Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. : Beinecke Rare Book & Manuscript Library, New Haven, Takamiya MS 23 (S)
author: Langland, William
source date: mid-16th Century
edition published: 2017
language: en; fr; la

[no heading]

And[^a1] cam vp kneling / to kisse his bulles
he bunched them with his breuet / & blerid their eyis
and raught with his ragman / both[^a2] ringes & broches
Thus they giue their golde / glotons for[^a3] to kepe
And lendith hit such loselles / as[^a4] lecherie haunte
Were the bisshope blissed / and worth bothe his eyis[^a5]
His seale shulde not be sent / to deceiue the people
And hit is not by the bisshop wonlie[^a6] / þat the boye preachethe
For the parish preist and the pardoner part the siluer
That the pore[^a7] of the parishe / shulde haue if they ne were
[^1] Parsons and parishe preistes / pleyne them to the bisshops[^a8]
That their parisshes were pore / sith the pestilence tyme
To haue a licence and leue[^2] / at London to dwell
To[^a9] syng there for Symony / for siluer is swete
Bisshops and bachelers / bothe maisters & doctors
That haue cure vnder Chryst / and crowning in tokin
And signe that they shulde / shriue their parisshens
Preach and prey for them / and the poore fede
Lying[^a10][^3] at london / in lenton and ellis
Some serue the king / and his siluer telle
In Cheker and in Chauncerie / chalenge his dettes
Of wardes and wardemotes / of[^a11] weifes and strais
And some serue as seruauntes / lordes and ladies
And in stead of stiwardes / they[^a12] sitt and deme
Their mateyns and masses[^a13] / & many of their houres
Are done vndevoutly / drede is at the last
Lest Chryst in Consistorie / Acurse full many
I perceyuid of the poure / that Peter had to kepe
To bynde & vnbynde / as the booke tellithe
how he left hit[^a14] with loue / as oure lord hight
Among foure vertues / the best of all vertues
That Cardinals bene callid / and closing gates
There Chryst is in kingdome / to close and to shett
And to open[^a15] to them / and hevins blisse shewe
And of the Cardynals at court / that caught of þat name
And poure presumed in them / A Pope to make
To haue the[^a16][^4] poure that Peter had / inpungne I nyll
For in loue and letter / the eleccion belongithe
Therfor I can & cannot / of Court speake more
Than came there a king / knyghthode him ledd
Myght of the commons / made him to reigne
Then[^a17] cam kynde witt / and clerkes he made
To[^a18] counsell the king / and the commons[^a19] to[^a20] saue
The king and knighthode / and Clergie bothe
Did cast[^a21] that the Commons[^a22] shulde them-self fynde
The Comons[^a23] contrivid / of kinde witt craftes
And for profit of all the people / Plowmen ordeyned
To tille and to travaile / as true life askethe
The king and the Comons[^a24] / & kyndwitt the thirde
Shope lawe and leautie / eueryman euery man[^a25] to knowe his oune
Then lokid vp a Lunatike / a leane thing withall
[^5] And kneling to the kyng / Clerkelie[^a26] he said
Chryst kepe the syr king / and thi kingdome[^a27]
And lende the to[^a28] lede thy lande so /[^6] leautie the louith[^a29]
And for thy rightfull ruling / be rewardid in heaven
and sithens in the Eyre onhighe on highe / an angell of heauen
Loude spoke[^a30][^7] in Latine / for lewde men ne coulde
Iangle nor Iudge / that iustifie them shulde
But serue and suffre[^a31] / therfor said th'aungell
Sum rex sum princeps , neutrum fortasse deinceps .
O qui iura regis , cristi spetialia regis .
Hoc quod agas melius , iustus es , esto pius .
Nudum ius a te , vestiri vult pietate .
Qualia vis metere , talia grana sere .
Si ius nudatur , nudo de iure metatur .
Si seritur pietas , de pietate metas .
[^8] Then grevid him a goliarde / a gloton of wordis
And to th'aungell onhighe on highe / answerid after , thus[^a32]
Dum Rex a regere , dicatur nomen habere
Nomen habet sine re[^9] , nisi studet iura tenere
Then beganne[^a33] all the comons[^a34] , crie in a[^a35][^10] verse of Latyne
To the kinges counsell / construe who-so wolde
Precepta Regis , sunt nobis vincula legis
With that ranne there a rout / of Ratons atones at ones
And smale mies with them / more then a thousande
And came to a counsell / for the common profyt
For a Catt of the[^a36] Countrie / cam when he[^a37] Liked
And ouerlepe them lightlie / & lest[^a38][^11] them at his will
And pleyid with them perilouslie / and possid about
for dout of diuerse dredes / we darenot dare not well loke
And if we gruche at[^a39] his game / he will greue vs all
Crache vs and[^a40] clawe vs / & in his clowches holde
That we lothe[^a41] the lyfe / ere he lattith vs passe
Might we with any wit / his will withstande
We myght be lordes alofte / & liue at oure ease
A Ratton of renounne / most renable of tung
Seyd for a souereyne helpe to him-self
I haue sene segges quod he / in the Citie of London
Bere byes full bright / about their neckis
And some Colers of craftie worke / vncoupled they went
Both in wareyne and in wast / where them-self likid[^a42]
And other while they are ellis where / as I here tell
[^12] Were there a belle on their byes[^a43][^13] / by Iesu as me thinkes
Men myght wot where they went and awaie renne
And right so quod that Ratton / reason me shewithe
To bie a belle of brasse / o r of bright syluer
And knyt yt on his[^a44] collere / for oure commone profyt
Whether he ryde or rest / or elles[^a45] rennyth to playe
Yf[^a46] him lust[^a47] for to lake / then loke we maye
And pere in his presence / while[^a48] him pley liketh
And if he[^a49] wrathe beware / & his waie shoneye
All the[^a50] rout of ratons / to this reason they assentid
And then[^a51][^14] the belle was brought / & on the byes[^a52] hangid
There was no[^a53] ratt[^a54] in all þe rout / for all the realme of fraunce
That durst haue bounde the belle / about the cattes necke
Ne hang it about the Cattes halse / all Englande to wynne
But[^a55] helde them vnhardie / and their counsell feble
And lett ther labour lost / and all their long studie
A mouse that muche good coulde as me thought
Stert[^a56] furthe sternelie / & stode before them all
And to the rout of Ratons / rehercid these wordes
Though we kille this[^a57] Catte / yet sholde there come another
To cach vs and all oure kynde / though we crept vnder benches
Therfor I counsell all you[^a58] Comons[^a59][^15] / to lat the cat alone[^a60]
And be not we[^a61] so bolde / the belle him for[^a62] to shewe
for I harde my syre saye / full[^a63] seven yere ypassed
There the Catte is a kytton / the court is full hevie[^a64]
That witnesseth holie writ / who-so will it rede
Ve terre vbi puer rex est[^a65]
For maye noman no man[^a66] his[^a67] rest haue / for Ratons by nyght
The while he cachith conyes / he covetith not oure careyne
But fedith him all[^a68][^16] with venison / defame we him neuer
Far[^a69] better is a litill losse / then a long sorowe
The maze among vs all / though we misse a shrewe /
For many a mannes[^a70][^17] malt / we mies wolde distroye
And the[^a71] rout of ratons / rende mennis clothes
Were not[^a72] the Catte of the[^a73][^18] court / that can vs[^a74] ouerlepe
for had ye rattes your will / you coulde not rule your-seluis[^a75]
I saie for me quod the mouse / I se so muche after
Shall neuer the Catte nor[^a76] kitton / by my counsell be greved
Ne carping of this Coller / that neuer cost me ought[^a77]
And though hit had cost me catell / beknoune hit I nolde
But suffre as him-self wolde / to do as him liketh
Coupled and vncoupled / to cache what they maye
Therfor ech[^a78] wise wight I warne / wite well his oune
What this dreame menethe[^a79] / ye men that be merye
Devine ye for I dare not / by dere god in heaven
Yet houid there an hundred / in hoodes[^a80] of silke
Sergeantes hit besemed / that serue[^a81] at the barre
Pleading[^a82] for pens / and poundes the lawe
And not for loue of the[^a83] lorde / vnlosen their lippes ones
Thou myghtest better mete /[^19] the mist on Maluerne hillis
Then get a Mumme of their mouth / till money be shewid
Barons and burgeises / and bond-men also
I se in this assemblie / as ye shall here after
Bacsters and brewsters / and bochers manie
wollen websters / and weavers of lynnen
Tailors and tynkers / and tollers in markettes
Masons and Mynors / & many other craftes
Of all kynd[^a84] libbing Laborers / Lept furth some
As dykers and deluers / that do their dedes yll
And dryue furthe the long daie with | dieux saue[^a85] dame Emme
Cookes and their knauis / Cryid hote pies hote
Good goos[^a86] and grice / go we dyne go we /
Tauerners vnto[^a87] them / tolde the same
Whight[^a88] wine of Ozeye / & red wine of Gascoigne
of the ryn and of the Rochell / the roste to defie
All this se I sleping / and vij seuen tymes[^a89] more /

[^a1: And (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a2: both (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3: for (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a4: as (S Cr1 W) | that (Hm Bx)]

[^a5: eyis (S) | eris (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a6: wonlie (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a7: pore (S) | poraille (W Hm Bx) | pouerty (Cr1)]

[^a8: bisshops (S) | Bisshop (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a9: To (S Cr1) | And (W Hm Bx)]

[^a10: Lying (S) | Liggen (W Cr1 Bx) | rewritten (Hm)]

[^a11: of (S Cr1 Hm) | om. (W Bx)]

[^a12: they (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a13: mateyns and masses (S) | masses and her mattens (Cr1) | messe & hire matyns (W Hm Bx)]

[^a14: left hit (S Cr1) | transp. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a15: open (S) | opene it (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a16: the (S Bx) | þat (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a17: Then (S) | And þanne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a18: To (S) | For to (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a19: commons (S Cr1) | commune (W Hm Bx)]

[^a20: to (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a21: Did cast (S) | Casten (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a22: Commons (S) | commous (Cr1) | commune (W Hm Bx)]

[^a23: Comons (S Cr1) | commune (W Hm Bx)]

[^a24: Comons (S Cr1) | commune (W Hm Bx)]

[^a25: eueryman euery man (S Cr1) | ech man (W Hm Bx)]

[^a26: Clerkelie (S) | clergially (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a27: kingdome (S) | kyngryche (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a28: to (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a29: louith (S Cr1) | louye (W Hm Bx)]

[^a30: Loude spoke (S) | Lowed to speke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a31: serue and suffre (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a32: thus (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a33: beganne (S) | gan (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a34: comons (S Cr1) | commune (W Hm Bx)]

[^a35: a (S Bx) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a36: the (S) | a (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a37: he (S) | hym (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a38: lest (S) | lauȝte (W Hm Bx) | caught (Cr1)]

[^a39: at (S Cr1) | of (W Hm Bx)]

[^a40: and (S Cr1 M Hm) | or (W Bx)]

[^a41: we lothe (S Cr1) | vs loþeþ (W Hm Bx)]

[^a42: likid (S Cr1 W) | lyketh (Hm Bx)]

[^a43: byes (S) | beiȝe (W Hm Bx) | bight (Cr1)]

[^a44: his (S Cr1 Hm) | a (W Bx)]

[^a45: elles (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a46: Yf (S) | And if (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a47: lust (S M) | list (W Cr1 Bx) | lyke (Hm)]

[^a48: while (S) | þe while (W Cr1) | therwhile (Hm Bx)]

[^a49: he (S Cr1) | hym (W Hm Bx)]

[^a50: the (S) | þis (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a51: then (S) | þo (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a52: byes (S) | beiȝe (W Hm Bx) | bight (Cr1)]

[^a53: was no (S) | ne was (W Cr1 Bx) | nas no (Hm)]

[^a54: ratt (S) | Raton (W Hm Bx) | ratten (Cr1)]

[^a55: But (S) | and (Hm Cr1 Bx) | Alle (W)]

[^a56: Stert (S) | Strook (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a57: this (S Cr1) | þe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a58: you (S) | þe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a59: Comons (S Cr1) | commune (W Hm Bx)]

[^a60: alone (S) | wurche (Hm Cr1) | worþe (W Bx)]

[^a61: not we (S) | we neuere (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a62: for (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a63: full (S) | om. (Cr1) | is (W Bx) | it is (Hm)]

[^a64: hevie (S) | elenge (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a65: rex est (S Cr1 M W) | transp. (Hm Bx)]

[^a66: noman no man (S) | no renk (W Cr1 Bx) | no thyng (Hm)]

[^a67: his (S) | þer (W Cr1 Bx) | om. (Hm)]

[^a68: all (S W Bx) | om. (Hm Cr1)]

[^a69: Far (S) | For (W Cr1 Bx) | but (Hm)]

[^a70: a mannes (S) | mennes (W Hm Cr1) | mannus (Bx)]

[^a71: the (S) | also the (Cr1 Hm) | also ye (W Bx)]

[^a72: Were not (S) | Nere (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a73: the (S Hm) | þat (W Cr1)]

[^a74: vs (S Cr1) | yow (W Hm Bx)]

[^a75: your-seluis (S) | yow-selue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a76: nor (S) | ne þe (W Cr1 Bx) | ne (Hm)]

[^a77: neuer cost me ought (S) | costed me neuere (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a78: ech (S) | ech a (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a79: dreame menethe (S) | metels bymeneþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a80: hoodes (S) | howues (W Bx) | hownes (Cr1) | hures (Hm)]

[^a81: serue (S Cr1) | serueden (W Hm Bx)]

[^a82: Pleading (S) | Pleten (Cr1) | Pleteden (W Hm Bx)]

[^a83: the (S) | oure (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a84: kynd (S) | kynne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a85: saue (S Cr1 W) | vous (Hm Bx)]

[^a86: goos (S) | gees (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a87: vnto (S) | vntil (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a88: Whight (S W Bx) | wyth (Hm Cr1)]

[^a89: tymes (S) | sythes (Hm Cr1 Bx) | line om. (W)]

[^1: S.P.11: An a-shaped paraph sign is entered in the left margin in ink lighter than the text. Two horizontal lines, entered in the same lighter ink, run from the text block into the left and right margins, dividing this text line from the previous one. The same or similar markup occurs below at S.P.52, S.P.67, S.P.93, S.1.15, S.1.55, S.1.96, S.1.137, S.1.177, S.2.49, S.2.131, and S.2.172. With the exception of the present line and S.P.67, which are marked by paraphs in W, the lines marked in S do not correspond to text divisions in other copies. With the exception again of S.P.67, which differs also in execution, S's markings occur at intervals of 40 or 41 lines, sometimes doubling to 80 or 82 lines. (The double interval occurs at passus boundaries.) This markup extends over the first seven surviving folios, or two quires. It does not appear thereafter (but compare S.5.306n).]

[^2: leue: Corrected from liue by entering a horned upper stroke of an e above the first of the minims.]

[^3: Lying: The first of the S translator's intruded present participles, here displacing the finite verb liggen, the subject of which is Bisshopes ... and doctours, four lines above. The translator lost grip of syntax and sense. Compare S.2.68, S.2.87.]

[^4: the: S independently restores the presumed reading of Bx. See BTP note ad loc. Other beta2 copies have þat.]

[^5: S.P.52: An a-shaped paraph and a pair of inked horizontal lines divide this text line from the previous one. See S.P.11n.]

[^6: S's line division is shared by corrected M. Other copies divide before so, correctly.]

[^7: Loude spoke: Apparently 'spoke loudly', rendering Lowed to speke 'descended to speak'.]

[^8: S.P.67: An inked line in the right margin divides this text line from the Latin verses that precede.]

[^9: sine re: The scribe or a later annotator has entered a diastole separating these words. The mark is longer and more upright than the scribe's virgule.]

[^10: a: S independently restores the presumed reading of Bx. Other beta2 copies omit this word. See BTP note ad loc.]

[^11: lest: Rendering lauȝte, a word evidently not understood in this instance. Possibly the scribe intended left, omitting the cross-stroke of f by oversight. Subsequent instances of this verb are transmitted intact or translated felicitously. See the Glossary.]

[^12: S.P.93: A pair of inked horizontal lines divide this text line from the previous one. See S.P.11n.]

[^13: byes: Rendering beiȝe 'collar, gorget', perhaps not so understood. The translator's intentions are unclear. See also S.P.103.]

[^14: then: S misread þo (conj.) as the adverb. Compare S.2.148 and see linguistic description.]

[^15: you Comons: Rendering þe commune. S turns third-person reference into direct address.]

[^16: all: Agreement of S and W indicates that beta2 retained Bx's adverbial al, dropped in HmCr and several other copies, including M.]

[^17: a mannes: S's gen. sg. rejoins Bx; other beta2 copies have the plural. See BTP note ad loc. The indefinite article is unique to S.]

[^18: the: So also Hm; WCr þat probably represents beta2. Certainty is not possible: see BTP ad loc.]

[^19: S's punctuation is unique among beta2 copies. Most mss divide after mist, correctly.]

Passus primus de visione

What this Mounteyne / menith[^a90] and this darke[^a91][^20] dale
And the feilde full of folke / I shall you feyr shewe
A louelie Ladie of lere / in lynen clothed
Cam doune from a castell / and callid me faire
Seying[^a92] sonne slepist thou / seist thou this people
How busie they bene all /[^21] aboute the maze
The more[^a93] part[^a94] of people[^a95] / that passethe this waie[^a96]
Haue they worshipe in this worlde / they will[^a97] no better
Of other heauen then here / holde they no tale
I was aferde of hir face / though she fair were
And said mercie madame / what is this to mene
The tour vpon[^a98] the tofte quod she truthe is therin
And wolde that ye wrought / as his worde teachethe
For he is father of feithe / that[^a99] formid you all
[^22] Bothe with felle and face[^a100] / & gaue you fiue wittes
for to worship him therwith the[^a101][^23] while[^a102] ye be here
And therfor he haue made[^a103][^24] th'erthe / to helpe you echone
With[^a104] wollen and[^a105] lynnen / & with[^a106] liuelode at nede
In measurable mannere / to make you at ease
And commaundid of his curtesie / in commune iij thre thinges
Arne non nedefull but those / and name[^a107] them I thinke
And reken them by reason / Reherce ye[^a108] them after
The[^a109] won is vesture / from colde[^a110] the to saue
And meat att meall / for disease[^a111] of thy-self
drinke[^a112] when thou art drie[^a113] / and do nought of[^a114] reason
That thou were[^a115] the worse / when thou shuldest worke[^a116]
For loth in his lyfedaies / for liking of drinke
did with[^a117] his doughters / that the devill liked
Delighted him in drinke / as the deuill wolde
And lecherie him laught / and lay by them bothe
And all he wyte it the wine / that wikid dede
Inebriamus eum vino , dormiamusque cum eo vt seruare Possimus de patre nostro semen .[^25]
Through wyne and wemmen[^a118] / there was loth accombred
And there gat in glotonie / girles that were churles
Therfor drede delectable drinke / & thou shalt do the better
Measure is medicine / though thou ernest[^26] muche[^a119]
All is not[^a120][^27] good for[^a121] the ghost / that the gutte askethe
[^28] Nor liuelode to thy liking[^a122][^29] / for a liere him teacheth
That is the wrechid worlde / wolde the betraie
for the feinde and the[^a123] fleshe / folowe the together
This and that seithe thy soule / and seythe it in thi hart
And for thou sholdest beware / I telle[^a124] the the best
Madame mercie quod I / me likethe well youre wordes
And the money of this worlde[^a125] / that men so fast holdethe
Telle me to whome madame / that treasure belongeth[^a126]
Go to the gospell quod she / that god said him-self
Where[^a127] the people him apposed / with a penie in the temple
Whether they shulde therwithe / worship the king Cesar
And god asked at[^a128] them / of whome spake the letter
And th'ymage like[^a129] / that therin standithe
Cesaris[^a130][^30] they said / we se him[^a131] well echone
Reddite Cesari quod Christe[^a132] / that to Cesar[^a133] belongethe[^a134]
Et que sunt dei deo / or ellis ye do evill[^a135]
for rightfull reason / shulde rule you all
[^31] And kinde wit be wardeine / your welthe to kepe
And tutor of your treasour / and take[^a136] you at nede
For husbondrie and he[^a137][^32] / holden to-gethers
Then I freynid hir faire / for him that me made
That doungeon in the dale / that dreadfull is of sight
What maie it be to mene / Madame I you beseche
That is the castill of care / who-so commethe therin
Maie banne that he was borne[^a138] / to bodie or to soule
Therein wonneth a wight / that wrong is ycallid[^a139]
Father of falshede / and founded hit himself
Adam and Eue / he eggid to euill[^a140]
Counsellid Cayme / to kille his naturall[^a141] brother
Iudas he iaped / withe Iewes[^a142] siluer
And sithen on an Eldertre[^a143] hangid him after
he is letter of loue / and deceyuith[^a144] them all
That trust on his treasure / betrayeth he sonest
Then had I wonder in my witt / what womman it was[^a145]
That such wise wordes / of holie writ shewid
And asked hir on the high name / ere she thens went[^a146]
What she were trulie[^a147] / that instruct[^a148] me so faire
Holie churche I am quod she / thou oughtest me to knowe
I first receyuid the[^a149] / and the feithe taught
Thou[^a150] broughtest me borrowes / my biddinges[^a151] to fulfill
And to loue me trulie[^a152] / while[^a153] thy lyfe dureth
Then I knelid[^a154][^33] on my kneis / and cried hir of grace
And preid hir pitiouslie / to[^a155][^34] pray for my synnes
And also kenne me kyndlie / on Christ to beleue /
That I might worke his will / Þat wrought me to man
Teache me to no tresure / but tell me this same[^a156]
howe I maie saue my soule / that saynt art holden
When all treasures are tried quod she / truthe is the best
I do it on Deus caritas / to deme the sothe
hit is as dereworthie a thing[^a157][^35] / as dere god himself
Who-so is true of his tong / and tellithe non other
And dothe the workes therwith / and willethe[^a158] noman no man yll
He is a god by the gospell / agrounde and alofte[^36]
And like to oure lorde / by seynt Lukes wordes
The clerkes that knowe this / shulde telle[^a159] it about
for cristen and vncristen / cleymeth it echeone
Kinges and knightes / shulde kepe it by reason
Ride and rapdoune rap doune / in Realmes aboute
[^37] And take Transgressors / and tye them fast
Till truthe had determid[^a160] / their trespasse to th'ende
And that is the profession apertlie / Þat longith[^a161] to knightes
And not to fast one[^a162] fridaie / in fyue score wnter w[i]nter
But holde with him and with hir / that wolde all truthe
And neuer leue them for loue / nor for laching of siluer
For dauid in his daies / dubbed knightes
And did them swere on their sworde / to serue truthe euer
And who-so passed that poynt / was apostata in the order
But Christ the noyntid king[^a163][^38] / knighthede tene
Cherubin and Seraphin / suche sevin and other
And gaf them might / in his maiestie / the merier them thought
And over his mene meynie / made them Archaungelles
Taught them by the trinitie / truth to knowe
To be buxome at his bidding / he bad them nought ellis
Lucifer with legions / lerned hit in heauen
But for he brake buxumnesse / his blisse did[^a164] he lose[^a165]
And fell from that felowship / in a fendes likenesse
In-to a derk depe[^a166] hell / to dwelle there for euer
And mo thousandes with him / than man coude nombre
Lept out with Lucifer / in Lothelie forme
for they beleuid[^a167] vpon him / that lyed in this manere
Ponam pedem in aquilone , et similis ero altissimo .
And all that hopid it might be so / no[^a168] heauen might them holde
But felle out in fendes likenesse / nyne daies together
Till god of his goodnes / began[^a169] to[^a170] stable and stint
And caused[^a171] heuin to shett[^a172] / and stand in quiet
When these wicked went out / in wonder wise they felle
Some in th'ayre[^a173] some in th'erthe[^a174] / & some in helle depe
And Lucifer lowest lythe /[^39] yet[^a175] of them all
for pride that he put out / his peyne hath non ende
And all that worke with wrong / wende they shall
After their deathdaie / and dwelle with that shrewe
And they that worke wele / as holie write telleth
And ende as I have[^a176] saide / in truthe that is best[^a177]
Maie be sure[^a178] that their soules / shall go[^a179] to heauen
There truthe is in trinitie / and tronethe them all
Wherfor[^a180] I saie as I saide[^a181] / by sight of these textes
When all treasures are tried / truthe is the best
Lerne[^a182] on these[^a183][^40] laie[^a184] men / for letterid men it knoweth
That truthe is tresure / the triest on the[^a185] erthe
[^41] Yet haue I no kynde knowlege[^a186] quod he[^a187] / yet mot ye[^a188][^42] kenne me better
By what crafte in my corps / it beginneth[^a189] and where
Thou dotid daffe quod she / dull are thy wittes
Tolitill To litill latine thou lernedist / lewde[^a190][^43] in thi youthe
Heu michi quia[^a191] sterilem duxi vitam iuuenilem .
hit is a kind knowlege[^a192] quod he[^44] / to knowe[^a193][^45] in thine hart
For to loue thi lorde / leuer then thi-self
No deadlie synne to do / die though thou shuldest
This I trowe be truthe / who can teache the better
Loke thou suffre him to saie / & then[^a194] lerne[^a195] it after
for truthe tellith that loue / is triacle of heauen
Maie no synne be on him sene / that vseth that spice
And all his workes he wrought / with loue as him list
And learnid[^a196] hit Moyses for the lefest thing / & most like to heauen
And also the plentie of peace / most preciouse of vertues
For heauen might not holde it / hit was so heauy of him-self
Till it had of the erthe / eaten his Fill
And when it had of this folde / fleshe and blood taken
Was neuer leaf vpon lynde / lyghter therafter
Portatiue[^a197] and persing[^a198] / as the poynt of a nedill
Non armoure might[^a199] it let / nor non highe walles
Therfore is loue leder / of the lordes folke of heauen
And a mene as the Maire is / betwene þe king & the commons[^a200]
Right so is loue a leder / and the lawe shapithe
Vpon man for his misdedes / the mercement he taxethe
And for to knowe it rightlie[^a201] / it beginneth[^a202] by myght
And in the hart is[^a203] the head / and the high welle
for of[^a204] right knowlege[^a205] in hart / there a myght beginneth
And falleth[^a206] to the father / that formed vs all
He[^a207] lokid on vs with loue / and lete his son die
Mekelie for oure misdedes / to amende vs all
And yet wolde he them no woe / þat wrought him þat peyne
But mekelie with mouthe / mercie he besought
To have pitie on that people / þat peynid him to deathe
Here might thou se ensamples / in hinself hi[m]self one
That he was mightfull & meke / that[^a208] mercie gan graunte
To them þat hangid him highe[^a209] / and his hart thirled
Therfor I rede you riche / haue ruthe on the pouer
Thoughe ye be mightie[^a210][^46] / be meke in your workes
for that[^a211] measure that ye meate / amisse or ellis
[^47] ye shall receyue the like[^a212] / when ye wende hens
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis , remetietur vobis .
For you[^a213] be true of your tung / and trulie winne
And as chast as a childe / that in church wepith
But if ye loue trulie[^a214] / and lende the pouer
Such good as god you sent / goodlie parting[^a215][^48]
Ye haue nomore no more merite / in masse nor in houres
Then Malkin of hir maidinhede / that noman no man desyreth
For Iames the gentill / Iudged in his bookes
That feith without the fact[^a216][^49] / is nothing[^a217] worthe
And as dead as a dorenaile[^a218] / but if the dedes folowe
Fides sine operibus mortua est .
For[^a219] chastitie without charitie / is[^a220] cheyned in helle
It is as lewde as a lampe / þat no light is in
Many chapleynes are chast / but charitie is awaie
No men more covetouse[^a221] / Whan they be avauncid
Vnkinde to their kynne / and to all cristen
Shewing[^a222] such[^a223] charitie[^50] / and chide after more
Such Chastitie without Charitie / is[^a224] cheyned in helle
Many Curates[^a225] kepe them clene of their bodie[^a226]
And[^a227] be accombrid with Couetise / they maie[^a228] not do it from them
So harde hath | Avarice / hasped them togethers
Which[^a229] is no truthe of þe | Trinite / but trecherie of helle
And lerning to laiemen[^a230] / the worse[^a231] for to dele
Therfor theise wordes / be writen in the gospell
Date et dabitur vobis / for I deale you all thing[^a232]
And that is the locke of loue / þat[^a233] lettith out my grace
To confort the carefull / Accombred with synne
Loue is leche of lyfe / and next oure lorde himself[^a234]
And also the right waie[^a235] / that ledithe[^a236] into heauen
Therfor I saie as I said ere / by the true[^a237] textes
When all treasures bene tried / truthe is the best
Now haue I tolde the what truth is / þat no treasure is better
I maye no longar lodge[^a238] the with / now kepe[^a239] the oure lord

[^a90: menith (S) | bymeneþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a91: darke (S) | merke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a92: Seying (S) | And seide (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a93: more (S) | mooste (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a94: part (S Cr1) | partie (W Hm Bx)]

[^a95: people (S) | þis peple (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a96: this waie (S) | on þis erþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a97: will (S Cr1) | wilne (W Hm Bx)]

[^a98: vpon (S Cr1) | vp (Bx) | on (W Hm)]

[^a99: that (S Hm) | and (W Cr1) | om. (Bx)]

[^a100: face (S) | with face (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a101: the (S Bx) | om. (W Hm) | yea (Cr1)]

[^a102: while (S Cr1) | while þat (W Hm Bx)]

[^a103: haue made (S) | hiȝte (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a104: With (S) | Of (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a105: and (S) | of (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a106: & with (S) | and of (Cr1) | of (W Hm Bx)]

[^a107: name (S) | named (Cr1) | nempne (W Hm Bx)]

[^a108: ye (S Cr1 Hm) | þow (W Bx) | om.]

[^a109: The (S) | That (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a110: colde (S W) | chele (Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a111: disease (S Cr1) | mysese (W Hm Bx)]

[^a112: drinke (S) | And drynke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a113: art drie (S) | driest (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a114: of (S) | out of (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a115: were (S) | worth (W Cr1 Bx) | wurche (Hm)]

[^a116: shuldest worke (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a117: with (S Cr1) | by (W Hm Bx)]

[^a118: wemmen (S Cr1) | þoruȝ wommen (W Hm Bx)]

[^a119: ernest muche (S) | muchel yerne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a120: All is not (S) | It is nouȝt al (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a121: for (S Cr1) | to (W Hm Bx)]

[^a122: liking (S) | likame (W Hm Bx) | line om. (Cr1)]

[^a123: the (S Cr1) | þi (W Hm Bx)]

[^a124: telle (S) | wisse (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a125: worlde (S) | molde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a126: belongeth (S) | appendeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a127: Where (S) | Tho (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a128: at (S) | of (W Hm Bx) | om. (Cr1)]

[^a129: like (S) | y-lyk (Hm Cr1 Bx) | was lik (W) | is ylik]

[^a130: Cesaris (S Bx) | Cesares (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a131: him (S Hm Bx) | it (W) | her (Cr1)]

[^a132: Christe (S) | god (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a133: to Cesar (S) | Cesari (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a134: belongethe (S Cr1) | bifalleþ (W Hm Bx)]

[^a135: evill (S) | ille (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a136: take (S Cr1) | take it (W Hm Bx)]

[^a137: he (S) | hij (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a138: was borne (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a139: ycallid (S) | yhote (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a140: euill (S) | ille (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a141: naturall (S) | om. (W Cr1 Bx) | line om. (Hm)]

[^a142: Iewes (S Cr1) | Iewen (W Bx) | line om. (Hm)]

[^a143: Eldertre (S) | Eller (W Cr1 Bx) | line om. (Hm)]

[^a144: deceyuith (S) | lieþ (W Cr1 Bx) | line om. (Hm)]

[^a145: was (S) | weere (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a146: went (S) | yede (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a147: trulie (S) | witterly (W Bx) | wysely (Cr1)]

[^a148: instruct (S) | wissed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a149: first receyuid the (S) | vnderfeng þee first (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a150: Thou (S Cr1) | and thu (Hm) | And (W Bx)]

[^a151: biddinges (S Cr1) | biddyng (W Hm Bx)]

[^a152: trulie (S) | leelly (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a153: while (S) | þe while (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a154: knelid (S) | courbed (W Cr1 Bx) | cowryd (Hm)]

[^a155: to (S Hm Bx) | om. (W Cr1)]

[^a156: same (S) | ilke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a157: thing (S) | drury (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a158: willethe (S Cr1) | wilneþ (W Hm Bx)]

[^a159: telle (S) | kennen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a160: determid (S) | y-termyned (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a161: longith (S) | apendeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a162: one (S Cr1) | a (Hm Bx) | o (W)]

[^a163: the noyntid king (S) | kyngene kyng (W Hm Bx) | kyng of kyngis (Cr1)]

[^a164: did (S) | gan (W Hm Bx) | can (Cr1)]

[^a165: lose (S) | tyne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a166: derk depe (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a167: beleuid (S) | leueden (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a168: no (S Cr1) | noon (W Hm Bx)]

[^a169: began (S) | gan (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a170: to (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a171: caused (S) | garte þe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a172: shett (S) | stekie (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a173: th'ayre (S W) | eyr (Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a174: th'erthe (S) | erþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a175: yet (S Cr1 W) | om. (Bx) | there (Hm)]

[^a176: have (S) | er (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a177: best (S M) | þe beste (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a178: sure (S) | siker (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a179: go (S) | wende (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a180: Wherfor (S) | For-þi (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a181: saide (S) | seyde er (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a182: Lerne (S Cr1) | Lereþ (W Hm Bx)]

[^a183: on these (S) | on this (Hm Cr1) | it þise (W Bx)]

[^a184: laie (S) | lewed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a185: the (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a186: knowlege (S) | knowyng (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a187: quod he (S) | quod I (W Cr1 Bx) | om. (Hm)]

[^a188: yet mot ye (S Bx) | ye mote (W Cr1) | ȝyt (Hm)]

[^a189: beginneth (S) | comseþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a190: lewde (S) | leode (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a191: quia (S Cr1 M W) | quod (Bx) | qui (Hm)]

[^a192: knowlege (S) | knowyng (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a193: to knowe (S) | þat kenneþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a194: then (S) | siþen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a195: lerne (S Cr1) | lere (W Bx)]

[^a196: learnid (S Cr1 Hm) | lered (W Bx)]

[^a197: Portatiue (S) | And portatif (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a198: persing (S) | persaunt (W Cr1 Bx) | peysand (Hm)]

[^a199: Non armoure might (S) | That myȝte noon Armure (W Cr1 Bx) | that myȝt no armure (Hm)]

[^a200: commons (S Cr1) | commune (W Hm Bx)]

[^a201: rightlie (S) | kyndely (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a202: beginneth (S) | comseþ (W Hm Bx) | commeth (Cr1)]

[^a203: is (S) | þere is (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a204: of (S Cr1) | in (W Hm Bx)]

[^a205: right knowlege (S) | kynde knowynge (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a206: falleth (S) | þat falleþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a207: He (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a208: that (S Cr1) | and (W Hm Bx)]

[^a209: highe (S) | onheiȝ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a210: mightie (S) | mightti to mot (Cr1) | myȝtful to mote (W Hm Bx)]

[^a211: that (S) | þe same (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a212: receyue the like (S) | ben weyen þer-wiþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a213: you (S) | þouȝ ye (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a214: trulie (S) | leelly (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a215: parting (S) | parteþ (W Bx) | parte (Cr1) | departeth (Hm)]

[^a216: fact (S) | feet (W Cr1 Bx) | werk]

[^a217: nothing (S) | riȝt no-þyng (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a218: dorenaile (S) | dore-tree (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a219: For (S M) | For-þi (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a220: is (S) | worþ (W Hm Bx) | worthi (Cr1)]

[^a221: No men more covetouse (S) | Are no men Auarouser þan hij (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a222: Shewing (S) | Chewen (W Cr1 Bx) | schewen (Hm)]

[^a223: such (S) | hire (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a224: is (S) | worþ (W Hm Bx) | worthie (Cr1)]

[^a225: Curates (S) | curatours (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a226: bodie (S) | bodies (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a227: And (S Hm) | Thei (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a228: maie (S) | konne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a229: Which (S) | And þat (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a230: laiemen (S) | lewed men (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a231: worse (S) | latter (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a232: thing (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a233: þat (S Cr1) | and (W Hm Bx)]

[^a234: himself (S Hm) | selue (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a235: right waie (S) | graiþe gate (W Cr1 Bx) | grete gate (Hm)]

[^a236: ledithe (S) | goþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a237: true (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a238: lodge (S) | lenge (W Cr1 Bx) | leue]

[^a239: kepe (S) | loke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^20: menith ... darke: S joins F, illustrating convergence towards easier readings.]

[^21: S's midline punctuation agrees with Hm; W assigns all to the b-verse, while most copies outside the beta2 group omit this word.]

[^22: S.1.15: A pair of inked horizontal lines divide this text line from the previous one. See S.P.11n.]

[^23: the: S retains the reading of the archetype; other beta2 copies diverge. WHm omit the article, but Cr1 has yea, probably misreading ms þe. The article is restored in Cr2,3, as noted by Carter Hailey in YLS 21 (2007): 165.]

[^24: haue made: Rendering hiȝte 'commanded'. This verb is almost always translated out, usually showing comprehension.]

[^25: The scribe has drawn a nearly complete box around this two-line quotation.]

[^26: ernest: Probably OED earn v.2, a variant of OED yearn v.1 lacking the initial palatal.]

[^27: All is not: The S reading is unique among B-version copies, yet agrees with the corresponding line in the A and C versions; it is the reading printed by KD. See KD p.78n.]

[^28: Two lines (=Bx.1.39-40) were fused at their caesuras in several early beta copies, including the beta2 group ancestor. See BTP ad loc. Likame, the word that induced eyeskip, undergoes substitution in S. See our next note.]

[^29: liking: 'enjoyment', a homoeographic guess, rendering likame 'body'. Subsequent instances of this word are translated accurately. See Glossary.]

[^30: Cesaris: S restored, or possibly retained, Bx's Latin genitive (quoting Matt 22:21). Other beta2 copies and M have the English possessive ending -es. See BTP ad loc. The direction of variation is reversed in the next line below, where S uniquely replaces the Latin dative with to Cesar.]

[^31: S.1.55: A pair of inked horizontal lines divide this text line from the previous one. See S.P.11n.]

[^32: he: S's singular pronoun is the reading adopted by KD; most mss have the plural. The referent is kinde wit.]

[^33: knelid: This reading is found only in S and H in the B tradition, but it is archetypal at this location in the A and C versions and it is the reading printed by KD. In H, an A/B splice, knelid may derive from the scribe's A copy. It's appearance in S may be attributed to independent modernization. See S.2.1n.]

[^34: to: Omitted in all copies except SHmRF, but probably present in Bx. See BTP ad loc. The pattern of distribution suggests independent restoration by the scribes of S and Hm. S elsewhere supplies infinitival to: see linguistic description, section ???.]

[^35: thing: A dummy translation of drury (the sole instance of this word in PP-B). Compare S.3.32. Alternatively, drury was recognized (OED records sixteenth-century instances) and its erotic associations judged inappropriate to context.]

[^36: A later hand has added a scribble at the end of this line, possibly the initials GH (=George Hewlet?), yet the forms of these letters -- if we construe them correctly -- do not resemble the forms of g and h in George Hewlet's signatures later in the manuscript. See the general discussion at Introduction I.8.]

[^37: S.1.96: A pair of inked horizontal lines divide this text line from the previous one. See S.P.11n.]

[^38: the noyntid king: Rendering kyngene kyng. Archaic genitive plurals are always revised out. Compare S.4.121, S.5.29, S.19.76, and see Introduction, III.2.]

[^39: S's midline punctuation agrees with W. Most copies omit yet and divide before the verb.]

[^40: on these: SCrHm respond variously to a Bx error transmitted intact in W; see BTP ad loc.]

[^41: S.1.137: A pair of inked horizontal lines divide this text line from the previous one. See S.P.11n.]

[^42: yet mot ye: Alone among beta2 copies, S retains the reading of the archetype. WCr vary to ye mote; Hm has ȝyt. M is corrected to the archetypal reading.]

[^43: lewde: Rendering leode, a word initially opaque to the translator. He eventually inferred its meaning: see the Glossary.]

[^44: he: 'she', a legitimate form of the feminine pronoun in the language of Bx, retained in SCr here and at S.5.314, and by all beta2 copies at S.18.169.]

[^45: to knowe: Rendering þat kenneþ 'that teaches/proclaims' with changed sense.]

[^46: mightie: Rendering myȝtful to mote. See S.3.161n.]

[^47: S.1.177: Two pairs of poorly inked horizontal lines divide this text line from the previous one and the following. See S.P.11n.]

[^48: parting: Rendering parteþ, pr.t.sg. (so Kane) or perhaps an imperative plural. The syntax of the received text is difficult and rather loose. S's present participle simplifies by making the present line dependent on the previous one: "But if ye loue trulie ... parting Such good as god you sent..."]

[^49: fact: Rendering feet 'deed'.]

[^50: Shewing such charitie: Sx read Chewen hire charite, a figurative expression that the redactor failed to understand. Hm schewen presumably shows convergent variation towards a homoeograph.]

Passus secundus

Yet I knelid[^a240][^51] on my kneis / and cried hir of grace
Saying[^a241] mercie madame / for maries loue of heauen
That bare that blisfull barne / þat bought vs on the Rood
Teache[^a242] my m[e] by sum crafte / to knowe the False
Loke vpon thi lefthande left hande[^a243] / and lo where he standithe
Both false and Favell / and their feris many
I lokid on my lefthand left hand[^a244] / as the ladie me taught
And was ware of a woman / worthelie clothed
Purfelid with pelure / the Fynest vpon earthe
And[^a245] crouned with a crowne / the king hath no[^a246] better
Featlie[^a247] hir fyngers / were frettid with golde ringes[^a248]
And therin[^a249] red rubies / as red as any glede
And dyamundes of derest price / & double manere Saphires
Orientals and Ewages / enemies[^a250][^52] to distroie
Hir robe was full rich / of red skarlet ingrayned
With ribandes of red golde / & of riche stones
Hyr araie me rauished / such riches[^a251] sawe I neuer
I wonderid[^a252] what she was / & whose wife she were
What is this woman quod I / so worthelie atyred
That is Mede the maide quod she / þat[^a253] hath noyed me full ofte
And lacked my leman / that Leautie is callid[^a254]
And geuin[^a255] hir to lordes / that lawes haue to kepe
In the Popes paleys / she is priuie as my-self
But sothenesse wolde not so / for she is a bastard
For false was hir father / that hath a fickill tong
And neuer sothe said / sins[^a256] he cam to earthe
And Mede is manerid after him / euen[^a257] as kynd askethe
Qualis pater talis filius / Bonus fructus ex arbore bona[^a258]
I ought to be[^a259] higher then she / I cam of a better stocke[^a260]
My father the great god is / and grounde of all graces
One god without begynning[^a261] / and I his good doughter
And hathe geuen me mercie / to marrie with my-self
And what man be mercifull / and trulie[^a262] me louithe
Shalbe my lorde & I his leef / in the highe heauen
And what man takith Mede / my Life[^a263] dare I laie
That he shall lose[^a264] for his[^a265] loue / a lippe[^a266][^53] of Caritatis
How construeth Dauid the king / of men that take mede
And men of this worlde[^a267] / that mainteine truthe
And how ye shulde[^a268] saue your-self / the psalter bearithe witnesse
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo &c
And now were[^a269] this Mede maried / vnto a mad[^a270][^54] shrewe
To won false fickill tung / a fendes birde of helle[^a271][^55]
Favell through his feire speche / hathe these folke enchauntid
And all is Liers leding / þat she is thus weddid
Tomorowe shalbe shall be[^a272] made / that[^a273] maydens bridall
And there maist[^a274] thou wite if þou wilt / which thei bene all
That long to that lordship / the Lesse and the more
Knowe them there if þou canst / & kepe thou thi tong
[^56] And lett[^a275][^57] them not but lat them worke[^a276] / till Leautie be iustice
And haue poure to punishe them / than put furthe thi reason
Now I betake[^a277] the to[^a278] Christ quod she / and to[^a279] his clene mother
And lat no conscience combre the / for couetise of mede
Thus left me that Ladie / Lying aslepe
And howe Mede was maried / in dreames[^a280] me thought
That all the rich retynue[^a281] / þat reigneth with the false
Were bidden[^a282] to the bridale / on bothe ij two sydes
Of all manere of men / the meane & the riche
To marrie this maid[^a283] / was many man assembled
As of knightes and of clerkes / & other common people
As Sysors and Sommenors / Shreuis and their clerkes
Beddels and Bailiffes / and Brocars of wares[^a284]
Foregoers and vitelors / aduocates[^a285] of th'arches
I cannot reken the rout / þat ranne about mede /
As[^a286][^58] Symonie and Ciuile / and Sysors of courtes
Were most priuie with Mede / of any men methought
And favell was the first / þat fet hir out of boure
And as a Brokour brought hir / to be with fals enioyned
When Simonie and Cyuile / se hir both[^a287] willing[^a288][^59]
Thei assentid for siluer / to seie as both wolde
Then lept furth Lyer[^a289] / and said lo here a charter
That Gyle with his great othes / gaf them togethers
Praying[^a290] Cyvill to se / & Symonie to rede it
Then Symonye and Civile / thrust[^a291] forthe bothe
And vnfolded[^a292][^60] þe feffment / that fals had[^a293] made
And thus beginneth these felowes[^a294] / to loke[^a295][^61] full hie
Sciant presentes et futuri &c
Wite ye[^a296] and witnesse / þat dwell[^a297] vpon this erth
That Mede is maried / more for his[^a298] goodes
Than for anie vertue , fairenes[^a299] / or any fre kinde
Fas Fa[l]s[^a300] is full[^a301] feyne of hir / for that she is[^a302] riche
And favell with his fickell speche / feffeth by this charter
To be princes in pride / and pouertie to dispise
To bacbite and[^a303] bost / and to[^a304] beare fals witnesse
To scorne and to skolde / & schaunder sc[l]aunder to make
Vnbuxome and bolde / to breake the . X . tean comaundementes[^a305]
And the Erledome of envie / And warre[^a306] togethers
With rebuking chastitie[^a307][^62] / and chatering out of reason
The Countie[^a308] of Couetise / and all the costes aboute
That is vsurie and Avarice / all I them graunte
In bargaines & in brocages / with all the borowe of theft
And all the lordship of Lecherie / in Length and in brede
As in workes and[^a309] wordes / and in waitinges with eyis
And in wedes and[^a310] wisshinges / & with ydill thoughtes
There as will wolde / and workemanship failith
Glotonie he gaf him eke / & great othes togither
And all daie to drinke / at diuerse tauernes
And there to Iangle &[^a311] iape / and Iudge their euencristen
And in Fasting daies to frett / ere full time were
And then to sytt and suppe / till slepe them assaile
And breden furth[^a312] as borough swine / and bed them easelie
Till sleuthe and slepe / sliken their[^a313] sydes
And then wanhope to wake[^a314] them so / with no will to amend
For they beleue to be lost[^a315][^63] / evin at[^a316] their last end
And they to haue and to holde / & their heires after
A dwelling with the deuill / and damned be for euer
with all the appurtenaunces[^a317] of purgatorie / in-to the peynes[^a318] of hell
[^64]In witnesse of which thing wrong was the first
And piers the palmer[^a319][^65] pardoner of paulines doctrine
Bete the beddell . of Bokyngham-shire
Reynalde the reue / of rutlonde Sokene
Maude[^a320] the myller / and many moo other
In the date of þe deuill / this dede I enseale
By sight of syr Simonie / And Cyuils leue
Then angrie was[^a321] Theologie / when he this tale herd
And said to Ciuile / now sorow mut you[^a322][^66] haue
Such weddinges to worke / Against[^67] the[^a323] truthe

[A series of what may be four connected minims appear at the top center of the folio in a lighter ink than that of the body of the text.]

And ere this wedding be wrought wo the betide
For Mede is a[^a324] mulier / of A-mendes engendrid
Wherfor[^a325] god grauntethe to giue / Mede to truthe
And thou hast giuen hir to a gilour / god[^a326] giue the sorowe
Thi text telleth the not so / truthe wot the sothe
For dignus est operarius / his hire to haue
And thou hast fastened[^a327][^68] hir to fals / fy on thi Lawe
By[^a328] Lesinges thou leuist / & lecherous workes
Symonie and thi-self / distroye[^a329] holie churche
The notaries & ye / noyethe the people
Ye shall abie hit bothe / by god that me made
Well may you knowe[^a330] / But if your wit faile
That fals is feithles / & fickell in his workes
And[^a331] a bastard borne / of Belsabubbes kynne
[^69] And Mede is a[^a332] mulier / a maiden of good
And might kisse the king / for Coson if[^a333] she shold[^a334]
Therfor worke by wisdome / and by my[^a335] wit also
And Ledith hir to london / there to be[^a336] shewid
if any Lawe will loke / þat[^a337] they Ly to-githers
And though Iustices iudge hir / to be ioyned to fals
Yet beware of wedding / for wittie is truthe
And Consciens is of his counsell / & knoweth you echeone
And if he fynde you in faute[^a338] / And with fals[^a339] hold
It shall much hurt[^a340] your soules / full soure at þe Last
Herto assentid[^a341] Cyvile / but Symonie wold not
Till he had siluer for his seruice / and also the notaries
Than fett Favell furth / Florins ynowe
And bad Gyle to giue / gold alaboute all aboute

[A series of what may be four connected minims appear in the right margin of the folio in a lighter ink than that of the body of the text.]

And namelie to the notaries / that thei faile not[^a342][^70]
And feffe fals witnesses[^a343] / with Floryns ynowe
For they may Mede Avaunce[^a344][^71] / and worke at[^a345] will
Then[^a346][^72] this gold was gevin / great was the thanking
To fals and to favell / for their fair giftes
And came to comfort / from care the Fals
Seying[^a347] sertes syr / cesse shall we neuer
Till Mede be thi weddid wife / through þe[^a348] wittes of vs all
For we haue Mede maistred[^a349] / with oure merie speche
That she grauntith to go / with a good will
To london to loke / if the Lawe wolde
Ioyne[^a350][^73] you ioyntlie / in Ioye for ever
Then was Fals[^a351] fayne / & favell as blithe
And let sommon all people[^a352] / in shires aboute
Commaunding[^a353] all to[^a354] be redie[^a355] / beggers and other
To wende with them to westmynster / to witnes þis dede
Then[^a356] carid they for horses[^a357] / to carye them thither
And Favell fett furth then / horses[^a358] ynowe
And set Mede vpon a Shreve / shoid all newe
And Fals vpon[^a359] a Sysour / þat subtillie[^a360] trottid
And favell on a Flatterer / Featlie[^a361] attyrid
Then had Notaries non / Anoyed they were
for Symonie and Ciuill / shuld on fote[^a362] go[^a363]
Then[^a364] swore Simony / & Ciuill bothe
That Somners shuld be sadelid / & serue them echeone
And Apparailed[^a365] provisors[^a366] / in palfreyis wise
Sir Symonie him-self / shall sitt on[^a367] their backes
[^74] Deanes and subdeanes / Drawe you togethers
Archedecons & officials / & also[^a368] your Regesters
Lat sadle them with Siluer[^75] / oure synne to suffre
As avoutrie & diuorses / and derne vsurie
To beare Bisshops aboute / abrode in visiting
Paulynes pryues / For pleintes in Consistorie
Shall serue my-self / that Civill ame named[^a369]
And cartsadle the Commissarie / our cart shall he lede
And fech vs victualls / at Fornicatores /
And make of Liar a longcart / to lede all these other
As fryers and Faytors / that on their fete renne
And thus fals and favell / went[^a370] furth togethers
And Mede in the myddest / & all these men after
I haue no time[^a371] to telle / the taile that hir[^a372] foloweth
Gyle[^a373] was foregoer / and guided[^a374] them all
Sothnesse se him[^a375] well / and seid but Litill[^a376]
But[^a377] pricked his palfrey / and passed them all
And came to the kynges court / And Conscience it told
And Conscience to the king / carped it after
Nowe by Christ quod the king / if[^a378] I cache myght
Fals or favell / or any of his felowes[^a379]
I wolde be wroken of their[^a380][^76] wrechis / þat worke so yll
And hang them[^a381] by the hals / & all that them mainteyne
Shall neuer man of this[^a382] moulde / maynprise the Least
But right as þe Law will[^a383] / shall[^a384] fall on them all
And commanded a constable / that cam at þe First
To atache the[^a385] Tyrauntes / for anything I saie[^a386]
And fettre fast falsnesse / for any maner[^a387] giftes
And Smight[^a388] of Gyles head / & let him go no farther
And if ye cach[^a389] Liar / Lat him not escape
Ere he be put on the pillarie / for any prayer I saie[^a390]
And bringe Mede to me / in spight of[^a391] them all
Drede at the dore stode / & all the matter[^a392] herde
And[^a393] howe the king commandid / Constables & Sergeauntes
Falsenes & his felowship / to fettre and to bynde
Drede then[^a394] went wightlie / & warned False[^a395]
And bad him fle for feare / & his felowes all
Falsnes for fere then / Fled to the Friers
And gyle did[^a396] him to go / aferde[^a397] for to die
And Marchantes met with him / & made him abide
And shett[^a398] him in their shoppes / to shewe their ware
Apparailing[^a399] him as a prentice[^a400] / the people to serue
Lightlie Lier / lept awaie then
Lurking through lanes / Lugged[^a401] of many
He was nowher welcome / for his many tales
But[^a402] ouer all huntid[^77] / awaie for to trudge[^a403][^78]
Till pardonars had pitie / & pullid him in-to house
They wasshed him and wiped him / & wounde him in cloutes
And sent him with Seales / on Sondais to churches
And he[^a404] gaf pardon for pens / poundemeale about
Then lowrid Leches / & letters they sent
That he shulde dwelle[^a405] with them waters to loke
Spicers spoke with him / to spie their ware
For he coude of their craft / and knewe many gommes
Also[^a406] Mynstrels and Messengers / met with him ones
And held him won[^a407] halfyere / and elleuen daies
Friers with faire speche / Fett him thens
And for knowing of commers / copid him as a Frier
And he had[^a408] leue to lepe out / as oft as he Likid[^a409]
And is welcome when he will / & dwelle[^a410] with them oft
All fled for feare / and flewe in-to corners[^a411]
Saue Mede the maid / nomore no more durst abide
And trulie to telle / she trembled for drede
And eke wept and wrong / when she was atached

[^a240: knelid (S) | courbed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a241: Saying (S) | And seide (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a242: Teache (S) | Kenne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a243: lefthande left hande (S) | left half (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a244: lefthand left hand (S) | left half (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a245: And (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a246: no (S) | noon (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a247: Featlie (S) | Fetisliche (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a248: ringes (S) | wyr (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a249: therin (S) | þer-on (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a250: enemies (S) | enuenymes (W Hm Bx) | venemis (Cr1)]

[^a251: riches (S Cr1) | richesse (W Hm Bx)]

[^a252: wonderid (S) | hadde wonder (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a253: þat (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a254: callid (S) | hoten (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a255: geuin (S) | bilowen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a256: sins (S) | siþen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a257: euen (S) | riȝt (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a258: fructus ex arbore bona (S) | arbor bonum fructum facit (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a259: to be (S M) | ben (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a260: stocke (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a261: begynning (S Cr1) | gynnyng (W Hm Bx)]

[^a262: trulie (S) | leelly (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a263: Life (S M) | heed (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a264: lose (S) | lese (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a265: his (S) | hire (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a266: lippe (S Cr1) | lappe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a267: worlde (S) | moolde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a268: shulde (S Cr1) | shul (W Hm Bx)]

[^a269: were (S) | worþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a270: mad (S) | mansed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a271: birde of helle (S) | biyete (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a272: shalbe shall be (S) | worþ (W Hm Bx) | was (Cr1)]

[^a273: that (S Hm) | þe (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a274: maist (S) | myȝt (Hm W Cr1)]

[^a275: lett (S) | lakke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a276: worke (S Cr1) | worþe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a277: betake (S) | bikenne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a278: to (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a279: to (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a280: dreames (S) | Metels (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a281: retynue (S) | retenaunce (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a282: bidden (S) | boden (W Hm Bx) | bounden (Cr1)]

[^a283: maid (S Cr1 W) | maiden (Hm Bx)]

[^a284: wares (S) | chaffare (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a285: aduocates (S) | and Aduokettes (W Cr1) | and voketys (Hm Bx)]

[^a286: As (S) | Ac (W Hm Bx) | And (Cr1)]

[^a287: both (S Cr1 Hm) | boþer (W) | beire (Bx)]

[^a288: willing (S) | wille (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a289: furth Lyer (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a290: Praying (S) | And preide (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a291: thrust (S) | stonden (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a292: vnfolded (S Hm) | vnfoldeþ (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a293: had (S Hm) | hath (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a294: felowes (S) | gomes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a295: loke (S) | greden (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a296: ye (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a297: dwell (S) | wonieþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a298: his (S) | hire (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a299: fairenes (S) | or fairnesse (W Cr1 Bx) | of fayrnesse (Hm)]

[^a300: Fas Fa[l]s (S) | Falsnesse (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a301: full (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a302: that she is (S) | he woot hire (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a303: and (S) | and to (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a304: to (S Cr1 Hm) | om. (W Bx)]

[^a305: comaundementes (S) | hestes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a306: warre (S) | wraþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a307: rebuking chastitie (S) | þe Chastilet of cheste (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a308: Countie (S W Bx) | contry (Cr1) | comyte (Hm)]

[^a309: and (S) | and in (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a310: and (S) | and in (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a311: & (S W Hm) | & to (Cr1 Bx)]

[^a312: furth (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a313: their (S Cr1 Hm) | hise (W Bx)]

[^a314: wake (S) | awaken (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a315: they beleue to be lost (S) | thei leuen to be loste (Hm) | he leueþ be lost (W Bx) | they liuen by luste (Cr1)]

[^a316: evin at (S) | þis is (W Hm Bx) | that is (Cr1)]

[^a317: appurtenaunces (S Cr1 W) | purtenaunces (Bx) | purtynaunce (Hm)]

[^a318: peynes (S) | paine (Cr1) | pyne (W Bx) | pyt (Hm)]

[^a319: palmer (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a320: Maude (S Cr1 W) | munde (Hm Bx)]

[^a321: angrie was (S) | tened hym (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a322: you (S Cr1) | þow (W Hm Bx)]

[^a323: Against the (S) | to wratthe with (W Cr1 Bx) | line om. (Hm)]

[^a324: a (S Hm) | om. (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a325: Wherfor (S) | And (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a326: god (S) | now god (W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a327: fastened (S Cr1 Hm) | fest (W Bx)]

[^a328: By (S) | For al bi (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a329: distroye (S) | shenden (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a330: may you knowe (S) | ye witen wernardes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a331: And (S) | And was (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a332: a (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a333: if (S Cr1) | and (W Bx) | yf that (Hm)]

[^a334: shold (S) | wolde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a335: my (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a336: to be (S) | it is (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a337: þat (S Hm) | om. (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a338: faute (S) | defaute (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a339: fals (S Cr1 Hm) | þe false (W Bx)]

[^a340: much hurt (S) | bisitte (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a341: assentid (S M) | assenteþ (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a342: thei faile not (S) | hem noon ne faille (W Bx) | hem none fayle (Cr1) | thei nouȝt fayle (Hm)]

[^a343: witnesses (S M W) | wytnes (Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a344: Avaunce (S) | amaistrye (W Bx) | maystren (Hm Cr1)]

[^a345: worke at (S) | maken at my (W Cr1 Bx) | maken at her (Hm)]

[^a346: Then (S) | Tho (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a347: Seying (S) | And seiden (W Hm Bx) | And sythen (Cr1)]

[^a348: þe (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a349: maistred (S Cr1) | amaistried (W Bx) | y-maystryed (Hm)]

[^a350: Ioyne (S) | Iuggen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a351: Fals (S Hm) | Falsnesse (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a352: people (S) | segges (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a353: Commaunding (S) | And bad hem (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a354: to (S Cr1 W) | om. (Hm Bx)]

[^a355: redie (S) | bown (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a356: Then (S) | Ac þanne (W Bx) | and than (Hm Cr1)]

[^a357: horses (S) | caples (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a358: horses (S) | foles (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a359: vpon (S) | sat on (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a360: subtillie (S) | softeli (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a361: Featlie (S) | fetisly (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a362: fote (S) | hire feet (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a363: go (S Hm) | gange (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a364: Then (S) | Ac þanne (W Bx) | and than (Hm Cr1)]

[^a365: Apparailed (S) | late apparaille (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a366: provisors (S) | þise prouisours (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a367: on (S Cr1) | vp-on (W Hm Bx)]

[^a368: also (S) | alle (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a369: ame named (S) | is named (Cr1) | is nempned (W Hm Bx)]

[^a370: went (S) | fareþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a371: time (S Cr1) | tome (W Hm Bx)]

[^a372: hir (S Cr1 W) | hem (Hm Bx)]

[^a373: Gyle (S) | Ac Gyle (W Hm Bx) | And Gyle (Cr1)]

[^a374: guided (S Cr1) | gyed (W Bx) | gylyd (Hm)]

[^a375: him (S M Hm) | hem (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a376: Litill (S Cr1 M W) | a lytyl (Hm Bx)]

[^a377: But (S) | And (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a378: if (S) | and (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a379: felowes (S) | feeris (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a380: their (S) | þo (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a381: hang them (S) | doon hem hange (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a382: this (S Cr1 W) | om. (Hm Bx)]

[^a383: will (S) | wol loke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a384: shall (S) | lat (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a385: the (S) | þo (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a386: saie (S) | hote (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a387: maner (S) | kynnes (W Cr1 Bx) | kyn (Hm)]

[^a388: Smight (S) | girdeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a389: cach (S Cr1) | lacche (W Bx)]

[^a390: saie (S) | hote (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a391: in spight of (S) | maugree (W Hm Bx) | in mauger (Cr1)]

[^a392: all the matter (S) | þe doom (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a393: And (S W Bx) | om. (Hm Cr1)]

[^a394: Drede then (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a395: False (S Hm) | þe False (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a396: did (S) | dooþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a397: aferde (S) | agast (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a398: shett (S Cr1) | bishetten (W Hm Bx)]

[^a399: Apparailing (S) | Apparailed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a400: a prentice (S Cr1 Bx) | Apprentice (W Hm)]

[^a401: Lugged (S Hm) | tolugged (W Bx) | to be lodged (Cr1)]

[^a402: But (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a403: awaie for to trudge (S) | and yhote trusse (W Cr1)]

[^a404: he (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a405: dwelle (S) | wonye (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a406: Also (S) | Ac (Hm Bx) | And (W Cr1)]

[^a407: won (S) | an (W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a408: had (S) | haþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a409: he Likid (S) | hym likeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a410: dwelle (S) | woneþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a411: corners (S) | hernes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^51: knelid: Rendering courbed, as also at S.1.79. The S reading is unique among B-version copies, yet agrees with the corresponding line in the A and C versions. See KD p.78n.]

[^52: enemies: Rendering enuenymes (the word occurs in PP-B only here). F has the same homoeographic substitution. Cr's venemis is a felicitous modernization, already adopted in M.]

[^53: lippe: "A mouthfull; a little bit", recorded by MED (s.v. lippe n.2) only from PP and recessive throughout the textual tradition, but accepted by the S translator (see also S.5.250 and S.15.496). S here agrees with CrY and with the X group of C; other copies have lappe. BTP attribute Cr's reading to Crowley's C-version manuscript, but SCr agreement implies that the reading originated in their common ancestor. Compare S.5.477n.]

[^54: mad: Rendering mansed 'cursed', as also in several later instances: see Glossary.]

[^55: fendes birde of helle: Rendering fendes biyete. The operative sense of birde is 'child, son' (OED bird n., sense 1c). MED records the phrase "deuelys byrde" from before 1500 (s.v. brid n., sense 3b).]

[^56: S.2.49: A pair of inked horizontal lines divide this text line from the previous one. See S.P.11n.]

[^57: lett: 'hinder, obstruct' (OED let v.2), rendering lakke 'criticize', a word more often transmitted intact, especially in early passus. See Glossary.]

[^58: As: An error for Ac, elsewhere rendered in S as but or and.]

[^59: se hir both willing: Possibly "saw her desiring both (i.e., Favell and Fals)", but the product of compounded error. Bx read seiȝ here beire wille, i.e., "saw the will of both of them". W's boþer (gen. of boþe, whereas Bx has the gen. of the synonymous bo) perhaps represents beta2, subsequently corrupted to bothe in SCrHm. Compare S.16.173 and S.18.38, where WHm have an inflected genitive of boþe, while SCrM have a periphrastic modernization. The 3pl. det. hir is elsewhere always modernized in S; survival of the form with initial h- in this instance perhaps indicates that the redactor read it as 3sg. fem. acc., but the intended sense is unclear.]

[^60: vnfolded: Our apparatus construes Cr's vnfolde as present tense. Bx shifts between present and past in the encompassing passage. SHm harmonize around the past.]

[^61: loke: Rendering greden 'cry out', a word that the translator probably never understood. See Glossary.]

[^62: rebuking chastitie: The S redactor was here defeated by his exemplar, which read þe Chastilet of cheste 'the little castle of strife'. Alliteration on ch- prompts chastitie. S introduces a present participle elsewhere at similar points of desperation: for instance, S.1.38 and S.2.68. Chastilet appears in PP-B only here. For cheste see the Glossary.]

[^63: they beleue to be lost: Intersecting variants unduly complicate our apparatus. Bx shifts between singular and plural pronouns in the encompassing passage. W retains the archetypal singular in the present line, as also two lines above, while other beta2 copies harmonize around the plural. If Cr's they liuen by luste arose by visual error, as seems likely, the anterior reading must have been approximately they leuen be loste, without infinitival to, which was then introduced independently in SHm.]

[^64: S uniquely omits KD.2.105-7 (=Bx.2.107-9).]

[^65: palmer: This intruded word breaks syntax. Perhaps it was intended by the S-redactor to replace pardoner, not join it.]

[^66: you: Most other copies read þow; Cr agrees with S. <þ> and <y> are not distinguished in the S scribe's hand, but the reading is secure, for the old 2 sg. nominative pronoun is always written with initial th-, or else with thorn and superscripted u, never as unabbreviated þou. See Introduction, sections ??? and notes at S.5.182, S.5.304, S.5.586, S.5.647, S.6.147, and S.6.223. The line perhaps means "may sorrow have you," with Aux-S-V-O order, transposing the grammatical subject and object of the received text. Alternatively the SCr reading illustrates the extension of you to the nominative singular.]

[^67: The scribe has added an erroneous dot over the third minim in the sequence -in-.]

[^68: [fastened]: S joins CrHm; W and most other B-version copies have fest, the contracted pa.ptc. of MED fasten v.1, a synonymous and related verb. Kane and Wittig treat these as forms of a single verb, s.v. festne, v.]

[^69: S.2.131: A pair of inked horizontal lines divide this text line from the previous one. See S.P.11n.]

[^70: thei faile not: Probably rendering hem noon ne faille, the archetypal reading, with changed sense. Hm varies in parallel with S, differing only in word order.]

[^71: Avaunce: Rendering amaistrye 'get control over' or perhaps the aphetic form of this verb, transmitted in HmCr here and by S itself in two later instances, including S.2.153 below.]

[^72: then: S misread þo (conj.) as the adverb. Compare S.P.103 and see linguistic description.]

[^73: Ioyne: Rendering Iuggen, but probably a mechanical error, by anticipation of subsequent copy. Elsewhere S always transmits this verb intact.]

[^74: S.2.172: A pair of inked horizontal lines divide this text line from the previous one. See S.P.11n.]

[^75: Siluer: The S is of irregular shape, with interference from the lines above and below.]

[^76: their: Rendering demonstrative þo 'those'. Subsequent instances are usually rendered with better understanding. See S.2.198 and the Linguistic Description.]

[^77: huntid: Probably 'put to flight; driven away'. See OED hunt v., sense 4a, quoting the 1535 Coverdale translation of Psalm 139 (140): "A malicious and wicked person shal be hunted awaye and destroyed." On variation in this line see BTP ad loc. and Carter Hailey in YLS 21 (2007): 152-54.]

[^78: trudge: Rendering trusse 'pack up and go'. The earliest instances of trudge recorded in the OED are from c. 1550, hence contemporary with S.]

Passus tertius de visione

Nowe is Mede the maide / & nomo no mo of them all
With Bedells and[^a412] Bailiffes / brought before the king
The king callid a clerke / But[^a413] I cannot[^a414] his name
To take Mede the maide / and make hir at ease
I shall assaie hir my-self / and sothelie appose
What man of this worlde[^a415][^79] / that she wolde faynest haue[^a416]
And if she worke by witt / and my will folowe
I will forgiue hir this gilt / so me godde helpe
Curteislie the clerke then / as the king badd[^a417]
Toke Mede by the myddell / & brought hir into a[^a418] chaumbre
Where[^a419] was myrth & Minstralsie . mede to please
Thei that dwell[^a420] in westmynstre / worshipped hir all
Gentillie with ioye / the Iustices some
Busked them to the boure / there the birde dwellid
To confort hir kindelie / by clergies leue
And said mourne not mede / nor make[^a421] no sorowe
For we will intreat[^a422] the king / & thi waie make[^a423]
To be weddid at thi will / & where the best[^a424] likith
for all Conscience cast / or craft as I trowe
Myldelie Mede then / thankid[^a425] them all
Of their great goodnesse / & gaf them echeone
Cuppes of clene golde / & cuppis of syluer
Ringes with rubies / & richesses manie
The worst[^a426] of their meanie / a pece[^a427] of golde
Then toke[^a428] they leue / thise lordes at Mede /
With that cam clerkes / to confort hir likewise[^a429]
And bad[^a430] hir be blythe / for we be thine owne
for to worke thi will / whill[^a431] their lyfes[^a432] last[^80]
Gentillie[^a433] she then / behight them the same
And[^a434] to loue them trulie[^a435] / and lordes them[^a436] to make
And in[^a437] Consistorie at court / do call their names
Shall no lewdnesse lett / the thing[^a438][^81] that I loue
But he shalbe shall be[^a439] avauncid / for I am beknoune
Ther konnyng clerkes / shall clocke behinde
Than cam there a Confessor / Coped as a frier
To mede the maide / he said[^a440] these wordes
And said full softelie / in shrifte as hit were
Though lernid men & lewde[^a441] / had lyne be the bothe
And falsnes had folowid the / all this fiftie winter
I shall assoile the my-self / for a seame of whete
And also be thi beadman / & beare well thy message
Among knightes and clerkes / Conscience to turne
Then Mede for hir misdedes / to that man knelid /
And shroue hir of hir shrewdnes / Shameles I trowe
She[^a442] tolde him a tale / and toke him a noble
For to be hir beadman / and hir brocar also
Then he assoiled hir sone / and then[^a443] he said
We haue a windowe in working / will cost[^a444] vs muche[^a445]
Woldest þou glase the same[^a446][^82] / & graue therin thi name
Sure[^a447] shulde thi soule be / heaven to haue
Wist I that quod the[^a448] woman / I wolde not spare
for to be youre freind frier / and faile you neuer
While you loue lordes / that lecherie haunte
And lacke not Ladies / that loue well the same
Hit is but[^a449] frailtie of fleshe / ye finde hit in bookes
And a course of kynde / whereof we come all
Who maie skape the[^a450] sclaunder / the scathe is sone amendid
It is synne of the seven / Sonest releasid
haue mercie quod mede / of men that it haunte
And I shall cover your chirche / and do make your Cloister[^a451]
The[^a452] walles[^a453] do whight / And windowes glase
Do peynt and portraie / & paie for the making
That euery man[^a454] shall saie / I am Sister of your house
But god to all good folke / Such grauing defendith
To wright in windowes / of their good[^a455] dedes
Lest[^a456] pride be peyntid there / and pompe of the worlde
For Christ knoweth thi conscience / & thy kynd will
And the cost of[^a457][^83] thy couetise / and who the catell ought
Therfor I warne[^a458] you lordes / leue such workes
To write in windowes / of your good[^a459] dedes
Or to renne[^a460][^84] after goddismen / when ye dele doles
Lest[^a461] you haue your rewarde[^a462] here / & your heauen also
Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra .
Let not thy left hand[^a463] / late nor rathe
Wit what thou workist / with thi right hande[^a464]
for so[^a465] biddeth the gospell / good men to do[^a466] their almesse
Maires and Masters[^a467][^85] / that meanis be betwene
The king and the commons[^a468] / to kepe the lawes
To punysh on pillaries / and pynyng stooles
Brewers[^a469] and Bakers[^a470][^86] / Bochers and Cookes
For these are men of[^a471] this worlde[^a472] / that most harme worke
To the pouer people / that daily[^a473] beggith[^a474][^87]
for they poison þe people / priuilie and oft
The rich[^88] by[^a475] regratrie / and rentes them buylde[^a476][^89]
With that the pore people / shulde put in their wombes[^a477]
For toke they all[^a478] trulie / they timbred not so highe
Nor bought no[^a479] burgages / by the[^a480][^90] full certeyne
And Mede the maide / the Mayr hath besought
Of all such sellers / Siluer for[^a481] to take
Or presentes without pens / as pieces of siluer
Ringes or other riches[^a482] / þe Regratours to maynteyne
for my loue quod that ladie / loue them echeone
And suffre them to selle / somedeall against reason
Salomon the sage / A sermon he made
For to amende Mayers / and men that kepe lawes
And tolde them this teme / þat I telle thinke
Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera[^91]
Among letterde men[^a483] / this Latine is to mene
That fire shall fall & brenne / all to ashes[^a484][^92]
Their[^a485] houses and homes / of them that desyre
Giftes and[^a486] rewardes[^a487] / bicause of their offices
The king from the counsell cam / & callid after Mede
And sent for[^a488] hir shortlie[^a489] / by[^a490] sergeantes manye
That brought hir to boure / with blisse and with ioye
Curteislie the king than / beganne[^a491] to telle
To mede the maide / he said[^a492] these wordes
Vnwiselie[^a493] woman / hast thou wrought[^a494] oft
And worsse wroughtest þou neuer / then when[^a495] thou fals toke
But I forgiue the that gilt / & graunte the my grace
Hens to thi death daie / do so nomore no more
I haue a knight Conscience / cam late from beyonde
Yf he willithe[^a496] the to wife / woldist thou[^a497] him haue
Yea lorde quod that ladie / god[^a498] forbid[^a499] ellis
But I be hollie at your will[^a500] / Lat hang me sone
And then was Conscience callid / to come and appere
Before the king & his counsell / as clerkes and other
kneling then[^a501] Conscience / to the king Lowtid
To witt what his will were / & what he do sholde
Wilt thou wed this woman / quod the king /[^93] if I wole assent
She[^a502] is faine of thi feloship / for to be thy make
Quod Conscience to the king / Christ hit me forbidd
Ere I wed such a wife / wo me betide
for she is freile of[^a503] feith / fickell of hir speche
And make men do amisse[^a504] / many skore tymes
Trust of hir treasure / betraieth[^a505] full manie
Wyues and widowes / wantonesse she teachethe
And lerne[^a506] them Lecherie / that loue hir giftes
Your Father she felled / through fals promise[^a507]
And hath poysoned[^a508] Popes / and appeyrid[^a509][^94] holie church
There is no[^a510] better bawde / by him that me made
Betwene heauen and helle / in earthe thoughe men sought
For she is tickill of[^a511] taile / and[^a512] talkatife[^a513] of[^a514] tong[^95]
As commone as a Cartewaie / to euery[^a515] knaue that walkith
To Monkes and[^a516] to Mynstrals / to mesils in hedgis
Sysours and Sommenours / such men hir preyse
Shrives of shires were shent / if she were not
for she doth men lose their londe / and their life bothe
She lettith passe prysoners / & payeth for them oft
And geue the Gailers gold / and grotes togethers
To vnfetter the fals / flee where them[^a517] Likith
And take the true by the top / and teyith them[^a518] fast
And hangeth them[^a519] for hatred / that harme did neuer
To be cursed in Consistorie / she countith not a beane
For she clothe[^a520] the Comissarie / & coteth his clerkes
She is assoiled as sone / as hir-self Liketh
And may as[^a521] muche do / in won monethe[^a522]
As maie[^a523] your secret seale / in Six score dayes
For she is pryuie with the pope / prouisors hit knoweth
for syr Symonie And hir-self / sealeth the[^a524] bulles
She blisseth thise Bisshops / though thei be lewde
She Fedithe[^a525][^96] parsons / and preistes maynteyne[^97]
To haue lemans and hoores[^a526][^98] / all their Lyfe daies
And bring furthe bastardes[^a527][^99] / againe forbode lawes
There she is well with the king / wo is the realme
For she is favorable to fals / & fouleth truth oft
By Iesus with hir Iewelles / your iustices she shendith
And Lyeth againe the lawe / & lettith him the waie[^a528]
That feith maynot may not haue his course[^a529] / hir florens go so thicke
She ledith the lawe as she[^a530] lust[^a531] / and louedaies maketh
And make[^a532] men lose[^a533] through hir loue / that Lawe might winne
The maze for a meane man / though he trust[^a534][^100] hir euer
Lawe is so lordlie / and lothe to make ende
Without presentz or pens / she pleaseth full[^a535] fewe
Barons and burgeises / she bringethe in sorowe
And all the commons[^a536] in care / that couete to[^a537] liue in truthe
For Couetise and Clergie[^a538] / she coupleth togethers
This is the life of that ladie / the[^a539] lorde giue hir sorowe
And all that mainteyne hir men / mischaunce them betide
for pouer men maie haue no poure / to pleyne them though[^a540] they sma[rte][^101]
Such a maistresse[^a541][^102] is mede / Among men of good
Then mourned mede / & turned[^a542][^103] hir to the king
Desyring[^a543] space to speake / spede if she might
The king grauntid hir grace / with a good will /
Excuse the if thou canst I can nomore no more saie
for Conscience accuseth the / to be banisht[^a544] for euer
Naie lorde quod that lady / beleue[^a545] him the worse
When ye knowe certeinlie[^a546] / where the wrong lieth
There as[^a547] mischef is great / mede may helpe muche[^a548]
And thou knowest Conscience / I cam not to chide
Nor to[^a549] depraue thi persone / with a proude hart
Well wottest thou[^a550] wreche[^a551] / but if thou wilt lie[^a552]
Thou hanged[^a553] on my half / elleuen tymes
And also griped my golde / giuyng[^a554] hit where the liked
And why thou art nowe displeased[^a555] / wonder me thinketh
Yet I may as I might / helpe[^a556] the with giftes
And mainteyne thi manhode / more then thou knowest
And þou hast famid me foule / before the king here
For killid I neuer no king / nor counsellid therafter
Nor did as thou demist / I do it to[^a557] the king
In normandie was he not / noyed for my sake
And thou thi-self shamedist oft trulie him[^a558]
Crope into a cabone / for colde of thi nailes
Thou thoughtest[^a559] that winter / wolde haue lastid euer
And dreddest to be dead / for a dymme cloude
And hyedst the[^a560] homewarde / for hunger of thi wombe
Without pitie pillour / pouer people[^a561][^104] diddist thou robbe[^a562]
And beare their brasse at thi backe / to caleis to selle
There [I] lefte with my lorde / his life for to saue
I made his men merie / And mourning leue[^a563]
I batterid them on the backe / & boldid their hartes
And made[^a564] them hoppe for hope / to haue me at will
Had I bene marshall of his men / by Marie of heauen
I durst haue leid my Life / and nolesse no lesse wedd
he shulde haue bene lorde of that lond / in length &[^a565] breade
And also king of that people[^a566] / his kinne for to helpe
The worst[^a567][^105] of his blood / A Barons pere
Cowardlie thou Conscience / counseldist him thence
To leaue his lordship / for a litill syluer
That is the richest Realme / þat reyne on reyneth[^a568]
And it is mete for[^a569] a king / that kepeth a Realme
[^106]To giue Mede to men / &[^a570] to honour them with giftes
Mede maketh him belouid / and for a man holden
Emperoures & Erles / and all manere lordes
for giftes haue yong men to renne & to ride
The Pope and all the[^a571] prelates / presentes will take[^a572]
And giue giftes[^a573] them-self / to maynteyne their Lawes
Sergeauntes for their seruice / we se well the sothe
Take Mede of their maisters / as they can agree[^a574]
Beggers for their praying[^a575] / aske[^a576] men mede
Mynstrellis for their myrth / mede they aske
The king hath mede of his men / to make peace in lond
Men that teache childern / craue after[^a577] mede
Preistes that preach the people / dothe all[^a578][^107] aske mede
Bothe[^a579] massepens and[^a580] meat / at the meall tymes
All manere[^a581] craftes[^a582] men / craue Mede for their prentices
Marchauntes and mede / must nedes[^a583] go togethers
No wight as I wene / without mede may liue
Quod the king to Conscience / by Christ as me thinketh
Mede is well worthie / the maistrie to haue
Naie quod Conscience to the king / and knelid on[^a584] the erthe
There are ij two manere of medis / my lorde with your leue
The[^a585] won god of his grace / graunteth in his blisse
To them that well worke / while they bene here
The prophet speaketh[^a586] therof / And put it in the psalter
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo &c
Lorde who shall dwelle[^a587] in thi house[^a588] / & with þi holie sainctes
Or rest in thi holie hill[^a589] / this asketh Dauid
And he[^a590] assoileth it him-self / as the psalter tellith
Qui ingreditur sine macula et operatur iusticiam .[^108]
They that entre of one colour / and of won will
And haue wrought workes / with right and[^a591] reason
And he that vseth not / the life of vsurie
And helpeth[^a592] true[^a593][^109] men / pursuethe[^a594] truthe
Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram[^110] et munera super innocentem non acc[epit][^111]
And all that helpe þe innocent / and holde with the right[^a595]
Without mede doth them good / and the truth helpe
Such manere men my lorde / shall haue this first mede
Of God at their[^a596] great nede / when they go hence
There is a nother Mede mesureles / þat maisters desyre
To mainteyne misdoers / mede they take
And therof saith the psalter / in a psalmes ende
In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt . dextera eorum dextra iniquitates et dextera eorum[^a597] repleta est muneribus[^112]
And he that gripeth hir gold / so me god helpe
Shall abie hit bitter / or the booke lyeth
Preistes and parsones / that pleasinges[^a598] desyre
That take mede and money / for masses þat they sing
They[^a599] take their mede here / as Mathue vs teacheth
Amen Amen Recipiebant mercedem suam
That laborars and lowe folke / take of their maisters
It [is] no manere of[^a600] mede / but a mesureable hire
In marchandise is no mede / I maie it well avowe
Hit is but pleine permutacion[^a601] / a penyworth for a penny[^a602]
And reddist thou neuer Regum / thou recrayid maide[^a603][^113]
Whi the vengeaunce fell on Saul /[^114] & on his childerne
God sent to Saul / by Samuel the prophete
That Agag of Amalech / and all his people[^a604]
Shulde die for a dede / that their elders had done[^a605]
Therfor said Samuel to Saul / god himself commandeth[^a606]
The to[^a607] be buxome at his bidding / his will to fulfille
Go[^a608] to Amalech with thine hoste / & what þou fyndest there sle it
Foules[^a609] beastes and men[^a610][^115] / do[^a611][^116] them to death
Widowes and wives / women & childerne
Movables[^a612] and vnmovables[^a613] / and all that þou maie[^a614] fynde
Brenne hit beare it not awaie / be it neuer so riche
For Mede or[^a615] for money / loke thou distroie it
Spille it and spare it not / thou shalt spede the better
And bicause[^a616] he couetid their catell / and the king sparid
Forbering[^a617] him and his beastes[^a618] / as the bible witnesseth
Otherwise then he was warned of the prophet
God said to Samuell that Saul shulde die
And all his sede for that synne / shamefullie[^a619] ende
Such a mischefe Mede made / Saul the king to haue
That god hatid him for euer / & all his heyres after
The conclusion[^a620] of this mater[^a621] / I mynde[^a622] not to tell
Lest[^a623] it anoyed[^a624] men / non ende will I make
for so is this worlde now[^a625][^117] / with them that haue poure
That who-so tellithe truthe[^a626][^118] / sonest is[^a627] blamed
I Conscience knowe this / for kinde wit it me[^a628] taught
That Reason shall reygne / And realmes gouerne
And right as Agag had happe / so[^a629][^119] shall some
Samuel Shall slea him / and Saul shalbe shall be blamed
And Dauid shalbe shall be diademid / and tame[^a630] them all
And wone cristen king / kepe them echeone[^a631]
Then[^a632] shall no more mede be Maister / as she is nowe[^a633]
But loue and lownesse / and leautie togithers
Shalbe Shall be[^a634] maisters of the worlde[^a635] / truthe to saue
And who[^a636] trespaseth against truthe / or takethe againe his will
Leautie shall do him lawe / and no man[^a637] elles
Then[^a638] shall no Sergeaunt for his[^a639] seruice / weare a silk howe
Nor no pelure in his cloke / for pleading at the barre /
Mede of misdoers / maketh manie lordes
And ouer lordes lawes / rulethe the Realmes
But kinde loue shall come yet / And consciens togithers
And make of Lawe a laborer / such loue shall arise
And such a peace among people[^a640] / & perfite[^a641] truthe
That Iewes shall merveile[^a642] / And wex wonder[^a643] glad
That Moises or Messie / be come into this worlde[^a644]
Hauing[^a645] wonder in their hart[^a646] / that men be so true
All that bere Baselarde / brodesworde or launce
Ax or ellis[^a647] hachet / or anie wepon ellis
Shalbe Shall be demed to the death / but if he doth it smythie
Into a[^a648] sickle or[^a649] sythe / to share or[^a650] cultor
Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres &c
Euery[^a651] man to pleye with a plough / pickeaxe or spade
Spinne or sprede dong / or spill them-self with sleuth
Preistes and parsons with Placebo to hunte
And digg[^a652][^120] vpon Dauid / euery[^a653] daie till night[^a654]
Hunting or hauking / if anie of them vse
His booste of his benefice / shalbe shall be take from him[^a655]
Then[^a656] shall neither king nor knight / Constable nor Maire
Oppresse[^a657] the Comons[^a658] / nor to the court sommone
Nor put them in panell / to do them plight their truthe
But after the dede is[^a659] done / won dome shall rewarde
Mercie or no mercie / as truthe will accorde
Kinges court and commone court / consistorie and chapitle
All shalbe shall be but won court / And won barone be[^a660] Iustice
Then shall[^a661] true tong be[^a662] a tydie man / þat angrid[^a663] me neuer
Batailles shall non be / nor noman no man bere wepon
And what Smithe þat any maketh[^a664] / shalbe shall be sleyne with the same[^a665]
Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium &c /
And ere this fortune fall / men shall fynde[^a666] the worst /
By six Sonnes and a ship / & half a shefe of arowes
And the middell of a mone / shall make the Iewes to turne
And Sarazens for that sight / shall sing Gloria in excelsis
For Makometh and Mede / Mishappe shall that tyme
for Melius est bonum nomen , quam diuicie multe
Then[^a667] as wrothe as the wynde / waxt mede in a while
I can no Latine quod she / Clerkes wot the sothe
Se what Salomon saith / in Sapience booke[^a668]
That thei that giue giftes / the Victorie wynne
And most worship haue[^a669] therwith / as holie writ telleth
Honorem acquiret , qui dat munera &c
I beleue[^a670] well ladie quod Conscience / that thi latine is[^a671] true
But thou art like a ladie / that rede a lesson ones
Which[^a672][^121] was Omnia probate / and that pleased hir hart
for that line was no lenger / at the leauis ende
Had she lokid on the[^a673] other side[^a674] / and the leaf turned
She shulde haue founde more[^a675] / folowing after[^a676]
As thus[^a677] Quod bonum est tenete / truth that text made
And so you[^a678] madame / ye coulde no more fynde
When[^a679] ye lokid on Sapience / sitting in your studie
This text that ye haue tolde / were good for lordes
But ye[^a680] wantid[^a681] a conning clerke / to turne you the leaf[^a682]
And if ye loke[^a683] Sapience againe[^a684] / ye shall finde[^a685] that foloweth
A full displeasaunt[^a686] text / to them that take mede
And that is this[^a687] Animam autem aufert accipientium . &c
And that is the taile of the text / the which[^a688] ye[^a689][^122] shewid
for[^a690] though we winne worship / & with mede haue victorie
The soule that the same[^a691][^123] taketh / By somuche so muche is bounde

[^a412: and (S Cr1 M) | and with (W Hm Bx)]

[^a413: But (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a414: I cannot (S) | kan I noȝt (W Cr1 Bx) | ne can y nougth (Hm)]

[^a415: worlde (S Bx) | moolde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a416: she wolde faynest haue (S) | hire were leuest (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a417: badd (S) | hiȝte (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a418: a (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a419: Where (S) | And þer (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a420: dwell (S) | wonyeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a421: make (S) | make þow (W Hm Bx) | make ye (Cr1)]

[^a422: intreat (S) | wisse (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a423: make (S) | shape (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a424: best (S) | leef (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a425: thankid (S) | merciede (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a426: worst (S) | leeste man (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a427: pece (S) | moton (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a428: toke (S) | lauȝte (W Hm Bx) | lafte (Cr1)]

[^a429: likewise (S) | þe same (W Hm Bx) | sone (Cr1)]

[^a430: bad (S) | beden (W Hm Bx) | bydden (Cr1)]

[^a431: whill (S M) | þe while (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a432: their lyfes (S) | þow myȝt (W Bx) | we moune (Cr1) | thy lyfe (Hm)]

[^a433: Gentillie (S) | Hendiliche (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a434: And (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a435: trulie (S) | lelly (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a436: them (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a437: in (S Cr1) | in þe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a438: thing (S) | leode (W Hm) | clerke (Cr1)]

[^a439: But he shalbe shall be (S) | That he ne worþ first (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a440: said (S) | mellud (Cr1 Bx) | mened (W Hm)]

[^a441: lernid men & lewde (S) | lewed men and lered men (W Cr1 Bx) | lewed men and lered (Hm)]

[^a442: She (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a443: then (S) | siþen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a444: cost (S) | sitten (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a445: muche (S) | ful hye (W Hm Bx) | high (Cr1)]

[^a446: the same (S) | þat gable (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a447: Sure (S) | Syker (W Cr1 Bx) | ful syker (Hm)]

[^a448: the (S Cr1 M) | þat (W Hm Bx)]

[^a449: but (S) | a (W Hm Bx) | om. (Cr1)]

[^a450: the (S Cr1 Bx) | that (Hm) | om. (W)]

[^a451: and do make your Cloister (S) | youre cloistre do maken (W Cr1 Bx) | ȝoure cloyster make (Hm)]

[^a452: The (S) | om. (W Cr1 Bx) | and ȝoure (Hm)]

[^a453: walles (S Cr1) | Wowes (W Hm Bx)]

[^a454: man (S) | segge (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a455: good (S) | wel (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a456: Lest (S) | On auenture (Cr1 W Bx) | yn aduenture (Hm)]

[^a457: the cost of (S) | þi cost and (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a458: warne (S) | lere (W Hm Bx) | lerne (Cr1)]

[^a459: good (S) | wel (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a460: renne (S) | greden (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a461: Lest (S) | On auenture (W Cr1 Bx) | yn aduenture (Hm)]

[^a462: rewarde (S) | hire (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a463: hand (S) | half (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a464: hande (S) | syde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a465: so (S) | þus (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a466: to do (S) | doon (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a467: Masters (S) | Maceres (W Cr1 Bx) | mercers]

[^a468: commons (S) | comune (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a469: Brewers (S) | Brewesters (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a470: Bakers (S) | Baksters (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a471: of (S Hm) | on (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a472: worlde (S) | molde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a473: daily (S) | parcelmele (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a474: beggith (S Hm) | buggen (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a475: The rich by (S) | Thei richen þoruȝ (W Cr1 Bx) | line om. (Hm)]

[^a476: buylde (S) | biggen (W Cr1 Bx) | line om. (Hm)]

[^a477: wombes (S Cr1 M) | wombe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a478: all (S Cr1) | on (W Hm Bx)]

[^a479: no (S Cr1 Hm) | none (W Bx)]

[^a480: by the (S) | be ye (W Hm Bx) | be they (Cr1)]

[^a481: for (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a482: riches (S Cr1) | richesse (W Hm Bx)]

[^a483: letterde men (S) | þise lettrede leodes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a484: ashes (S) | bloo askes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a485: Their (S) | The (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a486: and (S) | or (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a487: rewardes (S) | yeresyeues (W Cr1 Bx) | ȝeres-ȝyftys (Hm)]

[^a488: sent for (S Cr1) | ofsente (W Hm Bx)]

[^a489: shortlie (S) | as swiþe (W Bx) | a swith (Cr1) | also blythe (Hm)]

[^a490: by (S) | wiþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a491: beganne (S) | comsed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a492: he said (S) | melleth (Cr1 Bx) | he meneþ (W) | and meneth (Hm)]

[^a493: Vnwiselie (S) | Vnwittily (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a494: hast thou wrought (S) | wroȝt hastow (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a495: when (S Hm) | þo (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a496: willithe (S Cr1) | wilneþ (W Hm Bx)]

[^a497: woldist thou (S) | wiltow (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a498: god (S Cr1) | lord (W Hm Bx)]

[^a499: forbid (S Cr1 Bx) | forbede it (W Hm)]

[^a500: will (S) | heste (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a501: then (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a502: She (S) | For she (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a503: of (S) | of hire (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a504: do amisse (S) | mysdo (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a505: betraieth (S Cr1 W) | trayeþ (Hm Bx)]

[^a506: lerne (S Cr1) | lereþ (W Hm Bx)]

[^a507: promise (S) | biheste (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a508: poysoned (S Cr1 Hm) | apoysounde (Bx) | enpoisoned (W)]

[^a509: appeyrid (S Hm Bx) | peired (W Cr1)]

[^a510: There is no (S) | Is noȝt a (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a511: of (S) | of hire (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a512: and (S W) | om. (Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a513: talkatife (S) | talewis (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a514: of (S Bx) | of hire (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a515: euery (S) | ech a (W Cr1 Bx) | eche (Hm)]

[^a516: and (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a517: them (S M) | hym (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a518: them (S M W) | hym (Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a519: them (S Cr1 M W) | hym (Hm Bx)]

[^a520: clothe (S) | copeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a521: as (S) | neiȝ as (W Cr1 Bx) | almost also (Hm)]

[^a522: won monethe (S) | a Monþe one (W Cr1) | a moneth ones (Hm Bx)]

[^a523: maie (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a524: the (S Cr1 Hm) | hire (W Bx)]

[^a525: She Fedithe (S) | Prouendreþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a526: hoores (S) | lotebies (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a527: bastardes (S) | barnes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a528: waie (S) | gate (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a529: haue his course (S) | haue his forþ (W Hm Bx) | be of force (Cr1)]

[^a530: she (S) | hire (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a531: lust (S M) | list (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a532: make (S) | doþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a533: lose (S) | lese (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a534: trust (S) | mote (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a535: full (S Cr1) | wel (W Hm Bx)]

[^a536: commons (S) | comune (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a537: to (S) | om. (W Cr1 Bx) | rewritten (Hm)]

[^a538: Couetise and Clergie (S) | transp. (W Cr1 Bx) | clergyse and couetyse (Hm)]

[^a539: the (S) | now (W Cr1 Bx) | om. (Hm)]

[^a540: though (S W Bx) | when (Cr1) | tyl (Hm)]

[^a541: maistresse (S) | maister (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a542: turned (S) | mened (W Hm Bx) | meued (Cr1)]

[^a543: Desyring (S) | To haue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a544: be banisht (S) | congeien þee (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a545: beleue (S) | leueþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a546: knowe certeinlie (S) | witen witterly (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a547: as (S) | þat (W Cr1 Bx) | the (Hm)]

[^a548: muche (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a549: to (S Hm) | om. (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a550: wottest thou (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a551: wreche (S) | wernard (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a552: lie (S) | gabbe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a553: hanged (S) | hast hanged (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a554: giuyng (S) | gyue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a555: art nowe displeased (S) | wraþest þee now (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a556: helpe (S) | menske (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a557: to (S) | on (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a558: shamedist oft trulie him (S) | sooþly . shamedest hym ofte (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a559: Thou thoughtest (S) | Wendest (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a560: the (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a561: people (S) | men (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a562: diddist thou robbe (S) | þow robbedest (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a563: leue (S) | lette (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a564: made (S) | dide (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a565: & (S Cr1) | and in (W Hm) | and a (Bx)]

[^a566: people (S) | kiþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a567: worst (S) | leeste brol (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a568: on reyneth (S) | ouer-houeþ (W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a569: And it is mete for (S) | It bicomeþ to (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a570: & (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a571: the (S Cr1 W) | his (Hm) | om. (Bx)]

[^a572: will take (S) | vnderfongen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a573: giue giftes (S) | medeþ men (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a574: can agree (S) | mowe acorde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a575: praying (S) | biddynge (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a576: aske (S Hm) | bidden (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a577: after (S Cr1 W) | of hem (Hm Bx)]

[^a578: dothe all (S) | to goode (W Cr1 Bx) | of god (Hm)]

[^a579: Bothe (S) | And (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a580: and (S) | and hire (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a581: manere (S) | kynne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a582: craftes (S Cr1 W) | crafty (Hm Bx)]

[^a583: nedes (S Cr1 M) | nede (W Hm Bx)]

[^a584: on (S Cr1) | to (W Hm Bx)]

[^a585: The (S) | That (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a586: speaketh (S) | precheþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a587: dwelle (S) | wonye (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a588: house (S) | wones (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a589: hill (S Hm) | hilles (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a590: he (S) | Dauid (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a591: and (S Hm) | and wiþ (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a592: helpeth (S) | enformeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a593: true (S) | pouere (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a594: pursuethe (S) | and pursueþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a595: right (S) | riȝtfulle (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a596: their (S Cr1 Hm) | a (W Bx)]

[^a597: dextra iniquitates et dextera eorum (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a598: pleasinges (S Cr1) | plesynge (W Hm Bx)]

[^a599: They (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a600: of (S Hm) | om. (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a601: but pleine permutacion (S) | a permutacion apertly (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a602: a penny (S) | anoþer (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a603: maide (S) | Mede (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a604: people (S) | peple after (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a605: their elders had done (S) | doon hadde hire eldres (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a606: commandeth (S) | hoteþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a607: to (S Hm) | om. (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a608: Go (S) | Weend (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a609: Foules (S) | Burnes and (W Cr1 Bx) | burwes and (Hm)]

[^a610: and men (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a611: do (S) | bren (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a612: Movables (S) | Mouable (Cr1) | Moebles (W Hm Bx)]

[^a613: vnmovables (S) | vnmouable (Cr1) | vnmoebles (W Hm Bx)]

[^a614: maie (S) | myȝt (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a615: or (S) | ne (W Bx) | nor (Hm Cr1)]

[^a616: bicause (S) | for (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a617: Forbering (S) | Forbar (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a618: beastes (S) | beestes boþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a619: shamefullie (S Cr1) | shenfulliche (W Hm Bx)]

[^a620: conclusion (S) | culorum (W Hm Bx) | colour (Cr1)]

[^a621: mater (S) | cas (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a622: I mynde (S) | ne kepe I (Cr1) | kepe I (W Hm Bx)]

[^a623: Lest (S) | On auenture (W Cr1 Bx) | yn aduenture (Hm)]

[^a624: anoyed (S) | noyed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a625: now (S) | went (W Hm Bx) | wont (Cr1)]

[^a626: tellithe truthe (S) | sayeth sothe (Cr1) | seyth hem sothes (Bx) | seiþ hem soþest (W) | seye hym here sothes (Hm)]

[^a627: sonest is (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a628: it me (S Cr1 W) | transp. (Hm Bx)]

[^a629: so (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a630: tame (S) | daunten (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a631: echeone (S Cr1) | alle (W Hm Bx)]

[^a632: Then (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a633: nowe (S Cr1) | nouþe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a634: Shalbe Shall be (S) | Thise shul ben (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a635: of the worlde (S) | on moolde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a636: who (S Hm) | who-so (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a637: man (S) | lif (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a638: Then (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a639: his (S Cr1 W) | here (Hm Bx)]

[^a640: people (S) | þe peple (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a641: perfite (S) | a parfit (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a642: merveile (S) | wene in hire wit (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a643: wonder (S W Bx) | wonders (Cr1) | om. (Hm)]

[^a644: worlde (S) | erþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a645: Hauing (S) | And haue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a646: hart (S) | hertes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a647: or ellis (S) | ouþer (W Hm Bx) | or yet (Cr1)]

[^a648: a (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a649: or (S Hm) | or to (W Bx) | or into (Cr1)]

[^a650: or (S) | or to (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a651: Euery (S Cr1) | Ech (W Hm Bx)]

[^a652: digg (S) | dyngen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a653: euery (S Cr1) | eche a (Bx) | eche (W Hm)]

[^a654: night (S) | eue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a655: shalbe shall be take from him (S) | worþ bynomen hym after (W Cr1 Bx) | woll be bynomyn hym aftyr (Hm)]

[^a656: Then (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a657: Oppresse (S) | Ouerlede (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a658: Comons (S) | commune (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a659: is (S Cr1) | þat is (W Hm Bx)]

[^a660: be (S W Bx) | by (Cr1) | om. (Hm)]

[^a661: shall (S) | worþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a662: be (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a663: angrid (S) | tened (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a664: maketh (S) | smyþeþ (W Hm) | smythie (Bx) | smithed (Cr1)]

[^a665: shalbe shall be sleyne with the same (S) | be smyte þerwiþ to deþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a666: men shall fynde (S) | fynde men shul (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a667: Then (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a668: booke (S) | bokes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a669: haue (S Cr1 Hm) | hadde (W Bx)]

[^a670: beleue (S) | leue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a671: is (S) | be (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a672: Which (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a673: on the (S) | þat (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a674: side (S) | half (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a675: more (S) | fele wordes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a676: after (S Hm) | þer-after (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a677: As thus (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a678: you (S) | ferde ye (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a679: When (S) | Tho (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a680: ye (S) | yow (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a681: wantid (S) | failed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a682: to turne you the leaf (S) | þat kouþe þe leef han torned (W Hm Bx) | þat could þe lefe haue turned (Cr1)]

[^a683: loke (S) | seche (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a684: againe (S) | eft (W Hm Bx) | oft (Cr1)]

[^a685: ye shall finde (S) | fynde shul ye (W Bx) | fynde ȝe schall (Hm Cr1)]

[^a686: displeasaunt (S) | teneful (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a687: this (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a688: the which (S) | of þat þat (W Cr1 Bx) | of that (Hm)]

[^a689: ye (S Bx) | she (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a690: for (S) | That (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a691: same (S) | soude (W Hm Bx) | sonde (Cr1)]

[^79: worlde: S independently restores the presumed reading of Bx. The agreement should be attributed to convergent variation, as shown by S's treatment of molde elsewhere in the poem. See Glossary.]

[^80: whill their lyfes last: Bx read þe while þow myȝte laste. The variants are peculiar in distribution, as BTP note, but predictable responses to the archetype.]

[^81: thing: Rendering leode, the reading of the beta family. This word initially baffled the translator. Compare S.1.140 and, for analogous use of thing as a dummy translation, S.1.87. Leode is translated felicitously at S.3.98 and in subsequent passus. See Glossary.]

[^82: the same: Rendering þat gable, a word the translator should have known. Compare S.3.359, where same again appears as a dummy translation.]

[^83: the cost of: Other copies read þi cost and, requiring the sense of OED cost n.2, 'character', a hapax legomenon in PP-B; OED3 records few instances later than 1450. Revisions to phrasal grammar show that the translator read OED cost n.3, 'expense'.]

[^84: renne: Rendering greden 'cry out'. See S.2.75n and Glossary.]

[^85: Masters: S joins Cr2,3 and OC2.]

[^86: Brewers and Bakers: Other copies read Brewesters and Baksters. The S reading, a predictable modernization, is unique within the B tradition, yet agrees with the corresponding line in the A and C versions. See KD p.78n.]

[^87: daily beggith: Other copies read parcelmele buggen, referring to those who purchase food a meal at a time, for immediate consumption. The pres. pl., pres. subj., and infinitive of BUY were spelled with double g in Sx and often misconstrued by the translator. See S.5.430n and the Glossary.]

[^88: The rich: Rendering Thei richen, 'they get rich'. The verb occurs only here in PP-B. S restructures this line as a single clause.]

[^89: buylde: Sx probably read biggen, a form that may represent either MED bien v. 'buy' (so Kane Gloss.) or MED biggen v. 'build' (cf. OED, s.v. big v.1, sense 4). The S redactor read the latter.]

[^90: by the: A visual error for be ye.]

[^91: The scribe ran out of space; the last word is entered in the right margin of the line above and partially boxed.]

[^92: ashes: S omits the adjective bloo 'dark, blue-black', which perhaps was not recognized. The word appears in PP-B only here.]

[^93: S's double punctuation is unique among beta2 copies but shared by O.]

[^94: appeyrid: S and Hm restore the presumed reading of Bx. Most beta copies have the aphetic form, peired. See BTP ad loc.]

[^95: of tong: S independently restores the presumed reading of Bx; other beta copies read of hire tonge. Compare of taile earlier in this line and of feith in 3.123 above. In each case S deletes the determiner.]

[^96: Fedithe: Rendering Prouendreþ, a verb recorded by MED only here. Kane, in agreement with MED, glosses as 'obtains prebendaries for'. The S reading instead reflects the sense 'To provide (horses, etc.) with provender; to feed, fodder', first recorded for this verb in the sixteenth century (OED s.v. provender v., sense 2). Yet 'food allowance' was the original sense of the etymon, MED provendre n. Langland puns on the various senses of this noun ('animal fodder' and 'prebend, ecceliastical stipend') at KD.13.243-5, a passage transmitted faithfully by S. (For the pun see Lawler, Penn Comm., p. 69.) Given these considerations, Kane and the lexicographers probably define Langland's hapax verb too narrowly: the less dignified senses of the associated noun evoke the bestial allegory of S.2.161-65 (=KD.2.162-66). S amplifies that reminiscence and flattens Langland's polyvalence into reformist polemic, a move consistent with alterations in the next two lines.]

[^97: maynteyne: Parallel with Fedithe, hence 3sg. present indicative, yet without inflection. Compare S.7.87 and S.7.88 bring.]

[^98: hoores: Rendering lotebies. Langland reserves the word hore for moments of exceptional stridency and bitterness. S sharpens the pejorative force of Conscience's accusations.]

[^99: bastardes : Rendering barnes; S varies towards greater explicitness. Elsewhere the S redactor retains the word barn (14x) or translates it as childe (3x) or babe (1x).]

[^100: trust: Rendering mote 'litigate'. The word occurred in Sx only here and at KD.1.176 (=S.1.175), where the S redactor omitted it.]

[^101: The end of this line is lost to cropping.]

[^102: maistresse: Other copies read maister. S establishes grammatical concord of gender; compare S.6.96-98.]

[^103: turned: Rendering mened 'appealed plaintively' or meued 'addressed (herself) to' (MED meven v., sense 6a). The graphic form would be ambiguous in scribal hands that do not distinguish u and n. In early copies the ambiguous minim sequence should be construed as an n, for mened serves better than meued to govern the infinitive phrase To haue space to speke. Yet mened is the harder word: it appears in KD only here and at 6.2 (see n), and it was evidently unavailable to sixteenth-century readers. Crowley printed meued; in G the ambiguous letter is corrected to v; and S's turned shows that the redactor likewise read meued. Uniquely among these copies, S registers dissatisfaction with the perceived sense 'addressed/turned herself ... to have leave to speak', as shown by revision at the head of the next line.]

[^104: people: Other copies read men. S augments the alliteration.]

[^105: worst: Rendering leeste brol. The omitted word occurs only here in PP-B.]

[^106: KD.3.210 and 211 (Bx.3.211 and 212) are fused by eyeskip on pre-caesural men. The error was probably present already in Sx, for the unique S variant & has the appearance of secondary smoothing.]

[^107: dothe all: S rewrites. Other copies have to goode, glossed by BTP as "to (adopt) good behaviour", modifying preach, a sense and syntax secure for the A-version line, which places the line-break after this phrase, but doubtful in the Bx lineation, where to goode should modify asken mede. The wording was accepted by most beta-family scribes: see BTP n. ad loc. S's auxiliary do perhaps adds emphasis: see Linguistic description.]

[^108: The mark that we transcribe as a punctus has a long tail extending to the right. Compare the flourished punctus at S.5.58.]

[^109: true: Rendering pouere; compare Ps. 14:5 innocentem, quoted in the next line. The S redactor declines to follow Langland in deriving, from this Psalm's references to money and gifts, the implication that holiness entails special consideration for those whose poverty inhibits them from buying favor.]

[^110: vsuram: The scribe switches out of engrossing script after this word, presumably to save space.]

[^111: The end of this line is lost to cropping.]

[^112: The scribe has completely garbled this quotation, Ps. 25:10.]

[^113: maide: Rendering Mede, perhaps by visual error.]

[^114: S's line division is shared by Hm and O. Most copies divide after fell, correctly.]

[^115: Foules beastes and men: Rendering Burnes and beestes. S's foules is difficult to explain. It does not derive from the biblical text (1 Samuel 15:3). Possibly burnes was misread as briddes 'birds'. If so, then men supplies an omission in the received text, as the translator read it. Yet burn itself is translated as man in two later instances: see Glossary.]

[^116: do: Rendering bren, which may have seemed an overspecific departure from the biblical text (1 Samuel 15: 3, 8-9), though the redactor let Brenne stand at 3.274, three lines below.]

[^117: now: Replacing went, pp.]

[^118: tellithe truthe: Sx probably read sayeth sothe, as Cr, though WHm show that beta2 retained Bx's plural noun sothes, for which see BTP ad loc. S substituted one alliterating phrase for another. Compare S.4.63.]

[^119: so: Other copies omit this word and divide before happe.]

[^120: digg: Rendering dyngen 'strike, beat with a flail'. See Glossary.]

[^121: Which: S clarifies syntax. Compare 3.349 and 3.356, below.]

[^122: ye: Other beta2 copies have the third-person pronoun she and M was corrected to that reading. S independently restores the presumed reading of Bx; compare S.2.77 and S.6.222, where S likewise adopts the pronoun ye at variance with all other beta2 copies.]

[^123: same: Rendering soude 'wage', the sole instance of this word in PP-B. The word evidently was not recognized by Crowley: Cr1 sonde remained uncorrected in Cr2,3. For S's dummy translation same compare S.3.49.]

Passus quartus de visione /

[^124] Cease saith the king , I will[^a692] suffre you no lenger
Ye shall suffre[^a693][^125] forsothe / and serue me bothe
kisse hir quod the king / Conscience he saide[^a694]
Naie by Christ quod Conscience / Licence[^a695][^126] me for euer
But if[^a696] reason rede me therto / rather will I die
I[^a697] commande the quod the king / to Conscience than
Hast[^a698] the to ride / and reason thou feche
Commande him þat he come / my counsell to here
For he shall rule my realme / & rede me the best
And reken[^a699] with the Conscience / so me Christ helpe
How though [thou] learnest the people / the lerned[^a700] & the laie[^a701]
I am glad of the same[^a702][^127] / said Conscience[^a703][^128] then
And right ridd[^a704] to reason / and rowned[^a705] in his eare
And said as the king bad / and sithens toke his leue
I shall araie me to ride quod reason / rest þe a while
And callid Caton his knaue / Curteise of speche
And also Tomme true tong / telle me no talis
Nor leasing to laugh at[^a706] / for I louid them neuer
And set my sadill on[^a707] Suffre[^129] / till I se my time
And let girde[^a708] him well / with wittie wordes gerthes
And hang on him the heavie bridill / to holde his head lowe
For he will make wehee / twise ere he come[^a709] there
Then Conscience vpon his capull / carieth furth fast
And reason with him ride / rowning togethers
What[^a710] maistries mede maketh in[^a711] this worlde[^a712]
On ware[^a713][^130] wisdome / and wittie his fere
Folowid him fast / for they had to do
In Th'escheker & in the Chancerie / to be dischargid of thinges
And rid fast for Reason sholde / counsell him for[^a714] the best
for to saue them from f[or][^131] siluer / from shame & from harmes
And Conscience knewe them well / they louid Couetise
And bad reason ride fast / & reche of their neither
There are wyles in their wordes / And with mede they dwelle
There as wrath and wrangling is / there winne they siluer
And where is loue and leautie / thei wilnot will not come there
Contricio et infelicitas in vijs eorum & c
They careth not for[^a715] god / won goose wing
Non est timor dei ante oculos eorum & c
For god wot[^a716] they will[^a717] do more / for won[^a718] doson of[^a719] chekens
Or as manie Capons / or a[^a720] Seme of Otes
Then for the[^a721] loue of oure lorde / or all his lefe Sayntes
Therfor Reason lat him[^a722] ride / those[^a723] rich by them-self
For Conscience knowethe them not / nor Christ as I trowe
Then[^a724] Reason rode fast / the right heigh waie[^a725]
As[^a726] conscience him taught[^a727] / till they cam to the king
Curteislie the king then came against Reason
And betwene him-self & his sonne / set him on the[^a728] benche
And comonid[^a729] wiselie / a great while togethers
And then cam Peace / in-to parlament /[^132] & put vp[^a730] a bill
How wrong Against his will / had his wife taken
And howe he rauished Rose / Reynoldes loue
And Marget of hir maidenhede / maugre hir will[^a731]
Both my gees and my grice / his gadlinges fechith
I darenot dare not for feare of them[^a732] / fight nor chide
He borowed of me Bayarde / he[^a733] brought him home neuer[^a734]
Nor no farthing for him[^a735] / for ought I coulde plede
He mainteynethe his men / to murther my seruauntes[^a736]
He[^a737] forstallethe my fayers / & fighteth in my cheping
And breke ope[^133] my berne dores[^a738] / and bearith awaie my wheate
And take me but a taill / for x tean quarters of[^a739][^134] otes
yet[^a740] he beates me therto / and lythe by my maide
I am not hardie for him / scarcelie dare I[^a741] looke
The king knewe he said true[^a742] / for Conscience him told
That wrong was a wicked wight[^a743][^135] / & wrought much sorowe
Wrong was afraid then / and wisdome he sought
To make Peace with his pence / and profrid him money[^a744][^136]
Saying[^a745] had I loue of my lorde the king / litill wolde I recke
Though Peace and his poure / playned him euer
Then went wisdome / and syr waryn the wittie /
For that wrong had wrought / So wicked a dede
And warned wrong then / with such a wise tale
Who-so worke by will / wrath maketh ofte
I saie hit by my-self / þou shalt it well fynde
But if Mede it make / thi mischef is vp
For both thi life and thi londe / Lyth in his grace
Then wowed wrong / wisdome full fast[^a746]
To make his peace with his pens / handy dandy paide
Wisdome and witt /[^137] then went togithers
Taking[^a747] Mede with[^a748] them / mercie to wynne
Peace put furth his head / and his panne bluddie
Without gilt god it wot / gat I this skathe
Conscience And the Commons[^a749] / knowe the truthe[^a750]
But wisdame & wit / were about fast
To ouercome the king / with catell if thei might
The king swore by Christ / & by his croune bothe
That wrong for his workes / shulde suffre woe[^a751]
And commaundid a Constable / to cast him in yrens
And let him not this sevin yeres[^a752] / se his fete ones
God wot quod wisdome / þat were not the best
And he amendes maie make / Lat Maynprise him haue
And be borow for his bale / And begg him boote
And so amende that is misdone / And euermore the better
Wit Accordid to the same[^a753] / and said Likewise[^a754]
Better is that boote / Bale adoune bring
Then bale be bet / And boote neuer the better
Then[^a755] Movid[^138] hir Mede[^a756] / And mercie she besought
And profrid peace a present / all of pure golde /
Haue this man of me quod she / to amende thi scathe
For I woll wage for wrong / he will do so nomore no more
Piteouslie Peace then / praide for[^a757] the king
To haue mercie on that man / that misdid him so ofte
For he hath wagid me well / as wisdome him taught
And I forgiue him that gilt / with a good will
So that the king assent / I can saie no better
For Mede hathe me amendes made / I maie no more aske
Naye quod the king then / so me Christ helpe
Wrong wendith not so awaie / first[^a758] I will[^a759] knowe[^a760] more
For skape[^a761] he so lightlie / then[^a762] laughe he wold
And after[^a763] be the bolder[^a764] / to beat my men[^a765]
But if[^a766] reason hathe[^a767] ruthe on him / he shall rest in[^a768] stockes
And that as long as he leuith / But lowlinesse[^a769] him borrowe
Some men counsellid[^a770] Reason / then[^139] to haue ruthe on þat shrewe
And for to counsell the king / and Conscience After
That Mede might[^a771] be Mainprisour[^a772] / thei Reason[^a773] besought
Counsell[^a774] me not quod Reason / ruthe for[^a775] to haue
Till lordes and ladies / loue all truthe
And hate all harlotrie / to here or to speake[^a776]
Till pernelys purfill / be put in hir huche
And childerne cherisshing / be chasting with roddes[^a777]
And harlottes holinesse / be holden for an hyne
And[^a778] clerkes[^140] couetise[^a779] / to clothe the pouer and fede
And religiouse romers / Recordare in their cloisters
As Saynt Benet them bad / Bernard & Fraunceis
And till preachers preachinges[^a780] / be prouid on them-self
Till the kinges Counsell / be the Comons[^a781] profyte
Till Bishops Bayardes / be beggers chambres
Their haukes and their howndes / helpe to pouer Religiouse
And till saint Iames be sought / there I shall assigne
That noman no man go to Galice / But if he go for euer
And all Rome ronners / for robbers beyonde
Bere no siluer ouer the[^a782] see / þat signe of the[^a783] king shewith
Neither grauen nor vngrauen / gold nor[^a784] siluer
Vpon forfeyture of that fee / who-so fynd it at Douer
But if hit be merchant or his man / or Messenger with letters
Prouysoure or preist / or penitent[^a785] for his synnes
And yet quod Reason by the rood / I shall no ruthe haue
While mede hathe the maistrie / in this mootehall
And I maie shewe ensamples / as I se other while
I saie it by my-self quod he / And it so were
That I were king with croune / to kepe the[^a786] realme
Shulde neuer wrong in this worlde / þat I might knowe[^a787]
Be vnpunished in my poure / for perill of my soule
Nor get my grace for giftes / so me god saue
Nor for mede[^a788] haue Mercie / But if[^a789] mekenes made it[^a790]
For Nullum malum the man / met with impunitum .
And bad Nullum bonum / be Irremuneratum .
Lat your Confessour syr king / Construe this vnglosed
And if ye worke it [in] dede[^a791] / I dare laie[^a792] myn eris
That lawe shalbe shall be a laborer / And lede dung to the feilde[^a793]
And loue shall lede thi lond / as the best[^a794] likethe
Clerkes that were confessors / coupled them together
All to construe this clause / And for the kinges profit
But not for confort of the commons[^a795] / nor for the kinges soule
For I se Mede in the motehall / on men of lawe winke
And thei laughing lept to hir / And lefte Reason many
Ware[^a796] Wisdome lookid on mede / and winked also[^a797][^141]
Saying[^a798] madame I am your man / whatsoeuer[^a799] my mouth Ianglith
I want[^a800][^142] golde[^a801] quod that wisdome[^a802][^143] / & faile speche ofte
All rightfull bare witnesse[^a803] / þat Reason truthe tolde
And wit accordid therwith / & commendid his wordes
And the most people in the hall / & many of the great
And helde[^a804] Mekenesse a maister / & Mede a mad[^a805] shrewe
Loue lete of hir small[^a806] / & leautie yet lasse set by her[^a807]
And spake[^a808] it so lowde[^a809] / that all the hall herde[^a810]
Who-so willith[^a811] hir to wyfe / for welth of hi r goodes
But he be knoune for a Cokeolde / Cut of my nose
Mede Mourned then / and made heuie chere
For the most comone of the[^a812] court / callid hir an whore
But a Sisour and a Somener / sauid[^a813][^144] hir Fast
And a Shrives clerke / beshrewid all the route
For oft haue I quod he / holpen you at the barre
And yet gaf ye me neuer / the worthe of a rishe
The king callid Conscience / & after that[^a814] Reason
And recordid that Reason / had rightfullie saide[^a815]
And modelie vpon Mede , with might the king looked
And waxed[^a816] wrothe with Lawe / for Mede almost had shent him[^a817]
And said through Lawe[^a818] I beleue[^a819] / I lose[^a820] meny escheates
Mede ouermaistreth lawe / And much truthe lettithe
But Reason shall Reken with you / if I reigne anye while
And Iudge[^a821] you by this daie / as you haue deseruid
Mede shallnot shall not maynprise you / by the Marie of heuen
I woll haue leautie in lawe / & let be all your iangling
And as most folke witnesseth[^a822] / wrong shalbe shall be demid
Quod Conscience to the king / But the commons[^a823] will assent
It is full hard by myn head / herto /[^145] to bring it
All your liege people[^a824] / to lede thus even
By him that died[^a825] on the Rood / quod Reason to the king
But if I rule this[^a826] your realme / rende out my guttes
If ye bid buxomenesse / be of myn assent
I[^a827] assent saithe[^a828] the king / by swete[^146] saint Marie[^a829][^147]
By my counsell comone / of Clerkes & of Erles
But ridlie[^148] Reason / thou shaltnot shalt not ride fro me
For as long as I liue / depart from[^a830] the I wilnot will not
I am all redie[^a831] quod Reason / to rest with you euer
So Conscience be of our counsell / I kepe no better
I[^a832] graunte quod the king / god forbidde[^a833] it faile[^a834][^149]
As long as our lyues[^a835] still[^a836] last / liue we together /

[^a692: will (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a693: suffre (S) | sauȝtle (Hm) | sangtle (Cr1) | sauȝtne (W Bx)]

[^a694: he saide (S) | I hote (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a695: Licence (S) | congeye (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a696: if (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a697: I (S) | And I (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a698: Hast (S) | Rape (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a699: reken (S) | acounte (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a700: lerned (S Cr1) | lered (W Hm Bx)]

[^a701: laie (S) | lewed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a702: glad of the same (S) | fayn of þat foreward (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a703: Conscience (S) | þe freke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a704: right ridd (S) | transp. (W Cr1 Bx) | line om. (Hm)]

[^a705: rowned (S) | rouneþ (W Bx) | roundeth (Cr1) | line om. (Hm)]

[^a706: at (S) | of (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a707: on (S) | vp-on (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a708: girde (S) | warroke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a709: come (S Cr1) | be (W Hm Bx)]

[^a710: What (S) | Whiche (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a711: in (S) | on (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a712: worlde (S) | erþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a713: ware (S) | waryn (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a714: counsell him for (S) | rede hem (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a715: careth not for (S) | ne yeueþ noȝt of (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a716: god wot (S Cr1 Hm) | transp. (W Bx)]

[^a717: will (S Cr1 Hm) | wolde (W Bx)]

[^a718: won (S) | a (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a719: of (S M) | om. (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a720: a (S) | for a (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a721: the (S W Hm) | om. (Cr1 Bx)]

[^a722: him (S) | hem (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a723: those (S) | þo (W Hm Bx) | the (Cr1)]

[^a724: Then (S) | And þanne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a725: waie (S M) | gate (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a726: As (S W Bx) | and (Hm Cr1)]

[^a727: taught (S) | kenned (W Hm Bx) | kenneth (Cr1)]

[^a728: the (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a729: comonid (S) | wordeden wel (W Cr1 Bx) | woordedyn ful (Hm)]

[^a730: vp (S) | forþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a731: will (S) | chekes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a732: them (S W Hm) | him (Cr1 Bx)]

[^a733: he (S W Bx) | and (Hm Cr1)]

[^a734: home neuer (S W Bx) | transp. (Cr1) | neuere aȝen (Hm)]

[^a735: for him (S) | þer-fore (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a736: seruauntes (S) | hewen (W Hm Bx) | ewne (Cr1)]

[^a737: He (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a738: berne dores (S) | bernes dore (W Hm Bx) | barne doore (Cr1)]

[^a739: of (S W Bx) | om. (Hm Cr1)]

[^a740: yet (S Cr1 Hm) | And yet (W Bx)]

[^a741: scarcelie dare I (S) | vnneþe to (W Cr1 Bx) | vnnethe forto (Hm)]

[^a742: true (S) | sooþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a743: wight (S) | luft (W Hm Bx) | luske (Cr1)]

[^a744: money (S) | manye (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a745: Saying (S) | And seide (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a746: fast (S) | yerne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a747: Taking (S) | And token (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a748: with (S Hm) | myd (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a749: Commons (S) | commune (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a750: truthe (S) | soþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a751: suffre woe (S) | wo þolie (W Hm Bx) | woo thorowly (Cr1)]

[^a752: yeres (S Cr1) | yer (W Hm Bx)]

[^a753: to the same (S) | þer-wiþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a754: Likewise (S) | þe same (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a755: Then (S Cr1) | And þanne (W Hm Bx)]

[^a756: Movid hir Mede (S) | gan Mede to mengen hire (W Hm) | came Mede to meuen hir (Cr1) | gan Mede to meken here (Bx)]

[^a757: for (S Cr1) | to (W Hm Bx)]

[^a758: first (S Hm) | erst (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a759: I will (S Cr1 Hm) | transp. (W Bx)]

[^a760: knowe (S) | wite (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a761: skape (S) | lope (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a762: then (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a763: after (S) | eft (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a764: be the bolder (S Cr1) | þe boldere be (W Bx) | baldere be (Hm)]

[^a765: men (S) | hewen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a766: if (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a767: hathe (S) | haue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a768: in (S) | in my (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a769: lowlinesse (S) | lowenesse (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a770: counsellid (S) | radde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a771: might (S Cr1) | moste (W Hm Bx)]

[^a772: Mainprisour (S) | maynpernour (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a773: thei Reason (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a774: Counsell (S) | Reed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a775: ruthe for (S) | no ruþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a776: speake (S) | mouþen it (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a777: roddes (S) | yerdes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a778: And (S) | Til (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a779: couetise (S) | coueitise be (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a780: preachinges (S) | prechynge (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a781: Comons (S) | commune (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a782: the (S Hm) | om. (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a783: the (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a784: nor (S) | neiþer (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a785: penitent (S) | penaunt (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a786: the (S Cr1 Hm) | a (W Bx)]

[^a787: might knowe (S) | wite myȝte (W Cr1 Bx) | mygth wyte (Hm)]

[^a788: mede (S Cr1) | no Mede (W Hm Bx)]

[^a789: if (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a790: made it (S) | transp. (Hm Cr1) | it make (W Bx)]

[^a791: dede (S) | werk (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a792: dare laie (S) | wedde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a793: dung to the feilde (S) | afeld donge (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a794: best (S) | leef (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a795: commons (S) | commune (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a796: Ware (S) | Waryn (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a797: lookid on mede / and winked also (S) | wynked vp-on Mede (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a798: Saying (S) | And seide (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a799: whatsoeuer (S) | what so (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a800: want (S) | faile (Cr1) | falle in (W Bx)]

[^a801: golde (S) | floryns (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a802: wisdome (S) | freke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a803: bare witnesse (S) | recordede (W Hm Bx) | recorden (Cr1)]

[^a804: helde (S) | leten (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a805: mad (S) | mansed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a806: small (S) | liȝt (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a807: set by her (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a808: spake (S) | seiden (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a809: lowde (S) | heiȝe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a810: herde (S) | it herde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a811: willith (S) | wilneþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a812: the (S M) | þat (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a813: sauid (S) | sued (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a814: after that (S) | afterward (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a815: saide (S) | shewed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a816: waxed (S) | gan wexe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a817: him (S) | it (W Bx) | rewritten (Cr1) | rewritten (Hm)]

[^a818: Lawe (S Cr1 W) | ȝoure lawe (Hm Bx)]

[^a819: I beleue (S) | as I leue (W Cr1 Bx) | om. (Hm)]

[^a820: lose (S) | lese (W Hm Bx) | lost (Cr1)]

[^a821: Iudge (S) | deme (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a822: witnesseth (S Cr1) | witnesseþ wel (W Hm Bx)]

[^a823: commons (S) | commune (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a824: people (S) | leodes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a825: died (S) | rauȝte (W Cr1 Bx) | reste (Hm)]

[^a826: this (S) | þus (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a827: I (S) | And I (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a828: saithe (S Cr1 W) | quod (Hm Bx)]

[^a829: swete saint Marie (S) | Seinte Marie my lady (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a830: depart from (S) | leaue (Cr1) | lete (W Hm Bx)]

[^a831: all redie (S W Hm) | aredy (Bx) | redy (Cr1)]

[^a832: I (S) | And I (W Cr1 Bx) | line om. (Hm)]

[^a833: god forbidde (S M) | goddes forbode (W Cr1 Bx) | line om. (Hm)]

[^a834: it faile (S Cr1) | ellis (W) | line om. (Hm)]

[^a835: lyues (S Cr1) | lyf (W Hm Bx)]

[^a836: still (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^124: The first three lines are set back as if for an enlarged initial, probably in imitation of the exemplar. Compare 5.1n.]

[^125: suffre: Probably rendering sauȝtle 'be reconciled', as in Hm, supported by Cr's nonsense reading sangtle. MSS vary between this word and WBx sauȝtne, a related synonym. This is the sole instance of either word in PP-B. Both words were obsolete by the sixteenth century. See OED s.vv. saughtel v. and saughten v.]

[^126: Licence: 'dismiss' (OED license v., sense 2), rendering congeye.]

[^127: the same: Rendering þat foreward. Perhaps a dummy translation, but the word is retained at S.6.36 and rendered as covenaunt at S.11.65.]

[^128: Conscience: Rendering þe freke. Compare S.4.158 and S.8.7, where the redactor similarly replaces an archaic word meaning "man" with the proper name of the actant referenced.]

[^129: Suffre: S initially treats the received reading Suffre as if archaic, replacing it with contextually appropriate my horse. (Compare S.2.161, where horses renders Sx caples). The scribe then reverted to Suffre, presumably having recognized that it is part of an allegorical name for a horse, not an archaic word meaning "horse." Correction demonstrates the scribe's continued access to the original, unredacted reading of this line.]

[^130: ware: Presumably OED ware adj. Other copies read waryn, the given name.]

[^131: f[or]: S's from is a mechanical error, induced by attraction to subsequent copy.]

[^132: S's double punctuation is unique among beta2 copies, though shared by R.]

[^133: ope: "up." The spelling is recorded in MED and OED but occurs in S only here. It has no parallel in the spellings of other beta2 copies at this location.]

[^134: of: Most B-version copies omit this word. The reading of Bx is uncertain: see BTP ad loc.]

[^135: wight: Most other copies read luft 'evil person', a rare substantive use of MED lift adj., sense 3b; Cr has luske, a homoegraphic guess. The S reading probably originated in the translator's medieval exemplar, induced by alliteration on /w/, for luft was vulnerable to scribal substitution (see BTP ad loc; F likewise reads wight) and wight seems not to have been part of the translator's active repertoire. S elsewhere lets wight stand on a few occasions but usually translates as man: see Glossary.]

[^136: money: Perhaps a visual error. Sx read manye]

[^137: S's line division is shared by M. Other copies punctuate after then, correctly.]

[^138: Movid: Sx perhaps read meuen, as Cr. Alternatively, SCr coincide in their handling of mengen 'get involved', the reading of most beta copies.]

[^139: tho: Rendering þo, as often. S's punctuation is unique and incorrect; other copies divide after the adverb.]

[^140: clerkes : Rendering clerkene, an archaic gen. pl. See Introduction, III.2, and compare S.1.105n and instances listed there.]

[^141: lookid ... winked also: Other copies read wynked vp-on Mede and divide before the verb. S expands and re-divides a short line, first replacing Sx wynked with lookid, then employing the rejected word in a feble new b-verse.]

[^142: want: Rendering faile, the reading of Cr, and corrected HmM. For harder falle in, the reading of W, Hm before correction, and most other copies, see Galloway 2006: 413-14.]

[^143: that wisdome: Rendering þat freke. Compare S.4.12.]

[^144: sauid: Rendering sued, 'accompanied', perhaps as a homoeographic guess, yet subsequent instances are rendered with understanding or transmitted intact. See Glossary.]

[^145: S's double punctuation is shared by W. Most other copies punctuate only before herto, correctly.]

[^146: swete: The w is malformed and doubtful. Compare the formation of the sw- ligature (3x) in S.5.122 (fol. 16v). See also the next note.]

[^147: swete saint Marie: Rendering Seinte Marie my lady. The expression occurs in PP only here; compare S.18.142, where the translator suppresses a reference to Mary.]

[^148: ridlie: rendering redily and probably a spelling of that word (forms with -i- in the root syllable are recorded by OED s.v. readily adv. and MED s.v. redili adv.2), but compare OED redly adv.1. S.5.125 and S.17.155 (ridely in the latter instance) show that the spelling here is not an isolated aberration.]

[^149: it faile: SCr retain the beta reading. See BTP note ad loc.]

Passus Quintus de visione

the[^150] king and his knightes / to the chirch[^a837] went
To here matins of the daie / & the masse after
Then wakid I of my winking / & I was woe[^a838] withall
That I had not slept longer[^a839][^151] / and sene more
But ere I had gone[^a840] a furlong / Feyntnesse me hent
That I might not won foot farther[^a841] / for defaute of slepe[^a842]
I[^a843] set me[^a844] softlie doune[^a845] / and said my beleue /
And so I babled on my beades / till[^a846] thei brought me aslepe
Then[^a847] sawe I muche more / then I before of[^a848] told
I[^a849] se the feild full of folke / that I before of seide
And howe did[^a850][^152] araie him / all the realme to preache
And with a Crosse before[^a851] the king / began[^a852] thus to teache
He prouid that thise pestilences / were for pure sinne
And the Southwesterne wynde / on Saterdaie at even
Was plainly[^a853] for pure pride / And for nothing[^a854] elles
Piryis and plometreis / were puffed to th'erthe
In exemple[^a855] you people[^a856][^153] / shulde do the better
Beeches and brode[^154] Okes / were blowen to the grounde
The rootes turned vpwarde[^a857] / in tokenyng of drede
That deadlie synne /[^155] or domes daie / shall fordone them all
Of this matere I might / momble[^a858][^156] full long
But I shall say as [I] se / so me god helpe
howe opinlie[^a859] afore the people / Reason beganne to preache
He bad Wastour /[^157] go worke / what he best coulde
And wynne his wasting / with some manere crafte

[In the outer margin there is a pen trial in a later hand. Below this, again in a hand not that of the main scribe, are the words ye you.]

He[^a860] praide Pernelle / hir purple[^a861][^158] to laie of[^a862]
And kepe it in hir Cofre / for catell at hir nede
Tomme Stoune[^a863][^159] he taught / to take ij two staues
And feche Felice home / Fro the wiue[^a864] pyn[^160]
He warned wat / his wife was to blame
That hir head was worth half a[^a865] marc / & his hood not worthe a grote[^161][^162]
And bad Bettes[^a866] cutt a bough or tweyne
And beat Beton therwith / but if she wold worke
And then he Chargid chapmen / to chasten their childerne
Lat no winnyng them spill[^a867][^163] / while they be yong
Nor for no poure[^a868][^164] of pestilence / please them not without[^a869] reason
My syre said[^a870] to me / and so did my dame
That the dearer[^a871] childe / the more teaching[^a872] behouith
And Salomon said the same / that Sapience made
Qui parcit virge , odit filium
The english of this latine[^a873] / who-so will knowe[^a874]
Who[^a875] spareth the rodd[^a876] / hatith[^a877] his childe[^a878][^165]
And then[^a879] he prayed Prelates / & preistes also[^a880]
That ye preache to the people / proue it on yourself
And do it in dede / it shall drawe you to good
Yf ye liue as as [+] ye learne[^a881] vs / we shall beleue[^a882] you the better
And then[^a883] he counsellid[^a884] reli gion / hir rule to holde
Lest the king & his counsell / your Commons appeyre
And be Stywardes of your stedes / till ye be rulid better
And then[^a885] he counseiled the king / his commons[^a886] to loue
It is thi treasure if treason were not / & triacle at thi nede
And then[^a887] he prayd the Pope / haue pitie on holie churche
And ere he giue any grace / gouerne first him-self
And ye that vse the lawe[^a888] / lat truthe be your desire[^a889][^166]
More then golde or giftes / if ye will god please
For who-so contrarieth Truthe he tellith in the gospell
That god knoweth him not / nor no saynt in[^a890] heauen
Amen dico vobis nescio vos .[^167]
And ye that seke Saynt Iames / And Seyntes of[^a891] Rome
Seke Saynt Truthe / for he may saue you all
Qui cum deo[^a892] patre et filio / that fair him befall
That folowethe[^a893] my sermon / And thus said Reason
Than ranne Repentance / and rehercid his teme
And Great[^a894][^168] will to wepe / water with his eyne
Pernelle prowdhart / fell vpon the grounde[^a895]
And laie long or she looked / & lorde mercie cried
And behight to him / that vs all made
She shulde put of[^a896] hir smocke[^a897] / & put vpon an[^a898] heyre
[^169]Shall neuer highe hart me hent / But holde me lowe
And suffre to be missaide / and so did I neuer
But now will I meke me / & mercie beseche
For all this I haue / hated in myn hart
Then Lechorie[^a899] said alas / & on oure Ladie he cried
[^170] And[^a900] that he shulde the saterdaie / seuen yeris[^a901] after[^a902]
Drinke but with[^a903][^171] the ducke / and dine but ones
Enuie with heauie hart / asked after Shrifte
And carefullie Mea culpa / he began[^a904] to shewe
He was as pale as a pellet / in the palsey he semed
And clothed in a Cawrymawrie / I coulde it not discriue
In kyrtill and Courtepie / and a knife by his side
Of a friers frocke / were the forsleuis
And as a leke that had lyne long in the sonne
So looked he with lene chekes / lowring foule
His bodie bolne[^a905] for wrathe / that he bit his lippis
And wringing he went[^a906][^172] with his[^a907] fist / to wreke himself he thought
With workes or with wordes / when he se his tyme
Euery[^a908] worde he spake[^a909] / was of an edders tung
Of chiding & of chalenging / was his chefe liuelod
With backbiting & busynesse[^a910][^173] / & bearing of fals witnesse
This was all his curtesie / whersoeuer[^a911] he became[^a912]
I wold be shreven quod this shrewe / & I for shame durst
I wolde be gladder by god / that Gibbe had mischaunce
Then if[^a913] I had this weike wonne / a weye of Essex chese
I haue a neighbore nere me / I haue anoyid him ofte
And compleynid[^a914] on him to lordes / to do him lose his siluer
And made his freindes his foes[^a915] / through my false tong
His grace & his good happes / greuid[^a916] me full sore
Betwene man & man[^a917][^174] / I make debate ofte
That bothe Life and lymme / is lost through my speche
And when I mete him / in market / that I most hate /

[A hand with distinctive crossed ascenders has entered pen trials in the outer margin. We distinguish the words "he", "ther" (?), and "the" and the letters h, k, and b.]

I haile[^a918] him gentillie[^a919] / as I his frende wel we[re]
For he is hardier[^a920] then I [I] dare do non other
But had I maistrie and might / god knoweth[^a921] my will
And I at kirk when I come[^a922][^175] / and shulde knele to the roode
And prey for the people / as the preist teacheth
For pilgrymes and for palmers / &[^a923] for all other[^a924]
Then I crie on my kneis / þat Christ giue them sorowe
That bare awaie my bolle / & my broke shete /
Awaie from the alter / then[^176] turne I myn eyis
And beholde how Eleyne / hathe a newe cote
I wishe that[^a925] it were myne / & all the webbe after
And at[^a926] mennis losse[^a927] I laugh / that liketh myn hart
And for their wynnyng I wepe / & waile the tyme
And Iudge them to do euill[^a928] / there I do much[^a929] wors
Who-so tellith[^a930] me herof / I hate him deadlie after
I wishe that euery man[^a931] / were my knaue
for who-so hathe more then I / that angrith me sore /
And thus I liue louelesse / Like a lither dogg
That all my body bolneth / for bitter of my gall
I might not eat many yeris / as a man ought
For Envie and euill will / is euill to digest[^a932]
No[^a933] suger nor swete thing may[^a934] / asswage my swelling
Nor no diapenidion / driue hit fro my hart
Nor neither shrifte nor shame / but who-so shrape my mawe
Yes ridlie quod Repentance / & counseld[^a935] him to the best
Sorowe for[^a936] synnes / saluacion is[^a937] of soules
I am sorie quod that man[^a938] / I am but seld other
And that maketh me so lene[^a939] / for that[^a940] I maynot may not me avenge[^a941]
Amonges Burgeises haue I bene / dwelling at London
And causid[^a942] Bacbyting be a Brokour / to blame mennis ware
When he solde & not I[^a943] then was I redie
To lie and to loure on my neighbour / & to lacke his chaffare
I will amende þis if I may / through þe[^a944] might of god allmightie
Now awaketh Wrathe / with ij two whight eyen
And sneueling[^a945] in[^a946] the nose / And his necke hanging
I am wrath quod he / I was sometime a Frier
And the Coventes Gardeyner / For to graffe ympes
On lymitors and Listers / Lyes there[^a947] I ymped
Till they bare leaues of lowe speche / lordes to please
And sithen they blossomed abrode / in boure to here shriftes
And now is fallen therof a fruyt / that folke had[^a948] muche[^a949] leuer
Shewe their shriftes to them / þat[^a950][^177] shriue them to their parsons
And now parsons haue perceyuid / that Friers parte with them
Thise possessours[^a951] preache / and depraue Friers
And friers fynd them in faute[^a952] / as folke beare witnesse
That what[^a953] they preache the people / in many places about
I wrathe walke with them / And lerne[^a954] them of my bookes
Thus they speake of my spiritualtie / þat either dispise other
Till thei be bothe beggers / And by[^a955] Spiritualtie liue
Or ellis ride about / all riche[^a956]
I wrathe rest neuer / but I[^a957] must folowe
Thise wicked folke / for such is my grace
I haue an Aunnte A[^a958] Nonne / And an abbesse bothe
She had[^a959][^178] leuer swounne or swelte / then suffre any peyne
I haue be Cooke in hir kechin / & the Covent seruid
Many monethes with them / & with Monkes bothe
I was the Prioresse Potager / and other pouer ladies
And[^a960][^179] Iowtes of Iangling / that dame Ione was a bastarde
And dame Clarice a knightes doughter / but[^a961] a Cokeold was hir syre
And dame Pernell a preistes file / Prioresse was[^a962] she neuer
For she had childe in Cheritime / all our chaptire it wist
Of wicked wordes / I wrathe[^180] there wortes made
Till thou liest & þou liest / lepid out at ones
And either hitt other / vnder the cheke
Had they had knyues by Christ / either[^a963] had killed other
Seynt Gregorie was a good Pope / & had a good forewitt
That no prioresse were preist / for that he ordeyned
They had then bene / Infames / the first daie / thei can so euill kepe[^a964] counseill
Among Monkes I might be / but manie tyme I eschewe[^a965]
For there be many fell frekes / my feates[^a966] to espie
And[^a967] Priour and Subpriour / And oure Pater abbas
And if I telle any talis / thei take them togithers
And do me fast Fridaies / to bread & to water
And am Chalengid in the Chaptirhouse / as I a childe were
And beate[^a968] on the bare arse / & no breche betwene
Therfor haue I no liking / with them[^a969] to dwelle[^a970]
I ete there ill[^a971] fish / & feble ale drinke
But otherwhile when wyne come / I[^a972] drinke wyne at even
I haue a flux of a foule mowthe / well fiue daies after
All the wickednesse that I wot / by any of my[^a973] bretherne
I telle[^a974][^181] it in oure Cloister / that all our Couent wot it .
Nowe repent þe quod Repentaunce / & reherce you[^a975][^182] neuer
Counseile that thou knowist / by countinaunce nor bi right
And drinke not ouer delicatelie / nor to depe neither
That thi will because therof / to wrath might turne
Esto Sobrius he saide / and assoiled him[^a976] after
And bad him[^a977] will[^a978] to wepe / his[^a979] wickednesse to amend
And then cam Couetise / can I not him[^a980] discriue
So hungerlie and holowe / Syr heruy him loked
He was bitilbrowed / and blaberlippid[^a981] also
With ij two bleared eyen / as a blynde hagg
And as a lether[^a982] purs / lolled his chekes
Sydder[^a983] then his chinne / they chiverid for age[^a984]
And as a bondman of his bacon / his beard all[^a985] bedreueled
With an hood on his head / &[^a986] a lowsie hat aboue
And in a tawnie taberd / of xij twelue winter age
All to torne and bawdie / & full of lyce creping
But if that a louce coulde / haue lepid the better
She had not[^a987][^183] walkid on that clothe[^a988][^184] / so was it thredebare
I haue bene Couetouse quod this Caitif / I knowlege[^a989] it here
For sometime I seruid / Symme at Stile
And was his prentice plight / his profit to wait
First I learned to lye / A leafe or tweyne
And[^a990] wickedlie to weye / was my first lesson
To wye And to winchester / I went to feyre[^a991]
With many mannere marchandise / as my master me hight
Had not the grace of Gyle gone / Among my chaffare
It had be vnsold this seuen yere / so me god helpe
Then drewe I me among drapiers / my donet to learne
To drawe the list[^a992][^185] along / the lenger it semed
Among the riche raies / I rendrid a lesson
To broche them with a packenedill / & plite[^186] them togithers
And put them in a presse / & pynned them therin
Till x tean yerdes or xij twelue / had tolled out thirtene
My wife was a webber[^a993] / & wollen cloth made
She spake to spynners[^a994] / to spynne it out
But the pounde that she paid by / weyid[^a995] a quarter[^a996][^187] more
Then myne oune Auncer / who-so weied truth
I bought hir Barlie Malt / she brewid it to selle
Pennyale & Puddingale / she poured togithers
For Laborars & pouerfolke[^a997] / that lay by it[^a998] -self
The best ale laie in my boure / or in my chambre[^a999]
And who -so bummed therof / bought it therafter
A galon for a grote / god wott no lasse
And yet it came in cupmeale / this craft my wife vsed
Rose the regrater / was hir right name
She hath bene an hucster[^a1000][^188] / all hir life-time
But I swere now so the ik / that synne I leue[^a1001]
And neuer wickedlie weye / nor wicked[^a1002] chaffare vse
But go[^a1003] to Walsingham / And my wife also
And bidde the Rood of Bromeholme / bring me out of dett
Repentidst thou euer quod Repentance / or restitucion madist
Yes ones was I[^a1004] harborowed / quod he with an hepe of chapmen
I rose when thei were at rest[^a1005] / and rifled their males
That was no[^a1006] restitucion quod Repentance / but a[^a1007] robbers thefte
Thou haddist bene well worthier[^a1008] / to[^a1009] be hangid therfore
Then for all that / that þou haest[^189] here shewed
I wende Rifling had bene[^a1010] restitucion quod he / I[^a1011] neuer lernid[^a1012] to[^a1013] rede on booke
And infeith in feith I can no frenche[^a1014] / but of the farthest parte[^a1015] of Northfolke
Vsedist thou euer vsurie quod Repentaunce / in all thi life-tyme
No[^a1016] sothely he saide / Saue in my youthe
I learned among Lumbardes / & Iewes a lesson
To weye pens with a peise / and pare the heuiest
And lene it for loue of the Crosse / to leye a gage[^a1017] & lose[^a1018] it
Whech[^a1019] dedes I did wright / if he his daie broke
I haue mo maneris through[^a1020] Rereages / than through Miseretur & com[odat][^190]
I haue lent lordes & ladies /[^191] my chaffare
And be their brocour after / and bought it my-self
Eschaunges & Cheuisaunces . with such chaffre I Dele
And lend folke that lose[^a1021] will / a lippe at euery noble
And with Lumbardes letters / I ledd golde to Rome
And toke it by tale here / & told them there lesse
Lentist thou euer lordes / for loue of their maintenaunce
Yea I haue lent lordes / that[^a1022] louid me neuer after
And haue made many a knight / bothe Mercer & Draper
That paide neuer for his prentishode / not a[^a1023] pair of[^a1024] glouis
hast thou pitie on pouer men / that must nedes borowe
As[^a1025] much pitie of[^a1026] pouer men / as pedlers haue[^a1027] of Cattes
That wolde kill them if thei[^a1028] cach them[^a1029] / euin for[^a1030] their skinnes
Art thou manlie among thi neighbors / of thi meat & drinke
I am callid[^a1031] quod he as kinde[^a1032] / as a dogg on his bone[^a1033][^192]
Among my Neighbors namelie / such a name I haue
Now god lene the neuer quod Repentaunce / but thou repent þe rather
Grace[^a1034] on this grounde / thi goodes well[^a1035] to besett
Nor thine heires after the / haue Ioye of that þou wynnest
Nor thine executours well besett / þe siluer þat þou them leuist
And that was wonne with wrong / with wicked men be dispended
For were I Frier of þat house / there good feithe and charite is
I wolde not cope vs with thi goodes[^a1036] / nor our church amende
Nor haue won[^a1037] penny to my pitaunce / so god my soule helpe
For þe best book in the[^a1038] house / though brent golde were the leauis
Yf[^a1039] I wist verelie[^a1040] / thou were such as thou tellest
Servus es alterius , cum fercula pinguia queris
Pane tuo pocius , vescere liber eris
Thou art an vnkinde creature / I can þe not assoile
Till þou make restitucion / and reken with them all
And sithen þat reason rolle it / in þe Registre of heauen
That þou hast made echeman good / I maie the not assoile
Non dimittitur peccatum / donec restituatur ablatum
For all that haue of thi good / haue god my trouthe
Be holden at the high dome / to helpe þe to restore[^a1041]
And who[^a1042] beleuith[^a1043] not this to[^a1044] be true[^a1045] / Loke in the psalter glose
In Miserere mei deus / whether I mene truthe
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti &c
Shall neuer workman in this worlde / thriue with þat þou wynnest
Cum sancto sanctus eris / construe me þat in[^a1046] englishe
Then waxt that shrewe in wanhope / & wold haue hangid himself
Had not repentaunce the rather / reconfortid him in þis manere
haue mercie in thi mynde / and with thi mouth ask[^a1047] it
For goddes mercie is more / then all his other workes
And all the wickednesse in this worlde / þat man myght[^a1048] work or // thinke[^193]
ys nomore no more to þe mercie of god / than in the sea a glede
Omnis iniquitas quantum ad dei misericordiam[^a1049] est quasi sintilla in medio maris /
Therfore haue mercie in thi mynde / & merchandise leue it
For þou hast no good grounde / to get the with a wastell
But if it were with thi tong orelles or elles with þi ij two handes
for þe good þat thou hast goten / beganne all with falsehode
And as long as þou liuest þerwith / þou yeldest nought but borrowest
And[^a1050] þou wotnot wot not[^a1051] to whome[^a1052] / thou shuldest make restitucion[^a1053]
Beare hit to the Bishop / & bidd him of his grace
Bestowe[^a1054] hit himself / as best is for thi soule
For he shall answere for the / at þe high dome
For the and for many mo / þat man shall giue a rekening
What he learned you in lent / beleue[^a1055] you[^a1056][^194] non other
And what he lent you of the[^a1057] lordes good / to let you from synne
[^195] Nowe[^196] begynneth Gloton / For to go to Shrifte
And Carieth[^197] him to kirkewarde / his cuppe to shewe
But Beton the Brewster / Bad him good morowe
And askid of him[^a1058] / whether[^a1059][^198] he wolde
To holie churche quod he / For to here masse
And then[^a1060] I wilbe will be shreuin / and synne nomore no more
I haue good Ale Gossip / quod she / Gloton wilt þou saie[^a1061][^199]
Hast þou ought in thi purs / any hoott spices
I haue Peper and Pionies quod he[^a1062][^200] / & a pounde of garleck
And[^a1063] a farding worthe of Fenell sede / for fasting daies
Than goith Gloton in / & great othes after
Cesse the Sowtresse / Sat on the Benche
Wat the Warner / & his wife bothe
Tymme the tynker / & tweyne of his prenticis
Hicke the hakeneyman / and Hugh the Nedler
Clarice of Cockeslane / & þe clerke of the church
Davie[^a1064] the dyker / and a doson other
Syr piers of Prydye / & pernell of Flaunders
A Ribiboure / a Ratoner / a Raker of Cheape
A Rooper / a Readingking / & Rose the dishers
Godfrey of Garlickhithe / & Griffin the welchman[^a1065]
And vpholsters[^a1066] an heape / erlie by the morowe
Gaf Gloton with glad chere / good ale for[^a1067] hansell
Clement the Cobler / cast of his cloke
And at the newfeire / he offrid[^a1068] hit to sell
Hicke the hakeneyman / hurld[^a1069] his hood after
And bad bet the bochier / be of[^a1070] his side
There were chapmen chosen / this chaffare to prise[^a1071][^201]
Who-so haue[^a1072][^202] the hood / shulde haue a-mendes of the Cloke
Two rise vp in hast[^a1073] / & rowned togithers
And preised these penyworthes / a-part by them[^a1074] -self[^203]
They coulde not by their conscience / accorde in truthe
Till Robyn the Roper / arose by the southe
And named[^a1075] him for an vnpere / þat no debate were
Hicke the hostlier / had the cloke
In couenant that Clement / shulde the cup fill
And haue Hickes hood[^a1076] / & holde him seruid
And who-so repent[^a1077] first[^a1078] / shuld arise after
And grete syr Gloton / with a galon of[^a1079] Ale /
There was laughing & Lowring / & Lat go the cup
And they[^a1080] sate so till euinsong / & sung sumwhile[^a1081]
Till glutton had glubbed[^a1082] / a galon & a gill
His guttes began[^a1083] to romble[^a1084] / as ij two gredie Sowes
He pissed a pottell / in a pater noster while
And blewe his Rounde Rewet / at his ridgebones ende
That all that herd þat horne / held ther noses after
And wisshed it had be waxed / with a wispe of fyrres
He might neither steppe nor stond / till[^a1085] he had a staff[^a1086]
And then he began[^a1087] to go / Like a glewmannes bich
Sometime aside / & sometime Arere
As who-so leieth Lynes / for to cache[^a1088] foules
And when he drew to þe dore / then dymmed his eyen
He stumbled vpon[^a1089] the threshold / and fell[^a1090] to the erth
Clement the Cobler / caught him by the middill
For to lift him vp[^a1091] / and leid him on his kneis
But Gloton was a great chorle / & a grimme in þe lifting
And kouȝed[^204] vp a cawdell / in Clementes Lapp
So hungrie a hounde is not[^a1092] in hertforth shire
Dorst lappe of tho[^a1093] leuinges / so vnlouelie they smelt[^a1094]
With all þe wo of this world / his wife & his wench
Bare him home to his bed / & brought him therin
And after this[^a1095] excesse / he had an Accidie
That he slept Saterdaie & Sondaie / till þe[^a1096] sonne went[^a1097] to rest
Then wakid he of his winking / & wypid his eyen
The fyrst word that he spake[^a1098] / was where is the boll
His wife[^a1099] began to chide[^a1100] him then / how wickedlie he liuid
And Repentaunce right so / rebukid him that time
As þou with wordes & workes / hast wrought euill in þi Lyf
Shriue the & be ashamed therof / & shew it with þi mouth
I Gloton said[^a1101] the grome / giltie me I[^a1102] yeld
That I haue trespassed with my tong / I cannot telle howoft how oft
Sworne goddes soule / & so god help me[^a1103][^205] at holi dome[^a1104]
There no nede was / nyne hundreth tymes
And ouerset[^a1105][^206] me at my Supper / & sometime at nones
That I gloton girt it vp / ere I had gone a myle
And spilt that might haue bene[^a1106] sparid / and spendid on some / hungrie[^207]
Ouer delicatlie on fasting daies / dronke & eate bothe
And sate sometime so long[^a1107] / þat I slept & ete all[^a1108] at ones
For loue of tales / in Tauernes / to drinke þe more I dyned
And hied to the meat or noone / vpon fasting daies[^a1109]
This shewing shrifte quod Repentaunce / shalbe shall be merit to the
And then gan Gloton wepe[^a1110][^208] / & make great dole[^a1111]
For his lither lyfe / that he had ledd[^a1112]
And avowed to fast / for hunger or for thurst
Shall neuer Fish on fridaie / digest[^a1113] in my wombe
Till abstinence myn Aunte / haue geuen me leue
And yet haue I hated hir / all my life-time
Then cam Sleuth / all bislaberid with ij two slymie eyis
I must sitt ye people quod he[^a1114] / or ellis shulde I nappe
I maie not stond nor stowpe / nor without a[^a1115] stole knele
Were I brought a-bed / But if my taile end it caused[^a1116]
Sholde no Ringing do me rise / till[^a1117] I lust[^a1118] to dine
He began Benedicite with a bolke / & his brest knocked
And raskeled[^a1119] & rored / Ant rutt at the last
What awake[^a1120][^209] quod Repentaunce / And hie[^a1121] the to shrift
Yf I shulde die by this daie / me lust[^a1122] not to loke
I cannot perfitelie my Pater noster / as the preist it singeth
But I can rymes of Robynhoode / & Randolf Erle of Chestre
But neither of our lorde / nor[^a1123] Ladie / the least þat euer was made
I haue made avowes[^a1124] fourtie / & forgoton them on the morowe
I performed neuer penaunce / as the preist me hight
Nor right sorie for my synnes / yet was I neuer
And if I bidd any beades / but if it be in wrathe
That I telle with my tong / is ij two myle fro my hart
I am occupied euery[^a1125] daie / holidaie[^210] and other
With ydell tales at the ale / & otherwhiles[^a1126] in the[^a1127] Church
Goddes peyne and his passion / full seld think I on[^a1128][^211]
I visited neuer Feble men / nor fetterid folke in prison[^a1129]
I had[^a1130][^212] leuer here an harlotrie / or a somergame of Sowters
Or leasinges to laugh at / & belie my neyghbors
Than all that euer Marc made / Mathue Iohan or[^a1131] Luke
And vigils and fastingdaies / all these let I passe
And ly in bed[^a1132] in Lent / & my leman in myn Armes
Till matins and Masse be done / & then go to the friers
Come I to Ite missa est / I hold me well content[^a1133]
I am not shreuen some time / but if sikenesse it make
Not twies in ij two yere / & then vpon[^a1134] gesse I shriue me
I haue bene preist and parson / more then[^a1135] thirtie winter
Yet can I neither Solf nor Sing / nor Seyntes life[^a1136] rede
But I can fynde an hare in a feilde or furlong[^a1137]
Better then in Beatus vir / or in Beati omnes /
Construe won clause well / And teache[^a1138] it to my parisshens
I can holde Louedaies / And here a Reves Rekennyng
But in Canon or in decretals / I cannot rede a lyne
If I bigg[^213] and borowe ought / But if [it] be tailled
I forgett it by & by[^a1139] / & if men me it aske
Six tymes[^a1140] or seven / I forswere[^a1141][^214] it with othes
Thus do I angre[^a1142] trew men / tean hundred tymes
And my seruauntes Sometime / their Salarie is behinde
Ruthe it[^a1143] is to here the Rekennyng / when we rede[^a1144] acomptes
So with wicked will and wrathe / my workemen I paie
Yf anyman any man dothe me a benefite / or helpeth me at nede
I am vnkinde against his curtesie / & cannot vnderstond it
For I haue & haue had / somedele haukes maners
I am[^a1145] lured with loue / But alwaie for Avauntage[^a1146][^215]
The kyndnes that myne even cristen / hath shewid me of late[^a1147]
Syxtie[^a1148] tymes[^a1149] I Slouth / haue forgote it syns[^a1150]
In speche & in sparing of speche / yspilt many a time
Bothe flesh & Fish / and manie other victuales
Bothe bread and ale / Butter Milke and Chese
Forsleuid[^a1151][^216] in my seruice / till it might serue noman no man
I ranne about in youthe / & gaf me not to learne
And euer sithe haue be begger / for my foule slouth
Heu mihi quia sterilem duxi vitam Iuuenilem
Repentidist thou not quod Repentance / & euen[^a1152] with þat[^a1153] he swowned
Till Vigilate the veille / fet water at his eyen
And flatt it on his face / & fast on him cried
And seid ware the of[^a1154] wanhope / he[^a1155] wolde þe betraye
I am sorie for my synnes / Seye to thi-self
And beat thi-self on the breast / & byd god[^a1156] of grace
for here is no gilt[^a1157] so great / but[^a1158] his goodnes is more
Then sate sleuthe vp / And remembrid[^a1159] him-self[^a1160][^217]
And made avowe tofore god / for his foule Slouth
Shall no Sondaie be this seuen yere / but sikenes it let
That I shalnot shall not ere it be daie / get me to þe[^a1161] church
And heare Matyns & Masse / as I were a Monke[^a1162]
Shall non ale after meate / Hold me from[^a1163] thence
Till I haue herd euinsong[^a1164] / I promise[^a1165] to the Rood
And yet will I yeld againe / if I somuch so much haue
All that I wickedlie wanne / sithens I had witt[^a1166]
And though my lifelode lacke / let will I not[^a1167]
But[^a1168] eche man shall[^a1169] haue his / ere I hens wende
And with the rest[^a1170] and[^a1171] remenaunt / by the Rood of Chestre
I shall seke truthe erst / ere I se Rome
Robert the robber / on Reddite lookid
And for that[^a1172] there was not wherof / he wept right[^a1173] sore
But yet the synfull shrewe / Seid to himself
Christ that on Caluarie / vpon the Crosse dyedst
To[^a1174][^218] dismas my brother / besought the[^a1175][^219] of grace
And haddist mercie on that man / fo fo[r] Memento sake
So rewe on this Robber / that Reddere haue not
Nor neuer thinke[^a1176] to haue[^a1177] / by any meane[^a1178] I k nowe[^a1179][^220]
For[^a1180] thy great[^a1181] mercie yet[^a1182] / mitigacon I beseche
And[^a1183] damme me not at domesdaie / for þat I haue done[^a1184] ill
What befell on[^a1185] this felon / I cannot trulie[^a1186] shewe
Well I wot he wept fast / water with[^a1187] his eyen
And knowlegid his synne[^a1188] / to Christ yet eftsones
That penitencia his pyk he shulde polish newe
And lepe with him ouer lond / all his life-tyme
For he had lyne by Latro Luciferis Aunte
And then had Repentaunce ruthe / & willid[^a1189] them all to knele
For I shall pray[^a1190] for all synfull / to the[^a1191] Saviour of grace
T'amende vs of oure mysdedis / & shewe[^a1192] mercie to vs all
Now god quod he that of þi goodnes / ganne[^a1193] the worlde make
And of nought madest ought / & man most like[^a1194] þi-self
And sithen suffredst him to[^a1195][^221] synne / a siknesse to vs all
And all for the best as I beleue / what-euer the book tellith
O felix culpa . O necessarium peccatum Ade &c
For[^a1196] that synne thi son / was sent[^a1197] into[^a1198] the[^a1199] erthe
And became man of a maid / mankinde to saue
And madist thi-self with þi son / & vs synfull like[^a1200]
Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et similitudinem nostram
Et alibi Qui manet in caritate in deo manet &c
And sithens with thi self sonne / in oure sute diedst
On Goodfridaie for manissake manis sake[^222] / at full tyme of the daie
There thi-self nor thi sonne / no sorow in death felid
But in oure sect was the sorowe / And thy sonne it ladd
Captiuam duxit captiuitatem
The Sonne for sorowe therof / lost[^a1201] light[^a1202] for a tyme
About middaie when most light is / & meletime of Sayntes
Thou[^a1203] feddest with þi fresh blood / our forefathers in darknesse
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam
And through the light þat lept out of the Lucifer was blent
And blewe all thi blessed / into the blisse of Paradise
The thirde daie after / thou wenst[^a1204] in oure sute
A synfull Marie the se / ere Saint Marie thi dame
And all to solace the[^a1205] synfull / thou woldest[^a1206] it so to be[^a1207]
Non veni vocare iustos / sed peccatores ad penitentiam
And all that Marc made[^a1208] / Mathue Luke or Iohan[^a1209][^223] /
Of thi doutie dedes / were done in oure armes
Verbum caro factum est , et habitauit in nobis
And by somuch so much me think[^a1210] / the sikerer we maie
Praie[^a1211] and beseche / if it be thi will
That art oure Father and oure brother / be mercifull[^a1212] to vs
And haue ruthe on thise Ribawdes þat repent them here[^a1213] sore
That euer thei offendid[^a1214] the in this worlde / in word thought or dede
Than hent hope an horne / of deus tu conuersus &c
And blewe it with Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates
That all Seyntes in heuen song atones at ones
Homines et Iumenta saluabis[^224]
A thowsande of men then throng /[^225] togethers
Crying[^a1215] vpwarde to Christ / and to his clene mother
To haue grace to go with them / truthe to seke
But there was no wight[^a1216] so wise / the waie thether knewe[^a1217]
But blusterid furthe as beastes / ouer bankes & hilles
Till long was and late[^a1218] / that they met a man[^a1219]
Apparailed as a Paynym[^226] in pilgrymes wise
He bare a bourden bounde / with a brode list
In a withwyndes wise / bound[^a1220] about
A bolle and a bagg / he bare by his side
An hundred of Ampulles / on his head[^a1221] sett
Sygnes of Synay / & Shellis of Galice
And many a crosse[^a1222] on his cloke / & Keyis of Rome
And the Vernycle before / for men shulde knowe
And se by his signes / whom he had sought[^a1223]
This folke freyned him first / fro whens he came
From Synay he said / & from oure lordes Sepulchre /
In Bethleme and in Babylone / I haue bene in bothe
In Armenye &[^a1224] Alisaundre / & in[^a1225] many other places
You be my Signes se[^a1226] / that be[^a1227] on my hatt
That I haue walkid wide[^a1228] / & [in] wete and in drie
And sought good Seyntes / for my soules helthe
Knowest[^a1229] aught a Corsseynt / þat men call truthe
Couldest thou ought tell[^a1230] us the waie / where that man[^a1231] dwellith
Naie so me god helpe / said that[^a1232] pilgrime againe[^a1233]
I neuer se[^a1234] palmer / with picke nor with Scrippe /
Aske after him erst[^a1235] / till nowe in this place
Peter quod a plowman / & put furth his head
I knowe him aswell as well[^a1236] / as a[^a1237] clerk doth his bookes
Conscience and Kyndwitt / taught[^a1238] me to his place
And did me sure them[^a1239][^227] sikerlie / to serue him for euer
Bothe to sowe and[^a1240] sett / the while I might Labour[^a1241]
I haue bene his folower / all this fifftie winter
Bothe sowen his sede / and seruid[^a1242] his beastes
Within and without / waited his profite
I dike and I delue / and[^a1243] to[^a1244] that Truthe grantith[^a1245][^228]
Sometime I sowe / and sometime I threshe
In tailours crafte & Tinkers crafte / what truthe can deuise
I weaue and I wynde / and do what Truthe willith[^a1246]
For though I saie it my-self / I serue him to paie
Ich haue myne Hire well / & other-whiles more
He is the best[^a1247] paier / that pouer men maye knowe[^a1248]
He withold[^229] frome no[^a1249] seruaunt[^a1250][^230] his hyre / that he hath[^a1251] not at night[^a1252]
He is as lowlie[^a1253] as a lambe / & louely of Speche
And if ye will[^a1254] to wite / where that he dwellith
I shall shew[^a1255] you plainlie[^a1256] / þe wey to his place
Yea lefe piers quod thise pilgrymes / & proferid him hire
For to go[^a1257] with them / to Truthes dwelling place
Naie by my soules helth quod piers / & began[^a1258] to[^a1259] swere
I willnot will not[^a1260] take[^a1261] a ferthing / for Saynt Thomas shryne
Truthe wolde loue me the lesse / a long tyme þerafter
But if ye will[^a1262] to wend well / þis is the waie thether
Ye must go through Mekenesse / Both men and wyues
Till ye come into Conscience / þat Christ wite the sothe
That ye loue our lorde god / best[^a1263] of all thing
And then your neighbourure neighbo[ur]e[^231] next / in nowise no wise[^a1264] appeire
Otherwise then thou woldest / that[^a1265] he did[^a1266][^232] to the[^a1267]
And so bowe furth by a brook / be buxome of speche
Till ye fynde a foorde / your Fathers honoure
Honora patrem et matrem &c
Wade in that water / & washe ye[^a1268][^233] well there
And ye shall leape the lighter[^a1269] / all your life after[^a1270]

[A collection of pen trials, possibly in the later hand associated with marks in the margin of 16v, are written in the top margin of the folio. Most have been cropped, though the word "the" is still legible.]

And so shalt thou se Swere not / but if it be for nede
And namelie in[^a1271] ydilnesse[^a1272] / the name of god allmightie
Then shalt þou come by a crofte / but come þou not therin
That Croft hight Covet not / mennis catell nor their wives
Nor non of their seruauntes / that noye them might
Loke ye breake no bowes there / but if hit be your oune
Two stockes there stande / but stint ye not there
They hight Steale not / nor slea not / go[^a1273] furth by bothe
And leaue them on thi left hand[^a1274] / & loke not therafter
And holde well þi Holidaie / heigh till even
Then shalt þou blench at a Bredge[^a1275][^234] / Bere no fals witnesse
he is frythid with[^a1276] Floryns / and other foes[^a1277] many
Loke þou plucke no plant there / for perill of þi soule
Then shall ye se Say sothe / so it be to do
In no case[^a1278] ellis not / for nomannes no mannes bidding
Than shalt þou come to a Court / as clere as the Sonne
The mote is of mercie / the manere about
And all the walles be of witt / to hold will out
And kernelid with Christendome / mankyde to saue
Buttrased with beleue so / or þou beist not saved
And all the houses / be hillid / hallis & Chambers
With no lead but[^a1279] loue / & lowe spech as bretherne
The Bridge is of bidd well / the better may þou spede
Euery[^a1280] piller is of Penance / & of[^a1281] Holie preyers[^a1282][^235]
Of almesededes ar the hokes / that the gates hang on
Grace hight the Portar[^a1283] / a good man forsothe
His man hight Amend you / for many men him knoweth
Tell him this Token / that Truthe wite the sothe
I performed the penaunce / that[^a1284] the preist me inioyned
And am full sorie for my synnes / & so shall I[^a1285] euer
When I think theron / though I were a pope
Bid amend you meke him / till his Maister ones
To wayue vp the wickett / that the woman shett
When[^a1286] Adam & Eue / ete Appuls vnrostid
Per Evam cunctis clausa est / et per Mariam[^a1287] patefacta est
For he hath the kye of[^a1288] the Clicket / though the king slepe
And if grace graunt to[^a1289] the / to go in this wise
Thou shalt se in þi-self / Truthe in þi hart
In a cheyne of charitie / as thou a childe were
To suffre him & saie nought / Agayne þi syres will
But beware then of Wrath[^a1290] / That ys a wickyd shrewe
He hath Envie to him / that in thine hart sitteth
And provokith[^a1291] pride / to preise thi-self
The boldnesse of thi good dedis[^a1292] / maketh the blynde then
And then art thou[^a1293][^236] driven out as dew / & the dore closed
Keyid & clicketted / to kepe the without
Happely an hundred wynter / ere þou might[^a1294] entre
Thus mightest þou Lose[^a1295] his loue / to set much[^a1296] by þi-self
And neuer perfortune[^a1297] after[^a1298] entre / but grace þou haue
But there are seven sisters / þat serue Truthe euer
And are porters of the posternes / þat to þe place longeth
The[^a1299] one hight Abstinence / & humilite another
Charitie and Chastitie / be hir[^a1300] chefe maidens
Pacience & Peace / much people they helpe
Largenesse the Ladie / she lettith in full many
She hath holpen a thowsand /[^237] out of the deuils pinfold
And who is Sib to thise vii seuen / so me god helpe
He is wonderlie welcome / and gentillie[^a1301] receyuid[^a1302]
And onlesse[^a1303] ye be Sibbe / to soomme some of thise seuen
It is full hard[^a1304] quod piers / for any of ye[^238] all
To get in[^a1305] at any gate[^a1306] / but grace be the more
Now by Christ quod a Cutpurs / I haue no kyn there
Nor I quod an Apewarde / by aught that I can knowe
Wite god quod a Wafrer[^a1307] / wist I this forsothe
Shold I neuer farther a foot / for no Friers preching
Yes quod piers the Plowman / & provokid[^a1308] him all to good
Mercie is a maid[^a1309] there / &[^a1310] hath might ouer them all
And she is Sibbe / to all synfull / & hir son also
And through the help of them ij two / hope þou non other
Thou might get grace there / incase in case[^a1311] þou go by-time
By saynt Poule quod a pardoner / I fere I am[^a1312] not knowne there
I will go fech my box / with my brevettes / & a bull with bishops lettr[es][^239]
By Christ quod a Comon woman / thi companie will I folowe
Thou shalt saie I am thi suster / I wotnot wot not where they become

[^a837: chirch (S Hm) | kirke (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a838: I was woe (S) | wo was (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a839: longer (S) | sadder (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a840: gone (S) | faren (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a841: won foot farther (S) | ferþer a foot (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a842: slepe (S) | slepynge (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a843: I (S) | And (W Cr1 Bx) | and y (Hm)]

[^a844: set me (S) | sat (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a845: doune (S M) | adoun (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a846: till (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a847: Then (S) | And þanne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a848: of (S Cr1 W) | om. (Hm Bx)]

[^a849: I (S) | For I (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a850: did (S) | Reson gan (W Hm Bx) | Reason can (Cr1)]

[^a851: before (S Hm) | afore (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a852: began (S) | comsede (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a853: plainly (S) | pertliche (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a854: nothing (S) | no point (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a855: exemple (S) | ensample (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a856: you people (S) | ȝe segges · ȝe (Bx) | the segges ye (Cr1) | þat ye segges (W Hm)]

[^a857: The rootes turned vpwarde (S) | Turned vpward hire tailes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a858: momble (S) | mamelen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a859: opinlie (S) | pertly (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a860: He (S Cr1 W) | and (Hm Bx)]

[^a861: purple (S Cr1) | purfil (W Hm Bx)]

[^a862: laie of (S) | lete (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a863: Stoune (S Cr1) | Stowue (W Hm Bx)]

[^a864: wiue (S) | wyuen (W Hm) | wyuene (Bx) | wynen (Cr1)]

[^a865: a (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a866: Bettes (S) | Bette (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a867: spill (S) | forwanye (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a868: poure (S) | poustee (W Hm Bx) | ponste (Cr1)]

[^a869: without (S) | out of (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a870: said (S Cr1) | seide so (W Hm Bx)]

[^a871: dearer (S) | leuere (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a872: teaching (S) | loore (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a873: latine (S Cr1 Hm) | latyn is (W Bx)]

[^a874: knowe (S Cr1) | it knowe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a875: Who (S) | Who-so (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a876: rodd (S) | spryng (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a877: hatith (S) | spilleþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a878: childe (S Hm) | children (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a879: then (S) | siþen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a880: also (S) | togideres (W Bx) | togydre (Hm Cr1)]

[^a881: learne (S Cr1) | leren (W Hm Bx)]

[^a882: beleue (S) | leue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a883: then (S) | siþen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a884: counsellid (S) | radde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a885: then (S) | siþen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a886: commons (S Cr1 Hm) | commune (W Bx)]

[^a887: then (S) | siþen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a888: vse the lawe (S) | han lawes to kepe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a889: desire (S) | coueitise (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a890: in (S Cr1) | of (W Hm Bx)]

[^a891: of (S W Bx) | at (Cr1 Hm)]

[^a892: deo (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a893: folowethe (S) | seweþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a894: Great (S) | garte (W Cr1 Bx) | made (Hm)]

[^a895: fell vpon the grounde (S) | platte hire to þe erþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a896: put of (S) | vnsowen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a897: smocke (S) | serk (W Cr1 Bx) | scherte (Hm)]

[^a898: put vpon an (S) | sette þere an (W Hm Bx) | set theron (Cr1)]

[^a899: Lechorie (S) | lechour (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a900: And (S) | Wiþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a901: yeris (S) | yer (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a902: after (S Cr1) | þer-after (W Hm Bx)]

[^a903: with (S Hm Bx) | myd (W Cr1)]

[^a904: began (S) | comsed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a905: bolne (S) | was to-bollen (W Bx) | was bowne (Cr1) | was alto bolne (Hm)]

[^a906: he went (S) | he yede (W Hm) | om. (Cr1 Bx)]

[^a907: his (S) | þe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a908: Euery (S) | Ech a (W Hm Bx) | Ech (Cr1)]

[^a909: he spake (S) | þat he warp (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a910: busynesse (S) | bismere (W Hm Bx) | bisme (Cr1)]

[^a911: whersoeuer (S) | wher þat euer (Cr1 Bx) | where-so (Hm) | line om. (W)]

[^a912: became (S) | schewed hym (Hm Cr1 Bx) | line om. (W)]

[^a913: if (S Cr1) | þouȝ (W Hm Bx)]

[^a914: compleynid (S) | lowen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a915: freindes his foes (S) | frendes be his foon (W Bx) | frend be his foe (Cr1) | frend his foo (Hm)]

[^a916: greuid (S) | greuen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a917: man & man (S Hm) | manye and manye (W Cr1) | meyne and meyne (Bx)]

[^a918: haile (S) | hailse (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a919: gentillie (S) | hendely (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a920: hardier (S) | douȝtier (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a921: knoweth (S) | woot (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a922: I at kirk when I come (S) | whan I come to þe kirk (W Cr1 Bx) | whan y come to cherche (Hm)]

[^a923: & (S Cr1 Hm) | om. (W Bx)]

[^a924: other (S) | þe peple after (W Cr1 Bx) | peple after (Hm)]

[^a925: that (S Cr1) | þanne (W Hm Bx)]

[^a926: at (S Cr1) | of (W Hm Bx)]

[^a927: losse (S) | lesynge (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a928: Iudge them to do euill (S) | deme þat þei doon ille (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a929: much (S) | wel (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a930: tellith (S) | vndernymeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a931: wishe that euery man (S) | wolde þat ech a wight (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a932: digest (S) | defie (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a933: No (S) | May no (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a934: may (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a935: counseld (S) | radde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a936: for (S Cr1 Hm) | of (W Bx)]

[^a937: saluacion is (S Cr1) | transp. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a938: man (S) | segge (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a939: so lene (S) | þus megre (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a940: for that (S) | for (W Cr1 Bx) | þat (Hm)]

[^a941: avenge (S Hm) | venge (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a942: causid (S) | gart (W Cr1 Bx) | dude (Hm)]

[^a943: not I (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a944: þe (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a945: sneueling (S Hm) | neuelynge (W Bx) | muelynge (Cr1)]

[^a946: in (S) | wiþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a947: Lyes there (S) | lesynges (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a948: had (S) | han (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a949: muche (S) | wel (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a950: þat (S Hm) | þan (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a951: possessours (S Cr1 Hm) | possessioners (W Bx)]

[^a952: faute (S) | defaute (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a953: what (S) | whan (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a954: lerne (S) | wisse (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a955: by (S Hm) | by my (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a956: ride about / all riche (S) | al riche . and ryden aboute (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a957: but I (S) | þat I ne (W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a958: A (S) | to (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a959: She had (S) | Hir hadde (W Cr1) | Here were (Hm Bx)]

[^a960: And (S) | And maad hem (W Cr1 Bx) | and made (Hm)]

[^a961: but (S) | ac (W Bx) | om. (Hm Cr1)]

[^a962: was (S Cr1) | worþ (W Bx) | line om. (Hm)]

[^a963: either (S Cr1 Hm) | hir eiþer (W Bx)]

[^a964: kepe (S) | hele (W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a965: eschewe (S) | schonye (Hm Bx) | shonye it (W) | shamen (Cr1)]

[^a966: feates (S) | feeris (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a967: And (S) | Boþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a968: beate (S) | baleised (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a969: them (S) | þo leodes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a970: dwelle (S) | wonye (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a971: ill (S) | vnþende (W Bx) | vnhende (Hm Cr1)]

[^a972: I (S Cr1) | whan I (Bx) | þanne I (W) | and y (Hm)]

[^a973: my (S Cr1) | oure (W Hm Bx)]

[^a974: telle (S) | couþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a975: you (S Cr1) | þow (W Hm Bx)]

[^a976: him (S Cr1) | me (W Hm Bx)]

[^a977: him (S Cr1) | me (W Hm Bx)]

[^a978: will (S Cr1) | wilne (W Hm Bx)]

[^a979: his (S Cr1) | my (W Hm Bx)]

[^a980: not him (S Hm) | transp. (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a981: blaberlippid (S) | baberlipped (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a982: lether (S) | leþeren (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a983: Sydder (S) | Wel sidder (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a984: age (S) | elde (W Hm Bx) | olde (Cr1)]

[^a985: all (S) | was (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a986: & (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a987: had not (S Cr1) | sholde noȝt han (W Hm)]

[^a988: on that clothe (S) | on þat welþe (W Cr1) | on þat welche (Bx) | there (Hm)]

[^a989: knowlege (S) | biknowe (W Cr1 Bx) | am a-knowe (Hm)]

[^a990: And (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a991: feyre (S) | þe Feyre (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a992: list (S) | liser (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a993: webber (S) | webbe (W Hm Bx) | webster (Cr1)]

[^a994: spynners (S) | Spynnesteres (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a995: weyid (S M Hm) | peised (W Cr1) | poised (Bx)]

[^a996: quarter (S Bx) | quartron (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a997: pouerfolke (S) | for lowe folk (W Hm Bx) | lowe folke (Cr1)]

[^a998: it (S Cr1) | hym (W Hm Bx)]

[^a999: chambre (S Cr1) | bedchambre (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1000: bene an hucster (S) | holden hukkerye (W Bx) | holden hukkerth (Cr1) | holden hukstry (Hm)]

[^a1001: I leue (S) | wol I lete (W Hm Bx) | wolde I let (Cr1)]

[^a1002: wicked (S Cr1 Hm) | wikke (W Bx)]

[^a1003: go (S) | wenden (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1004: was I (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1005: at rest (S Cr1) | areste (W Bx) | yn reste (Hm)]

[^a1006: no (S W Bx) | not (Cr1) | none (Hm)]

[^a1007: a (S W Bx) | om. (Hm Cr1)]

[^a1008: well worthier (S) | bettre worþi (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1009: to (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1010: had bene (S) | were (W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a1011: I (S) | for I (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1012: neuer lernid (S) | transp. (W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a1013: to (S) | om. (W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a1014: infeith in feith I can no frenche (S) | I kan no frenssh in feiþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1015: parte (S) | ende (W Cr1 Bx) | om. (Hm)]

[^a1016: No (S) | Nay (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1017: gage (S) | wed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1018: lose (S) | lese (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1019: Whech (S) | Swiche (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1020: through (S W Bx) | by (Cr1) | of (Hm)]

[^a1021: lose (S) | lese (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1022: that (S Cr1 Hm) | om. (W Bx)]

[^a1023: not a (S W Bx) | one (Cr1) | a (Hm)]

[^a1024: of (S Cr1 Hm) | om. (W Bx)]

[^a1025: As (S) | I haue as (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1026: of (S W Bx) | on (Hm Cr1)]

[^a1027: pedlers haue (S) | pedlere haþ (W Cr1 Bx) | peddere (Hm)]

[^a1028: thei (S) | he (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1029: cach them (S) | cacche hem myȝte (W Bx) | can hem catch (Cr1) | hem cacche mygthe (Hm)]

[^a1030: euin for (S) | for coueitise of (W Hm Bx) | for couet of (Cr1)]

[^a1031: callid (S) | holden (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1032: kinde (S) | hende (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1033: a dogg on his bone (S) | hound is in kichene (W Hm Bx) | is hound in kitchin (Cr1)]

[^a1034: Grace (S Cr1 Hm) | The grace (W Bx)]

[^a1035: goodes well (S) | good wel (W Bx) | good wyl (Hm Cr1)]

[^a1036: goodes (S) | catel (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1037: won (S) | a (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1038: the (S) | oure (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1039: Yf (S) | And (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1040: verelie (S) | witterly (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1041: restore (S) | restitue (W Cr1 Bx) | rewritten (Hm)]

[^a1042: who (S M) | who-so (W Cr1 Bx) | he þat (Hm)]

[^a1043: beleuith (S) | leueþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1044: to (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1045: true (S) | sooþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1046: þat in (S Cr1 Hm) | þat on (Bx) | þis on (W)]

[^a1047: ask (S) | biseche (W Hm Bx) | beseh (Cr1)]

[^a1048: myght (S W Bx) | may (Hm Cr1)]

[^a1049: dei misericordiam (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1050: And (S) | And if (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1051: wotnot wot not (S) | wite neuere (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1052: whome (S) | whiche ne whom (W Bx) | whiche ne to whom (Hm Cr1)]

[^a1053: thou shuldest make restitucion (S) | to restitue (W Bx) | to restore (Cr1) | restytewe (Hm)]

[^a1054: Bestowe (S) | Bisette (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1055: beleue (S) | leue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1056: you (S Cr1) | þow (W Bx) | ȝe (Hm)]

[^a1057: the (S) | oure (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1058: him (S) | hym wiþ þat (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1059: whether (S) | whetherwarde (Cr1) | whiderward (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1060: then (S) | siþen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1061: saie (S) | assaye (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1062: quod he (S Cr1 Bx) | quod she (W) | om. (Hm)]

[^a1063: And (S Cr1 W) | om. (Hm Bx)]

[^a1064: Davie (S) | Dawe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1065: welchman (S) | walshe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1066: vpholsters (S) | vpholderes (W Cr1 Bx) | vpholdesters (Hm)]

[^a1067: for (S) | to (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1068: offrid (S) | nempned (W Cr1 Bx) | nepnyd (Hm)]

[^a1069: hurld (S) | hitte (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1070: of (S) | on (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1071: prise (S) | preise (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1072: haue (S) | hath (Cr1 Bx) | hadde (W Hm)]

[^a1073: hast (S) | Rape (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1074: them (S W Bx) | the (Cr1) | hym (Hm)]

[^a1075: named (S Cr1) | nempned (W Bx) | nemp (Hm)]

[^a1076: hood (S) | hood hostiler (W Cr1 Bx) | hood the ostlere (Hm)]

[^a1077: repent (S Hm) | repented (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1078: first (S) | raþest (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1079: of (S Cr1 Hm) | om. (W Bx)]

[^a1080: they (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1081: sumwhile (S Cr1) | vmwhile (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1082: glubbed (S W Bx) | ygolped (Cr1) | globred (Hm)]

[^a1083: began (S Cr1 W) | gonne (Hm Bx)]

[^a1084: romble (S) | goþelen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1085: till (S) | er (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1086: had a staff (S) | a staffe had (Cr1) | his staf hadde (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1087: he began (S) | gan he (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1088: cache (S Hm) | lacche (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1089: vpon (S) | on (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1090: fell (S) | þrew (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1091: vp (S) | olofte (W Cr1 Bx) | on lofte (Hm)]

[^a1092: So hungrie a hounde is not (S) | Is noon so hungry hound (W Bx) | There is none so hongry hounde (Cr1) | there nas none hungry hound (Hm)]

[^a1093: tho (S Cr1 Hm) | þe (Bx) | þat (W)]

[^a1094: smelt (S) | smauȝte (W Cr1 Bx) | smakkyd (Hm)]

[^a1095: this (S) | al þis (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1096: þe (S Hm) | om. (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1097: went (S Cr1) | yede (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1098: spake (S Hm) | warp (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1099: wife (S Cr1 W) | wyt (Hm Bx)]

[^a1100: began to chide (S) | gan edwyte (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1101: said (S) | quod (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1102: me I (S) | me (W Cr1 Bx) | transp. (Hm)]

[^a1103: god help me (S Hm) | god me helpe (Cr1) | me god helpe (W)]

[^a1104: at holi dome (S) | and halydome (Bx) | & þe holidome (Cr1) | atte þe holy dome (Hm) | om. (W)]

[^a1105: ouerset (S) | ouerseyen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1106: haue bene (S) | be (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1107: long (S) | longe þere (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1108: all (S) | om. (W Cr1 Bx) | boþe (Hm)]

[^a1109: vpon fasting daies (S) | whan fastyng-dayes were (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1110: wepe (S) | gred (Cr1) | greete (W Bx) | to grete (Hm)]

[^a1111: make great dole (S) | gret doel to make (W Cr1 Bx) | gret doel made (Hm)]

[^a1112: had ledd (S) | lyued hadde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1113: digest (S) | defyen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1114: ye people quod he (S) | seide þe segge (W Cr1 Bx) | quod the segge (Hm)]

[^a1115: a (S W Bx) | mi (Cr1) | om. (Hm)]

[^a1116: caused (S) | made (W Cr1 Bx) | make (Hm)]

[^a1117: till (S M) | er (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1118: lust (S) | were ripe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1119: raskeled (S Cr1) | raxed (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1120: awake (S) | awake renk (W Hm Bx) | wake reuk (Cr1)]

[^a1121: hie (S) | rape (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1122: lust (S M Hm) | list (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1123: nor (S) | ne of oure (W Hm Bx) | or our (Cr1)]

[^a1124: avowes (S W Hm) | vowes (Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1125: euery (S Cr1) | eche (W Bx) | echa (Hm)]

[^a1126: otherwhiles (S) | ouþer-while (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1127: the (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1128: on (S) | ther-onne (Hm Cr1 Bx) | on it (W)]

[^a1129: prison (S) | puttes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1130: had (S Bx) | haue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1131: or (S) | and (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1132: in bed (S Cr1) | abedde (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1133: well content (S) | yserued (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1134: vpon (S) | vp (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1135: more then (S) | passynge (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1136: life (S) | lyues (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1137: an hare in a feilde or furlong (S) | in a feld or in a furlang an hare (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1138: teache (S) | kenne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1139: by & by (S) | as yerne (W Cr1 Bx) | also ȝerne (Hm)]

[^a1140: tymes (S) | siþes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1141: forswere (S) | forsake (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1142: Thus do I angre (S) | And þus tene I (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1143: it (S W) | om. (Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1144: rede (S) | shul rede (W Bx) | shal make (Cr1) | schull ȝelde (Hm)]

[^a1145: am (S) | am noȝt (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1146: alwaie for Avauntage (S) | þer ligge auȝt vnder þe þombe (W Bx) | ought be vnder þe thombe (Cr1) | ougth lygge vndyr the thombe (Hm)]

[^a1147: hath shewid me of late (S) | kidde me fernyere (W Hm Bx) | kyd me ferther (Cr1)]

[^a1148: Syxtie (S W Bx) | sixe (Hm Cr1)]

[^a1149: tymes (S) | siþes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1150: syns (S) | siþþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1151: Forsleuid (S) | Forsleuþed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1152: euen (S) | riȝt (W Cr1 Bx) | om. (Hm)]

[^a1153: with þat (S W Bx) | with (Cr1) | þerwyþ (Hm)]

[^a1154: of (S) | fro (Hm Bx) | for (W Cr1)]

[^a1155: he (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1156: god (S Cr1) | hym (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1157: here is no gilt (S Hm) | is no gilt here (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1158: but (S) | but þat (Cr1) | þat (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1159: remembrid (S) | seyned (W Hm Bx) | fayned (Cr1)]

[^a1160: him-self (S) | hym swiþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1161: shalnot shall not ere it be daie / get me to þe (S) | I ne shal do me er day · to þe deere (W Cr1 Bx) | y schal done me er day · to the dere (Hm)]

[^a1162: were a Monke (S) | a monk were (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1163: from (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1164: herd euinsong (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1165: promise (S) | bihote (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1166: had witt (S) | transp. (W Cr1 Bx) | lyf hadde (Hm)]

[^a1167: will I not (S) | I nelle (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1168: But (S) | That (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1169: shall (S Hm Bx) | ne shal (W Cr1)]

[^a1170: rest (S) | residue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1171: and (S) | and þe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1172: that (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1173: right (S) | swiþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1174: To (S) | Tho (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1175: the (S) | yow (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1176: thinke (S) | wene (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1177: haue (S) | wynne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1178: by any meane (S) | wiþ craft þat (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1179: k nowe (S Cr1 Bx) | owe (W) | vse (Hm)]

[^a1180: For (S Hm) | But for (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1181: great (S) | muchel (W Cr1 Bx) | muche (Hm)]

[^a1182: yet (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1183: And (S) | Ne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1184: haue done (S) | dide so (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1185: on (S Cr1) | of (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1186: trulie (S) | faire (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1187: with (S Cr1) | wiþ boþe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1188: synne (S) | gilt (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1189: willid (S) | redde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1190: pray (S) | biseche (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1191: to the (S) | oure (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1192: shewe (S) | do (W Hm Bx) | om. (Cr1)]

[^a1193: ganne (S Hm Bx) | coud (Cr1) | bigonne (W)]

[^a1194: like (S Cr1 M) | lik to (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1195: him to (S Bx) | for to (W) | for (Cr1) | to (Hm)]

[^a1196: For (S Cr1) | For þoruȝ (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1197: was sent (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1198: into (S) | to (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1199: the (S Cr1 M) | þis (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1200: like (S) | yliche (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1201: lost (S Cr1) | lees (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1202: light (S Cr1 W) | syȝte (Bx Hm)]

[^a1203: Thou (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1204: wenst (S) | yedest (W Hm Bx) | yeldest (Cr1)]

[^a1205: the (S Hm) | om. (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1206: woldest (S) | suffredest (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1207: to be (S) | were (W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a1208: made (S Cr1) | haþ ymaad (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1209: Luke or Iohan (S) | Iohan and Lucas (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1210: think (S) | semeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1211: Praie (S) | Bidde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1212: mercifull (S Cr1) | merciable (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1213: here (S W Hm) | om. (Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1214: offendid (S) | wraþed (W Hm Bx) | warped (Cr1)]

[^a1215: Crying (S) | Cride (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1216: no wight (S) | wiȝt noon (W Hm Bx) | none (Cr1)]

[^a1217: knewe (S) | kouþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1218: long was and late (S) | late was and longe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1219: met a man (S) | a leode mette (W Hm Bx) | a lade mette (Cr1)]

[^a1220: bound (S Cr1 Hm) | ywounden (W Bx)]

[^a1221: head (S) | hat (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1222: crosse (S) | crouch (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1223: had sought (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1224: & (S Cr1) | in (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1225: & in (S) | in (W Hm Bx) | and (Cr1)]

[^a1226: You be my Signes se (S) | Ye may se by my signes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1227: be (S) | be set (Cr1) | sitten (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1228: wide (S) | ful wide (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1229: Knowest (S Hm) | Knowestow (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1230: tell (S) | wissen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1231: man (S) | wye (W Hm Bx) | wight (Cr1)]

[^a1232: that (S Cr1) | þe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1233: pilgrime againe (S) | gome þanne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1234: neuer se (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1235: erst (S) | er (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1236: aswell as well (S) | as kyndely (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1237: a (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1238: taught (S) | kenned (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1239: them (S) | hym (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1240: and (S) | and to (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1241: might Labour (S) | swynke myȝte (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1242: seruid (S) | suwed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1243: and (S Cr1) | I (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1244: to (S) | do (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1245: grantith (S) | hoteþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1246: willith (S) | hoteþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1247: best (S) | presteste (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1248: maye knowe (S) | knoweþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1249: withold frome no (S) | ne wiþhalt noon (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1250: seruaunt (S) | hewe (W Bx) | helk (Cr1) | hyne]

[^a1251: hath (S) | ne haþ it (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1252: night (S) | euen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1253: lowlie (S) | lowe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1254: will (S Cr1) | wilneþ (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1255: shew (S) | wisse (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1256: plainlie (S) | witterly (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1257: go (S) | wende (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1258: began (S) | gan (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1259: to (S) | for to (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1260: willnot will not (S) | nolde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1261: take (S) | fange (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1262: will (S Cr1) | wilneþ (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1263: best (S) | leuest (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1264: nowise no wise (S Cr1) | none wise (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1265: that (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1266: did (S) | wrouȝte (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1267: the (S) | þi selue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1268: ye (S) | yow (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1269: lighter (S Cr1) | liȝtloker (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1270: after (S Cr1) | tyme (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1271: in (S Hm) | on (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1272: ydilnesse (S) | ydel (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1273: go (S) | strik (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1274: hand (S Cr1) | half (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1275: Bredge (S) | Bergh (W Hm Bx) | berch (Cr1)]

[^a1276: with (S) | In wiþ (W Hm Bx) | in (Cr1)]

[^a1277: foes (S Cr1 M) | fees (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1278: case (S) | manere (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1279: but (S) | but wiþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1280: Euery (S Cr1) | Ech (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1281: & of (S) | of (W Cr1 Bx) | and (Hm)]

[^a1282: Holie preyers (S) | preieres to Seyntes (W Hm Bx) | praiers of saynts (Cr1)]

[^a1283: Portar (S) | gateward (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1284: that (S Cr1 W) | om. (Hm Bx)]

[^a1285: shall I (S Cr1 Hm) | transp. (W Bx)]

[^a1286: When (S) | Tho (W Cr1 Bx) | to (Hm)]

[^a1287: Mariam (S) | Mariam virginem (W Hm Bx) | virginem Mariam (Cr1)]

[^a1288: of (S) | and (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1289: to (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1290: Wrath (S Cr1 M) | wraþe þee (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1291: provokith (S) | pokeþ forþ (W Hm Bx) | poketh for (Cr1)]

[^a1292: good dedis (S) | bienfetes (W Hm Bx) | benefites (Cr1)]

[^a1293: art thou (S) | worstow (W Hm Bx) | wast þou (Cr1)]

[^a1294: might (S) | eft (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1295: Lose (S) | lesen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1296: set much (S) | lete wel (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1297: perfortune (S) | happily (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1298: after (S) | eft (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1299: The (S) | That (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1300: hir (S) | hise (W Hm Bx) | the (Cr1)]

[^a1301: gentillie (S) | faire (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1302: receyuid (S) | vnderfongen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1303: onlesse (S) | but if (W Hm Bx) | but (Cr1)]

[^a1304: hard (S) | hard by myn heed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1305: in (S) | yngange (Hm Cr1 Bx) | ingoing (W)]

[^a1306: gate (S) | gate þere (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1307: Wafrer (S M) | wafrestere (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1308: provokid (S) | poked (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1309: maid (S) | maiden (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1310: & (S Hm) | om. (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1311: there / incase in case (S) | þere · by soo (Hm Bx) | therby , so (Cr1) | þere . so (W)]

[^a1312: I fere I am (S) | parauenture I be (W Hm Bx) | on a-venture I be (Cr1)]

[^150: the: The first letter is entered as a guide letter in a space four lines tall, probably in imitation of the exemplar. The openings of passus 7-10 receive the same treatment. Compare the opening of passus 4.]

[^151: longer: Rendering sadder, 'more soundly' (Kane).]

[^152: did: Read Reason did. S omits the subject noun. Copying errors are unusually frequent at the beginning of this passus.]

[^153: you people: The site of much variation in other copies and some indecision in S, where you is entered above the line, over canceled of. The archetypal reading ȝe segges · ȝe survives in no beta2 copy but plausibly accounts for the variation among them and probably stood in the group ancestor. Cr1 the segges ye (revised to tho segges ye in Cr2,3) is the product of dissimilation, rejecting Bx's anaphora. WHm þat ye segges is independent smoothing, parallel to S's abandoned effort to make the syntax of exemplification overt.]

[^154: brode: The initial reading broke was generated by anticipation of subsequent copy.]

[^155: Other copies punctuate only after domes daie.]

[^156: momble: Rendering synonymous mamelen, a rare word, recorded only from the Proverbs of Alfred, PP, and John Mirk's Festial. Yet the word is transmitted intact at S.11.412, the one later instance where it is likely to have appeared in the translator's exemplar.]

[^157: Other copies punctuate only after worke, correctly.]

[^158: purple: Rendering purfil, 'fur trimming', in agreement with Cr1. The word was retained at S.4.118, probably its only other appearance in the translator's exemplar.]

[^159: Stoune: Alternatively, read Stone or Stoue with an otiose flourish. Cr gives the name as Stowne, other copies probably as stowue (u/n is ambiguous, as usual).]

[^160: wiue pyn: The archetypal reading was wyvene pyne "cucking-stool" (lit. "punishment of wives"), for which see Hanna, Penn Comm., pp. 54-56. The archaic gen. pl. (> OE -ena) was reduced to -en in the beta hypearchetype, as BTP observe, and further corrupted in S. Compare the translator's handling of this grammatical form at S.1.105 and lines cited there.]

[^161: & his hood...a grote: The second half of this line is the site of variation elsewhere in the textual tradition (see BTP ad loc.). Agreement of SCrW establishes beta2.]

[^162: The scribe ran out of space; the last word is entered in the right margin of the line below and partially boxed.]

[^163: spill: Rendering forwanye 'pamper, spoil with indulgence' (Kane), a dis legomenon in ME, recorded only here and in Richard the Redeles.]

[^164: poure: 'power' (the usual spelling of this word in S), rendering poustee, a word used especially of spiritual or divine power. Compare S.12.12n.]

[^165: Who spareth...his childe: Rendering Who-so spareþ þe spryng . spilleþ hise children (spelling of W). The vocabulary of the received text is not archaic: spryng is well attested in sixteenth-century sources (OED s.v. sprig n.2), while S.5.35, above, confirms that spill was part of the S-translator's active vocabulary. The S-translator's evident motivation was instead to harmonize with the rendering of Prov. 13:24 in contemporary English Bibles. The Great Bible of 1540 reads "He that spareth the rodde, hateth hys sonne" (retaining the phrasing of Coverdale 1535). See also S.6.247n.]

[^166: desire: Rendering coueitise and perhaps motivated to avoid the negative sense of that word.]

[^167: The punctus is flourished; compare S.3.239.]

[^168: Great: Rendering garte 'caused' by homoeography. The error yields broken syntax. Other instances of this verb are translated accurately. See Glossary.]

[^169: SCr1 uniquely omit KD.5.66.]

[^170: SCr1 uniquely omit the preceding line, KD.5.72 (Bx.5.75). The S variant at the head of the present line has the appearance of secondary smoothing.]

[^171: with: SHm revert to the presumed reading of Bx. Most other beta copies read myd. See BTP ad loc.]

[^172: wringing he went: Rendering wryngynge he yede, the beta reading, for Bx wryngyed. See BTP ad loc. Cr dropped he yede.]

[^173: busynesse: Rendering bismere 'scorn'. See S.19.295, where the plural is rendered as troubles.]

[^174: man & man: S, in agreement with Hm, improves the feble beta reading manye and manye. See BTP ad loc. The SHm reading is perhaps prompted by 5.96, above.]

[^175: I at kirk when I come: S is confused and deficient in sense. Compare writing errors in previous lines. Other copies read whan I come to þe kirk.]

[^176: then: Other copies divide after this word, correctly.]

[^177: þat: Read than. Hm has the same error, perhaps inherited from beta2. W and Cr made the obvious correction.]

[^178: She had: Probably rendering Hir had, an error transmitted in WCr, for Bx Hir were, and induced by forms of haue in surrounding copy. S and Hm make divergent corrections; Hm rejoins Bx.]

[^179: And: Other copies read And maad hem. A verb is necessary.]

[^180: S's line division is shared by W. The best mss divide after I wrathe, correctly. See BTP ad loc.]

[^181: telle: The canceled reading knoweth misconstrues Sx couþe as a form of MED connen. The operative verb is MED kithen, as the scribe subsequently recognized. Compare S.5.529.]

[^182: repent þe...reherce you: Rendering repente þe...reherce þow. As elsewhere, S mixes forms of the 2nd-pers. pronoun. The form you is secure, for the unabbreviated spelling þou does not appear in the manuscript. See S.2.115n, lines cited there, and Introduction, section ???. Cr here reads repent you...reherce you. S and Cr retain the old 2sg. nominative thou in the next line.]

[^183: had not: So SCr. WHm sholde noȝt han is the beta reading.]

[^184: clothe: Rendering welþe, a beta2 error for welche, "Welsh flannel".]

[^185: list: 'strip of cloth' (OED list n.3), rendering synonymous liser. S agrees with many A mss and with G and F of B. See KD, pp. 153-4.]

[^186: plite: MED pleiten v., 'join, fasten'. The spelling is inherited from beta2 (W re-spells as playte) and represents either an infinitive or past tense with assimilated dental suffix.]

[^187: quarter: Rendering quartron, the beta reading. S independently restores the presumed reading of Bx. See BTP note ad loc.]

[^188: bene an hucster: Rendering holden hukkerye, as in W. Cr1 hukkerth presumably arose through y/þ confusion (Cr2 has the W reading). Hm varies independently, as often.]

[^189: haest: 'hast'; the spelling occurs in S only here and at 17.244.]

[^190: The end of this line is lost to cropping.]

[^191: S's punctuation is shared by Hm. Other copies punctuate before & ladies, correctly.]

[^192: as kinde as a dogg on his bone: Rendering as hende as hound is in kichene. Langland's proverb is Whiting H558; for S's revision compare Whiting H596, "While the Hound gnaws bone yfere wills he none."]

[^193: The scribe ran out of space; the last word is entered in the right margin of the line above and partially boxed.]

[^194: you: WLRF (hence Bx) have þow, in agreement with singular address in preceding lines. HmMO have ye, in agreement with plural address earlier in the present line (continued in the next line below). SCr modernize to you, here nom./voc. Compare S.2.115n and lines cited there. Though executed inconsistently in the best manuscripts, the shift to plural address is apt: it gives generalizing force to the conclusion of Repentance's dialogue with Covetise.]

[^195: S.5.306: A short inked line in the outer margin divides the present text-line from the previous one. Compare S.P.11n and see the next note.]

[^196: Nowe: This word is written in a script slightly larger and more formal than the scribe's usual text-script, evidently in recognition of the new narrative segment that begins here. W also has an enlarged N at this location. Compare S.7.158n and S.8.62n, where S's presentation is again paralleled in W.]

[^197: Carieth: A beta2 substitution, for Bx kaires.]

[^198: whether: OED whither adv. and n.2. See the delta forms.]

[^199: saie: OED say v.2, 'test'. Elsewhere this spelling is the verb SAY 'speak'.]

[^200: he: See S.1.142n.]

[^201: prise: S's spelling perhaps shows the lexical differentiation recorded in OED s.vv. prize v.1 'assess value of' and praise v. 'commend, laud' (see the etymological notes). Yet the form in -i- occurs in S only here. The scribe elsewhere transmits a form in -ei- or an equivalent combination of vowels, regardless of sense. For instances that require the sense 'assess value of', see S.5.336 immediately below, S.11.322, and perhaps S.15.256.]

[^202: haue: Subjunctive; most copies have pres. indic.]

[^203: them-self: Cr1 the selfe, a misprint, supports the SW reading for beta2. Cr2,3 supply the missing macron. Hm has the singular.]

[^204: kouȝed: A rare instance of the graph <ȝ>. The S spelling agrees with W against other beta2 copies, as also at S.11.380 noȝt. See Introduction, section ???.]

[^205: god help me: Transposed from god me helpe, the beta reading. See BTP ad loc.]

[^206: ouerset: 'sat or tarried too long', rendering ouerseyen, here 'forgot (myself)' (MED oversen v., sense 4).]

[^207: The scribe ran out of space; the last word is entered in the right margin of the line above and partially boxed.]

[^208: wepe: Rendering grede 'cry out', the reading of Cr and corrected M (hence beta6), and a verb that elsewhere provoked wild guesswork in S (see Glossary). In this instance the translator hit upon the correct semantics, for grede, the presumed reading of Sx, is a homoeographic departure from original greete 'weep'.]

[^209: awake: Other copies read awake renk. The omitted word is elsewhere usually translated as man. See Glossary.]

[^210: holidaie: There is an extra looped ascender in this word, probably the beginning of a mis-placed d, written by anticipation of -daie.]

[^211: on: S agrees with OC2C and M before correction, for Bx þere-on. W on it is an awkward repair, adopted also in M. Original M and the beta4 copies OC2C indicate that the deficient reading preserved in S may go back to beta itself, in which case LCrHmGYB make the obvious correction.]

[^212: had: Other beta copies have the present tense. S independently restores the presumed reading of Bx. See BTP note ad loc.]

[^213: bigg: 'buy', a relict form. S elsewhere re-spells as bie or bye or misconstrues the word as another verb, usually BEG. See Glossary.]

[^214: forswere: 'deny, repudiate' (OED s.v., sense 2), accurately rendering forsake (MED s.v., sense 1).]

[^215: But alwaie for Avauntage: A prosaic rewrite of but þer ligge auȝt vnder þe þombe, abandoning the analogy to hawking.]

[^216: Forsleuid: Probably miswriting of Forsleuþed, the reading of other copies.]

[^217: remembrid him-self: Rendering seyned hym swiþe, 'quickly crossed himself'. The verb (MED signen) occurs in PP-B only here. Swiþe is plausibly rendered as shortlie at S.3.103 and S.9.143, showing the translator's awareness of a meaning appropriate to the present line.]

[^218: To: An error for Tho (conj.), elsewhere translated as when.]

[^219: the: S replaces polite you with intimate the. See S.18.90, again in address to Christ on the cross.]

[^220: knowe: Corrected from tnowe. The scribe's final intention is questionable, but compare the forms of <k> in, for instance, S.6.28 kirk. W owe is the beta reading, against knowe in alpha, Ax, and Cx, joined by Cr. BTP attribute Cr knowe to Crowley's C manuscript; SCr agreement would imply that the reading originated in the common ancestor of these two copies, perhaps through alliterative attraction to archetypal craft earlier in this verse (subsequently translated out in S). Hm and G show that the beta reading provoked variation.]

[^221: him to: W for to is the beta reading, from which each of the remaining beta2 copies diverge. S independently restores the presumed reading of Bx.]

[^222: manis sake: Written as one word. The s in manis is the long form, elsewhere reserved for non-final position.]

[^223: Luke or Iohan: Transposed in other copies. S imposes the canonical order.]

[^224: saluabis: S truncates this quotation.]

[^225: S's line division is unique among beta2 copies. Other copies divide before throng, correctly.]

[^226: Paynym: Before this word the scribe wrote Pilgr, subsequently canceled by strikethrough. The error was induced by attraction to subsequent copy. The canceled P lacks a descender: compare forms of this letter in S.10.273 and the heading to passus 12.]

[^227: them: S's plural harmonizes with the previous line and agrees with alpha. Other copies have the singular. See BTP ad loc.]

[^228: and to that Truthe grantith: Other copies read I do þat truþe hoteþ. S's rewrite is ungrammatical, lacking an object complement to grantith. Probably to is an error for do.]

[^229: withold: The sense requires a 3 sg. verb, presumably pa. withhalt as in CrWHm. This line underwent extensive surgery.]

[^230: seruaunt: Probably rendering hewe, the archetypal reading. Though retained in W only among beta2 copies, hewe is supported also by Cr helk, which probably originated by misreading anglicana w as -lk-.]

[^231: neighbo[ur]e: Our emendation for ms neighbourure. The scribe entered a ur abbreviation followed by -ure.]

[^232: did: Replacing wrouȝte, perhaps to harmonize with Matt. 7:12.]

[^233: ye: Presumably nom./voc., but rendering Sx yow, the reflexive object of the verb. Compare S.2.115n and lines cited there, and see Introduction, section ???.]

[^234: Bredge: Rendering bergh 'hill', the sole instance of this word in PP-B.]

[^235: Holie preyers: Other copies read preieres to Seyntes. S suppresses reference to intercessory prayer.]

[^236: art thou: Probably rendering contracted worstow, as in W (=worthest thou). This verb is always revised out in S, often rendered with a form of TO BE, as here.]

[^237: S's punctuation agrees with OF. Other copies divide after out. See YLS 32 (2018): 399 n.5.]

[^238: ye: A clear instance of this form in oblique usage. Compare S.2.115n and lines cited there.]

[^239: lettres: The end of this word is lost to cropping.]

Passus Sextus de Visione

This were a wicked wey / but who-so had a gyde
That wold folow vs eche a fote / thus thise folke comoned[^a1313][^240]
Quod perkin the ploughman / by Seynt peter of Rome
I haue an half acre to erye / by the high waie
Had I eried that Half Acre / & sowen it after
I wold go[^a1314] with you / And the waie you[^a1315] teache
This were a long letting / quod a Ladie in A Scleyre
What shulde we women / worke the while[^a1316][^241]
Some shall sowe the sack quod piers / for sheding of þe wheat
And ye louely ladies with your long fingers
That ye haue Silk & Sendall / to sowe when ye Lust[^a1317]
Chesibles for chapleynes / chirches to honor
Wyues and wedowes / wolle and flex shall spinne[^a1318]
Make clothe I counsell you / & teach[^a1319] so your doughters
The nedy and the nakid / take[^a1320] hede how they Ly
And cast them clothes / for so commandeth truthe
For I shall lende them lifelode / onlesse[^a1321] þe lond faile
Flesh and bread both / to rich and to pouer
As long as I liue / for the lordes loue of heuen
And all manere of men / þat through meat & drink liue
Helpe him to worke wightlie / that wynneth your food
By Christ quod a knight then / He telleth[^a1322] vs the best
But on the teme trulie / taught was I neuer
But tell[^a1323] me quod the knight / & by Crist I will assaye
By Saynt Paule quod Perkin / ye proffre you so faire
That I shall swynk and sweate / & sowe for vs bothe
And other Labors do for þi loue / all my Life-tyme
In Couenaunt that þou kepe / holie kirk & my-self
From Wastors &[^a1324] wickedmen / þat this world distroy[^a1325]
And go Hunt herdelie / both[^a1326] hares &[^a1327] Foxes
Bores and[^a1328] brockes / that breake doune[^a1329] my hedgis
And go affaite the[^a1330] Fawkons / wild foules to kyll
For such come to my Crofte / & croppe my whete
Curteislie the knight then / began[^a1331] these wordes
By my Power Piers quod he / I plight þe my trouth
To fulfill this forward / though I fight shulde
As long as I Liue / I shall the mainteyne
Yea but[^a1332] yet a poynt quod Piers / I pray you of more
Loke ye troble[^a1333] no tenant / But truthe will assent
And though ye may Amercie them / Let mercie be taxour
And mekenesse þi master / Maugre Medis chekes
And though pouer men proffre you / presentes & giftes
Take[^a1334] it not lest perfortune[^a1335] / ye maie it not deserue
For thou shallt yeld it againe / & [at] wone yeris ende
In a full perilouse place / Purgatorie it hight
And misuse[^a1336] not thi bondmen / the better shallt[^a1337] þou spede
Though he be thi vnderling here / well may he[^a1338] happe[^242] in heauen
And be more[^a1339][^243] worthier sett / & with more blisse
Amice ascende superius
For in the[^a1340] Charnell at church / churles be euill to knowe
Or a knight from a knaue[^a1341] / knowe this in thine hart
And that þou be true of thi tong / and hate all tales[^a1342]
Onlesse[^a1343] they be of wisdome[^a1344] / thy workmen to chasten
Holde with non Harlottes / nor here not their tales
And namelie at meate / such men eschewe
For thei[^a1345] be the deuylls disours / I do the to vnderstande
I Assent by Seynt Iame / seid the knight than
For to worke by thi wordes / the while my Life durethe
And I shall aparaile me quod Perkyn / in pilgrymes wise
And I will go with you[^a1346] / till we fynde Truthe
And cast on my clothes / clouted and hole
My cockers and my Cuffes / for colde of my nayles
And hang myn hop[^a1347] at my halse / in stead of a Scrippe
A busshell of breadcorne / bring me therin
For I woll sowe it my-self / And then[^a1348] will I wende
To pilgrimage as palmers do / pardon for to haue
But who-so helpe me to erie / or sowe here or I goo[^a1349]
Shall haue leue by our lorde / to gleane[^a1350] here in harvest
And make them chere[^a1351] therwith[^a1352] / in spight of who say naie[^a1353]
And alkynd craftie men / that can Liue in truthe
I shall fynde them food / that feithfullie Labour[^a1354]
Saue Iacke the Iogler / and Ienet of the Stewes
And Danyell the Dyce pleyer / & benet[^a1355][^244] the Bawde
And Frere Faitour[^a1356] / and folke of his order
And Robin the Rybawder / for his rustie wordes
Truth told me ones / and bad me telle it after
Deleantur de libro viuencium / I sholde not dele with them
For holie church is commandid[^a1357] / of them no tythe to take
Quia cum iustis non scribantur /
They be escaped good aventure / god them amende
Dame worke when tyme is / Piers wife hight
His Doughter hight do right so / or þi dame shall the beate
His son hight suffre þi Souereynes / to haue their will
Deme them not for if thou doist / thou shalt it dere abie
Lat god worke[^a1358] withall / for so his worde teacheth
For now am I[^a1359] olde & hoore / and haue of myn owne

[A later hand has written a collection of pen trials in the top margin. The word "the" also appears here. Some letters have been cropped.]

To penaunce and to pilgrimage / I will passe with thise other
Therfore I will or I go[^a1360] / wright[^a1361][^245] my testament[^a1362]
In dei nomine amen I make it my-self
He shall haue my soule / that best hath deseruid it
And fro the feind it defende / For so I beleue
Till I come[^a1363] his acomptes / as my Credo me tellith
To haue a releas & remission[^a1364] / on þat rentall I beleue[^a1365]
The kirk shall haue my Carkas[^a1366] / and kepe my bones
For of my corne and catell / she[^a1367] claymed[^a1368] the tythe
I paid it hir[^a1369][^246] prestlie / for perill of my soule
Therfor is she[^a1370] holden I hope / to haue mynde on[^a1371] me in the Masse
And mynde me[^a1372] in hir[^a1373] memorie / Among all cristen
My wife shall haue of that I wan / with truthe & nomore no more
And deale among my doughters / & my dere childerne
For though I die this daie[^a1374] / my dettes are quyte
I bare home[^247] that I borowed / ere I to bed went[^a1375]
And with the rest[^a1376] and[^a1377] remenaunt / by the Rood of Lukes
I will worchip truthe / during[^a1378] my Life
And be his Pilgryme at the plough / for pore mennis sakes
My plowgh fote shalbe shall be my pickt staf / & pich a ij two þe rotes
And helpe my Coulter to kerue / & clense þe forowes
Now is Perkin and his pilgrimes / to the plowgh gone[^a1379]
To erie his[^a1380] half Acre / holpe him manye
Dykers and deluers / digged vp the balkes
Therwith was perkyn apaide / & preised them fast
Other workemen there were / that wrought full yerne
Euery[^a1381] man in his manere / made himself to do
And some to please Perkyn / picked vp the wedes
And A[t] high Pryme piers / Let the plough stand
To ouerse them himself / And who-so best wrought
He shulde be hyred therafter / when hervest time came
And then sate some / & song at the ale
And holpe to[^a1382] erie his half Acre / with hey[^a1383] troly lolie
Now by the perill of my Soule quod piers / all in Angre[^a1384]
Onlesse[^a1385] ye arise the rather / And hast[^a1386] you to worke
Shall no greyne that growith / glad you at nede
And though you die for sorowe[^a1387][^248] / þe deuill take him[^a1388] þat recke
Then were Faytours aferde / and Feyned them blynde
Some Laid their legges awrie[^a1389] / as such Losels can
And made their mone to Piers / & praied him of grace
We[^a1390] haue no Lymmes to Labour with / Lorde gracid be ye
But we pray for you Piers / and for your plough bothe
That God of his grace / your grayne multiplie
And yeld you for your Almusse / þat ye giue vs here
For we may neither[^a1391] swink nor sweate / such sikenes we haue[^a1392]
Yf hit be true[^a1393] quod Piers that ye saie / I shall it sone espie
Ye be wastours I wot well / & truth wot the same[^a1394][^249]
And I am his olde hyne / and hight him to warne
Which they be[^a1395] in this worlde / that hindre his workemen[^a1396]
Ye wast that men wynne / with travaile and with tene
But Truth shall teach you / his teame to driue
Or ye shall eate barlie bread / & of the brook drinke
But if he be blynde or brokeleggid / or bolted with yrons
He shall eate wheat bread / & drink with my-self
Till god of his goodnesse / Amendement him sende
But ye shuld[^a1397] travaile as Truth wold / & take meat & hire
To kepe keen in the feild / the corne from the beastes
Dike and[^a1398] delue / or digg[^a1399][^250] vpon sheues
Or helpe to[^a1400] make morter / or bear dung[^a1401] to the feild[^a1402]
In Lecherie and in Loselrie[^a1403][^251] / ye liue and in sleuth
And all is through suffraunce / that vengeaunce ye[^a1404][^252] ne take
But Ancres & heremytes / that eat not[^a1405] but at nones
And no more or morowe / myn Almusse shall they haue
And of Catell to kepe them with / þat haue Cloisters & Churches
But Robert Rennabout / shall not haue of myne
Nor Apostels but if[^a1406] they can preache[^a1407] / And haue pour of þe Bisshop
They shall haue bread[^a1408] & potage / & make them-self at ease
For it is vnreasonable[^a1409] Religion / that of[^a1410][^253] nought of certeyne
And than began a wastour be angrie[^a1411] / & wold haue fought
And to Piers þe Plowman / he profred his gloue
A Bretoner A Bragger / Bosted[^a1412][^254] Piers also
And bad him go pisse with his plough / forpyned shrewe
Wilt thou or nylt þou / we will haue oure will
Of thi flour and of thi flesh / fech when we Like[^a1413]
And make vs mery therwith[^a1414] / in spight of þi tethe[^a1415]
Then Piers the ploughman / pleyned him to þe knight
To kepe him as Couenant was / from cursed shrewes
And fro thise wastours in[^a1416] woluis skynnes[^a1417][^255] / þat make þe world dere
For they wast and winne nought / And that ilk while
Maynot May not plentie be[^a1418] among þe people / whilles[^a1419] the[^a1420] plough Lythe
Curteislie the knight then / as his kynde wolde
Warned wastour / And counseiled[^a1421] him better
Or thou shalt abie by the Lawe / by th'order þat I bere

[Cropped and illegible marginalia run along the top margin of the folio.]

I was not wont to worke quod Wastour / & now will I not begynne
And set Light by[^a1422] the Lawe / & Lasse by[^a1423] the knight
And set Piers at a pese / and his plough bothe
And thretind[^a1424] Piers and his men / if they met eftsone
Now by the perile of my soule quod piers / I shall apeire you all
And whouped[^256] after hunger / that herd him at þe first
Awreke me of thise wastours quod he / þat this world shendith
Hunger in hast then / hent wastour by the mawe
And wrong him so by the wombe / that his[^a1425][^257] eyen waterid
He buffetid the brytoner / about the Chekes
That he lokid Like a Lanterne / all his Life after
He beat them so both / he brast welnere well nere[^a1426] their guttes
Had not[^a1427] Piers with a pese loof / preid hunger to cease
Thei had died euin streit[^a1428] / deme thou non other
Suffre them Liue he said / & Lat them eate with hogges
Orelles Or elles beanes and bren / Bakid togithers
Orelles Or elles mylke and meane ale / thus preid piers for them
Faitors for feare herof / Flewe into Bernes
And Laid[^a1429][^258] on with Fleyles / fro morowe till night[^a1430]
That Hunger was not so hardie / on them for to loke
For a pott full of peases / þat Piers had made
An heap of Heremites / get[^a1431] them spadis
And kitt their Copes / and Courters[^a1432][^259] them made
And went as workemen / with spades & with shouelis
And deluid & digged[^a1433] / to driue awaie hunger
Blynde and bedren[^260] / were holpen[^a1434] a thowsand
That sate and beggid[^a1435] syluer / sone were they healid
For that was bake for bayarde / was bote for many hungrie
And many a begger for beanes / redie[^a1436] was to swynke
And eche[^a1437] poreman pore man well apaide / to haue pesen for his hyre
And that[^a1438] Piers prayed them to do / as prest as a Sperhawke
And therof was Piers proude / & put them to worke
And gaf them meat as he might[^a1439] / & measurable hyre
Then had Piers pitie / And preid hunger to go[^a1440]
Home vnto[^a1441] his oune house[^a1442] and hold him there
For I am well awroke / of wastours through þi might
But I praye the ere thou passe / quod pers to hunger
Of Beggers and of bidders / what best is[^a1443] to do
for I wot well be ye gone[^a1444] / they will worke full Ill
For mischefe it maketh / they be so meke nowe
And for defaute of their food / thise folke be[^a1445] at my will
They are my blodie bretherne[^a1446] / for god bought vs all
Truthe taughte me ones to Loue them echone
And to helpe them of all thing / aye as they nede
And now wold I wite of the / what were the best
And how I might maister[^a1447] them / & make them to worke
Here now quod hunger / and holde it for a wisdome
Bolde beggers and bigg / Bread able to gett[^a1448]
With houndes bread / and horsbread / hold vp their hartes
Abate them with beanes / for bolling of their wombe
And incase in case[^a1449] they[^a1450] grudge[^a1451] / bid them go Labour[^a1452]
And he shall haue Better[^a1453] / when he haue earnid it[^a1454]
And if ye[^a1455] fynde any freke / that fortune hath apeyrid
Or any manere false men / shewid you[^a1456][^261] such to knowe
Confort him with thi catell / for Christes loue of heauen
Loue them and lende them / so the[^a1457] Lawe of god teacheth
Alter alterius onera portate
And all manere of men / that þou may[^a1458] aspye
That nedie be and noughtie / helpe them with þi goodes
Loue them and Lacke them not / Lat god take the vengeance
Though they do euill / Lat god worke
Michi vindictam et ego retribuam
And if thou wilt be graciouse to goode[^a1459][^262] / do as the gospell bid[^a1460]
And biloue þe among pouermen pouer men[^a1461] / so shalt þou gett[^a1462] grace
Facite vobis amicos de Mammona iniquitatis
I wold not greue god quod Piers / for all the good on grounde
Might I without synne[^a1463] do as þou saist / said Piers then
Ye I promise[^a1464] the quod hunger / orelles or elles the Bible Lieth
Go to genesis the giaunt / th'engenderour of vs all
In Sudore and labore[^a1465] / thou shalt þi meat wynne[^a1466]
And Labour for þi Lifelode / so[^a1467] our lorde bad[^a1468]
And Sapience seith the same / I se it in the Bible
Piger pro frigore / no feild woll[^a1469] tille
And therfor he shall begg[^a1470] / & noman no man bete his hunger
With the mannes face Mathue[^a1471] / said[^a1472] these wordes
That Servus nequam / had a Mnam / & for he wold not chaff[are][^263]
He had maugrie of his maister / euermore[^a1473] after
And toke awaie[^a1474] his Mnam[^264] / bicause[^a1475] he woldnot wold not work
And gaf that Mnam to him / that had tean[^a1476]
And then[^a1477] He said / that holie church it herde
He that hath shall haue / and helpe there it nedethe
And he þat nought haue[^a1478][^265] / shallnot shall not haue / & noman no man him helpe
And that he wenith well to haue / I will it him bireue
Kynde wit wold / that euery man[^a1479] wrought
Outher[^a1480] in dyking or[^a1481] deluyng / or travaile[^a1482] in prayers
Contemplatiue Life or Actiue Life / Christ wolde they wrought
The Psalter seith in psalme[^a1483] of Beati omnes
The man[^a1484] that fedith himself / with his feithfull Labour
He is blessed by the book / in bodie and in Soule
Labores manuum tuarum &c
Yet I pray you quod Piers / for[^a1485] charitie and ye can
Any Leaf of Lechecrafte / Lerne[^a1486] it me my dere
For some of my seruauntes / and my-self also[^a1487]
Of all a wike worke not / So oure wombe aketh
I wot well quod Hunger / what disease þou Haste[^a1488]
Ye haue eaten[^a1489] ouermuch / & that make you grone
But I warne[^a1490] the quod Hunger / as þou thine Helth wilt haue[^a1491]
That þou drink no daie / ere thou eate[^a1492] somewhat
And[^a1493] eate not I warne[^a1494] the / ere Hunger the take
And send the of his sawce / to savour with thi Lippes
And kepe some to souper[^a1495] / and sitt not to long
But rise with an Appetite / & ere he be fillid[^a1496][^266]
Lat not sir Surfet / sit at þi Boorde
Trust[^a1497] him not he[^a1498] is Lecherouse / & Likerouse of tong
And after many sundrie[^a1499] meates / his mawe is ahungred[^a1500]
And if ye diet you[^a1501] thus / I dare Laie myne earis
That Phisike shall his Furred hoodis / for his food selle
And his Cloke of Calaber / with all the knappes of gold
And be fayne by my faith / his Phisike to Leue[^a1502]
And Lerne to Labour with lond / for Lifelode is swete
For many Leches are Murtherers[^a1503] / the[^a1504] Lorde them amende
They cause[^a1505] men die through their drinkes / ere their tyme come[^a1506]
By saint Paule quod piers / thise are profitable wordes
Go[^a1507] now hunger when þou wilt / &[^a1508] well be thou euer
For this is a louelie Lesson / the[^a1509] Lorde it the foryeld
By god yet[^a1510][^267] quod hunger / Hens will I not goo[^a1511]
Till I haue well dyned[^a1512] / and dronke bothe
I haue no peny quod piers / polettes for to[^268] bye
Nor neither gose[^a1513] nor pig[^a1514] / but ij two grene cheses
A fewe cruddes and creme / and an hauercake
And ij two louis of beanes and bran / bake for my men[^a1515][^269]
And yet I saie by my soule / I haue no salt bacon
Nor non Egges[^a1516] by Christ / collopes for to make
But I haue perslie & porettes / & many Cooll plantes
And eke a Cowe and a calf / and a cart mare
To drawe afeild my dong / while[^a1517] the drowt Lastith
And by this Lifelode I[^a1518] must Liue / till Lamesse tyme
And by then[^a1519] I hope to haue / Hervest in my Crofte
And then maie I dight thi dyner / as me best[^a1520] Liketh
All the pouer people then / Peskoddes they[^a1521] Fet
Benes and Baken apples / they brought in their Lappes
Chibolles and Chervell[^a1522][^270] / and ripe cheris manie
And profred Piers this present / to please with hunger
All hunger ete in hast / & askid after more
Then pouer folk for fear / Fed hunger Fast[^a1523]
With grene porett and pesen / to poyson him they thought
By that it drewe[^a1524] nere Heruest / new corne came to cheping
Than was folke fayne / and fedd hunger with the best
With good ale as Gloton taught / & made[^a1525] hunger to[^a1526] slepe
And then wolde wastour not worke / But wandrid[^a1527] about
Nor no Begger eat bread / that beanes were in[^a1528]
But of Coket and[^a1529] Clermatyn / or ellis of clene wheat
Nor non halfpenyale / in nowise no wise[^a1530] drynke
But of the best and[^a1531] brownest / that in the[^a1532] borough is to sell
Laborers that haue no Lande / to liue on but their handes
Disdayned[^a1533] to dyne a daie / with[^a1534] nyghtolde wortes
May no penyale them please[^a1535] / nor no piece of Bakon
But even[^a1536] fresh flesh / or[^a1537] fishe /[^271] fryed or[^a1538] bake
And that chaud and[^a1539] plus chaud / for chilling of their mawe
And onlesse[^a1540] he be highlie / hierd / elles will he chide
And that he was a workman[^a1541] / waile the tyme
Against Catons counsell / began[^a1542] he to Iangle
Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento
He greuith him against god / & grudgeth against reason
And then Curseth he the king / & all his Counseile after
Such Lawes to make[^a1543] / Laborers to greue
But whillist[^a1544] hunger was his[^a1545] Maister / there wolde non of them chide
Nor striue against þe[^a1546] statute / so sternly he lokid
But I warne you workemen / wynne whill ye maye
For hunger hitherwarde / hast him fast
He shall awake with water / wastours to chaste
Ere fyue be fulfilled / such Famyn shall arise
Through floodes and foule wethers / frutes shall faile
And so seid Saturne / & sent you warnyng[^a1547]
When ye se the Sonne amisse / & ij two Monkis heades
And a maid haue the maistrie / & multiplie by eight
Then shall death withdrawe / and derth be iustice
And Dauie[^a1548][^272] the Dyker / shall die[^a1549] for hunger

[A later hand has written the name george hewlet and several pen trials, including apparently a second iteration of george, in vertical orientation in the outer margin of fol. 27v.]

But if god of his goodnesse / graunte vs a trewe

[^a1313: comoned (S) | hem mened (W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a1314: go (S) | wende (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1315: you (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1316: the while (S W) | the whiles (Hm) | in the meane whyle (Cr1)]

[^a1317: ye Lust (S) | tyme is (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1318: shall spinne (S) | spynneþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1319: teach (S) | kenneþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1320: take (S) | nymeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1321: onlesse (S) | but if (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1322: telleth (S) | kenneþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1323: tell (S) | kenne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1324: & (S M) | and fro (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1325: distroy (S Cr1 W) | stroyen (Hm Bx)]

[^a1326: both (S) | to (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1327: & (S) | and to (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1328: Bores and (S) | To bores and to (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1329: doune (S W) | adown (Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1330: the (S Cr1) | þi (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1331: began (S) | comsed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1332: but (S) | and (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1333: troble (S) | tene (W Hm Bx) | teme (Cr1)]

[^a1334: Take (S) | Nyme (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1335: lest perfortune (S) | an auenture (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1336: misuse (S) | mysbede (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1337: shallt (S) | may (W Hm Bx) | migh (Cr1)]

[^a1338: he (S) | om. (W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a1339: And be more (S) | That he worþ (W Bx) | That he were (Cr1) | rewritten (Hm)]

[^a1340: the (S Cr1) | om. (W Bx) | a (Hm)]

[^a1341: knaue (S) | knaue þere (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1342: hate all tales (S) | tales þat þow hatie (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1343: Onlesse (S) | But if (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1344: wisdome (S) | wisdom or of wit (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1345: thei (S) | it (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1346: I will go with you (S) | wende wiþ yow I wile (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1347: hop (S) | hoper (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1348: then (S) | siþenes (W Bx) | syth (Cr1) | sutthyn (Hm)]

[^a1349: goo (S) | wende (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1350: gleane (S Cr1) | lese (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1351: chere (S) | murie (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1352: therwith (S Hm) | þer-myd (W Bx) | ther (Cr1)]

[^a1353: in spight of who say naie (S) | maugree who-so bigruccheþ it (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1354: Labour (S) | libbeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1355: benet (S) | Denote (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1356: Faitour (S Cr1) | þe faitour (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1357: commandid (S) | hote (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1358: worke (S Cr1) | yworþe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1359: am I (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1360: go (S) | wende (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1361: wright (S) | do write (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1362: testament (S) | biqueste (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1363: come (S) | come to (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1364: remission (S) | a remission (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1365: beleue (S) | leue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1366: Carkas (S) | caroyne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1367: she (S Cr1 W) | he (Hm Bx)]

[^a1368: claymed (S) | craued (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1369: hir (S) | him (Hm Cr1 Bx) | ful (W)]

[^a1370: she (S) | he (W Cr1 Bx) | om. (Hm)]

[^a1371: to haue mynde on (S) | to haue (W Hm Bx) | to mind (Cr1)]

[^a1372: mynde me (S) | mengen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1373: hir (S) | his (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1374: this daie (S) | to-day (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1375: went (S) | yede (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1376: rest (S) | residue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1377: and (S) | and þe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1378: truthe / during (S) | þer-wiþ . truþe by (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1379: gone (S) | faren (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1380: his (S) | þis (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1381: Euery (S Cr1) | Ech (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1382: to (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1383: hey (S Cr1) | how (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1384: Angre (S) | pure tene (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1385: Onlesse (S) | But (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1386: hast (S) | rape (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1387: sorowe (S) | doel (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1388: take him (S) | haue (W Cr1 Bx) | hym haue (Hm)]

[^a1389: awrie (S) | aliry (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1390: We (S) | For we (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1391: neither (S Cr1) | noȝt (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1392: we haue (S) | vs eyleþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1393: true (S) | sooþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1394: same (S) | soþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1395: be (S) | were (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1396: that hindre his workemen (S) | hise werkmen apeired (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1397: shuld (S) | myȝte (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1398: and (S) | or (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1399: digg (S) | dyngen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1400: to (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1401: dung (S) | Muk (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1402: to the feild (S) | a-feld (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1403: Loselrie (S) | losengerie (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1404: ye (S) | yow (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1405: not (S W Hm) | om. (Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1406: if (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1407: can preache (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1408: bread (S) | payn (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1409: vnreasonable (S) | an vnresonable (W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a1410: of (S) | haþ riȝt (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1411: be angrie (S) | to wraþen hym (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1412: Bosted (S) | abosted (W Hm) | a bosted (Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1413: we Like (S) | vs likeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1414: therwith (S M Hm) | þer-myde (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1415: in spight of þi tethe (S) | maugree þi chekes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1416: in (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1417: woluis skynnes (S M) | wolueskynnes (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1418: Maynot May not plentie be (S) | Worþ neuere plentee (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1419: whilles (S) | þe while (W Hm Cr1) | þer-while (Bx)]

[^a1420: the (S) | my (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1421: counseiled (S) | wissed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1422: set Light by (S) | leet liȝt of (W Cr1 Bx) | leet lygthly of (Hm)]

[^a1423: by (S) | of (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1424: thretind (S) | manaced (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1425: his (S Cr1) | boþe hise (W Hm)]

[^a1426: welnere well nere (S) | ner (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1427: Had not (S) | Ne hadde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1428: died euin streit (S) | be doluen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1429: Laid (S) | flapten (W Bx) | flappen (Cr1) | flattyn (Hm)]

[^a1430: night (S) | euen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1431: get (S) | henten (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1432: Courters (S) | courtepies (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1433: digged (S Hm) | dikeden (W Bx) | diggen (Cr1)]

[^a1434: holpen (S) | bootned (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1435: and beggid (S) | to begge (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1436: redie (S) | buxum (W Hm Bx) | line om. (Cr1)]

[^a1437: eche (S Cr1 M Hm) | ech a (W Bx)]

[^a1438: that (S) | what (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1439: might (S) | myȝte aforþe (W Hm Bx) | might ford (Cr1)]

[^a1440: go (S) | wende (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1441: vnto (S Cr1 W) | in-to (Bx) | yn-tyl (Hm)]

[^a1442: house (S) | yerd (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1443: is (S) | be (W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a1444: ye gone (S) | þow went (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1445: be (S) | is (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1446: bretherne (S) | breþeren quod Piers (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1447: maister (S Cr1) | amaistren (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1448: Bread able to gett (S) | þat mowe hir breed biswynke (W Hm Bx) | that may her bread swinke (Cr1)]

[^a1449: incase in case (S) | if (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1450: they (S) | þe gomes (W Hm Bx) | her gommes (Cr1)]

[^a1451: grudge (S) | grucche (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1452: Labour (S) | swynke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1453: haue Better (S) | soupe swetter (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1454: haue earnid it (S) | it haþ deserued (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1455: ye (S) | þow (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1456: shewid you (S) | fonde þow (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1457: the (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1458: may (S) | myȝt (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1459: goode (S) | god (W Hm Bx) | do good (Cr1)]

[^a1460: bid (S) | techeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1461: pouermen pouer men (S) | low men (Cr1 Bx) | lewed men (W Hm)]

[^a1462: gett (S) | lacche (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1463: without synne (S) | synnelees (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1464: promise (S) | bihote (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1465: labore (S) | swynk (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1466: wynne (S) | tilie (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1467: so (S) | and so (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1468: bad (S) | hiȝte (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1469: woll (S) | nolde (W Bx) | wolde (Hm Cr1)]

[^a1470: begg (S) | begge and bidde (W Cr1 Bx) | begge in somer (Hm)]

[^a1471: With the mannes face Mathue (S) | Mathew wiþ mannes face (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1472: said (S) | mouþed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1473: euermore (S W Hm) | for euermore (Bx) | & euer-more (Cr1)]

[^a1474: toke awaie (S) | bynam hym (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1475: bicause (S) | for (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1476: had tean (S) | ten Mnames hadde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1477: then (S) | wiþ þat (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1478: haue (S) | haþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1479: euery man (S) | ech a wiȝt (W Cr1 Bx) | eche wygth (Hm)]

[^a1480: Outher (S) | Or (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1481: or (S) | or in (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1482: travaile (S Cr1) | trauaillynge (W Bx) | yn trauayle (Hm)]

[^a1483: psalme (S) | þe psalme (W Hm Bx) | psalms (Cr1)]

[^a1484: man (S) | freke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1485: for (S) | par (W Bx) | om. (Cr1) | pur (Hm)]

[^a1486: Lerne (S Hm) | lere (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1487: also (S) | boþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1488: disease þou Haste (S) | siknesse yow eyleþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1489: eaten (S) | manged (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1490: warne (S) | hote (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1491: Helth wilt haue (S) | hele wilnest (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1492: eate (S) | dyne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1493: And (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1494: warne (S) | hote (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1495: to souper (S) | til soper tyme (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1496: But rise with an Appetite / & ere he be fillid (S) | And rys vp er Appetit . haue eten his fille (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1497: Trust (S) | Leue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1498: he (S) | for he (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1499: sundrie (S) | maner (W Bx) | maner of (Hm Cr1)]

[^a1500: ahungred (S Cr1) | afyngred (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1501: ye diet you (S) | þow diete þee (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1502: Leue (S) | lete (W Cr1 Bx) | sulle (Hm)]

[^a1503: many Leches are Murtherers (S) | murþereris are manye leches (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1504: the (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1505: cause (S) | do (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1506: their tyme come (S) | destynee it wolde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1507: Go (S) | Wend (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1508: & (S) | þat (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1509: the (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1510: By god yet (S) | Bihote god (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1511: will I not goo (S) | ne wole I wende (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1512: well dyned (S) | dyned bi þis day (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1513: gose (S Cr1) | gees (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1514: pig (S) | grys (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1515: men (S) | fauntes (W Hm Bx) | folke (Cr1)]

[^a1516: non Egges (S) | no cokeney (W Cr1 Bx) | none kokeneys (Hm)]

[^a1517: while (S) | þe while (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1518: I (S Cr1) | we (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1519: then (S) | þat (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1520: best (S) | deere (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1521: they (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1522: Chervell (S Cr1 Hm) | Cheruelles (W Bx)]

[^a1523: Fast (S) | yerne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1524: drewe (S) | neȝed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1525: made (S) | garte (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1526: to (S Hm) | go (W Bx) | a (Cr1)]

[^a1527: wandrid (S Hm) | wandren (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1528: were in (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1529: and (S Cr1 W) | or (Hm Bx)]

[^a1530: nowise no wise (S Cr1) | none wise (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1531: and (S) | and of þe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1532: the (S Hm) | om. (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1533: Disdayned (S) | Deyned noȝt (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1534: with (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1535: please (S) | paie (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1536: even (S) | if it be (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1537: or (S) | ouþer (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1538: or (S Cr1) | ouþer (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1539: and (S W Hm) | or (Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1540: onlesse (S) | but if (W Cr1 Bx) | but (Hm)]

[^a1541: a workman (S) | werkman wroȝt (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1542: began (S) | comseþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1543: make (S) | loke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1544: whillist (S) | whiles (W Hm Bx) | While (Cr1)]

[^a1545: his (S) | hir (W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a1546: þe (S) | his (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1547: warnyng (S) | to warne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1548: Dauie (S) | Dawe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1549: shall die (S Cr1) | deye (W Bx) | transp. (Hm)]

[^240: comoned: 'talked, conversed' (OED common v., sense 6)', rendering hem mened. Compare S.3.171n and S.4.48.]

[^241: the while: Hm the whiles perhaps represents the beta2 group ancestor. Bx þere-whiles was displaced already in beta1. Cr revises independently. See BTP ad loc.]

[^242: he happe: S supplies a personal subject pronoun. For the construction see OED, s.v. hap v.1, sense 1. See also the next note.]

[^243: And be more: Other copies have That he worþ, the opening of a subordinate clause dependent on happe (see prev. note and OED, s.v. hap v.1, sense 2a). In S's reworked syntax be ... set is grammatically parallel with, and functions as epexigesis of, happe. S rejects the verb worþ, as usual. (See Glossary.)]

[^244: benet: SCr3, for Denote in other copies. Compare changes to the form of proper names at S.5.322, S.6.337.]

[^245: wright: Rendering do wryte. S implies that Piers will take up the pen himself.]

[^246: hir: S extends the allegory. Other copies have a masculine pronoun here and in subsequent lines.]

[^247: home: The scribe corrects o to e by adding an exaggerated cross stroke currente calamo.]

[^248: sorowe: Before this word the scribe has written dowell, underlined for emphasis and subsequently lined through. WHmCr here read doel (dole Cr), a word rendered by S as sorowe on two later occasions and thus surely the word understood and rendered in S's corrected reading at this location. Yet the spelling of the canceled reading is peculiar. It perhaps transmits a unique Sx error, showing interference from the character/concept Dowell, so spelled at S.7.183 and following. Since this error anticipates subsequent action, it could only be made by someone familiar with the poem and its language, and is more likely to have originated in a medieval copy than in S itself. A similar error occurs in Cr1 at Bx.15.151 (in Cr2 the spelling is corrected to dole). At S.9.12, where contextual attraction is a factor, the S scribe miswrote Dowell for Dobet, subsequently corrected.]

[^249: truth wot the same: Rendering truþe woot þe soþe. Phrasal context deflects the translator from his preferred rendering of soþe, as truth. Compare S.3.359, where same likewise serves as a dummy translation.]

[^250: digg: Rendering dyngen 'strike, beat with a flail'. See Glossary.]

[^251: Loselrie: abstract derivative of losel (transmitted above, S.6.125), rendering synonymous losengerie.]

[^252: ye: Other copies have yow. S's nominative pronoun destroys the force of Piers's warning. Compare S.2.115 and references there.]

[^253: of: Read haþ riȝt, as in other copies. S's ungrammatical of is probably a mechanical error induced by attraction to subsequent copy.]

[^254: Bosted: Probably rendering abosted (so all B copies except SCrCGOF), an otherwise unparalleled verbal form generated by misdivision of Bx a [=he] bosted and corrected independently at several points in subsequent transmission, especially in late and revising copies. See BTP ad loc.]

[^255: in woluis skynnes: Rendering wolueskynnes, 'wolf-like'. S joins M (woluesskynnes, without word division, but adjoining s's are allographs) and some beta4 copies. The preposition in is secondary smoothing unique to S.]

[^256: whouped: Cr likewise spells this word with initial w. Other copies have houped.]

[^257: his: SCr; WHm boþe hise is the beta reading.]

[^258: laid: probably rendering flapten, the archetypal reading, retained in W. S retains the past tense, against Cr's present flappen.]

[^259: Courters: Rendering courtpies 'short coats', a word previously transmitted intact (S.5.80, the only other occurrence). S's intended meaning is unclear, for we do not find a clothing-term with this spelling in OED.]

[^260: bedren: presumably OED bedridden adj., as in other copies, with reduced second element. Compare the doubtful spellings recorded for MED bed-rede(n. adj. and n. The S spelling is unparalleled at this location in other B copies.]

[^261: shewid you: Rendering fonde þow, an imperative. S's grammar and sense are opaque. Treatment of fonden elsewhere in the text shows that the translator guessed the meaning of this word from context: see Glossary. The reading you is secure despite the scribe's use of a single graph for þ/y. See S.2.115n and references there.]

[^262: goode: Probably the reading of the common ancestor of SCr. Cr smooths to do good. WHm retain god, the reading of Bx.]

[^263: The end of this line is lost to cropping.]

[^264: Mnam: Above this word the main scribe enters the gloss "id est talentum." The gloss ".id est. A besaunt" appears at approximately this location (KD.6.239) in several good beta copies (WHmML) and presumably stood in S's exemplar. Besaunt is well attested as a word for biblical coins in Middle English (see MED, s.v.), and is the word used in the Parable of the Talents (Matt. 25: 14-30) in most copies of the Wycliffite Bible. S's talentum brings the gloss into lexical conformity with the text of this parable in the Great Bible. See also S.5.42n.]

[^265: haue: Subjunctive, or else a mechanical error induced by surrounding copy. The corresponding verb in Matt. 25:29 is indicative.]

[^266: But rise...be fillid: Rendering And rys vp er Appetit . haue eten his fille. S rewrites the entire line, apparently to de-personify Appetit. The pronoun he apparently refers to Hunger (S.6.268 above), or else represents incomplete or unsuccessful revision.]

[^267: By god yet: Rendering Bihote god. The verb bihoten is elsewhere usually retained but oaths are a frequent target of revision.]

[^268: for to: S agrees with Cr and most other B-version copies. WHm to is an independent variant, though shared by M and G.]

[^269: men: Probably rendering fauntes, though Cr folke could be the Sx reading. Two later instances of faunt are transmitted intact, as are the vast majority of instances of folk. See Glossary.]

[^270: Chervell: S's singular agrees with CrHm and corrected M, against the plural in other copies, including W.]

[^271: Double punctuation in this line and in S.6.319 has no parallel in other B mss to which we have access. The correct division is after fishe and hierd, respectively.]

[^272: Dauie: Rendering Dawe, the form transmitted throughout the B and C traditions. S's Dauie joins Cr3, the Dauy Dycars Dreame pamphlets (1547-1552; see Wendy Scase in YLS 21 (2007): 171-198) and several reworked sixteenth-century extracts of this passage (for which see Eric Weiskott in ANQ 30.3 (2017): 133-136 and references there), probably by independent modernization. Compare S.5.322, where S similarly gives Davie for Sx Dawe. The S redactor does not share his contemporaries' interest in prophecy.]

Passus Septimus de Visione

tReuth[^273] harde telle herof / and to Piers sent[^a1550]
To make[^a1551] his teme / and tille his[^a1552] grounde
And purchased him a pardon a pena et[^a1553] culpa /
For him and for his heyers / for euermore after /
And bad him hold him at home / & erie his Laies
And alle that helpe him to erye / to set or to sowe
Or any other myster / that myght Piers availe
Pardon with Piers plowman / Truth hath grauntid
Kynges and knightes / that kept[^a1554] holie churche
And rightfullie in realmes / rule the people
Haue Pardon through Purgatorie / to passe full Lightly
With patriarkes and Profettes / in Paradyse to be felawe
Bysshops blessed / if they be as they sholde
Legisters of bothe Lawes / þe Lewde þerwith to preche
And in-asmuch as they maie / Amende all Synfull
Are peres with th'apostils / this Pardon piers shewith
And at the daie of dome / at the high dese to sytt
Marchauntz in the mergine / had manye yeris
But non a pena et a culpa / the pope wolde them graunte
For they kepe[^a1555] not the[^a1556] holidayes / as Holy church teachith
And for they swere by their soule / & so god mot them helpe
Clene against[^a1557] Conscience / their wares[^a1558] to selle
But vnder his secret seale / Truth sent them a letter
That they shuld bye boldly / that them best Liked
And so[^a1559] sell it againe / and saue the wynnyng
And Amende Masondieux / therwith[^a1560][^274] & diseased[^a1561] folke helpe
And wicked weyes / Lightlie[^a1562] amende
And do bote to bridges / that broke bene[^a1563]
Marry maidens / or make them Nonnes
Pouer people and Prisons / fynde them their fode
And set scolers to scole / or to some other craftes
Releue Religion / and rent them better
And I shall sende you my-self / Saynt Mychaell myn Archangell
That no deuill shall dere you[^a1564] / nor feare you in your dying
But kepe[^a1565] you from dispaire[^a1566] / if ye will thus worke
And send your soules in safetie / to my saintes in Ioye
Then were Marchauntes merie / many wept for gladnesse[^a1567][^275]
And preysid Piers the plowman / þat purchasid this bull
Men of Lawe Least Pardon had / that pleade for mede
For the psalter sauith them not / such as take gyftes
And namely of Innocentes / þat non euill knowe[^a1568]
Super innocentem munera non accipiet[^a1569] /
Pleaders shuld peyne them / to pleade for such an[^276] helpe
Princes and prelates / shulde paye for their peynes[^a1570]
A Regibus et principibus erit merces eorum
But many a iustice and Iurour / wolde for Iohan do more
Than pro dei pietate / Beleue[^a1571] non other
But he that spendith his speche / & speakith for þe pouer
That is innocent and nedie / And noman no man Appaireth
Comfort him in that case / without couetise of giftes
And speakith[^a1572] Lawe for the[^a1573] lordes loue / As he it hath lernid
Shall no deuill at his deth daie / dere him A myte
But bodie and soule to be faf [s]af[^a1574] / þe psalter beareth witnesse
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo
But to begg water , wynde , wit[^a1575] , nor fyre the fere[^a1576]
Thise foure the Father of heauen / made to be[^a1577] commone
Thise be Truthes treasores / true folk to helpe
That neuer shall wax nor want[^a1578] / without god himself
When the the[y] drawe vnto death[^a1579] / And Indulgences wold haue
Their Pardon is full small[^a1580] / at their parting hens
That any mede of meane men / for their moting take
Ye Legisters and Lawers / take[^a1581] this for truthe
For if that[^a1582] I Lye / Mathue is to blame
He[^a1583] bad me telle[^a1584] you this / & this prouerbe he[^a1585] me tolde
Quodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines , facite eis
All Lyuyng Laborers / that Liue by their handes
That trulie take / and trulie wynne /
And liue in loue and[^a1586] lawe / for their lowe hartes
Haue the same absolucion / þat sent was to piers
Beggers and[^a1587] Bidders / Be not in the bull
But if the Suggestion be true[^a1588] / þat maketh[^a1589] them to begg
For he þat begg or bid / onlesse[^a1590] he haue nede
He is fals with the feinde / & defraudeth þe nedy
And also[^a1591] begyleth the gyuer / Against his will
For yf he wist he had no nede[^a1592] / he wold giue it to[^a1593] another
That had more nede[^a1594] then he / so the nediest shulde be holpe
Cato kennithe me thus / and the Clerke of stories
Cui des videto / this[^a1595] is Catons teaching
And in the Stories he teacheth / to bestowe thine Almesse
Sit elemosina tua in manu tua donec studes cui des
But Gregori was a good man / & bad vs gyue all
That aske[^a1596] his loue / that all to vs gyueth[^a1597]
Non eligas cui miserearis , neforte pretereas illum qui meretur accipere .[^277]
Quia incertum est pro quo deo magis placeas .
for though you knowe not[^a1598] who is worthie / god[^a1599] knowth[^a1600] who haue nede
In him þat taketh is the the [+] trechery / if any treason be[^a1601]
For he that geuith yeldith / and bring himself[^a1602] to rest
And he that taketh[^a1603] boroweth / & bring himself in dett
Beggers[^a1604] borowe euermore / and their suertie[^a1605] is god allmyghtie
To repaie[^a1606] them þat geuith them / & yet muche[^a1607][^278] more
Quare non dedisti pecuniam meam ad mensam , vt ego veniam cum vsuris exigere .
Therfor begg[^a1608] not ye beggers / onlesse[^a1609] ye haue great nede
For who-so hath to begg him bread / þe booke berith witnesse
He hath ynough þat hath bread ynough / though he haue not elles
Satis diues est qui non indiget pane .
Lat vsage be your solas / of Sainctes Lyves reding
The book banneth beggery / & blameth them in þis manere
Iunior fui etenim senui , et non vidi iustum derelictum nec semen eius querens panem .
For ye liue in no loue / nor no Lawe holde
Many of you wedde not / þe women that ye dele with[^a1610]
But as wylde beastes with wehee / winde[^a1611] vp and work
And bryng furth barnes / þat Bastardes men call
Or the Back or some boon / he brekith in his youth
And sithen go faiten with your fauntes / for euermore after
There is more misshapt people / Among thise beggers
Then of all manere men / þat in[^a1612] þis world[^a1613] walke
And they that lede such[^a1614] Lyfe / may lothe the tyme
That[^a1615] they were men wrought / when they shall hens fare
But oldemen and hore / þat helples be of Strength
And wemmen with childe / that maye not worke[^a1616]
Blynde and bedrede / and their membres broke[^a1617]
That take their[^a1618] mischefes mekelie / as mesels and other
haue as pleyne pardon / as the plowman himself
For loue of their lowe hartes / our Lorde hath them gramtid gra[un]tid
Their Penaunce & their purgatorie / here on this erthe
Piers quod a preist then / thi pardon must I rede
For I will construe eche clause / & tell[^a1619] it þe in[^a1620] englishe
And Piers at his prayer / the pardon vnfolded
And I behynde them bothe / beheld all the bull
All in ij two Lynes it laie / & not a leaf more
And was writen even[^a1621] thus / in witnesse of Truthe
Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam
Qui vero mala , in ignem eternum /
Peter quod the preest[^a1622] / I can no pardon Fynde
But do well & haue well / and god shall haue thi soule
But[^a1623] do euill and euill haue[^a1624] / hope þou non other
But after þi death daie / the deuill shall haue þi soule
And piers for pure tene / pullid it in tweyne[^a1625]
And said Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis , non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es /
I shall cesse of my Sowing quod Piers / & swynk not so harde
Nor about my bely ioye / Be nomore no more so busie[^a1626]
Of preyers and of penaunce / my plough shalbe shall be hereafter
And wepe when I shulde slepe / though whete bread me faile
The prophete his bread[^a1627] ete / in penaunce and[^a1628] sorrowe
By that the psalter saith / so did other manye
That loue god trulie[^a1629] / his Lifelode is full easye
Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte /
And onlesse[^a1630] Luke lie / he teacheth[^a1631] vs by foules
We shulde not be[^a1632] busie / about the worldis blisse
Ne soliciti sitis he saith in the gospell
And shewith vs by ensamples / our-self[^a1633] to teche[^a1634]
The foules in the feilde / who fynde them meat in[^a1635] wynter
They haue[^a1636] no garner to go to / But god fynde them all
What quod the preist to perkyn / Peter as me thinke
Thou art Letterd a litill / who lerned the on book
Abstinence þe Abbesse quod Piers / myne . A . B . C . me taught
And Conscience came after[^a1637] / & taught[^a1638] me muche more
Were þou a Preest Piers quod he / þou myghtest preache where þou shuldest
As dyuyner in diuinyte with dixit insipiens to thi teme
Lewde lorell quod piers / litill lokist þou on the Bible
On Salomons sawes / selden thou beholdest
Ecce derisores et iurgia cum eis & c[^a1639]
The preist & Perkyn / opposed eche[^a1640] other
And I through their wordes / awooke & waited about
And se the sonne in the south / sitt that tyme
Meatlesse and monylesse / on Maluerne hilles
Musing on this dreme[^a1641] / my[^a1642] waie I went[^a1643]
Many tyme[^279] this dreame[^a1644] / hath made to[^a1645] studie
Of that I se sleping / if it so be myght
And also for Piers the plowman / full pensyf in hart
And what[^a1646] a pardon piers had all þe people to confort
And howe the preist inpugned it / with ij two proper wordes
But I haue no trust[^a1647] in dreames[^a1648] / for I se them[^a1649] oft faile
Caton & Canonistes / conseyle vs to Leaue
To giue trust to dreames[^a1650] / for Somnia ne cures .
Yet[^a1651] for that[^a1652] the bible book[^a1653] / bearith witnesse
How Danyell diuyned / the dreames of a kyng
That was Nabuchadnasar / Named[^a1654] of clerkes
Daniell said syr king / thy dreames betoken
That Straungers[^a1655] shall come / þi kyngdome to clayme
Among Lower Lordes / thi lond shalbe shall be departid
And as daniell divined / in dede so hit came to passe[^a1656][^280]
The king lost[^a1657] his Lordeship / & meaner[^a1658] men it had
And Ioseph dreamid[^a1659] mervelouslie / howe þe mone & þe sonne
And the elleuen sterres / honoured[^a1660] him all
Then Iacob Iudgid / Iosephes[^281] dreame[^a1661]
Beau fitȝ quod his father / for defaute we shall
I my-self and my sonne[^a1662] / seke the for nede
It befelle as his father said / in Pharaoes tyme
That Ioseph was iustice / Egipt to rule[^a1663]
It befell as his father tolde / his freindes there him sought
And all this moue[^a1664] me / on thise dremes[^a1665] to think
And howe the preest / approuid[^a1666] no pardon to dowell
And demed þat dowell / all[^a1667] Indulgences passed
Byennals and tryennals / and Bisshops Letters
And how dowell at the daie of dome / is doutelie taken[^a1668]
And passeth all the Pardon / of Seynt Peters chirche
Now hath the Pope poure / Pardon to graunte the people
Without anie penaunce / to passe in-to heauen
This is oure Beleue / as Learned[^a1669] men vs teache
Quodcunque ligaueris super terram &c[^a1670]
And so I beleue trulie[^a1671] / Lordes forbode ellis
That pardon and penaunce / And preyers do saue
Soules that haue synned / seuen tymes[^a1672] deadlie
But to trust to thise tryennals / trulie me thinke
Is not so sure[^a1673] for the soules[^a1674][^282] / certes as is dowell
Therfor I rede you all[^a1675] / that riche be in this world[^a1676]
Vpon trust of your treasure / trentals[^a1677] to haue
Be ye neuer the bolder / to breake goddes commandementes[^a1678]
And namely ye maisters / Mayers and Iudges
That haue the welth of this worlde / & for wise men be holden
To purchase you pardon / and þe Popes bulles
At the dreadfull dome / when the[^a1679] dead shall arise
And come all before[^a1680][^283] Christ / Acomptes to yelde
Howe thou haist led[^a1681] þi Life[^a1682] / & his Lawes kept[^a1683]
And how þou diddist daie by daie / the dome will reherce
A poke full of Pardon there[^284] / nor provincials lettres
Though they[^a1684] be founde / in þe fraternyte of all[^a1685] iiij foure orders
[^285]I sett your patentes &[^a1686] Pardons / at the value of one pease[^a1687]
Therfor I counseile all cristene / to crie god mercie
And Marie His mother / be oure meane betwene
That god giue vs grace here / ere we go hens
Such workes to worke / while we be here
That After our deathe daie / dowell may[^a1688] reherce
At the daie of dome / we did as he commandid[^a1689] /

[^a1550: sent (S Cr1 Hm) | he sente (W Bx)]

[^a1551: make (S Cr1 W) | takyn (Hm Bx)]

[^a1552: his (S Hm) | þe (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1553: et (S Cr1) | & a (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1554: kept (S) | kepen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1555: kepe (S) | holde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1556: the (S) | hir (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1557: Clene against (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1558: wares (S) | catel (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1559: so (S) | siþenes (W Bx) | sytthen (Hm Cr1)]

[^a1560: therwith (S Bx) | þer-myd (W Hm) | her mede (Cr1)]

[^a1561: diseased (S) | myseise (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1562: Lightlie (S) | wightly (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1563: broke bene (S) | tobroke were (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1564: dere you (S M) | transp. (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1565: kepe (S) | witen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1566: dispaire (S) | wanhope (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1567: gladnesse (S) | ioye (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1568: knowe (S) | ne konneþ (W Cr1 Bx) | kunnyn (Hm)]

[^a1569: accipiet (S) | accipies (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1570: peynes (S) | trauaille (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1571: Beleue (S) | leue þow (W Hm Bx) | leue you (Cr1)]

[^a1572: speakith (S Cr1) | sheweþ (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1573: the (S) | oure (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1574: But bodie and soule to be faf [s]af (S) | That he ne worþ saaf and his soule (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1575: wynde , wit (S) | ne wynd . ne wit (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1576: fere (S) | ferþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1577: be (S) | þis foold in (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1578: want (S) | wanye (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1579: vnto death (S Hm) | on to deye (W Bx) | one to die (Cr1)]

[^a1580: small (S) | petit (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1581: take (S) | holdeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1582: For if that (S) | That if þat (W Hm Bx) | That if (Cr1)]

[^a1583: He (S) | For he (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1584: telle (S) | make (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1585: he (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1586: and (S) | and in (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1587: and (S Cr1 M) | ne (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1588: true (S) | sooþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1589: maketh (S) | shapeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1590: onlesse (S) | but if (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1591: also (S) | also he (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1592: had no nede (S) | were noȝt nedy (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1593: it to (S) | þat (W Hm Bx) | þat to (Cr1)]

[^a1594: had more nede (S) | were moore nedy (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1595: this (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1596: aske (S) | askeþ for (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1597: all to vs gyueth (S) | vs al leneþ (W Hm Bx) | vs all leueth (Cr1)]

[^a1598: though you knowe not (S) | wite ye neuere (W Hm Bx) | ye wit not (Cr1)]

[^a1599: god (S) | ac god (W Hm Bx) | & god (Cr1)]

[^a1600: knowth (S Cr1) | woot (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1601: be (S) | walke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1602: bring himself (S) | yarkeþ hym (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1603: taketh (S) | biddeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1604: Beggers (S) | For beggeres (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1605: suertie (S) | borgh (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1606: repaie (S) | yelden (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1607: muche (S) | vsure (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1608: begg (S) | biddeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1609: onlesse (S) | but if (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1610: dele with (S M) | transp. (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1611: winde (S) | worþen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1612: in (S) | on (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1613: world (S) | moolde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1614: lede such (S) | lyue þus hir (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1615: That (S) | That euere (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1616: maye not worke (S) | werche ne mowe (W Hm Bx) | worke ne maye (Cr1)]

[^a1617: their membres broke (S) | broken hire membres (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1618: their (S) | þise (W Hm Bx) | the (Cr1)]

[^a1619: tell (S) | kenne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1620: in (S Cr1) | on (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1621: even (S) | riȝt (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1622: preest (S) | preest þoo (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1623: But (S) | And (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1624: euill haue (S) | transp. (W Hm Bx) | haue yll (Cr1)]

[^a1625: in tweyne (S Cr1) | atweyne (W Bx) | a-twynne (Hm)]

[^a1626: Be nomore no more so busie (S) | so bisy be namoore (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1627: bread (S) | payn (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1628: and (S Cr1) | and in (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1629: trulie (S) | lelly (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1630: onlesse (S) | but if (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1631: teacheth (S) | lereþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1632: be (S Cr1) | be to (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1633: our-self (S) | vs-selue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1634: teche (S) | wisse (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1635: in (S Cr1 Hm) | at (W Bx)]

[^a1636: They haue (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1637: after (S M) | afterward (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1638: taught (S) | kenned (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1639: & c (S) | ne crescant & cetera (W Cr1 Bx) | non crescant & cetera (Hm)]

[^a1640: eche (S) | eiþer (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1641: dreme (S) | metels (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1642: my (S) | and my (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1643: went (S) | yede (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1644: dreame (S) | metels (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1645: to (S) | me to (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1646: what (S) | whiche (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1647: trust (S) | sauour (W Hm Bx) | sauery (Cr1)]

[^a1648: dreames (S) | Songewarie (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1649: them (S) | it (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1650: giue trust to dreames (S) | sette sadnesse in Songewarie (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1651: Yet (S) | Ac (W Hm Bx) | And (Cr1)]

[^a1652: that (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1653: bible book (S) | transp. (W Cr1 Bx) | book of the byble (Hm)]

[^a1654: Named (S Cr1) | nempned (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1655: Straungers (S) | vnkouþe knyȝtes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1656: so hit came to passe (S) | it fel after (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1657: lost (S Cr1) | lees (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1658: meaner (S) | lower (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1659: dreamid (S) | mette (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1660: honoured (S) | hailsed (W Cr1 Bx) | worschipede]

[^a1661: dreame (S) | sweuene (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1662: sonne (S) | sones (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1663: rule (S) | loke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1664: moue (S) | makeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1665: thise dremes (S) | þis metels (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1666: approuid (S) | preued (W Cr1)]

[^a1667: all (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1668: doutelie taken (S) | digneliche vnderfongen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1669: Learned (S) | lettred (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1670: &c (S) | erit ligatum & in celis &c (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1671: beleue trulie (S) | leue leelly (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1672: tymes (S) | siþes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1673: sure (S) | siker (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1674: soules (S Cr1 Hm) | soule (W Bx)]

[^a1675: all (S) | renkes (W Hm Bx) | reuks (Cr1)]

[^a1676: in this world (S) | on þis erþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1677: trentals (S) | triennals (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1678: goddes commandementes (S) | þe .x. hestes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1679: the (S Cr1 Hm) | om. (W Bx)]

[^a1680: before (S Bx) | tofore (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1681: thou haist led (S) | þow laddest (W Bx) | þou leadest (Cr1) | ȝe ladde (Hm)]

[^a1682: Life (S M) | lif here (W Cr1 Bx) | lyfe there (Hm)]

[^a1683: kept (S Hm) | keptest (W Bx) | kepest (Cr1)]

[^a1684: they (S) | ye (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1685: all (S) | alle þe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1686: & (S) | and youre (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1687: the value of one pease (S) | one pies hele (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1688: may (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1689: commandid (S) | hiȝte (W Hm Cr1)]

[^273: tReuth: The first letter is entered as a guide letter in a space four lines tall. See 5.1n.]

[^274: therwith: Rendering þer-myd, the beta reading. S rejoins (the presumptive reading of) Bx by convergent variation.]

[^275: gladnesse: Rendering ioye, perhaps to avoid repetition of this word at the end of two consecutive lines.]

[^276: an: Probably 'and', as in other copies. The reduced form is shared by L (=beta?) and perhaps stands behind Cr's feeble rewrite, in helth.]

[^277: The scribe ran out of space; the last word is entered in the right margin of the line above and partially boxed.]

[^278: muche: Other copies have vsure 'usury'. S shrinks from the provocative allusion to the parable of the talents (Luke 19.23), quoted immediately below.]

[^279: Many tyme: These words are written in the scribe's engrossing script, marking an important juncture in the narrative. The special treatment probably derives via Sx from beta2; in W the line has a two-line colored initial. Compare S.8.62n and see Introduction, sections I.6 "Mise-en-page" and II.3 "Sx".]

[^280: came to passe: A biblicism established in literary English by Tyndale and here rendering fel after. See OED, s.v. pass n.3, and S.10.416.]

[^281: The scribe corrects h to p currente calamo.]

[^282: soules: The plural, supported also by CrHm, is probably a beta2 error. Hm smooths by dropping the definite article; W reverts to the archetype's singular.]

[^283: before: Rendering tofore, the beta2 reading. S rejoins Bx by convergent variation.]

[^284: S's cancelled punctuation agrees with Hm, which likewise punctates before and after there.]

[^285: SCr1 here omit KD.7.199.]

Passus Octauus de visione / Et hic incipit prima Inquisicio de dowell

thus[^286] Roobid in russet / I romed aboute
All a somer season / for to seke dowell
And Freyned full oft / of folke þat I met
Yf any wight wist / where dowell was at Inne
And what man he might be / of many man I asked
Was neuer wight as I went / that me tell coulde /
Where this dowell lodgid / lasse nor more
Till it befelle on a Fridaie / two friers I mett
Maisters of þe Mynors / men of great witte
I hailed them hendelye / as I had lerned
And preid them for charitie / ere they passed ferther
Yf they knewe in anie countrie / or costes as they went
Wheras dowell dwellithe / do me to knowe
For they be men þat in this worlde / most wide walke
And knowe Countries & courtes / and many sondrie places
Bothe prynces paleises / and pouer mennes Cottes
And dowell & do euill / where thei dwelle bothe
Among vs quod the Friers / that man is dwelling
And euer hath as I hope / and euer shall hereafter
Contra quod I as a clerk / & began to dispute
And told him pleynlie / Sepcies in die cadit iustus
Seuen tymes[^a1690] saith the book / synneth þe rightfull
And who synneth I said / dothe euill as me thinketh
And dowell & do euill / maye not dwelle together
Ergo / he is not alwaies / among you Friers
He is sometime elliswhere / to teche the people /
I shall say the my sonne / said the Frier then
Howe seuen times the iust man / on a daie synneth
By a famyliar[^a1691][^287] quod the Frier / I shall the fair shewe
Set a man in a bote / amiddes the brode streame
The wynde , the water / and þe boat wagging
Make a man many a tyme / to falle & to stande
For stande he neuer so stif / he stombleth if he moue
But yet is he safe & sounde / & so him behouithe
For if he arise not þe rather / and reche to the stere
The wynde wolde with þe water / þe Boat oerthrowe
And then were his life lost / through slouth of hym-self
And thus it is quod þe frier / by folke here on erthe
The water is Likened to the world / þat wasteth and waxeth
The goodes of this grounde / are Likened to þe great waves
That as wyndes and wethers / walke aboute
The Boat is Likened to our bodie / þat brittyll is of kynde
And through þe feinde & the flesh / & the fraile world
Synneth the iust man / seuen tymes on the daie /
But deadlie synne dothe he not / for dowell him kepithe
And þat is Charitie þe champion / chief helpe against Synne
for he strengthen man to stande / and stireth mannes soule
And though the bodie bowe / as Boat do in the water
Yet is the soule saf / but if þou wilt þi-self
Do a deadlie synne / and drench so thi soule
God will suffre well thy slouth / if þi-self will
For he gaf the for a defence / to rule well þi-self
That is Witt and Free will / to euery man a porcion
To fleyng foules / to fisshes and to beastes
But man hathe most þerof / and most is to blame
Onlesse he worke well þerwith / as dowell him teacheth
I haue no right knowlege[^a1692] quod I / to conceyue all your wordes
But if I may Liue and loke / I shall go learne better
I betake þe now to Christ / þat on the Crosse died
And I said the same saue you from mischaunce
And giue you grace in this world / good men to be
And[^288] thus I went wide where / walking alone
By a wyld wildernesse / and by a wood syde
Noise of the birdes / brought me aslepe
And vnder a lynde vpon a launde / lened I a stounde
To Lythe the layes / tho louelie foules made
Myrthe of theyr mowthes / made me there to slepe
The meruelousest dremes / dreamid I then
That euer dreamed man / in þis world as I wene
A bigg man as me thought / & like to my-self
Came and callid me / by my right name
What art þou quod I then / that þou my name knowest
That thou wotst well quod he / & noman no man better
Wot I what þou arte ?[^289] Thought said he then
I haue folowed the this vij seuen yeres / seist þou me no rather
Art thou Thought quod I then / þou canst me telle
Where that Dowell dwellith / do me that to knowe
Dowell & dobet / & dobest the thirde quod he
Are three fair vertues / And benot be not far to fynd
Who-so is true of his tong / and of his ij two handes
And through his Labour & his lond / his Lifelode wynneth
And is trustie of his taile ende / taketh but his oune
And is no dronkerd nor disdeynous / dowell him foloweth
Dobett doth euen thus / And he dothe muche more
He is as lowlie as a lambe / and louelie of speche
And helpeth all men / as they nede
The bagges and the bougettes[^a1693][^290] / he hath broken all
That the Erle Auarice / heild and his heyers
And thus with Mammons money / he hathe made him freindes
And is renne to Religion / and hath rendrid the Bible
And preacheth to the people / Saint Paules wordes
Libenter suffertis insipientes , cum sitis ipsi sapientes
And suffreth the vnwise / with you for to liue
And with glad will do them good / for so god willeth /
Dobest is aboue bothe / & bearith a bisshops crosse
Ys hookid on the one ende / to plucke men from helle
A pyke on that other ende / to put doune the wicked
That waite any wickednesse / Dowell to angre
And dowell & dobett / Amonges them haue ordeyned
To crowne one to be kyng / to rule them bothe
That if dowell or dobetter / Did against dobest
Than shall the king come / and cast them in yrons
And onlesse Dobest intreat for them / they to be there foreuer
Thus dowell & dobet / and dobest the thirde
Crowned one to be king / to kepe them all
And to rule the Realme / by theyr three wittes
And non otherwise / but as they thre assentid
I thankid thought then / þat he me thus taught
But yet I savour[^a1694] not thy sayinges / I covet more[^a1695] to lerne
How dowell dobet & dobest / do among the people
Wit can tell þe quod thought / where they iij thre dwelle
Ellis knowe I non þat can / þat nowe is aliue
Thought And I thus / thre daies we went
Disputing vpon Dowell / daie after daie
And ere we were ware / with witte did we mete
He was Long and Lene / Like to non other
Was no Pryde in his aparaile / nor pouertie neither
Sad of his semblaunt / and of softe chere
I durst moue no mater / to make him Iangle
But as I bad Thought then / be meane betwene
And put forth some purpose / to proue his wittes
What was dowell from dobet / & dobest from them bothe
Than Thought at þat tyme / said thise wordes
Whether dowell dobet / and dobest be in londe
Here is Will wolde wite / if Witt coulde telle him
And whether he be man or woman / this man fayne wold knowe
And worke as they three will / this is his entent

[^a1690: tymes (S) | siþes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1691: famyliar (S) | forbisne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1692: right knowlege (S) | kynde knowyng (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1693: bougettes (S) | bigirdles (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1694: I savour (S) | sauoreþ me (W Hm) | fauoreth me (Cr1)]

[^a1695: more (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^286: thus: The first letter is entered as a guide letter in a space four lines tall. See 5.1n.]

[^287: famyliar: Rendering forbisne 'example', apparently with the sense 'homely/homemade (example)' (cf. OED senses II.5.a,b), perhaps influenced by the friars' assertion that Dowell dwells 'Among vs', i.e., as a familiar or member of the household (OED, sense 1).]

[^288: And: This word is written in the scribe's engrossing script; in W the corresponding line has a two-line colored initial. Compare S.7.158n and see Introduction, sections I.6 "Mise-en-page" and II.3 "Sx".]

[^289: S's punctuation is paralleled in L, Cr and F; it must go back to Bx. See BTP ad loc. and compare S.10.255n and S.17.299n.]

[^290: bougettes: 'pouches, wallets' (OED budget n., sense 1a), accurately rendering bigirdles (the sole instance in PP-B).]

Passus Nonus de Visione . et primus de dowell [dowell: The scribe enters a large flourished tittle above -ll.]

Syre[^291] dowell dwellith quod witt / not a daie hens
In a Castell þat Kynde made / of foure sondrie thinges
Of erthe and Eyre / it is made medelid togethers
With Wynde and with water / wittely enioyned
Kynde hath closed therin / craftely withe all
A Lemman that he louith / Like to himself
Anima she hight / But Envie hir hateth
A proude pricker of Fraunce / Princeps huius mundi
And wolde wynne hir awaie / with wiles if he myght
But Kynde knoweth this well / & kepith hir the better
And dothe hir with syr dowell / duke of thise Marches
Do bet[^292] is hir Damosell / syr dowellis doughter
To serue this Ladie trulie / bothe Late and rathe
Dobest is abouen bothe / A Bisshopes peere
That he bid must be done / he ruleth them all
Anima that ladie is led /[^293] by his lernyng
But the Constable of þat castell / þat kepith all þe wache
Ys a wise knyght withall / Syr Inwit he hight
And hath fyue faire sonnes / by his fyrst wyfe
Syr sewell & saywell / and here well the hende
Syr workewell with thyne handes / a wight man of strength
And syr Godfrey Gowell / great lordes for sothe
Thise fyue be set / to saue this Ladie Anima
Till Kynde come or sende / to saue hir for euer
What thing is Kynde quod I / canst þou me telle
Kynde quod witt is Creatour / of all manere thinges
Father and fourmer / of all þat euer was made
And that is the great god / þat begynnyng had neuer
Lorde of Lyfe and Light / of blisse[^a1696][^294] and of peyne
Aungellis and all thinges / are at his will
But man is most like him / of marke and of shape
For through the worde that he spake / wexed furth beastes
Dixit et facta sunt
And made man / Likest vnto himself
And Eue of his rybbone / without any meane
For he was synguler himself / and seid Faciamus
And as who seith more must herto / than my worde alone
My might must helpe / now with my speche
Right as a lorde shulde make lettres / and lackid paper
Though he could wright neuer so well / if he had no penne
The letter for all the lordship / I think were neuer made
And so it semeth by him / as the Bible tellith
There he said / dixit et facta sunt /
he must worke with his worde / and his wit shewe
And in this manere was Man made / through goddes myght
With his worde and workmanship / & with Life to Last
And thus god gaue him a spyrite / of þe godhede of heauen
And of his great grace / grauntid him blisse
That is Life euerlasting / to all our linage after
And that is the Castell that Kynde made Caro it hight
And is asmuch as much to mene / as Man with a soule
And that he wrought with worke / & with worde bothe
Through myght of his magestie / man was made
Inwitt and all wittes be closed therin
For loue of þat Ladie anima / that Life is callid
Ouerall in mannes bodie / she walketh and wandereth
But in the hart is hir home / & hyr most rest /
And inwitte is in the head / and to the hart he lokith
What anima is leef or lothe / he ledith hir at his will
For After the grace of god / the greatest is Inwitte
Muche wo is that man / þat mysruleleth mysruleth his Inwitte
And that be glotonouse glubbers / whose[^a1697] god is theyr wombe
Quorum deus venter est /
For they serue Sathan / theyr soules shall he haue
That Synfullie Lyue here / theyr soule is Like þe deuill
And all that liue godlye / are Like to god allmightie
Qui manet in caritate in deo manet et deus in illo
Alas that drinke shulde lose / þat god dere bought
And do god forsake them / þat he made to his Likenesse
Amen dico vobis nescio vos / Et alibi
Et dimisi eos secundum desideria eorum /
Foles that want Inwitte / I Fynde that holie chirche
Shuld fynde them that they Lack / and fatherlesse childerne
And widowes þat haue not wherwith / to get them theyr Food
Madde men and maydens / that helplesse be
All thise Lack Inwitte / And Learning behouithe
Of this matere I might / make a long tale
And fynde many witnesses / Among the olde doctors
And that I lye not in that I Learne þe / Luke beareth witnes
Godfathers and godmothers / that se theyr godchilderne
At misease and mischefe / and may them amende
Shall haue Penaunce in Purgatorie / but they them helpe
For more belongeth to the Litill childe / ere he the Lawe knowe
Then to be named with a name / and he neuer the wiser
Sholde no cristen creature / crie at the gate
Nor faile bread or potage / And prelates did as they shold
A Iewe wold not se a Iewe / go Iangling for defaute
For all the Mouables on this molde / if he amende it might
Alasse that a cristen creature / shuld be vnkynde till another
Sithen Iewes that we iudge / Iudas felawes
Eche of them helpe other / of that they nede
Why then wilnot will not we cristen / of Christes good be as kynde
As Iewes that be our Lores men / shame to vs all
The Commons for their vnkyndnesse / I drede me shall abie
Bisshopes shalbe shall be blamed / for beggers sakes
He is worse then Iudas / that giueth a Iaper syluer
And biddeth the begger go / for his broken clothes
Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda qui patrimonium cristi male distribuit . Et alibi . Perniciosus est Dispensator qui res pauperum cristi invtiliter consumit /
He doth not well that dothe thus / nor drede not god allmyghtie
He louith not Salomons Sawes / þat sapience taught
Inicium sapiencie timor domini /
He[^a1698] that dreadeth god dothe[^a1699] well / &[^a1700] dreade him for loue
And not for drede of vengeaunce / doth þerfor the better
He doith best þat withdraweth him / by daie & by night
from spilling of speche / or anie space of tyme
Qui offendit in vno , in omnibus est reus /
Losyng of tyme / Truthe wottithe the sothe
Ys most hatid vpon Erthe / of them þat be in heauen

[A later hand has written "will" and "william" lengthwise in a lighter ink in the left margin of the folio. Smudging obscures a word following "william."]

And Sithen that speche / is inspirid of grace /
And goddes gleman / and a game of heauen
Wold neuer the feithfull father / this Fiddill were vntemperid
Nor his gleeman a gadling / a goar to Tauernes
To all true tidie men / that travaile desyre
Our Lorde loue them & lende them / lowde or stille
Grace to go to them and ofgone[^295] their Liuelode
Inquirentes autem bonum non minuentur omni bono
Trewe Weddid Laboring folke / in þis world is dowell
For they must worke and wynne / and þe world susteyne
for of thir[^296] Kynde they come / þat Confessours be callid
Kynges and Knightes / Keysers and Kerles
Maidyns and Martirs / out of wone man came
The wyfe was made þe weye[^297] / for to helpe worke
And thus was wedlok wrought / with a meane persone
Fyrst by the fathers will / and the Freindes counseile
And Sithen by assent of them bothe / as they ij two might agree
And thus was wedlock wrought / & god himself it made
In erthe and in Heauen[^a1701] / himself was the witnesse
But false folke feithlesse / theues and Lyers
Wastors and wreches / out of wedlocke I trowe
Conceyuid be in euill tyme / as Cayme was on Eue
Of such synfull shrewes / the Psalter maketh mencion
Concepit in dolore et peperit iniquitatem /
And all þat came of that Cayme / came to euill ende
For God sent to Sem / and said by an Aungell
Thine yssue in thine issue / I will that they be wedded
And not thi kynde with Caymes kynde / coupled nor espowsed
Yet Sem[^a1702] against the sond / of our Sauiour of heauen
Caymes kynde and his / coupled togethers
Till god was Angrie / for theyr workes / And then said
That euer[^a1703] I made man / now I do repent[^a1704]
Penitet me fecisse hominem /
And came to Noe anon / and bad him not faile
But shortlie shape him a ship / of shydes & boordes
Thy self and þi sonnes iij thre / and also your wyues
Busk you to þat Boat / and bide you therin
Till fourtie dayis be fynished / þat flood haue wasshed
Clene awaie þe cursed blood / that Caym hath made
Beastis that now be shall banne the tyme
That euer þat cursyd Cayme / came on this earthe
All shall die for his dedes / by dales and by downes
And the foules þat flie / forth with other beastes
Eccept onlie of euery Kynde / a couple
That in thi shinglid ship / shalbe shall be savid
Here abought the barne / the belsyres giltes
And all for theyr forefathers farid the worse
The gospell is against this / in one degree /
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris &c
But I fynde if the father / be fals and a shrewe
That somedele the son / shall haue the syres condicions
Ympe on an Ellerne / And if thyne Appull be swete
Much merueile I haue / & more of a shrewe
That bringeth forth any barne / but if it be the same
And haue a savour after the syre / seld seist þou other
Numquam colligitur de spinis vua / nec de tribulis ficus
And thus through cursed Cayme / came care vpon erthe
And for they wrought wedlockes / against goddes will
Therfor haue they no ioy of theyr mariages / þat marrie so þer childerne
For as I se now / sothe for to telle
for Couetyse of goodes / Vnkyndelie be weddid
As carefull concepcion / commeth of such mariages
As befelle of the folke that I before of told
For good shuld wed good / though they no goodes had
I am Via et veritas seyth Christ / I may avaunce all
It is an vncomelie couple / by Christ as me think
To giue a yong wenche / to an olde Feble man
Or wedde any widowe / for welth of hir goodes
That neuer shall barne beare / But if it be in hyr armes
Many a couple sithe the Pestilence / haue plight them togithers
The fruyte þat they bring forth / are foule wordes
In Ielousye ioylesse / and iangle abedd
They haue no childerne bu bu[t] cheeste[^298] / and clapping them betwene
And though they go to Dunnemowe / but if the deuill helpe
To feche the fliche / get they it neuer
For but they bothe be forsworne / þat Bacon they lose / .

[A later hand has written a group of letters lengthwise in the margin. The possible pen trial contains the letter "I" repeated along with some indistinct minims.]

Therfore I counseile all cristen / Couete not to be weddid
For couetise of goodes / nor of kynrede riche
But maidyns & maidyns / mach you togithers
Widowes & widewers / do you the same
For no londes but for loue / Loke ye be weddid
And then shall ye haue the grace of god / & good ynough to liue with
And euery manner man / that maynot may not contynue
Wiselie go wedde / And ware him frome synne
For Lecherie in Licking / ys a Lymetwigg of hell
Whilles þou art yong / and þi weapyn kene
Wreke the with wyving / yf þou wilt be excused
Dum sis vir fortis , ne des tua robora scortis
Scribitur in portis , meretrix est ianua mortis
When ye haue wyvid beware / & worke in tyme
Not as Adam and Eue / when Cayme was begotten
For in vntyme trulie / betwene man and woman
Ne shuld no bourde in bed be / But if they were bothe clene
Bothe of Life and soule / and in perfect cheritie
That ilk derne dede / do noman no man shulde
And if[^a1705][^299] lede thus their lyfe / it liketh god allmightie
For he made wedloke Fyrst / and himself it seyde
Bonum est vt vnusquisque vxorem suam habeat &c
And they that otherwise / be begotton / for gedlinges them hold
As false folke fondelinges / faitors and Lyars
Vngraciouse to get goode / or loue of the people
Wandre and wast / what they may cache
Against dowell they do euill and the deuill serue
And after their deathe daye / shall dwell with the same
But if god giue them grace here / them-self t'amende
Dowell my frende is / to do as Lawes teache
To loue thy freinde and thi foo / beleue me is dobet
To giue and to lende / Bothe to yong and old
To heale and to helpe / is Dobest of all
And dowell is to drede god / & dobet to suffre
And so commeth Dobest of bothe / & bringeth doune the modie
And that is wicked will / þat many thinges shendith
And dryueth awaie dowell / through deadlie synnes /

[^a1696: blisse (S Cr1) | lisse (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1697: whose (S) | hir (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1698: He (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1699: dothe (S) | he dooþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1700: & (S) | þat (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1701: and in Heauen (S Cr1 W) | the heuene ys (Hm Bx)]

[^a1702: Sem (S Cr1) | some (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1703: euer (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1704: I do repent (S) | it me forþynkeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1705: if (S) | if þei (W Hm Cr1)]

[^291: Syre: The first letter is entered as a guide letter in a space four lines tall. See 5.1n.]

[^292: Dobet: A correction for original Dowell, which is clumsily overwritten and in part lined through. Compare 6.123n.]

[^293: Other copies punctuate after ladie, correctly.]

[^294: blisse: Bx has the alliterating synonym lisse, but S's easier reading is shared by Cr and corrected M, among other copies, and perhaps already stood in Sx. See BTP ad loc.]

[^295: ofgone: 'earn' (OED ofgo v.), a word already obsolescent in the fourteenth century. S agrees in form with WCr (ofgon, W), transmitting an etymologically correct spelling that should be attributed to the beta2 scribe. Manuscripts outside the beta2 group have the spelling agon, to Hm reverts. See BTP ad loc.]

[^296: thir: Probably a correction from hir, the presumptive form of the 3 pl. possessive pronoun in Sx. The spelling thir occurs in S only here and at 12.117-18.]

[^297: weye: 'man, husband', though probably understood by S as 'way' and so spelled in Cr. Where spelled wye in related copies (and hence presumably in Sx), S translates as man. See Glossary. S's spelling here agrees with W and derives via beta2 from Bx. See BTP ad loc. and Bx.13.378n.]

[^298: cheeste: The corrected spelling, with double -e-, agrees with WM against other copies and perhaps shows literatim copying of a word not understood. See S.2.87 and S.13.117, where Sx cheste prompts chastitie, a desperate homoeographic guess.]

[^299: if: Read if they, as in other copies.]

Expicit Exp[l]icit passus nonus

Passus decimus

[There appears to be a small pen trial in the upper right corner of the page.]

than[^300] had wit a wife / callid Dame Studie
That lene was of lere / and of liche bothe
She was wonderlie wrothe / þat wit me thus taught
And all staring dame Studie / sternlie saide
Well art þou wise quod she to witt / Any wisdomes to telle
To Flaterers or to Fooles / that frentike be of witt
Blamyng him & Bannyng him / and Bad hym be stille
With such wise wordes / to instruct anye[^301] Sottes
And said Noli Mittere man / Margarite perles
Amonges Hogges that haue / Hawes at will
They do but dreuill on them / draf were them Leuer
Then all the precious stones / þat in Paradise wexeth
I speke it by such quod she / þat sheweth by their workes
That them were leuer londe / & lordship in erthe
Or riches and rentes / and rest and their will
Then all the true sayinges / þat Salomon said euer
Wisdome and wit nowe / is not worth a might
Onlesse hit be cardid with couetise / as clothers kembe theyr wolle
Who-so can contryue deceptes / and conspire wronges
And Lede forth a louedaie / to Let with truthe
He þat such craftes can / is oft callid to counseile
They lede Lordes with Lesynges / and belye Truthe
Iob the gentill in his gestes /[^302] witnesseth
That wicked men rule / the welth of this world
And þat they be Lordes of eche londe / þat out of lawe Liuethe
Quare impij viuunt bene &c
The psalter seith the same / by such as done yll
Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes in seculo obtinuerut obtinueru[n]t[^303] diuicias
Lo seyth holy scripture[^a1706] / which be thise shrewes
They[^a1707] that geue[^a1708][^304] most / least good they dele
And most vnkynde be[^a1709] to the comons[^a1710] / that most goodes possesseth[^a1711]
Que perfecisti destruxerunt , iustus autem , &c
Harlottes for theyr halotrie / may haue of theyr goodes
And Iapers and Ioglors / and Ianglers of iestes
But that hath scripture / allwaie in his mouthe
And can telle of Tobie / & of the xij twelue apostels
Or preche of the penaunce / that Pylate falslie wrought
To Ihesu Iesu the gentill / whome the Iewes crucified
Litell is he belouid / that such a lesson shewithe
Or dauntid or drawnfourth drawn fourth / I do it on god himself
But they that feyne them fooles / & with faiting Liueth
Against the Lawe of the lorde / And lie on them-self
Spett and spewe / and speake foule wordes
Drinke and dreuill / and do men to gape
Licke men and Lye on them / that giue them no giftes
They can nomore no more mynstralcie / nor musike men to glad
Than Munde the Myller / of Multa fecit deus /
Werenot Were not their harlotrie / haue god my truthe
Shuld neuer Kyng nor Knight / Nor Canon of . S . Paules
Gyue them in rewarde / the value of one grote
But myrth and mynstralcie / Among men is nowe
Lecherye Losencherie / and losellis tales
Glotonye and great othes / is the myrth they loue
And if they carpe of Christ / thise clerkes & thise Lewde
At meat in theyr myrth / when mynstrallis be stille
Then telle they of the Trynitie / a tale or tweyne
And bring furth a bald reason / taking Barnard to witnesse
And put furth a presumption / to proue the sothe
Thus they dreuill at theyr deace / þe deitie to knowe
And gnawe god with a gorge / when their guttes be full
but the carefull may crie / and carpe at the gate
Bothe hungrie and thurstie / quaking for colde
There[^a1712] is non to take[^a1713] him in[^a1714][^305] / his miserie[^a1715] t'amende
But hunt him as an hounde / & bid[^a1716] him go thence
Litill louith he þat lorde / þat lent him all his goodes
That thus partith with the pouer / a parcell when he nedeth
Were no mercie in meane men / more then in rich
Pouer beggers meatlesse / myght go to bedd
God in gorge is muche / of thise great maisters
But among meane men / his mercie & his workes
And so seith the psalter / I haue sene it oft
Ecce audiuimus eam in Effrata , invenimus eam in campis / / silue[^306]
Clerkes and other men / carpe of god fast
And haue him much in theyr mouthes / but mene men in theyr / / hertes[^307]
Friers and faitors / haue founde such questions
To please with proude men / sithe the pestilence tyme
And preach at Paules / for pure envie of clerkes
That folke be[^a1717] fyrme[^a1718] in þe feithe / nor free of there goodes
Nor sorye for theyr synnes / so is Pride waxen
In Religion and in all the realme / among rich and pouer
That preyers haue no pour / the pestilence to lett
And yet the wreches of this worlde / is non ware by other
Nor for drede of dethe / withdrawe not their pryde /
Nor be plentuouse to the pouer / as pure charitie wolde
But in gaynesse and glotonie / forglut theyr goodes themself
And breake not to the begger / as the book teachith /
Frange esurienti panem tuum &c
And the more he wynneth / welthe and riches
And lordeth in londes / the lesse good he dealeth
Tobye told you not so / take hede you riche
Howe the Byble booke / of hym beareth witnesse
Si tibi sit copia , habundanter tribue /
Si autem exiguum illud impertire stude libenter
Who-so hath muche spende manlie / so meneth Tobie
And who-so hath lesse[^a1719] / rule him therafter
For we haue no letter of our Life / howlong how long it shall endure
Such Lessons Lordes / shulde loue to here /
And howe he might most meanye[^308] / manlie fynde
Not to fare as a fideler / or a frere / to seke feastes
Homely at other mennes houses / and hate his owne /
Emptie[^a1720][^309] is their hall / euery daie in the wyke /
There the lorde nor the Ladie / Liketh not to sytt
Now haue euery riche a rule / to eate by themself
In a privie parlour / for pouer mennes sake
Or in a chambre with a chymney / and leaue the chief hall
That was made for meales / men to sit[^a1721] in /
And all to spare to spende / that spille shall another . /
I haue herde highe men / eating at their table
Carpe[^310] as they clerkes were / of Christ & his might
And laid fautes vpon the father / that formid vs all
And carpid agaynst Clerkes / crabbed wordes
Why our Saviour wolde suffre / such a worme in his blisse
That bigyled the woman / and the man after
Through which wyles and wordes / they went to helle
And all theyr sede for their synne / the same death suffred
Here Lythe our Loore / thise Lordes begynne to dispute
Of that Clerkes do teach vs / of Christ by the gospell
Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris /
Why shulde we that now be / for the workes of Adam
Roten / and to-rende / Reason wold it not
Vnusquisque portabit onus suum /
Such motyues they moue / thise maisters in their glorie
And bring men in misbeleue / þat muse much on their wordes
Ymaginatyf hereafter / shall answere to your purpose
Augustine to such Argueris / he telleth this teme
aule /

[The main scribe identifies the biblical quotation. An initial "P" or "S" has been lost to cropping.]

Non plus sapere quam oportet
Willith neuer to wite / why that god wolde
Suffre Sathan his sede to begile
But beleue trulie / in the Lawe of holie churche
And pray him of pardon / and Penance in þi Lyfe
And for his great mercie / to amende you here
Who-so will knowe / the waies of god allmightie
I wolde his eye were in his arse / & his fynger after
That euer will to wite / why that god wolde
Suffre Sathan / his sede to begile
Or Iudas to the iewes / Iesu betraye
All was as þou woldest / Lord worshippid be thou
And all is at thy will / what so euer we dispute
And they that vse those hauylones / to blynde mennes wittes
What is dowell from dobet / and deaf mut he be /
Sith he will to wite / which they bene bothe
But if he Liueth in þe Life / þat longeth to dowell
For I dare be his borrough / that dobet will he neuer
Though dobest drawe on him / day after other
And When witt was ware / þat dame Studie told
he became so confuse / he couldnot could not Looke
And as dombe as death / and drewe him asyde
And for no carping I coulde after / nor kneling to th'erthe
I myght get no greyne / of his great wittes
But all laughing he lowtid / & lokid vpon Studie
In signe that I shuld / beseche hir of grace
And when I was ware of his will / to his wyfe did loute[^a1722]
Saying mercie madame / your man shall I be
As long as I liue / both Late and rathe
To worke your will / while my Life endureth
So that ye teche me trulye / to knowe what is dowell
For thy mekenesse man quod she / & for thy mylde speche /
I shall send[^a1723] the to my cosyn / that Clergie hight
He had weddid a wife / within thise sex monethes
Which is syb to the seaven Artes / Scripture is hir name
They ij two as I hope / after my teaching
Shall tell the to dowell / I dare it vndertake
Then was he[^a1724][^311] as fayne / as foule of faire morowe
And gladder then the Gleman / þat gold hath to gift
And asked hyr the high weye / where þat clergie dwelt
And telle me some token quod I / for tyme is that I wende
Aske the high waie quod she / Hence to suffre
Both well and woo / if that þou wilt learne
And ride furth by richesse / but rest þou not therin
For if þou couplest the therwith / to clergie commest þou neuer
And also the Licorouse Lande / þat Lecherie hight
Leaue it on thy Lefte half / a large myle and more
Till þou come to a Court / Kepe well thy tong
From Leasynges and Lyther spech / & Likerouse drinkes
Then shalt þou se Sobrietie / and Simplicitie of speche
That eche wight be in will / his wit the to shewe
And thus shalt þou come to Clergie / þat can many thinges
Telle him this token / I set him to scole
And grete well his wife / for I wrot hir many bookes
And sett hir to Sapience / & to the psalter glose
Logik I Learned hir / and many other Lawes
And all the Musons of Musike / I made hir to knowe
Plato the poete / I put him first to booke
Aristotle and other moo / to Argue I taught
Gramer for girles / I causid first to be wreten
And bete them with a balleis / onlesse they wold lerne
Of all manere craftes / I contryuid tooles
Of carpenters and Kervers / and compased Masons
And learnid them Levell & lyne / though I looke dymme
But Theologie hath Angrid me / tean score tymes
The more I muse therin / the mystier hit semeth
And the depper I deuyne / the derker me think it
[^312]A full Lethy thing it were / if loue were not
But for it leke[^a1725] best by loue / I loue it the better
For where loue is leder / Lackith neuer grace
Loke þou loue trulie / if þou Likest dowell
For dobet and dobest / bene of louis kyn
In other science it seith / I se it in Caton
Qui similat verbis vel[^a1726] corde , est fidus amicus
Tu quoque fac simile , sic ars deluditur arte /
Who-so gloseth as gylours do / go me to the same
And so shalt þou false folke / and feithelesse begyle
This is þe Catons saying / to clerkis þat it Lerneth
But Theologie teacheth not so / who-so taketh hede
He tell vs the contrarie / against Catons wordes
He biddeth vs be as bretherne / and praie for our enemyes
And loue them that lye on vs / & lende them when they nede
And do good against euill / god him-self commandeth
Dum tempus habemus , operemur bonum ad omnes maxime autem ad domesticos fidei /
Paule preached the people / þat perfitnesse louid
To good for goddes loue / & gyue men that asked
And namelie to such / as[^a1727] be of[^a1728] oure beleue
And all that offend vs / the lorde willeth us to loue
And to greue them þat greve vs / god him-self forbad it
Mihi vindictam et ego retribuam /
Therfore loke þou louist / as long as þou lyuest[^a1729]
for þer is no science vnder sonne / so souereigne for the soule
But astronomye is an harde thing / & euill for to knowe
Geometrie & Geomesie / so synfull of speche
Who-so worketh with those ij two / thryueth full late

[Cropped marginalia exists at the top center of the page. The letters are illegible.]

For Sorcerie is the souereyne booke / þat to those sciences longeth
Ȝit are there Fybicches in forceris / of diuerse mennes making /
Experymentes Alkenamye / the people to deceyue
Yf thou think dowell / dele therwith neuer
All thise Sciences I my-self / sotilled & ordeyned
And founded them formest / folke to deceyue
Tell Clergie this token / And Scripture after
To counseile the right / to know what is dowell
I said graunt mercie madame / and mekelie hir grete
And went wightlie awaie / without more letting
And till I came to clergie / I coulde neuer stynt
And gret the goodman / As studie me taught
And afterward the wyfe / & worshiped them bothe
And told them the tokens / þat me taught were
Was neuer man on erth / sithe god it made
Fairer interteyned[^a1730][^313] / nor frendlier at ease
Than my-self sothlie / sone so he wist
That I was of wittes house / and with his wyfe dame Studie
I said to them soothelie / that sent was I thether
Dowell and dobet / and dobest to learne
It is commone Life quod Clerlgie Clergie / on holie church to bileue
With all the Articles of þe feithe / that fallethe to be knoune
And that is to be trulie / both lernid and lewde
On the great god / that begynnyng had non
And on the sothefast son / that saued mankynde
Frome the deadlie death / and the deuillis powre
Through helpe of the holie ghost / the which is of bothe
Thre parsons / but nott in plurell nombre
For all is but one god / & eche is god himself
Deus pater deus filius deus spiritus sanctus
God the father god the son / god the[^a1731] holie ghoste / of bothe
Maker of mankynde / and of beastes bothe
Augustine the olde / hereof made bookes
And himself ordeyned / t' esthablish[^a1732] vs in beleue
Who was his author ?[^314] / all the foure Evangelistes
And Christ clepid himself so / the Evangelistes bere witnesse
All þe Clerkes vnder Christ / could not this assoile /
But thus it behouith[^a1733] to beleue / to lewde that will dowell
For neuer had man fyne witt / the feith to dispute
Nor man hath[^a1734] no merite / maye reason proue it[^a1735]
Fides not habet meritum vbi humana ratio prebet experimentum
Than is dobet to[^315] suffre / for the soules helth
All þat the book bid / by holie chirchis teaching
And that is man by thy might / for mercies sake
Loke þou worke in thy[^a1736] worke / that þi worde sheweth
Such as þou semest in sight / be in assaye founde
Appare quod es Vel esto quod appares /
And lat no man[^a1737] be / by thy bearing begyld
But be such in thy soule / as þou semest without
Than is dobest to be bolde / to blame the gilty
Sithens þou seest þi-self / as in soule clene
But blame thou neuer bodie / if[^a1738] þou be blame worthie
Si culpare velis , culpabilis[^316] esse cauebis
Dogma tuum sordet , cum te tua culpa remordet /
God in the gospell / grevouslie reprouithe
All that lack any Life / and in fautes them-self
Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui et trabem in oculo tuo non con . &c
How art thou offendid / with[^a1739] a mote in thy brothers eye
Hauing[^a1740] a beame in thine oune / to blemish þi sight[^a1741]
Ecce[^a1742] primo trabem in oculo tuo &c
Which letteth the to loke / lesse or more
I rede such[^a1743] a blynde bosarde / do bote to himself
For Abbottes & for Priours / & for all manere prelates
As parsons and parish preestes / that preache shulde and teache
All manere men / to amende their Lyues
This text was tolde you to beware or ye taught
That ye were such as ye said / to salue with other
for goddes worde wold not be lost / for þat workith euer
Yf it availed not the commons / it might availe your-self
But it semith nowe soothelie / to the worldes sight
That goddes worde workethnot worketh not / on Lerned nor Lewde
But in such manere / as Marc meneth in the gospell
Dum cecus cecum ducit ambo in foueam cadunt /
Leawde men may liken you thus / þat the beame lieth in your eye
And the mote[^a1744] is fallen / through[^a1745] your defautes[^a1746]
In-to[^a1747] all mennes eyis[^a1748] / by[^a1749] noughtie[^a1750] preistes
The Byble beareth witnesse / that all the people of ysraell
Bitterlie were punisshed / for ij two euill preistes fautes
Of offyn and Phynes / for their couetise
Archa dei mishappid / and Ely brake his necke
Therfor you Correctors clawe hereon / & corect first your-self
And then may ye safely saie / as Dauid þat made the psalter
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis , arguam te , et statuam contra faciem tuam /
And then shall burell clerkes be abasshed / to blame or to greue you
And carpe not as they carpe nowe / and call you dumbe houndes
Canes non valentes latrare &c
And drede to angre you in any worde / your workmanship to lett
And be prester at your preyer / than for a pounde of nobles
And all for your holinesse / haue ye this in hart
In Scole there is skorne / but if a clerk will lerne
And great loue and Liking / for eche of them louith other
But now is Religion a ryder a Romer by strete
A leder of louedaies / and a lowd buggar
A pricker on a palfrey / fro manner to manner
An heape of houndes at his arse / as he a lorde were
And onlesse his knaue knele / þat shall his cuppe bring
He lowreth on him & Asketh him / who taught him curtesie
Litill had lordes to do / to gyue londes from their heyres
To religiouse þat haue no ruthe / though it reyneth on their alters
In many places there they parsons be / themselfes be at ease
But of the pouer people they haue no pitie / & þat is their charitie
But they beare them as lordes / their londes Lythe so brode
But there shall come a king / & confesse you Religious[^a1751]
And beat you as the Byble tellith / for breakyng of your rule
And Amende Monyales / Monkes & Chanons
And put them to their penaunce / Ad pristinum statum ire .
And Barons with Erles bete them / through / beatus virres techi[ng][^317]
That theyr Barnes clayme / and blame you foule
hij in curribus et hij in equis ipsi obligati sunt &c /
And then friers in[^a1752] Freytour / shall fynde a keye
Of Constantynes cofres / in which is the tresure[^a1753] /

[A later hand has written the letter "t" followed by three minims in the bottom right margin of the folio.]

That Gregories godchildren haue euill dispendid
And than shall the Abbot of Abyngdon / & all his issue for euer
haue a knock of a king / and the wounde incurable[^a1754]
Whether[^a1755] this be[^a1756][^318] true[^a1757] / Loke[^a1758] you that ofte ouerse the byble
Quomodo cessauit exactor / quieuit tributum / contriuit dominus baculum impiorum / et virgam dominantium cedentium plaga insanabili
But ere that king come / Caym shall awake
But Dowell shall digg[^a1759][^319] him doune / & distroye his might
Than is dowell and dobet quod I dominus and knighthode
I will not skorne quod Scripture / but if Scryueners lie
Kynghode nor knighthode / by aught I can espie
Helpe not to heauenwarde / one heris ende
Nor Richesse right nought / nor royaltie of lordes
Paule prouith it inpossible / riche men to haue heauen[^320]
Salomon saith also / that syluer is worst to loue
Nichil iniquius quam amare pecuniam
And Cato telleth[^a1760] vs not to couete it[^a1761] but for nede onlie[^a1762]
Dilige denarium sed parce dilige formam /
And patriarches and prophetes / & Poetes also
Writt to teche vs / to wille no richesse
And preised Pouertie with pacience / þe apostels berith witnesse
That they haue heritage in[^321] heauen / & by true right
There rich men no right may clayme / but of ruthe & grace
Contra quod I by Christ / that can I reproue
And proue by Peter / and by Paule bothe
That who is baptysed is safe / be he rich or pouer
That is in extremis quod Scripture / among Sarazens & Iewes
They may be sauid so / and that is oure beleue
That an vnxren vncristen in þat cace / may cristen an hethen
And for his true beleue / when he this Life Loseth
haue the heritage of heauen / as any cristian may
But cristen men without more / maynot may not come to heauen
For that Christ for cristen men dyid / & confirmed þe Lawe
That who-so wolde and will with Crist to arise
Si cum cristo surrexistis &c /
he shuld trulie loue / and the Lawe fullfill
That is loue thy lorde god / Lefest aboue all
And then all cristen creatures / for Cristes sake
And this belongeth to loue / to them þat beleue to be sauid
And but we do thus in dede / ere the daie of dome
It shall besitt vs full soure / the siluer þat we kepe
And our clothes that be motheten / & se beggers go nakid
Or delite in wyne or wyldefoule / and wot any in defaute
For euery cristen creature / shold be kynde to other
And than helpe the hethen / in hope of Amendement
God commandeth both high and lowe / that noman no man hurt other
And seith slea not þat semblable is / to myn oune Likenes
Onlesse I send þe some token / and saith Non necabis[^a1763][^322]
Slea not but suffre / and all for the best
For I shall punishe them in purgatorie / or in the pitt of helle
Euery man for his misdedes / but if mercie let it
This is a long lesson quod I / and I Litill the wyser
Where Dowell is or dobet / derkelie ye shewe /
Many tales ye telle / that Theologie Lerneth
And that I was made man / & my name entred
In the Legende of Life / Long ere I was borne
Or elles vnwritten for some wickednesse as holie writ wytnesseth
Nemo ascendit in celum , nisi qui de celo descendit
I beleue it well quod I by our lorde / & on no lettre better
For Salomon the sage / that sapience taught
God gaf him grace of witt / and all hise goodes after
He demed wiselie / as holie writt telleth
Aristotle and he / who counseiled men better
Maisters þat of mercie / teach men and preache
Of their wordes they tell vs / for wysest as in their tyme
And all holie church / holdeth them bothe damned
And if I shulde worke by their workes / to wyme wy[nn]e me heuen
That for his workes and wit / dwelleth in peyne
Then wrought I vnwiselie / what-so-euer ye preache
But of many wittie in feyth / Litell meruell I haue
Though their goost be vngracious / god for to please
For many men in this world / more set their hartes
In goodes then in god / therfore grace them faile
At their most nede / when they shall hens passe
As Salomon did and such other / þat shewid great wittes
But theyr workes as holie writ saith / were euer contrarie
Therfore wise wittid men / & well Learned clerkes
As they say themself / seld do they therafter
Super cathedram moysi &c
But I wene it be with many / as was in Noes tyme
When he made the ship / of shydes and boordes
There was not a write sauid that wrought theron / nor other workman / ellis[^323]
But byrdes and beastes / and the blissed Noe /
And his wife with his sonnes / and also their wyves
Of wightes þat wrought it was neuer won saued
God graunt[^a1764] it come not so to passe[^a1765][^324] / by them[^a1766] þat[^325] the feith teache
Of holie chirch that harborowe is / & goddes house to saue
And sheld vs frome shame þerin / as Noes ship did beastes
When they þat made it / in the flood were drowned
The conclusion of this clause / of Curators is to mene
That be Carpenters holy chirch to make / for Christes oune beastes
Homines et iumenta saluabis domine &c /
On good fridaie I fynde / a felon was saued
That had Liued all his Lyfe / in falsede & theft
And for he bekened to the crosse / & to Christ confessid him
he was soner saued / then S Iohan the Baptist
And ere Adam or ysaye / or any of the prophettes
That had leyne with Lucifer / many long yeris
A robber was ransomed / rather then they all
Without any penaunce of purgatorie / to perpetuall blisse
Than Marie magdalene / what woman did worse
Or who wors then Dauid / þat Vries death conspired
Or Paule th'apostle / that no pitie had
To kille vnto death / many Christen men
And now be thise as souereynes / with Sayntes in heauen
They that wrought most wickedlie / in erth when they were
And they that spoke most wiselie / and writ many bookes
Of wit & of wisdome / with damned soules dwelle
That Salomon saith I trowe be true / & certeyn of vs all
Siue iusti atque sapientes , & opera eorum in manu dei sunt
There are wittie and well Living / but their workes be hid
In the handes of almightie god / & he knoweth the truthe
Wherfore a man is alowed here / and his true workes
Or ellis for his euill will / and envie of hert
And be alowed as he liued so / for by euill , men know good
for wherby wist men which is whight / if all thinges were black
And who were a good man / onlesse there were some shrewe
Therfor liue we furth with other men / I think fewe be good
For Qant oportet vient en place / il ny ad que pati /
And he that may all amende / haue mercie on vs all
For the truest worde / þat euer god seid / was when he said Nemo bonus[^326]
Clergie then of Christes mouthe / commendid was full Litell
For he said to Saint Peter / & to suche as he loued
Cum steteritis ante reges et presides &c /
Though ye come before kinges / & clerkes of the Lawe
Be not Abasshed / for I shalbe shall be in your mouthes
And giue you wit & will / and connyng to conclude
Them all þat against you / of Christendome dispute
Dauid makes mencion / he spake among kynges
And noking no king ouercome him / as by connyng speche
But wit & wisdome / wan neuer the maistrie
Whan man was at mischef / without þe more grace
The doutiest doctour / and diuinour of þe Trynitie
Was Augustine the olde / and highest of the foure
Said thus in a sermon / I se it writen ones
Ecce ipsi ydioti rapiunt celum , vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur /
Which is thusmuche thus muche in english / and no more nor Lesse /
None are[^a1767] rather rauished / from the right beleue
Then are thise connyng clerkes / þat can many bookes
Nor[^a1768] soner saued / nor sadder of beleue
Then plowmen and sheperdes[^a1769] / & pouer comone Laborers
Sowters / and sadelers[^a1770] / and[^a1771] such Lewde Iuttes
Perce with a pater noster / the palais of heauen
And passe Purgatorie penaunceles / at their hens parting
In-to the ioyes[^a1772] of Paradise / for thyr pure beleue
That inperfitely here / Knewe and eke Liued
Yea men knowe clerkes / þat haue cursed the tyme
That euer they could[^a1773] more / then Credo in deum patrem /
And principallie their / pater noster / many a man[^a1774] hath wisshed
I se ensamples my-self / & so may many other[^a1775]
That seruauntes that serue lordes / Selden renne[^a1776] in rerage
But they that kepe his[^a1777] treasure[^a1778] / clerkes and Stywardes[^a1779]
Right so Laye[^a1780] men / & of small[^a1781] Knowlege[^a1782]
Selden fall[^a1783][^327] so foule / & so far in synne
As clerkes of holie church / that kepe Christes treasure
The which is mannes soule[^a1784] / as Christ[^a1785] saithe in the gospell
Ite vos in vineam meam

[^a1706: scripture (S) | lettrure (W Hm Bx) | lecture (Cr1)]

[^a1707: They (S) | Thilke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1708: geue (S) | god gyueþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1709: be (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1710: comons (S) | commune (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1711: goodes possesseth (S) | catel weldeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1712: There (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1713: take (S) | nyme (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1714: in (S) | In nor | neer (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1715: miserie (S) | noyȝe (Hm Cr1) | anoy (W)]

[^a1716: bid (S) | hoten (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1717: be (S) | is noȝt (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1718: fyrme (S) | fermed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1719: hath lesse (S) | litel weldeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1720: Emptie (S) | Elenge (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1721: sit (S) | eten (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1722: did loute (S) | gan I loute (W Hm) | I loutid (Cr1)]

[^a1723: send (S) | kenne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1724: he (S W Hm) | I (Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1725: leke (S) | leteþ (W) | leet (Hm Cr1)]

[^a1726: vel (S W Bx) | nec in (Hm) | nec (Cr1)]

[^a1727: as (S W) | that (Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1728: be of (S) | suwen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1729: lyuest (S M) | durest (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1730: interteyned (S) | vnderfongen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1731: the (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1732: esthablish (S) | sadde (W Hm Bx) | saue (Cr1)]

[^a1733: behouith (S) | bilongeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1734: hath (S) | hadde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1735: maye reason proue it (S) | myȝte it ben ypreued (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1736: in thy (S) | it in (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1737: man (S) | body (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1738: if (S) | and (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1739: How art thou offendid / with (S) | Why meuestow þi mood for (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1740: Hauing (S) | Siþen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1741: to blemish þi sight (S) | ablyndeþ þi-selue (W Bx) | blyndeth thy-selfe (Cr1) | all blyndeth thy-sylue (Hm)]

[^a1742: Ecce (S) | Eice (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1743: such (S) | ech (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1744: mote (S) | festu (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1745: through (S) | for (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1746: defautes (S) | defaute (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1747: In-to (S) | In (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1748: mennes eyis (S) | maner men (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1749: by (S) | þoruȝ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1750: noughtie (S) | mansede (W Hm) | mauzed (Cr1)]

[^a1751: Religious (S Cr1 Hm) | Religiouses (W Bx)]

[^a1752: in (S Cr1) | in hir (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1753: tresure (S) | catel (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1754: the wounde incurable (S) | transp. (W Cr1 Bx) | incurable ys the wounde (Hm)]

[^a1755: Whether (S) | That (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1756: be (S) | worþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1757: true (S) | sooþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1758: Loke (S) | seke (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1759: digg (S) | dyngen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1760: telleth (S) | kenneþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1761: not to couete it (S) | to coueiten it . nauȝt (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1762: for nede onlie (S) | as nede techeþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1763: necabis (S Cr1) | mecaberis (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1764: graunt (S) | leue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1765: come not so to passe (S) | fare noȝt so (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1766: them (S) | folk (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1767: None are (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1768: Nor (S) | Ne none (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1769: sheperdes (S) | pastours (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1770: sadelers (S) | shepherdes (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1771: and (S W Hm) | om. (Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1772: ioyes (S) | blisse (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1773: could (S) | kouþe or knewe (W Cr1 Bx) | cowde knowe (Hm)]

[^a1774: man (S) | persone (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1775: other (S W Bx) | another (Hm Cr1)]

[^a1776: renne (S) | fallen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1777: his (S) | þe lordes (W Cr1 Bx) | my lordes (Hm)]

[^a1778: treasure (S) | catel (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1779: Stywardes (S) | Reues (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1780: Laye (S) | lewed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1781: small (S) | litel (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1782: Knowlege (S) | knowyng (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1783: fall (S Bx) | falle þei (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1784: soule (S) | soule to saue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1785: Christ (S) | god (W Hm Cr1)]

[^300: than: The first letter is entered as a guide letter in a space four lines tall. See 5.1n.]

[^301: Miswriting by attraction to "stille" on the line above.]

[^302: S's line division is unique among beta2 copies. Other copies divide after gentill, correctly.]

[^303: The scribe has omitted a nasal abbreviation.]

[^304: geue: Haplographic error. Other copies have god gyueþ.]

[^305: take him in: Rendering nyme hym neer, an archetypal error retained in other beta2 copies but corrected to nymen him In nor in M, probably by independent conjecture. See BTP ad loc.]

[^306: The scribe ran out of space; the last word is entered in the right margin of the line above and partially boxed.]

[^307: The scribe ran out of space; the last word is entered in the right margin of the line above and preceded by a vertical line.]

[^308: meanye: i.e., meyne, 'household, company'.]

[^309: Emptie: Rendering Elenge, elsewhere translated with greater accuracy as hevie (S.P.117) and sorowfull (S.20.2).]

[^310: The scribe has changed O to C by addition of a vertical stroke.]

[^311: he: A beta2 error (for I), corrected in Cr.]

[^312: SCr uniquely omit KD.10.188 (= Bx.10.194).]

[^313: interteyned: Rendering vnderfongen, a word always revised out in S but rendered as interteyned only here. See Glossary. For the sense required, compare the quotation from Caxton at OED s.v. entertain v., sense III.8. Compare S.13.286, where interteyned renders undernimen.]

[^314: S's punctuation is without parallel in early copies, but Cr likewise has a question mark. Compare S.8.74n. and S.17.299n.]

[^315: The t is written over and cancels another stroke, perhaps the beginnings of a long s, induced by attraction to subsequent copy.]

[^316: The scribe omits the descender of "p". The form is distinct from v: see "velis" earlier in this line.]

[^317: The end of this line is lost to cropping.]

[^318: be: Rendering worþ, a verb always revised out and sometimes rendered elsewhere with shalbe (see Glossary). S places the truth of the prophecy in the present.]

[^319: digg: Rendering dyngen 'strike'. For the S reading see OED, s.v. dig v., phrasal verbs: to dig down, sense 1.]

[^320: The final stroke of "n" extends into a knotted tail, evidently taking advantage of unusually abundant space at line end. Simpler flourishes are not infrequent, as may be seen later on this page.]

[^321: S's cancelled punctuation, preceding this word, is unique among beta2 copies.]

[^322: necabis: Correction (for Bx mecaberis) perhaps derives from the unique common ancestor of SCr1.]

[^323: The scribe ran out of space; the last word is entered in the right margin of the line above.]

[^324: come not so to passe: A biblicism, rendering fare noȝt so. See S.7.172.]

[^325: þat: Punctuation precedes this word in other copies. S repunctuates to fit the reworked line. See previous note.]

[^326: The edge of a cropped letter is visible at the margin, perhaps the remnants of & c.]

[^327: fall: For falle þei, the beta reading. S rejoins Bx.]

Passus Vndecimus de visione

Then Scripture skorned me / and a skill told
And Lackid me in Latyn / & lite by me she set
And said Multi multa sciunt et seipsos nesciunt /
Then wept I for wo / & wrathe of hir speche
And in a winking wrath / fell I a-slepe
A meruelouse dreme / then dremed I
That I was rauished euen there / and fortune me fett
And into the Lond of longing / alone she me brought
And in a Myrour þat hight myddillerth / she made to behold
Then she said to me / here mightst þou se wonders
And knowe that þou covettist / & come therto paraduenture
Then had Fortune folowing hir / ij two faire damoselles
Concupiscentia carnis / men callid the elder maide
And Concupiscentia oculorum / callid was th'other
Pryde of perfect Liuyng / pursued them bothe
And bad me for my countynaunce / acounte clergie light /
Concupiscentia carnis / collid me about the neck
And said þou art yong & lustie / and haste yeris ynowe
for to Liue long / and Ladies to loue
And in this myrrour þou maist se / Lordinges full many
That Lede their Life in Liking / all their hole tyme
The seconde said the same / I shall folowe thy will
Till þou be a lorde and haue londe / forsake þe I willnot will not
But I will folowe þi felawship / if fortune it Like
he shall fynde me his frende / quod fortune then
he that foloweth my mynde / failith neuer blisse
Then was there one þat hight Age / þat heuye was of chere
Man quod he if I mete with the / By Marie of heauen
Thou shalt fynd fortune to fayle the / at thy most nede
And concupiscentia carnis / clene the forsake
Bitterlie shalt þou then banne / both dayes and nyghtes
Couetise of eyes / that euer þou hir knewe
And pride of perfite Living / to much perill the bring
Yea care thou not quod Rechelesse stood forth in raggid clothes
Folowe furthe that Fortune will / þou haste yet long till Age
A man may stoupe sone ynough / whan he shall lose the croune
Homo proponit quod A poete / And Plato he hight
And deus disponit quod he / Lat god do his will
Yf Truthe will witnesse it be well done / Fortune to Folowe
Concupiscentia carnis ne Couetise of eyis
Shall not greue the greatlie / onlesse þou wilt begile thi-self
Yea farwell Phippe quod Fantasie / and forth did me drawe
Till Concupiscentia carnis / Accordid all my workes
Alasse þat eye quod Age / and Holinesse bothe
Shuld turne wit to wrechidnesse / for will to haue his Liking
Couetise of eyes / conforted me anon after
And folowed me / fourtie winter / and a fyfte more
That of dowell nor dobet / no deintie me thought
I had no Liking beleue me / of them ought to knowe
Couetise of eyes / cam Ofter in mynde
Then dowell or dobet / among my dedes all
Couetise of Eyes conforted me ofte
Saying haue thou no conscience / how þou come to good
Go confesse the to some Frier / & shew him thy synnes
For while Fortune is thy frende / Friers will the loue
And feche the to ther fraternitie / and for the praye
To their Priour provinciall / A pardon to haue
And prey for the poll by poll / if þou be Pecuniosus
Sed pena pecuniaria non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis
By the counsell of this wenche / I wrought hyr wordes were so swete
Till I forgat youth / and fell into Age
And then was Fortune my Foo / for all hir fair promise
And Pouertie pursued me / And put me lowe
And then founde I the Frier afreid / & flitting bothe
Against our first covenaunt / for I said I wold not
Be buried at their house / but at my parish churche
For I herde ones / how Conscience it tolde
That there A man were Cristened / of right he shuld be buried
Or where as he were Parishen / euen there to be buried
And forthat for that I seid thus to Friers / A Foole they me held
And loued me the lesse / For my true speche
But yet I cried on my confessour / þat held him-self so connyng
By my feith quod I Frier / ye fare Like thise woars
That wedde no widowes / but wonlie for their goodes
Right so by the rood / rought ye neuer
Where my bodie were buried / so that ye had my siluer
I haue muche merueile of you / & so hath many other
Why your Convent covetith / to confesse and to burie
Rather then to Baptise Barnes / þat be Catecumelynges
Baptyzing and burieng / both be full nedefull
But muche more meritorius / me think to Baptise
For a man Baptised may / as thise maisters telle
Through Contricion come / to the highe heauen
But Barne without Baptime / maynot may not be saued
Nisi quis renatus fuerit &c /[^328]
And Leautie Lokid on me / and I loured After
Wherfor Lowrest þou quod Leautie / & lokid on me harde
Yf I durst quod I Among men / this dreame avowe
Yes by Peter & Paule quod he / & toke them bothe to witnesse
Non oderis fratres in corde tuo secrete , sed publice argue illos
They will allege also quod I / and by the gospell proue
Nolite iudicare quemquam /
And wherfor seruith Lawe quod leautie / if noman no man vndertoke it
Falsnesse nor Faiterie / for somewhat þe Apostole seide
Non oderis fratrem / & in the psalter also seith Dauid þe prophete
Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis &c /
It is Licitum for Laye men / to saie the soothe
Yf them Lust & Like / euery lawe it grauntethe
Except parsons and preistes / & prelates of holy kirk
It fallethe not for them / no tales to telle
Though the tale be true / if it towcheth Synne
A thing that all þe world wot / wherfor shuldest þou spare
And rede it in Rethorike / to rebuke deadlie synne
But be neuer the First / a faute to blame
Though þou se euill saie it not first / but be sorie for it
Nothing þat is privie / Publice þou at any time
Nor for loue lawde it / nor lack it not for envie
Parum lauda vitupera parcius /
He seith truthe quod Scripture then / & skipt vp and preched
But the matere that she moued / if lay men it knewe
The lesse I beleue / loue it they wolde /
This was hir teme & text / I toke full goode hede
Multi to a mangerie / and to the meate were Sommoned
And the people all come / the portar vnpynned the gate
And plucked in Pauci priuelie / & lete the rest go roome
And for Angre of hir text / trembled myn hert
And in a studie I felle / & began with my-self dispute
Whether I were chosen or not / on holie churche I thought
That cristened me at the font / for one of goddes childerne
For Christ callid vs all / come if we wolde
Sarasens & Scismatikes / & so he did the Iewes
O vos omnes scicientes venite
And bad them sucke for for [+] synne / safelie at his brest
And drinke boote for bale / brouke it who so myght
Then may all cristen come quod I / and clayme there entree
By the blood þat he bought vs with / & through baptisme after
Qui crediderit et baptisatus fuerit &c /
For though a cristen man wold / his Christendome renye
Righfullie to renye / no reason it wolde
For no Cherle may Charter make / nor his Catell selle
Without leue of his lorde / no lawe will it graunte
But he may renne in rerage / & so roome from home
And as renyed Caitif / recheleslie renne about
And Reason shall reken with him / & cast him in rereage
And put him in prison / in Purgatorie to brenne
For his arerages rewarde him there / till þe daie of dome
But if Contricion will come / and crie by his Lyfe
Mercie for his misdedis / with mouth or with harte
That is true said Scripture / may no synne let
Mercie all to Amende / and mekenesse hir folowe
For they be as our bookes tell / aboue goddis workes
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius /
Yea bawe for bookes quod won / was broken out of helle
hight Troianus had bene a true knight / toke witnesse at a Pope
howe he was dead and damned / to dwelle in peyne
for an vnxpen vncristen creature / Clerkes knowe the truthe
That all þe clergie vnder Christ / ne might me cache from helle
But wonlie loue and Leautie / and my Laufull domes
Gregorie wist this well / and willed to my soule
Saluacion for sothenesse / that he se in my workes
And after that he wept / & willed me were grauntid
Grace without prayer / and his boone was graunted
And I saued as you se / without synging of masses
By loue and by Learnyng / of my Liuyng in truthe
Brought me fro bitter peynes / there no prayer myght
Lo ye lordes what Leautie did / by an Emporour of Rome
That was an vnxpen vncristen creature / as clerkes fynde in bookes
Not through preyer of A Pope / but for his pure truthe
Was that Sarazen saued / as S Gregorie beareth witnesse
Well ought ye lordes that Lawe kepe / this Lesson to haue in mynde
And on Troianus truthe to thinke / & do trulie to the people
Lawe without loue quod Troianus / Ley there a beane
Or anie sciens vnder sonne / the vij seuen Artes and all
Onlesse they be lerned for the lordes loue / lost is all the time
For no cause to cache siluer / nor to be callid maister
But all for loue of the lorde / and the better to loue the people
For S Iohan said it / and true are hise wordes
Qui non diligit manet in morte
Who-so louithe not beleue me / he liuith in death dying
And that all manere men / enemyes & freindes
Loue eche one other / and beleue them as them-self
Who-so beleuith not he louith not / god wot the soth
And comandethe euery man / to conforme him to loue
And chefelie the pouer people / and their enymies after
For them that hate vs / is our merite to loue
And pouer people to please / their prayers may vs helpe
And our Ioie and our helth / Iesu Christ of heauen
In a pouer mannes apparaile / pursued vs euer
And Loketh on vs in their Likenesse / & þat with louelie chere
To knowe vs by our kynde hart / & casting of our eyen
Whether we loue the Lordes here / before the lorde of blisse
And excite vs by th'evangelie / þat when we make feastes
We shuld not call our kyn therto / nor no riche man /
Cum facitis conviuia , nolite invitare amicos /
But call the carefull therto / the crokid and the blynde
For your freendes will fede you / and requite you agayne
Your Feasting & your fair gifte / eche frende so quiteth other
But for the pouer I shall paye / & well quite their cost
That giueth them meate or[^329] money / & loue them for my sake
For the best , some be rich and some beggers and pouer
All Are Christes creatures / and of his cofres riche
And bretherne as of won blood / as well beggers as Erles
For on Caluarie of Christis blood / cristendome did spring
And bloodie bretherne we became there / of won bodie wonne
As quasi modo geniti , and gentillmen alle
No begger nor boye among vs / but if synne it made
Qui facit peccatum , seruus est peccati /
In th'olde Lawe / as holie letter tellethe
Mennes sonnes / men call vs eueryone
Of Adames issue and Eue / euer till , God man , died
And After his Resurreccion Redemptor was his name
And we his bretherne by him bought / bothe riche and pouer
Therfor loue we as bretherne / & eche man merie with other
And all that euery man may spare / giue where nede is
And euery man helpe other / for hens shall we all
Alter alterius onera portate /
And be we not vnkynde of our goodes / nor of our konnyng
For no man knoweth how sone / to depart from bothe
Therfor no man dispise other / though he more Latyn knowe
Nor vngentellie rebuke / for noman no man is without Faute
For what so euer clerkes carpe / of cristendome or ellis
Christ to a commone woman said / in commone at the feast
That fides sua shulde saue hir / & Salue hir of hir synnes
Than is beleue a true helpe / aboue Logike or Lawe
Of Logike or of lawe / in Legenda Sanctorum /
Is Litell allowaunce made / onlesse beleue them helpe
For it is ouerlong ere Logike / any Lesson Assoile
And Lawe is Loth to loue / onlesse he Lacheth Siluer
Bothe Logike and Lawe / who louith not to Lye
I conseile euery cristen / clive not þerto to sore
For some wordes I fynd written / were of Faithes teaching
That sauid synfull men / as S . Iohan beareth witnesse
Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remetietur vobis
Therfor learne we the Lawe of loue / as our lorde taught
And as S . Gregorie said / for mannes soule helthe
Melius est scrutari scelera nostra , quam naturas rerum
Why I meue this matere / is most for the pouer
For in their likenesse oure lorde hath bene ofte knoune
Witnesse in the Pask wyke / when we went[^a1786] to Emaus
Cleophas knew him not / that he Christ was
For his pouer Apparaile / and pilgrymes wede
Till he blessed and brake / the bread that they ete
So by his workes they wist / that he was Iesus
But by clothing they knewe him not / nor by carping of tong
And all was for exemple / to vs synnefull here
That we shulde be lowe / and gentill of speche
And apparaile vs not ouer prowdlie / for pilgrymes are we all
And in Apparaile of a pouer man / & pilgrymes Likenesse
Many tymes god hath bene met / Among nedie people
There neuer man him se / clothid Like the Riche
S . Iohan and other Sayntes / were sene in pouer clothing
And as pouer Pilgrymes / Asked mennes goodes
Iesus Christ on a Iewes doughter light / gentilwoman though she were
She was a pure pouer maide / & to a pouerman pouer man weddid
Martha on Marie Magdalene / a great compleynt made
And to our Sauiour himself / said thise wordes
Domine non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me solam ministrare
And Hastelie god Answerid / and bothe their willes folowid
Both Marthaes and Maries / as Mathue witnessethe
But pouertie god put before / and preised that as best
Maria optimam partem elegit que non auferetur ab ea
And all the wise that euer were / by aught þat I can spie
Preise pouertie for best life / if Pacience folowe
And bothe better and blissedder / by many fold then richesse
And though it be sowre to suffre / therafter commeth swete
As on a walnot without / is a bitter barke
But within the same / the shelle being awaie
Ys a kernell of conforte / kynde to restore /
So is after pouertie or penaunce / pacientlie taken
for hit maketh A man to haue mynde of god / & A great will
To wepe and to pray / wherof cometh mercie
Of which Christ is a Kernell / to confort the soule
And more quietlie slepith / the man þat is pouer
And Lesse he dredeth death / and in the derk to be robbid
Then he that is riche / Reason beareth witnesse
Pauper ego ludo , dum tu diues meditaris /
Although Salomon seyd / as folke seeth in the Bible
Diuicias / nec paupertem pauper[ta]tem &c /
Wyser then Salomon was / bereth witnes and taught
That perfite pouertie was / no possessions to haue
And Life most Liking to god / as Luke witnesseth
Si vis perfectus esse , vade et vende &c /
Which is to mene to men Living in this world
Who-so wilbe will be purely perfite / must forsake possessions
Or selle it as the book seith / and the siluer dele
To beggers that begg / and aske it for goddes loue
For neuer failed man meate / þat allmightie god serued
As Dauid saith in the psalter / to such as be in will
To serue god trulie / ne greveth them no penaunce /
Nichil impossibile volenti /
Nor Lackethe neuer Lifelode / Lynnen nor wollen
Inquirentes autem dominum / non minuentur omni bono /
Yff preistes were perfite / they wold no siluer take
For masses nor Mateyns / not their meate of vsureres
Nor neither kirtell nor Cote / though they for cold shuld die
Yf they their deuoir did / as dauid saith in the psalter
Iudica me deus et discerne causam meam /
Spera in deo , spekith of preistes / þat haue no spending siluer
That if they travaile trulie / & trust in god Allmighty
They shall Lacke no Lifelode / neither wollen nor Lynen
And the Title they toke orders by / telleth they be Avaunced
Then nede not you to take syluer / for masses that you syng
For he that toke you your title / shuld take you your wages
Or the Bisshope that blissed you / if þat ye be worthie
For neuer king made knight / but he had Living to spende
As befelle for A knight / or fond him for his strengthe
It is a carefull knight / and of a caitif kinges making
That hathe no londes[^a1787] nor living / nor good loos of his handes
The same I saye forsothe / by all suche preistes
That haue neither connyng nor kyn / but only a croune
And a Title a tale of nought / to his Lifelode at nede
He hathe more beleue I think / to get through his Crowne
Cure ,[^330] then through connyng / or knowlege of clene Living
I haue wonder why / and wherfor the Bisshope
Make such preistes / that betraie Laye men
A Chartre is chalengeable / before a chief Iustice
Yf false Latyn be in it / the lawe it impugneth
Or peyntid parenterlynarye / or parcellis ouerskipped
The man þat so gloseth charters / for a goky is holden
So it is a goky by god / þat in his gospell fayleth
Or in masse or mateyns / maketh any defaute
Qui offendit in vno , in omnibus est reus /
Also in the Psalter / saith Dauid to ouerskyppers
Psallite deo nostro psallite quoniam rex terre deus psallite sapienter
The bisshop shalbe shall be blamed / before god as I beleue
That Crowneth suche goddes knightes / þat cannot[^331] Sapienter
Syng nor psalmes rede / nor saie masse of the daie
But neither is blamelesse / the bisshop nor the chapelyne
For they bothe be indyted / and þat is ignorantia non[^332]
excusat episcopos nec ydiotes preistis
This Loking on leaude preistes / hath done me lept from pouertie
Which I prayse there pacience is / more perfite then richesse
But much more in dremyng / þus with me did one dispute
And sleping I se all this / and then came Kynde
And callid me by my name / & bad me take hede
And through the wonders of this worlde / wit for to take
And on a Mounteyne þat Middillerthe hight as me thought
I was fet furthe / by ensamples to knowe
Through euery creature & kynde / my Creatour to loue
I sawe the sonne and the Sea / & also the sand after
And wheras birdes and beastes / with their makes went
Wyld wormes in woodes / & wonderfull foules
With flecked fethers / and of many colours /
Man And his make / I might bothe beholde
Pouertie and plentie / both peace and warre
Blisse and bale bothe / I se all atones at ones
And how men toke mede / and mercie refused
I se Reason sothelie / ensue all beastes
In eating and drinkyng / & in engendring of kynde
And after course of conception / non toke kepe of other
As when they had riden in Rott tyme / Anone therafter
Males drewe to males / Amornynges by them-self
And in Euenynges also / þe males fro the females
There was neither Cowe nor Cowkynde / þat had conceyuid
That wold belowe after bulles / nor boor after sowe
Both horse an houndes / and all other beastes
Medelid not with their makes / that with fole were
Birdes I beheld / that in busshes made nestes
Had neuer man witt / to worke the Least
I had wonder at whome / and where the Pye Learned
To lay the stickes / in which she laieth and bredethe
There is no wright as I wene / shulde worke hir nest to paie
Yf any Mason made a moulde therto / much wonder it were /
But yet I merveiled more / how many other birdes
Hidd and helled their / Egges full preuylie
I I[n] marresse and moores / that men shulde them not Fynde
And hide ther egges / when they went from them
For Feare of other foules / and wild beastes
And some trode their makes / and on trees brede
And brought furth birdes so / all aboue the grounde
And some birddes at the bill / through breathing conceyued
And some cauked I toke kepe / how pecockes bredd
Much merveiled me / what maister they had
And who taught them on treis / to tymbre so highe
There neither burn nor beast / may their birdes reche
And sithen I Lokid vpon the sea / & so furth vpon the sterres
Many wonders I se / not to be spoken nowe
I sawe floures in the frith / and their faire colours
And how Among the grene grasse / grew so many hewes
Some sour and some swete / very straunge me thought
Of their kyndes and colours / to carpe it were to long
But that most moved me / and my mode chaungid
That Reason rewardyd / and ruled all Beastes
Saue man and his make / many time and ofte /
No reason them folowid / And than I rebuked
Reason / And euen to himself I said
I haue wonder of the quod I / þat wittie art holden
Why thou ensuest not man and his make / þat no misfeat them folowe
And Reason Rebuked me / Sayeng care thou not
Why I suffre or not suffre / þou hast noȝt[^333] to doo
Amend thou it if thou maye / for my tyme is to abide
Suffraunce is a souereyne vertue / and a swifte vengeaunce
Who suffreth more then god / no man as I beleue
he might Amend in a Mynute / all þat is Amisse
But he suffreth for some mannes good / and so is oure better
The wise and the wittie / wrot thus in the Byble
De re que te non molestat , noli certare /
For be a man fair or foule / it falleth for to Lacke /
The shape and forme / that god shoupe himself
For all that he did was well done / as holie writ witnessethe
Et vidit deus cuncta que fecerat , et erant valde bone
And bad euery creature / in his kynde encresce
All to confort man / that most wo sufferith
In fonding of the fleshe / and of the fende bothe
for man was made of such matere / he maynot may not well astert
That ne sometyme him betidde / to folowe his kynde
Cato Accordeth therwith / Nemo sine crimine viuit /
Then caught I colour anone / And began to be Ashamed
And awakid þerwith / woo was me thanne[^334]
That I in dreames myght not / more haue knoune
And then said I to my-self / and chidde that tyme
Now I wot what Dowell is quod I / by god as me thinke
And as I cast vp myn eyen / won Lokid on me & Asked
Of me what is i[t] was / Iwisse syr I seyd
To se much and suffre more / certes quod I is Dowell
Haddest þou suffred he said / sleping when þou were
Thou shuldest haue knoune þat clerkes can / & conceyuid more by Reason
For Reason wold haue rehercid the / even as clergie said
But for thyn entermedling / here art þou forsake
Philosophus esses , si tacuisses /
Adam whiles he spake not / had paradise at will
And when he mamled about meate / & entermetid to knowe
The wisdome and þe wit of god / he was put from blisse
And even so farid Reason by the / þou with thy rude speche
Thou Lackedst and lost[^335] thing / that ought not to be done
Then had he no Liking / for to Lerne the more
Pride now and presumption / paraduenture woll the Appeale
That Clergie thy companye / will not ensue
Shall neuer chalenginge nor chyding / chaste a man so sone
As shall shame / & shend him / and shape him t'amende
For Lat a Dronken Daf / in a Dike fall
Lat him ly lokenot loke not on him / till he list to rise
For though Reason rebukid him than / it were but pure synne
But when nede taketh him vp / for doubte lest he sterue
And shame shaketh his clothes / and his shynnes wassheth
Than wot the Dronken Daff / wherfore he is to blame
Ye saie sothe quod I / I haue sene it ofte /
There smyght nothing so smert / nor smelleth so soure
As shame there he shewith him / for eueryman it shonneth
Why ye tell me this quod I / was for I rebukid reason
Certesse quod he þat is true / and shope him forth to walke
And I Arosse vp with that / and folowed him after
And preid him of his curtesie / to telle me his name

[^a1786: went (S M) | yede (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1787: londes (S M) | lond (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^328: S uniquely omits KD.11.83. The omitted material was probably run together with KD.11.82α in Sx, though it occupies a separate line in Hm. See BTP note ad loc. Omission could have been induced by repetition of loke/loked and alliteration on /l/.]

[^329: S's cancelled punctuation, preceding this word, is unique among beta2 copies.]

[^330: Cure: Syntactic punctuation is shared by W and derives ultimately from Bx. See Introduction, ??? and BTP ad loc.]

[^331: Sx read "konneþ noȝt"; the S redactor evidently construed the verb in the sense "to know or be familiar with (sth.), to know (sth.) by heart" (MED connen v., senses 5a,b), or else "to possess knowledge or understanding" (sense 4b), and translated accordingly. The S scribe's correction recognizes that the syntactic construction runs into the next line where konneþ must govern an infinitive (sense 1a).]

[^332: Other copies uniformly break before 'non' and present the Latin as two lines. S evidently treats KD.11.316, 317 as a single run-on unit.]

[^333: noȝt: For this spelling see S.5.362n.]

[^334: thanne: The sole spelling of THEN with final -e, a relict of S's medieval exemplar.]

[^335: lost: Rendering losedest 'praised'.]

Passus [The majuscule P lacks its descender. Cf. S.5.532n and S.10.273n.] duodecimus de visione /

I am ymaginatyf quod he / ydell was I neuer
Though I sit by my-self / in sikenesse or in helth
I haue folowed the in feith / thise fyue and fourtie wynters
And many tymes I haue moved the / to think on thy ende
And howe many chaunces haue chauncid[^336] / and so fewe to come
And of thy wylde wantonesse / when thou yong were
To Amend in thy myddillage / lest myght the failed
In thine old age / that euill can suffre
Pouertie , or penaunce / or preyer bidde
Si non in prima vigilia , nec in secunda /
Amende þe[^337] while thou maye / thou hast be warned ofte
With inpostumes[^338] and pestilences / with pouertie and angre
And with thise bittre baleises / god beateth his dere childerne
Quem diligo castigo /
And dauid in the psalter spekith / of such as loueth Iesus
Virga tua et baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt
Although thou strike me with thy staf / with stick or with rodd
It is but myrth for me / to amende my soule /
And thou medelist with makyng / and myghtest go saie thy psalter
And praye for them þat gyue the bread / for there are bookes Inowe
To telle men what dowell is / Dobet and Dobest also
And preachers to proue what it is / of many a peyre Friers
I se that he said truthe / and somewhat me to excuse
Said Cato conforted me / that clerke though he were
To solace him sometyme as I do / when I make
Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis /
And of holy men I haue herde quod I / howe they other while
Plaide the perfiter to be in many placis /
But if there were any wight / that wold me telle
What were Dowell and Dobet / and Dobest at the Laste
Wold I neuer do worke / but go to holie churche
And there saie my prayers / but when I ete or slepe
Paule in his pistle quod he / proveth what is Dowell
Fides spes caritas , et maior horum &c
Feith hope and charitie / and all bene good /
And saue men sondrie tymes / but non so sone as charitie
For he doeth well without doute / that doth as Leautie teacheth
That is if thou be maried man / Loue thy wyfe
And Liue as Lawe will / while ye Lyue bothe
Even so if thou be religiouse / renne thou neuer farther
To Rome nor to Rochemador / but as thy rule teacheth
And holde the vnder obedience / þat high waie is to heauen
And if thou be maid vnmaried / and maist so well contynue
Seke neuer Saynt ferther / for no soules helthe
For what made Lucifere / to lose the Highe Heauen
Or Salomon his sapience / or Sampson his strengh
Iob the Iewe his ioye / dere he it bought
Aristotle and other mo / Hypocras and Virgile
Alisandre that all wan / elengelych ended
Catell and kynde wit / was combraunce to them all
Felice hir fairnesse / Fell hir all to sclaunder
And Rosamounde right so / rufullie to beleue
The beautie of hir bodie / in badnesse she dispended
Of many such I may rede / bothe men and women
That wise wordes wolde shewe / and worke the contrarie
Sunt homines nequam , bene de virtute loquentes /
And riche men also / gather and spare
And they þat they most hate / mynestre it at Laste
And for they suffre and se / so many nedy folkes
And loue them not as oure lorde bid / Lose their soules
Date at dabitur vobis &c
And richesse right so / but if the roote be true
But grace is a grasse therof / tho grevaunces to abate
But grace growe not / but among Lowlie
Pacience and pouertie / the place is where it groweth
And in true Lyving men / and in Lyfe holie
And through the gift of the holie goste / as the gospell telleth
Spiritus vbi vult spirat &c
Clergie and Kynde wit / commeth of sight and teaching
As the booke bearethe witnesse / to men that can rede
Quod scimus loquimur , quod vidimus testamur
Of quod scimus commeth Clergie / & connyng of heauen
And of quod vidimus , commeth kyndwit , by sight of diuerse people
But grace is a gifte of god / and of great loue springethe
No clerk knowith how it commethe furth / nor kyndwit the weye
Nescit aliquis vnde venit , aut quo uadit
But yet is Clergie to be preised / and kyndwit also
And namelie Clergie for Christes loue , that of clergie is roote
For Moses witnesseth þat god wrot / for to teache the people
In the olde Lawe as the lettre tellethe / þat was the lawe of Iewes
That what woman were in adultrie taken / were she riche or pouer
With stones men shulde hir strike / and stone hir to deathe
A woman as we rede / was giltie of that dede
But Christ of his curtesie / through clergie hir saued
And through Caractes that Christ wrot / the iewes knewe themself
Giltier as afore god / And greater in synne
Then the woman that there was / and went awaie for shame
The clergie þat ther was / conforted the woman
Holy church knowethe this / þat Christes wrighting saued hir
So Clergie is confort / to creatures that repent them
And to Mad or folish[^339] men / mischefe at their ende
For goddes bodie might not be of bread / without clergie
The which bodie is bothe boote / to the rightfull
And deathe and damnacion / to them þat dyethe evell
As Christes Caract conforted / and also culpable shewed
The woman that the iewes brought / þat Iesus thought to saue
Nolite iudicare , non iudicabimini
Even so goddes bodie bretherne / onlesse it be worthely take
Damneth vs at the daye of dome / as the Caractes did the Iewes
Therfor I conseile the for Christes sake / Clergie that þou Loue
For kynde wit is of his kyn / and nighe cosyns bothe
To oure lorde beleue me / therfor loue them I rede
For bothe be as Myrrours / t'amende oure fautes /
And Lederis for Lay men / and Learned bothe
Therfor Lacke thou neuer Logike / Lawe nor his customes
Nor counterplede Clerkes / I counseyle the for euer
For as man may may [+]not se / that mysse his eyes
No more can no clerk / onlesse he gat it first through bookes
Although men made bookes / god was the maister
And Saynt Spirit the samplarie / & told what men shulde wright /
Euen so Ledeth Learneng / Lewde men to reason /
And as a blynde man in bataile / beareth weapen to fight
And Hathe non Happe with his Axe / his enemye to hitte
Nomore No more can a kynde witted man / onlesse clerkes him teache
Come for all his kynde witte / to cristendome & be saued
Which is the Cofre of Christes treasure / and Clerkes kepe þe keyes
To vnlocke it at thir pleasure / and to the lewde people
Gyue mercie for thir misdedes / if men will it aske /
Buxomly and benignely / and aske it for charitie
Archa dei in the olde lawe / the Leuites it kept
Had neuer lewde man leue / to lay Hande of that Chest
But he were preest or preistes son / Patriarke or prophete
For Clergie is keper / Vnder Christe of heauen
Was there neuer no knight / but Clergie him made
But kynde wit commeth / of all manere sightes
Of birdes and beastes / of tastes of truthe and deceyte
Lyuers before vs / vsed to marke
Straunge thinges that they se / their childern to teache
And helde it an highe science / their wittes to knowe
But through their Science trulie / was neuer soule saued
Nor brought by their bookes / to blisse nor to ioye
For all their kynde knowlege commeth but by diuerse sightes
Patriarches and prophetes / reproued their Science /
Saying their wordes and wisdome / was but Folye
As to the clergy of Christ / counted it but a trifle
Sapiencia huius mundi , stulticia est apud deum /
For the heigh Holy ghost / Heauen shall to cleue
And loue shall leape out after / in-to this lowe erthe
And clennesse shall cache it / and clerkes shall it Fynde
Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem /
He speaketh there of rich men right nought / nor of right wittie
Nor of Lordes that were lewde men / but of the highest lerned
Ibant magi ab oriente
Yf Any friere were founde there / I will gyue the fyve shillinges
Nor in no beggers cote / was that barne borne
But in a burgese place / of Betheleme the best
Sed non erat locus in diuersorio &c /
To pastors and to poetes / Appered the Aungell
And bad them go to Bethlem / goddes birth to honour
And song A song of Solas / Gloria in excelsis deo
Clerkes knewe it well / And came with their presentes
Doing their homage honorablie / to him that was almyghtie
Why I haue tolde all this / I toke full good hede
How thou diddest contrarie clergie / with crabbed wordes
How that lewde men Lightlier / then Lerned were saued
Then clerkes or kynde witted men / of cristian people
And thou saidest true of some / but se in what manere
Take ij two strong men / and in-to the Temmes cast them
And bothe naked as a nedle / non surer then other
The won hath connyng and can / bothe swymme and dive
The other is Lewde of that Labour / & neuer Lerned to Swymme
Which thinkest þou of them ij two / in the Temmes is most in ieopardie
he that neuer dived / and nought can of Swymmyng
Or he that swymmeth in safetie / if that he will
There his felawe flete furthe / as the flood drivethe
And is in drede to drenche / that neuer did Swymme
He that cannot swymme quod I / it semeth to my wittes
Even so quod the man / Reason it shewethe
That he that knoweth clergie / can soner Arise
Out of Synne and be saf / though he synne ofte
Yf him Like and Lust / than any lewde man
For if the clerke be connyng / he knoweth what is Synne
And howe contricion without Confession / conforteth the soule
As thou seist in the psalter / in psalmes one or tweyne
how contricion is commended / for it putteth awaie synne
Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates , et quorum tecta sunt &c
And this conforteth euery clerk / & couereth him from wanhope

[A later hand has written a number of letterforms and possible words lengthwise in the margin of the folio. Letters include I and t among others. The word "the" (?) appears at the top of the page. Smudging obscures a group of letters nearer the top of the folio.]

In Whiche flood the feend / holdeth a man hardest
There the lewde Lyith still / and lokethe for Lent
And hathe no contricion ere he come to shifte / and then can he littell tell
And as his lores man Learne him / he beleueth and troweth
And that is after Parson or parish preist / and paraduenture
Vnconnyng to lerne lewde men / as Luke beareth witnes
Dum cecus cecum ducit &c /
Wo was he marked þat wade must with the Lewde
Well may the childe blisse / that him to booke sett
That Lyving after Lernyng / saueth bothe Life and soule
Dominus pars hereditatis mee / is a mery verse
That hathe taken from Tyborne / xxti twenti strong theues
Where Lewde theues be lolled vp / Loke how they be saued
The thefe þat had grace of god / vpon the good fridaie
Was for he knew him-self fautie to Christ & knowleged his gilt
Asking mercie of god / and he is euer redie
That Lowly aske it / And in will t'amende them
But though that thefe had heauen / he had no high blisse
As Saynt Iohan and other Sayntes / þat had deserued better
Even as some men gyue me meat / & set me Amiddes the flore
I haue meat more then ynough / but not somuch so much worshippe
As they þat sit at the side table / or with the souereynes of the hall
But sitt as begger bordelesse / by my-self on the grounde
So it fareth by that felon / þat on good friday was saued
He sitt neither with S Iohan / Symond nor Iude
Nor with maydes nor Martyrs / Confessours nor widewes
But by him-self as a soleyn / & serued on erthe
For he that is ones a thefe / is euermore in daunger
And as Lawe Liketh to Lyue or to dye
De peccato propiciato , noli esse sine metu /
And for to serue a Saynt / and suche a thefe togithers
It were neither reason nor right / to rewarde them alike
And right as Troianus þe true knight / dwelt not depe in helle
That oure lorde ne had him Lightlie out / so beleue I þe thefe be in heven
For he is in the Lowest heaven / if our beleue be true
And well loselly he lolleth there / by the Lawe of holy churche
Qui reddit vnicuique iuxta opera sua /
And why that one thefe / on the crosse / creaunt did him yelde
Rather then the other / though þou woldest oppose
All the clerkes vnder Christ / could not the same assoile
Quare placuit quia voluit
And so I saie by the / that sekest after the whyes
And Arguest with Reason / A rebuking as it were
And of the floures in the frithe / And of their faire hewes
Wherof they cache their coloures / so clere and so bright
And willest of birdes and beastes / & of their breding to knowe
Why some be belowe and some alofte / thy Liking it were
And of the stones & of the sterres / thou studiest I belieue
Howe euery beast and birde / hathe so good wittes
Clergie nor kynde wytt / knowe neither the cause
But kynde knoweth himself / no creature elles
He is the Pyes patrone / and putteth it in hir eare
That there the thorne is thickest / to buylde and brede
And kynde taught the pecocke / to cawke in such a kynde
And taught Adam to knowe / his privie membres
And taught him and Eue / to couer them with leues
Lewde men many tymes / Maisters they oppose
Why Adam hilled not first / his mouth þat ete the Apple
Rather then his bodie benethe / Lewde thus aske clerkes
Kynde knoweth why he did so / but no clerke ellis
But of byrdes and[^a1788] beastes / men by olde tyme
Ensamples toke and termes / as telle the poettes
And that the fayrest foule / foulest engendrethe
And feblest foule of flight / that fleith or swymmethe
And that the pecok and the pehenne / proude rich men betoken
For the Pecock if men pursue him / maynot may not flie highe
For the traling of his taile / ouertaken is he sone
And his sleshe [f]leshe is foule[^340] fleshe / and his fete also
And vnlouely of Ledene / And Layth for to here
Right so the riche / if he his richesse kepe
And deleth it not till his deathdaye / the taile of all sorowe
Even as the pennes of the pecocke / peyneth him in his flight
So is possession peyne / of pens and of nobles
To all them that kepe it / till their taile be plucked
And thoughe the rich repent then / and Lament the tyme
That euer he gathered so much / and gaf therof so Littill
Though he crieth to Christ then / with kene will I beleue
his Leden be in our lordes eare / Like a pies chatering

[A later hand has written a near-complete alphabet lengthwise along the left margin of the folio. Each letterform is represented between two and four times in order. H, k, l, and t are notable for sharing the eccentric crossed ascenders of the letters found in the margin of 16v and elsewhere in the manuscript.]

And when his Corps shall come / in graue to be buried
I beleue it flaume full foule / the folde all aboute
And all the other there it Lythe / invenomed through his Attre
By the Pofeet is vnderstande / as I haue lerned
Executors false frendes / that fulfille not his will
That was written and they witnesse / to worke euen as it wold
Thus the Poete proueth þat the pecock / for his fethers is reuerenced
Even so is the riche / by reason of his goodes
The Larke that is a Lesse foule / is more louely of Ledene[^341]
And well awaie of wyng / swifter then the pecock
And of fleshe by many folde / fatter and sweter
To pouer Laboring men / the Larke is resembled
Aristotle the great clerk / such tales tellethe
Thus he Likeneth in his Logik / the Least foule out
And whether he be saf or no / the sothe wot no clerkes
Nor of Sortes nor Salomon / no scripture can telle
But god is so good I hope / that sith he gaue them wittes
To counseile vs withall / and telle vs to be saued
And the better for their bookes / to pray we be bounde
That god for his grace / giue their soules rest
for Lerned men were yet Lewde men / were not their bookes
All these clerkes quod I then / that on Christ beleue
Say in their sermons / that neyther Sarazene nor Iewe
Nor no creature elles / without cristendome is saued
Contra quod ymaginatife then / And began to loure
And said / saluabitur vix iustus / in die iudicij
Ergo saluabitur quod he / and spake nomore no more Latyn
Troianus was a true knight / and toke neuer cristendome
And is saf saith the book / & his soule in heauen
For there is Cristening in font / & cristenyng in bloodshedyng
And through fyre is cristening / this is fyrme beleue
Aduenit ignis diuinus non comburens , sed illiminans ill[u]minans
But truthe that trespassed neuer / nor did against his Lawe
But Lyueth as his Lawe teacheth / & beleue there is no better
And if there were he wold amende / & in such will dieth
Wold neuer the true god / but truthe were allowed
And whether it be or not / the beleue is great of truthe
And an hope hanging therin / to haue a mede for his truthe
for Deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam suis hoc est fidelibus
Et alibi , Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis /
The glose graunteth vpon þat vers / A great mede to truthe /
And wit and wisdome quod he / was sometyme treasure
To kepe with A commones / no richesse holde better
And much myrthe and manhode / & with that he vanished

[^a1788: and (S M) | and of (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^336: many chaunces haue chauncid: Rendering fele fernyeres are faren. An instance of updated idiom.]

[^337: This error may have been induced by the form "þou" in subsequent copy; similarly, the g in "thoug" could have been induced by a spelling such as M's "might" in Sx (the word rendered as "maye" in S). (I do not find another line with three instances of corrected miswriting.)]

[^338: inpostumes: 'abscesses', rendering poustees, for which see S.5.36n.]

[^339: Mad or folish: Rendering mansede 'cursed'. A rare instance of doublet translation in S.]

[^340: The scribe begins to write the loop of an l after f, by attraction to surrounding copy.]

[^341: The main scribe has interlinneated ".i. note" above "Ledene". There is a gloss of the same form at S.6.247.]

Passus xiijus tredecimus de visione

And I waked therwith / witlesse nerehande
And as A freke that fre were / furth gan I walke
In manere of A begger / many a yere after
And of this dreame many tyme / much thought I hadd
Fyrst how fortune me failed / at my most nede
And howe þat Age threatened me / if euer we mett
And howe that Friers folowed / folke þat were riche
And those that were pouer / at Litill price they sett
And no Corps in their Kyrkyerd / nor in their kirk was buried
Onlesse he bequethed ought / or shulde helpe pay their dettes
And howe that Couetise ouercame / Clerkes and preistes
And howe that lewde men be led / but our Lorde them helpe
Through vnconnyng creatures / to incurable peynes
And howe that ymaginatyf / in dreames me told
Of Kynde & of his connyng / & howe curteis he is to beastes
And howe Loving he is to beastes / bothe on lond & water
He leneth no Lyfe / Lesse nor more
The creatures that crepe / of Kynde they be engendred
And then howe ymaginatyf seyd // Vix saluabitur iustus
And when he had said so / how sodenly he passed
I Laye doune long in this thought / And at the Last I slept
And as Christ wold there cam conscience / to confort me þat tyme
And bad me come to his courte / with clergie shulde I dyne
And for Conscience of Clergy spake / I came somuche so muche the rather
And there I se a maister / what man he was I wist not
That Lowe he lowted / and louely to scripture
Conscience knewe hym well / And welcommed him fair
They wasshed And wyped / And went to their dynner
But pacience in the palais stood / in pilgrymes clothes
And asked mete for charitie / for A pouer heremyte
Conscience called him in / And curteislie said
Welcome , go and washe / thou shalt sytt sone /
This maister was made sytte / As for the most worthie
And then Clergie and Conscience / & pacience cam After
Pacience And I were / put to be maches
And sett by our -self / at the syde boorde
Conscience called after meate / And than cam Scripture
And serued them thus sone / of sundrie meates manye
Of Augustine of Ambrose / And of the foure Evangelistes
Edentes et bibentes que apud eos sunt /
But this maister nor his man / no manere fleshe ete
But they ete meate of more cost / Mortreux and potages
Of that men ofte want / they made them well at ease
But their sauce was very soure / & vnsavourly grounde
Ina In a morter Post mortem / of many a bitter peyne
But if they sing for tho soules / And wepe salt teares
Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis , nisi pro eis lacrimas et oraciones / effunderitis ea que in delicijs comeditis in tormentis euometis
Conscience full curteisly then / commanded Scripture
Before Pacience bread to bring / and me þat was his mache
He sett a sour lofe before vs / and said Agite penitenciam
And then he brought vs drynke / Diaperseuerans
As long quod I as I Lyue / And this body may endure
Here is proper seruice quod pacience / there fareth no prynce better
And then he brought furth A mese of other meat / of Miserere mei deus
And he brought vs of beati quorum of Beatus virres making
Et quorum tecta sunt peccata / in a dishe
Of derne Christe / Dixi / and Confitebor tibi /
Bryng Pacience a pitaunce / priuyly quod Conscience
And than had Pacience / A pitaunce by and by
Pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus / in tempore oportuno
And Conscience conforted vs / & told vs mery tales
Cor contritum et humiliatum , deus non despicies
Pacience was proude / of that proper seruice
And made him mery with his meate / but I mourned euer
For the Doctour At the high dease / Drank wyne so faste /
Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum
He ete many sundrie meates / Mortruex & puddynges
Wombe cloutes and wyld brawne / & egges fryed with grece
Then said I to my-self so / pacience it herde
It is not foure Daies þat this freke / before the dean of paules
Preached of penaunce / that paule th'apostle suffred
In fame et frigore / and flappes of skourges
Ter cesus sum et a iudeis quinquies quadragenas &c
But one worde they ouerhippe / at eche tyme that they preache
That Paule in his Epistle / to all the people tolde
Periculum est Falsis fratribus
Holy writ bid men beware / I wilnot will not write it here
In englishe lest it shulde be reherced to ofte
And greue therwith good men / But gramariens shall rede
Vnusquisque a fratre se custiat cust[od]iat , quia vt dicitur periculum est in falsis fratrib
But I wist neuer fryer yet / before men in englishe
Take it for his teme / and telle it without glosyng
They preache that penaunce is / profitable to the soule
And what mischef and misease / Christ for man suffred
But this goddes glutton quod I / with his great chekes
hath no pitie on vs pouer / he performeth euell
That he prechethe he proue not / to pacience I told
And wished ernestly / with will full egre
That disshes and doblers / before the same doctour
Were molten in his mawe / And Mahounne amyddes
I shall Iangle to this Iourdan / with his iust wombe
To telle me what penaunce is / of which he preached Late
Pacience perceyued what I ment / & winked on me to be stille
And said thou shalt se sone / whan he may nomore no more
He shall haue a penaunce in his paunche / & puf & [at] euery worde
And then shall his guttes gulle / & he shall galpe After
for now hath he dronken so depe / he will devyne sone
And proue it by their Pocalyps / And passion of S . Avarice
That neither Bacon nor Brawne / Blank manger nor mortreux
Is neither fishe nor fleshe / But food for A penitent
Then shall he testifie of þe Trinytie / & take his felawe to witnesse
What he founde in A fray / After a friers Lyuyng
And but he first lyue by leasinges / beleue me neuer after /
And than is tyme to take / And oppose this doctour
And dowell and dobet / And if dobest be any penaunce
And I sate still as pacience bad / And then sone this doctour
As rody as A rose / rubbed his chekes
Coughed and carped / and Conscience him herde
And told him of A Trinite / & towarde vs he Lokid
What is dowell syr doctour quod I / is dowell any penaunce
Dowell quod this doctour / And toke the cuppe and drancke
Ys do non euill to thine even cristen / not by thy poure
By this daye syr doctor quod I / than be ye not in dowell
For you haue harmed vs ij two / in that ye ete the puddyng
Mortruex and other meate / & we no morsell hadd
And if ye fare so in your fermerye / ferly me thinketh
But Chastite[^342] be there Charitie shuld be / & yong childerne durst complayne
I wold permute my penaunce with your / for I am in poynt to dowell
Then Conscience curteislie / a countynaunce he made
And winked vpon Pacience / to pray me to be stille
And said himself syr doctour / And it be your wille
What is dowell and dobett / ye devynours knowe
Dowell quod this doctour / do as clerkes teache
And dobet is he that teacheth / & travaileth to teache other
And dobest dothe him-self so / as he saieth & preachethe
Qui facit et docuerit , magnus vocabitur in regno celorum
Now you Clergie quod Conscience / carpe what is dowell
I haue vij seuen sonnes he said / seruauntes in a Castell
There the lorde of Lyfe dwellethe / to lerne what is dowell
Till I se tho seaven / And my-self Accorde
I am vnhardy quod he / to any man to proue it
For won Piers the plowman / hath inpugned vs all
And set all sciences[^343] Light / saue loue wonly
And no text he taketh / to maynteyne his cause
But Dilige deum and Domine quis habitabit /
And saith that dowell and dobet / Are two infynites
Which infinites with a feithe / Fynde out Dobest
Which shall saue mannes soule / thus saith piers plowman
I knowe not this quod Conscience / But I knowe well Piers
he willnot will not against holy writ speake / I dare well vndertake
Then passe we ouer till piers come / & proue this indede
Pacience hathe bene in many a place / & paraduenture mouthed
That no clerk can / as Christ beareth witnesse
Pacientes vincunt &c
But your prayer quod pacience then / so noman no man displease him
Disce quod he Doce / and Dilige inimicos
Disce and dowell Doce and Dobet Dilige and Dobest / thus taught me ones[^344]
A Lemman that I loued / Loue was hir name
With wordes and with workes quod she / and will of thine harte
Thoue loue truly thy soule / all thy Lyfe tyme /
And so thou lerne the to loue / for the lordes loue of heauen
Thyne Enemy in Any wise / euen as thy-self
Cast coles on his head / of all kynde speche
Bothe with wordes and workes / entende his loue to wynne
And ley on him thus with loue / till he Lawghe on the
And onlesse he bowe with this beating blynde mut he be
But for to fare thus with thy freind / folie it were
For he that loueth the trulie / Litill of thyne covetethe
Kynde loue coueteth not / catell but speche
With Half a Lampe in Latine / Ex vi transicionis
I beare therin aboute / Fast bounde Dowell
In A signe of the Saterdaie / that set first the Kalender
And all the witt on the wednesday / of þe next wike after
The middell of the mone / as the night of bothe
And therwith am I welcome / there I haue it with me
Vndo it Lat this doctour deme / if dowell be therin
For by him that me made / might neuer pouerte
Misease or mischef / nor man with his tong
Colde nor care / nor company of theues
Nor neither hete nor haile / nor non helle powke
Nor neither fier nor flood / nor feare of thine enemye
Tene[^345] the Any time / And thou take it with the
Caritas nichil timet /
It is but a dido quod this Doctour / A disoures tale
All the wit of this worlde / and wight mennes strengthe
Cannot conforme a peace . betwene the pope and his enemyes
Nor betwene ij two Cristene kynges / can no man peace make
Profitable to either people / and put the table from him
And toke Clergie and Conscience / to counseile as it were
That pacience thou[^a1789] maist[^a1790] passe / for pilgrymes can well Lye
But Conscience carped lowde / & curteislie saide
Frendes fare ye well / And fair spake to Clergie
For I will go with this man / if god will giue me grace
And be pilgryme with Pacience / till I haue proued more
What quod Clergie to Conscience / Are ye couetouse nowe
After rewardes and giftes / or redy to rede redels
I shall bring you A byble / A booke of the olde Lawe
And lerne you yf you Like / the Least poynt to knowe
That Pacience the pilgryme / perfitely knewe neuer
Nay quod Conscience to Clergie / god that forbidd
For all that Pacience me profereth / prowde am I litill
But the will of the man / And the will of the folke here
Hath moved my mood / to mourne for my synnes
The good will of A wight / was neuer bought to the full
For there is no tresure / to A true will
Had not Maudelyn more for A box of salue
Then Zacheus for all he said / Dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus
And the pouer widewe / for A peyr of mytes
Than all they that offred / in-to Gazophilacium
Thus curteisly conscience / congeied first the frier
And then softlie he said / in Clergies eare
Me were Lefer by the Lorde / and I Lyue shuld
haue Pacience perfitely / then half thy pack of bookes
Clergie of Conscience / no congie wold take
But said full soberlie / thou shalt se the tyme
Whan thou Art wery of walkyng / will me to counsaile
That is sothe said Conscience / so me god helpe
Yf Pacience be our partingfelawe / & privie with vs bothe
There is no wo in this world / that we shulde not amende
And conforme kynges to peace / & all manere Londes
Sarazens[^346] And Surreans / and so forthe all the Iewes
Turne into the true feythe / and into one beleue
That is true quod Clergie / I se what þou menest
I shall dwelle as I do / my devoire to shewe
And conferme Fauntekyns / And other folke Lerned
Till pacience haue proued the / & perfite the made
Conscience then with pacience passed / pilgrymes as they were
Tha n had pacience as pilgrymes haue / in his poke vitalles
Sobrietie and Symple speche / and stedfast beleue
To confort him and conscience / if they came in place
There vnkyndnes and Couetise is / hungry countreis bothe
And as they went by the way / of dowell they carped
They met with A mynstrall / as me then thought
Pacience opposed him fyrst / & preyd him to tell
To Conscience what crafte he coulde / & whether he wolde
I am A mynstrall quod that man / my name is Actiua vita
All ydell I hate / for of Actif is my name
A wafrer will ye wete / And serue many Lordes
And fewe clothes I gett / cotes or furred gownes
Could I Lye to do men laf / then gett I shulde
Outher mantell or money / Among Lordes or Mynstras
But for I can neither tabour nor trompe / nor telle no gestes
Fart nor fithell / at feastes nor harpe
Iape nor Iogle / nor gentillie pype
Nor neither saile nor saute / nor sing with the giterne
I haue no good giftes / of thise great lordes
for no bread that I bring forthe / saue A benyson on the sondaie
Whan the preist preyeth the people thir pater noster to bydd
For Piers the plowman / & they that him loue
And that am I Actyf / that ydilnesse hate
For all true travailours / and tyllers of the erthe
Fro Mighelmas to Mighellmasse / I Fynde them with my[^a1791] wafres
Beggers and bidders / of my bread craue
Faiters and friers / and folke with brode crownes
I Fynde bread for the pope / and prouender for his palfrey
And I had neuer of him / haue god my truthe
Neither provendre nor parsonage / Ȝet of the Popes gyfte
Saue A pardon with a piece of lead / & ij two polles Amyddes
Had I a clerke that coulde wright / I wolde cast him a byble
That he sent me vnder his seale / A salue for the pestilence
And that his blissing and his bulles / boches myght distroye
In nomine meo demonia eijcient / et super egros manus imponent &c
And then wolde I be presst to the people / past for to make
Bothe buxome and busye / About bread and drinke
For him and for all his / found I that his pardon
Might leche A man / as I beleue it shulde
For sithe he hathe the pouer / that peter himself had
He hathe the pott with the salue / truly as me thinkes
Argentum et aurum non est michi / quod autem habeo tibi do In nomine domini surge et ambula /
But if might of myracle him faile / it is for that men be not worthy
To haue the grace of god / and no faute in the Pope
For no blissing may do us good / But if we will Amend
Nor mannes masse make peace / Among cristian people
Till pride be purely fordone / And þat throughe defaute of bread
For ere I haue bread of meale / ofte must I sweate
And ere the commons haue corne ynough / many a cold nornyng
So ere my wafers be wrought / much woe I suffre
All london I beleue / Like well my wafres
And loure when they Lacke them / it is not long yet paste
There was A carefull commons / when no cart came to toune
With bread from Stratforde / then beggars began to wepe
And workemen were agast / this wilbe will be thought on long
In date of our drowt / in A drie Apryll
A thousand and thre hunderd / twies twentie and tean
My wafres then there were geason / when Chichester was Mayr
I toke good kepe by Christ / And Conscience bothe
Of Haukyn the Actyue man / and howe he was clothed
He had A Cote of crist endome / as holie chirche beleuethe
But it was moulded in many places / with many sondrie spottes
Of pride here a plot and there a plott / of vnbuxome speche
Of skornyng & scoffyng / and of vnskilfull beryng
As in Apparaile and port / proude Among the people
Otherwise then he hathe / with hart or sight shewing
Hym willing that all men wende / he were that he is not
For why he bosteth and braggethe / with many bolde othes
And is vnobedient to be interteyned / of any man Lyuyng
And non so syngler by himself / nor so pompe holie
habited as an heremyte / an order by himself
Religion sauns rule / & reosonable resonable obedience
Dyspreysing lerned men / and lewde men bothe
In Lyknyng of true Lyfe / and a Lyar in soule
With inwit and outwytt / ymagine & studie
As best for his body be / to haue a badd name
And meddell with all thinges / there he hathe not to do
Willing that men wende / his wytt were best
And if he gif out to pouer men / telle what he delethe
Pouer of possession in purs / and in cofre bothe
And as A leon to Loke on / And lordly of speche
Boldest of beggars / A bostour that nought hathe
In toune and in tauernes / tales for to telle
And say thing that he neuer se / And for truthe swere it
Of dedes that he neuer did / deme and boste
And of thinges that he well did / witnesse and saye
Lo if ye beleue me not / or wene that I Lye
Aske at him or at him / and he can you telle
What I suffred and se / And sumtymes had
And what I coulde and knewe / & what kyn I come of
All he wold that men wist / of workes and wordes
Which might please the people / And preyse themself
Si hominibus placerem cristi seruus non essem /
Et alibi / nemo potest duobus dominis seruire /
By Christ quod Conscience then / thy best cote Haukyn
Hath many moles and spottes / it must nedes be wasshed
Yea who-so toke Hede quod Haukyn / behynde and before
On back and body half / and on bothe sydes
Men shulde fynde many frounces / & many foule plottes
And he turned him quickly / and then toke I hede
It was fouler by many folde / then it first semed
It was be-dropped with wrath / and wicked will
With envie and euilspeche euil speche / entysing to fight
Lying and Laughing / and lef tong to chide
All euill that he wist / by Any man tell it
And blame men behynde their backes / and wishe them mischaunce
And that he wiste by wille / tell it watt
And that wat wist / will wist it After
And made of frendes foes / through A false tong
Or with might of mouthe / or through mannes strengthe
Avenge me many tymes / or frette my-self
Within As A shepesteres shere / I shrewed men & cursed
Cuius malediccione os plenum est et amaritudine sub Lingua eius labor et dolor / et alibi / Filij hominum Dentes eorum Arma et sagitte et lingua eorum gladius acutus[^347]
There is noman no man that me louethe / Lasting any while
For tales that I telle / noman no man trust to me
And when I maynot may not haue the maistrie / such malancoly I take
That I cach the crompe / the cardiacle sumtyme
Or an Ague in such an angre / & sometyme A feuer
That holdethe me all a twelue moneth / till þat I dispise
Lechecrafte of the lorde / and trust to A wiche
And saie that no clerk can / nor Christe as I beleue
To the Sowter of Sothwerke / or of Shordich dame Emme
And say that goddes worde / gaf me neuer bote
But through A charme had I chaunce / & my chief helth
I waited wisloker / and then was it soyled
With Licking and Lechery / as by loking of the eye
For eche maide that he met / he made hir a sygne
Semyng to synnwarde / and sumtyme he wolde taste
Aboute the mouthe or benethe begynne to grope
Till eythers will waxethe kene / and to the worke yede
As well on fasting daies as Frydaies / & forbodon nyghtes
And as well in Lent as out of it / all tymes alike
Suche workes with them / were neuer out of season
Till they might nomore no more / And then mery tales
And howe that Lecherous loue / Laugh and iape
And of their harlotrie &[^348] horedome / in their age tell
Than pacience perceyued / of poyntes of this cote
Was comely through Couetise / and vnkynde desyre
More to good then to god / the man his loue cast
And ymagined howe / he might it haue
With false mesure and met / & with false weight
He Lent for loue of the gage / and lothe to do truthe
And awaite[^a1792] by what[^a1793] waie[^349] / he might[^a1794] begyle
And menged his marchaundise / to make a good mustre
The worst was within / A great witt I hold it
And if my neighbour / had any kynde of beast
More profitable then myne / many sleightes I founde
howe I might haue it / all my wytt I cast
And onlesse I might get it otherwise / at Last I stale it
Or priuylie his purse shoke / and picked his Lockes
By night or by day / about it was I euer
Through gyle to gather / the good that I had
Yf I went to the plough / I pynched so narowe
That a fote londe or a furowe / feche I wolde
Of my next neighbour / take of his grounde
And if I repe ouerreche / or gaf them counsaile that reaped
And sese to me with their sikell / that I sewe neuer
And who-so borowed of me / abought the tyme
With presentz privilie / or paid sum certeyne
So wolde he or not / wynne I wolde /
And bothe to kythe and kyn / vnkynde of þat I had
And who-so cheped my wares / chide I wolde
But if he profred to paye / A penny or tweyne
More then it was worthe / And yet wold I swere /
That yt cost me muche more / swore many othes
On holidaies at churche / when I herde messe
had I neuer will god wot / ernestlie to beseche
Mercie for my misdedes / but I euer mourned more
For losse of worldly goodes / then for my bodies fautes
As if I had done deadly synne / I dred not that so sore
As when I lent and thought it lost / or long ere it were paide
So if I knew any kyndenes / myn even cristen to helpe
Vpon A cruell Couetise / myn hart did hang
And if I sent ouer sea / my seruauntes to Brudges
Or into prucelonde my prentys / my profite to seke
To marchande with money / & make there exchaunge
Might neuer me confort / in the meane while
Neither Matyns nor Masse / nor no manner sightes
Nor neuer penaunce perfourmed / nor Pater noster said
That my mynde was not more / on my good in doubte
Then in the grace of god / and his great helpe
Vbi thesaurus tuus , ibi et cor tuum
Which be the braunches / that bring a man to sleuthe
He that mournethe not for his misdedes / nor make no sorowe
[^350]And dothe non Almusdede / drede him of no synne
Lyuethe Against the beleue / And no Lawe holdethe
Eche daye is halidaie with him or An highe ferie
And if he ought will here / it is an harlottes tong
When men speke of Christ / or of clennesse of soules
He wexeth angry and willnot will not here / but wordes of myrthe
Penaunce and pouer men / and the passion of Saintes
He hateth to here therof / and all that telle it
Thise be the braunches beware / þat bring a man to dispeyr
Ye lordes and Ladies / and Legates of holy churche
That fede fooles sages / Flatereris & Lyers
And hathe pleasure to here them / to do you to Laughe
Ve vobis qui ridetis &c
And giue them meat & mede / and pouermen pouer men refuse
In your deathe dying / I drede me full sore
Lest then thre manere of men / to much sorowe you bring
Consencientes et Agentes / pari pena punientur
Patriarches and profetes / and preachours of goddes worde
Saue through their sermons / mannes soule frome helle
Euen so flaterers and fooles / are the Fyndes disciples
To entyce men through their tales / to synne and to harlotry
But clerkes that knowe holy writ / shuld teache lordes
What dauid saithe of such men / as the psalter tellethe
Non habitabit in medio domus mee , qui facit superbiam et qui loquitur iniqua
Shold non harlot haue Audience / in halle nor in chambre
There wise men were / witnesse goddes worde
Nor no mysproude man / Among lordes be allowed
But flaterers and fooles / through their foule wordes
Lede them that loue them / to Lucifers feaste
With Turpiloquio A lay of sorowe / & lucifers fiddill
Thus haukyn the Actiue man / had soiled his cote
Till Conscience rebuked him / in a curteis manere
Why he hadnot had not washed it / or wyped it with a brusshe

[^a1789: thou (S Cr1 W) | tho (Hm Bx)]

[^a1790: maist (S) | most (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1791: my (S Cr1 W) | om. (Hm Bx)]

[^a1792: awaite (S Cr1) | awaited (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1793: by what (S) | bi whych (Cr1) | þoruȝ which (W) | yn whiche (Hm)]

[^a1794: he might (S Cr1) | to (W Hm Bx)]

[^342: Chastite: Rendering cheeste, 'strife'. Compare S.2.87n.]

[^343: The scribe's cancelled writing here shows that his exemplar retained the original reading of this line, "at a sop". See Introduction, section II.4.]

[^344: The scribe ran out of space; the last word is entered in the right margin of the line below and partially boxed.]

[^345: Tene: Usually rendered as angre, but retained again at S.20.116. See Glossary.]

[^346: The scribe lined through the tail of the first z, turning it into an r.]

[^347: L, M, W, and some beta4 copies divide this Latin as two lines, but Cr and Hm treat it as one run-on, much like S. Alpha copies omit the second quotation, from Ps. 56.5.]

[^348: S's cancelled punctuation, preceding this word, is unique among beta2 copies.]

[^349: by what waie: W þoruȝ which wey is the beta reading, a corruption of Bx þorwgh whittes · weyes (see BTP). Though retained in W (=beta2), the beta reading is deficient in sense and provoked efforts at repair. The variants shared by SCr, joined later in this line by corrected M, perhaps originated in their common ancestor, beta6.]

[^350: S uniquely omits KD.13.411 (= Bx.13.430).]

Passus xiiijus

I Haue but one hole hatter quod haukyn / I am the lesse to blame
Though it be soyled & seld clene / I slepe therin on nightes
And also I haue an houswife / seruauntes and childerne
Vxorem duxi et ideo non possum venire
That wollen bymolen / yt many tymes / maugre my chekes
It hathe bene wasshed in lent / & out of lent bothe
With the sope of sikenes / that seketh wonder depe
And with the losse of goodes / lothe for to offende
God or any good man / by aught that I might
And was shreuen of the preist / þat gaf me for my synnes
To penaunce pacience / and poore men to fede
All for couetise of my cristendome / in clennesse to kepe it
And coulde I neuer by Christe / kepe it clene an houre
That I ne soiled it with sight / or some ydell speche
Or through worde or worke / or will of myn hart
That I ne flobre it foule / from morowe tyll even
And I shall telle the quod Conscience / of contricion to make
That shall skore thy cote / from all manere fylthe
Cordis contricio &c
Dowell shall washe and wring it / through a wyse confessor
Oris confessio &c
Dobet shall bowke and beat yt / as bright as skarlet
And engreyne it with good will / & goddes grace t'amende the
And sithen send the to Satisfaccion / for to sowe it after
Satisfactio dobest /
Shall neuer chist bemowle it / nor mothe After bight it
Neither fende nor false man / defoule it in thy Lyfe
Shall no herawde nor Harper / haue A fayerer garment
Then Haukyn the Actiue man / if þou do by my teaching
Nor no mynstrall be more worthe / Among poore and riche
Then Haukyns wyfe the wafrer / with his Actiua Vita /
And I shall purveye the paast quod pacience / though no plough erye
And floure to fede folk with / as best be for the soule
Though neuer grayne growed / nor grape vpon vyne
All that Liue and loke / liflode wolde I Fynde
And þat ynough that non faile / of any thing that they nede
We sholde not be to busye / aboute our Lyfelode
Ne soliciti sitis &c volucres celi deus pascit &c pacientes vincun t
Then lawghed haukyn A litill / and lightlie gan swere
Who-so trust you by our lorde / I beleue not he be blessed
No quod Pacience paciently / and out of his poke pulled
Vitailes of great vertues / for all manere beastes
Saying Lo here Lyfelode ynoughe / if our beleue be true
For neuer Lent was Lyfe / but Lyfelode were shapen
Wherof , wherfor / or wherby to Lyue
Fyrst the wilde worme / Vnder wete erthe
Fishe to lyue in flood / and in the fier the cryket
The curlewe by kynde of the eyr / most clennest flesh of byrdes
Beastes by grasse and grayne / and by grene rootes
In menyng that all men / might the same
Lyue through true beleue / and loue as god witnessethe
Quodcumque petieritis a patre in nomine meo &c Et alibi
Non in solo pane viuit homo , sed in omni verbo quod procedit de ore d[ei]
And I loked what Lyfelode it was / þat paciense so preysed
And then was it A piece of the pater noster Fiat voluntas tua & [c]
Haue haukyn quod pacience / & eate this when thou art hungrye
Or when thou Art acolde / or clyngest for drie
Shuld neuer gyues the greue / nor great Lordes wrath
Prison nor peyne for Pacientes vincunt
for
Incase In case thou be sobre / of sight and of tong
In eating and handlyng / and in all thy fyve wittes
Nedest thou neuer care for corne / nor clothe Lynen or wollen
Nor for drinke no deathe drede / but die as god Likethe
Or through Hungar or hete / at his will be it
For if thou lyuest After his lawes / the shorter Lyfe the better
Si quis amat cristum , mundum non diligit istum /
For through his breath bestes grewe and went abrode
Dixit et facta sunt &c
Ergo through his breathe / may man and beaste Lyue
As holy writt witnesseth / when men saye their graces
Aperis tu manum , et imples omne animal benedictione
[^351]It is founde that fourtie winter / folk Lyued without tilling
And out of the flynt sprang the flood / þat men & beastes dronke
And in Elies tyme / Heauen was vp closed
That no rayn did reyne / thus men rede in bookes
That many wynters men Lyved / and no mete tilled
Seven slept saith the booke / seaven hundred yeres
And Lived without Lyuelode / at a[nd] at the last Awaked
And if men Lived as mesure wolde / shulde neuer be defaute
Among cristian men / if Christes worde be true
But vnkyndnes maketh Caristiam / Among cristen people
And ouerplenty maketh pride / Among poore and riche
Therfor measure is so much worthe / it cannot be to dere
For the mischef and the mischaunce / Among men of Sodome
Grewe through plentie of food / and of pure slouthe
Ociositas et habundantia panis , peccatum turpissimum nutriuit
for they measured not themself / of þat they ete and dronke
They did deadlie synne / that the divell Liked
So Vengeaunce fell vpon them / for their vile synnes
They sonke into helle / the Cities eueryone
Therfor measure we vs well / & make our feyth our Sheltrom
And through feythe commeth contricion / Conscience wot well
Which dryueth awaie deadlie synne / & causeth it to be veniall
And though A man might not speake / Contricion may him saue
And bring his soule to blisse / incase in case that feyth be witnesse
That whille he Lyved he beleuid / in the lore of holy churche
Ergo Contricion , feythe and conscience , is kyndly dowell
And Surgions for deadlie synnes / when shrift of mouth faileth
But shrifte of mouthe more worth is / if man be alike contrite
For shrifte of mouthe sleith synne / be it neuer so deadly
Per confessionem to A preist / peccata occiduntur
There Contricion dothe but dryue them doune / into veniall synne
As dauid saithe in the psalter Et quorum tecta sunt peccata
But satisfaccion sekethe out the rote / And bothe sleith and voydethe
And as it had neuer be / it bringeth deadly synne to nought
That it neuer efte is sene nor sore / but semeth a wounde healed
Where dwelleth Charitie quod Haukyn / I wist neuer in my Lyfe
Man that with him spake / as wide as I haue walked
That perfite truthe and poore hart is / And pacience of tung
There is Charitie the chief chamberer / for god himself
Whether pacient pouertie quod Haukyn / be more pleasant to our dright
Then Richesse rightfully wonne / And resonablie dispended
Yea quis est ille quod pacience / quicke laudabimus eum
Though men rede of riches / euen to the worldes ende
I wist neuer man being riche / þat when he reken sholde
When he drewe to his death daie / that he ne dred him sore
And þat at the rekennyng / in Arrerage felle / rather then out of dett
There the poore dare plede / And proue by pure reason
To haue allowaunce of his lorde / by the lawe he claymeth it
Ioye that neuer ioye had / of rightfull Iudge he aske it
And saith Lo byrdes and beastes / that no blisse knowe
And wylde wormes in woodes / through wynters þou them grevest
And makist them well ny meke / and myld for defaute
And after thou sendest them sommer / Which is their souereyne Ioye
And blisse to all that bene / Bothe wylde and tame
Then may Beggers as Beastes / after boote wayte
uel
That all their Lyfe haue Lyued / in Langour and defaute
But god sent them sumtyme / some manere ioye
Eyther here or elliswhere / Kynde wolde it neuer
For euill chaunce was he wrought / that neuer was in Ioye
Aungelles that in Helle nowe be / had Ioye sometyme
And diues in deyntes Lyued / and in douce vie
Right so reason shewethe / that the men that were riche
And their makes also / Lyued their Lyfe in myrthe
But god is of A wonder will / By that kynde wit shewethe
To gyue many man his mercymony / ere he it hath deserued
Euen so deleth god with some riche / ruthe me it thinkethe
For they haue their hyre here / And heauen as it were
And great Liking to Lyue / without Labour of bodie
And when he dyethe be disalowed / as dauid saith in the psalter
Dormierunt et nichil invenerunt /
And in another place also / Velud somnum surgentium domine in ciuitate tua , et ad michilum [n]ichilum rediges /
Allas that richesse shall reaue / and robbe mannes soule
From the loue of the lorde / at his laste ende
Servauntes that haue their hyre afore / Are euermore nedye
And selden diethe he out of dett / þat dyneth or he deserue it
And till he haue done his devoyr / And his daies iourney
For whan A workeman hathe wrought / then men may se þe sothe
What he is worthy for his worke / and what he hathe deserued
And not to take before / for feare of disalowing
So I saie by you riche / it semeth not þat ye shulde
Haue heauen in this Lyfe / and heauen herafter
Like as seruaunt taketh his salarie before / & then wolde cleyme more after
As he that non hadd / But onely at the laste
Yt maynot may not be ye riche men / onlesse Mathue on god Lyethe
De delicijs ad delicias , difficile est transire /
But ye riche haue ruthe / And rewarde well the poore
And Lyue as Lawe teacheth / Do rightly to them all
Christ then of his curtesy shall confort you at the last
And rewarde you with double richesse / þat rufull hartes haue
And as a seruaunt that had / his hire ere he beganne
And when he hath done his devoir / well / his Maister doth him oþer bountie
And gyue him A cote aboue his couenaunt / euen so Christ geuith heauen
Bothe to riche and pouer / that rufullie dothe
And all þat do their devoir well / haue double hire for theyr travaile
Forgyuenesse here of synnes / and heauene blisse After
But it is but selden sene / as by Holie Sayntes bookes
That god rewarded double rest / to Any riche man
For much myrth is Among riche / as in meat and clothes
And much myrthe in May is / Among wylde beastes
And so forthe while Sommer Last / their solace endurethe
But beggers aboute mydsomer / breadlesse they suppe
And yet is wynter for them worse / for wetshode they go
Sore Ahungred and Athurst / and foule rebuked
And Arated of riche men / that ruthe is to here
Nowe lorde send them Sommer / and some maner ioye
Heauen at ther hence going / that here haue such defaute
For all myghtest þou haue made / non poorer then other
And like wittie and wise / if the well had liked
And haue ruthe of thise riche men / þat rewarde not thy prisoners
Of the good that thou them gyuest / ingrati be many
But god of thy goodnesse / gyue them grace t'amende
For may no derth be them dere / drought nor wete them greue
Nor neither hete nor haile / haue they their helthe
Of that which they desyre / want they not here
But pouer people thy prisoners / Lorde in the put of mischef
Confort those creatures / that much care suffre
Through derthe through drought / all their daies here
Wo in Wynter tymes / for wanting of clothes
And in Somer tyme selde / suppe to the full
Confort thy carefull / Christ in thy richesse
For how þou confortest all creatures / Clerkes bere witnes
Conuertimini ad me et salui eritis /
Thus in genere[^352] of gentries / Iesu Christe saide
To robbers and reveris / to riche and to poore
Thou taughtest them in the Trinitie / to take Baptyme
And be clene through þat cristenyng / of all manere synnes
And if we fylle through folie / to any synne After
Confession and knowleging / and craving thy mercy
Shuld Amende vs as ofte / as man wolde desyre
But if the Pope wolde plede / here agayne and punyshe vs in concie[nce]
He shulde take the Acquitance as quick / & do the queed shewe it
Pateat &c per passionem domini /
And put of so the powke / and proue vs vnder borowe
But the parchemyn of the patent / must be of pouertie
And of pure pacience / and perfite beleue
Of pompe and of pryde / the parchemyn decourrethe
And principally of all people / but they be pouer of hart
Ellis is all in veyne / all that euer we wright
Pater nosters and penaunce / and pilgrymage to Rome
But our spenses and spending / spring of a true will
Elles is all our Labour lost / Lo how men wright
I fenestres at the friers / if false be the grounde
Therfor cristen shulde be in commone riche / non couetouse by him-self
For seven synnes that therbe there be / assaile vs euer
The feind folowe them all / and fondeth them to helpe
But with richesse þat Ribawd / he rathest men begyle
For there as richesse regneth / reuerence folowethe
And that is pleasant to pride / in pouer and in riche
And the riche is reuerenced / by reason of his richesse
And the pore is put behynde / and parauenture can more
Of wit and of wisdome / that farre awaie is better
Then riches or roialtie / and rather herde in heauen
For the riche hathe muche to reken / and ofte him that walk
The hyghe way to heauen / richesse dothe lett
Ita impossibile diuiti &c
There the pouer preasseth before the riche / with a pack at his back
Opera enim illorum sequuntur illos
Batauntly as beggers do / and boldlie he crauethe
For his pouertie and pacience / A perpetuall blisse
Beati pauperes spiritu , quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum
And pride in richesse regneth / rather then in pouertie
Erst in the maister then the man / some mansion he hathe
But in pouertie there pacience is / pride hathe no might
Nor non of the vij seuen synnes / sytt there may long
Nor haue poure[^353] in pouertie / if pacience it folowe
For the poore is aye prest / to please the riche
And buxome at his bydding / for his broke loues
And buxomnesse and boost / are euermore at warre
And either hateth other / in all manere workes
Yf wrathe wrestle with the pouer / he hathe the worst ende
And if they bothe pleyne / the pouer is but feble
And if he chide or chatter / he spedeth the worse
And if Couetise cach the pouer / they may not come togithers
And by the necke namely / non may take other
For men knowe well / that couetise is of kene will
And hathe handes and Armes / of a long length
And pouertie is but a petit thing / and commeth not to his nauyll
And gentill play was it neuer / betwene the long & the short
And though Auarice wold angre þe pouer / he hathe but Litill myght
For pouertie hathe but pookes / to put in his goodes
There Auarice hathe Almaries / & yren bounde coffres
And whether be lighter to breake / and least boost[^a1795] maketh
A beggers bagg / or An yren bounde Cofre
Lechery loueth him not / for he geuith but Litill syluer
Nor dothe him not dyne delicately / nor drinke wyne ofte
A strawe for the stewes / it stode not I trowe
Had they nothing but of pouer men / their houses stode vntyled
And though Sleuthe sewe pouertie / and serue not god to paye
Myschief is his maister / and maketh him to thinke
That god is his greatest helpe / And noman no man ellis
And he his seruaunte as he seith / and of his sute bothe
And whether he be or be not / he beareth the signe of pouertie
And in that sect our saviour / saued all mankynde
Therfor all pouer þat pacient be / may clayme and aske
After their endyng here / heauens riche blisse
Much Hardier may he aske it / then he þat here had his will
In lond and in lordshippe / and Liking of bodie
And for goddes loue leaue all / and Lyue as a begger
And as A maide for mannes loue / hir mother forsakethe
hir father and all hir frendes / and folowe hir make
Much more is to loue / of him that such one taketh
Then A mayde is / that is maried through brocage
As by assent of sundrie persones / and syluer to boote
More for couetise of goodes / then kynde loue of bothe
So it fareth by euery persone / that possession forsakethe
And put him to be pacient / and pouertie weddeth
The which is kyn to god himself / and so to his sayntes
Haue god my trouth quod Haukyn / ye preyse fast pouertie
What is pouertie with pacience / quod he properlie to mene
Paupertas / quod pacience / est odibile bonum /
Remotio curarum / possessio sine calumpnia / donum dei
Sanitas mater absque solicitudine semita / Sapientie temperatrix
Negocium sine dampno / incerta fortuna / absque solicitudine felici[tas]
I cannot construe all this quod Haukin / ye must telle it in englishe
In englysh quod Pacience / it is very harde to expounne
[^354]Pouertie is the fyrst poynt / that Pride most hatethe
Then is it good by right / all that contrarieth pride
Even as Contricion is A confortable thing / Conscience wot well
And A sorowe of him-self / & A solace to the soule
So pouertie properlie / penaunce and Ioye
Ys to the bodie / pure spirituall helthe
Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum
And Contricion confort / and Cura animarum
Selde sytt pouertie / the truthe to declare
[^355] For[^a1796] A[^a1797][^356] Iustice to iudge men / nor mynister vnder kynges
Selden is any pouertie put / to punyshe any people
Remocio curarum
Ergo pouertie and pouer men / performeth the commandementes
Nolite iudicare quemquam the thyrde /
Selde is any pouer made riche / but of rightfull heritage
He wynneth not with false weightes / nor with vnsealed measures
Nor boroweth of his neighboures / but that he entendeth to paye
Possessio sine calumpnia /
The fourth is a fortune / that florisheth the soule
With sobyrnesse from all synne / and also yet more
It affaiteth the fleshe / from folies full many
A collaterall confort / Christes oune gifte
Donum dei /
The fyfte is mother of helthe / A frende at all assayes
And for the Londe euer A leche / A lemman of all clennesse
Sanitatis mater /
The sext is A path of peace / yea through the Paas of Aultoun
Pouertie might passe / without perill of robbyng
For wheras pouertie passethe / peace foloweth after
And euer the lesse that he beareth / the hardyer he is of hart
Therfor saith Seneca Paupertas est absque solicitudine semita
And an hardie man of hart / Among an heape of theues
Cantabit paupertas coram latrone viatore
The seventh is well of wisdome / and fewe wordes sheweth
Therfor Lordes allowe him Litill / nor Listeneth to his reason
For he tempereth his tong to truthewarde / & no treasure couetethe
Sapientie temperatrix /
The eight is a true Labour / and lothe to take more
Then he may well deserue / in Somer or in wynter
And if he bye and selle / he putteth non to losse / if he charitie may wynne
Negocium sine dampno
The nynthe is swete to the soule / no sugar sweter
For pacience is sustinaunce / for pouertie himself
And sobrenesse swete drinke / and good Leche in siknesse
Thus Learned me A letterd man / for our Lordes loue of heauen
Saynt Augustine A blissed Lyfe / without busynesse ledd[^a1798]
For body and for soule / absque sollicitudine felicitas /
Now god that all good gyueth / graunte his soule rest
That this first wrot to teche men / what pouertie was to mene
Allas quod Haukyn the Actyue man then[^357] / that after my cristendome
I ne had be dead and buried / for dowels sake
So hard it is quod Haukyn / to lyue and to do synne
Synne suethe vs euer quod he / and sory gan wexe
And wept water with his eyes / & wailed the tyme
That euer he did dede / that dere god displeased
[^358]Or maistrie ouer any man / more then of himself
I were not worthy knoweth god quod Haukyn / to were any clothes
Nor neither shert nor shoes / saue for shame only
To couer my bodie quod he / and cried mercy fast
And wept and wailed / and therwith I awaked

[^a1795: and least boost (S) | and lasse boost (W Cr1) | lasse bost it (Hm Bx)]

[^a1796: For (S Cr1 W) | Or (Bx) | rewritten (Hm)]

[^a1797: A (S) | as (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1798: ledd (S Cr1 W) | om. (Hm Bx)]

[^351: A small pen stroke in the shape of a looped cross has been entered in the left margin.]

[^352: The scribal markup here recorded by us as boxing consists of underlinking joined to vertical strokes at left and right edges: three quarters of a box.]

[^353: poure: The abbreviated spelling is used elsewhere only for POOR. Context requires POWER, elsewhere written out in full.]

[^354: S uniquely omits KD.14.279 (Bx.14.299).]

[^355: S fuses KD.14.289 and 290 (Bx.14.309 and 310) by eyeskip on pre-caesural men.]

[^356: A: Corrected from As, the reading of other copies. BTP remark that the syntax of this line gave scribes trouble.]

[^357: S's cancelled punctuation, preceding this word, is unique among beta2 copies.]

[^358: S uniquely omits KD.14.329-30 (Bx.14.356-357), presumably by eyeskip on line-initial That.]

Passus XVus

But After my waking / it was wonder long
Ere I coulde kyndlie / knowe what was dowell
And so my wyt went and came / till I A foole was
And some Lackid my Lyfe / but fewe allowed it
And held me for a Lorell / and loth to reuerence
Lordes or Ladies / or Any many ellis
As persons in their furres / with pendauntes of syluer
To sergeauntes or[^a1799] to suche / said I not ones
God saue you Lordes / ne lowted faire
That folke held me a foole / and in that folie I raved
Till reason had ruthe on me / and rocked me aslepe
Tyll I se as it sorcery were / A subtile thing withall
One without tong and tethe / tolde me whether I shuld
And wherof he came and of what kynde / I coniured him at Last
Yf he were Christes creature / Anone me to tell
I am Christes creature quod he / and cristen in many a place
In Christes court I-knowe[^359] well / and of his kyn aparty a party
Ys neither Peter the porter / nor paule with his fawchon
That will defende me the dore / dyng I neuer so Late
At mydnyght & at myddaye / my voice so it knoune
That eche a creature of his court / welcommeth me fayre
What Are ye called quod I / in that court / Among Christes people

[A later hand has entered pen trials in the upper and outer margins. These include the word When, written in imitation of the page-opening word. A second imitative W is cropped.]

When I quycken the corps / callid am I Anima
And when I will and wolde / Animus I hight
And for that I can and knowe / callid am I mens /
And when I make mone to god / memoria is my name
And when I deme domes / and do as trouth teacheth
Then is Racio my right name / Reason in englishe
And when I feele that folk telleth / my first name is Sensus
And that is wit and wisdome / the welle of all craftes
And when I chalaunge or chalaunge not / chepe or refuse
Than am I Conscience called / goddes clerke & his Notarye
And when I loue truly / our lorde and all other
Then is true loue my name / And in latyn Amor
And when I flee from the fleshe / and forsake the body
Then am I spirite spechelesse / Spiritus then I hight
Augustyne And ysodorus / either of them bothe
Named me this name / now thou mayst chuse
How thou wilt call me / now þou knowest all my names
Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur / Dum viuificat corpus , anima est , dum vult animus est Dum scit mens est , Dum recolit memoria est , Dum negat Vel consentit , conscientia est . Dum spirat spiritus est /
Ye be as A bishope quod I / all bourding that tyme
For byshops blissed / they haue many names
As Presul and pontifex / and Metropolitanus
And other names an heape / Episcopus and Pastor
That is sothe said he / now I se thy will
Thou woldest gladly knowe / the cause of their names
And of myne if thou mightest / me thinke by thy speche
Yea syr I said / so noman no man were greved
All the sciences vnder sonne / and all the subtile craftes
I wolde I knewe and coulde / kyndly in myn hart
Then art þou inperfite quod he / and one of prides knyghtes
For such a lust and likyng / Lucifer fell from heauen
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone et similis ero Altissimo
Yt were Against kynde quod he / & all manere reason
That any creature shulde knowe all / except Christe onlie
Against such Salomon speaketh / and dispiseth their wittes
And sayth Sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum
Sic qui scrutator[^360] est maiestatis dei , opprimitur a gloria /
To engysh men this is to mene / that may speake and here
The man that much hony eateth / his mawe it engleymethe
And the more that A man / of good matere heareth
Onlesse he dothe therafter / it dothe him double skathe
Beatus est saythe Seynt bernarde qui scriptura legit
Et verba vertit in opera / fully to his poure
Couetise to konne / and to knowe science
Put Adam out of paradise / and also Eue /
Scientie appetitus hominem inmortalitatis gloria spoliauit
And euen as hony is euill to digest / & engleymeth the mawe
Right so he þat through reason / wolde the roote knowe
Of god and his great myghtes / his graces it letteth
For in the lyking lythe a pride / and bodely couetise
Against Christes counsell / and all clerkes teachinges
That is Non plus sapere quam sapere oportet /
Friers and many other maisters / þat to the lewde men preache
Moue maters inmesurable / to telle of the Trynytie
That ofte tymes the lewde people / of their beleue doubt
Better were[^a1800] many doctors / to leaue[^a1801][^361] such preaching
And telle men the . x . tean commaundementes / & of the seauen synnes
And the braunches springing of them / & bringing men to helle
And how that folke in folies / mysspende their fyue wittes
As well preistes as others / Folishly speake
In housyng in hatering / and in-to high clergie shewing
More for pompe then pure Charitie / the people wot the sothe
That I lie not lo / For lordes they please
And reuerence the riche / the rather for theyr syluer
Confundantur omnes qui adorant sculptilia / Et alibi ,
Vt quid diligitis vanitatem et queritis mendacium
Go to the glose of the verse / ye great clerkes
Yf I lye on you to my lewde wit / lede me to brennyng
For as it semeth ye forsake / nomannes no mannes Allmes
Of vsurers of whoores / of couetouse chapmen
And lowt to thise lordes / that may giue you nobles
Against your rule and religion / I take recorde at Iesus
That said to his discyples / Ne sitis personarum acceptores
Of this matere I might make a long byble
But of Curatours of cristen people / as clerkes beare witnesse
I shall telle it for truthes sake / take hede who-so likethe /
Ihesus crist
As holynesse and honestie / out of the chirche springeth
Through true lyuyng men / that goddes lawe teche
Euen so out of the churche / all euill spredethe
There inperfite preesthode is / preachours and teachours
I se it by exemple / in somer tyme on treis
There some bowes bene leaued / and some beareth none
There is A mischef in the grounde / of such manere trees
Right so of parsons & preestes / & preachers of the church
That are roote of the right feythe / to rule the people
And there the roote is rotten / Reason knoweth the truthe
Shall neuer flour nor frute / nor fair leaf be grene
Therfor wolde ye learned leaue / the lechery of clothing
And be kynde as clerkes shulde be / & curtise of Christes goodes
True of your tong / and of your tayle bothe
And hate to here harlotrie / and not to receyue
Tythes but of true thinges / tilled , bought , or solde
Lothe were lewde men / but they your teaching folowed
And Amende them that mysdoe / more for your exemples
Than for to preache and do it not / ypocrisy it semeth
For hypocrisye in latyne / is likened to A dounghill
That is all whight with snow without / And full of snakes within
[^362]Euen so many preestes / preachours and prelates
Ye are garneshed without with fair speche / with clothes also
But your workes and your wordes / inwardly are nought
Saynt Iohan Crisostome / of clerkes speaketh and preestes
Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur , sic de templo omne malum procedit / . Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit , tota floret ecclesia / . Si autem corruptum fuerit in peccatis , totus populus conuertitur ad peccandum / . Et si autem sacerdocium corruptum fuerit , omnium fides mercida est . Sicut cum videris arborem pallidam et marcidam , intelligis quod vicium habet in radice , Ita cum videris indisciplinatum et irreligiosum populum sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum /
Yf lewd men wist / what this Latyn meneth
And who is the Author / much wonder me thinketh
But if many A preest beare / for their baselardes & broches
A pair beades in their handes / & a book vnder their Arme
Syr Iohan and syr Geffrey / hath A gyrdill of Syluer /
A baselarde or balocknyfe / with botons ouergilt
But A portas that shulde be his plough / placebo to saye
Hadd he neuer seruice to saue syluer therto / saieth it with ill will
Allas ye lewd men / much lose ye on preestes
But the thing þat wickedly is wonne / and with false sleightes
Wold neuer wit of witty god / but wicked men it had
The which Are preestes inperfite / and preachours after syluer
Excecutors and Sodones / Somenours & their Lemmans
That which with gyle was gotton / vngraciously is spended
So harlottes and whoores / Are holpen with such goodes
And goddes folk for defaute therof / Forfare and spille
Curatoures of holy church / as clerkes þat be couetouse
Lightly that they leaue / losells it haue
Or he dieth intestate / and the bisshope entrethe
And make mery therwith / and his men bothe /
And say he was A niggard / þat no good myght spare
To freend nor to fremd / the feende haue his soule
For A wrechid house he kept / all his lyfe tyme
And that which he spared / spende we in myrthe
By lerned and lewde / that lothe is to spende
Thus gothe theyr goodes / be they ones gone
But for good men god wot / great sorowe men make
And pray for good housekepers / and haue them in mynde
In prayers and penaunce / and in perfite charytie
What is charitie quod I then / A chyldish thing he said
Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli , non intrabitis in regnum celorum
Without any folie / A free liberall will
Where shulde men fynde such a freende / with so free an hart
I haue lyued in lond quod he / my name is long wille
Yet founde I neuer full charitie / before nor behinde
Men be merciable / to beggers and to poore
And will lende where they thinke / truly to be payd agayn[^363]
But that charite that paule prayseth / most plesant to our Sauyou[r]
Ys non inflatur , non ambiciosa , non querit que sua sunt
I se neuer such a man / so me god helpe
That wolde not require his oune / and sometyme coueyt
The thing that he nedid not / and haue it if he might
Clerkes knowe well / that Christ is in all places /
But I se him neuer sothelie / but as my-self in A myrrour
Nunc per speculum in enigmate , tunc facie ad faciem
And so I trowe truly / by that men tell of charitie
It is not Champions fyght / nor chaffare as I trowe
Charitie quod he chaffareth not / neither chalengeth nor craueth
As proude of A penny / as of a pounde of golde
And is as glad of A gowne / of A gray russett
As of A tunycle of tars / or of trie scarlet
He is glad with all glad / and good to all wicked
And trusteth and louethe all / that our lorde made
Cursethe he no creature / nor he can beare no wrathe
Nor no liking hathe to lye / nor laugh men to skorne
All that men saye he hold it true / and in solace taketh it
And manere myschef / myldlie he suffreth
He couetith non erthly good / but heuen riche blisse
Hathe he any rentes or richesse / or any riche freendes
Of rentes or of richesse / recketh he neuer
For A freende that fynde hym / faylled him neuer at nede
Fiat voluntas tua / fyndeth hym euer -more
And if he suppe ete but A soppe / of Spera in deo /
He can purtrey well the pater noster / and peynt it with Aves
And sometyme is he wont / to go on pilgrimage
There poor men ly in presons / their pardon to haue
Though he beareth them no bread / he gyueth them sweter confort
And louethe them as the lord biddeth / and looketh howe they fare
And when he is wery of that worke / then will he somtyme
Labour in lauendry / well the length of A myle
And go vnto youth / them to enstruct /
Pride with his Apurtenaunces / he packeth togithers
And bowke them at his breast / and beat them clene
And lay on long / with Laboraui in gemitu meo
And with warme water at his eyen / wash them after
And he syngeth when he dothe so / and somtyme saith weping
Cor concritum et humiliatum deus non despicies /
By Christ I wold I knewe him quod I / no creature leuer
Without helpe of piers plowman quod he / his persone seest thou neuer
Do clerkes know him quod I / that kepe holy kyrk
Clerkes haue no knowing quod he / but by workes and by wordes
But pers the plowman / perceyueth more depper /
What is the will and wherfor / that many man suffreth
Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum /
For there are there Are [+] full proude harted men / pacient of tong
And buxome of bearing / to burgeis and to lordes
But to pouer people / haue peper in the nose
And as a leon he looketh / there men lacke his workes
For there Are beggers and bidders / bedemen as it were
Which looke euen as lambes / And seme lyfe-holy
But it is more to haue their meate / with such an easy manere
Then for penaunce of[^a1802] perfitenes / the peynes[^a1803] þat such take
Therfor by coloure nor by clergie / knowe shalt þou neuer
Neither through wordes nor workes / but through will only
And that knoweth no clerke / nor creature in erthe
But piers the plowman / Petrus id est Christus
For he is not in lollers / nor in londlepers heremytes
Nor at Ancres there A box hangeth / all such they faiten
Fy on Faitours / and in Fautores suos /
For charitie is goddes champion / and as a good childe hende
And the meriest of mouthe / at meate where he sittethe
The loue that lythe in his hart / maketh him light of speche
And is compaignable and confortatyf as Christ bid himself
Nolite fieri sicut hypocrite tristes &c /
For I haue sene him in sylke / and sometyme in Russet
Bothe in gray and grys / and in gilt harneys
And as gladly he it gaf / to them that neded
Edmonde and edwarde / either were kynges
And Sayntes sett / for charitie them folowed
I haue sene charitie also / both syng and rede
Ryde and renne / in ragged clothes
But begging as beggers / behelde I him neuer
But in riche robes / rathest he walketh
Callid and crymyled / and his croune shauen
And in a fryers frocke / he was founde ones
But it is long agone / in S . Fraunces tyme
In that sect sithens / to seld hath He be knoune
Richmen he recommendeth / and of their robes taketh
That without wyles / lede their lyues
Beatus est diues qui &c /
In kynges court he commeth ofte / there the counsell is true
But if couetise be of the counseill / he willnot will not come there
In court Among Iapers / he commeth not but selden
For braulyng and backbyting / & bearing of false witnesse
In the Consistorie before the Comissarie / he commeth not full ofte /
For their lawe dureth ouer long / onlesse they cache siluer
And Matrimony for money / they[^a1804] make and vnmake
And that Christ and Conscience haue knyt fast
They vndoe it vworthely v[n]worthely / those doctours of lawe
But I despraise noman no man / but the lorde amende vs all
And gyue vs grace good god / charitie to folowe
For who-so might mete with him / such maners he hathe
Neither he blameth nor banneth / bosteth nor preyseth
[^364]Neither craueth he nor coueteth / nor crieth after more
In pace inidipsum , dormiam et requiescam
The greatest tresure that he setteth by / is loue in Christes passion
Neither he biddeth nor beggeth / nor boroweth to yelde
Misdothe he noman no man / nor with his tong greueth
Among Christen men / this myldenesse shuld last
In all manere Angres / haue this at hart
That though they suffred all this / god suffred for vs more
In exemple we shuld do so / and take no vengeaunce
Of our foes that do vs harme / that is our faders will
for well may euery man wite / if god had wold himself
Shuld neuer Iudas nor Iewe / haue done Iesu on the rood
Nor haue martyred peter or paule / nor in prison hold
But he suffred in exemple / that we suffre also
And said to such as suffre wolde / þat Pacientes vincunt
Verbi gracia quod he / and very many ensamples
In legenda Sanctorum / the lyfe of holy sayntes
What penaunce and pouertie / and passion they suffred
In hunger in hete / & in all manere Angres
Antony and Egidie / and other holy fathers
That dwelt in wildernesse / Among wyld beastes
Monkes and fryers / men by them-self
In spekes and spelunkes / seld speake togiders
But neither Antony nor Egidie / nor heremyte þat tyme
Of Leons nor Leopardes / no lyuelode toke
But of foules that fleith / thus fynde men in bookes
Except that Egidie / After an hynde cried
And through the mylk of that mylde beast / þe man was susteined
And day by daye he had hir not / his Hunger for to slake
But selden and sundrie tymes / as sayth the book and techeth
Antonye a daies / aboute noone tyme
had a byrd that brought him bread / that he by lyued
And thoughe he had a gest / god founde them bothe
Paule primus heremita / had parroked himself
That noman no man might Him se / for mosse and for leaues
Foules hym fedd / many wynters withall
Till he founded friers / of Augustines ordre
Paule after his preaching / panyers he made
And wanne with his handes / that his body neded
Peter fisshed for his food / and his felawe Andrue
Some they sold and some they sode / and so they lyued bothe
And also Mary magdalene / by mores lyued and dewes
But most through devocion / and mynde of god almyghtie
I shulde not thise seven daies / recken them all
That thus lyued for the lordes loue / many long yeres
But there was neither leon nor leoparde / þat on lond went
Neither bere nor bore / nor other wylde beast
But felle to their feet / and fawned with their tailes
And if they coulde haue spoken / by Christ as I thinke
They wold haue fed that folke / before wilde foules
But god sent them food by foules / and by no ferse beastes
In menyng that meke thing / mylde thing shuld fede
As who saith religious / righfull men shuld fynde
And lawfull men to lyfeholymen lyfeholy men / lyfelode bring
And then wold lordes and ladies / be lothe to offende[^365]
And to take of theyr tenauntz / more then truthe wold
Founde they that friers / wold forsake theyr Allmusses
And byd them beare it / there it was borowed
For we be goddes foules / and Abyde allwaye
Till byrdes bring vs / that we shuld lyue by
For had ye potage and bread ynough / and pennyale to drynk
And A mease therwith / of one manere kynde meat
Ye had euen ynoughe you religiouse / & so your rule me told
Nunquam dicit Iob rugit onager cum herbam habuerit Aut mugiet bos cum ante plenum presepe steterit / Brutorum animalium natura te condemnat , quia cum eis pabulum commune sufficiat ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua /
Yf lewde men knewe this latyn / they wold looke whome they gyf
And avise them before / A fyue daies or syx
Ere they mortised to monkes / or Chanons their rentes
Allas lordes and ladies / leawde counseile haue ye
To gyue from your Heyres / þat your parentes you lefte
And gif to pray for you / to such as be riche
And be founded and feffed eke / to pray for other
Who performeth this prophecie / of the people þat nowe lyueth
Dispersit dedit pauperibus &c /
Yf any people performe that text / it is thise pouer friers
For þat they begg about / in buylding they spend it
And of them-self some / and such as be their laborers
And of them that haue / they take / and giueth them that haue not
But Clerkes and knightes / & Commoners that be riche
Many of you fare / as if I a forest had
That were full of faire trees / and I fonded & cast
how I might more therin / Among them sett
Right so ye riche / ye robbe that be poure[^a1805][^366]
And helpe them that helpe you / & gif þer no nede is
As who-so filled a tonne / of A fresh ryuer
And went forth with þat water / to eke with the Temmese
Euen so ye riche / ye robbe and fede
Them that haue as ye haue / them ye make at ease
But religiouse þat riche bene / shuld rather feast beggers
Than burgeises that be riche / as the booke teacheth
Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauperibus dare
Item peccatoribus dare , est demonibus immolare
Item monache si indiges et accipis pocius das quam accipis
Si autem non indiges et accipis , rapis
Porro non indiget monachus , si habeat quod nature sufficit
Therfor I counsaile all cristen / to conforme them to charitie
For Charitie without chalaunging / vnchargethe the soule
And many prisoner[^a1806] from peyne[^a1807][^367] / through his prayers he delyuereth
But there ys a faute in the folke / that the feyth kepe
Wherfor the people is the febler / and not fyrme of beleue
And euen as in lussheburghes is a luther alay / yet lokith he like a sterling
The marke of the money is good / but the metall is Feble
And so it fareth by some folke nowe / they haue A fair speche
Croune And cristendome / the kynges marke of heauen
But the metall that is mannes soule / with synne is foule alayd
Bothe letterd and lewde / be alayed now with synne
That noman no man loueth other / nor our lorde as it semeth
For through werre and wicked workes / and wederes vnreasonable
Wederwise shipmen / and wittie clerckes also
Haue no beleue to the list[^368] / nor to the lore of Philosophers
Astronomyers alday / in their art faile
That sometyme warned before / what shuld fall After
Shipmen and shepeherdes / þat with ship and shepe went
Wist by the elementes what shuld betide
And of wethers and wyndes / they warned men ofte
Tillers that tilled the erthe / told their maisters
By the sede that they sewe / what they sell might
And what to leue and to lyue by / the lond was to trewe
Now faile the folke / and of the londe bothe
Shepeherdes and shipmen / also thise lond tillers
Neither they can nor knowe / won course before another
Astronomyens also / Are at their wittes ende
Of that was Calculed of the element / the contrary they fynde
Grammer the grounde of all / begyleth nowe the childerne
There is non of thise newe clerkes / who-so takethe hede
Not won Among an hundred / that an autor can construe
Nor rede a letter in Any langage / but in latyn or englishe
Go now to any degree / and but if gyle be maister
And flaterer his felawe / vnder him to fourme
Much wonder me thinketh / Among vs all
Doctors of decrees / and of diuinytie maisters
That shuld konne and knowe / all manere clergie
And Answere to argumentes / & also to Quodlibet
I dare not say it for shame / if such were opposed
They shuld faile of ther philosophie / and in phisick bothe
Wherfor I am afraid / of folke of holy kyrke /

[A later hand has written a note lengthwise in the left margin of the folio. Much of the first line is cropped. It perhaps reads (parentheses enclose reconstructions): "Mr Thomas hewlet oow this bo(ke and he that p... it) bring (it again .. yor p... haue) / well for his labor this george hewlet write." Below this: "gor' H" (?), perhaps another signature.]

Lest they ouerhippe as other do / in offices and houres
But if they do as I hope not / our beleue suffiseth
As clerkes in Corpus cristi feast / Sing and rede
That Sola fides sufficit / to saue lewd people
And so may Sarazens be saued / Scribes and Iewes
Allas then but our loresmen / lyue as they lerne vs
And by their lyueng that lewd men be / the lother to offend god
For Sarazens haue somewhat / semyng to our beleue
For they loue and beleue / in one god allmighty
And we lerned and lewde / in won god beleue
And won Makometh a man / in misbeleue brought
Sarazens of Surrey / and se in what manere
This Makometh was a cristian / & for he might not be Pope
Into Surrey he sought / and through his subtill wittes
he tamed a dowe / and daie and night hir fedd
The corne that she ete / he put into his ere
And if he Among the people preched / or in places came
Then wold the culuer come / to this clerkes ere
Wonly for meat / thus Makometh hir enchaunted
And did folke then fall on knees / for he swore in his preching
That the Culuer that came so / cam from the god of heauen
As A messenger to Makometh / men for to teache
And thus through wiles of his wit / and A whight dowe
Makometh in misbeleue / men and women brought
That then lyued there / and[^a1808] yet they beleue[^a1809] on his lawes
And sith Oure Sauiour suffred / the Sarazens so begyld
Through A cristen clerk / cursed in his soule
For drede of the death / I dare not telle truthe
how english clerkes a culuer fed / that couetise hight
And be manered after Mahometh / þat noman no man vseth truthe
Ancres And heremytes / Monkes and friers
Pere to Apostles / through their perfite lyuyng
Wold neuer the feythfull father / that his mynister shuld
Of tyrauntes þat troble true men / take any Allmusse
But do as Antony did / Domynick and Fraunces
Benet and barnarde / which first them taught
To lyue by littill and in lowe houses / by true mennes Almesse
Grace shuld growe and be grene / through their good lyuyng
And folke shulde fynde that be in diuerse siknesse
The better for their prayers / in body and soule
Their prayers and theyr penaunces / to peace shuld bring
All that be at debate / and bedemen were good
Petite et accipietis &c
Salt saueth the catell / say these wyues
Vos estis sal terre &c
These heades of holy church / if they holie were
Christ calleth them salt / for cristen soules
Et si sal euanuerit in quo salietur
For fresh fleshe or fyshe / what wha[n] it salt faileth
It is vnsavery for sothe / either soden or bake /
So is mannes soule truly / that seeth no good ensample
Of them of holie churche / that the high waye shuld teache
And be guydes and go before / as a good baner
And make hardie that come After / and gyue them good euydence
Ellevene holy men / all the worlde turned
Into true beleue / the lightlier me thinketh
Shold all manere men / we haue so many maisters
Preestes and preachours / And A pope aboue all
That goddes salt shuld be / to saue mannes soule
All was Hethenesse sometyme / England and wales
/ popery
Till Gregory caused clerkes / to cum here and preche
Augustine At Cantorburie / Cristened the king
And through myracles as men may rede / all þat march he turned
To Christ and to cristendome / And Crosse to honour
And baptysed fast / And the feyth taught
More through Myracles / then much preaching
As well with workes / and with holie wordes
And told them what cristenyng / and feyth was to mene
Cloth that commeth from the weaving / is not comly to were
Till it be fulled vnderfote / or in fulling stockes
Well washed with water / & with tasells crached
Toucked and teynted / and vnder tailours hande
And it fareth by A childe / that borne is of A woman
Till it be cristened in Christes name / and confermed of the bisshop
Yt is hethen as to heauenwarde / and helples to the soule
hethen is to mene hethe / and vntilled grounde

[A later hand has inscribed the name M(aste)r Thomas Hewlet three times (once without surname) in the outer margin. The surname is written Hew let, as two words.]

As in wilde wildernesse / wexeth wylde beastes
Rude and vnreasonable / rennyng without cropers
Ye wot well how Mathue saith / that a man made A feaste
He fedd them with no venyson / nor fesauntes bake
But with foules that wold not from him / but folowed his whistelyng
Ecce altilia mea et omnia parata sunt /
And with calues fleshe he fedd / the folke þat he loued
The calf betokeneth clennesse / in them þat kepe lawes
for as the Cowe through kynde mylke / the calf norisheth to an Oxe
So loue and leautie / true men do susteyne
And maidens and mylde men / mercie desyre
Right as the Cowcalf / coueteth swete mylke
So do rightous men / mercie and truthe
But who be they þat excuseth them / þat are parsons and preestes
That heades of holy church bene / that haue theyr will here
Without trauaile the tythes / that true men sore laboreth for
They wilbe will be wrothe that I wright thus / but to witnesse I take
Bothe Mathewe and Marc / And Memento domine dauid /
What Pope or prelate nowe / performeth that Christe commaunded
Ite in vniuersum mundum et predicate &c
Allas that men so long / on Makometh shulde beleue
So many prelates to preche / as the Pope makethe
Of Nazareth of Nynyve / of Neptalym and Damask
That theygo they go not as Christe badd / Sithen they will haue name
To be pastours and preache / The passion of Iesus
And as himself said / so to lyue and die
[^369] Ite vos in vineam meam &c
And sithens thise Sarazens / Scribes and Iewes
Haue A lippe of our beleue / the lightlyer me thinketh
They shulde turne who-so trauailed / to teache them of the Trinyte
Querite et invenietis &c
Yt is ruthe to rede / how rightouse men lyued
How they defouled theyr fleshe / forsoke ther oune will
Fer from kyth and[^a1810] kyn / euell clothed they went
Badlie beddid / no booke but Conscience
Nor no richesse but the Roode / to reioyce them in
Absit mihi gloriari nisi in Cruce domini nostri Iesu cristi
And than was plentie and peace / Among poore and riche
And now is ruthe to rede / howe the redd noble
Ys reuerenced ere the roode / and receyued for the worthier
Than Christes cros that ouercame death and deadlie synne
And nowe is warre and woe / and who-so why axethe
For Couetise after crosse / the croune stand in gold
Bothe riche and religiouse / that roode they honoure
That in grotes is grauen / and in golde nobles
For couetise of that crosse / men of holy churche
Shall turne as templars did / the tyme approcheth fast
Wot ye not ye wisemen / howe those men honored
More treasure then truthe / I dare not telle the sothe
Reason and rightfull dome / the Religiouse demed
Euen so ye clerkes / for your couetise or long
Shall they deme dos ecclesie and your pride depose
Deposuit potentes de sede &c /
Yf knighthode and kyndwit / and the[^a1811] Commons[^a1812] by[^a1813] Conscience
Togithers loue trulie / beleue it well ye Bisshops
The lordshippes of londes / for euer shall ye lose
And lyue as Leuitici / as our lorde you techethe
Per primicias et decimas &c
When Constantyne of curtesy / the churche of Rome[^a1814][^370] endued[^a1815]
With londes and leades / lordshippes and rentes
An Aungell men herde / an highe at Rome crie
Dos ecclesie this daie hathe dronke poyson
And they that haue peters powre / are poysoned all
A medicyne must therto / that may Amende prelates
That shuld pray for the peace / possessions them lett
Take their londes ye lordes / and let them lyue by dymes
Yf possession be poyson / and inperfite them make
Good were to discharge them / for holy churches sake
And purge them of poison / ere more perill fall
Yf preesthode were perfite / the people shuld Amende
That contrarie Crystes lawe / and cristendome dispise
for all paynyms pray / and perfitelie beleue
In the holy great god / and his grace they aske
And make ther mone to Makomethe / their message to shewe
Thus in a feith lyue that folke / and in a false mene
And that is ruthe for rightouse men / that in the realme dwelle
And A perill to the pope / and prelates that he maketh
That beare bishopes names of bethelem and Babilone
That hippe about in Englande / to halowe mennes Alters
And crepe among curatours / confessing against the lawe
Nolite mittere falcem in messem alienam /
Many a man for Christes loue / was martyred in Romaigne
Ere any cristendome was knoune there / or any crosse honoured
Euery bisshop that beareth crosse / by that he is bounde
Through his province to passe / and to his people[^371] to shewe him
To tell them and teche them / on the Trinitie to beleue
And fede them with gostlie foode / and gyue there it nedeth
In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum , et ideo nolite constituere me regem /
Ozias saith for such / as sike be and fieble
Inferte omnes decimas in orreum meum vt cibus in domo mea
But we cristen creatures / þat on Christ beleue
Are fyrme as in the feythe / goddes forbode elles
And haue clerkes to kepe vs therin / & them þat shall come after vs
And Iewes lyuen in true lawe / our lorde writ it himself
In stone for it steadfast was / and stonde shulde euer
Dilige deum et proximum / is perfite Iewes lawe
And toke it Moyses to teche men / tyll Messias came
And on that lawe they beleue yet / and holde it the beste
And yet knewe they Christe / þat cristendome taught
For A perfite prophete / that much people saued
Of sundrie and straunge diseases / they se it ofte
Bothe of myracles and merveiles / and howe he fed men
With too fishes and fyue looues / fyue thousand people
And by that same men might se / that Messye he semed
And when he raised Lazar / þat laid was in graue
Vnder stone and stanke / with styff voice him called
Lazare veni foras
He did him rise and roome / euen before the Iewes
But they said and swore / with Sorcery he wrought
And studied to stroy him / and stroyed themself
And through his pacience their poure to nought he brought
Pacientes vincunt /
Danyell of ther vndoing / divined and said
Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat , cessabit vnctio vestra
And wene tho wreches / that he were pseudopropheta
And þat his lore be lesinges / and despise it all
And hope that he be to come / that shall them releue
Moyses , or Messye / their maisters yet dyvyne
But pharisees and Sarazens / Scribes and Grekes
Are folk of one feythe / God the father they honour
And sithens that the Sarazens / and also the Iewes
Knowe the fyrst clause of oure beleue / Credo in deum patrem
Prelates of cristen provinces / Shulde proue if they might
To lerne them by litill and litill / Et in Ihm xpm Iesum cristum filium
Till they coulde spelle and speake / Et in spiritum sanctum /
And rede it and recorde it / with remissionem pecatorum /
Carnis resurreccionem et vitam eternam Amen /

[^a1799: or (S) | ne (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1800: were (S) | beleue were (Hm Cr1 Bx) | it were to (W)]

[^a1801: to leaue (S W) | leue | om. (Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1802: of (S) | and (W Hm Bx) | or (Cr1)]

[^a1803: peynes (S) | pouerte (W Hm Bx) | penaunce (Cr1)]

[^a1804: they (S M) | om. (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1805: poure (S) | riche (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1806: prisoner (S Cr1) | a prison (W Hm Bx) | a prisoner (M)]

[^a1807: peyne (S Cr1) | purgatorie (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1808: then lyued there / and (S) | lyued þo þere and lyue (W Cr1) | lered þere and lewed (Bx) | lewyd þere and lered]

[^a1809: they beleue (S) | leeuen (W Hm Bx) | leuing (Cr1)]

[^a1810: and (S M) | and fro (W Cr1 Bx) | and fer fro (Hm)]

[^a1811: the (S W) | om. (Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1812: Commons (S) | commune (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1813: by (S Cr1 W) | om. (Hm Bx)]

[^a1814: the churche of Rome (S) | holy kirke (W Cr1 Bx) | holycherche (Hm)]

[^a1815: endued (S) | dowed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^359: I knowe: Past participle with archaic detached prefix. A rare relict form, perhaps misconstrued as the 1st pers. pronoun and finite verb.]

[^360: scrutator: The scribe entered an erroneous -ur abbreviation by anticipation of the passive verb in following copy.]

[^361: were ... to leaue: S agrees closely with W and with corrected M, probably through independent variation towards an easier reading. For the syntax and punning sense of the archetypal reading, retained in HmCr, see BTP ad loc.]

[^362: SHmGCB omit KD.15.113 (=Bx.15.119) by eyeskip on line-ending wyth-inne.]

[^363: lende ... payd agayn: The reading after correction agrees with the sense of Sx, which presumably read as W: "And wollen lene þer þei leue . lelly to ben paied". Yet the scribe first wrote "And will gyue where they thinke / truly to be prayed for". The innovative readings gyue and prayed for are lined through; replacement text, reverting to the sense of Sx, is entered supralinearly and at the right edge of the line, in the main hand and ink.]

[^364: S omits KD.15.253 (Bx.15.263). The omission was probably induced by iterated syntax.]

[^365: offende: Before this word the scribe has written and cancelled an A, perhaps to be construed as the initial letter of a rejected Sx reading agulte.]

[^366: poure: Other copies read riche. S misread robeþ 'clothe' and revised accordingly.]

[^367: peyne: Cr has the same lexical substitution within the context of larger changes to idiom and word order. Despite the prima facie appearance of doctrinal motivation, the purgatorie] peyne variant may originate with the unique common ancestor of these two copies. S retains nine earlier instances of purgatorie. Compare S.18.403.]

[^368: list: Rendering lift, 'sky'. Possibly the intended sense is 'boundary, limit (of a voyage)' (OED n.2, sense II.8), but the reading originated by s/f confusion.]

[^369: S uniquely omits KD.15.497α-499 (Bx.15.520-522), probably skipping from one Latin line to the next.]

[^370: the churche of Rome: an anti-Catholic revision. Other copies read holy kirke.]

[^371: people: Before this word the scribe has written an incomplete letter-form, probably the beginning of t, by attraction to surrounding copy.]

Passus xvius sedecimus

Now faire fall you quod I then / for your faire shewing
For Haukyns loue the Actif man / euer I shall you loue
But yet I am in doubt[^a1816] what charitie is to mene
It is a full trie tre quod he / trulie to telle
Mercie is the grounde[^a1817] therof / the myddill stocke is ruthe
The leaues be true[^a1818] wordes / the lawe of holie churche
The blossommes be buxome speche / and benigne goodnesse[^a1819]
Pacience hight the pure tre / And pure simple of hart
And so through god and[^a1820] good men / groweth the fruyt charitie
I wold trauaile quod I this tre to se / twentie hundred myle
And for to haue my fyll[^372] of þat frute / forsake all other salue
Lord quod I if anyman any man knowe[^a1821] / where awaie[^a1822] it groweth
Yt groweth in a gardeyn quod he / that god made himself
Amyddes mannes bodie / the grounde[^a1823] is of that stocke
Hart hight the Herber / that it groweth in[^a1824]
And liberum arbitrium / hath the lond to ferme
Vnder piers the plowman / to pike it and to wede it
Piers the plowman quod I then / and all for pure ioye
That I herde his name named[^a1825] / anone I sowned after
And Lay long in a loue dreme / and at last me thought
That piers the plowman / all the place me shewed
And bad me loke[^a1826][^373] on the tre / on toppe and[^a1827] roote
With thre pyles was it vnderpight / I perceiued it sone
Piers quod I I praye the / why stande thise piles here
For wyndes wilt þou wite quod he / to kepe[^a1828] it from falling
Cum ceciderit iustus non collidetur , quia dominus supponit manum suam
And in blowing tyme shake of[^a1829] þe flowers / onlesse[^a1830] thise piles help
The world is a wicked wynde / to them þat loue[^a1831] truthe
Couetise commeth of þat wynde / and crepe among the leues
And forfretteth nygh the fruyt / through many fayr sightes
Then with the first pile / I pull him doune / þat is Potencia dei patris
The flesh is a fell wynde / and in flouring tyme
Through liking and lustes / so lowd he begynneth[^a1832] to[^a1833] blowe
That it norisheth nyce sightes / and sometyme wordes
And wicked workes therof / wormes of synne
And forbyteth the blossomes / euen[^a1834] to the bare leues
Then set I to the second pyle / Sapientia dei patris
That is the passion and[^a1835] poure / of our prynce Iesu
Through prayers and[^a1836] penaunce[^a1837] / and goddes passion in mynde
I saue it till I se it ripe[^a1838][^374] / and somedele fruted
And then fondeth the feende / my fruyt to distroye
With all the wyles þat he can / and waggeth the roote
And casteth vp to the toppe[^a1839] / vnkynde neighboures
Backbyters breake the cheste / brawlers and chyders
And leyth a ladder therto / of lyes[^a1840] are the staues[^a1841]
And feche awaie my floures / sometyme before[^a1842] myn eyes
But liberum arbitrium / letteth him sometyme
That is leuetenaunt to kepe[^a1843] it well / by leue of my-self
Videatis / quia[^a1844] qui peccat in spiritum sanctum numquam remittetur &c
Hoc est idem / qui peccat per liberum arbitrium non repugnat[^375] &c
But when the feende and the fleshe / forthwith the worlde
Threaten[^a1845] behynde me / my fruyt awaie to[^a1846] feche
Then liberum arbitrium / cacheth[^a1847] the fyrst plant
And pulleth[^a1848] doune[^a1849] the pouke / purelie through grace
And helpe of the holy ghost / & thus haue I the maistrie
Now faire fall you Piers quod I / so fair ye discryue
The poure of thise postes / and their proper mightes
But I haue many thoughtes[^a1850] / of thise iij thre pyles /
In what wood they grewe[^a1851] / in what grounde also[^a1852]
For they are all[^a1853] Alike long / non lasse then other
And to my mynde as me thinke / on one grounde[^a1854] they grewe
And of one greatnesse / and grene of greyne they seme
That is true[^a1855] quod piers / so it maye befall
I shall telle shortly[^a1856] / what this tre hight
The grounde there it growethe / goodnes it hight
And I haue tolde the what hight the tre / the Trinitie it meneth
And egrely he lokid on me / and therfor I spared
To Aske him any more therof / and bad him full faire
To discribe me[^a1857] the fruyt / that so fair hangeth
Here[^a1858] benethe quod he then / if I had nede[^a1859]
Matrimony I may take[^a1860] / A moiste fruyt withall
Then contynence is nere the toppe[^a1861] / as Calewaie Bastard
Then beareth the toppe[^a1862] kynde fruyt / and clennest of all
Maydenhede Aungelles pere[^a1863] / and rathest wilbe will be rype
And swete without swelling / soure is[^a1864] it neuer
I prayed Piers to pull doune[^a1865] / an Appull if[^a1866] he wolde
And suffre me to assaie / what savour it had
And Piers kest to the toppe[^a1867] / and than began[^a1868] it to crie
And wagged widowhode / and it wept after
And when it moued Matrimony / it made a foule noyse
I[^a1869] had ruthe when Piers rogged / it craked[^a1870][^376] so rufullie
For euer as they droppid doune[^a1871] / the deuill was redy
And gatherid them all togithers / both great and small
Adam and Abraham / and ysaye the prophete
Sampson and Samuell / and S . Iohan the baptist
And[^a1872] bare them forthe boldely / no body him letted
And made his hoorde of holy men[^a1873] / in limbo inferni
There is derknesse and drede / and the deuell maister
And Piers for pure tene / of that Apple[^a1874] he laughte
he smet[^a1875] after him / hit if[^a1876] it might
Filius by the fathers will / And freenesse of Spiritus sancti
To go robbe that ragman / & take[^a1877] the frute from hym
And[^a1878] spake Spiritus sanctus / in Gabriels mouthe
To A maide that hight Marie / A meke thing withall
That one Iesus a Iustice son / must slepe[^a1879] in hir wombe[^a1880]
Till plenitudo temporis / fully come were
That Piers fruyte floured / and began[^a1881] to be ripe
And then shulde Ihs Iesus iust therfor / by iudgement of armes
Which[^a1882] shuld haue[^a1883][^377] the frute / the feend or he[^a1884]
The maid myldely then / the messenger grauntid
And said hendlie to him / Lo me his hande mayd[^a1885]
For to worke his wille / without any synne /
Ecce ancilla domini fiat mihi secundum verbum tuum[^a1886] /
And in the wombe of that wenche / was he fourty wekes
Till he wext a faunt through hir sleshe [f]leshe / and of fyghting coulde
To haue fought with the feende / ere full tyme come
And Piers the plowman perceyued / plenare tyme
And lerned[^a1887] him lechecrafte / his lyfe for to saue
That though he were wounded with his enemy / to helpe[^a1888] himself
And did him assay his surgerie / on them that were diseased[^a1889]
Till he was perfite practisour / if any perill felle
And sought out the sike / and synfull bothe
And salued them[^a1890] / bothe blynde and croked
And commone women conuerted / and to good turned
Non est sanis opus medic'[^378] sed male habentibus[^a1891][^379] /
Bothe lepers and dumbe men[^a1892] / and in the bloodie flux[^a1893]
Oft he heled such / and[^a1894] held it for no maistrie
Saue when[^a1895] he leched Lazar / þat was laid[^a1896] in graue
Quatriduanus quelt / quicke he made[^a1897] him walke
But as he made the maistrie / Mestus cepit esse /
And wept water with his eyes / there se it many
Some that se þat sight[^a1898] / said that tyme
That he was leche of lyfe / and lorde of high heauen
Iewes iangled theragainst / and iuged lawes
And said he wrough by[^a1899] wichecrafte / & with the deuylles myght
Demonium habes /
Than Are ye chorles quod I / and your childerne bothe
And Sat han your Saueour / your[^a1900] -self nowe ye witnesse
For I haue saued you[^a1901] said[^a1902] Christ / and your sonnes after
Your bodies your beastes / and blynde men holpen
And fed you with ij two fishes / and with fyue looues
And left baskettes full of broke meat / beare away who[^a1903] wold
And missaid the iewes manlie / and thretned[^a1904] them to beate
And knocked on them with a corde / and cast doune[^a1905] their stalles
That in church chaffred / or chaunged any money
And said it in sight of them all / so that all herde
I shall ouertorne this temple / and doune[^a1906] it[^a1907] throwe
And in thre dayes after / reedifye the same[^a1908]
And make it asmuche as muche or more / in all manere poyntes
As euer it was and as wide / and therfor[^a1909] I commande[^a1910] you
Of prayers and of perfitenes / this place that ye call
Domus mea domus oracionis vocabitur
Enuye and euillwill / was in the Iewes
The The[y] kest and countered[^a1911] / to kyll him when they myght
Euery[^a1912] day after other / their tyme they awaited
Tyll it befelle on a friday / a litill before the[^a1913] pasche
The thursdaie there[^a1914][^380] he made / his maundye
Sitting at the supper / he said these wordes
I am sold by[^a1915] one of you / he shall the tyme rue
That euer he his Sauiour solde / for Syluer or elles
Iudas iangled therat / But Iesus him told
It was himself sothely / and said tu dicis
Then went forth that wicked man / and with the Iewes mett
And told them a token / Howe to knowe Iesus
The which token to this day / ouermuch is vsed
That is kissing and fair countynaunce / and vnkynde will
And so was with Iudas then / that Iesus betraied
Aue rabby quod that ribaude / and streight to him he yede
And kissed him to be caught therby / and killed of the Iewes
Than Iesus to Iudas / and to the Iewes said
Falsnesse I fynde / in thy fair speche
And gyle in thy chere / and gall is in thy laughing
Thou shalt be myrrour / to many men to deceyue
But the worst of thy wickednesse / shalbe shall be vpon thy-self
Necesse est vt veniant scandala , sed ve homini illi per quem scandalum venit
Though I by treson be take / at your oune will
Suffre myn Apostles / in peace for to passe
On A thursdaie in the night / thus was he take
Through Iudas and Iewes / Iesus was his name
That on the Friday folowing / for mankyndes sake
Iusted in Iherusalem / A ioye to vs all
On the crosse vpon Caluarie / Christ toke the bataile
Against deathe and the deuill / & distroied bothe ther[^a1916][^381] mightes
He died and deathe fordidde / and daye of night made
And[^a1917] awaked therwith / and wiped myn eyen
And after Piers the plowman / pried and stared
Eastward and westwarde / I waited after faste
And went forth as an ydiot / in the countrie to espie
After Piers the plowman / many A place I sought
And then met I with a man / on[^a1918] mydlent sondaye[^382]
As hore as an hawthorne / and Abraham he hight
I freyned him fyrst / from whence he came
And of whence he was / and whether that he thought
I am feythe quod that freke / it falleth not to lye
And of Abrahams house / an heraude of armes
I seke after a man / that I se ones
A full bolde bacheler / I knewe him by his armes
What beareth that man quod I then / so blisse the betyde
Thre leodes in one lith / non lengar then other
Of one much and might / in measure and length
That one dothe all do / and eche dothe by himself
The first hathe might and maiestie / makere of all thinges
Pater is his propre name / a persone by Himself
The[^383] seconde of that sire / is sothefastnesse Filius
Wardeyn of that wit hathe / was euer without begynnyng
The thirde hight the holie goost / A persone by himself
The light of all that lyfe hathe / on londe and on water
Conforter of creatures / of him commeth all blisse
So thre belongeth to a lorde / that lordship claymeth
Myght and a meane / to knowe his might
Of him and of his seruaunt / and what they suffre bothe
So god þat begynning had neuer / but when he good thought
Sent forth his son / as a seruaunte that tyme
To occupie him here / till issue were sprong
That is childerne of charitie / and holie church the mother
Patriarches and prophetes / and apostles were the childern
And Christe and cristendome / and cristen holie churche
In menyng that man muste / in one god beleue
And there he liked & loued / in one persone him shewed
And that it may be so and sothe / manhode it sheweth
Wedloke and widohode / with virginitie named
In tokenyng of the Trinitie / was out of man taken
Adam oure first father / Eue was of hym
And the issue that they had / was of them bothe
And either is others ioye / in thre sondry persones
And in heauen and in erthe / one syngular name
And thus is mankynde / of matrimony sprong
And betokeneth the Trinitie / and true beleue
Might is matrimony / that multiplieth the erthe
And betokeneth truly / telle if I durste
Hym that fyrst formed all / the father of heauen
The son if I durst say / resembleth well the widowe
Deus meus deus meus vt quid dereliquisti me
That is Creatour became creature / to knowe them bothe
As widowe without wedlocke / was neuer yet sene
Nomore No more might god be man / but if he mother hadd
So widowe without wedloke / maynot may not well stand
Nor matrimony sine[^a1919] muliere[^384] / is not muche to preyse
Maledictus homo qui non reliquit semen in Israel
Thus in thre persones / is perfitely manhode
That is man and his make / and then his childern
And is not but gendre of generacion / before Iesu Christ in heauen
So is the father with[^a1920] the son / and fre will of them[^a1921][^385] bothe
Spiritus procedens a patre et filio & c /
Which is the holy ghost of all / and all is but one god
Thus in A somer I him se / as I sat in my porche
I rose vp and reuerenced him / and faire him grete
Thre men to my sight / I made well at ease
Washed ther fete and wiped them / and after[^a1922] they ete
Calues flesh and cakebrede / and knewe what I thought
Full true tokens betwene vs be / to tell when we like
Fyrst he asked me / whether[^a1923] I loued better
Hym or ysaac myn heyre / which he bad me kyll
He knewe my will by him / he will me it allowe
I am full sure in soule therof / and my son bothe
I circumcised my son / sithen for his sake
My-self and my menye / and all that male were
Bled bloude for that lordes sake / and hope to blisse the tyme
Myn affiance and feithe / is firme in this beleue
For himself behight to me / and to myn issue bothe
Lond and lordeship / and lyfe without ende
To me and myn issue / more yet he graunted
Mercy for our misdedes / as many tymes as we aske
Quam olim Abrahe promisisti et semini eius /
And sithens he set me to saie / I shuld do sacrifice
And do him worship with bread / and with wyne bothe
And callid fote of his feithe / his folke forto for to saue
And defend them from the feende / that with me beleued
Thus haue I bene his heraulde / here and in helle
And conforted many a carefull / that after his commyng waited
And thus I seke him I [he] said / for I herde say late
Of A barne that baptyzed him / Iohan was his name
That to patriarches and prophetes / and to other in derknesse
Seid that he se here / that shuld saue vs all
Ecce agnus dei qui tollit peccata mundi /
I had wonder of his wordes / and of his wide clothes
For in his bosome he bare a thing / that he blissed euer
And I lokid in his lappe / A lazar lay therin
Among patriarches and prophetes / pleyeng togithers
What awaitest thou quod he / and what woldest þou haue
I wold wite quod I then / what is in your lappe /
Lo quod he and lete me se / Lord mercie I said
This is a present of much price / what prince shall it haue
It is a preciouse present quod he / But the feend hathe it atached
And me also quod that man / ther may noman no man me quyte
Nor yet be our borrowe / nor bring vs from his daunger
out of the deuils pinfold / no mainprise may vs fech
Till he come that I carpe of / Christ is his name
That shall deliuer vs some daie / out of the deuyls poure
And better wed for vs lay / than all we be worthie
That is lyfe for lyfe / orelles or elles ly thus euer
Lolling in my lappe / till suche a lorde vs feche
Allas I said / that synne so long shall lett
The might of goddes mercie / that might vs well amend
I wept for his wordes / with that I sawe another
Hastely renne forthe / the right waie he went
I Asked him fyrst / from whence he come
And what he hight / & whether he wold / and shortly he told

[^a1816: doubt (S) | a weer (Hm W Cr1)]

[^a1817: grounde (S) | more (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1818: true (S) | lele (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1819: goodnesse (S) | lokynge (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1820: and (S Cr1) | and þoruȝ (W Bx) | and pure (Hm)]

[^a1821: anyman any man knowe (S) | any wight . wite (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1822: where awaie (S) | whider-out (W Cr1 Bx) | where (Hm)]

[^a1823: grounde (S) | more (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1824: groweth in (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1825: his name named (S) | nempne his name (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1826: loke (S) | to toten (W Hm) | to totre (Cr1) | toten (Bx)]

[^a1827: and (S) | and on (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1828: kepe (S) | witen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1829: shake of (S) | abite (W Bx) | byte (Hm Cr1)]

[^a1830: onlesse (S) | but if (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1831: loue (S) | willen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1832: begynneth (S) | gynneþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1833: to (S Cr1 Hm) | om. (W Bx)]

[^a1834: euen (S Cr1) | riȝt (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1835: and (S) | and þe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1836: and (S) | and þoruȝ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1837: penaunce (S Cr1 M) | penaunces (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1838: ripe (S) | ripen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1839: toppe (S) | crop (W Hm Bx) | crompe (Cr1)]

[^a1840: lyes (S) | lesynges (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1841: staues (S) | ronges (W Hm Bx) | roundes (Cr1)]

[^a1842: before (S) | afore boþe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1843: kepe (S) | loken (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1844: quia (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1845: Threaten (S) | Manacen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1846: awaie to (S) | for to (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1847: cacheth (S) | laccheþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1848: pulleth (S) | palleþ (W Cr1 Bx) | falleþ (Hm)]

[^a1849: doune (S) | adoun (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1850: many thoughtes (S) | þouȝtes a þreve (W Cr1 Bx) | þouhtes a þrowe (Hm)]

[^a1851: grewe (S) | woxen (W Hm Bx) | wopen (Cr1)]

[^a1852: in what grounde also (S) | and where þat þei growed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1853: they are all (S) | alle are þei (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1854: grounde (S) | more (W Cr1 Bx) | manere (Hm)]

[^a1855: true (S) | sooþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1856: shortly (S) | þee as tid (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1857: me (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1858: Here (S) | Heer now (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1859: had nede (S) | transp. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1860: take (S) | nyme (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1861: toppe (S) | crop (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1862: toppe (S) | crop (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1863: pere (S Cr1 Hm) | peeris (W Bx)]

[^a1864: is (S) | worþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1865: doune (S Cr1) | adoun (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1866: if (S Hm) | and (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1867: toppe (S) | crop (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1868: began (S) | comsed (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1869: I (S Cr1) | Þat I (Bx) | And I (W Hm)]

[^a1870: craked (S) | gradde (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1871: doune (S Cr1) | adoun (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1872: And (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1873: his hoorde of holy men (S) | of holy men his hoord (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1874: Apple (S Cr1 Hm) | a pil (W) | o pile (Bx)]

[^a1875: smet (S) | hitte (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1876: hit if (S Cr1) | hitte how (W) | happe how (Hm Bx)]

[^a1877: take (S) | reue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1878: And (S Cr1) | And þanne (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1879: slepe (S) | Iouke (W Hm Bx) | ionken (Cr1)]

[^a1880: wombe (S Cr1) | chambre (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1881: began (S) | felle (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1882: Which (S) | Wheiþer (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1883: haue (S) | fonge (W Hm) | song (Cr1) | fonde (Bx)]

[^a1884: he (S) | hym-selue (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1885: hande mayd (S) | hand-maiden (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1886: secundum verbum tuum (S Hm) | om. (W Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1887: lerned (S Cr1) | lered (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1888: to helpe (S) | to warisshen (W Hm Bx) | he might warish (Cr1)]

[^a1889: were diseased (S) | sike were (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1890: them (S) | sike and synfulle (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1891: male habentibus (S) | in &c (W Hm) | &cetera (Cr1)]

[^a1892: lepers and dumbe men (S) | meseles and mute (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1893: bloodie flux (S) | menyson blody (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1894: and (S) | he ne (W Cr1 Bx) | he (Hm)]

[^a1895: when (S) | þo (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1896: was laid (S) | hadde yleye (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1897: he made (S) | dide (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1898: se þat sight (S) | þe sighte seiȝen (W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a1899: by (S) | þoruȝ (W Cr1 Bx) | wyþ (Hm)]

[^a1900: your (S Cr1 Hm) | ye (W) | yow (Bx)]

[^a1901: you (S Hm) | yow-self (W Bx) | your-selfe (Cr1)]

[^a1902: said (S) | seiþ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1903: who (S) | who-so (W Hm Bx) | þat (Cr1)]

[^a1904: thretned (S) | manaced (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1905: doune (S Cr1) | adoun (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1906: doune (S) | adoun (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1907: it (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1908: reedifye the same (S) | edifie it newe (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1909: and therfor (S Cr1) | wher-fore (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1910: commande (S) | hote (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1911: countered (S) | contreueden (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1912: Euery (S) | Eche (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1913: the (S) | om. (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1914: there (S) | bifore þere (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1915: by (S) | þoruȝ (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1916: bothe ther (S Cr1 M) | hir boþeres (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1917: And (S) | And I (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1918: on (S) | a (W Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a1919: sine (S) | with-outen (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1920: with (S) | forþ with (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a1921: them (S Cr1 M) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1922: after (S Cr1 M) | afterward (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1923: whether (S Cr1 M) | if (W Hm Bx)]

[^372: fyll: OED fill n.1 (> OE fyll), correctly transmitting the archetype. For the W form fulle, see the Introduction to the PPEA edition of that copy, section III.2.1.2.13 (reflexes of OE /y/) (pace Kane and Wittig, who treat the W reading as MED fulle n.1 [> ME ful adj.]).]

[^373: loke: Probably rendering to toten, as in WHm. Cr1 to totre, a unique error, confirms that the beta2 group ancestor had infinitival to, omitted in S and most copies outside the beta2 group.]

[^374: ripe: OED ripe v.1, synonymous with ripen, the reading of other copies.]

[^375: repugnat: The scribe writes an upward flourish on the n, not part of his standard repertory of abbreviations. See S.16.115nn for some further irregular marks of abbreviation.]

[^376: craked: Rendering gradde 'cried out', a verb that persistently defeated the translator. See Glossary. Prompted by context the translator here selects a sound-verb appropriate to trees.]

[^377: haue: Rendering fonge, the reading of WHm, corrected M, and most other copies, for Bx fonde.]

[^378: medic': This word and habentibus are suspended with marks not from the scribe's standard repertory. The form of the abbreviation in medic' is a smooth curl that would be transcribed as -o if closed, and perhaps derives from a poorly executed or unrecognized superscripted mark of that type. CrM unambiguously have medico, the correct reading (for the construction, see Lewis and Short, s.v. opus, -eris, sense III.A). WHmL have a mark of abbreviation shaped very like that in c(etera) (as employed in truncation of Latin quotations). Editors of these manuscripts expand to medicus, an attested reading for the scriptural passage (Matt. 9.12). BTP, ad loc., speculate that Bx had an ambiguous abbrevation. See also the next note.]

[^379: medic' sed male habentibus: S or its exemplar extends a scriptural quotation (Matt. 9.12) truncated after medic' in beta. See the previous note and BTP ad loc. The abbreviation employed in habent(ibus) is irregular and occurs in S only here.]

[^380: there: Other copies have bifore þere and divide the line after before. S's irregular line division is perhaps secondary smoothing, an indication that before was omitted already in Sx, perhaps by haplography (note before in the previous line).]

[^381: bothe ther: modernization of hir boþeres agrees with CrM. Compare S.2.68n and S.18.38.]

[^382: on mydlent sondaye: The archetypal reading, retained in beta2, is a mydlenten sondaye. The preposition in S, corrected M, and Cr23GYOC2F is the easier reading. It arose independently at several points in the textual tradition.]

[^383: The: The scribe corrects an erroneous capital S by superimposing on it the head-stroke of a T. This letter is also deleted by strikethrough. The error was presumably induced by attraction to subsequent copy.]

[^384: sine muliere: Rendering withouten muliere. The sense of muliere is "legitimate offspring", recorded for this word in English (MED, s.v. mulier(e n. and adj., sense b) and French (Anglo-Norman Dictionary, s.v. muiller, sense 2) but apparently not in Latin (The Dictionary of Medieval Latin from British Sources, s.v.). S's Latin preposition is unique, but Hm likewise construes muliere as Latin, writing this word in display script. The spelling muliere, which induced linguistic misprision in SHm, is shared also by the remaining beta2 copies WCr (Cr without final -e). The usual spelling outside the beta2 group is moillerye.]

[^385: them: S agrees with Cr and original M; other copies lack the pronoun. This variant and the SCrM variants in S.16.239 and S.16.242 suggest that the M-scribe had switched to a beta2 exemplar by this point, as Kane and Donaldson's collations imply (B Version, p. 42).]

Passus xvijus septendecimus

I am Spes quod he A spye[^a1924][^386] / and spyre after a knyght
That toke me a commaundement[^a1925] / vpon the mownt[^a1926] Synay
To rule all realmes with / I beare the writ here
Ys it ensealed[^a1927] quod I[^a1928] / may men se the[^a1929] letters
Nay he said I seke him / that hathe the seale to kepe
And that is crosse and cristendome / and Christ theron to hang
And when it is enseled[^a1930] so / I wot well the sothe
That Luciferes lordship / last shall no lengar
Lat se the[^a1931] letters quod I / we myght the lawe knowe
Then pulled[^a1932] he forthe a patent / A pece of an hard roche
[^387] Dilige deum et proximum tuum & c
This was the text trulie / I toke full good hede[^a1933]
The glose was gloriouslie writen / with a gilt penne
In hijs duobus mandatis , tota lex pendet et prophete[^a1934][^388] /
Be here all thy lordes lawes quod I / yea beleue[^a1935] me[^a1936][^389] he said
And who-so worketh after this writ / I will vndertake
Shall neuer deuyll him dere / nor deathe in soule greue
For though I say it myself / I haue saued with this charme
Of men and[^a1937] women / many skore thousandes
He saithe truthe[^a1938] said this heraulde / I haue it founde[^a1939] ofte
Lo here in my lappe / that trusted to[^a1940] that charme
Iosue and Iudithe / and Iudas Machabeus
Yea and syxtie thousand more[^a1941] / that be not sene here
Your wordes are wonderfull quod I[^a1942] / which of you is truest
And trustiest to trust to[^a1943][^390] / for lyfe and for soule
Abraham seyith[^a1944] he se / whoollie the Trinitie
Thre persones in parcelles / eche[^a1945] departable from other
And all thre but one god / thus Abraham me taught
And hath saued that beleued so / and sory for their synnes
He can not tell howe many[^a1946] / yet[^a1947] some are in his lappe
What neded it then a newe lawe to begynne
Sithe the first suffised[^a1948] / to saluacion and[^a1949] blisse
And now cometh Spes and speaketh / þat hathe esspied the lawe
And tellelthe tellethe not of the Trinitie / that toke him his letters
To beleue and loue / in one lorde allmyghtie
And then[^a1950] euen[^a1951] as my-self / to[^a1952] loue all the[^a1953] people
The man[^a1954] that gothe with one staf / he semeth in better[^a1955] helth[^a1956]
Then he that gothe with ij two staues / to sight of vs all
And euen[^a1957] so by the roode / Reason me shewethe
It is lighter to lewde men / on lesson to knowe
Then for to teache them ij two / and to hard to lerne the least
It is full harde for any man / on Abraham to[^a1958] beleue
And well awaie wors yet / for to loue a shrewe
Yt is lyghter to beleue[^a1959] / in thre louely persones
Then for to loue and beleue[^a1960][^391] / aswell as well foes[^a1961] as freendes[^a1962][^392]
Go thy gate quod I to Spes / for[^a1963] so me god helpe
They þat lerne thy lawe / full[^a1964] litill while do vse[^a1965] it
And as we went by the waie / thus[^a1966][^393] wording togithers
Than se we a Samaritan / sitting on A mule
Ryding well[^a1967] hastely[^a1968] / the right waye we went[^a1969]
Commyng from A countrey / that men calleth[^a1970][^394] Ierico
To A Iustice[^a1971][^395] in Iherusalem / he rode[^a1972] awaie fast
Bothe the Heraude and hope / And he met at ones
Where a man was woundid / and with theues taken
He might neyther steppe nor stande / nor stere foot nor hand[^a1973]
Nor helpe himself trulie[^a1974] / for semyviue he semed
And as naked as a nedle / and non helpe about him
Feyth had fyrst sight of him / but he fled asyde
And wold not come nere[^a1975] him / by nyne londes length
Hope came hipping after / that had so bosted
Howe he with Moises commaundement[^a1976] / had many men holpen
But when he Had sight him[^a1977] / Aside he did[^a1978] him drawe
Dredfully by this daye / as malard[^a1979] doth from[^a1980] fawcoun
But so sone as[^a1981] this[^a1982] Samaritan / had sight of this man[^a1983] /
He light adoune of Lyarde / and led him in his hand
And to the man[^a1984] he went / his woundes to beholde
And perceyued by his pulse / he was in perill to die

[A later hand has entered two inscriptions in the outer margin, perhaps reading Iheu and Ih.]

And onlesse[^a1985] he had Helpe[^a1986] the rather / rise[^a1987] shulde he neuer
With wyne and with oile / his woundes he wasshed
Enbawmed Him and bounde his Head / & in his lappe him laid
And lad Him so forthe on liarde / to lex cristi / a graunge
Well six miles[^a1988] or seuen / beside the newe merket
Harborowed Him at an hostrie / and to the Hostiler called
And said Haue kepe this man / till I come from the Iustes
And lo here syluer he said / for salue to his woundes
And He toke Him too pens / to liuelode as it were
Saying[^a1989] what-so he[^a1990][^396] spendeth more / I make it[^a1991] good hereafter
For I maynot may not tarie[^a1992] quod he[^a1993] / and lyard he bestridd[^a1994]
And Hastid[^a1995] him to Ierusalem-ward / the right waie to ride
Feyth folowed after fast / entending[^a1996] to mete him
And Spes spedelie[^a1997][^397] him hied[^a1998] / spede if he might
To ouertake Him and talke with[^a1999] Him / ere they to toune came
I seing this taried not behinde[^a2000] / but prepared[^a2001] me ronne[^a2002]
And sued that Samaritan that was so full of pitie
And graunted Him to be His grome / grauntmercy he said
But thy freend and thy felawe[^a2003] / þou fyndest me at nede
I[^a2004] thankyd him then / and after[^a2005] I him told
How that feyth fled awaie / and Spes his[^a2006] felawe bothe
For sight of the sorowfull man / that robbed was with theues
haue them excused quod he / their helpe may litill availe
May no medicyne on moulde / the man to helthe[^a2007] bring
Neyther feyth nor fyne hope / so festred be his woundes
Without the bloude of a barne / borne of a maide
Yf[^a2008] he be[^a2009][^398] bathed in that bloude / baptyzed as it were
And then plaistred with penaunce / and passion of that child[^a2010]
he shuld stande and steppe / but strong were[^a2011] he neuer
Till he haue eaten all the barne / and his bloud drounke
For neuer went[^a2012] man[^a2013] in this world / through þat wildernesse
But he[^a2014] was robbed / or ryfled / whether he did go or ryde[^a2015]
Saue feythe and his felawe Spes and my-self
And thy-self nowe / and such as folowe[^a2016] our workes
For outlawes in the wood / & vnder bankes[^a2017][^399] lurketh[^a2018]
And may se euery man[^a2019] / and good marke take
Who is behynde and who before / and who be on horse
For he holdeth him hardyer on horseback / tha n him[^a2020] þat is on fote
For he se me that am Samaritan / folowe[^a2021] feythe and his felawe
On my Capull that hight Caro / of mankynde I toke it
he was vnhardy that harlot / and hidd hym in Inferno /
But ere this day thre dayes / I dare vndertake
That felon shalbe shall be fettred[^a2022] / fast with cheynes
And neuer after[^a2023] greue man[^a2024] / that goth by this waye[^a2025]
And then shall feythe be foster[^400] here / and in this Frith walke
And knowe[^a2026] out comone men / that knowe not the countrie
Which is the wey that I went / euen forth[^a2027][^401] to Ierusalem
And hope the Hostileres man shalbe shall be / there the man lythe in[^a2028] healyng
And all that feble and feynt be / that feyth maynot may not teache
Hope shall lede them for[^a2029] loue / as his lore[^a2030] telleth
And Hostle and heale them[^a2031] / through Holy churches[^402] beleue
Till I haue salue for all sike / and than shall I returne
And come agayne by this countrie / and confort all sike
That craueth it or coveteith it / and crie therafter
For the barne was borne in bethleme / þat with His blood shuld[^a2032] saue
All that lyue in feythe / and folowe his felawes teaching
Ah swete syr said I[^a2033] then / whether shall I[^a2034] beleue
as feyth and his felowe / enformed me bothe
In thre persones departable / þat perpetuall were euer
And all thre but one god / thus Abraham me taught
And Hope afterwarde / he badd me to loue
One god with all my good / and all men[^a2035] after
Loue them like my-self / but our lorde aboue all
After Abraham quod he / that heraude of armes
Set fast thy feythe / and fyrme beleue
And as hope willid[^a2036] the / I also will[^a2037] thou loue
Thine euenchristen euermore / euen as[^a2038] thy-self
[^403]Or heretikes with argumentes / thine hand thou them[^a2039][^404] shewe
For god is as[^a2040] an hande / here nowe and knowe it
The father was first as a fist / with one fynger folding
Till he[^a2041] louid and list[^a2042] / to vnlose hise finger
And profred[^a2043][^405] it forth as with a pawme / to what place it shuld
The pawme is properlie[^a2044] the Hande / and profreth forth the fynger[^a2045]
To mynistre and to make / that might of hande knoweth
And betokeneth trulie / telle who-so liketh
The holy ghoost of heauen / he is as the pawme
The fyngers that be free[^a2046] / to folde and to serue
Betokeneth sothely the son / that sent was to[^a2047] erthe
That towched and tasted / at teaching of the pawme
Saynt Mary a mayd and mankynd laught
Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto &c
The father is then as a fist / with fynger to towche
Quia omnia traham ad meipsum &c
All that the pawme / perceyueth profytable to fele
Than[^a2048] are they all but one / as it an hand were
And thre sondrie sightes / in one shewing
The pawme for he putteth forth fyngers and[^a2049] fist bothe
Right so ridely / Reason it shewethe
He[^a2050] that[^406] is holy ghoost / father[^a2051] and son proveth
And as the hand holde harde / and all thing fast
Through foure fyngers / and a thombe / forth with the pawme
Right so the father and the son / and saynt spyrit the third
Within them thre / the wide world they[^a2052] holde[^407]
Bothe they[^a2053][^408] element[^a2054][^409] and[^a2055] wynde / water and erthe
Heauen and Helle / and all that therin is[^a2056][^410]
Thus hit is lat[^a2057] noman no man / thynke the contrary[^a2058]
That thre thinges belongeth / to[^a2059] oure lorde in[^a2060] heauen
And are serelepes by them-self / a-sonder[^a2061] were they neuer
No more then my Hand maye / moue without my fyngers
And as my fist is full hande / folden togithers
So is the father a full god / fourmer and shaper
Tu fabricator omnium &c
And as that poure with[^a2062] Him / is in making of thinges
The fyngers forme a full Hand / to portrey and to[^a2063] peynt
Kerving and compassing / is[^a2064] crafte of the fyngers
Euen[^a2065] so is the son / the Science of the father
And full god as[^a2066] the father / nouther lesse nor more[^a2067]
The pawme that[^a2068] is purely the hand / hathe powre by himself
Otherwise then the wrethen fist / or workemanship of fyngers
For the pawme hathe poure / to put out all the ioyntes
And to vnfolde the folden fist / at the fyngers will
So is the holie ghoost / god / neither more[^a2069] nor lesse
Then is the father[^a2070] and[^a2071] son / and of[^a2072] the same might
And all they Are[^a2073] but one god / as is myn hand and[^a2074] fyngers
Vnfolden and[^a2075] folden / my fist and my pawme
All is but one hande / how-so[^a2076] I tvrne it[^411]
But who-so is Hurt on[^a2077] the hande / euen in the myddes
He may receyue right nought / reason it sheweth
For the fyngers that folde shulde / and the fist make
for peyne of the pawme / poure them failethe
To crache[^a2078][^412] or to clawe / to clippe , or to holde
Be[^a2079] the myddell of the[^a2080] hand / maymed or perished
I shulde receyue right nought / of that I reache myght
But though my thombe and[^a2081] fingers / bothe were hurt[^a2082]
And the myddell of my hand / without any gref[^a2083]
In diuerse and sondrie[^a2084] maneres / I might my-self Helpe
Bothe moue and amende / though all my fyngers did ake[^a2085]
By this skill me thinke / I se an euidence
That who-so synneth in the Holie goost[^a2086] / assoiled is[^a2087] he neuer
Neither Here nor elliswhere / as I here[^a2088] telle /
Qui peccat in Spiritum sanctum[^a2089][^413] &c
for he pricketh god as in the pawme / peccat[^a2090][^414] in spiritum sanctum[^a2091]
For[^a2092] the father is[^a2093] a fist / the son is[^a2094] a Fynger
The Holie ghoost of Heauen / is as it were the pawme
So who-so synneth in the Holy ghoost[^a2095] / it semeth that he greueth
God that He grypeth with / and wold His grace quenche
And to a torche or[^a2096] tapre / the trinitie is likened
As wex and[^a2097] weake / were twynned togithers
[^415] And bring[^a2098] forth a slamme [f]lamme / and a feyre leye
So done the father[^a2099] and the son / and also Spiritus sanctus /
Bring[^a2100] forth Among[^a2101] folke / loue and beleue
And[^a2102] all manere[^a2103] cristian / clenseth of all[^a2104] synnes
And as thou seest sometyme / sodeynly a torche
The blaze therof blowen out / yet brenneth the weeke
Without leye or light / þat the mach brenneth
So is the Holie goost god / and grace without mercy
To all vnkynde creatures / that covet to destroye
True[^a2105] loue or lyfe / that our lord made[^a2106]
And as glowing gleedes / gladeth not these workemen
That wake and worke[^a2107] / in wynter nyghtes
As dothe A kix or[^a2108] candle / þat Hathe caught[^a2109] fyre and brenne[^a2110]
Nomore No more doth father[^a2111] nor son / nor the Holy goost[^a2112] togithers
Graunte no grace / nor forgyuenesse of synnes
Till the Holy goost begynne[^a2113] / to glowe and to blase
So that the Holy ghoost / gloweth but as a glede
Till that true[^a2114] loue / lie on Him and blowe
Then[^a2115] flammeth he as fyre / on father and son[^a2116]
And melteth their might into mercy / as men may se in wynter
Isykles in eveses[^416] / through Heate of the sonne
Melt in A mynute while / to mist and to water
So grace of the Holy ghoost / the great might of the trinitie
Melteth to mercie / to merciable and[^a2117] non other
And as wax without more / on a warme cole[^a2118]
Will brenne / and blase alltogithers[^a2119]
And solace them that may se / and[^a2120] sitt in derkenes
So the father forgyueth[^a2121] / folke of myld hertes
That rufully repent / and restitucion make
In-asmuch as they may / Amende and paye

[In the outer margin a later hand has entered a series of inscriptions in vertical orientation. Ih and Ihe, apparently monograms for "Jesus", appear ten or eleven times beside the inscriptions gode of loue and lord.]

And if that[^a2122] suffiseth not[^a2123][^417] / yet He[^a2124] that in such[^a2125] will dieth
Mercie for his mekenesse / will make good the rest[^a2126]
And as the weke and fyre / will make a warme flamme
For to confort[^a2127] men with / that in the[^a2128] derke[^a2129] sitt
So will Christ of his curtesie / if[^a2130] men crye Him mercie
Bothe forgyue and forgett / and yet pray[^a2131] for vs
To the father of Heauen / Forgyuenesse to haue
But Hewe fyre at the[^a2132] flynt / foure hundered wynter
Onlesse[^a2133] thou Haest[^a2134] towhe[^418] to take it with / tunder or broches
All thy labour is lost / and[^a2135] thy long travaile
For may no fyre flamme make / Failethe[^a2136] it the[^a2137] kynde
So is the Holy ghoost god / and grace without mercie
To all vnkynde creatures / Christ Himself witnesseth
Amen dico vobis nescio vos /
Be vnkynde to thine euencristen / and all þat þou canst pray[^a2138]
Dele and do penaunce / day and night euer
And purchase all the pardon / of Pampilon and Rome
And Indulgences ynowe / and be vnkynde[^a2139] to thy kynde
The holy ghoost Hereth the not / nor may the Helpe[^a2140] by reason
For vnkyndnesse quencheth Hym / that He cannot shine
Nor borne[^419] no blase clere / for burnyng[^a2141][^420] of vnkyndenes
Paule the apostle / proueth whether I lye
Si linguis hominum loquar &c
Beware[^a2142] ye wise men / that with the worlde dealeth
That rich bene and reason knoweth / rule well your soule
Be not vnkynde I counsaile you / to your euencristen
For many of you riche men / by my soule men telleth
Ye burne but ye blase not / that is a blynde beken
Non omnis qui dicit domine domine intrabit &c
Dives died dampned / for His vnkyndenes
Of his meat and[^a2143] money / to men that it neded
Euery[^a2144] riche man[^a2145] I rede / regarde[^a2146] at him take
And gyue your goodes[^a2147] to your[^a2148] god / þat grace of Aryseth
For they[^a2149] þat be vnkynde to hise / I hope[^a2150] non other
But they dwell with diues[^a2151] / day[^a2152] without ende
Thus is vnkyndenes the contrarie / þat quencheth as it were
The grace of the Holy ghoost / goddes oune kynde
for that kynde doth vnkyndenes[^a2153] fordoo[^a2154] / as do[^a2155] these cursed theues
Vnkynde cristen men / for couetise and Envie
Slea a man for his goodes[^a2156] / with mouthe or hand[^a2157]
For that þe Holie ghoost hathe to kepe / tho harlottes do destroy[^a2158]
The which is lyfe and loue / the leye of mannes bodie
For euery manere good man / may be likened to a torche
Orelles Or elles to A tapre / reuerence[^a2159] the Trinitie /
And he that[^a2160] murthereth a good man / me think by myn inwitt
he fordothe the lefest light / that oure lorde loueth
But yet in many more maners / men offende the Holie ghoost
But this is the worst wise / that any man maye[^a2161]
Synne against the Holy ghoost[^a2162] / to[^a2163] Assent to destroye
For couetise of Any[^a2164] thing / that Christ dere bought
How may[^a2165] he ask mercie / or any mercie Him helpe
That wickedly and willfully / wold mercie refuse[^a2166][^421]
Innocency[^a2167] is next god / and night and daye criethe[^a2168]
Vengeaunce vengeaunce / forgyuen be it neuer
That shent vs and Had[^a2169][^422] our blood / forshapt vs as it were
Vindica sanguinem iustorum
Thus vengeaunce vengeaunce / very charitie asketh
And sith Holy chirche and charitie / chargeth this so sore
Beleue[^a2170] I neuer that our lorde / will loue that charite lacketh
Nor haue pitie for any prayere / there as[^a2171] he pleyneth
Suppose[^a2172] I Had synned so / And now shulde[^a2173] die
And am[^a2174] sory that I so / the holy ghoost[^a2175] haue offendid[^a2176]
Confesse[^a2177] and aske[^a2178] grace / of[^a2179] god that all made
And mekely[^a2180] His mercie ask / might I not be saued ?[^423]
Yes said this[^a2181] Samaritan / so well thou maist[^a2182] repent
That righwisnes through repentaunce / to ruthe might turne
But it is but selden sene / Sothenesse[^a2183] beareth witnes
Any creature that is culpable / before[^a2184] A kynges Iustice
Be quyt[^a2185] for his repentaunce / there Reason[^a2186][^424] Him dampneth
For there the[^a2187] partie pursueth / the plea[^a2188] is[^a2189] Huge
That the kyng may do no mercie / till bothe men accorde
And eyther haue equytie / As sayth S Augustine[^a2190][^425]
Non[^a2191][^426] dinittitur di[m]ittitur peccatum , donec[^a2192] &c
Thus it fareth by such folke / that falslie all their lyues
Euill lyue and beleue euill[^a2193][^427] / till lyfe them forsake
Good Hope that Helpe shulde / to dispayre[^a2194] turnethe
Not for[^a2195] the nonpoure of god / that he is not mightfull
To Amende all þat is amisse[^a2196] / and His mercie greatter
Then all oure wicked workes / as holy writ telleth
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius /
But ere His rightousnes[^a2197] to ruthe turne / some restitucion behoueth
his sorowe is satisfaccion / for him that maynot may not paye
Thre thinges therbe there be / that do a man of force[^a2198]
To[^a2199] flee his oune house / as holy writ sheweth
The[^a2200] one is a wicked wife / þat willnot will not be chastised
hir husbond[^a2201] flieth[^a2202][^428] from her / for fere of hyr tong
And if His house be vncouered[^a2203] / and it[^a2204] reyne on his head[^a2205]
He sekith and sekith / tyll he may[^a2206] slepe drie
And whan smoke and smolder / smyght[^429] in his eyes[^a2207]
It greueth[^a2208] Him worse then His wife / or wete to slepe
For Smoke and smolder / smyteth in His eyen
Till he be blereeyed or blynde / and hoorce in the throte
He[^a2209] cowgheth and curseth / that Christ him[^a2210] sorowe
That shuld bring in better wood / or blowe it till it burne[^a2211]
Thise iij thre that I tell of / be thus to vnderstande
The wyfe is oure wicked flesh / þat wilnot will not be chastised
For kynde clyveth on him euer / to contrarie the soule
And though it fall it fynde skilles / þat frailtie it caused[^a2212]
And that is lightly forgyuen / and forgoton bothe
To man that asketh mercy[^a2213] / And thinketh to amende[^a2214]
The reyne that reyneth / there we rest shulde
Be sikenesses and sorowes / that we suffre oft
As paule the Apostle / to the people taught
Virtus in infirmitate perficitur &c
And though that men make / moch sorowe[^a2215] in their Angre
And be inpacient in[^a2216] penaunce / pure reason knoweth
That they haue cause to contrarie / by kynde of theyr sikenes
And lightlie our lorde / at their lyves ende
hathe mercy on such men / that so euill may suffre
And the Smoke and[^a2217] smolder / þat smight in our eyen
That is couetise and vnkyndenesse / which[^a2218] quencheth goddes mercie
For vnkyndnes is the contrarie / of all manere[^a2219] reason
for there is neither[^a2220] sike nor sory / nor non somuch so much wrech
But he[^a2221] may loue if[^a2222] he[^a2223] like / and beleue[^a2224][^430] with[^a2225] His hart
Good will and good worde / both wishe and will
All manere of[^a2226] mercie / and of[^a2227] forgyuenesse
And loue Him[^a2228] like him-self / and his lyfe amende
I may no lenger let quod he / and lyard He pricked
And went awaie as wynde / and þerwith I awaked[^a2229] /

[^a1924: quod he A spye (S W Hm) | quod þat spye (M) | quod he (Cr1)]

[^a1925: commaundement (S) | maundement (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1926: mownt (S Cr1 Hm) | mounte of (M W Bx)]

[^a1927: ensealed (S Cr1 W) | aseled (M Hm Bx)]

[^a1928: quod I (S) | I saide (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1929: the (S Cr1 M) | þi (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1930: enseled (S Cr1 W) | asseled (M Hm Bx)]

[^a1931: the (S Cr1) | þi (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a1932: pulled (S Cr1) | plukkud (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a1933: hede (S) | yeme (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1934: prophete (S Cr1 M) | prophetia (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1935: beleue (S) | leue (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1936: me (S Cr1 Bx) | me well (M W Hm)]

[^a1937: and (S Cr1 M) | and of (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1938: truthe (S) | soþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1939: it founde (S Cr1 M) | transp. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1940: trusted to (S) | leued on (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1941: more (S) | biside forth (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1942: I (S) | I tho (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1943: trustiest to trust to (S) | lelest to leue on (M Cr1 Bx) | lelest to leue so (W) | lelest to lyue so (Hm)]

[^a1944: seyith (S) | seiþ þat (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1945: eche (S Cr1) | om. (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a1946: tell howe many (S) | segge þe somme (M W Hm Bx) | se the commune (Cr1)]

[^a1947: yet (S) | and (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1948: suffised (S) | suffiseþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1949: and (S Cr1) | and to (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a1950: then (S) | sith (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1951: euen (S) | riȝt (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1952: to (S) | so (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1953: the (S Cr1 M) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1954: man (S) | gome (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1955: better (S) | gretter (M W Hm Bx) | great (Cr1)]

[^a1956: helth (S) | hele (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1957: euen (S) | riȝt (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1958: to (S Hm) | om. (M Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a1959: beleue (S Hm) | leue (M Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a1960: beleue (S) | lene (M W Hm Bx) | leue (Cr1)]

[^a1961: foes (S) | lorelles (M Cr1 W Bx) | loselles (Hm)]

[^a1962: freendes (S) | lele (M W Hm Bx) | lelly (Cr1)]

[^a1963: for (S Cr1 M) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1964: full (S) | wel (M Cr1 Hm) | wol (W Bx)]

[^a1965: do vse (S) | vsen (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1966: by the waie / thus (S) | þus in þe wey (W Hm Bx) | þus þe wey (M) | in þe way , thus (Cr1)]

[^a1967: well (S Cr1 M) | ful (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1968: hastely (S) | raply (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1969: went (S) | yeden (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1970: calleth (S Cr1 Hm) | called (M W Bx)]

[^a1971: Iustice (S Cr1) | Iustes (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a1972: rode (S) | chaced (M W Hm Bx) | chaseth (Cr1)]

[^a1973: hand (S Cr1) | handes (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a1974: trulie (S) | sothly (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1975: come nere (S) | neighen (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1976: commaundement (S) | maundement (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1977: him (S) | of þat segge (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1978: did (S) | gan (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1979: malard (S) | doke (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1980: from (S Cr1 M) | fram þe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1981: as (S Hm) | so (M W Bx) | om. (Cr1)]

[^a1982: this (S Cr1 M) | þe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1983: man (S) | lede (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1984: man (S) | wye (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1985: onlesse (S) | but if (M Hm Bx) | but (Cr1 W)]

[^a1986: Helpe (S) | recouerier (M W Hm Bx) | recouered (Cr1)]

[^a1987: rise (S) | þat rise (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1988: miles (S Cr1) | myle (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a1989: Saying (S) | And saide (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1990: what-so he (S M) | what he (W Hm Bx) | who-so (Cr1)]

[^a1991: it (S Cr1 M) | þee (W Hm Bx)]

[^a1992: tarie (S) | lette (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1993: he (S) | þat leode (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1994: bestridd (S) | bystrydeþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1995: Hastid (S) | raped (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1996: entending (S) | and fonded (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1997: spedelie (S) | spakliche (M Cr1 W) | specially (Hm)]

[^a1998: hied (S) | spedde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a1999: with (S) | to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2000: I seing this taried not behinde (S) | And whanne I seiȝe þis I soiourned not (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2001: prepared (S) | shoop (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2002: ronne (S Cr1) | to renne (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2003: felawe (S Cr1 M) | felawe quod he (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2004: I (S) | And I (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2005: after (S) | sith (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2006: his (S W Hm Bx) | and his (M Cr1)]

[^a2007: helthe (S) | hele (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2008: Yf (S) | And (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2009: he be (S Cr1 M) | transp. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2010: child (S) | baby (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2011: strong were (S) | stalworth worth (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2012: neuer went (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2013: man (S) | wie (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2014: But he (S) | That he ne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2015: whether he did go or ryde (S) | rode he þere or yede (M W Hm Bx) | wode he or yed (Cr1)]

[^a2016: folowe (S) | suwen (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2017: bankes (S) | banke (Cr1 W Hm Bx)]

[^a2018: lurketh (S) | lotyeþ (M W Hm Bx) | loutith (Cr1)]

[^a2019: se euery man (S) | ech man see (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2020: him (S Cr1) | he (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2021: folowe (S) | suwen (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2022: felon shalbe shall be fettred (S) | he worth fettred þat feloun (Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2023: after (S) | eft (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2024: man (S) | gome (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2025: by this waye (S) | þis ilke gate (M Cr1 W Bx) | þulke gate (Hm)]

[^a2026: knowe (S) | kennen (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2027: euen forth (S) | and wherforth (M W Bx) | and wherfore (Cr1 Hm)]

[^a2028: in (S Cr1) | an (W Bx) | on (Hm) | at (M)]

[^a2029: for (S Cr1 M) | forþ with (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2030: lore (S Cr1) | lettre (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2031: and heale them (S) | hem and hele (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2032: shuld (S) | shal (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2033: said I (S Cr1 Hm) | transp. (M W Bx)]

[^a2034: shall I (S Cr1 M Hm) | transp. (W Bx)]

[^a2035: men (S) | gomes (M Cr1 W)]

[^a2036: willid (S) | hiȝte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2037: also will (S) | hote þe þat (M Cr1) | hote þat (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2038: euen as (S) | euen-forth with (Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2039: them (S W Hm Bx) | hym (M Cr1)]

[^a2040: as (S) | after (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2041: he (S) | hym (M Cr1 W)]

[^a2042: list (S W Bx) | luste (M Cr1)]

[^a2043: profred (S Bx) | profre (M W) | put (Cr1)]

[^a2044: properlie (S) | purely (M Cr1 W)]

[^a2045: fynger (S) | fyngres (M Cr1 W)]

[^a2046: be free (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2047: to (S) | til (M W Bx) | to the (Cr1)]

[^a2048: Than (S Cr1) | Thus (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2049: and (S Cr1 M) | and þe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2050: He (S) | þat He (Cr1) | How he (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2051: father (S) | sire (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2052: they (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2053: they (S) | om. (M W Bx) | the (Cr1 Hm)]

[^a2054: element (S) | welkyne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2055: and (S) | and þe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2056: therin is (S Cr1 M) | þere is Inne (Bx) | is þer-Inne (W Hm)]

[^a2057: lat (S) | nedeþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2058: thynke the contrary (S) | trowe noon other (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2059: to (S) | in (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2060: in (S) | of (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2061: a-sonder (S Cr1) | a-sundry (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2062: as that poure with (S) | al þat miȝt mid (M Cr1) | al þe myȝt myd (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2063: and to (S Cr1) | or to (M) | or (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2064: is (S Cr1) | as (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2065: Euen (S) | Right (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2066: as (S) | as is (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2067: nouther lesse nor more (S) | no febler ne non bettre (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2068: that (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2069: more (S) | gretter (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2070: father (S) | sire (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2071: and (S) | and þe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2072: of (S) | in (M W Hm Bx) | om. (Cr1)]

[^a2073: they Are (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2074: and (S) | and my (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2075: and (S Cr1 M) | or (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2076: how-so (S Bx) | howe-so-euer (Cr1) | line om. (W Hm)]

[^a2077: on (S) | in (Cr1 Bx) | line om. (W Hm)]

[^a2078: crache (S Cr1) | cluche (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2079: Be (S) | Were (Cr1 W)]

[^a2080: the (S) | myn (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2081: and (S) | and my (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2082: hurt (S) | to-shullen (Cr1 W Bx) | to-swollen]

[^a2083: any gref (S) | malese (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2084: diuerse and sondrie (S) | many kynnes (M Cr1 W Bx) | many kynne (Hm)]

[^a2085: did ake (S) | oke (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2086: Holie goost (S) | seint spirit (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2087: is (S) | worth (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2088: here (S Cr1 M) | herde (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2089: Spiritum sanctum (S Cr1) | spiritu sancto (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2090: peccat (S) | qui peccat (M Cr1) | þat peccat (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2091: spiritum sanctum (S) | spiritu sancto (M W Bx) | spi (Cr1) | spiritum sancto (Hm)]

[^a2092: For (S) | For god (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2093: is (S Cr1) | is as (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2094: is (S Cr1 Hm) | is as (M W Bx)]

[^a2095: Holy ghoost (S) | seint spirit (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2096: or (S) | or a (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2097: and (S Hm) | and a (M Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a2098: And bring (S) | Fostren (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2099: father (S) | sire (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2100: Bring (S) | Fostren (M Cr1 Bx) | line om. (W Hm)]

[^a2101: Among (S) | amonges (M Cr1 Bx) | line om. (W Hm)]

[^a2102: And (S Cr1) | That (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2103: manere (S) | kynne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2104: all (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2105: True (S) | Lele (M W Hm Bx) | Lelly (Cr1)]

[^a2106: made (S) | shapte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2107: wake and worke (S Cr1) | transp. (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2108: or (S) | or a (Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2109: Hathe caught (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2110: brenne (S) | blaseþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2111: father (S) | sire (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2112: the Holy goost (S) | seint spirit (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2113: begynne (S) | gynne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2114: true (S) | lele (M W Hm Bx) | lelly (Cr1)]

[^a2115: Then (S) | And þanne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2116: son (S) | on filius (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2117: and (S) | and to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2118: cole (S) | glede (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2119: alltogithers (S Cr1 M) | be þei togideres (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2120: and (S) | þat (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2121: the father forgyueth (S Cr1) | wol þe fadur foryeue (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2122: that (S) | it (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2123: not (S) | noȝt for assetz (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2124: yet He (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2125: such (S) | suche a (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2126: rest (S) | remenaunt (M Cr1 W)]

[^a2127: confort (S) | murthe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2128: the (S Cr1 W) | om. (M Hm Bx)]

[^a2129: derke (S W) | merke (M Cr1 Hm Bx)]

[^a2130: if (S) | and (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2131: pray (S) | bidde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2132: the (S Cr1 M) | a (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2133: Onlesse (S) | But (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2134: Haest (S) | haue (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2135: and (S Cr1 M) | and al (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2136: Failethe (S) | faille (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2137: the (S) | his (M Cr1 Hm Bx) | is (W)]

[^a2138: pray (S) | bidde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2139: vnkynde (S) | ingratus (Cr1 W Hm Bx)]

[^a2140: may the Helpe (S) | helpe may þe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2141: burnyng (S Cr1 M) | blowynge (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2142: Beware (S) | For beþ war (Cr1) | For-þi beþ war (W Hm Bx) | Wherfore beþ war]

[^a2143: and (S) | and of his (Cr1 W Hm) | and his (M Bx)]

[^a2144: Euery (S) | Eche a (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2145: man (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2146: regarde (S) | reward (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2147: goodes (S) | good (Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2148: your (S Cr1 M) | þat (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2149: they (S W) | om. (M Cr1 Bx)]

[^a2150: I hope (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2151: with diues (S) | þere Diues is (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2152: day (S Cr1) | dayes (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2153: vnkyndenes (S Cr1 M) | vnkynde (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2154: fordoo (S) | fordoþ (Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2155: do (S Cr1 M) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2156: goodes (S) | moebles (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2157: hand (S) | with handes (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2158: do destroy (S) | destuyeth (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2159: reuerence (S) | to reuerence (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2160: he that (S) | who þat (M Cr1) | who-so (Hm Bx) | who (W)]

[^a2161: man maye (S) | wiȝt miȝte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2162: Holy ghoost (S) | seint spirit (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2163: to (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2164: Any (S) | any kynnes (M Cr1 W Bx) | enykyn (Hm)]

[^a2165: may (S) | miȝte (M Cr1 Bx) | line om. (W Hm)]

[^a2166: refuse (S) | anynte (M Cr1 W Bx) | anyentyce (Hm)]

[^a2167: Innocency (S) | Innocence (Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2168: criethe (S Cr1 Hm) | it cryeth (M W Bx)]

[^a2169: Had (S) | shadde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2170: Beleue (S) | Leue (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2171: as (S) | þat (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2172: Suppose (S) | I pose (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2173: now shulde (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Bx) | schulde nougth (Hm)]

[^a2174: And am (S Cr1) | And now am (Bx) | And now am I (W Hm) | Now am I (M)]

[^a2175: holy ghoost (S) | seint spirit (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2176: haue offendid (S) | agulte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2177: Confesse (S) | Confesse me (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2178: aske (S) | crye his (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2179: of (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2180: mekely (S) | myldliche (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2181: this (S) | þe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2182: maist (S) | miȝt (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2183: Sothenesse (S) | þere soþnesse (M W Hm Bx) | her sothnes (Cr1)]

[^a2184: before (S Cr1 M) | afore (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2185: quyt (S) | raunsomed (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2186: Reason (S) | alle reson (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2187: the (S) | þat (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2188: plea (S Cr1) | peple (W Hm) | pele (Bx)]

[^a2189: is (S) | is so (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2190: sayth S Augustine (S) | as holy writ telleþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2191: Non (S) | Numquam (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2192: donec (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2193: beleue euill (S) | leten nouȝt (M W Hm Bx) | lyueth (Cr1)]

[^a2194: dispayre (S) | wanhope (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2195: for (S) | of (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2196: is amisse (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2197: rightousnes (S Cr1) | riȝtwysnesse (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2198: of force (S) | by strengþe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2199: To (S) | For to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2200: The (S) | That (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2201: husbond (S) | feere (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2202: flieth (S Cr1) | fleeth (M W Bx)]

[^a2203: vncouered (S) | vnheled (M W Hm Bx) | vntiled (Cr1)]

[^a2204: it (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2205: head (S Cr1) | bedde (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2206: may (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2207: eyes (S) | siȝte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2208: greueth (S) | doþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2209: He (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2210: him (S) | gyue hem (Cr1 W Hm) | yeue hym (M Bx)]

[^a2211: burne (S Cr1 Hm) | brende (M W Bx)]

[^a2212: caused (S) | made (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2213: asketh mercy (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2214: thinketh to amende (S) | amende þenkeþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2215: sorowe (S) | doel (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2216: in (S) | in hire (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2217: and (S) | and þe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2218: which (S) | þat (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2219: all manere (S) | alle kynnes (M Cr1 W Bx) | alykn (Hm)]

[^a2220: is neither (S) | nys (M Cr1 W Bx) | nys neyþer (Hm)]

[^a2221: But he (S) | Þat he ne (M Cr1 W Bx) | that he (Hm)]

[^a2222: if (S Cr1) | and (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2223: he (S) | hym (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2224: beleue (S) | lene (M W Hm Bx) | leue (Cr1)]

[^a2225: with (S) | of (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2226: of (S Cr1 M) | men (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2227: of (S Cr1) | om. (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2228: Him (S Cr1 M) | hem (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2229: awaked (S W Hm Bx) | waked (M Cr1)]

[^386: quod he A spye: SWHm retain the beta reading, against independent variation in M and Cr1.]

[^387: S uniquely omits KD.17.12 (Bx.17.11).]

[^388: prophete: The majority reading, in agreement with Matt. 22.40, against prophetia in WHmLR (hence Bx).]

[^389: me: SCr rejoin the presumed reading of Bx, against beta's me wel.]

[^390: trustiest to trust to: Rendering lelest to leue on (MCr1), with immitative alliteration. S's usual rendering of leue is beleue.]

[^391: beleue: Rendering lene 'give to', but the scribal form is a homoeograph with easier leue, whence the S reading. Compare S.17.349.]

[^392: foes as freendes: Rendering lorelles as lele, with immitative alliteration. Compare S.17.25.]

[^393: by the waie / thus: Probably rendering þus in þe wey, the archetypal reading, retained in WHm and a plausible source for the divergent readings of SCr1M.]

[^394: calleth: Most copies retain the archetype's past tense. S's present joins Cr1HmC2F.]

[^395: Iustice: Probably "legal proceeding, execution, gallows" (OED justice n., I.2 and I.3), for Iustes "tournament" in other copies, but compare the spellings justize and justisse, recorded by the MED, s.v. "justes n. plural" (citing late fifteenth-century sources). The S spelling is shared by Cr.]

[^396: what-so he: SM, probably transmitting their common ancestor, from which Cr who-so derives as an isolated variant. Other copies, including WHm, retain the archetypal reading, what he.]

[^397: spedelie: Rendering synonymous spakliche (MED spakli adv.), the beta reading.]

[^398: he be: SCrM join beta4, against be he in LWHm. See BTP ad loc.]

[^399: bankes: S agrees with corrected M. Original M probably read banke, as Cr1 W Hm Bx.]

[^400: foster: 'forester', a genuine spelling (see OED foster n.3) shared by Cr1.]

[^401: euen forth: Rendering and wherforth, the archetypal reading, retained in MW. Kane glosses 'onward' (s.v. where conj.), Schmidt 'towards whichever direction' (s.v. wher(e) adv. and conj.); the phrasal compound is not recorded in MED. CrHm adopt the commonplace wherfore.]

[^402: churches: Most copies have an uninflected genitive. S's morphology agrees with Cr and corrected M.]

[^403: S uniquely omits KD.17.138 (Bx.17.138).]

[^404: them: S corrects the pronoun number, joining WHm (hem); other beta copies have the singular, him.]

[^405: profred: Rendering infinitive profre, the beta reading. S rejoins Bx by convergent variation.]

[^406: He that: S agrees with M before correction. Cr That he that probably represents the common ancestor of these three copies. S and the original M scribe omitted the first of two thats, subsequently restored in M by a corrector. The archetypal reading, retained in WHm, is How he þat.]

[^407: Within them...they holde: SCr and corrected M transmit a unique form of this line, transposing the a-verse and b-verse (for Bx Halt al þe wyde worlde · with-in hem thre). See the PPEA edition of M, note to M.17.162, and the Introduction to the same, section II.4.]

[^408: they: Read the as in CrHmGF. The definite article in these copies illustrates convergent variation towards easier syntax. If the S-redactor interlineated the into Sx, the S-scribe's miswriting may have been induced by attraction to surrounding copy: they in the preceding line (a unique S-reading) or else the <y>s in wynd or the rejected word welkyne (so spelled in M; see the next note).]

[^409: element: Rendering welkyne, as at S.15.369. Compare S.18.242.]

[^410: therin is: SCrM retain the beta1 reading, for Bx þere is Inne. WHm vary independently.]

[^411: All beta copies except SCrL omit Bx.17.189b (KD.17.186b) and the following a-verse, by eyeskip on hande. In M the omitted half-lines are supplied by correction. See M.17.185n.]

[^412: crache: SCr for cluche in other copies. Crache is original to the poem and transmitted in this copy at S.P.82; at S.11.147, Sx cracche is rendered cache.]

[^413: Spiritum sanctum: SCr, in agreement with the fuller quotation at Bx.16.49 (= S.16.49). Other B-Version copies give the less correct ablative. The passage is an inexact quotation of Matt 12:32; see Lawler, Penn Comm., pp. 312, 412. Cf. the S variant in the next line below.]

[^414: peccat: A unique S error, perhaps transmitting the original reading of the common ancestor of SCrM. The Bx reading (retained in WHm) is þat peccat; MCr have qui peccat, supplying the Latin relative pronoun from the line above. Yet Cr also and uniquely supplies a relative pronoun in the a-verse, reading For he þat pricketh, and hence transmits two incompatible corrections to the deficient syntax transmitted in S.]

[^415: S uniquely omits KD.17.208-209 (Bx.17.212--213), by eyeskip on line-ending togideres.]

[^416: eveses: 'eaves'. The form is supported by CrM, but a light tittle, perhaps an abbreviation for a nasal, is entered over the last e.]

[^417: not: S drops for assetz 'for reparation'. The omitted noun (OED asseth(e n.) appears in PP-B only here; it is last recorded by OED2 before 1513.]

[^418: Haest towhe: These spellings are peculiar; for haest, see S.5.237n. The second word was spelled tow(e) in Sx.]

[^419: borne: 'burn'; the Sx form was brenne.]

[^420: burnyng: The Sx form was brennyng.]

[^421: refuse: Rendering anynte 'annul', the sole instance of this word in PP-B. The word was always rare: see OED, s.v. "aniente (v.)"]

[^422: Had: An error, for shadde.]

[^423: S's punctuation is paralleled in M and Hm. Compare S.8.74n and S.10.255n.]

[^424: Reason: S personifies; other copies have alle reson, for which construction see OED s.v. all adj., pron., and n., sense A.1.c.(a).]

[^425: S Augustine: The following dictum of canon law is attributed by Langland to holy writ. S corrects the attribution, accurately: see Alford, Guide, ad B.5.273a and Hanna, Penn Comm., pp. 124-25. See also the next note.]

[^426: Non: Other copies have Numquam. S brings this dictum into agreement with its standard form in canon law, transmitted above at Bx.5.281 (S.5.279).]

[^427: beleue euill: 'hold incorrect religious belief', rendering leten nouȝt 'do not desist (from sinful deeds)'. The redactor turns the focus from works to belief.]

[^428: flieth: SCr, probably representing FLY, against fleeth (=FLEE) in other copies. Compare S.20.43.]

[^429: smyght: The t is formed from the descender of the s in the line above.]

[^430: beleue: See S.17.45n.]

Passus xviiius duodevicesimus

Wollwarde And weteshodd / went I forth after
As A rechelesse felawe[^a2230] / that of no wo recheth
And yede forth like a lorell / all my lyfe-tyme
Till I waxt wery of the worlde / and willed[^a2231] streyt[^a2232] to slepe
And lened me to A lenten / and long tyme I slept
And of Christes passion[^a2233][^431] / the people þat of-raught
Rest me there and snored[^a2234] fast / till Ramis palmarum
Of gerles and of Gloria laus / greatly I[^a2235] dremed
And Howe Osanna by organy / olde folke song
One sembled[^a2236] the Samaritan / & somedele[^a2237] Piers the Plowman
Barefote on an asseback / botelesse cam prickyng[^a2238]
Without spere or spores[^a2239] / valeantlie[^a2240] he lokyd
As is the kynde of a knight / that commeth to be dubbed
To get hym gilt spores / and[^a2241] galoches couped
Then was feythe in a fenestre / and cried O[^a2242] fili dauid
As dothe an heraude of armes / when aventeroures[^a2243][^432] come to iustes
Old Iewes of Ierusalem / for ioye they song
Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini /
Than I asked[^a2244] at feyth / what all that fare ment[^a2245]
And who wold[^a2246] iuste in Ierusalem / Iesus He said
And feche that the feend claymeth / piers frute the plowman
[^433]This Iesus of His gentrie[^a2247] will iust in piers Armour
In his Helme and[^a2248] His habergeon / humana natura
That Christ be not knoune Here / for Consummatus deus
In piers paltock the plowman / this priker shall ride
For no dynt shall Him dere / as in deitate patris
Who shall iust with Iesus quod I / Iewes or scribes
Nay quod he the foule feende / and false dome and deathe
Death saith He shall fordoo / and adoune bring
All that lyueth or loketh / on[^a2249] lond or[^a2250] water
Lyfe saith that He lyethe / and leyth His life to wedd
That for all that deathe can do / within thre daies
To walke and feche from the feende / piers frute the plowman
And lay it there him liketh / and lucifere bynde
And forbeat and doune bring / bale deathe for euer
O mors ero mors tua /
Then came pilate[^a2251] with much people / Sedens pro tribunali
To se how doughtely death shuld do / and deme both their[^a2252][^434] rightes[^a2253]
The Iewes and[^a2254] Iustice / against Iesu they were
And all the court out[^a2255] cried / Crucifige eum[^a2256][^435] /
Then put him forth a pilour / before pilate and said
This Iesus of oure Iewes temple / iaped and dispised it[^a2257]
To fordo on[^a2258] one daye / and in thre daies after
Reedifye[^a2259] it eftsone[^a2260] newe / Here he stand that said it
And yet make it asmuche as muche / in all manere poyntes
Bothe as long as a[nd] as large / by loft and by grounde
Crucifige quod A cachepoll / I warrant him a wiche
Tolle tolle quod another / and toke of kene thornes
And began of sharpe[^a2261] thorne / A garland for[^a2262] to make
And set it sore on his head / and said in envie
Aue raby quod that rybawd / and threwe reedes at hym /
Nailed him with thre nailes / naked on the roode
And poyson on a pole / they put vp to His lippes
And bad Him drynke His deatheuell / hise daies were done
And if that þou so konnyng[^a2263] be / Helpe now thy-self
Yf thou be Christ and kynges son / come doune of the rood
Then shall we beleue[^a2264] that lyfe the loue / and wilnot will not lat the dye
Consummatum est quod Christ / and began[^a2265] to[^a2266] swowne
Pituously and pale / as A prisoner[^a2267] that[^a2268] dieth
The lorde of lyfe and[^a2269] light / then leyd his eyes togither
The day for drede withdrewe / and derk became the sonne
The wall wagged and cleef / and all the world quaued
Dead men for that dein / came out of depe graves
And told why that tempest / so long tyme dured
For a bitter bataile / the dead body sayd
Lyfe and deathe in this darknes / the[^a2270] one fordothe the[^a2271] other
Shall no man[^a2272] knowe[^a2273] perfitely[^a2274] / who shall haue the maistrie
Before[^a2275] sonday about sonne ryse[^a2276] / and sank with that till erthe
Some said that he was goddes son / that so faire dyed
Vere filius dei erat iste /
And some said he was A wiche / good is that we assaie
Whether[^a2277] he be dead or not[^a2278] / doune ere he be take
Too theves also / suffred[^a2279] deathe þat tyme
Besydes Christ vpon a crosse[^a2280] / so was the common lawe
A cachepoll came forth / and cracked bothe his[^a2281] legges
And[^a2282] armes after / of either of the[^a2283] theves
But noman no man was[^a2284] so bold / Christes[^a2285] body to touche
for he was knight and kynges son / kynde forgaf þat tyme
That non harlot were so hardy / to lay handes[^a2286] vpon hym
But there came forth a knight / with a spear sharpe[^a2287] grounde
Hight Longes[^a2288][^436] as the letter telleth / þat[^a2289] long had lost[^a2290] his sight
Before Pilate and other people / in the place he houed
Maugrie his many tethe / he was made that tyme
To take the spear in his hande / and iusten with Iesus
For they were all[^a2291] vnhardy / on horsbacke and on fote[^a2292]
To towche him or[^a2293] tast him / or take doune of the[^a2294] roode
But this blynde bacheler / bare him through the hart
The blood sprang doune by the spear / and vnsperd the knightes eyes
Then fell he[^a2295] vpon his[^a2296] knees / and cried him mercie
Against my will it was lorde / to wounde the[^a2297][^437] so sore
he sighed and said / sore it me forthinketh[^a2298]
For the dede[^a2299] I haue done / I do me to[^a2300] thy[^a2301] grace
haue ruthe on me[^a2302] rightfull Iesu / and euen[^a2303] with that he wept
Than gan feyth felly / the false Iewes despise /
Calling[^a2304] them caytifes / Acursed for euer
For this foule vilany / vengeaunce to you all
To do the blynde beat him bounde / it was a boies counsaile
Cursed Caitifes / knighthode was it neuer
To misdoo a dead bodie / by day or[^a2305] by night
The gree yet haue he goten / for all his great wounde
For your Champion chivallier / chief knight of you all
Yelt him recreant rennyng / right as[^a2306] Iesus will
For be this derknesse done / His deathe is[^a2307] avenged
And ye lurdeyns haue lost / for life shall haue the maistrie
And your fraunchise that fre was / fallen is in thraldome
And ye chorles and your childerne / cheve shall you neuer
Nor haue lordship in lond / nor no lond tille
But all barayne be / and vsurie vse
Which is lyfe þat our lorde / in all lawes acurseth
Now your good daies are done / as danyell prophecied
When Christ come /[^438] of theyr kingdome the croune shulde cesse
Cum ven erit[^a2308] sanctus sanctorum , tunc[^a2309] cessabit vnctio vestra /
What for fear of the[^a2310] ferlie / and of the false Iewes
I drewe me in that derknesse / to descendit ad inferna
And there I sawe sothely / Secundum scripturas
Out of the west coost / a wenche as me thought
Cam walking in the waie / to hellewarde she lokid
Mercie hight that maide / A meke thing withall
A full benygne birde / and gentill[^a2311] of speche
Hir suster as it semed / came truly[^a2312] walkyng
Euen out of the east / and westwarde she looked
A full comelie creature / truth she hight
For the vertue that hir folowed / aferd was she neuer
When thise maidens met / mercie and truthe
Either asked other / of this great mervaile[^a2313]
Of the dien and[^a2314] derknes / and howe the daye rowed
And what[^a2315] a light and[^a2316] leame / Lay before helle
I haue ferlie of this fare / in feythe said truthe
And am going[^a2317] to wite / what this wonder meaneth
Haue no marveile quod mercie / myrthe it betokeneth
A maide[^a2318] that hight Marie / and mother without towching[^a2319]
Of Any manere[^a2320] creature / conceyued through speche
And grace of the holy ghost / wext great with childe
Without weme into this worlde she brought hym
And that my tale be true / I take god to witnesse
Sithe this barne was borne / bene thirtie wynter passed
Whiche died and deathe suffred[^a2321] / this daie about myddaie
And that is cause of this eclipse / that closethe nowe the sonne
In menyng that man shall / frome mekenesse[^a2322] be drawen
The which this light and this leme / shall lucifere ablende
For patriarches and prophetes / haue preached herof long[^a2323]
That man shall man saue / through goddes[^a2324][^439] helpe
And that was lost[^a2325] through tree / by a tre shalbe shall be wonne[^a2326]
And that deathe doune brought / death shall releue
That thou tellest quod Truthe / is but a tale of waltrot
for adam and Eue / Abraham[^a2327] and others[^a2328]
patriarches and prophetes / that in peynes[^a2329] lie
Beleue thou neuer that yonder[^a2330] light / bryng them may aloft[^a2331]
Nor haue them out of helle / hold thy tong mercie
Yt is but a trifle þat thou tellest / I Truthe knowe[^a2332] the sothe
For that is ones in helle / out commeth it[^a2333][^440] neuer
Iob the prophete patriarche / reproueth thi sayinges[^a2334]
Quia in inferno nulla est redemptio /
Then mercie full mekely[^a2335] / mowthed these wordes
Through Experience quod she / I hope they shalbe shall be saued
For venym fordoth venyme / and that I proue by reason
For of all venymes foulest is the scorpion
May no medicyn helpe / the place there he stingeth
Till he be dead and done therto / the yuell he destroieth
The first venymenesse[^a2336] / thorough wenym of him-self
So shall this fordoo[^a2337] / my lyfe I dare[^a2338] laye
All that death did fyrst / through the deuylles entysyng
And like[^a2339] as through gyle / man was begyled
So shall grace that beganne / make a good sleight
Ars vt artem falleret
Nowe suffre we said truthe / I se as me thinketh
Out of the nyppe of the Northe / not euen[^a2340] fer hence
Righousnes come ronnyng / rest we a[^a2341] while
For he knoweth[^a2342] more then we / he[^441] was before vs[^a2343] bothe
That is true[^a2344] said mercie / and I se here be sowthe
Where peace commeth playing / in pacience clothed
Loue hathe coueted hir long / I think[^a2345] non other
But he sent hir some letter / what this light meneth[^a2346]
What[^a2347] ouerhoveth helle thus / she shall vs[^a2348] telle
When peace thus apparailed[^a2349] / approched nere them tweyne
Rightwisenesse hir reuerenced / for hir rich clothing
And praid peace to telle hir / to what place she wold
And in hyr gaye garmentes / whome she thought to greet[^a2350]
My will is to go[^a2351] quod she / and welcome them all
That many day might not se / for derkenesse[^a2352] of synne
Adam and Eue / and other moo in helle
Moyses and many more / mercie shall haue
And I[^a2353] daunce therto / do thou so suster
For Iesus Iusted well / Ioy begynneth to spring[^a2354]
Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus &c[^a2355]
Loue that is my lemman / such letters me sent
That mercie my suster and I / mankynde shuld saue
And that god hathe forgyuen / & grauntid[^a2356] peace and mercie
And man to saue[^a2357] / for euer[^a2358] after
Lo here the patent quod peace / in pace in idipsum
And that[^a2359] dede shall endure[^a2360] / dormiam et requiescam /
What ravest þou quod Rightousnes / or þou art right dronke
Thinkest[^a2361] thou that yonder[^a2362] light / may vnlocke[^a2363] helle
And saue mannes soule / suster think[^a2364] yt neuer
At the begynnyng /[^442] god gaf the dome him-self
That Adam and eue / and all[^a2365] them sued
Shulde dye douneright / and dwelle in peyne euer[^a2366]
Yf that they touched a tre / and the frute ete
Adam after that[^a2367] / contrarie to the commandement[^a2368]
Ete[^a2369] of that frute / and forsoke as it were
The loue of the[^a2370] lorde / and his lore bothe
And folowed that the feend taught / and his felawes will
Against reason and righousnesse / record thus with truthe
That their peynes[^a2371] be perpetuall / and no preyer them helpe
Therfor lat them chewe as they chose / and[^a2372] we not susters
For it was[^a2373] bootelesse bale / the bitt that they ete
And I shall proue quod peace / their peyne must haue ende
And wo in-to wele / must[^a2374][^443] turne[^a2375] at[^a2376] last
For had they wist of no woo / welthe[^a2377] had they not knoune
for noman no man[^a2378] wot what welth[^a2379] is / that neuer woo suffred
Nor what is sharpe[^a2380][^444] hunger / that neuer had defaute
Yf there were no night[^a2381] / noman no man as I thinke[^a2382]
Shuld knowe perfitely[^a2383] / what the daie is[^a2384]
Shuld neuer riche[^a2385] man / that lyueth in rest and ease
knowe[^a2386] what wo is / were not the deathe of kynde
So god that began all / of his good will
Became man of a maid / mankynde to saue
And suffred to be solde / to[^a2387] the sorowe of death[^a2388]
Which[^a2389] vnknytteth all care / and begynnyng[^a2390] is of rest
For till Modicum / mete with vs / I may it well avowe
Wot no wight as I wene / what is ynough to mene
Therfor god of his goddnesse / the first man[^a2391] Adam
Set him in solace / and in souereyne myrthe
And sithens[^a2392] he suffred him synne / sorowe to fele
To wite what welth[^a2393] was / kyndlie to knowe it
And after god aventured Him-self / and toke adams kynde

[An illegible note, perhaps erased or washed out, runs in vertical orientation in the outer margin.]

To wite what he had[^a2394] suffred / in thre sondrie places
In[^a2395] heuen and[^a2396] erthe / and to[^a2397] helle he thinketh
To wite what all wo is / þat wot of all ioye
So shall it[^a2398] fare by thise folke / their folie and their synne
Shall lerne[^a2399] them what langor is / and peyne[^a2400][^445] without ende
Wot noman no man[^a2401] what werre is / there as[^a2402] peace reygneth
Nor what is perfitely[^a2403] welthe[^a2404] / till wellawaie him teache
Then was there A man[^a2405] / with ij two brode eyes
Book hight þat felawe[^a2406] / a bolde man of speche
By goddes bodie quod this book / I will beare witnesse
That when[^a2407] this babe[^a2408] was borne / there blased a sterre
That all the wyse of this world / in one wit accorde
That such a barne was borne / in Bethleem citie
That mannes soule shulde saue / and synne destroye
And all the elementes saith[^a2409] the book / herof beareth witnesse
That he was god that all wrought / the Ayre[^a2410] first shewed
Tho that were in heauen / tooke Stella comata
And lightned[^a2411] as a torche / to reuerence his birthe
The light folowed the lorde / in-to the lowe erthe
The water witnessed that he was god / for he went on yt
Peter th'apostle / perceyued his gate
And as he went on the water / well him knewe and said
Iube me domine[^a2412][^446] venire ad te super aquas /
And lo how the sonne / did[^a2413] loke his[^a2414] light in himself[^a2415]
When he[^a2416] se Him suffre / that sonne and sea made
The erthe for heuynesse / that he shuld[^a2417] suffre
Quakyd as quick thing / & all to-quashed[^a2418][^447] the roche
Lo heauen[^a2419][^448] might not hold / but opened when[^a2420] god suffred[^a2421]
And let out Symondes sonnes / to se him hang on rood
And now shall Lucifere beleue[^a2422] it / although[^a2423] he be loth[^a2424]
For Gigas the giaunt / with a gyn engynned
To breake and to beat doune[^a2425] / that bene against Iesus
And I booke wilbe will be brent / but Iesus rise to lyue
In all mightes of man / and his mother glade
And confort all his kyn / and out of care bring
And all the Iewes[^449] ioye / vnioyne and losen[^a2426]
And but if[^a2427] they reuer en se[^450] his rood / and his resurreccion
And beleue on a newe lawe / be lost lyfe and soule
Suffre we said truthe / I here and se bothe
How a spirit speketh to helle / and bidd vnspere the gates
Attollite portas &c
A voyce lowde in that light / to lucifere crieth
Ye[^a2428] prynces of this place / vndo your gates[^a2429]
For here commeth with croune / that kyng is of glory
Then sighed[^a2430] Sathan / and said to them all
Such a light against our leue / Lazar out[^a2431][^451] fet
Care and combraunce / is come to vs all
Yf this kyng come in / mankynde will he feche
And lede him[^a2432][^452] there he[^a2433] liketh / and lightlie me bynde
Patriarches and prophetes / haue spoken[^a2434] herof long
That such a lorde and light / shuld lede them all hens
Lysten quod Lucifer / for I this lorde knowe
[^453]May no deathe him dere / nor no feendes[^a2435] craftes[^a2436]
And where he will is his weye / but ware Hym of the perils
Yf he reaveth me my right / he robbeth me by maistrie
For by right and[^a2437] reason / they[^a2438] that be here
Bodie and soule be myne / both good and euyll[^a2439]
For himself said / that father[^a2440] is of heauen
Yf Adam ete the Apple / all shulde dye
And with vs deuilles dwelle[^a2441] / this threatning he made
And he that sothenesse is / said these wordes
And sithen I seised / seauen hundred winter
I beleue[^a2442] that lawe will not / leue[^a2443] him the leest
That is sothe quod Sathan / but I me sore drede
For thou get him with gyle / and his garden breeke
And in semblaunce of a serpent / set vpon an[^a2444] apletre
And eggedest them[^454] to ete / Eue by hir name[^a2445]
And toldest hyr a tale / of treason were the wordes
And so thou gattest them out / and hither at the last
Hit was not trulie[^a2446] gotten / for[^a2447] gyle was[^a2448] the roote
God[^a2449] willnot will not be begyled / quod Goblyn nor beiaped
We haue no true tytle to them / for through treson were they damp[ned]
Certes I drede me quod the deuyll / lest truth will them feche
Thise thirtie yeres[^a2450] as I think[^a2451] / he hathe gone[^a2452][^455] and preached
I haue assailed him with synne / and somtyme asked
Yf[^a2453] he were god or goddes son / he gaf me short answere
And thus haue[^a2454] trolled forthe / this xxxijti two and thirti wynter
And whan I se it was so / leaping I went
To warne pilates wyfe / what manere[^a2455][^456] man was Iesus
For Iewes hated hym / and haue done him to death
I wold haue lengthed his lyfe / for I thought[^a2456] if he dyed
That his soule wold suffre / no synne / in his sight
for the bodie while it on bones went[^a2457] / about was euer
To saue men from synne / if themself wolde
And now I se where a soule / commeth hitherward sailing
With glorie and[^a2458] great light / god it is I wot well
I rede we fle quod he / fast all hens
for we we [+] were bettre not be / then abide[^a2459] his sight
For thy lesynges lucifer / lost is all oure praye
First through the we felle / from heauen so highe
for we trustid[^a2460] thy leasinges / lost[^a2461] haue we Adam
And all our lordship I think[^a2462] / on lond[^a2463] and watre[^a2464]
Nunc princeps huius mundi eijcietur foras /
Then[^a2465] the light bad vndo[^a2466] / and Lucifer Answerd
What lord art thou quod lucifer / quis est iste
Rex glorie / said the light by and by[^a2467]
And lord of might and[^a2468] mayne / and all maner vertues
Dominus virtutum /
Dukes of this dymme place / Anon vndo the[^a2469] gates
That Christ may come in / the kinges son of heauen
And with that word[^a2470] /[^457] helle brake with belialles barres
For Any man[^a2471] or warde / wide open the gates
Patriarches and prophetes / Populus in tenebris /
Song S . Iohanes song / Ecce agnus dei /
Lucifer might not looke[^a2472] / the light so did him blynde[^a2473]
And them that our lorde loued / in-to his light he raught[^a2474]
Saying vnto[^a2475] Sathan / lo here my soule to Amendes
For all synfull soules / to saue that[^a2476] be worthy /
Myne they be and of me / I may the bettre[^a2477] them clayme
Although reason recorde / and right of my-self
That if they ete the Apple / all shuld die
I behight them not here / helle for euer
For the dede that they did / thy deceyt it caused[^a2478][^458]
With gyle þou them gett / Against all reason
for in my palais paradise / in persone of an Edder
Falsly thou fettest there / the[^a2479] thing þat I loued
Thus like a lyzarde / with a ladies visage
Thefelike þou diddest me robbe[^a2480] / the old lawe graunteth
That gylers be begylde / and that is good reason
Dentem pro dente et oculum pro oculo /
Ergo soule shall soule quyte / and synne to synne go[^a2481]
And all that man hath mysdone / I man will Amende
Membre for membre / in[^a2482] the old lawe was Amendes
And lyfe for lyfe also / and by þat lawe I clayme it
Adam and all his yssue / at my will hereafter
And that death in them fordid / my death shall releue
And both quicken and quyte / that lost[^a2483] was through synne /
And that grace may[^a2484] gyle destroie / good feythe it asketh
So I think[^a2485] Lucifer / agaynst the lawe I do not[^a2486] feche them
But by right and[^a2487] reason / I[^a2488] raunsone here my liges
Non veni soluere legem , sed adimplere
Thou diddest fet[^a2489] myne in my place / against all reason
Falslie and felonlie / good feithe me it taught
To recouer them by[^a2490] raunson / and by no reason elles
So that which[^a2491] through gyle þou gat / through nowe[^a2492][^459] is it[^a2493] wonne
Thou Lucifer in likenesse / of A lither Addre
Gatest by gyle / them that god loued
And I in likenes of a man[^a2494] / that lorde am of heauen
Graciouslie thy gyle haue quyt / go gyle againest gyle
And as Adam and all / through a tre dyed
Adam and all through A tre / shall turne agayn to lyfe
And gyle is begyled / and in his gyle fallen
Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit
Now begynneth thy gyle / against the to turne /
And my grace to[^a2495] growe / ay greater and wyder
The bitternesse þat thou hast browne[^460] / browke it thy-self
That art doctour of death / drink þat þou madest
For I am[^a2496] lorde of lyfe / loue is my drink
And for þat drink this daie[^a2497] / I dye[^a2498] vpon erthe
I faught so I[^a2499] thurst yet / for mannes soules sake
May no drinke me moist / nor my thurst slake /
Till the vendage fall / in the vale of Iosophat
That I drink right rype must Resurreccio mortuorum
And then shall I come as a king / crowned with Aungelles
And haue out of helle / all mennes soules
Feendes and feendkyns / before me shall staund
And be at my bidding / whersoeuer me like
And to be mercifull[^a2500] to man / than my kynd it asketh
For we be bretherne of blood / but not of[^a2501] baptisme all
But all þat be myn oune[^a2502] bretherne / in blood and in baptisme
Shall not be dampned to the death / þat is without ende
Tibi soli[^461] peccaui &c /
It is not vsed in erthe / to hang a felon
Ofter then ones / though he were a traitour
And if the king of that kingdome / came in þat tyme
There the felon shuld suffre[^a2503] / death or elles[^a2504][^462]
Lawe wold he gaf him lyfe / if he lokid on him
And I that am king of kinges / shall come such a tyme
There dome to the death / dampneth all wicked
And if Lawe will þat[^a2505] I looke on them / it lythe in my grace
Whether they die or not[^a2506] / for þat they did euyll[^a2507]
Be it any thing about[^a2508] the boldnesse of their synnes
I do mercy through righousnes / and all my wordes true
And though holy [writ][^463] wyll me to[^a2509] be wroken of them þat did yll
Nullum malum inpunitum &c /
They shalbe shall be clensed clerely / and washen of ther synnes
In my prison purg'[^464] / till Parce it hoote
And my mercie shalbe shall be shewed / to many of my bretherne
For bloude may suffre bloude / both hungrie and cold[^a2510]
But bloud maynot may not se blood / blede but he[^a2511] rewe
Audiui archana verba , que non licet homini loqui
But my great rightousnes[^a2512] / shall rule all helle
And mercie allmankynde all mankynde / before me in heauen
For I were an vnkynde kyng / but I my kynde holpe
And namely at such a nede / there nedes helpe behoueth
Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo domine[^a2513][^465] &c
Thus by lawe quod this[^a2514] lorde / lede I will from hens
Them þat me louyd / and beleued[^a2515] in my commyng
And for thy lye þou[^a2516] lucifer / that þou made[^a2517] to[^a2518] Eue
Thou shallt abie yt bitter / and bounde him with chaynes
Astaroth and all the route / hidde them in corners[^a2519]
They durst not looke on our lorde / the boldest of them all
But lete him lede forth whome[^a2520] he wolde[^a2521] / & leue[^a2522] whom[^a2523] he[^a2524] list
Many hundred[^a2525] aungelles / harped and song
Culpat caro purgat caro , regnat deus dei caro /
Then pyped peace / of poesy a note
Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus . post inimicicias
After sharpe showres quod peace / most shene is the sonne
Ys no wether warmer / then after watry clowdes
Nor no loue derer[^a2526] / nor trustier[^a2527] freendes
Then after werre and woo / when loue and peace be maisters
Was neuer werre in this world / nor wickednesse so kene
That loue if[^a2528] he list[^a2529] / to laughing haue not[^a2530] brought
And peace through pacience / all perils stopped
Trewce quod truthe / thou tellest vs soth by Iesus
Clippe we in covenaunt / and eche of vs kisse other
And lat no people quod peace / perceyue that we chidd
For impossible is nothing / to him that is allmighty
Tho saist true[^a2531] quod Rightousnesse / and reuerently hir kist
Peace , and peace hir / per secula seculorum
Misericordia et veritas obuiauerunt sibi Iusticia et pax osculate sunt /
Truthe tromped then / and song Te deum laudamus /
And then luted loue / in a lowde note
Ecce quam bonum et quam iocundum &c[^466]
Till the daie dawed / these damoselles daunced
That men rong to þe resurreccion / and euen[^a2532] with that I waked
And callid kytt my wyfe / and Calote my doughter
To Arise and reuerence[^a2533][^467] / goddes resurreccion
And crepe to the crosse on[^468] knees / and kisse it for a Iewell
For goddes blessyd body / it bare for our boote
And it frayeth[^a2534] the feende / for such is the might
May no grisly ghoost / glyde there it shadoweth

[^a2230: felawe (S) | renk (M W Hm Bx) | reuke (Cr1)]

[^a2231: willed (S Cr1) | wylned (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2232: streyt (S) | efte (M Cr1 W)]

[^a2233: passion (S) | and penaunce (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2234: snored (S) | rutte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2235: I (S) | me (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2236: sembled (S) | semblable to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2237: somedele (S) | somdel to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2238: prickyng (S Cr1) | prikye (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2239: spere or spores (S) | transp. (M W Hm Bx) | spore or speare (Cr1)]

[^a2240: valeantlie (S) | spaklich (M Cr1 W) | sprakliche (Bx) | apertlyche]

[^a2241: and (S Cr1) | or (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2242: O (S Cr1) | a (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2243: aventeroures (S) | aunturous (Cr1 W Bx) | auntres (Hm)]

[^a2244: asked (S) | frayned (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2245: ment (S) | bymente (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2246: wold (S) | shulde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2247: gentrie (S Cr1 Hm) | gentris (M W Bx)]

[^a2248: and (S M) | & in (Cr1 W Hm Bx)]

[^a2249: on (S) | in (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2250: or (S) | or in (M Cr1 Hm Bx) | and in (W)]

[^a2251: pilate (S Cr1) | pilatus (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2252: both their (S) | hire boþes (M Cr1) | hir boþeres (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2253: rightes (S) | riȝte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2254: and (S Cr1 M) | and þe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2255: out (S) | on hym (W Hm Bx) | vpon hym (M) | vp and (Cr1)]

[^a2256: eum (S) | sharpe (M Cr1 W Bx) | ful scharply (Hm)]

[^a2257: it (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2258: on (S) | it on (Cr1 W Hm Bx) | it in (M)]

[^a2259: Reedifye (S) | Edifie (Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2260: eftsone (S) | eft (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2261: sharpe (S) | kene (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2262: for (S M) | om. (Cr1 W Hm Bx)]

[^a2263: so konnyng (S) | sotil (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2264: beleue (S) | leue (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2265: began (S) | comsed (M W Hm Bx) | comseth (Cr1)]

[^a2266: to (S) | for to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2267: prisoner (S Cr1) | prisoun (M W Hm)]

[^a2268: that (S W Hm Bx) | doþ þat (M Cr1)]

[^a2269: and (S) | and of (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2270: the (S) | hire (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2271: the (S) | hire (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2272: man (S) | wight (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2273: knowe (S) | wite (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2274: perfitely (S) | witurly (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2275: Before (S) | Er (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2276: ryse (S) | rysynge (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2277: Whether (S Cr1) | Wher (M W Bx)]

[^a2278: not (S) | nouȝt ded (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2279: suffred (S) | þoled (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2280: Besydes Christ vpon a crosse (S Cr1 M) | transp. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2281: his (S) | here (M W Hm Bx) | the (Cr1)]

[^a2282: And (S) | And hire (M Hm Bx) | And þe (W Cr1)]

[^a2283: the (S) | þo (M Cr1 W Bx) | tho two (Hm)]

[^a2284: noman no man was (S) | was no boy (M Cr1 Hm Bx) | was no body (W)]

[^a2285: Christes (S) | godes (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2286: handes (S) | hond (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2287: spear sharpe (S) | kene spere (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2288: Longes (S Cr1) | Longeus (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2289: þat (S) | and (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2290: lost (S Cr1) | lore (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2291: they were all (S) | alle þai were (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2292: on horsbacke and on fote (S) | þat houed on hors or stoode (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2293: or (S M) | or to (Cr1 W Hm Bx)]

[^a2294: the (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2295: he (S) | þe kniȝt (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2296: his (S Hm) | om. (M Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a2297: the (S) | ȝow (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2298: forthinketh (S Cr1) | a-thynkeþ (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2299: dede (S) | dede þat (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2300: to (S) | in (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2301: thy (S) | youre (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2302: ruthe on me (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2303: euen (S) | riȝt (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2304: Calling (S) | Called (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2305: or (S W Hm Bx) | nor (Cr1) | ne (M)]

[^a2306: as (S) | at (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2307: is (S) | worth (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2308: ven erit (S Cr1 M) | veniat (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2309: tunc (S Cr1 M) | om. (W Hm)]

[^a2310: the (S Cr1) | þis (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2311: gentill (S) | buxom (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2312: truly (S) | soþly (M W Hm Bx) | worthely (Cr1)]

[^a2313: mervaile (S Cr1) | wonder (W Hm Bx) | truþe]

[^a2314: and (S) | and of þe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2315: what (S) | which (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2316: and (S Hm) | and a (M Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a2317: going (S) | wendynge (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2318: maide (S Cr1 Bx) | mayden (M W Hm)]

[^a2319: towching (S) | felynge (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2320: manere (S) | kynnes (M Cr1 W) | kyn (Hm) | kynde (Bx)]

[^a2321: suffred (S) | þoled (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2322: mekenesse (S) | merkenesse (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2323: long (S) | often (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2324: goddes (S) | a maidens (M W Hm Bx) | a womans (Cr1)]

[^a2325: lost (S) | tynt (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2326: by a tre shalbe shall be wonne (S) | tree shal it wynne (M Cr1 W Bx) | tre schall wynne (Hm)]

[^a2327: Abraham (S Cr1 M) | and Abraham (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2328: others (S) | oþer (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2329: peynes (S) | peyne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2330: yonder (S) | yon (M W Hm Bx) | you (Cr1)]

[^a2331: bryng them may aloft (S) | hem a-lofte brynge (M W Hm Bx) | them may aloft bring (Cr1)]

[^a2332: knowe (S) | wot (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2333: it (S M Bx) | he (Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2334: sayinges (S) | sawes (M Cr1 W Bx) | lawes (Hm)]

[^a2335: mekely (S Cr1) | myldly (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2336: venymenesse (S) | venymoustee (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2337: fordoo (S Cr1 M) | deeþ fordo (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2338: my lyfe I dare (S) | I dar my lif (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2339: like (S) | riȝt (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2340: euen (S) | ful (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2341: a (S Hm) | þe (M Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a2342: knoweth (S) | woot (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2343: before vs (S) | er we (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2344: true (S) | soþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2345: I think (S) | leue I (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2346: meneth (S) | bymeneþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2347: What (S Cr1) | That (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2348: shall vs (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2349: thus apparailed (S) | in pacience y-cloþud (M Cr1 W Bx) | yn pacyence is cloþid (Hm)]

[^a2350: thought to greet (S) | grete þouȝte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2351: go (S) | wende (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2352: derkenesse (S) | merkenesse (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2353: I (S) | I shal (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2354: to spring (S) | dawe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2355: &c (S) | & ad matutinum leticia (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2356: grauntid (S) | graunted me (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2357: And man to saue (S) | To be mannes mainpernour (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2358: euer (S) | euere-more (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2359: that (S Cr1 M) | þat þis (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2360: endure (S Hm) | dure (M Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a2361: Thinkest (S) | Leueste (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2362: yonder (S Hm) | yond (M W Bx) | yon (Cr1)]

[^a2363: may vnlocke (S) | vnlouke miȝte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2364: think (S) | wene (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2365: all (S) | alle þat (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2366: euer (S) | after (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2367: after that (S) | afur-ward (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2368: contrarie to the commandement (S) | aȝeins his defence (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2369: Ete (S) | Freet (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2370: the (S) | oure (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2371: peynes (S) | payne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2372: and (S) | and chide (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2373: was (S) | is (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2374: must (S Cr1) | mowe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2375: turne (S) | weende (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2376: at (S Cr1) | at þe (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2377: welthe (S) | wele (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2378: noman no man (S) | no wiȝt (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2379: welth (S) | wele (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2380: sharpe (S) | hoot (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2381: there were no night (S) | no niȝt nere (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2382: thinke (S) | leue (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2383: knowe perfitely (S) | wite witturly (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2384: the daie is (S) | day is to mene (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2385: riche (S) | riȝt riche (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2386: knowe (S) | Wyte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2387: to (S Cr1 M) | to se (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2388: death (S) | deynge (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2389: Which (S) | The which (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2390: begynnyng (S) | comsynge (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2391: man (S) | gome (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2392: sithens (S) | sith (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2393: welth (S) | wele (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2394: had (S) | haþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2395: In (S) | Boþe in (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2396: and (S) | and in (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2397: to (S Cr1) | now to (M) | now til (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2398: shall it (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2399: lerne (S Cr1) | lere (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2400: peyne (S) | lisse (M W Hm Bx) | lyfe (Cr1)]

[^a2401: noman no man (S) | no wiȝt (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2402: as (S) | þat (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2403: perfitely (S) | witterly (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2404: welthe (S) | wele (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2405: man (S) | wiȝt (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2406: felawe (S) | beupere (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2407: when (S) | þo (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2408: babe (S) | barn (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2409: saith (S Cr1) | quod (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2410: Ayre (S) | walkene (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2411: lightned (S) | tendeden hire (M Cr1 Hm Bx) | tendeden it (W)]

[^a2412: domine (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2413: did (S) | gan (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2414: his (S) | hire (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2415: himself (S) | hire-selue (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2416: he (S) | she (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2417: shuld (S) | wolde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2418: to-quashed (S Cr1) | by-quasshet (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2419: heauen (S Cr1) | helle (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2420: when (S) | þo (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2421: suffred (S) | þolede (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2422: beleue (S) | leue (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2423: although (S) | þouȝ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2424: he be loth (S) | hym loth þinke (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2425: doune (S Cr1) | a-doun (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2426: losen (S) | vnlouken (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2427: if (S Cr1 M) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2428: Ye (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2429: vndo your gates (S) | vnpynneþ and vnlouketh (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2430: sighed (S Cr1) | siked (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2431: out (S Cr1 W) | it (M Hm Bx)]

[^a2432: him (S) | it (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2433: he (S) | him (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2434: spoken (S) | parled (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2435: feendes (S Cr1 M) | deueles (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2436: craftes (S) | quentise (Cr1 M W Hm)]

[^a2437: and (S) | and by (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2438: they (S) | þo renkes (M) | þe renkes (W Hm Bx) | the reukes (Cr1)]

[^a2439: euyll (S Cr1) | ille (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2440: father (S) | sire (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2441: with vs deuilles dwelle (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2442: beleue (S) | leue (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2443: leue (S Cr1 M) | lete (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2444: an (S) | þe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2445: hir name (S Cr1) | hire-selue (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2446: was not trulie (S) | is nouȝt graythely (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2447: for (S) | þere (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2448: was (S) | is (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2449: God (S) | For god (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2450: yeres (S) | wynter (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2451: think (S) | wene (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2452: he hathe gone (S Cr1 M) | haþ he gon (W Hm)]

[^a2453: Yf (S) | Wher (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2454: haue (S) | haþ he (M W Hm Bx) | he hath (Cr1)]

[^a2455: manere (S) | done (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2456: thought (S) | leued (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2457: went (S) | yede (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2458: and (S) | and with (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2459: abide (S Cr1) | byden (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2460: trustid (S) | leued (M W Bx) | beleued (Cr1) | lyuyden (Hm)]

[^a2461: lost (S) | y-lore (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2462: think (S) | leue (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2463: on lond (S Cr1 Hm) | a-lond (M W Bx)]

[^a2464: watre (S) | on watre (M Cr1 Hm) | a-watre (W Bx)]

[^a2465: Then (S) | Efte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2466: vndo (S) | vnlouke (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2467: said the light by and by (S) | þe liȝt soone saide (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2468: and (S) | and of (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2469: the (S Cr1 M) | þise (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2470: word (S) | breþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2471: man (S) | wye (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2472: might not looke (S) | loke ne miȝte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2473: the light so did him blynde (S) | so liȝt hym ablente (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2474: raught (S) | lauȝte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2475: Saying vnto (S) | And saide to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2476: that (S Cr1 M) | þo þat (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2477: bettre (S Cr1) | bet (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2478: caused (S) | made (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2479: the (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2480: diddest me robbe (S) | me robbedest (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2481: go (S) | wende (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2482: in (S Cr1) | be (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2483: lost (S) | queynt (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2484: may (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2485: I think (S) | leue I nouȝt (Cr1 W Hm) | leue it nouȝte (Bx) | leue thow nouȝt]

[^a2486: do not (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2487: and (S) | and by (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2488: I (S Hm) | om. (M Cr1 W)]

[^a2489: diddest fet (S) | fettest (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2490: by (S Cr1 M) | þoruȝ (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2491: which (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2492: nowe (S) | grace (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2493: is it (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Bx) | þey ben (Hm)]

[^a2494: man (S) | leode (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2495: to (S W Hm Bx) | om. (M Cr1)]

[^a2496: am (S) | þat am (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2497: this daie (S) | to-day (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2498: dye (S Cr1) | deyed (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2499: I (S) | me (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2500: mercifull (S) | merciable (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2501: of (S Cr1 M) | in (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2502: oune (S) | hole (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2503: shuld suffre (S) | thole sholde (Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2504: or elles (S) | oþer elles (Cr1) | or otherwyse (Bx) | or ooþer Iuwise (W Hm)]

[^a2505: þat (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2506: not (S) | deiȝye nouȝt (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2507: euyll (S) | ille (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2508: about (S Cr1 M) | abouȝt (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2509: me to (S) | þat I (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2510: cold (S) | a-cale (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2511: he (S) | hym (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2512: great rightousnes (S) | riȝtwisnesse and riȝt (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2513: domine (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2514: this (S Cr1 M) | oure (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2515: beleued (S) | leued (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2516: lye þou (S) | lesynge (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2517: made (S) | leigh (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2518: to (S) | til (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2519: corners (S) | hernes (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2520: whome (S W) | what (M Cr1 Hm Bx)]

[^a2521: he wolde (S) | hym liked (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2522: leue (S Hm) | lete (M Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a2523: whom (S W) | what (M Cr1 Hm Bx)]

[^a2524: he (S) | hym (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2525: hundred (S) | hundred of (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2526: derer (S) | leuer (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2527: trustier (S) | leuere (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2528: if (S) | and (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2529: he list (S) | him luste (Cr1 Hm Bx) | hym liste (M W)]

[^a2530: haue not (S) | ne (M Cr1 W Bx) | it (Hm)]

[^a2531: true (S) | soth (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2532: euen (S) | riȝt (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2533: To Arise and reuerence (S) | Ariseþ and reuerenceþ (Cr1 Hm) | And bad hem rise and reuerence (W)]

[^a2534: frayeth (S) | afereþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^431: passion: S omits and penaunce, perhaps objecting to the theological conflation of penaunce and atonement. No other instance of penaunce is deleted by the S-redactor. F has the same omission.]

[^432: aventeroures: Rendering the substantive adj. aunturous (MED aventurous adj., sense 3b).]

[^433: S uniquely omits KD.18.21 (Bx.18.22).]

[^434: both their: Sx probably read hire boþes, as MCr1. See S.2.68n, S.16.173n.]

[^435: eum: S omits the English adverb sharpe given in other copies (an exceptional code-switch) and instead extends the biblical quotation (Jn 19:15; compare S.18.47-48 below).]

[^436: Longes: Rendering the Latin form Longeus; Cr1 also anglicizes, to Longis.]

[^437: the: S replaces polite you with intimate the. See S.5.474.]

[^438: Other copies divide after kingdome, correctly. LO have double punctuation, at this location and after kingdome.]

[^439: goddes: Rendering a maidens. S suppresses Mary's role in salvation history.]

[^440: it: S retains the archetypal reading, against Cr1WHmF he. WHmF (but not Cr1) make a corresponding revision at the head of this line.]

[^441: he ... he: "She," relicts of the language of Bx. See S.1.142n.]

[^442: S's punctuation agrees with M and probably derives from the unique common ancestor of SMCr1. LRF (=Bx) punctuate after god, correctly.]

[^443: must: The expected modernizing reflex of mot, the reading of corrected M.]

[^444: sharpe: Rendering hoot 'hot'.]

[^445: peyne: Rendering lisse 'joy'. Compare S.9.29n.]

[^446: domine: Added by S. The Vulgate reading is Domine si tu es iube me venire ad te super aquas (Matt. 14:28).]

[^447: to-quashed: 'crushed to pieces'. S joins Cr1 against synonymous by-quasshet in other copies, including M. OED records to-quash in sixteenth-century sources, whereas bequash is a hapax legomenon, recorded by OED and MED only from the present line.]

[^448: heauen: SCr1, for helle in other copies.]

[^449: Iewes: SCr1, for archaic gen. pl. Iewen in other copies (W Iewene). Compare S.1.105n and S.19.106.]

[^450: reuerense: S's original reading reuerse is a beta2 error, transmitted in that form in WCr. M is corrected, probably from the same reading.]

[^451: out: an easier reading, induced by semantic context in SCr1W, displacing archetypal it (subject of the verb, in apposition with Such a light).]

[^452: him: Langland's devils use neuter it (the antecedant is mankynde). F makes the same change.]

[^453: S uniquely omits KD.18.274 (Bx.18.280), perhaps by eyeskip on line-ending knowe/knewe.]

[^454: them: A correction. The scribe first wrote him, an erroneous reflex of 3 pl. hem, the reading of Sx.]

[^455: he hathe gone: SCrM transpose the beta word order, retained in WHm haþ he gon.]

[^456: manere: Rendering done. See BTP n. ad loc.]

[^457: S's punctuation agrees with M. Other copies punctuate after brake, correctly.]

[^458: A later hand has entered an illegible word in the right margin.]

[^459: nowe: Other copies read grace. The S reading is a manifest error, though difficult to explain.]

[^460: browne: 'brewed'.]

[^461: soli: An inkblot obscures the last letter in this word.]

[^462: or elles: The S reading is the expected reflex of MCr1 oþer elles. S always reduces other, conj.: see linguistic description. This line is a textual crux in the B tradition: see BTP ad loc.]

[^463: holy [writ]: The scribe omits writ, probably by mechanical error, induced by repetition of w-. Compare S.5.11.]

[^464: purg': Other copies read purgatorie. S writes only the first four letters, then extends the head-stroke of g into a loop that crosses back as if a mark of deletion. Compare S.15.353n.]

[^465: domine: S again adds vocative domine. Compare S.18.249.]

[^466: &c: Added in lighter ink.]

[^467: To Arise and reuerence: Rendering Ariseþ and reuerenceþ, the beta reading. The unmarked shift into direct speech (verbs are imperative) prompts syntactic smoothing in several copies, including M, where a later hand adds quod I. See BTP n. ad loc.]

[^468: S's cancelled punctuation, preceding this word, is unique among beta2 copies.]

Passus xixus undeuicesimus

Thus I walked[^a2535] and wrote / what I had dreamed
And dight me derely / and hied[^a2536] me to churche
To here hoolly the masse / and to be housled after
In myddes of the masse / the[^a2537] men went[^a2538] to offring
And[^a2539] I eftsones fill[^a2540] aslepe / and sodeynly I dremed[^a2541]
That Piers the plowman / was peynted all bloody
And cam in with a crosse / before the commone people
And euen[^a2542] like in all lymmes / to oure lorde Iesu
Than[^a2543] callid I Conscience / to telle[^a2544] me the truthe[^a2545]
Ys this Iesus the Iuster quod I / þat iewes did to death
Or is it piers the Plowman / who peynted him so redd
Quod Conscience and kneled then / thise are piers armes
His coloures and[^a2546] cote armure / but he that commeth so bloodie
Ys Christ with his crosse / Conqueroure of cristene
Why call ye him Christ quod I / sith Iewes call him Iesus
Patriarches and prophetes / prophecied before
That all manere[^a2547] creatures / shulde knele and bowe
Anon as men named[^a2548] / the hygh name of[^a2549] Iesu
Ergo there[^a2550] is no name / to the name of Iesus
Nor non so nedefull to be named[^a2551] / by night or[^a2552] daye
For all the[^a2553] derke deuylls / are adrad to here it
And synfull are solaced / and saued by that name
And ye call him Christ / for what cause tell me
Ys Christ more of might / or[^a2554] more worthy name
Than Iesu or Iesus / that all oure Ioye came of
Thou knowest well quod Conscience / if[^a2555] þou knowest[^a2556] reason
That knight , kyng , Conquerour , / may be one persone
To be called a knight is fair / for men shuld[^a2557] reuerence[^a2558] him
To be called a kyng is fayrer / for he may knightes make
But to be called Conquerour[^a2559] / that commeth of speciall grace
And of hardynesse of hart / and also[^a2560] of gentillnesse[^a2561]
To make lordes of laddes / of lond that he wynneth
And free men foule thralles / þat folow not his lawes
The iewes that were gentilmen / Iesu they despised
Bothe his lore and his lawe / nowe are they lowe chorles
As wide as the world is / dwelleth[^a2562] non therin[^a2563] /
But vnder tribute and taillage / as tykes and chorles
And they þat become cristen / by counseile of the baptysme
Are Frankelinges fre men / through baptisme[^a2564] þat they toke
And gentillmen with Iesu / For Iesus was baptized[^a2565]
And vpon Caluarie on crosse / crouned kyng of Iewes
Yt becommeth well a[^a2566] king / to kepe and defend
And Conquerour of conquest / his lawes and his large
And so did Iesus to the[^a2567] Iewes / he iustified and taught them
The lawe of Lyfe / that last shall euer
And defended from foule euilles / feuers and fluxes
And from feendes that in them were / and false beleue
Then was he Iesus of Iewes called / gentyll prophete
And king of[^a2568] kingdome / and croune bare of thornes
And then conquered he on crosse / as conquerour noble
Might no death him fordo / nor doune bring
That he rose not[^a2569][^469] and regned / and rauyshed helle
And then was he conqueroure called / of quick and[^a2570] dead
for he gaf Adam and Eue / and othermore blisse
That long had lyne beforne / as Lucifers cherles
And sith he gaf largelie / all his true[^a2571] lieges
Places in paradyse / at ther parting thens[^a2572]
He may well be called conquerour / and þat is Christ to mene
But the cause that he commeth thus / with crosse of the[^a2573] passion
Is to teache[^a2574] vs therwith / that when we be tempted
Therwith to fight and fende vs / from falling in-to synne
And se by his sorowe / that who-so loueth ioye
To penaunce and to pouertie / he must put himself
And much wo in this world / will to[^a2575] suffre
But for[^a2576] to carpe more of Christ / and howe he came to þat name
faithly for to speake his first name was Iesus
When[^a2577] he was borne in bedleme / as the book telleth
And cam to take mankynde / kinges and Aungelles
Reuerenced him fayr / with richesse of this[^a2578] erthe
Aungelles out of heauen cam / kneling they[^a2579] song
Gloria inexcelsis deo &c
Kynges came after / kneled and offred
Myrhe and much golde / without mede[^a2580] asking
Or any kynd[^a2581] of catell / but knowleged[^a2582] him souereyne
Bothe of lond[^a2583][^470] sonne and sea / and then[^a2584] they went
Into their oune countreis[^a2585][^471] / by counsell of aungelles
And there was þat worde fulfilled / the which þou spake[^a2586]
Omnia celestia et[^a2587] terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Ihesu Iesu
For all th'aungelles of heauen / at his byrth kneled
And all the witt of the worlde / was in them[^a2588][^472] thre kinges
Reason and Righousnes / and truthe[^a2589] they offred
Wherfore and why / wise men that tyme
Maisters and lettred men / Magi them called
The[^a2590] one king cam with reason / couered vnder sence
The second king sothely / sithen[^a2591] he[^a2592] offred
Rightousnes vnder red goold / Reasons felawe
Gold is likened to leautie / that last shall euer
And reason to rich gold / to right and to truthe
The thirde king then cam / kneling to Iesu
And presented him with pitie / appering to myrrhe
For Myrre is mercie to mene / and myld speche of tong
Thre like honest thinges / were offred thus atones at ones
Through thre sondry[^a2593] kynges / kneling to Iesus
But for all thise preciouse presentes / our lord prince Iesus
Was neither king nor conquerour / till he began[^a2594] to wexe
In the manere of a man / and þat by much sleight
As[^a2595] becommeth a conquerour / to knowe[^a2596] many sleightes
And many wiles and wit / that wilbe will be a leder
And so did Iesus in his daies / who-so had tyme to tell it
Sometyme he suffred / and sometyme he hid him
And sometime he fought fast / and fled otherwhile
And sometyme he gaf good / and graunted helth[^a2597] also[^a2598]
Bothe[^a2599] life and lymme / as he[^a2600] list he wrought
As kynde is of a conquerour / so began[^a2601] he[^a2602] /
Till he had all them / that he bledd for[^a2603]
In his youthe[^a2604] / this Iesus / at Iewes[^473] fest
Water in-to wyne turned / as holy writ telleth
And there began god / of his grace to Dowell
For wyne is likened to lawe / and life of holinesse
And lawe lacked then / for me me[n] loued not their enemyes
And Christ counseileth thus and commandeth also[^a2605]
Bothe to lerned[^a2606] and[^a2607] lewde / to loue our enemyes
So at the feast first / as I before said[^a2608]
Began god of his grace / and goodnes to dowell
And then was he called[^a2609][^474] / not onely[^a2610] Christ but Iesu
A faunt fyn full of witt / Filius marie
Before[^a2611] his mother Marie / made he that wonder
That she first and foremest / ferme shulde beleue
That he through grace was gett / and of noman no man[^a2612] ellis
He wrought þat by no witt / but by[^a2613] worde onely
After the kynde that he came of / there began[^a2614] he to[^a2615] dowell
And when he was wexen more / in his mothers absence
He made the[^a2616] lame to lepe / and gaf sight to blynde
And fed with too fishes / and with five loves
Sore ahungred[^a2617] folke / more[^a2618] then five thousand
Thus he conforted the[^a2619] carefull / and caught a greater name
The which was dobet / where that he went
for deef through his doinges to here / and dombe to[^a2620] speak he made
And all he healed and holpe / þat him of grace asked
And then was he called in countrey / of the common people
For the dedes that he did / Iesus filius dauid[^a2621] /
for dauid was dowtiest / of dedes in his tyme
The byrdes then song / Saul interfecit mille , et dauid decem milia[^475]
Therfor the countrie where[^a2622] Iesus cam / callid him fili dauid
And named[^a2623] him of Nazareth / & noman no man so worthy
To be kayser or king / of the kingdome of Iuda[^476]
Nor ouer Iewes iustice / as Ihs Iesus was they thought
Wherof Cayphas had envie / and other of the iewes
And forto for to do him to death / daie and night they kest
Killed him on crosse wise / at Calvarie on a[^a2624][^477] fridaye
And sithen buried his bodye / and bad þat men shuld
Kepe it from night commers / with armed knightes[^a2625]
That[^a2626] no freendes shulde him feche / for prophetes them told
That ,[^478] þat blissed bodie / of buriels shuld arise
And go into Galile / and glade his apostles
And his mother Marie / thus men before demed
The knightes þat kept it / knew[^a2627] it themself
That Aungells and Archaungelles / ere the day sprong
Cam kneling to the Corps / and song cristus resurgens
Veray man before them all / and forth with them he yede
The Iewes preid[^a2628][^479] peace / and besought the knightes
Telle the commons[^a2629] that there cam / a company of his apostles
And wiched[^a2630] them as they woke / and awaie stole him[^a2631]
But Marie Magdalene / met him by the waye
Going toward Galile / in godhede and manhede
And lyvishe[^a2632][^480] and loking / and she alowd cried
In euery[^a2633] company that[^a2634] she cam / cristus resurgens
Thus came it out that Christ ouercame / recouered & lyued
Sic oportet cristum pati et intrare &c
For that[^a2635] women wot[^481] / maynot may not be[^a2636] kept[^a2637] counseile
Peter perceyued this[^a2638] / and pursued after
Both Iames and Iohan / Iesu for to seche
Thadee and tean moo / with Thomas of ynde
And as all thise wise men[^a2639] / were togithers
In an house all close[^a2640] / and the[^a2641] dores[^a2642] fast[^a2643] barred
Christ came then[^a2644] in / bothe dores and gates shet[^a2645]
To peter and th'other[^a2646] apostles / saying[^a2647] pax vobis
And toke Thomas by the hand / and taught him to grope
And fele with his fyngers / his fleshly hart
Thomas touched it / and with his tong said /
deus meus et dominus meus /
Thou art my lorde I beleue / god lord Iesu
Thou diedest and death suffredest[^a2648] / and deme shalt vs all
And now art lyving and loking / and last shalt þou[^a2649] euer
Christ said[^a2650] then / and curteisly spake[^a2651]
Thomas for that þou truly dost beleue[^a2652]
Blessed mut thou be / and be shalt for euer
And blissed mut they all be / in bodie and[^a2653] soule
That neuer shal se me in sight / as thou doest nowe[^a2654]
And yet truly[^a2655] beleue this[^a2656] / I loue them and blisse them
Beati qui non viderunt et crediderunt[^a2657] &c
And when this dede was done / dobest he taught
And gaf piers poure / and pardon he graunted
To all manere of men / mercie and forgiuenesse
Him might to[^a2658] Assoile / of all manere synnes
In covenaunt that they come / and knowlege to paye
To piers pardon the plowman / Redde quod debes
Thus hathe piers poure / be his pardon paid
To bynde and to[^a2659] vnbynde / bothe here and elliswhere
And assoile men of all synnes / saue of dett onely[^a2660]
Anone after to go[^a2661] / vp into heauen
He went and dwelleth[^a2662] there / & will come at last
And rewarde him right well / þat reddit quod debet
Paieth perfitely / as pure truth wolde
And what person paieth[^a2663] not / punyshe he will[^a2664]
And deme them at domesdaie / both quick and dead
The good to the godhede / and to great ioye
And the[^a2665] wicked do dwelle[^a2666] / in wo without ende
Thus conscience of Christ / and of the crosse carped
And counseiled me to knele therto / and then cam me thought
One Spiritus paracletus / to piers and[^a2667] his felawes
In likenesse of a lightnyng / he light vpon[^a2668] them all
And made them for to[^a2669] knowe / all manere[^a2670] langages
I wondered what yt[^a2671] was / and wagged Conscience
And was aferde of the light / for in likenesse of fyre[^a2672]
Spiritus paracletus / ouerspredd them all
Quod Conscience and kneled / this is Christes menssenger
And commeth from the great god / and grace is his name
Knele nowe quod Conscience / and if thou canst syng
Welcome him and worshup him / with Veni creator spiritus
Than sang I that song / and so did many a[^a2673] hundred
And cried with Conscience / helpe vs god of grace
And then began grace / to go with piers plowman
And counseiled him and Conscience / the commons[^a2674] to somone
For I will dele this daie[^a2675] / and divide grace
To all manere[^a2676] creatures / þat haue their fyve wittes
Treasure to lyue by / to their lyues ende
And wepen to fight with / that will neuer fayle
For Antecryst and his / all the world shall greue
And encombre[^a2677] the Conscience / but if Christ helpe[^a2678]
And false prophetes many[^a2679] / flaterers and glosers
Shall come and be curates[^a2680] / ouer Kynges and erles
And pride shalbe shall be pope / prynce of holie church
Couetise and vnkyndnesse / Cardynalls him to lede
Therfor quod Grace ere I go / I will giue you treasure
And wepen to fight with / when Antechrist you assayle
And gyue[^a2681] eche man a grace / to rule[^a2682] with himself
That ydelnesse encombre him not / Envie nor pride /
Diuisiones graciarum multe[^a2683] sunt[^a2684] /
To[^a2685] some he gaf wit / with wordes to shewe
Witt[^482] to get lyving[^a2686][^483] with / as the worlde asketh
As prechours and preestes / and prentises of lawe
They truly[^a2687] to lyve / by labour of tong
And by wit to lerne[^a2688] other / as grace them wold teache
And some he taught[^a2689] craft / and konnyng of sight
with bying and selling[^a2690] / their lyving[^a2691] to gett[^a2692]
And some he lerned[^a2693] to labour / a good[^a2694] life and[^a2695] true
And some he taught to tille ground[^a2696] / to diche and to thatch
To wynne ther living[^a2697] / by lore of his teaching
Some[^a2698] to divyne and divide / nombres to knowe[^a2699]
[^484]And some to se and[^a2700] saye / what shuld befall
Both of well and[^a2701] wo / tell it or it fell
As Astronomiers[^a2702] through Astronomye / & philosophers wise
And some to ride and to recouer / that vnrightfully was gett[^a2703]
He taught[^a2704] them to get[^a2705] it agayn / through wightnesse of handes
And fech it from false men / with foules[^a2706][^485] lawes
And some lerned[^a2707] to lyue / in longing to be hens
In pouertie and[^a2708] penaunce / to pray for all cristen
And all he lerned[^a2709] to be true[^a2710] / and euery man[^a2711] loue other
And forbad them all debate / þat non were among them
Though some be clenner then some / ye se well quod grace
That he þat vse the fairest craft / to þe foulest I could haue put him
Think all quod grace / that grace commeth of my gift
Loke that non Lacke other / but loue all as bretherne
And who þat most maistries can / be gentillest[^a2712] of bearing
And croune Conscience king / and make connyng[^a2713] your styward
And after his[^a2714] counseile / clothe you and fede you[^a2715]
For I make piers the plowman / my proctour[^a2716] and my Reve
And Regester to receyue / Redde quod debes /
My prowour and my plowman / Piers shalbe shall be on erthe
And for to tylle truthe / A teame shall he haue
Grace gaf piers a teame / foure great oxen
The[^a2717] one was Luke a large beast / and a lowe chered
And Mark / and Mathue the third / mightie beastes bothe
And Ioyned to them one Iohan / most gentill of all
The price nete of piers plowgh / passing all other
And Grace gaf piers / of his goodnesse four bullockes[^a2718]
All that his oxen eried / they to harowe it after /
One hight Augustine / and Ambrose another
Gregory the great clerk / and Ierome the good
Thise foure the feith to teache / foloweth piers teame
And harowed in an handwhile / all holie scripture
With too harowes that they had / an old and a newe
Vetus[^a2719] testamentum et Nouum /
Grace also[^a2720] gaf greynes / the Cardinalles[^a2721] vertues
And sewe it in mannes soule / and told then[^a2722] their names
Spiritus prudencie / the first sede hight
And who-so eteth[^a2723] that / ymagyn he shuld
Ere he did any thing[^a2724] / devise well the ende
And lerned men a ladell to bye[^a2725] / with a long steall
That cast for to kepe a crocke / to saue the fat aboue
The second sede hight / Spiritus temperantie
He that ete of that sede / had such a kynde
Shuld neuer meat nor much drink / make him to swelle
Nor no[^a2726] skorner nor scolde / out of skille him bring
Nor wynnyng nor welth / of worldely richesse
Wast worde of ydelnesse / nor wicked speche moue
Shuld no curious clothe / come on his backe[^a2727]
Nor no meate in his mouthe / þat Maister Iohan spiced
The third sede that piers sewe / was Spiritus fortitudinis
And who-so ete of that sede / hardie was euer
To suffre all þat god sent / sikenes or[^a2728] Angres
Myght no leasinges nor lyer / nor losse of catell[^a2729]
Make him for any mournyng / but to be[^a2730] mery in soule
And bold and abiding / all troubles[^a2731][^486] to suffre
Pleying ay[^a2732] with pacience / and Parce mihi domine
And couereth[^a2733] him vnder counseile / of Cato the wise
Esto animo forti[^a2734] cum sis damnatus inique
The fourth sede þat piers sewe / was Spiritus iusticie
And he that ete of that sede / shuld be euer true /
with god and not agast / but of gyle onelie[^a2735]
For gyle gothe so privilie / that good feith otherwhiles[^a2736]
Maynot May not be espied / for Spiritus iusticie /
Spiritus Iusticie / Spareth not to spille
Them that are giltie / and forto for to correct
The kyng if he fall / in gilt or in trespasse
for counteth he no kinges wrathe / when he in court sitteth
To deme as a domesman / aferd[^a2737] was he neuer
Neither of duke or[^a2738] death / that he ne did lawe
For presentes[^a2739] or[^a2740] prayers[^a2741] / or any princes letters
He doth[^a2742] equitie to all / euen for[^a2743] his poure
Thise foure sedes Piers sewe / and sith he did them harowe
With old and new lawe / that loue might waxe
Among the foure vertues / and vices destroy
For comonlie in countries / Cammokes and wedes
Fowleth the fruyt in the feeld / there they growe togethers
And so do vices / vertues worthy
Harrowe all þat haue wit quod pers[^a2744] / by counseile of grace[^a2745][^487]
And tille after his[^a2746] teaching / the cardinall vertues
Agaynst thy graynes quod Grace / begynne to[^a2747] ripe
Ordeyne the an house[^a2748][^488] / to lay[^a2749] in thy corne[^a2750]
By god grace quod piers / you must gyue tymber
And ordeyne that house / ere ye hens wende
And grace gaf him the crosse / with þe croune of thorne[^a2751]
That Christ vpon Calvarie / for mankynd peyned[^a2752]
And of his Baptisme and blood / þat he bled on the[^a2753] rood
He made a[^a2754] morter / and mercie it hight
And therwith grace began / to make a foundacion[^a2755]
And strongly walled[^a2756] it / with his peynes and[^a2757] passion
And of all holy writ / he made a roof after
And callid þat house vnitie / holy church in[^a2758] englishe
And whan this dede was done / grace devised
A Cart hight cristendome / to cary piers corne[^a2759]
And gaf him caples to his cart / Contricion & confession
And made preesthood heyward / whill[^a2760] himself went
As wide as the world is / with piers to tille truthe
Nowe is piers to the plowgh / and pride it espied
And gathered him a great hoost / to hurt him sore[^a2761]
Conscience and all cristen / and all[^a2762] cardinall vertues
Blowe them doune and breake them / and bight atoo the mores
And sent forth Surquidous / his sergeant of Armes
And his spie spill loue / one speke euill behinde
These too cam to Conscience / and to cristen people
And tolde him tydinges / þat they shuld lose[^a2763] the sedes
That piers there had sowne / the cardinall vertues
And Piers berne was[^a2764] broke / and they that be in vnytie
Shall come out and Conscience / and your ij two caples
Confession and Contricion / and your cart theybeleue they beleue[^a2765]
Shalbe Shall be coloured so queyntly / and couered vnder our Sophistrie
That Conscience shall not knowe / by Contricion
Nor by Confession / who is cristen or[^a2766][^489] hethen
Nor no manere marchaunt / þat with money deleth
Whether he wynne with right / with wrong or with vsurie
With such coloures and couetise[^a2767] / commeth pride armed
With the lorde that liveth / after þe lust of his body
To wast on welfare / and on wicked keping
All the world in a while / through our wit and[^a2768] pride
Quod Conscience to all cristen then / my conseile is to wende
Hastely into vnitie / and hold we vs there
And pray we that a peace were / in piers berne the plowman
For surely[^a2769] I wot well / we be not of strength
To go Against pride / but grace be[^a2770] with vs
And than cam kynd wytt / Conscience to teache
And cried and commanded / to[^a2771] all cristen people
For to delue and[^a2772] diche / depe about vnytie
That the church[^a2773] stode in vnytie / as it a pile were
Conscience commanded then / cristen[^a2774] to delue
And make a great[^a2775] moot / that might be a strength
To helpe holy church / and them that it kepe
Than all manere[^a2776] cristen / saue commone women
Repented and refused /[^490] synne saue they onely[^a2777]
And false men flaterers / vsurers and theves
Lyers and questmongers / þat be[^a2778] forsworne ofte
Witingly[^a2779] and willfully / with the false that hold[^a2780]
And for siluer forsworne[^a2781] / sothely they knowing[^a2782] it
There was no cristen creature / þat kynd wit had
Saue shrewes only[^a2783] / such as I spake of
but he[^a2784] holpe something[^a2785][^491] / holynesse to growe[^a2786]
Some through praying[^a2787][^492] / and some through pilgrimage
And other privie peynes[^a2788] / and some through pens dealing
And then welled water / for wicked workes
Egrely rennyng[^a2789] / out of mennes eyen
Clennesse of the commons[^a2790] / and clerkes clene lyving
Made vnytie holy church / in holynes to stond
I carenot care not quod Conscience / though pryde come nowe[^a2791]
The Lorde of lust shalbe shall be letted / all this lent I hope
Come quod Conscience / ye cristen and dyne
That haue labored truly[^a2792] / all this lent tyme
Here is bread blissed / and goddes body vnder[^a2793]
Grace through goddes worde / gaf piers powre
And might[^a2794] to make it / and men to eat yt after
In helpe of their helthe[^a2795] / ones in a moneth
Or as oft[^a2796] they haue[^a2797] nede / they that had paid
To piers pardon the plowman / Redde quod debes
Whow[^a2798][^493] / quod all the commons[^a2799] / þou counseilest vs to yeld
All that we owe anyman any man[^a2800] / ere we go to howsell
That is my counseile quod Conscience / and Cardinalls[^a2801] vertues
That euery[^a2802][^494] man forgyue other / and þat will pater noster[^a2803]
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra &c
And so to be assoiled / and then[^a2804] howselld
Yea baw quod a brewer / I wilnot will not be ruled
By Iesus for all your iangling / of[^a2805] Spiritus iusticie
Nor after Conscience by Christ / whill I can selle
Bothe dregges and draff / and drawe it at one hoole
Thick ale and thyne ale / for þat is my kynde
And not hacke after holinesse / hold thy tong Conscience
Of Spiritus iusticie / thou spekest much in veyne[^a2806]
Caytif quod Conscience / cursed wreche also[^a2807]
Vnblessed art þou brewer / but if the god helpe
for onlesse[^a2808] thou lyve by lore / of Spiritus iusticie
The chief sede that piers sewe / saued shalt þou be[^a2809] neuer
But conscience the commons[^a2810] fede / & cardinalls[^a2811] vertues
Trust[^a2812] well they be lost / both lyfe and soule
Than is many a man lost / quod a lewd vicare[^a2813]
That[^a2814] am a curate[^a2815] of holy church[^a2816] / & cam neuer in my tyme
Any[^a2817] to me that[^a2818] coulde telle / of cardynalls[^a2819] vertues
Or þat acounted conscience / at a cockes fether or[^a2820] hennes
I knewe neuer Cardinall / But þat[^a2821] cam from the Pope
And fewe vertues be there / or elles non[^495]
We[^a2822] clerkes when they come / for their commons paye
For their furres[^a2823] and[^a2824] palfreyes mete / and pillours þat them folowe
The commons[^a2825] Clamat cotidie / euery[^a2826] man to other
The countrey is the curseder / þat cardinalls come in
And there they ly and byde[^a2827] / most lecherie regneth[^a2828]
Therfor quod this vicar[^a2829] / by veray god I wold
That no Cardinall come / Among the common people
But in ther holynesse / held[^a2830] them stille
At Auyon Among the Iewes / Cum sancto sanctus eris
Or in Rome as theyr rule is[^a2831] / þe reliques for[^a2832] to kepe
And thou Conscience in kinges court / & neuer to[^a2833] come thens
And grace that thou speakest[^a2834] so of / guyder[^a2835] of all clerkes
And piers with his new plowe / and eke with his old
Emperoure of all the world / þat all men were cristen
Inperfite is that pope / þat all the wolde wo[r]lde[^a2836] shuld helpe
And send them that sleith such / as he shuld saue
And well worth piers the plowman / þat pursueth god in doing
Qui pluit super iustos et iniustos at ones
And sent the sonne / to saue a cursed mannes tylth
As bright as to the best man / or[^a2837] to the best woman
Right so piers the plowman / peyneth him to tylle
As well for a wastour / and wenches of the stewes
As for himself and[^a2838] seruauntes / saue he is first serued
And travaileth and tilleth / for a traitour euen as[^a2839] sore
As for the[^a2840] true tidie man / all tymes alike
Worshipped[^a2841] be he þat wrought all / both good and euyll[^a2842]
And suffreth the[^a2843] synfull lyue[^a2844] / till sometyme þat they repent
And god Amende the pope / þat pilleth holie church[^a2845]
And claymeth before the king / to be keper of[^a2846] cristen
And passeth[^a2847][^496] not though cristen be / killed and robbed
And fynd folk to fight / and cristen folke[^a2848] to spille
Against both old[^a2849] and new lawe / as Luke witnesseth[^a2850]
Non occides , michi vindictam et ego retribuam[^a2851]
It semeth that incase in case[^a2852] / himself had his will
That he careth[^a2853] right nought / of all the remenaunt
And Christ of his curtesie / the Cardinalles saue
And turne their wit to wisdome / and to welth[^a2854] of soule
For the commons[^a2855] quod this Curate[^a2856] / counte full litell
The counseile of Conscience / or Cardinalles[^a2857] vertues
But if they perceyue[^a2858] / to haue some[^a2859] wynnyng
Of gyle nor of lyeng[^a2860] / passe they not at all[^a2861]
For Spiritus prudentie / Among the people is gyle
And all the[^a2862] foule vices / as vertues[^a2863] they seme[^a2864]
Eche man soteleth a sleight / synne for to hyde
And coloureth it for a connyng / and a clene lyving
Then lough there a lorde / and by the[^a2865] light said
I hold it right and reason / of my Reue to take
All þat myn Auditor / orelles or elles my Stiward
Counseileth me by their Acomptes[^a2866] / and my clerkes writing
With Spiritus intellectus / they seke the Reves rolles
And with Spiritus fortitudinis / fech it they will[^a2867]
And then cam there a king / and by his croune said
I am a[^a2868] king with croune / the commons[^a2869] to rule
And holy church[^a2870] and clergie / from cursed men to defend
And if me like[^a2871] to liue / by the lawe will I take it[^497] /
There I may easeliest[^a2872] come by it[^a2873] / for I am head of the[^a2874] lawe
For you be But membres / and I aboue all
And sithe I am your[^a2875] head / I am your heale also[^a2876]
And holy churches chief helpe / and cheftayne of the commons[^a2877]
And what I take of you two / I take it of[^a2878] the teaching
Of Spiritus iusticie / for I iudge you all
So may I[^a2879] boldelie be howsled / for I borowe neuer
Nor craue of any[^a2880] commons[^a2881] / But as my kynde asketh
In condicion quod Conscience / þat þou can defende
And rule thy realme by[^a2882] reason / as right will[^a2883] and truthe
Take thou might[^a2884][^498] in reason / as thy lawe askethe
Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum , sed non ad depredandum /
The vicar had fer home / and faire he[^a2885] toke his leue
And I waked[^a2886] therwith / and writ as I dremed[^a2887]

[^a2535: walked (S Cr1 M) | awaked (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2536: hied (S) | dide (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2537: the (S) | þo (M W Bx) | om. (Cr1) | whan (Hm)]

[^a2538: went (S Cr1 M) | yede (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2539: And (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2540: eftsones fill (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2541: I dremed (S) | me mette (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2542: euen (S) | riȝt (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2543: Than (S Cr1 M) | And þanne (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2544: telle (S) | kenne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2545: truthe (S) | soþe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2546: and (S) | and his (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2547: manere (S) | kynne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2548: named (S Cr1) | nompned (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2549: hygh name of (S Cr1 M) | name of god (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2550: there (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2551: be named (S) | name (Cr1) | nempne (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2552: or (S) | ne by (W Hm Bx) | nor by (Cr1) | and by (M)]

[^a2553: the (S Cr1) | om. (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2554: or (S) | and (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2555: if (S) | and (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2556: knowest (S) | konne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2557: shuld (S Hm) | shul (M Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a2558: reuerence (S) | knele to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2559: called Conquerour (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Bx) | a conquerour clepyd (Hm)]

[^a2560: also (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2561: gentillnesse (S) | hiendenesse (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2562: dwelleth (S) | woneth (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2563: non therin (S Cr1) | þer noon (Hm Bx) | þere noon ther-Inne | rewritten (W)]

[^a2564: baptisme (S) | fullynge (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2565: baptized (S) | y-fulled (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2566: a (S) | to a (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2567: the (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2568: of (S Cr1 M) | of hir (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2569: rose not (S) | naroos (M Cr1 W Bx) | ne ros (Hm)]

[^a2570: and (S) | and of (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2571: true (S) | lele (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2572: thens (S) | hennes (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2573: the (S Cr1 M) | his (W Bx) | om. (Hm)]

[^a2574: teache (S) | wissen (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2575: to (S) | and (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2576: for (S Cr1 M) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2577: When (S) | Þo (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2578: this (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2579: they (S) | and (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2580: mede (S Cr1) | mercy (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2581: kynd (S) | kynnes (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2582: knowleged (S) | knoweliche (M Cr1) | knowelichynge (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2583: lond (S Cr1 W Hm) | sond (M Bx)]

[^a2584: then (S) | sithenes (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2585: oune countreis (S) | kengene kith (M W Hm Bx) | kingdome kyth (Cr1)]

[^a2586: spake (S) | of speke (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2587: et (S Hm) | om. (M Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a2588: them (S) | þo (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2589: truthe (S Cr1) | ruthe (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2590: The (S) | That (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2591: sothely / sithen (S Cr1 M) | transp. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2592: he (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2593: sondry (S) | kynne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2594: began (S) | gan (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2595: As (S Cr1) | As it (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2596: knowe (S) | kunne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2597: helth (S) | hele (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2598: also (S) | boþe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2599: Bothe (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2600: he (S Cr1) | hym (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2601: began (S) | comsed (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2602: he (S) | Ihesu (M Cr1 W Bx) | ihesus (Hm)]

[^a2603: bledd for (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2604: youthe (S) | Iuuente (M W Bx) | inuente (Cr1) | innocence (Hm)]

[^a2605: also (S) | boþe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2606: lerned (S Cr1) | leered (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2607: and (S) | and to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2608: said (S Cr1 M) | tolde (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2609: called (S W) | clepud and called (M Cr1 Hm Bx)]

[^a2610: onely (S Cr1) | holy (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2611: Before (S Cr1 M) | For bifore (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2612: noman no man (S) | no gome (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2613: by (S Cr1 M) | þoruȝ (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2614: began (S) | comsed (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2615: to (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2616: the (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2617: ahungred (S) | afyngred (M Cr1 W Bx) | anhungryd]

[^a2618: more (S) | mo (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2619: the (S Cr1) | om. (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2620: to (S Cr1 M) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2621: Iesus filius dauid (S) | Fili dauid Ihesus (M Cr1 W)]

[^a2622: where (S) | þer (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2623: named (S Cr1) | nempned (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2624: a (S Cr1 Hm Bx) | om. (M W)]

[^a2625: armed knightes (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2626: That (S) | For (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2627: knew (S) | byknewe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2628: preid (S Cr1 M) | prayeden hem (Bx) | prayeden hym | preide hem be (W)]

[^a2629: commons (S) | comune (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2630: wiched (S) | biwiccheden (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2631: him (S Cr1 Hm) | it (M W Bx)]

[^a2632: lyvishe (S) | lyues (M W Hm Bx) | A-lyue (Cr1)]

[^a2633: euery (S) | eche a (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2634: that (S) | þer (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2635: that (S Cr1 Bx) | þat þat (M W Hm)]

[^a2636: be (S) | wel be (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2637: kept (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2638: this (S Cr1 M) | al þis (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2639: men (S) | wyes (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2640: close (S) | bishette (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2641: the (S Cr1) | hire (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2642: dores (S Cr1) | dore (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2643: fast (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2644: then (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2645: / bothe dores and gates shet (S) | al closed . boþe dore & yates (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2646: th'other (S) | to hise (M Cr1 Bx) | to þise (W Hm)]

[^a2647: saying (S) | and seide (M W Hm Bx) | sayd (Cr1)]

[^a2648: suffredest (S) | þoledest (W Hm Bx) | tholest (Cr1)]

[^a2649: þou (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2650: said (S) | carpede (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2651: spake (S) | saide (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2652: that þou truly dost beleue (S) | þow trowest þis . and truwliche bileueste it (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2653: and (S) | and in (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2654: nowe (S Cr1) | nowþe (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2655: yet truly (S) | lelliche (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2656: this (S) | al þis (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2657: et crediderunt (S Hm Bx) | om. (M Cr1 W)]

[^a2658: Him might to (S Cr1 W) | Hym myȝte men to (Bx) | he mygth men (Hm)]

[^a2659: to (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2660: onely (S Cr1) | oone (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2661: to go (S) | an heygh (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2662: dwelleth (S) | woneþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2663: paieth (S) | paiþ it (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2664: will (S) | þinkeþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2665: the (S Cr1) | om. (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2666: do dwelle (S) | to wonye (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2667: and (S) | and to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2668: vpon (S Cr1) | on (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2669: for to (S) | konne and (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2670: manere (S) | kynne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2671: yt (S) | þat (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2672: likenesse of fyre (S) | fires likkenesse (M Cr1 Hm Bx) | fires lightnesse (W)]

[^a2673: a (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2674: commons (S) | comune (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2675: this daie (S) | to-day (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2676: manere (S) | kynne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2677: encombre (S Hm) | acombre (M Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a2678: helpe (S Cr1 M) | þee helpe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2679: many (S) | fele (M W Hm Bx) | fell (Cr1)]

[^a2680: curates (S) | curatours (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2681: gyue (S Cr1) | yaf (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2682: rule (S) | guye (M Hm Bx) | guyde (Cr1 W)]

[^a2683: multe (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2684: sunt (S Cr1) | &c (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2685: To (S Cr1) | om. (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2686: get lyving (S) | wynne hire liflode (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2687: truly (S) | lelly (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2688: lerne (S) | wissen (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2689: taught (S) | kenned (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2690: bying and selling (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2691: lyving (S) | liflode (M Cr1) | bilyue (W Bx)]

[^a2692: gett (S) | wynne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2693: lerned (S Cr1) | lered (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2694: good (S) | lele (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2695: and (S) | and a (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2696: ground (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2697: ther living (S) | with hire liflode (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2698: Some (S Cr1 M) | And some (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2699: knowe (S) | kenne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2700: and (S) | and to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2701: and (S) | and of (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2702: Astronomiers (S Cr1) | astronomyens (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2703: gett (S) | wonnen (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2704: taught (S) | wissed (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2705: to get (S) | wynnen (M Cr1 Hm Bx) | to wynne (W)]

[^a2706: foules (S) | folviles (M W Hm Bx) | foule iuels (Cr1)]

[^a2707: lerned (S) | he lered (M W Bx) | he lerned (Cr1 Hm)]

[^a2708: and (S) | and in (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2709: lerned (S Cr1) | lered (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2710: true (S) | lele (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2711: euery man (S) | ech a craft (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2712: gentillest (S) | myldest (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2713: connyng (S) | craft (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2714: his (S) | craftes (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2715: you (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2716: proctour (S) | procuratour (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2717: The (S) | That (Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2718: bullockes (S) | stottes (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2719: Vetus (S) | Id est vetus (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2720: Grace also (S) | And grace (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2721: Cardinalles (S M Bx) | Cardynal (W Hm Cr1)]

[^a2722: and told then (S) | and siþen he toolde (M Cr1 W Bx) | and syþþe tolde (Hm)]

[^a2723: eteth (S Cr1 M) | ete (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2724: thing (S) | dede (M Cr1 Hm Bx) | deeþ (W)]

[^a2725: to bye (S) | bigge (M W Hm Bx) | be (Cr1)]

[^a2726: no (S W Hm) | shulde no (M Cr1 Bx)]

[^a2727: backe (S) | rugge (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2728: or (S Cr1 M) | and (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2729: catell (S) | worldly catel (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2730: but to be (S) | þat he nas (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2731: troubles (S) | bismers (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2732: Pleying ay (S) | And pleieþ al (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2733: couereth (S Cr1) | couered (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2734: animo forti (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2735: onelie (S) | oone (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2736: otherwhiles (S) | oþur-while (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2737: aferd (S) | a-dred (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2738: or (S) | ne of (M Cr1 W Bx) | nor of (Hm)]

[^a2739: presentes (S Cr1) | present (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2740: or (S) | or for (M W Hm Bx) | ne for (Cr1)]

[^a2741: prayers (S Cr1 M) | preiere (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2742: doth (S) | dide (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2743: euen for (S) | euene-forth (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2744: Harrowe all þat haue wit quod pers (S) | Quod piers harweþ alle þat konneþ kynde wit (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2745: grace (S) | þise doctours (M Cr1 W Bx) | þese fowr doctours (Hm)]

[^a2746: his (S) | hire (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2747: to (S) | for to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2748: house (S) | hous quod piers (M Cr1) | hous Piers (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2749: lay (S) | herberwe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2750: corne (S) | cornes (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2751: thorne (S) | þornes (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2752: peyned (S) | on pyned (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2753: the (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2754: a (S) | a manere (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2755: foundacion (S) | good foundement (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2756: strongly walled (S) | walled it and wattlede (M Cr1) | watlede it and walled (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2757: and (S Hm) | and his (Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a2758: in (S Cr1) | on (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2759: corne (S) | sheues (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2760: whill (S Cr1 M) | þe while (W Bx) | þerwhile (Hm)]

[^a2761: hurt him sore (S) | greuen he thinketh (W Hm Bx) | greue him he thinketh (Cr1)]

[^a2762: all (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2763: they shuld lose (S) | tyne þei shulde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2764: was (S) | worth (M W Hm Bx) | were (Cr1)]

[^a2765: theybeleue they beleue (S) | þe bileue (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2766: or (S W Hm Bx) | ne (M Cr1)]

[^a2767: couetise (S Cr1 M) | queyntise (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2768: and (S) | quod (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2769: surely (S) | witturly (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2770: be (S) | were (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2771: to (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2772: and (S Cr1 Hm) | a (M W Bx)]

[^a2773: the church (S) | holychurche (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2774: cristen (S) | alle cristene (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2775: great (S) | muche (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2776: all manere (S) | alkynne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2777: onely (S Cr1) | oone (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2778: be (S) | weren (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2779: Witingly (S Cr1) | Wytynge (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2780: that hold (S) | helden (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2781: forsworne (S) | were forswore (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2782: knowing (S) | wiste (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2783: only (S Cr1) | one (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2784: but he (S) | That he ne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2785: something (S) | a quantite (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2786: growe (S) | wexe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2787: praying (S) | bedes biddynge (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2788: peynes (S Cr1 M) | penaunces (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2789: rennyng (S) | ernynge (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2790: commons (S) | comune (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2791: nowe (S Cr1) | nouþe (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2792: truly (S) | lelly (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2793: vnder (S) | þere-vndur (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2794: might (S Cr1) | Mightes (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2795: helthe (S) | hele (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2796: oft (S) | ofte as (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2797: haue (S) | hadden (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2798: Whow (S) | how (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2799: commons (S) | comune (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2800: anyman any man (S) | any wight (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2801: Cardinalls (S M) | Cardinale (W Hm Bx) | cardial (Cr1)]

[^a2802: euery (S) | eche (Cr1 W Bx) | ech a (Hm)]

[^a2803: pater noster (S) | þe pater-noster (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2804: then (S) | sithen (M Cr1) | siþþen ben (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2805: of (S) | wiþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2806: in veyne (S) | on ydel (M Cr1 W Bx) | yn ydel (Hm)]

[^a2807: also (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2808: for onlesse (S) | But (M W Hm Bx) | But if (Cr1)]

[^a2809: shalt þou be (S) | worstow (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2810: commons (S) | comune (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2811: cardinalls (S M) | cardinal (Cr1 W Hm Bx)]

[^a2812: Trust (S) | Leue it (M W Hm Bx) | Leue (Cr1)]

[^a2813: vicare (S) | vicory (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2814: That (S Cr1) | I (W Hm Bx) | And]

[^a2815: curate (S) | curatour (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2816: holy church (S) | holykyrke (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2817: Any (S) | Man (M W Hm Bx) | Men (Cr1)]

[^a2818: that (S) | þat me (M W Hm Bx) | om. (Cr1)]

[^a2819: cardynalls (S M) | cardinal (Cr1 W Hm Bx)]

[^a2820: or (S) | or an (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2821: But þat (S) | þat he ne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2822: We (S) | And we (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2823: furres (S) | pelures (M Cr1) | pelure (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2824: and (S Cr1) | and hire (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2825: commons (S) | comune (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2826: euery (S) | ech a (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2827: byde (S) | lenge (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2828: regneth (S) | þer regneth (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2829: vicar (S) | vicory (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2830: held (S Cr1 W) | holden (M Hm Bx)]

[^a2831: is (S) | wole (M W Bx) | well (Cr1) | wolde (Hm)]

[^a2832: for (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2833: neuer to (S) | shuldest neuere (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2834: speakest (S) | gredest (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2835: guyder (S Cr1) | gyour (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2836: wolde wo[r]lde (S Cr1 W) | peple (M Hm Bx)]

[^a2837: or (S Cr1 W) | and (M W Bx)]

[^a2838: and (S) | and his (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2839: euen as (S) | also (Cr1 W Hm Bx) | al so (M)]

[^a2840: the (S Cr1) | a (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2841: Worshipped (S) | And worsheped (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2842: euyll (S) | wykke (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2843: the (S) | þat (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2844: lyue (S) | be (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2845: holie church (S Hm) | holy kyrke (M Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a2846: of (S Cr1) | ouer (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2847: passeth (S) | counteþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2848: folke (S Cr1) | blood (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2849: both old (S) | þolde lawe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2850: witnesseth (S) | þere-of wytnesseþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2851: et ego retribuam (S) | & cetera (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2852: that incase in case (S) | by so (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2853: careth (S) | reccheþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2854: welth (S W) | wele (M Cr1 Hm Bx)]

[^a2855: commons (S) | Comune (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2856: Curate (S) | curatour (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2857: Cardinalles (S) | cardinale (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2858: perceyue (S) | seie as by sighte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2859: to haue some (S) | somwhat to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2860: lyeng (S) | gabbynge (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2861: passe they not at all (S) | gif þey neuere tale (M W Hm Bx) | giue thou neuer tale (Cr1)]

[^a2862: the (S Cr1) | þo (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2863: foule vices / as vertues (S Cr1) | faire vertues . as vices (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2864: seme (S W Bx) | semede (M Cr1 Hm)]

[^a2865: the (S Cr1) | þis (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2866: Acomptes (S) | acounte (M Cr1 W Bx) | line om. (Hm)]

[^a2867: they will (S) | I wole (M Bx) | I wole after (W) | whole (Cr1) | line om. (Hm)]

[^a2868: a (S Cr1 M) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2869: commons (S) | Comune (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2870: church (S) | kyrke (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2871: like (S) | lakkeþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2872: easeliest (S) | hastlokest (M W Hm Bx) | moost hastely (Cr1)]

[^a2873: come by it (S) | it haue (M Cr1 W Bx) | rewritten (Hm)]

[^a2874: the (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2875: your (S) | youre aller (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2876: heale also (S) | aller hele (M Cr1 W)]

[^a2877: commons (S) | comune (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2878: of (S Cr1 M) | at (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2879: may I (S Cr1 M) | transp. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2880: any (S) | my (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2881: commons (S) | Comune (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2882: by (S Cr1 Hm) | in (W Bx) | and]

[^a2883: as right will (S Cr1) | riȝt wel (M W Bx) | yn rygth (Hm)]

[^a2884: might (S Cr1 Hm) | may (M W)]

[^a2885: he (S Cr1) | om. (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2886: waked (S) | awaked (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2887: I dremed (S) | me mette (Cr1 W Hm Bx) | me thouȝte]

[^469: rose not: Rendering naroos (= ne aros). S modernizes verbal negation, as usual, but also adopts the prefixless verb.]

[^470: lond: Agreement of SCr1WHm should establish beta2, but M retains the archetypal reading, sond.]

[^471: their oune countreis: Rendering hir kyngene kiþ, "their kingly realm" (spelling of W, for M kengene). The subjective genitive plural may have an adjectival character (see Mustanoja, Middle English Syntax, p. 37), accentuated in this instance by its use in combination with a pronominal possessive determiner. The construction is difficult and probably was not understood; scribal correction (oune is entered above the line in the original hand and ink) is perhaps an index of the translator's difficulties. Compare S.1.105, where an archaic gen. pl. similarly provokes paraphrase, and S.5.29, where the scribe transmits an ungrammatical corruption of the same form.]

[^472: them: Rendering demonstrative þo 'those', by confusion with the pronoun. Compare S.2.193.]

[^473: Iewes: Rendering gen. pl. Iewene. See S.1.105n.]

[^474: called: Rendering clepud and called (M). S elsewhere renders the omitted word as called, leaving little choice but omission in this instance.]

[^475: The scribe ran out of space; the last word is entered in the right margin of the line below. Partial boxing around the overflow interferes with the line below.]

[^476: Iuda: This word is partially boxed. Compare W, where the word is boxed in red, and see Introduction, sections ???.]

[^477: a: S joins CrHmF in support of the reading printed by BTP for Bx, but BTP's doubts (note ad loc.) are surely justified. The construction with a is easier than without, and found in late and revising copies. Convergent variation is likely.]

[^478: S's punctuation is shared by Cr.]

[^479: preid: SCrM drop the pronominal object hem, transmitted in all other copies.]

[^480: lyvishe: OED livish, adj. 'living', a rare word cited by OED from a translation of Erasmus's Serm. Chylde Jesus (?1536) and two religious works of T. Becon, published 1542. Sx read lyues.]

[^481: wot: S regularizes from witeþ, the form transmitted by other copies in this instance, but rare elsewhere.]

[^482: Witt: There is a stray loop of an ascender in this word.]

[^483: lyving: Rendering liflode, a word retained by S prior to passus 15. Treatment then varies until, in this line, the translator hits on lyving, the rendering given in all remaining instances.]

[^484: SCr omit KD.19.241 (=Bx.19.247), probably by eyeskip on anaphoric And some in the anterior copy, though M has this line.]

[^485: foules: Rendering Folviles, for which see Barney, Penn Comm., p. 144. The reference also stumped Crowley.]

[^486: all troubles: Rendering bismares 'humiliations'. Compare S.5.89.]

[^487: grace: Rendering these doctours. S suppresses reference to the doctors of the Church. The singular pronoun in the next line, below, harmonizes with this change.]

[^488: house: S omits the inapt speech tag quod piers, transmitted at this location in CrML. BTP plausibly conjecture that the archetype read Piers, in direct address. The CrML reading probably arose in beta, by attraction to surrounding copy. WHm restored the archetypal reading; S, joining beta4, dropped the senseless phrase.]

[^489: or: S agrees with most copies except CrM, which read ne, a word always revised out in S. The usual reflex of ne (conj.) is nor, but compare S.3.275, where or corresponds to ne in other copies.]

[^490: Other copies punctuate after synne, correctly.]

[^491: something: Rendering a quantite 'appreciably' (Kane). S's adverbial usage is recorded by OED in sixteenth-century sources.]

[^492: praying: Rendering bedes biddynge. S suppresses a reference to praying the rosary.]

[^493: Whow: Probably the interjection (OED how int.1, recording sixteenth-century spellings in w-). The spelling occurs in S only here. How, the spelling of other copies, is treated by Kane as a special usage of the interrogative adv.]

[^494: euery: Probably rendering ech, the reading of CrW and M before correction. Hm and corrected M have ech a, probably by convergent variation. (Hm similarly varies to eche a at KD.19.457 and KD.20.92 and in the opposite direction at KD.20.56.) Euery is S's usual reflex of both ech and eche a: compare the S variants at, for instance, S.17.103 and S.17.267.]

[^495: This line is unique to S.]

[^496: passeth: 'cares', a sense recorded by OED mostly from the middle and second half of the sixteenth century (s.v. pass (v.), sense XI.51). Sx read counteþ.]

[^497: And if me like...will I take it: Rendering And if me lakkeþ to lyue by . þe lawe wole I take it, "And if I lack that by which to live, the law wills that I take it". S changes the syntax by moving punctuation, converting wole into an auxiliary. Note also the lexical substitution in the a-verse.]

[^498: might: SCrHm, replacing may, the beta reading.]

Passus xxus vicesimus et Vltimus

Then I[^a2888] went by the waie / when I was awaked[^a2889]
Heauy chered I went[^a2890] / and sorowfull[^a2891] in hart
I ne wist where to eate / nor at what place /
And it drewe[^a2892] nere[^a2893] none / and with nede I met
That afrounted me foule / and faitour me called
Canst thou not excuse the / as did the king and other
That þou toke to thy beleue[^a2894][^499] / to clothes and[^a2895] sustinance
As by teching and[^a2896] telling / of Spiritus temperancie
And thou tokest[^a2897] nomore no more / than nede the taught
And nede hathe no lawe / nor neuer shall fall in dett
For the[^a2898][^500] thinges he take / his life to[^a2899] saue
That is meat when men forbid[^a2900] / having no money[^a2901]
Nor noman no man[^a2902] wilbe will be his suretie[^a2903] / nor he hath no gage[^a2904]
And he caught in that case / and get it[^a2905] by sleightes[^a2906]
He synneth not sothelie / þat so wynneth his food
And he commeth[^a2907] so to a clothe / and knoweth[^a2908] no better waie[^a2909][^501]
Nede anon right / taketh[^a2910] him vnder maynpryse
And if he lust[^a2911] to drink[^a2912] / the lawe of kynd wold
That he dronk at euery[^a2913] diche / ere he died for the thurst[^a2914]
So nede at great nede / may take[^a2915] as for his oune
Without counseile of Conscience / or Cardinalles[^a2916] Vertues
So that he sue and saue / Spiritus temperancie /
For there[^a2917] is no vertue like[^a2918] / to Spiritus temperancie
Neither Spiritus fortitudinis / nor Spiritus iusticie[^a2919] /
For Spiritus fortitudinis / forfetteth full ofte
He shall do more then measure / many tyme and oft
And beat men ouersore[^a2920] / and some of them to littill
And greueth men more[^a2921] / then good feithe it wolde
And Spiritus iusticie / shall iuge will he or not[^a2922]
After the kinges counseile / and the commons[^a2923] like
And Spiritus prudencie / in many poyntes[^a2924] shall faile
Of that he thinkes shuld[^a2925] fall / if his wit were not
Wenyng is no wisdome / nor wise ymaginacion
Homo proponit et[^a2926] deus disponit / & gouerneth all good vertues
But nede is next him / for anon he meketh him[^a2927]
And as lowe as a lambe / for lacking of þat he[^a2928] nedeth
Wise men forsoke welth[^a2929][^502] / forthat for that[^a2930] they wolde be nedy
And dwelt[^a2931] in wildernesse / and wolde not be riche
And god all his great ioye / ghoostly he lefte
And came and toke mankynde / and became nedie
So nedy he was as saith the book / in many sondrie places
That he said in his sorowe / euen vpon the[^a2932] rood
Both fox and foule / may flie /[^503] and to hoole[^a2933] crepe
And the fish hath fynne / to swymme[^a2934] with to rest
There nede hath take[^a2935] me / þat I must nedes[^a2936] abide
And suffre sorowes full soure / þat shall to ioy turne
Therfor be not Abashed / to byde and be[^a2937] nedie
[^504] For[^a2938] neuer non so nedy / nor poorer dyed
Whan nede had thus vndertake me[^a2939] / streight[^a2940] I felle aslepe
And dremed[^a2941] mervelouslie / that in a[^a2942] mannes forme
Antechrist came then / and all the croppe of truthe
Turned[^a2943] vpside doune[^505] / and ouertilt the rote
And false spring and sprede / and spede mennes nedes
In euery[^a2944] countrey there he came / he cut awaie truthe
And made[^a2945] gyle growe there / as he god[^a2946] were
Friers folowed þat feend / for he gaf them coopes
And Religiouse reuerenced him / and rong their belles
And all the Convent forth came / to welcome þat tyraunt
And all his as well as him / saue onely fooles
Which Fooles had much[^a2947] lever / to die then to live
Lenger , sithe leaute[^a2948][^506] / was so rebuked
And a false feend Antechrist / ouer all men[^a2949] regned
And[^a2950] mylde men and holie / þat no mischef drede
Defyed all falsnesse / and them[^a2951] þat it vsed
And what king þat them conforted / knowing them Anywhile
They cursed and their counsaile / were it clerk or other[^a2952]
Antechrist had thus sone / hundredes at his banner
And pride it bare boldly / about where he went[^a2953][^507]
With a lorde þat liveth / after the[^a2954] liking of his bodye /

[A later hand has written an M and "M(aste)r Tomas" lengthwise in the left margin of the folio. Additionally, there is a smudged letter, possibly another M, to the left of the name, as well as a cropped letter above and to the right.]

That came Against Conscience / þat keper was and guyour
Ouer the true cristians[^a2955] / And Cardinall vertues
I counseile quod Conscience[^a2956] / come with me[^a2957] fooles
Into vnytie holy churche / and hold we vs there
And crie we to kynde / þat he come and defende vs
Fooles from thise feendes lymmes / for Piers loue the plowman
And crie we to all the commons[^a2958] / that they come to vnytie
And there abyde and bicker / against Belialles childerne
Kynde then herd Conscience[^a2959] / and cam out of the planettes
And sent forth his messengers[^a2960] / Feuers and fluxes
Coughes and cardiacles / Crampes and totheaches
Reaumes and Radegondes / and roynouse scalles
Byles and botches / and brennyng Agues
Frenesies and foule euilles / foragers of kynde
Had prickd[^508] and preyed / polles of the[^a2961] people
That largely a legion / lost their lyves[^a2962] sone
There was harowe and helpe / here commeth kynde
With death that is dreadfull / to vndo vs all
The lorde þat lyued after lust / then alowd cried
After confort a knight / to beare[^a2963] his banner
Alarum alarum quod the[^a2964] lorde / eche man[^a2965] kepe his oune
And then met thise men / their[^a2966] mynstralles might pype
And theyr[^a2967] heraudes at[^a2968] armes / had discriued lordes
Age[^a2969] the hore / he was in the vauntwarde
And bar the baner before death / by right he it claymed
Kynde came After / with many kene sores
As pockes and pestilences / and much people shent
So kynde through corupcions / killed full manye
Deathe cam driving after / and all to dust passhed
Kynges and Kaisers / Knightes[^a2970] and Popes
lerned[^a2971] and[^a2972] lewde / he let no man stonde
That he hit right[^a2973] / neuer[^a2974] stood[^a2975] after[^509]
Many a louelie ladie / and lemmans of knightes
Swowned and swelt / for sorowe of dethes dyntes
Conscience of his curtesie / kynde[^a2976] he besought
To cesse and suffre / and se if[^a2977] they wold
Leaue pride prively / and be perfite cristians[^a2978]
And kynde cessed then / to se the people amend
Fortune gan flatter then / the[^a2979] fewe that Lyved[^a2980]
And behight them long lyfe / and lechery she[^a2981] sent
Among all[^a2982] men / wedded and other[^a2983]
[^510]This Lecherie laid on / with a Laughing chere
And with a[^a2984] privie speche / and peynted wordes
And armed him in ydelnes / and in hygh bering
He bare a bowe in his hand / and many bloody arrowes
Were fethered with faire promise[^a2985] / and many a false truthe
With[^a2986][^511] vntidie tales / he tened full ofte
Conscience and his companye / of holie church þe teachers
Than came Couetise / and kest how he might
Ouercome Conscience / and Cardinall vertues
And armed him in Avarice / and hungrely lyved
His wepon was all wiles / to wynne & to hide
With glosinges and[^a2987][^512] lyinges[^a2988] / he begyled[^a2989] the people
Symony him sent / to assaile Conscience
And preached to the people / and prelates they[^a2990] made
To hold with Antechrist / their temporalties to saue
And came to the kinges counsell / as a kene baron
And kneled to Conscience / in court among[^a2991] them all
And made[^a2992] good faith flee / and false to abide
And boldely bare doune[^a2993] / with many a bright noble
Much of the wit and wisdome / of westmynstre hall
He iugged till[^a2994][^513] a Iustice / and iusted in his ere
And ouertild all his truthe / with take this vpon[^a2995] a-mendement
And to the Archesse[^514] in hast / he went[^a2996] anon after
And turned Civile into Symonye / & then[^a2997] he tooke þe officiall
For A mantell of mynyver / he made true[^a2998] Matrimony
Depart ere deathe cam / and divorse shapt
Allas quod Conscience then[^a2999][^515] / wold Christ of his grace
That Couetise were a[^a3000] cristian / þat is so kene a fyghter
And bold and abyding[^a3001][^516] / while his bagg lasteth
And then loughe lyfe / and lete dagg his clothes
And armed him in hast / in harlottes wordes
And held holinesse a iape / and gentilnesse[^a3002] a wastour
And held[^a3003] Leautie a chorle / and lyar a free man
Conscience and counseile / he counted a foly[^a3004][^517]
Thus relyed Lyfe / for a litill fortune
And pricked forth with pride / praised[^a3005] he no vertue
he[^a3006][^518] passed[^a3007] not how kynd slewe / and shall come at the last
And kille all erthelie creatures / saue conscience only[^a3008]
Lyfe lept aside / and caught[^a3009] him A lemman
Helth[^a3010] and I quod he / and highnesse of hart
Shall do the not drede / neither death nor age[^a3011]
And to forget deathe[^a3012] / and passe[^a3013] not of synne
This liked lyfe / and his lemman fortune
And gett in their glorie / A gadling at[^a3014] last
One that muche wo wrought / slouth was his name
Sleuth waxt wonder fast[^a3015] / and sone was of age
And wedded won wanhope / a wench of the Stewes
Hir father[^a3016] was a Sisour / that neuer swore truthe
One Tomme tootong / Atteynt of[^a3017] euery[^a3018] quest
This Sleuth was ware of warre / and a slyng made
And threwe drede of dispeyre / a doson myle about
For care Conscience then / cried vpon age[^a3019] /
And bad him hast[^a3020] to fight / and fray[^a3021] wanhope
And Age[^a3022] hent good hope / and hastelie he shiftt him
And wayued awaie wanhope / and with life he fighteth
And lyfe fled for fear / to phisick for[^a3023] helpe
And besought him of[^a3024][^519] succour / and of his salue had
And gaf him golde plentie[^a3025] / &[^a3026] that gladed his hart
And they gaf him agayne / A glasen howue
Lyfe beleuid[^a3027] that lechecraft / shuld lett[^a3028] Age[^a3029]
And drive awaie deathe / with dyas[^520] / and drugges[^a3030][^521]
And age[^a3031] aventured him on life / and at[^a3032] last he hitt
A phisycion with[^a3033] furred hood / that he fell in a[^a3034][^522] palsey
And there died þat doctor / ere thre daies after
Now I se said life / þat Surgery nor phisike
May not availe a miȝt[^a3035] / to medle against Age[^a3036]
And in hope of his helth[^a3037] / good hert he hent
And rode so to Revell / A rich place and a merie
The company of þat[^a3038] confort / men called[^a3039] it sometyme
And age[^a3040] anon after me / and ouer my head he[^a3041] yede
And made me balde before / and bare on the croune
So hard went he[^a3042] ouer my head / it wilbe will be sene euer
Sir euill taught age[^a3043] quod I / vnhende go with the
Howlong How long hathe thy way bene[^a3044] / ouer mennes heades
Haddest þou bene gentill[^a3045] quod I / þou woldest haue asked leue
Ye leeue lordayn quod he / and laid on me with age
And hit me vnder the ere / scacely[^a3046] may I here
He buffeted me about the mouthe / and bete out my teth
And gyved me in the[^a3047] gowtes / I may not go at large
And of the wo that I was in / my wyfe had ruthe
And wished full earnestly[^a3048] / that I were in heauen
for the lymme that she loued me for / and leef was to fele
On nightes namely / when we naked were
I might in no manere / make it at hir will
So age[^a3049] and she sothely / had forbeaten it[^a3050][^523]
And as I sate in this sorowe / I se[^a3051] kynde passed
And death drewe nere me / for drede did[^a3052] I quake
And cried to kynde / out of care me to[^a3053] bring
Lo Age[^a3054] the hore / hathe me besett[^a3055]

[A later hand has written "the" and "lord" nearly lengthwise in the right margin of the folio.]

Awreke me if your will be / for I wold be hens
Yf thou wilt be wroken / wend into vnitie
And hold the there euer / till I send for the
And loke thou can some craft / ere þou come thens
Counseile me Kynd quod I / what craft shall I[^a3056] lerne
lerne to loue quod kynd / and leaue[^a3057][^524] all other
how shall I come to goodes[^a3058] so / to clothe me and[^a3059] fede
yf[^a3060] thou loue truly[^a3061] quod he lack shalt þou[^a3062] neuer
Meate nor worthy[^a3063] wede / whill thy life lasteth
And there by counsell of Kynde / I began[^a3064] to roome
Through Contricion and Confession / till I came to vnytie
And there was Conscience Constable / cristians[^a3065] to saue
And besyged sothely / with vij seuen great giantes
That with Antechrist held / hard against conscience
Sleuth was[^a3066] his slyng / and[^a3067][^525] hard assault made[^a3068]
Proude preestes came with him / mo then a thousand
In paltockes and picked shoes / and[^526] pissers long knyues
Came against Conscience / with Couetise they held
By mary quod a mad[^a3069] preest / of the marche of yrelond
I counte nomore no more Conscience / so I may[^a3070] cach syluer
Then I do to drink / a draught of good Ale
And so said sixtie more[^a3071] / of the same countrie
And shet Agayne with shot / many a shef of othes[^527]
And brode hoked Arowes / of[^a3072] goddes hart and[^a3073] nayles
And had almost vnytie / and holynesse adoune
Conscience cried helpe clergie / orelles or elles I fall
Through inperfite preestes / and prelates of holy church
Friers herd him crye / and cam him to helpe
And for they coulde not well ther craft / Conscience forsoke them
Nede came[^a3074] then nere / and conscience he told
That they came for couetise / to haue cure of soule[^a3075][^528]
And for they are pouer paraduenture / for patrimony they faile[^a3076]
They[^a3077] flatter to farewell / folke that be riche
But[^a3078] sith they chose chele / and cheitif pouertie
Lat them chewe as they chose / and charge them with no cure
For ofter[^a3079] he lyeth / that lyving[^a3080] must begg
Tha n he that laboreth for lyving[^a3081] / and leneth to[^a3082] beggers
And sith friers forsoke / the felicitie of the[^a3083] erthe
Lat them be as beggers / or lyue by aungelles food
Conscience of this counsell then / began[^a3084] to[^a3085] laugh
And curteisly conforted them[^a3086][^529] / and called in all friers
Saying[^a3087] sires sothely / welcome be ye all
To vnitie and holy church / but one thing I you pray
Hold you in vnytie / and haue non envie
To lerned[^a3088] nor to lewde / but liue after your rule
And I will be your borrough / you shall haue bread & clothes
With[^a3089] other necessaries ynowe / ye[^a3090] shall non[^a3091] faile
So[^a3092] that ye leaue logick / and lerne to[^a3093] loue
For loue lefte they lordship / both lond and scole
Frier Fraunces and Dominyke / for loue to be holy
And if ye covete cure / Kynd will you teche
That in measure god made / all manere thinges
And set them[^a3094] at a certeyn / and at[^a3095][^530] a iust[^a3096] nombre
And named[^a3097] names newe / and nombred the sterres
Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum et omnibus eis nomina vocat[^a3098]
Kinges and knightes / that kepe and defend
Haue officers vnder them / and eche of them a[^a3099] certeyne[^531]
And if they wage men to warre / they wright them in nombre
Or they[^a3100] will no treasure them pay / travaile they neuer so sore
For[^a3101] all other in bataile / be holden briboures
Pillours and pikeharneys / in euery[^a3102] place acursed
Monkes and nonnes[^a3103] / and all men of religion
Their ordre and[^a3104] rule wold[^a3105] / to haue a certeyn noumbre
Of lerned and lewde[^a3106] / the lawe will and axeth
A certeyn for a certeyne / saue onely of friers
Therfor quod Conscience by Christ / Kynd wit me telleth
Yt is wicked to wage you / ye growe[^a3107] out of noumbre
Heauen hath euen nombre / and helle is without nombre
Therfor I wold surelie[^a3108] / that ye were in the Registers[^a3109]
And your nombre vnder Notaries signe / & neither more[^a3110] nor lesse
Envie herd this / and bad[^a3111] friers go to scole
And lerne logik and lawe / and eke contemplacion
And preache men of plato / and proue it by Seneca
That all thinges vnder heauen / ought to be in commone
And yet he lyeth as I think[^a3112] / þat to the lewd so preacheth
For god made men[^a3113] a lawe / and Moises it taught
Non concupisces rem proximi tui /
And euill is that kept[^a3114] / in parishes of England
For parsons and parishe preestes / þat shuld þe people shryve
Bene Curates[^a3115] called / to knowe and to heale
To[^a3116][^532] all þat bene their parishenes / penaunce to enioyne
And shuld be ashamed in their shrifte / but shame maketh them goo[^a3117][^533]
And flee to the friers / as folk[^a3118] to westmynstre
That boroweth and beare[^a3119] thither / and then bidd freendes
Shortly[^a3120] of forgiuenesse / or lenger yeres lone
But whill he is in westminstre / he wilbe will be before
And make him merie / with other mennes goodes
And so it fareth with many[^a3121] / þat to[^a3122][^534] fryers shryue
As Sisours and executores / they will gyue the friers
A parcell to pray for them / and make them-self mery
With the residue and[^a3123] remenaunt / that other men swet for[^a3124]
And suffre the dead in dett / till[^a3125] the daie of dome /
Envie herfore hated Conscience
And friers to philosophie / he founde[^a3126] to scole
The while Couetise and vnkyndnesse / Conscience assailed
In vnitie holy churche / Conscience kept[^a3127] him
And made peace portar / to pynne the gates
Of all taletellers / and tutelers[^a3128] in vayne[^a3129]
Ypocrisye and he / an hard assaut they made
Ypocrisy at the gate / hard began[^a3130] to[^a3131] fight
And wounded full[^a3132] wickedly / many a wise teacher[^a3133][^535]
That with Conscience Accordid / and Cardinall vertues
Conscience called a leche / that coulde well shrive
To[^a3134][^536] salue them that sike bene / and through synne wounded
Shrift made[^a3135] sharpe salue / and made men[^a3136] do penaunce
For their misdedes / that they had wrought[^a3137]
And that Piers were paid / Redde quod debes
Some liked not this leche / and letters they sent
Yf any Surgien were there[^a3138][^537] / that softer coulde plastre
Sir lief[^a3139][^538] to lyue in lecherie / lay there gronyng[^a3140]
For fasting of a fridaye / he ferd as he wold die
There is a Surgen in this siege / that soft can handle
And more of phisik he can[^a3141] / and fairer he plastereth
One frier flatterer / is phisicion and Surgen
Quod contricion to conscience / Do him come to Vnitie
For here is many a man / hurt through ypocrisye
We haue no nede quod Conscience / I knowe[^a3142] no bettre leche
Then parson or parish preest / Penitencer or Bisshope
Saue Piers the plowman / þat hathe poure ouer them all
And indulgence may do / but if that[^a3143] dett let it
I may well suffre said[^a3144] Conscience / sithens[^a3145] ye desyre
That frier flatterer be fett / A[^a3146] phisike you seke[^a3147][^539]
The frier herof herd / and hied full[^a3148] fast
To a lorde for a letter / leue to haue to[^a3149] cure
As A curate[^a3150] he were / and came with his lettres
Boldelie to the bisshop / and his brief had
In countries there he came[^a3151][^540] / Confessions to here
And came there Conscience was / & knockid at the gate
Peace vnpynned it / þat[^a3152] was porter of vnytie
And in hast asked / what his will were
I[^541] feithe quod the[^a3153] frier / for profite and for helth
Speake[^a3154] wold I[^a3155] with Contricion / and therfor I came[^a3156] hither
He is sike said peace / and so is[^a3157] many other[^a3158][^542]
ypocrisy hath hurt him / full hard is if he[^a3159] skape[^a3160]
I am a Surgen said the frier[^a3161][^543] / and salues can make
Conscience knoweth me well / and what I can do both
I pray the quod peace then / ere thou passe further
What is thy name[^a3162] / I pray the say vnto me[^a3163] /

[A later hand has written variations of the name Thomas Hewlet lengthwise three times in the left margin of the folio. The first instance is cropped but reads "Tho[mas] hewlett"; the second reads "M(aste)r Tomas hewlet"; the final reads "M(aste)r Tomas". There is additional smudged and cropped writing in the same space.]

Certes said his felawe / Sire penetrans domos
yea go thy gates[^a3164] quod peace / by god for all thy phisike
But thou can some craft / thou commest not here in /
I knewe suche one ones / not eight yeres[^a3165] passed
Came in thus Coped / at a court where[^a3166] I dwellid
And was my lordes leche / and my ladies bothe
And at[^a3167] last this lymytour / when[^a3168] my lorde was out
He salued so oure women / that[^a3169] some were with child
Gentill peas hold thi tong[^a3170][^544] / and[^a3171] open the gates
Lat in me[^a3172] and my[^a3173] felawe / and make vs[^a3174] fair chere
Ye[^a3175] may se and here so it may befall
That Lyfe through my[^a3176] lore / shall leaue couetise
And be aferd[^a3177] of deth / and withdrawe him from pride
And accorde with Conscience / and either kisse[^a3178] other
Thus through Hende speche[^545] / entred the frier
And came in to Conscience / and curteisly him grete
Thou art welcome quod Conscience / canst þou heale the sike
Here is my Coson Contricion / sore[^a3179] wounded
Confort him quod Conscience / and take kepe to his sores
The plastres of the parson / and powders bight ouersore[^a3180]
He let them Ly ouerlong / and loth is to chaunge them
From lent to lent / he lat his plasters bight
That is ouerlong quod this lymytour / I trust[^a3181] I shall amend it
And goeth and gropeth contricion / & gaf him a plastre
Of a privie payment / and I shall pray for you
And[^a3182] for all that ye be holden to / all my lyfe tyme
And make you my lady / in masses[^a3183] and matyns
As friers of oure fraternyte / for a litill syluer
Thus he goth and gathereth / and gloseth where[^a3184] he shryvet[h]
Till Contricion had clene forgotton / to crie and[^a3185] wepe
And wake for his workes[^a3186] / as he was wont to do
For confort of his confessour / Contricion he lost[^a3187]
That is the souereynest salue / for all maner[^a3188] synnes
Sleuth se that / and so did pride
And came with a kene will / Conscience to Assaile
Conscience cried out[^a3189] / and bad clergie helpe[^a3190]
And also Contricion / to[^a3191] kepe the gate
He lithe and dremeth said peace / and so do many other
The frier with his phisik / these folk hath enchaunted
And plastred them so easelie / they drede no synne
By Christ quod Conscience[^a3192] / I wilbecome will become a pilgryme
And walk as wide / as[^a3193] the worlde lasteth
To seke piers the plowman / þat pride may destroye
And that friers had a fynding / þat for nede flatter
And countreplede me Conscience / now kynde me avenge
And send me hap and helth[^a3194] / till I haue piers þe plowma[n][^546]

[^a2888: I (S Cr1) | as I (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2889: awaked (S) | þus awaked (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2890: went (S) | yede (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2891: sorowfull (S) | elenge (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2892: drewe (S) | neiȝed (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2893: nere (S) | neiȝe þe (M Cr1 W Bx) | ner þe (Hm)]

[^a2894: beleue (S Cr1 Hm) | biliue (M W Bx)]

[^a2895: and (S) | and to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2896: and (S) | and by (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2897: tokest (S) | nome (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2898: the (S) | þre (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2899: to (S) | for to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2900: forbid (S) | hym werneth (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2901: having no money (S) | and he no moneye weldeþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2902: noman no man (S) | wight noon (M W Hm Bx) | wight þat (Cr1)]

[^a2903: suretie (S) | borwe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2904: nor he hath no gage (S) | ne wed haþ non to legge (M W Hm Bx) | & hath no wed to ligge (Cr1)]

[^a2905: get it (S) | come þerto (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2906: sleightes (S Cr1 M) | sleighte (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2907: he commeth (S) | þouȝ he come (W Hm Bx) | þouȝ he cam (M Cr1)]

[^a2908: knoweth (S) | kanne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2909: waie (S) | cheuysaunce (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2910: taketh (S) | nymeþ (M W Hm Bx) | winneth (Cr1)]

[^a2911: he lust (S) | him lyst for (Cr1 W Bx) | hym lust for (M) | rewritten]

[^a2912: drink (S) | lape (M W Hm Bx) | laye (Cr1)]

[^a2913: euery (S) | eche (Cr1 W Hm Bx) | ech a]

[^a2914: died for the thurst (S) | for thurst deyde (Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2915: take (S) | nymen (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2916: Cardinalles (S) | cardynale (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2917: there (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2918: like (S) | by fer (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2919: Neither Spiritus fortitudinis / nor Spiritus iusticie (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2920: ouersore (S) | ouer bittre (M Cr1 W Bx) | ouer bytterly (Hm)]

[^a2921: more (S) | gretter (M Cr1 W Bx) | gretly · more (Hm)]

[^a2922: not (S) | nel he (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2923: commons (S) | Comune (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2924: poyntes (S Cr1) | a point (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2925: thinkes shuld (S) | weneþ wolde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2926: et (S W Hm Bx) | om. (M Cr1)]

[^a2927: him (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2928: he (S) | hym (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2929: welth (S Bx) | wele (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2930: forthat for that (S) | for (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2931: dwelt (S) | woneden (M W Hm Bx) | weneden (Cr1)]

[^a2932: euen vpon the (S) | on þe selue (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2933: and to hoole (S Cr1 M) | to hole and (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2934: swymme (S) | flete (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2935: take (S) | ynome (M W Hm Bx) | innomed (Cr1)]

[^a2936: nedes (S Cr1) | nede (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2937: be (S) | to be (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2938: For (S) | Ne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2939: thus vndertake me (S) | vndurnome me þus (W Hm) | vndurnome þus (Bx) | vndone me thus (Cr1)]

[^a2940: streight (S) | a-noon (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2941: dremed (S) | mette ful (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2942: a (S Cr1 Hm) | om. (M W Bx)]

[^a2943: Turned (S Cr1) | Turned it (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2944: euery (S) | ech a (M Cr1 W Bx) | eche (Hm)]

[^a2945: made (S) | gerte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2946: god (S) | a god (M W Hm Bx) | of God (Cr1)]

[^a2947: had much (S) | were wel (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2948: leaute (S Cr1 Bx) | lenton (M W)]

[^a2949: men (S) | folk (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2950: And (S) | And þat were (M Cr1 Hm Bx) | Saue þat were (W)]

[^a2951: them (S) | folk (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2952: other (S) | lewede (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2953: where he went (S) | where he yede (Cr1) | om. (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2954: the (S Cr1 M) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2955: the true cristians (S) | kynde Cristene (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2956: Conscience (S Cr1 M) | Conscience þo (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2957: me (S Cr1 M) | me ye (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2958: commons (S) | comune (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2959: then herd Conscience (S) | conscience þo herde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2960: messengers (S) | Forreours (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2961: the (S Cr1 M) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2962: lyves (S) | lif (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2963: beare (S) | come and bere (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2964: the (S) | þat (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2965: man (S) | lif (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2966: their (S Cr1) | or (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2967: theyr (S Cr1) | or (W Bx)]

[^a2968: at (S) | of (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2969: Age (S Cr1) | Elde (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2970: Kaisers / Knightes (S Cr1 M) | transp. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2971: lerned (S Cr1) | Lered (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2972: and (S Cr1 W) | ne (M Hm Bx)]

[^a2973: right (S) | euene (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2974: neuer (S) | he neuer (Cr1) | þat euere (M W Bx) | rewritten]

[^a2975: stood (S Cr1 M) | stired (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2976: kynde (S) | to kynde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2977: if (S) | where (M Cr1 W Bx) | wheþer]

[^a2978: cristians (S) | cristene (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2979: the (S) | þo (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2980: Lyved (S) | weren alyue (M Cr1 W Bx) | weren on lyue (Hm)]

[^a2981: she (S Cr1) | he (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2982: all (S) | alle manere (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2983: other (S) | vnwedded (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2984: a (S Cr1 M) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2985: promise (S) | biheste (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2986: With (S Bx) | Wiþ his (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2987: and (S Bx) | and with (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2988: lyinges (S) | gabbynges (M W Hm Bx) | glabbinges (Cr1)]

[^a2989: begyled (S Hm) | giled (M Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a2990: they (S Cr1 M) | þei hem (W Hm Bx)]

[^a2991: among (S) | afore (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2992: made (S) | garte (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2993: doune (S Cr1) | adoun (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2994: iugged till (S M Bx) | iustled tyll (Cr1) | Iogged to (W) | iuged to (Hm)]

[^a2995: vpon (S Cr1) | vp (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a2996: went (S) | yede (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2997: then (S) | sith (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a2998: true (S) | lele (M W Hm Bx) | lelly (Cr1)]

[^a2999: then (S) | þo (M Cr1) | and cryde þo (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3000: a (S Cr1 M) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3001: abyding (S Cr1 Hm Bx) | bidynge (M W)]

[^a3002: gentilnesse (S) | heendnesse (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3003: held (S) | leet (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3004: a foly (S) | it a folye (M Hm) | at foly (Cr1) | at a flye (W)]

[^a3005: praised (S Cr1 M) | preiseþ (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3006: he (S Cr1 M) | Ne (W Bx) | and (Hm)]

[^a3007: passed (S) | careþ (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3008: only (S Cr1) | oone (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3009: caught (S Cr1 M) | lauȝte (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3010: Helth (S Cr1) | Hele (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3011: age (S) | elde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3012: deathe (S Cr1 M) | sorwe (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3013: passe (S) | yeue (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3014: at (S Cr1) | at þe (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3015: fast (S) | yerne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3016: father (S) | sire (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3017: of (S Cr1 M) | at (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3018: euery (S) | ech a (M Cr1 Hm Bx) | ech (W)]

[^a3019: age (S Cr1) | elde (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3020: hast (S) | fonde (M W Hm Bx) | rewritten (Cr1)]

[^a3021: fray (S) | afere (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3022: Age (S Cr1) | elde (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3023: for (S) | aftur (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3024: of (S W Hm Bx) | of his (M Cr1)]

[^a3025: plentie (S) | good woon (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3026: & (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3027: beleuid (S) | leued (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3028: shuld lett (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3029: Age (S) | elde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3030: drugges (S W) | dragges (M Cr1 Hm Bx)]

[^a3031: age (S) | elde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3032: at (S Cr1) | at þe (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3033: with (S) | with a (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3034: a (S W Hm Bx) | þe (Cr1) | om.]

[^a3035: availe a miȝt (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3036: Age (S) | elde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3037: helth (S) | hele (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3038: þat (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3039: called (S) | cleped (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3040: age (S) | elde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3041: he (S) | she (Cr1) | om. (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3042: went he (S) | he ȝede (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3043: age (S) | Elde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3044: Howlong How long hathe thy way bene (S) | Siþ whanne was þe wey (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3045: gentill (S) | hende (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3046: scacely (S) | vnnethe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3047: the (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3048: earnestly (S) | wyterly (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3049: age (S) | Elde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3050: forbeaten it (S Cr1) | transp. (W Hm)]

[^a3051: se (S Cr1 M) | sauȝ how (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3052: did (S) | gan (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3053: to (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3054: Age (S) | Elde (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3055: besett (S) | by-seye (M W Hm Bx) | byfeye (Cr1)]

[^a3056: shall I (S) | is best to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3057: leaue (S Cr1 Bx) | leue of (M W Hm)]

[^a3058: goodes (S) | catel (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3059: and (S Hm) | and to (Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a3060: yf (S) | And (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3061: truly (S) | lelly (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3062: shalt þou (S) | shal þe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3063: worthy (S) | worldly (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3064: began (S) | comsed (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3065: cristians (S) | cristene (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3066: was (S Cr1 M) | wiþ (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3067: and (S Cr1 Bx) | an (W Hm) | and an]

[^a3068: made (S Cr1 M) | he made (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3069: mad (S) | mansed (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3070: so I may (S) | by so I (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3071: more (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3072: of (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3073: and (S) | and his (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3074: came (S) | neighed (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3075: soule (S Cr1) | soules (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3076: they faile (S W Hm) | hem failith (Cr1 Bx) | hem failled (M)]

[^a3077: They (S Cr1 M) | They wol (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3078: But (S) | And (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3079: ofter (S) | lomer (M Cr1 W Bx) | lymer (Hm)]

[^a3080: lyving (S) | liflode (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3081: lyving (S) | liflode (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3082: to (S) | it (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3083: the (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3084: began (S) | comsed (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3085: to (S Cr1 M) | for to (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3086: them (S M W Bx) | him (Cr1 Hm)]

[^a3087: Saying (S) | And saide (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3088: lerned (S Cr1) | lered (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3089: With (S) | And (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3090: ye (S Cr1) | yow (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3091: non (S) | no þing (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3092: So (S) | With (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3093: to (S Cr1 M) | for to (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3094: them (S Cr1 W) | it (M Hm Bx)]

[^a3095: at (S M Hm Bx) | om. (Cr1 W)]

[^a3096: iust (S) | siker (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3097: named (S) | nempned (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3098: eis nomina vocat (S) | eis & cetera (M W Hm) | & cetera (Cr1)]

[^a3099: a (S W Hm) | om. (Cr1 Bx)]

[^a3100: Or they (S Cr1) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3101: For (S Cr1) | om. (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3102: euery (S) | ech a (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3103: nonnes (S) | monyales (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3104: and (S) | and hire (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3105: wold (S Cr1 M) | wole (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3106: lerned and lewde (S) | lered and of lewed (M Cr1) | lewed and of lered (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3107: growe (S) | wexe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3108: surelie (S) | witterly (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3109: Registers (S Cr1) | Registre (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3110: more (S) | mo (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3111: bad (S Cr1) | heet (W Hm Bx) | om.]

[^a3112: think (S) | leue (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3113: men (S Cr1 M) | to men (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3114: that kept (S) | þis y-holde (M W Hm Bx) | his holde (Cr1)]

[^a3115: Curates (S) | curatours (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3116: To (S Cr1) | om. (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3117: goo (S) | wende (M W Hm Bx) | om. (Cr1)]

[^a3118: folk (S) | fals folk (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3119: beare (S Cr1 M) | bereþ it (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3120: Shortly (S) | Yerne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3121: many (S) | muche folke (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3122: to (S Cr1 Bx) | to þe (M W Hm)]

[^a3123: and (S) | and þe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3124: swet for (S) | byswonke (M Cr1 W Bx) | byswonge (Hm)]

[^a3125: till (S) | to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3126: founde (S) | fond hem (M Cr1 Hm Bx) | fond þanne (W)]

[^a3127: kept (S) | held (M W Hm Bx) | healed (Cr1)]

[^a3128: tutelers (S Cr1) | titerers (M Hm Bx) | titeleris (W)]

[^a3129: vayne (S) | ydel (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3130: began (S) | gan (M Cr1 Hm Bx) | line om. (W)]

[^a3131: to (S Cr1 M) | om. (Hm Bx) | line om. (W)]

[^a3132: full (S) | wel (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3133: a wise teacher (S Cr1 W Bx) | wise techeres (M Hm)]

[^a3134: To (S) | Go (Cr1 Hm Bx) | To go (W)]

[^a3135: made (S) | shoop (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3136: men (S M W Bx) | hem (Cr1 Hm)]

[^a3137: had wrought (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3138: there (S) | þe segge (M W Hm) | in the sege (Cr1 Bx)]

[^a3139: lief (S M W) | lyf (Hm Cr1 Bx)]

[^a3140: gronyng (S) | and groned (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3141: he can (S Cr1 M) | bi fer (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3142: knowe (S) | woot (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3143: that (S Cr1) | om. (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3144: said (S M W Bx) | quod (Cr1 Hm)]

[^a3145: sithens (S) | syn (M W Bx) | seinge (Cr1) | siþ (Hm)]

[^a3146: A (S Cr1) | and (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3147: seke (S Cr1) | syke (M W Bx)]

[^a3148: full (S Cr1 M) | om. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3149: to (S M W Bx) | om. (Cr1 Hm)]

[^a3150: curate (S) | curatour (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3151: came (S W Bx) | com ynne (M Cr1 Hm)]

[^a3152: þat (S) | om. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3153: the (S) | þis (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3154: Speake (S) | Carpe (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3155: wold I (S) | transp. (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3156: I came (S Cr1) | transp. (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3157: is (S Cr1 M) | are (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3158: other (S W Hm Bx) | a-noþer (M Cr1)]

[^a3159: he (S Cr1 M) | þei (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3160: skape (S) | coeuere (M W Hm Bx) | of couer (Cr1)]

[^a3161: frier (S Bx) | segge (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3162: is thy name (S) | hightest þow (Cr1) | hattestow (W Bx)]

[^a3163: say vnto me (S) | hele nouȝt þy name (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3164: gates (S Cr1) | gate (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3165: yeres (S) | wynter (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3166: where (S Cr1 M) | þere (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3167: at (S Cr1) | at þe (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3168: when (S) | þo (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3169: that (S) | til (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3170: Gentill peas hold thi tong (S) | Heende speche heet pees (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3171: and (S) | om. (M W Hm Bx) | to (Cr1)]

[^a3172: me (S) | þe frere (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3173: my (S) | his (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3174: vs (S) | hem (M W Hm Bx) | him (Cr1)]

[^a3175: Ye (S) | He (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3176: my (S) | his (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3177: aferd (S) | adradde (Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3178: either kisse (S) | kisse hire either (M W Hm Bx) | kisse either (Cr1)]

[^a3179: my Coson Contricion / sore (S) | contricioun quod conscience . my cosyn (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3180: ouersore (S) | to soore (M Cr1 W Bx) | sore (Hm)]

[^a3181: trust (S) | leue (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3182: And (S Cr1) | om. (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3183: masses (S Cr1 M) | masse (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3184: where (S) | þere (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3185: and (S Hm) | and to (M Cr1 W Bx)]

[^a3186: workes (S Cr1 M) | wikked werkes (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3187: lost (S Cr1 M) | lafte (W Hm Bx)]

[^a3188: maner (S) | kynne (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3189: out (S Cr1) | eft (M W Hm Bx)]

[^a3190: helpe (S) | helpe hym (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3191: to (S) | for to (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3192: Conscience (S) | conscience þo (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^a3193: as (S Cr1 W) | as al (M Hm Bx)]

[^a3194: helth (S) | hele (M Cr1 W Hm)]

[^499: beleue: S joins CrHm, probably by convergent variation. Context requires biliue 'subsistence', as in MW. The word was already obsolescent in the fourteenth century and probably appeared in Sx only here. An earlier instance (Bx.19.241 = S.19.236) suffered replacement by liflode in the common ancestor of SCrM. See BTP nn. to that line and this one. Other instances in the Athlone B Version are conjectural emendations.]

[^500: the: An error for þre.]

[^501: waie: Rendering cheuysaunce.]

[^502: welth: Rendering wele, the beta reading. S independently restores the presumed reading of Bx. See BTP ad loc.]

[^503: Double punctuation agrees with M.]

[^504: SCr omit KD.20.49, probably by eyeskip on line-final nedie.]

[^505: vpside doune: A modernization of form, for vpso-doun in fifteenth-century copies. See OED s.v. upside down, adv., n., and adj. and MED s.v. up-so-doun adverbial phr.]

[^506: leaute: S joins Cr1 and corrected Hm, transmitting the presumed reading of Bx, while M and W transmit the beta reading lenton, a manifest error induced by u/n confusion. The distribution of readings is peculiar. Perhaps the common ancestor of SCr1M was corrected (to leute) after use as M's exemplar. Compare S.20.68n. S itself is corrected (the a is entered above the line), perhaps indicating an irregularity in Sx at this location.]

[^507: where he went: The expected reflex of Cr1 where he yede (see Glossary, s.v. yede v.), yet the SCr1 reading is a unique expansion of a line unusually short in its archetypal form. Several copies, including Hm, add padding earlier in the line. M and W transmit the archetypal text, And pride it bar . boldely aboute. The distribution of readings mirrors that in S.20.61, above, and would be explained if the SCr1 reading originated as a correction, entered into their common ancestor after this copy had been used as M's exemplar.]

[^508: prickd: The unusual spelling results from scribal self-correction: the d was entered over an erroneous -es abbreviation.]

[^509: That ... stood after: S simplifies syntax. In Bx this line consists of two subordinate clauses dependent on the line above: he left no man stonde / That he hitte euene · þat euere stired after, i.e., "Death left no man to stand (among those whom he hit squarely) who ever stirred afterwards." As rewritten in S (and, independently, in Cr) the syntactic linkage is severed and the lines are end-stopped. Right is S's usual rendering of adverbial euene. The reading stood derives from the common ancestor of SCrM, where miswriting was induced by attraction to previous copy (supplanting archetypal stired).]

[^510: S uniquely omits KD.20.113 (Bx.20.113).]

[^511: With: Rendering Wiþ his. S independently restores the presumed reading of Bx.]

[^512: and: S rejoins Bx by convergent variation. Other beta copies have and with.]

[^513: iugged till: S and M retain a difficult Bx reading, though W Iogged and Hm iuged are perhaps only spelling variants. The sense is uncertain: see BTP ad loc.]

[^514: Archesse: 'Arches', though perhaps not so understood. The spelling in -esse is unique to S.]

[^515: then: The usual reflex of þo (adv.), the reading of CrM (tho, Cr).]

[^516: abyding: S joins Cr1 and Hm, restoring the presumed reading of Bx. Most beta copies have the aphetic form.]

[^517: a foly: Probably rendering it a folye, the reading of MHm and L. Bx probably lacked the indefinite article: see BTP ad loc. WCr show further variation.]

[^518: he: The beta reading, retained in SCrM. W's Ne restores the presumed reading of Bx; Hm varies independently.]

[^519: of: CrM have of his. S reverts to the archetypal reading by convergent variation.]

[^520: dyas: The scribe here uses B-shaped s, a form elsewhere restricted to his engrossing script. The initial d could be interpreted as majuscule, as often.]

[^521: drugges: Rendering dragges, "syrops" (MED draǧǧe n.2). W has the same substitution.]

[^522: a: S retains or rejoins the archetypal reading, against þe in Cr and corrected M. See BTP ad loc.]

[^523: forbeaten it: The SCr order was probably shared by M before correction. WHm transmit the word order of the beta family. See BTP note ad loc.]

[^524: leaue: SCr revert to the presumed reading of Bx, against leue of in other beta copies.]

[^525: and: See BTP ad loc. Bx's broken syntax was repaired in the common ancestor of SCrM by reading was in place of archetypal with. The corrected M reading demonstrates consultation of a copy bearing an alternative repair, reading an for Bx and.]

[^526: pissers: The letters of this word are blotted; the scribe treats the word as if deleted, for he writes it again immediately after.]

[^527: othes: Before this word the scribe has written, then cancelled, Arowes. The miswriting was probably induced by commonplace collocation or subsequent copy. The correction is in the text ink.]

[^528: soule: SCr, against the plural in other copies. If SCr retain the reading of their common ancestor, M made the obvious correction.]

[^529: them: The archetypal reading, retained also in MW; CrHm have the singular pronoun, apparently referring to Need.]

[^530: at: The archetypal reading, retained also in MHm; CrW drop this word.]

[^531: a certeyne: S joins WHm and corrected M, probably through convergent variation. Cr and original M transmit the archetypal text, lacking the indefinite article. See BTP ad loc.]

[^532: To: SCr, yielding broken syntax (probably induced by attraction to previous copy). Other copies omit this word. If the SCr reading derives from their common ancestor, M repaired the error, rejoining Bx.]

[^533: The scribe ran out of space; the last word is entered in the right margin of the line below and partially boxed.]

[^534: to: S and Cr1 restore the presumed reading of Bx. The beta reading is to þe, with definite article.]

[^535: a wise teacher: SCrW, restoring the presumed reading of Bx. Beta dropped the indefinite article; this provoked secondary smoothing in M, Hm, and several beta4 copies, each of which makes the noun phrase plural.]

[^536: To: S and corrected M, in place of the archetype's harder imperative Go (an unmarked switch into direct discourse). W To go likewise turns speech into narration, assimilating this line to surrounding copy.]

[^537: there: Probably a repair, for beta's unsatisfactory þe segge "the man". Bx in þe sege "among the besiegers" is supported among beta copies by Cr only, perhaps derived from Crowley's C-version manuscript.]

[^538: lief: The beta reading, though Hm and Cr1 vary to lyf, the presumed reading of Bx. See BTP ad loc.]

[^539: A phisike you seke: Apparently "You seek a medicine/physician" (with nom. you) for Bx and phisike ȝow syke ("and treat you sick ones"). The archetypal reading is retained in MW and original Hm. Hm seke (by correction) is probably only an orthographic variant, yet S always spells SICK with an <i> and Cr usually does so. If SCr A originated in their common ancestor, then M corrected the error while SCr adopt seke as a secondary accommodation.]

[^540: came: SW restore the presumed reading of Bx; other beta copies have came in.]

[^541: I: "In"; the spelling is shared by Cr1 and M.]

[^542: is many other: S perhaps transmits the reading of the common ancestor of SCrM, in place of archetypal ar many other. CrM regularize to is many an other.]

[^543: frier: S restores the presumed reading of Bx. Other beta copies read segge.]

[^544: Gentill...tong: Rendering Heende speche heet pees. S suppresses the personification Heende speche and recasts narration as direct discourse, spoken by the friar at the gate. See changes in subsequent lines.]

[^545: Hende speche: A personification in the received text. In S, a common noun phrase, referring to the speech in preceding lines. See S.20.346n.]

[^546: S omits the last line of the poem, And siþþe he gradde after Grace . til I gan awake. The omission is difficult to explain but greden is a word the translator probably never understood. See Glossary.]