym lyke here prentys · þe puple to seruen
Lyghtliche lyere · lep a-way þo fro þennes
Lorkynge þorw lanes · to-logged of menye
He was nawer wolcome · for hus meny tales
Ouer-al honted out · and yhote trosse
Til pardoners hadden pitte · and pollede hym to house
Thei woshe hym and wypede hym · and wonde hym in cloutes
And sente hym in sonnedayes · with seeles to churches
And ȝaf hym pardon of pans · pound-meel a-boute
Thanne lourede leches · and letters þei senten
Þat lyer shold wony with hem waters to loke
And spicers to hem speke · to aspie here ware
For he can on here crafte · and knoweþ meny gommes
Ac mynstrales and messagers · mette w ith lyere one
And with -helde hym half aȝere a ȝere · and elleue dayes
Ac Freres þorw fayre speche · fetten hym þennes
For knowynge of comers · þei copyde hym as a Frere
Ac he hath leue to lepen out · as ofte as hym lykeþ
And ys wolcome wanne he comeþ · and woneþ with hem ofte
Symonye and cyuyle · senten to rome
And putte hem þorw apeles · in þe popes grace
Ac conscience to þe kyng** · a-cusede hem boþe
And seide syre kyng by cryst · bote clerkus a-mende
Thi kyngdom þorw here couetyse · wol out of kynde weynde
And holy churche þorw hem · worth harmed for euere
Alle fledden for fere · and flowen in-to hernes
Saue mede þat mayde · no mo dorste a-byde
Ac tryweliche to telle · hue tremblede for fere
And boþe wrang** and wepte · wanne hue was a-tachede

[^a107: Vorgheours (P) | Vorgoers (Some mss)]

[^a108: shiche (P) | suche (All other mss)]

[^a109: tuemede tue[n]ede (P) | tened (Most other mss)]

[^a110: a (P) | and (All other mss)]

[^23: See the bottom of the page. Check MS]

[^24: P.3.47: is, "his."]

[^25: P.3.67: an, "and."]

[^26: P.3.87: his, "is."]

[^27: P.3.105: an, "and."]

[^28: P.3.161: **??Perhaps the "a" is "and" and no app tag needed??? CHECK FOR OTHER INSTANCES]

[^29: P.3.186: an, "and."]

[^30: P.3.206: an, "and."]

H ic explicit passus . iijus

I Ncipit passus quartus .

N OW is mede . þe mayde · and no mo of hem alle
Þorw bedeles and bailifs · brouht by-fore þe kynge
The kyng kallid a clerk · ich can nouht ys name
To take mede þat mayde · and make here at ese
Ich shal asaye hure my-self · and sothliche apose
Wat man of þys worlde · þat hure is leuest haue
And yf hue wirche wisliche · by wysmen counsail
Ich wolle for-gyue hure alle hure gultes · so me god helpe
Cortesliche þe clerk þenne · as þe kynge hyghte
Toke mede by þe mydel · and myldeliche here broughte
In-to boure with blysse · and by hure gan sitte
Ther was myrthe of mynstralcy · mede to plesen
That wenden to westmynstre · worshupde hure meny
Gentelich with ioye · Iusti ces somme
Buskede hem to þe boure · ther þis berde dwellyd
Confortynge hure as þei couthe · by þe clerkus leue
And seyde morne nat mede . make þow no sorwe
For we wolle wisse þe kyng · and þy wey shappe
For to wende at þy wil · wer þe luf lykeþ
For alle consciences cast · a craft as ich trowe
Mildeliche mede þo · merciede hem alle
Of hure grete goudnesse · and gaf hem echone
Coupes of clene gold · and coppes of seluer
Rynges with rubies · and oþer riche ȝiftes
The leste of here meyne · a moton of golde
Wenne thei had lauht here leue · at þys lady mede .
Thenne comen clerk us · to comfortye hure samen
And beden here be blythe · for we ben þyn owe
For to worche þy wil · þe wile we mowe dure
Ande mede hendiliche · by-hyht hem þe same
To louen hem leellich* · and lordes hem make
And porchace ȝow prouenders · wile ȝoure pans lasteþ
And bigge ȝow benefices · pluralite to haue
And in constorie atte court · do calle ȝoure names
Shal no lewednesse lette · þe clerk þat ich louye
Þat he ne worth ferst auanced · for ich am knowen
Ther connynge clerkus · shulleþ clocke by-hynde
Thenne com þer a confessour · coped as a Frere
To mede þat mayde · myldelich* he sayde
Thauh lered men and lewede · had layen by þe boþe
And falshede yfounden þe · al þis fourty wynter
Ich shal a-soily þe my-selue · for a seem wete
And ȝut be þy bedman · and brynge adoun conscience
Among kynges and knyȝthes · and clerkus if þe lyke
Thenne mede for hure mysdedes · to þis frere knelyd
Shrof hure of here synnes · shameles yleyue y leyue
Told hym a tale · and took hym anoble a noble
For to be hure be hure be hure[^a111] bedman · and bere wel hure ernede
Among knyȝthes and clerkus · conscience to turne
And he soiled hure sone · and setthen he seide we haue
A wyndow a-worcheng · wol stonden ous[^31] ful hye
Wolde ȝe glase þe gable · and graue þer ȝoure name
In masse and in matyns · for mede we shulleþ synge
Solenliche[^a112] and sothlich* · as for asustre a sustre of oure ordre
Louelich* þat lady · lauhynge seyde
Ich shal be ȝoure frende frere · and faille ȝow neuere
The wile ȝe louyeþ þuse lordes · þat lecherye haunten
And lackieþ noȝt þuse ladies · þat louyeþ þe same
Hit is bote frelete of flesch* · ȝe fynden wel in bokis
And a cours of kynde · wer-of we comen alle
Ho may a-scapie þe sclaundere · þe scaþe may sone be mendyd
Hit ys synne[^32] as of seuene · non soner relesede
Haue mercy quath mede · on men þat hit haunten
And shal keuery ȝoure churche · and ȝoure cloistre maken
Boþe wyndowes and wowes · ich wolle a-menden & glase
And do peynten and portreyn · wo paide for þe makynge
Þat euery seg* shal see and seye · ich am sustre of ȝoure ordre
Ac god to alle good folke · suche grauynge defendeþ
To wryten in wyndowes · of eny wel-dedes ·
Leste prude be peyntid þere · and pompe of þe worlde
For god knoweþ þy conscience · and þy kynde wille
Thi cost and here couetyse · and who þe catel ouhte
For-þy leue lordes loue · leueþ suche wrytinges
God in þe gospel · such grauynge noȝt a-loweþ
N esciat sinistra quid faciat dextera
Let nat þy lyft half · oure lord techeþ
Ywite what þow delest · with þy ryht syde
Ȝut mede myldeliche · þe meyre hure bysouhte
Bothe shereues and seriauns · and suche as kepeþ lawes
To punyshen on pillories · and on pynyng stoles
As bakers and brewers · bouchers and Cokes
For þees men doþ most harme · to þe mene puple
Richen þorw regratrye · and rentes hem byggen
Whit[^33] þat þe poure puple · sholde putten in hure womben
For toke þey on triweliche · they tymbrid nat so heye
Noþer bouhten hem burgages · be ȝe ful certayn
Thei haue no puteye of þe puple · þat parcel-mele mote biggen
Þauh þei take hem vntydy þyng · þei hold hit no treson
And þauh þei fulle nat ful · þat for lawe y seelde
He gripeþ þer -for as grete · as for þe grete treuthe
Meny sondry sorwes · in cyte fallen ofte
Boþe þorw fyur and flod · and al for false puple
That by-gylen good men · and greueþ hem wrongliche
The wiche cryen on hure knees · þat crist hem auenge
Here on þys erthe · oþer elles on helle
That so by-gyleþ hem of here good · and god on hem sendeþ
Feueres oþer fouler hyueles · oþer fur on here houses
Moreyne oþer oþere meschaunce · and menye tyme hit falleþ
That innocence ys yherde · In heuene a-monge seyntes
That louten for hem to oure[^34] lorde · and to oure lady boþe
To graunten gylours on erthe · grace to amende
And haue here penaunce on pure erthe · and noȝt in þe pyne of helle
And þenne falleþ þer fur · on false menne houses
And good men for here gultes · gloweþ on fuyr after
Al þys haue we seyen · that som tyme þorw a brewere
Meny burgagys ybrent · and bodyes þer -ynne
And þorw a candel clomyng · in a corsed place
Fel a-doun and for-brende · forþ al þe rewe
For-þy mayres þat maken free men · me þynken þat þei ouhten
For to spure and aspye · for eny speche of seluer
What manere mester · oþer merchaundise he vsede
Er he were vnder-fonge free · and felawe in ȝoure rolles
Hit ys noȝt semly forsoþ · in cyte ne in borwton
Þat vsurers oþer regratours · for eny kynne ȝeftes
Be fraunchised for a free man · and haue fals name
Ac mede þe mayde · þe meyere hue by-souhte
Of alle suche sellers · suluer to take
Oþer presentes with -oute pans · and oþer pryueye ȝyftes
And haue reuthe of þe regratours · þat han ryche hondes
In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt dextra eorum repleta est muneribus .
Loue hem for my loue · quath this lady mede
And soffre hem som tyme · to sulle a-ȝens þe lawe
Salamon the sage · a sarmon hue made
In amendement of meyres · and oþere stywardes
And witnessyth wat worth of hem · þat wollen take mede
Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera .
Among þes lettrede lordes · þis latyn ys to mene
Þat fur shal falle and for-brenne · al to blewe askes
The houses and þe homes · of hem þat taken ȝyftes
The kynge fram consail cam · and callyd after mede[^35]
And sente for to se e hure · ac ich say nat hym þat ladde hure
Corteisliche þe kyng* tho · as hus kynde wolde
Lackede here a lyte wyht · for þat hue louede gyle
And wilnede to be wedded · with -oute ys leue
Tyl treuth* hadde tolde hure · a tokne fram hym-selue
And seyde wommen vnwittylich* · wrouȝt hast þow ofte
Ich haue for-gyue þe meny gult es · and my grace graunted
Boþe to þe and to þyne · in hope þow sholdest a-mende
And ay þe lenger ich lete þe go · þe lasse treuthe ys with þe
For worsse wrouhtest þow neuere · þan þo þow fals toke
Ȝut ich for-gyue þe þis gult · godes for-bode eny more
Þow tuene on treuthe · and þow mowe be y-take
In þe castel of corf · ich shal do þe close
Ther as an ancre · oþer in a wel wors wone
And marre þe with myschef · by seint marye my lady
Þat alle wommen wantowen · shulleþ bewar by þe one
And biterliche banne þe · and alle þat bereþ þy name
And teche þe louye treuthe · and take consail of reson
Ich haue a knyȝt hatte conscience · cam late froo by-ȝonde
Yf he wilneþ þe to wyue · wolt ȝow hym haue
Ȝe lord quath þe lady · lord it me for-bede
Bote ich be holiche at þyn heste · let honge me ellys
Thenne was conscience cald · to come and apeere
By-for þe kyng and ys[^36] consail · as clerkus and oþere ·
Conscience . knelynge · to þe kyng loutede ·
To wite what hus wil were · and what he do sholde
Wolt t how wedde þis maide · yf ich wolle assente
For hue ys fayne of þy felaushep · and for to be þy make
Quath conscience to þe kynge · Crist it me for-bude
Er ich wedde suche a wif · wo me by-tyde
For hue ys freel of hure faith · and fikel of hure speche
And makeþ men mys-do · meny score tymes
In trist of hure tresour · he tueneþ ful menye
Wyues and wodewe s · wantownesse hue techeþ
And lereþ hem to lecherie · þat louyeþ here ȝyftes
Ȝoure fader hue felde · fals and hue to-gederes
Hue haþ a-poisened popes · hue apeireþ holy churche
Ys nauht abetere a betere baude · by hym þat me made
By-twyne heuene and helle · alle erthe þauh me souhte
For hue ys tykel of hure tail · talwys of tonge
As comune as þe cart-wey · to knaues and to alle
To monkes and to alle men · the meseles in heggys
Lyggeþ by hure wenne hem lust · lered and lewed
Sysours and somners · suche men hure preyseþ
Shereue of shires · were shent yf hue ne were
For hue doþ men lese here londe · and here lyf boþe
Hue leteþ passe prisoners · and paieþ for hem ofte
And geueþ þe gailer gold · and grotes to-gederes
To vnfeterye þe false · and fle were hem lykeþ
And take trewe by þe top · and tieþ hem faste
And hongeþ for haterede · þat harmede neuere
To be corsed in constarye · hue counteþ nauht arusche a rusche
Hue copeþ þe comessarie · and coteþ hus clerkus
Hue is asoilid þus sone · ase hure lef lykeþ
Hue may ney as moche do · in amounthe a mounthe one
As ȝoure secret seel · in sexscore dayes
Hue ys priuy with þe pope · prouisours it knoweþ
For symonye and hure-self · seeleþ hure bulles
Hue blesseþ thees b yshopys · þauh þei be negh lewede
Hue prouendreþ persons · and prestes hue menteyneþ
To holde lemmenes and lotebyes · al here lif-dayes
And bryngeþ forþ barnes · a-ȝens for-boden lawes
S unt infelices quia matres sunt meretrices .
Ther hue ys wel wyth eny kynge · wo ys þe reome
For hue ys fauerable to fals · that defouleþ treuthe
By iesus with hure iewels · þe Iustices hue shendeþ
Hue lyth aȝen þe lawe · and letteþ hym þe gate
Þat faith ne may nat haue hus forþ · hure floreines goth so thycke
And ledeþ þe lawe as hure lust · and louedayes makeþ
Þoruh wich loueday ys lost · þat leaute myȝte wynne
The mase for þe mene man · þauh he mote euere
The lawe ys so lordlich* · and loth to maken ende
Wit-oute presentes oþer pans · hue pleseth ful fewe
Trewe burgeis and bonde · to nauht hue bringeþ ofte
A nd al þe comune in care · and couetyse
Religion hue al to-reueþ · and out of ruele to lybbe
Ther nys cite vnder sonne · no so riche reome
Ther hue ys loued and lete by · þat last shal eny wile
W ith -oute werre oþer wo · oþer wicked lawes
And custemes and couetyse · þat comune to distruye
Vnsyttynge suffraunce · hure suster and hure-selue
Haue maked al-most · bote marie þe helpe
Þat no lond loueþ the · and ȝut leest þyn owene
For mede . hath knyt clerkes · and couetyce to-geders
Þat al þe whit[^37] of þis worlde · ys woxen in-to gyle
Thus þis lady ledeþ þys londe · now lord ȝeue hure sorwe
For pore men der nat pleyne · ne here pleinte shewe
Suche a maister ys mede · a-mong men of goode
Thanne mornede mede · menyng* hure to þe kynge
To haue space to speke · spede yf hue myghte
The kyng* graunted hure grace · wit a good wyll
Excuse yf þow canst · ich can no more seggen
For conscience acuseþ the · to congie þe for euere
Nay lord quaþ þat lady · leyueþ hym þe werse
Wen ȝe wyten witerliche · in wam þe wrong lyggeþ
Ther þe myschief ys gret mede may helpen
And þat knoweþ conscience ich cam noȝt to chiden
Ne to depraue þe persone · with a prout herte
Wel þow wost wyterly · bote yf þow wolle gabbe
Thow hast hanged on myn hals elleuen tymes
And also grypen of my gold · an gaf it were þe lykede
Why þow wratthest now · wonder me þynkeþ
Ȝut ich may as ich myghte · meurke þe with ȝyftes
And menteyny þy manhod · more þan þow knowest
Ac þow hast famede me foule · by-fore þe kynge here
For culde ich neuere no kyng* · ne consailed so to done
Ac ich saued my-self · and sexty þousand lyues
Boþe her and elles-wer · in alle kynne londes
Ac þow þy-self sothliche · ho it segge dorste
Hast arwed meny hardy men · that hadden wil to fyghte
To brennen and to bruten · to bete a-doun strengthes[^38]
In þe contreis þer þe kyng* cam conscience hym lette
Þat he ne feld nat hus foes · þo fortune it wolde
And as hus werdes were ordeined · by wil of houre lorde
Caytiflyche þow conscience · consailedist þe kyng leten
In hus enemys honde · ys heritage of fraunce
Vnconnyng ys þat conscience a kyngdome to sulle
Þat ys conqueryd þorw comune helpe · a kyngdome oþer duche
May nat be sold soþly · so meny here part asken
Of folk þat fauht þer-fore · and folwed þe kynges wil
Þe lest lad þat longeþ to hym · be þe lond wonnen
Lokeþ after lordshep · oþer oþere large mede
Wer-by he may as aman a man · for euere-more lyue after
And þat ys þe kynde of a kyng · þat conquereþ of ys enemyes
To helpe heyeliche al hus host · oþere elles to graunte
Al þat hus men mowen wynne · to do þer -myd here beste
For-þy ich counsayle no kyng* · eny counsayle aske
A t[^39] conscience . yf he coueyteþ · to conquery a reome
For sholde neuere conscience . be my constable
Were ich a kyng ycoronede · by marye quaþ mede
Ne be mareschal of my men · þer ich moste fyghte
Ac hadde ich mede . be hus mareschal · ouer hus men in fraunce
Ich dorst haue led my lyue · and no lasse wedde
He had be lord of þat londe · in lengthe and in brede
And also kyng of þat cuth* · hus kyn to haue holpen
The leste brel of hus blod · a barones pere
Vnkyndely þow conscience consailedest hym þennes
To lete so hus lordshup · for a lytel moneye
Hyt by-comeþ for a kyng* · þat shal kepe a reame
To ȝeue men mede . þat mecklyche hym serueþ ·
To alienes to alle men · to honoury hem with ȝeftes
mede makeþ hym by-loued · an for aman a man yolde
Emperours and erles · and alle manere lordes
Þoruh ȝiftes hauen ȝemmen · to rennen and to ryde
Þe pope and alle prelates · presentes vnder-fongen
And ȝeuen mede . to men · to menteynye here lawes
Seriauntes for here seruice mede . þey asken
And taken mede . of here maistres · as þei mow a-corde
Beggers and bedmen · crauen mede . for here prayers
Mynstrals for here mynstralcye amede a mede þei asken
Maistres þat techen clerkes · crauen hure for mede
Prestes þat prechen · and þe puple techen
Asken mede and masse pans · and here mete boþe
Alle kyne crafty men · crauen mede . for here aprentys
Marchaundise and mede mote nedes go to-gederes
Is no lede þat leueþ · þat hue ne loueþ · mede
And glad for to grype hure · gret lord oþer poure
Tho quath þe kyng to conscience by Cryest at my knowynge
Mede ys worthy me þynkeþ · þe maistrye to haue
Nay quaþ conscience · clerkes wyten þe soþe
Þat mede ys euermore · ameyntenour a meyntenour of gyle
As þe sauter sheweþ · by suche as ȝeuen mede
Þat vnlawfulliche · hauen large honden
To ȝeue mede . to men · more oþer lasse
Ac þer ys mede . amercede a mercede[^40] and boþe men demen
A desert for som doynge · d eerne oþer elles
Mede meny tymes · men ȝeuen by-for þe doynge
And þat ys noþer reson ne ryht · ne no reame lawe
Þat eny man mede toke · bote he it myghte deserue
And for to vndertake · to trauely for anoþer
And wot neuere whiterly · wer he lyue so longe
Ne haue hap to hus hele mede to deseruen
Ich halde hym ouere hardy · oþer elles nouht trewe
Þat pre manibus ys payed · oþer elles paye askeþ
Harlotes and hores · and also fals leches
Thei asken hure huyre · er þey hit haue deseruede
And gylours gyuen by-fore · and goode men at þe ende
When þe dede ys ydo · and þe day yendyd
And þat ys no mede · bote amercede a mercede
A maner diwe dette · for þe doynge
And bote if yt be payed prestliche · the payer is to blame
As by þe bok þat bit · no-body to wit-holde
Þe hure of hus hywe · ouer eue til a-morwe
Non morabitur opus mercennarij apud te usque mane .
And þer is reson as a reue · rewarding treuthe
And boþe þe lord and þe laborer ben leelliche yserued
The mede þat meny prest takeþ · for masses þat þei syngen
Amen amen Matheu seyth mercedem suam recipiunt .
In marchaundise ys no mede · ich may it wel avowe
Hit is a permutacion a-pertelich* · opene worth for anoþer
And þauh þe kyng of hys cortesye · kaiser oþer pope
Ȝeue lond oþer lordshup · oþer large ȝeftes
To here leelle lege · loue ys þe cause
And yf þe leelle and þe lyge · be luther men after
Boþe kyng and kayser · and þe coronede pope
May desauowe þat þey dude · and douwe þer-whit[^41] oþer
And a-non by-nymen hym hit · and neuere after ·
Noþer þei ne here a yres hardy to cleyme
That kyng oþer cayser hym gaf catel oþer rente
For god gaf to salamon grace vp-on þe erthe
Rychesse and reson · whyle he ryht lyuede
And as sone as god seih · he suwed nouht hus wille
He reuede hym of hys richesse and of hus ryht mynde
And soffrede hym leue in mysbyleue · ich leyue he be in helle
So þat god geueþ no þyng · þat synne ne ys þe glose
And so ryght sothliche · may kyng and pope
Boþe gyue and grauntye · þer hus grace likeþ
And eeft haue hit a-ȝeyn · of hem þat don ille
Thus ys mede a[^42] mercede · as two manere relacions
Rect* and indyrect* · rennynge bothe
On a sad and a syker · semblable to hym-selue
Ac adiectif and substantyf · vnite asken ·
Acordaunce in kynde · in cas and in numbre
And ayþer ys oþeres help · of hem comeþ retribucion
Þat ys þe ȝefte þat god ȝyueþ · to alle leelle lyuenge
Grace of good ende · and gret ioye after
Retribuere dignare domine deus omnia et cetera
Quaþ þe kynge to conscience knowen ich wolde
Wat is relacion rect* · and indyrect* · after
And þanne adiectyf and substantif · for englisch* was it neuere
Relacion rect* quath conscience ys a recorde of treuthe
Quia antelate rei est recordantium .
Folwyng* and a-fyndyng* out · þe foundement of strenthe
And styuelyche stonde forth · to strengthe of þe foundement
In kynde and in case · and in cours of nommbre
As leel laborer · þat by-leuyþ with hus maistre
In hus paye and in hys pyte · and in hus pure treuthe
To paye hym yf he performeþ and haue pyte yf he faylleþ
And take hym for hus trauaile · al þat treuthe wolde
So of hol herte comeþ hope · and hardy relacion
Sekeþ and suweþ hus sustentif sauacion
That ys þe grounde of al · a graciouse antecedent
And man ys relatif rect* · yf he be ryht triwe
He a-cordeþ with crist in ys kynde uerbum caro factum est .
In case credere in ecclesia . In holy churche to by-leyue
In numbre rotie and aryse · and remyssion to haue
Of oure sory sennes · asoiled and clansede
And lyue as oure credo ous kenneþ · with crist with -outen ende
Thus is relacion rect* · ryht as adiectif and substantif
A -cordeþ in alle kyndes · whit[^43] is[^44] antecedent
Indirect* þyng ys · as ho-so coueited
Alle kyne kynde · to knowe and to folwe
W ith -oute cause to cacche two · and come to boþe numbres
In wich* beþ good and nat good · and graunte here noþers wil
Þat is noþer reisonable ne rect* · to refusy my syres sor-name
Sitth ·y· is[^45] sone and seruaunt · suwe for his ryghte
For wo-so wol haue to wyue · my worliche doughter
Ich wol feffe hym with hure fayre · and with hure foule taylende
So indirect þyng ys · Inliche to coueyte
To a-corde in alle kyndes · and in alle kyne numbre
W ith -oute cost and care · in alle kynde trauaile
Ac relacion rect* is · a ryhtful custome
As a kyng to cleyme · þe comune at is wille
To folwe hym to fynde hym · and fecthe fec[c]he at hem hus consail
That here loue þus to hem · þorw al þe londe a-corde
So comune cleymeþ of a kyng · thre kynne þynges
Lawe loue and leaute · and hym lord antecedent
Boþe here hefd and here kyng* · haldyng with no partie
Bote stande as a stake · þat stykeþ in a muyre
By-twyne two londes · for a trewe marke
Ac þe moste partie of þe puple · pure indirect* semeþ
For þei wilnen and wolde · as best were for hem-selue
Thauh þe kyng* and þe comune · al þe cost hadde
Al reson reproueþ · such imparfit puple
And halt hem vnstedefast · for hem lackeþ case
Ac relatifs indirect* · reccheþ þei neuere
Of þe cours of þe case · so þey cacche suluer
Be þe pectunie pec[c]unie ·y·-payed[^46] · þauh parties chide
He þat mede may lacche · makeþ litel tale
Nyme he a numbre of nobles · oþer of shullenges
How þat clyentes a-corde mede a-counteþ lytel
Ac adiectif and substantif · ys as ich er tolde
Þat ys vnyte a-cordaunce · in case gendre and numbre
And ys no mene in oure mouth · more ne mynne
Bote þat alle manere men · wommen and children
Sholde conformye to on kynde · on holy churche to by-leyue
And coueite þe case · wen þei couthe vnderstonde
To asky fore hure synnes · and suffre arde penaunce
For þat ilke lordes loue · þat for oure loue deyde
And coueited oure kynde · and be cald in oure name deus homo
And nymen hym into oure numbre · now and euere-more
Qui in caritate manet in deo manet & deus in eo .
Thus is man and mankynde · in manere of a substantif
As hic & hec homo · and a kyng an adiectif
Of þre trywe termysons trinitas unus deus .
Nominatiuo pater & filius & spiritus sanctus 
Ac ho-so rat of regum · rede me may of mede
Hou hue absolon to hongynge brouhte
And suthe for saul sauede · a kyng for mede
A -geyn godes comaundement · god toke suche veniaunce
Þat saul for þat synne · and hus sone deyde
And gaf þe kyngdome to hus knaue · þat kept sheep and lambren
And men þat in regum · after reweþ of kynges
Hou god sente to saul by Samuel þe prophete
Þat agag of amalek and al hus lyge puple
Sholde deye delfulliche · for dedes of here eldren
Saul . quath samuel · god hym-self hoteþ
To be boxome at my bidding · hus bone to fulfylle
Haste þe with al þyn ost · to þe lond of amalek
And al þat lyueþ in þat londe · oure lord wol þat þow slee hit*
Mebles and vnmebles · man and alle þynges
Bren hit ber nouht away · be hit neuere so riche
For eny mede of moneye · al þat þow myght spille
Spar hit nat and þow shalt · spede þe betere
And for he coueited hyre catel · and þe kyng spared
For-bar hym and hus beste bestes · as þe byble whitnesseþ
Oþerwise þan god wolde · by warnyng of þe prophete
God seide to samuel . þat saul sholde deye
And al hus for þat synne · and shendfulliche ende
Thus was kyng saul ouercome · for couetyse of mede
That god hatid hym for euere · and alle hus ayres after
The culorum of þis cas · kepe ich nat to shewe
An aunter hit nuyede me · non ende wol ich make
for so ys þe worlde went · wit þat han þe power
prophecie
That he þat seith most sothest · sonnest ys y-blamed
Ich conscience knowe þis · for kynde witt me tauhte
Þat reson shal regne · and reames gouerne
And ryht as agag* hadde · happen shulleþ somme
Samuel shal fle hym · and saul shal be blamed
And dauid shal be diademyd · ande[^47] daunten alle oure enemyes
And on cristene kyng* · kepen ows echone
Shal no mede neuere-more after
Ac loue and louhnesse · and leaute to-gederes
Shullen be maistres on molde · trewe men to helpe
And ho-so takeþ aȝen treuthe · oþer transuerseþ aȝens reson
Leaute shal do hym lawe · and no lif elles
Shal no seriaunte for þat seruyse · were aselk a selk houe
No pelour in hus paueylon · for pledyng* at þe barre
Muchel yuel is þorw mede meny tyme suffred
And letteþ þe lawe · þorw here large ȝyftes
Ac kynde loue shal come ȝut · and conscience to-gederes
And make of lawe a loborer · suche loue shal aryse
And such pees among þe puple · and a parfyt treuthe
Þat Iewes shal wene in here witt* · and wexe so glade
That here kyng be ycome · fro þe court of heuene
Moyses . oþer messias . · þat men be so trewe
For alle þat bereþ baselardes · bryght swerde oþer launce
Axe oþer acchett · oþer eny kynne wepne
Shal be demed to þe deþ · bote yf he do hit smythie
In-to sykel oþer into sithe · to shar oþer to culter
Conflabunt gladios suos in uomeres  & lanceas suas in falces .
Ech man to pleye with a plouh · a pycoyse oþer a spade
Spynnen and spek of god · and spille no tyme
Prestes and persons placebo and dirige .
Here sauter and here seuene psalmis for alle synful preyen
Haukyng oþer hontyng · yf eny of hem hit vsie
Shal lese þer -fore hus lyue-lode · and hus lif parauenture
Shal noþer kyng ne knyȝt · constable ne meyre
Ouer-cark þe comune · ne to þe court sompne
Ne putte men in panell · ne do men plighte here treuthe
Bote after þe dede þat ys ydo · the dome shal recorde
M ercy oþer no mercy · as most trewe a-corden
Kynges court and comune court · constorie and chapitre
Al shal be bote on court · and on berne be Iustice
That worth trewe tunge a trewe man · þat tennede me neuere
prophecie .
Batailles shulle neuere eft be · ne man bere eg tool
And yf eny man smyþen hit · be smyte þer -with to deþe
Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium  nec excercebuntur ultra ad prelium .
Ac er þis fortune by-falle · fynde me shal þe worste
By s yx sonnes and a shup · and half a shef of arwes
And þe myddell of a mone · shal makye þe Iewes turne
And saresyns for þat syght · shullen synge credo in spiritum sanctum .
for makamed and mede shullen myshappen þat tyme
for melius est bonum nomen  quam diuicie multe .
As wroth as þe wynd · waxe mede þer-after
Lo what Salamon seith quath hue · in sapience þe byble
Þat ȝeueþ ȝyftes take ȝeme · þe victorie he wynneþ
And moche worshep þer-with · as holy writt telleþ
Honorem acquirit . qui dat munera .
Ich leyue þe lady quaþ conscience as holy wriȝt telleth*
Thow ert lyke a lady · þat a lesson radde
That was omnia probate wiche plesed hure herte
That was no lengere · and at þe leues ende
Ac hadde hue loked on þe lift half · and þe leef turned
Hue sholde haue yfounde · folwynge fele wordes after
Quod bonum est tenete a tyxte of treuthes makyng
So he þat secheþ sapience · fynde he shal þat folweþ
Tristilich a tuenful tixt · to hem þat takeþ mede
The wiche hatte as ich haue rad and oþer þat conne rede
Animam aufert accipientium .
Worshup hue wynneþ · þat wol ȝeue mede
Ac he þat receyueþ oþer recetteþ hure · ys recettor of gyle

[^a111: be hure be hure be hure (P) | ben here (All other mss)]

[^a112: Solenliche (P eC) | Solempneliche (Most other mss)]

[^31: P.4.51: An otiose curl appears above the <o>. Compare P4.100.]

[^32: P.4.62: The long <s> has been re-inked, producing a form different from the scribe's usual letter. Another appears at P4.373.]

[^33: P.4.84: Whit, "with."]

[^34: P.4.100: An otiose stroke appears over the <o>. Compare P4.51 above.]

[^35: P.4.130: The scribe marked the end of this line with two virgules to alert the rubricator.]

[^36: P.4.154: ys, "his."]

[^37: P.4.215: whit, "wit."]

[^38: Possible overwriting in the first e? CHECK MS.]

[^39: ***???CHECK THE MS. ORDER OF WRITING??Is this right? Since hand1 seems to have preceded the rubrication it doesn't make sense to have the letter squeezed in, but it is definitely smaller than expected, as though it had to be fit in after "conscience" was added. Note that "conscience" is followed by a punctus that could have been omitted if more space were needed.]

[^40: P.4.295: a, "and."]

[^41: P.4.326: þer- , "with it."]

[^42: P.4.339: a, "and."]

[^43: P.4.370: whit, "with."]

[^44: P.4.370: is, "his, its."]

[^45: P.4.376: is, "his."]

[^46: P.4.398: The scribe's use of raised points on either side of the marker for the past participle is unusual in this manuscript. ???***CHECK IT OUT WITH CONC]

[^47: P.4.450: The final character is malformed.]

H ic explicit passus quartus .

Incipit passus quintus .

C Esseþ saide þe kyng · ich soffre ȝow no lenger
Ȝe shulleþ sauhtne for-soþe · and serue me boþe
Kus hure quaþ þe kyng conscience ich hote
Nay by crist quaþ conscience conge me rather
Bote reson rede me þer -to · raþer wol ich deye
And ich comaunde quaþ þe kynge · to conscience þenne
Rappe þe to ryde · and reson þat þow fecche
Comaunde hym þat he come · my consail to hure
For he shal rulye my reame · and rede me þe beste
Of mede and of oþer mo · and what man shal hure wedde
And a-counte with þe conscience so me crist helpe
How þow ledest my puple · lered and lewede
Ich am fayn of þat forwarde · in fayþ þo quaþ conscience
And rod forth to reson and rouned in hus ere
And seide hym as þe kyng saide · and suche tok hus leue
Ich shal a-raye me to ryde · quaþ reson rest þow a-wyle
And called caton hus knaue · corteys of speche
And also tomme trewe tonge · telle me none tales
Ne lesenges to lauhen of · for ich louede hit neuere
And sette my sadel vppon soffre til ich see my tyme
Let worrok hym wel · with a-vyse by-fore
for it his[^48] þe wone of wil · to wynse and to kyke
Let peitrel hym and pole hym · wit peyntede wittes ·
Thenne conscience on hus capel · comsed to prykie
And reson with hym ryȝt · ronnyng to-geders
Wich* a maister mede was · a-mong poure and riche
Then waryn wysman · and wyle man his felawe
fayn were to folwen hem · and fast ryden after
To take red at reson þat recorde sholde
By-fore þe kyng and concience yf þei couthen pleyne[^49]
On williman and wittiman and waryn wrynge lawe
Ac conscience knew hem wel · and carped to reson
Here comeþ quaþ conscience · þat couetyse seruen
Ryd forth syre reson and recche nat of here tales
For þer wratthe and wranglyng ys · ther þei wolle a-byde
Ac þer loue and leaute ys · hit lykeþ nat here hertes
Contricio & infelicitas in uiis eorum & uiam pacis non cognouerunt  non est timor dei ante oculos eorum .
Thei geueþ noȝt of good faith · god wot þe soþe
Thei wolde don for a dyner · oþer fore a dosene capones
More þan for oure lordes loue · oþer oure lady hus moder
Thanne reson rod forth · and tok reward of no man
And dude as conscience kenned til he þe kyng mette
Corteslich þe kyng þen · cam and grette reson
And by-twine hym and is[^50] sone · sette þo syre reson
And speken þo wise wordes · a long wile to-gederes
Thenne cam pees in-to parlement · and putte vp a bylle
How þat wrong wilffullich* · hadde hus wif for leyen
And how he rauysede rose þe riche wydewe by nyghte
And margarete of here maidenhod · as he mette hure late
Boþe my goos and my grys · and my gras he takeþ
Ich dar nouht for is felaweshepe · in faith* pees seide
Bere sikerlich* eny seluer · to seint gyles doune
He waiteþ ful wel · wanne ich* sulfere take
What wey ich wende · wel ȝerne he aspieþ
To robbe me and to ryfle me · yf ich* ryde softe
Ȝut he is bold for to borwe · and baldelich* he payeþ
He borwede of me bayarde · and browte hym neuere
Ne no ferþeng þer-fore · for nouht ich couthe plede
He menteyneþ hus men · to morthr e myn hywes
And for-stalleþ myn faires · and fyghteþ in my chepynges
And breke vp my bernes dore · and bereþ away my wete
And takeþ me bote a taile · for ten quarters oþer twelue
Ȝut he manasceþ me and myne · and lyth by my mayde
Ich am nouht hardy for hym · owneþe to loke
The kyng knew þat he seide soþ · for conscience hym tolde
How wronge was a wickede man · and moche wo wrouhte
Tho was wrong a-fered · wysdome he by-souhte
On men of lawe wrong lokede · and largelich* hem profrede
And for to haue of here help · handy dandy payede
Had ich loue of þe lorde · litel wolde ich recche
Of pees and of hus power · thauh he pleynede euere
Thoruh wrong and hus werkes · þer was mede yknowe
For wysdome and wit þo · wenten to-gederes
And toke mede myd hem · Mercy to wynne
Ȝut pees putte forth* hus hefd · and hus panne blody
W ith -oute gult god wot · gat ich þys scaþe
Conscience knoweþ hit wel · and alle þe trewe comune
Ac wyles and wit · weren a-boute faste
To ouercome þe kynge · þow catel yf þei myghte
Þe kyng swor þo by crist · and by his corone bothe
That wrong for hus workus · sholde wo þolie
And comaundede a constable · to caste wrong in yrenes
Ther he ne sholde in seuen ȝere · see fet no hondes
God wot quaþ awis a wis on · þat were nat þe beste
Yf he may a-mendes do · let meynpryse hym haue
And be borw of ys[^51] bale · and byggen hym bote
And a-mende þat ys mys-do · and euere more þe betere
Wit a-corded her with · and witnessede þe same
Betere ys þat bote · bale a-doun brynge
Than bale be bete · and bote neuere þe betere
Thanne gan mede muken here · and mercy by-souhte
And profrede pees apresent a present · al of pure golde
Haue þus man of me quaþ hue · to amende þy scaþe
For ich wol wage for wrong · he wol do so no more
Pytouslich pees þo · preyede þe kyng
To haue mercy on þat man · þat meny tyme greuede hym ·
For he hath waged me wel · as wisdome hym tauhte
Mede hath mad m yne · amendes · ich may no more asken
So alle myne claymes ben quyt · by so þe kynge asente
Nay by crist quath þe kynge · for consciences sake
Wrong goþ nat so away · ar ich wite more
Loupe he so lyghtlich* a-wey · lauhen he wolde
And eft be þe boldere · to bete myne hywes
Bote reson haue reuthe of hym · he shal reste in stockes
As longe as ich lyue · for hus luther werkes
Somme radde reson þo · to haue reuthe on þat shrewe
And for to consail þe kyng · on conscience þei loked
Þat mede myghte be menepernour reson þei by-souhte
Red me nat quaþ reson no reuthe to haue
Til lordes and ladies · louen alle treuthe
And haten alle harlotrie · to huyren oþer to mouthen hit
And purneles porfil · be put in þe wucche[^52][^53]
And children chersing[^54] · be chasted with ȝerdes
And harlotes holynesse · be an hey ferye
Til klerken couetise · be cloth for þe poure
Here pelure and here palfrayes · poure menne lyflode
A nd religious out-ryders · reclused in here cloistres
And be as benit . hem bad domenik and fraunceis .
Tyl þat lerede men lyue · as þei lere and techen
And til þe kynges consayl · be al comune profit
Tyl bisshepes and bakers · brewers and taylours
For alle manere men · þat þei fyndeþ nedfol
Tyl seynt Iame be-souht · þer poure syke lyggen
In prisons and in poore cotes · for pilgrymages to rome
So þat non go to galys · bote it be for euere
And alle rome renners · for robbers in fraunce
Bere no suluer ouer see · þat kynges sy gne sheweþ
Neiþer graue ne vngraue · of gold ne of suluer
Vp forfeture of þe fee · ho-so fynt hym ouerwarde
Bote it be marchaunt oþer hus man · oþer messager with lettres
Prouisour oþer prest oþer penaunt for hus synnes
And ȝut quaþ reson by þe rode · ich shal no reuthe haue
Wyl mede hath þe maistrye · þer motyng his atte þe barre
Ac ich may seye ensamples · as ic see oþere
Ich seye it for my-selue · quath reson and hit so were
Þat ich were kyng with corone · to kepe eny reame
Shold neuere wronge in þis worlde · þat ich wite myghte
Be vnpunysshed in my power · for peril of my soule
Ne gete my grace þorw eny gyft · ne glosyng speche
Ne þorw mede do mercy · by marye of heuene
For man nullum malum mette · with impunitum .
And bad þat nullum bonum bee irremuneratum .
Lete þy confessour syre kyng · construe þis in english*
And ȝif ȝe worten hit in werke · ich wedde boþe myn handes
That lawe shal be a laborer · and lede a-felde donge
And loue shal lede þy land · as þe luf lykeþ
Clerkus þat were confessours · couplede hem to-gederes
To construe this clause · kyndeliche wat hit menede
Mede in þat mote-halle þo · on men of lawe gan wynke
In sygne þat þei sholde · with som sotel spec he
Reherce þo a-non ryght · þat myghte reson stope
And alle ryghtful recordeden · þat reson treuthe seyde
And kyndewit and conscience cortesliche þankede
Reson for hus ryghtspeche ryght speche · riche and poure hym louede
And seiden we seth wel · syre reson by þy wordes
That meknesse worth mayster · ouer mede atte þe laste
Loue let lyght of mede and leaute ȝut lasse
And cryed vp-on conscience þe kynge hit myghte yhure
Who- so wylneþ hure to wyue · for welthe of hure goodes
Bote he be knowe for cokewold · kut of my nose
Mede mornede þo · and made heuy cheere
For þe comune cald hure · queynte comune hore
A sysour and a somner þo · softeliche forth* ȝeden
With mede þe mayde · out of þe mot-halle
A shereyues clerk cryede · a · capiatis mede .
E t saluo custodias . sed non cum carceratis .
The kynge to his consail tho · tok conscience and reson .
And myldeliche vp-on mede meny tyme lokede
And lourede vp-on men of lawe · and lightliche seide
Thorȝe ȝoure lawe ich leyue · ich lese menye escheytes
Mede and men of ȝoure craft · muche treuthe letteþ
Ac reson shal regne with ȝow · yf ich regne eny wyle
And deme ȝow by þys day · as ȝe haue deseruyde
Mede shal nat meynprise ȝow · by marye of heuene
Ich wolle haue leaute · for my lawe · let be al ȝoure ianglend
By leel men and lyf-holy · my lawe shal by demyd
Quath conscience to þe kynge · whith-oute[^55] comune help
Hit is ful hard by myn hefd · þer to hit to brynge
And alle ȝoure lege ledes · to lede þus euene
By hym þat rauhte on rode · quaþ reson to þe kynge
Bote ich rewely þus alle reames · reueþ me my syght
And brynge alle men to bowe · with-oute byter wonde
W ith -oute mercement oþer manslauht · amenden alle reames
Ich wolde hit were quaþ þe kyng · wel al a-boute
For-þy reson redelyche · þow shalt nat ryden hennes
Bote be my chyf chaunceler · in chekyr and in parlement
And conscience in alle my courtes · be as kynges Iustice
Ich a-sente seyde reson by so þy-self y huyre
Audi alteram partem · a-mong aldermen and comuners
And þat vnsittynge suffraunce · ne seele ȝoure pryueie letteres
Ne seynde supersedeas bote ich asente quath · reson
And ich dar legge my lyf · þat loue wol lene þat suluer
To wage thyne and help wynne · þat þow wilnest after
More þan al þy marchauns · oþer þy mytrede bisshopes
Oþer lumbardes of lukes · þat lyuen by loue as Iewes
The kyng* comaunded conscience tho · to congie alle hus officers
And receyuen þo þat reson louede · and ryȝt wit þat ich a-wakede

[^48: P.5.22: his, "is."]

[^49: CHECK MS BOTTOM RIGHT]

[^50: P.5.44: is, "his."]

[^51: P.5.86: ys, "his."]

[^52: P.5.112: wucche, "hutch, chest for storing clothing."]

[^53: P.5.112: Meaningless (?) marks appear in the right margin.]

[^54: P.5.113: The vowel is not clear and perhaps chirsing is intended.]

[^55: P.5.177: whith-oute, "without."]

H ic explicit passus quintus .

I ncipit passus sextus .

T hus ich a-waked wot god · wanne ich wonede on cornehulle
Kytte and ich in a cote · cloþed as a lollere
And a lytel ich let by · leyue me for-soþe
Among lollares of londen · and lewede heremytes ·
For ich made of þo men · as reson me tauhte
For as ich cam by conscience wit reson ich mette
In an hote heruest · wenne ich hadde myn hele
And lymes to labore with · and louede wel fare
And no dede to do · bote drynke and to slepe
In hele and in vnite · on me aposede
Romynge in remembraunce · thus reson me aratede
Canstow seruen he seide · oþer syngen in a churche
Oþer coke for my cokers · oþer to þe cart picche
Mowe oþer mowen · oþer make bond to sheues
Repe oþer be a repereyue · and a-ryse erliche
Oþer haue an horne and be haywarde · and liggen oute a nyghtes
And kepe my corn in my croft · fro pykers and þeeues
Oþer shappe shon oþer cloþes · oþer shep oþer kyn kepe
Eggen oþer harwen · oþer swyn oþer gees dryue
Oþer eny kyns craft · þat to þe comune nudeþ
Hem þat bedreden be · by-lyue to fynde
Certes ich seyde · and so me god helpe
Ich am to waik to worche · with sykel oþer with sythe
And to long leyf me · lowe for to stoupe
To worchen as a workeman[^56] · eny wyle to dure
Thenne hauest þow londes to lyue by · quath reson oþer lynage riche
That fynden þe þy fode · for an hydel man þow semest
A spendour þat spende mot · oþer a spille-tyme
Oþer beggest þy bylyue · a-boute ate menne hacches
Oþer faitest vp-on frydays · oþer feste dayes in churches
The wiche is lollarene lyf · þat lytel ys preysed
Þer ryghtfulnesse rewardeþ · ryght as men deserueþ
Reddit unicuique iuxta opera sua .
Oþer þow ert broke so may be · in body oþer in membre
Oþer ymaymed þorw som mys-hap · wer-by þow myȝt be excusede
Wanne ich ȝong was quath ich · meny ȝer hennes
My fader and my frendes · founden me to scole
Tyl ich wiste wyterliche · wat holy wryt menede
And wat is best for þe body · as þe bok telleþ
And sykerest for þe soule · by so ich wolle continue
And ȝut fond ich neuere in faith · sytthen my frendes deyden
Lyf þat me lyked · bote in þes longe clothes
Hyf ich by laboure sholde lyue · and lyflode deseruen
That labour þat ich lerned best · þer-whit[^57] lyue ich sholde
In eadem uocatione qua uocati estis .
And ich lyue in londene · and on londen bothe
The lomes þat ich laboure with · and lyflode deserue
ys pater noster and my prymer placebo and dirige .
And my sauter som tyme · and my seuene psalmes .
Thus ich synge for hure soules · of suche as me helpen
And þo þat fynden me my fode · vochen saf ich trowe
To be wolcome wanne ich come · oþer -wyle in a monthe
Now with hym and now with hure · and þus gate ich begge
With-oute bagge oþer botel · bote my wombe one
And also more-ouer · me þynkeþ syre reson
Men sholde constreyne · no clerke to knauene werkes
For by lawe of leuitici þat oure lord ordeynede
Clerkes þat aren crouned · of kynde vnderstondyng
Sholde noþer swynke ne swete · ne swere at enquestes
Ne fyghte in no vauntwarde · ne hus fo greue
Non reddas malum pro malo .
For it ben aires of heuene · and alle þat ben crounede
And in queer in churches · cristes owene mynestres
Dominus pars hereditatis mee . & alibi . Clemencia non constringit .
Hit by-comeþ for clerkus · crist for to seruen
And knaues vncrouned · to cart and to worche
For shold no clerk be crouned · bote yf he ycome were
Of franklens and free men · and of folke yweddede
Bondmen and bastardes · and beggers children
Thuse by-longeþ to labour · and lordes children sholde seruen
Bothe god and good men · as here degree askeþ
Some to synge masses · oþer sitten and wryte
Rede and receyue þat reson ouhte spende
And sith bondemenne barnes · han be mad Bisshopes
And barnes bastardes · han ben Archidekenes
And sopers and here sones · for seluer han be knyghtes
And lordene sones here laborers · and leid here rentes to wedde
For þe ryght of þere reame · ryden a-ȝens oure enemys
In confort of þe comune · and þe kynges worshep
And monkes and moniales · þat mendinauns sholden fynde
Han mad here kyn knyghtes · and knyghtfees knyght fees purchase
Popes and patrones · poure gentil blod refuseþ
And taken symondes sone · seyntewarie to kepe
Lyf-holynesse and loue · han ben longe hennes
And wole til hit be wered out · or oþerwise ychaunged
For-þy rebuke me ryght nouht reson ich ȝow praye
For in my conscience ich knowe · what crist wolde þat ich wrouhte
Preyers of parfyt man · and penaunce discret
Ys þe leueste labour · þat oure lord pleseþ ·
Non de solo ich seide · for soþe uiuit homo .
Nec in pane & pabulo þe pater noster witnesseþ
Fiat uoluntas tuas · fynt ous alle þynges
Quath conscience by crist · ich can nat see this lyeþ
Ac it semeth nouht parfytnesse · in cytees for to begge
Bote he be obedienter[^a113] · to pryour oþer to mynstre
That ys soth ich seide · and so ich by-knowe
That ich haue tynt tyme · and tyme mysspended
And ȝut ich hope as he · þat ofte haueþ chaffarede
Þat ay hath lost and lost · and at þe latiste hym happed
He bouhte suche a bargayn · he was þe bet euere
And sette hus lost at alef a lef · at þe laste ende
Suche a wynnynge hym warth · þorw wyrdes of hus grace
Simile est regnum celorum thesauro abscondito in agro & cetera .
Mulier que inuenit dragmam . et cetera .
So hope ich to haue of hym · þat his[^58] al-myghty
A gobet of hus grace · and bygynne a tyme
Þat alle tymes of my tyme · to profit shal turne
Ich rede þe quath reson þo · rape þe to bygynne
Þe lyf þat ys lowable · and leel to þe soule
Ȝe and continue quath conscience · and to þe churche ich wente
And to þe churche gan ich go · god to honourie
By-for þe crois on my knees · knocked ich my brest
Sykinge for my sennes · seggynge my pater noster .
Wepyng and wailinge · tyl ich was a-slepe
Thenne mete me moche more · þan ich by-fore tolde
Of þe mater þat ich mete fyrst · on maluerne hulles
Ich sauh þe feld ful of folk · fram ende to þe oþer
sermo
And reson reuested · ryȝt as a pope
And conscience his crocer · by-fore þe kynge stande
Reson reuerentliche · by-for al þe reame
Prechede and prouede · þat þuse pestilences
Was for pure synne · to punyshe þe puple
And þe south-west wynd · on saterday at eue
Was pertelich for prude · and for no poynt elles
Piries and plomtrees · were poffed to þe erthe
In ensample to syggen ous · we sholde do þe betere
Beches and brode okes · weren blowe to þe grounde
And turned vpward here tayl · in tokenynge of drede
That dedlich* synne er domys-day · shal for-do ous alle
Of þis mater ich myghte · momely wel longe
Ac ich shal seye as ich seih · slepynge as it were
How reson radde al þe reame · ryght for to lyuen ·
He bad wastours go worche · and wynne here sustinaunce
Þorw som trewe trauail · and no tyme spille
He preide purnele · here porfil to leue
And kepe hit in here cofre · for catell at hure nude
He tauhte Thomme stoue · to take two staues
And fecche felice home · fram wyuen pyne
He warnede watte · hus wif was to blame
For hure hefd was worth half mark · and hus hod nat a grote
He bad bette go kutte · a bowh oþer tweye
And bete beton þer-myd · bote he wolde worche
He charged chapmen · to chasten here children
And lete no wynnynge for-wene hem · þe wile þei ben ȝonge
For ho-so spareþ þe spring* spilleþ hus children
And so wrot þe wise · to wisen hus alle
Qui parcit uirge  odit filium .
And sitthe he preide prelates · and prestes to-geders
That hij precheþ to þe puple · prouen hit hem-selue
Lyue ȝe as ȝe lereþ ous[^59] · we shulleþ leyue ȝow þe bettere
And sitthe radde religion · here ruele to holde
Leste þe kyng and hus consail · ȝoure comunes a-peyere
And be stywardes of ȝoure stedes · til ȝe be stuede betere
Gregorie þe grete clerk* · gart write in bokes
The ruele of alle religious · ryghtful and obedient
Right as fisshes in flod · wenne hem faileþ water
Deyen for dreuthe · wenne þei dryen liggen
Ryght so religion · roteþ and sterueth*
Þat out of couent and cloistre · coueyteþ to dwelle
For yf heuene be on þys erthe · oþer eny eyse for saule
Hit is in a cloistre oþer in scole · by meny skyles ich fynde
For in a cloistre comeþ no man · to chide ne to fighte
In scole ys loue and lownesse · and lokynge to lerne
Ac meny day men telleþ · boþe monkes and chanonns
Han ride out of a-ray · here ruele vuel holde
And priked a-boute on palfrais · fro places in-to maners
An hepe of houndes at hus ers · as he a lord were
And bit hus knaue knele · þat shal hus coppe holde
He lokeþ al loureng · and lorden hym calleþ
Lytel hadde lordes a-do · to ȝeue londe fro here aires
To religion þat han no reuthe · þauh hit ryne in here auters
In places þer þei persons beþ · by hem-self at ese
Of þe poure han þei no pyte · þat his[^60] here poure charite
Ȝe leten ȝow alle as lordes · ȝoure londe lyth to brode
Ac ȝut shal come a kyng* · and confesse ȝow alle
And bete ȝow as þe byble telleþ · for brekyng* of ȝoure reule
And amende ȝow monkes · moniales and chanons
And putte ȝow to ȝoure penaunce ad pristinum statum ire .
And barons and here barnes · blame ȝow and reproue
Prophecie ·
Hii in curribus & hi in equis  ipsi obligati sunt & ceciderunt .
Freres in here fretour · shulle fynde þat tyme
Bred with -oute beggynge · to lyue by euere after
And costantyn shal be here cook and couerer of here churche
For þe abbot of engelonde · and þe abbesse ys nece
Shullen haue a knok on here crounes · and in-curable þe wonde
prophecie .
Contriuit dominus baculum impiorum  uirgam dominancium plaga insanabili .
Ac er þat kyng come · as cronycles me tolde
Clerkus and holychurche · shal be cloþed newe
And sitthe he consailed þe kyng · hus comune to louye
For þe comune ys þe kynges tresour conscience wot wel
And al-so quath reson · ich rede ȝow riche
And comuners to a-corden · in alle kynne treuthe
Let no kynne consail · ne couetyse ȝow departe
Þat on wit and on wil · alle ȝoure wardes kepe
Lo in heuene an hy · was an holy comune
Til lucifer þe lyere · leyued þat hym-selue
Were wittyour and worthiour · þan he þat was hus maister
Hold ȝow in vnite · and ȝe[^61] þat hoþer[^62] wolde
Ys cause of alle combraunce · to confounde a reame
And sitthen he preide þe pope · haue pyte of holychurche
And no grace to graunte · til good loue were
Among alle kynne kynges · ouere cristene puple
Comaunde þat alle confessours · þat eny kynge shryueþ
Enioynye hem pees for here penaunce · and perpetuel forȝeuenesse
Of alle manere actiouns · and eche man loue oþer
And ȝe þat secheþ seint Iame and seyntes of rome
Seicheþ seint treuthe in sauacion of ȝoure saules
Qui cum patre & filio þat faire hem by-falle
Þat suweþ my sarmon · and þus endeþ reson .

[^a113: obedienter (P Qc) | obediencer (Most other mss)]

[^56: P.6.26: Because the article was squeezed into the line, asaworkeman appears without spaces.]

[^57: P.6.44: þer-whit, "therewith."]

[^58: P.6.105: his, "is."]

[^59: P.6.150: An otiose flourish appears on the <o>. Compare ll. ***????]

[^60: P.6.173: his, "is."]

[^61: An otiose mark appears before the <e>.]

[^62: P.6.198: hoþer, "other."]

Hic explicit passus sextus .

Incipit passus septimus .

W ith þat ran repentaunce · and reherced hus teme
And made wille to wepe · water with hus eyen
Purnele proute herte · platte hure to þe erthe
Longe was her[^a114][^63] hue[^64] loked vp · and lord mercy criede
And by-highte to hym · þat ous alle made
Hue sholde vnsywe hure smok[^a115] · and sette þer an heire
To afaiten hure flesch* · þat fers was to synne
Shal neuere myn[^a116] herte me hente · bote holde me lowe
And suffre to be myssaide · and so dude ich neuere
Bote now wolle ich muke me · and mercy by-seche
Of alle þat ich haue · yhated[^a117] in myn herte
repente þe quath repentaunce · as reson þe tauhte
And shryf þe sharpliche · and shak of alle pruyde
Confessio superbie . Confessio superbie .[^65]
Ich pruyde pacientliche · penaunce ich aske
For ich formest and ferst · to fader and to moder
Haue ybe[^a118] vnboxome · ich biseche god of mercy
And vnboxome ybe · nouht a-baissed[^a119] to a-gulte
God and alle good men · so gret was myn herte
In-obedient to holychurche · and to hem þat þer seruen
Demed for hure yuel vices · and excited oþere
Þorw my word and al my[^a120] wit · hure vuel workes to shewe
And scorned hem and oþere · yf[^a121] a skyle founde
Lauhynge al aloude · for lewede men sholde
Wene þat ich were witty · and wyser þan a-noþere
Scorner and vnskilful to hem · þat skil shewede
In alle manere maners · my name to be yknowe[^a122]
Semeng a souereyn on · wer-so me by-fulle
To telle eny tale · ich trowede me wiser
To carpen oþer[^a123] to counsaile · þan eny lered oþer[^a124] lewede
Prout of a-parail · in porte a-monge þe puple
Oþer-wise þan ich haue · with-ynne oþer with-oute
Me wilned þat men wende · ich were in[^a125] aueyr
Riche and resonable · and ryghtful of lyuynge
Bostynge and Braggynge · wyt meny bolde oþes
Auauntyng vp on my veine-glorie · for eny vnder-nemynge
And ȝut so syngeler by my-self · as to sight of þe puple
Was non suche as my-self · ne non so pompholy[^a126] ·
Som-tyme on[^a127] a[^66] secte · som tyme on[^a128] anoþer
In alle kynne couetyse · contreuede how ich myghte
Be holde for holy · an hondred sithe by þat encheison
Wilnede þat men wende · my werkes were þe beste
And konnyngest of my craft · clerkes oþer oþere
And strengest vp-on my stede[^a129] · and styuest vnder gurdell
And louelokest to loken on · and lykynggest a-bedde
And lykynge of such* a lif · þat no lawe preyseþ
Prout of my faire fetours · and for ich songe shulle
And what ich gaf for godesloue · to god-sybbes ich tolde
Ther[^a130] to wene þat ich were · wel holy and wel almesful[^a131]
And non so bold beggere · to bydden an craue
Tales to telle in tauernes · and in stretes
Thyng þat neuere was þouhte · and ȝut ich swor ich sauh hit
And lyed on my lykame · and on my lyf boþe
Of werkes þat ich wel dude · wittnesse ich[^a132] take
And syggen to suche · þat sytten me by-syde
Lo yf ȝe leyue me nouht · oþer[^a133] þat ȝe wene ich lye
Aske of[^a134] hym oþer[^a135] of[^a136] hure · and þei conne ȝow telle
What ich soffrede an[^67] seih · and som tyme hadde
And what ich knew and couthe · of wat kyn ich kam of
Al ich wolde þat men wuste · when hit to pruyde sonede
As to[^a137] preised a-mong þe puple · þauh ich poure semede
Si hominibus placerem christi seruus non essem .
Nemo potest duobus dominis seruire .
Now god of hus goodnesse · geue þe grace to Amende
Quath repentaunce ryght with þat · And þenne roos enuye
Confessio inuidie confessio subidie .[^68]
Enuye with heuy herte · asked after shrifte
And criede mea culpa corsynge alle hus enemys
Hus cloþes were of corsement · and of kene wordes
He wroth hus fust vp-on wratthe · hadde he wysshes at wille
Sholde no lyf lyuye · þat on hus londe passede
Chidynge and I-anglenge · þat was hus chef lyflode
And blame men by-hynde hure bak · and bidde hem meschaunce
Al þat he wiste by wylle · to watekyn he told hit
And þat he wiste by watekyn · tolde hit to wille[^a138] after
And made foos of frendes · þorw fals and fykel tonge
Oþer[^a139] þorw myghte of mouthe · oþer[^a140] þorw meny sleyghthes
Venged me fele tyme[^a141] · oþer brend[^a142] my-self with-ynne
Lyke a shappesters sheres · and shrewede myn emcristyne
Aȝens þe consail of crist · as clerkes fynden in bokes
Cuius maledictione os plenum est &* amaritudine sub lingua eius . labor . & dolor .
Filij hominum dentes eorum arma &* sagitte &* lingua eorum gladius acutus .
Wenne ich ne may haue þe maistrie · suche malancolie ich take
Þat ich cacche þe crampe · þe cardiacle som tyme
Oþer[^a143] an ague in suche an angre · and som tyme a feuere
Þat takeþ me al a twelfmounthe · til þat ich dispice
Leche craft of oure lorde · and leyue on a wicche
And sigge þat no clerk can · ne crist as ich leyue
To þe souter of south-werk · such is hus grace
For god ne godes wordes · ne grace ne[^a144][^69] halp neuere
Bote þorw a[^a145] charme hadde ich a chaunce · and my chief hele
Ich myghte nat ete meny ȝer · as a man hauhte
For enuye and vuel wil · ys vuel to defye
May no suger ne swete þyng · a -swage my swellynges
Ne dereworthe drynke · dryuen hit fro myn herte
Neyþer shame ne shrift · bote ho-so shraped my mawe
Ȝus redilyche quath repentaunce · and þow be ryght sory
For þy synne[^a146] soueraynliche · by-sechyng god of mercy
Ich am euere sory sayde enuye · ich am bote selde oþer
Þat makeþ me so megre · for ich ne may me Auenge
Ȝut am ich brocor of baggebytynge · and blame mennes ware
Among marchauns many tymes · nameliche in londoun
Wanne he solde and ich noght · þenne was ich a redy
To lye and to loury · and to lacke myn neghebores
Here werkes here wordes · wer so ich sete
Now hit a thynkeþ me in þouht · þat euere ich so wrouhte
Lord er ich lyf lete · for loue of þy-selue
Graunte me goodelorde goode lorde · grace of amendeme nt
Confessio ire confessio ire .[^70]
Thenne awaked wratthe · whit[^71] to white eyen
Whit[^a147][^72] a nyuylynge nose · nyppyng hus lyppes
Ich am wratth quaþ þat wye · wol gladliche smyte
Boþe whit[^73] ston and whit[^74] staf · and stele vp-on myn enemy
For to slee hym slehliche · slehthes ich by-þenke
Thauh ich sytte þys seuen ȝer · ich sholde nat wel telle
The harme þat ich haue idon · wit[^75] hand and whit[^76] tonge
Vnpacient[^a148] in alle penaunces · and pleyned as hit were
On god wenne men[^a149] greued ouht · and grucche[^a150] of hus sonde
As som tyme in somer · and also in heruest
Bote ich hadde wedir at my wil · ich wited god þe cause
And[^a151] alle manere angres · þat ich hadde oþer felede
Amonges alle manere men · my dwelling ys som tyme
Whit[^77] lered and wit[^78] lewede · þat luf ben to hure
Harm of eny man · by-hynde oþer by-fore
Freres flowen[^a152] my vore · fele tyme and ofte
And prouen vnparfit · prelates of holy churche
And prelates pleynen of[^a153] hem · for þei here parshenes shryuen
Whit-oute[^79] lycence an d leue · and herby lyueþ wratthe
Thus þei speke and dispute · þat eche dispiseþ oþer
Thus beggers and barouns · at debat aren ofte
Til ich wratth waxe an hyh · and walke wit hem bothe
Oþer[^a154] til boþe be beggers · and by spiritualte lybben
O r alle riche þus ride · rest shal ich nauht wraithe
Þat ich ne mot folwy þis folk · my fortune ys non oþer
Ich haue an Aunte to anunne a nunne[^a155] · and to an abbodesse[^a156]
Hem were leuere sounye oþer[^a157] swelte · þan suffry eny peyne
Ich haue be cook in here kychene · and þe Couent serued
Meny monthes with hem · and with monkes boþe
Ich was þe prioresse potager · and oþer poure ladies
And made here ioutes of iangles · dame Iohane was a bastarde
And dame Clarice a knyghtes douhter · a cokewold was hure syre
Dame purnele a prestes file · prioresse worth he neuere
For hue hadde a childe[^a158] in the chapon cote · hue worth chalenged at election
Thus þei sitte þo sustres · som tyme and disputen
Til þow luxt and þow luxt · be lady ouer hem alle
And þenne a-wake ich wratthe · and wold be auenged
Þanne ich crie and cracche · whit[^80] my kene nailes
Boþe byte[^a159] and bete · and brynge forth suche þewes
Þat alle ladies me loþen · þat louen eny worschep
Among wyues and wodewes · ich am ywoned[^a160] sitte
Yparroked in puwes · þe person hit knoweth
How lytel ic louye · letice at þe style
For hue hadde haly bred er ich · myn herte by-gan[^a161] to chaunge
After-ward after mete · hue and ich chidde
And ich wratth was war · and wroth on hem boþ
Til aiþer cliped either oþere[^a162] · and of with þe cloþes
Til boþe here heuedes were bar · and blody here chekes
Among monkes myght ich be · ac meny tyme ich spare
For þer beþ meny folle[^a163] frekus · myne afferes to aspye
Þat ys þe priour and þe[^a164] suppriour · and oure Pater abbas .
And yf ich telle eny tales · thei taken hem to-geders
And don me faste fridaies · to bred and to water
Ȝut am ich chalenged in chapitele hous as ich a childe were
And baleysed in[^a165] þe bar ers · and no breche by-twyne
Ich haue no lust leyue me · to lenge a-mong monkes
For hij[^a166] eteþ more fisch* þan flesh* · and feble ale drenken
Ac oþer -wile wanne wyn comeþ · and wenne ich drenke late
Ich haue a flux of a foul mouth · wel fyf dayes after
Al þat ich wiste wickede · by eny of oure couent
Ich cowede hit vp in oure cloistre · þat al þe Couent wot hit
Now repente þe quaþ repentaunce · and reherce neuere
What counsail þat þow knowest · by contenaunce ne by speche
And drynk nat ouer delicatliche · ne to dupe neiþer
Þat þy wil ne þy wit · to wratthe · myghte turne
Esto sobrius he seide · and a-soiled hym after
And bad hym bidde to god · be hus help to amende
Confessio luxurie  confessio luxurie .
Thenne seide lecherie alas · and to oure lady cryede
Lady to þy leue sone · lowte for me nouthe
That he haue pyte on me putour · hus pure grace and mercy[^a167]
Whit[^81] þat ich shal quath þat shrewe · saterdayes for þy loue
Drynke bote with þe douke · and dyne bote ones
Ich gulty in gost · to god ich me shryue
As in lykynge of lecherie · my licames gultes
In wordes in wedes · in waitynge of eyen
To eche maide þat ich mette · ich made to hure[^a168] a sygne
Semynge to synne-warde · and somme gan ich taste
A -boute þe mouthe · and by nythe · by-gan ich to grope
Til oure boþers[^a169] wil was on · to werke we ȝeden
As wel fastyngdaies and frydaies · and eye feste euenes
As luf in lente as oute of lente · alle tymes liche
Suche werkus with ous · were neuere out of seson
Til we myghte no more · þanne hadde we murye tales
Of puterie and of paramours · and proueden þorw speches
Handlynge and halsynge · and also þorw cussynge
Excitynge oure aiþer oþer · til oure holde[^82] synne
Sotilede songes · and sende out olde baudes
For to wynne to my wil · wommon whit[^83] gyle
By sorcerye som tyme · and som tyme by maistrye
Ich lay by þe louelokeste · and loued hem neuere after
Whenne ich was old an[^84] hor · and hadde lore þat kynde
Ich had lykynge to lauhe[^a170] · of lecherye tales
Now lord for þy leaute · of lechours haue mercy
Confessio auaricie confessio auaricie .[^85]
Thenne cam couetyse · ich can nat hym discryue
So hongerliche an[^86] so holwe · heruy hym-self lokede
He was bytelbrowede and baberlupped · whit[^87]t two blery[^a171] eyen
And as aleþerenepors a leþerene pors · lollid hus chekus
Al[^a172] sydder þan ys chyn · ychiueled for elde
As bondemenne bacon · hus berd was yshaue
Whit[^88] hus hod on his heued · and hus hatte boþe
In a toren tabarde · of twelue wynter age[^89]
Iich haue be coueitous · quaþ þis caityf · Ich by-know hit here
For som tyme ich serued · symme at þe style
And was is prentys yplyght · hus profyt to waite
Furst ich lerned to lye · a lesyng oþer tweye
Wickedliche to weye · was my furst lesson
To wy and to winchestre · ich wente to þe faire
With many[^a173] marchandises[^a174] · as my maistres[^a175] heghte
Ne hadde þe grace of gyle · gon among my ware
Hit hadde ben vnsold þys seuen ȝer · so me god helpe
Ich drow me among drapers · my donet to lerne
To drawe þe lisure a- longe · þe lenger it semed
Among þe riche rayes · ich rendred a lesson
To brochen hem with a batte-nelde · and bond hem to-gederes
Ich putte[^a176] hem in pressours · and pynned hem þerynne
Tyl ten ȝorde[^90] oþer twl ue tw[e]lue · tilled out þrettyne
My wif was a webbe · and wollen cloþ made
Hue spak to þe sp ynnesters · to spynnen hit oute
Þe pound þat hue paiede hem by · peysed a quarter
More þan myn Auncel · wenne ich weied treuthe
Ich boughte hure barliche · hue brew hit to selle
Peny-ale apodyng a podyng -ale[^91] · hue pourede to-geders
For laborers and lowe folke · that laye by hem-selue
The beste laye in my bour · and in my bed chambre
And so[^a177] bommede þer -of · he bouht yt þer -after
A galon for a grote · and ȝut no grayþ mesure
Wanne it cam in coppe-mel · þis craft my wif vsede
Rose þe regratour · was hure ryght name
Hue hath yholde hockerye · þes eleuene wynter
Repentest þow neuere quaþ repentaunce · ne restitucion madest
Ȝus ones quaþ hue ich was yherborwed[^a178] · with an hep of chapmen
Ich a-ros[^a179] and rifled here males · wenne þei a-reste were
Þat was a reufol restitucion · quaþ repentaunce for-soþe
Thow wolt hongy heye þerfore · her oþer in helle
Vsedest þow euere vserie in al þy lyf-tyme
Nay sothliche hue sayde · saf in my ȝouþe
Ich lerned among lumbardes · a lesson and of iewes
To weie pans with a peis · and pared þe heuyeste
And lente for loue of þe wed · þe whiche ich let betere
And more worth þan þe moneye · oþer[^a180] men þat ich lonede
Ich lonede[^a181] folk þat lese wolde · a lippe in eche noble
And with lombardes letters · ich[^a182] lenede gold at rome
So what bern of me borwed · he bouhte þe tyme
Lonedest þow euere to eny lorde · for loue of menteynaunce
Ich haue ylent[^a183] to lordes and to[^a184] ladies · þat louede me neure after
Ich[^a185] haue mad meny knyght · boþe mercer and draper
Payede neuere for here prentishode · nauht a payere gloues
Þat chaffared with my chyuesaunce · cheuede selde after
Now redelich quaþ repentaunce · and by þe rode ich leyue
Shal neuere executor wel by-sette · þe suluer þat þow hym leuest
Ne þyn ayeres as ich hope · haue ioye of þat þow wan
For þe pope and alle hus penetauncers · power hem faylleþ
To a-soyle þe of þy synnes · sine restitutione .
Nunquam dimittitur peccatum . nisi restituatur ablatum .
With false wordes and wittes · ich haue wonne my goodes
And with gyle and glosynge · gadered þat ich haue
Meddled my marchaundise · and mad a good moustre
The werst lay with-ynne · a gret wit ich let hit
And yf my neyhȝebore hadde an hyne · oþer[^a186] eny best ellys
More profitable þan myn · ich made meny wentes
How ich myght haue hit · al my wit ich caste
And bote ich hadde hit by oþes a-way[^a187] · atte laste ich stal hit
Oþer[^a188] pryuyliche hus pors shok · vnpiked hus lokes
And yf ich ȝede to þe plouh · ich pynchede on hus half-acre
Þat a fot londe oþer[^a189] a forwe · fecchen ich wolde
Of my neyhȝeboris next · nymen of hus erthe
And yf yrepe ouere-reche · oþer[^a190] ȝaf hem red þat repen
To sese to me with here sykel þat ich sew neuere
In halydayes at holy churche · wenne ich hurde messe
Ich hadde neuere witerlich* · to by-seche mercy
For my mysdedes · þat ich ne mornede ofter
For lost of good leyue me · þen for lycames gultes
Þauh ich dedliche synne dude · ich dradde hit nat so sore
As wenne ich lenede and leyuede hit lost · oþer[^a191] longe er hit were paied
And yf sente[^a192] ouer see · my seruaunt to brugges
Oþer[^a193] in-to prus[^a194] my prentys · my profit to a-waite
To marchaunde with monye · and maken here eschaunge
Myghte neuere man comforty me · in þe meyn tyme
Neiþer matyns ne masse · ne oþere manere syghtes
And neuere penaunse performede · ne pater noster seyde
That my mynde ne was · more in my goodes
Þan in godes grace · and[^a195] hus grete myghte
Ybi thesaurus tuus  ibi cor tuum .
Now redeliche quaþ repentaunce · ich haue reuthe of þy lyuynge
Were ich a frere in good faith · for al þe gold on erthe
Ich nolde cope me with þy catell · ne oure churche amende
Ne take a meles mete of þyne · and[^92] myn herte hit wiste
Þat þow were such as þow seist · ich sholde raþere sterue
Melius est mori  quam male uiuere .
Ich rede no faitthful frere · at þy feste sytte
Ȝut were me leuere by oure lord · lyue by welle carse
Þan haue my fode and my fyndyng e[^93] · of false menne wynnynges
Seruus es alterius cum fercucula[^a196] pinguia queris .
Pane tuo potius uescere liber eris .
Thow ert an vnkynde creature · ich can þe nat assoyle
Tyl þow haue ymad by þy myght · to alle men restitucion
For alle þat hauen of þy good · haue god my treuthe
Beeþ holden at þe hye dome · to helpe the restitue
The preest þat þy tythe takeþ · trowe ich non oþer
Shal parte with þe in purgatorie · and help paye þy dette
Yf he wist þow were suche · wen he reseyuyde þyn offrynge
What lede leyueþ þat ich lye · loke in þe sauter glosed
On ecce enim ueritatem dilexisti .
Ther he shal wite witerliche · what vsure is to mene
And what penaunce þe prest shal haue · þat prout is of þe[^a197] tethes
For an hore of hure ers-wynnynge · may hardiloker tythe
Þan an erraunt vsurer · haue god my treuthe
And erest shal come to heuene · by cryst þat me made
Then was þer a walishman · was wonderliche sory
He[^a198] highte ȝyuan ȝeld aȝeyn · if ich so moche haue
Al þat ich wickeddelich wan · sytthen ich hit[^a199] hadde
And þauh my liflode lacke · leten ich nelle
Þat ech man shal haue hus er ich hennes wende
For me ys leuere in this lif · as a lorel beggen
Þan in lysse to lyue · and lese lyf and soule
Roberd þe ryfeler on reddite lokede
And for þer was nat wher with · he wepte ful sore
And ȝut þat synful shrewe · seide to heuene
Crist þat on caluarye · on þe croys deidest*
Tho Dismas my broþer · by-souhte þe of grace
And haddest mercy on þat man · for memento sake
So rewe on me Roberd · þat reddere ne haue
Ne neuere wene to wynne wit craft · þat ich kowe k[n]owe[^a200]
For þy muchel mercy · mytigacion ich by-seche[^94]
Dampne me nouht at domys-day · for þat ich dude so ille
What by-fel of þis felon · ich can nouht faire shewe
Wel ich wot he wepte faste · water wit hus eyen
And to crist knowlechede · hus coupe ȝut eft-sone
Þat penaunce hus pyk-staf · he wolde polische newe
For he hadde leye by latro lucifers aunte
By þe rode quaþ repentaunce · þow romest toward heuene
By so þat[^a201] hit be in þyn herte · as ich hure þy tonge
Trist in his mochel mercy · an[^95] ȝut myght þow be saued
For al þe wrecchednesse of þis worlde · and wickede dedes
Fareþ as a fouk of fuyr · þat ful a myde temese
And deide for a drop of water · so doþ alle synnes
Of alle manere men þat whit[^96] good wille
Confessen hem and crien mercy · shullen neuere come in helle
Omnis iniquitas quo ad misericordiam dei est quasi sintilla in medio maris .
Repente þe anon quaþ repentaunce · ryȝt so to þe vsurer
And hus mercy in þy mynde haue[^a202] · and marchaundise leue hit
For þow hast no good by good faith · to bygge þe with a wastell
The good þat þow hauest ygete · bygan alwith al with falshede
As longe as þow lyuest þer-with · þow ȝeldest nat bote þow[^a203] borwest
And yf þow wite neuere to wham · ne were[^97] þow sholde[^a204] restitue
Bere hit to þe bischop · and bide hym of hus grace
To by-setten hit hym-selue · as best be for þy soule
For he shal answere for þe · at þe hye dome
For þe and for meny mo · þat man shal ȝeue rekenynge
What he lerede ȝow to lyue with · and to lette ȝow fro þufye þuf[þ]e[^a205][^98]
Confessio gule . Confessio gule .
Now by-gynneþ gloton · for to go to shryfte
And kayres hym to churcheward · hus coupe to shewe
Fastyng on a fryday · forth gan he wende
By betene hous þe brewestere · þat bad hym good morwe
And wederwarde hue wolde · þe brew-wif hym asked
To holy churche quaþ he · for to hure masse
And sitthen sitte and be yshreuen[^a206] · and synwe na more
Ich haue good ale godsyb · gloton wolt þow assaye
What hauest þow quaþ he · eny hote spices
Ich haue piper and pionys · and a pound of garlik
A fertheng-worth of fynkelsede · for fastinge daies
Thenne goþ gloton yn · an[^99] grete oþes after
Sesse þe sywestere · sat on þe benche
Watte þe warynere · and hus wif dronke
Thomme þe tynkere · and tweye of hus knaues
Hicke hakeneyman[^a207] · and houwe þe neldere
Claryce of cokeslane · the clerk of þe churche
Syre peeres of prydie · and purnel of flaundres
An haywarde and an heremyte · þe hangeman of tyborne
Dauwe þe dykere · with a dosen harlotes
Of portours and of pykeporsses · and pylede toþ-drawers
Arybibour A rybibour and a ratoner · a rakere and hus knaue
Arepere A repere[^a208] and a redyngkynge · and rose þe disshere
Godefray þe garlek mongere · and griffyn þe walish
And of vp-holdders an hep · herly by þe morwe
Geuen gloton with glad chire · goud ale to ansele
Clemment þe cobelere · cast of hus cloke
And to þe nywe fayre · nempned hit to selle
Hicke þe hakeneyman · hitte hus hod after
And bad bette bouchere · to be on hus syde
Ther were chapmen y-chose · þe chaffare to preise
Þat he þat hadde þe hod · sholde nat habbe þe cloke
Þe betere þyng by arbytours[^a209] · sholde bote þe werse
Two rysen rapliche · and rounede to-geders
And preysed þe penyworthes · apart by hem-selue
And þer were oþes an hepe · for oþer[^a210] sholde haue þe werse
Þei couthe nouht by here conscience · a-corde for treuthe
Tyl Robyn þe ropere · aryse þei bysouhte
And nempned hym a nompeyr · þat no debate were
Hicke þe hakeneyman · hadde þe sloke [c]loke[^a211][^100]
In couenaunt þat clemment · sholde þe coppe fylle
And haue þe hakeneysmannes hod · and hold hym yserued
And who repentyde raþest · sholde a-ryse after
And grete syre gloton · whit[^101] a galon of ale
Þ er was lauhyng & lakeryng*[^a212] · and let go þe coppe
Bargeynes and beuereges · by-gunne to a-ryse
And setyn so til euesong* rang · and songe vmbwyle
Til gloton adde yglobbed · a galon and a gylle
Hus guttes gonne godely · as to gredy sowes
He pissede a potell · in a pater noster while
And blew hus rounde rywett · atte þe rygbones ende
Þat alle þat herde þan horne · hulde here nose after
And wusched þat hit hadde be wexed · with a wips of breres
He myghte noþer stappe no[^a213] stounde · tyl he a staf hadde
Thanne gan hue go · lyke a glemannes bycche
Som tyme a-syde · som tyme a-ryre
Has[^102] ho-so laith lynes · for to lacche foules
And wenne he drow to þe dore · þanne dymmed hus eyen
He stomblede at þe þreshefold · and þreu to þe erthe
Tho Clement þe cobelere · cauhte hym by þe mydel
For to l yfte hym on-loft · he ledde[^a214] hym on hus knees
Ac gloton was a gret cherl · and gronyd on þe liftynge
And couhed vp a caudel · in clementes lappe
Ys non so hongry hounde · in hertforde-shire
Þat þorst[^a215] lape of þe[^a216] leuynge · so vnloueliche hit smauhte
With al þe wo of þe worlde · hus wif and hus wenche
Bere hym to hus bedde · and brouhte hym þer -ynne
And after al þis excessus[^a217] · he hadde an accidie
He slep saterday and sonday · tyl sonne ȝede to reste
Thenne awakyde he wel wan · and wolde haue ydronke
The ferst word þat he spak · was ho halt þe bolle
Hus wif and ys inwit · edwited hym of hus synne
He wax a-shamed þat shrewe · an[^103] shrof hym al-so swithe
To repentaunce ryȝt þus · haue reuthe on me he seyde
Þow lord þat on loft art · and alle lyues shope
To þe god ich gloton · gulty ich me ȝelde
Of my trespas with tunge · ich can nauht telle how ofte
Sworen þy saule and sydes · and so help me god al-myghty
Wen þat no nud was · meny tyme falsliche
And ouer sopede at my soper · and som tyme at nones
More þan my kynde · myghte wel defye
And as an hounde þat ete gras · so gan ich to brake
And spilde þat ich spelide[^a218] myghte · ich can nouht speke for shame
The vylenye of my foule mouþe · and of my foule mawe
On fastingdais by-fore none · ich fedde me whit[^104] ale
Out of reson a-mong rybaudes · here rybaudrye to huyre
Her-of good god · graunte me forȝeuenesse
Of al my luþer lyuyng* in al my lyf-tyme
For ich a-vowe to verrey god · for honger oþer[^a219] for þurste
Shal neuere fish* on fryday · defye in my wombe
Tyl abstinence myn aunte · haue ȝeue me leue
And ȝut haue ich hated hure · al my lyf-tyme

[^a114: her (P) | ar (All other mss)]

[^a115: smok (P P2 Dc Ec) | serk (Most other mss)]

[^a116: myn (P Ec) | heyh (Most other mss)]

[^a117: yhated (P Ec Nc) | hated (All other mss)]

[^a118: ybe (P Ec Gc) | be (Most other mss)]

[^a119: a-baissed (P Nc) | abaschet (All other mss)]

[^a120: al my (P Ec) | my (All other mss)]

[^a121: yf (P) | yf y (All other mss)]

[^a122: yknowe (P Mc) | knowe (All other mss)]

[^a123: oþer (P Ec) | and ~ or (All other mss)]

[^a124: oþer (P P2) | or (All other mss)]

[^a125: in (P Yc Vc Ac) | as in (Most other mss)]

[^a126: pompholy (P Yc P2 Dc Nc) | pop(e)holy (All other mss)]

[^a127: on (P Ec Dc Gc) | in (All other mss)]

[^a128: on (P Ec Gc) | in (All other mss)]

[^a129: my stede (P) | stede (Most other mss)]

[^a130: Ther (P) | They (Most other mss)]

[^a131: wel almesful (P X Yc I) | almesfull (Most other mss)]

[^a132: ich (P Ec Gc) | nil (Most other mss)]

[^a133: oþer (P Ec) | or (Most other mss)]

[^a134: of (P Ec Nc) | at (All other mss)]

[^a135: oþer (P P2 Ec) | or (Most other mss)]

[^a136: of (P Nc) | at (All other mss)]

[^a137: to (P Vc Ac) | to be (All other mss)]

[^a138: to wille (P Ec Nc) | wille (All other mss)]

[^a139: Oþer (P P2 Ec) | Or (Most other mss)]

[^a140: oþer (P P2 Ec) | or (Most other mss)]

[^a141: tyme (P Ec Vc Fc) | tymes (All other mss)]

[^a142: brend (P Ec) | vrete (Some other mss)]

[^a143: Oþer (P Ec) | Or (Most other mss)]

[^a144: ne (P Ec) | nil (Most other mss)]

[^a145: a (P Ec) | nil (All other mss)]

[^a146: synne (P Gc) | synnes (All other mss)]

[^a147: Whit (P Ec Sc) | And with (All other mss)]

[^a148: Vnpacient (P Ec Mc Gc Nc) | Inpacient (Most other mss)]

[^a149: men (P) | me (All other mss)]

[^a150: grucche (P P2 Fc) | grochede (Most other mss)]

[^a151: And (P Ec) | In (All other mss)]

[^a152: flowen (P) | folewen (Most other mss)]

[^a153: of (P Ec Fc) | on (All other mss)]

[^a154: Oþer (P P2 Ec) | Or (Most other mss)]

[^a155: anunne a nunne (P Fc Gc) | nonne (Most other mss)]

[^a156: abbodesse (P Ec Rc Kc Gc Nc) | abbesse (All other mss)]

[^a157: oþer (P P2 Ec Kc) | or (All other mss)]

[^a158: a childe (P Uc Ec Qc Gc) | childe (All other mss)]

[^a159: Boþe byte (P Rc Mc Fc) | Byte (Most other mss)]

[^a160: ywoned (P Ec) | woned (Most other mss)]

[^a161: by-gan (P Ec Mc Fc) | gan (Most other mss)]

[^a162: either oþere (P Ec) | oþer hore (Most other mss)]

[^a163: folle (P Mc Sc) | felle (Most other mss)]

[^a164: and þe (P Mc Sc) | and (All other mss)]

[^a165: in (P Ec Vc Ac) | on (All other mss)]

[^a166: hij (P Qc Kc Ec Rc Mc Sc) | y (Most other mss)]

[^a167: pure grace and mercy (P Ec) | puyr (All other mss)]

[^a168: to hure (P) | here (All other mss)]

[^a169: oure boþers (P) | bothe oure (Some mss)]

[^a170: lauhe (P Ec Qc Sc Fc) | lythe (Most other mss)]

[^a171: blery (P Ec Nc) | blered (Most other mss)]

[^a172: Al (P) | Wel (All other mss)]

[^a173: many (P Dc Rc) | many manere (Most other mss)]

[^a174: marchandises (P Ec Mc Qc) | marchandise (All other mss)]

[^a175: maistres (P) | maistre (All other mss)]

[^a176: Ich putte (P Ec) | Potte (Most other mss)]

[^a177: so (P Ec) | hoso (All other mss)]

[^a178: yherborwed (P Ec Mc) | herberd (All other mss)]

[^a179: a-ros (P Ec Mc Nc) | ros (All other mss)]

[^a180: oþer (P P2 Ec) | or (All other mss)]

[^a181: lonede (P Fc) | lened (Most other mss)]

[^a182: ich (P Dc Ec Gc) | nil (Most other mss)]

[^a183: ylent (P Ec Mc Gc) | lent (All other mss)]

[^a184: to (P Ec Ac Kc Nc) | nil (All other mss)]

[^a185: Ich (P Ec) | And (y) (Most other mss)]

[^a186: oþer (P P2 Ec Gc) | or (All other mss)]

[^a187: oþes a-way (P Ec) | other wey (Most other mss)]

[^a188: Oþer (P P2 Ec) | Or (All other mss)]

[^a189: oþer (P Ec Nc) | or (Most other mss)]

[^a190: oþer (P) | or (Most other mss)]

[^a191: oþer (P P2 Ec) | or (All other mss)]

[^a192: sente (P Mc) | y sente (All other mss)]

[^a193: Oþer (P P2 Ec) | Or (All other mss)]

[^a194: prus (P) | pruyslond (et al.) (Other mss)]

[^a195: and (P Ec Rc) | and in (Most other mss)]

[^a196: fercucula (P) | fercula (All other mss)]

[^a197: þe (P Ec) | his (Most other mss)]

[^a198: He (P Ec) | nil (All other mss)]

[^a199: hit (P Rc Mc Fc) | witte (All other mss)]

[^a200: kowe k[n]owe (P) | knowe (All other mss)]

[^a201: By so þat (P Ec Qc) | By so (Most other mss)]

[^a202: hus mercy in þy mynde haue (P Ec) | haue his mercy in thy mynde (Ec)]

[^a203: bote þow (P) | bote (All other mss)]

[^a204: þow sholde (P) | to (Most other mss)]

[^a205: þufye þuf[þ]e (P) | thefte (Most other mss)]

[^a206: yshreuen (P Ec) | shryue (Most other mss)]

[^a207: hakeneyman (P Ec) | þe hackenayman (All other mss)]

[^a208: repere (P) | ropere (All other mss)]

[^a209: arbytours (P Ec Vc) | arbitreres (Most other mss)]

[^a210: oþer (P) | on (Most other mss)]

[^a211: sloke [c]loke (P) | cloke (All other mss)]

[^a212: lakeryng* (P Ec) | likeryng ~ louring (Most other mss)]

[^a213: no (P Fc) | ne (Most other mss)]

[^a214: ledde (P Vc Ac Qc Sc) | leyde (Most other mss)]

[^a215: þorst (P) | Durste (Most other mss)]

[^a216: þe (P) | þat (All other mss)]

[^a217: excessus (P) | exces (All other mss)]

[^a218: spelide (P Gc Nc) | aspele (Most other mss)]

[^a219: oþer (P P2 Ec) | or (most other mss)]

[^63: P.7.4: her, "before, ere."]

[^64: P.7.4: hue, "she."]

[^65: P.7.14: The repetition of what would usually be one marginal rubric is odd, especially as it is written like a line of text.]

[^66: CHECK MS for direction of change.***???]

[^67: P.7.58: an, "and."]

[^68: P.7.66: The scribe wrote the rubric, usually marginal, as though it were a line.]

[^69: P.7.90: An otiose mark appears above and between the <n> and <e>.]

[^70: P.7.109: The scribe's intention here is not entirely clear. These rubrics are written as though they were lines of text, a feature that will recur several times in this manuscript.]

[^71: P.7.110: whit, "with."]

[^72: P.7.111: Whit, "with."]

[^73: P.7.113: whit, "with."]

[^74: P.7.113: whit, "with."]

[^75: P.7.116: wit, "with."]

[^76: P.7.116: whit, "with."]

[^77: P.7.123: Whit, "with."]

[^78: P.7.123: wit, "with."]

[^79: P.7.128: Whit-oute, "without."]

[^80: P.7.147: whit, "with."]

[^81: P.7.181: Whit, "with."]

[^82: P.7.196: holde, "old."]

[^83: P.7.198: whit, "with."]

[^84: P.7.201: an, "and."]

[^85: P.7.204: The scribe copied these marginal rubrics as though they were text.]

[^86: P.7.206: an, "and."]

[^87: P.7.207: whit, "with."]

[^88: P.7.211: Whit, "with."]

[^89: P.7.212: The following two lines, given here in the spelling of X, are lost from P: But yf a lous couthe lepe y leue and y trowe He sholde nat wandre on þat walch so was hit thredbare.]

[^90: P.7.227: Russell and Kane (p. 313) treat this spelling as substantive. MED, s. v. yerd n (2), does not list this spelling among the variant spellings, but yeord(en) appears as a Southwest form, so we might expect to find ȝorde.]

[^91: P.7.233: a, "and."]

[^92: P.7.298: and, "if."]

[^93: P.7.303: The scribe first put a flourish on the <g> and then overwrote it to add a final <e>.]

[^94: P.7.335: An otiose mark appears over the first <e>.]

[^95: P.7.344: an, "and."]

[^96: P.7.348: whit, "with."]

[^97: P.7.356: were, "where."]

[^98: P.7.361: Compare P3.97.]

[^99: P.7.374: an, "and."]

[^100: P.7.402: The initial character may have been intended as a capital <C>, but the size is improbable if that were the case.]

[^101: P.7.406: whit, "with."]

[^102: P.7.419: Has, "as."]

[^103: P.7.435: an, "and."]

[^104: P.7.447: whit, "with."]

Hic explicit passus septimus .

Incipit passus octauus . De confessione accidie . Confessio accidie . [P.8.0: Cf. P7.14 above, where a usually marginal rubric is written as a single line. This instance appears to serve as a kind of passus subtitle?]

T ho cam sleuthe al by-slo bered · wit to slymed eyen
Ich most sitte to be shryue quath he · or elles shal ich nappe
Ich may nouht stounde ne stoupe · ne whit-oute stoule knele
Were ich brouhte in my bed · bote my taylende hit made
Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse · tyl ich were rype to dyne
Benedicite he by-gan wit a bolke · and hus brest knokede
Rascled and remed · and routte at þe laste
Wat a-wake renk quaþ repentaunce . rape the to shryfte
Sholde ich deye quath he by þis daye . ich drede me so sore
Ich can nouht parfytliche my pater noster as þe prest hit seggeþ[^a220]
Ich can rymes of robynhode · and of Randolf erl of chestre
Ac of oure lord ne of oure lady · þe lest þat euere was maked
Ich haue a-vowed vowes fourty · and for-ȝut hem a-morwe
Ich parfourned neuere penaunce · þat þe preest me hihte
Ne ryȝt sory for my synnes · ich sey neuere þe tyme
And ich bidde eny bedis · bote hit be in wratthe
That ich telle with my tunge · ys ten myle fro my herte
Ich am ocupied eche day · haly-day and oþer
W ith ydel tales atte nale ale · and oþer -wyle in churches
Godes pyne and hus passion · his[^105] pure seilde in my thouhte
Ich viseted neuere feble man · ne feterid man in prisone
Ich hadde leuere huyre of harletrye · oþer[^a221] of a[^a222] lesyng to lauhen of
Oþer[^a223] lacke men and lykne hem · in vnlykynge manere
Þan al þat euere marc made matheu . Iohan other[^a224] lucas .
Vigilies · and fastyngdayes · ich can for-ȝute hem alle
Ich[^a225] ligge a-bedde in lente · myi[^a226][^106] lemen in myn armes[^107]
Tyl matyns and messe be don · þen haue ich a memorie atte Freres
Ich am nouht shryuen som tyme · bote syknesse hit make
Nouht twyes in ten ȝer · ȝut tel ich nauht þe haluendele
Ich haue be prest and person · passyng þerty wintere
Ȝut can ich noþer solfye ne synge · ne a seyntes lyf rede
Ac ich can fynde in a felde · and in a forlang an hare
And holden a knyȝtes court · and a-counte with þe reyue
Ac ich can nouht constrye canon · ne clergialliche reden
Yf ich bygge and borwe ouht · bote hit be y-tayled
Ich for-ȝute as[^a227] ȝerne · and yf eny man hit askeþ
Sixe siche oþer seuene · ich for-sake hit with oþes
Thus haue ich tuned trewe men · ten hondred tymes
And som tyme my seruauns · here salerye his[^108] by-hynde
Reuthe ys to huyre þe rekenyng . wenne we shulleþ[^a228] rede a-countes
Þat with so wicked wil · my werkman[^a229] ich paye
If eny man doþ me a byn-fet · oþer[^a230] helpeþ me at nude
Ich am vnkynde aȝeyns courtesye · ich can nat vnderstounde hit
For ich haue and haue had · somdel haukes maneres
Ich am nat lured with loue · bote ouht lygge vnder þombe
Þe kyndenesse þat myn emcristene · kydde me fern-ȝere
Syxty sithe ich sleuthe · haue for-ȝute hit sitthe
In speche and in sparyng of speche · yspilt myn[^a231] tymes
Boþe flesh* and eke Fish* · and vitaile ich kepte[^a232] so longe
Til eche alyf a lyf hit loþede · to lokye þer -on oþer[^a233] smylle hit
Boþe bred and ale · botere melke an chese
For-sleuthe in my seruice · sette[^a234] hous a-fuyre
And ȝede a-bowte in my ȝouthe · and ȝaf me to no þedam
And sitthe a beggere haue y be · for my foule sleuthe
Heu michi quod sterilem duxi uitam iuuenilem .
Repente þe quaþ repentaunce · ryȝt with þat he souned
Til vigilate þe veille · vette water at hus eyen
And flatte on hus face · and fast on hym criede
And seide war fro wanhope · þat wol þe by-traye
Ich am sory for my synnes · seye to þy-selue
And bet þy-selue on þe brest · and bidde god of grace
For þer nys non[^a235] so gret synne[^a236] · þat hus goodnesse ne ys[^a237] more
Þanne sat sleuthe vp · and seynede hym ofte
And made a vowe by-for good[^a238] · for hus foule sleuthe
Shal no soneday þis seuene ȝer be · bote sycknesse hit make
Þat ich ne shal do me or daye · to þe dere churche
And huyre matyns and masse · as ich a monke were
Shal no ale after mete . holde me þennes
Til ich haue hurd euesong** · ich by-hote to þe rode
Ac whiche be þe braunches · þat bryngeþ me to sleuthe
Ys wanne a man mourneþ nat . for hus mysdedes
Þe penaunce þat þe prest enioyneþ · parfourneþ vuele
Doþ non almys-dedes · and drat nat of synne
Lyueþ aȝens þe by-leyue · and no lawe kepeþ
And haþ no lykynge to lerne · ne of houre lord hure
Bote harlotrie oþer[^a239] horedom · oþer[^a240] elles of som wynnyng**
Wan men carpen of cryst · oþer[^a241] of clennesse of soule
He wext wroþ and wol nat huyre · bote wordes of murthe
Penaunce and poure men · þe passion of seyntes
He hateþ to huyre þer-of · and alle þat þer -of carpen
Thuse beþ þe braunches be war · þat bryngeþ man to wanhope
Ȝe lordes and ladyes · and legates of holy churche
Þat feden fool sages · flaterers and lyers
And han lykynge to lyþen hem · in hope to do ȝow lawe
Ve uobis qui ridetis . et cetera .
And ȝeueþ suche mede and mete · and poure men refusen
In ȝoure deþ-deynge · ich drede me sore
As god wole .

[P.8.88: Russell and Kane take this marginalium in P to be text.]

Lest þo manere men · to moche sorwe ȝow brynge ·
Consencientes & agentes pari pena punientur .
Patriarkes and prophetes · prechours of godes wordes
Sauen þorgh here sermons · mannes soule fro helle
Ryȝt so flaterers and foles · aren þe fendes procuratores
Entysen men þorgh here tales · to synne and to harlo trie
Clerkus þat knowen þis · sholde kenne lordes
What dauid seide of suche men · as þe sauter telleþ .
Non habitabit in medio domus mee qui facit superbiam . qui loquitur iniqua .
Sholde non harlot haue audience · in halle ne in chaumbre
Þer þat wysmen were · whitnesse of[^a242][^109] godes wordes
Noþer a mys-prout man · among lordes a-louwed
Clerkus and knyȝtes · wolcomeþ kynges mynstrales
For[^a243] loue of here lordes · lithen hem at festes
Muche more me þenkeþ · riche men auhte
Haue beggers by-fore hem · whiche beþ godes mynstrales
As he seith hym-self seynt Iohan bereth whittnesse
Qui uos spernit me eciam[^a244] spernit .
Ther-for ich rede ȝow riche · reueles when ȝe maken
For to solace ȝoure soules · suche mynstrales to haue
Þe poure for a foul sage · syttynge at þy table
Whith[^110] a lered man to lere þe . what oure lord suffrede
For to sauy þy saule · fram satan þyn enemye
And fitayle[^111] the with -oute flateryng · of goode fryday þe feste
And a blynde man for a bordiour · oþer[^a245] a bedreden womman ·
To crye a largesse by-fore oure lorde · ȝoure goode loos to shewe
Thuse þre manere mynstrales · maken a man to lauhe
In[^a246] hus deþ deynge · thei don hym gret comfort
Þat by hus lyue loueþ hem · and loueþ hem to huyre
Thuse solaceþ þe soule · til hym-self be falle
In a wele good hope[^a247] for he wroghte so · a-mong worthy seyntes
Ther flaterers and foles · whith[^112] here foule wordes
Leden tho þat lithen hem · to luciferes feste .
With turpiloquio alay a lay of sorwe · and lucifers fitele
To perpetuel peyne · oþer[^a248] purgatorye as wykke
For he litheþ and loueþ · þat godes lawe despiceþ
Qui histrionibus dat  demonibus sacrificat .[^a249]
Tho was repentaunce redy · and radde hem alle to knele
Ich shal by-seche for alle synfulle . oure sauyour of grace
To a-menden ous of oure mysdedes · do mercy to ous alle
God of þy goodnesse · þow gonne[^a250] þe worlde make
Oratio
And of nouht madest ouht · and man lyke þe-selue
Sitthe soffredest hym do synne · asyknesse a syknesse to ous alle
And for oure best as ich by-leyue · what euere þe book telle
O felix culpa . o necessarium peccatum ade .
For þorw synne[^a251] þy sone · sent was tyl erthe
And by-cam man of mayde[^a252] · mankynde to a-mende
And madest þe-selue[^a253] with þy sone · oure soule and body lyche
Ego[^a254] patre & pater in me est  & qui uidet me . patrem meum uidet .
And sitthe in oure secke · as hit semed þow deydest[^a255]
On a fryday in forme of man · feledest oure sorwe
Captiuam duxit captiuitatem .
The sonne for sorwe · þer -of lees lyght for a tyme
A -bowte midday wanne lyght[^a256] ys · and meel-tyme of seyntes
Feddest þo with thi fresshe blod · oure for-fadres in helle
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris lucem magnam uidit[^a257] .
The lyght þat lemed out of þe lucifer hit blente
And broughte þyne blessede fro þennes · in-to þe blysse of heuene
The þridde day þer -after · thow ȝedest in oure secte
A synful marye þe seyh · er seynt marie þy moder
And al to solace synful · þow soffredest hit so were
Non ueni uocare iustos  sed peccatores ad penitenciam[^a258]
And al þat marc hath ymad matheu Iohan and lucas .
Of þyne douht ieste dedes · was don on[^a259] oure secte
Uerbum caro factum est .
And by so moche hit semeþ · þe sykerloker we mowe
Bydde and by-seche þe · yf hit be þy wil[^113]
Þat ert ferst oure fader · and of flessh* oure broþer
And sitthen oure saueour · and seidest with þy tonge
That what tyme we synful men . wolden be sory
For dedes þat we han don ille · dampned sholde we be neuere
Yff we knewelechid and cryde · crist þer -of mercy
Quandocumque ingemuerit peccator omnes iniquitates eius non recordabor amplius .
And for þat mechel mercy · and marie loue þy moder
Haue reuthe of alle þuse rybaudes · þat repenten hem sore
Þat euere þei gulte aȝens þe god · in gost oþer[^a260] in dede
Thenne hente hope an horn . of deus tu conuersus uiuificabis nos .
And blew hit wit beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates & cetera[^a261] .
Þat alle seyntes wit synful men · syngen[^a262] with dauid
Homines & iumenta saluabis domine quem multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus .
A þousend of men þo · þrongen to-gederes
Cryyng** vpward to crist** · and to hus clene moder
To haue grace to go to treuthe god leyue þat þei mote
Ac þer was weye non so wys · þat þe way þider couthe
Bote blostrede forth as bestes · ouer baches and hulles
Til late was and longe · þat þei alede a lede mette
Aparaild as apaynym a paynym · in pylgrymes wise
He bar a bordon ybounde · with a brod lyste
In aweythwynde a weythwynde wyse · ywryþe al aboute
A bolle and a bagge · he bar by hus syde
And an hondred hanypeles · on hus hatte seten
Signes of syse · and shilles of galys
And meny crouche on hus cloke · and keyes of rome
And þe fernycle by-fore · for men sholde knowe
As[^a263] by hus sygnes · wham he souht hadde
Thys folke frayned hym furst · fro wennes he come
Fro sinay he sayde · and fro þe sepulcre .
In bethleem in babilonie ich haue ybe[^a264] bothe[^a265]
In ermanie in alisaundre and in damascle .
Ȝe may see by my sygnes · þat sitten on my cappe
Ich haue ysouht[^a266] goode seyntes · for my[^a267] soules helthe
And walked ful wide · in wete and in drye
Knowst þow a[^a268] core-seynt quaþ ich · þat men clepeþ · treuthe .
Couthest þow wissen ous þe way · woder-out treuthe wonyeþ
Nay so god me helpe[^a269] · seyde þe gome þenne
Ich seyh neuere palmere · whith[^114] pyk ne with shrippe[^a270]
Asken after hym er now · in þys ilke place
Hic primo comparet petrus plouhman .[^115]
Peter quaþ a plouhman · and putte forth hus hefd
Iich knowe hym as kyndeliche · as clerkus don hure bokes
Conscience and kyndewit · kende me to hus place
And maked me sykeren hym sitthen · to seren ser[u]en[^a271] hym for euere
Boþe to sowe and to setten · þe wyle ich swynke myghte[^116]
With-ynne and with-oute · to wayten hus profyt
Ich haue yben his folwer · al þes fourty wynter
And serued treuthe sothlyche somdel to paye
In alle kynne craftes þat he couthe deuyse
Prophitable to þe plouh · he putte me to lerne
And þauh ich seye hit my-self · ich seruede hym to paye
Ich haue myn hyre of hym wel · and oþer-wyle more
He ys[^a272] most prest paiere · þat eny poure man knoweth
He with-halt non hywe · hus hyre ouere euen
He ys louh as a lombe · and leel of hus tonge
And ho-so wilneþ to wyte · wer þat treuthe wonyeþ[^a273]
Ich wol wissen ȝow wel · ryght to hus place
Ȝe leue peers quaþ þo pylgrymes · and profrede peers mede
Nay by þe pereil of my soule peers gan swere
Ich nolde fonge a ferthing** · for seynt Thomas shryne
Were it told to treuthe þat ich toke mede
He wolde louye me þe lasse · a longe tyme after
Alta uia ad fidelitatem est obseruatio decem preceptorrum . ut dicit petrus plouhman .[^117]
Ac who-so wol wende . þer as treuthe dwelleþ
This ys þe heye weye þyderwarde · wyteþ wel þe soþe
Ȝe most gon þorwe meknesse · alle men and wommen
Tyl ȝe come to conscience knowen[^a274] of god selue
That ȝe loue hym as lord · leelliche a-bouen alle
That ys to seye sothliche · ȝe sholde raþer deye
Than eny dedliche synne do · for drede oþer[^a275] for preyere
And þenne ȝoure neghebores next · in none wyse a-peyre
And[^a276] oþer -wyse þan ȝe wolde · thei wroughte ȝou alle tymes
And so goþ forth by þe bok · a brygge as hit were
Tyl ȝe fynde a forde · ȝoure fadres honourieþ[^a277]
Wadeþ wel in þe[^a278] water · and wasche ȝow wel þere
And ȝe shulle lepe þe lyghtloker · al ȝoure lyf-tyme
Honora patrem & matrem & eris longemis super terram[^a279] .
Þanne shalt þow swery nat · bot yt be for nude
Nameliche an ydel · þe name of god al-myghty
Þanne shalt þow come by a croft · ac com nat þer-ynne
Þe croft hatte coueyte nat · mennes catel ne here wyues
Ne non of here seruans · þat nuyen hem myghte
Loke þou bere nat þere a-weye · bote yt be þyn owe
Two stockes þer stonden · ac stunt þow nouht þere
Thei hatte stel nat and slee nat · stryk forth by hem bothe
And leue hem in[^a280] þy lift hand · and loke nouht þer-after
And hold wel þyn halyday · heye tyl euen
Thenne shalt þou blenche at a bergh* · ber no fals wyttnesse
He ys[^a281] freþed yn wit floreynes · and oþer fees menye
Loke þow plocke þer no plaunte · for peryl of þy soule
Þanne shalt þow seye soþe · so hit be to done
In no manere elles nat · for no mannes preyere
So shalt þow come to a court · as cleer so[^a282] þe sonne
The mot ys of mercy · in myddes þe manere
Al þe wallynge hys of witt · for wil ne sholde hit wynne
The kernels beþ of crystendome · þat kynde to saue
And boteraced wit by-leyue so · oþer[^a283] þow worsthest worthest[^a284] nat saued
Alle þe houses beþ heled · halles and chambres
With no lede bote with loue · and with leel speche
The barres aren of buxumnesse · as breþres of on wombe
Thre The[^a285] bregge hatte bid wel · The bet myght þow spede
Eche pyler ys of penaunce and preyers to seyntes
The hokes aren almys dede[^a286] · þat þe ȝates hongen on
Grace hatte þe gate-warde · a good man for-soþe
Hus man hatte amende ȝow · meny man hym knoweþ
Tel hym þys ilke tokne · treuthe wot þe southe
Ich am sory for my synnes · and so shal ich euere
And parfourne þe penaunce · þat þe preest me highte
Rydeþ to a-mende ȝow · meek ȝow to hus mayster grace
To openen and vndo · þe hye ȝates of heuene
That adam and eue · aȝens ous alle shutte
Per euam ianua celi[^a287] cunctis clausa est .
Et per mariam uirginem iterum patefacta est .
A ful bel[^a288] lady · vn-lyke[^a289] hure[^a290] of grace
Hue haþ akeye a keye[^a291] and a[^a292] clykett · thauh þe kynge slepe
And may lede yn wham hue loueþ · as here luf[^a293] lykeþ
And yf grace graunte þe · to go yn in þys wise
Þow shalt se treuthe sytte · in þy-selue herte
And solace þy soule · and saue þe fro pyne
Al-so charge charyte · a churche to make
In þyn hole herte · to herberghwen alle treuthe
And fynde alle manere folke · foude to hure saules
Yf loue and leaute · and owre lawe be trywe
Quodcumque pecieritis in nomine meo dabitur enim uobis .
Be war þenne of wratthe · þat wickede shrewe
For he haþ enuye to hym · þat in þyn herte sytteþ
And pokeþ forth pruyde · to preysy thi-selue ·
The boldnesse of þy bynfet · makeþ þe blynde þenne
So worth þow dryuen out as deuh · and þe dore closed
Y -keyed and yclykeded · to close þe wit-oute
Hapliche an hondred wynter · ar þow eft entrie[^a294]
Þus myght þou lese hus loue · to lete wel by þe-selue
And geten[^a295] a-geyn þorw grace · ac þorgh no gyse[^a296] elles
Ther ben seuene sustres · that seruen treuthe euere
And aren porters at[^a297] posternes · þat to þe place longen
Þat on hatte abstinence and humilite anoþer
Charite and chastite ben hus chef maydones
Pacience and pees . muche puple helpen
Largenesse þat lady · lat yn ful menye
Non of hem alle · helpe may yn betere
For hue paieþ for prisons · in places and in peynes
And ho is sybbe to þuse seuene[^118] · sothly to telle
Hit is ful hard by myn heued · eny of ȝou alle
To geten engang** at eny gate · bote grace be þe more
By cryst quath a kute-pors · ich haue no kyn þere
Ne ich quath an apewarde · by ouht þat ich knowe
Wytegod Wyte god quaþ awafrestre a wafrestre · wist ich þe soþe
Ich wolde ne forþer afot a fot · for no[^a298] freres preching e
Ȝus quaþ peers plouhman · and pukede hem alle to goode
Mercy is[^a299] mayde þere · hath myght ouer hem alle
And hue is sybbe to alle synful · and hure sone boþe
And þorwe þe help of hem to · hope þow non oþer
Thow myght gete grace ther · so þow go by-tyme
Ȝe villam emi quaþ on · and now most ich þudere
To loke how me lykeþ hit · and tok hus leue at peers
Anoþer anon ryght · nude seyde[^a300] he hadde
To folwen fif ȝokes · for-thy me by-houeþ
To gon wit a good wil · and grettliche hem dryue
For-þy ich praye ȝow peers paraunter yf ȝe meteþ
Treuthe telleþ to hym · þat ich be excused
Thenne was þer[^a301] on heihte actif an hosebonde he semed
Ich haue ywedded[^a302] a wyf quaþ he · wel wantowen of maners
Where ich seuenyght fro hure syghtt · seggen[^a303] he wolde
And loure on me and lyghtliche chide · and seye ich loue[^a304] anoþere
For-þy peers plouhman · ich praye þe telle hit treuthe
Ich may nat come for a kytte · so hue clyueþ on me
Vxorem duxi et ideo non possum uenire .
Quaþ contemplacion by crist . thauh ich care suffre
Famyn and defaute · folwen ich wolle peers
Ac þe wey ys so wyckede · bote ho[^a305] hadde a gyde
Þat myght folwen ous ech fot for drede of mys-tornynge

[^a220: seggeþ (P Ec) | syngeth (All other mss)]

[^a221: oþer (P Ec) | or (Most other mss)]

[^a222: of a (P Ec Fc) | a (Most other mss)]

[^a223: Oþer (P P2 Ec) | Or (All other mss)]

[^a224: other (P Ec) | or (Most other mss)]

[^a225: Ich (P) | And (All other mss)]

[^a226: myi (P) | my (Most other mss)]

[^a227: as (P Ec) | hit as (All other mss)]

[^a228: shulleþ (P Rc) | shal (All other mss)]

[^a229: werkman (P Qc) | werkemen (All other mss)]

[^a230: oþer (P P2 Ec) | or (All other mss)]

[^a231: myn (P Ec) | many a (most other mss)]

[^a232: ich kepte (P P2 Ec Mc) | kepte (All other mss)]

[^a233: oþer (P Ec) | or (All other mss)]

[^a234: sette (P Ec) | and set (Most other mss)]

[^a235: non (P Ec Ac) | no gult (Most other mss)]

[^a236: gret synne (P Ec) | greet (All other mss)]

[^a237: ne ys (P Ec Qc) | is (Most other mss)]

[^a238: good (P) | god (All other mss)]

[^a239: oþer (P P2 Ec) | and (Most other mss)]

[^a240: oþer (P P2 Ec) | or (Most other mss)]

[^a241: oþer (P P2) | or (All other mss)]

[^a242: whitnesse of (P Ec Nc) | wittnesseth (Various mss)]

[^a243: For (P Ec Qc) | And for (All other mss)]

[^a244: me eciam (P) | me (Most other mss)]

[^a245: oþer (P P2 Ec) | or (All other mss)]

[^a246: In (P Ec) | And in (Most other mss)]

[^a247: wele good hope (P Ec) | welhope (Most other mss)]

[^a248: oþer (P P2 Ec) | or (All other mss)]

[^a249: Qui histrionibus dat  demonibus sacrificat . (P Ec) | Dare histrionibus (Most other mss)]

[^a250: þow gonne (P Ec Nc) | gonne (Most other mss)]

[^a251: synne (P Ec) | þat synne (All other mss)]

[^a252: mayde (P) | a mayde (All other mss)]

[^a253: þe-selue (P) | thysulue (All other mss)]

[^a254: Ego (P) | ego in (All other mss)]

[^a255: þow deydest (P Ec) | deyedest (All other mss)]

[^a256: lyght (P) | most liht (Most other mss)]

[^a257: lucem magnam uidit (P) | vidit lucem magnam (All other mss)]

[^a258: peccatores ad penitenciam (P Ec Mc Fc) | peccatores (Most other mss)]

[^a259: on (P Ec) | in (Most other mss)]

[^a260: oþer (P P2 Dc Ec Gc) | or (All other mss)]

[^a261: & cetera (P Ec Fc) | nil (Most other mss)]

[^a262: syngen (P) | songe(n) (Most other mss)]

[^a263: As (P Ec) | And se (All other mss)]

[^a264: ybe (P Vc Ac) | be (All other mss)]

[^a265: bothe (P Ec) | in bothe (Most other mss)]

[^a266: ysouht (P Ec Nc) | souht (All other mss)]

[^a267: my (P Dc Ec Mc) | nil ~ þe ~ þese (Other mss)]

[^a268: a (P P2 Ec) | auht a (Most other mss)]

[^a269: god me helpe (P Mc Nc) | me god helpe (Most other mss)]

[^a270: shrippe (P Nc) | scrippe (Most other mss)]

[^a271: seren ser[u]en (P) | serue(n) (All other mss)]

[^a272: ys (P Ec Vc Ac Fc) | is þe (All other mss)]

[^a273: wonyeþ (P Vc AC Qc Kc) | woneth (Most other mss)]

[^a274: knowen (P Ec Rc Vc Ac) | yknowe (Most other mss)]

[^a275: oþer (P P2 Ec) | or (All other mss)]

[^a276: And (P Ec) | nil (All other mss)]

[^a277: honourieþ (P) | honoureth (Most other mss)]

[^a278: þe (P Nc) | þat (All other mss)]

[^a279: matrem & eris longemis super terram (P Ec) | matrem & c. (Most other mss)]

[^a280: in (P X Yc I Ec) | on (Most other mss)]

[^a281: He ys (P) | Is (Most other mss)]

[^a282: so (P Ec Qc Kc) | as (All other mss)]

[^a283: oþer (P Ec) | or (All other mss)]

[^a284: worsthest worthest (P) | best (Most other mss)]

[^a285: Thre The (P) | The (All other mss)]

[^a286: dede (P P2 Gc) | dedes (Most other mss)]

[^a287: Per euam ianua celi (P Ec) | Euam (All other mss)]

[^a288: bel (P) | leel (Most other mss)]

[^a289: vn-lyke (P Ec Nc) | vnlek (Most other mss)]

[^a290: hure (P Ec) | hit (All other mss)]

[^a291: akeye a keye (P) | þe keye (Most other mss)]

[^a292: a (P Ec) | þe (Most other mss)]

[^a293: luf (P Qc) | lef (Most other mss)]

[^a294: entrie (P Ec) | entre (All other mss)]

[^a295: geten (P Ec) | geten hit (All other mss)]

[^a296: gyse (P) | gifte (Most other mss)]

[^a297: at (P Ec Qc Sc) | ouer (Most other mss)]

[^a298: no (P) | ne (Most other mss)]

[^a299: is (P) | is a (All other mss)]

[^a300: seyde (P Ec Vc Ac Gc) | he sayde (All other mss)]

[^a301: was þer (P Ec Mc Nc) | was (Most other mss)]

[^a302: ywedded (P Ec Mc Nc) | wedded (All other mss)]

[^a303: seggen (P Dc Ec) | synnen (Other mss)]

[^a304: loue (P Mc Sc) | louede (Most other mss)]

[^a305: ho (P Dc) | hoso (Most other mss)]

[^105: P.8.20: his, "is."]

[^106: P.8.26: The spelling is odd. The scribe may have intended to write myn, though elsewhere he writes it only in elision contexts.]

[^107: P.8.26: The initial one-lobed <a> is unusual in this manuscript. CHECK IT OUT***??? An initial minim may have been altered to <a>.]

[^108: P.8.39: his, "is."]

[^109: P.8.98: whitnesse, "witness." The variation among manuscripts is considerable here.]

[^110: P.8.109: Whith, "With."]

[^111: P.8.111: fitayle. "fiddle, play the fiddle." This spelling is not listed among MED forms of the verb.]

[^112: P.8.119: whith, "with."]

[^113: ***???CHECK THIS PAGE FOR EVIDENCE (OR NOT) OF INLINE REVISION IN A BLACKER INK THAN TEXT INK. A REVISOR? PROBLEM WITH SIGMOID "S"???]

[^114: P.8.193: whith, "with."]

[^115: P.8.195: The scribe has inserted a rubric in his text.]

[^116: P.8.200: Manuscripts P and Ec omit the following line: And to sowen his seed [and] suewen his bestes.]

[^117: P.8.219: We have to this point not encountered this line in other manuscripts. Russell-Kane and Schmidt appear not to have noticed this transfer of a marginal comment to the text. CHECK ALFORD***???]

[^118: P.8.297: The following line is omitted from P: Is wonderliche welcome and fayre vnderfonge.]

Hic explicit passus octauus .

Incipit passus Nonus .

T ho seyde perken plouhman by seynt Peter of rome
Ich haue an half-acre to eren · by þe hye weye
Hadde ich ered þat half-acre · and sowed hit after
Ich wolde wende wit ȝow · and þe wey teche
That were a long lettynge · quaþ a lady in askleire a skleire
Wat sholde we wommen · worche þe whiles
Ich praye ȝow for ȝoure profit · quaþ peers to þe ladyes
Þat somme sewe þe sak · for shedynge of þe wete
And ȝe worþly wommen · wit ȝoure longe fyngres
Þat ȝe on selke and sendel · to sewen wenne tyme ys
Chesybles for chapelayns churches to honure
Wyues and widewes · wolle and flax spynneþ
Conscience consaileþ ȝow · cloþ for to make
For profit of þe poure · and plesaunce of ȝow-selue
For ich shal lene hem lyflode · bote yf þe lond faile
As longe as ich leue · for oure lordes loue in heuene
And alle manere men · þat by þis molde buþ suste yned
Helpeþ hem to worche whyghtly · þat wynneþ ȝoure fode
By cryst quaþ a knyitȝ[^119] þo · he kenneþ ous þe beste
¶[^120] Ac on þe teeme trywely · tauht was ich neuere
Ich wolde ich couthe quaþ þe knyȝt · by cryst and hus moder
Ich wolde a-saye som tyme · for solas as hit were
Sykerliche syre knyiȝt · seide peers þenne
Ich shal swynke and swete · and sowe for hus boþe
An d laboure for þe while þou leuest · al þy lyf-tyme
In couenaunt þat þou kepe · holy churche and me-selue
For wastours and wyckede men · þat þus worlde struen
And go honte hardileche · to hares and to foxes
To bores and to bockes · þat brekeþ a-doune menne hegges
And faite þy faucones · to culle wylde foules
For þei comen to my croft · my corn to defoule
Corteysliche þe knyitȝ þen · comsede þes wordes
By my power peers ich plyghte þe my treuthe
To defende þe in faith · fyghte þauh ich sholde
And ȝut on poynt quaþ Peers ich praye ȝow ouere-more
Loke ȝe tuene no tenaunt · bote yf treuth wolle assente
Wenne ȝe a mercyn eny man · let mercy be taxour
And meknesse þy maister · maugre mede chekes
Þauh poure men profre ȝou · presantes and ȝeftes
Nym hit nat an aunter · thow mowe hit nat deserue
For þow shalt ȝulde so may be · and somdel a bygge
Mys- beede nouht þy boundemen · þe bet may þe spede
Þauh he be here þyn vnderling* · in heuene paraunter
He worth raþer receyued · and reuerentloker sette amice ascende superius .
At churche in þe charnel · cheorles aren vuel to knowe
Oþer a knyght fro a knaue · oþer a queyne fro a queene
Hit by-comeþ to a knyght · to be curteys and hende
Trewe of hys tonge · tales loth to huyre
Bote þei be of bounte · of batailes and of treuthe
Hald nat of harlotes · huyre nat here tales
/[^121] Nameliche atte mete · suche men eschywe
Hit ben þe deueles disours · to drawe men to synne
Contreplede nat conscience ne holy churche ryghtes
Ich assente by seynt Gyle · seyde þe knyght þenne
For to worche by þy witt · and my wyf boþe
Ich shal aparaile me quaþ perkyn in pylgrymes wyse
And wende wit alle þo · þat wolle lyue in treuthe .
He caste on hym hus cloþes · of alle kynne craftes
Hus cokeres and hus cuffes · as kynde witt hym tauhte
And heng hus hoper on hus hals · in stede of a scrippe
A boussel of bred corn · brouht was þerynne
For ich wolle sowe hit my-self · and suthe wol ywende y wende
To pylgrimages as pilgrymes don · pardon to wynne
My plouh-fot shal be my pyk-staf · and puche a-two þe rotes
And help my culter to kerue · and clause þe forwes
And alle þat helpen me to erye · oþer elles to weden
Shal haue leue by oure lorde · to go and glene after
And make hym murye þer -myd · in angre [m]augre[^a306] ho by-grucche
And alle kynne crafty men · þat conne lyue in treuthe .
Ich shal fynde hem fode · þat feythfullech lybben
Saf Iack Iogelour · and Ionette of þe styues
And danyel þe dees pleyere · and denete þe baude
And also frere faytour · and folke of þe ordre
Þat lollers and loseles · for leel men halden
And Robyn þe rybaudour · for hus rusty wordes
For treuthe tolde me ones · and bade telle forthere
Deleantur de libro uiuencium & cum iustis non scribantur .
Ich sholde nat dele wit hem · for holyche churche hoteþ
Of hem to aske no tythe quia cum iustis non scribantur .
Thei ben ascaped good aunter · now god hem amende
Dame worche wen tyme his[^122] peers wyf hyhte
Hus douhter heithe do ryght so · oþer þy damme shal þe bete
Hus sone hihte suffre · þy souereynes haue here wil
Deme hem nouht for yf þow do · thow shalt dere abigge
Consaile nat þe comune · þe kyng to displese
Ne hem þat han lawes to loke · lacke hem nat ich hote
Let god worthe with al · as holy writ techeþ
Super cathedram moysi sedent et cetera .
Maistres as þe meyres ben · and grete men senatours
What þei comaunde as by þe kyng · contrepleide hit neuere
Al þat þe hoten ich hote heyliche · thow suffre hem
By here warnyng and worchyng* · worch þow þer -after
Omnia que dicunt facite & seruate .
Ac after here doynge do þow nat · my dere sone quaþ peers
For now ich am old and hor · and haue of myn owene
To penaunces and to pilgrimages · ich wol passe with oþere
For-thi ich wolle er ich wende · do wryten my by-quyste
Testamentum petri plouhman .[^123]
In dei nomine ame ame[n][^124] Ich make hit my-self* ·
He shal haue my soule · þat alle soules made
And defende hit fro þe feende · and so is my by-leyue[^125]
The churche shal haue my caroyne · and kepe my bones
For of my corn and catel · he crauede my tythe
Ich payed hit prestliche · for peril of my soule
He his holdinge ich hope · to haue me in hus masse
And menge me in hus memorie · among alle cristine
My wyf shal haue of þat ich wan · with treuthe and no more
And dele hit among my douhtres · and my dere children
For þauh ich deyde þys day · my dettes ben quyted
Ich bar hom þat ich borwede er ich to bedde ȝeode
With þe resydue and remenaunt · by þe rode of lukes
Ich wolle worshupe þer-with · treuthe al my lyf
And be apulgrym a pulgrym atte plouh · for profyt of poure and ryche
Now Perkyn with þe pilgrimes · to þe plouh is faren
To eryen hus half-aker · holpen hym menye
Dykers and deluers · diggeden vp þe balkes
Ther-with was perkyn apayed · and paied wel here hyre
Oþer werkmen þer were · þat wrouhten ful ȝurne
Eche man in hus manere · made hym-self to done
And somme to plese perkyn pykede aweye þe wedes
Atte hye pryme peers let þe plouh stonde
And ouer-seyh hem hym-self · ho-so best wrouhte
He sholde be hyred þer-after · wen heruest-tyme come
Þenne seten some and songen atten ale
And holpen to erie · þis half-acre · with hoy troly lolly
Quath peers plouhman al in pure tenne
Bote ȝe ryse þe raþere · and rape ȝow to worche
Shal no greyn þat here groweþ · gladen ȝow at neede
And þauh ȝe deye for deul · þe deuel haue þe recche
Tho were faitours aferede · and feynede hem blynde
And leyden here legges a-lyry · as suche lorelles conneþ
And maden here mone to peers how þei mowe nat worche
Ac we prayeþ for ȝow peers and fore ȝoure plouh boþe
Þat god for hus grace · ȝoure grayn multeplie
And ȝulde ȝow of ȝoure almesse · þat ȝe ȝeuene hus here
We may nayþer swynke ne swete · suche syknesse ous ayleþ
We haue none lymes to laborie with · lord god we þonkeþ
Ȝoure praiers quath peers and ȝe parfit were
Myght help as ich hope · ac hye treuthe wolde
Þat no faiterye were founde · in folk þat gon a-begged
Ȝe ben wastours ich wot wel · þat wasten and deuouren
Þat leel land tylynge men · leelleche byswynken
Ac treuthe shal teche ȝow · hus teeme for to dryue
Oþer ȝe shulle ete barliche brede · and of þe broke drynke
Bote ȝe be blynde oþer brokelegged · oþer bolted wit yren
Suche poure quaþ peers shullen partye wit my goodes
Boþe of my corn and of my cloþ · to kepe hem fro defaute
Ancres and heremites · þat eten bote at nones
And freres þat flateren nat · and poure folke syke
What ich and myne · wolleþ fynde hem þat hem needeþ
Thenne gan wastour to wratth · and wolde haue fouhten
And to peers plouhman proferede to fighte
And bad hym go pisse with hus plouh · peyuesshe shrewe
A brytonere com braggynge · a-bosted peers also
Wolle þow ne wolle þow · we wolleþ habbe oure wil
Boþe þy flour and þy flessh* · fecchen wen ous lykeþ
And make ous myr ye þermyd · maugre ho by-gruccheþ
Peers þe plouhman þo pleynede to þe knyght
To kepe hym and hus catel · as couenaunt was by-twyne hem
Awreke me of þes wastours · þat maken þys worde dere
Thei counte nat of cursyng · ne holy churche dreden
Ther worth no ple ynte quaþ peers and þe plouh ligge
Curtesliche þe knyght þen · as hus kynde wolde
Warned wastour · and wissede hym betere
Oþer ich shal bete þe by þe lawe · and brynge þe in stockes
Ich was nat won d wirche quaþ wastour · and ich wolle nat now bygynne
And let lyght of þe lawe · and lasse of þe knyght
And sette peers at a pese · pleyne hym wer he wolde
Now by crist quaþ peers y shal apeyre ȝow alle
And hopede after hunger þat herde at þe ferste
Ich praye þe quath peers þo purcharite pur charite sire honger
Awreke me of þeese wastours · for þe knyght wol nat
Honger hente in haste · wastour by þe mawe
And wrang hym by þe wombe · þat al waterede hus eyen
He buffated þe brutener · a-boute þe chekes
Þat he loked lyk a lanterne · al hus lyf after
He bet hem so boþe · he barst neih hure guttes
Ne hadde peers wit[^126] a peese lof · prayede hym by-leue
Honger haue mercy of hem quath peers and let me ȝeue hem benes
And þat was bake for bayerde · may be here bote
Tho were faitours a-fered · and flowen to peersses bernes
And flapten on whit[^127] flailes · fro morwe til euene
Þat honger was nat hardy · on hem for to loke
For a potful of potage · þat peersses wyf made
An hep of eremites · henten hem spades
Spitten and spradde donge · in despit of hunger
Thei coruen here coppes · and courtepies hem made
And wenten as workmen · to weden and mowen
Al for drede of here deþ · suche dyntes ȝaf
Blynde and brokeleggede · he botnede a þousand
And lame men he lechede · wit longen of bestes
Preestes and oþer peple[^128] · to peers þei drowen
And freres and alle fyue ordres · al for fere of hunger
For þat þat was bake · for bayarde · was bote for menye hungry
Drosenes and dregges · drenke for menye beggeres
Þer was lad þat lyuede · þat ne lowede hym to peers
To be hus hole hywe þauh he hadde no more
Bute lyf-lode for hus labour · and hus loue at nones
Tho was peers ful prou de · and putte hem alle to werke
In daubyng and in deluyng* · in donge a-feld berynge
In þresshynge in þecchynge · in thwytynge of pynnes
And alle kynne trewe craft · þat man couthe deuyse
Was no beggere so bolde · bote yf he blynde were
Þat dorst wit-sitte[^129] þat peeres seyde · for fere of syre hunger
And peers was proud þerof · and putte hem alle to swynge
And ȝaf hem mete and monye · as þey myght deseruen
Tho hadde peers pite · of alle poure puple
And bad hunger on haste · hyhe out of contre
Home in to his owen erthe · and halde hym þer euere
For ich am wel awreke of wastours þorw þy myghte
Ac ich praye þe quaþ peers . hunger er þow wende
Of beggers and of bydders · what best be to done
For ich wot wel be þou went · worche þei wolle ful ylle ·
Meschief hit makeþ · thei ben so meke nouthe
And for defaute þis folke · folwen my hestes
Hit is no þyng* for loue · thei labour þus faste
Bote for fere of famyn · in faith seide peers
Ys no final loue wit þis folke · for al here faire speche
And hit aren my blody broþren · for god bouhte vs alle
Treuthe tauhte me ones · to louye hem echone
And helpen hem of alle þyng · ay as hem nedeþ
Now wolde ich white or þow wentest · wat were þe beste
How ich myghte a-maistren hem · to louye and laboure
For here lyflode · lere me syre hunger
Now herkne quaþ hunger and hold hit for awysdome a wysdome
And bolde beggeres and bygge · þat mowe here bred by-swynke
With houndes bred and hors bred · hele hem when þei hungren
And a-baue hem with benes · for bollynge of here wombe
And yf þe gromes grucche · bid hem go swynke
And he shal soupe þe swettere · wen he hath deserued
And yf þow fynde eny folke · wam false men han apaired
Comforte hem with þy catel · for so comaundeþ treuthe
Loue hem and lene hem · so lawe of kynde wolde
Alter alterius onera portate .
And alle manere men · þat þow myght aspye
In meschief oþer in mal-ese · and þow mowe hem helpe
Loke by þy lyf · let hem nouht for fare
Yf þow hast wonne ouht · wickeliche wisliche dispende hit
Facite uobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis
Ich wolde nat greuye god quaþ peers for al þe good on erthe
Myghte ich synneles do as þou seist · seide peers plouhman
Ȝe ich by-hote þe quaþ hunger oþer elles þe byble lyeþ
Go to oure by-gynnynge · þo god þe worlde made
As wise men han y-wryte · and as wittnesseþ genesis
That seith with swynke · and with swot · and swetynge face
By tulye and by trauaile · treuly oure lyf-lode
In labore & sudore uultus tui uesceris pane tuo .
And salamon þe sage · with þe same acordeþ
The slowe caytyf for colde · wolde no corn tulye
In somere for hus slewthe · he shal haue defaute
And gon abrybeþ and beggen · and no man bete hus hunger
Piger propter frigus noluit arare mendicabit in hyeme & non dabitur ei .
Matheu makeþ mencion of a man þat lente
Hus seluer to þre manere men · and menynge þat þei sholde
Chaffare and cheeue þer -with · in chele and in hete
And he þat best laborede · best was alowede
And leders for here laborynge · ouere al þe lordes goodes
Ac he þat was awrecche a wrecche · and wolde nat trauayle
The lord for hus lacchesse · and hus luþer sleuthe
By-nom hym al þat he hadde · and ȝaf hit to hus felawe
That leely hadde labored · and þenne þe lord seide
He þat hath shal haue · and helpe þer hym lykeþ
And he þat nauht haueþ · he shal nauht haue
And no man ȝut helpe hym · and þat he weneþ haue
Ich wolle hit hym by-reue · for hus rechelesnesse
Lo what þe sauter seiþ · to swynkers with handes
Yblessed be alle þo · þat he by-lyue swynken
Þorw eny leel labour · as þorgh lymes and handes
Labores manuum tuarum quia manducabis . & cetera .
Theese aren euydences quath hunger for hem þat wolle nat swynken
That here lyflode be-leue · and lytel worth here cloþes
By cryst quaþ peers plouhman þo · þeese prouerbes wolle ich shewe
To beggers and to boyes · þat loth ben to worche
Ac ȝut ich praye ȝow quath peers purcharite pur charite syre hunger
Ȝyf ȝe can oþer knowe · eny kynne þynge of fysyk*
For some of my seruauns · and my-selue boþe
Of alle awoke a woke worchen nat · so oure wombe groneþ
Ich wot wel quath hunger what syknesse ȝow aileþ
Ȝe haue manged ouere muche · þat makeþ ȝow be syke
Ac eet nat ich hote · or hunger þe take
And sende of hus sauce · to sauerie with thi lippes
And kep som til soper-tyme · and sitte nauht to longe
Let nat syre sorfait · sitten at þy borde
And loke þow drynke no day · er þou dyne som-what
Þenk þat diues for hus delicat lyf · to þe deuel wente
And lazar þe lene beggere · þat longed after cromes
And ȝut had he hem nat · for ich hunger culde hym
And sitthe ich sauh hym sitte · as he a syre were
At alle amnere ese · in abrahammes lappe
And yf þow be of power peers ich þe rede
Alle þat greden at þy gate · for godesloue godes loue after fode
Parte wit[^130] hem of þy payn · of potage oþer of souel
Lene hem som of þy loof · þauh þou þe lasse chewe
And þauh lyers and lacchedrawers · and lolleres knocke
Let hem abyde tyl þe bord be drawe · ac bere hem none cromes
Til alle þyn nedy neihebores · haue none ymaked
And yf þow dyght þe þus · ich dar legge myn eres
Þat fysyk shal hus forrede hodes · for hus fode sulle
And hus cloke of calabre · for hus comunes legge ·
And be fayn by my faith · his fysyk to lete
And lerne labore with londe · leste lyflod hym faile
Ther aren meny luþere leches · and leele leches fewe
Thei don men deye þorgh here drynkes · er destyne hit wolde
By seynt paul quath peers þo · thou poyntest neih þe treuthe
And leelly seist as ich leue · lord þe for-ȝelde
Wend now wenneþou wenne þou wolt · and wel be þow euere
For þow hast wel ywroke me · and also wel ytauht me
Ich by-hote þe quaþ hunger þat hennes nel ich wende
Er ich haue y-dyned by þys day · and y-dronke boþe
Ich haue no peny quath peers polettes for to bigge
Noþer goos noþer grys · bote two grene cheses
Afewe A fewe croddes and creyme · and acake a cake of otes
And bred for my barnes · of benes and of peses
And ȝut ich sey by my saule · ich haue no salt bacon
Nouht a cokeney by cryst · colhoppes to make
Ac ich haue porett plontes · parselye and scalones
Chiboles and chirueylles · and chiries sam-rede
And a cow with a calf · and a cart mare
To drawe a-feld my donge · þe wyle drouth lasteþ
By þis lyflode we mote lyue · tyl lammasse tyme
And by þat ich hope · to haue heruest in my crofte
Thenne may I · dyghte þy dyner as me dere lykeþ
Alle þe poure puple þo · peescoddes fetten
Benes and baken apples · thei brouhte in here lappes
And profrede peers this present · to plese þerwith hunger
Hunger eet al in haste · and askede after more
Poure folke for fere þo · fedde hunger ȝerne
With creym and with croddes · with carses and oþer herbes
By that yt neihed heruest · and newe corn com to chipynge
Thenne was þis folke feyn · and fedde hunger deynteuosliche
And gloton þowith þo with good ale · gerte hunger to slepe
Tho wolde wastour nat worche · bote wandrede aboute
Noþer beggere eete bred · þat benes were ynne
Bote clerematyn and soket[^a307] · and of clene whete
Thei wolde non halpeny ale · in none wyse drynke
Bote of þe best and Brounest · þat brewesters sellen
Laboreres þat han no londe · to lyuen on bote here handes
Deyned to dyne a day · nyght olde wortes
May no peny ale hem paye · ne a pece of bacon
Bote hit be freesch* fleesch* oþer fysch* · fried oþer ybake
And þat chaud and pluschaud · for chillyng* of here mawe
Bote he be heyliche yhyred · elles wol he chide ·
That he was a werkman ywroght war yen þe tyme
Corteis Catones consail · comseth he by-grucche
Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento .
And þenne he corseþ þe kyng · and alle þe kynges Iustices
Suche lawes to lere · laborers to greue
Ac wile hunger was here mayster · wolde non chide
Ne stryue a-ȝens þe statute · he lokede so sturne
Ac ich warne ȝow werkmen · wynne wyle ȝe mowe
For hunger hyderwardes · hyeþ hym faste
He shal awake þorw wa ter · wasters to chaste
Ar fewe ȝeres be fulfilled · famyne shal aryse
An[^131] so seith saturnus and sent ȝow to warne
Þorwe flodes and foule wederes · frutes shullen faile
Pruyde and pestelences · shal muche puple fecche
prophecie .
Thre shupes and a shaft · with an viii · folwyng
Shal brynge bane and bataile · on bothe half þe mone
And þanne shal deþ with-drawe · and derthe be Iustice
And dawe þe deluere · deye for defaute
Bote god of hus goodnesse · graunte ous a trewe

[^a306: in angre [m]augre (P) | maugre (Most other mss)]

[^a307: soket (P) | coket (All other mss)]

[^119: P.9.19: Compare knyiȝt below at P9.23, though this spelling occurs again at P9.32.]

[^120: P.9.20: The indication for a parasign in the left margin appears to be the sole instance in this manuscript.***???]

[^121: slash mark before the N to indicate parasign***???]

[^122: P.9.81: his, "is."]

[^123: P.9.98: Another instance in which the scribe has confused text with a marginal gloss.]

[^124: P.9.99: The scribe forgot to note word-final <n>, but filled in the space with hatching in red ink.]

[^125: P.9.97: The manuscript omits the following two lines: Til y come til his acountes as my crede telleth To haue relees and remissioun on þat rental y leue.]

[^126: P.9.178: wit, "with."]

[^127: P.9.182: whit, "with."]

[^128: P.9.191: An otiose mark appears above the second <p>.]

[^129: P.9.204: wit-sitte, "with-sitte."]

[^130: P.9.292: wit, "with."]

[^131: An, "And."]

Hic explicit passus nonus .

Incipit passus decimus .

T Reuthe herde telle here-of · and to peers sente
To take hus teeme · and tulye þe erthe
And purchased hym a pardon á pena et á culpa .
For hym and for hus heyres · for euere to be asoiled
And bad halde hym at home · and erye hus leyes
And alle þat hulpe hym to erye · to setten oþer to sawe
Oþer eny manere meester · þat myght peers a-vayle
Pardon with peers plouhman perpetual he graunteþ
Kynges and knyghtes · þat holy churche defenden
And ryghtfulleche in reames · ruelen þe comune
Han pardon þorw purgatorie · to passy ful lyghtliche
With patriarkes and prophetes · in paradyse to sitte
Bisshopes yblessed · if þei ben as þei sholde
Leel and ful of loue · and no lord dreden
Merciable to meek · and mylde to þe goode
And bytynge on badde men · bote yf þei wolde a-mende
And dredeþ nat for no deþ · to distruye by here powere
Lecherie a-mong lordes · and hure luþer custymes
And sitthen lyue as þei lereþ men · oure lord treuthe hem graunteþ
To be peeres to a-posteles · alle puple to ruele
And deme with hem at domesday · boþe quike and ded
Marchans in þe margine · hadden menye ȝeres
Ac á pena & á culpa . treuthe nolde hem graunte
For thei holden nat here halydaies as holychurche techeþ
And for þei swere by here saule · and so god me mote helpe
Aȝens clene conscience for couetyse of wynnynge
Ac vnder his secre seel treuthe sente hym a lettere
And bad hym bygge baldly · what hym best lykede
And sitthen sellen hit a-ȝeyn · and saue þe wynnynges
Amenden meson-dieux þer -with · and myseyse men fynde
And wikkede weyes · with here good amende
And brygges to broke · by þe heye weyes amende
Amenden in som manere wise · and maydones helpen
Poure puple bedredene · and prisones in stockes
Fynde hem for godes loue · and fauntekynes to scole
Releue religion · and renten hem bettere
And ich shal sende ȝow my-selue · seynt Michel myn angel
That no deuel shal ȝow dere · ne despeir in ȝoure deyenge
And sende ȝoure soules · þer ich my-self dwelle
And þe a-byde body and soule · in blisse for euere
Tho were marchauns murye · somme wepte for ioye
And preyde for peers plouhman þat purchasede hem þis bulle
Alle þe puple hadde pardon ynow · þat parfytliche lyueden
Men of lawe hadde lest · that loth were to plede
Bote þei pre manibus were payed · for pledyng atte barre
Ac he þat speneþ hus speche · and spekeþ for þe poure
That innocent and nudy is · and no man harme wolde
And conforteþ suche in eny cas · and coueyteþ nat here ȝeftes
And for þe loue of oure lorde · lawe for hem declareþ
Shal haue grace of god ynow · and a gret ioye after
Beþ ywar ȝe wismen · and witty of þe lawe
For wenne ȝe draweþ to þe deþ · and indulgence wolde haue
Hus pardon is ful petit · at hus partynge hennes
That mede of mene men · for here motynge takeþ
For hit is symonye · to sulle þat send is of grace
That is witt and water wynd and fuyr þe furthe
These foure sholden be fre · to alle folk þat hit needede
Alle lybbynge laberours · þat lyuen with here handes
Leellyche and lawefulleche oure lord treuthe hem graunteþ
Pardon perpetuel ryght as peers plouhman
Beggers and bydders · beþ nat in þe bulle
Bote þe sugestion be soth · þat shappeþ hem to begge
For he þat beggeþ oþer byddeþ · bote yf þei haue nede
He ys fals and faitour · and defraudeþ þe neede
And also gyleþ hym þat gyueþ · and takeþ a-geyns hus wyl
For he þat gyueþ for godes loue · wolde nat gyue hus þankus
Bote þer he wyste hit were · wel gret neede to gyuen
And mest meritorie to men · þat he ȝeueþ fore
Caton a-cordeþ þer-with cui des uideto .
Wot no man as ich wene · who is worthy to haue
The most needy aren oure neighebores · and we nyme good hede
As prisones in puttes · and poure folke in Cotes
Charged with children · and chef lordes rente
That þei spynnynge may spare · spynen hit in hous hyre
Boþe in mylk and in mele · to make with papelotes
To a-glotye with here · gurles þat greden after fode
Also hem-selue · suffren muche hunger
And wo in wynter tyme · with wakynge a[^132] nyghtes
To ryse to þe ruel · to rocke þe cradel
Boþe to karde and to kembe · to clouten and to wasche
To rubbe and to rely · russhes to pilie
Þat reuthe is to rede · oþere in ryme shewe
The wo þat þeese women · þat wonyeþ in Cotes
And of meny oþer men · þat muche wo suffren
Boþe a-fyngrede and a-furst · to turne þe fayre outwarde
And beth a-basshed for to begge · and wolle nat be y-knowe
What hem needeþ att here neihebores · at non and at euen
This ich wot witerly · as þe worlde techeþ
What oþer by-houeþ · þat hath meny children
And hath no catel bote hus crafte · to cloþy hem and to fede
And fele to fonge þer -to · and fewe pans takeþ ·
Ther is payn and peny ale · as for a pytaunce y-take
Colde flessh* and cold fyssh* · for veneson ybake
Frydayes and fastyngdayes · ferthyngworth of muscles
Were a feste for suche a folke · oþer so fele Cockes
Theese were almes to helpe · þat han suche charges
And to comfortie suche cotyers · and crokede men and blynde
Ac beggers with bagges þe wiche brewhouses ben here churches
Bote þei be blynde oþer broke · oþer elles be syke
Þauh he falle for defaute · þat faiteþ for hus lyf lode
Reccheþ neuere ȝe ryche · þauh suche lorelles steruen
For alle þat han here hele · and here eyen syghte
And lymes to laborye with · and lolleres lyf vsen
Lyuen a-ȝens godes lawe · and lore of holy churche
And ȝut arn þer oþer beggers · in hele as hit semeþ
Ac hem wanteþ here witt · men and women boþe
Þe wiche aren lunatik lollers · and leperes a-boute
And mad as þe mone sitt · more oþer lasse
Thei caren for no cold · ne counteþ of no hete
And Arn meuenge · after þe mone · moneyles þei walke
With a good wil witlees · meny wyde contreys
Ryght as Peter dude and paul saue þat þei preche nat
Ne myracles maken · ac meny tymes hem happeþ
To prophecien of þe puple · pleyinge as hit were
And to oure sight as hit semeþ · suthþe god hath þe myghte
To ȝeuen eche awhit a whit wit · welthe and his hele
And suffreþ suche so gon · hit semeþ to myn Inwitt[^133]
Hit arn as hus aposteles suche puple · oþer as his priuye disciples
For he sente hem forth seluerles · in a somer garnement
With-oute bred and bagge · as þe bok telleþ
Quando misi uos sine pane et pera .
Barfot and bredles · beggeþ þei of no man
And þauh he mete with þe meyere in mydest þe strete ·
He reuerenceþ hym ryght nouht · no raþer þan anoþer
Neminem salutaueris per uiam .
Suche manere of men matheu ous techeþ
We sholde haue hem to house · and help hem when thei come
Et egenos uagosque induc in domum tuam .
For hit aren murye mouthede men · mynstrales of heuene
And godes boyes bordiours · as þe bok telleþ
Si quis uidetur sapiens fiet stultus ut sit sapiens .
And alle manere mynstrales · men wot wel þe soþe
To vnder-fonge hem faire · by-falle for þe ryche
For þe lordes loue and ladies þat þei with lengen
Men suffren al þat suche seyn · and in solas taken
And ȝut more to suche · men doth er þei passe
Gyuen hem gyfte s and gold · for grete lordes sake
Right so ȝe riche raþer ȝe sholde for-sothe
Wolcomen and worsshepen and with ȝoure goode helpen
Godes mynstrales and hus messagers · and hus murye burdiers
The wiche arn lunatik lollares · and leperes a-boute
For vnder godes secre seel here synnes ben ykeuerede
For þei bereþ no bagges · ne none botels vnder clokes
The wiche is lollaren lyf · and lewede eremytes
That loken ful louheliche · to lacchen mennes almesse
In hope to sitten at euen · by þe hote coles[^134]
Vnlouke hus legges abrod · oþer lygge at hus ese
Reste hym and roste hym · and his ryg turne
Drynke drue and deepe · and drawe hym þanne to bedde
And when hym lykeþ and lust hus leue ys to aryse
When he ys rysen romeþ out · and ryght wel aspieþ
War he may raþest haue · arepast a repast · oþer a rounde of bacon ·
Suluer oþer sodemete sode mete · and som tyme boþe
A loof oþer alf[^135] aloof a loof . oþer alompe a lompe of chese
And carieþ hit hom to hus Cote · and cast hym to lyue
In ydelnesse and in ese · and by oþers trauayle
And wat frek of þys folde · fiskeþ þus a-boute
With abagge a bagge at hus bak · abegeneldes a begeneldes wyse
And can som manere craft · in cas he wolde hit vse
Þorgh wiche craft he couthe come · to bred and to ale
And ouer-more to an hater · to helye with hus bones
And lyueþ lyk a lollere · godes lawe hym dampneþ
Lolleres lyuyng in sleuthe · and ouere lounde strykers
Beeþ nat in þys bulle quaþ peers til þei ben amendid
Noþer beggers þat beggen · bote yf þei haue neede
The bok blameþ alle beggerye · and banneþ in this manere
Iunior fui etenim senui non uidi iustum derelictum nec semen eius
querens panem . et alibi Infirmata est uirtus mea in paupertate .
Hit needeþ nauht nouthe · a non for to preche
And lere þeese lewedemen lewede men · what þys latyn meneþ
For hit blameþ alle beggerie · be ȝe ful certeyn
For þei lyue in no loue · no lawe þei holden
Thei wedde non womon · that þei with delen
Bryngeþ forth bastardes · beggers of kynde
Oþer þe bak oþer som bon þei breken of here children
And gooþ afaytyng with here fauntes · for euere-more after
Þer arn mo messhapene · a-mong suche beggers
Than of meny oþer men · þat on þis molde walken
Tho þat lyuen þus hure lyf · leyue ȝe me non oþere
Thei han no part of pardon · of preyers ne of penaunces
Ac olde men and hore · þat heelples beeþ and nedy
And wommen with childe · þat worche ne mowen
Blynde men and bedreden · and broken in here membres
And alle poure pacientes · a-payed of godes sonde
As mesels and mendinauntes · men y-falle in myschef
As prisons and pilgrimes · paraunter men yrobbed
Oþer by-lowe þorwe luthere · a nd lost here catel after
Other thorgh fure oþer þorwe flood · falle to pourte
That taken þeese meschiefes meekliche and myldliche at herte
For loue of here lowe hertes · oure lord hath hem graunted
Here penaunce and here purgatorie · vp-on þys poure erthe
And pardon with peers plouhman a pena & a culpa .
Ac eremites þat en-habiten hem · by þe heye weyes
And in borwes a-mong brewesters · and beggen in churches
Al þat holy ermytes · hateden and despisede
[^136] As rychesses and reuerences · and ryche mennes almesse
Theese lolleres lacchedraweres · lewede eremytes
Coueyten þe contrarie · as cotiers þe lybben
For hit beþ bote boyes · lolleres atten ale
Of lynguage of lettrure · ne lyf-holy as eremites
That wonede wyle in wodes · with beres and lyones
Some had lyf-lode of here lynage · and of no lyf elles
And some lyuede by here lettrure · and labour of here hondes
Some hadde foreynes to frendes · þat hem fode sente
And bryddes brouhten to some bred · werby þei lyueden
Alle þeese holy eremytes · were of hye kynne
For-soke londe and lordshep · and lykynges of þe body
Ac theese eremytes þat edefyen thus by þe hye weyes
Wylen were workmen · webbes and taillours
And carters knaues · and clerkus with-oute grace
Heelden hungry hous · and hadde muche defaute
Long labour and lyte wynnynge · and atte laste aspiden
That faitours in frere cloþynge · hadde fatte chekus
For-thi lefte þei here laboure · þeese lewede knaues
And cloþed hem in copes · clerkus as hit were
Oþer on of som ordre · oþere elles a prophete
Aȝens þe lawe he lyueþ · yf latyn be trywe
Non licet uobis legem uoluntati . sed uoluntatem coniungere legi .
Now kyndeliche by crist beþ suche callyd lolleres
As by englisch of oure eldres · of olde menne techynge
He þat lolleþ his[^137] lame · oþer his leg out of þe ioynte
Oþer meymed in som membre · for to meschief hit souneþ
And ryght so sothlyche · suche manere eremytes
Lollen aȝen þe bylyeue · and lawe of holy churche
For holy churche hoteþ · alle manere puple
Vnder obedience to bee · and buxum to þe lawe
Furst religious of religion · here ruele to holde
And vnder obedience to be · by dayes and by nyghtes
Lewede men to laborie · lordes to honte
In frythes and in forestes · for fox and oþer bestes
That in wilde wodes ben · and in wast places
As wolues þat wyrhyeþ men · wommen and children
And vp-on sonedays to cesse · godes seruyce to huyre
Boþe matyns and messe · and after mete in churches
To huyre here euesong · euerey man ouhte
Thus hit by-longeþ for lorde · for lered and lewede
Eche halyday to huyre · hollyche þe seruyce
Vigiles and fastyngdayes · forthere-more to knowe
And fulfille þo fastynges bote infirmite hit made
Pouerte oþere penaunces · as pilgrymages and trauayles
Vnder þis obedience · arn we echone
Who-so brekyþ þis be wel war · bote yf he repente
Amenden hym and mercy aske · and meekliche hym shryue
Ich drede me and he deye · hit worth for dedlich synne
A -counted by-fore crist · bote conscience excuse hym
Loke now were þeese lolleres · and lewede eremytes
Yf thei breke þys obodience · þat ben so fro churche
Wher see we hem on sonedayes · þe seruyse to huyre
As matyns by þe morwe · tyl masse by-gynne
Oþer sonedayes at euesonge · seo we wol fewe
Oþere labory for oure liflode · as þe lawe wolde
Ac at mydday meel-tyme · ich mete with hem ofte
Conynge in a cope · as he a clerke were
A bacheler oþer abeaupere a beaupere · best hym by-semeth
And for þe cloþ þat keuereþ hym · cald his here[^a308] afrere a frere
Whassheþ and wypeth · and with þe furste sitteþ
Ac while he wrought in þys worlde · and wan hus mete with treuthe
He sat atte sydbenche · atte secounde table
Cam no wyn in hus wombe · þorw þe woke longe
Noþer blankett in hus bed · ne white bred by-fore hym
The cause of al þys caitifte · comeþ of meny bisshepes
That suffren suche sottes · and oþere synnes regne
Certes ho-so þurste[^a309] hit segge Symon quasi dormit .
Vigilare were fairour · for þow hast gret charge
For meny waker wolues · ben broke in-to foldes
Thyne berkeres ben al blynde · þat bryngeþ forth þy lambren
Dispergentur oues thi dogge dar nat beerke
The tarre ys vntydy · þat to þyne sheep by-longeþ
Hure salue ys of supersedeas in someneres boxes
Thyne sheep are ner al shabbyd þe wolf shiteþ woolle
Sub molli pastore lupus lanam cacat et grex .
In custoditus dilaceratur eo .
Hoow hurde wher is þyn hounde · and þyn hardy herte
For to wyrie þe wolf · þat þy woolle fouleþ
Ich leyue for þy lacchesse · þow leest meny wederes
And ful meny fayre flus · falsliche wasshe
When þy lord lokeþ to haue · a-louaunce for hus bestes
And of þe monye þou haddist þer -myd · hus meoble to saue
And þe woolle worth weye · woo ys þe þenne
Redde rationem uillicationis tue . oþer arerage Falle
Then hyre hurde as ich hope · hath nou ht to guyty quyty þy dette
Ther as mede ne mercy · may nat amyte a myte auayle
Bote haue þis for þat · þo þat þow toke
Mercy for mede and my lawe breke
Loke now for þi lacchesse · wether lawe wol þe graunte
Purgatorie for þy paye · oþer perpetuel helle
For shal no pardonne praye for ȝowe þer · noþer pnces p[ri]nces letteres
Peers quaþ a prest þo · þy pardonne most ich rede
Ic can construen ech worde · and kenne hit þe in englishe
And peers at hus preyere · þe pardon vnfolded
And ich by-hynde hem boþe · by-heeld al þe bulle
In two lynes hit lay · and no lettere more
And was ywryte ryght þus · in witnesse of treuthe .
Qui bona egerunt ibunt in uitam eternam . qui uero mala in ignem eternum .
Peter quaþ þe prest þo · ich can no pardon fynde
Bote do wel and haue wel and god shal haue þy saule
Do vuel and haue vuel and hope þow non oþer
Bote he þat vuel lyueþ · vuel shal ende
Indulgentia concessa petro plouhman .
The preest þus and perkyn of þe pardon Iangled
Thorgh here wordes ich awook* · and waitede a-boute
And seih þe sonne in þe south · sitte þat tyme
Meteles and moneyles · on maluerne hulles
Musynge on þees meteles · a myle wey ich ȝeode
And meny tymes this meteles · made me to studie
Of þat ich seih slepynge · yf hit so be myghte
And of peers plouhman pensyf in herte
And with a pardon peers hadde · the puple to gladen
And how þe preest inpugned hit · thorwe two propre wordes
Ac men setten nat by songewarie · mei seen hit ofte faile
Caton counteþ hit at nouht · and canonistres at lasse
Ac for þe bok bible bereþ good wyttnesse
How daniel dyuinede · and vndude þe dremeles
Of kyng nabugodonosor þat no peer hadde
And sitthe after to hus sones · seide hem what þei thouhte
And Ioseph mete meruelousliche · how þe mone and þe sonne
And elleuene sterres · hailsede hym alle
Thenne Iacob Iuged Iosephes sweuene
Beau fitz . quaþ þe fader . we shulleþ for defaute
Ich my-self and my sones · seche for neede
Hit by-fel as þe fader seide · in pharao hus tyme
Þat Ioseph was Iustice egipte to saue
Hus eleuene broþeres · hym for neede souhte
And hus fader Iacob and al-so hus dame
Al þis makeþ me on meteles to studie
And how þe preest preeuede · no pardon to do wel
And demede þat dowel Indulgenses passede
Byennals and tryennals · and bisshopes letteres
For ho-so wel doþ here · at þe daye of dome
Worth faire vnderfonge · by-for god þat tyme
So dowel passeþ pardon · and pilgrimages to rome
Ȝut hath þe pope power · pardon to graunte
To puple with-oute penaunce · to passen in-to Ioye
As lettred men ous lereþ · and lawe of holy churche
Quodcumque ligaueris super terram erit ligatum & in celis .
Et quodcumque solueris super terram erit solutum & in celis .
And so ich by-lyue leelly · lordes forbode elles
Þat pardon and penaunce · and preieres don saue
Saule þat han synged · seuene sithe dedliche
Ac to trysten apon triennels · triweliche me thynkeþ
Ys nat so syker for þe saule · certys as ys dowel .
For-thi ich rede ȝow renkes · þat riche ben on þys erthe
Vp trist of ȝoure tresour · tryennels to haue
Be ȝe neuere þe boldere · to breke þe ten hestes
And nameliche ȝe maistres · meyres and Iuges
That han þe welthe of þis worlde · and wise men ben holde
To purchace ȝow pardon · and þe popes bulles
At þe dredful day of dome · when dede men shullen ryse
And comen ale by-fore crist · a-countes to ȝelde
Howe we ladde oure lyf here · and hus lawes kepte
And how we dude day by day · þe dome wol reherce
A poke ful of pardon þere · ne prouincials letteres
Þauh he be founde in fraternite · of alle fyue ordres
And haue indulgences doblefolde · bote dowel ous helpe
Ich sette by pardon nat a peese · noþer a pye hyle
For-thi ich counsaile alle cristine · to crye god mercy
And marye hus moder · be oure mene to hym
Þat god ȝeue ous grace here · er we go hennes
Suche workes to worche · whil we ben here
That after oure deþ day dowel reherce
Amen .
At þe day of dome we dude as he tauhte

[^a308: his here (P Ec) | he is ~ is he (Most other mss)]

[^a309: þurste (P) | durst (All other mss)]

[^132: P.10.78: a, "on, at."]

[^133: NOTE THAT it has no final flourish, nor does line terminal Inwitt in passus 20.***???]

[^134: P.10.146: An otiose, but clearly intentional, horizontal mark is attached to the <l>.]

[^135: P.10.154: alf, "half."]

[^136: ***???This page needs to be checked using Photoshop.]

[^137: P.10.221: his, "is."]

Hic explicit uisio Willelmi de petro plouhman .

Hic Incipit uisio euisdem Willelmi de dowel . [P.11.0: The Hic is shared between the header of this passus and the trailer of the last. See the image.]

T hus robed in russett ich romede a-boute
Al asomer a somer seson · for to seke dowel .
Frainede ful ofte · of folke þat ich mette
Yf eny whit[^138] wist wer dowel was at ynne ·
And what man he myghte be · of meny man ich askede
Was neuere wiht in þis worlde · þat wisse me couthe
Wher þat he lengede · lasse ne more
Til hit by-ful on a frydaye · two freres ich mette
Maisteres of menours · men of grete witte
Ich hailsede hem hendilyche as ich hadde ylernede
And prayede purcharite pur charite · ar þei passede forþere
Yf þei knewe eny contrei s[^a310] · oþer costes a-boute
Wher þat dowel dwelleþ · dere frendes telleþ me
For ȝe aren men of þys molde · þat most wide walken
And knowen contreies and courtes and menye kynne places
Boþe princes paleis · and poure menne Cotes
And dowel and do vuele · wher þei dwellen boþe
Sothliche seide þe frere · he soiourneþ with ous freres
And ay hath as ich hope · and wol her-after
Contra quaþ ich as a clerke · and comsede to dispute
And seide sothliche sepcies in die cadit iustus .
Fallynge fro ioye iesus wot þe sothe
Seuene syche seith þe bok · syngeþ day by day
The alþer ryghtfulleste renk · þat regneþ vpon eerthe
And ho-so syngeþ ich seide · certys doþ nat wel
For ho-so synegeþ sikerliche doþ vuele
And dowel and do vuele · may nat dwelle to-gederes
Ergo he ys nat al-way · at hom among ȝou Freres
He his[^139] som-while elles-wher to wisse þe puple
Ich shal seie þe my sone · seide þe frere þenne
How seuene sithes þe sadde man · syngeþ on þe daye
By aforbusene a forbusene quaþ þe frere · ich shal þe faire shewe
Let brynge a man in a bot · in myddes a brode water
The wynde and þe water · and waggynge of þe bote
Makeþ þe man meny tyme · to stomble yf he stande
Stonde he neuere so styfliche · þorgh sterynge of þe bote
He bendeþ and boweþ · þe body his vnstable
Ac ȝut he is saf and sounde · so fareth hit by þe ryghtful
Þauh he falle he falleþ nat · bote as ho fulle in a bote
Þat ay is saf and sounde · þat sitteþ with-ynne þe borde
So hit fareþ quaþ þe frere · by ryghtfulmannes ryghtful mannes fallynge
Þawe he þorghe fondinge falle · he falleþ nat out of charite
So dedliche synne doþ he nat · for dowel hym helpeþ
The water ys liknede to þe worlde · þat wanyeþ and wexeþ
The godes of þe grounde · aren lyke to þe grete wawes
As wyndes and wederes · walwen a-boute
The bot ys lycknede to oure body þat brotel ys of kynde
That þorgh þe fende and oure flesch · and þis frele worlde
Senegeþ seuene sithe · þe saddest man on erthe
And lyfholiest of lyf þat lyueth vnder þe sonne
Ac free wil and free wit · folweþ a man euere
To repenten and ryse · and rowen out of synne
To contricion to confession · til he come to hus ende
Raþer haue we no reste · til we restitue
Oure lyf to oure lord god · for oure lykames gultes
Ich haue no kynde knowyng quaþ ich · to conceyue al þy speche
Ac yf ich may lyue and loke · ich shal go lerne bettere
Ich by-kenne þe crist quaþ he · þat on þe croice deide
And ich seide þe same · saue ȝow fro meschaunce
And gyue me grace on þis grounde · with good ende to deye
Ich wente forþ wyde-where · walkynge myn one
In a wylde wyldernesse · by a wode syde
Blisse of briddes · a-byde me made
And vnder lynde in a launde · lenede ich a stounde
To lithen here laies · and here loueliche notes
Murtthe of here murye mouthes · made me to slepe
And merueilousliche me mette · a-myddes al þat blisse
A muche man me þouhte · lyke to my-selue
Cam and callede me · by my ryhte name
What ert þow quaþ ich · þat my name knowest
That wost þou wille quaþ he · and no wight betere
Wot ich quaþ ich · ho ert þow · thouhte seide he þenne
Ich haue þe suwed þis seue ȝer · seih þou me no rather
Ert þow þouhte quaþ ich þo · þow couþest me wisse
Were þat dowel dwelleþ · and do me to knowe
Dowel and dobet quaþ he · and dobest þe þridde
Beþ þre fayre vertues · and beeþ nouht ferr to fynde
Who-so his trywe of ys tonge · and of hus to handes
And þorwe leel labour lyueþ · and loueþ hus emcristine
And þer-to trywe of hus tail · and halt wel hus handes
Nouht dronkelewe ne deynous dowel hym folweþ
Dobet doþ al this · ac ȝut he doþ more
He is lowe as a lombe · and loueliche of speche
And helpeth herteliche alle men · of þat he may aspare
The bagges and þe by-gurdeles · he hath to-broke hem alle
That þe eorl auerous · heeld and hus eires
And of mammonaes moneye · mad hym meny frendes
And is ronne in-to religion · and rendreþ hus byble
And precheþ to þe puple · seynt poules wordes
Libenter suffertis insipientes cum sitis ipsi sapientes .
Ȝe wordliche wyse · vnwyse þat ȝe suffre
Lene hem and loue hem · this latyn ys to mene
Dobest bere sholde · þe bisshopes croce
And halye with hoked ende · ille men to goode
And with þe pyk putte adoune preuaricatores legis .
Lordes þat lyuen as hem lust · and no lawe a-counten
And fore here mok and for here meeble · suche men þynken
That no Bisshop sholde · here byddinge with-sitte
Ac dobest sholde nat dreden hym · bote do as god hihte
Nolite timere eos qui possunt occidere corpus .
Thus dowel and dobet diuinede and dobest .
And crounede on to be kyng** · to culle with-oute synne
That wolde nat don as dobest diuinede and tauhte
Thus dowel and dobet and dobest þe þridde
Crounede on to be kyng** · and kepen ous alle
And reulen alle reaumes · by here þre wittes
Bote oþer -wise ne elles nat · bote as þei þree assented
Ich þonked þouht þo · þat he me so tauhte
Ȝut sauereþ me nat þi sawe quaþ ich · so me crist spede
A more kynde knowyng · coueite ich to huyre
Of dowel and of dobet and ho dobest of alle
Bote wit wolle þe wis se quaþ þouht · wer þo þre dwellen
Elles know ich non þat can · in none kynriche
Thouth and ich thus þre daies · to-gederes we ȝeoden
Dispitynge vp dowel daye after oþere
And er we were ywar · with wit gan we mete
He was long and lene · lyke to non oþer
Was no pruyde in hus aparail · ne pouerte noþer
Sad of hus semblant · with a softe speche
Ich þurste[^a311] meue no matere · to maken hym to Iangle
Bote as ich bad thouth þo . be mene by-twene
And putte forth som purpos · to proouen hus wittes
What dowel was fro dobet and dobest fro hem boþe
Thenne thouth in þan tyme · seede þeese wordes
War dowel and dobet and dobest been in londe
Her is on wolde wite yf wit couthe teche
And what lyues thei lyuen · and what lawe thei vsen
What þei drede an douhten · dere syre telleþ
Syre dowel dwelleþ quaþ wit nat a daye hennes
In a castel þat Kynde made · of foure kyne þynges
Of erthe of aier yt is made · medled to-gederes
With wynd and water · wittyliche en-ioynede
Kynde hath closed þer-ynne · craftilyche with-alle
A lemman þat he loueþ wel · lyke to hym- selue
Anima hue hatte · to hure hath enuye
A prout prikyere of fraunce princeps huius mundi .
And wolde wynne hure away · with whiles yf he myghte
And kynde knoweth þis wel · and kepeth hure þe betere
And dooþ hure with syre dowel duk of þes marches
Dobet ys here damesele · syre doweles douhter
To serue þat lady leelly · boþe late and rathe
Dobest ys a-boue boþe · a bisshopes peer
And by hus lerynge is ladde · þat ilke lady anima .
The constable of þat castel · þat kepeþ hem alle
Is a wys knyght with alle · syre Inwit he hatte
And haþ fyue faire sones · by hus furste wyf
Syre seewel syre seiwel syre huyrewel þe hende
Syre worchewel with þyn hand · awight a wight man of strengthe
And syre godfaith gowel grete lordes alle
Theese fyue ben ysett · for to sauye anima .
Til kynde come oþer seynde · and kepe hure hym-self
What lyues þyng is kynde quaþ ich · canst þow me telle
Kynde is creature quaþ wit of alle kyne þynges
Fader and formour · of al þat forth groweþ
The wiche is god grettest · þat gynnynge hadde neuere
Lord of lyf and of lyght of lysse and of payne
Angeles and alle þyng** · aren at hus wil
Man is hym most lyk . of membres and of face
And semblable in soule to god · bote yf synne hit make
And as þow suxt þe sonne · som tyme for cloudes
May nat shyne ne shewe · on shalkes on erthe
Right so letteþ lecherie · and oþer lut her synnes
Þat god suweþ nat synful men and suffreþ hem mys-fare
As somme hongen hem-self · and oþer -while a-drencheþ
God wol nat of hem wite · bote leteþ hem yworthe
As þe sauter seiþ · by suche synful shrewes
Et dimisi eos secundum desiderium eorum .
Loke suche luther men · lome ben ryche
For thei loueþ and by-leyueþ · al here lyf-tyme
More in catel þan in kynde þat alle kyne þynges wroghte
The wiche is boþe loue and lyf · and lasteþ with-outen ende
Inwitt* and alle whittes · closed ben þer -ynne
By loue and by leaute · þer-by lyueþ anima .
And lyf lyueþ by Inwitt* · and lerynge of kynde .
Inwitt* / is in þe hefd · as anima þe herte
And muche wo worth hym · þat Inwitt* mys-speyneþ
For þat is godes owen good · hus grace and hus tresour
That meny lede leeseþ · thorw lykerouse drynke
As lot dude and noe an herodes þe daffe
Ȝaf hus douhter for daunsyng** · in a dissh* þe hefde
Of þe blessyde baptiste . by-fore alle hus gustes
Euery man þat hath ynwitt** · and hus hele boþe
Hath tresour ynow in treuthe · to fynde with hym-selue
Ac fauntekynes and fooles · þe wiche fauten Inwitt**
Frendes suche fynden hem · and fro folye kepe
And holychurche helpe to so sholde no man begge
Ne spille speche ne tyme · ne myspende neiþer
Meeble ne vnmeeble · mete nother drynke
And þanne dude we alle wel · and ȝut wel bet to louye
Oure enemyes entyreliche · and help hem at here neede
And ȝut were best to bee a-boute · and brynge hit to hepe
That alle londes lyueden · an[^140] in on lawe by-leouede
Bisshopes sholde be here a-boute · and brynge þis to hepe
For to leese þere-fore here londe · and here lyf after
The catel þat crist hadde · þre cloþes hit were
Ther-of was ryflede · and robbed er he deyede
After þat he les hus lyf · for lawe sholde loue wexe
Prelates and Preestes · and princes of holy churche
Sholde doute no deþ · noþer dere ȝeres
To wenden as wyde as þe worlde were
To tulien the eerthe with tonge · and teche men to louye
For ho-so loueþ leyue hit wel · god wol nat lete hym sterue
In myschef for lacke of mete · ne for myssynge of cloþes
I nquiretis[^a312] autem dominum non minuentur omni bono .
Ho-so lyueþ in lawe · and in loue doþ wel
As theese weddid men · þat þis worlde susteynen
For of here kynde thei come · confessours and maistres
Patriarkes and prophetes · popes and maidones
For god seith hit hym-self · shal neuere good appel
Þorw no sotel science · on sour stock growe
And hit ys no more to mene · bote men þat buth by-getyn
Out of matrimonie nat moillere · mowe nat haue þe grace
That leelle legitime · by lawe may cleyme
And þat my sawe be soth · þe sauter bereþ wittnesse
C oncepit in dolore & peperit iniquitatem .
C aym þe cursed creature · conceyued was in synne
After þat adam and eue . hadden ysynged
With-oute repentaunce · of here rechilesnesse
A ryband þei engendrede . and a gome vnryghtful
As an hywe þat ereþ nat auntreþ hym to sowe
On a leye lond a-ȝens hus lordes wille
So was caym conceyued · and so been cursed w recches
That lycame han a-ȝen þe lawe · þat oure lord ordeynede
Alle þat come of caym caytyues were euere
And for þe synne of caymes sed · seyde god to noe
Penitet me fecisse hominem .
And bad shappe hym a shup · of shides and of bordes
Thi-selue and þy sones þree · and sitthen ȝoure wyues
Buske ȝow to þat bot · a-bydeþ þer-ynne
Til fourty dayes be fulfilled · and flod haue wasshe
Clene away þe cursede blod · that of cayme ys spronge
Bestes þat now beeþ · banne shulleþ þe tyme
That euere þat cursed cayme · cam on this erthe
Alle shullen deye for hus dedes · by dales and hulles
And þe foules þat flen · forth with othere bestes
Excepte onliche of eche kynde apeyre a peyre
That in þy shynglede shup · with the shal be sauede
Here aboute þe barn · hus belsires gultes
And alle for here for-fadres · ferden þe worse
The godspel ys her a-geyn · as gomes may reden
Filius non importabit iniquitatem patris . & cetera .
Holy writ wittnesseþ · þat for no wickede dede
That þe sire hym-self doþ · by hus owene wil
The sone fore syres synne · sholde nat be þe werse
West-mynster lawe ich wot wel · worcheþ þe contrarie
For þauh þe fader be a fraunkelayne · and for a felon be hanged
The heritage þat þe air sholde haue · ys at þe kynges wille
Ac þe godspel ys a glose þere · hudynge þe greythe treuthe
For god seide ensample · of suche manere isshue
That kynde folweþ kynde · and contrarieþ neuere
Numquam colligunt de spinis uuas . & alibi .
Bona arbor bonum fructum facit .
Ac whi þe worlde was a-drent · holy writ telleþ
Was for mariages of man-kynde · þat men maden þat tyme
After þat caym þe cursede · hadde culled abel
Seth Adames sone · sitthen was engendrede
And god sente to seth so sone he was of age
That for no kyne catel · ne no kyne byheste
Suffren hus seed seeden with caymes seed hus broþer
And for þat seth suffrede hit · god seide me for-þynkeþ
That ich man made · oþere matrimonye suffrede
For good sholde wedden good · þauh þei no good hadde
For ich am · uia & ueritas and may auaunce hem alle
Ac fewe folke folweþ this · for thei ȝeueþ here children
For couetise of catel · and connynge chapman
Of kyn ne of kynredene · a-counteþ men bote lytel
Þauh he be loueliche to loken on · and lofsom a-bedde
A mayde wel ymanerede · of good men spronge
Bote hue haue eny oþer good · haue hure wol no ryche
Ac let hure be vnloueliche · vnlofsom a-bedde
A bastarde · a bounde on a begeneldes douhter
That no curtesye can · bote let hure be knowe
For ryche oþer wel yrented · þauh hue reuely for elde
Ther nys squier ne knyght · in contreye a-boute
That he nel bowe to þat bonde · to bede hure an hosebonde
And wedden hure for hure welthe · and wisshen on þe morwe
That hus wyf were wex · oþer a watel ful of nobles
In gelesie ioye-lees and Ianglynge a-bedde
Meny peire sitthe the pestilence tyme · han plight treuthe to louye
Ac þei lyen sothliche · here noþer loueþ oþere
The frut þat þei bryngen forth · aren meny foule wordes
Thei han no children bote cheste · and choppes hem by-twyne
Thauh þei don hem to donemowe . bote þe deuel hem helpe
To folwen for þe flicche · feccheþ þei hit neuere
Bote þei bothe be for-swore · that bacon thei tyne
For-thi ich counseile alle crystine · couette neuere be wedded
For couetise of catel · in no kynne wyse
Bote maydenes and maydones[^141] · marien ȝow to-gederes
And wydewers and wydewes · weddeþ ayþer oþer
And loke þat loue be more þe cause · þan lond oþer noobles
And euerech manere seculer man · þat may nat contynne
Wisliche go wedde and war þe fro þat synne
That lecherye is a lykynge þyng · and lym-ȝerde of helle
And whil þow ert ȝong and ȝep · and þy wepne kene
Awreke þe þer-with on wyuynge · for godes werk ich holde hit
Dum sis uir fortis ne des tua robora scortis .
Scribitur in portis meretrix est ianua mortis .
Ȝe þat han wyues beþ war · worcheþ nat out of tyme
As adam dude and eue as ich whiler tolde
For sholde no bed-borde be · bote yf þei boþe were
Clene of lyf and loue in saule · and in leel wedlok*
For þat derne dede · do no man sholde
Bote wedded men with here wyues · as holy writ telleþ
Bonum est ut unusquisque uxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionem .
That oþere-gates been gete · for gadelynges aren holde
And fals folke and foundlynges · faitours and lyers
Vngraciouse to gete good · oþere good loue of puple
A·waytynge and wastynge · al þat thei cacche mowe
A·ȝens dowel thei don vuele · and þe deuel seruen
And after here deþ daye · dwellen shulle in helle
Bote god gyue grace her · goynge to amende
And thus ys dowel my frend · to day[^a313] as lawe techeþ
To louye and to lowe the · and no lyf to greue
Ac to louye and to leue · leyf me þat is dobet
Ac to ȝeue and to ȝeme · boþe ȝonge and holde
Helen and helpen · is dobest of alle
Fore þe more a man may do · by so þat he do hit
The more is he worth and worthi · of wyse and goode ypreised

[^a310: contrei s (P Ec G) | contre (All other mss)]

[^a311: þurste (P) | durst (All other mss)]

[^a312: I nquiretis (P) | Inquirentes (Most other mss)]

[^a313: day (P) | do (All other mss)]

[^138: P.11.4: whit, "wight, being." Compare P11.6 below.]

[^139: P.11.29: his, "is."]

[^140: P.11.192: an, "and."]

[^141: P.11.288: Most manuscripts do not distinguish maydene from maydone, and neither OED nor MED offers reason to think the distinction widely shared. Maiden, of course, has the sense of young person of either sex in both Old and Middle English, and the next line with parallel wydewers and wedewes suggests a gender distinction is intended here.]

Hic explicit passus primus de dowel .

Incipit passus secundus

T henne hadde wit awif a wif · was hote dame studie
That ful lene lokede · and lif-holy semede
Hue was wonderliche wroth* · þat wit so me tauhte
Al staryenge dame studie sturneliche seide
Wel art þow wys quaþ hue to wit suche wisdome shewe
To eny fol other flatorere · oþer to frentik puple
And seide nolite mittere ȝe men margerie perles
A -monge hogges þat hauen hawes at wille
Thei don bote dreuelyn þeron · draf were hem leuere
Þan al þe preciouse perreye · þat eny prince weldeþ
Ich segge hit by suche quaþ studie þat shewen by here werkus
That loueþ lond and lordshup · and lykyng* of body more
Than holynesse oþer hendenesse · oþer al þat seintes techeþ
Wysdom and wit now is nat worth a carse
Bote hit be carded with couetyse · as cloþers kemben wolle
Ho þat can contreeue and caste · to deceyue þe puple
And lette with a loueday treuthe and by-gyle hym
That can coueyty an[^142] caste thus · aren cleped in-to counsail
Qui sapiunt nugas & crimina lege uocantur
Qui recte sapiunt lex iubet ire foras .
He is reuerenced and robe d · þat can robbe þe peuple
Þorwe fallas and false questes · and þorw fykel speche
Iob þe gentil and wys · in hus gestes wytnesseþ
What shal worthe of suche wenne þei lyf leten ·
Ducunt in bonis dies suos & in fine descendunt ad infernum .
The sauter seith þe same · of alle suche ryche
Ibunt in progenie patrum suorum & usque in eternum non uidebunt lumen . Et alibi . ecce ipsi peccatores . & cetera .
Lo holy lettrure seith · wiche lordes been thees shrewes ·
Tho þat most good gyueþ · most greue ryght and treuthe[^143]
Que perfecisti destruxerunt iustitiam
And harlotes for harlotrie · aren holpe er nudy poure
And þat is no ryght ne reson · for raþer men sholde
Help hem þat hath nouht · þan þo þat han no neede
Ac he þat haþ holy writ · ay in hus mouthe
And can telle of treuthe and of þe twelue apostels
Oþer of þe passion of crist · oþer of pugatorie peynes
Lytel is he a-lowed þere-fore · a-mong lordes of festes
Now is þe manere atte þe mete · when mynstralles ben stylle
The lewede a-ȝens þe lered · þe holy lore to dispute
And tellen of þe trinite · how two slowe þe þridde
And brynge forth ballede resones · and taken bernarde to wittnesse
And putteþ forþ presompcions to preouen þe sothe
Thus thei dreuelen atte deyes · þe deyte to knowe
And gnawen god with gorge · when here guttes fullen
Ac þe carful mai crie · and quaken atte ȝate
Boþe a-fyngred and a-furst · and for defaute spille
Ys non so hende to haue hym yn · bote hote hym go þer god is
Thenne semeþ hit to my syght · to suche as so biddeþ
God is nat in þat hom · ne hus help neither
Lytel loueþ he þat lorde · that lente hym þat blisse
That so parteþ with þe poure · a parcel wenne hym mideþ
Ne were mercy in mene men · more þan in ryght ryche
Meny tyme mendynans · myghte gon a-fyngred
And so seith þe sauter · ich sauh hit in memento
Ecce audiuimus eam id est caritatem in effrata inuenimus eam in campis silue .
Clerkus and knyghtes · carpen of god ofte
And haueþ hym muche in hure mouthe · ac mene men in herte
Freres and faitours · han founde vp suche questiones
To plese withe proute men · sitthe þe pestelences
That folk is nouht ferm in þe feith · ne free of here[^144] goodes
Ne sory for here synnes · so is pryuyde en-hansed
In religion and al þe reame · among ryche and poure
That preyeres han no power · thees pestelences to lette
For god is def now-a-dayes · and deyneþ nouht ous to huyre
And good men for oure gultes · he al to-grynt to dyþe
And ȝut þees wrecches of þys worlde · is non whar by oþer
Ne for drede of eny deþ · with-draweþ hem fro pruyde
Ne parteþ with þe poure · as pure charyte wolde
Bote in gayenesse and in glotenye · for-glotten here goodes
And brekeþ nat here bred to þe poure as þe book hoteþ
...?...?...[^145]
Ac þe more he hath and wynneþ · þe worlde at hus wylle
And lordeþ in leedes · the lasse good he deleþ
Tobie tauhte[^146] nat so · takeþ hede ȝe ryche
How he tolde in a tyme · and tauhte hus sone dele
Si tibi sit copia abundanter tribue .
Si autem exiguum illud impertiri libenter stude .
And þis is no more to mene · bote ho-so muche good weldeþ
Be large þer-of while hit laste · to leedes þat been needy
Yf þow haue lytel loue sone · loke by þy lyue
Get þe loue þer-with · þauh þow fare þe werse
Ac lust no lord ne lewed man · of suche lore non to hure
Bote lythen how þey myghte · lerne lest good to spene
And so lyuen lordes now · and leten hit a dowel
For is no wit worth now · bote hit of wynnynge soune
For thi quaþ hue to wit be war · holy writ to shewe
Amonges hem þat hauen · hawes atte wille
The wiche is a lykynge and aloust a loust and loue of þe worlde
An wanne wit was whar · what studie menede
Ich myghte gete no greyn · of wittes grete wittes
Bote al lauhwynge he lotede · and loked vp-on studie
Semynge þat ich sholde · by-sechen hure of grace
When ich was war of hus wil · to þat womman ich loutede
And seide mercy ma-dame · ȝoure man shal ich worthe
As longe as ich lyue · bothe late and rathe
And for to worche ȝoure wil · the while my lyf duyreþ
With þat ȝe kenne me kyndeliche · to knowe what is dowel
For thi meeknesse quaþ hue · and for thi mylde speche
Ich shal þe kenne to clergie my cosyn þat knoweth
Alle kyne konnynges · and comsynges of dowel
Of dobet and dobest for doctor he his yknowe
And of scripture þe skyful skylful · and scryuaynes were trywe
For hue is sybbe to þe seuen ars · and also my soster
And cleregies wedded wif · as wys as hym-selue
Of lore and of letterure · of lawe and of reson
So with þat þat cleregie can · and counsail of scripture
Thow shalt conne and knowe · kendeliche dowel
Thenne was ich al-so fayn · as foul of fair morwenynge
Gladder þan gleo-man · þat gold haþ to gyfte
And asked of hure þe heye way · wher þat cleregie dwelte
And tel me som tokne quaþ ich · for tyme is þat ich wende
Aske þe heye wey quaþ hue · hennes to suffre
Bothe wele and moche wo yf þow wolt lerne
And ryd forth by richesse and r est nouht þer-ynne
Yf þow coueity to be riche · to cleregie comst þow neuere
Bothe wommon and wyn · wratthe yre and slewthe
Yf þou hit vse oþer haunte · haue god my treuthe
To clergie shalt þow neuere come · ne knowe what ys · dowel
Ac yf þou happe quaþ hue · þat þow hitte on clergie
And hast vnderstondyng* · what he wolde mene
Sey to hym þy-self · oueer-see my bokes
And seye ich grette wel hus wif · ich wrot hure abyble a byble
And sette hure to sapience · and to þe sauter glosede
Logyk ich lerede hure · and al þe lawe after
Alle þe musons in musyk* ich made hure to knowe
Plato þe poete · ich putte hym ferst to booke
Aristotile and oþere · to arguen ich tauhte
Grammere for gurles · ich gart furst wryte
And bet hem with a baleyse · bote yf þei wolde lerne
Of alle kyne craftes · ich contreeuede here tooles
Of carpentrie of kerueres · and contreeuede þe compas
And cast out by squire · boþe lyne and leuell
Thus þorw my lore beþ men ylered · þauh ich loke dymme
Ac theologie haþ teened me · ten score tymes
The more ich muse þer-on · the mystiloker hit semeþ
And þe deppere ich deuyne · the deerker me þynkeþ hit
Hit is no science[^147] sothliche · bote a sothfast by-lyue
Ac for hit lereþ men to louye · ich by-leyue þer-on þe bettere
For loue is a lykynge thyng* · and loth for to greue
Lerne for to louye · yf þe lyke to dowel
For of dobet and of dobest here doctour ys dere loue
Tho wente ich my way · with-oute more lettynge
And to clergie ich kam . as clerkes me seide
And ich grette hym goodliche · and greiliche hym tolde
How þat wit and hus wif · wissed me to hym
To kowe[^a314] and to knowe · kyndeliche dowel
By cryst quaþ clergie yf þow coueyte dowel
Kep þe ten commandemens and kep þe fro synne
And by-leyf leelly · how godes sone a-lyghte
On þe mayde marie for mankynnes sake
And by-cam man of þat mayde · with-oute[^148] mannes kynde
And al þat holy churche · here-of can þe lere
By-leyf lelly þere-on · and look þow do þer-after
Her-of Austyn þe olde · made bokes and bokes
Ho was hus autor and hym of god tauhte
Patriarkes and prophetes . aposteles and angeles
And þe holy trinite to austyn appeirede
And he ous seide as he seih · and so ich by-leyue
That he seih þe syre and þe sone · and seynte spirit to-gederes
And alle þre bote on god · and her-of made he bokes
Ȝe busiliche bokes · ho but[^a315][^149] hus wytnesses
Ego in patre & pater in me & qui me uidit patrem meum uidit qui in celis est .
Alle þe clerkes vnder crist · ne couthe this asoile
Bote thus by-longeþ to by-leyue · alle þat lykeþ dowel
For hadde neuere frek fyn wit the faith to dispute
Ne man myghte haue no merit þerof · myghte hit be preouede
Fides non habet meritum ubi humana ratio possidet dominium .
Thus by-leyue and leaute · and loue is þe þridde
That makeþ men to dowel . dobet and dobest
The scripture scorned me · and menye skyles shewede
And contynaunce made to clergie to congie me hit semede
And lakkede me in latyn · and lyght by me sette
And seide multi multa sapiunt . & seipsos nesciunt .
Tho wepte ich for wo · and wraþede of hus wordes
And in a wynkynge ich warth · an wonderliche ich mete
For ich was raueshede ryght þer fortune me fette
In-to þe londe of longynge · and loue hue me brouhte
And in a myrour hihte myddelerd · hue made me to loke
And sutthe seide to me · her myghte þow see wondres
And knowe þat þow coueitest · and come þer -to paraunter
Thenne hadde fortune folwynge hure two faire maidenes
Carnis concupiscentia[^a316][^150] me calde þe eldere mayde
And coueitise of eyen · ycald was þat oþere
And pruyde of parfit lyuynge · pursewede in faste
And bad me for my contynence · counte clergies lore lyght*
X

[P.12.186: The rubricating scribe apparently recognized the inversion in P12.182, but mistakenly marked this line for correction.]

Concupiscentia carnis . comfortyde me in þys wyse ·
And seide þow ert ȝong and ȝep · and hast ȝeris ynowe
For to lyue longe · and ladyes to louye
And in þis mirour þow myst see · murthes ful menye
That lede þe wol to lykynge · al þy lyf-tyme
The secounde mayde seide · ich shal sywe þi wil
Til þow be a lord of londe · leten þe ich nelle
That ich ne shal folwie þy felaushupe yf fortune lyke
Hue shal fynde me hus frende quaþ fortune her-after
That man þat me lykeþ helpe · myghte nat myshappe
Thenne was þer on hiht elde þat eny was of chere
Man quaþ elde mette ich with þe · by marie of heuene
Thou shalt fynde fortune faile at þy moste neede
And concupiscentia carnis clene the for-sake
Byterliche shalt þow banne þenne · boþe a daye and nyghtes
Couetise of eyen · that euere þow hure knewe
And pruyde of parfit lyuynge · to muche peril þe brynge
Ȝe reccheþ the neuere quaþ rechelesnesse stod forth in raggede cloþes
Folwe forþ þat fortune wol · thou hast ful feer to elde
A man may stoupe tyme ynowe · wen he shal tyne þe corone
Syre wanhope was sibbe to hym · as som men me tolde
For rechelesnesse in hus rybaurdrye · ryht þus he seide
Go ich to helle go ich to heuene · ich shal nouht myn one
Were hit al soþ þat ȝe seyen thou scripture and clergie
Ich leyue neuere þat lorde ne ladie · þat lyueþ her on eerthe
Sholde sitte in godes sete · ne see god in hus blysse
Ita impossibile est diuiti intrare in regnum celorum  sicut camelus foramen acus .
For clergie seith þat he seih . in þe seynt euangelie
Þat ich man maked was · and my name yentrede
In þe legende of lif · longe er ich were
Prodestinat thei prechen · prechours þat þis shewen
Or prechen inparfit · ypult out of grace
Vnwryten for som wikkednesse · as holy writ sheweth
Nemo ascendit in celum nisi qui descendit de celo .
Ich leyue hit wel by oure lorde · and no lett rure bettere
For salamon þe sage · þat sapience made
God gaf hym grace of wit and of good after
Neuere to man so muche · that man can of telle
To ruwele alle reames · and ryche to make
And deme wel and wislyche · wommen bereþ witnesse
Non michi nec tibi sed diuidatur .
Aristotile and he · hij tauhten men boþe
Maisters þat techen men · of godes muchel mercy
Whitinessen þat here wordes · and here werkes boþe
Weren wonder goode · and wise in here tyme
And holychurche as ich huyre · haldeþ boþe in helle
Yf we sholden worchen after here workes · to wynnen ous heuene
That for hure werkes and witt · wonyeþ now in peyne
Thenne wroghte we vnwisliche · for al ȝoure wyse techynge
Ac ich countresegge þe nat cleregie · ne þy connynge scripture
That ho-so doþ by ȝoure doctrine · doþ wel ich leyue
Ac me were leuere by oure lord · alippe a lippe of godes grace
Than al þe kynde witt þat ȝe can bothe · and connynge of ȝoure bokes
For of fele witty in faith · litel ferly ich haue
Thauh here gost be vngraciouse · god for to plese
For meny men of þis molde · setten more here herte
In wordliche good þan in god · for-þy grace hem failleþ
At A[c][^151] here meste meschef · mercy were þe beste
And mercy of mercy · needes mot aryse
As holy writ wittnesseþ · godes word in the godspelle
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remetietur uobis
Ryght wel ywittede men · and wel lettred clerkes
Seilde arn þei seien · so lyue as þei lere —
Witnesse on godes wordes · þat was neuere vntriwe
Super cathedram moysi . & cetera .
And ich wene hit worth of menye · as was in Noes tyme
Tho þat he shop þe shup · of shides and of bordes
Was neuere writ þat þer on wrouhte ne workman y-saued
Bote briddes and bestes · þat þe blessed noe
And hus wif with hus sones · and hus sones wyues
And wrightes þat hit wroghten · was non ysaued
God leyne hit fare nat so by folke · that þe faith techen
Of holychurche þat sholde kepe · alle cristine saules
For archa noe nemeþ hede · ys no more to mene
Bote holychurche · herbergh to alle þat ben blessede
The culorum of this cause curatores ys to mene
That ben carpenters vnder criste · holy churche to make
For lewede folk godes foules · and hus free bestes
Homines & iumenta saluabis domine & cetera .
At domes-day a dyluuye worth · of deþ and of fuyr at ones
Worcheþ ȝe wryghtes of holichurche · as holy writ techeþ
Leste ȝe be loste as þe laborers were · þat labored vnder noe
A goode fryday ich fynde · a felon was ysauede
That vnlawefulleche hadde y-lyued · al hus lyf-tyme
And for he by-knew on þe crois · and to crist shroue hym
He was sonnere ysaued · þan seynt Iohan þe Baptist
And er Adam oþer ysaie · oþer eny of þe prophetes
That hadden leye with lucyfer · meny longe ȝeres
A robber was y-raunsoned · raþer þan þei alle
With-outhe penaunce oþer passion oþer eny oþer peyne
He passede forth pacientliche · to perpetuel blisse
Also marie Magdalene · ho myghte do worsse
As in lykynge of lecherye · no lyf denoyede
And dauid þe douhty · þat deuynede howe vrye
Mighte slilokeste be slayn · and sente hym to werre
Leelliche as by hus lok · with a lettere of gyle
Paul þe apostel þat no pite hadde · crustene peuple[^152] to culle
Now beeþ þees seintes as men seyen · and souereynes in heuene
Tho þat worst wroghten wile þei weren here
By þat þat salamon seith · hit semeþ þat no wyght
Wot ho is worthi · for wele oþer for wicke
Whether he is worthi to wele · oþer to wickede pyne
Sunt iusti atque sapientes & opera eorum in manu dei sunt
Thus ich rechelesnesse haue rad · registres and bokes
And fond ich neuere in faith · for to telle of treuthe
That clergie of cristes mouth · comended was euere
For crist seide to seintes · and to suche as he louede
Dum steteris ante reges et presides & cetera .
Thauh ȝe come by-fore kynges · and clerkes of þe lawe
Beeþ nat a-ferd of þat folke · for ich shal ȝeue ȝow tonge
Connynge and clergie to conclude hem alle
Dauid makeþ mencion · he spak a-mong* kynges
And myghte no kynge hym ouer-come · as in connynge speche
Sothly seide rechelesnesse ich see by menye euedences
That noþer wit ne wyghtnesse · wan neuere þe maistrie
With-oute þe grete gyfte of god · with hus grace and fortune .
For he þat most seith and seide · of þe sothfast trinite .
Was austyn þe olde · þat euere man wiste
He saide thus in hus sarmon · for ensample of grete clerkes
Ecce ipsi idioti rapiunt celum ubi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur
This is to mene no more · to men þat ben lewede
Aren none raþere raueshed · fro þe ryghte by-leyue
Cominliche þan clerkes · most knowynge and connynge
And none sonnere ysaued ne saddere in þe by-leyue
Than plouhmen and pastours · and poure comune peuple
And lewede leele laborers · and land tylynge peuple
Persen with a pater noster paradys oþer heuene
Passinge purgatorie penaunceles · for here parfit by-leyue
Breuis oratio penetrat celum .
Selde falleþ þe seruant so deepe in arrirages
As doþ þe reyue oþer þe conterroller · þat rekene mot and a-counte
Of al þat þei hauen hadd · of hym þat is here maister
Ac þees lewede laborers · of lytel vnderstondynge
Selde fallen so foule · and so deepe in synne
As clerkes of holy churche · þat kepen sholde and saue
Lewede men in good by-leyue · and lene hem at here neede
Homo proponit quaþ þe poete þo · and plato he hihte
Et deus disponit quaþ he · let god do hus wille
Al þat treuthe atacheþ · and testifieþ for goode
Thauh thei folwe þat fortune wole · no folie ich hit holde
And concupiscencia carnis shal þe nat greue
Gretliche ne by-gyly þe · bote yf þy-self wolle
Ȝe farewel fyppe quaþ fauntelet and forth gan me drawe
Til con cupiscentia carnis a-corded to alle my werkes
Of dowel ne of dobet no deynte me þouhte
Clergie and hus consail · ich countede ful lytel

[^a314: kowe (P Ec Vc Kc) | knowe (Ac) | kenne (most other mss)]

[^a315: but (P Ec) | beth (All other mss)]

[^a316: Carnis concupiscentia (P Ec) | Concupiscentia carnis (all other mss)]

[^142: P.12.18: an, "and."]

[^143: P.12.29: Starting with this folio, the scribe stopped regularly touching in red on the top line of the verso sides; however, he continued using flourished letter forms on the top lines of the verso sides.]

[^144: P.12.60: The abbreviation is unusual.]

[^145: P.12.71: The following line, present in all C witnesses except P and N, has been erased from P (or never written): Frange esurienti panem tuum. Two largely erased and illegible words were written in red ink on the top line.]

[^146: P.12.74: An otiose flourish appears above the <a>.]

[^147: P.12.137: The letters <ce> are malformed.]

[^148: P.12.151: An otiose flourish on <t> extends through final <e>.]

[^149: P.12.161: but, "are."]

[^150: P.12.182: The rubricating scribe apparently recognized the inversion, but mistakenly marked P12.186 with a red <X> in the right margin for the correction.]

[^151: P.12.243: The <c> / <t> error was apparently archetypal.]

[^152: P.12.282: An otiose but evidently intentional curl is written over the second <p>.]

Hic explicit passus secundus de dowel .

Incipit passus tercius .

A las eye quath elde and holynesse boþe
Þat with[^153] shal turne to wrecchednesse · for welthe haþ al hus wil
couetise of eyen · confortede me after
And seide recheles nesse recche þe neuere
By so þow riche were · haue þowe no conscience
How þat þow come to good · confesse þe to som frere
He shal a-soile þe thus sone · how þow euere wynne hit
For while fortune is þy frend · freres wollen þe louye
And fastne þe in here fraternite and for þe by-seche
To here priour prouincial · hus pardon to haue
And praye for þe pol by pol · yf þow be pecunius[^154]
Pena pecuniaria non sufficit . et cetera
By wissynge of þis wenche ich dude · hure wordes were so swete
Til ich for-ȝat ȝouthe · and ȝorne in-to elde
Thenne was fortune my foo · for al here fayre by-heste
And pouerte pursuwede me · and putte me to be lowe
And flittynge fond ich þe frere · þat me confessede
And seide he myghte me nat asoile · bote ich suluer hadde
To restitue resonabliche · for al vnryghtful wynnynge
Owh how quaþ ich þo · and myn hefd waggede
By my faith frere quaþ ich · ȝe fare lik þe wouwere
That wilneþ þe wydewe · bote for to wedde here goodes
Ryght so by þe rode quaþ ich · rouhte þe neuere
Wher my body yburied were · by so ȝe hadde my goodes
Thanne lowh leaute for ich lourede on þe frere
Whi lourest þow quaþ leaute luue syre ich seide
For thees frere flaterede me · while he fond me riche
Now ich am poure and penyles · at litel prys he set me
Ich wolde hit were no synne ich seide · to seye þat were treuthe
The sauter seith hit is no synne · for suche men as ben trewe
For to seggen as thei seen · and saue onliche prestes
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis arguam te & statuam contra faciem tuam .
Thei wollen a-leggen also · and by þe godspel preouen hit
Nolite iudicare quemquam .
Wer-of serueþ lawe quaþ leaute and no lyf vnder-toke
Falsnesse ne faiterie · for som-what þe apostel seide
Non oderis fratrem tuum secrete in corde .
Thyng þat al þe worlde wot · where-fore sholdest þow spare
To rehercen hit by retoryk* · to a-rate dedliche synne ·
Ac be þow neuer þe furste · the defaute to blame
Thauh þow see sey nat · som tyme þat is treuthe
Thyng** þat wolde be pryue · publisshe þow hit neuere
Noþer for loue labbe hit out · ne lacke hit for non enuye
Parum lauda . uitupera parcius
He seith soth quaþ scripture · and skypte an hy and prechede
Ac þe þe [þe][^a317] matere þat he meeuede · yf lewede men hit knewe
Þe lasse as ich leyue · louye þei wolde
The by-leyue of oure[^155] lorde · þat lettrede men techen
Of here teme and of here tales · ich took ful good hede
He seide in here sarmon · selcouthe wordes
Multi to amangerie a mangerie · and to þe mete were sompned
And wan þe peuple was plener come · the porter vnpynnede þe gate
And plyghte in pauci pryueliche · and leet þe remenant go rome
Al for teene of here tixt · tremblede myn herte
And in aweer a weer gan ich wexe · and with my-selue to dispute
Weþer ich were chose oþer nat chose · on holychurche ich þouhte
That vnderfong** me atte fount · for on of godes chosene
For crist clepide ous alle · come yf we wolde
Sarrasyns and scismaticyns · and so he dude þe Iewes
And bad hem souken of hus brest · sauete for synne
And drynke bote for bale · brouke hit ho-so myghte
O uos omnes sicientes uenite ad aquas .
Thenne may alle cristine · and cleyme þer-to entre
By þat blod þat he boughte ous with · and baptisme as he tauhte
Qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit & cetera .
For thauh a crystine man coueytede · hus crystendome to reneye
Ryghtfulliche to ren eye · no reson hit wolde
For may no cheerl a chartre make · ne hus catel selle
With-ouhte leue of þe lorde · no lawe wolde hit graunte
Ac he may renne in arrirage · and rome fro home
As a recheles caitif · oþer reneyed as hit semeþ
Ac reson shal rekene with hym · and rebuke hym atte laste
And conscience a-counte with hym · and caste hym arerages
And putte hym þenne in prison · in purgatorie to brenne
Rewardynge hym þer for hus rechelesnesse · ryght to þe day of dome
Bote contricion and confession · crie by hus lyue
Mercy for hus mysdedes · with mouthe and with herte
That is þe sothe seide scripture · may no synne lette
Mercy þat hue nel al amende · yf meeknesse here folwe
Thei beþe as oure bookes telleþ · aren a-boue godes werkes
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius .
Ȝe baw for bookes quaþ on · was broken out of helle ·
Ich troianus a trywe knyght · ich take witnesse of pope
How ich was ded and dampned · to dwellen in helle
For an vncristene creature · seynt gregorie wot þe soþe
That al þe cristendome vnder crist · ne myghte cacche me þennes
Bote onliche loue and leaute as in my lawes demynge
Gregore wiste þis wel · and wilnede to my soule
Sauacion for þe sothnesse · þat he seih in myn werkes
And for he wilnede wepynge · þat ich were saued
God of hus goodnesse · seih hus grete wil
With-oute moo bedes-byddyng* hus bone was vnder-fonge
And ich ysaued as ȝe may see · with-oute syngynge of masse
Loue with leel by-leyue · and my lawe ryghtful
Sauede me sarrasyn · soule and body boþe
Lo lordes what leaute dude · and leel dom yused
Wel auhte ȝe lordes þat lawes kepen · þis lesson to haue in mynde
And on troianus treuthe to þenke · alle tymes of ȝoure lyue
And louye for ȝoure lordes loue · and do leaute euere-more
For lawe with-oute leaute · leye þer a bene
Oþer eny science vnder sonne · þe seuene ars and alle
Bote loue and leaute hym lede · y-lost is al þe tyme
Of hem þat traueleþ þer-on · bote treuthe be hus lyuynge
Lo loue and leaute · been oure lordes bookes
And cristes owen cleregie · he cam fro heuene to teche hit
And sitthe seynt Iohan seide hit is of hus techynge
Qui non diligit manet in morte .
And nameliche poure peuple · here preiours may ous helpen
For god as þe godspel · seith goth ay as in þe poure
And as þe euangelist wytnesseþ · whan we maken festes
We sholde nat clypie knyghtes þer -to · ne no kyne ryche
Cum facitis conuiuium nolite uocare amicos . & cetera
Ac calleþ þe carful þer-to · þe crokede and þe poure
For eche frend fedeþ oþer · and fondeþ how he may quite
Meles and manshupes · eche a riche man oþer
Ac for þe poure may nat paye · ich wol paye my-self
Þat louyeþ and leneþ hem · largeliche shal ich quite
At caluarie of cristes blod · cristendome gan sprynge
And blod broþerne by-cam we þer · of on body wonne
As quasi modo geniti gentel-men echone
No beggere ne boye a-mong* ous is · bote yf synne hit make
Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccati
In þe olde lawe as lettre telleþ · mennesones menne sones me cald ous
And Adames ysshue and eue · ay til god man deide
And after hus resurection redemptor was hus name .
And we hus blody breþren · as wel beggers as lordes
For-thy loue as leue children · and lene hem þat nudeþ
And euery man help oþer · for hennes shulleþ we alle
To haue as we han deserued · as holychurche wittnesseþ
Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in uitam eternam .
For-thi lerne we lawe of loue · as oure lord tauhte
The poure peuple faile nat · whil eny peny ous lasteþ
For in here liknesse oure lorde · lome hath be knowe
Witnesse in þe paske woke · wen he ȝeode to emaus .
Cleophas ne knew hym nat · þat he crist were
For hus poure aparail · and pilgrimes cloþes
Til þat he blessede here bred · and brak hit by-twyne hem
So by hus werkes thei wiste · þat he was iesus
Ac by hus cloþing** þei knewe hym nat · so caitifliche he ȝede
Al was ensample sothliche · to ous synful here
We sholde be lowe and loueliche · and leel ech man to oþer
And pacient as pilgrimes · for pilgrimes arn we alle
In þe parail of a pilgrim · and in a poure licknesse
Holy seyntes hym seih · ac neuere in secte of riche
And seynte marie hus moder matheu bereth wittnesse
Was a pure poure mayde · and to a poure man ywedded
Martha on marie magdalene an huge pleynte made
Domine non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me sola ministrare .
And here aiþere wil · hasteliche god a-soilede
And aiþeres werkes and wil · ryght wel he alowede
Ac god putte pouerte by-fore · and preouede hit for þe bettere
Maria optimam partem elegit que non auferetur ab ea .
And alle þe wise þat euere were · by ouht ich can aspie
Preisede pouerte for best · yf pacience hit folwe
And boþe bettere and blessedere · by meny folde þan richesse
Thauh hit be sour to suffrie · þer comeþ a swete after
As in a walnote · with-oute ys a byter bark*
And after þat biter barke · be þe shale a-weye
Ys a curnel of comfort* · kynde to restorie ·
So after pouerte and penaunce · pacientliche take
Makeþ man haue mynde in god · and hus mercy craue
The wiche is curnel of comfort · for alle cristene saules
And wel sykerour he slepeþ · þe seg þat is poure
And lasse drat by daye · oþer in deerk** to be robbed
Than he þat is right ryche · reson bereþ wittnesse
Pauper ego ludo dum tu diues meditaris .
Holichurche wittnesseþ · ho-so for-sakeþ
Hus fader oþer hus frendes · fremde oþere sibbe
Other eny welthe in this worlde · hus wyf oþer hus children
For þe loue of oure lorde · loweþ hym to be poure
He shal haue an hundredfolde · of heuene-ryche blisse
And lif lastyng** for euere · by-fore oure lorde in heuene
Quicumque relinquet patrem & matrem & cetera .
Crist a-cordeþ eft her-with · clerkes whiten þe sothe
What god hym-self saide · to a seg** þat he louede
Yf þe lykeþ quaþ god to lyue · þe lif þat is parfit
Al þat þow hast here · hasteliche go sulle hit
Ȝeue poure peuple þe pans · ther-of porse þow none
Ac ȝeue hem forth to poure folke · þat for my loue hit askeþ
For-sake al and suwe me · and so is thi beste
Si uis perfectus esse  uade & uende omnia & cetera .
Thus consaileþ crist in comun ous alle
Ho-so coueyteþ to come · to my kynriche
He mot for-sake hym-self · hus suster and hus broþer
And al þat þe worlde wolde · and my wil folwen
Nisi renunciaueritis omnia que possidetis & cetera .
Meny prouerbis ich myghte haue · of meny holy seyntes
To testefie for treuthe · þe tale þat ich shewe
And poetes to preouen hit porfirie and plato
Aristotile . ouidius and · elleuene hundred
Tullius . tholomeus ich can nat telle here names
Preouen pacient pouerte · pryns of alle vertues
And by greyn þat groweth · god ous alle techeþ
Nisi granum frumenti cadens in terra & mortuum fuerit ipsum solum manet .
Bote yf þat sed þat sowen is · in þe sloh sterue
Shal neuere spir springen vp · ne spik on straw curne
Sholde neuere wete wexe · bote wete fyrste deyde
And oþer sedes al-so · in þe same wyse
That ben leide on louh eerthe · ylore as hit were ·
And þorw þe grete grace of god · of greyn ded in erthe
Atte þe laste launceþ vp · wer-by lyuen alle
Ac seedes þat been sowen · and mowe suffre wyntres
Aren tydyour and tower · to mannes by-hofthe
Than seedes þat sowen beeþ · and mowe nouht with forste
With wyndes ne with wederes · as in wynter tyme
As lynne-seed and lik-seed · and lente-seedes alle
Aren nouht so worthy as whete . ne so wel mowen
In þe feld with þe forst · and hit freese longe
Ryght so for-soþe · þat suffre may penaunces
Worth alowed of oure lorde at here laste ende
And for here penaunce he preysed · as for puyre matir
Oþer for a confessour ykud · that counteþ nat a ruysshe
Fere ne famyne · ne false menne tonges
Bote as an hosebonde hopeþ · after an hard wynter
Yf god gyueþ hym þe lif · to haue a good heruest
So preoueþ thees prophetes · þat pacientliche suffreþ
Myscheifs and myshappes · and menye tribulacions
By-tokneþ ful triweliche · in tyme comynge after
Murthe for hus mornynge · and þat muche plente
For crist seide to hus seyntes · þat for hus sake þoleden
Pouerte penaunces · persecucion of body
Angeles in here angre · on this wise hem grette
Tristicia uestra uertetur in gaudium .
Ȝoure sorwe in to solas · shal turne atte laste
And out of wo in-to wele · ȝoure wyrdes shul chaunge
Ac so redeþ of riche · þe reuers he may fynde
How god as þe godspel telleþ · gyueþ hem foul towname tow name[^156]
And þat hus gost shal go · and hus good by-leue
And askeþ hym after · ho shal hit haue
The catel þat he kepeþ so · in coffres and in bernes
And ert so loth to leue · þat leue shalt needes
O stulte ista nocte anima tua egrediatur . thesaurizat & ignorat .
An vnredy reue · þi residue shal spene
That menye mothte was ynne in amynte a mynte -while
Vp-holderes on þe hul · shullen haue[^157]hit to selle
Lo lo lordes lo · and ladies takeþ hede
Hit lasteþ nat longe · þat is lycour swete
As pees-coddes and[^158]pere Ionettes · plomes and chiries
Þat lyghtliche launceþ vp · litel wile dureþ
And þat þat raþest rypeþ · roteþ most sannest
On fat londe and ful of donge · foulest wedes groweth
Right so for-sothe · suche þat ben bysshopes
Erles and archedekenes · and oþer ryche clerkes
That chaffaren as chapmen · and chiden bote þei wynne
And hauen þe worlde at here wil · oþer-wyse to lyue
Right as weodes wexen · in wose and in donge
So of rychesse vp-on richesse · arist alle vices
Lo lond ouere-layde · with marle and with donge
Whete þat wexeth þer -on · worth lygge ar hit repe
Right so for-soþe · for to sygge treuthe
Ouer-plente pryde norssheþ · þer pouerte destrueþ hit
For how hit euere be ywonne · bote hit be wel dispended
Worliche wele is wicked þynge to hym þat hit kepeþ
For yf he be feer þer-fro · ful ofte hath he drede
That fals folke fecche a-way · felonliche hus goodes
And ȝut more hit makeþ men · meny tyme and ofte
To synegen and to souchen · soteltees of gyle
For couetyse of þat catel · to culle hem þat hit kepeþ
And so is meny man ymorþred · for hus money and goodes
And tho þat duden þe dede · ydampned þer-fore after
And he for hus harde heldynge · in helle par-aunter
So couetise of catel · was combraunce to hem alle
Lo how pans purchasede · faire places and drede
Þat rote is robbers · þe richesse with-ynne

[^a317: þe þe [þe] (P) | þe (All other mss)]

[^153: P.13.2: with, "wit."]

[^154: P.13.11: Scribal supply sign would normally indicate <ur> or <ru>, not <e>.]

[^155: P.13.48: An otiose tilde appears over the <o>.]

[^156: P.13.227: tow, "to."]

[^157: P.13.235: There is an otiose tilde over the letter u.]

[^158: P.13.238: There is an otiose mark over the letter d.]

Hic explicit passus iijus tercius de dowel .

Incipit passus quartus .

A C wel worth pouerte · for he may walke vnrobbe de
A-mong pilours in pees yf pacience hym folwe
Oure prynce Ihesu pouerte chees · and hus a-posteles alle
And ay þe lenger þei lyueden · the lasse good þei hadde
Tanquam nichil habentes & omnia possidentes .
Ȝut men þat of abraam and Iob were wonder ryche
And out of numbre þo men · menye meobles hadden
Abráám for al hus good · hadde muche teene
In gret pouerte was yput · apryns a pryns as hit were
By-nom hym ys[^159] housewif · and heeld here hym-self
And abráám nat hardy · ones to letten hym
Ne for brightnesse of here beaute · here spouse to be by-knowe
And for he suffrede and seide nouht · oure lord sente tokne
That þe kynge cride to abráám mercy
And deliuerede hym hus wif · with muche welthe after
And also Iob þe gentel · what ioye hadde he on erthe
How bittere he hit bouhte as þe book telleþ
And for he songe in hus sorwe si bona accipimus a domino .
Dere-worthe dere god · do we so mala .
Al hus sorwe to solas · þorgh þat songe turnede
And Iob by-cam a iolif man · and al hus ioye newe
Lo how pacience in here pouerte · thees patriarkes releuede
And broughte hem al a-boue · þat in bale rotede
As greyn þat lyth in þe greot · and þorgh grace atte laste
Spryngeþ vp and spredeþ · so spedde þe fader abráám
And also þe gentel Iob here ioye hath non ende
Ac leueþ nouht ȝe lewede men · þat ich lacke richesse
Thauh ich preise pouerte þus · and preoue hit by ensamples
Worthiour as by holy writ · and wise philosopheres
Bothe two but[^a318][^160] goode · be ȝe ful certayn
And lyues þat oure lord loueþ · and large weyes to heuene
Ac þe poure pacient purgatorye passeþ
Raþere þan þe ryche · þauh thei renne at ones
For yf amarchaunt a marchaunt and a messager · metten to-gederes
And scholde wenden o way · where boþe most r est ·[^161]
A nd rekene by-fore resoun · a resonable acountes[^a319] ·
What one haþ  what a- n oþer haþ  and what hy hadde boþe ·
The marchante mote n ede be lette  lengere þen þe messager ·
For þe parcels of hus paper · and oþer pryuey dettes
Wol lette hym as ich leyue · the lengthe of a myle
The messager doþ na more · bote hus mouth telleþ
Hus lettere and hus ernde sheweþ · and is a-non delyuered
And thauh þei wende by þe wey tho two to-gederes
Thauh þe messager make hus wey · a-myde þe whete
Wole no wys man wroth be · ne hus wed take
Ys non haiwarde yhote · hus wed for to take
Necessitas non habet legem .
Ac yf þe marchaunt make hus wey · ouere menne cornne
And þe haywarde happe · with hym for to mete
Oþer hus hatt oþer hus hed · oþere elles hus gloues
The marchaunt mot for-go · oþer moneye of hus porse
And ȝut be lett as ich leyue · for þe lawe askeþ
Marchauns for here marchaundise · in meny place to tullen
Ȝut þauh þei wenden on way · as to wynchestre fayre
The marchaunt with hus marchaundise · may nat go so swithe
As þo messager may · ne with so mochel ese
For þat on bereþ bote a boxe · a breuet þer -ynne
Ther þe marchaunt ledeþ a male · with meny kynne þynges
And dredeþ to be ded þere-fore · and he in derke mete
Wiþ robbours and with reuers · þat riche men dispoilen
Ther þe messager is ay murye · hus mouthe ful of songes
And leyueþ for hus letteres · þat no wight wol hym g reue
Ac ȝut myghte þe merchaunt · þorgh monye and oþer ȝeftes
Haue hors and hardy men · þauh he mette þeoues
Wolde non suche a-sailen hym · for hem þat hym folweth
As safliche passe as þe messager · and as sone at hus hostil
Ȝe wyten wel ȝe wyse men · what this is to mene
The marchaunt is no more to mene · bote men þat ben ryche
Aren a-countable to crist · and to þe kyng** of heuene
That holden mote þe heye weye · euene ten hestes
Boþe louye and leue · þe leelle and þe vnleelle
And haue reuthe and releue · with hus grete richesse
By hus power alle manere men · in meschief yfalle
Fynde beggers bred · backes for þe colde
Tythen here goodes tryweliche · a tol as hit semeþ
That oure lord lokeþ after · of ech a lyf þat wynneþ
With-oute wiles oþer wrong** · oþer wommen atte stuwes
And ȝut more to make pees · and quyte menne dettes
Boþe spele and spare · to spene vpon þe needful
As crist self comaundeþ · to alle cristene peuple
Alter alterius onera portate .
The messagers aren þe mendinans · þat lyueþ by menne almesse
Beþ nat ybounde as beeþ þe riche · to bothe þe two lawes
To lene ne to lere · ne lentenes to faste
And oþere pryuey penaunces · þe wiche þe preest wot wel
That þe lawe ȝeueþ leue · suche lowe folke to be excused
As none tythes to tythen · ne cloþe þe nakede
Ne in enquestes to come · ne contumax þauh he worche
Haly-day oþer holy eue · hus mete to deserue
For yf he loueþ and by-leyueþ · as þe lawe techeþ
Qui crediderit et baptizatus fuerit & cetera .
Telleþ þe lord a tale · as a triwe messager
And sheweþ by seel and sitthe by lettere · with wat lord he dwelleþ
Kneweleche hym cristene · and of holy churche by-leyue
Ther is no lawe as ich leyue · wol lette hym þe gate
Ther god is gatwarde hym-self · and eche a gome knoweth
The porter of pure reuthe · may parforme þe lawe
In þat he wilneþ and wolde · ech wight as hem-self
For þe wil is as muche worth · of awrecche a wrecche beggere
As al þat þe ryche may reyme · and ryghtfulliche dele
And as much mede · for a myte þat he offreþ
As þe riche man for al is[^162] moneye · and more as by þe godspel
Amen dico uobis quia hec uidua paupercula & cetera .
So þat poure pacient · is parfitest lif of alle
And alle parfite preestes · to pouerte sholde drawe
For spera in deo spekeþ of prestes · þat han no spendyng** seluer
That yf þay trauaile treweliche · and tristen in god almyghty
Hem sholde neuere lackye lyflode · noþer lynne ne wollene
The titile þat ȝe takeþ ȝoure ordres by · telleþ ȝe beþ amanced auanced
And needeþ nat to nyme seluer · for masses þat ȝe syngen
For he þat tok ȝow titile · sholde take ȝow wages
Oþer þe bisshop þat blessed ȝow · and enbaumede ȝoure fyngeres
For made neuere kyng** knyght · bote he hadde catel to spene
As by-feel for a knyght · oþer fond hym for hus strengþe
For hit is a carful knyght · and of a caitif kynges makynge
That hath no londe ne lynage riche · ne good loos of hus hondes
The same ich seye for-soþe · by suche þat ben preestes
Þat han noþer konnynge ne kyn · bote a corone one
And a titile a tale of nouht · to hus liflode as hit were
Vuele ben þei suffred · suche þat shynden masses
Thorgh here luþer lyuynge · and lewede vnderstondyng**
A chartre is chalangable · by-fore a chief Iustice
Yf fals latyn be in þe[^163] letteres[^a320] · þe lawe hit enpugneþ
Oþer peynted par-entrelignarie · parcels ouer-skipped
The gome þat so gloseþ chartres · a goky he is yholden
So is he a goky by god · þat in þe godspel failleþ
In masse oþer in matynes · makeþ eny defaute
Qui offendit in uno in omnibus est reus .
And ouer-skippers al-so · in þe sauter seith dauid
Psallite deo nostro psallite qui rex terre deus . spallite sapienter[^164]
The bisshop shal be blamed · by-fore god as ich leyue
Þat coroneþ suche clerkes · as for godes knyghtes
Þat conneþ nat sapienter noþer synge ne rede
Ac neyþer is al blameles · þe bisshop ne þe chapeleyn
For ignorantia non excusat as ich haue herd in bookes
Thus rechelessnesse in a rage · a-resonede clergie
And scornede scripture · þat meny skyles shewede
Til þat kynde cam · clergie to helpen
And in þe myrour of mydel-erde · made hym eft to loke
To knowe by ech creature · kynde to louye
And ich bowede my body · by-holdinge al a-boute
And seih þe sonne and þe see · and þe sand after
Wher þat briddes and bestes · by here makes ȝeeden
Wilde wormes in wodes · and wonderful foules
With fleckede fetthers · and of fele colours
Man and hus make · ich myghte see boþe
Pouerte and plente · bothe pees and werre
Blisse and biter bale · bothe ich seih at ones
And how þat men mede token · and mercy refuseden
Reson ich sauh sotthliche · suwen alle bestes
In etynge and drynkyng** · in gendrynge of kynde
After cours of concepcion · non tok kepe of oþer
As when þei hadde ruteyed · a-non þei resten after
Maules drowen hem to maules · on morwenynge by hem-self
And femeles to femeles · herdeyed an[^165] drow[^166]
Ther ne was kow ne kow-kynde · þat conceyuede hadde
That beere after bole · ne bor after sowe
Ther was no kynde kynde · þat conceyued hadde
That ne lees þe lykynge of loust · of flesch* as hit were
Saue man and hus make · and þer -of me wondrede
For out of reson þei ryde · and rechelesliche token on
As in durne dedes · bethe drynkynge and elles
Briddes ich by-heelde · in bosshes maden neestes
Hadde neuere weye wit to worche þe leste
Ich hadde wonder wher · and at wham þat þe pye ·
Lornede legge styckes · þat leyen in here neestes
Ther is no wryght as ich wene · sholde worche here nest to paye
Yf eny mason þer-to · makede a molde
With alle here wyse castes · wonder me þynkeþ
And ȝut ich meruaillede more · menye of þo bryddes
Hudden and heleden · durneliche here egges
For no foul sholde hem fynde · bote hus fere and hym-self
And somme treden ich tok kepe · and on trees bredden
And brouhten forth here bryddes · al aboue þe grounde
In mareis and in mores · in myres and in wateres
Dompynges dyuyden · deere god ich sayde
Wher hadden þees wilde suche witt · and at what scole
And wan þe pocok caukede · þer-of ich took kepe
How vn-corteisliche þe cok · hud hus kynde forth strende
And ferliche hadde of hus fairnesse · and of hus foule leedene
And siþþe ich loked on þe see · and so forþ on þe sterres
Meny selcouth ic seih · aren nouht to seggen nouthe
Ne what on floures in feldes · and of hure faire coloures
How out of greot and of gras · grewe so meny huwes
Somme soure and somme swete · selcouhþ me þouhte
Of here kynde and of here colours · to carpen hit were to longe
Ac þat þat meuede me · and my mod chaungede
Was þat ich seih reson · suwen alle bestes
Saue man and mankynde · meny tymes me þouhte
Reson rewelede hem nat · noþer riche ne poure
Then ich aresonede reson · and right til hym ich seide
Ich haue wonder in my witt · so wis as þow herte holde
Wher-for and why · so wide as þow regnest
Þat þow ne ruelest raþer · renkes þan oþer beestes
For ich see noone so ofte forfeten · soþliche so man-kynde
In mete out of mesure · and meny tymes in drynke
In wommen in wedes · and in wordes boþe
Thei ouerdon hit day and nyght · and so doþ noon oþere
Bestes ruwelen hem al by reson · and renkes ful fewe
And þer -fore meruaileþ me · for man as in mankynde
His[^167] most yliche þe · in witt and in werkes
Whi he ne loueþ þy lore · and lyueþ as þow techest
And reson aresonede me · and seide recche þe neuere
Whi ich suffre oþer nat suffre · certes ich seide
Ech a seg for hym-self . salamon ous techeþ
De re que te non molestat noli certare .
Ho suffreþ more þan god quaþ he · no gome as ich leyue
He myghte a-mende in amynt a mynt -while · al þat amys stondes
Ac he suffreþ in ensaumple þat we sholde alle suffren
Ys no vertue so feyr · of value ne of profit
As ys suffrance souereynliche · so hit be for godes loue
And so wittneseþ þe wyse · and wysseþ þe frenshe
Bele uertue est suffraunce · mal dire est petite ueniaunce .
Bien dire e bien suffrer · fait ly suffrable a bien uener .
For-þi quaþ reson ich rede the · ruwele þi tonge euere
And er þow lakke eny lyf · loke ho is to preise
For is no creature vnder cryst · þat can hym-selue make
And yf cristene creatures · couthen make hem-selue
Eche lede wolde be lacles · leyf þow non oþere
Man was mad of suche matere · he may nat wel a-sterte
That som-tymes hym tit · to folwen hus kynde
Caton a-cordeþ her-with . nemo sine crimine uiuit .
Tho cauhte ich colour a-non · and comsed to be ashamed
And awaked þer-wiþ · wo was me þenne
That ich ne hadde ymet more · so murye as ich slepte
And sayde a-non to my-self · slepynge ich hadde grace
To wite what dowel ys · ac wakynge neuere
And þenne was þer a whiȝt · what he was ich nuste
What ys dowel quaþ þat whiȝt · y-wys syre ich seyde
To seo muche and suffren al · certes syre ys dowel .
Haddest þow suffrede he seide · slepyng* þo þow were
Þow sholdest haue knowe þat cleregye can · and more conceyued þorwe reson
For reson wolde haue reherced to þe · ryght as cleregie seide
Ac for þyn entermetyng* · her ertþow for-sake
Philosophus fuisses si tacuisses . et alibi .
Locutum me aliquando penituit . tacuisse nunquam .
Adam whiles he spak nat · hadde paradys att wille
Ac wanne he mamelede a-boute mete · and musede for to knowe
The wisdome and þe witt of god · he was putte out of blisse
Ryght so ferde reson by þe · for þi rude speche
And for þow woldest wyte why · of resones pryuete
For pruyde and presompcion · of þy parfit lyuynge
Reson refusede þe · and wolde nat reste with the
Ne cleregie of hus connynge · ke peþ þe nat shewe
For shal neuere er shame come · a shrewe wel be chasted
For let a dronken daffe in a diche falle
Leet hym lygge lok nat in hym · til hym luste aryse
And þauh reson rebuky hym · þenne reccheþ he neuere
Of clergie ne of kynde witt · counteþ he nat arusshe a russhe
To blame hym oþer to bete hym þenne · ich halde hit bote synne
Ac when neede nymeþ hym vp · a-non he ys a-shamede
And þenne wot he wher-fore · and whi he is to blame
Ȝe seggeþ soþ by my soule quaþ ich · ich haue seyen hit ofte
Her smyt no þynge so smerte[^168] · ne smelleþ so foule
As shame þer he sheweþ hym · ech man shoneþ hus companye
Whi ȝe worden to me þus · was for ich aresonede reson
Ȝe certes quaþ he þat is soþ · and shop hym to walke
And ich a-roos ryght vp with þat · and reuerencede hym fayre
And yf hus wil were · he wolde hus name telle ·

[^a318: but (P) | ben (All other mss)]

[^a319: acountes (P N W) | acounte (Most other mss)]

[^a320: letteres (P Ec) | lettre (All other mss)]

[^159: P.14.10: ys, "his."]

[^160: P.14.30: but, "are."]

[^161: The scribe initially omitted these four lines. They are supplied by the same hand in the left margin in a much blacker ink than the text.]

[^162: P.14.102: is,"his."]

[^163: P.14.123: The original scribe wrote þe letteres. Either the same scribe or some later "corrector" in a somewhat lighter ink added a superscript <t>, presumably to match most other manuscripts' þat. He neglected to remove the plural from letteres.]

[^164: P.14.130: P, along with manuscripts Vc Kc, indicates spalliter sapienter with <s. s.>. The line corresponds to Psalmus 46 (47).8.]

[^165: P.14.155: an, "and."]

[^166: P.14.155: drow, "came together."]

[^167: P.14.201: His, "is."]

[^168: P.14.254: An otiose curl appears over the <e>.]

Hic explicit passus quartus de dowel .

Incipit passus quintus .

I ch am ymaginatif quaþ he · ydel was ich neuere
Þauh ysete by my-self · suche is my grace
Ich haue yfolwede þe in faiþ · mo þan fourty wynter
And wissede þe ful ofte · what dowel was to mene
And counsalede þe for cristes sake · no creature to by-gyle
Noþer to lye noþer to lacke · ne lere þat is defendid
Ne to spille speche · as to speke an ydel
And no tyme to tene · ne trywe þyng* to teenen
Lowe þe to lyue forth · in þe lawe of holychurche
Þenne dost þow wel · with-oute drede · ho can dobett no for se
Clerkes þat connen al ich hope · þei conne do bettere
Ac hit suffuseþ to be saued · and to be suche as ich tauhte
Ac for to louye and lene · an lyue wel and by-leyue
Ys y-calid caritas kynde loue in english
And þat is dobet yf eny such be · ablessed a blessed man þat helpeþ
And pees be and pacience · and poure with-oute defaute
Beacius est dare quam petere .
Ac catel and kynde witt · encombreþ ful menye
Woo is hym þat hem weldeþ bote he hym wel dispeyne
Scientes & non facientes uarijs flagellis uapulabunt .
Ac comunliche connynge · and vnkynde rychesse
As lorels to be lordes · and lewede men techeres
And holy churche horen help · auerous and coueytous
Droweþ vp dowel and distruyeþ · dobest
Ac grace is a gras þerfore · to don hem est growe
Ac grace groweþ nat · til god wol gynne reyne
And wokie þorwe good werkes · wikkede hertes
Ac er suche a will wol wexe · god hym-self worcheþ
And send forþ seint espirit · to don loue sprynge
Spiritus ubi uult spirat et cetera .
So grace with-oute grace · of god and of goode werkes
May nat bee bee þow siker · þauh we bidde euere
Cleregie comeþ bote of siht · and kynde witt of sterres
As to be bore oþer bygete · in suche constellacion ·
That wit wexeþ þer-of · and oþere wordes boþe
Vultus huius seculi sunt subiecti uultibus celestibus .
So grace is agyfte a gyfte of god · and kynde witt a chaunce
And cleregye and connyng* · of kynde wittes techynge
And ȝut is cleregie to comende · fore cristes loue more
Þan eny connynge of kynde witt · bote cleregie hit re wele
For moyses wittnesseþ þat god wrot · in stoon with hus fynger
Lawe of loue oure lorde wrot · longe er crist were
And crist cam and confermede · and holychurche made
And in sond a sygne wrot · and seide to þe Iewes
That seeþ hym-self synneles · cesse nat ich hote
To stryke with stoon oþer with staf · this strompett to deþe
Qui uestrum sine peccato est . & cetera .
For-thi ich consaily alle cristene · cleregie to honoure
For as a man may nat seo · þat mysseþ hus eyen
No more can no clerkes · bote hit be of bookes
And thauh men maden bokes · god was here maister
And seynte spirit þe saumplarie · and seide what men sholde wryte
And ryght as syht serueþ · a man to see þe hye strete
Ryght so lereþ lettrure · lewede men to reson
And as a blynde man in · batayle bereþ wepne to fyghte
And haþ non hap wiþ hus axe · hus enemy to hitte
No more can a kynde witted man · bote clerkes hym teche
Come for alle hus kynde wyttes · þorwe cristendom to be sauede
The wiche is cofre of cristes tresour · and clerkes kepen þe keyes
To vnlouke hit at here lykynge · þe lewede and lerede to helpe
To ȝeue mercy for mysdedes · yf men wolde hit aske
Buxumliche and benyngneliche · and bydden hit of grace
Archa dei in þe olde lawe leuites hit kepten
Hadde neuere lewede man leue · to legge honde in þat cheste
Bote hit were preestes · oþer preestes sone · patriarck oþer prophete
Saul for he sacrifisede · sorwe hym by-tydde
And hus sones for hus synnes sorwe þey hadden
For-þy ich consaille alle creatures · no clerk* to dispise
Ne sette short by here science · what-so þei don hem-selue
Take we here wordes a worth · for here wittnesses ben trywe
And medle we nat moche with hem · to meeuen eny wratthe
Leste cheste chaufe ous so · and choppe ech man oþere
And do we as dauid techeþ · for doute of godes veniaunce
Nolite tangere cristos meos . & cetera .
For cleregie is cristes vikery · to conforte and to curen
Boþe lered and lewed were lost · yf cleregie ne were
Kynde wittede men han · a cleregie by hem-selue
Of cloudes and of custumes · þei contreuede meny þynges
And markede hit in here manere · and mused þer -on to knowe
And of þe selcouþe þat þei seyen · here sones þerof þei tauhte
Þei helden hit for an hey science · here soteltes to knowe
Ac þorw here science soþliche · was neuere soule ysaued
Ne brouht þorwe here bokes · to blisse ne to ioye
For al here kynde knowyng* ne cam bote of diuerse sightes
Of briddes and bestes · of blisse and of sorwe
Patriarkes and prophetes · reprouede here science
And seide here wordes and here wysdomes · ne was bote al folye
As to þe cleregie of cryst · þei countede hit bote a trufle
Sapiencia huius mundi stulticia est apud deum .
For þe hye holygost · shal heuene to-cleue
And loue shal leepe out after in-to þis lowe erthe
And clannesse shal cacchen hit · and clerkes shullen his fynde
Pastores loquebantur adinuicem ad inuicem et cetera .
Hit spekeþ of riche men ryght nouht · ne of riche lordes
Bote of clennesse and of clerkes · and kepers of bestes
Ibant magi ab oriente  et cetera .
Yf eny frere were founde þere · ich ȝeue fyue shyllinges
Noþer in cote noþer in caytyf hous · was crist y-bore
Bote in a burgeises hous · þe beste of alle þe toune
To pastours and to poetes · aperede þe angel
And bad hem go to bedlehem · godes burþe to honoure
And syngen a song of solas Gloria in excelsis deo .
Riche men routten þo · and in here reste were
Þo hit shon to þe shepehurdes · a shewere of blisse
Clerkes knewen þe comete · and comen with here presentes
And dude here homage honorably · to hym þat was al-myghty
Whi ich haue ytold þe al þis · ich took ful good hede
How þow contrariedest cleregie · with crabbede wordes
Þat is how lewede men and luþere · lyghlokere were sauede
Þan connynge clerkes · of kynde vnderstondyng*
And þow seidest soþ of somme · ac ich seye in what manere
Take to stronge men · and in temese cast hem
And boþe naked as anelde a nelde nedle · here noþer heuyour þan oþer
That on hat connyng* and can swummen sw[i]mmen[^a321] and d yuen
Þat oþer is lewede of þat labour · and lernede neuere swymme
Which is trowest þow of þo to · in temese most in drede
He þat can nat swymme ich seyde · hit semeþ to alle wittes
Ryght so quaþ þat renke · reson hit sheweþ
That he þat knoweþ · cleregie · can sonnere a-ryse
Out of synne and be saf · þow he synegy ofte
If hym lykeþ and lust · þan eny lewede sothliche
For yf þe clerk be connynge · and knoweþ what is synne
And hou contricion with-oute confession · conforteþ þe soule
As we seen in þe sauter · in psalmes on oþer tweye
How contricion is comended · for hit chacheþ · a-wey synne
Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates . & cetera .
And þat comforteþ ech clerk* · and koeuereþ fro wanhope
In whiche flood þe feend · fondeþ man hardest
Þer þe lewede lyeth stille · and lokeþ after lente
And haþ no contricion · ar he come to shryfte
And þan can he lytel telle · of on oþer of oþer
Bote as hus loresman lereþ hym · he by-leyueþ and troweþ
And þat is after person oþer pareshe preest · and paraunter boþe beþ lewede
For to lere lewede men · as luc bereþ wittnesse
Si cecus ducit cecum ambo in foueam cadent .
For muche woo was hym marked · þat wade shal with þe lewede
Wel may þe barn blesse · þat hym to book* sette
That lyuynge after lettrure · sauede hem lyf and soule
Dominus pars hereditatis mee . ys a murye versett
Hit haþ ytake fro tyborne · twenty stronge þeeues
Þer lewede þeeues ben lollid vp · loke how þei been sauede
Þe þeef þat hadde grace of god · a goode fryday as þow toldest
Was for he ȝuld hem creaunt to crist · and hus grace askede
And god is ay gracious · to alle þat gredeþ to hym
He wol no wickede man be lost · bote yf he wol hym-self
Nolo mortem peccatoris sued ut magis conuertatur & uiuat .
And þauh þe þeef hadde heuene · he hadde non hye blisse
As seynt Iohan and oþer seyntes · þat han a-seruede bettere
Ryght as som man ȝyueþ me mete · and sett me a-mydde þe floor
Ich haue mete more þan ynowe · ac nat with so muche worshup ·
As þo þat sytten att þe syd table · oþer with þe souereynes in halle
Bote as a beggere bordles · by my-self vpon þe grounde
So hit ferde by þe felon · þat a goode fryday was sauede
He sat noþer with seynt Iohan with symon ne with Iude
Ne with maydenes ne with Martris · ne with mylde wydewes
Bote as a soleyn by hym-self · and seruede vp-on þe grounde
For he þat ys ones a þeef · is euere more in daunger
And as þe lawe lykeþ · to lyue oþer to deye
De peccato propiciato noli esse sine metu
And for to seruen a seynt · and suche a þeef to-gederes
Hit were no reson ne ryght · to rewarde boþe liche
Ryȝt as traianus þe trywe knyght tulde nat deep in helle
That oure lord ne hadde hym lyghtliche out so leyueþ of þe þeef in heueone[^169]
For he ys in þe lowest heuene · yf oure byleyue beo trywe
And wel losliche lolleþ þere · as by þe lawe of holychurche
Et reddit unicuique secundum opera sua .
Ac whi þat þeef vp-on þe croys · creaunt hym ȝelde
Raþer þan þat oþer · þauh þow woldest apose
Alle þe clerkes vnder cryst · ne couþe þys asoile
Quare placuit quia uoluit . et cetera .
And so ich seye by þe · þat sekest after weyes
How creatures and kynde witt · and clerkes comen to bokes
And how þe floures in þe fritth · comeþ to feyre hewes
Was neuere creature vnder cryst · þat knew wel þe bygynnynge
Bote kynde þat contreeuede hit furst · of cortesie wil
//
He tauhte þe tortle to trede · þe pocok* to cauke
And Adam and eue · and oþer bestes alle
A cantel of kynde witt · here kynde to saue
Of good and of wikke · kynde was þe ferste
He seih hit and suffrede hit · and seide hit bee sholde
Quia ipse dixit & facta sunt ipse mandauit & creata sunt .
Ac whi he wolde þat wikkede were · ich wene and ich leyue
Was neuere man vpon molde · þat myghte hit aspye
Ac longe lybbynge men · lyknede mennes lyuynge
To bryddes and to bestes · as here bookes telleþ
Þat þe fayrest fowel · foulest engendreþ
And feblest fowel of flicht is · þat flucht oþer swymneþ[^a322][^170]
That is þe pookoc and þe popeiay · with here proude federes
//

[P.15.189: The doubled virgules mark the error corrected inline.]

By-tokneþ ryght riche men · þat regnen here on erþe
For porsewe a pocok* · oþer a pohen to cacche
And haue hem in haste · at þyn owene wil
For þei may nat fleo feer · ne ful hye noþer
For here feþeres þat faire ben · to fle feer hem leotteþ[^171]
Hus leedene is vnloueliche · and lothliche hus caroigne
Ac for hus peyntede feþeres · þe pocok* his honourede
More þan for hus faire flesch* · oþer for hus murye note
Ryght so men reuerenceþ more þe ryche · for hus muche meeble
Þan for þe kyn þat he cam of · oþer fore hus kynde wittes
Thus þe poete preiseþ · þe pocok fore hus federes
And þe riche fore hus rentes · oþere rychesse in hus sheepe
Þe larke þat is a lasse fowel · is loueloker of lydene
And swettur of sauour · and swyfter of wynge
To lowe lyuynge men · þe larke is resembled
And to leelle and to lyf-holy · þat louen alle treuþe
Þus porfirie and plato and poetes menye
Lykneþ in here logik* · þe leeste fowel oute
And weþer hij be saf oþer nat saf · þe soþe wot nat clergie
No of sortes ne of salamon no scripture can telle
Weþer þei be in helle oþer in heuene · oþere aristotile þe wise
Ac god is so good ich hope · sitthe he gaf hem wittes
To wissen ous weyes þer-with · þat wenen to be sauede
And þe bettere for here bookes · to bidden we been holde
Þat god for hus grace · gyf here saules reste
For lettred men were but lewede men ȝut · ne were þe lore of þo clerkes
Alle þeese clerkes quaþ ich þo · þat on crist by-leyuen
Seggen in here sarmons · þat noþer sarrasyns ne Iewes
With-oute baptisme as by here bokes · beeþ nat ysaued
Contra quaþ ymaginatyf þo · and comsed to loure
And seide · uix saluabitur iustus . in die iudicij .
Ergo saluabitur quaþ he · and seide ne more la... tyn
Traianus was a triwe knyght · and took* neuere crystendome
And he is saf seith þe bok* · and is soule in heuene
Ther is follyng* of font · and follyng* of blod shedynge
And þorw fuyr is follyng* · and al is ferm by-leyue
Aduenit ignis diuinus non comburens sed illuminans .
Ac treuthe þat trespassede neuere · ne transuersede aȝens þe lawe
Bote leyuede as lawe tauhte · and leyue þer be no bettere
And yf þer were he wolde · and in suche a wil deyeþ
Wolde neuere trewe god · bote trewe treuthe were a-lowede ·
And were hit worth oþer nat worth · þe by-leyue is gret of treuthe
And hope hongeþ ay þer-on · to haue þat treuþe deserueþ
Quia super pauca fidelis fuisti supra multa te constituam .
And þat is loue and large huyre · yf þe lord be trewe
And cortesie more þan couenant was · what so clerkes carpen
For alworth al worth as god wole · and þer-with he vanshede

[^a321: swummen sw[i]mmen (P) | swymmen (All other mss)]

[^a322: swymneþ (P X) | swymmeth (All other mss)]

[^169: P.15.163: The reading is unclear, and the scribe may have intended his usual spelling heuene. However, the same ambiguity reappears at P15.193.]

[^170: P.15.187: Shared by manuscript X, this reading is probably archetypal.]

[^171: P.15.193: As in P15.153, the <eo> spelling is unclear.]

Hic explicit passus quintus . de dowel .

Incipit passus sextus .

A Nd ich awakede þer-with · wittlees nerhande
As a frek þat feye were · forth gan ich walke
In manere of a mendinaunt · meny ȝeres after
And meny tyme of þis meteles · muche þouhte ich hadde
Furst how fortune me failede · at my moste neede
And how elde manacede me · so longe myghte ich happe
Þat yf ich leuede longe · leue me by-hynde
And vanshie alle myne vertues · and myne faire lockes
And how þat freres folweden · folk þat was ryche
And peuple þat was poure · at litel prys setten
Ne corses of poure comune · in here churche-ȝerd moste ligge
Bote yf he quike by-quethe hem auht · oþer wolde helpe aquite here dettes
And ow[^172] þis couetise ouer-cam · alle kynne sectes ·
As wel lerede as lewede · And lord as þe bonde
And how þat lewede men ben ladde · bote oure lord hem helpe
Thorw vnconnynge curatours · to incurable peynes
And how ymagynatif · in dremeles me tolde
Of kynde and of hus connynge · and what connynge he ȝaf to bestestes[^a323]
How lou ynge he was to eche lyf · a-londe and awatere
For alle he wisseþ and ȝeueþ wit · þat walkeþ oþer crepeþ
And ich meruailede in herte · how ymagynatif saide
Þat iustus by-fore Iesu in die iudicij .
Non saluabitur bote uix helpe
And wanne he hadde seide so · how sodeynlich he vanshede
And so ich mused vpon þis matere · þat me luste to slepe
Thenne cam conscience · and cleregie after
And beden me ryse and rome · for with reson sholde ich dyne
And ich a-ros and romed forth · with reson ich mette
We reuerencede reson · and romed forth softeliche
And mette with a mayster · a man ylike a frere
Conscience knew hym wel · and wolcomede hym fayre
Þei wosshen and wypeden · and wenten to þe dyner
Pacience as a poure þyng cam · and preide mete for charite
Ylike to peers plouhman as a palmere were
Crauede and criede for cristes loue of heuene
A meles mete for a poure man · oþer moneye yf þei hadden
Conscience knew hym wel · and welcomede hem alle
Þei wisshen and wipeden · and wenten and setten
Þe maister was made to sitte furst · as for þe most worþy
Reson stod and stihlede · as for stywarde of halle
Pacience and ich weren · yputt to be mettes
And seten by ous-selue · at asyd a syd table
Cleregie calde after mete · and þenne cam scripture
And seruede hem þus sone · of sondrie metes menie
Of austyn and ambrosie of alle þe foure euangelies
Edentes et bibentes que apud illos sunt .
Ac of þees metes þis maister · myghte nat wel chewe
For-þy he eet mete of more cost · mortrewes and potages
Of þat þat men myswonne · þei maden hem wel at ese
Ac here sauce was ouere-soure · and vnsauerliche grounde
In a morter post mortem of meny bitere peynes
Bote yf þei synge for þo soules · and wepe salte teeres
Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis nisi pro eis lacrimas effuderitis . & cetera .
Ea que in deliciis comeditis in tormentis en[^a324] emergitis[^a325] .
Thenne reson radde · ryght a-non after
Þat conscience comaunde sholde · to do come scripture
And brynge bred for pacience · by-tynde apartie
And to me þat was hus mette þo · and oþer mete boþe
He sette asoure a soure loof and seide · agite penitentiam
And sitthe drow ous drynke diu perseuerans
As longe quaþ he as þe lyf · and þe licame may dure
This is asemeliche a semeliche seruice · seide pacience
Thenne cam contricion · þat hadde coked for hem alle
And brouhte[^173] forþ a pitaunce · was prohac pro hac orabit omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno .
Conscience confortede ous · boþe cleregie and scripture
And seiden cor contritum & humiliatum . deus non despicies .
Pacience was wel apaied · of þis propre seruyse
And mad murye with þis mete · ac ich mournede euere
For a doctor at þe heye deys · drank wyn faste
Ve uobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum uinum .
And eet meny sondry metes · mortrews and poddynges
Braun and blod of þe goos · bacon and colhoppes
Thenne seide ich to my-self · þat pacience hit hurde
Ȝut is nat þre daies don · þat þees doctor prechede
At seint paules by-for þe peuple · what penaunce þei suffreden
Alle þat coueitede to come · to heuene hye ioye ·
And how þat paul þe apostle · what penaunce he þolede
For oure lordes loue · as holy lett rure telleþ In fame et frigore & cetera .
Ac me wondreþ in my witt · whi þat thei ne preche[^174]
As paul þe apostel prechede · to þe peuple ofte
periculum in falsis fratribus
Holy writ bit men be-war · and wisliche hem kepe
That no fals frere · þorw flatrynge hem by-gyle
Ac me is loþ þow ich latyn knowe · to lacky eny secte
For alle we ben breythrene · þauh we be diuersliche cloþede
Ac ich wiste neuere freek* · þat frere is ycallyde
Of þe fyue mendynauns · and made eny sarmon
That took þis for here teme · and told hit with -oute glose
Thei prechen þat penaunce · is profitable for þe soule
And what meschif & w hat mal-ese · crist for man þolede
Ac thes doctor and diuinour · and decresestre of canon
And al-so agnedy a gnedy gloton · with to grete chekes
Haþ no pite on vs poure · he parfourneþ vuele
Þat he prcheþ precheþ he proueþ nat · to pacience ich tolde
And whisshede witerliche · with a wil ful egre
Þat in þe mawe of þat maister · alle þo metes were
Disches and dobeleres · wit alle þe deyntes after
Ich shal Iangly to þys Iordan · wit hus Iuste wombe
//

[P.16.99: The marginal virgules presumably mark the error (with for what) left uncorrected in this line.]

And a-pose hym with[^a326] penaunce is · and Purgatorie on erthe ·
And whi he lyueþ nat as he lereþ · let be quaþ pacience
And seide þow shalt seo þus sone · whan he may na more[^175]
He shal haue a penaunce in hus paunche · and puffe at eche worde
Thenne shulleþ is gottes godelen · and by-gynne to galpe ·
Now he hath dronke so depe · he wol deuiny sone
And preouen hit by here apocalips · and by þe passion of seint aueray
Þat noþer bacon ne braun · blammanger ne mortreuus*
Ys noþer fissh ne flessh · bote fode for penauntes
And take wittnesse of þe trinite · and take is felawe to wittnesse
What he fond in aforel a forel · of a freres lyuynge
And bote þe ferste leef be lesynge · leyf me neuere after
And þenne is tyme to talke · and to apose this doctour
Of dowel and of dobet and yf dobet do eny penaunce
Ich sat stille as pacience wolde · and thus sone þis doctour
As rody as a rose · roddede hus chekes
Kowede and carpede · and conscience hym herde
And tolde of a trinite · and to-warde me he lokede
What is dowel sire doctour quaþ ich · is dobest eny penaunce
Dowel quaþ þis doctour · and he drank after
Do þy neyhebore non harme ne þe-selue noþer
Þanne dost þow wel and wisliche · ich dar hit wel a-vouwe
Certes sire þanne seide ich · hit semeþ nat here
In þat ȝe parteþ nat with ous poure · þat ȝe passeþ · dowel .
Noþer louyeþ as ȝe lereþ · as oure lorde wolde
Et uisitauit & fecit redemptionem plebis sue israel .
And ȝe fare þus with ȝoure sike freres · ferly me þynkeþ
Bote dowel endyty ȝow in die iudicii .
Thenne conscience ful curteisliche · a contenaunce he made
And preynte vpon pacience · to preye me be stille
And seide hym-self syre doctour · by so hit be ȝoure wil
What is dowel and dobet ȝe diuynours knoweþ
Ich haue seide seide þe seg* · y can seye no bettere
Bote do as doctours telleþ · for dowel ich hit holde
Þat traueileþ to teche oþere · for dobet ich hit holde
And he þat doþ as he techeþ · ich halde hit for a dobest
Qui facit et docuerit magnus uocabitur .
Now þow cleregie quaþ conscience · carpe what is dowel
Haue excused quaþ cleregie · by cryst bote in scole
Shal no such motif be meeuede · for me bote þere
For peers loue þe plouhman þat enpugnede ones
Alle kyne konnynges · and alle kyne craftes
Saue loue and leaute · and louhnesse of herte
And no tixt* takeþ · to preoue þis for trewe
Bote dilige deum & proximum and domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo & cetera .
And preoueþ by pure skyle inparfit alle þynges Nemo bonus .
Bote leel loue and treuthe · þat loþ is to be yfounde
Quaþ peers þe plouhman . pacientes uincunt .
By-for perpetuel pees · ich shal preouye þat ich seide
And a-vowe by-for god · and for-sake hit neuere
That disce doce diligere deum and thyn enemye
Hertely þou hym helpe · emforth þy myȝth
Cast out coles on hus hefde · of alle kynde speche
Fonde þorgh wit and with worde · hus loue for to wynne
And ȝif hym eft and eft · euere at hus neede
Conforty hym with þy catel · and with þy kynde speche
And leye on hym þus with loue · tyl he lauhe on þe
And bote ȝe bowe for þis betynge · blynd mote ich worthe
And wanne he hadde worded þus · weste no man after
Where peers plouhman by-cam[^176] · so priueliche he wente
And reson ran after ryght with hym ȝeode
Saue conscience & cleregie · ich couþe no mo aspye
And pacience propreliche spak · tho peers was thus passed
That loueþ lelly quaþ he · bote lytel þyng coueyteþ
Ich wolde and ich wil adde · wynnen al fraunce
With-oute brutyng of burnes oþer eny blod sheding*
Ich take wittnesse quaþ he · at holy writ apartie a partie pacientes uincunt
For by hym þat me made · myȝte neuere pouerte
Miseise ne myschief · ne man with hus tonge
Tene þe eny tyme · and þow take pacience
And bere hit in þy bosom · a-bowte wer þou wendest
Shal neuere burne be abaisshed · þat hath þis a-boute
Neiþer hete ne hail · ne helle pouke hym greue
Neiþer fuyr noþer flod · ne be a-fered of enemye
Caritas expellit omnem timorem .
Ther nis wyght in þis wordle · þat wolde þe lette
To haue alle lonndes · at þy lykyng* · and þe here lord make
And Maister of alle here meeble · and of here moneye after
The kynge and alle þe comune · and cleregie to þe aloute a loute
As for here lorde and ledere · and lyuen as þou techest
This is a dico[^a327] quaþ þis doctor . a disours tale ·
Al þe witt of þis wordle · ne wyghtes mennes strengthe
Can nat parformen a pees · of þe pope · and of hus enemys
Profitable for boþe parties · and putte þe bord fram hym
And tok conscience and cleregie · to counsel as hit were
Ac ich took kepe how conscience · conueide[^a328][^177] sone þis doctour
And sitthe he seide to cleregie · so þat ich hit herde ·
By cryst quaþ conscience · cleregie ich wol nat lye
Me were leuere by oure lorde · and ich lyuye sholde
Haue pacience parfitliche · þan half þy pack* of boukes
Lettrure and longe studie · letteþ ful menye
That thei knoweþ n at quaþ conscience · what is kynde pacience
For-thi quaþ conscience · crist ich þe by-teche
whit[^178] pacience wol ich passe · parfitnesse to fynde
Thus thei wente forþ here way · with gret wil ich folewede
Thenne hadde pacience as pilgimes[^a329] pilg[r]imes hauen · in here poke vitailes
Sobrete and symple speche · and soþ-fast by-leyue
To comforty hym and conscience · yf þei come in place
Ther vnkyndnesse and couetyse ys · hongry contreis boþe
And as þei wente by þe wey of dowel gan þei carpe
Thei mette with a mynstral · as me þo þouhte
Pacience a-posed hym · and preide he sholde telle
What craft þat he couþe · and cortesly he seide
Ich am a Mynstral quaþ þees man · my name is actiua uita .
Peers prentys þe plouhman alle peuple to comfortye
What manere mynstralcie · my dere frend quaþ conscience
Hast þow vsed oþer hauntede · al þy lyf-tyme
Mynstralcie can ich nat muche · bote make men murye
As a waffrer with waffres · and wolcome godes guftes
Of my labour þei lauhe þe lasse and þe more
The poure and þe riche y pless and payn fynde
And fewe robis ich fonge · oþer forrede gounes
Wolde ich lye and do men lauhe · þenne lacchen ich sholde
Mantels oþer monye · a-mong* lordes Minstrales
Ich can nat tabre ne trompe · ne telle faire gestes
Farten ne fiþelyn · at festes ne harpen
Iapen ne Iogelyn · ne gentelliche pipe
Noþer sailen ne sautrien · ne singe with þe giterne
Ich haue none goude gyftes · of these grete lordes
For no bred þat ich by-trauaily · to brynge by-fore lordes
Ne were hit þat þe parshe · prayeþ for me on sonedays
Ich am sory þat ich sewe oþer sette · bote for my-self one
Ac þe prest and oþer peuple · prayeþ for peers plouhman .
And for me actyf hus man · þat ydelnesse hate
For lordes and lorelles · luthere and goude
Fro myhel-masse to myhel-masse ich fynde mete and drynke
Ich fynde payn for þe pope · and praye hym ich wolde
Þat pestilences to pees · and to parfit loue turne
For founde ich þat hus blessing* and hus bulle myghte
Letten þis luþer eir and lechin þe syke ·
As þe bookes bereþ wittnesse · þat he bere myghte
In hus mouth mercy · and amende vs alle
Super egros manus imponent & bene se habebunt ·
Thenne wolde ich bee busy · and buxum to helpe
Eche kynne creature · þat on cryst by-leyueþ
For-sutthe he haþ þe power · þat seynt peter hadde
He haþ pureliche þe pot · with þe same salue
Argentum & aurum non est michi . quod autem habeo hoc tibi do & cetera .
Ac yf myghte of miracle hym faile · hit is for men beeþ nat worthi
For to haue þe grace of good · and no gult in þe pope
For may no blessynge do vs bote · bote yf we wol amende
Ne mannes preier make pees · among cristine peuple
Til prude be · pureliche for-do · and þat þorw payn defaute
Ex habundantia panis et uini turpissimum peccatum aduenit .
Pure plente of payn · þe peuple of sodomye
And reste and riche metes · rybaudes hem made
Pees quaþ pacience · ich praye þe syre actyf
For þauh neuere payn ne plouh · ne potage were
Prude wolde putte hym-self forþ · þauh no plouþ erye
Hit am ich þat fynde alle folke · and fram hunger saue
Thorgh þe heye helpe of hym · þat me hyder sente
And seide lo here lyf-lode ynowe · yf oure by-leyue be trewe
For lent was þer neuere lyf · bote lyflode were yshape
Wher-of oþere werfore · and wher-with to lyuen ·
The worme þat woneþ vnder erthe · and in water Fisshes
The crykett by kynde of fur · and corlew by þe wynde
Bestes by gras and by greþen gre[y]en[^a330] · and by grene rotes
In menynge þat alle men · myghte þe same
Lyuen þorgh leell by-leyue as oure lord wittnesseþ
Quodcumque pecieritis patrem im nomine meo dabitur enim uobis . & alibi .
Non in solo pane uiuit homo sed de omni uerbo quod procedit de ore dei .
Hast þow ay quaþ actyf suche mete with þe
Ȝe quaþ pacience and hente · out of hus poke
A pice of þe pater noster and profrede to vs alle
And ich lustnede and lokede · what lyflode hit were
Þanne was hit fiat uoluntas tua þat sholde fynde vs alle
[^179] Haue actyf quaþ pacience · and eet this when þe hungreþ
Oþer wenne þow clomsest for colde · oþer clyngest for drouthe
And shal neuere gyues þe greue · ne grete lordes wratthe
Pryson ne oþer payne · for pacientes uincunt .
By so þow be sobre of syght · and of tounge boþe
In ondyng* in handlyng* · in alle þy fyue wittes
That þow care for no corn · for cloþ ne for drynke
Ne deþ drede ne deuel deye as god lykeþ
Where þorw hunger oþer þorw hete · at hus wil be hit
For yf þow lyuest after hus lore · þe shorter lyf þe betere
Si quis amat christum mundum non diligit istum ·
Þorgh hus breþ bestes woxen · and a-brode ȝeden dixit & facta sunt .
Ergo þorw hus bestes lyuen boþe men and Fisshes //

[P.17.278: An illegible scrawl appears in the right margin.]

As wytnesseþ holy wryte · when we seyn oure graces //
Aperis tu manum tuam & imples omne animal buenedictione .
Hit is founde þat fourty wynter · þat folke leueden and nouht tylede
And out of flent sprange flod · þat folke and bestes dronken
And in elyes tyme · heuene wa s yclosed
That no reyne reynede · þus redeþ men in bookes
That menye wynter men lyueden · and of no mete telden
Seuene slupen a[^a331] seith þe book · more þan syxty wynter ·
Leueden with-outen lyflode · and at þe laste a-wakeden
And yf men lyueden as mesur* wolde · sholde neuer* be defaute
Among crysten creatures · yf crystes worde be trywe
Dabo tibi secundum peticionem tuam .
What is parfyt pacience · quaþ Actiua uita .
Meeknesse and Mylde speche · and men of on wil
Þe wiche wil loue ledeþ · to oure lordes place ·
And þat is charite chaumpion · ch ief of alle vertues
And þat is poure pacient · alle perilis to suffre ·
Where pouerte and pacience · plese more god al-myghty
Than do ryghtful richesse · and resonabl y[^180] to spende
Ȝe quis est ille quaþ pacience · quyk laudabimus eum .
Thauh men rede of riche · rygh rygh[t][^a332] to þe wordles ende
And whan he drouh hym to þe deþ · þat he ne dradde hym sarrer
Than eny poure pacient · and þat preoue ich by reyson
Hit are bote fewe folke of thees riche · þat ne falleþ in arirage
Thar þe poure der plede · and prooue by pure reysoune
To haue a lowannce of[^181] hus lorde · by lawe he cleymeþ ioye
That neuere ioye hadde · of ryght Iuge he askeþ
And seith lo briddes and bestes · þat no blisse knoweþ
And wilde wormes in wodes · þorgh wynter þow hem greuest
And makest hem wel ner meek · and mylde for defaute
After þan þow seyndest hem somer* · þat is hem souereyn ioye
And blisse to alle been · boþe wilde and tame
Then may beggers and bestes · after blysse asken
Þat al here lif hauen lyuede · in langour and defaute
Bote god sende hem tyme · of som maner ioye
Oþer heer oþer elles-where · elles-where hit reuthe
For to wroþer hele was he wrouȝth · þat neuere was ioye yshape ·
Angeles þat in helle now been · hadden som tyme ioye
And diues in his deyntes lyuynge · and in · douce uye .
And now he buyeþ hit ful Bitere he his a begger* of helle
Many man hath hus ioye here · for alle here wel-dedes
And lordes an ladyes ben callid · for leodes þat þay haue
And slepiþ as hit semeþ · and somere euere hem foleweþ
Wan deþ a-wakeþ hem of here wele · þat where here so ryche
Þan haren[^182] hit pure poure þynges · in purgatorie oþer in helle
Dauid in þe sauter of shuche makeþ mynde
And seith dormierunt  & nichil iuenerunt omnes uiri diuiciarum .
Et alibi . velut sompnium surgencium & cetera .

[^a323: bestestes (P) | bestes (Most other mss)]

[^a324: en (P) | nil (All other mss)]

[^a325: emergitis (P Ec) | euometis (Most other mss)]

[^a326: with (P) | what (Most other mss)]

[^a327: dico (P Nc) | dido (Most other mss)]

[^a328: conueide (P R) | conieyed (Most other mss)]

[^a329: pilgimes (P) | pilgrimes (All other mss)]

[^a330: greþen gre[y]en (P) | grayn (Most other mss)]

[^a331: a (P) | as (All other mss)]

[^a332: rygh rygh[t] (P) | rihte (Most other mss)]

[^172: P.16.13: ow, "how."]

[^173: P.16.64: An otiose tail or curl extends from the left side of <b>.]

[^174: P.16.79: An otiose mark is written over the <ec>.]

[^175: P.16.101: The dot between na and more may have been a flourish on the a or possibly intended?]

[^176: P.16.158: "arrived, reached, got to."]

[^177: P.16.184: Or conneide (in agreement with manuscript A?]

[^178: P.16.192: whit, "with."]

[^179: Starting with this line, a large X, in pencil or faint text ink, has been drawn through the remaining lines of text. There are a few other strokes as well.]

[^180: P.16.296: The correction brings P into line with the X family of manuscripts.]

[^181: P.16.303: An otiose curl was written over the <o> in a darker ink.]

[^182: P.16.322: haren, "are."]

Hic . Explicit passus sextus . de Dowel .[^183]

[^183: Hic and de Dowel are written extra-large and are shared by the explicit of this passus and the incipit of the next.]

Hic . Incipit passus septimus . de Dowel . [P.17.000: The Hic and the de Dowel are shared between this line and the explicit line of passus 16.]

ALas þat riche shal reue · and robbe mannes soule
For þe loue of oure lorde · at hus laste ende
Thei haue hure hyre by-fore · aren eueremore poure
And shulle nat deye out of dette · to dyne erthey deseruen hit
When here deuer is don · and his daies iourne
Þen may men white what he is worþ · and what he haþ deseruede
And nouht to fonge by-fore · for drede of disalouwynge
So ich say by ȝow riche · hit semeþ nat ȝe shulle
Haue two heuenes · for ȝoure her beynge
Muche myrthe is in may · a-monge wilde bestes
And so fort wil somer lasteþ · heore solace dureþ
And muche myrthe a-monge riche men is · þat han meoble ynow and heele
And beggers a-boute myd-somere · bredlees þei soupe
And ȝut is wynter for hem wors · for whet-shood þei gangen
A-furst and a-fyngred · and foule rebukede
Of þes wordle riche men · þat reuthe hit is to huyre
Now lord send hem somer som tyme · to solace and to ioye
That al here lyf leden · in lowenesse and in pouerte
For alle myghtes þow haue maked · men of grete welþe
And liche witty an wys · and lyue whit-oute neede
Ac for þe beste ich hope · aren somme poure and some riche
Ryght so haue reuthe of ous alle · þat on þe ronde dydest
And amende ous of al thy mercy · and make ous alle meeke
Louh and lele and louynge and of herte poure
And send ous contricion · to clanse whit[^184] oure soules
And confession to culle · alle kynne synnes
And satisfaccion the whiche fulfulleþ · þe fadres will of heyene
And these been dowel and dobet and dobest of alle
Cordis contricio comeþ of sorwe in herte
And oris confessio þat comeþ of shrufte of mouthe ·
And operis satisfactio þat for synnes payeth
And for alle synnes · soueraynliche quiteþ
Cordis contricio . oris confessio . operis satisfactio .
Thees thre whit-outen doute · tholen alle pouerte
And lereþ lewed and lered · heh and louh to knowe
Ho þat doþ wel oþer bet oþer best a-bouen alle
And holichurche and charite here of a Chartere maden
Bote þes þre þat ich spak of · on domes-day defenden
Elles is in ydel · al oure leuynge here
Oure preyers[^185] and oure penaunce · and pilgrymages to rome
Bote oure spences and spending · sprynge of a trywe welle
Elles is al oure labour lost · lo how men wryten
In fenestres at þe freres · yf fals be þe foundement
For-thi cristene men scholde been in comun riche no couetise to hym-selue
For seuene synnes þat þer been · þat assaillen ous euere
The fende folweth hem alle · and fondeþ hem to helpe
And whit[^186] richesse to ribaudes · rathest men by-gylen
For þer þat rychesse regneþ · reuerences foleweth
And þat is plesaunt to pruyde · in poure and in riche
The riche yreuerencede · by reyson of is[^187] richesse
There þe poure is yput · by-hynde and can parauntre more
Of whiȝt and of wysedome · þat feer wey is bettere
Than richesse oþer reaulte · an raþer yhurde in heuene
For þe ryche haþ muche to rekene · and ryȝth softe walkiþ
The heye wey to heuene-warde · he halt hit nat ful euene
There þe poure presseþ by-fore · whit[^188] a pak at hus rygge
Opera enim illorum sequntur illos .
Batauntlyche as beggers don · and boldeliche he craueþ
For hus pouerte and pacience · perpetuel ioye
Also pruyde in richesse regneþ · raþer þan in pouerte
Oþer in þe maister oþer · in þe man · som mancion he shewith
Ac in pouerte þer pacience is · pruyde hath no myȝghte
Ne non of þe seuene synnes · sitte no man þer longe
Ne haue power in pouerte · yf pacience hit folewe
For þe poure is ay preest · to plese þe riche
And buxume at is[^189] biddyng · for hus breed and drynke
And buxumnesse and bost · aren euere more at wratthe
And ayther hateþ oþer · and mowen nat dwelle to-gederes
Yf wratthe wraxle whit[^190] þe poure · he hath þe worsse ende
For yf þei boþe pleyen · þe poure his bote fyble
An d yf he chide oþer chatere · hym chyuyþ þe worsse
For loueliche he lokyþ and louh is hus speche
That mete oþer moneye of straunge men mote begge ·
And yf glotenye greue pouerte · he gadereþ þe lasse
For hus rentes wol nat reche · ryche metes to bigge
Þauh hus glotenye be of good ale · he goþ to a cold beddyng
And hus heued vn-heled · vneisyliche ywrye
Fo when he streyn eþ hym to strecche · þe straw is hus whitel
So for hus glotonye and grete synne · he haþ a greuous penaunce
That is weylawey whan he awakeþ · and wepeþ for colde
So is he neuere more ful murye · so meschief hym folweþ
Þaugh couetyce wolde whit[^191] þe poure wraxle · þei mai nat come to-gederis
By þe necke nameliche · her neiþer may henten oþer
For men knoweþ þat couetise · is of ful kene wil
And haþ hondes and armes · of a long lengthe
And pouerte is a pety þyng · apereþ nat to hus nauele
A loueliche laik was hit neuere · by-twyne a long and a short**
Thauh auerice wolde angrye pouerte · he hath bote lytel myȝthe
For pouerte haþ bote pokes · to putten yn hus goodes
Ther auerice haþ almaries · and yre-bounden coofres
And wheþer be betere to breke · lasse boost hit makeþ
To breke a beggers bagge · þan an yre-bounden cofre
Lecherye loueþ none poure · for he hath bote lytel seluer
Ne doþ men dyne dylicatliche · neyþer drynke wyne ofte
A straw for þe stywes · hy stod nat ful longe
And þay hadde non oþer haunt · bote of poure peple
Thaugh slewþe suwe pouerte · and serue nat god to paye
Meschief is ay amene a mene · and makeþ hym to þenke
That good hus grettest help · and no gome elles
And he is seruaunt al-way he seith · and of hus seite boþe
And wheþer he be oþer be nat · he beriþ þe sygne of pouerte
And in þat secte oure sauyour · sauede al mankynde
For-thi alle poure þat pacient is · of poure ryght may cleyme
Affter here endyng heere · heuene-riche blysse
Muche hardyloker may he aske · þat her may haue hus will
In lounde and in lordshepes · and lykynge of body
And for goodes loue leueþ al · and lyueþ as a beggere
As amayde a mayde for amannes a mannes loue · here moder for-sakeþ
Hure fader and hure frendes · and gooþ forth whith[^192] hure paramour
Muche is suche amayde a mayde to loue · here moder for-sakeþ
More þan þat maide is · þat is ymaried by brocage
As by asent of sondry bodyes · and seluer to bote
More for couetice of catel · þan kynde loue of þe mariage
So hit farith by ech apersone a persone · þat possession forsakeþ
And putteþ hym to be pacient · and to pouerte hym weddeþ
Þe wyche is sibbe to cryst self · and semblab le boþe ·
Quath actyf þo al angryliche · and argueynge as hit were
What is pouerte pacient quaþ he · ich praye þat þou telle hit
[^193] Paupertas quaþ pacience est odibile bonum . remocio curarum .
Possessio sine calumpnia . donum dei . sanitatis mater .
Absque solicitudine semita . sapiencie temperatrix . negocium sine dampno . Incerta fortuna . absque solicitudine felicitas .
Ich can nat construen al this · quath actiua uita .
Parfay quath pacience · propreliche to telle
In englisch hit is ful harde · ac somdel ich shal telle þe
Distinctio paupertatis .
Pouerte is þe firste poynte · þat prude most hateþ ·
Thanne is pouerte good · quaþ good s kyle[^194] þauh hit greue alytel a lytel
Al þat may putten of pruyde · in place þer he regneþ remocio curarum .
For seilde sitt** pouerte · þe sothe to declare
As a Iustice to Iuge men · men enioyneþ þer-to no poure
Ne to be a mayre ouere men · ne Ministre vnder kynges
Seilde is þe poure put · to punysshe eny peuple
Ergo pouerte and poure men · parfournen þe comaundement
Nolite iudicare quemquam . possessio sine calumpnia .
Seilde is þe poure ryght riche · bote of hus ryght heritage
He wynneþ nat whit[^195] whyghtes[^196] false · ne whit[^197] vnselide mesures
Ne borweþ of is neyghebore · bote þat he may wel paye
And lyghly[^a333] men leneþ to fewe men · and men hym poure
The feorthe is a fortune · þat florisshiþ þe soule
Whit[^198] sobrete whith[^a334][^199] alle synnes · and al-so ȝut more
Hit defendit þe flessh · fro folyes ful menye
And a collateral confort · crystes owene sonde donum dei .
Ȝut hit is moder of myrth · and of mannes helthe
And Frende in alle fondynges[^200] · and of foule vueles leche sanitatis man[^a335][^201] .
The syxte hit is a paþ of pees · ȝe þorw þe pas of haultone
Pouerte myghte passe · whith-oute[^202] peril of robbynge
For þer as pouerte passeþ · pees folweþ commenliche
And euere þe lasse þat eny lyf ledeþ · the lyghter hus herte is þere
As he þat wot neuere whit[^203] wham · in myghtes to mete
Seneca . pauper est absque solitudine[^a336] semita .[^204]
The seueþe hit is aweelle of wysedome · and fewe wordes sheweþ
For lordes aloweþ hym lytel · oþer leyth ere to hus reisone
sapiencie . temperatrix .
He tempreþ hus tonge to treuthe-ward · þat no tresour coueyteþ
The eyhteþe hit is a leel labour · and loþ to take more
Than he may sothliche deserue · in somer oþer in wynter
And þauh he chaffare he chargeþ no los · mowe he charite wynne
Negocium sine dampno .
Þe nyethe hit is swete to soules · no suger swettere
For pacience is hus paneter · and payn to pouerte fyndeth
And sobrete ȝeuex heere swete drynke · and solaceþ heere in alle angres
Thus leryde me a lerede man · for oure lordes loue seint austyn .
That pure pouerte and pacience · was a louh lyuynge in erthe
A blessid lyf whit-oute[^205] busynesse · bote oneliche for þe soule
Absque solicitudine felicitas .
Now god þat al þynge gyueþ · graunte hus saule reste
That wrot þis to wis se men · what pouerte was to mene
Thenne hadde actyf a lodere · þat heyhte liberum arbitrium .
That knew conscience ful wel · and clergie boþe
He þat haþ lounde and lordshep quaþ he · at the laste ende
Shal be pourest of power · at hus partyng** hennes
Thenne ich wondrede what he was · thees liberum arbitrium .
And prayede pacience · þat ich a-pose hym moste
And suffrede me and seide · a-say hus oþer name
Leue liberum arbitrium quaþ ich · of what londe ar ȝe
Ȝif þow be cristes creature · for cristes loue tel me
Ich am cristes creature quaþ he · and cristine in menye place
And in cristes court yknowe · and of hus kynne apartye a partye
Is noþer peter þe porter · ne paul whit[^206] his fauchon
That wolde defende me heuene dore · dynge ich neuere so late
At mydnyȝth at mydday · my uoise is so yknowe
Þat eche creature þat loueþ criste · wolcomeþ me faire
Wher-of serue ȝe ich seide · syre liberum arbitrium .
Of som tyme to fyghte quaþ he · falsnesse to destruye
And som tyme to suffre · boþe sorwe and teene
Layke oþer leue · at my lykynge chese
To do wel oþer wik ee · awil a wil wit areyson a reyson
And may nat be whit-oute abody a body · to bere me wher hym lykeþ
Thenne is þat body bettere þan þow quaþ ich · nay quaþ he no betere
Bote as a wode were a-fure · þenne worchen boþe
And ayþer is oþeres heete · and also of o wil
And so is man þat haþ hus mynde · myd liberum arbitrium .
And þe wyle ich quyke · þe cours cald am ich anima .
And wenne ich wilne oþer wolde animus ich hyhte
And for þat ich can and knowe · cald ich am mannys þouht
And whan ich make mone to god memoria ich hatte
And wen ich deme domes · and do as treuthe techeþ
Thenne is racio my ryhte name · reson in englissh
And wenne ich fele þat folke telleþ · my furste name is sensus .
And þat is witte and wisedome · the welle of alle craftes
And when ich[^207] chalange oþer nat chalange · chepe oþer refuse
Þanne am ich consciencia cald · godes clerk and hus notarie
And when ich wol do oþer nat** do · goode dedes oþer ille
Then am ich liberum arbitrium as lettrede men tellen
And when ich loue leelly · oure lord and alle oþere
Then is leel loue my name · in latyn þat is amor .
And when ich flee fro þe body · and feye leue þe caroygne
Then am ich a spirit specheles and spiritus þenne ich hote
Austyn and ysidorus ayther of hem bothe
Nempnede me þis to name · þow now myght cheese
How þow coueitest to calle me · now knowest þow alle myne names
Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur dum uiuificat corpus anima est . dum uult animus est . dum recolit memoria est . dum iudicat racio est . dum sentit sensus est . dum amat amor est . dum declinat á malo ad bonum . liberum arbitrium est . dum negat uel consentit consciencia est . dum spirat spiritus est .
Ȝe ben as a bihsshep quaþ ich · al bordynge þat tyme
For bihsshopes blessed · thei bereþ meny names
Presul and pontifex and metropolitanus .
And oþer names an hepe episcopus and pastor .
That is soth he seide · now ich seo þy wil
How þow woldest know and conne · þe cause of alle here names
And of myne yf þow myghtest · me þynkeþ by þy speche
Ȝe syre ich seyde by so · þat no man were a-greuede
Alle þe science vnder sonne · and alle sotile craftes
Ich wolde ich knewe and couthe · kyndeliche in myn herte
Thanne ert þow inparfyȝt quaþ he · and on of prydes knyghtes
For suche a louste and lykynge lucifer feel fro heuene
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone & ero similis altissimo .
Hit were a-geyn kynde quaþ he · and alle kynne reisoune
That eny creature sholde conne al excepte cryst one
Aȝene alle suche salamon spekeþ · and dispiseþ here wittes
And seith sicut qui comedit multum mel . & non ei bonum est .
Sic qui scrutator est magestat[^a337] opprimatur a gloria .
To englissh men this is to mete · þat mowen speke and huyre
The man þat muche hony eet · is mawe hit engleymeþ
The whyttiour that eny whight is · bote yf he worche þer-after
The biterour he shal a-bygge · bote yf he wol worche
Beatus seith seynt bernard . qui scripturas legit .
Et uerba uertit in opera emforth is power
Couetise to conne · and to knowe science
Pute oute of paradys adam and eue .
Sciencie appetitus hominem immortalitatis gloriam spoliauit .
And ryght so as hony is · vuel to defie
Ryght so sothly sciences · swelleþ in a mannes saule
And doþ hym to be deynous · and deme þat beth nat lerede
Non plus sapere seide þe wyse
Quam oportet sapere lest synne of pruyde wexe
Freres fele sithes to þe folke · þat þei prechin
Meuen motifs meny tymes · Insolibles and fallaces
That boþe lered and lewed · of here by-lyue douten
To teche þe ten commaundemens · where tensithe ten sithe bettere
And hou þe folk folyliche · here fif wittes myspenden
As wel freres as oþer folk · folliliche spenden
In housyng** and in helyynge · in hih cleregie shewynge
More for pomp and prude · as þe peuple wot wel
That ich lye nat loo · for lordes þei plesyn
And reuerenceþ þe riche · þe rather for here seluer
Aȝens þe counsail of cryst · as holy cleregye whittnesseþ
Ne sitis acceptores personarum .
Loo what holy wryt wyttnesseþ · of wikked techeres
As holynesse and honestete · out of holy churche
Spryngeþ and spredeþ · and enspireþ þe peuple
Þorgh parfit preest-hood · and prelates of holichurche
Ryght so out of holychurche · al vuel spredeþ
Theer inparfit preest-hod is · prechours and techours
And seo hit by ensample · of trees in somer-tyme
Theer somme bowes bereþ leues · and somme bereþ none
The bowes þat bereþ nat · and beeþ nat grene leuede
Theer is a myschif in þe more · of suche manere stockes
Ryght so persones and preestes · and prechers of holy churche
Ys þe rote of ryghit feithe · to reuwele þe peuple
Ac þer þe rote is roten · reson wot þe sothe
Shal neuere floure ne frut wexe · ne fair leef be grene
For wolde þe letteride leue · the lecherie of cloþinge
And be courteis and kynde · of holychurche goodes
Parte whithe[^208] poure · and ȝoure pruyde leue
And þerto trywe of ȝoure tonge · and of ȝoure tail also
And haten harlotrie · to vnderfonge þe tyþes
Of vserers and of hores · and al vuel wynnynges
Loth were lewede men · bote þey ȝoure lore folweden
And a-menden hem of here mysdedes · more for ȝoure ensamples
Þan for to preche and preuen hit nat ypocrisie hit semeþ
Ypocrisie is abraunche of pruyde · and most among clerkes
And ylikned in latyn · to alothliche a lothliche dounghep
That were by-snywe al whit[^209] snowe · and snakes whit-ynne[^210]
Ryȝt so meny preestes · prechours and prelates
Þat beþ enblaunched with bele paroles and whith[^211] bele cloþes
And as lambes þei loken · and lyuen as wolues
Iohannes crisostomus karpeþ þus of clerkus
Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur . sic de templo omne malum procedit . Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit . tota floret ecclesia . si autem corrupta fuerit . omnium fides marcida est . Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis . totus populus conuertitur ad peccandum . Sicut cum uideris arborem pallidam & marcidam intelligis quod uicium habet in radice . Ita cum uideris populum indiciplinatum & irreligiosum . Sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum .
Alas lewede men muche leese ȝe þat fynden
Vnkynde creatures to beo · kepers of ȝoure soules
Ac þyng þat wikkedliche is wonne · and whit[^212] false sleithes
Wolde neuere þat oþer-wise god bote wicked men hit hadde
As imparfit preestes · and prechers after seluer
Secutours and sodenes · somners and here lemmannes
And þat with gyle was gete · vngraciousliche be dispendid
Curatours of holychurche · and clerkus þat ben auerous
Lightliche þat þei leue · loseles hit deuoren
Leyueþ hit wel lordes boþe lered and lewede
Þat þus goþ here godes · atte laste ende
And lyuen a-ȝens holy lore and þe loue of charite
Charite quaþ ich þo · þat is a þing** for-sothe
That maistres comenden muche · wher may hit be founde
Ich aue[^213] lyuede in londen · meny longe ȝeres
And founde ich neuere in faith · as freres hit precheþ
Charite þat chargeþ nat · ne chit þauh men greue hym
As paul in a pistele · of hym bereþ wittnesse
Non inflatur . non est ambiciosa non querit que sua sunt .
Ich knowe neuere by cryst · clek cle[r]k[^a338] noþer lewede
That he ne askede after hus · and oþer wyle coueytede
Thyng þat needede hym nat and nyme hit yf he myghte
And fynde hym bote figuratifliche · a ferly me þynkeþ
Hic in enigmate . tunc facie ad faciem .
And so ich trowe trewely · by that men tellen of charite
Charite is a childish thing** · as holichurche wittnesseþ
Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli . et cetera .
As proud of a peny · as of apounde a pounde of golde
And also glad of a goune · of a grey russett
As of a cote of cammoka · oþer of clene scarlett**
He is glad whit[^214] alle glade · as gurles þat lauhen alle
And sory wen he seeþ men sory · as þow seest children
Lauhen þer men lauhen an loure þer men loureþ
A nd when a man swereþ for-soþ · for-soþ he hit troweþ
He weneþ þat no whiȝt[^215] · wolde lyghe and swere
Ne þat eny gome wolde · gylen oþer ne greue ·
For drede of god þat is so good · and þus ous techeþ
Quodcumque uultis ut uobis faciant homines · facite eis .
He hath no lykynge to lauhe · ne lyhe men to scorne
Alle siknesses and sorwes · for solas he hit takeþ
And alle manere meschifs · as minstracie of heuene
Of deþ ne of derþe · drad was he neuere
Ne mysliked þauh he loore · oþer leuede to þat ilke
Þat neuere payed peny aȝe[^a339] · in place þere he borwede
Who fyndeþ hym is fode quaþ ich · oþer what frendes hath he
Rentes oþer richesses · to releue hym at hus neode
Of rentes ne of richesses quaþ he · reccheþ he neuere
A frende he haþ þat fyndeþ hyme · þat failede hym neuere
On aperis tu manum · alle þynge hym fyndeþ
Fiat uoluntas tua festeþ hym eche day
And also he can clergie credo in deum patrem .
And portreieþ þe pater noster and peynteþ hit whit[^216] auees
And oþer-while hus wone is · to wende in pilgrymages
Ther poure men and prysouns beþ · and payeþ for here lyflode
Clotheþ hem and comforteþ hem · and of crist precheþ hem
What sorwes he suffrede · in ensample of ous alle
That pouerte and pacience · parfitliche ytake
Ys muche merit to þat man · þat wel may suffren
Whan he haþ thus visetid fetered folke · and oþer folke poure
Thenne he ȝerneþ in-to þouht · and ȝepliche he secheþ
Pruyde whit[^217] alle þ þ[e][^a340] portinaunce · and packeþ hem to-gederes
And laueþ hem in þe lauandrie laboraui[^218] in gemitu meo .
And boukeþ hem at hus brest · and beeteþ hit ofte
And whit[^219] wharme water of hus eyen · wokeþ hit he white
Lauabis me et super niuem dealbabor .
Þanne syngeþ he wanne he so doþ · and som tyme wepynge
Cor contritum & humiliatum . deus non despicies .
Were ich whith[^220] hym by crist quaþ ich · ich wolde neuere fro hym
Þauh ich my by-lyue sholde begge · a-boute at menne hacches
Wher clerkus knowe hym nat quaþ ich · þat kepen holychurche
Peers the plouman quaþ he · most parfitliche hym knoweþ
Et uidit deus cogitationes eorum .
By cloþynge ne by karpinge · knowe shalt thou hym neuere
Ac þorw werkes þou myght wite · wher forþ he walkeþ operibus credite 
He is þe muriest of mouthe · at metes þer he sitteþ
And compenable in companye · as crist hym-self techeþ
Nolite tristes fieri sicut ypocrite
Ich haue seyen hym my-self · som tyme in russett
Both in greye and in gr eys · and in gylt harneys
And al-so gladliche he gyueþ · to gomes þat hit needeþ
Eadmund and edward ayþer where seyntes
And chief charite whith[^221] hem · and chast al here lyue
Ich haue seyen charite al-so · syngen and rede
Ryden and rennen · in raggede cloþes
Ac biddyng as a beggere · by-heold ich hym neuere
Ac in riche robes · raþest he walketh
Y-called and ycrymyled · and huc hu[s][^a341] croune shaue
And in freres frocke · he was yfounde ones
Ac it is feer and fele ȝeres · in fraunceys tyme
In that secte sitthe · to selde he haþ be founde
Richemen Riche men he comendeþ · and of here robes takeþ
Of þo þat leelliche lyuen · and louen and by-leyuen
Beatus est diues sine macula .
In kynges court he comeþ · hyf[^222] hus counsail be trewe
Ac yf couetise be of hus counsail he wol nat come þer-ynne
Among þe comunes in court · he comeþ bote seilde
For brawelynge and bacbytynge · and beryng of false whittnesse
In constorie by-fore þe comissarie · he comeþ nat ful ofte
For here lawe is ouere-longe · bote yf þei lacche seluer
Whit[^223] bihsshopes he wolde beo · for beggers sake
Ac auerice oþer-whiles · halt hym whith-oute[^224] þe gate
Kynges and Cardineles · knowen hym som tyme
Ac þorw couetise and hus consail · congeied is he ofte
And ho-so coueyteþ to know hym · suche kynde hym folweþ
As ich tolde þe whith[^225] tonge · a litel tyme passed
For noþer he beggeþ ne biddeþ · ne borweþ to ȝelde
He halt hit anycete a nycete · and a foul shame
To beggen oþer to borwe · bote of god one panem nostrum cotidianum .

[^a333: lyghly (P Wa) | lyhtly (Most other mss)]

[^a334: whith (P Dc) | fro (or for) (Most other mss)]

[^a335: man (P) | mater (All other mss)]

[^a336: solitudine (P P2 D2 K Dc T H2) | solicitudine (Most other mss)]

[^a337: magestat (P) | magistatis (All other mss)]

[^a338: clek cle[r]k (P) | clerk (All other mss)]

[^a339: aȝe (P Ec Vc Fc) | aȝeyn (Most other mss)]

[^a340: þ þ[e] (P) | þe (Most other mss)]

[^a341: huc hu[s] (P) | his (Most other mss)]

[^184: P.17.25: whit, "with."]

[^185: P.17.40: The first <e> is ill-formed.]

[^186: P.17.47: whit, "with."]

[^187: P.17.50: is, "his."]

[^188: P.17.56: whit, "with."]

[^189: P.17.66: is, "his."]

[^190: P.17.69: whit, "with."]

[^191: P.17.82: whit, "with."]

[^192: P.17.109: whith, "with."]

[^193: The scribe's intention about line division is ambiguous. Other manuscripts clearly take the passage to be prose requiring no line divisions.]

[^194: P.17.127: The direction of change cannot be determined from the image. CHECK THE MS ***???]

[^195: P.17.136: whit, "with."]

[^196: P.17.136: whyghtes, "men, people."]

[^197: P.7.136: whit, "with."]

[^198: P.7.140: Whit, "with."]

[^199: P.17.140: Whith, "with."]

[^200: P.17.144: A crossed flourish between the original <g> and the <es>, suggests that the scribe made the word plural as an afterthought.]

[^201: P.17.144: A suspension occurs with man.]

[^202: P.17.146: whith-oute, "without."]

[^203: P.7.149: whit, "with."]

[^204: P.17.150: The reading suggests that P's exemplar read solicitudine and that his corrector worked from an inferior C witness?]

[^205: P.17.163: whit, "with."]

[^206: P.7.178: whit, "with."]

[^207: P.17.199: This spelling appears only here and in P1.4. We initially transcribed both as "Ic," but the superscription in addition to the scribe's failure to use any forms other than iche ~ i ~ y suggests he intended it as an abbreviation.]

[^208: P.17.271: whithe, "with."]

[^209: P.7.280: whit, "with."]

[^210: P.17.280: whit-ynne, "within."]

[^211: P.17.282: whith, "with."]

[^212: P.7.288: whit, "with."]

[^213: P.17.300: aue, "have."]

[^214: P.17.316: whit, "with."]

[^215: P.17.320: whiȝt, "man, person."]

[^216: P.17.337: whit, "with."]

[^217: P.17.346: whit, "with."]

[^218: P.17.348: The forms laboraui and laboram are ambiguous. Given scribal inconsistency in dotting the minim for <i>, the forms are indistinguishable in many manuscripts.]

[^219: P.17.349: whit, "with."]

[^220: P.17.353: whith, "with."]

[^221: P.17.367: whith, "with."]

[^222: P.17.379: hyf, "if."]

[^223: P.17.385: Whit, "with."]

[^224: P.17.386: whith-oute, "without."]

[^225: P.17.390: whith, "with."]

Hic[^226] explicit passus septimus & ultimus de dowel .

[^226: The hic is shared between the explicit of this passus and the incipit of the next, centered vertically on the rule between the two lines.]

Hic Incipit passus primus de dobet . [The hic is shared between the incipit of this passus and the explicit of the last, centered vertically on the rule between the two lines.]

THer is no suche ich seide · þat som tyme ne borweth
Oþer beggeþ oþer byddeþ · beo he riche oþer poure
And ȝut oþer-while wroþ · whithoute[^227] eny synne
Ho-so is wroþ and wolde be awreke · holi wryt quaþ he proueþ
He passeþ chief charite hif[^228] holichurche beo trywe
Caritas omnia suffert .
Holywrit whitnesseþ · þer were suche eremites
Solitarie by hem-self · and in here selles lyueden
Whiþ-oute borwynge oþer beggynge · bote of god one
Excepte þat egidie an hynde oþer -while
To hus selle seilde cam · and suffrede to be melked
Elles fouweles fedden hem · in frythes þer þei woneden
Boþe antonye and erseny · and oþer mo fele
Paul primus heremita hadde parroked hym-selue
That no man myghte se hym · for muche mos and leues
Foweles hym fedde · yf frere austyn be trywe
For he ordeynede þat ordre · other elles þei gabbyn
Paul after is[^229] prechynge · panyeres he made
And wan whith[^230] hus hondes · al þat hym neodyde
Peter fysshede for hus fode · and hus fere andreu
Som[^231] thei solde and som thei sode · and so þei leueden boþe
Marie magdalene by mores leuede and dewes
Loue and leel by-leyue · heeld lyf and soule to-gedere
Maria egipciaca eet in þyrty wynter
Bote þre lytel loues · and loue was here souel
Ich can nat rekene hem ryght now · ne reherce here names
That lyueden þus for oure lordes loue · meny longe ȝeres
Whit-oute[^232] borwyng oþer beggyng** · oþer þe bok lyeþ
And woneden in wildernesse · a-mong wilde bestes
Ac dorst no best byten hem · by daye ne by nyghte
Bote myldeliche whan þei metten maden louh chire
And feyre by-fore þo men · fauhnede whith[^233] þe tayles
Ac bestes broughte hem no mete · bote onliche þe fouweles
In tokenynge þat trywe man · alle tymes sholde
Fynde honeste men in[^a342] holy men · and oþer ryghtful peuple
For wolde neuere feith fulgoud feith-ful goud g[o]d[^a343] · þat freres and monkes token
Lyflode of luþer wynnynges · in al here lif-tyme
As wyttnesseþ holy writt · what thobie seyde
To is[^234] wif whan he was blynde · herde[^a344] a lambe blete
A wyf be war quaþ he · what ȝe haue here-ynne
Lord leyue quaþ þe lede · no stole þyng be here
Videte ne furtum sit . & alibi . melius est mori quam male uiuere .
This is no more to mene · bote men of holychurche
Sholde receyue ryght nauth · bot þat ryght wolde
And refu se reuerences · and raueneres offrynges
Thenne wolde lordes and ladies · be loth for to a-gulte
And to take of here tenauns · more þan treuthe wolde
And marchauns merciable wolde be · and men of lawe boþe
Wolde religiouse refuse · raueneres almesse
Then grace sholde growe ȝut · and grene leued wexe
And charite þat child is now · sholde chaufen of hem-self
And confortye alle cristene · wold holychurche amende
Iob þe parfit patriark · þis prouerbe wrot and tauhte
To makye a man louye mesure · þat monkes beeþ and Freres
Nunquam dicit Iob rugiet onager cum habuerit herbam . aut mugiet bos cum ante eum plenum presepe steterit . Brutor animalium natura te condempnat . quia cum pabulum sufficiat commune ex adipe prodiit iniquitas .
Yf lewede men knewe this latyn · a litel þei wolde auisen hem
Er thei amorteisede eny more · for monkes oþer for chanons
//

[P.18.58: The corrector virgules perhaps indicate recognition of error in we at the end of this line.]

Alas lordes and ladies · lewede counsail haue we[^a345]
Þat founded beþ to fulle · to feffe suche and fede
With þat ȝoure barnes and ȝoure blod · by goode lawe may cleyme
For god bad hus blesside · as þe book** techeþ honora patrem & matrem .
To helpe þy fader formest · by-fore freres and monkes
And er prestes oþer pardoneres · oþer eny peuple elles
Help þi kynne crist bit · for þer by-gynneþ charite
And afterwarde awhaite[^235] · hoo haþ moost neede
And þer help yf þou hast · and þat halde ich charite
Loo laurence for hus largenesse · as holy lore telleþ
Þat hus mede and hus man-hede · for euere-more shal laste
Iusticia euis manet in eternum .
He gaf godes men goodes · and nat to grete lordes
And fedde þat a-fyngred where · and in defaute lyueden
Ich der nat carpe of clerkes now þat cristes tresoure kepen
Tat[^236] poure peuple by pure ryght · here part thei myghten aske
Of þat holichurche of þe olde lawe cleymeþ
Preestes on aparail and on purnele spenen
Men may lykne letterid men · to a luhssheborgh* oþer werse
And to a badde peny · whit[^237] a good preynte
For of muche moneye · þe metal is right nauht
Ȝut is þe prente pure trewe · an[^238] parfitliche graue
And so it fareth by false cristine here follouht is triwe
Cristendome of holychurche · þe kynges ma ske of heuene
Ac þe metal þat is mannes saule of meny of þes techeres
Is alayed whit[^239] lecherie · and oþer lustes of synne
That god coueiteþ nat þat coygne · þat crist hym-self preentede
And for synne of soule · for-sakeþ hus owene coygne
//

[P.18.86: The corrector's virgules perhaps refer to minim errors in the line or the otiose tilde.]

Thus are þe lithere lyknede · to luhssheborue[^240] sterlinges
That faire by-fore folke · prechen and techen
And worchen nat as þei fynden wryten · and wissen þe peuple
For what þorw werre and wrake and wycked hyfdes[^241]
May no preiour pees make · in no place hit semeþ
Lewede men hauen no by-leyue · so letterid men erren
Neiþer þe see ne þe sande · ne þe seed ȝeldeþ
As þei woned were · in wham is defaute
Nat in god þat he nys goud · and þe grounde boþe
And þe see and þe seed · the sonne and þe mone
Don her deuer day and nyȝth · and yf we duden also ·
Ther sholde be plente and pees perpetuel · for euere[^242]
Wonderwyse shupmen now · and oþer witty peuple
Han[^243] no by-leyue to þe lyft · ne to þe lood-sterres
Astronomyens al day in here art faillen
That whilen warned men by-fore · what shoulde by-ffalle after
Shupmen and shephurdes · by the seuen sterres
Wisten while and tolden · whenne hit shoulde reynen
Tyliers þat tyleden þe erthe · tolden here maystres
By þe seed þat þey sewe · what þey shoulde notye
And what lyue by and leue · þe londe whas so trewe
Now failleth þis folke · boþe sowers and shupmen
Noþer þei knoweþ ne conneþ · o cours by a noþer
Astronomyens al-so · aren at ere whittes[^244] ende
Of þat was calculed of þe clymat · the contrarye þey fyndeth
Grammere þat grounde is of alle · by-gyleþ now children
For þer is nouthe non · who-so nymeþ hete
That can uerfie uer[si]fie[^a346] fayre · oþer formeliche endite
Ne þat can construen kyndeliche · þat poetes maden
Gowe now to eny degre · and bote gyle be halde amayster a mayster
And aflaterer a flaterer for hus huhsshere[^245] · and ferliche me þynkeþ
Doctours of decree · and of dyuyn maystres
That shoulde þe seuene ars conne · and a-soile ad[^a347] quodlibet .
Bote þei faille in fylosophye · and filosophers lyueden
Lord leyue þat þese preestes · leelly seyn here masses
That thei ouerhuppe nat for hast · as ich hope thei do nat
That[^a348] hit suffuse suff[i]se[^a349] for oure sauacion · sothfast by-leyue
As clerkus in corpus christi feste · syngen and reden
That sola fides sufficit to saue whith[^246] lewede peuple
Ac yf preestes don here deuer wel · whe[^247] shullen do þe bettere
For saresyns mowe be saued so · yf þei so by-leyuede
In þe lengthynge of here lyf · to leyue on holychurche
What is holychurche frend quaþ ich charite he seyde
Lyf and loue and leaute · in o by-leyue a[^248] lawe
And loue a knotte of leaute · and of leel by-leyue
Alle-kynne cristene · clynynge on o wyl
Whith-oute[^249] gyle and gabbynge · gyue and selle and leue
Loue lawe whith-oute[^250] leaute · lowable[^a350] was it neuere
God lereþ no lyf to loue · whith-oute[^251] leel cause
Iewes gentiles and sarrasines · Iugen hem-selue
That leeliche þei by-leyuen and ȝut here lawe dyuersen
And on god þat al by-gan · whith[^252] goode herte þei honoureþ
Ac oure lorde loueþ no loue · bote lawe be þe cause
For lechours louen aȝen þe lawe · and at þe laste beeþ dampned
And theeues leaute haten · and at þe laste beeþ hanged
And leelle men louen as lawe techeþ · and loue þer -of aryseþ
The wich is hefd of charite and hele of mannes soule
Dilige deum propter deum . id propter ueritatem est . Et inimicum tuum propter mandatum . id propter legem est . Et amicum propter amorem . id est propter caritatem .
Loue god for he is good · and grounde of alle treuthe
Loue þyn enemy entyerly · godes heste to ful-fille
Loue þy frend þat folweþ þy wil · þat is þe faire soule
For whanne alle frendes faillen · and fleen a-wey in deiynge
Thenne suweþ þe þy soule · to sorwe oþer to ioye
And ay hopeþ eft to be whit[^253] here bodye atte laste
In murthe oþer in mornynge and neuere eft to departe
And þat is charite my leue childe to be cher ouer thi soule
Contrarie hure nauht as in conscience · yf þou wolt come to heuene
Were sarrasyns ich seide · seo nat what is charite
Hit may be þat sarrasyns · hauen a suche manere charite
Louye as by lawe of kynde · oure lord god al-myghty
Hit is a kynde þyng** a creature · hus creatour to honoure
For þer is no man þat mynde hath · þat ne meokeþ hym and by-secheþ
To þat lord þat hym lyf lente and lyflode hym seyndeþ
Ac meny manere men þer beoþ · as sarrasyns and Iewes
Louyeþ nat þat lorde a-ryght · as by þe legende sanctorum .
And lyuen out of leel by-leyue · for thei leyue in a mene
A man þat hihte makamede · For messye thei hym healde[^254]
And after hus lerynge thei lyuen · and by lawe of kynde
And when kynde hath hus cours · and no contrarye fyndeth
Þenne is lawe lost · and lewete vnknowyn
Beaute saunz bounte blessed was hit neuere
Ne kynde saunz cortesie In no contreye preysed
Men fyndeþ þat makamede · was a man ycrystned
And a cardinal of court · agret a gret clerk whit-alle
A nd porsuede to haue be pope · pryns of holychurche
And for he whas lyke alouhsheborgh a louhsheborgh · ich leyue oure lord hym lette
For-thi southte he in-to surrye and sotile hou he myghte
Beo maister ouer alle þo men · and on þis manere wroughte
He endauntede a douue · day and nyght here fedde
In aiþer of hus eris · pryueliche he hadde
Corn þat þe coluer eet · when he cam in places
And in what place he prechede · and þe peuple tauhte
Thenne sholde þe coluere come · to þe clerkes ere
Menynge as after hus mete · thus makamede here enchauntede
And when þe coluer kam þus · þenne knewele[^a351] þe peuple ·
For makamede to men swor · hit was a messager of heuene
And sothly god self · in suche a coluere lyknesse
Tolde hym and tauhte hym · hou to teche þe peuple
Thus makamede in m ysbyleyue · man and womman brouhte
And in hus lore thei leyuen ȝut · as wel lered as lewede
And sutthe oure sauyour · suffrede suche a fals crystine
Deceyue so sarrasyns · sothly me thynkeþ
Holy men as ich hope · thorw help of þe holy gost
Sholde conuerten hem to crist · and cristendom take
Alas þat men so longe · on makamede by-leyuen
So meny preestes to prechie · as þe peuple makeþ
Of Nazareth of Nynyue of Neptalym of damaske .
That thei ne wendeþ þe wey · as holy writ biddit
Ite in uniuersum mundum sutthe ȝe wilneþ þe name
To be prelates and preche · þe passion of Ihesus .
And as hyn hy[m] -self seyde · so lyue and deye
Bonus pastor animam suam ponit pro ouibus suis .
Hit is reuthe to rede · hou ryght holy men lyueden
How thei defouleden here fleessh · for-soken here owen wil
Feer fro kuth and fro kyn · vuel cloþed ȝeoden
Baddeliche beddyd · no book bote here conscience
Noþer richesse bote þe rode · to reioyesen hem Inne
Absit uos gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri iesu christi .
And þo was pees and plente · a-mong poure and riche
And now is reuthe to rede · hou þe rede noble
Ys yreuerenced by-fore þe rode · and receyuyd for þe worthier
To a-mende and to make · as whit[^255] men of holichurche
Than cryst oþer croys þat ouercam · deþ and dedly synne
And now is werre and wo · and ho-so whi askeþ
For couetyse after a croys · þe croune stant in golde
Boþe riche and religiouse that rode þei honouren
Þat in grotes is ygraue · and in gold nobles
nota

[P.18.212: A scribe has drawn two red lines from the marginalia "nota" to the primary text to the lines beginning "for couetyse" and "Sullen ouerturne"]

For couetyse of þat croys · clerkes of holychurche
Sullen ouerturne as templers duden þe tyme aprocheþ faste
Mynne ȝe nat lettered men hou þo men honourede
More tresour and treuthe · ich dar nat telle þe southe
How þo corsede crystine catel and richesse worshepeden
Reyson and Riȝtfuldome Riȝtful dome · þe relious reli[gi]ous[^a352] damnede
Right so ȝe clerkus ȝoure couetise er come ouht longe
prophecie .
Shal dampne dos ecclesie and depose ȝow for ȝoure pruyde
Deposuit potentes de sede .
Hyf knyȝtht-hod and kynde whit[^256] and þe comune and conscience
To-geders louen leelliche · leyueþ hit wel bisshopes
To[^a353][^257] lordshup of londes · leese ȝe shulle for euere
And lyuen as leuitici dude · and as oure lord ȝou techeþ
Per primicias . et decimas .
Whenne constantyn of hus cortesye holychurche dowede[^258]
Whith[^259] londes and leedes · lordshepes and rentes
An Angel men hurde an hih · at rome crye
Dos ecclesie this day · haþ ydronke venym
And tho þat han petris power · aren poysoned alle
A medecine moste þer -to · þat myghte amende þe prelates
That sholden preye for þe pees · and possession hem letteþ
Takeþ here londes ȝ ȝ[e][^a354] lordes and leet hem lyue by dymes
Yf ȝe kynges coueyten in cristene pees to lyuen
For yf posession be poyson and inparfyȝt hem make
The heuedes of holychurche · and tho þat ben vnder hem
Hit were charite to deschargen hem · for holychurches sake
And purge hem of þe oolde poyson ere more perel falle
For were preest-hod more parfyȝt · þat is þe pope formest
That whiþ moneye menteyneþ men to werren vp-on cristine
Aȝens þe lore of oure lorde · as seynt luk wytnesseþ michi uindictam .
Hus prayers whith[^260] hus pacience to pees sholde brynge
Alle londes to loue · and þat in a lytel tyme
The pope with alle preestes pax uobis sholde make
And take hede hou makamede þorwe a mylde doue
He hald al surrye as hym-self wolde · and sarasyns in quyete
Nouht þorw manslauht and strengthe · Makamede hadde þe mastrie
Bote þorw pacience and pryuy gyle · he was prynce ouer hem alle
In suche manere me þynkeþ · moste þe pope
Prelatis and preestes prayen · and by-seche
Deuowtliche day and nyȝt · and whiþ-drawe hem fro synne
And crye to crist þat he wolde · hus coluere seynde
The wiche is þe holygost þat out of heuene descendede
To make a perpetuel pees by-twyne þe prynce of heuene
And alle manere men · þat on þis molde lybbeþ
Yf preest-hod were perfiȝt and preyede thus · the peuple sholde amende
That now contrarien cristes lawes · and cristendom despisen
For sutthe þat þes sarasyns · scribes and þes Iewes
Hauen a lippe of oure by-leyue · þe lightloker me þynkeþ
Thei sholde turne þat trauayle wolde · and of þe trinite techen hem
For alle paynymes preyen · and parfitliche by-leyuen
In þe grete heye god · and hus grace asken
And maken here mone to makamede · here message to shewe
Thus in a[^261] faith lyueþ þat folke · and in a false mene
And þat is reuthe for þe ryght men þat in þe reame wonyeþ
And bereþ name of Neptalym of Nynyue and of damaske .
For when þe holy kynge of heuene sende hus sone to eerthe
Meny myracles he wrouhte man for to turne
In ensample þat men sholde seo by sad reyson
That men myghte nat be sauede · bote þorw mercy and grace
And þorw penaunce a n d passioun and parfyȝt by-leyue
And by-cam a man of a mayde and metropolitanus .
And baptisede an[^262] busshoppede · whit[^263] þe blode of hus herte
Alle þat wilnede oþer wolde · whit[^264] inwhiȝt[^265] by-leue hit
Meny seint sitthe suffrede deþ al-soo
For to enferme þe faithe fulwyde ful wyde -where deyden
In Inde and in alisaundre in Ermanye in spayne .
And f ro mysbyleue meny man turnede
In sauacion of mannys saule seynt thomas of cauntelbury
Among vnkynde cristine in holychurche was sleye
And alle holychurche honourede for þat deyinge
He is aforbusne a forbusne to alle busshopes · and abryȝthe a bryȝthe myrour
And souereyneliche to alle suche þat of surrye bereþ name
And nat in engelounde to huppe abowte · an[^266] halewen menne auters
And crepe in a-monge creatours · and confesson a-ȝen þe lawe
Nolite mittere falcem in alienam messem .
Meny man for crystes loue · was martred a-mong romaynes
Er cristendome wher knowe þer · oþer eny croys honourede
Eueriche busshope by þe lawe · sholde buxumliche weynde
And pacientliche þorgh hus prouynce · and to hus peple hym shewe
Feden hem and folwen hem · and fere hem fro synne
In baculi forma . sit presul hec tibi norma .
Fer trahe punge gregem . seruando per omnia legem .
And enchaunte hem to charite · on holychurche to be-leyue
For as þe kynde is of aknyȝth a knyȝth oþer for a kynge to be take
Among here enemys in morteils[^a355] bateles
To be culled and ouercome þe comune to defende
So is þe kynde of creatour for cristes loue to preche
And deye for hus dere children to distrye dedlysynne dedly synne
bonus pastor .
And nameliche þer as lewede lyuen and no lawe knowen
Ac we crystine comeþ[^a356] þe lawe · and hauen of oure tounge
Busshopes and bookes · the byleyue to teche
Iuwes lyuen in þe lawe · þat oure lord tauhte
Moyses to be maister · þer-of til messie come
And in þat lawe þei leyue · and leten · hit for the beste
And ȝut knowe þei crist · þat cristendome tauhte
And for a parfyt prophete · þat muche peuple sauede
And of selcouþe sores · sauede men ful ofte
By þe meracles þat he made messie he semede
Tho he lyfte vp lazar þat leyde was in graue ·
Quatriduanus cold · quik** dude hym walke
Iuwes seyden þat hit seyn · whit[^267] sorcerie he wrouhte
And fondeden hou to struyen hem · and strueden hem-selue
And here power thourh hus pacience · to pure nought brouhten
And thei seien soþliche · and so doþ þe sarrasyns
That Iesus was bote a Iegelour a Iaper a-monge þe comune
And a sophistre of sorcerie · and pseudo propheta .
And hus lore was lesynge · and lacken hit alle
And hopen þat he be to comynge · þat shal hem releue[^268]
Moyses oþer makamede · here maistres deuineþ
And haueþ suspecion to be saf · boþe sarrasyns and Iewes
Thorwe moyses and makamede · and myghte of god þat mad al
Now sytthe þat theese sarrasyns an[^269] al-so þe Iewes
Conne[^270] þe ferste clause of oure by-leyue Credo in deum patrem .
Prelates and preestes · sholde preoue yf thei myghte
Lere hem lytulhum and lytulum · and in iesum christum filium eius .
Til þei couþe speke and spele · and in spiritumm sanctum .
Recorden hit and rendren hit wyth remissionem peccatorum .
Carnis resurectionem & uitam eternam . amen .

[^a342: in (P Ec) | and (Most other mss)]

[^a343: goud g[o]d (P) | god (All other mss)]

[^a344: herde (P) | he herde (Most other mss)]

[^a345: we (P) | ȝe (Most other mss)]

[^a346: uerfie uer[si]fie (P) | uersifie (Most other mss)]

[^a347: ad (P Dc Ec Rc) | a (Most other mss)]

[^a348: That (P) | Thogh (Most other mss)]

[^a349: suffuse suff[i]se (P) | suffice (Most other mss)]

[^a350: lowable (P Ec Mc) | allouable (Most other mss)]

[^a351: knewele (P Ec) | knelede (Most other mss)]

[^a352: relious reli[gi]ous (P) | religious (Most other mss)]

[^a353: To (P) | The (Most other mss)]

[^a354: ȝ ȝ[e] (P) | ȝe (All other mss)]

[^a355: morteils (P R V A) | mortel (Most other mss)]

[^a356: comeþ (P T H2 Ch) | conneþ (Most other mss)]

[^227: P.18.2: whithoute, "without."]

[^228: P.18.5: hif, "if."]

[^229: P.18.18: is, "his."]

[^230: P.18.19: whith, "with."]

[^231: P.18.21: The <S> was mistakenly partially rubricated and has been gone over again in text ink.]

[^232: P.18.28: Whit-oute, "without."]

[^233: P.18.32: whith, "with."]

[^234: P.18.39: is, "his."]

[^235: P.18.65: awhaite, "await."]

[^236: P.18.73: Tat, "That."]

[^237: P.18.79: whit, "with."]

[^238: P.18.116: an, "and."]

[^239: P.18.85: whit, "with."]

[^240: P.18.86: An otiose tilde appears above <ru>.]

[^241: P.18.89: hyfdes, "heads."]

[^242: P.18.97: The caesura is not marked in this line, though heavy ink at the end of flourishes confuses the issue.]

[^243: P.18.99: An otiose vertical mark in text ink is written before the <H>.]

[^244: P.18.109: ere whittes, "their wits'."]

[^245: P.18.116: huhsshere, "usher, teaching assistant."]

[^246: P.18.126: whith, "with."]

[^247: P.18.125: whe, "we." This nonce-form in the manuscript for "we" reflects loss of initial aspiration in the scribe's dialect.]

[^248: P.18.129: a, "and." See MED, s.v. a conj. The form is archetypal.]

[^249: P.18.134: whith-oute, "without."]

[^250: P.18.135: whith-oute, "without."]

[^251: P.18.134: whith-oute, "without."]

[^252: P.18.139: whith, "with."]

[^253: P.18.149: whit, "with."]

[^254: P.18.162: An otiose stroke appears on the <l>.]

[^255: P.18.207: whit, "with."]

[^256: P.7.222: whit, "wit."]

[^257: P.18.224: P uniquely reads To, inconsistent with the guidewords from the preceding leaf.]

[^258: P.18.227: We are following the order of the X manuscript in which the Latin line is separate from and comes above the Whenne line. Two red crosses indicate where the missing line should be inserted and a red line drawn from the end of the ME whenne line and the Latin line above it in the margin.]

[^259: P.18.228: Whith, "with."]

[^260: P.18.243: whith, "with."]

[^261: P.18.265: a, "one."]

[^262: P.18.274: an, "and."]

[^263: P.18.274: whit, "with."]

[^264: P.18.275: whit, "with."]

[^265: P.18.275: inwhiȝt, "inwit."]

[^266: P.18.399: an, "and."]

[^267: P.18.313: whit, "with."]

[^268: reloeue??]

[^269: P.18.457: an, "and."]

[^270: P.18.326: An otiose tilde appears over <nn>.]

Hic[^271] explicit passus primus de dobet · dobet ·[^272]

[^271: The hic is shared between the explicit of this passus and the incipit of the next, centered vertically on the rule between the two lines.]

[^272: "de dobet · dobet ·" is written between the trailer of this passus and the header of the next passus and is centered vertically on the rule between the two lines. Two diagonal, crossing lines are drawn between de dobet · dobet and the rest of the header.]

Hic Incipit passus secundus de dobet · dobet · [The repetition of dobet is presumably an error.]

LEue liberum arbitrium quaþ ich · ich leyue as ich hope[^273]
Thou couþest telle and teche me · to charite ich leyue ·
Thenne louh liberum arbitrium and ladde me forþ with tales
Til we comen in-to acontree a contree cor hominis hit hyhte
Herber of alle pryuytees · and of holynesse
Euene in þe myddes · an ympe as hit were
Þat hihte ymago dei graciousliche hit growede
Thenne gan ich asken what hit hyhte · and he me sone tolde
Þe tree hihte trewe loue quaþ he · the trinite hit sette
Þorgh louely lokynge hit lyueþ · and launceþ vp blossemes
The wiche blosmes burnes · benygne speche callen
And þer-of comeþ a good frut · þe wich men · calle n[^274] werkes
Of holynesse of hendynesse · of help hym þat neodeþ
The wiche is callid caritas cristes owene fode
And solaceþ alle soules · sorghful in purgatorie
Now certes ich seide · an sykede for ioye
Ich þonke þe a þowsend sythes · þat ȝe me hider kende
And suþþen þat ȝe foweche saue · to seye me what hit hihte
And he þonked me þo · bote þenne took** ich hede
Hit hadde shorieres to shoue hit vp · þre shides of o lengþe
And of o kynne colour · and o kynde as me þouhte
Alle þre yliche longe · and yliche large ·
Muche meruailede me · on what more thei growede
And efte askede of hym · of what wode þei were
Thees þre shoryeres quaþ he · þat bereþ vp þis plonte
Thei by-tokneþ trywely þe trinite of heuene
Thre persouns in-departable perpetuel were euere
Of o wyl of o whit[^275] · and here whit[^276] ich kepe
The frut of þis faire tree · fro þre wykkede wyndes
And fro fallyng of stok hit faille nouht of hus myghte
The wordle is a wykkede wynde · to hem þat wolde treuthe
Couetyse comeþ of þat whynde · and hit beteþ caritas
And for-freteþ þat frut · whit[^277] manye fayre syghtes
And whith[^278] þe ferste plaunke · ich palle hym doune potencia dei patris .
Þanne is flessh a feel wynde · in flouryng tyme
Þorgh lecherie and lustes so loude he gynneþ blowe
Þat hit norceþ nyce syȝtes · and som tyme wordes
And menye wykkede wormes · workes of synne
And al for-bit caritas to þe bare stalke
Thanne sette ich þe secunde plaunke sapiencia dei patris .
The wich is þe passion and penaunce · and þe parfytnesse of ihesus .
And þer-with ich warde hit oþerwyse · til hit wexe rype
Thenne foundeþ the feende · my frut to destruye
And leithe a laddere þer-to · of lesynges beþ þe ronges
With alle þe wyles þat he can · waggeþ þe roote
Þorw bak-byters and braweleres · and þorwe bolde chyderes
And shakeþ hit · newere ne were hit vnder-shorede · sertes hit sholde nat stande
So þees lourdeines litheren þer-to · þat alle þe leues fallen
And feccheþ a-way this frut som tyme · by-fore boþe myn eyen
Thenne palle ich a-doune þe pouke · with þe þridde shoryere
The wiche is spiritus sanctus and soþ fastbyleyue soþfast byleyue
And þat is grace of þe holy gost · and þus gat ich þe mastrye
Ich totide vp-on þat tree þo · and þenne tok ich hede
Wheþer þe frut wher faire · oþer foul to loken on
And þe frut was wonder fair · non fairer beo myghte
Ac in þre degrees hit grew · gret ferly me þouhte
And askede þo yf hit were · al of on kynde
Ȝe certes he seide · and sothliche þow leyue hit
Hit is al of o kynde · and þat shal ich prouen
Ac somme ar swettere þan some · and sannere wollen rotye
Men may seo on an appul treo meny tyme and ofte
Of okynne o kynne apples · aren nat yliche grete
Ne of sywynge smale · ne of swetnesse swete
Tho þat sitten in þe sonne syde · somme aren rype
Swettour and saueriour · and also more grettoure ·
Than þat seilde hauen þe sonne · and sitten in þe north half**
And so hit fareþ sotthly · soone by oure kynde
Adam was as tree · and we aren as hus apples
Somme of ows sothfast · and somme variable
Somme litel and some large · like apples of kynde
As weddede men and wodewes · and ryȝth worthy maidenes
Þe wiche þe seynt espirit þe sonne of al heuene
Conforteþ hem in here continence · þat lyuen in contemplacion ·
As monkes and monyales men of holichurche
These hauen hete of þe holi gost as crop of treo þe sonne
Wedewes and wedeweres · þat here owen wil for-saken
And chast leden here lif · ys lyf of contemplacion
And more lykyng** to oure lorde þan lyue as kynde askeþ
And folwe þat þe flessh wole · and frut forþ brynge
That lettered men in here langage actiua uita callen
Ȝe syre ich seide · and sitthen þer aren bote to lyues
Þat oure lorde a-loweþ as lered men ous techeþ
That is actiua uita and uita contemplatiua .
Whi groweþ this frut in þre degrees · for a good skyle he seide
Her by-neoþe ich may nyme · yf ich neode habbe
Matrimonye a moiste frut þat multeplieþ þe peple
Thenne a-boue is abetere a betere frut · ac boþe to ben goode ·
Wedewehode more worþier · þan wedlok as in heuene
Þanne is virginite more vertuous · and fairest as in heuene
For þat is euene with angeles · and angeles peer
Hit was þe furste frut · þat þe fader of heuene blessede
And bad hit be abat a bat of erþe · aman a man and a mayde
In menynge þat þe faireste þyng** þe furste þyng sholde honoure
And þe clennest creature · creatour ferste knowe
In kynges court and knyghtes þe clennest men and fairest
Shullen serue for þe lord selue so fareþ god almyghty
Maidenes and marteres · ministred hym her in erthe
And in heuene buth most pryue and next hym by reson
For þe fairest frut · by-fore hym as of eorthe
And swete whiþ-oute swellinge · sour worth hit neuere
This is a propre plente quaþ ich · and pryueliche hit bleweþ
And bryngeþ forþ faire frut · folke of alle nacion
Bothe parfit and inparfit · pure fayn ich wolde
A-saye what sauour hit hadde · ich seide þat tyme
Leue liberum arbitrium leet som lyf hit shake
A-non he het elde · an hih for to clymbe
And shaken hit sharply · þe ripen sholden falle
Elde clam to-warde þe crop · þan comsede hit to crie
He waggede wedewehod and hit wepte after
He meeuede matrimonye · hit made a foule noyse
For euere as elde hadde eny doun þe deuel was wel redy
And gederide hem alle to-gederis boþe grete and smale
Adam and abraham and ysaye þe prophete
Sampson and samuel and seynt · Iohan þe baptist
And bar hem forþ baldely · no body þo hym lette
And made of holy men hus horde in limbo doun inferni .
Ther is deornesse and drede and þe deuel maister
Þenne meouede hym mod in maiestate dei .
Þat libera uoluntas dei lauhte þe mydel shoriere
And hitte after þe fende · happe hou hit myghte
filius by þe faders wil · fleght with spiritus sanctus .
To ransake þe rageman and reue hym hus apples
Þat fyrst man deceyuede · thorgh frut and false by-heste
And þenne spake spiritus sanctus . in gabrielis mouthe
To þat mayde þat hihte marie meek þyng with-alle
Þat on Ihesus a Iustice sone · moste Iouken in hire chaumbre
Til plenitudo temporis tyme come were
That elde felde efte þat frut · oþer fulle to be rypy
Þat Ihesus sholde Iuste þer-fore · and Iugement of armes
Who sholde fecche þis frut · þe feend oþer Ihesus self
The maide myldeliche þo · þe messager hue answerede
And saide hendyliche to hym · loo me hus handmayde
For to worchen hus wil · with-oute eny synne Ecce ancilla domini & cetera .
And in þe wombe of þat wenche · he was fourty wokes
And man by-cam of þat mayde · to saue mankynde
Byg and a-bydynge · and blod[^a357] in hus barn-hede
To hauen fouhten with þe feende · ar ful tyme come
Ac liberum arbitrium leche-crafte hym tauhte
Til plenitudo temporis hih tyme a-prochede
That suche a surgeyn · setthen yseye was þer neuere
Ne non so faithfol fysician for alle þat by-souhte
He lechede hem of here langoure · laȝars and blynde bothe
Ceci uident . claudi ambulant . leprosi mundantur .
And comune wymmen conuertede · and clansede hem of synne
And he lyft vp laȝar þat lay in hus tombe
Quatriduanus cold · quyke dude hym rome
Ac er he made þat miracle mestus cepit esse .
And wepte water with hus eyen · the whi whiten fewe
Ac þoo þat seyen þat selcouth · seyden þat tyme
Þat he was god oþer godes sone for þat grete wonder
And somme Iewes seiden · whith[^279] sorserie he wrouhte
And þorwe þe myghte of mahon and þorw mysbyleyue demonium habes .
Thanne sathan is ȝoure saueyour quaþ ihesus and haþ sauede ȝow ofte
Ac ich sauede ȝow sondry tymes · also ich fedde ȝowe
With fisshes and with fyf loues · fyfe þousend at ones
And þer-of lefte baskettes ful of broke mete
Broke bred to beren hit · a-wey hoo-so wolde
Vnkynde and vnknowing** quaþ crist . and with a rop smot hem
And ouere-turnede in þe temple · here tables and here stalles
And drof hem out alle þat þer bowten a[^280] solde
And seide þis is an hous · of orisouns and of holynesse
And whenne þat my wil is ich wolde hit ouer-throwe
And er þre dayes after · edefye hit newe
The Iewes tolden þe Iustice · hou þat ihesus seyde
Ac þe ouerturnyg** ouerturny[n]g** of þe temple by-tokned þe resureccion
Enuye and vuel wil ȝorn in þe Iewes
And porsuede hem pryueliche and for pans hym bouhte
Ne forte tumultus fieret in populo .
Of Iudas þe Iewe iesus owene disciple
This by-fil on afryday a fryday · a litel by-fore paske
Þat Iudas and Iewes ihesus thei mette
Aue rabbi quaþ þat ribaud · and right til hym he ȝede
And custe ihesus to be knowe þer-by · and kauhte of þe Iewes
Thanne ihesus to Iudas · and to þe Iewes seyde
Falsnesse ich fynde · in þy faire speche
And kene care in thi cossyns · and combraunce to þe selue
Thow shalt be myrour to menye men to deceyue
Wo to hem þat þyn wiles vsen to þe wordles ende
. nota .
Ve homini illi per quem scandalum uenit .
Sitthe ich by treson am take and to ȝoure Iewes
Suffrieþ myne apostles in pees and in pees gangen
Thus Iewes to þe Iustices ihesus thei ladden
Whith[^281] muche noyse þat nyght · ner frentik ich awakede
In Inwit and in alle whittes · after liberum arbitrium .
Ich waitede wyterly · ac ne wiste weder heo wente
And þanne mette ich whiþ aman a man · on mydlentens soneday
. abraham de trinitate .
As hor as an haweþorn · and abraam he hihte
Of wennes ert þow quaþ ich · and hendeliche hym grette
Ich am with faiþ quaþ þat freek** · hit falleþ nat me to lye
And herande of armes · er eny lawe were
What is hus conysaunce quaþ ich · in hus cote armure
Þre persones in o pensel quath he departable fram oþer
O speche and o spirit · spryngeþ out of alle
Of o wit of on wil were neuere a-twynne
And sondry to seo vpon solus deus he hoteþ
Siþthen thei ben surlepees quaþ ich · thei han sondry names
That is soþ saide he · þe syre hatte pater .
And þe secunde is a sone · of þe syre filius .
The þridde is þat halt al · a þyng by hym-selue
Holigost is hus name an he is in alle
This is meerk þyng** for me quaþ ich · and for meny oþer
How o lorde myghte lyue a[^282] þre · ich leyue hit nat ich seide
Muse nat to muche þer-on quaþ faith tyl þow more knowe
Ac looke þow leyue hit leelly al þy lyf-tyme
That þre by-longeþ to on lorde þat lygaunce cleymeþ
Mighte and mene to seo hus owen Mighte
Of hym-self and of hus seruaunt · and suffreþ hem boþe
God þat gynnynge hadde neuere · bote þo hym good þouhte
Sente forth hus sone · as for seruaunt þat tyme
To okupien hym here · til issue were spronge
The wiche aren children of charite · and holichurche þe moder
Patriarkes and prophetes and apostles were þe children
And crist and cristendome · and cristene holichurche
By-tokeneþ þe trinite and trywe by-leyue
O god almyghty þat man made and wrouhte
Semblable to hym-self er eny synne were
A þre he is þer he is · and here-of bereþ whittnesse[^283]
Þe werkes þat hym-self wrouhte · and þis wordle boþe
Celi enarrant gloriam dei & opera manuum euis annunciat firmamentum .
That he is þre persones departable · ich proue hit by man-kynde
And o · god almyghty yf alle men beo of adam .
Eue was of adam and out of hym ydrawe
And abel of hem boþe and alle þre o kynde
As theese þre þat ich carpe of adam and eue .
And abel heer essue · aren bote on in man-hede
Matrimonie with-oute moillere is nat muche to preyse
The bible bereþ witnesse · a book of þe olde lawe
That a-corsed alle couples · þat no kynde forth brouhte
Maledictus sit homo qui non reliquit semen in israel .
And a man with-oute a make myghte nat welle of kynde
Multeplie ne more ouer with-oute a make louye
Ne with-oute a sowere be suche seede · þis we seen alle
Now goo we to god-hede in god fader of heuene
Was þe sone in hym-selue in a simile as eue .
Was wanne god wolde · out of þe weye y-drawe
And as abel of adam and of hus wif eue .
Sprang forth and spak · a spir of hem tweyene
So out of þe syre and of þe sone · the seynt espirit of bothe
Ys and ay weren and worth with-outen ende
And as þre persones palpable · is pureliche bote o man-kynde
The wiche is man and hus make · and moillere is[^284] issue
So is god godessone in þre persones þe trinite
In matrimonie aren þre · and of .o. man cam alle þre
And to godhede goþ þre · and of o god is alle þre
Loo treys encountre treys quaþ he · in godhede and in manhede
Hauest þow seyen þis ich seide · alle þre and o god
In a somer ich seyh hym quaþ he · as ich sat in my porche
Were[^285] god cam goynge a þre · ryght by my gate
Tres uidit et unum adorauit .
Ich ros vp and reuerencede god · and ryght fayre hym grette
Wesh here feet and wypede hem · and after þei eten
And what ich þouhte and my wif he ous wel tolde
He by-hihte ous issue and heir · in oure olde age
Ful triwe tokne by-twyne ous is · wat tyme þat ich mete hym
Hou he fondede me ferst my faire sone ysaac
To make sacrifice of hym he het me hym to honoure
Ich with-sat nat hus heste · ich hope and by-leyue
Wher ich walke in þis wordle he wol hit me a-lowe
Ich circumsysede my sone · and al-so for hus sake
My-self and my meyne · and alle þat maule were
Bledden blod for þat lordes loue ich hope to blesse þe tyme
Myn affiaunce and my feith · is ferm hus byleyue
For hym-self seide ich sholde haue · and myn issue boþe
Lond and lordshup ynow · and lyf with-outen ende
To me and to myn issue more he by-hihte
Mercy for oure mysdedes · as meny tymes
As we wilnede and wolde · with mouth and herte asken
And sitthen he sende me to sayn · and seide þat ich sholde
Worshupen hym with wyn and with bred boþe
At ones on an auter · in worshup of þe trinite .
And make sacrifice so · som-what hit by-tokneþ
Ich leyue þatþilke þat þilke lorde thenke · a newe lawe to make
Fiet unum ouile et unus pastor .[^286]
Thus haue ich beo hus heraude · her and in helle
And comforted menye carful þere þat after hus comyng** loken
For-thi ich seke hym he seide for seynt Iohan þe baptist
Seide þat he seih hym her þat sholde ioye ous alle ecce agnus dei .
Thenne hadde ich wonder of hus wordes · and of hus wide cloþes
For in hus bosom he bar a þyng** · and þat he blessede ofte
And ich loked in hus lappe a lazar lay þer-ynne ·
With patriarkes and prophetes pleiynge to-gederes
What waytest þow quaþ faiht and what woldest þow haue
Ich wolde wyte quaþ ich þo · what is in þy lappe
Loo quaþ he and leet me seo · lord mercy ich seide
This is apresent a present of muche prys · what pryns shal hit haue
Hit is a preciouse present quaþ he · ac þe pouke hit haþ attachede
And me þer-wiþ quaþ þe wye · may no wed ous quite
Ne no bern beo oure borghe · ne brynge ous out of daunger
Fro þe poukes poundfalde no maynprise may ous fecche
Til he come þat ich carpe of · crist is hus name
Þat shal delyuery ous som day out of þe deueles powere
And betere wed for ous wagen · þan alle we beon worthi
And þat is lif for lyf oþir ligge þus euere
Longynge in my lappe þus · til such a lord ous fecche
Alas ich seide þat synne · so longe shal lette
The myght of godes mercy · þat myghte ous alle amende
And wepte for hus wordes with þat ich seyh an oþer
Rappliche renne · þe righte wey we wente
And ich fraynede hym furst fro wennes he come
What he hihte and woder he wolde · and wyghtliche he ous tolde

[^a357: blod (P Uc) | bold (Most other mss)]

[^273: P.19.1: An otiose curl appears on the <p> of hope.]

[^274: CHECK THE MS for order of change. Other mss have the "þ."***???]

[^275: P.19.28: whit, "wit."]

[^276: P.19.28: whit, "with."]

[^277: P.19.33: whit, "with."]

[^278: P.19.34: whith, "with."]

[^279: P.19.151: whith, "with."]

[^280: P.19.160: a, "and."]

[^281: P.19.183: Whith, "with."]

[^282: ?sic/corr tag needed?]

[^283: P.19.217: whittnesse, "witness."]

[^284: P.19.241: is, "his."]

[^285: P.19.248: Were, "where."]

[^286: P.19.273: There is a space between pas and tor with a flourish between the two parts of the word.]

Hic explicit passus secundus . de dobet ·[^287]

[^287: P.19.300: The same pattern appears here as has appeared above at the passus division, with hic and de dobet shared between two lines and connected with lines.]

Hic Incipit passus tercius de dobet .

[P.20.000: The hic and de dobet are shared with trailer of passus 19.]

Ich am spes quaþ he · and spirr after a knyght
þat tooke me amaundement a maundement · vp-on þe mounte of synay .
To ruele alle reames þerwith in right and reison
Loo here þe lettere quaþ he in latyn and in ebrew .
That ich seye is soþe seoho so seo hoso lykeþ
Ys hit a selede ich seide · may men seo þe letteres
Nay he seyde ich seke hym þat haþ þe seel to kepe
The wiche is criste and cristendome · and a croys þer -on to honge
Were hit þer-with a seeled ich wote wel þe soþe
That lucifers lordshup ligge sholde ful lowe
Leet se thi letteres quaþ ich we myghte þe lawe knowe
He plyghte forþ a patente · a pece of an harde roche
Wher-on was write to wordes · in þis wise glosede dilige deum & proximum .
This was þe tyxt triweliche ich toke ful good gome
The glose gloryousliche was wryte · wyth a gylt penne
In his duobus mandatis pendit tota lex .
Ys her al al[^a358] þy lordes lettere quaþ ich · ȝe leyf he me sayde
And ho-so worcheþ after þis write ich wol vnder-take
Shal neuere deouel hym dere ne deþ in soule greue
For þauh ich seye hit my-self ich haue sauede with þis charme
Of men and of wymmen · meny score þousend
He seiþ soþ seide faith ich haue founde hit trewe
Loo her in my lappe quaþ faith þat leyuede vp-on þe lettere
Boþe Iosue and Iudith · and Iudas makabeus
And sixe þousand mo quaþ faith ich can nat telle here names
Ȝoure wordes aren wonderful quaþ ich · wher eny of ȝow be trywe
And al leel to be-leyuen on for body oþer for soule ·
Abraam seith þat he seih · holiche þe trinite
Þre persones parcel-mele departable from oþer
And alle þre bote o god · thus abraam bereþ whittnesse
And ysauede þat by-leyueþ so · and sory for here synnes
He can no certayn summe telle · and somme aren in hus lappe
What neodeþ þanne · a newe lawe to brynge
Sutthe þe furste suffisede · so by-leyue and be ysauede
And now comeþ her thes spes and haþ aspied þe lawe
Þat of þe trinite ne telleþ · ne takeþ mo persones
To god-hede bote o god · and o god almyghty
The wiche alle men aren holde · ouere alle þyng to honoure
And sitthe to loue and to lene for þat lordes sake
Alle manere of men · as meche as ousself
And for to louye and to leyue · ino in o lorde almyghty
Hit is lyght for lewede and fore lered boþe
Ac for to be-leyue in o lorde þat lyueþ in þre persones
And lereþ þat we louye sholde · as wel lyeres as leele
Go þy gat quaþ ich þo spes so me god helpe
Tho þat leorneþ thi lawe · wolle litel wile hit vsen
And as we wente in the way · thus wondrynge in þis matere
Then seih we a samaritan cam syttynge on a mule
Rydynge ful raply þe righte way þat we wente
Comynge fram a contreie · þat men callide Ierico .
To Iusten in ierusalem he Iacede awey ful faste
Boþe abraam and spes adde he metten to-gederes
In a wilde wildernesse · wher theoues hadden bounde
Aman A man as me tho thouhte · to muce muche care þei brouhte
For he ne myghte steppe ne stande ne stere fot ne hondes
Ne helpe hym-selue sothliche · for semiuiuus he semede
And naked as a neelde · and non help aboute hym
Faith on hym hadde furst a sight ac he fleih a-syde
And wolde nat neyhle hym · by nyne londes lengthe
Hope cam hippyng after þat hadde so y-bosted
Hou he with moyses maundement hade meny men holpen
And wanne he hadde siht of þis sike · a-syde he gan drawe
And dredfulliche with-drow hym · an dorste go no nerre
Ac as sone so þe samaritan hadde sighte of þat syke ·
He alighte a-non of lyarde · and ladde hym in hus hondes
And to þis weye he wente · hus wondes to by-holde
He parceyuede by hus p ous he was in peril to deþe
And bote he hadde recouer þe raþer þat rise sholde he neuere
He vnbokelede hus boteles and boþe he a-tamede
With wyn and with oile · hus wondes he gan lithe
Enbaumede hym and bond hus heuede · and on bayarde hym sette
And ladde hym forth to lauacrum . lex dei a graunge
Is sixe myle oþer seuene · by-syde þe newe markett
And lefte hym þere alechinge to lyuen hif he myghte
And took two pans to þe hosteler · to take kepe to hym
And þat goþ more for hus medicine ich make þe good aȝenwarde
For may nat lette quaþ þe lede · and lyarde he bystrydeþ
And rapede hym to ride · þe righte wey to ierusalem
Bothe faith and hus felawe spes folweden faste after
Ac ich suwede þe samaritan and seide hou þei boþe
Weren a-fered and flowen · fro þe man y-wondede
Haue hem excused quaþ þe samaritan here help wolde nat vaille
Ne medecine vnder molde · þe man to hele brynge
Noþer faith ne fyn hope · so festered aren hus wondes
With-oute þe blod of þat barn he beoþ nouht ysauede
The wiche barn mot neodes be bore of a mayde
And with þe blod of þat barn · embaumede and baptizede
And þauh he steppe and stande right strong worth he neuere
Til he haue heten al þat barn · and hus blod dronken
And ȝut be plastrede with pacience when fondynges hym prykieþ
For wente neuere man þis way þat he ne was here riflede
Saue my-selue sothliche and suche as ich louede
And ȝut to be-leyue leelly vp-on þat litel baby
Þat is likame lechen atte laste ous alle
A syre ich seide shul nat weye by-leyue
As faith and hus felawe spes enformede me boþe
In þre prosones[^a359] p[er]sones a parceles[^288] · departable fram oþer
And alle þre bote o god þus abraham me tauhte
And hope afterwarde · of god more me tolde
And lerede me for hus loue to louye al man-kynde
And hym abouen alle and hem as my-selue
Noþer lacky ne alose ne leyue þat þer were
Eny wyckeder in þis wordle þan y were my-self
And most imparfit of alle persones · and pacientliche suffre
Alle manere of men and þauh ich myghte me venge
Ich sholde tholie and þonken hem þat me vuel wolde
He seide soth quaþ þe samaritan and so ich rede þe also
And as abraam þe olde · of o god þe tauhgte
Loke þow louye and by-leyue · al þy lyf-tyme
And if kynde witt carpe her aȝen · and oþer kynne þouhtes
Oþer heretikes with argumens · þyn hond þou hem shewe
For god þat al by-gan · in gynnynge of þe worlde
Ferde furst as a fust · and ȝut is as ich leyue mundum pugillo continens .
As with a fust with o fynger · yfolde to-gederes
Til hym liked and luste · to vnlose þe fynger
And profrede hit forth as with þe paume · to what place hit sholde
The paume is þe piþ of þe honde · and profreþ forþ þe fyngres
To mynestre and to make · þat myght of hond knoweþ
And by-tockneþ trewely · telle ho-so likeþ
The holy gost of heuene · he is as þe paume
The fyngres þat freo beo · to felden and to clycchen
By-tokneþ sotthliche þe sone · þat sent was tyl erthe
Touchede and tastede · at techynge of þe paume
Seynte marie a mayde · and mankynde lauhte natus ex maria virgine .
The fader is þenne as þe fust · with fynger and with paume
To huden and to holde · as holy wriȝth telleþ · omnia traham ad me ipsum .
Al þat þe fynger gropeþ · graythly he grypeþ
Bote yf þat þat he gropeþ · greue þe paume
Thus are thei alle bote on · as hit an hande were
A fust with a fynger · and afoll a foll paume
And as þe fust is ful hand · yfoolde to-gederes
So is þe fader a ful god · þe furste of hem alle
And as my fust is furst · er ich my fyngers shewe
So is he fader an former · þe furste of alle þynges tu fabricator omnium .
And alle þe myghte with hym is · was and worth euere
Þe fyngres is ful hand for failled thei here þombe
Portrey ne peynte partfitliche parfitliche ich leyue
Sholde no wryȝth worche · were he aweye
Ryȝght so faillede þe sone · þe syre be ne myghte
Ne holde ne helpe · ne hente þat he louede dextre dei tu digitus .
The paume is pureliche þe honde · and haþ power by hym-self
Oþer-wise þan þe wryt hen fust oþer werkmanshup of fyngres
For þe paume haþ power to putten out þe Ioyntes
And to vnfolde þe fust for hym hit bylongeþ
And receyuen þat þe fyngres rechen · and refuse yf hym likeþ
Al þat þe fyngres and þe fust · felen and touchen
Beo he greuened with here gripe · þe holy gost let falle
Thus is þe holigost god noþer grettoure ne[^289] lasse
Thenne is þe sire oþer þe sone · and of þe same myghte
And all þre nys bote o good · as my hand and my fyngres
Vnfolde oþer yfolde · a fust wyse oþer elles
Al is hit bote on hand · hou-so yturne hit
Ac ho-so is hurt in þe hand · euene in þe myddes
He may receyue ryght nouht reson hit sheweþ
For þe fyngeres þat folde sholden · and þe fust make
For peyne of þe paume power hym failleþ
To clucche oþer to clawe · to cluppe oþer to holde
Were þe myddel of myn hand · with-oute mal · ese malese
In menye kynne manere ich myghte my-self helpe
Boþe meue and amende þauh alle my fyngres oken
By this simile he seide ·ich seo an euidence
That ho-so synegeþ in þe seynt espirit asoillede worth he neuere
Noþer her ne elles wer as ich herde telle qui peccat in spiritum sanctum . & cetera .
He prikeþ god as in þe paume · þat peccat in spiritum sanctum .
For þe fader is as þe fust · þe sone is as þe fyngres
The holy gost of heuene he is as þe paume
So ho-so synegeþ aȝens þe seynte espirit hit semeþ þat he greueþ
God þer he gripeth · and wolde hus grace queynche
For to a torche oþer to a taper · the trinite is likenede
As wexe and a weke · and warme fur to-gederes
And flaumed fuyr forth of hem boþe
And as wex and weke were twynede to-gederes
Fostren forþ a flaume · and a fayr lye
That serueþ þes swynkeres · to seo by anyghtes
So doþ þe syre and þe sone · and seynt espirit to-gederes
Fostren forth a-mong* folke · fyn loue and by-leyue
Þat alle kynne crystene clanseþ of synne
And as þou suxt some tyme · sodenliche of a torche
Þe blase beo blowen out · ȝut brenneþ þe weke
With-outen lye and lyght · lyght fuyr in þe macche
So is þe holy gost god · and grace with -oute mercy
To alle vnkynde creatures · þat coueyten to distruye
Leel lycame and lif · þat oure lorde shupte
And as glowynge gledes · gladeþ nat þes workemen
Þat worchen and waken · in wynteres nyghtes
As doþ a kyx oþer a candele þat cauht haþ fuyr and blaseþ
No more doþ þe syre ne þe sone ne seynte espirit to-gederes
Graunten eny grace · ne for-gyuenesse of synnes
Til þe holy gost by-gynne · to glowen and blase
So þat þe holy gost gloweþ bote as aglede a glede
Til þat loue and by-leyue · leelliche to hym blowe
Thenne flammeþ he as fuyr · on fader and on filius
And melteþ myghte in-to mercy as wey may seo awynter a wynter
Isykles in euesynges thorgh hete of þe sonne
Melteþ in amynt while a myntwhile · to myst and to water
So grace of þe holy · gost · melteþ al to mercy
The grete myghte of þe trinite to mercyable and to none oþere
And as wex wiþ-oute more · vpon awarm a warm glede
Wol brennen and blasen beo thei to-gyderes
And solasen hem þat mowe nat seon syttyng* in deorknesse
So wol þe fader for-ȝyuen folke · of mylde hertes
That rufulliche repenten · and restitucion maken
In as muche as þei mowen · amenden and payen
And yf hit sufficith nat for a-seth[^290] þat in suche wile deyn
And þe wicke and þe warme fuyr wol make a fayr flamme
For to murthen men with þat in meerk sytten
So wol crist of hus curtesye and men crye hym mercy
Boþe for-ȝeuen and for-ȝuten and ȝut bydde for ous
To þe fader of heuene · for-ȝyuenesse to haue
Ac hewe fuyr of a flynt · four hundred wynter
Bote þou haue tache to take hit with · tunder and broches
Al þy labour is lost · and al þy longe trauayl
For may no fuyr no flamme make · faille hit hus kynde
So is þe holigost god · and grace with-oute mercy
To alle vnkynde creatures · as crist hym-self wittnesse
Amen dico uobis nescio uos .
Beo vnkynde to þyn emcrystene and al þat þow canst bidde
Dele and do penaunce · day and nyght euere
And p orchace al þe pardoun of paumpelon and or rome
And Indulgences ynowe and be ingrat to þy kynde
The holygost huyreþ nat · ne helpeþ þe be thow certayn
For vnkyndenesse queyncheþ hym · þat he nat shyne
Ne brenne ne blase cleer for blowynge of vnkyndenesse
Seynt paul þe apostel proueþ wer ich lye . Si linguis hominum loquar & cetera .
For-þi beoþ war ȝe wyse men þat with þe wordle deleþ
That ryche beon and reson knowen reueleþ wel ȝoure soule
Beoþ nat vnkynde ich consaile ȝou to ȝoure emcristene
For menye of ryke men by my saule ich lye nat
Ȝe brenneþ ac ȝe blaseþ nat and þat is a blynde bekne
Non omnis qui dicit domine domine intrabit in regnum celorum .
Mynne ȝe nat riche men · to wich a meschaunce
Þat diues deyed and dampned · for hus vnkyndenesse
Of hus mete and of hus moneye to men þat hit neodede
Ȝut wan he hit nat with wrang ne with queynte sleythes
Bote ryȝthfulliche as men þat · al hus richesse cam hym ·
And on hym-self seith þe book · soutelede hou he myghte ·
Most lordliche lyuen and leet hus lycame werie
Cloþes of most cost · as clerkes bereth wittnesse
Epulabatur splendide & induebatur bisso & purpura .
And for he was a nigard · to þe neodful poure
For godes treitour he his tolde for al hus trewe catel ·
And dampned is and dwelleþ · with þe deuel in helle
Sitthþe he with-oute whiles wan · and wel myghte a-temye
Lordliche for to lyuen and likyngliche be cloþede
And is in helle for al þat howe wole riche nouthe
Excuse hem þat beþ vnkynde · and ȝut here catel wonne
With wiles and with luther wittes · and ȝut wollen nat atemye
To gon semliche ne sitte sitth holy writ techeþ
That þat wikkedliche is wonne · to wasten hit and to make frendes
Facite uobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis .
Eche ariche a riche man ich rede reward her-of take
And ȝeueþ ȝoure goud to þat god · þat grace of ariseþ
For ȝe þat ben vnhende to hyse · hope ȝe none oþer
Bote to dwelle þer diues is dayes with-outen ende
Thus is vnkyndenesse · and a-queyncheþ as hit were
The grace of þe holygost · godes owene kynde
For þat þat kynde doþ · vnkynde for-doth
Acorsede þeoues vnkende cristene men · for couetise and enuye
Sleehþ a man for hus noebles · with mouth oþer with handes
For þat þe holygost haþ to kepe and suche harlotes destruyen
The wiche is lif and loue · the lye of mannes body
For euery maner good man · may be lycknede to a torche
Oþer elles to a taper · to reuerence with þe trinite .
And ho-so morþrerþ morþer[e]þ[^a360] a goud man · me þynkeþ in myn Inwitt
He for-doþ þe light þat oure lorde · lokeþ to haue worsshep of
And ȝut in mo maneres · men offendeþ þe holygost
Ac þis is þe worste wise þat eny whight myghte
Synegen a-ȝens þe seynt espirit assenten to destru ye
For couetise of eny kynne · þyng þat cryst dere boughte
How myghte he aske mercy · oþer eny mercy hym defende
That wikkidliche and wilfulliche · wolde mercy anyente
Innocence is next god · and nyght and day hit cryeþ
Veniaunce veniaunce · for-ȝeue be hit neuere
Þat shende ous and shadde oure blod · for-shupte ous as hit semede
Vindica sanguinem iustorum .
Thus veniaunce veniaunce verray charite askeþ
And sitthen þat charite þat holychurche is chargeþ this so sore
Leyue ich neuere þat oure lorde · atte laste ende
Wol louye þat lyf þat loue and leel charite destruyen ·
Ich pose ich hadde syneged so quaþ ich · and sholde nouthe deye
And now am ich sory þat ich so dude · þe seynt espirit to agulte
Confesse me and crye hus grace · god þat al made
And myldeliche hus mercy aske myghte ich nat be saued
Ȝus seide þe samaritan so þou myghtest repente
Tha[^291] ryght-wisnesse þorgh repentaunce tow reuthe myghte turne
Ac hit is bote seilde seyn ther southnesse bereþ wittnesse
Eny creature be coupable · by-for a kynges Iustice
Beo yraun sende[^a361] for repentaunce · þer al reson hym dampneþ
Ther þat partye porsueþ þe apeel his so huge
May no kynge mercy graunte til boþe men a-corden
Þat ayþer partye haue a quyte as holy writt wittnesse
Numquam dimittitur peccatum . & . cetera .
Thus hit fareþ by suche folke þat folwen here owene wil
Þat vuel l uen and leten nat til hem for-sake synne
Drede of desperacion þenne dryueþ a-wey grace
Þat mercy in here mynde may nat þenne falle
For good hope þat hem helpe sholde to wham hope turneþ
And nat of þe vnpower of god · þat he nys ful of myghte
To amenden al þat amys is · and hus mercy grettour
Than alle oure wikkede werkus · as holy writ telleþ
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius .
Ac er hus rightwisnesse to reuthe turne · restitucion hit makeþ
As sorwe of herte is satisfaction · for suche as may nat paye
Ac þre þynges þer beoþ þat doþ aman a man to sterte
Out of is[^292] owene houe house[^a362] · as holy writ sheweþ
That on is a wikkede wif · þat wol nat be chastede
Hure fere fleeth fro huere · for fere of huere tounge
And yf hus hous be vnhelede · and ryne in hus bedde
He sekeþ and sekeþ · er he slepe drye
Ac when smoke and smorþre · smyt in hus eyen
Hit doþ hym wors þan hus wif · oþer whete to slepe
For þorw smoke and smorþ re · smerteþ hus syghte
Til he be blereyde oþer blynde · and þe borre in hus þrote
Koweþ and corseþ þat crist ȝyue hym sorwe
Þat sholde bryngge yn bettere wode · oþer blowe til hit brente
These þre þat ich telle of thus beoþ to vnderstounde
The wif is oure wikkede fleshe · wol nat be chastede
For kynde clyueþ on hym euere · to contrarie þe soule
And þauh he falle he fynt skyles þat frelete hit made
And þat is lightliche for-ȝyue and for-ȝute boþe
To man þat mercy askeþ and amende þenkeþ
Ac þe reyn þat ryneþ þer we reste sholde ·
Beoþ syknesses and oþer sorwes þat we suffren ouht
As seynt paul þe apostel · in hus pistles techeþ
Nam uirtus in infirmitate perficitur
And þauh men maken muche deol in here angre
And beo inpacient in here penaunces pure reson knoweþ
That þei han cause to contrarien by kynde of here syknesse
And lightliche oure lorde at here lyues ende
Haþ mercy of suche men · þat vuel may suffrye
Ac þe smooke and þe smorþre · þat smyȝt in oure eyen
Þat is couetise and vnkyndenesse · wich quencheþ godes mercy
For vnkyndnesse is contrarie · of alle kynne reson
For þer ne is syk ne sory ne non so muche wrecche
Þat he ne may louye and hym lyke · and leue of hus herte
Goude wil goud worde boþe whusshen and wylnen
Alle manere of men · mercy and for-ȝeuenesse
And louye hem yliche hym-sylf · þat hus lyf amende
Ich may ne lenger lette quaþ he · and lyarde he prykede
And wente away as þe wynde · and þerwith ich awakede

[^a358: al al (P) | al (Most other mss)]

[^a359: prosones (P) | persones (All other mss)]

[^a360: morþrerþ morþer[e]þ (P) | morthereth (All other mss)]

[^a361: yraun sende (P Z) | yraunsomed (Most other mss)]

[^a362: houe house (P) | hou[s]e (All other mss)]

[^288: P.20.97: ???*** Gloss? OF or ME?]

[^289: P.20.148: An dark ink mark above this word appears to be meaningless.]

[^290: P.20.204: a-seth, "satisfaction" < AN asez .]

[^291: P.20.285: Tha, "that, so that."]

[^292: P.20.305: is, "his."]

Hic explicit passus tercius de dobet ·[^293]

[^293: P.20.340: The hic and the de dobet are shared with the incipit of the next passus]

Hic Incipit passus quartus de dobet · [P.21.000: Hic and de dobet are shared with the explicit of the preceeding passus.]

WOlwerie[^a363] and wetschode wente ich forth after
As a richelees renke · þat reccheþ nat of sorwe
And ȝeode forþ lyke a lorell · al my lyf-tyme
Til ich wax wery of þis worlde · and wilnede efte slepe
And lenede me til lenten · and longe tyme ich slepte
Of gurles and of gloria laus gretliche me dremede
And how osanna by orgne · olde men songe
On was semblable to þe samaritan and somdel to peers plouhman .
Barfot on an asse bak bootles cam prykye
With-oute spores oþer spere · and sprakliche he lokede
As is þe kynde of a knyght · þat comeþ to be doubed
To geten hus gilte spores · and galoches ycoped
Thenne was faith in a fenestre · and cryde a filij dauid .
As doþ an heraud of armes · when auntres comeþ to Iustes
Olde Iuwes of ierusalem for ioye þei songen · benedictus qui uenit in nomine domini .
Þenne ich fraynnede faith what al þat fare by-mente
And ho sholde Iusten in ierusalem . iesus he seyde
And fecche þat þe feond cleymeþ peers frut þe plouhman .
Ys peers in þis place quaþ ich · and he preynkte vpon me
Liberum dei arbitrium quaþ he · for loue haþ vndertake
That þes Iesus of hus genterise · shal Iouste in peers Armes
In hus helme and hus haberion · humana natura .
Þa[^294] crist be nat knowe for · consummatus deus .
In peers plates þe plouhman thes prykere shal ryde
For no dunt shal hym dere · as in in deitate patris .
Ho shal Iouste with Iesus quaþ ich Iuwes oþer scrybes
Nay quaþ faith bote þe feond · and fals dom to deye
Deþ seith he wol for-do and a-doun brynge
Al þat lyueþ oþer lokeþ · a londe and awatere a watere
Lyf seyth þat he lyeþ and haþ leyde hus lyf to wedde
Þat for al þat deþ can do with -Inne þre dayes
To walke and fecche fro þe feonde peers frut þe plouhman
And legge hym þer hym lykeþ · and lucifer bynde
And for-bite a-doun and brynge · bale deþ for euere
O mors tua ero mors ·
Thenne cam pilatus with muche peuple sedens pro tribunali .
To seo hou douhtiliche deþ sholde do · and deyme here beyer ryght
The Iuwes and þe Iustices aȝens Iesus þey were
And alle þe court cryede crucifige lowede
Thenne put hym apelour a pelour by-for pilat and seyde
Thes Iesus of oure Iuwen temple · Iapede and despisede
To for-don hit on a day · and in þe þre dayes after
Edefien hit efte newe her he stant þat seyde hit
And ȝut make as muche in alle manere poyntes
Bothe as longe and as large · aloft and a-grounde
And as wyde as hit euere was · this we whitnessen alle
Crucifige quaþ a kachepol · he can of wicche-crafte
Tolle tolle quaþ anoþer · and toke of kene þornes
And by-gan of a grene þorne · a garlaunde to make
And sette hit sore in hus hefd · and suthe seyde in enuye
Aue rabi quaþ þat ribaud · a reodes shotte at hus eyen ·
And nailede hym with þre nayles naked on þe rode
And with a pole poyson putten to hus lippes
And bed hym drynke hus deþ to lette · and hus dayes lengthen
And seide yf he sotthfast beo he wol hym-self helpen
And now yf þow be criste crist godes sone of heuene
Come a-doune of þis rode and þenne wole we leyue
That lyf þe louyeþ · and wol nat lete þe deye
Consummatum est quaþ crist and comsede for to sounye
Pitousliche and paal · as prison þat deyeþ
The lord of lyf and of light · þo leyde hus eyen to-gederes
The day for drede þer-of with-drow and deork by-cam þe sonne
The wal of þe temple to-cleef · euene a two pices
The harde roche al to-rof · and ryght derk nyght semede
The erthe quook and quashete · as hit quyke were
And dede men for þat deon · comen out of deope graues
And tolden wy þat tempest · so longe tyme durede
For a byter bataile þe dede bodye seyde
Lyf and deþ in þis deorknesse her on for-doþ þat oþer
Ac shal no whit[^295] wite witerliche · hoshal ho shal haue þe mastrye
Er soneday a-boute sonne rysynge and sank with þat til erthe
Somme seiden he was godes sone · þat so faire deyede . vere filius dei erat iste .
Somme seiden he can of sorcerye · good is þat we asaye
Wher he be ded oþer nat ded · doun er he be take
Two þeoues þer were þat þoleden deþ þat tyme
Vpon crois by-side crist so was þe comune lawe
Quikliche cam a cacchepol and crakede a-two here legges
And here armes after of euerich of þo þeoues
Ac þer was no boye so bolde · godes body to touche
For he was knyght and kynges sone kynde for-ȝaf þat tyme
Þat no boye hadde hardinesse hym to touche in deyynge
Ac þer cam forth a blynde knyght with kene spere y-grounde
Hihte longeus as þe lettere telleþ · and longe hadde lore hus sight
By-fore pilat and oþer peuple · in þe place he houede
Ac maugrey hus meny teþ he was mad þat tyme
To Iouste with Iesus this blynde Iuwe longeus .
For alle hij were vnhardy · þat houede þer oþer stonde
To touche hym oþer to tryne hym oþer to take hym doun and graue hym
Bote þis blynde bachelere þat bar hym þorw þe herte
The blood sprang* doun by þe sper · and vnsperrede þe knyghtes eyen
Tho feol þe knyght vpon knees · and cryed ihesus mercy
Aȝens my wil hit was quaþ he · þat ich ȝow wonde made
He syghede and seide · sore hit me for-þynkeþ
Of þe dede þat ich haue donn · ich do me in ȝoure grace
My londe and my licame · at ȝoure lykynge takeþ hit
And haue mercy on me ryghtful · ihesu ryght with þat he wepte
Thenne gan faith foully · þe false Iewes to despisen
And calde hem caytifs a-corsed · for þis was a vil vilanye
Veniaunce is to ȝou falle · þat makede þe blynde
Beten hym þat was ded · hit was a boyes dede
Corsede caityfs knyghthod was hit neuere
To bete a body ybounde with eny bryȝth wepne
Þe gree ȝut haþ he geten · for alle hus grete wondes
For ȝoure campion chiualer · chief knyght of ȝow alle
Ȝelt hym recreaunt remynge · ryght at iesus wil
For beo þis deorkenesse ydo · deþ worth venkised
And ȝe lordlinges han lost · for lyf shal haue þe maystrie
And ȝoure fraunchises þat freo was · fallen is to þraldom
And alle ȝoure children cheorles · chuuen shulle þei neuere
Ne haue lordshup in lond noþer lond tylie
And as barayne beo · and by vsure libbe
The wiche is lif þat oure lorde · in alle lawes defendeþ
Now beoþ ȝoure goode dayes don · as daniel of ȝow telleþ
When crist with crois ouer-cam ȝoure kyngdom shal to-cleue
Cum uenerit sanctus sanctorum cessabit unctio uestra .
What for fere of þis ferly and of þe false Iewes
Ich drow in þat deorknesse to descendit ad inferna .
And þer ich seyh sothliche · secundum scripturas .
Out of þe west as it were · a weynche as me þouhte
Cam walkynge in þe way · to helle-ward he[^296] lokede
Mercy hihte þat mayde · a mylde þing* with-alle
And a ful benyngne burde and buxum of speche
Heore sustre as hit semede · cam softly walkynge
Euene out of þe est · and westwarde he sheo þouhte
Acomely A comely creature and clene treuthe sheo hihte
For þe vertue þat here folwede · afered was he sheo neuere
Whan þeos maydenes metten mercy and treuthe .
Ayþer axed of oþer · of þis grete wonder
Of þe deone and deorknesse · and how þe day roued
And wiche a light and wich aleom a leom · lay by-fore helle
Ich haue ferly of þis fare · in faith seide treuthe
And am wendyng to wyte · what þis wonder meneþ
Haue no meruayle þer -of quaþ mercy murthe hit by-tokneþ
A mayde þat hatte Marie and moder with-oute felynge
Of eny kynde of creature · conceyuede þorw speche
And grace of þe holygost waxe gret with childe
With-oute wommen wem · in-to þis wordle brouhte hym
And þat my tale is trywe ich take god to witnesse
Sutthen þis barn was ybore · beoþ þritty wynter passed
Deyed and deþ þolede þis day a-boute mydday
That is þe cause of þis eclipse · þat ouer-closeþ now þe sonne
In menynge þat man shal fro meorknesse beo drawe
The while þis light and þis leom shal lucifer a-bleynde
For patriarkes and prophetes han prechede her-of ofte
***???red cross

[The rubricating scribe has drawn a large red cross in the right margin covering three lines.]

That þyng þat tynt was þorw treo treo shal hit wynne
And þat þat deþ doun brouhte · deþ shal releue
That þat þou tellest quaþ treuþe · is bote a tale of walterot
For adam and eue . and abraham with oþere
Patriarkes and prophetes þat in peyne liggen
Leyf hit neuere þat ȝeon lyght · hem a-lofte brynge
Ne haue hem out of helle · hold þy tonge mercy
Hit is trufle þat þou tellest ich treuthe wot þe sothe
That þyng þat ones was in helle · out comeþ hit neuere
For Iob þe parfit patriarke repreoueþ þy lawes
Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio .
Thenne mercy ful myldeliche · mouþed þes wordes
Þorgh experience quaþ heo · ich hope þei shulle be sauede
For venym for-doþ venym þer vecche ich euydence
That adam & eue haue shullen bote
Of alle fretynge venymes þe vilest is þe scorpion
May no medecyne amende þe place þer he styngeþ
Til he be ded ydo þerto and þenne hit distrieþ
The ferste venemoste thorgh vertu of hym-selue
And so shal this deþ for-do · ich þar my lyf legge
Al þat deþ and þe deouel · dude formest to eue .
Ryght as þe gylour þorw gyle · by-gylede man formest
So shal grace þat al by-gan · make a good ende
And by-gyle þe gylour · and þat is a goo sleithe ars ut artem falleret .
Now suffre we saide treuthe ich seo as me thynkeþ
Out of þe nype of þe northt north · nat ful feer hennes
Rythwisnesse come rennynge · reste we þe wyle
For he wot more þan we · he was er þan we boþe
That is soth seide mercy and ich seo her by southe
Wer comeþ pees pleyinge In pacience cloþed
Loue heore haþ coueyted longe leyue ich non oþer
Bote loue haue sent heore som lettere · what þis light by-meneþ
That ouere-houeþ helle þus · he shal ous telle
Wenne pees In pacience cloþed · aproched ayþer oþer
Ryghtwisnesse reuerencede pees in heore riche cloþinge
And prayede pees to tellen huere · to what place he wolde
In heore gay garnemens · wham he gladie þouhte
My wil is to weynde quaþ pees and wel-come hem alle
Þat meny day myghte ich nat seo · for meorknesse of synne
Adam and eue and oþer mo in helle
Moyses and meny mo mercy shullen synge
And ich shal daunce þer -to · do also þow suster
For iesus ioustede wel ioye by-gynneþ to dawen
ad uesperum demorabitur fletus & ad matutinum leticia .
Loue þat is my lemman suche letteres me sente
Þat mercy my suster and ich · mankynde shullen saue
And þat god haþ for-gyue · and graunted to al mankynde
Mercy my suster and me to maynprise hem alle
And crist haþ conuerted þe kynde of ryghtwisnesse
Into pees and pyte of hus pure grace
Lo here þe patente quaþ · pees . in pace in idipsum .
And þat þis dede shal dure
Rauest þou quaþ ryghtwesnesse · oþer þou ert right dronke
Leyuest þou þat þe ȝon light vnlouke myghte helle
And saue mannes soule · suster wene hit neuere
Ac[^a364] A[t] þe bygynnynge of þe worlde god gaf þe dom hym-selue
Þat adam and eue and hus issue alle
Sholden deye doun-right · and dwelle in peyne euere
Yf þei touchede þe treo and of þe frut eten
Adam afterwarde · a-ȝens hus defense
Faste fret of þat frut · and for-soke as hit were
The leel loue of oure lorde · and hus lore boþe
And folwede þat þe feonde tauhte and hus sheshes fleshes wil
A-ȝens reson and ryghtwysnesse recorde þis with treuþe
That here peyne is perpetuel no preyere may hem helpe
For-thi let hem chewe as þei chose · and chide we nat susteres
For hit is a botles bale þe byte þat þei eten
And ich shal preye quaþ pees here peyne mote haue an ende
Þat here wo in-to wele wende mote atte þe laste
For hadde þei wist of no wo wele hadde þei nat knowe
For wot no whit[^297] wat wele is · þat neuere wo suffrede
Ne wat is hot hunger · þat hadde neuere defaute
Ho couþe kyndeliche wit · colour discriue
Hif alle þe worlde where whit oþer swan whit alle þynges
Yf no nyght were no man as ich leyue
Sholde wite whiterly · what day were to mene
Ne hadde god suffrede of som oþer þan hym-selue
He hadde nat wist wyterly weþer deþ wer sour oþer sweyte
For sholde neuere right riche man þat lyueþ in reste and hele
Ywyte what wo is · ne were þe deþ of kynde
So god þat al by-gan of hus good wil
By-cam man of a mayde · mankynde to saue
And suffrede to be solde to seo þe sorwe of deyynge
The wiche vnknytte alle care · and comsyng* is of reste
For til moreyne mete with ous · ich may hit wel a-vowe
Ne wot no whight as ich wene · what is ynowh to mene
For-thi god of hus goudnesse þe furste man Adam
He sette hym in solace furst · and in souerayne murthe
And sutthe suffrede hym to synege · sorwe to fele
To white[^298] þer-þorw[^a365] wat wele was · an kyndeliche to knowe
And after auntrede god hym-self and touk adams kynde
To white what he hadde suffred in þre sondry places
Boþe in heuene and in erthe · and now to helle he þenkeþ
To wite what alle wo is · þat what of alle ioye
Omnia probate quod bonum est tenete .
So shal hit fare by þis folke · here folie and here synne
Shal lere hem what loue is and lisse with-outen ende
For wot no whight what werre is · þer as pees regneþ
Ne what whiterliche wele · til wele away hym teche
Thenne was þer a whight · with two brode eyen
Book hihte þat beau-pere · a bold man of speche[^299]
By godes body quaþ þes book · ich wole bere wyttnesse
Tho þis barn was ybore · þer blased a sterre
Þat alle þe wise of þe worlde · in owit o wit a-corde
Þat suche a barn was ybore in · bethleem þe cyte
Þat mannes soule sholde saue · and synne destruye
And alle þe elemens quaþ þe book here-of bereþ whitnesse
Þat he was god þat al wrouhte · þe wolkene furst shewede
To þat weren in heuene · token · stella comata .
And tenden hit as a torche to reuerence hus burthe
Þat light folwede þe lorde in-to þe lowe erthe
The water whitnessed[^300] þat he was god · for god wente on hym drye
Peter þe apostel · parceyuede hus gate
And as he wente vpon þe water wel hym knewe and seide
Domine iube me uenire ad te .
Loo how þe sonne gan louke hure light in huere-selue
When he sey hym suffry deþ þat sonne and see made
Lo þe erthe for heuynesse · þat he wolde deþ suffre
Quaquide as quike þyng · and alto quaschete al toquaschete þe roches
Lo helle myghte nat holde · bote openede þo god deþ þolede
And let out symondes sones to se hym honge on rode
Non uisurum se mortem .
Now shal lucifer lyue hit · thauh hym loþ þynke
Fo For ihesus as a gyaunt · with a gyn comeþ ȝeonde
To breken and to bete a-doun · al þat ben a-gayns hym
And to haue out alle · of hem þat hym likeþ
And ȝut ich book wol beo brent · bote he a-rise to lyue
And conforten al hus kyn and out of care brynge
And al þe Iuwene ioye · vnioyenen and vnlouken
And bote yf þei reuerencen hus resurexion · and þe rode honoure
And by-leyue on a newe lawe · beo ylost lyf and soule
Suffre we saide treuthe and huyre and seo boþe
Aspirit A spirit speke to helle · and bit vnsperre þe ȝates
Attollite portas principes uestras & eleuamini porte eternales & cetera .
A voys loude in þat light to lucifer seide
Princes of þis palys prest vndo þe ȝates
For here comeþ with coroune · þe kynge of alle glorie ·
Thenne syhede satan · and seide to helle
Suche a light a-ȝeyns oure leue lazar hit fette
Colde care and combraunce · is come to ous alle
Yf thes kyng* comen yn · mankynde wol he fecche
And leden hit þer lazar is · and lightliche me bynde
Patriarkes and prophetes han parled her-of longe
Þat suche a lorde and a lyght shal leden hem alle hennes
Ac rys vp ragamoffyn · and reche me alle þe barres
That belial þe beel-syre · beot with þy damme
And ich shal lette þis lorde and hus light stoppe
Ar we þorw bryghtnesse be blent barre we þe ȝates
Cheke we and cheyne we · and eche chyne stoppe
Þat no light leopen yn at louer ne at loupe
And þow astrot hot out · and haue out knaues
Coltyng* and al hus kynne · oure catel to saue
Brynston boilaunt · brennyng out casteþ hit
Al hot in here heuedes þat entren ny þe walles
Setteþ bowes of brake · a brasene gonnes
And sheteþ out shot ynowh · hus shultrom to blende
Sette mahon at þe mangenel · and mulle-stones þroweþ
Whith[^301] crokes and with kalketrappes · a cloye we hem echone
Lusteþ quaþ lucifer · for ich þis lord knowe
Boþe þis lord and þis lyght · is longe gon ich knew hym
May no deþ þis lord dere · ne no deoueles queyntise
And wher he wolde is hus wey · ac war hym of þe periles
Yf he reue me of my ryght · he robbeþ me by mastrie
For by ryght and reson þe renkes þat beon here
Body and soule beþ myne · boþe good and ille
For he hym-self hit seide · þat syre is of helle
That adam and eue and al hus issue
Sholden deye with deol · and here dwelle euere
Yf þei touchede a treo oþer toke þer-of an appel
Thus thees lorde of light suche a lawe made
And sitthe he is so leel a lorde · ich leyue þat he wol nat
Reuen ous of oure ryght sutthe reson hem dampned
And sutthe we han beosesed beo sesed · seuene þowsend wynter
And neuere was þeraȝeyn · and now wolde by-gynne
He were vnwrast of hus worde þat witnesse is of treweþe
That is soþ seide satan · bote ich me sore[^302] douhte
For þow gete hem with gyle · and hus gardyn breke
Ageyn hus loue and hus leue · on hus londe ȝeodest*
Nat in forme of a feonde · bote in forme of an Addre
And entisedest eue to ete · by heore one ve soli .
And by-hihtest heore and hym . after to knowe
As to godes with god boþe good and ille
Thus with treison and with trecherie þou troiledest hem boþe
And dudest hem breke he buxumnesse þorw false by-heste
Thus haddest þou hem out · and hyder atte laste
Hit is nat greythly getyn ther gyle is þe rote
And god wol nat be by-gyled · quaþ gobelyn ne by-Iaped
We haue no triwe title to hem · for þi treison hit makeþ
For-thi ich drede me quaþ þe deouel · lest treuthe wol hem Fecche
And as þow by-gyledest godes ymage · in goynge of an addre
So haþ god by-gyled ous alle · in goynge of a wye
For god haþ go quaþ gobelyn in a gome lyknesse
This þritty wynter as ich wene · and went abowte and prechede
Ich haue asailid hym with synne · and som tyme ich askede
Wher he were god oþer godes sone · he gaf me short answere
Thus haþ he troiled and trauailed In hus tyme
Forþ like a tydy man · this to and þritty wyntere
And wenne ich seih þat he was so ich sotelide how ich myghte
Lette hem þat louede hym nat · lest þei wolde hym martrye[^a366]
Ich wolde haue lengthed hus lyf · for ich leyuede yf he deyede
And hus soule huder come · he sholde shende ous alle
The body wyle hit one bones ȝeden a-boute was hit euere
To lere men to beo leel · eche man to louen oþer
The wiche lif and lawe · be hit longe yusede
Hit shal vndon ous deoueles · and don brynge ous alle
Now yseo y seo wher hus soule comeþ · seilinge hiderwardes
Whit[^303] glorie and with gret light · god hit is ich wot wel
Ich rede wey fleo quaþ þe feond · faste alle hennes
For hus were betere nat beo þan a-byde in hus syghte
For-thi lesynge lucifer · we loste furst oure ioye
And out of heuene hider · thi pruede made ous falle
For we lyuede on þy lesinges þer losten we blysse
And now for a later lesynge þat þow lowe tyl eue
Whe[^304] han lost oure lorshep · a londe and in helle Nunc princeps huius mundi
Suþþe þat satan · myssayde þus foule
Lucifer for hus lesynges · leyue ich non oþer
Bote oure lord atte laste · lyeres here rebuke
And wyten hem al þe wrecchednesse þat wrouht is on erthe
Beo yware ȝe wise clerkes · and wytty men of lawe
Þat ȝe by-gylie nat þeos men for atte laste dauid .
Whittnesseþ in hus wrytynge what is lyeres mede
Odisti omnes qui operantur iniquitatem . & perdes omnes qui loquntur mendacium .
A lytel ich ouer-lep · for lesynges sake
Þat ich ne segge as ich seih · suynge my teme
For eft þat light bad vnlouke · and lucifer answerede
What lord ert þu quaþ lucifer · a voys aloud seyde
The lord of myght and of man þat made alle þynges
Duke of þis dymme place · a-non vndo þe ȝates
That crist mowe comen In · þe kynges sone of heuene
And with þat breþ helle brake with alle beliales barres
For enywye eny wye oþer-warde · wyde openede þe ȝates
Patriarkes and prophetes populus in tenebris
Songen with seint Iohan . ecce agnus dei .
Lucifer loke ne myghte · so lyght hym a-blente
And þo þat oure lord louede with þat lyght forth flowen
Lo me her quaþ oure lorde · lyf and soule bothe
For alle synful soules to saue oure beyere ryght
Myne þei were and of me · ich may þe beter hem cleyme
Al þauh re son recorde · and ryght of my-selue
That yf þei eten þe appel alle sholden deye
Ich by-hihte hem nat here · helle for euere
For þe dedliche synne þat þei duden · thi deceite hit made
With gyle þow hem gete · a-geyn alle reson
For in my paleis paradis in persone of an Addere
Falsliche fettest þere · þat me by-feol to loke
By-glosedest hem and gyledest hem · and my gardyn breke
Aȝeyns my loue and my leyue · þe olde lawe techeþ
Þat gylours beþ by-gylid and in here gyle falle
And ho-so hitteþ out a mannes eye oþer elles hus for-teþ
Oþere eny manere membre · maymeþ oþer hurteþ
The same for shal · he haue þat enye so smyteþ
Dentem pro dente & oculum pro oculo .
So lyf shal lete þer lyf haþ lyf anyented
So þat lyf quyte lyf · þe olde lawe hit askeþ
Ergo soule shal soule quyte · and synne to synne wende
And al þat man mys-dude · ich man to amenden hit
And þat þat deþ for-dude · ich deþ to releuen
Boþe aquyte and aquykye · þat was aqueynt þorwe synne
And gyle be by-gyled · thorgh grace atte þe laste
Ars ut artem falleret . & cetera .
So leyf hit nat lucifer þat ich a-ȝens þe lawe
Fecche here eny synful soule · souereynliche by maistrie
Bo.. þe þorgh ryght and reson · raunson here myne lige
No. n ueni soluere legem . sed adimplere .
So þat þorgh gyle was geten · þorwe grace is now ywonne
And as Adam and alle þorw a treo deyden ·
Adam and alle þorgh a treo shal turne to lyue
And now by-gynneþ thi gyle · agayn on þe turne
And my grace to growe · ay wydder and wydder
The biternesse þat þou hast browe · now brouk hit þy-self*
That ert doctour of deþ · drynk þat þow madest*
For ich þat am lord of lyf · loue is my drynke
And for þat drynke to daye · deyede as hit semede
Ac ich wol drynke of no dich · ne of no deep cleregie
Bote of comune coppes alle cristene soules
Ac þi drynke worth deþ · and deop helle þy bolle
Ich fauht so me fursteþ ȝut · for mannes soule sake sicio .
May no pyement ne pomade · ne presiouse drynkes
Moyste me to þe fulle · ne my þurst slake
Til þe vendage valle · in þe vale of Iosaphat .
And drynke ryght rype most Resurreccio mortuorum .
Then shal ich come as a kyng* · with coroune and with angeles
And haue out of helle · alle menne soules
Feondes and feondekenes · by-for me shullen stande
And be at my byddyng* at blysse oþer att peyne
Ac to beo merciable to man · þenne my kynde askeþ
For we beoþ broþerne of blod · ac nat in baptisme alle
Ac alle þat beoþ myn half broþerne · in blod and in baptisme
Shal neuere eft in helle come · beo he ones oute
Tibi soli peccaui & malum coram te feci . & cetera .
Hit is nat vsed on erthe · to honge eny felones
Ofter þan ones · þauh þei weren treitours
And yf þe kyng of þe kyngdom · come in þe tyme
Ther a þeof þoly sholde deþ oþer Iuwes
Lawe wolde he ȝeue hym lyf · and he lokede on hym
And ich þat am a kynge ouer kynges shal come suche tyme
Ther þat dom to þe deoþ · dampned alle wyckede
And yf lawe wol ich loke on hem hit lyth in my grace
Wheþer þei deye oþer deye nat dude þei neuere so ille
Be hit eny þyng dure ybouht þe boldnesse of here synne
Ich may do mercy of my ryghtwisnesse · and alle myne wordes trywe
For holy writ wole þat ich be awreke · of hem þat wrouhte ille
As nullum malum impunitum & nullum bonum irremuneratum .
And so of alle wyckede ich wolle here take veniaunce
And ȝut my kynde in my kene yre shal contrarie my wil
Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me neque in ira tua corripias me .
To beo merciable to meny · of myne half-broþerne
For blod may seo blood boþe a þurst and a cale
Ac blod may nat seo blod · blede bote hym rewe ·
Audiui archana uerba que non licet homini loqui .
Ac my ryghtwisnesse and my right shal regnen in helle
And mercy and mankynde · by-for me in heuene
For ich were an vnkynde kynge · bote ich my kyn helpe
And nameliche at suche a neode · þat neodes help askeþ
Non intres in iudicio cum seruo tuo domine .
Thus by lawe quaþ oure lord · lede ich wol fro hennes
Alle þat ich louye · and leyuede in my comynge
Ac for þe lesynge þat þow lucifer lowe til eue .
Þow shalt abygge bitere quaþ god · and bond hym with cheynes
Astrott and alle oþere hudden hem in heornes
Thei dorste nat loken on oure lorde · þe leste of hem alle
Bote leot hym leden forth wich hym luste · and leue wiche hym lykede
Mony hundrede of aungelis harpeden þo and songen
Culpat caro purgat caro regnat deus dei caro .
Thenne pipede pees of poetes a note
Clarior est solito . post maxima nebula phebus
Post inimicicias . clarior est et amor .
After sharpest shoures quaþ pees moost shene is þe sonne
Ys no weder warmer · þan after watery cloudes
Noþer loue leuere · ne leuere freondes
Þan after werre and wrake · wanne loue and pees beon maistres
Was neuere werre in þis worlde ne wykkeder ennye
Þat loue and hym luste to lauhynge brouhte
Treuwes quaþ treuthe þou tellest soþ by · iesus
Cluppe we in couenaunt · and ech of ous cusse oþer
And leet no peuple quaþ pees parceyue þat we chide
For impossible is no þyng to hym þat is al-myghty
Þow seist soþ quaþ rightwisnisse and reuerentliche heo custe .
pees and pees heore · per secula seculorum .
Misericordia & ueritas obuiauerunt sibi . Iusticia & pax osculate sunt .
Treuthe trompede þo · and song* te deum laudamus .
And þenne lutede loue In alowd note
Ecce quam bonum & quam iocundum est habitare fratres in unum .
Tyl þe day dawede these damseles daunsede
That men rang to þe resurectioun · and with þat ich a-wakede
And kallyd kytte my wyf · and kalote my doughter
Arys and go reuerence godes resureccioun
And creop on kneos to þe croys and cusse hit for a Iuwel
An ryghtfullokest a relyk non riccher on erthe
For godes blesside body hit bar for oure bote
And hit a-fereþ þe feonde for such is þe myghte
May no grysliche gost glyde þer hit shadeweþ ·

[^a363: WOlwerie (P Gc Uc Z) | Wollewaerd (Most other mss)]

[^a364: Ac (P) | At (All other mss)]

[^a365: white þer-þorw (P) | wyte (All other mss)]

[^a366: martrye (P Ecc) | martre (Most other mss)]

[^294: P.21.23: Þa, "that." Cf. P20.285.]

[^295: P.21.70: whit, "wight, being."]

[^296: P.21.120: he, "she."]

[^297: P.21.215: whit, "person, being."]

[^298: white, "wit, know."]

[^299: P.21.245: The ill-formed <c> here looks very like a <t>.]

[^300: P.21.256: whitnessed, "witnessed."]

[^301: P.21.302: Whith, "with."]

[^302: P.21.320: An otiose mark appears above the final <e>.]

[^303: P.21.351: Whit, "with."]

[^304: P.21.358: Whe, "we."]

Hic Explicit passus quartus & ultimus de dobet .[^305]

[^305: P.21.496: The trailer shares the Hic with the incipit of the succeeding passus.]

Hic Incipit passus primus de dobest ·

T hus ich awakede and wrot what ich hadde dremed
And dyhte me derly · and dude me to churche
To huyre holliche þe masse and be housled after
In myddes of þe masse þo · men ȝeden to offrynge
Ich feel eft-sones aslepe · and sodeynliche me mette
That peers the plouhman was peynted al blody
And cam yn with acroys a croys · by-fore þe comune peuple
And right like in alle lymes · to oure lord ihesu .
And þenne calde ich conscience to kenne me þe soþe
Is this ihesus þe Iouster quaþ ich · þat Iuwes duden to deþe
Oþer is hit peers plouhman ho peynted hym so rede
Quaþ conscience and kneolede þo this aren cristes armes
Hus colours and hus cote armure · and he þat comeþ so blody
Hit is crist with is[^306] crois · conquerour of crystine
Whi calle ȝe hym crist siþthen þat Iuwes cald hym · ihesus
Patriarkes and prophetes propheciede by-fore
Þat alle kynne creatures sholden kneolen and bowen
Anon as men nempned · þe name of god ihesu .
Ergo is no name · to þe name of ihesu .
And non so neodful to nempne by nyghte ne by daye
For alle deorke deoueles · dreden hit to huyre
And synful ben solacede · and saued by þat name
And ȝe callen hym crist for what cause telleþ me
Is crist more of myght · and more worþiere name
Than ihesu oþer iesus þat al oure ioy come of
Thow knowest wel quaþ conscience and þow conne reson
Þat knyght kyng conqurour may be o persone
To beo cald aknyght a knyght as [i]s[^a367] fair · for men shal to hym kneole
To be cald a kyng* · is fairour for he may knyghtes make
And to be cald conquerour that comeþ of special grace
Of hardynesse of heorte and of hendenesse
To make lordes of laddes · of londe þat he wynneþ
And fre men foule þralles · þat folwen nat hus lawes
The Iuwes þat weren gentel men ihesu þei dispiseden
Boþe hus lore and hus lawe · now aren þei lowe cheorles
As wide as þe worlde is wonyeþ þer none
Bote vnder tribut and taillage as tikes and cheorles
And þo þat by-comen cristene · by counsail of þe baptist .
Aren frankelayns and freo þorgh fullyng* þat thei toke
And gentel men with ihesu for ihesus was yfulled
And vp-on caluarie with croys coronede kyng of Iuwes
Hit by-comeþ for a kyng to kepen and defende
And conquerour of hus conqueste hus laies and hus large
So dude ihesus þe Iuwes · he Iustefiede and tauhte hem
The lawe of þe lykyng lyf þat laste shal euere
And fendede hem fro foule vueles feueres and fluxes
And fro feondes þat were in hem and false by-leyue
Þo was he ihesus of Iuwes cald · gentel prophete
And kyng of here kyn gdom · and corone bar of þornes
And þo conquered he on croys as conquerour noble
Myghte no deþ hym for-do ne adoun brynge
Þat he ne aros and regnede · and rauesshede helle
And þo was he conquerour called of quyke and of dede
For he ȝaf adam & eue and oþer mo blisse
Þat longe hadde leye by-fore · as luciferes cheorles
And tok lucifer þe loþliche þat lord was of helle
And bond hym as he is bounde · with bondes of yren
Ho was hardier þan he · hus heorte blode he shadde
To maken alle foolk freo þat folwen hus lawe
And sutthe he ȝaue largeliche · alle hus leel lege
Places in paradis at here partyng* hennes
He may beo wel cald conquerour · and þat is crist to mene
Ac þe cause whi he comeþ þus with croys and hus passion
Ys to wissen ous þer-with · þat when we beo temptid
Ther-with to fighten and fenden ous · fro fallyng* into synne
And seo by hus sorwe þat ho-so loueþ ioye
To penaunce and to pouerte · he mot putte hymselue
And muche wo in þis worlde · wilnen and suffren
Ac to carpe more of crist and how he cam to þat name
Faithly for to speke · hus furste name was ihesus .
Tho he was bore in bethleem · as þe book telleþ
And cam to take mankynde · kynges and aungeles
Reuerencide hym right faire · with richesse of eorthe
Aungeles of heuene · comen kneolede and songen gloria in excelsis deo .
Kynges comen after · kneolede and offride
Muche gold and murre · with-oute mercy askynge
Oþer eny kynne catel bote knewelichede hym souereyn
Boþe of sand sonne and see and sitthen þei wente
In-to here kyngene kutthe by counsail of aungeles
And þer was þat word fulfild · þe wich thou of speke
Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine ihesu .
For alle þe aungeles of heuene · at hus burthe kneolede
And al þat wit of þe worlde · was in þo þre kynges
Reson and ryghtfulnesse · and reuthe þei offrede ·
Were-fore and whi wise men þat tyme
Maistres and lettred men magi hem calde
That on kyng cam with reson keuered vnder sense
The secounde kynge sitthen · sothliche he offrede
Ryghtwisnesse vnder red gold · resones felawe
Gold is licknede to leaute þat laste shal euere
And reson to ryche gold · to right and to treuthe
The þridde kynge cam þo · and kneolede to iesu
And presentide hym with pite · aperynge by mirre
For mirre is mercy to mene and mylde speche of tonge
Eorthliche honeste þynges was offred þus at ones
Þorgh þre kynde kynges kneolyng* to ihesu .
Ac for alle þes preciose presentes · oure lord ihesus .
Was noþer kyng no conquerour til he comsede wexe
In þe manere of man · and þat by muche sleithe
As hit by-comeþ for a conquerour to conne menye sleithes
And menye whiles and wyt · þat wol be a ledere
And so dude ihesus in hus dayes · ho-so dorste tellen hit
som tyme he suffrede · and som tyme he hidde hym ·
And som tyme he fauhte faste · and fleih oþer-wile
And som tyme gaf good · and grauntede hele
Boþe lyf and lyme as hym luste he wrouhte
As is of a conquerour so comsede ihesus
Til he hadde alle hem þat he for bledde
In hus Iuuente thes ihesus at Iuwene feste
Turned water in-to wyn · as holy writ telleþ
And þer by-gan[^307] god of hus grace gretliche to dowel
For wyn is lykned to lawe and lyf holynesse
And lawe lackede þo · for men louede nat here enemy
And crist counsaileþ thus · and comaundeþ boþe
To lerede and to lewede · for to loue oure enemys
So at þat feste furst · as ich by-fore tolde
By-gan god of hus grace · and of hus goodnesse dowel
And þo was he clipede and cald · nat onliche crist bote ihesu .
A fauntekyn ful of wytt filius Marie .
For by-fore hus moder Marie made he þat wonder
That sheo furst and formest sholde ferm by-leyue
That he thorgh grace was gete and of no gome elles
He wrouhte þat by no wyt bote by worde one
After þe kynde þat he cam of ther comsede he dowel
And wenne he was woxen more · in hus modres absence
He made lame to leepe and ȝaf light to þe blynde
And fedde with to fisshes and with fyue loues
So a-fyngred fele folke · mo þan fyf þousand
Thus he comfortede careful · and cauhte a grettere name
The wiche was dobet wher þat he wente
For deue þorgh hus doynges and dombe speke and herde
And alle he heled and halp þat hym of grace askyde
Tho he was callyd in þe contreo · of þe comune peuple
For þe dedes þat he dude fili dauid Iesus .
For dauid was þe douhtiest · of dedus in hus tyme
The buyrdes so songen saul interfecit mille & dauid decem milia .
For-þi þe contreye þer ihesu cam · cald hym fili dauid .
Nempnede hym of nazareth and no man so worthi
To beo caiser oþer kyng* of þe kyngdom of Iuda
Ne ouere Iuwes Iustice · as ihesus hem þouhte
Her-of hadde cayfas enuye · and oþere Iuwes
And for to do hym to diþe · day and nyght þei casten
And culled hym on croys wyse · at caluarye on afryday a fryday
And sutthen buriede hus body · and beden þat men sholde
Kepen hit fro nyght-commeres · with knyghtes yarmed
For no freonde sholde hit fecche · for prophetes hem tolde
That þat blesside body · of burielesse sholde aryse
And gon in-to galile · and gladen hus apostoles .
And hus moder Marie thus me by-fore deuynede
The knyghtes þat kepten hit · by-knewen hem-selue
Þat aungeles archaungeles ar þe day spronge
Comen kneolynge to þat corps · and songen
Christus rex resurgens and hit aros after
Verrei man by-fore hem alle · and forþ with hem ȝeode
The Iuwes preyede hem of pees · and preyede þo knyghtes
Telle þe comune þat þer cam · a companye of hus aposteles
And by-wocched hem as thei woke · and away stelyn hit
Ac marie magdalene mette hem by þe weye
Goynge to-ward galile · in god-hede and man-hede
And lyues and lokynge · and heo aloud cryede
In eche companye þer heo cam Christus resurgens .
Thus cam hit out · þat crist ouer-cam · rekeouered and leyuede
Sic oportet christum pati & intrare gloriam suam .
For þat wommen witeþ · may nat wel be consail
Peter parceyuede al þis and porsuede after
Boþe Iames and Iohan . Ihesu to seke
Tadee and ten mo · with thomas of ynde
And alle þese wise weyes · weren to-gederes
In an hous al by-shutt and here dore barred
Crist cam yn and al was closed boþe dore and ȝates
To peter and to hus aposteles · and seyde pax uobis .
And took thomas by þe hand · and tauhte hym þe grepe
And fele with hus fyngres · hus fleshliche heorte
Thomas touchede hit · and with hus tunge seyde dominus meus & deus meus .
Thow ert my lord ich by-leyue · god lord ihesu .
That deydest and deþ þoledest and deme shalt ous alle
And now ert lyuynge and lokynge · and laste shalt euere
+

[P.22.178: Illegible marks in the near right margin may have prompted the cross in the far right margin?]

Crist carpede þenne · and corteisliche seide
Thomas for thou trowest this · and trewely by-leyuest hit
Yblessed mote þou beo · and beo shalt for euere
And blessed moten þei beo · in body and in soule
Þat neuere shullen seo in syht · as þou seost nouthe
And leelly by-leyuen al this · ich loue hem and blesse hem
Beati qui non uiderunt & crediderunt .
And when þis dede was don dobest he þouhte
And ȝaf peers power · and pardon he grauntede
To alle manere of men · mercy an[^308] forȝyuenesse
And ȝaf hym myghte to asoylye men · of alle manere synnes
In couenaunt þat þei come and kneweliched to paye
To peers pardon plouhman . Redde quod debes .
Thus haueþ peers power beo hus pardon payed
To bynde and vnbynde · bothe here and elles wer
And assoille of alle synnes · saue of dette one
A-non after an hyh · vp in-to heuene
He wente and woneþ þere and wol come atte laste
And rewardy hem right wel · þat Reddit quod debet .
Payeþ now parfitliche · as pure treuthe wolde
And wat persone payeþ hit nat punysshen he þenkeþ
And demen hym at domesday · boþe quyke and dede
The gode to þe god-hede · and to grete ioye
And wyckede to wonye in wo with-outen ende
Thus conscience of crist and of þe croys carpede
And consailede me to kneole þerto and þenne cam me þouhte
On spiritus paraclitus to peers and to hus felawes
In licknesse of a lyghtynge · a lyghte on hem alle
And made hem come and knowe · alle kynne langages
Ich wondrede what þat was · and waggede conscience
And was aferede for þe lyght · for in fuyres lyknesse
Spiritus paraclitus ouer-spradde hem alle
Quaþ conscience tho and kneolede · this is cristes messager
And comeþ fro þe grete god grace is hus name
Kneole now quaþ conscience and yf þow conne synge
Welcome hym and worshupe hym with veni creator spiritus .
And ich sang* þat song* þo · and so dude meny hondrede
And cryden with conscience help ous god of grace
Tho by-gan grace to go · with péérs the plouhman .
And consailede hym and conscience the comune to someny
For ich wolle dele to-day · and diuyde grace
To alle kynne creatures · þat can hus fif wittes
Tresour to lyue by to h ere lyues ende
And wepne to fighte with þat wol neuere faille
For auntecrist and hise shal al þe worlde greue
And encombry þe conscience · bote yf crist þe helpe
And fele false prophetes flaterers and glosers
Shullen come and be curatours · ouer kynges and Erles
Thanne shal pruyde be pope · and pryns of holychurche
Couetise and vnkyndenesse cardinales hym to lede
For-þi quaþ grace ar ich go · ich wole gyue ȝow tresour
And wepne to fyghte with · wanne aunticrist ȝow assailleþ
And gaf ech man a grace ·to gye with hym-self
Þat ydelnesse ne encombrie hem nat · ne enuye ne pruyde
Diuisiones graciarum sunt .
To somme men he ȝaf wit wordes to shewe
To wynne with truthe þat þe wordle askeþ
As preostes and prechours · and prentises of lawe
Thei to lyue leelly by labour of tounge
And by wit to wyssen oþere · as grace hem wolde teche
And somme he kende hem craftes · and connynge of syghte
With syllynge and byggynge · here by-lyue to wynne
And somme he lerede to laboure a lonnde and a watere
And lyue by þat labour · a leel lyf and trewe
And somme he tauhte tulye to teche and to coke
As here wit wolde · when the tyme come
And somme to dyuyne and dyuyde numbres to kenne
And to compassen and colours to make
And somme to seo and to seye what sholde by-falle
Bothe of wele and of wo · and be war by-fore
As astronomyens · þorw astronomye and philosopheres wise
And somme to ryde and rekeuere þat vnrightfulliche was wonne
He wissede men wynnen hit aȝeyn · þorgh wyghtnesse of handes
And Fecchen hit fro false men with foleuyles lawes
And somme he lererede lerede to lyue · in longynge to be hennes
In pouerte and in pacience to preye for alle crystyne
And alle he lerede to beo leell and eche acrafte a crafte loue oþere
Noþer bost ne debat beo among* hem alle
Thauh somme be clannore þan some · ȝe seon wel quaþ grace .
That alle crafte and connyge[^a368] · cam of my ȝyfte
Loke þat non lacken oþer · bote louye as broþrene
And he þat most maistries can · beo myldest of berynge
And coroneþ conscience kyng* · and makeþ craft ȝoure stywarde
And after craftes consail · cloþeþ ȝow and fedeth
For ich make peers plouhman my procuratour and my reue
And registrer to receyuen redde quod debes .
My power and my plouhman peers shal beo on erthe
And for to tulye treuthe ateome a teome shal he haue
Grace gaf to peers a teome · of foure grete oxen
That on was luc a large beest and a louh chyrede
Marc and matheu þe þirde · myghty beestes boþe
And Ioyned til hem on Iohan most gentil of alle
The prys neet of peers plouh · passynge alle oþere
And sitthe grace of hus goodnesse gaf peers foure stottes
Al þat hus oxen ereden · thei to harwen after
On hihte austyn . and ambrosie anoþer
Gregori the grete clerk and Ierom þe goode
Theose foure the faith to teche · folwede peers teom
And harowede in an hand-wyle · al holy scripture
With to eythes þat thei hadden an olde and anywe a nywe
Vetus testamentum et nouum .
And grace gaf to peers greynes cardinales uertues .
And sewe hit in mannes soule and sitthen he tolde here names
Spiritus prudencie þe furste sed hihte
Þat ho-so eete þat seed · ymagenye he sholde
Er he dude eny dede deuyse wel þe ende
And lerede men a ladel bygge with a long stele
That caste for to kele a crokke · and saue þe fatte aboue
The secunde seed highte spiritus temperancie .
He þat eete of þat seed · hadde suche akynde a kynde
Sholde neuere mete ne myschief make hym swelle
Ne sholde no scornere · out of skyle hym brynge
Noþer wynnynge ne welthe · of wordliche richesse
Wast word ne ydelnesse ne wyckede speche meoue
Sholde no curiouse cloþe come on hus rygge
Noþer mete in hus mouthe · þat maister Iohan spicede
The þrydde seod þat peers · sewe was spiritus fortitudinis .
And ho-so ete of þat seed hardy was he euere
To suffren al þat god sente · syknesses and angres
Mighte no lyere with lesynges ne loos of wordly catell
Make hym for eny mournyng* þat he ne was mury in soule
And bold of a bydyng* busemares to suffren
And plede with pacience · and · parce michi domine .
And keouered hym vnder consail · of caton þe wise
Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique .
The furthe seed þat peers sewe was[^a369]
And he þat eete of þat seed · sholde be euene trywe
With god and nat a-gast · bote of gyle one
For gyle goþ so priuely · þat good faithe oþer -wyle
May nat be aspiede · þorw spiritus iusticie .
Spiritus iusticie spareþ nat to spille
Hem þat beoþ gulty · and for to corecte
The kyng* and þe kyng* falle · in eny þynge gulty
for counteþ he no kynges wraþthe · when he in court sytteþ
To deme as a domesman · adrad was he neuere
Noþer of duk ne of deþ · þat he ne doþ þe lawe
For present oþer for preyoure · oþere eny princes letteres
He dude equyte to alle · euene-forth hus knowynge
Theese foure seedes peeres sew and sutthen he dude hem harwen
With olde lawe and with newe lawe · þat loue myghte wexe
A-monge these foure vertues and vices destruyen
For cominliche[^309] in contreies · cammokes and weodes
Fouleþ þe frut in þe felde þer þei growen to-gederes
And so doþ vices an[^310] vertues · and for-thi quaþ péérs .
Harweþ alle þat conneþ kynde wit · by counsail of theose doctours
And tulieþ after here techinge · þe cardinale uertues .
Aȝeynst þat þi greynes quaþ grace bygynneþ to growe
Ordeyne þe an hous péérs to herberghen in thi cornes
By godes grace quath peers ȝe mote gyue me tymber
And ordeyne þat hous her[^311] ȝe hennes wennde
And grace gaf hym þe croys with þe corone of þornes
Þat crist vpon caluarie · for mankynde one peynede
And of hus baptisme and blod · þat he bledde on rode
He made a maner morter and mercy hit hihte
And þer-with grace by-gan · to make a good foundement
And watelide hit and wallyde hit with hus peynes and hus passion
And of alle holy writt · he made a roof after
And cald þat hous vnite holychurche in englishe
And wanne þis dede was don grace deuysede
A cart hihte cristendome · to carien hom peers sheues
And gaf hym capeles to hus cart contricion with confession .
And made preosthod haiwarde the wile hym-self wente
As wide as þe worlde is · with peers to tulye treuthe .
And þe londe of by-leyue · þe lawe of holychurche
Now is peeres to þe plouh pruyde hit aspide ·
And gadered hym a gret ost · greuen he þenkeþ
Conscience and alle cristene and cardinale uertues .
To blowen hem doun and breken hem · and bite ato þe rotes
And sente forþ sourquidours · hus seriauns of armes
And hus aspie spille loue · on speke vuel by-hynde
These to comen to conscience and to cristyne peuple
And tolden hem tydynges þat tyne þey sholde
The seedes þat syre peers sewe þe cardinale uertues .
And peers bern worth to broke · and þei þat ben in vnite .
Shullen come out and conscience and ȝoure two capeles
Contricion and confession and ȝoure cart bileyue .
Shal be colered so queyntely and keouerede vnder oure sophistrie
That conscience shal nat knowe by contricion .
Noþer by confession ho is cristyne oþer heþene
Ne no manere marchaunt · þat with monye deleþ
Weder he wynne wit right oþer with wrang* oþer with vsure
With suche colour and queyntise · comeþ pruyde armede
With þe lord þat lyueþ · after þe l oust of hus bodye
To wasten in welfare · and in wickede kepynge
Al þe worldle in awhile · þorugh oure wit quaþ pruyde
Quaþ conscience to alle crystyne tho my consail is we wende
Hastiliche into vnite and holde we ous þere
Preye we þat apees a pees were in peers bern þe plouhman
For wyterly ich wot wel · we beoþ nat of strengthe
To go a-gayn pruyde bote grace with ous were
And þenne cam kynde wit conscience to teche
He criede and comaundede alle cristyne people
To delue and dike a deop diche al aboute vnite
Þat holychurche stod in holynesse · as hit were apile a pile
Conscience comaundede þo · alle crystyne to delue
And make a muche mot · þat myghte be a strengthe
To helpe holychurche and hem þat hit kepeþ
Thenne alle kynne cristyne · saue comune wommen
Repentede and refusede synne · saue thei one
And assisour and a somenour · þat weren for-swore ofte
Whitynge and wilffulliche with þe false þei holden
And for seluere were for-swore · sothly þei wisten hit
Ther ne was cristyne creature þat kynde wit hadde
Þat he ne halp a quantyte holynesse wexe
Somme by bedes byddyng* · and somme by pilgrimages
Oþe Oþe[r][^a370] oþere pryueie penaunces · and somme þorw pans delynge
And þenne water wellede · for wyckede werkes
Egreliche ȝernynge · out of mennys eyen ·
Clannesse of þe comune · and clerkes clene lyuynge
Made unite holychurche · in holynesse stonde
Ich care nat now quaþ conscience thauh pruyde come nouthe
The lord of loust shal beo lett · al þis lente ich hope
Comeþ now quaþ conscience ȝe cristyne and dyneþ
Þat han labored leelly · al þis lente tyme
Her is bred yblessid · and godes body þer-vnder
Grace gaf þorw godes worde · to peers plouhman power
And myghte to maken hit · and men for to etyn hit
In help of here hele · ones in a mounthe
Oþer as ofte as thei hadde neode · thei that hadden payed
To peers pardon plouhman . Redde quod debes .
How quaþ alle þe comune · consailest thou ous to ȝelde
Al þat we owen eny wyght · er we go to housele
That is my consail quaþ conscience · and cardinale vertues
Oþer ech man for-ȝeue oþer and þat wole þe paternoster .
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra . sicut & nos & cetera
And so to beo a-soillede · and sytthen beo housled
Ȝe bawe quaþ a brewere ich wol nat beo ruelede
By Ihesu for al ȝoure iangelynge · after spiritus iusticie ·
Ne after conscience by crist for ich couþe selle
Boþe dregges and draf · and drawe at one hole
Thicke ale and þynne ale · and þat is my kynde
And nat to hacke after holynesse · hold þy tonge conscience
Of spiritus iusticie þow spekest muche an ydel
Caitif quaþ conscience corsede wrecche
Vnblessed ert þow brewere bote yf god þe helpe
Bote þow lyue by þe lore of spiritus iusticie .
The chef seede þat peers sewe · saued worst þou neuere
Bote conscience þe comune fede · and cardinale vertues
Leyf* hit wel we beon lost boþe lyf and soule
Thenne is meny man ylost · quaþ a lewede vicory
Ich am a curatoure of holychurche · and cam neuere in my tyme
Man to me þat couthe telle of cardinale uertues .
Oþer þat acountede conscience a cockes feþer oþer an hennes
Ich knew neuere cardinal þat he ne cam fro þe pope
And we clerkes when thei comeþ for here comunes payeþ
For here pelure and palfrayes mete · and pylours þat hem folwen
The comune clamat cotidie eche man to oþere
The countrey is þe corsedour þer cardinales comeþ ynne
And ther thei liggyn and lengen most · lecherie þer regneþ
For-þi quaþ þeis vicory by verrai god ich wolde
Þat no cardinal come a-mong* þe comune peuple
Bote in here holinesse · heolden hem stille
At Auenoun a-mong* Iuwes cum sancto . sanctus eris & cetera .
Oþer in rome as here ruwele wolde · þe relikes to kepe
And thow conscience in kynges court · and sholdest neuere go þennes
And grace þat thou so gredest of · were gyour of alle clerkes
And peers with hus newe plouh · and hus olde boþe
Emperour of alle þe worlde þat alle men were cristyne
Imparfit is þe pope · þat al þe peuple sholde helpe
And soudeþ hem þat sleeþ suche · as he sholde saue
Ac wel worthe peers plouhman þat porsueþ god in doynge
Qui pluit super iustos . & iniustos at ones
And sent þe sonne to saue · a corsed mannes tulthe
As bryght as to þe beste man · oþer to þe beste womman
Right so peers plouhman peyneþ hym to tulie
As wel for awastour a wastour oþer for awenche a wenche atte stuwes
As for hym-self and his seruauns · saue he is furst yserued
So blessed beo peers plouhman þat peyneþ hy m[^312] to tulie
And trauaileþ and tuleþ · for a tretour al-so sore
As for a triwe tydy man · alle tymes lyke
And worsheped be þat wrouhte al · boþe good and wykke
And suffren hem þat synful beon · til tyme þat thei repenten
And god amende þe pope þat pileþ holichurche
And cleymeþ by-fore þe kynge · to beo kepere ouere cristyne
And counteþ noȝt þauh cristine men be culled and robbed
And fyndeþ folke to fighte and cristene blod to spille
Aȝeyn þe lawe boþe old and nywe · as luk bereþ wittnesse
Non occides . Michi uindictam .
Sikerliche hit semeþ · by so hym-self hadde hus wil
Þat hym reckeþ right nought · of al þe oþer remenaunt
And crist of hus cortesye · þe cardinales saue
And turne here wit to wisedom · and welþe for þe soule
For þe comune quaþ þes curatour counten ful litel
The consail of conscience oþer cardinale uertues .
Bote hit soune as by syght · som-what to wynnynge
Of gile ne of gabbynge · gyueþ þei neuere tale
For spiritus prudencie a-mong* þe peuple is gyle
And tho faire vertues · as vices thei hym semeþ
Eche man soteleþ sleithe · synne to huyde
And coloreþ hit for a connynge · and a clene lyuynge
Thenne louh þer a lorde · and by this light seide
Ich halde hit right and reson · to take of my reeue
Al þat myn auditour · oþer elles my stiwarde
Conseileþ me by here a-counte · and my clerkes wrytynge
With spiritus intellectus thei toke þe reeue rolles
And with spiritus fortitudinis fecche hit wol he nul he
Thenne cam þer a kynge and by hus corone seide ·
Ich am akyng a kyng with corone þe comune to reule
And holychurche and clergie · fro corsede men to defenden
And yf me lackeþ to lyue by · þa þ[e][^a371] lawe wole þat ich take
Ther ich may haue hit hast elokest for ich am hefd of lawe
And ȝe ben bote membrys · and ich a-boue alle
Sitthen ich am ȝoure alre hefd ich am ȝoure alre hele
And holychurches chef help · and chefteyn of þe comune
And what ich take of ȝow two ich take hit at techynge
Of spiritus iusticie for ich Iuge ȝou alle
So ich may baldely beo houslede for ich borwe neuere
Ne craue of my comune bote as my kynde askeþ
In condicion quaþ conscience þat þou conne defende
And ruele þy reame in reson right wel and treuthe
Þan þat þou haue þyn askyng* as þe lawe askeþ
Omnia sunt tua ad defendendum . sed non ad deprehendendum .
The vikery hadde feer hom · and faire tok hus leue
And ich a-wakede þer-with · and wrot as me mete

[^a367: as [i]s (P) | is (All other mss)]

[^a368: connyge (P) | connyng (Most other mss)]

[^a369: was (P) | was spiritus iusticie (All other mss)]

[^a370: Oþe Oþe[r] (P) | or (Most other mss)]

[^a371: þa þ[e] (P) | þe (Most other mss)]

[^306: P.22.14: is, "his."]

[^307: P.22.111: ***??? @er-by gan??]

[^308: P.22.195: an, "and."]

[^309: P.22.319: The intended spelling is probably comunliche.]

[^310: P.22.321: an, "and."]

[^311: P.22.327: her, "ere, before."]

[^312: P.22.442: ***???CHECK THE MS. The tilde, if indeed it is a tilde, is written in darker ink than the surrounding text. MS Sc also reads hy.]

Hic . explicit passus primus de dobest ·[^313]

[^313: P.22.491: The Hic and the de dobest are shared with the incipit of the next passus. Red lines connect the shared portions of the incipit and explicit.]

Hic . Incipit passus secundus de dobest · [P.23.000: Hic and de dobest are shared between the trailer of the last passus and the header of this one.]

And as ich wente by þe way when ich was þus awakede
Heuy chired ich ȝeode · and elynge in heorte
For ich ne wiste wher to ete ne in what place
And neyhede ny þe noon and with neode ich mette
Þat a-frontede me foule · and faitour me calde
Couþest þou nat he seide excuse þe · as dude þe kyng* and oþere
That þou toke to lyue by · to sustinaunce and cloþes
As by techinge and tellynge of spiritus temperancie .
And þat þou nome no more · þan neode þe tauhte
Neode haþ no lawe · ne neuere shal falle in dette
For þre þynges þat he takeþ hus lyf for to saue
That is mete whanne men hym wyrneþ for he no monye weldeþ
And wot þat non wol be hus borgh noþer haþ wed to legge
And he cacche in þat cas and come þer-to by sleithe
Soþliche he syneweþ nat þat so wynneþ hus fode
And þauh he come so to cloþ and can no betere cheuesaunce
Neode nymeþ hym a-non · vnder hus mayn-pryse
And ȝeueþ hym loust for to lape þe lawe of kynde wolde
Þat he dronke of eche a diche · er he deide for þerste
So neode at grete neode may nyme as for hus owene
With-oute consaile of conscience or cardinale uertues .
So þat he suwe and saue spiritus temperancie .
For is no vertue by-fore to spiritus temperancie .
Noþer spiritus iusticie . ne spiritus fortitudinis .
For spiritus fortitudinis forfeteþ ful ofte
He shal do more þan mesure meny tyme and ofte
And bote men ouere bittere · and som body to lyte
And greue men grettour þan good faith wolde
And spiritus iusticie shal Iugen wol he nul he
After þe kynges counsaile · and þe comune lyke
And spiritus prudencie in menye poynt shal fayle
Of þat he weneþ wolde falle yf is[^314] wit ne were
Wenynge is no wisedome ne wys ymaginacion
Homo proponit deus disponit god gouerneþ alle
Goode vertues next hym is neode for a-non he meokeþ
And is as louh as a lomb · for lackynge of þat hym neodeþ
For neode makeþ neody for neode louh herted
filosofres for-soken welthe · for þei wolde be neody
And wonede wel elyngliche · and wolden nat be riche
And god al hus grete ioie · gostliche he lefte
And cam and took man-kynde · and by-cam ful neody
He was so neody seith þe bok in meny sondry p laces
Þat he seide in hus sorwe · on þe selue rode
Boþe fox and fowel may · fleo to hole and crepe
And þe fisshe haþ fynnes to flete with to reste
Þer neode haþ ynome me so · þat ich mot neode byde
And suffre sorwes soure · þat shal to ioye turne
For-þi beo nat a-baihsshed · to bydde and to beo neody
Sithe he þat wrouhte al þe worlde · was wilfulliche neody
Neuere non so neody ne non so poure deyede
When neode hadde vnder-nome me thus · anon ich feol a-sleope
And mette ful merueilousliche · þat in amannes a mannes forme
A ntecrist[^315] cam þenne · and al þe crop of treuthe
Turned tyte vp-so-doun · and ouer-tilt þe rote
And made fals to sprynge and sprede and spedde menne neodes
In eche contreie þer he cam he cutte awey treuthe
And gert gyle growe þer as he a god were
Freres folweden þat feonde · for ȝe ȝaue hem copes
And religiouse reuerencede hym and rongen here belles
Al þe couant þo cam · to wolcome þe tyraunt
And alle hise as wel as hym saue onliche fooles
The wiche fooles weren gladdere to deye
Þan lyue lengoure suþe leaute · was so rebuked
And a fals feon[^a372] anticrist ouer alle folke regnede
That were mylde men and holye þat no meschief dradden
Defieden al falsnesse and folk þat hit vsede
And wat kyng comfortede hem knowynge here gyle
Thei corsede and here consail were hit clerk* oþer lewede
Anticrist thus sone hadde hundredes at hus baner
And pruyde bar þat baner boldeliche abouhte
With a lorde þat lyueþ after lykynge of hus body
And cam a-ȝeyns conscience þat keper was an[^316] gyour
Ouer kynde cristyne and cardinale uertues
Ich consaile quaþ conscience þo · comeþ with me ȝe fooles
In-to unite holichurche · and halde we ous þere
And crye we to kynde þat he come and defende
Ous fooles fro þe feondes lymes · for peers loue þe plouhman
And crye we on al þe comune þat þei come to unite .
Ther to abyde and bykere aȝeyns beliales children
Kynde huyrde þo conscience and cam out of þe planetes
And sente forþ hus fereours · feuers and fluxes
Couhes and cardiacles claumpes and toþ-aches
Reumes and Radegoundes and roynouse scabbes
Bules and bocches and brennyng aguwes
Frenesyes and foule vueles these foragers of kynde
Hadden prykede and preyede polles of people
Largeliche alegion a legion · lees þe lyf sone
Ther was harow and help · her comeþ kynde .
With deþ þat is dredful to vn-do ous alle
The lord þat lyuede after loust þo a-loud criede
After comfort a knyght to come and bere hus baner
Alarme Alarme quaþ þat lorde · eche lyf kepe hus owene
Thenne mette þes men er mynstrales myghte pipe
And er heraudes of armes hadden discriuede lordes
Elde þe hore · was in þe vaunt-warde
And bar a baner by-fore deþ by right he hit claymede
Kynde cam after hym · with menye kynne sores
As pockes and pestilences and muche people shente
So kynde thorgh corupcions · culde ful menye
Deþ cam dremend after and al to douste paihste
Kynges and knyghtes caysers and popes
Lered ne lewide · he lefte no man stande
That he hitte euene sterede neuere after
Many a lofly lady and here lemmanes knyghtes
Sounede and swelte for sorwe of dyþes dyntes
Conscience of hus cortesie · þo kynde he by-souhte
To cessen and suffren · and seo wher þei wolde
Leue pruyde pryueliche · and beo parfit cristene
And kynde cessede tho to seon þe peuple amende
Fortune gan flaterie þenne · thaym fewe þat were a-lyue
And by-hyght hym long lyf · and lecherie he sente
Amonges alle manere men · wedded and vnweddede
And gaderede a gret ost · al a-geyn conscience
Thees lecherie leyden on · with lauhynge chire
And with pryuey speche · and peyntede wordes
And armede hym with ydelnesse and in hy beryng**
He bar a bowe in hus honde and manye brode arwes
Where fetherede with faire by- heste and meny afals a fals treuthe
Whit[^317] vntydy tales he teonede ful ofte
Conscience and hus companye · of holychurche þe techers
Thenne cam couetise and caste how he myghte
Ouercome conscience and cardinale uertues .
And armed hym in auarice · and hungriliche lyuede
Hus wepne was al wiles to wynne and to huyden
Whith[^318] glosynges and with gabbynges · he gyleþ[^319] þe peuple
Symonye hym sywede · to assaille conscience .
And pressede on þe pope · and prelates þei maden
To holde with A unticrist[^320] · here temperalite to saue
And cam to kynges consail · as a kene baroun ·
And knockede conscience In court by-fore hem alle
And gerte goode faith to flee · and fals to a-byde
And baldeliche bar adoun with meny a bryght noble
Muche of þe wit and wisdom · of westmynster halle
He iogged til a iustice · and ioustede in hus ere
And ouertulte al hus treuthe with tak this on amendement
And to þe arches in haste he hyede a-non after
And turnede cyuyle in-to symonye · and sitth he tok þe official
And for a menyuer mantel · he made leel matrimonye
Departe er deþ come and adeuors a deuors shupte
Alas quaþ conscience and cride wolde crist of hus grace .
That couetise were cristyne þat is so kene to fyghte
And bold and byddynge · þy while hus bagge lasteþ
And þanne lohw loude lyf and let dagge hus cloþes
And armyd hym in haste in harlotes wordes
And held holynesse a Iape and hendynesse awastour a wastour
And let leaute achierl a chierl · and lyere a freo man
Conscience and consail · he countede folye
Thus relyede lyf · for a litel fortune
And prykeþ forth with pruyde preyseþ he no vertue
Ne careþ nouht hou kynde slouh · and shal come atte laste
And culle alle erthyly creatures saue conscience one
Lyf tho leep asyde · and lauhte hym a lemman
Hele and ich quaþ he and hihnesse of herte
Shal do þe nat drede neiþer deþ ne elde
And for-ȝute ȝouthe and ȝyue nauht of synne
This likede lyf and fortune hus lemman
And geten in here glorie a gadeling* atte laste
On þat muche wo wrouhte sleuthe was hus name
Sleuthe wax wonder ȝerne and sone was of age
And wedded on wanhope · a wenche of þe stywes
Heore syre was a sysour · þat neuere swor treuthe
On Robert[^a373] two-tounged · ateynt at eche enqueste
Thes sleuthe[^321] was sleyh of werre · and aslynge a slynge made
And þrewe drede of dispayr · a doseyne myle a-boute
For care conscience cryede vp-on elde
And bad hym fonde to fighte and afere wanhope
And elde hente good hope · and hastiliche shrof hym
And wayueþ away wanhope · and with lyf he fighteþ
And lif fleyht for fere to syke after helpe
And by-souhte hym of socour and of here salue hadde
And gaf hym gold goud won þat gladede here hertes
And þei gauyn hym a-gayn · aglasene a glasene houe
Lyf leyuede þat leche-craft lette sholde elde
And to dryue away deþ with dayes drogges
Elde auntred hym on lyf and atte laste he hitte
A fisician with a forrede hod þat he fel in a palsye
And þer deiede þat doctour er thre dayes after
Now ich seo saide lyf þat surgerye ne phisike
May nat amyte a myte a-vaille · to medlen a-ȝens elde
And in hope of hus hele · good heorte he hente
And rod so to reuel · aryche a ryche place and a murye
The companye of comfort men clipid hit som tyme
And elde hastede after hym and ouer my hefde ȝeode
And made me ballide by-fore and bar on þe croune
So harde he ȝeode ouer myn hefde hit wol be syne euere
Syre vuel ytauhte elde quaþ ich vnhende go with þe
Suþþe wanne was þe hey-wey ouer menne hefdes
Haddest þou be hende quaþ ich þow woldest haue askede leue
Ȝe leue lordeyn quaþ he and leyde on me with age
And hitte me vnder þe ere vnnyþe may ich huyre
He boffatede me a-boute þe mouhthe and beet out my wang-teþ
And gyuede me with goutes ich may nat go at large
And of þe wo þat ich was yn my wif hadde reuthe
And wisshede wel whiterlyche þat ich were in heuene
For þe lyme she louede me fore · and leep was to feele
And anyghȝtes nameliche when we naked were
Ich ne myghte in none manere · maken hit at heore wille
So elde and he hit hadde · afeyntede and for-beete
And as ich sat in þis sorwe · sauh how kynde passede
And deþ drow neyghynge me · for drede gan ich quaken
And criede carfully to kynde of kare me brynge
Lo hou elde þe hore haþ me byseye
Awreke me yf ȝoure wil beo for ich wolde be hennes
Yf þow wolt beo awreke · wende in-to unite .
And held þe þare euere til ich sende for þe
And loke þou conne som craft · er þou come þennes
Consaileþ me[^322] kynde quaþ ich · what crafte be best to leere
Lerne to loue quaþ kynde and lef alle oþer þynges
Hou shal ich come to catel so · to cloþe me and to feode
And þow loue leelliche · lacke shal þe neuere
Wede ne wordliche mete while þy lyf lasteþ
And ich þorgh consail of kynde comsede to rome
Thorgh contricion and confession · til ich cam to unite .
And þer was conscience constable crystine to saue
He was bysegide soþliche with seuene · grete geauntes
That with a unticrist helden harde aȝeyns conscience
Sleuthe with hus slynge · an hard sauht he made
Proude preostes cam with hym · passend an hundred
In paltokes and pikede shoes and pissares longe knyues
Thei come aȝeyns conscience with couetise þei helden
By þe marie quaþ a mansede preest · was of þe marche of yrelonde
Ich counte conscience no more · by so ich cacche seluer
Then ich do to drynke · adrawt a drawt of good ale
And so seide syxty of þe same countreo
And shotten aȝeyns hym with shot mony shef oþes
And brode hokede harwes[^323] · godes herte and hus nailes
And hadde almost vnite · and holychurche a-doune
Conscience cride helpe · cleregie oþer ich falle
Thorgh imparfit preestes · and prelates of holychurche
Freres herde hym crie · and comen hym to helpe
Ac for thei couthe nat wel here crafte conscience for-soke hem
Neode Neyhede þo ner to conscience he tolde
Þat þei came for couetise to haue cure of soules
And for thei aren poure paraunter · for patrimonye hem failleþ
Thei wolle flaterie to fare wel · to folke þat ben riche
And sitthen þei chosen chile and caytif pouerte
Let hem chewe as þei chosen · and charge hem with no cure
For lommere he lyeþ · þat liflode mote begge
Than he þat laboreþ for lyflode · and leneþ hit beggeres
And sitthen freres for-soke · þe felicite of erthe
Lat hem be as beggers · oþer lyue by aungeles fode
Conscience of þis consail tho · comsede for to lauhe
And cortesly confortid hem · and cald yn alle freres
And seide sires sothly · wel-come be ȝe alle
To unite and to holichurche · ac o þing** ich ȝow preye
Holdeþ ȝow in unite and haueþ non enuye
To lerede ne to lewide · bote lyueþ after ȝoure reule
And ich wol beo ȝoure borw · ȝe shulleþ haue brede and cloþes
And oþer necessaries ynowh · ȝou shal no þyng lakke
With þat ȝe leue logyk** and lernyeþ for to louye
For loue lefte þei lordshupes · boþe londe and scole
Frere fraunceis and domynyk** · for loue to be holy
And yf he coueiteþ cure kynde wol ȝow telle
That in mesure god made alle manere þynges
And sette hit at sertayn · and at a syker numbre
And nempnede hem names · and nombrede þe sterres
Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum .
Kynges and knyghtes · þat kepen and defenden
Hauen officers vnder hem and ech of hem a certayn
And yf þei wage men to werre · thei wryten hem in numbre
Wol no treserour take hem wages trauayle þei neuere so sore
Bote hij beon nempned in þe numbre · of hem þat ben ywaged
Alle oþere in bataille beeþ yolde brybours
Pilours and pyke-herneys in eche parshe a-corsede
Monekes and monyales and alle men of religion
Here ordre and here ruele wol · to haue a certayn numbre
Of lered and lewede þe lawe wole and askeþ
A certayn for a certayn · saue onliche of freres
For-thi quaþ conscience by crist kynde wit me telleþ
Hit is wickede to wage ȝou · ȝe wexit oute of numbre
Heuene haueþ euene numbre · and helle is with-oute numbre
For-thi ich wolde whiterly · þat ȝe were in registre
And ȝoure numbre vnder notarie sygne and noþer more ne lasse
Enuye herde þis · and het freres go to scole
And lerne logik and lawe and eke contemplacion
And preche men of plato · and prouen hit by seneca
That alle þyng vnder heuene · ouhte to beo in comune
He lyeþ as ich leyue · þat to þe lewede so precheþ
For god made to men a lawe · and moyses hit tauhte
Non concupisces rem proximi tui .
And vuel is this yholde in parshes of yngelonde
For persones and parshe preestes · þat sholde þe peuple shryue
And thei beon curatours cald · to knowe and to hele
Alle þat been here parshenes · penaunces enioyneþ
And beo ashamede in here shryft* ac shame makeþ hem wende
And fleo to freres · as fals folke to westmynstre
Þat borweþ and bereþ hit thuder · and thenne byddeþ frendes
Ȝeorne of for-ȝeuenesse oþer lenger ȝeres leue
Ac wile he is in westmynstre · he wol be by-fore
And maken hym myrie with oþer menne goodes
And so hit fareþ by muche folke þat to freres hem shryueþ
As asissours and excecutours þei shal ȝeue þe freres
A prarcel parcel[^a374] to preye for hem · and maken hem murþe
With þe remenant of þe good þat oþer men by-swonke
And suffre þe dede in dette to þe day of dome
Enuye here-fore hatyde conscience .
And freres to philosophie · he fond hem to scole
The wile couetise and vnkyndenesse · assaillede conscience .
In vnite holichurche conscience held hym
And made pees portor · to pynne þe ȝates
Alle tale-tellours and titereres in ydel
Ypocrise and thei and hard swat thei ȝeuen
Ypocrise atte þe ȝate harde gan fighte
And wondede wel wickedly · meny awys a wys techere
That with conscience acordede and cardinale uertues .
Conscience calde a leche þat couthe wel shryue
To salue þo þat sik were and þorgh synne ywonded
Shruft shupte sharpe salue and made men do penaunce
For here mysdedes that thei wrouht hadde
And þat peers pardoun were ypaied Redde quod debes .
Somme likede nat þis leche and lettres þei senten
Yf eny surgeyn were in þe sege · þat softere couþe plastre
Sire lyf to lyue in lecherie lay þere and gronede
For fastynge of a friday he ferde as he wolde deye
Ther is a surgen in þe sege þat softe can handle
And more of fisik by feer and fairer he plastreþ
On frere flaterere is fisician and surgien
Quaþ contricion to conscience do hym come to unite .
For her is meny man hurt · þorgh ypocrisye
We haue no neode quaþ conscience · ich wote no bettere leche
Than person oþer parshe prest penytancer oþer busshup
Saue péérs the plouhman þat hath powere ouere alle
And indulgence may do bote yf dette Lette
Ich may wel suffry quaþ conscience sutthe ȝe disyren
That frere flatere be fet and fysyke ȝou syke
The frere here-of herde · and hyede faste
To a lorde for a lettere Leue to haue to curen
As he a curatour were · and cam with hus letteres
Baldely to þe bushope · and hus breef hadde
In countreyes þer he cam confessions to hure
And cam ther conscience was · and knockede atte ȝate
péés vnpynnede þe dore · þat was portour of vnite
And in hast he hesshede · what hus wil were
In faith quaþ þis frere · for profit and for helthe
Carpe ich wolde with contricion and þer -fore cam ich hyder
He is syke seide péés and so aren meny oþere
Ypocrisye haþ hurt hem · ful hard is yf ȝe keuere
Ich am a surgen seide þe frere · and saules can ich make
Conscience knoweþ me wel · and what ich can done
Ich preye the quaþ péés tho · er þow passe forþere
What hattest þou ich praye · hele nat þy name
Certes seide is[^324] felawe · syre penetrans domos .
Ȝe go þi gate quaþ pees by god for al þy fysike
Bote þow conne eny craft · þou comest nat here-ynne
Ich knew such on ones nat eyhte wynter passede
Cam yn thus ycopede at a court þere ich dwellede
He was my lordes leche · and my ladies boþe
And atte þe laste þis lymytour · þo my lord[^325] whas[^326] oute
He saluede so oure wommen til somme where with childe
Hende speche het pees þo · opene þe ȝates
And lat yn þe frere and hus felawe · and make hem faire chyre
He may seo and huyre here · so may by-falle
That lyf þorgh hus lore · shal leue couetise
And to beo a-drad of deþ · and wiþ-drawe hym fro pruyde
And a-corde with conscience and cusse here aiþer oþere
Thus þorgh hende speche · entrede þe frere
And cam to conscience and corteisliche hym grette
Thou ert wolcome quaþ conscience canst þou hele syke
Here is contricion quaþ conscience My cosyn ywondede
Conforte hym quaþ conscience and take kepe to hus sores
The plastres of þe person · and þe pouderes beoþ to sore
And lat hem lygge ouer-lange · and loþ is to chaungen
fro lente to lente he let hus plastres byde
That is ouerlonge quaþ þis lymatour ich leyue ich shal amende hit
He goþ gropeþ contricion an[^327] gaf hym aplastre a plastre
Of a pryue payement · and ich shal preye for ȝowe
And for hem þat ȝe aren holden to · al my lyf-tyme
And make ȝou my lady · in masse and in matynes
As freres of oure fraternite · for a litel seluer
Thus he goþ and gadereþ · and gloseþ þer he shryueþ
Til contricion hadde clene for-ȝute · to crie and wepe and wake
For hus wickede werkes · as he was wonede by-fore
For comfort of hus confessour contricion he lefte
That is þe souereyne salue · for alle kynne synnes
Anon sleuthe seih þat · and so dude pruyde
And comen with a kene wil conscience to assaille
Conscience criede eft · cleregie come help me
And bad contricion to come · to helpe þe ȝate
He lith adreynched saide pees and so doþ meny oþere
The frere with hus fisik þis folke haþ enchauntede
And doþ men drynke dwale · þat men dredeþ no synne
By crist quaþ conscience tho ich wol by-come a pilgryme
And wenden as wide · as þe wordle regneþ
To seke peers þe plouhman þat pruyde myghte destruye
And þe freres hadden afyndynge a fyndynge[^328] þat for neode flateren
And counterpleideþ me conscience nowe kynde me a-venge
And sende me hap and hele · til ich haue peers plouhman .
And sitthe he gradde after grace til ich gan a-wake

[^a372: feon (P) | fende (Most other mss)]

[^a373: Robert (P) | Tomme (All other mss)]

[^a374: prarcel parcel (P) | parcel (Most other mss)]

[^314: P.23.32: is, "his."]

[^315: P.23.53: Cf. P23.128 below.]

[^316: P.23.72: an, "and."]

[^317: P.23.119: Whit, "with."]

[^318: P.23.125: Whith, "with."]

[^319: P.23.125: An otiose curl is written above the <g>.]

[^320: P.23.128: A rubricating scribe has written over the original <A> in text ink. The ink is darker than the first rubricator's and may reflect a second rubricating hand? Cf. P23.53 above for a similar instance.]

[^321: P.223.163: The <u> is malformed.]

[^322: P.23.207: A meaningless mark appears above the <e>.]

[^323: P.23.226: harwes, "arrows."]

[^324: P.23.342: is, "his."]

[^325: P.23.348: The <o> and <r> are ligatured.]

[^326: P.23.348: whas, "was."]

[^327: P.23.377: an, "and."]

[^328: * Dug The "g" has a crossed flourish, but it is overwritten by the "e"]

Hic explicit passus secundus de dobest .
Explicit peeres plouheman scriptum per Thomas Dankastre[^329]

[^329: P.23.388: Russell and Kane, p. 10, argue that the first capital letter is "more like a heavily flourished L" than a <D>. CHECK THE WHOLE MS***???]

Omnibus est notum quod multum diligo potum s(e)c(un)d(u)m y W[^330]

[^330: Thorlac Turville-Petre informs me that this verse appears three times in the University of Nottingham Library's MS Mi LM 2, twice on fol. 126v and again on fol. 142v.]

Finito libro reddatur gloria cristo Amen & cetera
Johannes Meade me possedet pretij iij s iiij d.[^331]

[^331: In the bottom left margin, something illegible (perhaps Ink?) is written sideways.]