The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. WHAT?VOLUME: British Library MS Additional 35157 (Uc)
author: William Langland
source date: late 14th or early 15th century
edition published: WHAT?YEAR
language: lat; fre; ger
availability: Commercially available: copyright WHAT?YEAR, by SEENET

IN[^1] a somer sesoun when soft was þe sonne
I shoep me in-to shrowdes as y a shep were
yn habite as an heremite vnholy of werkes
y wente forth in þe world wondres to here
and saw many sellies & selcouth thinges
ac on a may mornyng on maluerne hulles
Me bifel forto slepe for werines of-walked
and yn a launde as y lay lened y & slepte
and meruelouslich me mette · as y may ȝou telle
Pers his [dreme] of all we [lthe]
al þe welthe of this world & þe wo bothe
wyn [ky] ng as hit were , weturlich y say hit
Of truthe , & of treccherie , tresoun ,[^2] & Gyle
Hierualem Hieru[s]alem
al y say slepynge as shal ȝou telle[^3]
heauen Roma
Estward y biheld after þe sonne[^4]
and y say[^5] a tour as y trowe truthe was þerinne
Hell Turkie
Westward y wayted & in a while after[^6][^7]
and say a dep dale deth as y leue
woned in þe wones & wicked spirites
this earthly Tabern akell Middell earthe
a fair feld ful of folk fond y þer -bytwene[^8]
of alle maner of men þe mene & þe pore
worchyng & wandring as this world askes
plowghmen laborers
somme potton hem to þe plough pleyedon[^9] ful selde[^10]
yn setyng & sowyng swonken ful sore[^11]
And wonne þat þes wastoures wiþ glotonye destroyeth
court[..]s and [...]
And somme potten hem to preyde apparailedon hem þerafter[^12]
yn continance of clothing in many kynne gi ze
cloysteres and frieres
yn prayers & penaunces putten hem manye[^13]
And love[^14] of our lord lyuon[^15] ful harde
yn hope to have a goed ende , & hevenriche blisse
As Ankeres & heremites þat holdon hem in her selles
Coueytyn not in Counties[^16] to kayron aboute
/ licame þe epicure
For no ligorous[^17][^18][^19]liflode her likam to plese
fidlers and other Ryffraff
and somme choson chaffare þei cheuodon[^20] þe bettere
as hit semeth to oure sight þat suche men þriuon
can
and somme myrthes to make as mynstrals conne
Ayenst Mynstrels countrefetes
[^21]wolen neuere swynke ne swete but swere gret othes
Fyndon out foul fantasies & foles hem maketh
and haue[^22] wit at wille to worche if þey wolde
þat poul precheth of hem proue hit y myghte
/ bawdy pepell
[^23] Qui turpiloquium loquitur · is luciferes knaue
against drinckings and Roges Beggers
Bidders & beggeres faste aboute wente[^24]
begers maintened by abbies and nunries
Til her bagge & her bely wern bret-ful y-crammed[^25]
Faytedon for her fode & foughton at ale
yn glotony þo gomes gon þei to bedde
and rison with ribaudrie tho Roberdes knaues
Slep & also sleweth swen[^26] such euere
pylgrymes & there Queens
[^27]Pilgrimes & palmeres plighton hem to-gidores
To seke seynt Iames & seyntes of Rome
wenton forth on her way with many wys tales
and haddon leue to lye after al her lif tyme
heremytes on an heep with hoked staues
wenton to Walsingham & her wenches after
Gret lobyes & longe that loth wern to swynke
hermytes

[Uc.P.54: This comment corresponds to the comment Hermets in Crowley's second and third impressions (erroneously spelled Hermes in the third impression), placed in Crowley at the line corresponding to Uc.P.51, Kane-Donaldson Prol.53 (Crowley second and third impressions, fol. 1v; image 10).]

& theire Hores
Clothedon yn copes to be knowe from othir
and made hem-self heremites her ese to haue
y fond þere of freres alle þe foure ordres
preching þe peple for profit of þe wombe
and glosed þe gospel as hem gode liked
For coueytise of cope[^28] contrariedon somme doctoures
& freares

[Uc.P.60: Corresponds to a Crowley gloss Fryers (second impression), and Friers (third impression) at the line corresponding to Uc.P.56 and Kane-Donaldson Prol.58 (Crowley second and third impressions, fol. 1v; image 10).]

Many of þes maistres of mendinaunt freres
her mone & her marchaundise maken to-giders
ac sithe charite hath be chapman & chef to shriue lordes
Many ferlies han falle in a fewe ȝeres
þe light of þe truthe famus kinge Henry octauo fulfilled in his time

[Uc.P.63: The marginal note by hand16 here is bounded by underlining below it, done by the same hand.]

[^29]and but holichurch & charite choppe adown such[^30]
þe moste myschef on molde mounteth vp faste

[^1: Uc.P.1: Carl Grindley offers the following detailed description of the initial capital: "The opening initial on f.7r comprises a 4-line very subdued East Anglian 'I.' The initial is presented as a corner piece, in a heavy, gold-leaf, i-shaped, cusped-cornered frame which is typical of the style. The gold was originally thick and was probably presented without any stamping. The condition of the gold is now very poor and it has been severely blackened. The damage probably followed prolonged exposure to ultra-violet light. The initial's frame is bordered at cramp positions by two vines and two tendrils each. The vines are curvilinear, meander between themselves, and are capped by single sessile veinless kite-shaped terminal leaves. The leaves were probably once gold. The tendrils have short deeply-crimped bases, are heavily stylised, and spiral toward the edges of the folio. The original colour of the initial itself is impossible to determine, given the substantial damage. But it appears to have been a simple serifed blue 'I'"—Grindley, "The Life of a Book" (Ph.D. diss., University of Glasgow, 1996), p. 141.]

[^2: Uc.P.12: Comma is actually below the second minim of the n in tresoun.]

[^3: Uc.P.13: as shal ȝou telle: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads as y shal ȝow telle; Schmidt and Pearsall, as y shal telle.]

[^4: Uc.P.14: An x and a horizontal line link this poetic line to the marginal comment in the right margin.]

[^5: Uc.P.15: and y say: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads And say.]

[^6: Uc.P.16: wayted & in a while after: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads waytede in a while aftir.]

[^7: Uc.P.16: An x and a horizontal line link this poetic line to the marginal comment in the right margin.]

[^8: Uc.P.19: A faded + sign and a short horizontal line link this poetic line to the marginal comment in the right margin.]

[^9: Uc.P.22: pleyedon: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads playde.]

[^10: Uc.P.22: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^11: Uc.P.23: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^12: Uc.P.25: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^13: Uc.P.27: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^14: Uc.P.28: love: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads for loue.]

[^15: Uc.P.28: lyuon: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads lyueden.]

[^16: Uc.P.31: Counties: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads contrey; Schmidt and Pearsall, contreys.]

[^17: Uc.P.32: The OED headform is lickerous. The scribe wrote noligorous without word-spacing.]

[^18: Uc.P.32: The g in noligorous is a single-looped secretary form, having a smoothly circular body without quadrature or finials and a tail bending smoothly down to the left and slightly hooked upward at the end.]

[^19: Uc.P.32: no ligorous: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads no likerous.]

[^20: Uc.P.33: cheuodon: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads cheueden; Schmidt, cheuede; Pearsall, cheueth.]

[^21: Uc.P.36: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.P.33-39.]

[^22: Uc.P.38: haue: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads han; Schmidt and Pearsall, hath.]

[^23: Uc.P.40: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^24: Uc.P.41: wente: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ȝede.]

[^25: Uc.P.42: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin spans lines Uc.P.42-46.]

[^26: Uc.P.46: swen: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads sueth.]

[^27: Uc.P.47: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.P.47-52.]

[^28: Uc.P.59: cope: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads copis.]

[^29: Uc.P.64: The left margin contains a [rightward pointing-hand icon] directed toward this line of text. Left-margin sidelining runs from this line to the bottom of the side, continuing in the left margin of folio 8v from the top down to line Uc.P.65.]

[^30: Uc.P.64: such: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads suche shryuars.]

¶ þere prechid a pardoner as he a prest were
and broughte forth a bulle with bisshopes seles
and said þat him-self myghte assoilon hem alle
Of falnesses fal[s]nesses & fastinges of vowes ybroken
nota Ayenst pardoners & wicked men lewed pardons
Lewed men leued him wel & liked his wordes[^31]
and comon & kneled to kisson his billes[^32]
and[^33] bunched hem wiþ his bulles & blered her yes
and Raught with his Ragman Ringes & broches
thus ȝe gyue ȝoure gold glotownes to fille
and lenyth hit to loreles þat leccherie haunteþ
nota
were þe bisshop y-blessid & worth bothe his eres
his seel sholde not be set in deseit of þe peple
bysshops parsons and pariesh clarkes gitt thereby profitt

[Uc.P.78: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

ac hit is not by þe bishopes y-leue[^34][^35] þat þe boy prechith[^36]
For þe parissh prest & þe clerk[^37] parton þe suluer
þe pore robbed
þat þe pore peple in parisshes sholdon haue if þei ne were
Persounes & prestes pleyned to þe bisshop
þat her parishes wern pore  sith þis pestilence tyme
To haue alicence a licence a leue[^38] in londoun to dwelle
and synge þere for symonye whil suluer is so swete
Bisshopes & bacheleres bothe maisters & doctoures
þat hauen cure vnder crist & crowned[^39] in tokene
ben chargid with holy chirche charite to tulye
that is lele loue lif[^40] among lered & lewed[^41]
bisshopps Tellers and officers in þe exchecare
lyuen[^42] in Londoun in lentoun &elles & elles
nota
sume[^43] seruen þe kyng &his & his suluer tellen
[^44]yn þe cheker & in þe chauncerie chalengen his dettes
Of wardes & wardemotes wayues & strayues
all offices in the Clergie
and somme arn as seneschals & seruen othir lordes[^45]
nota
and ben in stede of stywardes and sitton & demen

[^31: Uc.P.70: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.P.65-75.]

[^32: Uc.P.71: billes: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads bulle; Schmidt and Pearsall, bulles.]

[^33: Uc.P.72: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads A.]

[^34: Uc.P.78: MED ileve n.(1): "Permission, leave." Russell-Kane lists the reading as y leue.]

[^35: Uc.P.78: bishopes y-leue: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, which construes the text here as reading bishopes y leue, this reading is unique to MS Uc. However, if it is construed as bishopes y-leue, it is closely similar in sense to the P2 reading bischops leue, as well as similar in form to the reading of XCotBmBoDc bischop y leue. Russell-Kane reads simply bischop. Schmidt does likewise, but Pearsall reads bishop, y leue.]

[^36: Uc.P.78: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.P.77-79.]

[^37: Uc.P.79: þe clerk: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þe Pardoner.]

[^38: Uc.P.83: a licence a leue: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads a licence and leue.]

[^39: Uc.P.86: crowned: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads crownyng.]

[^40: Uc.P.88: lele loue lif: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads lele loue and lif.]

[^41: Uc.P.88: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.P.88-90.]

[^42: Uc.P.89: lyuen: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Leyen.]

[^43: Uc.P.90: The u in sume is written over an erasure.]

[^44: Uc.P.91: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^45: Uc.P.93: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the style of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.P.91-94.]

This conscience is nowe supposed to be kinge Iames þe Sixt

[Uc.P.94: The first two lines of this marginal comment, from "This conscience" through "Iames þe Sixt," is bounded on both left and right margins by curly brackets, in the form of stacked parentheses, made by hand16.]

to punishe the couitousnes of the clergie of Brittaine

[Uc.P.95: This marginal comment is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

¶ Conscience kam & kuste hem & þe comvne herd hit
and saide ydolatrie ȝe soffren in sondry places manye
and boxes ben y-set forth yboundon wiþ yron
To vnder-take þe tol of vntrewe sacrifice
Ayenst prelates & prestes
[^46]yn menyng of myracles myche wax hangeþ þere
al þe world woet wel hit myght not be trewe
and for hit profiteth ȝou in-to pursward þe prelates soffron
þat lewed men yn mysbyleue lyuon & dyon
y leue by oure lord for loue[^47] of ȝoure coueitise
þat al þe world be þe wors as holy writ telleth

[^46: Uc.P.99: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.P.96-103.]

[^47: Uc.P.103: The l and the left side of the o in loue show retracing, evidently in the same ink as the original.]

¶ what chest & meschaunce to þe childron of yrael[^48] fel[^49]
yn[^50] hem þat fre were þorgh two false prestes
For offny[^51] hely[^52] sone & finees his brothir
þey wern discounfit in bataile & loston archa domini
and for he say hem[^53] synne & soffred hem do ylle
and chastised hem not þerof & noldon not rebuke hem
Samuel . primo . capitulo . quarto .
anoen as hit was told him þat þe childron of yrael[^54]
wern discounfit in bataile & archa domini lorn
and his sones slawe þere he fel anoen[^55] fro his chaier þere he sat[^56]
olde Helies punnishment
[^57]and braek his necke on tweyen
and al was for venieance he beet not his childron
and for þei were prestes & men of holy chirche
God was wel þe wroþer & toek þe rathir venieance
For-þi y saye ȝou prestes & men of holy chirche
nota
þat soffren men do sacrifice & worshipe mawmetes
for Idolatrye God will take vengeaunce · on prestes · chiefly .
[^58]and þey[^59] sholdon ben her fadres & techen hem bettere
God shal take veniaunce on alle such prestes
wel hardore & grettore on suche shrewed fadres
þen euere he dide on off ny & Fynees & hely þair fadre[^60]
For ȝoure shrewed soffraunce & ȝour owne synne
ȝour masse & ȝour matynes & many of ȝour houres
arn don vndevoutlich drede hit is at þe laste
lest crist &his & his constorie acorse of hem manye

[^48: Uc.P.105: For this variant spelling of the word Israel, see MED and also Uc.P.111 below.]

[^49: Uc.P.105: Russell-Kane relineates, putting fel (or Ful, in the spelling of MS X) at the beginning of the next line in a way that improves the alliteration of that line.]

[^50: Uc.P.106: yn: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads on.]

[^51: Uc.P.107: The y in offny has been retraced by hand12, to judge from the sharp rightward curve in the tail of the letter.]

[^52: Uc.P.107: hely: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc, having no support among other C-version witnesses.]

[^53: Uc.P.109: he say hem: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads here syre sey hem.]

[^54: Uc.P.111: For this variant spelling of the word Israel, see MED and also Uc.P.105 above.]

[^55: Uc.P.113: he fel anoen: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads anon he ful for sorwe, as does Pearsall; Schmidt reads, anon for sorwe ful he.]

[^56: Russell-Kane relineates, putting Fro his chayere þer he sat at the start of the next line. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, the lineation here is unique to MS Uc.]

[^57: Uc.P.114: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin in the style of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.P.112-14.]

[^58: Uc.P.120: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.P.118-27.]

[^59: Uc.P.120: þey: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ȝe.]

[^60: Uc.P.123: & hely þair fadre: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads or on her fader.]

¶ I perceyvede of þe powere þat peter hade to kepe[^61]
to bynde & vnbynde · as the boke telleth
how he lefte yt wyth loue · as our lord heghte
amonges fowre vertues þe best of alle vertues
þat cardynalles beyn ycalled & closyng yattes
ther cryst is in kyngdom to clos & to schytt
& to opyn yt to them & hevyns blys schewe[^62]
& of cardynalles at cowrt þat caugth of þat name[^63][^64]
To haue þe power þat petur hadde ynpugne hem y nelle
For in loue & lettrure lith þe gret eleccion
Counturplede hit not quod conscience for holy church[^65] sake

[^61: Uc.P.128: As Grindley notes (p. 175), the text in this repair is supplied from Crowley, probably from the second or third 1550 impression. The text from Crowley's third impression reads as follows: I perceyued of the powre, that Peter had to kepe To binden and vnbinden, as the boke telleth: Howe he left it wyth loue, as our lorde hyght Amonges foure vertuis, the best of al vertues That Cardinalles bene called, and closing yates There Christ is in kyngdome, to close and to shit And to open it to hem, and heuens blys shewe And of Cardinals at court, that caught of that name (fol. 2v; image 11).]

[^62: Uc.P.134: The lack of a corresponding line in Russell-Kane results from the fact that Thyrnbeke's repair here was copied from Crowley, a B-text, which contains this line not found in the C version.]

[^63: The seam of the patch obscures the lower part of all the letters in this rewritten line after cowrt.]

[^64: Uc.P.135: Because Thyrnbeke's repair of the vellum is copied from Crowley, a B-text which introduces a line not found in C-text MSS, and because Thyrnbeke replaced the same number of lines as he found in Uc, the line which immediately follows this one in other C-text MSS was lost in the process of the repair. Russell-Kane gives it as follows: And power presumen in hemself a pope to make.]

[^65: Uc.P.138:Russell-Kane here reads kirke, following MS Dc, in order to mend the alliteration.]

nota who maid many knightes his strengh

[Uc.P.139: This marginal comment is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

¶ þenne cam þere a kyng · knyghthod him ladde[^66]
[^67]Myght of þo men · maken[^68] him to regne
and þen com kynd wit & knyghthoed to-gidores
Caste þat þe comvne  sholde her comvnes fynde
Kynde wit & þe comvn contreued alle craftes
and for most profitable a plough gonne þey make
and with lele labour to lyue whil lif on londe lasteþ
Then kynde wit to þe kyng & to þe comvn saide
Crist kepe þe kyng & þi kyngerich
and leue þe to[^69][^70] lede so þi lond · þat lewte þe louye
and for thi rightful rulyng be rewardid in heuene
Conscience to clergie & to þe kyng saide
[^71] Sum Rex sum princeps  neutrum fortasse deinceps
O qui iura regis  christi specialia regis
Hoc vt agas melius  iustus es esto pius
Nudum ius a te  vestiri vult pietate
Qualia vis metere talia grana sere
Si seritur pietas  de pietate[^72] · metas

[^66: Uc.P.139: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^67: Uc.P.140: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^68: Uc.P.140: maken: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads made.]

[^69: Uc.P.148: to: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this added reading is unique to MS Uc, having no support among other C-version witnesses.]

[^70: Uc.P.148: To here is written in a darker ink than the main text. The style of the t is consistent with that of the main text scribe, with a shaft that ascends only slightly above the cross-stroke, but uncertainty remains in attribution of the hand.]

[^71: Uc.P.151: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^72: Uc.P.156: The pie in pietas and the whole word pietate have been traced over by a later hand to remedy fading of the original ink. Since the tracing follows the original script exactly, attributing responsibility for it is impossible.]

¶ Concience & þe kyng in to court wente
where houed an hundred with houues of selk
seriauntes hit semeden  þat seruon at þe barre
pledon for pence and powndes the lawe[^73]
& nott for love of our lorde vnlows þer lyppe once
þou myght better meytt myst on maluerne hylles
þen gett a mome of þer mowth or money wer[^74] schewd
then ran þer a rowt of ratons as yt wer
& smalle mysse with them mo then a thowsand
þe talle of þe cat & ratons

[Uc.P.165: Grindley (p. 184) identifies this marginal comment as having been copied from Crowley. Crowley has The tale of the rattons at the line corresponding to Uc.P.164 and Kane-Donaldson Prol.146 (Crowley 2d impression, fol. 3r; image 11; the third impression seems to have the same comment, but the right edge of the EEBO image, or trimming of the right edge of the page, has cut off the e in tale and the first t in rattons).]

Com to a cowncelle for ther comon profett
for a catt of a cowrt comen when hym lyketh
& ouerlepe them lyghtlye & cawght þem at wylle
& playd with them perlosslye & putt them þer he lyked
and pleide with hem perelously & put hem þere him liked
and yf we grocche of his game he wol greue vs alle
To his clees clawe vs · & in cloches vs halde
þat vs loþith þe lif ar he lete vs passe
Myght we with any wit  his wille withsitte
we myghte be lordes a-loft & lyue as vs luste
a ratovn of gret reigunoun[^75] most resounable of tunge
saide y haue seyn gret sires in cite[^76] & in townes
bere byes of bright gold al a-boute her neckes
and colers of crafty werk bothe knyghtes & squiers
wer þere abelle a belle on her bye by Iesu as me thinketh
Men myghte ywite wher þei wente  & her way shonye
Bot wolde we make vs a belle al of bright suluer
and knytton hit on a coler for oure comvne profit
and hangon hit aboute þe cattes hals  þenne here we mowe
whethir he rit or rest or rometh to pleye
and yf vs lust forto layke þan loke we mowe
and appere in his presence while him plaie liketh
and if him we wrathe be war & his way roume
al þis route of ratownes to þis resoun þei assentid
ac þo þe belle was y-brought & on þe bye hanged
þere ne was oen of al þe route  for al þe rewme of fraunce
þat dorste haue y-bounde þe belle  a-bowte þe cattes necke
Ne haue hanged hit a-boute his hals al ynglond to wynne
and þai leton her labour y-lost & her long studie

[^73: Uc.P.160: The text of Crowley's third impression corresponding to this repair comes from two separate portions of the B-text and reads as follows (line numbers as per Kane-Donaldson): Prol.213-16: Pleten for penies, and poundes, the lawe, And not for the loue of our lord, vnclosen her lips once Thou mightest better mete þe mist, on maluerne hils Than get a mumme of her mouth, til money be shewed (Crowley 3d impr., fol. 4r; image 12). Prol.146-51: With that ranne there a route, of rattons at once And small mise wyth hem, mo than a thousande And commen to counsel, for the common profite. For a Catte of a courte, came whan hym lyked And ouerleapte hem lyghtly, & cought hem at his wil And played wyth hem perilously, and possed about (Crowley 3d impr., fol. 3r; image 11). As Grindley notes (pp. 177-78), both the repositioning of these lines in Langland's revision from the B version to the C version, and also the substantive differences between Crowley and this text in most of the restored lines, argue that Thyrnbeke used some exemplar other than Crowley as his source for this repair on fol. 9v. But neither is it entirely clear that Thyrnbeke's repairs followed the original text of the damaged folio, for the restored Uc.P.170 differs in the words he lyked from the original line still extant immediately below it, which reads him liked. The evidence in the Russell-Kane apparatus and the Kane-Donaldson apparatus suggests that Thyrnbeke's exemplar was a C text, for the following readings are witnessed here and in other C manuscripts, but not in B manuscripts: Uc.P.164 then, as yt wer; Uc.P.167 hym lyketh; Uc.P.169 putt them þer he lyked. Again according to Russell-Kane, the passage agrees with C-version MSS P and Ec in 18 readings where Russell-Kane shows textual variation, and with P2 in 18, leaving room for considerable doubt whether Thyrnbeke's repair was copied from a manuscript of the X family—perhaps from the original damaged folio of Uc with a few changes of grammar and spelling—or from one of the P family. (See Russell-Kane p. 58 for those editors' manuscript groupings.)]

[^74: Uc.P.163: Hand13 appears to have overwritten an r-form r with a z-form r.]

[^75: Uc.P.176: Viz. "renown," MED renoun.]

[^76: Uc.P.177: cite: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Cytees.]

¶ A mous[^77] þat myche goed coude as me þo þowghte
Strok forth sternely & stoed bifore hem alle
and to þe rowt of ratons[^78] rehesed rehe[r]sed þes wordes
þowgh we had kylde this c at ȝit sholde þere come anoþer
To cracche v s & alle our kynd e þogh we crepe vnder benches
for-thi y counsele for oure commune profit lat þe cat yworthe
and be neuere so bold þe belle him to shewe
For y herde myn sire sayn  seuen ȝeer ypassed
Omnium doctissimorum suffragio dic [un] tur hec de lassiuis

[Uc.P.203: Viz., lascivis]

, & fat tuis . aut in eptis principi bus non de etate tenellis quasi dicat vbi rex puer [ilis] est

[Uc.P.203: This marginal comment was copied from Crowley. It is present in all three impressions on fol. 3v (first impression, image 6; second and third impressions, image 12).]

þere þe cat is but a kytown þe court is ful elynge
witnesse at holy writ who-so can rede
[^79] Ve terre vbi puer est Rex
y seye hit for me quod þe mous y se so myche after
shal neuere þe cat ne þe kitown by my counsel be greued
Ne carpon of her colers þat costede me neuere
and þogh hit costid me catelle  be knowen y ne wolde
Bot soffre & say nought & so is þe beste
Til þat myschef amende hem þat many one[^80] chasteth
nota
[^81]For many mannes malt  we muys wolde destruye
the insaysiablines of þe lawyers

[Uc.P.213: This marginal comment is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

and þe route of ratownes of reste men awake
Ne were þe cat of þe court & kytowns[^82] touward
[^83]for hadde ȝe ratownes ȝoure rued[^84]  ȝe cowde not rule ȝou seluen
what þes metels by-meneth  ȝe men þat ben murie
will the catt þe kinge and the kittines distroye

[Uc.P.217: This marginal comment is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

{ evne nowe at hande }
deme ȝe for y ne dar by dere god almyghty

[^77: Uc.P.195: The s in mous is written over an erasure.]

[^78: Uc.P.197: As Grindley notes (pp. 175-76), Thyrnbeke's restoration here in lines Uc.P.197-99 probably comes from Crowley. In the line corresponding to Uc.P.198 (Kane-Donaldson Prol.185), Crowley (third impression) reads, Though we kil this cat (fol. 3v; image 12). The manuscript's reading, had kylde, agrees with most witnesses to the B and C versions, according to the Kane-Donaldson and Russell-Kane editions. However, the word this in that line is unique to Crowley, according to those editions. Thus it is most likely that Thyrnbeke used Crowley and revised the verb form to accord with the syntax of the extant portion of the line.]

[^79: Uc.P.205: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^80: Uc.P.211: one: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this added reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads man.]

[^81: Uc.P.212: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the style of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.P.211-13.]

[^82: Uc.P.214: kitowns: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ȝonge kitones. That edition records the reading of MS Nc as substantially þe kitones, which shares with Uc the omission of ȝonge.]

[^83: Uc.P.215: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the style of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.P.215-17.]

[^84: Uc.P.215: Although the MED attests this spelling only for red n.(3), "A reed stalk," the sense is clearly that of red n.(1), "counsel" or "purpose."]

¶ ȝit mette me more of mene & of riche
as barownes & burgeys and bonde men of thropes
al y say slepinge as ȝe shal here her-after
Bothe bakers & brewers bochers & oþere
websters & walkers & wynneres with hondes
as tailloures & Tanners & tuliers þe erthe
as dikers & delueres þat don her dedes ille
and driuen forth her daies with dieu vous saue dame Emme
Cokes & her knaues criedon hote pies hote
Gode gees & Gris ga we [...] dyne ga we
Tauerners to hem tolde þe same
whit wyn of Oseye & w read wyne of g ascoyn[^85]
Of þe reule & of þe R ochelle þe rost to defye
al þis y say sleping & seuyn sythes mor

[^85: Uc.P.229: In Thyrnbeke's restoration, the reading read wyne is clearly not that of the manuscript as it originally stood, for the w still extant from the original shows the omission of the word read. Grindley (p. 176) identifies the restored text as having been taken from Crowley, which in the third impression reads thus: Whyt wine of Osay, and red wyne of Gascoyone (fol. 4v; image 13). (Crowley's first impression here reads, Wyth wyne of Osey, and redde wyne of Gascoyne—fol. 4v; image 7.) Since Thyrnbeke took Uc.P.127-35 and a number of marginal comments from Crowley, it seems most likely that Crowley was also the exemplar for this repair in Uc.P.227-31. However, according to Kane-Donaldson, the reading read wyne also accords substantially with all beta-group B-version witnesses, viz. all in which this portion of the poem is extant except R and F.]

Passus primus de vi [sione Pers le Plog] hman

[^86] W hat þe movntayn [bymeneth and þe] merk dale
and þe feld ful of folk y shal ȝou faire shewe
a louely lady of lore yn lynnen clothid
Cam down from þe castelle & cald me by name
and saide wille slepest þow sest þow þis peple
how besy þei ben a-boute þe mase
The most people desyre worship .
[^87]þe moste party of this peple þat passeth on þis erthe
haddon þei worshipe in this world þei wilneth noen bettere
Of othir heuen þen here holde þei no tale
y was aferd of hir face þough she fair were
and saide mercy ma-dame what may þis be to mene
The towr vppon þe tofte quod she truthe is þer -ynne
and wolde þat þei wroughton as his word techit
For he is fadir of feith & formour of alle
To be faiful to him ȝaf ȝou fyue wittes
forto worshipe him þerwith whil ȝe lyuon here
where-fore he het þe elementis to helpe ȝou at alle tymes
and bringe forþe your byliue boþe lynnon & wollon
and in mesure howe[^88] muche · were to make þou you at ese ·
and comaundid of his curtasie in comvne þre thinges
arn noen nidefoule but þo þre & nempne hem y thinke
and rikene hem by rewe reherse hem wher ȝe like[^89]
the firste is fode & vesture þe seconde
and drinke þat þe goed doth & drink not owt of tyme
Loot first planted grappes } genicis
Loot yn his lyue þorgh likerous drinke
wickedlich y-wroughte & wrathid god almyghty
yn his dronkenesse a day his doughtres he dighte
and lay by hem boþe as þe boek telleth
yn his glotonye he gat gurles &[^90] wern churles
and al he witte þe wyne þat[^91] wicked dede[^92]
[^93] Inebriemus eum vino miamusque[^94] cum eo
Vt seruare poss imus de patr e nostro semen Genesis & cetera
þorgh wyn & þorgh woman þere was lot acombred
For-þi drede delitable drink bothe day & nyghtes
Measure
Mesure is Medicine þogh þe[^95] myche ȝerne
al is not goed þat þe gost ne þat[^96] þe gut asketh
Ne liflode to þe lycam þat leue is þe soule
leue not þi licam for a liare him techith
which is þe wrecchid world wolde þe bigile
For þe feend & þi flesh folowen to-gidores
and þat sueth þi soule & seith hit þe in herte
and wisseþ the to be war what wolde þe disceyue
[^97] A ma-dame mercy me liketh wel ȝour wordes
ac þe money of þis molde þat men so faste kepon
telleth me to whom þat tresour bilongeth
Go to þe gospel quod sho & se what god saide
When þe peple apposedon[^98] him of a peny in þe temple
and god asked at hem whos was þe coyne
Sesares þei saide soþly we knoweth
Reddite sesari saide god þat sesar bifalleth
Et que sunt dei deo  Or elles ȝe don ille
For rightfullich resoun sholde rule ȝou alle
and kynde wit be wardeyn þorgh[^99] welthe to kepe
and Tutour of ȝour tresour & take hit ȝou at nede
for husbondrie & he holdeth to-gidores
y frayned hir faire for him þat hir made
þe deep dale & þe derk so vnsemly to see too[^100]
what may hit bymene ma-dame y biseche þe

[^86: Uc.1.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital here and extends from Uc.P.228 to Uc.1.13.]

[^87: Uc.1.7: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.1.7-9.]

[^88: Uc.1.19: howe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading, which is in an anglicana hand other than that of the main scribe, is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads thow.]

[^89: Uc.1.22: like: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads liketh.]

[^90: Uc.1.29: &: Russell-Kane reads þat.]

[^91: Uc.1.30: Thyrnbeke's restored text here is probably copied from Crowley, which in the third impression reads thus: And al he wite the wine, that wicked dede (fol. 5r; image 13).]

[^92: Uc.1.30: Russell-Kane: And al he witte it wyn þat wikkede dede. Schmidt, and Pearsall: And al he witte þe wyn his wikkede dede.]

[^93: Uc.1.31: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^94: Uc.1.31: Vulgate, Genesis 19.32: dormiamusque]

[^95: Uc.1.35: þe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þow.]

[^96: Uc.1.36: þat þe gost ne þat: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads to þe gost þat.]

[^97: Uc.1.43: Red tracework surrounds this decorative capital and extends from Uc.1.37 to the bottom of the folio at Uc.1.57.]

[^98: Uc.1.47: apposedon: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads aposed.]

[^99: Uc.1.53: þorgh: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ȝoure.]

[^100: Uc.1.57: The Russell-Kane apparatus conveys a mistaken impression of this Uc line in listing too as a variant for the lemma to see to; rather, it should be listed under the lemma to(2).]

¶ þat is þe castel of care who-so cometh þerinne
May banne þat he born was in body & in soule
þerinne woneth a wight þat wrong is I hote me[^101]
þe Deuille
Fader of falshed fond hit fi[^102] hym-selfe[^103]
Adam & Eue he Eggid to ylle
Cayn

[Uc.1.64: Cayn: This marginal comment corresponds to one in Crowley's third impression only. In Crowley, the comment is spelled Cayne and is located at the line corresponding to Uc.1.62 and Kane-Donaldson 1.64 (fol. 5v; image 14).]

and counceled caym to ku le his brother
Iudas

[Uc.1.65: Iudas: This marginal comment corresponds to one in Crowley, all impressions. In the third impression it is located at Uc.1.64 and Kane-Donaldson 1.66 (third impression fol. 5v; image 14). In the first impression (fol. 5v; image 8) and the second impression (fol. 5v; image 14) it is located one line later.]

Iudas he biyaped · þorgh Iuwen Iewesch syluer[^104]
and afterward an-hanged him hie vpon an ellerne
he is lettere of loue & lieth alle tymes
that tristeth in tresour of erthe he bitraieth sonnest
To combere men with coueitise þat is his kynde & his lore

[^101: Uc.1.61: The me remains from a probable original reading of wrong ys his name—cf. Schmidt 1.59, Pearsall 1.59, and Russell-Kane apparatus. According to the Kane-Donaldson and Russell-Kane editions, the original reading of this manuscript accords with all C witnesses except one, and Thyrnbeke's restoration accords substantially with all B witnesses. The likely source is Crowley's third impression (fol. 5v; image 14), in view of Thyrnbeke's other nearby borrowings from that source.]

[^102: Uc.1.62: The fi remains from a probable original reading of firste of alle—cf. Russell-Kane 1.60.]

[^103: Uc.1.62: Thyrnbeke's restoration accords with all B-version witnesses, according to Kane-Donaldson, but the likely source is Crowley's third impression (fol. 5v; image 14), in view of Thyrnbeke's other nearby borrowings from that source.]

[^104: Uc.1.65: Again, the likely source of Thyrnbeke's restoration is Crowley's third impression, which reads, Iudas he iaped, with Iewes siluer (fol. 5v; image 14). However, the Kane-Donaldson and Russell-Kane editions suggest that a form closer to Iewes than to Iewen is found in some other witnesses to both the B and C versions.]

¶ Thenne hadde y wonder in my wit what womman she were
þat such wise wordes of holy writ shewed
and halsede hire on þe hie name or she þennes wente
what she were weturly þat wissed me so & taughte
True

[Uc.1.74: The marginal comment here is linked with the underlined words holy church in the text by an equals sign to the right of the word True.]

Religion & not þe Popp

¶ holy church y am quod she þow aughtest me to knowe
y vndertok[^105] þe formest & freman þe made
þow broughtest me borowes my biddyng to fulfille
leue on me & loue me al þi lyue tyme

[^105: Uc.1.75: vndertok: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads vndirfenge.]

¶ Thenne y kneled on my knees & kried hir of grace
and praide hire pitously to praye for me to amende
and also kenne me kyndely on crist to bileue
Teche me to no[^106] tresor but telle me this ilke
how y may saue my soule þat saynt art yholde[^107]
y do hit vpon deus caritas to deme þe sothe
Charytie .
[^108]hit is as derworthe drewry as dere god him-seluon
for he is trewe of his tunge & of his two hondes
and doth þe werkes þerwith & wilneth no man ille
he is agod a god by þe gospel & graunt may hele
and also lik oure lord  by seynt lukes wordes
Clerkes þat knowen hit is þus sholdon kenne hit abovton[^109]
For cristen & vncristen claymeth hit eche one
ordour of knygtes
kynges & knyghtes sholdon kepe hit bi resoun
Ridon and rappe adovn in reaumes abowte
and taken transgressores & tyen hem faste
Til treuthe hadde y-termyned her trespas to þe ende
and haldon with him[^110] & wiþ hire þat han trewe accion
and for no lordes loue leue trewe partie
Trulich to take & trulich to fighte
ys þe professioun in þe puyr ordre þat appendiþ to knyghtes
and who-so passeþ þat poynt is apostata of knyghthod
For þei sholde nowthir faste ne forbere þe serk
But fighte & fende truthe & neuer leue for loue in hope to lach suluer

[^106: Uc.1.81: The n in no shows a lateral spread uncharacteristic of the main text hand, but the hand here is otherwise unidentifiable.]

[^107: Uc.1.82: The Russell-Kane edition gives the following line, omitted in Uc, as line 81: When alle tresores ben tried treuthe is þe beste.]

[^108: Uc.1.84: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.1.82-88.]

[^109: Uc.1.89: abovton: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads aboute.]

[^110: Uc.1.95: Above the i in him is written what appears to be a letter e. It does not appear to be a correction; it may be simply an exaggerated form of the stroke above the i. Compare the stroke in hit four lines above, in Uc.1.90. The surrounding area appears to have been affected by rubbing.]

¶ Dauid in his daies dobbed knyghtes
Dide hem swere on her swerd to serue truthe euere
and god whan he bigan heuen in þat gret blisse
Made knyghtes in his couert creatures tene
Cherubyn & saraphin such seuen & anoþer
Lucifer louelokest þo · ac litel while hit durede
he was an archangel of heuene oen of godes knyghtes
he and oþer with hym heldon not with truthe
Lopon out in lothly forme for his fals wille
That hadde lust to be lik his lord þat was almyghty
[^111] Ponam pedem meum in aquilone
Et Similis ero altissimo
Lord whi wolde he þo þat wicked lucifer
Lippon aloft in þe North syde
þen sitton in þe sonne side þere þe day reweth
Nere hit for northirne men anoen y wolde ȝou telle
ac y wol lackon no lif quod þat lady sothly
hit is sikerore by south þere þe sonne regneth
Then in þe north by many notes no man leueþ othir
Lucyfers Hall in Imo Gehennae
for þedor as þe feend fley his foet forto sette
þere he failled & fel & his felawes alle
and helle is þere he is · & he þerynne ybounde
Euene þe contrarie sitteth crist clerkes weton þe soþe
[^112] Dixit dominus domino meo sede a dextris meis
ac of þis matere no more nempne ynelle y nelle
hewes in þe haliday after hete wayton
ac þei care not þogh hit be cold knaues when þei worche
wonder wyse holy writ telleth how þei fellon
Lucyfers fall .
somme in erthe somme in heir somme in helle depe
ac lucifer lowest lith of hem alle
For pruyde that him pokede his payne hath noen ende
and alle þat worchon þat wicked is wendon þei sholle
after her deth day & dwelle þere wrong ys
and alle þat haue wel ywrought wende þey shol estward[^113]
Til heuene euere þere to abide
þere truthe is þe tour  þat þe trinite ynne sitteth

[^111: Uc.1.112: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^112: Uc.1.125: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^113: Uc.1.135: Russell-Kane places estward at the beginning of the following line and indicates that the Uc lineation is unique.]

¶ Lereþ[^114] hit þus lewed men for lettrid men hit knoweth
þen truthe & trewloue is no tresour bettere
Truth is þe greatest treasur

[Uc.1.140: This marginal comment corresponds to one in Crowley, at the lines corresponding to Uc.1.138-41 (Kane-Donaldson 1.135-39; Crowley third impression, folio 6v, image 15).]

I haue no kynde knowyng quod y þat mot þe[^115] kenne me bettere
By what way hit waxeth & whedir out of my menyng
Thow dotid daffe quod she dulle arn thi wittes
To litel lernedest þow y leue latyn in þin ȝouthe
[^116] Heu michi quod sterilem duxi vitam iuuenilem
hit is a kynde knowyng þat kenneþ in þin herte
for to louye þi lord leuest of alle
Deye rathir þen do any dedly synne
[^117] Melius est mori quam male viuere
and þis y trowe be trewe · who-so can teche þe bettere
loke þow soffre him to say and so þow myght lerne
Love or Carritas Pius A simmely { as Trecale or Medridat

[Uc.1.151: OED mithridate, "A composition of many ingredients in the form of an electuary, regarded as a universal antidote or preservative against poison and infectious disease. Hence, any medicine to which similar powers were ascribed."]

, expulseth pouison in þe body so loue, and godly charitie, expulseth sinn in the Soule
For truthe telleth þat loue is triacle to abate synne
and most souereyn salue  in a sore[^118] body
Love
Loue is plante of pees most precious of vertues
For heuene holde hit ne myghte  so heuy hit first semed
Til hit hadde of erthe · y-ȝotun his silue
Ne was neuere leef vpon lynde lightore þere-after
as when hit hadde of þe folde  flesh & bloed taken
þo was hit portatif & persaunt as þe poynt of anedle a nedle
May no armure hit lette ne none hie walles
for-thi is loue leder of oure lordes folk of heuene
and a mene as þe mair is bytwene þe kyng & þe comune
Right so is loue a ledar · & þe lawe sheppeth
vpman vp man for his mysdedes · þe mercyment he taxeth
and forto knowe hit kyndely hit comseth by myght
and in þe herte þere is þe heued · & þe eye[^119][^120] welle
For of kynde knowyng of herte þere comseth a myght
and þat falleth to þe fader þat formed vs alle
Loked on vs with loue let his sone deye
Mekely for oure mysdedes amendid vs alle
and ȝut nolde hem no wo þat wrought him al þat tene
But mekeliche by mouthe mercy he bisoughte
To haue pite on that peple þat peyned him to deth
here myghte ȝe see ensaumples in him-self one
þat he was myghtful & meke & mercy gan graunte
To hem þat hongen hym hye & his herte thorlede
For-þi y rede ȝou riche haue ruthe on the pore
þogh ȝe be myghty to mote  be meke in ȝour hertes
For þe same mesure þat ȝe mete amys oþer elles
ȝe sholn be weyed þerwith · when ȝe wende hennes
[^121] Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remetietur vobis
for þogh ȝe be trewe of ȝour tonges & trulich wynne
Almesse .
and ben as chast as a child  þat chideþ noþer fighteþ
But yf ȝe loue lellich & lene þe pore
of such goed as god sent godlich parte
ȝe han no more meryte yn masse ne yn houres
no meritt in any worcks

[Uc.1.186: This marginal comment is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

þen malkyn hadde of hire maydonhed when no man hir coueytid
For Iames þe gentil Iuggeth in his bokes
iustifiinge faith only workinge
þat feith with-owton þe feet is feblere þen nought
and as dede as a dore-nayl but yf þe dedes folowe
[^122] Fides sine operibus mortua est
Chastite with-owton charite worth chayned in helle
hit is a lewed thing as a laumpe þat no light is ynne
Many chapeleyns arn chast ac charite hem faileth
þe couuitous of þe clergie

[Uc.1.194: This note is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

nota
[^123] arn none hardore ne[^124] hungriore þen men of holi church
auerous & euel willed whan þei ben auaunsed
vnkynde to her kyn & to alle cristene
Chewen her charite & chidon after more
& ben acombred with coueytise þey can not crepon owt
Vncharytable chaplaynes . / /
[^125]So harde haþ auarice y-hasped hem to-gidores
and that is no truthe of þe trinite Bot treccherie synne
and a lither ensaumple leue me as for þe lewed peple
For þise arn wordes ywreton in þe euangelie
[^126] Date & dabitur vobis
For y telle ȝou alle & þat is þe lok of loue & vncloseþ[^127] grace
þat counforteþ alle careful & combred[^128] with synne
Love & truth
[^129]So loue is leche of lif & lisse of al payne
and þe grace[^130] of grace & graythest way to heuene
For-thi y may saye as y saide eer bi sight of þes textes
When alle tresoures ben y-tried treuthe is þe beste
Loue hit quod þat lady lette may · I · no lengore
To lere þe what loue is & leue at me · sho[^131] · laughte

[^114: Uc.1.138: The þ in lereþ is written over an erasure, possibly by hand1.]

[^115: Uc.1.140: þat mot þe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ȝe mot, but also indicates that various manuscripts in the X family read ȝut mot ȝe or (Dc) þat mot ȝe.]

[^116: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^117: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^118: Uc.1.152: in a sore: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads for soule and for.]

[^119: Uc.1.165: Eye is written over an erasure.]

[^120: Uc.1.165: in þe eye: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þe heye.]

[^121: Uc.1.180: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^122: Uc.1.190: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^123: Uc.1.194: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the style of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.1.194-95.]

[^124: Uc.1.194: The e in ne appears to have been altered from an o.]

[^125: Uc.1.199: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.1.193-202.]

[^126: Uc.1.203: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^127: Uc.1.204: vncloseþ: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads vnloseth.]

[^128: Uc.1.205: & combred: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads acombred.]

[^129: Uc.1.206: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.1.204-10.]

[^130: Uc.1.207: grace: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads graffe.]

[^131: Uc.1.211: The word sho is written over an erasure.]

Passus secundus de visione vbi prius

[^132] A nd þanne y kneled vpon my knees & cried to hire of grace
and saide mercy ma-dame for maries loue of heuene
that bar þat blessid barn þat boughte vs on þe Rode
kenne me by sum craft to knowe þe false
Loke vpon thi lifte half & lo wher he stondeth
{ false & favell fyckell tonge & Lyar
Fals & Fauel & Fykel tunge lyare
and many mo of her maners of men and of wymmen
y loked vpon my lifte half as þe lady me taught
and say a womman as hit were wonder richely clothid
she was purfiled in pelure noen purer in erthe
þe Purpill whore of Rome Meede & Fauill Antichrist
an[^133] crowned with a crowne þe kyng hath noen bettere[^134]
On alle her fyue Fyngres ful richely ringed
and þere-onne rode rubies & othir riche stones
her robyng was ricchere þen y rede couthe
for to telle of hire atir no tome haue y nouthe
her aray wiþ her richesse rauyshed myn herte
whos wyf she were & what was hir name
Leue lady quod y tho layne not yf ȝe knowen
Meede or Reward enemye to truth .
þat is mede[^135] þat haþ noyed me ful ofte
and ylowe on my lemman þat leaute is hoton
and lackeþ him to lordes þat lawes haue to kepe
yn kynges court in comyn court contrarieth my teching
yn þe popes paleys she is priue as my-selue
ac sothnes wolde not so for she is a bastard
Meede a Basterd is doughter to favell
Oen fauel was hir fader þat hath a fikel tonge
and selde soth saith but if she[^136] souche gyle
and mede is manered after him as men of kynde karpeth
[^137] Talis pater talis filia & cetera .
For shal neuere brere bere · berye as a vyne
christs parable in Mathewe
Ne on a croked kene þorn kynde fige wexe[^138]
[^139] Bona arbor bonum fructum facit & cetera .
I oughte be herrore[^140] þen she  y come of a bettere
þe fader þat me forth broughte filius dei he hotith
þat neuere lyed ne laughed al his lif tyme
and y am his dere doughtur duches of heuene
þat what man[^141] me louyeþ & my wille foloweþ
Shal haue grace to god ynowe & a goed ende
And what mede loueth[^142] my lif dar y wedde
she[^143] shal lese for hire loue a lippe of trewe charite
þat helpeth man most to heuene mede most letteþ
y do hit vpon dauith þe doumb wil not lye
[^144] Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo & cetera
and dauiþ vndoth him-self as þe dom sheweþ
[^145] Et super innocentem munera non accepit
Meede shalbe shal be maryed to falsehod . /
To-morowe worth mede y-maried to a mased wrecche
To on fals faithles of þe fendes kynne
Fauel þorgh his flateryng speche hath mede foule enchauntid
and al is lyares ledyng þis lady is thus yweddid
Soffre & þow shalt see suche as be apayde
þat mede is þus y-maried to-morowe þow shalt aspie
knowe hem wel if þow canst  & kepe þe from hem alle
þat loueth wel her lordshipe lasse othir more
Lacke hem not bot late hem worthe to lewte be Iustice
and haue power to punyshe hem  þen put forth þi resoun
For y bikenne þe crist quod she  & his clene moder
and acombre þow neuere þi concience for coueitise of mede

[^132: Uc.2.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital here and extends from Uc.1.207 to the bottom of the side at Uc.2.4.]

[^133: Uc.2.11: See MED or OED for this variant spelling of and.]

[^134: Uc.2.11: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the style of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.2.10-13.]

[^135: Uc.2.19: mede: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, omission here of þe mayde is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads, That is mede þe mayde, hath niyed me ful ofte.]

[^136: Uc.2.26: she: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads he.]

[^137: Uc.2.28: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^138: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the style of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.2.29-31.]

[^139: Uc.2.31: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^140: Uc.2.32: The MED notes the form herreras comparative of heigh.]

[^141: Uc.2.36: The letters in man lean slightly leftward and show a slightly taller proportion than in the main text hand. The form of the a is anglicana.]

[^142: Uc.2.38: Russell-Kane: what man mede loueth.]

[^143: Uc.2.39: she: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads He.]

[^144: Uc.2.42: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^145: Uc.2.44: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

¶ Thus lefte me þat lady liggyng as a-slepe
Theyr Names þat wer bydden to þe Mariage . /
and say how mede was maried metyng as hit[^146] were
al þe riche retenaunce  þat roteth hem on fals leuyng
wern bedon to þe bridale · on bothe half þe contree
Of many manere of men  þat of med kyn wern
Of knyghtes of clerkes · of othir comune peple[^147]
as sisoures sompnoures shirreues & her clerkes
Bedels & baylyues  & brokoures of chaffares
Forgoeres & vitaileres & voketes of þe arches
y kan not rekene þe route þat ran abowte mede
nota
Ac symonye & syuile & sisoures of courtes[^148]
wern most priue with mede of any men me þoughte
ac Fauel was þe firste þat fet hir out of hir chaumbre[^149]
and a broker brought hire forth to be ioyned wiþ fals
Whan symonye & syuile  y-say þair aither wille
þen assentid þat[^150] hit were so at sulueres prayeres
þenne leep lyare forth & saide lo here a chartere
þat gyle hath gyue to falsnesse  & grauntid also mede
and prayeth syuile to see hit & symonye to rede hit
þenne symonye & syuile · stondeþ forth bothe
and vnfoldeth þat feffement þat fals haþ y-maked
þenne saide symonie þat siuyle hit herde
Al þat loueth & bileueth vpon lykyng of mede
Leueþ hit lelly  this world[^151] her laste mede
þat foloweth falsnesse Fauuel & lyare
Mede & suche men þat after mede wayton
maritagium prauum cum feoffemento in malo feodo de peruersa tenura

[Uc.2.83: This marginal comment corresponds to one in Crowley, which differs as follows: in malo feodo et de perversa tenura (third impression, fol. 9v; image 17). Thyrnbeke omits the word et.]

[^152] Sciant presentes & futuri & cetera
Weton & wisson[^153] þat wonyon on erthe
þat mede is maried more for her richesse
þen for holynesse or hendenesse  oþer for hye kynne
Falsnesse is fayn of hire  for he woet hir riche
and fauel þat haþ a fals speche feffe y[^154] hem by þis lettre
To be princes yn pruyde  & pouerte to dispise
To bakbite & to boste & bere fals witnesse
To scorne & to scolde & sclaunder to make
Vnboxum & bolde to breke þe ten hestes
þe Erldom of enuye & ire he hem graunteþ
wiþ chastel of chest & chatering out of resoun
þe counte of coueytise  & consentiþ to hem boþe
with vsurie & auarice & oþer fals sleygthes
yn bargaynes & brocages wiþ þe borow of thefte
wiþ al þe lordship of leccherie yn lengthe & in brede
as yn werkes & wordes  & in waytyng of þese
yn woldes & in wisshinges  & wiþ idel þoughtes
Turne
þere þat wille wolde & were  manshipe[^155] faileth
Glotonye a gyueth hem & gret othis to-giders
Al day to drinke at diuers tauernes
and þere to iangele & to iape  & to Iugge[^156] her euen-cristene
And fastingdaies to frete bi-fore none & drinke
with spiserie speke ydelnesse  in vayn speche & spende
and shewe forth such felawship til þei ben falle in slewþe
and awake with wanhope & no wille to amende
For he leueth be lost  when he his lif letith
þis lif to folowe falsnesse  & folk þat on him leueth
after her deþ þei dwellon  ay with-outon ende
yn lordshipe with lucifer  as þis lettre sheweth
with alle þe appurtenaunces of purgatorie  & þe peyn of helle
yn witnes of þis þing  wrong was þe firste
and pers þe pardoner of palmere[^157] queste
But þe bedel of bannebury sokene
Raynold þe Reue · & Redyngges manye
Munde þe Mullere  & many mo oþere
In þe date of þe deuel · þis dede is asseled
By sight of sir symonye & syuiles leue

[^146: Uc.2.58: The hi in hit is written over an erasure by an unidentifiable hand. The secretary-style rightward-curving descender of the h shows it to be a hand later than that of the main scribe.]

[^147: Uc.2.62: The phrase of othir comune peple is written over an erasure.]

[^148: Uc.2.67: The word courtes is written over an erasure.]

[^149: Uc.2.69: hir chaumbre: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads chambre.]

[^150: Uc.2.72: þat: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this added reading is unique to MS Uc, having no support among other C-version witnesses.]

[^151: Uc.2.80: The orld in world is written over an erasure.]

[^152: Uc.2.83: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^153: Uc.2.84: wisson: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads witnessen.]

[^154: Uc.2.88: feffe y: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Feffeth.]

[^155: Uc.2.101: were  manshipe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads werkmanschip.]

[^156: Uc.2.104: & to Iugge: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads and iuge.]

[^157: Uc.2.115: palmere: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads paulines.]

¶ þenne tenyd him teologie  when he þes tales herde
and saide to symonye  now sorow mot ȝe[^158] haue
Such a wedding to worche  þat truthe myght wrathe
the Kynred of Meede . /
and ar þis weddyng be wrought  wo to alle ȝour consail
For mede is moilere  Amendes was her dame
Alle-þough fals wer hir fader  & fikeltonge hir belsire
Amendes was hire moder  by trewe mennes lokyng
And with-oute her moder amendes · mede may not be weddid
For truthe plight her truthe to wedde on of her doughtres
and god grauntid hit were so  so no gyle were
and þow hast gyue as gile taughte  now god ȝiue þe sorowe
For syuyle & þi-selue selde fulfilleth
þat god wolde were ydo  with som deseit
y teologie þe tixt knowe · yf trewe dom witnesseth
þat laurence þe leuyte þat lay on þe gredyre
Loked vp to oure Lord and alowd saide
God of þi grace heuen gates opene
For y man of þi mercy  mede haue deserued
and sithe man may on heye  mede of god deserue
hit semeth soþly right so on erthe
þat mede may be weddid  to no man but to truthe
and þow hast feffid hire with fals  fy on such lawe
by[^159] lesinges ȝe lacchon largelich mede
þat ȝe nymeth & þe notaries  to nought gynneþ bringe
who is occacion þat þe church is broght lowe

[Uc.2.145: Grindley (p. 185) identifies this marginal comment as having been copied from Crowley. The comment in Crowley's second and third impressions reads, Who it is that shameth holy church. (fol. 9v; image 18). It is lacking in Crowley's first impression. It is attached to the lines corresponding to Uc.2.142-43, Kane-Donaldson 2.124-25.]

[^158: Uc.2.122: mot ȝe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads mot thow.]

[^159: Uc.2.143: by: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads For by.]

¶[^160] holy churche & charite  ȝe cheweth & deuowreth
ȝe sholn abiggon hit boþe but ȝe amende þe sonnere
For wel ȝe wite wernardes · as holy writ telleth
þat fals is faithles þe feend is his sire
and as a bastard ybore byȝete was he neuere
and mede is moylere & mayden of gode
she myghte kisse þe kyng  as for his kynnes-womman
For-þi worcheþ by wisdom  & by wit also
and ledeth hire to Londone þere lawe may declare
whethir matrimoyne may be of mede & of falshede
and þough iustices enyoyne hem þorgh iuroures oþes
ȝut beth ywar of þe weddyng  for witty is truthe
and conscience is of his councel · & knoweth hem alle
and yf he fynde ȝou in defaut & wiþ þe fals holde
hit shal bisitte[^161] ȝour soules ful sore at þe laste

[^160: Uc.2.145: Darkening around the paraph marker suggests that perhaps it was erased and redone.]

[^161: Uc.2.159: bisitte:Thus Russell-Kane. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Schmidt, and Pearsall: sitte.]

¶ here-to assentith syuyle ac symonye ne wolde
Til he hadde siluer for þe seel & signes of notaries
Tho fette fauel forth floreynes ynowe
and bad gyle to gyue gold al aboute
and manlich þe notories  þat none of hem faile
and feffe fals witnes with floreyns ynowe
For he may mede amaistrie  with his mery speche
Tho þis gold was y-gyue gret was þe thonkyng
þat fauel & fals hadde for her faire ȝiftes
and comen forth curteisly to counforte þe false
Meede rydeth to London to be advised by law if she shall marry fashod fa[l]shod
and sayde softly sesse shal we neuere
Til mede be þi weddid wif  wol we not stinte
For we han mede amaystred þorgh our mery tonge
þat she grauntiþ to goo wiþ a goed wille
To Londoun & loke yf lawe wol iugge
To be maried for mone mede haþ assentid

¶ þenne was fauel fayn & falsnesse blithe
and leton somun ·[^162] alle his segges in vch syde aboute
and bad hem alle be bowen beggeres & othir
To wende wiþ him to westmynster  his wedding to honoure
Ac hakeneyes hadde þei none but hakeneyes to huyre
þenne gan gyle to borown · hors of many grete maistres
and shop þat a shirreue sholde bere mede
what ho rses þai had þat rod with mede

[Uc.2.183: This marginal comment is taken from Crowley. Crowley's third impression reads, What horses thei þat rid wyth Mede had (fol. 10v; image 19); the second impression, What horses they þat ride with Mede (fol. 10v; image 19). In Crowley, the comment is attached to lines 2.162-64 in the numbering of the Kane-Donaldson edition of the B-text, lines which correspond roughly to Uc.2.180-82.]

Softlich in saunbure from syse to syse
and fals & fauel fecche forth sysoures
and ride on hem & on reues right faste by mede

[^162: Uc.2.177: The mark here interpreted as a sloppily executed raised point may in fact be merely an accidental tick-mark. It has a tail pointing upward and rightward to the two o'clock position.]

¶ Symonye & syuile seidon & sworon
þat prestes & prouysoures sholdon prelates serue
and y my-self syuile & symonye my felawe
wol ride vpon rectours  & riche men deuoutoures
and notaries on persounes · þat permuton ofte
and on pore prouisoures & appeles in þe arches
Somnoures & sodenes  supersedeas takeþ
On hem þat loueth leccherie lippeþ vp & rideþ
On secutoures & such men comeþ softly after
and lat cope þe comissarie  our cart shal he drawe
and fecchon oure vitailes & fornycatoures
and maketh of lyare a lang cart to lede alle þes oþere
as Fobbes & faytoures þat on here feet rennen
[^163]þenne fals & fauel Ride forth to-gideres
and mede yn the myddes & alle þes men after
y haue no tome to telle þe tayl þat hem folowed
Of many manere men for mede sake is send after
ac gyle was forgoere to gyon al this peple
Forto wisse hem þe way & with mede abyde

[^163: Uc.2.199: A double virgule in the left margin marks a spot where a paraph marker should have been inserted.]

trewth maketh hast to þe kyng

[Uc.2.205: This marginal comment matches one in Crowley's second and third impressions, where it is attached to the lines corresponding to Uc.2.203-206, Kane-Donaldson 2.188-91 (Crowley third impression fol. 10v; image 19).]

¶ Soþnesse say hem alle & seyde but litel
and priked forth on pacience & passed hem alle
and cam to þe kynges Court & Conscience tolde
and conscience · to þe kyng carped hit after
Now by crist quod þe kyng & y cacche myghte
Fals or fauel or her felawe lyare
y wolde be awreke on tho wrecches & on her werkes alle
and do hem hange by the hals · & alle þat hem maynteneþ
shal neuere man on þis molde maynprise þe leste
But Right as þe lawe loketh lat falle on hem alle
and comaundid a Constable þat cam at þe firste
Go attache þo tyrauntes For any tresour y hote
Lat fetere falsnesse faste for any kynne ȝiftes
and girdeth of gyles heed last he[^164] go widdore[^165]
and bringeth mede to me  maugre hem alle
and yf ȝe lacchon lyare lat him not askape
dreyde maketh þe gyltye fle

[Uc.2.221: This marginal comment matches one in Crowley's second and third impressions, where it is attached to lines corresponding to Uc.2.222-23, Kane-Donaldson 2.208-11 (Crowley third impression, fol. 11r; image 19).]

ar he be put on þe pylory for any preyer ych hote
drede stoed at þe dore · and þe dene herde
what was þe kynges wille & wyghtlich he wente
and bad falsnesse to fle & his feres alle
falshod flyeth to the freres
[^166]Falsnesse for feer þo fley to þe freres
gyle is shut vppe in merchantes shops.
and gyle doþ him to gone agast forto deye
ac marchauntes mette wiþ him & made him a-byde
and by-shitton him in her shoppes to shewon her ware
and perayledon him lik here prentys þe peple to serue
lightlich lyare  leep awey þenne
Lurkyng þorgh lanes to-loggid of manye
he was nowgh-wher welcome for his many tales
Oueral yhoutid & yhote trusse

[^164: Uc.2.218: The st in last and the he have been written over an erasure in an anglicana hand that may or may not be that of the main text scribe. The e has a circular cursive form that is used by the main scribe later in the manuscript, where the writing is more hurried. See, for instance, fol. 18r, lines Uc.3.7-8, and fol. 55v, lines Uc.10.62-65.]

[^165: Uc.2.218: last he go widdore: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads lat hym goo no wyddore.]

[^166: Uc.2.225: A double virgule in the left margin marks a spot where a paraph marker should have been inserted.]

¶ Til pardoneres haddon pite on him & puldon him yn-to house
þey wosshon him & wipton him · & woundon him yn cloutes
lyar is pulde into pardoners house
and senton him on sonendayes with seles to chirche
and ȝaf pardown for pens pound-mele aboute
þenne loured leches & lettres þey senton
dwelleth with physycions potycaryes mystrelles my[n]strelles messengers & is fetched into the Freares .
þat lyare sholde wonye wiþ him watres to loke
Spiseres spekon to him to aspie her ware
For he can on her craft & knoweth many gommes
ac Mynstrals & Messangeres mette with lyare ones
and wythheldon him half-ȝeer & elleuen dayes
ac Freres þorgh Fair speche fetton him þennes
and for knowyng of comeres þey copedon him as a frere
ac he hath leue to lepe out  as ofte as him liketh
and ys welcome when he comeþ & woneth wiþ hem ofte
Symonye & syuile senton to Rome
and putte hem þorgh appeles in þe popes grace
ac conscience to þe kyng accused hem boþe
and saide sire kyng by crist but clerkes amende
þi kyngdom þorgh coueytise wol out of kynde wende
and holy chirche þorgh hem worth harmed for euere[^167]
alle Fledden for feer and flowon into hurnes
Saue mede þe mayde no mo durste abyde
ac trulich to telle she trembled for feer
and boþe wepte & wrong whan she was attached

[^167: Uc.2.253: The Russell-Kane apparatus is mistaken in listing Uc as defective here after harme.]

Passus tercius de visione vt prius

[^168] N ow is mede þe mayde & no mo of hem alle
þorgh bedels & bailifs ybrought byfore þe kyng
þe kyng calde a clerk y kan not his name
To taken mede þe mayde & makon hire at ese
y shal assaye hire my-self & sotilich oppose
what man of þis world þat leuest hire were
and yf she worche wisly & by wys counsel
y wole for-ȝiue hire alle hir gultes so me god helpe
courtis faire

[Uc.3.9: Hand16 writes courtisfaire without word separation.]

inbrasseth Meed · þe maid and setteth by hir .

[Uc.3.9: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Corteisliche þe clerk þenne  as þe kyng highte
Toek mede by þe myddel & myldelich hir broughte
yn to boure with blisse and by hire gan sitte
ac þere was myrthe & mynstralcye Mede to plese
þat wendith to westmynster worshepid here manye
gentillich wiþ ioye þe iustises somme
Bosked hem to þe bour þere þis buyrd dwelte
and counfortid hire as þey couthe by þe clerkes leue
and saydon mourne not med ne make þow no sorowe
For we wol wisse þe kyng & þi weye shape
forto wedde at þi wille wher þe leef likeþ
For al conciense cast & craft as y trowe
Mildeliche mede þenne merciede hem alle
Of here gret godnes & gaf hem vchone
Coupes of clene gold · coppes of suluer
Ringes wiþ Rubies & oþer riche ȝiftes
þe lest man of her mayne a motovn of gold
whenne þey laught[^169] her leue · at þis lady mede

[^168: Uc.3.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital here and extends from Uc.2.255 to the bottom of the side at Uc.3.4.]

[^169: Uc.3.26: laughte: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads had lauhte.]

¶ þenne come clerkes to counforte hire þe same
and bedon hire be blithe for we beth þin owne
Forto worche þi wille þe while our myght dureth[^170]
and mede hendelich bihight hem þe same
to loue hem lelliche & lordes to make
and purchace ȝou prouendres whil ȝour pens lasteþ
and bugge ȝou benefices pluralite to haue
and yn þe constorie at Court do calle ȝour names
shal no lewednes lette  þe clerk þat y louye
þat he ne worth first avaunsed · for y am byknowen
þere conyng clerkes sholon clocke by-hynde

[^170: Uc.3.29: our myght dureth: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þou myhte dure.]

¶ þenne com þere a confessour y-coped as a Frere
To mede þe mayde myldelich he sayde
þowgh lewed men & lered me me[n] haddon leyn by þe boþe
and falshed yfounde þe al this fourty wyntur
the freare / / shryveth Mede
y shal assoile þe my-self for a seem whete
and ȝit be þi bedeman & bring adown concience
among kynges & knyghtes & clerkes & þe like
Thenne mede for hire mysdedes to this frere knelede
Shrof hire of hire synne shameles y leue
Tolde him a tale & toek him a noble
forto ben hire bedeman & to bere wel hire arnde
among knyghtes & clerkes concience to turne
and he assoiled hire sone & sithon he sayde

¶ We han a wyndow aworching wol stond vs ful hie
wolde ȝe glase þat gable & graue þere ȝour name
yn masse & yn matyns for mede we shal synge
Solemplich & softlich as for a suster of oure ordre
Louelich þat lady laughing saide
nota Reade this syde
[^171]y shal be ȝour frend frere · and faile ȝou neuere
þe whiles þat ȝe louen þes Lordes þat leccherie haunteth
and lacketh nought þes ladyes þat louyeth þe same
hit is but frelte of flesh ȝe fyndeth wel by bokes
and acours a cours of kynde wher-of we comen alle
who may askape þe sclaunder · þe skaþe myght sone be[^172] mendid
hit is but originall sinne of frailtie sonne pardoned / seuenne · sinne [s] drawne out of Adams loines

[Uc.3.62: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

hit is synne as of seuenne noen sonnere relesed
haueþ mercy quod mede on men þat hit haunteth
and y shal couere ȝour kirke & ȝour cloyster make
boþe wyndowes & wowes · y wol amende & glase
nota
and peynte & portrayen who payde for þe makyng
þat euery seg shal see y am a suster of ȝour ordre
ac god to alle goed folk such grauyng defendith[^173]
the deuosion of Supersticion
To writon on wyndowes of any wel-dedes
an auntur pruyde be peyntid þere & pomp of þe world
For god knoweth þi conscience[^174]& who þe catel oughte
For-þi leue lordes leueth such writinges
God in þe gospel such grauyng not alloueth
[^175] Nesciat dextera quid faciat sinistra
Lat not þin lifte hand oure lord techeth
ywite what þow delest wiþ þi right side

[^171: Uc.3.56: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the left margin spans lines Uc.3.41-69.]

[^172: Uc.3.61: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^173: Uc.3.68: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the style of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.3.68-69.]

[^174: Uc.3.71: Russell-Kane inserts the following as the last half of line 71 and the first half of 72: and þy kynde wille, / Thi cost and here couetyse]

[^175: Uc.3.74: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

¶ ȝit mede þe mair myldelich by-soughte
boþe shirreues & seriauntz & such as kepeth lawes
To punyshon vpon pylories & vppon pynnyng stoles
three Bees thatt stinge the poore & nedy
as bakers & brewers bochers & cokes[^176]
For þise men don most harm to þe mene peple
Riche men þorgh regratrie rentes hem biggeth
with þat þe pore peple shold putte on[^177] her wombe
For took þey on trewly þey tymberede not so hie
Ne boughte none burgages be ȝe ful certeyn
Ne þey han no pite on þe peple þat parselmel mot bigge
and þogh þey take hem vntidy thing no tresoun þei ne holde hit
and þough þei fillon not ful þe mesure  þat for lawe is seled
he gripeth þerfore agret[^178] · as for þe grayth treuþe
Many sondry sorowes in Citees falleth ofte
boþe þorgh fuyr & þorgh floed · al þorgh fals peple
þat bygileth gode men & greueth hem wrongly
þe whiche þat crien on her knees · þat crist hem avenge
here on þis erthe or elles yn helle
þat so bigileth hem of her goed þat god on hem sende
Feuere or[^179]myschaunce · & many tymes hit falleth
þat innocence is yherd yn heuene among seyntes
our lady a Mediator
þat louton for hem to oure lord & to our lady bothe[^180]
Graunte gyloures on erthe grace to amende
and haue her penaunce on puyr erthe & not þe peyne of helle
and þenne falleþ þe fuyr on fals men houses
and gode mennes for here gultes gloweþ on fuyr after
al þis haue we seyn þat som tyme þorgh a brewer
Many burgages ybrent & bodyes þerinne
and þorgh acandel a candel clemyng in acorsed a corsed place
Fel adown & forbrente forth al þe rewe

[^176: Uc.3.80: a horizontal line and an x made by hand16 link this poetic line to the comment in the right margin.]

[^177: Uc.3.83: on: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads in.]

[^178: Uc.3.89: MED agret: "In great quantity . . . wholesale."]

[^179: Uc.3.96: Russell-Kane here includes the following text, indicating that its omission is unique to MS Uc: foule euel other fuyr on here houses, / Morreyne or other]

[^180: Uc.3.98: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

¶ For-þi maires þat makeþ fre men me þinkeþ þat ȝe oughton
For to spure & to aspie for any speche of suluer
what manere mustre oþer marchaundise he vsed
ar he were vnder-Fonge fre & felaw in ȝour rolles
hit is not semly for soþe in Citee ne in borogh-town
Against vsereres & Regraders Ifrancheised .

[Uc.3.112: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

þat vsereres or regraters for any kynne ȝiftes
be yfraunchised for a freman · and[^181] haue a fals name
ac mede þe maide þe mair she bisoughte
of alle such sullers suluer to take
Or presentes wiþ-oute pens and oþer priue ȝiftes
haueþ[^182] reuthe on regrateres þat han riche handes
[^183] In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt
Meed corr upteth

[Uc.3.119: Hand16 (Francis Aiscough) uses a double hyphen in the form of an equals sign to show the line-end division of the word corrupteth, as "corr=upteth."]

all estaits

[Uc.3.119: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^184]Loue hem for my loue quod this lady mede
and soffre hem somtyme to selle aȝen þe lawe
Salamon þe sage a sermoun he made
yn amendement of maires & oþer stywardes
and witnesseþ what worth of[^185] hem þat wolon take mede
[^186] Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera
among þes lettered lordes þis latyn is to mene
þat fuyr shal falle & forbrenne alto al to blo askes
þe houses & þe homes of hem þat takeþ ȝiftes

[^181: Uc.3.113: The text scribe appears to have written the first letter in and as an n and then modified it into an a by adding a stroke that did not quite manage to make it a two-compartment letter.]

[^182: Uc.3.117: haueþ: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Haue.]

[^183: Uc.3.118: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^184: Uc.3.119: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^185: Uc.3.123: Over the o in of, the text scribe has written what appears to be an otiose er abbreviation-stroke.]

[^186: Uc.3.124: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

¶ þe kyng from counsel cam & cald after mede
and sente to see hire y might not see þat ladde hire
for curteisliche þe kyng as kynde wolde
lacked hire a litel wight for þat she loued gyle
and wilned to be yweddid with-outon his leue
and til treuthe hadde ytold hire atokene a tokene from him-selue
and saide vnwittiliche womman wrought hast þow ofte
and many agult a gult y haue þe forgyue and my grace graunted
Boþe to þe & to þine in hope þow shost amende
and ay þe lengur y late þe go þe lasse truthe is wiþ þe
For worse wroughtest þou neuere þen now þo þow fals toek
ȝit y forgyue þe þis gult · godes forbode any more
þow tene me & truthe & þou mowe be atake
yn þe castel of Corf y shal do close as an ancre
Or yn a wel worse[^187] oen[^188] by seynt mary my lady
Meed shulde be married to truth and reason or consience but Refusseth them all to take crafte

[Uc.3.143: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

þat alle wantoune wymine shal be war by þe one[^189]
and biturlich banne þe & alle þat bereth þi name
and teche þe to loue truthe & take counsel of resoun
y haue a knyght conscience cam late fram by-ȝonde
yf he wilneth þe to wyue wolt þou him haue
ȝe lord quod þat lady · lord hit me forbede
But y be holly at þin heest lat hange me elles

[^187: Uc.3.142: Hand1 has written the w in worse over an erasure.]

[^188: Uc.3.142: oen: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads wone.]

[^189: Uc.3.143: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin in the form of triple stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.3.143-45.]

nota

[^190] ¶ þenne was conscience y-cald to come & appere
byfore þe kyng & his counsel as clerkes & oþere
knelinge conscience to þe king lowtid
what his wille were & what he do sholde
wolt þou wedde this mede  yf y wole assente
For she is fayn of þi felawshipe & forto be þi make
Quod conscience to þe kyng to þe kyng crist hit me forbede
ar y wedde such a wif wo me bytide
Meed is fauls of faith and ficle of tonge
for she is freel of hire faith & fikel of hir tunge
and maketh[^191] mys-do many score tymes
yn trist of hire tresour she teneth ful manye
wyues & wedowes wantonnesse she techeth
and lereth hem to leccherie þat louyeth here ȝiftes
ȝour fader she[^192] felde fals & she to-gyders
she haþ appoysouned popes · she appeireþ holy churche
Meed a common Strumpitt

[Uc.3.165: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

ys not a bettere baude by him þat me made[^193]
Bytwene heuen & helle & erthe þough men soughte
For she is tikel of hire tail talewys of tunge
and comune as þe Cart way to knaues & to alle
To monkes to alle men ȝe mysels in hegges
liggeth by here when hem lust · lered & lewed
sisoures & somnoures siche hire preyseth
Shirreues of shires wern shent if she ne were
For she doth me[^194] leson here lond & here lif boþe
she lat passe prisounes paieth for hem ofte
and gyneth þe gayleres gold & grotes to-giders
To vnfetere þe false & fle where him liketh
and taketh truthe bi þe top & techeþ him falstee
and hangeth him for hetrede þat harmed neuere
To be cursed in þe constorie a counteth not arusshe a russhe
For she copeth þe comissarie & cotiþ his clerkes
she is assoiled þus sone as hire self liketh
she may ny as myche do yn a monthe ones
as ȝour secret seel yn six score daies
Meed þe Pops Darlinge and the Prestes Baude

[Uc.3.184: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

she is priue with þe pope prouysoures hit knoweth[^195]
for symonye & hire-selue seleth here bulles
she blessith þise bishopes þough þei ben ny lewed
she prouendrith persones & prestes she maynteneþ
To holde lemmans & lotebies al here lif-dayes
and bringeth forth barnes aȝen forbodon lawes
[^196] Sunt infelices quia matres sunt meretrices
wo to that realme where Meed Mastereth

[Uc.3.191: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

þere she is wel wiþ any kyng wo is þat reume
for she is fauerable to þe false þe whiche defouleth truþe
By Iesus wiþ hire iewels þe iustises she shendith
she liþ aȝen þe lawe & lettiþ him þe gate
þat faiþ may not haue his forþ hir floreyns go so thicke
and ledith þe lawe as hir lust & louedaies makeþ
þorgh whiche louedayes is lost  þat lewte myght wynne
þe mase for a mene man þough he mote euere
Lawe is so lordlich & loþ to make any ende
wiþ-outon presentes oþer pens he pleseth ful fewe
trewe burgeys & bonde he bringeþ to nought ofte
and al þe comune in care & in coueytise

[^190: Uc.3.150: Sidelining in the left margin by hand16 spans lines Uc.3.150-91.]

[^191: Uc.3.159: maketh: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads maketh men.]

[^192: Uc.3.163: Hand1 has written she over an erasure.]

[^193: Uc.3.165: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.3.165-68.]

[^194: Uc.3.173: The text scribe frequently uses me for men where the word has the function of an indefinite pronoun: cf. Uc.5.56, Uc.9.133, Uc.9.137, Uc.9.138, Uc.9.309, Uc.11.32. See MED me pron. (1). In one instance where the word is clearly not an indefinite pronoun, at Uc.3.40, the scribe's me is best interpreted as an error of inadvertence involving omission of an abbreviation-stroke. Here at Uc.3.173, although the Russell-Kane apparatus suggests that me is a reading unique to MS Uc, the grammatical context permits the plural indefinite pronoun, so it is probably best interpreted as scribally intentional rather than inadvertent.]

[^195: Uc.3.184: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.3.184-89.]

[^196: Uc.3.190: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

¶ religioun he al to-reueth & out of reule to libbe
þer nys Citee vnder sonne ne noen so riche reume
þere he ys allowed & ylete by þat laste shal any while
wiþ-outon werre othir wo othir wicked lawes
and custumes of coueytise þe comune to destruye
vnsittinge suffraunce hir suster & hir-sulue
han al-mest maed but marie þe helpe
þat Lond ne loueþ þe[^197] & ȝut lest thin owne
For clerkes & coueytise mede haþ knyt togyders
þe clergie with Meed are turned into gyle . /
þat al þe wit of þe world ys waxen in-to gyle[^198]
þus lereth þis lady þi lond now lord ȝiue hire sorowe
For pore men dar not pleyne ne no pleynt shewe
such a maister is mede among men of gode

[^197: Uc.3.210: Russell-Kane: That no lond ne loueth the.]

[^198: Uc.3.212: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

Meeds fained Annswere to the kinge

¶ þenne mournede Mede & Meued hir to þe kyng
To haue space to speke spede if she myghte
þe kyng grauntid hire grace wiþ a goed wille
excuse þe if þow canst y can no more segge
For conscience accuseþ the to congeie þe for euere
Nay lord quod þat lady leueth him worse
when ȝe witon witturly in whom þe wrong þe liggeþ[^199]
þere þat myschef ys gret Mede may helpe
and þat þou knowest conscience y cam not[^200] to chide
Ne depraue þi persone wiþ aproud a proud herte
wel þow wost weye but yf þow wolt gabbe
þow hast hanged on myn half elleuen tyme
and also gripon my golt[^201][^202] & gyuon hit where þe licked
whi þow wrathest þe now wonder me thinketh
ȝut y may as y myghte menske þe wiþ ȝiftes
and mayntene þi manhed more þen þow knowest
ac þou hast famed me foule byfore þe kyng here
for kulde y neuere no kyng ne counseled so to done
ac y haue saued my-sel[^203][^204] sixti thousand lyues
Bothe here & elles-where &[^205] alle kynne londes
ac þow þi-self soþly who hit segge durste
hast arwed many an hardy man þat hadde wille to fighte
To berenne[^206][^207] & to brunte[^208][^209] & bete adown strengthes[^210]
yn cuntrees þere þe kyng cam conscience him lette
þat he ne felde not his foes þo fortune wolde
and as his werdes wer ordeyned at þe wille of oure lord
Peers liued in Henri the sixt his daies who lost his heritage in fraunce which his father had wonne
[^211]kaitiflich þou conscience counseledest þe kyng leton
yn his enemyes handes his heritage of fraunce
vnconyng is þat conscience a kingdom to selle
For þat conquereþ þorgh a comune helpur[^212] a kingdom or a duchye
hit may not be sold so lightly so many part asketh
Of folk þat faught þerfore & folowed þe kynges wille
þe leste ladde þat longeth wiþ him be þe lond ywonne
Loketh after lordship othir large mede
wher-by he may as aman a man euere-more lyue after
and þat is þe kynde of a kyng þat conquereþ on his enemyes
To helpe hilich al his oest or elles graunte
al þat his men may wynne do þere-wiþ here beste
For-thi y counsel no kyng any counsel aske at conscience[^213]
þat coueyteth to conquere a reume

[^199: Uc.3.222: þe liggeþ: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads liggeth.]

[^200: Uc.3.224: The word not has been overtraced.]

[^201: Uc.3.228: The scribe's form golt for gold is attested in the MED only as the first element in a compound word.]

[^202: Uc.3.228: golt: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads gold.]

[^203: Uc.3.234: For another example of this form of self, see Uc.8.121.]

[^204: Uc.3.234: sel: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads selue.]

[^205: Uc.3.235: &: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads in.]

[^206: Uc.3.238: berenne: Presumably this represents MED birinnen, "To run (around sth.); dash at (sb.), attack," though such a reading fits the meter much worse than would beren or brenne.]

[^207: Uc.3.238: berenne: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads berne.]

[^208: Uc.3.238: MED bronten v. "(a) to move suddenly, rush; (b) to attack." The earliest citation there listed is 1440.]

[^209: Uc.3.238: brunte: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads bruttene.]

[^210: Uc.3.238: Hand1 has written the r of strengthes over an original e.]

[^211: Uc.3.242: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin in the form of triple stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.3.242-49.]

[^212: Uc.3.245: helpur: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads helpe.]

[^213: Uc.3.254: One can see by the meter that the scribe has mislineated here. Russell-Kane puts at conscience at the beginning of the following line, noting the mislineation as unique to MS Uc.]

¶ For sholde neuere conscience be my constable wer y akyng a kyng quod[^214] Mede
nota ·
[^215]Ne be Marchal ouere my men þere y moste fighte
ac hadde y mede ben his marchal ouer his men yn fraunce
y durste haue yleid my lif & noen lasse wed
he sholde haue be lord of þat lond · yn lengþe & in brede
king henri the 6 · was a simpell Religious man , which was the loose of his fathers heritage in Fraunce

[Uc.3.261: This marginal comment begins with the first word king in the right margin of the last line and continues across the bottom margin. The first word, king, is linked to line Uc.3.261 by an x at the end of the poetic line and a line drawn to link the x to the marginal comment. The entire comment is bounded at the lower right by a line slanting from lower right to upper left, drawn by hand16.]

and also kyng of þat kith his kyn forto helpe
þe leste brolle of his bloed abarownes a barownes pere
vnconyngliche conscience counseledest him þenne
To lete so his lordshipe for alitel a litel mone
hit bycomeþ for akyng a kyng þat shal kepe a revme
To ȝiue men mede þat mekelich him serueth
To aliens & to alle men to honoure hem wiþ ȝiftes
Medemakeþ Mede makeþ him beloued & for a man yholde
Emperoures & Erles and alle manere lordes
þorgh ȝiftes han ȝeuon[^216] to ȝerne & to ridie
the Pope reneth by corrupcion of Meed

[Uc.3.271: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

þe pope & alle prelates presentes vnderfonge[^217]
and ȝiuen mede to men to meyntene her lawes
seruantes for her seruise mede þei asken
and taken mede of here maistres · as þey mown acorde
Boþe beggeres & bedemen crauen mede for her preyeres
Mynstrals for here mynstralcie amede a mede þei askon
Maistres þat kenneþ clerkes craueþ þerfore mede
Prestes þat prechon and þe pepel techon
askon mede & masse-pens & here mete boþe
alle kynne crafty men crauen mede for here prentises
Marchaundise & mede mot nedes to-giders
ys no lede þat liueth þat he ne loueþ mede
and glad forto gripe hire gret lord oþer pore
Meed prefared by þe kinge , before consience
[^218]Quod þe kyng[^219] to conscience by crist as me þinkeþ[^220]
Mede is worthi þe maistrye to haue

[^214: Uc.3.256: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^215: Uc.3.257: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin in the form of triple stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.3.256-60.]

[^216: Uc.3.270: Russell-Kane: ȝemen (i.e. yeomen).]

[^217: Uc.3.271: An x and a horizontal line link this poetic line to the comment in the right margin.]

[^218: Uc.3.284: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.3.284-85. A CC-style pointer, apparently done by hand16, lies outside the bracket at its upper left and designates the same lines.]

[^219: Uc.3.284: The y in kyng has a looped tail that is unusual for hand1.]

[^220: Uc.3.284: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.3.284-85.]

¶ Nay quod conscience to þe kyng clerkes weton þe soþe
þat mede is euermore a mayntenour of gyle
as þe sauter saith by such þat ȝiuon mede
þat vnlaufulliche lyuen han large hondes
To ȝiue men mede more othir lasse
ac þer is mede & mercede & bothe men demon
a desert for sum doyng derne othir[^221] elles
Mede many tymes · men ȝiueth byfore þe deyng doyng
and þat is nouthir resoun ne right ne in no rewme lawe
þat any man mede toek but he hit might deserue
and forto vndertake to trauele for a noþer anoþer
and woet neuere witturly whethir he lyue so Longe
Ne haue happe to his hele mede to deserue
y halde him ouerhardy or elles not trewe
þat pre manibus is payd or his paye asketh
harlotes & hores & also walshe leches
þey askon her huyre ar þey hit haue deserued
As gyloures gyuon bifore & gode men at þe ende
when þe dede is ydo & þe day endid
and þat is no mede but a mercede amanere a manere due dette
and but hit be prestly payd þe payer is to blame
as by þe boek þat bit no-body with-holde
þe huyre of his hewe ouer euen til a-morowe
[^222] Non morabitur opus mersenarii & cetera
and þere is resoun as a reue rewarding truthe
þat boþe þe lord & þe laborer ben lelly y-serued
þe mede þat many prestes takeþ for masses þat þei singeth
Reward of masse prestes .
Amen amen Mathew seith · Mercedem suam recipiunt
yn marchaundise ys no mede y may hit wel a-vowe
hit is as a permutacion apertly  oen penyworþ for anoþer
and þough þe kyng of his curtesie kaiser or pope
Ȝiue lond or lordshipe or oþer large ȝiftes
To here lele and lege  loue þe cause
and yf þo lele & lege be  lethir men after
Boþe king & kaiser & þe crouned pope
May disauowe[^223] þat þey dide & doþerwiþ do þerwiþ a noþer anoþer
and byreue[^224] hit hem a-noen and neuermore after
Nother eny of her heires hardy to claymon
þat king oþer kaiser hem gaf catelle oþer rente
[^225]For god gaf salamon  grace vpon erthe
Richesse & resoun þe while he right lyuede
and as sone as god say he sewed not his wille
He refte him of his richesse and of his right mynde
and soffred him lyue in mysbileue y leue he be yn helle
Sallomons Sauluacion dobtefull . ~ ~

[^221: Uc.3.292: The ne in derne and the word othir appear to have been written over an erasure.]

[^222: Uc.3.309: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^223: Uc.3.321: Disauowe is written over an erasure.]

[^224: Uc.3.322: byreue: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads bynyme.]

[^225: Uc.3.325: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.3.325-29.]

¶ So god gyueth no thing þat Si ne is þe glose
and Right so soþly so may a[^226] kyng & a pope[^227]
Boþe gyue & graunte þere his grace liketh
and eft haue hit aȝen of hem þat don ille
þus is Mede & Mercede as to manere relaciones
[^228] Rect and Indirect renninde bothe
on asad a sad & a siker semblable to him-selue
ac adiectif & sustantif vnite asken
and acordaunce yn kynde yn cas and in noumbre
and aither is oþeres help of hem cometh retribucioun
and þat þe gifte þat god ȝiueth to alle leel lyuinge
Grace of goed ende & gret ioye after
[^229] Retribuere dignare domine deus & cetera ·[^230]
quod þe kyng to conscience knowen ych wolde
what is relacion rect & indirect after
and þenne adiectif & sustantif for english was hit neuere
Relacion Rect quod conscience ys a record of truthe
[^231] Quia ante late rei est recordatiuum
folowynge & findinge out þe foundament of strengthe
and stifly stande forþ to strengthe þe foundement
yn kynde & in cas & yn þe cours of nombre
as a lele labourer bileueth þat his maister
yn his paie & yn his pite & in his puyr truthe
To paie him yf he perfourme & haue pite if he faileth
and take him for his trauaile al þat truþe wolde
So of holy herte cometh hope & hardy relacioun
Sekeþ and sueth his sustantif sauacioun
þat is god þe ground of al a gracious antecedent
and man is relatif rect yf be[^232] right trewe
he acordeþ wiþ crist in kynde verbum caro factum est
yn case in ecclesia in holichurche to bileue
In nombre Rote & arise & remissioun to haue
Of oure sory synnes to be assoiled and clansid
and lyue as oure crede vs kenneþ with crist with -outen ende
þis is relacion rect right as adiectif & sustantif
acordeth yn alle kyndes wiþ his antecedent
Indirect þing as who-so coueytid
alle kynne kynde to knowe & to folowe
and with-oute cause to cacche & to come to boþe nombres
yn whiche ben gode & not gode & graunte her neyþer wille
and þat is not resounable ne rect · to refuse my sire name
sithe y am his sone & his seruaunt · sewe for his right

[^226: Uc.3.331: so may a: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads may.]

[^227: Uc.3.331: a pope: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads pope.]

[^228: Uc.3.335: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin words here.]

[^229: Uc.3.342: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^230: Uc.3.342: The red underlining at this line ends with a spiral flourish extending diagonally upward and to the right.]

[^231: Uc.3.347: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^232: Uc.3.358: Russell-Kane: yf he be.]

¶ For who-so wolde to wif haue my wordlich[^233] doughtur
y wolde feffe him wiþ al hir fair & wiþ al hire foul tailende
So indirect ys in-lyche to coueyte
To acorde in al kynde  & yn al kynne nombre
with-outon cost & care & al kyn trauaile
ac relacion rect is a rightful custome
as a kyng to clayme þe comune at his wille
To folowe & to fynde him & seche at hem his counsel
þat here loue to his lawe þorgh al þe lond acorde
So comune claymeth of a kyng þre kynne thinges
lawe leue[^234] & lewte · and him lord antecedent
boþe heued & here kyng · halding with no partie
Bot standing as a stake þat stiked yn a myre
Bytwene two Lordes for a trewe mark
hipocreticall pueritans are Indirecte
[^235]ac þe moste partie of þe pepel now  puyr indirect semeþ[^236]
For þei wilnen & woldon · as best were for hem-seluon
þough þe kyng & þe comvne al cost[^237] hadde
such inperfit peple repreueth al resoun
and halt hem vnstedefast for hem lackeþ case[^238]
as relaciouns indirect reccheþ þei neuere
of þe cours of case · so þei cacche suluer
Be þe peccunie ypaid · two[^239] parties chide
he þat mede may lacche makeþ litel tale
Nyme he anombre a nombre of nobles or of shelinges
how þat cliauntes acordeþ acounteþ mede litel
ac adiectif & sustantif is as y er tolde
þat is vnite acordaunce yn case yn gendre & nombre[^240]
and is to nempne in our mouth more ne mynne
But þat alle manere men wymmen & childron
sholde confourme hem to oen kynde on holy kirke to bileue
and coueite þe case when þei couthe vnderstond
To sike for her synnes · & soffre harde penaunces
for þat lordes loue þat for oure loue diede
and coueitid oure kynde & be cald yn our name
[^241] deus homo & nyme him[^242] into owre nombre now & euer more Qui in caritate manet in deo manet & deus in eo[^243]
þus is man & mankynde yn manere of an sustantif
as hic & hec homo askyng[^244] an adiectif
Of þre trewe termysounes trinitas[^245] vnus deus
[^246] Nominatiuo pater & filius & spiritus sanctus
ac who-so rat of regum rede ne me[^247] may of mede
how she absolon to hangyng broughte

[^233: Uc.3.372: See MED and OED for spellings of worldly without the l, as also LALME 4.86. Cf. also Uc.10.93, Uc.12.254, and Uc.21.299. The Russell-Kane edition gives the reading here as worliche, following MS X, as do Schmidt and Pearsall; Kane, Pearsall, and the MED gloss this as a form of worthli, from OE weorþlic, which Kane glosses here as "beautiful" and Pearsall as "worthy, excellent." No matter which reading is preferable in light of all the MS evidence, the Uc text scribe arguably understood the word here as worldly. The other word, worthli, he spells worthily at Uc.8.9. His spelling wordlich, as used here, clearly indicates the word worldly at Uc.10.93, Uc.12.254, and Uc.21.299, though he also gives the spellings worldliche at Uc.21.292 and worldly at Uc.22.211. The meaning "worldly" is also possible here: since Langland is using an earthly analogy to illustrate a concept of relacoun indirect that has spiritual applications, one could construe the text here as meaning "my earthly daughter."]

[^234: Uc.3.382: Russell-Kane: loue.]

[^235: Uc.3.386: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^236: Uc.3.386: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^237: Uc.3.388: cost: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads the coest.]

[^238: Uc.3.390: The red underlining here ends with a rightward spiral flourish.]

[^239: Uc.3.393: two: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads thow.]

[^240: Uc.3.398: The red underlining here ends with a rightward spiral flourish.]

[^241: Uc.3.406: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^242: Uc.3.406: The red underlining under & nyme him is faded by rubbing, perhaps a deliberate attempt at erasure.]

[^243: Uc.3.406: Russell-Kane separates the Latin tags here from the English, thus rendering this line as lines RK3.402α, 403, and 403α.]

[^244: Uc.3.408: The kyng in askyng appears darker, as if re-inked.]

[^245: Uc.3.409: The tri in trinitas appears darker, as if re-inked.]

[^246: Uc.3.410: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^247: Uc.3.411: ne: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads me.]

[^248] ¶ and sithe for saul saued a kyng for mede
Agaynes godes comaundement god toek such a vengeaunce
þat saul for þat synne & his sone dyede
Dauid caulled a knaue . becausse he was Sauls man . not that he was one . butt by-cause he was A Shepperd
[^249]and ȝaf þe kyngdom to his knaue þat kepte shep & lambron
as me n[^250] redes in regum after ruth of kynges
how god sente to saul by samuel þe prophete

[^248: Uc.3.413: A double virgule in the left margin marks the insertion-point for the blue paraph sign.]

[^249: Uc.3.416: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.3.416-17.]

[^250: Uc.3.417: The abbreviation-stroke representing the n in men has been added by the same hand that makes the supralinear correction redes following. The hand is distinguished from the main text hand only by being in a smaller script made by a thinner pen with less contrast of thick and thin.]

¶ þat agag of amalek & al his lege peple
sholden dye derfly for dedes of here eldres
saul quod samuel god him-self hoteth
To be buxum at my bidding his loue to fulfille
haste þe with al þin oest to þe lond of amalek
and alle þat liueth on þat lond our lord wole þat þou sle hit
Man womman & wif child wedowe & bestes
þat dwelleþ in amalek mebles & vnmebles
Man & alle þinges brenne hit bere hit not awey be hit neuere so riche
For any Mede of money al þat þow mayst[^251][^252]
spille &[^253] spare hit not · & þow shalt spede þe bettere

[^251: Uc.3.428: The phrase þat þow mayst appears to have been written over an erasure.]

[^252: Uc.3.428: mayst: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads myhte fynde; Schmidt and Pearsall, myhte.]

[^253: : According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads hit.]

[^254] ¶ and for he coueitide here catelle and þe king spared
for-bare him & his beste bestes as þe bible witnesseþ
Othir-wise þen god wolde warned him by þe prophete
God saide to samuel þat saul sholde dye
and al ys for þat synne  shentfoliche ended[^255]
þus was kyng saul ouercome þorgh coueitise of mede
þat god for euere & alle here eyres after
þe culorum of þis caes kepe y not to shewe
an aunter hit noyede me noen ende wol y make
for so is þe world went wiþ hem þat han power
þat he þat saiþ men sothest is sonnest yblamed
I conscience knowe this for kynde wit me taughte
þat resoun shal regne & reumes gouerne
and right as agag hadde  happe shal somme
Samuel shal sle him & saul shal be yblamed
and dauid shal be ydeademed & adaunte alle oure enemys
and oen cristene kyng kepe vs vchone
shal no mede be maister neuere more after
ac loue & lowenesse · and leute to-giders
þo shal be maistres on molde trewe men to helpe
and so[^256] takeþ aȝen truthe · or transuerseþ aȝenes resoun
lewte shal do him lawe · and noen lif elles
shal noen ser iant for þat seruice · weron aselk a selk houue
Ne pelure in his panyloun[^257] for pleding at þe barre

[^254: Uc.3.430: A double virgule in the left margin marks the insertion-point for the blue paraph sign.]

[^255: Uc.3.434: ended: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ende.]

[^256: Uc.3.450: so: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads hoso.]

[^257: Uc.3.453: panyloun: facing. For this reading, as cf. Pearsall's and Schmidt's paueloun, see George Kane, "Word Games: Glossing Piers Plowman," New Perspectives on Middle English Texts: A Festschrift for R. A. Waldron, ed. Susan Powell and Jeremy J. Smith (Cambridge, England, 2000), pp. 51-52.]

nota
¶ Miche euel þorgh mede  many ysoffred[^258]
and lettiþ þe lawe  þorgh hire many[^259] ȝiftes
Love & Conscyence shall make Lawe a Laborer . /
ac kynde loue shal come ȝit and conscience to-giders[^260]
and make of lawe alaborer a laborer such loue shal arise
and such pees among þe peple & a perfit truthe
þe Iewes muste be conuerted to the faith before this tyme

[Uc.3.459: The marginal comment here is bounded above and below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^261] þat iewes shal wene in here wit  & wexen so glade[^262]
þat here kyng be come from þe court of heuene
þe whiche moyses or messie  þat men ben so trewe
For alle þat beren baselard  bright swerd oþer launce
ax oþer hachet or any-kynne wepene
shal be demed to þe deth but yf he do hit smythie
yn-to sikel or in-to sithe · to shar outhir culter
[^263] Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres & lanceas suas in falces
vch man to pleye with a plough · apikoise a pikoise oþer a spade
Spynne or speke of god & spille no tyme
Prestes & persounes placebo & dirige
here sauter & here seuen spalmes[^264] for alle synful preyon
haukyng or huntyng yf any of hem hit vse
shal lese þerfore his liflode & his lif peraunter
The reformed clergie shall rule the kinge

[Uc.3.473: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

shal neuere kyng ne knyght Constable ne mair
ouer-carke þe comvne ne to þe court sompne
Ne putte men yn panelle · to do men plight her truthe
But after þe dede þat is do · þe doem shal recorde
Mercy or no mercy as moest trewe acordon
[^265] kynges court & comvn court Constorie & chapitre
siuill lawe taken clene away for sellinge of Sinne ·

[Uc.3.479: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Al shal be but a couert · & oen buyern be iustice[^266]
and þat worþ trewe tonge atidy a tidy man þat tened me neuere[^267]
Batailles shol neuere eft be · ne man bere egge-toel
and yf any smyth smythe hit be smyte þerwiþ to deþe
[^268] Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium nec excercebuntur vltra ad prelium
nota
ac ar þis fortune falle fynde me shal þe worste
a propheci
Be sixe sonnes in a ship & half a shef of arowes
and þe croek of a mone shal make þe iewes turne
þe Iewes þe Sophic and the Turcke shal be con= uertet to þe faith
and sarisenes for þat sight shal synge credo in spiritum sanctum
For makamet & mede · & myshappe[^269] þat tyme
[^270] Quia melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe
as wroth as wynd wax mede þere-after
Lo what salamon saith quod she yn sapiense in þe bible
þat ȝiueth ȝiftes taketh yeme · þe vyctorie he wynneth
and myche worship þerwith · as holy writ telleth
[^271] Honorem adquiret qui dat munera
y leue the lady quod conscience · for þat latyn ys trewe
þow art lik a lady þat a lessoun radde
was omnia probate þat plesid hire herte
þat leef was noen lengur · and at þe leues ende
ac hadde she loked yn þe lift half & þe leef turned
she sholde haue yfounde felle wordes after[^272]
[^273] Quod bonum est tenete atixt a tixt of truthes makyng
So who-so techeth sapience fynde he shal þat foloweþ
a ful teneful tixt to hem þat taketh mede
þe which þat hatte as y haue rad · anoþer þat can rede
[^274] animam aufert accipiencium
worshipe he wynneth þat wole ȝiue mede
ac he þat resceyueth hire or recheþ hire is recetour of gile

[^258: Uc.3.454: Russell-Kane: Muchel euel is thorw mede mony tymes ysoffred. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, the omission of tymes is unique to Uc; the omission of is is shared with Dc.]

[^259: Uc.3.455: many: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads large.]

[^260: Uc.3.456: Sidelining in the right margin by hand15 spans lines Uc.3.453-81.]

[^261: Uc.3.459: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.3.459-60.]

[^262: Uc.3.459: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.3.459-60.]

[^263: Uc.3.466: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^264: Uc.3.470: For this spelling of psalme, see MED s.v. Cf. the same spelling at Uc.5.49.]

[^265: Uc.3.478: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.3.478-79.]

[^266: Uc.3.478: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.3.478-79.]

[^267: Uc.3.480: An extra minim on the n is overwritten by the e.]

[^268: Uc.3.483: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^269: Uc.3.488: Russell-Kane: Machameth and mede shal mishap.]

[^270: Uc.3.489: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^271: Uc.3.494: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^272: Uc.3.500: felle wordes after: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads felle wordes folwynge aftur. Schmidt, and Pearsall: folwynge felle wordes aftur.]

[^273: Uc.3.501: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^274: Uc.3.505: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

Passus quartus de visione vt prius

[^275] S ithe saide þe kyng y soffre ȝou no lengur
ȝe shal saughtne forsoþe & serue me bothe
kisse hire quod þe king conscience y hote
Nay by crist quod conscience congeye me rathir
But resoun rede me þertil · rathir wolde y dye
and y comaunde quod þe kyng to conscience thenne
Rape þe to ride & resoun þat þow seche
Comaunde him þat he come my counsel to here
For he shal rule my reme & rede me þe beste
Of mede & of mo oþere & what man shal hire wedde
and acounte wiþ þe conscience so me crist helpe
how þou ledest my peple lered & lewed
y am fayn of þat foreward · yn faiþ þo quod conscience
and roed forth to resoun · & rovned in his ere
and saide him as þe kyng saide · & þenne he toek his leue
y shal araye me to ride quod resoun · reste þe while
and calde Catoun his knaue  curteys of speche
and also Tomme true tonge telle me no tales
Ne lesinges to laugh of · for y loued hit neuere
and sette my sadel vpon suffre til y se my tyme
and lat warrok him weel · wiþ a-vise þe bifore
For hit is þe wone of wille  to wense & to kike
For-þi lat peiterele wil & pole him with peyntid wittes

[^275: Uc.4.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital here and extends from Uc.3.505 to the bottom of the folio at Uc.4.5.]

¶ Thenne conscience on his capel comsed to prike
and resoun wiþ him right  remyng[^276][^277] to-gyders
which a maister mede was amonges pore & riche

[^276: Uc.4.24: MED remen v.(4), "shout (sth.), call out."]

[^277: Uc.4.25: remyng: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads rounynge.]

¶ Oen waryn wisman & wyly man his felawe
Fayn wern to folowe hem & faste ridon after
To take reed of resoun þat recorde sholde
Byfore þe kyng & conscience  yf þe comvne pleyne
Oen wyly man & witty man  & wareyn wringe-lawe
ac conscience knew hem wel & carped to resoun
here comeþ quod conscience þat coueitise seruon
Ride forþ sire resoun & recch of here tales[^278]
For þere is wrathe & wranglyng · þere woln þey abyde
ac þere is loue & lewte hit liketh here hertes[^279]
nota / { Thus farr of prophises yet to come all the reste followinge are past sauing the fall of þe lawe and Bishopps nowe at hande . } Scriptus 1603
[^280] Contricio & infelicitas in vijs eorum & viam pacis non cognouerunt non est timor dei ante oculos eorum
þey gyue not of goed faiþ woet god þe soþe
For þey wolde do for a dyner · outhir a dozene capouns
More þen for oure lordes loue · oþer our lady godes moder
þenne resoun roed forth · & rewardid[^281] of no man
Bud But dide as conscience him kenned · til he þe kyng mette
Curteislich þe kyng þenne cam & grette resoun
and bytwene him-selue & his sone · sette þo sire resoun
and spoken wise wordes along a long while to-giders

[^278: Uc.4.34: recch of here tales: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads rech nat of here tales.]

[^279: Uc.4.36: hit liketh here hertes: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads hit lyketh nat here hertes.]

[^280: Uc.4.37: The red underlining here begins with a wavy flourish.]

[^281: Uc.4.41: rewardid: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads took reward.]

¶ And þenne cam pees in-to þe parlement · & put vp abille a bille
how wrong wilfully hadde his wif forleyn
and how he rauyshed rose þe riche wedowe by nyght
and Margrete of hire maydonhoed · as he mette hir late
Boþe my gees & my gris & my gras he takeþ
I dar not for his felawshipe yn faiþ pees saide
Bere sikerlich any suluer to saynt gyles downe
and he waiteþ ful wel when y suluer take
what weye y wende ful ȝerne he aspieth
To robbe me or to ruyfle me · yf y ride softe
Ȝut is he bold forto borowe ac baddelich he paieth
For he borowed of me bayard · he brought him hom neuere
Ne no ferthing þerfore for nougt[^282] y cowde plete
he meynteneþ his men to murthere myne hewes
and forstalleþ myne feyres · & fighteþ yn myn chepinges
and brekeþ vp my bernes dores · & bereþ awey myn whete
and takeþ me but atayle a tayle for ten quarter otes
and ȝut he manaseþ me & myne & he lith by my mayde
I am not hardy for him vnneþe to loke

[^282: Uc.4.58: For the final letter of nougt, the scribe apparently began writing h but left the letter unfinished and looking like an unusually tall t.]

¶ þe kyng knew he saide soþ for conscience him tolde
how wrong was a wicked man & myche wo wroughte
þo was wrong aferd & wisdom he soughte
laweyers vse handy Dandy

[Uc.4.67: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^283]On men of lawe wrong loked & largelich hem profred[^284]
and forto haue here help handy dandy paied
hadde y loue of þe lord litel wolde y recche
Of pees & his power · þough he pleyne euere
þorgh wrong & his werkes þere was mede knowe
For wisdom & wit þo wenton to-giders
and token mede with hem mercy to wynne
ȝut pees putte forth his heued & his panne blody
wiþ-outon gilt god woet was gyuon me þis scaþe
Conscience knoweþ hit wel & al þe comune trewe
Ac wiles & wit wern aboute faste
To ouircome þe kyng þorgh catelle yf þei myghte

[^283: Uc.4.68: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.4.68-69.]

[^284: Uc.4.68: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.4.68-69.]

¶ þe kyng swor by crist  & by his croune boþe
þat wrong for his werkes sholde wel tholie
and comaundid a Constable to caste wrong in yrenes
þere he sholde[^285] in seuen ȝeer see hise feet ne hondes
God woet quod a wys oen þat were not þe beste
yf he amendes may do · lat maynpris him haue
and be borogh for his bale  & buggen him bote
and amende þat is mysdo · & euermore þe bettere

[^285: Uc.4.83: Russell-Kane: sholde nat.]

¶ wit acordid þerwiþ · & witnessed þe same
Bettere ys þat bote bale adown bringe
þen bale be y-bete & bote neuere þe bettere
þenne gan mekon hire med[^286][^287]  & mercy she bisoughte
and profred pees apresent a present al of puyr gold
haue þis man of me quod she · to amende þi scathe
For y wol wage for wrong · he wol do so no more
Pytouslich pees þo  preyede þe kyng
To haue mercy on þat man · þat many tymes him greued
For he haþ waged me wel  as wisdom him taughte
and mede haþ maed my mendes y may no more askon
So alle myn claymes ben quyt · by so þe kyng assente

[^286: Uc.4.91: The m in this added med is fere textura in form, with slight, angular lead-strokes at the heads of the first two minims, and the ink is darker. Otherwise, the hand of this addition is similar to that of the main text scribe.]

[^287: Uc.4.91: þenne gan mekon hire med: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Then gan mede to meken here.]

¶ Nay by crist quod þe kyng · for conscience sake
wrong goþ not so away · ar y wite more
Lepte he so lightlich laughen he wolde
and oft þe baldere to be to bete myne hewes
But resoun haue ruthe on him he shal reste in myn stockes
as longe as y lyue for his lither werkes

¶ Somme men raddon resoun þo to haue ruþe vpon þat shrewe
and forto counsele þe kyng on consciense þei loked
þat mede might be maynpernour · Mede þey bisoughte
Rede me not quod resoun no ruthe to haue
Til lordes & laidyes louen alle truþe
and haton alle harlotrie to heron oþer to mouthen hit
and til purnele purfile be put in hire whiche
and childron chersing  be chastised wiþ ȝerdes
Num-quam in Anglia but in the lande of conqueste
[^288]and harlotes holynesse · be an hy ferie
Til clerkene coueitise be cloth for þe pore
and her pelure & her palfrayes pore men liflode
and religious out-riders be reclused in her cloistres
and be as benet hem bad domnyk & Fraunceys
nota
[^289]til þat lered men lyue as þey lere & teche
and til þe kynges counsel be al comune profit
bishopes must be backers bruers and tailors
and til bisshopes be Bakers brewers & tailloures

[^288: Uc.4.114: Sidelining by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.4.110-21. At the top of the sidelining is an x.]

[^289: Uc.4.119: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.4.119-20.]

¶ For alle manere men þat fynt[^290] nedful
and til seynt Iames be sought · þere þe pore sik liggen
yn prisounes & in pore cotes · be pilgrimes to Rome
So þat noen go to gales but yf he go for euere
and alle Rome renneres · for ruyfleres in Fraunce
To bere no suluer ouer see þat signe of kyng sheweþ
Noþer ygraue ne vngraue of gold or of suluer
vppe forfaiture of fe · who fyndeþ hem ouerward
But he be marchaunt or his man or messangere with lettres
Prouysour or prest · oþer penaunt for his synnes
and quod resoun by þe rode y shal haue no ruthe[^291]
whiles mede haþ þe maistrie · þere moting ys at þe barres
ac y may seyn ensaumples · as y see oþere
y say not by my-self quod resoun · and hit so were
þat y were kyng wiþ crowne to kepe my reume
shold neuere wrong in þis world þat y wite myghte
Be vnpunyshed yn my power for perel of my soule
Ne gete my grace þorgh any gifte  ne glosing speche
Reson telleth wronge and Meed, þat lawe for abuses shalbe come shal be come A laborour

[Uc.4.139: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[Uc.4.140: This marginal comment is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Ne þorgh Mede do mercy by mari of heuene[^292]

[^290: Uc.4.122: men þat fynt: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads men þat me fynt.]

[^291: Uc.4.132: haue no ruthe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads no reuthe haue.]

[^292: Uc.4.140: An x in the right margin links the marginal comment to this line.]

¶ For nullum malum · man mette wiþ impunitum
and bad nullum bonum be irremuneratum
Lat þi confessour sire kyng construe þis en english
and if ȝe worche hit in werk y wedde boþ mynhandes myn handes
lawe shall not rul nota . — but fauoure by med
[^293]þat lawe shal be alaborer a laborer & lede afeld donge[^294]
and loue shal lede þi land · as þe leef liketh
Clerkes coupled hem to-giders to construe þis cause

[Uc.4.148: The marginal comment here is bounded on the left by a vertical line done by hand16.]

The abuse of lawe , shall cause it to falle
kyndelich what hit meneth[^295]

[^293: Uc.4.145: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.4.145-46.]

[^294: Uc.4.145: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.4.145-46.]

[^295: Uc.4.148: Russell-Kane relineates this line and the preceding thus: Clerkes þat were confessours couplede hem togederes / To construe this clause, kyndeliche what it meneth.]

¶ Med yn þe moet-halle þo on men of lawe gan wynke
yn synge[^296] þat þey sholde wiþ sum sotil speche
Reherce þe anoen-right · þat mighte resoun stoppe
ac alle rightful recordid · þat resoun truthe saide
and kynde wit & conscience curteislich þanked
Resoun for his rightful speche · riche & pore him louede
and saidon we seen wel · sire resoun by thise[^297] wordes
þat mekenes worþ maister  ouer mede at þe laste
Loue leet of mede þo light · & loue[^298] ȝut lasse
and cried to conscience þe kyng myght hit here
nota who that is married quoth loue for his goodes shalbe shal be cornuted

[Uc.4.159: Cornuted: given horns, cuckolded (OED).]

[^299]who-so wilneþ hire to wyue quod he · for welþe of hire godes
But he be knowe for kokewold  kit of my nose
Mede mornede þo & made an heuy chere
Meed a daintie common Strupit Stru[m]pit both in siuill lawe and common

[Uc.4.162: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

For comune[^300] calde hire queynte comune hore[^301]
a sysour & a somnour þo softlich forþ ȝede
wiþ mede þe mayde þo out of þe moet-halle
A shirreues clerk cried · a capias Mede & saluo custodias[^302]
[^303] Sed non cum carceratis
princes counsell · should be ruled by consience & Resoun

[Uc.4.167: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand17.]

þe kyng to counsel þo toek conscience & resoun
and modily vpon mede many tyme loked
and lowred vpon men of lawe & lightlich saide
þorgh ȝour lawe as y leue y lese many chetes
Mede & men of ȝour craft myche truthe lettiþ
ac resoun shal rikene wiþ ȝou yf y regne any while
and deme ȝou by this day as ȝe han deserued
Mede shal not maynprise by marie of heuene
loue and good lyff to be the lawe nota
[^304]I wol haue lewte for my lawe · & lete be al ȝour iangling[^305]
and by lele & lif-holy my lawe shal be demed

[^296: Uc.4.150: synge: Viz. "sign."]

[^297: Uc.4.155: thise: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads thi.]

[^298: Uc.4.157: & loue: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads and leutee.]

[^299: Uc.4.159: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.4.159-60.]

[^300: Uc.4.162: comune: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þe comune.]

[^301: Uc.4.162: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.4.162-63.]

[^302: : According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, MS Uc is unique in putting & saluo custodias with this line rather than the following.]

[^303: Uc.4.166: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^304: Uc.4.175: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.4.175-76.]

[^305: Uc.4.175: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin in the form of stacked parentheses spans lines Uc.4.175-76.]

¶ Quod conscience to þe kyng with-oute þe comune helpe
hit is ful hard by myn heued herto to bringe hit
and alle ȝour lege ledes · to lede þus euene
By him þat Raught vp þe rode quod resoun to þe king
But yf ȝe rule þus alle rewmes reueth me my[^306] sight
and bringe alle men to bowe wiþ-owton bitter wounde
warres & Sworde

[Uc.4.183: An equals sign to the right of warres links this marginal comment to the poetic line. The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

wiþ-outon mercyment or manslaughtere amende alle reumes

[^306: Uc.4.181: The first minim in my is bowed, as if the scribe started to write a c or a similar letter and then corrected himself.]

¶ y wolde hit were quod þe kyng wel al aboute
For-þi resoun redily þow shalt not ridon hennes
But be my chef chaunceler yn cheker & in parlement
And conscience yn alle my Courtes be a kynges Iustice
y assente saide resoun by so ȝou self here
audiatis alteram partem among aldermen & comuneres
and þat vnsittynge suffraunce ne sele ȝour priue lettres
Ne no supersedeas sende · but y assente quod resoun
and y dar legge my lif þat loue wol lene þe suluer
To wage þine & helpe wynne · þat þou wilnest after
More þen alle þine marchauntes · or þine mytrid bisshopes
Or lumbardes of lukes · þat lyuen by lone as iewes
þe king comaundid conscience þo to congeye alle hise officeres
and resceyue þo þat resoun loued · & right with þat y waked

Passus quintus de visione vbi prius

[^307] T hus y waked woet god when y woned yn Cornhulle
Pers dwelled in cornewell with his frind christofer or his wyf Catte in there bede had a vision
kitte & y[^308] in akote a kote yclothid as lollers[^309]
Peres became a Protestant and loued his lyke ·
And litel y-lete by leueþ me forsothe[^310]
Amonges lollers of Londoun & lewed men heremites
For y made of þo men  as resoun me taughte
For as y cam by conscience with resoun y mette
yn an hoet heruest when y hadde myn hele

[^307: Uc.5.1: Red tracework around the ornamental capital extends from Uc.4.194 to the bottom of the folio at Uc.5.2.]

[^308: Uc.5.2: Two dots resembling a colon have been inserted by hand1 between y and in by way of correction to ensure the reader's perception of word-spacing.]

[^309: Uc.5.2: An x in the right margin links the marginal comment to this line.]

[^310: Uc.5.3: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the style of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.5.3-5.]

¶ and lymes to laboure wiþ  and loued wel fare
and no dede to do but drinke & to slepe
yn hele and in inwit · oen me apposed
Romyng in remembraunce þus resoun me aratid
Can þow seruon he saide or syngon yn achurche a churche
Or coke for my kokeres or to þe cart picche
Mouen or mowen · or make boend to sheues
Ripon or ben aripreue a ripreue & arise erly
Or haue an horn & be an hayward & ligge þeroute on nyghtes
and kepe my corn in my croft · for pikers & þeues
Or shape shoen or cloth · or sheep & kyn kepe
heggen or harowen or swyn or gees driue
Or any oþer kynnes craft þat to þe comune nedith
þey y-bettered þe by þ[er]e-by · þat bilyue þe fyndon
Sertes y saide & so me god helpe
y am to waik to worche · wiþ sikel or wiþ sithe
and to long leue me · lowe to stoupe
To worchon as a werkman any while to duren
þenne hast þow londes to lyue by quod resoun or linage riche
þat fynt þe þin fode · for an ydel man þou semest
a spendour þat spende mot · or a spille-tyme
Or beggest þi byleue[^311] aboute at mennes hacches
lowlars regarded not fridaies fast
Or fattest vpon fridaies · or feste daies in churche
þe whiche is lollarne lif þat litel ys preysed
þere rightfulnesse rewardeth right as men deseruon
[^312] Reddet vnicuique iuxta opera sua
Or þow art broke so may be yn body or in membre
Or ymaymed þorgh sum myshappe wher-by þou myght be excused

[^311: Uc.5.29: The word byleue appears to have been written over an erasure.]

[^312: Uc.5.33: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ when y ȝong was many ȝeer hennes
brought vp in a Cloystere
My fader & my frendes foundon me to scole
Til y wiste witturly what holy writ menede
and what is best for þe body as þe boek telleth
and sykerost for þe soule by so y wole contynue
nota
[^313]and fond neuere yn faith sith my frendes dyede
lif þat me liked but in þes longe clothes
and yf y by laboure sholde lyuen & liflode deseruen
þat laboure þat y lerned best þerewith lyuen y sholde
[^314] In eadem vocacione qua vocati estis sitis
peres a beginge frier which was an easie lyfe
and so y lyue yn londoun & vppe lond boþe
þe lomes þat y laboure wiþ & liflode deserue
ys paternoster & my primer placebo & dirige
nota
[^315]and my sauter sutyme su[m]tyme & myn seuen spalmes[^316]
þis y say for her soules of such as me helpeþ
and þo þat fyndon me my fode vouchon saf y trowe
To be welcome when y come · oþer -while yn a moniþ
Now wiþ him now wiþ hire on þis wise y begge
wir-outon wi[þ]-outon bagge or botelle but my wombe one

[^313: Uc.5.41: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.5.37-44.]

[^314: Uc.5.45: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^315: Uc.5.49: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.5.46-54.]

[^316: Uc.5.49: For this spelling of psalme, see MED s.v. Cf. the same spelling at Uc.3.470.]

¶ and also morouere me þinkeþ sire resoun
Me sholde constrayne no clerk to no knaues werkes
For by þe lawe of leuytici þat oure lord ordeyned
pastors should be of knowlege reputed and Meeke ·
Clerkes ycrowned of kynde vnderstondyng
sholde noþer swynke ne swete · ne swere at enquestes
Ne fighte yn no vawarde · ne his foes greue
[^317] Non reddas malum pro malo
For hit ben heires of heuen alle þat ben ycrowned
and yn Queer & kirkes[^318] cristes mynistres
[^319] Dominus pars hereditatis mee &cetera & alibi clemencia non distringitur
nota
hit bicomeþ for clerkes crist forto serue
and knaues vncrowned to carte & to worche
pastors of good paran tage

[Uc.5.67: Hand16 uses a double hyphen in the form of an equals sign to show the line-end division of parantage.]

and chaystly married · no basterds
[^320]For shold no clerk be crouned but yf he come were[^321]
of frankeleyns & fre men · & of folk yweddid

[^317: Uc.5.61: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^318: Uc.5.63: kirkes: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads in kyrkes.]

[^319: Uc.5.64: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^320: Uc.5.67: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^321: Uc.5.67: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.5.67-68.]

[^322] ¶ Bonde & bastardes & beggeres childron
basterds fitt for slauerye
To þise[^323] bilongeþ labour & lordes kyn to serue[^324]
God & gode men as degre[^325] asketh[^326]
Somme to synge masses or sitton & writon
Redon & resceyuon þat resoun aught to spende

[^322: Uc.5.69: Sidelining spans lines Uc.5.69-92.]

[^323: Uc.5.70: To þise: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Thyse.]

[^324: Uc.5.70: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.5.69-70.]

[^325: Uc.5.71: degre: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads here degre.]

[^326: Uc.5.71: Russell-Kane moves this and the following two lines to a position following Uc.5.65, indicating in the apparatus that all the available manuscript evidence gives the order as here in Uc; Schmidt and Pearsall follow the sequence given in the manuscripts.]

¶ Ac sithe bonde men barns han be maed bisshopes
and barnes bastardes han ben archedekenes
merchantes knighted gentelmen there printices

[Uc.5.76: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^327]and soperes & her sones for suluer han ben knyghtes
and lordes sones her laborers and leid her rentes to wedde
For þe right of þis reume riden aȝen our enemyes
yn counfort of þe comune & þe kynges worshipe
and monkes & monyals þat mendinantz sholde Fynde
y-made her kyn knyghtes & knyghtes fees ypurchased
Popes & patrones pore gentil bloed refused
And taken symoundes sones seintuarie to kepe
lyf-holynesse & loue haþ be Longe hennes
and wol til hit be werid out or oþerwise ychaungid
For-þi rebuke me right nought resoun y ȝou preye
For in my conscience y knowe what crist wolde y wroughte
Preieres of a perfit man & penaunce discret
ys þe leuest labour þat our lord pleseth
[^328] Non de solo y saide for soþe viuit homo
Nec in pane nec in pabulo þe paternoster witnesseþ
[^329] Fiat voluntas dei þat Fynt vs alle thinges

[^327: Uc.5.76: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.5.76-77.]

[^328: Uc.5.90: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^329: Uc.5.92: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ Quod conscience by crist y kan not see þis lieth
ac hit semeth not sad perfitnesse yn citees to bigge
But he be obediencer to priour or to mynistre
þat is soth y saide · & so y byknowe
þat y haue tynd tyme · & tyme myspendid
ac ȝut y hope as he þat ofte haþ ychaffared
and ay lost & lost & at þe laste happed
A boute such a bargayn he was þe bet euere
And sette al his los at leef[^330] at þe last ende
such a wynnyng him warth þorgh wordes of grace
[^331] Simile est regnum celorum thesauro abscondito in agro
Mulier que inuenit dragmam
So hope y to haue of him þat is almyghty
A gobet of his grace & bygynne a tyme
þat alle tymes of my tyme · to profit shal turne

[^330: Uc.5.101: at leef: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads at a leef.]

[^331: Uc.5.103: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ y rede þe quod resoun tho rape the to bygynne
þe lif þat is louable · & leel to þi soule
ȝe and continue quod conscience  and to þe kirke y wente
and to þe kirke y gan go god to honoure
By-fore þe cros on my knees · knocked y my brest
sihing for my synnes saying my paternoster
wepyng & weyling til y was a-slepe

¶ and þenne mette me myche more þen y byfore tolde
of matere þat me mette first on maluerne hulles
þe worlde
y saw þe feld ful of folk from ende to oþer
and resoun y-reuestid right as a pope
and conscience his crocer byfore þe kyng stande
Resoun reuerentlich to-fore al þe reume
fained hollynes for pride
[^332] prechid & preued þat þis pestilences was puyre synne
and a south-west wynd on a saturday at euon
was pertlich for pruyde & for no poynt elles
Piries & plumtrees wern puffed to þe erthe
yn ensaumple segges · þat we sholde do þe bettere
Beches & Brod okes wern blowe to þe ground
and turned vpward here tail · yn tokenyng of drede
þat dedly synnes[^333] or domes-day · shal for-doen hem alle
Of þis matere y myghte mamele ful longe
ac y shal seye as y say slepyng as hit were
how resoun radde al þe reume to heuene
he bad wastoures worche & wynnon here sustinaunce
þorgh sum trewe trauayle · & no tyme spille
x x
he preyede purnel hire purfil to leue
pure hippocracy reproued .
and kepe hit in hire cofor · for catel at hir nede[^334]
Tomme stowe he taughte · to take two staues
and fette felice hoem from wyvene pyne

[^332: Uc.5.121: An x by hand16 in the left margin highlights this line.]

[^333: Uc.5.128: synnes: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads synne.]

[^334: Uc.5.135: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

¶ he warned watte his wif was to blame
For hir heed was worth half marc · & his hoed not a grote
he bad butte to kutte a bough or tweyne
and bete betoun þerwith · but yf she wolde worche
he charged a chapman to chastise hise childron
Lat no wynnyng for-waynen[^335] hem · þe while þei ben ȝonge
spare the rood and spill þe child .
[^336]For who-so spareth þe sprig · spilleth hise childron[^337]
and so wroet þe wise to wisson vs alle
Qui parcit virge odit filium
pastors muste do as they teche

[Uc.5.147: This marginal comment is written over an erasure of another comment, now illegible, by an unknown hand.]

[^338]and sithen he preyed prelates & prestes to-giders[^339]
þat ȝe precheth to þe peple · preue hit ȝou selue
Lyue ȝe as ȝe lereth vs · we shal leue ȝou þe bettere
and sithe he radde religioun · here rule to holde
Last þe kyng & his counsel · ȝoure comunes apeyre
, prelaitts liue of decimes & lords take their liuinges ·

[Uc.5.152: This comment is written over an erasure of another comment, now illegible, by an unknown hand. The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

and be stywardes of ȝour stedes · til ȝe be stewed betture

[^335: Uc.5.143: MED forwenen, -ien, "to spoil (a child), overindulge, pamper."]

[^336: Uc.5.144: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of triple stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.5.144-46.]

[^337: Uc.5.144: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of triple stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.5.144-46.]

[^338: Uc.5.147: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.5.147-48.]

[^339: Uc.5.147: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.5.147-48.]

nota
[^340] ¶ Gregory þe grete clerk · gart write yn bokes
þe rule of religious · rightful and obedient
Right as fisshes yn the floed when hem faileth water
Dyen for drouthe when þey drie liggen
Right so religioun roteþ & sterueth
heaven & ease on earth is in cloyster . /
þat out of Couent & of cloyster · coueiteþ to dwelle[^341]
For yf heuene be on þis erthe · or any ese to þe soule
hit is yn cloister or yn scole · by many skiles y fynde
For yn cloister comeþ no man to chide ne to fighte
againste nonresidence and pleasure and purchasing in Prelaitts

[Uc.5.162: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

yn scole ys loue & lowenesse · and likyng to lerne[^342]
ac many day men telleth bothe monkes & chanoins
haen ridon out of a fray[^343] · here reule euel y-holde
Leders of lawe daies · & londes ypurchased
and priked abowte on palfrays from places to maneres
an heep of houndes at his ers · as he a lord were
and but his knaue knele · þat shal his coppe holde
he lokeþ al louryng and lurdon him calleth
[^344]Lytel hadde lordes ado · to ȝiue lond from heires
To religious þat han ruthe[^345] · þough hit reyne on here auteres
yn many places þere þey persones ben · be hem-self at ese
A prophecye . trulye fulfilled by Kinge Henrye . the . viij . th /
[^346]of þe pore haue þei no pite · & þat ys here puyr chartere
and ȝe leton ȝou alle as lordes · ȝour lond lith so brode
and þere shal come a kyng · and confesse ȝou alle
and bete ȝou as þe bible telleth · for brekyng of ȝour rule
and amende ȝou monkes · bothe monyals & chanoins
ad pristinum statum
and putte ȝou to ȝour penaunce · ad pristinum statum ire
And barounes & her barnes blame ȝou & repreue
[^347] Hii in curribus & hii in equis ipsi obligati sunt & ceciderunt
Freres yn her fraytour shal fynde þat tyme
Breed with-oute[^348] beggyng · to lyue by euere after
and Constancy[^349] shal be here coek · & couerour of her churches
For þe abbot of yngelond · and þe abbesse hys nese
shal haue a knoc vpon here crounes · & incurable þe woundes
[^350] Contriuit dominus baculum impiorum virga virga[m] dominancium plaga insanabili
and[^351] ar þat kyng come · as cronikles me tolde
Clerkes & holy chirche[^352] · shal be clothid newe
and sithe he counseled þe kyng · his comvne to louye
For þe comvn is þe kynges tresour · conscience woet wel
and also quod resoun · y rede ȝou riche
and comuneres to acorde · yn alle kynne truthe
Lat no kynne counsel · ne coueytise ȝou parte
þat oen wit & oen wil · alle ȝoure wardes kepe
Lo yn heuene an hy was an holy comvne
Til lucifer þe lyare · leued þat him-selue
were wittiore & worthiore · þen he þat was his maistur
holde ȝou in vnite and he þat othir wolde
ys cause of al combraunce to confoundon a rewme
and sithen he preyed þe pope haue pite on holichirche
and no grace ne graunte · til goed loue were
amonges alle kynne kynges ouer cristen peple
nota
Comaunde þat alle confessoures · þat any kyng shryueth
Enioyne hem pees for here penaunce · & perpetuel forȝifnes
of alle manere acciouns and ich man loue oþer
and ȝe that seketh seynt Iames · and seyntes of Rome
Reason against pil grimage to Sanctes butt to trueth

[Uc.5.207: Hand16 shows line-end division of pilgrimage by means of a double hyphen in the form of an equals sign. The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

only

[Uc.5.207: This marginal comment is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

seketh saint truthe · yn sauacion of ȝour soules[^353]
Qui cum patre & filio  þat faire hem bifalle
þat sueth my sarmoun þus endid resoun

[^340: Uc.5.153: Sidelining by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.5.153-79.]

[^341: Uc.5.158: Sidelining by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.5.153-68.]

[^342: Uc.5.162: The marginal comment in the right margin here is linked to line 158 by an x in the right margin at line 158 and a line drawn diagonally downward between the x and this comment.]

[^343: Uc.5.164: a fray: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads aray.]

[^344: Uc.5.170: A [rightward pointing-hand icon] in the left margin, drawn by hand14, is directed toward this line, but it probably indicates the entire section (Uc.5.170-88) highlighted by a long curly bracket in the left margin. See the note in the left margin at line Uc.5.173.]

[^345: Uc.5.171: ruthe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads no reuthe.]

[^346: Uc.5.173: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.5.170-88]

[^347: Uc.5.180: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^348: Uc.5.182: The oute in with-oute is written over an erasure, with an unusually large o.]

[^349: Uc.5.183: Constancy: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads constantyn.]

[^350: Uc.5.186: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^351: Uc.5.187: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^352: Uc.5.188:Russell-Kane here reads kirke, following MS Dc, in order to mend the alliteration.]

[^353: Uc.5.207: The marginal comment here is linked to lines Uc.5.206-209 by an x made by hand16 at the end of line 206, a line drawn from the x leftward under the word Rome in that line, and continuation of the line as right-margin sidelining of lines 207-209.]

Passus sextus de visione & cetera

Prowde harte
[^354] W yth þat ran repentaunce & rehersed his teme
and made wille to wepe watur with his eyes
Purnel proud herte plat hire to þe erthe
and long was ar he loked vp · & lord mercy cried
and bihighte to him · þat vs alle made
she sholde vnsewe here serk & sette þere an haire
To affaiton here flesh · þat fers was to synne
shal neuere high herte me hente  but holde me lowe
and suffre to be mysseyd & so dyde y neuere
But now wole y meke me & mersy by-seche
Of alle þat y haue hatid in myn herte
Repente þe quod repentaunce as resoun þe taughte
Repentaunce biddeth Pride become lowly . meaninge þe Clergie

[Uc.6.13: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

And shriue þe sharplich shake of al pruyde[^355]
y pruyde pacientlich penaunce aske
For y formest & first to my fader & moder
haue be vnbuxum y biseche god of mercy
and vnbuxum ybe · not abasht to a-gulte ·
God & gode men so gret was myn herte
ynobedient to holikirke · & to hem þat þere serueth
demed for here euel vices · and exited othir
Thorgh my word & my wit · her euel werkes to shewe
and scornyd hem & othir · yf y a skyle founde
Laughing al alowd · for lewed men sholde
wene y were witty · & wisore þen anothir
Skornere & vnskilful · to hem þat skile shewed
yn alle manere maneres · my name to be knowe
semyng a souereyn oen · where-so me byfulle
To telle any tale · y trowed me wisore
To carpe and counsele · þen any clerk or lewed
Proud of aperail · yn port amonges þe peple
Othirwise þen y haue  with-ynnen & wiþ-outon
Me wilnynge þat men wente · y were as yn aveer[^356]
Riche & resounable & rightful of lyuyng
Bosting & bragging · with many bold othes
A discription of fained hippocracy

[Uc.6.35: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^357] Vauntynge vp my vayn glorie · for any vnder-nymyng
and ȝit so syngulerly[^358] by my-selue as to þe sight of peple
was noen such as him-selue · ne noen so popholy
sum tyme yn oen sekte · sum tyme yn a-nothir
yn alle kynne couent · contreued how y myghte
Be holdon for holy · and honoured by þat enchesoun
wilnynge þat men wende · my werkes wer þe beste
and þe conyngest of my craft clerkish or othir
nota
and strengist vpon stede · and steuest vnder girdel
and louelokest to loke vpon and likyngest abedde
and likyng of such alif a lif · þat no lawe preyseth
Proud of my faire faitures · and for y song shille
and what y gaf for godes loue · to gossipes y tolde
þey to wene þat y were ful holy & fulalmesful ful almesful
and noen so bold a beggere to bidde & to craue
Tales to telle yn tauernes & yn stretes
Þing þat neuere ne was þought · and ȝut he swor y say hit
and layde on my lycame and on my lif bothe
Of werkes þat y wel dide · witnesses take
and segge to such · þat sette me biside
Lo yf ȝe leue me not · or þat y lye wenen
asketh at him or at hire · and he ȝou can telle
what y soffred & say · & sumtymes hadde
and what y cowde & knew · & of what kyn y come
al he wolde þat men wiste when hit to pruyde souneth
as to be preysed amonges þe peple · þogh he pore seme
[^359] Si hominibus placerem Christi seruus non essem
Nemo potest duobus dominis seruire
Now god for his godnes gyue þe grace to amende
Envye ·
Quod repentaunce right with þat  & þenne aroes enuye

[^354: Uc.6.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital and extends from Uc.5.205 to Uc.6.19.]

[^355: Uc.6.13: An x in the right margin links this line to the marginal comment.]

[^356: Uc.6.32: The text scribe apparently first wrote aueer and then changed the u to a v.]

[^357: Uc.6.35: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.6.33-43.]

[^358: Uc.6.36: syngulerly: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads synguler.]

[^359: Uc.6.61: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

¶ Enuye wiþ heuy herte · asked after shrifte
and cried mea culpa · cussing alle hise enemys
his clothis wern of corsed men[^360] · & of kene wordes
he wroeth his fust vpon wrath · hadde weshes at wille[^361]
sholde no lif lyue þat on his lond pissed
Chiding & chalenging þat was his chef liflode
and blame men bihinde here bak · & bidde hem myschaunce
and þat he wiste by wille to wadkyn he tolde hit
þe nature of Envye · /
and al þat he wiste by watte · tolde hit wille after[^362]
and made of frendes foes · þorgh skile & fals tonge
Or þorgh myght of mouthe · or þorgh mannes sleythes
Venged me fele tymes oþer freet my-self wiþ-ynne
lyk a shapsteres shere · & shrewed myn euene-cristene[^363]
Aȝen þe counsel of crist  clerkes fyndeth yn bokes
[^364] Cuius maledictione os plenum est amaritudine sub lingua eius labor & dolor  Filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte & lingua eorum gladius acutus[^365]
and when y may not haue þe maistrie such malencoly y take
þat y cacche þe crampe · þe cardiacle sumtyme
Or an ague yn such anger · & sumtyme a feuere
þat takeþ me al a twelmonthe · til þat y dispise
leche-craft of oure lord · & leue on a wicche
and segge þat no clerk kan · ne crist as y leue
To þe sowtere of suthwerk · such is his grace
For god ne godes word · ne none grace halp me neuere
but þorgh acharm a charm hadde y chaunce · & my chef hele
and[^366] myght not ete many ȝeer as aman a man owghte
For enuye & euel wil · ys euel to defie
May no sugur ne swet thing · aswage my swellyng
Ne derworthe drinke driue hit from myn herte
Noþer shame ne shrift · but who-so shraped my mawe
Thus redily quod repentaunce · and þow be right sory
For þine synnes souereynly · and by-seke god of mercy
y am euere sory saide enuye · y am selde othir
and þat maketh me so megre for y ne may me venge
ȝut am y brokour of bacbyting · and to blame menne ware
amonges marchauntes many tymes and namelich in londoun
when he sholde & he not þenne was al redy[^367]
To lye & to loure · & lacke myn neyghebores
here werkes here wordes where þat y sete
Now hit athinketh me in my thought þat euere y so wroughte
Lord ar y lif lete · for loue of þi-selue
Graunte me gode lord grace of amendement

[^360: Uc.6.67: corsed men: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads corsement.]

[^361: Uc.6.68: Russell-Kane: hadde he wesches at wille.]

[^362: Uc.6.73: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.6.73-74.]

[^363: Uc.6.77: The words myn and euen are written without word-spacing. Two dots resembling a colon—one just below the baseline between myn and euen, and the other between those words at the level of the top of the letters n and e—seem to have been intended to add the word-spacing by way of correction. The corrector is hand1.]

[^364: Uc.6.79: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^365: Uc.6.79: Russell-Kane divides the two Biblical verses (from Psalm 9.28 and Psalm 56.5) between dolor and Filij as lines RK6.76α and 76β.]

[^366: Uc.6.89: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Y.]

[^367: Uc.6.100: Russell-Kane: When he solde and y nat thenne was y aredy. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, MS Uc's variant readings here are unique.]

Wrath ·

¶ þenne awaked wrathe wiþ two white yes
and with a nyuelinges nose · nypping his lippes
y am wrath quod þat wye · wole gladlich smyte
Bothe with stoen & with staf · & stele vpon myn enemy
To sle him slily sleithes y by-thenke
þough y sitte þis seuen ȝeer · y sholde not wel telle
The harm þat y haue do · wiþ hand & wiþ tonge
Inpacient yn alle penaunces · and pleyned as hit were
On god when me greued ought · & groched of his sonde
as somtyme yn somer · and also yn heruest
But y hadde wedur at my wille · y witte god þe cause
yn alle manere angres þat y hadde or feled
amonges alle manere men · my dwellyng ys sumtyme
with lewed & lered þat leef ben to here
harm of any man · by-hynde or byfore
collerricke deuines vnperfitt prechers

[Uc.6.121: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

¶ Freres folowen my fore fele tymes & ofte[^368]
and preuen ynperfit prelates of holichirche
And prelates pleyneth on hem[^369]  for þei herre parishenes shryuen
with licence & leue · & herby lyueth wrathe
emulacoun in all degres
þus þei speke & dispute · þat vchon spiseth othir[^370]
þus beggeres & barones · at debate arn ofte
Til y wrathe wexe an hy · and walke wiþ hem bothe
Or til þey boþe be beggeres · & by spiritual lyue
Or alle riche & ride reste shal y not wrathe
þat y ne mote folowe þis folk my fortune ys noen oþere

[^368: Uc.6.121: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.6.121-22.]

[^369: Uc.6.123: The text scribe first wrote him and then added a loop to the i to correct to hem.]

[^370: Uc.6.125: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.6.125-26.]

¶ y haue an aunte to nonne and an abbesse
here wer leuere swoune or swete · þen soffre any payne
y haue be coek yn here kychene · and þe couent serued
nota
Many monthes with hem · & wiþ monkes bothe
y was þe prioresse potager · and oþere pore ladies
and made hem iowtes of iangelyng · dame Ione was a bastard
and dame clarice a knyghtes doughtur · a cokewold was hire sire
and dame purnele aprestes a prestes file · prioresse worth she neuere
For she hadde a child yn a Capownes cote · she worth at þe[^371] eleccion[^372]
Thus þei sitten þo sustres · sumtyme & disputen
A descri ption of wrath at large

[Uc.6.141: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Til þow lixt & þow lixt · be lady ouer hem alle[^373]
and thenne awake y wrathe · & wolde be avenged
and þenne y crie & cracche · wiþ my kene nayles
Bite & bete · & bringe forth such thewes
þat alle ladies me louteth[^374][^375] · þat loueth any worshipe
amonges wyues & wedowes y am woned to sitte
y-parroked yn pues · þe persoun hit knoweth
how litel y loue letise at þe stile
For she hadde halibred ar y · myn herte gan chaunge
nota
after mete afterward · she and she chiddon
and y wrathe was war · & warth on hem bothe
Til ayther clepid oþer hore · and on with þe clothes[^376]
Til bothe here hedes wern bare · and blody here chekes
amonges monkes y myghte be  ac many tyme y spare
For þere arn many felle freykes · myn aferes to aspie
þat ys priour & suppriour  and oure pater abbas
and y telle any tales þey taken hem to-gydores
and doen me faste fridaies · þe breed & þe water[^377]
ȝut am y chalenged yn oure chapitre-hous · as y a child were
and baleised on þe bare ers  & no brech by-twene
y haue no lust leue me amonges monkes to longe[^378]
Causeth fluxes
For y ete more fish þen flesh & febel ale drinke[^379]
fatt foles
and[^380] othir while when wyn cometh & when y drinke late at euen
y haue a flux of a foul mouth · wel fyue dayes after
and al þat y wiste wicked by any of oure couent
y cough hit vp yn oure cloyster  þat al þe couent woet hit
Now repente þe quod repentaunce · & reherse neuere
Counsel þat þow knowest · by continaunce ne by speche
and drink not ouerdelicatly · ne to depe neyther
wine Inne witt owte
[^381] þat þi wille ne thi wit · to wrathe myghte turne
Esto sobrius he saide & assoile[^382] him after
and bad him bidde to god · be his help to amende

[^371: Uc.6.139: Hand1 uses a curly bracket here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^372: Uc.6.139: Russell-Kane: For he hadde childe in the chapun cote; he worth chalenged at þe eleccioun. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, MS Uc's omission of chalenged is unique.]

[^373: Uc.6.141: Sidelining in the right margin by hand16 spans lines Uc.6.132-60.]

[^374: Uc.6.145: MED louten v.(1), 3(b) "to honor."]

[^375: Uc.6.145: louteth: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc, though it is perhaps substantially identical to the loteth of MS X. The latter could represent MED louten v.(1), 3(b) "to honor," or loten v.(2), "fail to support (sb.)." Russell-Kane reads lotheth.]

[^376: Uc.6.152: Russell-Kane: and of with the clothes. Schmidt and Pearsall: and on with the clawes.]

[^377: Uc.6.158: þe breed & þe water: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads to bred and to water.]

[^378: Uc.6.161: amonges monkes to longe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads to longe amonges monkes.]

[^379: Uc.6.162: An x in the right margin links this line to the marginal comment.]

[^380: Uc.6.163: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^381: Uc.6.170: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^382: Uc.6.171: Russell-Kane: assoiled.]

¶ Thenne saide leccherie alas · & to our lady cried
Lecherye . in the clergie and others

[Uc.6.174: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Lady to þi leue sone loute for me nouthe
þat he haue pite on me putour · of his puyre mercy
with þat y shal quod þat shrewe · saturdaies for þi moder loue
Drinke bot with þe doke · & dyne but ones
y gulty in goest to god y me shriue
as yn likyng of leccherie · my licames gultes
yn word & yn wedes yn wasting[^383] of yes
For eche maide þat y mette · y made hire a signe
Semyng to synneward · & summe y gan taste
places of lechery
aboute þe mouth & bynethe gan y to grope
þe fruites of friday fast and Saintes eunes

[Uc.6.184: eunes: I.e. "evens."]

[Uc.6.184: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^384]Til bothe our wille was oen · and to þe werk we ȝedon
as wel fastingdaies & fridaies · and here[^385] festes euenes
as leef yn lente as owte of lente alle tymes yliche

[^383: Uc.6.180: Russell-Kane: waytynge.]

[^384: Uc.6.184: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.6.184-85.]

[^385: Uc.6.185: here: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads heye.]

¶ Such werkes with vs · wern neuere owt of[^386] sesoun
Til we myghte no more , þenne hadde we mery tales
Of putrie & of paramoures · & prouedon þorgh speche
and handeling & halsing & also þorgh kissing
Exited aither oþer til oure olde synne
bawdy songes and bauds nurces of lecherye
[^387] sotiled songes & sent owt olde baudes
To wynne to my wille  wymine with gile
By sorserie sumtyme · & sumtyme By maystrye
lecherie had by sorcery or ells by Rapine
y lay by þe louelokest & loued hire neuere after[^388]
lecherie desiers change
when y was oeld & hoer · & hadde lore þat kynde
y hadde likyng to lithe of leccherie tales
Now lord for þi lewte  on lecchoures haue mercy

[^386: Uc.6.187: The distinctive leftward curve of the tail of the f in the added of shows this to be the italic hand of Francis Aiscough.]

[^387: Uc.6.192: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.6.192-93.]

[^388: Uc.6.195: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

Covetyse . /

¶ Thenne cam coueytise y can not him discreue
So hungrily & holough sire heruy him loked
william Aiscough

[Uc.6.201: Grindley (p. 239) suggests that this William Aiscough was the uncle of the commentator Francis Aiscough. Another candidate, however, is a more distant ancestor, the brother of Francis's direct ancestor eight generations removed (Maddison and Larken, Lincolnshire Pedigrees, pp. 59-61). This William Aiscough was bishop of Salisbury from 1438 until his death in 1450. He was confessor to Henry VI, and not only a close associate of the king but also a wealthy man. At one point he lent the king a sum of 1,602 pounds. He was murdered in 1450 after saying mass at Edington, Wiltshire, in an event now seen as linked to the Cade rebellion. At his death, looters of his episcopal estates took goods estimated at 10,000 marks in value (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 1:524-25). Such an ancestor certainly might have seemed to the reform-minded Francis to be a fitting symbol of covetousness, given Francis's comments about "proude Prelates" and their non-residence (see the marginal comments at Uc.22.388; Uc.5.152, 162; and Uc.11.60). However, if a closer relative is the one intended, then candidates include not his uncle (Francis's only paternal uncle was also named Francis), but rather his first cousin (the son of the paternal uncle Francis, this cousin died in 1585 at an age of about 43 years), his grandfather, his great-grandfather, and his great-great-great-grandfather (Maddison and Larken, Lincolnshire Pedigrees 1:59-64).]

he was bitelbroued & baberlipped  with two blered yes
marks of covetise folckes ·
And as a letherene pors lolleden his chekes[^389]
wel siddore þen his chyn · y-cheueled for elde
and as a bondemannes bacown his berd was y-shaue
with his hoed on his heued · & his cappe[^390] bothe
in a torne coote /
yn atore a tore taberd of twelue wyntur Age
But yf a lous cowde lepe · y leue hit y trowe
she[^391] sholde not wandre vpon þat welch  so was hit þredbare
y haue be coueytows quod þis caitif  y by-knowe hit here
an vseror . or

[Uc.6.210: The o in or bears an otiose tilde.]

marchant
For sumtyme y serued symme at þe stile
and was his prentys yplight · his profit to wayte
First y lerned to lye · a lesyng oþer tweyne
wyckedlich to waye · was my first lessoun
To wy & to wynchestere y wente to þe faire
with many manere marchaundise as my maister highte
Ne hadde þe grace of gyle go among my ware
hit hadde be vnsold þis seuen ȝeer  so me god helpe

[^389: Uc.6.202: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^390: Uc.6.205: cappe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads hat.]

[^391: Uc.6.208: she: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads He.]

Drapers drepe mens purses

¶ þenne drowgh y me among draperes my donet to lerne
To drawe þe liser along · þe lengur hit semed
amonges þe riche raieres[^392] · y rendrede a lessoun
To brochen hem wiþ a pak-nedele · & band hem to-gyderes
Putte hem in pressoures · and pynne hem þerynne
Til ten ȝerdes oþer twelue tolde out þrettene
My wif was a webbe · & wollone cloth made
and spak to þe spinsteres · to spynnen oute
þe pound þat she paide hem by · peysed a quarter
More þen Myn auncelle · when y weyed truthe
y boughte hire barly she brew hit to selle
Penyale & puddyngale she poured hit[^393] to-gidores
decepte in ailewiues ·
For laboreres & low folk  þat lay by him-selue
and þe[^394] beste ale lay in my boure · & yn my bed-chaumbre
and who-so bummeþ[^395] þerof · he bought hit þerafter
A galoun for a grote & ȝut no graith mesure
when hit cam yn cuppe-mele þis craft my wyf vsed
Rose þe regrater was hir right name
she hadde yholde huxtrie þis elleuen wyntur
Repentedest neuere quod repentaunce · ne restitucion madest
She robbed hir gestes a-slepe ·

[Uc.6.238: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[Uc.6.238: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^396]Ȝus ones y was herborowed quod she · wiþ an heep of chapman[^397]
y roes & ruyfled her males · when þey a reste were

[^392: Uc.6.220: raieres: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads rayes.]

[^393: Uc.6.229: poured hit: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads poured.]

[^394: Uc.6.231: and þe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þe.]

[^395: Uc.6.232: bummeþ: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads boumode.]

[^396: Uc.6.238: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.6.238-39.]

[^397: Uc.6.238: chapman: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads chapmen.]

¶ þat was a ruful restitucion quod repentaunce forsoþe
þow wolt be hanged hie þerfore · here oþer in helle
vsedest euere vsurie yn al thi lif tyme
Nay sothly she saide · saue yn my ȝouthe
Lumbards Crafte
y lerned amonges lumbardes · alessoun a lessoun & of iewes
To weye pens wiþ a peys · & pare þe heuygost
and lente for loue of þe wed · þe which y leet betture
and more worth þen þe moneye or men þat ich lened
y lene folk þat lese wole alippe a lippe of vch anoble a noble
and with lombardes lettres · lene gold at Rome
So what barn of me borowed · he boughte þe tyme
Lenedest euere any lord for loue of his mayntenaunce
y haue lent lordes & ladies · þat loued me neuere after
and haue ymaed many aknyght a knyght boþe mercer & draper
paide neuere for his prentishoed not apaire a paire gloues
þat chaffared with my cheuysaunces cheued selde after

¶ Now redyly quod repentance & by þe rode y leue
Shal neuere seketoures[^398] wel by-sette · þe suluer þat þou hem leuest
Ne þin heires as y hope · haue ioye þat þow wonne
For þe pope with al his pentaunceres power hem faileth
To assoyle þe of þis synne Sine restitucioun
[^399] Numquam dimittitur peccatum & cetera ·
wiþ false wordes & wyghtes · haue ych wonne my godes
and wiþ gile & glosing ygadered þat ich haue
Medled my marchaundise · & made a goed mostre
þe worste lay with-ynne  a greet wyt y leet hit
and yf myn neyghbore hadde an hyne or any beest elles
More profitable þen myn y made many wentes
how y myghte haue hit al my wit y caste

[^398: Uc.6.257: seketoures: Thus Russell-Kane. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Schmidt and Pearsall read seketoure.]

[^399: Uc.6.261: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ and but y hit hadde by oþer weye · at þe laste y stale hit
Or priueylich his purs shok · & vnpiked his lokes
and yf y ȝede to þe plough · y pinched on his half-acre
þat afotelond a fote lond or a forough · fecchon y wolde
of my neighebore next · nymen of his erthe
and yf y raap ouerreche · or ȝaf hem rod[^400] þat repe
To sese to me with here sikel · þat y ne sew neuere

[^400: Uc.6.274: rod: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads red.]

¶ yn halidaies at holichurche · when y herde messe
Ne hadde y neuere wille weturly to by-seche mercy[^401]
For mysdedes[^402] þat y ne mourned ofter
For los of goed leue me þen for lycames gultes
as þough y deedly synne dide · y dradde hit so sore
as when y lened & leued hit lost · or longe or hit were paid
and yf y sente ouersee my seruauntes to bruges
Or in-to pruys-lond my prentises · my profit to awaite
To marchaunde wiþ my money · and make here eschaunges
Mighte neuere me counforte in þe mene tyme
Noþer matynes ne masse ne no manere sightes
Ne neuere penaunce perfourmed ne paternoster saide
þat my mynde ne was more yn my godes aboute[^403]
filthy & bitinge Vsurie

[Uc.6.289: The marginal comment here is bounded above and below by horizontal lines done by hand16.]

þen yn þe grace of god · and yn his gret myghte
Vbi thesaurus tuus ibi cor tuum
Now redily quod repentaunce y haue ruthe of þi lyuing
were y a frere yn goed faith · for al þe gold on erthe
y ne wolde cope me wiþ catel[^404] · ne oure kirke mende
Ne take a meles mete of thine · and myn herte hit wiste
þow were such as þou saist  y sholde rathir sterue
Melius est mori quam male viuere

[^401: Russell-Kane puts mercy with the following line, thus improving the alliteration.]

[^402: Uc.6.278: mysdedes: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads my mysdedes.]

[^403: Uc.6.288: aboute: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads in a doute.]

[^404: Uc.6.293: catel: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads thy catel.]

¶ y rede no faithful frere at þin feste to sitte
ȝut wer me leuere by oure lord lyue al by welle-cresses
þen haue my fode & my fyndyng of fals menne wynninges
[^405] Seruus es alterius cum fercula pinguia queris
Pane tuo poscius vescere liber eris
þow art an vnkynde creature y can þe not assoile
Til þow haue maed by þi myght to alle men restitucion
For alle þat haen of þin goed · haue god my truthe
nota
ys halden at þe hie doem · to helpe þe restitue
ȝe þe prest þat þi tithe toek · trowe y noen othir
shal parte with þe in purgatorie · & helpe paie þi dette
yf he wiste þou were such · when he resceyued þin offring
And what lede leueth þat y lie  loke yn þe sauter glosed
On ecce enim veritatem dilexisti
vsure is compared to the Pops

[Uc.6.311: Pops: viz. "Pope's"]

Stues rente
[^406] and þere shal he wite weturly · what vsure is to mene
and penaunce þe prest shal haue · þat proud is of his tiþes
For an hore of hire ers-wynnyng may hardiloker tiþe
þen an erraunt vsurer haue god my truþe
and arst shal come to heuene[^407]

[^405: Uc.6.300: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^406: Uc.6.311: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of four stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.6.311-15.]

[^407: Uc.6.315: Russell-Kane: And arste shal come to heuene, by hym þat me made.]

¶ þenne was þere a walshe man · was wonderly sory
highte euan[^408] ȝelde aȝen · yf y so myche haue
al þat y wickedly wan · sithen þat[^409] y wit hadde
and þough my liflode lacke letton y nelle
þat yche man ne shal haue his · ar y hennes wende
For me ys leuer yn þis lif as a lorel begge
þen yn lisse to lyue · and lese lif & soule
Robert þe Ruyflere · On reddite loked
and for þere nas not where-with he weep swithe sore
¶ and ȝut þat synful shrewe saide to þe heuene
Crist þat on caluarie  on þe cros dyedest
þo bismas[^410] my brothir bysoughte ȝou of grace
and haddest mercy vpon þat man for memento his sake
So rewe on Robert · þat reddere ne haue
Ne neuere wene to wynne with craft yknowe[^411]
For þin miche mercy mytigacioun y biseche
dampne me not at domesday for þat y dide so ille
what bifel of this feloun y can not faire shewe
wel y woet he wepte faste water with his yes
and knowleched to crist his cowpe ȝut eftsones
þat repentaunse his pik-staf · he wolde polshe newe
For he hadde y-leye by latro · Lucifers aunte
By þe rode quod repentaunce · þow romest toward heuene
By so hit be yn þin herte as y here þin tonge
Crist in his myche mercy · and ȝut þow myght be saued
For al þe wrecchednes of þis world & wicked dedes
Fareth as flonk of fuyr · þat ful amid temse
and diede with a drop water · so doth alle synnes
Of alle manere men þat with[^412] goed willon[^413] confesson hem[^414]
and crien him mercy shal neuere comen helle[^415]
exemplatum vsq[...]

[Uc.6.346: This marginal note (apparently "copied to [here]"), in very small script, seems to indicate the point to which a scribe had copied in using this manuscript as exemplar for another. The note is incomplete because of later trimming of the vellum. Cf. comparable notes at Uc.8.159 and Uc.9.122.]

[^416] Omnis iniquitas quo ad misericordiam dei est quasi sintilla in medio maris

[^408: Uc.6.317: euan: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ȝeuan.]

[^409: Uc.6.318: sithen þat: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads sithen.]

[^410: Uc.6.327: Russell-Kane: dysmas.]

[^411: Uc.6.330: yknowe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þat y knowe.]

[^412: with: Russell-Kane and Schmidt both read mid, thereby improving the alliteration, despite the witness of all the manuscripts to with. Pearsall reads with.]

[^413: Uc.6.344: willon: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads wille.]

[^414: Russell-Kane and Schmidt both put confesson hem with the following line; Pearsall prints it with this line.]

[^415: Uc.6.345: helle: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads in helle.]

[^416: Uc.6.346: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ Repente þe anoen quod repentaunce right to þe vserer
and haue his mercy in thin mynde & marchaundise leue hit
For þow hast no goed by goed faith · to gete þe wiþ a wastelle
For þe goed þat þou hast gete · bygan al wiþ falsheed
and as longe as þou lyuest þerwith · þou ȝeldest not but borowest
nota
and yf þou wite neuere to wham · ne where to restitue
Bere hit to thi bisshop and bidde him of his grace
To bisetton hit him-selue · as best be for thin soule
For he shal answere for the · at þe hie doem
For þe & for many mo · þat man shal ȝiue rekenyng
what he lered ȝou to lyue with · and lette ȝou fram þefte
Glotoun

¶ Now bigynneth glotoun forto go to shrifte
Glotonye . wil faste on all Fridayes
and kaires him to kirkeward · his cowpe to shewe
Fasting on a friday forth gan he wende
By Beton hows þe brewster · þat bad hem[^417] goed morowen
and whoderward he wolde þe bruwyf him asked
To holy churche quod he  forto here masse
and sithen sitte & by[^418] shryuen · and synne no more
y haue goed ale gossip glotoun wolt þow assaye
The nature of gluttony
[^419] hast þow quod he any hote spices[^420]
y haue peper & pyonye and a pound of garlek
a ferthingworth of fenkelsedes for fastingdaies I bought it

[^417: Uc.6.361: hem: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads hym.]

[^418: Uc.6.364: by: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads be.]

[^419: Uc.6.366: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^420: Uc.6.366: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

Drunkinnes & swering

¶ þenne goth glotoun yn · and gret othes after
Sesse þe souteres[^421] · sat on þe benche
watte þe whernere[^422] & his wyf dronke
Tymme þe tynkere · and tweyen of his knaues
hicke þe hakeney man · & howe þe nedler
the sabothes in thos daies well keppte

[Uc.6.374: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Clarise of Cokkeslane & þe Clerk of þe churche[^423]
companions of the ale Rood .
[^424] Sire pers of pridie · and purnel of Flaundres
an hayward an heremyte · þe hangman of tyborne
Dawe þe dykere with a dozeyne of harlotes
Of portoures & of pike-purses & piled toth drawers
a Rybybour a Ratoner a rakyer and his knaue
a rope a reding kyng · & rose þe disshere
Godfray þe Garlekmongere & Griffith þe walshe[^425]
and of vpholders an heep erly by þe morwen[^426]
Geuen glotown with glad chere goed ale to hanselle

[^421: Uc.6.362: MED souteresse, female shoemaker.]

[^422: Uc.6.371: Whernere: viz., warrener.]

[^423: Uc.6.374: An x in the right margin links this line to the marginal comment.]

[^424: Uc.6.375: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.6.369-83.]

[^425: Uc.6.381: An x in the right margin, written by hand16 (Francis Aiscough) links this line with the sarcastic marginal comment at Uc.6.374, the sabothe in thos daies well keppte.]

[^426: Uc.6.382: morwen: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads morwe.]

¶ Clement þe cobler cast of his cloke
and to þe newe faire nempned hit[^427] forth to selle
hicke þe hakenay man hit his hoed after
and bad botte þe bocher to ben on his side
þere wern chapmen ychose þis chaffare to preyse
þat who-so hadde þe hoed shold not haue þe cloke
and þat þe bettere þing by arbytroures sholde bote þe werse
Two risen vp rape and rouned to-giders
and preised þis penyworthes apert ap[a]rt by hem-selue
and þere wern othes an heep · for oen sholde haue þe worse
They myght[^428] not by here conscience · acorden for truthe
Til Robyn þe Ropere arise þey bysoughte
and nempned him for a nounpere · þat noen debate were
hicke þe hosteler hadde þe cloke
yn couenaunt þat Clement sholde þe cuppe fullen
and haue hickes hoed þe hostiler · and holde him yserued
and who-so repentid him rathist · sholde arise after
and grete sire glotoun with a galoun of ale
þere was laughing & louryng & lat go þe coppe
Bargaynes & beuerages bygan tho to walke
and seton so til euensong and songon vmwhile[^429]
Til glotown hadde yglobbed · a galoun & a gille
his guttes bigan to gothele · as two gredy sowes
he pissed a potel yn a paternoster while
gluttonnys horne his tale
[^430]he blew his rounde ruet at ruggebones ende[^431]
þat alle þat herde þe horn helden her neses after
and wisshed hit hadde be wasshe with a wisp of breres
he myghte nothir steppe ne stande til he a staf hadde
and þenne gan he go lik a glemannes bicche
Somtyme a-syde & somtyme a-rere
as who-so laith lynes forto lacche foules
and when he drough to þe dore þenne dymmed his yes
and thrombled at þe thresshold · & þrew to þe erthe
and Clement þe Cobler caught him by þe myddel
and forto lifte him a-loft laid him on his knees
and[^432] glotoun was a gret churl · & he groned in þe liftyng

[^427: Uc.6.385: The t in hit has a flourish, perhaps accidental, resembling in form the upward- and backward-looping abbreviation sign for er.]

[^428: Uc.6.394: The supralinear correction myght spoils the alliteration of this line and, according to Russell-Kane, represents a reading unique to MS Uc. The m shows greater splay than is usual for the hand of the main scribe. However, the similarity with Uc.16.87 (fol. 82v), where the supralinear myght is clearly due to line-end compression and is thus very probably in the main text hand, shows the possibility that this word may represent the hand of the main scribe.]

[^429: Uc.6.404: vmwhile: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads vmbywhile.]

[^430: Uc.6.408: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.6.408-409.]

[^431: Uc.6.408: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.6.408-409.]

[^432: Uc.6.419: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

¶ and coughed vp a caudel yn Clementes lappe
ys noen so hungry hound in hertfordshire
durst lape of þat lyuyng so vnlouely hit smaughte
with al þe wo of þis world his wif & his wenche
Beron him to his bed & broughton him þerynne
and aftir al þis exces · he hadde an accidie
he sleep saturday & sonda sonda[y] til þe sonne ȝede to reste
þenne gan he awake ful wanne · & wolde haue ydronke
þe first word þat he spak was who halt þe bolle
his wif & his ynwit blamed him of his synne
he wax a-shamed þat shrew · & shrof him as swithe
To repentaunce right þus · haue ruthe on me he saide
þow lord þat aloft art · & alle lyues shoep
To þe god y glotoun gulty y me yelde
of þat y haue trespassed wiþ tonge y can not telle how ofte
sworn godes soule & his sides · & so helpe me god almyghty
þere no nede ne was many sithe falsly
and ouersouped at my soper and somtyme at nones
More þen my kynde myghte defie
and as a hound þat eet gras · so gan y to brake
and spilde þat y aspele[^433] myghte · y can not speke for shame
þe vyleny of my foule mouth & of my foul mawe
and fastingdaies bifore noen · fede me with ale
Out of resoun among ribaudes her ribaudie to here
hereof gode god graunte me forȝiuenes
Of al my lither lif yn al my liftyme
For y avowe to veray god  for any hungur or furst
shal neuere fish on þe friday defien yn my wombe
Til abstinence myn aunte · haue ȝiue me leue
and ȝut haue y ihatid hire al my lif tyme

[^433: Uc.6.440: MED: spelen, "To save, hoard; save (sth.), refrain from using or consuming." See also MED a- pref. (1).]

Passus septimus de visione & . cetera .

[^434] T henne cam slewthe al byshrewed[^435] · wiþ two slymy yes
Slewthe . /
y moste sitte to be shriue or elles shold y nappe
y may not wel stande ne stoupe ne with-outon a stoel knele
were y brought in my bed · but yf my tailende tail ende hit made
sholde no ryngyng do me to rise · til y wer ripe to dyne
he by-gan benedicite with a bolk  & his brest knocked
Roxlede & Romede · & rotte at þe laste
What a-wake renk quod repentaunce · and rape þe to shrifte
yf y sholde dye by this day · y drede me sore
y can not perfitlich my paternoster as þe prest hit syngeth
y can Rymes of Robyn hoed · and of Randolf erl of chestur
ac of oure lord ne of oure lady · þe leste þat euere was maked
y haue avowed vowes fourty · and forȝeton hem amorowen
y perfourmede neuere penaunces · þat þe prest me highte
Ne right sory for my synnes · y say neuere þe tyme
and yf y bidde any bedes but yf it be in wrathe
þat y telle with my tonge · ys ten myle from myn herte
y am occupied vch a day halyday & othir
with ydel tales at þe ale · & othir-while yn churches
Godes payne & his passioun ys puyr selde yn myn þought
y visited neuere febel man · ne fetured man in prisoun
y hadde leuere here an harlotrie or a lesing to laughon of
or to lacke men & likene hem · in vnliking manere
þought[^436][^437] al þat euere mark made  Matheu Iohan or lucas
vigiles & fastingdaies · y can forȝeton hem alle
and ligge a-bedde yn lentoun · & my lemman yn myn armes
Til matynes & masse be don  þenne haue y memory at þe freres
y am not shriue sumtyme but yf siknesse hit make
Not twyes yn ten ȝeer · and þenne telle y not þe haluendel
nota Slewthe the badge of the clergie

[^434: Uc.7.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital and extends from Uc.6.444 to the bottom of the folio at Uc.7.15.]

[^435: Uc.7.1: byshrewed: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads byslobered.]

[^436: Uc.7.24: The ink of the added t here is darker.]

[^437: Uc.7.24: þought: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Then.]

¶ y haue be prest & persoun passing þretty wyntur[^438][^439]
ȝut can y nothir solfe ne synge · ne a seyntes lif rede
but[^440] y can fynde yn a feld & yn a forlong an hare
And holde aknyhtes a knyhtes court · & a-counte wiþ þe reue
but[^441] y can not construe catoun ne clergiallich rede
yf y begge & borow hit but yf hit be ytailed
A forsworne lyer .
[^442]y forȝete hit as ȝerne & yf any man hit aske[^443]
Sixe sithe othir seuen · y forsake hit with othes
and þus haue y tened treue men · ten hundred tymes
and my seruauntes sumtyme · her salarie ys byhinde
Ruthe is to here rykenyng when we shal rede acountes
So with wicked wille my werkmen ypaye y paye
ingratful
[^444]yf any man doþ me a benfet · or helpeth me at nede[^445]
y am vnkynde aȝen his curtesie · & can not vnderstande hit
For y haue & haue had · sumdel haukes maneres
bribery
[^446]y am not luyred with loue · but þere ligge ought vnder þe þumbe[^447]
þe kyndenesse þat myn euencristene kidde me fernȝere
Syxty sithes y sleuthe haue forȝeton hit sithe
yn speche & yn sparing of speche · y-spilled many atyme a tyme
wast gods good creature
[^448]Bothe flesh & fish & vitailes kepte y[^449] so longe[^450]
Til vch a lif hit lothid · to loke þeronne or smelle hit
Boþe bred & ale butter mylk & chese
Forsleuthid in my seruice · and y-sette ones afuyre a fuyre
+
and ȝede aboute yn my ȝouthe · & ȝaf me to no þedom
and sithe a beggere haue y be · for my foule slewthe
[^451] heu michi quod sterilem duxi vitam iuuenilem
Repentest þe not quod repentaunce · & right wiþ þat he swouned
Til vigilate þe veile fette water at his yes
and plat[^452] hit on his face · & faste on him cried
wanhope haith deceaued many A foullyhe foullyshe youth .
[^453]and saide war þe from wanhope þat wolde þe bitraye[^454]
y am sory for my synnes · sey to thin seluen
and bete þi-selue vpon þin brest & bidde him of grace
For ys no gult so gret · þat his goednes ys more

[^438: Uc.7.30: The t in wyntur appears to have been written over an original r.]

[^439: Uc.7.30: An x in the right margin links this line to the marginal comment.]

[^440: Uc.7.32: but: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^441: Uc.7.34: but: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^442: Uc.7.36: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.7.36-37.]

[^443: Uc.7.36: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.7.36-37.]

[^444: Uc.7.42: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.7.42-43.]

[^445: Uc.7.42: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.7.42-43.]

[^446: Uc.7.45: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^447: Uc.7.45: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^448: Uc.7.49: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.7.49-50.]

[^449: Uc.7.49: y: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this added reading is unique to MS Uc, although several manuscripts read substantially i kept. Russell-Kane reads kepte.]

[^450: Uc.7.49: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.7.49-50.]

[^451: Uc.7.55: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^452: Uc.7.58: plat: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads flatte.]

[^453: Uc.7.59: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^454: Uc.7.59: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

¶ þenne sat sleuthe vp · and seyned him ofte
And made avow to-fore god · for his foul sleuthe
shal no sunday be þis seuenȝer seuen ȝer · but yf siknes hit make
þat y ne shal do me ar day · to þe dere chirche
and here matynes & masse as y amonk a monk were
Shal noen ale after mete holde me thennes
Til y haue euesong yherd · y bihote to þe rode
the branches of Slewth · is to liue with - oute gods fere
[^455]But whiche be þe braunches þat bringeþ men to sleuthe
ys when men mourneth not · for his mysdedes
þe penaunses þat þe prest enioyneth perfourmeth euel
doþ noen almes-dede drat him not of synne
lyueth aȝen þe bileue · & no lawe kepeth
and hath no lyking to lerne  ne of oure lord to here
vsury .
But to harlotrie & hordom · or elles of sum wynnyng
when men carpeth of crist · or of clennes of soule
and wexeth wroth & wol not here but wordes of myrthe
Penaunce & pore men · & þe passioun of seyntes
he hatiþ to here þerof · & alle þat þerof carpeth
þise be þe braunches beth war · þat bringeth aman a man to[^456] wanhope

[^455: Uc.7.70: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.7.70-71.]

[^456: Uc.7.81: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

nota

¶ Ȝe lordes · & ladies & legates of holichurche
against bawdy Jesters
[^457]þat feden foel sages · flatereres & liares
and han likyng[^458] to liþen hem  yn hope to do ȝou laughe
[^459] Ve vobis qui ridetis & cetera ·
and ȝiueth such mede & mete · & pore men refuse
yn ȝour deth-dying · I drede me sore
lest þo manere men · to myche sorowe ȝou bringe
[^460] Consencientes & agentes pari pena punientur
Patriarkes & prophetes · prechoures of godes wordes
Sauen þorgh her sermon · mannes soule from helle
Rightso Right so flaterers & foles · arn þe fendes procuratoures
To entise men þorgh her tales · to synne & to harlotrie

[^457: Uc.7.83: Sidelining by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.7.83-85.]

[^458: Uc.7.83: The g in likyng is small and appears to have been inserted after the copying of the following word, perhaps by the text scribe.]

[^459: Uc.7.85: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^460: Uc.7.89: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ Clerkes þat knoweþ þis sholde kenne lordes
What dauid saith of such men as þe sauter telleth
[^461] Non habitabit in medio domus mee qui facit superbiam qui loquitur iniqua & cetera
sholde noen harlot haue audiense · yn halle ne yn chaumbre
þere þat wise men were witnesseth godes wordes
Ne noen mysproud man · amonges lordes be aloued
the good poore to be releued before Minstrils
[^462]Clerkes & knyghtes welcometh kynges mynstrals[^463]
and for loue of here lord · liþeth hem at festes
Miche me thinketh riche men oughte
haue beggeres byfore hem þe which ben godes mynstrales
as he saith him-self · seint Iohan bereth witnes
dicit Christus
Qui vos spernit me spernit
nota feastes · banckits

[^461: Uc.7.96: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^462: Uc.7.100: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.7.100-102.]

[^463: Uc.7.100: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.7.100-102.]

¶ For-thi y rede ȝou riche · reueles[^464] when ȝe make
Forto solace ȝour soules such mynstrals to haue
foullbage · or bagpype ·
þe pore man[^465] for a piper[^466] · sittinge at þi table
wiþ a lered man to lere þe · what oure lord soffred
Forto saue þin soule from sathan þin enemy
and fithele þe with-oute flaturyng of gode friday þe feste
and a blyndman blynd man for a bordour · or a bedrede womman
To crie a largesse byfore our lord · ȝour goed loes to shewe
þise þre manere mynstrals maketh a man to laughe
and yn his deth-diying · þey don him gret counfort
þat by his lyue relened[^467] hem · & loued hem to here
þise solasen þe soule · til him-selue be yfalle
yn a welhope for he wroughte so  amonges worthi sayntes
þere flatereres & foles wiþ here foule wordes
Leden þo þat lithed hem to luciferes feste
wiþ turpiloquio a · lay of sorowe  & luciferes fithele
To perpetuel payne or purgatory as wicke
For he lithed & loued þat godes lawe dispiseth
[^468] Dare histrionibus & . cetera .
þo was repentaunce al redy · & rad hem alle to knele
y shal byseke for alle synful our saueour of grace
To amende vs of oure mysdedes · do mercy to vs alle
God þat of þin goedenesse gonne þe world make
and madest of nought ought & man lich to þi-selue
Adams fall .
[^469]and sithen soffredest him to synne a siknes to vs alle[^470]
and for oure beste as y byleue what so þe boek telle
[^471] O felix culpa o necessarium peccatum Ade

[^464: Uc.7.106: Hand16 has inserted a caret mark below the baseline between reueles and when. It is unclear which marginal comment is the intended insertion, dicit Christus or feastes · banckits.]

[^465: Uc.7.108: man: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc, having no support among other C-version witnesses.]

[^466: Uc.7.108: piper: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc, having no support among other C-version witnesses.]

[^467: Uc.7.116: The supralinear addition of re- causes the n in lened to be construed as u, giving the altered reading releued. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this altered reading is unique to Uc, having no support among other C-version witnesses.]

[^468: Uc.7.124: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^469: Uc.7.130: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^470: Uc.7.130: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^471: Uc.7.132: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ For þorgh þat synne þi sone ysent was til erthe
and bi-cam man of a maide mankinde to amende
and madest þi-selue with þi sone · oure soule & body ylich
[^472] Ego in patre & pater in me et qui me videt videt patrem meum & cetera .
and sithe in oure secte as hit semed dyedest
On a friday in forme of man · feledest oure sorowe
[^473] Captiuam duxit captiuitatem
þe sonne for sorowe þerof · les light for a tyme
aboute mydday when most light is & meltyme of saintes
Feddest þo wiþ þin flesh & bloed · oure forfadres yn helle
[^474] Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam

[^472: Uc.7.136: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^473: Uc.7.139: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^474: Uc.7.143: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ þe light þat leep out of þe lucifer hit blente
and broughte þine yblessid fro þennes yn-to þe blisse of heuen
þe þridde day þerafter · þow ȝedest yn oure seckte
blyshed

[Uc.7.147: blyshed: See OED for this form s.v. bless.]

Mary
a synful mary þe say as[^475] seynt marye þin dame[^476]
and also to solace synfole · þou soffredest hit so were
[^477] Non veni vocare iustos set peccatores & cetera .
and al þat mark haþ ymaed  Mathew Iohan & lucas
Of thine doughtiest dedes · was doen yn oure sekte
[^478] Verbum caro factum est & cetera .
and by so myche hit semeþ þe sikorloker we mowe
Bidde & biseche þe  yf hit be þi wille
a secret of þe trinnitie
[^479]þat art first oure fader · & of flesh oure brothir[^480]
and sithon oure saueour · and seidest hit wiþ þi tonge
þat what tyme we synful men · wolden be sory for dedes
þat we han don ille dampned sholde we be neuere
yf we knowleched & cried crist þerof mercy
[^481] Quandocumque ingemuerit peccator omnes iniquitates eius non recordabor amplius
þe corruption of þat time
[^482]and for þi myche mercy & mari loue þi moder[^483]
haue ruthe of alle þise ribaudes þat repenten hem sore
þat euere þey agult aȝen þe god yn gost or yn dede
þenne hente hope an horn of deus tu conuersus viuificabis nos
And blew hit with beati quorum · remisse sunt iniquitates & quorum tecta sunt peccata
þat alle seyntes for synfole songe with dauid
homines & iumenta saluabis quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus
a thousande of men þo  þrongon to-gederes
þe people were blindfoldid by superstission
[^484]Cried vpward to crist · & to his clene moder[^485]
To haue grace to go to truthe  god leue þat þei mote
[^486]But þere ne was wye noen so wys þat þe way þider coude[^487]
But blustred forth as bestes ouer baches and hulles
Til late was & longe · þat þey a lede mette
apparailed as a paynym yn pilgrimes wise
he baer a bordoun ybounde with a broed liste
yn a weþewynd wise ywrithe al aboute
a bolle & a bagge he baer by his side
an hundred of aunpolles[^488] on his hat sette
signes of sisel · and shelles of gales
and many a crouche on his cloke kayes of Rome
and þe vernicle bifore for men sholde yknowe
and se by þe signe[^489] whom he sought hadde
þise folk frayned him first fro whennes he come

[^475: Uc.7.147: as: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ar.]

[^476: Uc.7.147: An x in the right margin links this line to the marginal comment.]

[^477: Uc.7.149: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^478: Uc.7.152: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^479: Uc.7.155: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^480: Uc.7.155: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^481: Uc.7.160: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^482: Uc.7.161: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^483: Uc.7.161: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^484: Uc.7.169: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^485: Uc.7.169: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^486: Uc.7.171: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^487: Uc.7.171: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^488: Uc.7.178: MED ampulle, "a small flask of consecrated water or oil."]

[^489: Uc.7.182: signe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads signes.]

¶ Fro synay he saide & fro þe sepulcre of oure lord
in Bethlem Iuda
[^490] yn bedlem & yn babyloyne ych haue be yn boþe[^491][^492]
Ȝe may se by þe sygnes þat sitten on my cappe
y haue sought gode sayntes fro f[or] my soule helthe[^493]
and y-walked fulwide ful wide yn wete and yn drie

[^490: Uc.7.185: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^491: Uc.7.185: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^492: Uc.7.185: Russell-Kane adds the following line as RK7.173: In Armonye, in Alisaundre and in damaske. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, omission of the line is unique to Uc.]

[^493: Uc.7.187: Russell-Kane transposes this line with the following on the evidence of the A and B versions, though the apparatus indicates that all the C-version manuscripts follow the order given here in Uc. Russell-Kane: Y haue ywalked ful wyde in wete and in drye / And souht gode seyntes for my soule helthe. Schmidt and Pearsall both follow the order of the C-version manuscripts.]

Nota

¶ Knowest þow ought a corsseynt quod he þat men calleþ truþe
Coudest þou wissen vs to-day whoderout truthe woneþ
Nay so me god helpe saide þe goem thenne
y saw neuere palmere with pyk ne with scrip axen after him[^494]
But now yn þis place

[^494: Uc.7.192: Russell-Kane relineates thus: I ne saw neuere palmere with pyk ne with scrippe / Axen aftur hym er now in þis place. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, Uc's division of the line is unique.]

¶ Petur quod a ploughman & putte forth his heed
y knowe him as kyndely as Clerk doth his bokes
Conscience & kynde wyt kenned me to this place
and made me sekeron sithen to seruen him for euere
Bothe sowe[^495] & to sette þe while y swynke myghte
and to sowen his seed suwen his bestes
wiþ-ynnen & wiþ-owton to wayton his profit
ych haue ybe his folowere al this fourty wyntur
and yserued truthe sothly · somdel to paye
yn alle kynne craftes · þat he coude deuyse
þe nature of truth
[^496]profitable as for þe plough · he potte me to lerne
and thowgh y say[^497] my-self · y serue him to paye
ych haue myn huyre · of him wel & oþerwhiles more
he ys þe presteste payer þat any pore man knoweth
he wiþ-halt noen hewe his huyre ouer euen
he is as low as a lomb · & leel of his tonge
and who-so wilneþ to wite where þat trowþe woneþ
y wole wissen ȝou wel right to his place
þe Author Tome telltruth ·

[Uc.7.212: The note means, "The author is a Tom Tell-truth," i.e. a bold satirist; the semi-allegorical name comes from the title character and authorial persona of a verse pamphlet published in 1600 and attributed in the National Union Catalog to John Lane, fl. 1620: "Tom Tel-Troths Message, and His Pens Complaint. A worke not vnpleasant to be read, nor vnprofitable to be followed. Written by IO. LA. Gent. London. Imprinted for R. Howell, and are to be sold at his shop, neere the great North doore of Paules, at the signe of the white horse. 1600" (The National Union Catalog, Pre-1956 Imprints 314:374).]

[^495: Uc.7.198: sowe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads to sowe.]

[^496: Uc.7.204: Sidelining by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.7.195-211.]

[^497: Uc.7.205: say: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads say hit.]

¶ Ȝe leue pers quod þis pilgrimes & profred pers mede
Nay by þe perel of my soule pers gan to swere
I ne wole fonge a ferthing for seint Thomas shrine
were hit y-told truthe þat y toek mede
he wolde loue me þe lasse along a long tyme aftir
and[^498] who-so wol wende þere truthe ys þis is þe way þider
The waye to truthe .
ȝe mote go þorgh mekenes alle menne & wymmen
Til ȝe come yn to conscience y-knowe god sulue[^499]
þat ȝe loue him lord lelly a-lone[^500] alle
þat ys to say sothly ȝe shold rathir dye
þenne any dedly synne do  for drede or for preyere
and þenne ȝoure neyghbores next · yn none wise apeyre
othir-wise þen ȝe woldon · þey wroughte ȝou alle tymes
and so goth forth by þe boek[^501] · a brugge as hit were
Fortil For til ȝe findon a forde · ȝour fader honoureth
wadeth yn þat watur & washeth ȝow wel þere
and ȝe shal lepe þe lightloker al ȝour liftyme
[^502] honora patrem & matrem & cetera .
and thenne shalt þou see swere not · but yf hit be for nede
and namelich yn[^503] ydel þe name of god almyghty
þenne shalt þou come by a croft · but come þou þerynne
þe croft hette coueyte not menne catel ne her wyues
Ne none of here seruauntes  þat nvye hem myghte
loke þow bere not þere away · but yf hit be þin owne
Two stockes þere stondeth · but stynte þou not þere
þey hatte stele not & sle not · strike forth by bothe
and leueth hem on þe lefte hond · and loke þere-after
and holde wel þe haliday hie til euen
Thenne shalt þou blenche at a berw · bere no fals witnes
ys frithed yn with floreynes & othir fees manye
Loke þow plucke no plante þere for perel of þin soule
þenne shalt þou see say soth · so hit be to done
yn none manere elles not for noen mannes preyer
and so shalt þou come to a court as cleer as þe sonne

[^498: Uc.7.217: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^499: Uc.7.219: y-knowe god sulue: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads yknowe of god sulue.]

[^500: Uc.7.220: a-lone: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads aboue, recording the reading of Uc (quite plausibly) as a loue.]

[^501: Uc.7.225: Russell-Kane: brok.]

[^502: Uc.7.229: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^503: Uc.7.231: yn: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads an.]

¶ þe mote ys of mercy þe manere yn the myddes
and al þe wallyng ys of wit · for wil ne sholde hit wynne
þe carnels arn of cristendoem þat kynde to saue
vmbetrased[^504] with byleue so  or þow best not ysaued
and alle þe houses ben yheled · halles & chaumbres
with no lede but with loue  & with leel speche
þe barres arn of buxumnes  as brethren of oen wombe
þe brigge hatte bide wel · þe bettere may þow spede
þe error of þat time Priaer to Saintes not þe way to truth
[^505]vch a piler is of penaunces · and preyeres to seyntes[^506]
þe hokes arn almesdedes · þat þe ȝates hangon on
marke ·
[^507]Grace hatte þe gateward a goed man forsothe[^508]
his man hatte amende ȝou many man him knoweth
Telle him þis ilke tokene truthe woet þe sothe
y am sory of my synnes and so y shal euere
and perfourmed þe penaunses[^509] þat þe prest me highte

[^504: Uc.7.249: vmbetrased: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ibotrased.]

[^505: Uc.7.254: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.7.254-55.]

[^506: Uc.7.254: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.7.254-55.]

[^507: Uc.7.256: A bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of a parenthesis, highlights this line.]

[^508: Uc.7.256: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^509: Uc.7.260: penaunses: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads penaunce.]

¶ Biddeth amende ȝow to meke ȝou to his maistur grace
To opene & vndo · þe hie gate of heuene
þat adam & eue aȝenes vs alle shitte
nota nay rather per Christum
[^510] Per Euam cuntis cun[c]tis clausa est  et per mariam virginem iterum patefacta est & . cetera[^511]
a ful leel lady vnleek hit of grace
and she hath þe keye & þe cleket · þough þe king slepe
and may lede yn þat she loueth as hire leef liketh
and yf grace graunte þe to go yn þis wise
þow shalt see truthe sitte · yn þi self herte
and solace þi soule & saue þe from peyne[^512]
and charge charite a churche to make
yn þin hole herte to herborowe alle trewe
and fynde alle manere folk · fode to here soules
yf loue & leute & oure lawe trewe
[^513] Quodcumque pecieritis in nomine meo dabitur enim vobis

[^510: Uc.7.264: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights the two manuscript lines of this one runover Latin line. At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^511: Uc.7.264: An x at the end of this line links the line to the marginal comment. A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans the two manuscript lines of this one runover Latin line.]

[^512: Uc.7.270: The words from and peyne are written without word-spacing. Two dots resembling a colon—one just below the baseline between from and peyne, and the other between those words at the level of the top of the letters—seem to have been intended to add the word-spacing by way of correction. The corrector is hand1.]

[^513: Uc.7.275: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ Ac be war þenne of wrathe not þat wicked shrewe
For he hath enuye to him þat yn þin herte sitteth
and poketh forth pruyde to preyse thin selue
þe boldnes of þin beenfetes  maketh þe blind þenne
so worth þow driuen[^514] as deux[^515] · & þe dore yclosid
ykeyed & y-cliketid  to close þe with-owton
happilich an hundred wyntur ar eft entre[^516]
þus myght þow leson his loue  to lete wel by þi-selue
a-geton hit agayn þorgh grace  ac þorgh no gifte elles

[^514: Uc.7.280: driuen: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads dryuen out.]

[^515: Uc.7.280: deux: viz., "dew." The MED attests the following spellings: deu, daw, deaw, deuȝ, deuh, dieuȝ, dywe. Pearsall cites Hosea 13.3 for what "driven as dew" might mean.]

[^516: Uc.7.282: ar eft entre: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ar thow eft entre.]

vij systers that serve Truthe

¶ But[^517] þere ben seuen sustres þat seruen truþe euere
and arn porteres ouer þe posternes · þat to þat place bylongon
Abstenence . 1 Humilitie . 2 Charritie . 3 Chastitie . 4 Pacience . 5 Pease . & 6 . largenesse . 7

[Uc.7.287: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^518]þat oen hette abstinence  an humilite anothir
charite & chastite ben his chef maydones
pacience & pees  myche pepel þei helpon
largenesse þat lady lat yn fulmany ful many
Noen of hem alle helpe may in bettere
For she paieth for personnes  yn puttes[^519] & yn peynes
and who is sib to þis seuene so me god helpe
ys wonderlich welcome & fair vnderfonge
who is not sib to þis seuene  soþly to telle
hit ys fulhard ful hard by myn heued any of ȝou alle
To geton yngang at eny gate · but grace be þe more
a Cutpurshe and a · Beareward haue no truth at all ·
¶ By crist quod a kittepurs y haue no kyn þere[^520]
nota
Ne y quod an apeward by aug [ht] þat y knowe
wite god quod a wafrer wiste y this forsoþe
wolde y neuere forþere no fote · for no frere preching
þe Author · commends truth with mercye
þus[^521] quod pers þe ploughman & poked hem alle to gode[^522]
Mercy is amaydon a maydon þere · hath myght ouer hem alle
and she is sib to alle synful · and hire sone bothe
and þorgh þe helpes of hem two hope þow noen oþer
duringe this pilgramace
þow maist[^523] gete grace þere · so þou go bytymes[^524]

[^517: Uc.7.285: But: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^518: Uc.7.287: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.7.287-89.]

[^519: Uc.7.292: puttes: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads places.]

[^520: Uc.7.298: An x at the end of this line, made by hand16, highlights this line, and a curly bracket in the right margin in the form of stacked parentheses, also by hand16, highlights this line and the next.]

[^521: Uc.7.302: þus: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ȝus.]

[^522: Uc.7.302: An x in the right margin links this line with the marginal comment.]

[^523: Uc.7.306: maist: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads myhte.]

[^524: Uc.7.306: An x in the right margin links this line with the marginal comment.]

¶ Ȝe villam emi quod oen  & now y moste thidore
[^525]To loke how me liketh hit & toek his leue at pers
anothir anoen right · nede he saide he hadde
To falowe wiþ fyue ȝokes · for-þi me byhoueth
To go with a goed wil  & graithlich hem driue
For-þi y pray ȝou pers · perauntur yf ȝe mete truthe
þe parrable of þe bidd to þe marriag
Telleth him þis þat y be excused[^526]

[^525: Uc.7.308: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.7.308-12.]

[^526: Uc.7.313: An x in the right margin links this line to the marginal comment.]

¶ þenne was oen þat hette[^527] actif · an hosebonde he semed
y haue weddid a wif · wel wantoun of maneres
were y seuen nyght from hire sight  sighon[^528] she wolde
and loure on me & lithtly li[g]htly chide · and saye y louede anoþer
For-þi pers þe ploughman · y preye þe telle hit truthe
y may not come for kitte · so she cleueth on me
[^529] Vxorem duxi & ideo non possum venire
Quod contemplacioun by crist þogh y care soffre
Famyne & defaut folowen y wole pers
ac þe way is fulwicked ful wicked · but who-so hadde a gyde
þat myghte folowe vs vch a fote for drede of mys-turnyng

[^527: Uc.7.314: þat hette: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads hihte.]

[^528: Uc.7.316: sighon: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads synnen; Schmidt and Pearsall, sighen.]

[^529: Uc.7.320: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

Passus Octauus vt prius & . cetera

nota
[^530] Q uod Perkyn þe ploughman by seynt petur of Rome
ych haue an halfacre to erie by þe hy-waye
hadde . I · eried þis halfaker · & ysowe hit after
y wolde wende with ȝou · & þe way teche
þat were along a long lettyng quod alady a lady yn a sclayre
what sholde we wymmen  worche þe whiles
y pray ȝow for ȝour profit quod pers to þe ladies
meane and gentill women liue by þe plowghe
[^531]þat somme sowe þe sak for sheding of þe whete[^532]
and ȝe worthily[^533] wymmen with ȝour long Fyngres
þat ȝe on selk & on sendel to sew[^534] when tyme ys
Chesibles for chapeleyns · chirches to honoure
wyues & wedowes wolle & Flex spinneth
Conscience counseileth ȝou cloth forto make
For profit of þe pore and plesaunce of ȝour-seluen
For y shal lene hem liflode · but þe lond faile
as longe as y lyue for lordes loue of heuene
and alle manere men þat by þe molde ys susteyned
helpeth him worche wittilich · þat wynneth ȝour fode
By crist quod a knyght tho  he kenneth vs þe beste
But on teme[^535] truly taught was y neuere
y wolde y coude quod þe knyght by crist & his moder
y wolde assaie somtyme · for solas as hit were

[^530: Uc.8.1: The ornamental capital is surrounded by red tracework extending from Uc.7.321 to Uc.8.17.]

[^531: Uc.8.8: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.8.8-9.]

[^532: Uc.8.8: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.8.8-9.]

[^533: Uc.8.9: worthily: The MED headform is worthli; the OED headform, worthly.]

[^534: Uc.8.10: Perhaps "that you on silk and on sendal, too, sew." Cf. Russell-Kane, and Pearsall: That ȝe han selk and sendel to sowe. Schmidt: That ȝe on selk and sendel sowen.]

[^535: Uc.8.20: on teme: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads on þe teeme.]

¶ Sikerlich sire knyght saide pers þenne
y shal swynke & swete & sowe for vs bothe
and laboure for þo þou louest  al my lif-tyme
yn couenaunt þat þou kepe · holy kirke & my-selue
Fro wastoures & fro wicked men · þat þis world struyen
and go hunte hardilich to hares & to foxes
To beres & to buckes · þat brekon adown myn hegges
and affaite thine Faucones to kille þe wilde foules
For þei cometh to my croft my corn to defoule

¶ Curteislich þe knyght þenne · comsed þise wordes
By my power pers y plighte þe my truthe
To defende þe yn faith fighte þogh y sholde

¶ and ȝut apoynt a poynt quod pers y pray ȝou of more
Loke ȝe tene no tenaunt  but truthe wole assente
and when ȝe amercien any man · lat mercy be taxour
and Mekenes þi maistur maugre mede chekes
and þough pore men profre ȝou presentes & ȝiftes
Nyme hit not an auntur þou mowe hit not deserue
For þou shalt ȝeldon hit so may be  or sumdel abiggen hit
Misbede not þi bonde-men þe bet may þe spede
þough he be here þin vnderlyng  yn heuen perauntur
he worth rathir resceyued · & reuerentleker sitte
[^536] Amice ascende superius & cetera

[^536: Uc.8.45: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ At churche yn þe charnelle · cherles arn euel to knowe
Or a knyght or a knaue · or a queen fram a quene
hit bycometh to þe knyght to be curteys & hende
Trewe of þi tonge & tales loth to here
Bot þey be of bounte of bounte of batailes or of truþe
holde not wiþ none harlotes ne here not here tales
and[^537] namely at þe mete such men shulde eschue[^538]
For hit ben þe deueles dissoures · to drawe men to synne
Ne counturplede not conscience  ne holichurch rightes
y assent by seynt Gile  saide þe knyght þenne
Forto worche by þi wit  & my wif bothe
and y shal apparaile me quod perkyn yn pilgrimes wedes
and wende with alle þo  þat woldon lyue yn truthe
and caste on him his clothes of alle kynne craftes
his cokeres & his cuffes  as kynde wit him taughte
and heng his hopur on his hals  yn stide of a scrip
a busshel of bredcorn · brought was þerinne
For y wole sowen hit my-self · and sithe wol y wende
To pilgrimages as palmeres don pardoun to wynne
My plough-foet shal be my pik-staf & prik[^539] atwo þe rotes
and helpe my cultur to kerue · & clanse þe forowes
and alle þat helpon me to ere · or elles to wede
shal haue leue by our lord · to go & glene after me
and maken him murie þerwith · maugre who bygroccheþ hit
and alle kynne crafty men · þat conne lyue in truthe
y shal fynde hem fode þat faiþfullich liuen

[^537: Uc.8.52: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^538: Uc.8.52: shulde eschue: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads eschewe.]

[^539: Uc.8.65: prik: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads pyche.]

Idell roges shalle wante brede

[Uc.8.72: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

¶ Saue Iacke þe iogelour & Ionet of þe stuyues
and daniel þe dees pleyer · and denote þe baude
fryers & theire order wiped out of gods booke ·
& frere faytour & folk of þat ordre[^540]
þat loleres & losels lele men holdeth
and robyn þe ribauder for his rousty wordes
Truthe tolde me ones · & bad me telle hit forthere
[^541] Deleantur de libro viuencium · y shold not dele with hem
For holy churche ys hote · of hem no tiþe to take
[^542] Et cum iustis non scribantur

[^540: Uc.8.74: An x at the end of this line links the line to the comment by hand16 in the right margin.]

[^541: Uc.8.78: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^542: Uc.8.80: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ Þey ben a-scaped no[^543] goed auntur · now god hem amende
Dame worche when tyme ys · Perses[^544] wif highte
his doughtur highte do right so · or þi dame shal þe bete
his sone hight soffre · þi souereynes haue her wille
deme hem not yf þow dest · þou shalt hit dere abigge
Counsaile not so þe comune þe kyng to displese
Ne hem þat han lawes to loke · lakke hem not y þe hote[^545]
Lat god worþe wiþal · as holywrit holy writ techeth
[^546] Super Cathedram moisi Sedent & cetera .
Maistres as þe maires ben and grete men senatoures
what þei comaunde as by þe kyng counturplede hit neuere
al þat þey hoton y þe hote[^547]  hilich þow soffre hem
and after her warnyng[^548] worche þou þere-after
we must not do as they do but as they saye the clergie teachethe
Omnia que dicunt facite & seruate
ac after her doyng ne do þow not my dere sone quod pers
For now y am old & hoer and haue ȝof[^549] myn owne
To penaunces & to pilgrimages y wol passe wiþ þis oþere
For-þi y wole ar y wende do write my byqueste
The wille of Pers plouthman

[Uc.8.99: For plouth as a spelling of plough by this reader (Francis Aiscough), see also the marginal note to Uc.8.177.]

[Uc.8.99: The marginal comment here is bounded above and below by horizontal lines done by hand16. At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

In dei nomine amen y make hit my-selue
he shal haue my soule þat alle soules made
and defendon hit as fro þe feend & so ys my bileue
Til y come to hise acountes · as my crede telleth
To haue a remissioun & a relees · on þat rental y leue
þe churche shal haue my caroyne · & kepe my bones
For of my corn & my catelle · he craued my tithe
y paide hit prestly for perel of my soule
he ys holdynge y hope · to haue me yn his masse
and menge me in his memory amonges alle cristene
My wyf shal haue of þat y wan · of truthe & no more
and delen hit amonges my doughteres · & my dere childron
For þough y dye to-day · my dette y quyted

[^543: Uc.8.81: no: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this added reading is unique to MS Uc, having no support in other C-version witnesses.]

[^544: : According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc, though the form peres is appears in Dc, Gc, and Nc. Russell-Kane reads Peres.]

[^545: Uc.8.87: y þe hote: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc, though y hote þe is substantially the reading of XYcIDc. Russell-Kane reads y hote.]

[^546: Uc.8.89: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^547: Uc.8.92: y þe hote: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc, though y hote þe is substantially the reading of EcNc. Russell-Kane reads y hote.]

[^548: warnyng: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, MS Uc is unique in omitting and worchinge here. Russell-Kane, following a conjecture by Pearsall, reads warnynge and wordynge.]

[^549: : According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, the addition of ȝ here produces a unique reading otherwise unattested among C-version witnesses. Russell-Kane reads of.]

¶ y baer hoem þat y borowed · as[^550] y to bedde ȝede
and with þe residue & þe remenant by þe rode of lukes
I wol worshipe þerwith truthe al my lyue
and ben a pilgrim at þe plough for profit to pore & riche
Now is perkyn & þis pilgrimes · to þe plough faren
To erien þis halfaker holpen him manye
Dykers & delueres diggedon vp þe balkes
þere-with was perkyn apayd · and paide hem wel her huyre
Othir werkmen þere wern þat wroughton ful ȝerne
vch aman a man[^551] in his manere made him-sel[^552] to done
and somme to plese perkyn · afelde · pykede wedes
and at[^553] hi prime pers leet þe plough stande
and ouersay him-selue · who-so beste wroughte
he shulde be huyred þerafter · when heruest tyme come

[^550: Uc.8.112: as: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ar.]

[^551: Uc.8.121: vch a man: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Vch man.]

[^552: Uc.8.121: For a comparable form of self, cf. Uc.3.234.]

[^553: Uc.8.123: and at: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads At.]

¶ And þenne seton somme & songon at þe ale
and holpon to erie þis halfaker · with hey trolly lolly
þenne quod[^554] pers þe ploughman al in puyr tene
but ȝe arise þe rathir & rape ȝou to worche
shal no grayn þat here groweth gladon ȝou at nede
and þough ȝe dye for deul þe deuel haue þat recche
þo wern faitoures aferd · & fayned hem blynde
and leyde her legges a-lery · as loreles[^555] konne
and maden her mone to pers · how þey may not worche
and we praye for ȝou pers & for ȝour plough bothe
þat god for his grace ȝou ȝour grayn multiplie
and ȝelde ȝou of ȝour almesse þat ȝe ȝiuen vs here
we may nothir swynke ne swete such siknes vs aileþ
Ne none lymes to laboure with · lord god we þonketh
ȝour preyeres quod pers & ȝe perfit wern
Mighte helpe as y hope · but hi truthe wolde
Þat no faitrie wer founde yn folk þat goth a-beggyng
ȝe ben wastoures y woet wel & waste & deuovron
þat lele landtilyng[^556] men · leelly byswynken
and[^557] truthe shal teche ȝou · his teme to driue
Or ȝe shal ete barly breed & of þe broek drinke
Pers will releue the impotente Poore but not Idell vacabounds

[Uc.8.147: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

But yf he be blynd or brokelegged · or boltid wiþ yron
such pore quod pers shal parte with my godes
Both of my corn & of my cloþ  to kepe hem fram defaut
and ankeres & heremites þat eton but at nones
and freres þat flateron not & pore folk sike
what y and myne wol fynde hem · þat hem nedeth

[^554: Uc.8.128: þenne quod: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc, though Nc reads Þo quod. Russell-Kane reads Quod.]

[^555: Uc.8.133: loreles: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads suche lorelles.]

[^556: Uc.8.144: The t in landtilyng has been traced over in dark black ink.]

[^557: Uc.8.145: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

¶ Thenne gan wastour to wrath him · & wolde haue yfoughte
and to pers þe ploughman profred to fighte
and bad him go pisse wiþ his plough  pyueshine[^558][^559] shrewe
nota England harboreth more theues and beggers then any countrie
a bretouner cam braggyng · he bostid pers also
wole þow nele þou quod he · we wolon haue our wille
and þi flour & þi flesh fecche when vs liketh
and maken vs mury þerwith maugre who bygroccheþ hit

[^558: Uc.8.155: pyueshine: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads pyuische.]

[^559: Uc.8.155: The form of this word is difficult to explain. The corresponding reading in other manuscripts is usually considered to be MED peivish, "perverse, wayward, willful, capricious." In this case, the -ine suffix (which could also be construed as -iue, as per Russell-Kane) is hard to explain. Another possibility might involve a derivation related to MED pavise, with an alternate spelling of paivese, n., "A large shield, often of wood, designed to protect the whole body," or a derivation from the related verb pavisen, "To take cover, shelter oneself from harm." For the corresponding Old French verb, Godefroy lists the following forms s.v. pavoisier: pavesier, paveschier, pavaichier, pavescier. He also lists a noun form denoting a soldier whose primary function was to carry a shield, and who apparently was customarily paid less than an archer: "PAVOISIEN, pavesien, palvoisien, s.m., soldat qui était armé d'un pavois et qui n'avait pour armes offensives que l'épée, le couteau et la lance: 'Pour homme d'armes six solz, pour arbalestrier ou archer trois solz, et pour lancier ou pavesien deux solz.' (1353, Arch. K 47, pièce 24)." These Old French words could easily account for everything in the form of MS Uc's pyueshine except the vowel in the first syllable. If such a word does lie behind the form here, then Waster's insulting charge against Piers is one of timidity and lack of fighting ability. But the phonology remains difficult.]

exemplatum vsque h[...]

[Uc.8.160: This marginal note (apparently "copied to here"), in very small script, seems to indicate the point to which a scribe had copied in using this manuscript as exemplar for another. The note is incomplete because of later trimming of the vellum. Cf. comparable notes at Uc.6.346 and Uc.9.122.]

¶ Pers þe ploughman þo pleyned him to þe knyght
To kepe him & his catel · as comenant[^560] was bytwixon hem
wasters and rioters make things deare

[Uc.8.162: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

awreke me of þes wastoures þat maketh þis world dere
þey acounteþ not of curssynges ne holi church not dredith
For þere worth no plente quod pers · and þe plough ligge
Curteislich þe knyght þenne  as his kynde wolde
warnede wastour & wissede him bettere
Or y shal bete þe by þe lawe[^561] & bringe þe yn stockes
y was not woned to worche quod wastour & now wol y not byginne
and leet light of þe lawe · & lasse of þe knyght
and sette pers at a pes[^562] · to pleyne him where he wolde

[^560: Uc.8.161: For this form, see MED s.v. covenaunt or OED s.v. comenaunt.]

[^561: Uc.8.167: The e in lawe has been altered from an o by hand1.]

[^562: Uc.8.170: The p in pes is written over an erasure.]

¶ Now by crist quod pers þe ploughman · y shal apeyre ȝou alle
and houped aftir hungur · þat herde him at þe firste
y preye þe quod pers þo · pur charite sire hungur
awreke me of þis wastoures · for þe knyght wol not
hungur yn hast þo · hente wastour by þe mawe
and wrong him so by þe wombe · þat al watured his yes
nota nota Brittaine shalbe shal be bitten with hungere when the plouth shalbe shal be neclected by inclosers

[Uc.8.177: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

he buffetid þe bretownere aboute þe chekes
þat he loked lik a lanterne · al his lyf after
he beet hem so boþe · he barst ner his gustes[^563][^564]
Ne hadde pers with a pese laf preyd him byleue[^565]
haue mercy on hem hungur quod pers  & lat me ȝiue hem benes
and þat was bake for bayard hit · may be here bote

[^563: Uc.8.179: MED gust(e n.: "The organ or sense of taste; also fig. appetite, desire."]

[^564: Uc.8.179: his gustes: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads her gottes.]

[^565: Uc.8.180: Byleue: "depart"; MED headform is bileven v.(1).]

¶ þo wern faitoures a-ferd & flowen yn-to pers bernes
and flappedon on wiþ flayles fro morwen til euon
þat hungur was not hardy on hem forto loke
For a potful of potage þat perses wif made
anheep an heep of heremytes henton hem spades
Spitten & spradde donge  yn despit of hungur
þey coruen here copes · and courtepies hem made
and wenton as werkmen to wedyng & to mowyng
al for drede of here deth such dyntes ȝaf hungur
Blynd & brokelegged he botenede a thowsande
and lame men he lechid · with longes of bestes
Prestes & othir peple toward pers þey drowe
and freres of alle þe fyue ordres · alle for feer of hungur
For þat was bake for bayard · was bote for many hungry
Drosenes & dregges · drinke for many beggeres
þere was no ladde þat lyuede · þat ne lowed him to pers
To be his holde hewe · þowgh he hadde no more
But liflode for his laboure & his loue at nones

¶ þo was pers proud & potte hem alle at werke
yn daubyng yn deluyng · yn donge afeld bering
yn þresshing in þeching · yn thwyting of pynnes
yn al kynne trewe craft þat man couthe deuyse
Sire hunger enimie to Idelnes

[Uc.8.205: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

was no beggere so bold but yf he blynd were
þat durste with-sitte þat pers saide  for feer of sire hungur
and pers was proud þerof · & potte hem alle to swynke[^566]
and ȝaf hem mete & mone as þei myghte deserue

[^566: Uc.8.207: Russell-Kane omits this line, considering it to be a variant form of RK8.197 (Uc.8.201), presumably one scribally inserted. Neither in the Russell-Kane apparatus nor in that edition's Appendix I listing of excluded lines is evidence given of the omission of this line from any C manuscript. Schmidt and Pearsall include it.]

¶ þo hadde pers pite vpon al pore peple
and bad[^567] hungur yn hast hie him out of cuntre
hoem ynto his owne ȝerd · & halde him þere euere
y am wel awroke  of wastoures þorgh þi myght
and y preye þe quod pers hungur ar þow wende
Of beggeres & bidders · what best be to done
For y woet wel be hungur went worchon þei woln ful ille
Mischef hit maketh þei ben so meke nowthe
and for defaut þis folk foloweth myn hestes
hit is not for loue leue hit þey laboure þus faste
But for feer of famyn · in faith saide pers
þer is no filial loue with þis folk for al here fair speche
and hit arn my blody breþeren · for god bought vs alle
Truthe taught me ones · to loue hem vchone
&[^568] To helpe hem yn alle thing  ay as hem nedeth
Now wolde y wyte ar þow wendest · what were þe beste
how y myghte amaister hem · to loue & to laboure
For here liflode lere me now sire hungur

[^567: Uc.8.210: The b in bad has been altered from an original h by hand1.]

[^568: Uc.8.223: The Russell-Kane apparatus fails to note the addition of this Tironian and in the form of a plus sign.]

hungers counsell

¶ Now herkene quod hungur & holde hit for a wysdom
Bolde beggeres & bigge þat mown here bred byswynke
with houndes bred & horsbred · hele hem when þey hungren
abaue hem wiþ benes · for bollyng of here wombe
and yf þe gromes grocche · bidde hem go & swynke
and he shal soupe swetture  when he hit hath deserued
and yf þow fynde any folk · þat false han apeyred
Counforte hem with þi catelle · for so comaundeþ truthe
Loue hem & leue hem · and so lawe of kynde wolde
Alter alterius onera portate & . cetera .
and alle manere men · þat þou maist[^569] a-spie
yn meschef or in male-ese & þou mowe hem helpe
Loke by thi lyue · lat hem not forfare
yf þow hast wonne ought wickedlich · wislich despende hit
Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis
I wolde not greue[^570] quod pers · for al þe goed on erthe
Might y synneles do as þou saist  saide pers þe ploughman
ȝe y byhote þe quod hungur · or elles þe bible lieth
he that will not laboure ys not worthy to eate

[Uc.8.245: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[Uc.8.245: 2 Thess. 3.10.]

Go to oure bygynnyng · þo god þe world made[^571]

[^569: Uc.8.237: maist: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads myhte.]

[^570: Uc.8.242: Russell-Kane: Y wolde nat greue god.]

[^571: Uc.8.245: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.8.245-46.]

[^572] ¶ as wise men han wreton & as witnessith Genesis
þat saith with swynk & with swoet & swetyng face
Bytulie & bytrauaile · truly our liflode
[^573] In sudore & labore vultus tui vesceris pane tuo
and salamon þe sage with þe same acordeth
þe slowe kaitif for colde he wolde no corn tulie
yn somer for his sleuthe he shal haue defaut
and go a-bribyng & a-beggyng[^574] · & no man beton his hungur
[^575] Piger propter frigor noluit arare mendicabitur mendicabit in hieme & non dabitur ei
Mathew maketh mencioun · of a man þat lente his suluer
To þre manere men & menyng þei sholdon
Chaffare & cheue þerwith · yn chele & yn hete
and he þat best laboureth · best ys alowed
and leders for her labouryng ouer al þe lordes godes
and[^576] he þat was a wrecche & wolde not trauayle
þe lord for his lachesse & his lithir sleuthe
By-nomen[^577] him al þat he hadde & ȝouen[^578] hit to his felawe
þat lelly hadde ylaboured & þenne þe lord saide
he þat hath shal haue & helpe þere him liketh
and he þat nought hath shal nought haue and no man ȝut him helpe
and þat he weneth wel to haue y wole hit him byreue
and lo what þe sauter saith · to swynkers wiþ handes
y-blessid be alle tho þat here byleue byswynketh
þorgh any leel labour as þorgh lymmes & handes
[^579] Labores manuum tuarum quia manducabis & . cetera .

[^572: Uc.8.246: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.8.246-47. A double virgule, marking the insertion point for the blue paraph sign, is visible beneath the sign.]

[^573: Uc.8.249: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^574: Uc.8.253: a-bribyng & a-beggyng: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads abribeth and abeggeth.]

[^575: Uc.8.254: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^576: Uc.8.260: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^577: Uc.8.262: By-nomen: Russell-Kane reads Bynom.]

[^578: Uc.8.262: ȝouen: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ȝaf.]

[^579: Uc.8.270: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

nota

¶ þise arn euidenses quod hungur · for hem þat wolen swinke[^580]
þat her liflode be lene · & lyte worth her clothes
By crist quod pers þe ploughman · þis prouerbes wol y shewe
To beggeres and to boyes · þat loth ben to worche
ac ȝut y pray ȝou quod pers pur charite sire hungur
yf ȝe kan or knowe · eny kynne thinges of fisik
For somme of my seruauntes · & my-selue bothe
Of al a wouke worche not so oure wombe greueth
y woet wel quod hungur what siknes ȝou aileth
ȝe han maunged ouermyche þat makeþ ȝou to be sik

[^580: Uc.8.271: þat wolen swinke: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þat wolle nat swynke.]

¶ and[^581] ete not y hote · ar hungur þe take
and sende þe of his saus to sauere with þi lippes
Dyet
[^582]and kepe sum til soper tyme · & sitte not to longe
at noen ne at noen[^583] tyme · and namelich at þe soper
Lat not sire surfet  sitton at þi borde
and loke þow drinke no day · ar þow dyne sumwhat
and þenke þat diues for his delicat lyf  to þe deuel wente

[^581: Uc.8.281: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^582: Uc.8.283: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the left margin spans lines Uc.8.281-85.]

[^583: Uc.8.284: noen: Viz., "no": MED headform non; OED headform none.]

¶ and lazar þe lene beggere þat longed aftir crommes
and ȝut hadde he ese · not for y hungur kilde him[^584]
and sithen y say him sitte as he a sire were
yn al manere ese yn Abrahammes lappe
and yf þow haue power[^585] · pers y þe rede
alle þat grat in þi gate for godes loue after fode
Almesse .
Parte with hem of þi payn · of potage or of sowel
Leue hem sum of þi loef · þough þow þe lasse chewe

[^584: Uc.8.289: Russell-Kane: And ȝut hadde he hem nat for y, hungur, culde hym.]

[^585: Uc.8.292: yf þow haue power: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ȝif thow the pore be thy pouer. Schmidt reads, ȝif thow be of pouer. Pearsall follows Uc.]

¶ And þough lyares & lach-draweres & lolleres knocke
Lat hem a-bide til þe borde be drawe · & bere hem none crommes
Til alle þin nedy neyghbores · haue noen ymaked
yf þow diete þe þus y dar legge myn eres
idelnes causeth Sicknes mode rat labor enimie to phe siscians
[^586]þat fisik shal his forred hodes · for his fode selle
and his cloke of calabre · for his comunes legge
bewaire of dogge leches pickpurses

[Uc.8.302: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

and be fayn by my faith · his fisik to lete
and lerne to laboure with lond · last liflode hem faile
þere arn many lithir leches · but lele leches fewe
þei doen hem[^587] dye þorgh her drinches · as[^588] destynie hit wolde

[^586: Uc.8.300: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.8.297-304.]

[^587: Uc.8.305: hem: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads men.]

[^588: Uc.8.305: as: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ar.]

¶ By seint poul quod pers · þow poyntest ny þe sothe
and lellich saist as y leue · lord hit þe forȝelde
wende nowthe when þow wolt & wel þow be euere
For þou hast wel a-wroke me · & also wel ytaught me
y bihote þe hungur[^589] þat hennes ne wole y wende
ar y haue ydined by this day · & ydronke bothe
the ploughmans diet grene chesses and potage or croudes and milcke

[Uc.8.312: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

y haue no peny quod pers poletes forto bugge
Ne nothir goes ne gris · but two grene cheses
nota peres was a peck man

[Uc.8.314: Cf. OED peckman, "? An officer of the royal stables," with illustrative quotations from 1525 and 1684. Although the commentator here, Francis Aiscough, seems to have in mind a servant or laborer of a certain social station, precisely what sort of servant or laborer is not at all clear.]

[Uc.8.314: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

and fewe croddes & craym · & a kake of otes
and bred for my barnes · of benes & of peses
and ȝut y saide by my soule · y haue no salt bacoun
Ne no cokeney by crist · colopes to make
A poore dyete

[Uc.8.318: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

But y haue poret & plontes[^590] persil & scalyounes
Chibolles and Chyriuille · & Cheries sam-rede
and a cow with a calf & a cart more
To drawe a-feld my donge þe while þe drouth lastith
and by þis liflode we mot lyue · til lowe-masse tyme
and by that y hope to haue heruest · yn my croftes
Thenne may dighte[^591] þi dinere · as me dere liketh
al þe pore peple þo pese-coddes fette
Benes & Bakeapples Bake apples · þey broughton yn herlappe her lappe
and profred pers þis present to plese with hungur

[^589: Uc.8.310: y bihote þe hungur: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads 'Y behote the,' quod hunger .]

[^590: Uc.8.318: poret & plontes: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads poret plontes.]

[^591: Uc.8.324: may dighte: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads may y dyhte.]

¶ hungur eet al yn haest · and asked after more
pore folk for feer tho fedde hungur ȝerne
with craim & with croddes · with cresses & othir herbes
with þat hit neyghed ny heruest  & new corn cam to cheping
and þenne wern folk Fayn · and fedde hungur deyntiflich
and thenne glotown with goed ale  gart hungur slepe
and þo wolde wastour not worche but wandron aboute
Ne no beggere eton bred · þat benes ynne were
But of clermatyn and Coket  & of clene whete
Ne noen halpeny ale · yn noen wise drinke
But of þe beste & of þe brounest · þat brewsteres sellon
Laborers þat han no land to lyue on · but here handes
Deyneden to dyne a-day  with nyght-olde wortes[^592]
May no penyale hem paye · ne no pece of bacoun
the poore are gluttons in haruest tyme

[Uc.8.343: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

But hit be fresh flesh or fish · yfried or ybake
and ȝut[^593] chaud & pluschaud for chillyng of his mawe
and but yf he be hilich y-huyred · elles wol he chide
and þat he was werkman ywrought · warion þe tyme
aȝenes catounes counsel comseth he to grocche
[^594] Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento

[^592: Uc.8.340: with nyght-olde wortes: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads nyhte olde wortes.]

[^593: Uc.8.343: ȝut: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þat.]

[^594: Uc.8.347: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ and thenne acorseþ he þe king · & alle þe kinges iustises
such lawes to lerne laborers to greue
and whiles hungur was her maister · þere wolde noen chide
Ne striue aȝenus his statut · he loked so sterne
and[^595] y warne ȝou werkmen · wynneþ whiles ȝe mowe
famyn through floodes . /
[^596]For hungur hewardes hasteth him faste[^597]
he shal a-wake þorgh water wastoures to chaste
and ar fewe ȝeres be fulfilled · famyn shal arise
and so saith saturne · and sente vs to warne
þorgh flodes & þorgh foule wederes fruytus sholon faile
pruyde & pestilenses sholon myche peple fette
nota bene propheci
þre shipes & a shaef with an viii · folowyng
shal bringe bane & bataile · on bothe half þe mone
and þenne shal deth with-drawe · & derthe be Iustise
and dawe þe deluere deye for defaut
But god of his godnes graunte vs a trewe

[^595: Uc.8.352: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^596: Uc.8.353: A [rightward pointing-hand icon] in the left margin is directed toward this line.]

[^597: Uc.8.353: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.8.353-63.]

Passus nonus vt prius

nota nota the kinge of Skootes

[Uc.9.1: Skootes: viz. "Scots," a reference to James VI of Scotland, later James I of England.]

[Uc.9.1: A line connects Francis Aiscough's marginal comment here with the right-margin bracket highlighting lines Uc.9.9-10. The comment is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^598] T ruthe herde telle herof · and to pers sente
To taken his teme and tulyen þe erthe
and purchased him apardown a pardown apena a pena & a culpa
For him & for his heyres for euere to ben assoiled
and bad him haldon him at home & herien his leyes
and alle þat holpon him to erie to sette or to sowe
Or any manere mester þat myght pers auaile
nota
Pardoun with pers þe ploughman perpetuel he grauntith
[^599] kynges & knyghtes þat holy kirke defendon[^600]
and rightfullich yn reumes rulon þe comune
han pardoun þorgh purgatory · to passen fullightly ful lightly
with patriarkes & prophetes  yn paradys to sitte
nota butt not proud pralaitts
Bisshopes yblessid if þey ben as þey sholde
lele & ful of loue & no lord drede
Merciable to meke & mylde to þe gode
and bitynge yn badde men · but yf þei woln amende
lordes lecherie abollyshede
drede not for no deth · to destruye by her power[^601]
leccherie amonges lordes  & her lithir custumes
and such lyf[^602] as þei lereth men our lord truthe hem grauntiþ
To be peres to þe apostles · al peple to rule
and deme wit hem at domes-day · bothe quike & dede
Marchauntes yn þe margine · hadde many ȝeres
But no pena & a culpa no truthe wolde hem graunte
Merchuntes .
For þei holdon not her haliday · as holichurche hem hotith

[^598: Uc.9.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital, extending from Uc.8.360 to the bottom of the folio at Uc.9.18.]

[^599: Uc.9.9: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^600: Uc.9.9: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.9.9-10. A line connects this marginal bracket with the right-margin comment at line 1.]

[^601: Uc.9.17: Curly brackets made by hand16 in the left margin and the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, span lines Uc.9.17-18.]

[^602: Uc.9.19: Russell-Kane: liue.]

¶ and for þei swere by here soule & god mote hem helpe
aȝen clene conscience for coueitise of wynnyng
and[^603] vnder his secret seel truthe sende him a lettre
þat bad him bugge boldly what hem best liked
and sithen selle hit aȝen · & saue þe wynninges
amende mesondewes þerwith · & myseise men fynde
and wicked wayes with her goed amende
and brugges to-brokon by the hi-wayes
amende yn som manere wise & maydones helpe
Pore peple bedredon prisoneres in stockes
Fynde hem for godes loue & fauntkynes to scole
Releue religioun & rente hem betture
and y shal sende ȝou my-selue seint Michel myn aungel
þat no deuel shal ȝou dere · ne despeire in ȝour dying
and sithe sende ȝour soules · þere y my-self dwelle
and abide þere in my blisse body & soule for euere
þo were marchauntes murie · many wopon for ioye
and preyde for pers þe ploughman · þat purchased hem þis bille
al þe pepel hadde pardoun ynow · þat perfitlich lyuede

[^603: Uc.9.27: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

¶ Men of lawe hadden leest · þat loth wern to plede
Lawyers .
But þei pre manibus wern paid for pleding at þe barre
and[^604] he þat spendith his speche & spekith for þe pore
þat innocent & nedy ys & no man harm wolde
þat counfortith such in any caes & coueitith not her ȝiftes
and for þe loue of oure lord · lawe for hem declareth
shal haue grace of a goed ende  & gret ioye after
nota A cauiat to laweyers

[Uc.9.51: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Beth ywar ȝe wise men · & witty of lawe
For when ȝe drawe to þe deth · & indulgenses wolde haue
his pardoun is ful petit · at his partyng hennes
þat mede of mene men · for her motyng taken
For hit is symonie to sellon · that sent is of grace
and þat is wit & watur · and wynd & fuyr þe ferthe
þise foure sholdon be fre to alle folk þat hit nedede
alle libbyng laboreres · þat lyuen with her handes
leellich & laufullich our lord truthe hem grauntith
pardoun perpetuel right as pers þe ploughman

[^604: Uc.9.46: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

Beggers . /

¶ Beggeres & bidders beth not yn that bille
But þe suggestioun be soeth þat shapeth him to begge
For he þat beggith or biddith · but yf þei haue nede
he ys fals & faytour & defraudeth þe nedy
and also gileth hem þat gyueth · & takey take[þ] agayn his wille
For he þat gyueþ for godes loue · wolde not gyue his þonkes
But þere he wiste were · wel greet nede
and moest merytorie to men · þat he gyueth fore
Catoun acordeth þerwith[^605] Cui des videto
Woet no man as y wene · who ys worthi to haue
and[^606] þat moest nedon arn oure neyghbores[^607]
and nyme[^608] goed hede · as prisones yn puttes
and pore folk yn cotes charged with childron
and chef lordes rente þat þey with spinnyng may spare
the true nedye . /
spendon hit on hous huyre bothe yn mylk & yn mele[^609]
To make with papelotes · to aglotie wiþ her gurles
þat gredon after fode
and hem-selue also soffren myche hungur
and wo yn wyntur -tymes & wakyng on nyghtes
To rise to reel[^610] to rocke þe cradel
Bothe to carde & to kembe · to cloute & to wash
To rybbe[^611] to rele and russhes to pilye
þat ruthe is to rede · or yn rim shewe
þe wo of þise wymmen þat wonyeth yn cotes
and of many othir men þat myche wo soffren
Bothe a-fyngred & a-first to turne þe faire outward
and ben a-basht forto begge & wol not be a-knowe
what him nedede at her neyghbores · at noen & at euen
þis I woet wyturly as þe world techeth
what othir byhoueth þat hath many childron
and hath no catel but his craft to clothe him & to fede
the true nedye
[^612]and fele to fonge þerto · and fewe pens taketh

[^605: Uc.9.69: The red underlining is thinner and fainter under the English portion of this line than under the Latin.]

[^606: Uc.9.71: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^607: Uc.9.71: Russell-Kane relineates the next six lines, thereby mending the alliteration.]

[^608: Uc.9.72: Russell-Kane: and we nyme.]

[^609: Uc.9.75: Sidelining by hand15 starts in the right margin at Uc.9.70 and extends to the bottom of the side at line 82. It continues as left margin sidelining on the verso side, spanning lines 83-105.]

[^610: Uc.9.80: to reel: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads to þe reule.]

[^611: Uc.9.82: The text scribe first wrote robbe and then overwrote the o with a y.]

[^612: Uc.9.92: Sidelining by hand15 starts in the right margin at Uc.9.70 and extends to the bottom of the side at line 82. It continues as left margin sidelining on the verso side, spanning lines 83-105.]

¶ þere ys payn & peny ale & for a pitaunce ytake
and cold flesh & fish · as venysoun wer bake
Fridaies & fastingdaies a ferthingworth of muskles
wer a feste with such folk · or so fele Cokkles
þise are almes to helpe · þat han such charges
feede the lame and the blinde

[Uc.9.98: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

and to counforte such coterels · and croked men & blynde
and[^613] beggeres with bagges · whiche brewhous ben her chirches
But þei be blynde or to-broke · or elles be sike
þough he falle for defaut · þat faiteth for his liflode
recche neuere ȝe riche · þough such loreles sterue
For alle þat han here hele · and her ye syght
and lymes to laboure with · and lolleres lif vsen
lyuen aȝen godes lawe · & þe lore of holichurche
and ȝut arn þe othir beggeres yn hele as hit semeth
and[^614] hem wantith wit men & wymmen bothe
madmen & Lunatyk . beggers .
[^615]þe which arn lunatik lolleres & leperes aboute
and madden as þe mone sit more othir lasse
Careth þei for no colde ne counteth of noen hete
and arn mevyng aftir þe mone · many iles[^616] þei walke
with a goed wille wittyles many wyde cuntrees
Right as petur did & poul · saue þat þei preche not
Ne none myracles maken · &[^617] many times he happeth
thes kinde of men sometimes prouisie the truthe
[^618]To profecie of þe peple · pleying as hit were[^619]
and to oure sight as hit semeth · sith god haþ þe myght
To ȝiue vch a wight wit welthe & his hele
and soffreth such go so · hit semeth to myn ynwit
hit arn as his apostles such peple or as his priuey disciples
For he sent hem forth suluerles · yn a somur garnement
with-oute bagge & breed · as þe boek telleth
huc

[Uc.9.122: This marginal note, in very small script, seems to indicate the point to which a scribe had copied in using this manuscript as exemplar for another. Cf. comparable notes at Uc.6.346 and Uc.8.159. The word huc is followed by an illegible mark at the very edge of the folio. Below the word is a mark resembling a caret sign with a dot in the middle.]

[^620] Quando misi vous vos sine pane & pera & cetera .
Barfoet & bredles beggeth þei of no man
and þough he mete with þe mayr amiddes þe strete
he reuerensith him right nought  noen[^621] rathir þen anoþer
[^622] Nemini salutauerit per viam
such manere men mathu vs techith
we sholde haue hem to house · & help hem when þei come
[^623] Et egenos vagos[^624] induc in domum tuam
For hit arn mury mouthid men mynstrals of heuen
and gode boyes bordioures  as þe boek telleth
[^625] Siquis videtur sapiens fiet stultus vt sit sapiens
and alle manere mynstrals me woet wel þe sothe
To vnderfongon hem faire bifalleth for þe riche
For þe lordes loue or þe ladies þat þei with longon
Lewde mynstrels
Men soffreth al þat such sayn · & yn solas taketh[^626]
and ȝut more to such men · me doþ ar þei passe
Me giueth[^627] giftes & gold · for grete lordes sake
Right so ȝe riche ȝut rathir ȝe sholde
welcome & worshepon & with ȝour goed helpon
—godes mynstralles
godes mynstrals & his messangeres · & his mury bordioures
þe whiche arn lunatik lorels · & leperes aboute[^628]
For vnder godes secret seel · her synnes ben keuered
For þei bere none bagges ne none botels vnder clokes
þe which is lollerne lyf & lewed heremytes
þat loken louliche · to lacchon menne almes
yn hope to sitte at euen by þe hote coles
vnloke hise legges abrod · or ligge at his ese
Reste him & roste him & his rug turne
Drinke druye & depe · and drawe him thenne to bedde
and when him likeþ & lust · his leue ys to arise
and when he is risen rometh out · & right wel aspieþ
where he may rathist haue a repast · or aronde a ronde of bacoun
suluer or goed mete & sumtyme bothe
loef othir half loef · othir a lompe of chese
karieth hit hoem to his cote & cast him to lyuene
In ydelnesse & ese · & by oþeres trauayle
and freek[^629] on this folde fissheth aboute
with a bagge at his bak yn[^630] beggeres wise
and can any craft in caes he wolde hit vse
þorgh which craft he couthe come · to bred & to ale
and ouermore to an hatur to hele with his bones
and lyue[^631] lik a lollere godes lawe him dampneth
the false nedye
[^632]For-þi lolleres þat lyuen yn sleuthe & ouerlond strikers
Beth not yn þis bulle quod pers til þei ben amendid
Ne no beggere þat beggith but yf þei haue nede
nota
þe boek banneth beggerie · & blameþ hit in his manere
nota
[^633] Iunior fui & enim senui & alibi infirmata est virtus mea pauperta te
hit nedith nouthe[^634] anoen forto preche
[^635]and lere þis lewed men what þis latyn meneth
For hit blameþ al beggerye · be þe[^636] fulcerteyn ful certeyn
For þei lyue in none loue ne no lawe holdon
Ne weddith none wymmen þat þei with deleth
Bringen forth bastardes beggeres of kynde
Or þe bak or sum bon þey breke of here childron
and goen & faite with here fauntes · foreuermore aftur
þere arn mo myshappes · amonges such beggeres
þen of many oþer men þat on þis molde walkon
and þo þat ledeth þus here lif · leue ȝe noen othir
Ȝe haue no pardoun · of preyeres ne of penaunce
[^637]But olde & hore þat helples · arn nedy[^638]
and wymmen with childe þat worche ne mowe
Blinde & bedredon & broken yn her membres
The true nedye . /
and alle pore pacient · apaid of godes sonde[^639]
as mysels & mendynantz · men y-falle yn myschef
as prisounes and pilgrimes · and perauntur men yrobbed
Or by-lowe þorugh[^640] luther men · & lost her catelle after
or þorgh fuyr or þorgh floed · yfalle yn to pouerte
þat taken þise myscheues mekelich · & myldely at herte
for loue of her lowe hertes · our lord haþ hem ygrauntid
her penaunce & her purgatorie · vpon þis puyr erthe
and pardoun with þe ploughman · a pena & a culpa
and alle holy heremites haue þey[^641] sholon[^642] þe same
Lewde hermyttes beggers
But heremytes þat enhabiton · by þe hie-waye[^643]
and borowen[^644] among brewsteres & beggen yn churches
al þat holi hermytes · hatid & dispised
as richesses and reuerences · & rich menne almes
þise lolleres lach-draweres lewed heremytes
Coueyton þe contrarie · for as cotereles they libbeth
For hit ben but boyes bolleres at þe ale
Nouthir of lynage ne of lettrure · ne lif-holi as heremytes
holy hermyttes
þat woned whilom yn wodes · with beres & wiþ lyounes[^645]
summe hadde liflode of his lynage & of no lif elles
and somme lyued by her lettrure · & labour of her handes
and somme hadde foreyns to frendes þat hem fode sente
and breddes broughte somme breed · þat þei by lyuide
alle þe[^646] holy heremytes wern of hie kynne
Forsoken lond & lordshipe & alle lykynges of body
and þes heremytes þat edifien þus by þe hie-waye
while þei[^647] werk men · webbes & tailloures
and Carteres knaues & clerkes with-oute grace
heldon ful hungri hous  and hadden mych defaut
long labour · & litel wynnyng · & at þe laste þei aspiede
þat faitid yn frere clothing · haddon fatte chekes
For-þi loste[^648] þei her labour · þis lewed knaues
and clothid hem yn copes · clerkes as hit were
Or oen of sum ordre or elles a prophete
lollers hermyttes
[^649]aȝen þe lawe he lyueth · yf latyn be trewe
Non licet nobis legem voluntati set voluntatem coniungere legi
kyndelich by crist ben such cald lollers
as by þe english of our eldres · of olde mennes teching
he þat lolleth ys lame · or his leg out of ioynte
Or ymaymed yn summembre sum membre · for to myschef hit souneth
Right so sothly such manere heremites
Lollen aȝen þe byleue · & þe lawe of holichurch
For holichurch hoteth al manere peple
vnder obedience to be and buxum to þe lawe
Furst religious of religioun · a rule to holde
and vnder obedience to be · by dayes & by nyghtes
lewed men to labory lordes to hunte
yn frithes & in forestes · for fox & for othir bestes
þat yn wilde wodes ben · or in wast places
as wolues þat worieth men · wymmen & childron
and vpon sonedaies to cese · godes ceruise[^650] to here
Boþe matynes & masse · and aftir mete yn chirches
To heron here euesong · euery man oughte
þus hit bilongeth for lord · for lered & for lewed
vch halyday to here holly þe seruice
vigiles & fastyngdayes · forthermore to knowe
and fulfille þo fastinges · but infirmite hit made
Pouerte or othir penaunces as pilgrimages & trauailes
vnder þis obedience · arn we vchone
and who-so breketh þis be wel war · Bot yf he repente
amenden hem & mercy aske · & mekelich him shriue
Ydrede Y drede me & he dye · hit worth for deedly synne
acountid bifore crist · bot conscience excuse him
Loke now where þis lolleres · & lewed heremytes
yf þei breke þis obedience · þat beth so fer fram churche
Lollers and lewde hermyttes
where se we hem on sonedayes · þe seruise to here[^651]
as matynes by the morowe · til masse byginne
Or sonendaies ate euensong · se we ful fewe
Sovendaye

[Uc.9.252: Sovendaye: Sic. Aiscough misreads the text scribe's n in sonendaies as a u.]

deriued of the vij day dominica domini

[Uc.9.252: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand17.]

Or labory for here liflode · as þe lawe wolde

[^613: Uc.9.99: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^614: Uc.9.107: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^615: Uc.9.108: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the left margin spans lines Uc.9.106-14.]

[^616: Uc.9.111: many iles: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads moneyeles.]

[^617: Uc.9.114: &: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^618: Uc.9.115: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.9.115-16.]

[^619: Uc.9.115: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.9.115-16.]

[^620: Uc.9.122: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^621: Uc.9.125: no: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads noen.]

[^622: Uc.9.126: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^623: Uc.9.129: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^624: Uc.9.129: Russell-Kane: vagosque.]

[^625: Uc.9.132: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^626: Uc.9.136: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.9.133-40.]

[^627: Uc.9.138: giueth: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads gyueth hem.]

[^628: Uc.9.142: Sidelining extends in the right margin from Uc.9.142 to the bottom of the side at line 147. It continues on the verso side in the left margin, running the entire length of the side from Uc.9.143 to Uc.9.180. The hand is not identifiable with certainty, but the marginal comments on this folio, aside from two notas by handx, are by hand15.]

[^629: Uc.9.158: freek: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads what freke.]

[^630: Uc.9.159: yn: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads A.]

[^631: Uc.9.163: lyue: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads lyueth.]

[^632: Uc.9.164: Sidelining extends in the right margin from Uc.9.142 to the bottom of the side at line 147. It continues on the verso side in the left margin, running the entire length of the side from Uc.9.143 to Uc.9.180. The hand is not identifiable with certainty, but the marginal comments on this folio, aside from two notas by handx, are by hand15.]

[^633: Uc.9.168: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^634: Uc.9.169: hit nedith nouthe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Hit nedeth nat nouthe.]

[^635: Uc.9.170: In addition to the left-margin sidelining extending from Uc.9.142-80, a second level of left-margin sidelining spans lines Uc.9.170-80. The hand is not identifiable.]

[^636: Uc.9.171: Russell-Kane offers the reading (from X and other witnesses) be ȝe, noting the reading of Dc as beþ.]

[^637: Uc.9.181: Left-margin sidelining highlights this entire side, spanning Uc.9.181-212. The hand is not identifiable.]

[^638: Uc.9.181: Russell-Kane: þat helples ben and nedy.]

[^639: Uc.9.184: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.9.181-92.]

[^640: Uc.9.187: The word þorugh is written over an erasure.]

[^641: Uc.9.193: The added y is dotted. Its tail recurves counterclockwise back to the baseline to form a closed loop. What would normally be the first stroke in the body of the y is formed by the edge of the preceding e.]

[^642: Uc.9.193: þey sholon: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads shal.]

[^643: Uc.9.194: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.9.194-208.]

[^644: Uc.9.195: borowen: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads in borwes.]

[^645: Uc.9.202: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.9.194-208.]

[^646: Uc.9.207: þe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads they.]

[^647: Uc.9.210: while þei: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Whilen were.]

[^648: Uc.9.215: Russell-Kane: lefte.]

[^649: Uc.9.218: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the left margin spans lines Uc.9.213-31. At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^650: Uc.9.234: Viz. "service."]

[^651: Uc.9.249: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.9.247-60.]

nota

[Uc.9.253: This marginal comment continues at Uc.9.262.]

¶ But aboute mydday at Meltyme · y mette with hem ofte
Come in his cope · as he a Clerk were
a bacheler or a beuper best him bysemed
and for þe cloth þat keuereth him · ykald he is a frere
washeth & wipeth · & with þe firste sitteth
and while he wroughte in þe world · & wan his mete with[^652] truþe
he sat at þe sid bench · & at þe secund table
Cam no wyn yn his wombe · þorgh þe wouk longe
Ne no blanket on his bed · ne whit bred bifore him
bene

[Uc.9.262: This marginal comment is continued from Uc.9.253.]

bisshopes the cause of ignorant pastors at this day ·
[^653]þe cause of al this caitifte cometh of many[^654] Bisshopes
þat soffreth such sottes & oþer synne[^655] regne
Sertes who-so durste segge hit Simon quasi dormit
[^656] Vigilare wer fairere for þow hast a gret charge
For many waker wolues arn wroken into þi foldes
þi berkeres ben as blynde · þat bringeþ forth þin lambres
Bisshopes dare not barck against the offences of oure Staite ·

[Uc.9.268: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

dispergentur oues þe dogge dar not berke
þe tar ys vntidy · þat to þe sheep bilongeth
here salue ys of supersedeas yn sompnoures boxes
Skabbed hirelings Skabbed Sheepe

[Uc.9.271: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining, and at the left by a line slanting from lower left to upper right, done by hand16.]

þine sheep ben neer al shabbed · þe wolf shith wolle
vnder A durtie Dauber
Sub molli pastore · & cetera .
nota { Interiectio pastor } wantinge both currage and a barckinge Dogg

[Uc.9.273: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

how herde wher is thin hound · and þin hardy herte
Forto go werie þe wolf · þat þe wolle fouleth
y leue for thin lachesse · þow lesest many wetheres
and many a fair fles · yfalslich ywash[^657]
whan þi lord lokeþ to haue alouaunce of his bestes
and of þe money þow haddest þerewith his mebles to saue
A bluddy curssed woo vppon careles pastors when they shalbe shal be caulled to an accompte

[Uc.9.279: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

and þe wolle worth weye wo ys þe thenne
[^658] Redde racionem villicationis · or yn arrerage falle
A hirelinge

[Uc.9.281: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

þin huyre herde as y hope hath not to quyte þe[^659] þi dette
þere-as mede ne mercy · may amyte a myte auayle[^660]
But haue þis for that · þo þat þou toek mercy for mede & my lawe breke[^661]
Loke now for thin lachesse · what lawe wol þe graunte
no pardon helpeth .
purgatorie for thi pay or perpetuel helle
For shal no pardoun preye for ȝou þere ne no prences lettres
A prittie interogation with a secret discouerie of the popes gamefull bulles

[Uc.9.287: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Pers quod a prest þo · þin pardoun moste yrede y rede
For y can construe vch aword a word · & kenne þe english[^662]
and pers at his preier þe pardoun vnfoldith
and y bihinde hem bothe by-heeld al þe bulle
yn lynes[^663] as hit lay[^664] · & not a lettre more
and was ywrite right þus yn witnesse of truthe
[^665] Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam
Qui vero mala in ignem eternum
but doo well & haue well
Petur quod þe prest þo y kan no pardoun fynde
But do wel & haue wel · & god shal haue þi soule
and do euele & haue euele · & hope þow noen othir
and[^666] he þat euele liueth euel shal ende
þe prest & perkyn  þus[^667] of þe pardoun iangeled
and y þorgh her wordes awoek · & waitid aboute
and say þe sonne in þe south · sitton þat tyme
Meteles & moneyles · on maluerne hulles
Musinge on this metels · a myle way ich ȝede
Many tyme þis metels haþ maked me to studie
of þat y say sleping · yf hit so be myghte
and of pers þe ploughman ful pensif in herte
and which apardoun a pardoun pers hadde þe pepel to glade
and how þe prest inpigned hit · þorgh two proper wordes
and men settith not by soungwarie · for me seeþ hit faile
Catoun countith hit at nought · and Canonistres at lasse
But for þe boek bible bereþ witnesse
how danyel diuynede & vndide · þe dremels of kynges
Of nabugodhonosor · þat no pere hadde
and sithon aftir hise sones · and saide hem what þei þoughte
and Iosep mette merueylously how þe mone & þe sonne
and alle þe[^668] elleuen sterres hailsede · him alle
and þenne iacob iuged · iosepes swene
Beau fitz quod þe fader · for defaut we shalle
y my-selue & my sones · seche þe for nede
hit biful as his fader saide · yn faraoes tyme
þat Iosep was Iustice Egipt to saue
Elleuen breþeren him for nede soughte
and his fader ysaak[^669] & also his dame
al this maketh me on metels to studie
and how þe prest preued no pardown to dowel
and demed þat dowel indulgenses passid
Byonals & trionals · and Bishopes lettres
For who-so doth wel here · at þe day of doem
Doo welle is better then þe Popps bulles

[Uc.9.329: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

worth faire vnderfonge bifore god þat tyme
nota
So dowel passeth pardoun · & pilgrimages to Rome
ȝut hath þe pope power · pardoun to graunte
to peple with-outon penaunce to passe in-to ioye
as lettured men vs lereth · & lawe of holy churche

[^652: Uc.9.258: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^653: Uc.9.262: Left-margin sidelining spans the entire side from Uc.9.247 to Uc.9.279. The first word of nota bene appears in the left margin at Uc.9.253; the second word appears here in the left margin at Uc.9.262. The pattern of other comments on this side suggests that hand15 may be the agent, but the identification is uncertain. Hand16 or hand17 (both Francis Aiscough) is responsible for a nota at Uc.9.273 that overlaps this sidelining, and with hand15, those are the only hands identifiable on the side, apart from that of the main text scribe.]

[^654: Uc.9.262: The added ny in many is written with a very thin pen that shows no contrast between thick and thin strokes. The letters are angular and somewhat untidily formed.]

[^655: Uc.9.263: synne: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads synnes.]

[^656: Uc.9.265: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^657: Uc.9.276: yfalslich: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads falsliche is.]

[^658: Uc.9.280: Left-margin sidelining by hand16 highlights lines Uc.9.280-290. A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^659: Uc.9.281: quyte þe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads quyte.]

[^660: Uc.9.282: Russell-Kane: may nat a myte availle.]

[^661: Russell-Kane divides this line into two after toke.]

[^662: Uc.9.288: english: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads an englische.]

[^663: Uc.9.291: lynes: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads two lynes.]

[^664: Uc.9.291: Russell-Kane: In two lynes hit lay.]

[^665: Uc.9.293: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^666: Uc.9.298: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Bote.]

[^667: Uc.9.299: þe prest & perkyn þus: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads The prest thus and perkyn.]

[^668: Uc.9.316: alle þe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads the.]

[^669: Uc.9.323: Russell-Kane: Israel.]

¶ Quodcumque ligaueris super terram erit ligatum & in celis
and so y leue lelly · lord forbede elles
þat pardoun & penaunces · & preyers don saue
Soule þat han synned · seuen sithes deedly
nota
But to triste vppe þis trionals · truly me þinketh
dowelle ys better then þe popes trionalles

[Uc.9.339: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

hit is not so syker for þe soule · certes as ys dowel[^670]
For-thi yrede y rede ȝou renkes · þat riche ben on this erthe
vp trist of ȝour tresour · trionals to haue
Be ȝe neuere þe balder to breke þe ten hestes
and namelich ȝe maistres · maires & iuges
þat han þe welthe of þis world · & wise men ben holde
To purchace ȝou pardoun & þe popes bulles
at þe dredful doem when dede sholon arise
And comen alle by-fore crist acountes to ȝelde
how we ladde our lif here · & his lawes kepte
and how we dide day by day · þe doem wol reherce
pardons nor Indulgences will helpe .
[^671] apough a pough ful of pardoun þere ne prouincial[^672] lettres
þough we be foundon yn þe fraternite of alle fyue ordres
and haue indulgenses doublefold · but dowel vs helpe
ysette y sette not by pardoun a pese · ne not a pie hele
For-þi ycounsele y counsele alle cristene to crie god mercy
and marie his modir be oure mene to him
þat god gyue vs grace here · ar we go hennes
such workes to worche þe while we ben here
þat aftir our deth day dowel reherce
at þe day of doem we dide as he taughte amen

[^670: Uc.9.339: Right-margin sidelining by hand16 extends from Uc.9.335 to the bottom of the side at Uc.9.346. It continues as left-margin sidelining on the verso side, spanning Uc.9.347-49.]

[^671: Uc.9.350: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the left margin spans lines Uc.9.350-54.]

[^672: Uc.9.350: prouincial: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads prouinciales.]

Explicit visio willelmi . W . de Petro le ploughman
Et hic incipit visio eiusdem de dowel

[^673] T hus y-robed in russet y romed aboute
Al somur sesoun forto seke do-wel[^674]
and fraynede ful ofte · of folk þat ymette y mette
yf any wight wiste wher dowel is at ynne
and what man he myghte be of many y asked
was neuere wight in this world · þat me wisse couthe
where þis longid[^675] lasse ne more[^676]
Til hit byful on a friday · two freres y mette
Maistres of þe menoures · men of greet wit
y hailsed hem hendly · as y hadde ylered
and preide hem purcharite pur charite arthei ar thei passed forthere
yf þei knew any cuntree · owthir coestes abowte
where þat dowel dwellith · dere frendes tellith me
For ȝe arn men of þis molde · þat most wide walken
and knowen cuntrees & courtes · & many kynne places
Boþe princes paleys · and pore menne cotes
and do-wel & do-euele where þei dwellon boþe

[^673: Uc.10.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital and extends from Uc.9.357 to Uc.10.15. The tracework immediately around the capital is smudged from water damage.]

[^674: Uc.10.2: The right margin contains a pen-trial of indeterminate hand.]

[^675: Uc.10.7: Russell-Kane: Where this lede lenged.]

[^676: Uc.10.7: The right margin contains a pen-trial or an illegible scribble of indeterminate hand.]

¶ soþly saide þe frere · he soiourneþ wiþ vs freres
and euere haþ as y hope · and euere wol here-aftir
nota
[^677] Contra quod y as a clerk · & comsed to dispute
and saide sothly sepcies in die cadit iustus
do well dwelles not amonste amon[g]ste friers allwaies

[Uc.10.22: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Falling fro ioye Iesus woet þe sothe
seuen sithe saith þe boek · synneth day by day
Þe rightfollokest renge · þat regneth on erthe
and who synneth he saide[^678] certes he doth not wel
For who-so synneth sikerly doth euele
and do-wel & do-euele may not dwelle to-gideres
nota
[^679] Ergo he nys not alway at home amonges ȝou freres
he ys othir[^680] elleswhere to wisson þe peple

[^677: Uc.10.20: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^678: Uc.10.25: Russell-Kane: y sayde.]

[^679: Uc.10.28: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^680: Uc.10.29: Russell-Kane: otherwhile.]

¶ y shal say þe my sone · saide þe frere þenne
how seuen sithes þe sad man synneth on þe day
By a forbesene quod þe frere y shal þe faire shewe
lat Bringe aman a man yn aboet a boet · a-mydde a brod watur
Þe wynd & þe watur & waggyng of þe boet
maketh þe man many tyme · to stomble yf he stande
For stonde he neuere so stiflich · þorgh stering of þe boet
[^681]maket þe man many tyme to stomble yf he stande
For stonde he neuere so stiflich þorgh stering of þe boet
he bendith & boweth þe body is so vnstable
ac ȝut ys he saf & sound · & so hit fareth by þe rightfole
þough he falle he falleth not · but who felle yn aboet a boet
þat ay is sauf & sound · þat sit with-ynne þe borde

[^681: Uc.10.37: Homoteleuton in lines Uc.10.34 and Uc.10.36 (of þe boet) here causes two lines of unrevised dittography by hand1.]

¶ So hit fareth quod þe frere by þe mannes[^682] fallyng
þogh he þorgh fondynges falle · hefalleth he falleth not owt of charite
So deedly synne doth he not for dowel him helpeþ
þe watur ys likned to þe world þat wanyeth & wexeth
þe godes of þis ground arn lik to þe grete wawes
þat as wyndes & wedores waloweth aboute
þe boet ys likned to oure body · þat bretil ys of kynde
þat þorgh þe feend & oure flesh · & þis freel world
synneth seuen sithe þe saddest man on erthe
and þe lif-holiest of lif · þat lyueth vnder sonne
But fre wil & fre wit foloweth man euere
To repenton & to arise & rowe owt of synne
To contricioun to confessioun · til he come to his ende
For rathir haue we no reste til we restitue
Our lif to our lord god  for our licames gultes

[^682: Uc.10.43: mannes: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ryhtful mannus.]

[^683] ¶ y haue no kynde knowleching to conceyue al þis speche
But yf y may lyue and loke · y shal go lerne bettere
y by-kenne þe crist quod he · þat on þe cros dyede
and y saide þe same · saue ȝou from myschaunce
and gyue me grace on this ground · with goed ende to dye
y wente forth wide-where · walkyng myn one
By awilde a wilde wildernes · and By awode a wode -syde
Blisse of þo briddes · abide me made
and vnder lynde vpon alaunde a launde · lened y a stounde
To lithen here laies · & her louely notes
myrthe of her mouthes made me þere to slepe
and merueylously me mette amiddes al þat blisse
amych a mych man as me thoughte ylik to my-selue
Cam & kalde me by my kynde name
what art þow quod y · þat þow my name knowest
þat þow wille[^684] quod he & no wight betture
woet y quod y who art þow · þought saide he þenne

[^683: Uc.10.58: A double virgule, marking the insertion point for the blue paraph sign, is visible underneath and to the left of the paraph sign.]

[^684: Uc.10.73: Russell-Kane: That þou wost wel. Schmidt, and Pearsall: That wost þou, Wille.]

¶ y haue sued þe þis seuen ȝeer · saugh þou me no rathir
art þow þought quod y tho · þow cowdest me wisse
where þat dowel dwellith · and do me to knowe
doo . well .
Dowel & dobet quod he · & dobest þe þridde
arn þre faire vertues · and be not fer to fynde
who ys trewe of his tunge & of his two handes
and þorgh lele labour lyueth · and loueth his euencristen
and þerto trewe of his tayl · & of his two handes
and ys not dronklewe ne dedeynous · dowel him foloweth
Doo . Better .
dobet doth al þis · and ȝut he doth more
he is low as a lomb · & louelich of speche
& helpeth alle men · of þat he may aspare
þo Bagges & þe bygirdeles he hath to-brokon hem alle
þat þe erl auerous held · and hise heires
and of mammonaes mone · y-maked him many frendes
and ys ronne in þe[^685] religioun · & haþ rendrid þe bible
and prechith to þe peple seint poules wordes
[^686] Libenter suffertis insipientes & . cetera .
nota
ȝe wordlich[^687] wise þat[^688] ȝe soffre[^689]
Leue hem & loue hem þis latyn ys to mene
Doo . Best .
Dobest bere sholde þe bisshopes cros
and hale with þe hoked ende · ille men to gode
and with þe pik putte adown preuaricatores legis
Lordes þat lyuen as hem lust · and no lawe acounte
For her mok & her mobles · such men thenketh
sholde no bisshope be · her biddynges to withsitte
and dobest sholde drede hem not but do as god highte
[^690] Nolite timere eos qui possunt occidere corpus & cetera .
þus dowel & dobet demed as[^691] dobest
and crouned oen to be akyng a kyng to kille wiþ-oute synne
þat wolde not do as dobest deuined & taughte
þus dowel dobet[^692] & dobest þe thridde
Crouned oen to be a kyng to kepon vs alle
and to rule alle reumes by here þre wittes
Bote othirwise ne elles not but as þei þre assentid
y thonked þought þo þat he me so taughte
But ȝut sauereth not me thi sawes so me crist spede
amore a more kyndore knowyng coueyte y to here
Of dowel & dobet & who doth best of alle
But yf wit wol þe wisse quod þought · where þo þre dwellith
Elles knowe noen[^693] þat can yn none kynne-riche[^694]
þought & y þus · þre daies we ȝedon
Disputing vpon dowel · day aftir othir
A description of witt
and ar we y-war were · with wit gan we mete
he was long & lene · ylik to noen othir
was pruyde[^695] on his parail · ne pouerte neither
Sad of his semblaunt & with a soft chere
y durste meve no matere · to maken him to iangle
But as y bad þought þo to be mene bytwene
and putte forth sum purpos · to prouon his wittes
what was dowel fro dobet · and dobest from hem bothe
þenne þought in þat tyme · saide þes wordes
where dowel & dobet · & dobest ben in londe
here ys oen wolde y-wite · yf wit couthe teche
and what lyues þei lyue · & what lawe þei vson
and what þei drede & doute dere sire telleth
nota
Sire dowel dwellith quod wit · not aday a day hennes
yn a castelle þat kynde made · of foure kynne thinges
Of erthe & ayr ys hit maed · ymedlid to-gideres
with wynd & with watur · wittily ioyned
kynde hath closed þerinne craftily with-alle
a lemman þat he loueth · ylik to him-selue
the soule of Man kinde

[Uc.10.137: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16. An equals sign follows the word Man, perhaps in order to link the marginal comment to the text, but perhaps to signal the line-end word-division of Mankinde.]

anima she hette · to hire hath enuye
The deuille

[Uc.10.138: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

aprowd a prowd prikere of Fraunce · princeps huius mundi
and wole wynne hire away · with wiles & he myghte
and kynde knoweth þis weel & kepeth hire þe betture
and hath don hire with sire dowel · duk of þis marches
dobet ys hire damysele · sir doweles doughtur
To serue þat lady lelly · bothe late & rathe
Dobest ys aboue bothe · a bishopes pere
and by his lering ys lad · þat ilke lady anima
But[^696] þe constable of þat castelle þat kepeth hem alle
inwitt haith fiue daughters

[Uc.10.147: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

ys awis a wis knyght with-alle sir inwit he hatte
and hath fyue fair sones · by his furste wyue
sire sewel & saiwel · & here wel þe ende[^697]
sire worche weel wiþ þin hand · a wight man of strengthe
and sire goed faith go weel · greet lordes alle
þise fiue ben set forto saue anima
Til kynde come or sende and kepe hire him-selue
what kynne þing ys kynde quod y · canst þow me telle
god · only

[Uc.10.155: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

and Nature ·

[Uc.10.155: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

kynde ys creatour quod wit of alle kynne thinges
Fader & Formeour of al þat forth groweth
þe whiche is god grettist · bygynnyng hadde he neuere
Lord of lif & of light of lisse & of payne
angels & alle þing arn at his wille
to Christ in his manhodd

[Uc.10.160: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

of Animalle reasson
Man ys him moest lik · of membres & of face[^698]
and semblable in soule to god but yf synne hit make
A parable
and as þow seest þe sonne · sumtyme for cloudes[^699]
May not shine ne shewe · on shawes on erthe
so let leccherie & othir lithir synnes
þat god sueth not such synful men · & soffreth hem mysfare
as somme hangeth hem-selue & othir-while adrencheth
God wol not of hem wite · but lat hem yworthe
as þe sautere saith by synful shrewes
[^700] Et dimisi eos secundum desideria eorum
such lither lyuinge men · somme ben riche
Of gold & of othir goed · but godes grace hem faileth
For þei loueth & bileueth · al her lif tyme
On catelle more þen on kynde · þat alle þinges wroughte
þe which loue[^701] & lif þat lasteþ with-outon ende
Inwit & alle wittes · closed ben þerynne
By loue & By leute · þerby lyueth anima
and lif liueth by inwit · & lering of kynde
yn-wit ys in þe heued · & anima yn herte
and mych worth him þat ynwit mysspendith
For þat ys godes owne god · his grace & his tresour
þat many a lede leseth · þorgh likerous drinke
as loet dide & noe · & herodes þe daffe
ȝaf his doughtur for a daunsing yn a dish þe heued
Of þat blessid baptist bifore alle his gestes
nota wisdom & healthe two greate blissinges
Euery man þat hath inwit · & his hele bothe
hath tresour ynow of truthe to fyndon him-selue
and[^702] faunte-kynes & foles þe which þat fauton ynwit
Frendes shal finde hem · & from folie kepe
and holi churche helpe to · so sholde no man begge
Ne spille speche ne tyme ne myspende nowthir
Meble ne vnmeble mete nothir drinke
and þenne dide we alle weel · & wel bet ȝut to louye
Oure enemyes enterly & helpe hem at her nede
and ȝut wer best to ben a-boute & bringe hit to helpe[^703]
þat alle[^704] londes louedon · & yn oen lawe byleuedon
bisshopes should haue no more lands then Christ hadd

[Uc.10.196: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Bisshopes sholdon be heraboute · & bringe þis to hepe
For to lese þerfore her lond · & here lif aftir
þe catelle þat crist hadde · þre clothis hit were
þerof was he robbed & ruyfled · ar he on rode dyede
and sithen he lees his lif · for lawe sholde loue wexe
prelates & prestes & princes of holi churche
sholde not doute no deth · ne no dere ȝeres
To wende as wide as þe world were
To tulie þe erthe with tonge & teche men to louye
For who-so loueth leueth him weel god wol not laton him[^705] sterue
yn myschef for defaut of mete · ne for myssing of cloþis
[^706] Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono
who-so lyueth in lawe · & yn loue doth wel
as þis weddid men þat þis world susteyne
For of here kynde þei come bothe confessoures & martires
prophetes & patriarkes popes & maydones
For god saith him-selue · shal neuere goed appel
Basterdes . /
þorgh no sotil science · on sour stok growe
and ys no more to mene but men[^707] þat ben bygeton
out of matrimonie not moilere · mown not haue þe grace
þat lele legitimi by þe lawe mown clayme
and þat my sawe ys soth þe sauter bereth witnesse
an vnregenerat father begittith a curssed sonn

[Uc.10.218: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^708] Concepit in dolore & peperit iniquitatem
nota
kaym þe corsed creature conseyued was yn synne
after þat Adam & Eue · haddon ysynned
with-outon repentaunce of here rechelesnes aribaud a ribaud þei engendrid
as an hewe þat erieth not auntreth him sowe[^709]
On aleye a leye lond aȝenes his lordes wille
So was kaym conceyued & so ben corsid wreches
kaytiffes of kayn .
þat licam han aȝen þe lawe þat oure lord ordeyned
alle þat comen of kaym · caitiues wern euere
and for þe synne of kaymes seed · saide god to Noe
[^710] Penitet me fecisse hominem
and bad go shapon a ship · of shides & bordes
þi-selue & þi sones þre · & sithen ȝour wyues
Boske ȝou to þat boet · & abidith þerinne
Til fourty daies be fulfild · & floed haue ywasshe
Clene awey þe corsed bloed þat of caym is spronge
Bestes þat now be shal banne þat tyme
þat euere þat corsed kaym · cam on þis erthe
alle sholon dye for his dedes · by dales & by hulles
and þe foules þat fleeth · forth wiþ othir bestes
Outtake onlich · of vch a kynde apaire a paire
þat in þin singled[^711] ship · shal be wiþ þe ysaued
nota
here aboughte þe barn · þe belsires gultes
and alle for her fadres · ferdon þe worse
þe gospel ys here-agayn · as gomes may rede
[^712] Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris & . cetera .
holy writ witnesseth · þat for no wicked dede
þat þe sire by him-self doth þe sone sholde be þe worse
But westmynster lawe y woet wel · worcheth þe contrarie
nota
For þough þe fader be a frankleyn · & for a felown be hangid[^713]
þe heritage þat þe heir shold haue ys at þe kynges wille
But þe gospel þat ys[^714] a glose þere  & hideþ þe graith truthe
For god saide ensanple [..][^715] manere issue
þat kynde foloweþ kynde · & contrarieth neuere
[^716] Numquam colliguntur de spinis vuas Et alibi
bonus arbor bonum fructum facit[^717]
ac whi þe world was adreint holy writ tellith
was for mariages makyng · þat men made þat tyme
after þat kaym ycursid hadde ykild abel
Seeth adames sone · sithen was engendrid
and god sent to seeth · so sone he was of age
þat for no kynne catelle ne no kynne byhest
soffre his seed sedon with kaymes seed his brothir
and seeth for he soffrid hit god saide me forthinkeþ
þat y man made or matrimonye soffred
For gode sholdon wedde gode · þough þei no goed hadde
For y am via & veritas · & may avaunsen alle
But fewe folk now foloweth þis · for þei ȝiue her childron
For coueitise of catelle & connyng chapmen
Of kyn ne of kynrede counteth men but litel
and þough he be loulich to loken on · & louesom abidde[^718]
amaide a maide & wel ymaried & of gode[^719] yspronge
Bot yf he haue othir goed · haue wol hire no riche
But late hem be vnlouely · & vnlouesom abedde
a bastard abonde a bonde oen abegeneldes a begeneldes doughtur
þat no curtesie can · but lat hire be knowe
For riche or rentid wel · þogh she be riueled for elde
þer nys squier ne knyght · yn contree aboute
þat he ne wole bowe to þat bonde to bedon hire a hosedon hose don[^720][^721]
and weddon hire for her welthe · & wisshen on þe morowe
þat his wif were wax or a walet ful of nobles
yn ielosie ioyeles · and iangelyng a-bedde
Many apeire a peire sithe þes pestilenses han yplight truþe to loue
But þei lyen leix[^722] her neithir liketh othir
þe fruyt þat þei bringeth forth · arn many foule wordes
han þei no childron but chest · & choppes hem bytwene
þough þei do hem to donemowe · but þe deuel hem helpe
donmowe Bacon . /
To folowe for þe flicche feccheth þei hit neuere
Bot þei bothe beth forswore · þat bacoun þey tyne
For-þi ycounsele y counsele alle cristene · coueite neuere be weddid
For no coueitise of catelle yn noen kynne wise
of maryage

[Uc.10.289: At the end of this marginal comment is a mark consisting of a loop and slash, perhaps a cursive equivalent of a punctus and virgule.]

But maydones & maydones marie ȝou to-gideres[^723]
wedd there liek ·
and wedowes & wedowers weddith ȝour aither othir
and loke þat loue be more þe cause · þen lond othir nobles
and euery manere seculer man · þat may not continue
wisly go wedde & war þe fro þat synne
Mariage fittist on youth

[Uc.10.294: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

þat leccherie ys a likyng þing · & a limȝerde of helle
and whil þow art ȝong & ȝeep · & þi wepne kene
awrek þe þerwith on wyuyng · for godes werk y holde hit
[^724] Dum sis vir fortis ne des tua robora scortis
Scribitur in portis meretrix est ianua mortis
nota
[^725]and ȝe þat han wyues be war & worcheth not out of tyme
a man maie offend with his wyfe , binge in hir flowers

[Uc.10.300: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

as adam dide & Eue as we[^726] yeer[^727][^728] ȝow tolde
For sholde no bed-bourde be but yf þei boþe were
Clene of lif & yn loue of soule & yn leel wedlok
For þat dede derne do no man sholde
But wyues & weddid men as holy writ techith
[^729] Bonum est vt vnusquisque vxorem suam heat h[ab]eat propter fornicacionem
þat othir-gates ben gete for gadelinges ben haldon
and fals folk & fondlinges faitoures & lyares
vngracious to gete goed or gete loue of peple
wayten[^730] & wasten al þat þei cacche mowe
aȝen dowel þei don euele · & þe deuel serue
and after here deth day · dwelle sholon yn helle
But god ȝiue hem grace here goande to amende
and þus is dowel my freend · to do as lawe techith
To louye & to loue þe[^731] · & no lif to greue
and[^732] to louye & to loue lene[^733] leue me ys dobet
But to ȝeue & to ȝeme · boþe ȝong & olde
helon & helpon · ys dobest of alle
For þe more aman a man may do by so þat he do hit
þe more he is worthi & worth · of wise & gode ypreysed

[^685: Uc.10.90: in þe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads to.]

[^686: Uc.10.92: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^687: Uc.10.93: See MED and OED for spellings of worldly without the l. Cf. also Uc.3.372, Uc.12.254, and Uc.21.299.]

[^688: Uc.10.93: þat: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads vnwyse þat.]

[^689: Uc.10.93: Russell-Kane: Ȝe wordliche wyse, vnwyse þat ȝe soffre.]

[^690: Uc.10.102: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^691: Uc.10.103: as: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads a.]

[^692: Uc.10.106: dobet: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads and dobet.]

[^693: Uc.10.115: knowe noen: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads knowe y noen.]

[^694: Uc.10.115: none kynne-riche: One might construe here none kynne riche, viz. "any kind of realm." See MED s.v. non(e-kin, OED s.v. no kin, and Uc.10.15, many kynne places. But cf. Russell-Kane kynneriche, a reading preferable on grounds of meter.]

[^695: Uc.10.120: pruyde: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads no pruyde.]

[^696: Uc.10.146: But: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^697: Uc.10.149: Russell-Kane: hende.]

[^698: Uc.10.160: An x at the end of this line links the line to the marginal comment.]

[^699: Uc.10.162: An x at the end of this line links the line to the marginal comment.]

[^700: Uc.10.169: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^701: Uc.10.174: þe which loue: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads The which is loue.]

[^702: Uc.10.187: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^703: Uc.10.194: Russell-Kane: to hepe.]

[^704: Uc.10.195: Above the a in alle is an otiose stroke resembling the abbreviation-stroke for er, made by hand1.]

[^705: Uc.10.205: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^706: Uc.10.207: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^707: Uc.10.214: men: The Russell-Kane apparatus mistakenly records the reading of Uc here as noen.]

[^708: Uc.10.218: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^709: Uc.10.222: sowe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads to sowe.]

[^710: Uc.10.228: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^711: Uc.10.239: singled: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads shingled.]

[^712: Uc.10.243: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^713: Uc.10.247: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.10.244-49.]

[^714: Uc.10.249: þat ys: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads is.]

[^715: Uc.10.250: Russell-Kane: ensaumple of suche manere issue.]

[^716: Uc.10.252: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^717: Uc.10.253: Russell-Kane prints the two Latin lines as one.]

[^718: Uc.10.268: abidde: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads abedde.]

[^719: Uc.10.269: gode: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads gode men.]

[^720: Uc.10.276: bedon hire a hose don: viz., "offer to her to put on a stocking / And wed her." The manuscript reads hosedon without separation, but the text scribe's word-division is erratic in a number of ways and places; cf. the discussion of that topic in the Introduction. For don as a contraction of do on, see MED s.v. don v.(2), with examples from Chaucer's Troilus and Criseyde. For the uncontracted verb with a hose in the singular, see the letter of John Paston III to Margaret Paston, 14 Sept. 1465: "I haue not an hole hose for to do on"—Paston Letters and Papers of the Fifteenth Century, ed. Norman Davis (Oxford, 1971) Letter 323, p. 528.]

[^721: Uc.10.276: Russell-Kane: an hosebonde. MS Uc's hosedon is written without separation. If understood not as a garbled spelling but as two separate words, it represents a unique reading, according to the Russell-Kane apparatus.]

[^722: Uc.10.281: Schmidt and Pearsall both print lely; Russell-Kane, lei. For the latter, see OED lea, MED lei(e, with variant spellings lai(e, leiȝe, le, meaning "fallow, uncultivated . . . neglected," whether literally or figuratively. Presumably, reference is to the unfruitfulness discussed in the two lines following. This would be idiomatic with lyen preceding. (The double entendre on lyen with reference to (a) a field's lying unplowed and (b) a couple's lying in bed seems like a typically Langlandian punning moral irony.) The -x spelling is difficult. But cf. Uc.7.280, deux for "dew" or "dews."]

[^723: Uc.10.289: Right-margin sidelining spans lines Uc.10.287-97.]

[^724: Uc.10.297: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^725: Uc.10.299: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.10.299-300.]

[^726: Uc.10.300: we: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads y.]

[^727: Uc.10.300: The y in yeer could be construed as a þ. With its high contrast between thick and thin strokes, especially in its rounded tail, it most resembles hand13 (Thyrnbeke) or (to a lesser extent) hand9.]

[^728: Uc.10.300: The y in yeer is written over an erasure.]

[^729: Uc.10.305: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^730: Uc.10.309: wayten: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Awayten.]

[^731: Uc.10.314: The OED headform is low, sc. "humble yourself."]

[^732: Uc.10.315: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^733: Uc.10.315: Russell-Kane: lene.]

Passus primus de visione de dowelle

[^734] T henne hadde wit a wif was hote dame studie
þat ful lene lokid & lifholy semed
wytte & Stodye · his wife

[Uc.11.3: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

she was wonderly wroth · þat wit so me taughte
Al staring dame studie sternelich saide
Wel art þow quod sho to wit such wisdomes to shewe
To any foel or to flatere or to frantik peple
And saide nolite mittere in viam ȝe men margerie perles
among hogges þat haen hawes at wille
þey don but dreuele þeron draf were hem leuere
þen al þe precious perry · þat any prince weldith
y segge hit bisuch bi such quod wit þat shewen by her werkes
þat louen lond & lordshipe · & likyng of body
More þen holinesse or hendenesse · or al þat seyntes techen
wysdom & wit now · ys not worth a crasse
Covetyse .
Bot hit be carked with coueitise · as cloþeres kembon her[^735] wolle
who can caste & contreue to disceyue þe rightfole
and lette wiþ a loueday truthe & bigile
begyle truth . /
þat coniecte can & caste þus arn clepid in-to counsel
[^736] Qui sapiunt nugas & crimina lege vocantur
Qui recte sapiunt lex iubet ire foras
Nicholas Saunderson

[Uc.11.21: As Grindley notes (pp. 239-40), Nicholas Saunderson was made sheriff of Lincoln in 1592 and again in 1613 (Public Record Office, List of Sheriffs p. 80). An "Edward Ascough, or Ayscoughe, esq." served as sheriff of Lincoln from December 4, 1587 to November 25, 1588 (Public Record Office, List of Sheriffs, p. 80). Grindley (pp. 196-98) identifies this Edward as the elder brother of Francis Aiscough, the author of this comment, who probably wrote it in 1603—for the date, see the marginal comment in the bottom margin of fol. 26r, at line Uc.4.37. However, according to Maddison and Larken's Lincolnshire Pedigrees, this sheriff of Lincoln was Edward Aiscough of South Kelsey, Francis's first cousin, who was knighted in the first year of the reign of James I—approximately the year in which Francis wrote his comment—but apparently after Francis wrote, since Francis refers to King James as "king Iames þe Sixt" (of Scotland) in the bottom margin comment at Uc.P.95, and as the King of Scots in the right margin at Uc.9.1. Francis's elder brother was Edward Aiscough of Cottam, not of South Kelsey (Maddison and Larken, pp. 61-64). Francis's marginal comment here apparently reflects his opinion that Nicholas Saunderson in his first term as sheriff did not live up to Edward Aiscough's moral standard in the execution of that office.]

[Uc.11.21: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

nota
he ys reuerensed & yrobed · þat can robbe þe peple
þorgh fallas & fals questes · & þorgh fikel speche
Iob þe gentil in his gestes witnessith
all gripinge Jesters

[Uc.11.24: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

what shal worthon of such  when þei lif leton
[^737] Ducunt in bonis dies suos & in finem descendunt ad infernum
þe sauter saith þe same of alle such riche
[^738] Ibunt in progenie patrum suorum & vsque in eternum non videbunt[^739]lumen Et alibi ecce ipsi peccatores . habundantes . & cetera .
Lo saith holy lettrure · which lordes beþ þes shrewes[^740]
nota — the riche are comonly the enimies to rigt and truthe

[Uc.11.29: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

þo þat god most goed ȝiueth greueþ most right & truþe[^741]
[^742] Que perfecisti destruxerunt & cetera
nota
[^743]harlotes for her harlotrie · arn holpen ar nedy pore
and þat is no right ne resoun · for rathir me sholde
the religious and godly person

[Uc.11.33: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

helpe him þat hath nought · þen þo þat han no nede[^744]
But he þat hath holywrit holy writ ay in his mouth
and can telle of truthe & of þe twelue apostles
Or of þe passioun of crist or of purgatorie þe peynes
litel ys he loued or leet here-fore among lordes at festes
Now ys þe manere at þe mete · when mynstrals ben stille
Þe lewed aȝen þe lered þe holy lore dispute
and tellon of þe trinite how two slowen þe þridde
and bringon forth balled resounes · taken bernard to witnes
and pupton[^745] forth presumpcioun · to preuen þe soþe
þus þei driuele at þe deys · þe deite to knowe
and gnawen god with gorge when here gottes fullon
But þe carfole may crie & quake at þe ȝate
Bathe afyngred & furst[^746] & for defaut spille
ys noen so hende to haue him · bot hote him go þere goed ys
þenne semeth hit to my sight · to such þat so biddeth
God ys not in þat home ne his help nothir
litel loueth he þat lord · þat lente him al þat blisse
the rich gyveth les Almes then mean men . /
þat so parteth with þe pore · a parsel when him nedith[^747]
Ne were mercy in mene men · more þen yn right rich
Many tyme Mendinantz myghte goen a-hungred
and so saith þe sauter y say hit in memento
[^748] Ecce audiuimus eam id est caritatem in effrata
nota hipocrites of þe clergie and laitie

[Uc.11.56: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^749]Clerkes & knyghtes carpen of god ofte
and han myche in here mouth · but mene yn her herte
Freres & faitoures han founde vp such questiouns
To plese with proude men  sithen þes pestilence tymes[^750]
cuninge of the prela tes

[Uc.11.60: Hand16 (Francis Aiscough) uses a double hyphen in the form of an equals sign to show the line-end division of the word prelates, as "prela=tes."]

. nota
and preching at seint poules and puyr enuye of clerkes[^751]
þat folk ys not ferme yn þe faith · ne fre of here godes
Sterringe the simple pepell to almes for there owne proffitt

[Uc.11.62: This marginal comment is bounded on the left and the right by curly brackets in the form of stacked parentheses, made by hand16.]

Ne sory for here synnes so ys pruyde enhaunsed
yn religioun & in al þe reume · amonges riche & pore
þat preyeres han no power þes pestilenses to lette
For god ys deef now on dayes and deyneth vs to here
and gode men for oure gultes he al to-grind to dethe
and ȝut þes wrecches of þis world ys noen y-war by othir
Ne for drede of any deth with-draweth him pruyde
Ne parteth with pore[^752] as puyre charite wolde
but yn gayenes & glotenye · for-glotton here godes
and breketh not here breed to þe pore · as þe boek hotith
[^753] Frange esurienti panem tuum
But þe more he wynneþ & hath þe world at his wille
and lordes in ledes þe lasse goed he deleth
Tobie techeth not so · taketh heed ȝe riche
how he tolde yn a tyme · and taughte his sone · dele
[^754] Si tibi sit copia habundanter tribue
Si autem exiguum illud impertiri libenter stude
gyve to the nedy in thy lyfe tyme .
[^755]And ys to mene no more but who myche goed weldith
Be large þerof whil hit lasteth · to ledes þat ben nedy
and yf þou haue litel leue sone · loke by þi lyue
Gete þe loue þerwith þough þow worse fare
But lust no lord now ne lettured man of such lore to here
But lithen how þei myghte lere · lest goed spende
and þat loueþ lordes now · and leton hit adowel a dowel
For ys no wit worth now · but hit of wynnyng soune
For-thi wit quod she be war · holi writ to shewe
amonges hem þat haen hawes at wille
þe which ys aliking a liking & lust · þe loue of þe world
and when wit was ywar · what study menede[^756]
y myghte gete no grayn of wittes grete wittes
Bot al laughing he loutid · & lokid vpon studie
semynge þat y sholde bisechon hire of grace
and when y was war of his wille to þat womman gan y loute
and saide mercy ma-dame  ȝour man shal y worthen
as longe as y liue boþe late & rathe
and for to worche ȝour wille þe whil my lif duyreth
with þat ȝe kenne me kyndelich · to knowe what ys dowel
For þi mekenes man quod she · & for þi mylde speche
y shal kenne þe to clergie my cosyn · þat knoweth[^757]
þat alle[^758] kynne conynges · & comsinges of dowelle
Stodye techeth

[Uc.11.102: This marginal comment continues at Uc.11.105.]

Of dobet of dobest · for doctour he is knowen
and ouer scripture þe skilful · and skreueynes wern trewe
For he is sib to þe seuen ars · & also my suster
The way to doo welle . is .

[Uc.11.105: This marginal comment is continued from Uc.11.102 and continues at Uc.11.110.]

and clergises weddid wif · as wis as him-selue
Of lore & of lettrure · of lawe & of resoun
so with þat clergie can · & counsel of scripture
þow shalt conne & knowe kyndelich dowel
þenne was y as fayn · as foul of fair morwen
To suffer woo

[Uc.11.110: This marginal comment is continued from Uc.11.105 and continues at Uc.11.113.]

Gladdere þen gleman · þat gold hath to ȝifte
and asked of hire þe hie waye · whare þat clergie dwelte
and telle me somtokene som tokene quod y · for tyme ys þat y wende
regard no riches

[Uc.11.113: This marginal comment is continued from Uc.11.110 and continues at Uc.11.117.]

aske þe hie way · hennes to soffre
Boþe wele & wo · yf þow wolt lerne
and ride forth bi richesse · rest not þere-ynne
For yf þou coueytest to be riche · to clergie comest þow neuere
flee women wyne Ire & Slewth .

[Uc.11.117: This marginal comment is continued from Uc.11.113.]

Boþe wymmen & wyn · wreþe yre & sleuthe
yf þow hit vse othir haunte haue god my truthe
To clergie shalt þou neuere come · ne knowe what is dowel
But yf þow happe quod he þat þou hitte on clergie
and hast vnderstondyng what he wolde mene
sey him to[^759] þi-selue · ouersee many bokes
and say y grete wel his wif · for y wroet hire a bible
and fette [s]ette hire to sapience & to þe sauter yglosid
Logik y lerned hire & al þe lawe aftir
and alle þe musones yn musik y made hire forto knowe
Plato þe poete y putte him furst to boke
aristotel & othir to arguen y taughte
Gramer for gurles ygart y gart first write
an beet hem wiþ a baleys · but yf þey wolde lerne
Of alle kynne craftes y contreued her toles
Of carpentrie of kerueres · & contreued þe compas
and caste ouet[^760][^761] by squire boþe lyne & lyuel
þus þorgh my lore arn men ylerned · þough y loke dymme
Theologye is no Scyence but A sothfast beleofe

[Uc.11.135: This comment continues at Uc.11.139.]

[^762]ac teologie hath tened me ten score tymes
þe more y muse þeronne · þe mystiloker hit semeth
and þe deppore y diuine þe derkore me thinketh hit
nota
hit ys no science soþly but a sothfast bileue
And teacheth vs to love .
But for hit lereth men to louye ybileue y bileue þeronne þe betture
For loue ys a likyng thing & loth forto greue
lerne forto louye yf þe lik dowel
For of dobet & dobest here doctour ys dere loue
þo wente y my way with-oute more lettyng
and to clergie y cam · as clerkes me saide
ygrette y grette him goedly and graithly y him tolde
how þat wit & his wif wissed me to him
To kenne & to knowe kyndelich dowel
By crist quod clergie · yf þow coueyte dowelle
kepe þe ten comaundementz · and kepe þe from synne
Doo Well .
[^763]an byleue lelly how godes sone alighty
On þe maide marie for man-kynde sake
and by-cam man of þat maide · with-outon mankynde
and al þat holichirche herof can þe lere
Leue hit lelly & loke þow do theraftir
austyn þe olde her-of made bokes
who was his autour & him of god taughte
Patriarkes & prophetes apostles & aungels
and þe true trinite to austyn apperede
and he vs saide as he say · & so y bileue
þat he say þe fader & þe sone  & þe seynt spirit to-gideres
and alle þre but oen god · & herof he made bokes[^764]
who beth his witnesses Ego in patre & pater in me est & qui me videt patrem meum videt qui in celis est & cetera .[^765]
alle þe clerkes vnder crist · ne coude þis assoile
But þus hit bilongeth to bileue alle þat likeþ to dowel
For hadde neuere freik fyn wit · þe faith to dispute[^766]
Ne man mought haue meryt þerof mought hit be ypreued
[^767] Fides non habet meritum vbi humana . ratio & cetera .
beleefe , Truth , & Love .
thus yn bileue & leel[^768] & loue ys þe thridde[^769]
þat maketh men to dowel · & dobet & dobest
þenne scripture scorned me & many skiles shewed
and continaunce made on clergie · to congeie me hit[^770] semed
and lacked a latyn[^771] & light by me sette
and saide Multi multa sciunt & seipsos nesciunt
þo wepte y for wo · & wrathe of her wordes
and yn a wynkyng y warth · & wonderliche me mette
For y was rauyshed right þere · for fortune me fette
and in-to þe longyng[^772] · and loue she me brought
and yn amyrrour a myrrour þat hight middelȝerd she made me to loke
and sithen he saide to me · here might þow see wondres
and knowe þat þow coueytest & come þerto perauntur
þenne hadde fortune folowyng hire  two faire maidones
[^773] Concupiscencia carnis men calde þe elder maide
and coueitise of yes ycald was þat othir
and pruyde of perfit lyuyng · pursued me faste
and bad me for my continense · counte clerkes teching light
[^774] Concupiscencia carnis · counfortid me on þis manere
and saide þow art ȝong & ȝeep · & hast ȝeres ynowe
Forto lyue longe · & ladies to louye
and þis myrrour[^775] þou might see myrthes ful manye
þat woln lede þe[^776] to likyng al þi lif tyme
þe secunde saide þe same · y shal sewe þi wille
Til þow be a lord · & haue lond · letton y þe nylle
þat y ne shal folowe þin felawshipe  yf fortune like
Age
[^777]he shal fynde me his frend · quod fortune þeraftir
þe man þat me liketh to helpe · might not myshappe
þenne was þere oen þat highte . Elde · þat heuy was of chere
Man quod Elde yf y mette with þe · By mary of heuene
þow shalt fynde fortune þe faile · at þi moest nede
and concupiscencia carnis clene þe forsake
Bitterliche shalt þow banne þenne · Boþe dayes & nyghtes
Coueytise of yes þat euere þow hire knewe
and pruyde of perfit liuyng to myche peril þe bringe
Ȝe recche þe neuere quod rechelesnes  stodforth stod forth in raggid cloþes
Folowe forth þat fortune wole · þou hast ful fer to helde[^778]
Aman A man may stoupe tmes t[i]mes ynow · when he shal tyne his croune
Sir wanhope was sib to him · as sum me tolde
For rechelesnes in his ribaudie · right þus he saide
Go y to helle or to heuene · y shal[^779] myn one
wer hit al soþ þat ȝe sayn · þow scripture & þow clergie
y leue neuere þat lord ne lady · þat liueth here on erthe
sholde sitte in godes sight  ne see god in his blisse
[^780] Ita possibile est diviti intrare in regnum celorum sicut camelus & cetera .
Nota þat the elect are wrytten . &

[Uc.11.213: The marginal comment continues at Uc.11.217.]

[^781]For clergie saith þat he say · in þe seint euangelie
þat y man maed was and my name entrid
yn þe legende of lif longe ar y were
predestinat þei prechon prechoures þat þis sheweth
the Reprobate Vnwrytten .

[Uc.11.217: The marginal comment is continued from Uc.11.213.]

Or prescient[^782] inperfit put out of grace
vnwreton for som wickednes · as holy writ sheweth
[^783] Nemo ascendit ad celum nisi qui de celo descendit
and y leue hit wel by our lord & on no lettrure betture
For salamon þe sage þat sapience made
God gaf him grace of wit · & of goed aftir
Neuere to man so myche þat man can of telle
To rule alle reumes & riche to make
and demed wel & wisly · wymmen bereþ witnes[^784]
Nec michi nec tibi set diuidatur
Salomon and Aristotell . in wysdom & workes both goode yet . dyed evelly . /
aristotel & he who taughte men betture
Maistres þat men techon · of godes mercy & techon[^785]
witnessit þat here wordes · & her werkes bothe
were wonder gode & wyseste · yn here tyme
and holy church as y here haldeth boþe in helle
and yf we sholde worche aftir her werkes to wynnon vs heuen
þat for here werkes & wit · wonen now yn payne
þenne wrought y vnwisly for al ȝour wisteching wis teching
But y countursegge þe not clergie · ne thi conyng scripture
þat who-so doth by ȝoure doctrine doth wel yleue y leue
But me wer leuere by our lord · a lippe of godes grace
neyther wyt nor coninge / but godes grace

[Uc.11.238: At the end of this marginal comment is a 7-shaped mark that perhaps represents a cursive form of punctus and virgule.]

þen al þe kynde wit þat ȝe can boþe & conyng of ȝour bokes[^786]
For of fele witty in faith litel ferly y haue
þough her goest be vngracious · god forto plese
For many men in this molde · more setton here herte
yn goed þen yn god · for-þi hem grace faileth
at here moste myschef · mercy wer þe beste
and mercy of mercy nedes mot arise
as holy writ witnessith godes word in þe gospel
Eadem mensura & cetera .
The wysest men & lernedst do seldom lyve as they teche .
wel ywittid men & wel ylettred clerkes[^787]
seldon arn þei seyn so lyue as þei lere
witnessith godes word þat was neuere vntrewe
[^788] Super cathedra Moisi & cetera
nota
[^789]But y wene hit worth of many as was yn noes tyme
þo he shoep þe shipe of shides & of bordes
was neuere wright þat þeronne wrought ne werk[^790] ysauid[^791]
But briddes & bestes & þe blessid noe
and his wif with his sones · & his sones wyues
Of wrightes þat hit wroughte · was noen of hem ysaued
God leue hit fare not so bifolk bi folk · þat þe faith techon
of holy kirke þat sholde kepe alle cristen soules
for archa noe nymeþ hede  ys no more to mene
Bot holichirche herborgh to alle þat ben yblessid
[^792]þe culorum of þis clause curatoures ys to mone[^793][^794]
þat ben carpenteres vndercrist vnder crist holikirke holi kirke make[^795]
For lewed folk godes foles · and his fre bestes
[^796] homines & iumenta saluabis & cetera .
at domes-day a deluuye worth · of deþ & fuyr at ones
worcheþ ȝe wrightes of holichurche as holy writ techith
[^797]last ȝe be lost as þe laborers were · þat laboured vnder noe
Agoed A goed friday yfinde y finde · a feloun was ysaued
þat vnlaufullich hadde yliued · al his lif tyme
and for he byknew on þe cros · & to crist shroef him
he was sonnere ysaued · þen seynt Iohan þe baptist
and ar adam othir ysaie · oþer eny of þe prophetes
þat hadde yleye with lucifer many longe ȝeres
A robere was yraunsomed · rathir þen þei alle
with penaunce othir passioun · or any othir payne
passed forth paciently to perpetuel blisse
þenne marie maudeleyn · who myght do worse
as yn likyng of leccherie · no lif denyede
Or dauid þe doughti þat denyed[^798] how vrie
Mighte slilokest be slawe & sente him to werre
lelly as by his loces · with a leare[^799][^800] of gyle
Paule þe apostle no pite hadde
Cristene peple · to kille to dethe[^801]
and now beth þes seyntes by þat men saiþ & souereynes in heuen
[^802]þo þat worst wroughton · þe while þat þei wern here
By þat þat salamon saith · hit semeth þat no wight woet
who is worthi · for weel or for wicked
whethir he is worthi to wele or to wicked peyne[^803]
[^804] Sunt iusti atque sapientes & opera eorum in manu dei sunt & cetera .
þus y rechelesnes haue rad · registres & bokes
and fond y neuere in faith · for to telle truthe
þat clergie or o[f] cristes mouth comaunded was euere
For crist saide to seyntes · and such as he louede
[^805] Dum steteritis ante reges vel presides & cetera
þogh ȝe come bifore kynges & clerkes of þe lawe
Beþ not a-ferd of þat folk for y shal ȝiue ȝou tonge
and connyng and clergie to conclude such alle
Dauid maketh mensioun he spak amonges kynges
and myght no kyng ouercome him · as yn conyng of speche
not wytte but þe grace of god . /
soþly saide rechelesnes ȝe see by many euydenses
þat wit ne witnesse · wan neuere þe maistrie
with-oute þe gift of god · which grace of fortune[^806]
For he þat most sey & saide of þe soþfast trinite
was Austyn þe olde þat euere man wiste
saide þus in his sarmon for ensaumple of grete clerkes
[^807] Ecce ipsi idiote idiote[s] rapiunt celum · vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur
none ravisshed soner from fayth then coning Clerkes And none soner saved then comon people . /
and ys to mene no more to men þat beth lewed[^808]
arn noen rathir rauyshed fro þe right bileue
Comunlich þen clerkes most knowyng & conyng
Ne none sonnere ysaued · ne none saddere yn byleue
Then ploughmen & pastoures & pore comun peple
lewed lele laboreres · and land tulyng peple
persen with a pater noster paradys oþer heuen
and passen þorgh purgatorie penaunce-lees for her perfit byleue
[^809] Breuis oracio penetrat celum
Selde falleth þe seruaunt so depe in arrerage
as doth þe reue or þe countrollour þat rikene mot & acounte
Of al þat þei han had of him þat is her maistur
nota
But lewed laborers of litel vnderstondyng
selde falleth so foule & so depe in synne
as clerkes of holy kirke · þat kepe sholde & saue
lewed men in goed bileue · & lene hem at her nede
homo proponit quod a poete þo & plato he highte
[^810] Et deus disponit quod he · lat god do his wille
alle þat truþe attacheþ & testifieth for gode
þough þey folowe þat fortune wole · no foly ich hit holde
[^811] Ne concupiscencia carnis ne shal not greue þe gretly
Ne bigile þe but yf þow wole[^812]
ȝe fare wel fippe quod a fauntelete · & forth gan me drawe
Til concupiscencia carnis · acordid til al my werkes
Of dowel ne of dobet no deynte me ne þoughte
Ne clergie ne his counsel y countid hit ful litel

[^734: Uc.11.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital and extends from the top of the side at Uc.10.318 to Uc.11.18.]

[^735: Uc.11.15: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^736: Uc.11.19: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^737: Uc.11.25: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^738: Uc.11.27: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^739: Uc.11.27: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^740: Uc.11.28: The final three letters in shrewes appear to have been re-inked.]

[^741: Uc.11.29: The word truþe appears to have been re-inked.]

[^742: Uc.11.30: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^743: Uc.11.31: Left-margin sidelining, probably by hand16, extends from this line to Uc.11.57.]

[^744: Uc.11.33: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.11.32-36.]

[^745: Uc.11.42: pupton: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads putten.]

[^746: Uc.11.46: furst: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads afurst.]

[^747: Uc.11.51: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.11.51-55.]

[^748: Uc.11.55: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^749: Uc.11.56: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.11.56-57.]

[^750: Uc.11.59: þes pestilence tymes: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads the pestelence tyme. The Russell-Kane apparatus records the reading of Uc as substantially this, whereas þes should in this context be construed as the plural.]

[^751: Uc.11.60: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.11.59-61.]

[^752: Uc.11.69: pore: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þe pore.]

[^753: Uc.11.72: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^754: Uc.11.77: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^755: Uc.11.79: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the left margin spans lines Uc.11.79-86.]

[^756: Uc.11.90: The word menede is written over an erasure.]

[^757: Uc.11.100: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.11.100-27, uniting all the marginal comments on this side into a single running sidenote.]

[^758: Uc.11.101: þat alle: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Alle.]

[^759: Uc.11.122: him to: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads to hym.]

[^760: Uc.11.133: Viz., "out?"]

[^761: Uc.11.133: Russell-Kane and Pearsall: caste mette. Schmidt: leide ouet, where leide is conjectural.]

[^762: Uc.11.135: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the left margin spans lines Uc.11.135-42, uniting the two comments there by hand15 into a single running sidenote.]

[^763: Uc.11.150: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the left margin spans lines Uc.11.148-54.]

[^764: Uc.11.161: Russell-Kane ends the line after made, putting bokes with the next line.]

[^765: Uc.11.162: Russell-Kane gives the Latin tag as a separate line, RK11.153α, and gives the following as 11.153: Bisily bokes; ho beth his witnesses?]

[^766: Uc.11.165: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.11.165-66.]

[^767: Uc.11.167: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^768: Uc.11.168: Russell-Kane: Thus bileue and leute.]

[^769: Uc.11.168: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.11.168-70.]

[^770: Uc.11.171: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^771: Uc.11.172: Russell-Kane: lakkede me in latyn.]

[^772: Uc.11.177: longyng: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads lond of longyng.]

[^773: Uc.11.182: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^774: Uc.11.186: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^775: Uc.11.189: þis myrrour: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads in þis myrrour.]

[^776: Uc.11.190: woln lede þe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads lede þe wol.]

[^777: Uc.11.194: Left-margin sidelining by hand15 spans lines Uc.11.192-203.]

[^778: Uc.11.204: Possibly MED helden 4, "To move, go, come." The OED headword is hield. Russell-Kane reads þou hast wel fer to elde; the variant here is not listed, presumably because it is considered a spelling variation on elde—a possible interpretation.]

[^779: Uc.11.208: shal: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads shal nat go.]

[^780: Uc.11.212: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^781: Uc.11.213: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the left margin spans lines Uc.11.213-18.]

[^782: Uc.11.217: prescient: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane and Schmidt read prescit. Pearsall follows Uc.]

[^783: Uc.11.219: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^784: Uc.11.225: In the bottom right corner, the tops of the letters of some catchwords survive, the rest having been lost to trimming.]

[^785: Uc.11.228: Russell-Kane: Maistres þat of goddis mercy techen men and prechen. Schmidt: Maistres þat techen men of Goddis mercy, and prechen. Pearsall: Maistres þat men techen of goddis mercy and prechen.]

[^786: Uc.11.238: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.11.237-42.]

[^787: Uc.11.247: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin spans lines Uc.11.247-50.]

[^788: Uc.11.250: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^789: Uc.11.251: Left margin sidelining spans lines Uc.11.251-59.]

[^790: Uc.11.253: Russell-Kane: ne werkman.]

[^791: Uc.11.253: The i in ysauid is curved, as if the text scribe began writing an e, changed his mind, and let the bowed first stroke stand as an i.]

[^792: Uc.11.261: Left-margin sidelining spans lines Uc.11.261-78.]

[^793: Uc.11.261: mone: MED monen v.(1), meaning 2.(a) "To mention, (sb. or sth.), name, call to mind; speak, say . . . . (b) to tell, narrate; tell about (sb. or sth.), speak of."]

[^794: Uc.11.261: Russell-Kane reads to mene and records the reading of MS Uc as to moue. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, the reading of Uc is unique here.]

[^795: Uc.11.262: Russell-Kane: to make.]

[^796: Uc.11.264: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^797: Uc.11.267: A [rightward pointing-hand icon] and curly bracket in the left margin, made by hand15, highlight Uc.11.266-68.]

[^798: Uc.11.279: Russell-Kane: deuyned.]

[^799: Uc.11.281: MED ler, "face, countenance."]

[^800: Uc.11.281: Russell-Kane: lettre.]

[^801: 11.283: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, the line division in Uc.11.282-83 is unique to MS Uc; other C-version manuscripts print the two as one line.]

[^802: Uc.11.285: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the left margin spans lines Uc.11.285-88.]

[^803: Uc.11.288: Russell-Kane omits this line as a variant of the preceding; Schmidt and Pearsall include it.]

[^804: Uc.11.289: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^805: Uc.11.294: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^806: Uc.11.302: Russell-Kane: with grace of fortune. Schmidt: which is his grace of fortune. Pearsall: which is grace of fortune.]

[^807: Uc.11.306: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^808: Uc.11.307: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.11.307-13.]

[^809: Uc.11.315: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^810: Uc.11.324: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^811: Uc.11.327: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^812: Uc.11.328: Russell-Kane gives the following for RK11.307-308 (Uc.11.327-28): Concupiscencia carnis ne coueytise-of-yes / Ne shal nat greue the graythly ne bigyle the, but thow wolle.]

Passus secundus de dowelle

[^813] A las eye quod elde · & holinesse bothe
þat wit shal turne to wrecchidnes · for wil haþ his wille
Coueitise of eyes counfortid me aftir
and saide[^814] rechelesnes recche þe neuere by so þou riche were
Confesse þe to som frere[^815] · he shal assoille þe þus sone
how-so þow euere wynne hit
For whil fortune is þi freend · frere[^816] woln þe louye
and faste in here fraternite · & for þe biseche
To her priou priou[r] prouyncial his pardoun to haue
and preye for þe pol by pol yf þou be pecunious
Pena pecuniaria non sufficit & cetera
By wissing of þis wenche y dide · her wordes wern so[^817] swete
Til y forȝeet ȝouthe · and ede[^818] in-to elde
and þenne was fortune my foo for al her fair bihest
and pouerte pursued me & putte me to be lewe[^819][^820]
and flithing fond y þe frere þat me confessid
and saide he myghte me not assoile but y suluer hadde
To restitue resounably · for al vnrightful wynnyng
Ough quod y þo & myn heued wagged
By my faith frere quod y · ȝe fare lik þe woware
þat wilneth not þe wedowe · but forto welde her godes
Right so by þe rode quod y rought ȝe neuere
where my body were beried by so ȝe hadde my godes
and þenne lough lealte for y loured on þe frere
Whi lourest quod leute · leue sire y saide
For þis[^821] flatered me · þe while he foend me riche
and now y am pore & peny-lees · at litel pris he settiþ me
y wolde hit were no synne y saide · to seyn þat wer truþe
nota
Þe sauter saith hit is no synne for such men þat ben true
To segge as þey seen & saue only prestes
[^822] Existimasti inique quod ero similis tibi arguam te & statuam contra faciem tuam
þei wole alegge also & by þe gospel preuon hit
Nolite iudicare quemquam
and wherof serueth lawe quod lewte · & no lif vndertoek
falsnesse ne faturye[^823] for sumwhat þe apostel saide
[^824] Non oderis fratrem tuum secrete in corde . & cetera .
þing þat al þe world woet wherfore shuldest þow spare
To reherson hit al by retorik · to arate dedly synne
But be neuere more þe firste · þe defaut to blame
þough þou see say nought sumtyme þat ys truþe
Secrettes to be kept .
thing þat wolde be priue · publishe þou hit neuere[^825]
Noþer for loue labbe hit out ne lacke hit not for enuye
[^826] Parum lauda vitupera parcius
he saith soth quod scripture þo · and skipte an hi & prechid
But þe matere þat she meued yf lewed men hit knew
þe lasse as y leue · louyen þey wolde
þe byleue of our lord þat lettured men techith
Of here teme & here tales · ytoek y toek ful goed heed
he saide yn her sarmoun selcouthe wordes
[^827] Multi to amaungerie a maungerie & to þe mete wern sompned
and when þe peple was plenere ycome · þe porter vnpynned þe[^828] gate
and pluyght in pauci priuely & leet þe remenant go Rome
al for tene of here tixt trembled myn herte
and yn a wer gan y wexe[^829] & with my-self to dispute
wher y weer chose or not chose on holy chirche y þoughte
þat vnderfeng me at þe font · for oen of godes chosene
For crist cleped vs alle to come yf we wolde
sarazines & sismatikes & so he dide þe iewes
and bad hem souke for synne saue[^830] at his breste
and drinke bote for bale · brouke hit who-so myghte
[^831] O vos omnes scicientes venite ad aquas[^832]
þenne may alle cristene come & clayme þere to entre
By þat bloed þat he boughte vs with & bapteme as he taughte
[^833] Qui credederit & baptizatus fuerit & cetera .
nota of denyal of fayth . /
[^834]For þough a cristene man coueytid his cristendoem to reneye
Rightfullich to reneye no resoun hit wolde
For may no cherl charture make ne his catelle sulle
with-outon leue of þe lord no lawe wol hit graunte
But he may renne yn arerage & rome from home
as arecheles a recheles caitif othir reneyed as hit semeth
But resoun shal rikene with him & rebukon him at þe[^835] laste
and conscience a-counte with him & cast him in arerages
and putten him aftir in prisoun · yn purgatory to brenne
and for his rechelesnes rewarde him þere right to þe day of doem
But yf contricioun & confessioun crie by his lyue
Mercy for his mysdedes with mouth & with herte
þat is soth saide scripture · may no synne lette
mercye above all godes workes .
[^836]Mercy þat he ne may al amende · & mekenes here folowe
þey bothe as our bokes tellith · are aboue godes werkes
[^837] Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius
Troianes
[^838]Ȝe baw for bokes quod oen · was broken owt of helle
y troianes a true knyght y take witnes of a pope
how y was deed & dampned to dwelle yn helle
For an vncristene creature seynt Gregory woet þe soþe
þat al þe cristendoem vnder crist ne myght me cracch þenne
But onlich loue & leute as yn my lawes demyng
Gregori wiste þis wel · & wilned to my soule
Sauacioun for þe soþnesse · he say in my werkes
and for he wilnede wepyng · þat y were ysaued
God of his goednes y-say his greet wille
and with-outon mo bedes-biddyng his bone was vnderfonge
and ysaued as ȝe may see with[^839] syngyng of mo masses[^840]
loue with-oute leel byleue as my lawe rightful
saued me sazasyn sa[r]asyn soule & body bothe
lo lordes what leute dide & leel doem y-vsed
Wel oughte ȝe lordes þat þe lawes kepeth þis lessoun to haue in[^841] mynde
and on troianes truthe to þenke alle tymes in ȝour lyue
and loue for oure lordes loue & do leute euermore
For lawe with-oute leute · ley þere abene a bene
Or any science vnder sonne þe seuen ars & alle
Bot loue & leute hem lede ylost[^842] al þe tyme
Of him þat trauaileth heron bot truthe be his lyuing
So loue & leute · hit ben our lordes bokes
and cristes owne clergie he cam from heuene to teche hit
and seint Iohan sithen saide hit is of his teching
[^843] Qui non diligit manet in morte
and namelich pore peple her preyeres may vs helpe
For god as þe gospel saith goth ay as þe pore
and as þe euangelie witnessith when we maken festes
feastes ought to be made to the pore & not to the Riche
we shold not clepe knyghtes þerto ne none kynne riche[^844]
[^845] Cum facitis conuiuia nolite vocare amicos
But calleth þe carfole þerto þe croked & þe pore
For vch a frend fedith othir and fondeth how best to quyte
Meles & manshipes vch arich a rich man othir
ac for þe pore may not paye · y wol paye my-selue
þat louyeth & leneth hem largelich shal ich quyte
at caluarie of cristes bloed cristendoem gan springe
and blody breþeren we bicome þere of oen body ywonne
as quasi modo geniti gentil men vchone
No beggere ne boy among vs · bot yf hit synne make
[^846] Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccati & . cetera .
yn þe olde lawe as þe lettere telleth mennes sones me calde[^847]
Of adames issue & Eue ay til god-man dyede
and aftir his resurreccion · redemptor was his name
Lend to the nedy
and we his blodi breþeren · as wel beggeres as lordes
For-þi loue[^848] as leue childron · lene hem þat nedith
and euery man helpe othir for hennes shuln we alle
To haue as we han serued · as holi chirch witnessith
[^849] Et qui bona egerunt ibunt & cetera
For-thi lerne we to lawe[^850] of loue as oure lord taughte
and pore peple faile we not whil any peny vs lastith
For yn her liknes our lord · longe[^851] hath be yknowe
witnesse in þe pask wouk · when he ȝede to Emaux
Cleophas ne knew him not þat he crist were
For his pore aparail & pilgrimes clothis
til þat he blessid her breed · and braek hit hem bitwene
so by þes werkes þei wiston þat he was Iesu
But by þe[^852] clothing þei knew him[^853] · so kaitiflich he ȝede
To be lowe true & loving ech to other
[^854]and al was ensaumpel sothly to vs synful here
þat we sholde be low & louelich · & leel vch aman a man[^855] to oþer
and pacient as pilgrimes for pilgrimes arn wealle we alle
yn þe aparail of a pilgrim · & in pore liknesse
holy seyntes him say · but neuere in secte of riche
and seint marie his moder as mathew bereth witnes
was a puyr pore maide · & to a pore man yweddid
Marthe on mari maudeleyn · an huge pleynt she made
and to oure sauyour selue saide þes wordes
[^856] domine non est tibi cura quod soror & cetera .
and here aitheres wille hastilich god assoiled
and aitheres werkes & wille right wel allowed
But pouerte god putte bifore & preued for þe bettere
[^857] Maria optimam partem elegit que non & cetera
and alle þe wise þat euere were by aught y can aspie
patyent povertie is greter blessing then Rychesse .
presed pouerte for best yf pacience hit folowe[^858]
and bothe betture & blessedore by many fold þen riche
al-þough he be sour to soffre · þere cometh aswete a swete aftir
as on a walnot with-oute · ys a bittur bark
and aftir þe betur[^859] bark be þe shale aweye
ys a cornelle of counfort · kynde to restore
So aftir penaunce and pouerte pacientlich ytake
Maketh man to haue mynde yn god · & his mercy to craue
þe which ys þe cornel of counfort · for alle criston soules
and wel sikoror he slepith · þe segg þat is pore
and lasse drat by day · or yn derk to ben yrobbid
þen he þat is right rich resoun bereth witnes
[^860] Pauper ego ludo dum tu diues meditaris
holichirch witnessith who-so forsaketh
his fader or his frendes fremde othir sib
Or eny welthe yn this world his wif or his childron
For þe loue of oure lord · loueth[^861] him to be pore
he shal haue an hundred fold of heuen-riche blisse
and lif lasting for euere bifore ou ou[re] lord in heuene
[^862] Quicumque reliquit patrem & matrem & cetera
Crist acordith eft herwith · clerkes wetith þe soþe
he
what god saide him-selue · to a segg þat he louede
yf þow likest to lyue quod god þe lif · þat is perfit
al þat þou hast here hastily go sulle hit
Ȝiue pore þe pens þerof purse þou none
and ȝiue hem forth to pore folk þat for my loue hit aske
For-sake al & sue me & so is þi beste
[^863] Si vis perfectus esse vade & vende . & cetera .
Ȝut counseleth crist in comvne vs alle
Who-so coueytith to come to my kyne-riche
he mot forsakon him-selue · his suster & his brothir
and al þat þe world wolde & my wille folowe
[^864] Nisi renunciaueritis omnia que possidetis & cetera
Mo prouerbes y myghte haue of many holy seyntes
To testifie for truthe þe tale þat yshewe y shewe
and poetes to preuon hit porfiri & plato
aristotel Eneyde Elleuen hundred
patyent povertie prynce of vertues .
[^865]Tulius tolomeus · y can not telle her names
preueth pacient pouerte · prince of alle vertues
and by þe grain þat groweth · god vs alle techith
Mescheues on molde mekelich to soffron
[^866] Nisi granum frumenti cadens in terram mortuum fuerit & cetera
But yf þe seed þat sowon ys in slo sterue
A Comparason of wheate .
[^867]shal neuere spir spring vp ne spreyk sp[y]k on strawe kerne
sholde neuere whete wexe bot whete furst deyede
and othir sedes also · yn þe same wise
þat ben ylaid on low erthe · ylore as hit were
and þorgh þe grace of god · & grayn deed on erthe
at þe laste launseth vp · wher-by we lyuen alle
and þe sedes þat ben sowen & mown soffre wyntres
arn tidiore & towore[^868] to mannes bihoste
þen sedes þat sowe ben & mowe not with forstes
Ne wyndes ne wedores · as yn wyntur tymes
as linseed leek seed · and lenton sedes alle
arn not so worthi as whete ne so wel mowe
yn þe feld with þe forst · & hit frese longe
[^869]Right so sothly þat soffre may penaunses
worth allowed of our lord · at her last ende
and for here paciense be ypreised · as for a puyr martir
Or for a confessour ykud · þat countith not arussh a russh
Feer ne Famyne · ne fals mennes tonges
Bot as anhosebonde an hosebonde hopeth · aftir an hard wyntur
yf god gyueth him þe lif to haue a goed heruest
so preueth þes prophetes þat pacientlich soffreth
Mescheues & myshappes & many tribulacions
Bytokeneþ truly in tyme comyng aftir
Mirthe for his mournyng & þat myche plente
For crist saide so to seyntes þat for his sake þoledon
pouerte & penaunce & perfeccioun of body
þen angels yn her angur on this wise hem grette
[^870] Tristicia vestra vertetur in gaudium
ȝour sorowe in-to solas · shal turne at þe laste
and out of wo yn-to wele · ȝour word[^871] shal chaunge
But[^872] who-so rat of þe riche · þe reuers may fynde
how god as þe gospelle tellith gyueth foel to name
and þat his goest shal go · & his goed bileue
and asketh him who shal hit haue
þe catelle þat he kepeth so yn cofres & yn bernes
and art so loth to leue þat lete shalt þow nedes
[^873] O stulte ista nocte anima tua egredietur tezaurizat & cetera .
an vnredy reue þi residue shal spene
+
þat many mothe was maister inne in a myte while
vpholders on þe hul · shal haue hit to selle
Lo lordes lo & ladies taketh hede
hit lasteþ not longe · þat likour swete
as pesecodes pere-Iunetes plumbes & cheries
þat lightlich launseth vp · litel while dureth
nota sonne ripp sonn Rotten
and þat rathist ripeth · rotith moest sonnest
On fat lond ful of donge foulest wedes groueth
Right so sothly such þat ben bisshopes
nota
Erles & archedekenes · & othir riche clerkes
þat chaffaren as chapmen & chide bot þei wynne
and han þe world at her wille · oþer -wise to lyuene
Right as wedes wexon · yn wose & yn donge
So of richesse vp richesse · arisen alle vices
and[^874] lond ouerleid with marl & with donge
whete þat þeronne wexeth worth ligge[^875] or hit ripe
Right so soþly forto segge truthe
Ouer-plente pruyde norisheth  þere pouerte hit destruyeth
For how euere hit be ywonne but yf hit be wel dispendid
wordly[^876] wele ys wicked thing · to hem þat hit kepeth
For yf he be fer þerfro ful ofte hath he drede
þat fals folk fecche a-way felounlich his godes
and ȝut more hit maketh men many tymes & ofte
To synne & to souch[^877] sotiltees of gile
The Mischeves that much riches bringes
For coueitise of þat catelle to kille him þat hit kepeth
and so ys man ymorthered · for his money & his godes
and þo þat dide þat dede ydampned þerfore aftir
and he for his hard holdyng yn helle perauntur
So coueytise of catelle · was combraunce to hem alle
Lo how pens purchaseth fair places & grete
Þat rote ys robberes[^878] · þe richesse with-ynne

[^813: Uc.12.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital and extends from Uc.11.328 to Uc.12.16.]

[^814: Russell-Kane puts and saide at the end of the preceding line; Schmidt and Pearsall do not.]

[^815: Russell-Kane: Haue no consience how þou come to good; confesse the to som frere. / He shal asoile the thus sone how so euere thow wynne hit.]

[^816: Uc.12.7: Russell-Kane: freres.]

[^817: Uc.12.12: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^818: Uc.12.13: ede: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc, though Ch reads ȝede. Russell-Kane reads ȝorn.]

[^819: Uc.12.15: MED leu(e adj.(3): "Weak, frail." The OED headform is lew.]

[^820: Uc.12.15: Russell-Kane: lowe.]

[^821: Uc.12.26: þis: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads this frere.]

[^822: Uc.12.31: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^823: Uc.12.35: MED headform faiterie—deception.]

[^824: Uc.12.36: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^825: Uc.12.41: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.12.41-42.]

[^826: Uc.12.43: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^827: Uc.12.50: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^828: Uc.12.51: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^829: Uc.12.54: wexe: The Russell-Kane apparatus mistakenly records the reading of Uc here as weye. One may compare the x with both the y in the immediately preceding word and the x in tixt in the preceding line.]

[^830: Uc.12.59: Saue: viz. salve.]

[^831: Uc.12.61: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^832: Uc.12.61: Russell-Kane gives this line after line RK12.55 (Uc.12.58); Schmidt and Pearsall print it in the order given here.]

[^833: Uc.12.64: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^834: Uc.12.65: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the left margin spans lines Uc.12.65-68.]

[^835: Uc.12.71: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^836: Uc.12.78: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the left margin spans lines Uc.12.78-79.]

[^837: Uc.12.80: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^838: Uc.12.81: Left-margin sidelining by hand15 extends from Uc.12.81 to the bottom of the side at Uc.12.88 and then continues as right-margin sidelining on fol. 66r, down to line Uc.12.94.]

[^839: Uc.12.92: Russell-Kane: withoute.]

[^840: Uc.12.92: A [leftward pointing-hand icon] made by hand15 in the right margin highlights this line, though possibly the icon is meant to indicate the whole block of lines Uc.12.81-94 highlighted by sidelining.]

[^841: Uc.12.96: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^842: Uc.12.101: ylost: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ylost is.]

[^843: Uc.12.106: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^844: Uc.12.110: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the right margin spans lines Uc.12.110-19.]

[^845: Uc.12.111: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^846: Uc.12.121: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^847: Uc.12.122: me calde: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads me calde vs, viz. "men called us, we were called."]

[^848: Uc.12.126: Russell-Kane: loue we.]

[^849: Uc.12.129: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^850: Uc.12.130: Russell-Kane: the lawe.]

[^851: Uc.12.132: longe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads lome.]

[^852: Uc.12.138: by þe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads by.]

[^853: Uc.12.138: Russell-Kane: knewe hym nat.]

[^854: Uc.12.139: A curly bracket made by hand15 in the left margin spans lines Uc.12.139-40.]

[^855: Uc.12.140: vch a man: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads vch man.]

[^856: Uc.12.148: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^857: Uc.12.152: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^858: Uc.12.154: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.12.154-55.]

[^859: Uc.12.158: betur: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads bittere.]

[^860: Uc.12.166: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^861: Uc.12.170: MED louen v.(1), OED low—"humbles himself."]

[^862: Uc.12.173: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^863: Uc.12.181: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^864: Uc.12.186: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^865: Uc.12.191: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.12.191-93.]

[^866: Uc.12.195: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^867: Uc.12.197: Left-margin sidelining by hand14 spans lines Uc.12.196-210.]

[^868: Uc.12.204: MED and OED headform is tough.]

[^869: Uc.12.210: A curly bracket begun in the left margin by hand14 at this line, Uc.12.210, continues as left-margin sidelining to the bottom of the side at Uc.12.218. It continues as right-margin sidelining on fol. 68r, from Uc.12.219 to 250, and then as left-margin sidelining on fol. 68v to the end of the passus at Uc.12.265.]

[^870: Uc.12.224: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^871: Uc.12.226: word: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads wirdes.]

[^872: Uc.12.227: But: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^873: Uc.12.233: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^874: Uc.12.249: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Lo!]

[^875: Uc.12.250: The OED headform is ledger, adj., sense 5b, "lying or resting in a place." Though the OED attests this sense only as early as 1577, the illustrative quotation so closely resembles this passage in context as to be worth noting: "1577 B. Googe Heresbach's Husb. 25 Wheate . . yf the ground be to riche where it is sowen, it wyll growe to ranke, and lye leadge[r] vpon the grounde." Cf. MED ligger n.]

[^876: Uc.12.254: See MED and OED for spellings of worldly without the l. Cf. also Uc.3.372, Uc.10.93, and Uc.21.299.]

[^877: Uc.12.258: MED souchen: (a) "To suspect"; (b) "to devise."]

[^878: Uc.12.265: Russell-Kane: of robbares.]

Passus tercius de dowelle [Uc.13.0: A wavy red line fills out the space after this heading as far as the right margin.]

[^879] A C wel worth pouerte for he may walke vnrobbed
among piloures yn pees yf pacience him folowe
Our prince Iesu pouerte chees & his apostles alle
and ay þe lengore þei lyuede þe lasse goed þei hadde
Tanquam nichil habentes & cetera
ȝit rat me þat Abraham & Iob wern wonder riche
and out of nombre þo men many mebles haddon
Abraham for his hadde mych tene
Abraham .
For in great pou erte[^880] he was put aprince a prince as hit were
Bynomon[^881] his hosewif[^882] & abraham not hardy ones to[^883] letton him
Ne for brightnes of her beute · here spouse to be biknowe
and for he soffred & saide not our lord sende tokene
þat þe kynde[^884] cried him mercy
and deliuered þe wye his wif wiþ mych welthe aftir
Ioeb þe gentil what ioye had he on erthe
and how biture he hit aboughte · as þe boeek boek[^885] tellith
and for he song in his sorowe Si bona accepimus a domino & cetera
Iob .
derworthe & dere god do we so mala
al his sorow to solas þorgh his[^886] song turnede
and Iob bicam as a Iolyfman Iolyf man and al his ioye newe
patyence and povertie springeth

[^879: Uc.13.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital here and extends from Uc.12.260 to the bottom of the side at Uc.13.16.]

[^880: Uc.13.9: The letters from r in great to u in pouerte appear to have faded and been retraced by a later hand. The e in great has the two-lobed epsilon style characteristic of secretary script, and the a is the single-looped secretary/italic variety.]

[^881: Uc.13.10: Bynomon: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Bynoem.]

[^882: Uc.13.10: Russell-Kane: Bynoem hym his hosewyf and helde here hymsulue / And Abraham not hardy ones to letten hym. Schmidt and Pearsall lineate as per Uc.]

[^883: Uc.13.10: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^884: Uc.13.13: Russell-Kane: kynde kyng.]

[^885: Uc.13.16: The Russell-Kane apparatus mistakenly records the reading of Uc here as boeck rather than boeek.]

[^886: Uc.13.19: his: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads that.]

¶ lo how pacience & pouerte · þis patriarkes releuede[^887]
and broughton[^888] hem al aboue þat yn bale rotide
as grayn þat lith in þe ground · & þorgh grace at þe laste
springeþ & spredith so spredde þe fader abraham
and þe gentil iob her ioye hath noen ende
and leueth not lewed men · þat y lacke richesse[^889]
þough y preyse pouerte þus · & preue hit by ensaumples
worthiore as by holywrit holy writ · & philisofres[^890]
Bothe two ben gode be ȝe ful certeyn
and lyues þat our lord loueth · & large weyes to heuen
But þe pore pacient purgatorie passeth
rathir þen þe rich þough þei renne at ones

[^887: Uc.13.21: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.13.21-24.]

[^888: Uc.13.22: broughton: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads brouhte.]

[^889: Uc.13.26: The hesse in richesse is written over a rough spot on the vellum.]

[^890: Uc.13.28: philisofres: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads wyse fylosofres.]

Marchaunte & Messenger

¶ For yf amarchaunt a marchaunt & a messanger metton to-gidres
and sholdon wende oen wey · where boþe moston reste
and rikene bifore resoun & resounably[^891] acounte
what oen haþ · what oþer hath · & what þei hadde bothe
þe marchant mot nede be ylet lengur þen þe messangere
For þe parcel of papir[^892] & priue[^893] dettes
woln lette him as y leue þe lengthe of amyle a myle
þere þe messanger doþ no more but wiþ his mowþ telliþ his arnde
and his lettur sheweth & ys anoen deliuered
and þough þei wente by þe way þo two to-gideres
þough þe messanger make his way · amyd þe fair whete
wol no wis man be wroth ne his wed take
[^894] Necessitas non habet legem
Ne noen haiward ys hote his wed for to taken
But yf þe marchaunt make his way ouermenne ouer menne corn
an þe haiward happe with him forto mete
oþer his hat or his hoed or elles his gloues
þe marchant moet forgo · or money of his pusse purse
and ȝut be y-let as yleue y leue for þe lawe asketh
Marchauntz for her marchaundise · in man many places to tolle
and ȝut þough þei wendon away · as to wynchester faire
þe marchant with his marchaundise may not go so swithe
as þe messanger may ne with so myche ese
For þat oen bereth but abox a box abreuet a breuet þerinne
þere þe marchant lat a male · with many kynne þinges
and dredith to be deed þerfore & he yn derk mette
with robbers & reueres þat riche men dispoilen
þere þe messanger is ay mery · & his mouth ful of songes
and leueth for his letteres þat no wight wol him greue
But might[^895] þe marchant þorgh his money & othir ȝiftes
haue hors & hardy men þough he mette þeuus
wolde noen such assailon him · for such as him foloweþ
and as safly as þe messanger & as sone at his hostel come
Ȝe wite ȝe wise men what þis is to mene

[^891: Uc.13.35: & resounably: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads a resonable.]

[^892: Uc.13.38: papir: Russell-Kane reads his pauper. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, the reading of Uc is unique in the omission of his; pauper and papir are merely variant spellings.]

[^893: Uc.13.38: & priue: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads and oþer pryue.]

[^894: Uc.13.45: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^895: Uc.13.62: might: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ȝut myhte.]

¶ þe marchant is no more to mene bot men þat ben riche
arn alle acountable to crist & to þe kyng of heuene
þat holde mote þe hye way euere þe ten hestes
Boþe loue & lene · leel & vnleel
and haue ruthe & releue with his riches & power[^896]
alle manere men yn myschef y-falle
Fynde beggeres breed  bakkes for þe colde
Tithon her goed trulich · atol a tol as hit semeth
þat our lord loketh aftir · of vch alif a lif þat wynneth
with-oute wiles or wronges or wymmen at þe stuyues
and ȝut more to maken pees and quyte menne dettes
and spele & spare to spene vpon þe nedful
as crist him-self comaundeth alle cristene peple
[^897] Alter alterius onera portate
nota
þe messanger arn þes mendinantz þat liuen by menne[^898] almes
Beth not ybounde as be ȝe riche · to boþe two lawes
To lene ne to lerne ne lentones to faste
and oþer priue penaunses þe which þe prest woet wel
þat þe lawe ȝiueþ leue · such lowe folk to be excused
as none tiþes to tiþe ne to cloþe þe naked
Ne yn none enquestes to come ne contumax þogh he worche
haly day or holy euen his mete to deserue
For he loueth & bileueþ as þe lawe techith
[^899] Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit & . cetera .
telleþ þe lord atale a tale as a true messangere
and sheweþ b b[y] seel & seeth[^900] by lettere wiþ what lord he dwellith
knowlechith him cristene & of holy church byleue
þere ys no lawe as y leue  wol lette him þe gate
þere god ys gateward him-self & vch a goem knoweth
the mede is as much to the pore for a Myte as to the riche for all his Money . /
[^901]so þe pore of puyr ruthe may perfourme þe lawe[^902]
yn þat he wilneth & wolde vch a wight as him-selue
For þe wil ys as mych worth · of a wrecch beggere
as al þat þe riche may rayme & rightfully dele
and as myche mede for a myte þer he offrith
as þe riche man for al his mone & more as by þe gospel
[^903] Amen dico vobis quia hec vidua paupercula & cetera .
nota the pore & patient Life is perfectest .
so pore & pacient perfitest lif ys of alle
[^904]vch a perfit prest to pouert sholde drawe
For spera in deo speketh of prestes
þat haen noen spending suluer[^905]
þat yf þei trauaile truliche & triste yn god almyghty
hem sholde neuere · liflode lacke[^906] noþer lynnon ne wollon

[^896: Uc.13.71: & power: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads by his power.]

[^897: Uc.13.80: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^898: Uc.13.81: Between menne and almes, word-spacing was omitted because of the line-end compression, but the need for spacing was indicated by a colon inserted between the two words.]

[^899: Uc.13.90: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^900: Uc.13.92: seeth: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads seth. The two readings may plausibly be regarded as variant spellings of the same word, though Uc's form is not recorded in the MED nor in LALME 4:69-70.]

[^901: Uc.13.96: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.13.96-101.]

[^902: Uc.13.96: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.13.96-101.]

[^903: Uc.13.102: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^904: Uc.13.104: After the nota in the left margin, left-margin sidelining goes from Uc.13.105 to the bottom of the side at Uc.13.115.]

[^905: Uc.13.106: Russell-Kane prints this line as one with the preceding.]

[^906: Uc.13.108: liflode lacke: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads lacke lyflode.]

ayenst byshops and prestes .

¶ þe title ȝe take ȝour ordres by telleþ ȝe be auaunsed[^907]
and nedith not to nyme suluer for masses þat ȝe singe
For he þat toek ȝou atitle a title · shold take ȝou wages
or þe bisshop þat blessid ȝou · and enbaumed ȝour fingres
For made neuere kyng no knyght but he hadde catelle to spene
as biful for a knyght · or fond him for his strengþe
For hit ys a carful knyght · & of kaitif kynges makyng
nota
þat[^908] hath noþer lond ne linage rich · ne goed loes of his handes
[^909]Þe same ysey y sey forsoþe for soþe by such þat beth prestes
þat han nothir connyng ne kyn but a crowne one
and atitle a title a tale of nought · to his liflode as hit were
Euel arn[^910] þei ysuffred such þat segge[^911] the masse
þorgh her lithir lyuyng & lewed vnderstondyng
Ayenst prestes .
[^912] achartere a chartere ys chalengable byfore a chef iustice
yf fals latyn be yn þat lettre þe lawe hit inpugneth
Or peyntid parenterliniarie · parsels ouer -skipped
þe goem þat glosith so charteres for agoky a goky is holdon
So hit is agoky a goky by god þat in þe gospel faileth
Or in masse or in matynes maketh eny defaut
[^913] Qui offendit in vno in omibus om[n]ibus est reus
For ouerskipperes also in þe sauter saith david
[^914] Psallite deo nostro psallite quoniam Rex terre deus psallite sapienter
The bisshop shal be blamed bifore god as y leue
þat crouneth such for godes knyghtes þat conne sapienter
Ayenst bishops .
[^915]Nothir synge ne rede[^916]
But nernothir ner nothir[^917] is blameles · þe bisshop ne þe chapleyn
For[^918] ignorancia non excusat as y haue herd in bokes

[^907: Uc.13.109: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.13.105-15.]

[^908: Uc.13.116: The Russell-Kane apparatus reports the reading of MS Uc here as He þat, with the He added; this reading, however, results from a misinterpretation of the abbreviated marginal nota as the word He.]

[^909: Uc.13.117: A double virgule in the left margin presumably marks the spot where a paraph marker should have been added.]

[^910: Uc.13.120: arn: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads beth.]

[^911: Uc.13.120: segge: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads shenden.]

[^912: Uc.13.122: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.13.116-29.]

[^913: Uc.13.128: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^914: Uc.13.130: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^915: Uc.13.133: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.13.131-35.]

[^916: Uc.13.133: Russell-Kane: That crouneth suche goddes knyhtes that conne nat sapienter / Syng ne psalmes rede ne sey a masse of the daye. Schmidt: That crouneth suche for Goddes knyhtes that conne nat sapienter / Nother syng ne rede ne seye a masse of þe daye. Pearsall: That crouneth suche for goddes knyhtes that conne sapienter / Nother syng ne rede ne seye a masse of þe daye.]

[^917: Uc.13.134: Viz., "neither one." See MED s.v. ner adv. (1).]

[^918: Uc.13.135: A long finial at the top of the red paraph marker in the line below gives the appearance of red underlining under For.]

¶ þus rechelesnes in arage a rage aresouned clergie
and scripture scorned þat many skiles shewed
Til þat kynde cam clergie to kepe
A vysion of þe Creatures in þe Elememtes Eleme[n]tes . in þe seea . & on þe Earth
[^919]And in þe mirrour of myddelerthe made him eft to loke
To knowe bi vch a creature kynde to louye
And y bowed my body · by-held al aboute
and say þe sonne & þe see · & þe sond aftir
and wher þat briddes & bestes by her make þo ȝedon
wilde wormes in wodes & wonderful foules
wiþ fleckid fetheres · and of fele coloures
Man & his make y might see bothe
Pouerte & plente boþe pees & werre
nota
Blisse & bale bothe y say at ones
[^920]and how þat men mede toek & mercy refused
Resoun y say sothly sewe alle bestes
yn etyng yn drinkyng · yn engendrure of kynde
aftir cours of concepcion · noen toek of othir
as when þei hadde rotied anoen þei reste aftir
Males to males ·
Males drowgh hem to males a morowenyng by hem -selue
and femels to femels ferdde & drowe
No beaste after Conception doth covet Lust but

[Uc.13.156: This marginal comment continues at Uc.13.160.]

þere ne was cow ne cow-kynde þat conceyued hadde[^921]
þat wolde belewe[^922] aftir bole ne bor aftir sowe
þere ne was no kynne kynde þat conceyued hadde
þat ne lees þe likyng of lust of flesh as hit were
Man & his make out of reason .

[Uc.13.160: This marginal comment is continued from Uc.13.156.]

Saue man & his make & þerof mewondrid me wondrid[^923]
For out of resoun þei ride & rechelesly token on
as in derne dedes bothe drinkyng & elles
Briddes ybiheld y biheld þat[^924] in boshes made nestes
hadde neuere wye wit to worche þe leste

[^919: Uc.13.139: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.13.138-64.]

[^920: Uc.13.149: Faint left-margin sidelining, to the left of the curly bracket marking Uc.13.138-64, highlights Uc.13.149-65.]

[^921: Uc.13.156: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.13.156-59.]

[^922: 13.157: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc, though MS Mc reads belwede. Russell-Kane reads bere.]

[^923: Uc.13.160: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.13.160-61.]

[^924: Uc.13.163: þat: Thus Russell-Kane and Pearsall. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Schmidt omits þat.]

¶ y hadde wonder at whom & where þe pie
lernede to legge stickes · þat leyn on hire nest
þere is no wright as y wene shold worche her nest to paye
yf any masoun made a molde þerto mych wonder me þinkeþ
and ȝut me merueyled more mony of þe briddes
hidden & hilede here egges dernely
for no foul sholde hit fynde but his fere & him-selue
and somme tredon ytoek y toek keep & on trees bredde
and brought forth her briddes · al aboue þe ground
yn mareis & in mores · yn myres & in watres
dompinges diuede dere god ysaide y saide
where hadde þis wilde such wit & at what scole
and how þe pocok cauked þerof toek y keep
how vncurteislich þat cok his kynde forth strened
and ferliede of his fairnes & of his foul ledene
and siþe y lokid on þe see & so forth on sterres
Many selcoutes y say · arn not to segge nouthe
Ne what on floures on feeld · and of her fair coloures
and how out of greut & of gras grew so many hewes
and somme soure & somme swete selcouth me þoughte
of here kynde & here colour · to carpe hit were to longe
nota
and[^925] þat moest meued me & my moed chaunged
Reson always ruleth in beast but not in Man
[^926]was þat y say resoun sewen alle bestes
saue man & mankynde many tymes me þoughte
Resoun ruled hem not nothir riche ne pore
þenne y aresouned resoun · & right til him yseide y seide
y haue wonder in my wit so wis as þou art holden
wherfore & whi as wide as þou regnest
þat þow ne ruledest rathir renkes · þen othir bestes
y see noen so ofton surfeton · soþly[^927] so mankynde
for Man surfeteth in Meate , drynke in Women aparel and in Wordes .
[^928]yn mete out of mesure · and many tymes in drinke
yn wymmen yn wedes & in wordes bothe
þei ouerdon hit day & nyght · & so doth not oþer bestes
þei rule hem al by resoun · and renkes ful fewe
and þerfore merueileth[^929] for man is most like þe of wit & of[^930] werkes
whi he ne loueth þi lore & liueth as þou techist

[^925: Uc.13.186: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^926: Uc.13.187: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.13.187-89.]

[^927: Uc.13.194: The words soþly and so are written without word-spacing, but the error is corrected by hand1 by insertion between them of an oversized colon.]

[^928: Uc.13.195: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.13.192-200.]

[^929: Uc.13.199: merueileth: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads merueileth me.]

[^930: Uc.13.199: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

¶ and resoun aresouned me & saide recche þe neuere
whi y soffre or not soffre · certes he saide
Vch a segg for him-self salamon vs techeth
[^931] De re que te non molestat noli certare
nota
who soffreth more þen god quod he · no goem as y leue
he myghte amende in a myte while · al þat amys standeþ
Suffraunce .
and he soffreth en ensaumple · þat we sholde soffren alle
ys no vertu so fair ne of value ne profit
so ys soffraunce souerenly · so hit be for godes loue
and witnessith wise & wisseth þe frensh
[^932] Bele vertue est suffraunce male dire est petit vengeaunce
Bien dire & bien suffrer fait lui suffrable a bien venir

[^931: Uc.13.204: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^932: Uc.13.211: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ For-þi quod resoun y rede þou rule þi tonge euere
and ar þow lacke any lif loke who is to preise
For is no creature vnder crist þat kan him-selue make
and if creatures cristene couthe make hem-selue
Vch a lede wolde be lacles leue þou noen othir
Man was maed of such matere he may not wel asterte
þat somtyme him bitit to folowen his kynde
Catoun acordeth þerwith Nemo sine crimine viuit
Þo caught y a colour anoen & comsed to ben a-shamed
and a-waked þerwith wo was me þenne
þat y ne hadde met more so mury as yslepte y slepte
and saide anoen to my-selue sleping hadde ygrace y grace

[Uc.13.225: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.13.225-27.]

Doo Well seeth much and suffreth .
To wite what do wel ys · but waking neuere
and þenne was þere a wight what he was y ne wiste
what is do wel quod þat wight ywis sire y saide
To se mych & soffre al certes ys dowel

nota

[^933] ¶ haddest þow soffred he saide sleping þo þou were
þow sholdest haue knowe þat clergie can & conseyued more þen[^934] resoun
For resoun wold haue rehersed þe · right as clergie saide
But for þin entermeting here art þow forsake
[^935] Philosophus esses si tacuisses & alibi Locutum me aliquando penituit tacuisse nunquam
Adam þe whiles he spak not · hadde paradis at wille
and whan he mameled aboute mete & mused forto knowe
þe wisdom & þe wit of god · he was put out of blisse
Right so ferde resoun by þe for þi rued speche
and for þou woldest wite · whi resounes priueyte
Pruyde or presumpsioun · of þi perfit lyuyng
Resoun refused þe · & wold not reste with þe
Ne clergie of his conyng kepeth þe not shewe
For shal neuere or shame come a shrewe wel chaste[^936]
For lat a dronke daffe yn a dik falle
Lat him ligge lok not him[^937] · til him lust to rise
For þough resoun rebuke him þenne recchith he neuere
Ne of clergie ne of kynd wit counteth he not arushe a rushe
To blame him or to bete him þenne yne y ne halde hit but synne
But when nede nymeth him vp · anoen he is ashamed
and þenne woet he wherfore & whi he is to blame
ȝe say soth by my soule quod y  y haue seyn hit ofte
Shame .
[^938]þere smyt no þing so faste[^939] ne smelleþ so foule
as shame þere he sheweth him · vch man shoneth his company
whi ȝe wordon to me thus was for y aresouned resoun
ȝe certes quod he þat is soþ · & shop him to walke
and aroes[^940] vp-right with þat & reuerensed him faire
and yf his wille were he wolde his name telle

[^933: Uc.13.229: Faint left-margin sidelining by an unknown hand spans lines Uc.13.229-37.]

[^934: Uc.13.230: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^935: Uc.13.233: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^936: Uc.13.242: Russell-Kane: wel be chasted.]

[^937: Uc.13.244: lok not him: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads lok nat on hym.]

[^938: Uc.13.251: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.13.251-52.]

[^939: Uc.13.251: faste: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads smerte.]

[^940: Uc.13.255: Russell-Kane: And y aroes.]

Passus quartus de dowel vbi prius

[^941] Y am ymaginatif quod he ydel was y neuere
þough y sete by my-selue such is mygrace my grace
y haue folowed þe in faith more þen fourty wyntur
and wissed me[^942] ful[^943] ofte what dowel was to mene
The Way to Doo Well .
[^944]and counseled þe for cristes sake no creature bigile
Noþer to lie ne to lacke · ne lere that ys defendid
Ne to spille no speche · as forto speke on ydel
Ne no tyme to tyne ne trewe þing tene
Lowe the & lyue forth yn þe lawe of holi chirch
and þenne dost þou wel wiþ-oute drede who can dobet no fors
Clerkes þat conne al · y hope þey can do betture
But hit suffiseth to be saued · & be such as y taughte
But forto louye & to lene · & lyue wel & bileue
ys ycald karitas kynde loue in english
and þat is dobet yf any such be · a blessid man þat helpith
þat pes be & pacience · & pore out of defaut
[^945] Beacius est dare quam petere
nota
But catelle & kynde wit acombreth ful manye
[^946]wo ys him þat hem weldith but he hem wel dispene
[^947] Scienti & non facienti varijs flagellis vapulabitur[^948]
Covetos averice and vnkynde Riches dryve away doo well . /
But comunlich conyng · & vnkynde richesse[^949]
as lorels to be lordes & lewed men techeres
and holy churche hores help · auerous & coueytous
druyeth vp dowel & destrueth dobest
But grace ys a gras þerfore · to don hem eft growe
But grace groweth not  til goed wille by-gynne reyne
and woke þorgh gode werkes · wicked hertes
But ar such awille a wille waxe · worcheth god him-selue
and sente forth þe seint espirit · to do loue springe
[^950] Spiritus vbi vult spirat
So grace with-outon grace of god · & also gode werkes
May not be · be þow sikor · þough we bidde euere
Wytte of sterres ·
But clergie cometh of sight[^951] · & kynde wit of sterres[^952]
as to be bore or be-gete yn such a constellacion
þat wit wexeth þerof & othir wordes bothe
[^953] Vultus huius seculi sunt subiecti vultibus celestibus

[^941: Uc.14.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital and extends from Uc.13.251 to the bottom of the side at Uc.14.20.]

[^942: Uc.14.4: me: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads the.]

[^943: Uc.14.4: Russell-Kane, wissed the wel ofte; Schmidt, and Pearsall, wissed the fol ofte.]

[^944: Uc.14.5: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.14.5-9.]

[^945: Uc.14.17: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^946: Uc.14.19: A [rightward pointing-hand icon] made by hand14 in the left margin highlights this line.]

[^947: Uc.14.20: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^948: Uc.14.20: Russell-Kane: Scientes & non facientes varijs flagellis vapulabunt.]

[^949: Uc.14.21: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.14.21-24.]

[^950: Uc.14.30: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^951: Uc.14.33: of sight: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads bote of syhte.]

[^952: Uc.14.33: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.14.30.]

[^953: Uc.14.36: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

Grace . Wytte and Lerninge . /

¶ so grace is agift a gift of god · & kynde wit achaunce a chaunce[^954]
and clergie aconnynge a connynge · of kynde wittes teching
and ȝut is clergie to comende · for cristes loue more
þen any connyng of kynde wit · but clergie hit rule
For moises witnessith þat wroet[^955] & crist with his fyngur
lawe of oure lord wroet · longe ar crist were
and crist cam & confermed · & holi kirke made
and yn a soend[^956] a signe wroet & saide to þe iewes
þat seeth him-selue synne-lees · sese not yhote y hote
To strike with stike[^957] or wiþ staf þis strumpet to dethe
[^958] Quis vestrum sine peccato est . cetera . & cetera .
For-þi ycounsele y counsele vch a creature clergie to honoure
For as a man may not see þat mysseth his yes
No more can no clerk · bot yf hit come of bokes[^959]
God was here maister · & þe seint spirit þe saumple[^960]
and saide what men sholdon write

[^954: Uc.14.37: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.14.37-40.]

[^955: Uc.14.41: þat wroet: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þat god wroet.]

[^956: Uc.14.44: yn a soend: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads in soend.]

[^957: Uc.14.46: stike: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads stoen.]

[^958: Uc.14.47: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^959: Russell-Kane relineates the following two lines thus: Althouh men maden bokes God was here maystre / And seynt spirit þe saumplarie and said what men sholde wryte.]

[^960: Uc.14.51: saumple: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads saumplarie; Schmidt, and Pearsall, saumplare.]

¶ and right as sight serueth aman a man · to see þe hie strete
Right so lereth lettrure · lewed men to resoun
and as a blind in bataile bereth wepene to fighte
and hath noen happe with his ax his enemy to hitte
No more kan akynde a kynde witted man bot clerkes him teche
Come for al his kynde wit · þorgh cristendoem to be saued
þe which is þe cofur of cristes tresour · & clerkes kepeþ þe keyes
To vnloke hit at her likyng · þe lered & lewed to helpe
To ȝiue mercy for mysdedes · yf men wole hit aske
Buxumly & benyngly · & biddon hit of grace
[^961] Arca dei in þe olde lawe · leuytes hit kepte
hadde neuere lewed man leue · to lay hond on þe chest
But hit were prestes or prestes sones patriark or prophete
Saul for he sacrifised sorow him bitidde
and his sones for his sinnes · sorow hem bitidde
and alle lewed þat leydon hond þeron · loron lif aftir
For-thi ycounsele y counsele alle creature[^962] · no clerk to despise
Lerninge to be reverensed . /
[^963]Ne sette short bi her science · what so þei don hem -selue
Take we her wordes to[^964] worth · for her witnesses be trewe
and medele we not myche with hem · to meuen any wraþe
last chest chauf vs two · & chope vch man othir
and do we as dauid techith · for doute of godes veniance
[^965] Nolite tangere Christos meos & cetera .
For clergie ys cristes vicarie · to conforte & to cure
Bothe lered & lewed wer lost yf clergie ne were
kynde witted men · han a clergie by hem-selue
Of cloudes & of custumes · þey contreued many þinges
and marked hit in her manere & mused þeron to knowe
Ayenst Astronomers
[^966]and of þe selcouthes þat þei sye · hersones her sones þerof þei taughton
For þei heldon hit for an hi science · her sotiltees to knowe
ac þorgh her science soþly was neuere soule ysaued
Ne brought by here bokes · to blisse ne to ioye
For al her kynde knowyng · cam but of diuers sightes
Of briddes & of bestes of blisse & of sorowe
Patriarkes & prophetes repreued her science
and saide her wordes ne her wisdomes was bot a folie
as to þe clergie of crist þei countid hit but truful
[^967] sapiencia huius mundi stulticia est apud deum
For þe hie holigost holi gost heuen shal to-cleue[^968]
and loue shal lepe out aftir · yn-to þis low erthe
and clennes shal cacch hit · & clerkes sholon hit fynde
[^969] Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem & cetera .
hit speketh þere of rich men right nought · ne of rich lordes
Bot of clennes of clerkes & keperes of bestus
[^970] Ibunt magi ab oriente & cetera .
yf any frere wer founde þere y ȝiue þe fiue shelinges
Ne in no cote ne caitif hous þe leste of þe toune
To pastoures & to poetes · appered þe angel
and bad hem go to bedlem godis birthe to honoure
and songe asong a song of solas · gloria in excelsis deo
Rich men rutte þo · & in her reste were
þo hit shoen to þe shephurdes · a shewere of blisse
Clerkes knew þe comete & comen with her presentes
and didon her homage honourably · to him þat was almighty
whi y haue told þe al this · ytoek y toek ful goed hede
how þou contrariedest clergie with crabbede wordes
þat ys how þat lewed men & lithere · lightloker wern y-saued
þen connyng clerkes of kynde vnderstondyng
and þou saidest soþ of summen sum men[^971] · But y-see in what manere
A Comparason betwixt the lerned & vnlerned .
Tak two stronge men · & in temese cast hem[^972]
& boþe naked as a nedel · noen heuegore þen oþer
þat oen hath connyng & can swymme & dyuen
Þat othir is lewed as of þat labour & lerned neuere to swymme
which trowest of þo two · in temese is in moest drede
he þat can not swymme y saide · hit semeþ to alle wittes
Right so quod þat renk  resoun hit sheweth
þat he þat knoweth clergie can sonnere arise
owt of synne & be saef · þough he synne ofte
yf him liketh & lust þen any lewed sothly
For yf þe clerk be connyng · & knoweþ what is synne
and how contricioun with confessioun counforteth þe soule
as we seen in þe sauter in psalmes oen or tweyne
how contricioun is comendid for hit cacchiþ awey synne
[^973] Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates & cetera .
and þat counfortith vch a clerk & kenneth fro wanhope
yn which floed þe fend · fondeth man hardist
þere þe lewed lith stille & loketh aftir lewte
and hath no contricioun ar he come to shrifte[^974]
and þenne can he litel telle · bot as his lores-man him lereth
Bileueth & troweth & þat is aftir his person
Othir his parish prest & peraunter bothe lewed
To lere lewed men · as luk bereth witnes
[^975] Dum Cecus ducit Cecum & . cetera .
For mich wo was him marked · þat wade shal with þe lewed
wel may þe barn blesse · þat him to boek sette
þat lyuynge after lettrure · saued him lif & soule
[^976] Dominus pars hereditatis ys a mury verset
hit haþ take from tiborne twenty stronge þeues
þere lewed þeues ben lolled vp loke how þey ben saued
þe þef þat hadde grace of god · a goed friday as þou toldest
was for he ȝeld him creaunt to crist & his grace askede
and god ys ay gracious to alle þat gredith to him
and wole no wicked man be lost · bot yf he wole him -selue
[^977] Nolo mortem peccatoris & cetera .
But þough þat þef hadde heuene he hadde noen hi blisse
of the theefe þat . was saved on good frydaye · a rare opynyon . /
as seynt Iohan & oþer seyntes þat han asserued betture
Right as summan sum man ȝiueth me mete & set me amyd þe flore
y haue mete more þen ynow · but not with mych worshipe
as þo þat sitton at þe sid table · or with þe souereyns yn halle
But as abeggere a beggere bordles by my-selue on þe ground
so hit ferde by þe feloun · þat a goed friday was saued
he sit neyþer with seint Iohan · ne wiþ symond ne Iude
Ne with maydones ne with martires · ne with mylde wedowes
But as a soleyn by him selue · y-serued vpon þe ground
For he þat is ones a thef · ys euermore in daunger
and as þe lawe liketh to lyue othir to dye
nota
[^978] De peccato propiciato noli esse sine metu
and for to seruen as [ey] nt a s [ey] nt & such þef[^979] to-gidores
hit were no resoun ne right to rewarde boþe ylich
and rig [ht as troi] anes þe trewe knyght telde not depe yn helle
þat our [lord ne] hadde lightly out[^980] · so leue y þat þef in heuen
For he is in þe lowest of heuen yf our beleue be true
and wel loesly he lolleth þere as bi þe lawe of holi church
[^981] Et reddet vnicuique iuxta opera sua
nota
But whi þat oen þef on þe cros creant him ȝelde
Rathir þen þat othir · þough þow woldest appose
alle þe clerkes vnder crist · ne couthe þis assoille
a litle taste of poprie .
[^982] Quare placuit quia voluit & cetera
and so y saye bi þe þat sekest aftir þe whies
the answer to them that aske why . and . how . /
how creatures han kynde wit · & how clerkes come to bokes[^983]
and how þe floures in þe frith cometh to faire hewes
was neuere creature vnder crist þat knew wel þe biginnyng
But kynde þat contreued hit first of his curteys wille
he taughte þe turtel to trede · þe pocok to cauke
and Adam & Eue & alle othir bestes
A cantel of kynde wit · her kynde to saue
Of goed & of wicke kynde was þe firste
Sey hit & soffred hit · & saide hit be sholde
[^984] Dixit & facta sunt
But whi he wolde þat wicke were · ywene y wene & y leue
was neuer man vpon molde · þat might hit aspie
But longe lyuynge men likned men lyuyng
To briddes & to bestes as her bokes tellith
þat þe fairest foul foulest engendrith
A pretye & right semelye comparason betwene the rich man & þe · peacok .
[^985]and feblest foul of flight ys þat fleeth oþer swymmeth
þat is þe pocok or[^986][^987] þe popiniay · wiþ her proude feþeres
Bitokeneth right riche men þat regnon her on erthe
For pursue a pocok or a pohen to cacche
and haue hem yn hast at þin owne wille
For þei may not fle fer · ne ful hie nothir
For her feþeres þat faire ben to fle fer hem lettith
his ledene ys vnlouelich & lothlich his caroyne
But for his peyntid pennes þe pocok ys honoured
More þen[^988] his faire flesh or for his murye note
Right so me reuerenseth more · þe riche for his mebles
þen for any kyn he come of · or for his kynde wittes
þus þe poete preyseth þe pocok for his feþeres
and þe riche man for his rentes or for richesse in his shoppe
the pore man & the Larke . /
[^989]þe larke þat is a lasse foul · yslouelokest ys louelokest of ledene
and swettore of sauour & swiftore of wenge
To lowe lyuinge men · þe larke ys resembled
and to lele & lifholy · þat louen alle truthe
þus porfirie & plato & poetes manye
lykneþ in her logik · þe leste foul owten
and wher he be saf or not saef · þe soeþ woet no clergie
Ne of sortes ne of salamon no scripture kan telle
wher þat þei ben yn helle or yn heuen · or aristotel þe wise
But god ys so goed yhope y hope þat sithe he gaf wittes
To wisson vs weyes þerwith · þat wenon to be saued
and þe bettere for her bokes to biddon we ben yholde
þat god for his grace gyue her soules reste
nota
For lettered men were as lewed men ȝit · ne wer þe lore of þe[^990] clerkes
alle þes clerkes quod y tho þat on crist leuen
sayn in her sarmons · þat noþer sarazines ne iewes
with-oute baptem as by her bokes · beth not ysaued
[^991] Contra quod ymaginatif þo · & comsed to loure
and saide vix saluabitur iustus in die iudicij
[^992] Ergo saluabitur quod he & saide no more latyn
Troianes
Troianes was a trewe knyght · & toek neuere cristendoem
and he is saef saith þe boek · & his soule in heuene
thre kyndes of Cristyninge .
But þeris þer is fullyng of fonte · & fullyng yn bloed-sheding[^993]
and þorgh fuyr ys fullyng · & al is ferme bileue
[^994] Aduenit ignis diuinus non comburens sed illuminens & cetera
But trewe þat trespased neuere ne transuersed aȝenes his lawe
the true truth deserveth

[Uc.14.227: This comment continues at Uc.14.233.]

But lyuede as his lawe taught · & leueth þer be no betture[^995]
and yf þer were he wolde · & yn such a wille dyeth
Ne wolde neuere true god bot trewe truthe wer alowed
and wher hit be or be not[^996] þe bileue ys gret of truthe
and hope hangeth ay þeron to haue þat truþe deserueþ
[^997] Quia super pauca fuisti fidelis & cetera .
Love and gret Rewarde with a curtesie more then Covenante . /

[Uc.14.233: This marginal comment is continued from Uc.14.227.]

and þat is loue & large huire · yf þe lord be true
and a cortesie more þen couenaunt was · what so clerkes[^998] carpe
For al worth as god wole · & þerwith he vanyshed

[^961: Uc.14.63: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^962: Uc.14.69: creature: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads creatures.]

[^963: Uc.14.70: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.14.69-74.]

[^964: Uc.14.71: to: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads at.]

[^965: Uc.14.75: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^966: Uc.14.81: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.14.79-85.]

[^967: Uc.14.90: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^968: Uc.14.91: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.14.91-93.]

[^969: Uc.14.94: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^970: Uc.14.97: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^971: Uc.14.111: sum men: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads somme.]

[^972: Uc.14.112: Right-margin sidelining by hand14 extends from this line, Uc.14.112, to the bottom of the side at 118.]

[^973: Uc.14.126: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^974: Uc.14.130: Russell-Kane relineates this and the next three lines.]

[^975: Uc.14.135: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^976: Uc.14.139: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^977: Uc.14.146: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^978: Uc.14.159: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^979: Uc.14.160: þef: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads a thef.]

[^980: Uc.14.163: Russell-Kane: That oure lord ne hauede hym lihtliche out. The Russell-Kane apparatus fails to include Uc in the list of manuscripts showing omission of hym.]

[^981: Uc.14.166: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^982: Uc.14.170: A [rightward pointing-hand icon] made by handx in the left margin highlights this line. At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^983: Uc.14.172: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.14.172-75. It is continued by right-margin sidelining to the bottom of the side at Uc.14.183.]

[^984: Uc.14.181: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^985: Uc.14.187: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.14.187-200.]

[^986: Uc.14.188: The text scribe began to write oþer, but corrected the thorn into a long r to give or.]

[^987: Uc.14.188: or: The Russell-Kane apparatus mistakenly records the Uc reading as oþer; in fact, the reading is oþ corrected to or.]

[^988: Uc.14.196: þen: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þan for.]

[^989: Uc.14.201: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.14.201-203.]

[^990: Uc.14.214: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^991: Uc.14.218: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^992: Uc.14.220: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^993: Uc.14.223: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.14.223-24.]

[^994: Uc.14.225: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^995: Uc.14.227: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.14.226-35, uniting the two marginal comments into a single running sidenote.]

[^996: Uc.14.230: wher hit be or be not: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads wher hit worth or worth nat.]

[^997: Uc.14.232: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^998: Uc.14.234: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

Passus quintus de visione vt supra

[^999] A nd y awaked þerwith witles nyhande
and as a freek þat fey were forth gan ywalken y walken
yn manere of a mendynant many ȝeer aftir
and many tyme of þis metels mych þought yhadde y hadde
fortune at most nede , & bewtye in age fayleth . /
Furst how fortune me failed at my most nede[^1000]
and how elde manased me so might happe
þat y lyuede longe · leue me byhinde
and vanishe alle my vertues · & my faire loces
freares followe after the riche & regarde not the pore .
and how þat freres folowede · folk þat was rich[^1001]
and pepel þat was pore at litel pris setton
Ne no cors of pore comvne · in her kirke-ȝerd most ligge
But quik he biquath hem ought  or wolde help quite her dettes
Covetyse ouercometh all sectes .
[^1002]and how þis coueitise ouercam alle kynne sectes
as wel lered as lewed · and lord as þe bonde
Lewd Curates ·
[^1003]and how þat lewed men ben lad but our lord hem helpe
þorgh vnconnyng curatoures · to incurable paynes
and how þat ymaginatif in dremels me tolde
Of kynde & of his comyng · & what connyng he ȝaf bestes
and how louyng he is to vch alif a lif yn lond & in watur
For alle he wisseth & ȝiueth wit · þat walkeþ oþer crepith
and y merueyle in herte · how ymaginatif saide
þat iustus bifore Iesu in die iudicij
[^1004] Non saluabitur but yf vix helpe[^1005]
and when he hadde y-seide so · how sodeinlich he vanshed
and so y mused vpon þis matere · þat me lust to slepe
and þenne cam conscience & clergie aftir
Conscyence & Clergie .
[^1006]and bedon me rise vp & Rome & wiþ resoun shold y dyne
and yaroes y aroes & romed forth · & with resoun me mette
we reuerensed Resoun & romed forth softly
and metton with a maistur aman a man lik a frere
Conscience knew him welcomed him faire
þey wosshon & wipton & wenten to þe dynere
pacyence .
þere cam pacience as a pore þing & preyde me[^1007] pur charite
ylik pers þe ploughman as he a palmere were
Crauede & cried for cristes loue of heuene
ameles a meles mete for a pore man or money if þei hadde
Conscience knew him wel & welcomed him alle
woshon & wipton & weton · & seton[^1008]
þe maister was maed sitte first as for þe most worthi
Reason .
Resoun stoed & stighled as for a stiward of halle
Pacience & y was put to be macches
and seton by our selue at a sid table
Scripture .
Clergie cald aftir me & þenne cam scripture
and serued hem þus sone · of sondry metes manye
Of austyn of ambrose of alle foure euangelies
[^1009] Edentes & bibentes que apud eos sunt & cetera
But of þis mete þat maistur might not wel chewe
For-thi eet he mete of more cost mortrewes & potages
Of þat men myswonnen þey made hem wel at ese
But her saus was ouersour · & vnsauerly ygrounde
yn amorter a morter post mortem of many bitur paynes
But yf þei synge for þo soules & wepe salt teres
nota
Vos qui comeditis peccata hominum . nisi pro eis lacrimas & oraciones effuderitis ea que in delicijs comeditis in . tormentis . euometis . & cetera .
þenne as resoun radde anoen right aftir
Conscyence causeth Scripture to give bread to pacyence
þat conscience comaundide[^1010] sholde to do come[^1011] scripture
and bringe breed for pacience biting apartie
and to me þat his mete þo[^1012] · & othir mete bothe
he sette asour a sour lof & saide · agite penitenciam
and sithe he drough vs drinke diu perseuerans
as longe quod he as lif & lycam may dure
þis is asemly a semly seruice · saide pacience
þenne cam contricioun þat hadde coked for hem alle
and brought forth apitaunce a pitaunce was pro hoc orabit omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno
þenne conscience counfortid vs boþe clergie & scripture
and saide cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies
pacience was wel apaid of þis propur seruice
and mad mury with þis mete but y morned euere
Doctor Robinson Doctor Barefout of lincoln with many mor

[Uc.15.68: As Carl Grindley notes ("The Life of a Book," p. 238), the Fasti Ecclesiae Anglicanae lists John Robinson, A.M., and John Barefoot, S.T.P., as successive archdeacons of Lincoln in 1580 and 1581-1595 (Le Neve and Hardy, 2:47b). Robinson received a doctorate in theology from Cambridge in 1583 (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 47:355), and thus would have been known to Francis Aiscough, writing in 1603, as "Dr. Robinson." Grindley identifies this John Robinson as having been involved in the interrogation of Anne Askew, Francis Aiscough's aunt who was burned at the stake in 1546 (p. 238). However, John Robinson received his B.A. in 1554, having matriculated at Cambridge in 1550 (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 47:355). Since John Foxe speaks of Anne Askew's interrogator as "Dr. Robinson" (Actes and Monuments p. 1238; reel 233:01, image 441), this John Robinson was clearly too young for that role in 1545-46. The much more likely candidate is Thomas Robertson (fl. 1520-1561), royal chaplain to Henry VIII and one of the authors of the 1543 work, the Necessary Doctrine and Erudition for Any Christian Man (Oxford Dictionary of National Biography 47:261-62). This latter was the "King's Book" to which Anne Askew was asked to respond during her interrogation (Foxe p. 1235; reel 233:01, image 438). As for John Barefoot, Grindley (p. 239) notes his involvement, as archdeacon of Lincoln, in a campaign of 1584 to bring reformist preachers of Lincolnshire to subscribe to three articles put forth by Archbishop Whitgift—see Patrick Collinson, The Elizabethan Puritan Movement (Berkeley, 1967), p. 259.]

[Uc.15.68: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1013] For a doctour at þe hie deys drank wyn faste[^1014]
[^1015] Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum
and eet mony sondri metes mortrewes & puddynges
Braun & bloed of gees · bacoun & colopes
þenne said y to my-selue so pacience hit herde
hit ys not þre daies doen þis doctour þat he prechid
at poule[^1016] bifore þe pepel what pacience[^1017] þei soffred
alle þat coueite to come · to any kynne ioye
and how þat poul þe apostel · what penaunce he þoled
For oure lordes loue · as holy lettur tellith
[^1018] In fame & frigore & cetera .
[^1019]and me wondreth in my[^1020] whi þat þei ne preche
of the glotonos freare ·
as poul þe apostel prechid to þe pepel ofte
[^1021] Periculum est in falsis fratribus
holy writ bit men be war & wisly hem kepe
Bonner bush hoppe of london

[Uc.15.83: Edmund Bonner, 1500-1569, who according to Foxe's Actes and Monuments was involved in the interrogation in 1545 of the Protestant martyr Anne Askew, the aunt of this commentator Francis Aiscough (pp. 1235-37; reel 233:01, images 438-40).]

[Uc.15.83: An equals sign marks the line-end word-division of bushhoppe, a creative spelling of bishop. The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[Uc.15.83: In spelling bishop as bushhoppe, Aiscough perhaps intends a pun on OED bush 5.a., "A branch or bunch of ivy (perhaps as the plant sacred to Bacchus) hung up as a vintner's sign; hence, the sign-board of a tavern," or 5.b., "the tavern itself."]

þat no fals frere þorgh flateryng hem bygile
and[^1022] me thinkeþ loþ · þogh y latyn knowe to lacken any secte
For alle be we breþeren þogh we be diuers yclothid
But ywiste y wiste neuere frek þat frere ys y-cald of þe foure mendinantz
þat toek þis for his teme & tolde hit with-oute aglose a glose
Þei preche þat penaunce ys · profitable to þe soule
and what myschef · & male-ese crist for man þoled
But þis doctour & diuinour quod y · & decretistre of canoun
and also as a gredy glotoun wiþ two grete chekes
haþ no pite on vs pore he perfourmeth euele
þat he precheth he preueth not compacience y tolde
and wisshed weturly wiþ wille ful egur
þat yn þe mawe of þat maistur alle þo metes were
Boþe disshes & dobleres · with alle þe deyntes aftir
y shal iangele to þis lurdan[^1023] · with his mych wombe[^1024]
and apose him what penaunse ys · & purgatorie on erthe
and whi he liueth not as he lerith
lat be quod pacience & saide þow shalt see þus sone
when he may no more he shal haue a penaunce
yn his foule paunch & poffe at vch a word
and þenne sholon gothele his gottes · & gynne to galpe
Now he hath dronke so depe · he wol dyuine sone
and prouen hit by her pocalips & þe passioun of seint auory
[^1025]þat noþer bacoun ne braun · ne blawmanger ne mortrewes
ys noþer fish ne flesh · but for penauntes
and take witnes at a trinite & take his felawe to witnes
what he foend in a forel of a frere lyuyng
and bot þe first leef be lesinges leue me neuere aftir
and þenne ys tyme to take · to apose þis doctour
Of dowel & of dobet · & yf dobet do any penaunce
ysat y sat stille as pacience wolde · & þus sone þis doctour
as rody as a rose · rodded his chekes
Coughede & carpede & conscience him herde
and tolde him of a trinite & toward me he loked
the freare is apposed what is . Doo Well . /
[^1026]what ys dowel sir doctour quod y · ys dobest any penaunce[^1027]
Dowel quod þis doctour & he drank aftir
do þin neighbore no harm · ne þi self nothir
and þenne dost þow wel & wisly ydar y dar hit wel a-vowe

[^999: Uc.15.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital and extends from Uc.14.230 to the bottom of the side at Uc.15.12.]

[^1000: Uc.15.5: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.15.4-8.]

[^1001: Uc.15.9: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.15.9-12.]

[^1002: Uc.15.13: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.15.13-14.]

[^1003: Uc.15.15: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.15.15-16.]

[^1004: Uc.15.23: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1005: Uc.15.23: Russell-Kane prints this and the preceding line as one; Schmidt and Pearsall print them as two.]

[^1006: Uc.15.27: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.15.26-46.]

[^1007: Uc.15.33: me: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads mete.]

[^1008: Uc.15.38: weton: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads woschen and wipeden and wenten to sytten.]

[^1009: Uc.15.46: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1010: Uc.15.55: comaundide: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads comaunde]

[^1011: Uc.15.55: The Russell-Kane apparatus fails to note that come is added in Uc.]

[^1012: Uc.15.57: Russell-Kane: And to me þat was his mette tho.]

[^1013: Uc.15.68: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.15.68-69.]

[^1014: Uc.15.68: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of three stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.15.68-69.]

[^1015: Uc.15.69: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1016: Uc.15.74: poule: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads poules.]

[^1017: Uc.15.74: pacience: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads penaunce.]

[^1018: Uc.15.78: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1019: Uc.15.79: Left-margin sidelining spans this entire side from Uc.15.79 to 112.]

[^1020: Uc.15.79: in my: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads in my wit.]

[^1021: Uc.15.81: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1022: Uc.15.84: and: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ac.]

[^1023: Uc.15.97: Russell-Kane: to þis iurdan.]

[^1024: Uc.15.97: Russell-Kane: his iuyste wombe.]

[^1025: Uc.15.106: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.15.106-108.]

[^1026: Uc.15.117: A blue smudge in the left margin here suggests the possibility that a blue paraph was erased.]

[^1027: Uc.15.117: Right-margin sidelining by hand14 spans lines Uc.15.113-20.]

¶ Sertes sire thenne said y hit semeth nouthe here
yn that ȝe parteth not wiþ vs pore þat ȝe passeth dowel
Ne loueþ not as ȝe lereth as oure lord wolde
[^1028] Et visitauit & fecit redemptionem plebis sue
and ȝe fare þus with ȝour sike freres ferly me þinketh
þat dowel wole endite ȝou in die iudicij
þenne conscience ful curteislich a continaunce made
and preynte vpon pacience · to preye me be stille
and saide him-sulue sir doctour biso bi so hit be ȝour wille
what is dowel & dobet ȝe diuinoures knoweth
y haue yseid quod þat seg y can sey no betture
Bot do as doctoures techith for dowel ich hit halde
þat trauaileth to teche othir · yhalde y halde hit for a dobet
and he þat doþ as he techith yhalde y halde hit for þe beste
nota
[^1029] Qui facit & docuerit magnus vocabitur
Pers ploughman all kynde connynges & craftes inpugneth . except such as be of Love Loyaltie & humylitye . /
Now þow clergie quod conscience · carpest[^1030] what is dowel[^1031]
haue me excused quod clergie · by crist but yn scole
shal no such motif be meued · for me bot oþere
For pers loue þe palmere ȝut þat inpugned ones
alle kynne connynges · & alle kynne craftes
Saue loue & leute & lowenes of herte
and no tixst ne takeþ to proue this for truthe
Bot dilige deum & proximum · & domine quis habitabit
All thinges are

[Uc.15.143: Hand14 here gives, apparently as a line-end space filler, a flourish in the form of a large tilde with looped ends.]

inperfyt . but true Love & truthe . / /
And preueth by puyr skyle inperfit alle thinges[^1032]
[^1033] Nemo bonus but lele loue & truthe[^1034]
þa[^1035] loth ys to be founde
Quod pers þe ploughman pacientes vincunt
By-fore perpetuel pees y shal preue þat y saide
and a-vowen bifore god & forsaken hit neuere
Lessons how to Doo Well . /
[^1036]þat disce doce dilige deum & þin enemy helpe[^1037]
Caste hote coles on his heued of alle kynde speche
Fonde þorgh wit & with word his loue forto wynne
ȝif him eft & eft euere at his nede
Counforte him with þi catelle & with þi kynde speche
and ley on him þus with loue  til he laughe on the
and bot yf[^1038] he bowe for þis betyng blind mot he worthen
and when he hadde ywordid þus · wiste no man after
where pers þe ploughman by-cam · so priueilich he wente
and resoun ran aftir & right with him ȝede
saue conscience & clergie · ycouthe y couthe no mo aspie
Saue pacience properlich spak · þo pers was þus ypassed
true Love lytle Coveteth . / .
þat loueth lelly quod he bot litel þing coueiteth
y wolde & y wille hadde · to wynnon al Fraunce
with-oute brunting[^1039][^1040] of buyrnes · or eny blod-sheding
y take witnes quod he of holy writ apartie a partie
[^1041] Pacientes vincunt & cetera .
For bi him þat me made mighte neuere pouerte
Miseise ne myschef ne man wiþ his tonge
pacyence . /
[^1042]Tene þe eny tyme & þou take pacience
and bere hit in thi bosom aboute wher þou wendist
yn þe corner of a cart-whel with a crowe croune
shal neuere buyrne be abasht þat haþ þis abouton him
Ne neuere hete ne hail · ne helle pouk him greue
Noþer fuyr ne floed ne be aferd of enemy
[^1043] Caritas expellit omnem timorem
Ne þer is wight in þis world þat wolde þe lette
To haue alle londes at þi likyng · & þe her lord make
and maister of alle her mebles & of her money aftir
þe kyng & al þe comune & clergie to þe loute
As for her lord & her leder · & liue as þou techist
þis is a dido quod þis doctour a disoures tale
al þe wit of þis world & wigh[^1044] men strengthe
of the pope .
Can not perfourme a pees of þe pope & his enemyes[^1045]
profitable for bothe parties & potte þe lord [b]ord from him
And toek clergie & conscience to counsel as hit were
But conscience ytoek y toek keep congeyed sone þis doctour
And sithe he saide to clergie · so þat y hit herde
By crist quod conscience clergie y wol not lie
Me were leuere by our lord and I · lyue sholde
haue paciense perfitly þen half þi pak of bokes
lettrure & long studie lettiþ ful manye
perfyt pacyence fyndeth perfytnesse
þat þei knoweth not quod conscience · what is kynde pacience
For-þi quod conscience crist y the biteche
with pacience wol y passe perfitnesse to fynde
and wenton forth on her way · with greet wille y folowed
þenne hadde pacience as pilgrimes han yn her poke vitailes
Soberte & simpel speche & sothfast byleue
To counforte him & conscience yf þei come yn place
þere vnkyndenesse & coueitise is · hungri contrees bothe
and as þei wente by þe way of dowel gan þei carpe
þey myghte[^1046] with a mynstral · as me þo þoughte
pacience apposed him & preide he sholde telle
what craft þat he couthe & corteislich he saide
ych am a mynstral quod þis man · my name is actiua vita
Pers prentis þe ploughman · alle peple to counforte
pers ploughmans man a waferer
what manere mynstralcie my dere frend quod conscience[^1047]
hast þow vsed or hauntid al þi lif-tyme
Mynstralcie can y not myche but make men mury
as a wafrer with wafres & welcome godes gestes
of þi labour[^1048] þei laughe þe lasse & þe more
þe pore & þe riche y plese · and payn fynde
and fewe robes y fonge or furred govnes
wolde y lie & do men laughe þennne lacchon y sholde
Outhir mantel or mone amonges lordes mynstrals
y can not tabre ne trompe · ne telle fair gestes
Farton ne fithelon at festes ne at harpe[^1049]
Iape ne iogole · ne gentillich pipe
Ne noþer sayle ne sauteron ne synge with þe geterne
y haue no gode giftes of þise grete lordes
the pore and rich praethe for Pers the ploughman

[Uc.15.220: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1050]For no bred þat ybitrauaile y bitrauaile furst to[^1051] bifore lordes
Ne were hit þat parish[^1052] preyeth for me on sondayes
y am sory þat y sowe or sette but for my-selue
But þe prest & othir peple preyeth for pers þe ploughman
and for me actif his man þat ydelnes hatte[^1053]
Lordes & loreles lither & gode
From Mighel-mas to myghelmasse y fynde mete & drinke
nota
y fynde payn for þe pope & preyen him ywolde y wolde
þat pestilenses to pees & perfitloue perfit loue turnon
[^1054]For fond y þat his blessing · & his bulle myghte
lette þes lithere & leche þe sike
as þe boek bereth witnesse þat he bere myghte
yn his mouth mercy and amendon vs alle
[^1055] Super egros manus ponebat[^1056] & bene . habebant . & . cetera .
and þenne wold y be busy & buxum to helpe
ayenst the pope
[^1057]vch a kynne creature · þat on crist leueth
For sithe he hath þe power þat petur hadde he hath þe pot with salue
Argentum & Aurum non est michi quod habeo & . cetera .
But yf myght of myracle him faile · hit is for men be not[^1058] worþi
To haue þe grace of god & no gult of þe pope
for may no blessing doen vs bote but yf we wole amende
Ne mannes preyere make pees amonges cristen peple
Til pruyde be puyrlich fordo & þat þorgh payn defaut
[^1059] habundancia panis & vini turpissimum peccatum aduenit
Plente of payn þe peple of sodom
and reste & riche metes · ribaudes hem made
Pees quod pacience y pray ȝou sir actif
For ner payn ne plough ne potage were
pruyde wolde putte him-self forth þough no plough ere
hit am y þat fynt alle folk & fram hungur saue
þorgh þe help of him þat me hidor sente
No life but hath lyfelode .
and saide lo here liflode ynow · yf oure bileue be true[^1060]
For lent ner was þer lif but liflode wer shape
wherof or wherfore · & wherwith to lyuene
þe worm & wont[^1061][^1062] vnder þe erthe · & in watur fisshes
þe criket by kynde of þe fuyr · & corleu · by þe wynd
bestes by gras & by grayn & by grene rotes
yn menyng þat alle men myghte þe same
lyue þorgh leel byleue · as our lord witnessith
[^1063] Quodcumque pecieritis in nomine meo dabitur . enim . vobis . & alibi
Non · in solo pane viuit homo & cetera .[^1064]
hast þou quod actif ay such mete with þe
ȝe quod pacience & out of his poke hente
a pece of a pater noster & profred hit to vs alle
and lestned[^1065] & lokid · what liflode hit were
and þenne was hit fiat voluntas tua þat shold fynde vs alle
haue actif quod pacience · & ete þis when þe hungreth
Or when þou clomsest for colde or clingest for eny drouþe
and shal neuere gyues þe greue ne gret lordes wrath
prisoun ne othir payne for pacientes vincunt
By so þat þou be sobre of sight & of tunge
yn etyng yn handling yn alle þi fyue wittes
dar þe not care for no corn ne for cloth ne for drinke
Ne deþ drede ne deuel deye as god liketh
wheþer þorgh hungur or hete at his wille be hit
For yf þou lyue aftir his lore þe shortere lif þe bettere[^1066]
[^1067] Si quis amat Christum mundum non diligit istum
þorgh his breth bestes wexe & a-broed ȝedon
[^1068] Dixit facta &[^1069] facta fuerunt & cetera .[^1070]
Ergo þorgh his breth bestes lyueth · bothe men & fisshes
as witnessith holy writ when we seyn on[^1071] graces
[^1072] Aperis tu manum tuam & imples omne animal benedictione
men lyved 40 . yere & tylled not þe erth
[^1073]hit is founde þat fourty wyntur folk lyuede & tilde not
and out of þe flint sprong þe floed þat folk & bestes dronke
and yn elyes tyme heuen was yclosed
þat no reyn no n[e] roen þus rat men on bokes
þat many wyntur men lyuede & no mete ne tilede
men slept . 60 . yere . without meate . /
seuen slepen as saith þe boek more þen sixty wyntur
lyuede with-oute liflode · & at þe laste awakid
and yf men lyuede as mesure wolde sholde neuere be defaut
amonges cristene creatures · yf cristes word be trewe
[^1074] Dabo tibi secundum peticionem tuam
what is perfit pacience quod actiua vita
Mekenesse and Milde speche
[^1075]Mekenes & mylde speche · and men of oen wille
þe which wille loue lat to oure lordes place
and þat is charite champioun chef of alle vertues
and þat is pore pacient alle perelles to soffre
patyent pouertye better þen Riches .
where pouerte & pacience plese more god almyghty
þen rightfullich richesse · & resounably to spene
nota
ȝe quis est ille quod pacience quik laudabimus eum
þogh men rede of richesse right to þe worldes ende[^1076]
[^1077]þenne when he drogh to þe deth þat he ne dradde him sarrore
Death is more dredefull to the riche , then to the pore . /
[^1078]þen any pore pacient & þat preue y by resoun
hit ar but fewe folk of þis riche · þat ne falleþ in arrerage
þere pore dar plede & preue by puyr resoun
To haue allouaunce of his lord by puyr lawe he claymeth
Ioye þat neuere ioye hadde of rightful iuge he asketh
and saith lo briddes & bestes þat no blisse ne knoweth
and wilde wormes yn wodes þorgh wyntres þow hem greuest
and makest[^1079] wel ny meke & mylde for defaut
[^1080]þere aftir þou sendest hem somer · þat is her souereyn ioye
and blisse to alle þat been · boþe to wilde & to meke[^1081]
þenne may a beggere[^1082] as bestes aftir ablisse a blisse aske
þat al her lyf han lyued yn langour & defaut
Bot god sente hem sumtyme summanere sum manere ioye
Othir here or elles-where · elles hit wer ruthe
For to wroþer -hele was he wrought · þat neuere wasioye was ioye yshape
angels þat in helle now ben haddon sumtyme ioye
and diues in his deyntees lyuede & in douce vie
and now he bieth hit bitture · he is a beggere of helle
Many haue ther Ioye in þis . life . /
[^1083]Many man hath his ioye here · for al her wel dedes[^1084]
and lordes & ladies ben cald · for ledes þat þei haue
and slepeth as hit semeth · & somer euere hem foloweth
But when deth awakeþ hem of her wele þat wern er so rich
þenne arn hit puyre pore thinges · yn purgatory or in helle
dauith in þe sauter of such maketh mynde
and saith dormierunt & nichil inuenerunt & cetera Et alibi[^1085]
[^1086] Velud sompnum surgencium . in . & . cetera .

[^1028: Uc.15.124: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1029: Uc.15.135: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1030: Uc.15.136: carpest: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads carpe.]

[^1031: Uc.15.136: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.15.136-41.]

[^1032: Uc.15.144: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.15.144-45.]

[^1033: Uc.15.145: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1034: Uc.15.145: Russell-Kane gives Nemo bonus as line RK15.135α and, for RK15.136, Bote lele loue and treuthe that loth is to be founde.]

[^1035: Uc.15.146: þa: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads that.]

[^1036: Uc.15.150: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.15.150-55.]

[^1037: Uc.15.150: Russell-Kane gives the following two lines for this one: That disce, doce, dilige deum and thyn enemy, / Hertely þou hym helpe emforth thy myhte. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, the omission of emforth thy myhte is unique to Uc.]

[^1038: Uc.15.156: bot yf: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads bote.]

[^1039: Uc.15.164: MED bronten, "to attack."]

[^1040: Uc.15.164: Russell-Kane: Withoute bruttenynge.]

[^1041: Uc.15.166: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1042: Uc.15.169: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.15.167-77.]

[^1043: Uc.15.175: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1044: Uc.15.182: wigh: MED wight adj., "Brave . . . strong, powerful." The MED attests a spelling without t only in one instance as an element of a 1379 surname Wighman.]

[^1045: Uc.15.183: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.15.182-85.]

[^1046: Uc.15.201: Russell-Kane: They mette]

[^1047: Uc.15.206: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.15.206-11.]

[^1048: Uc.15.210: Russell-Kane: Of my labour]

[^1049: Uc.15.216: ne at harpe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ne harpe.]

[^1050: Uc.15.220: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^1051: Uc.15.220: Russell-Kane: to brynge]

[^1052: Uc.15.221: Russell-Kane: þat þe parsche prest. Schmidt, and Pearsall: þat þe parsche.]

[^1053: Uc.15.224: Russell-Kane: hate]

[^1054: Uc.15.229: Faint left-margin sidelining, to the left of the curly bracket marking Uc.15.226-42, highlights Uc.15.229-42.]

[^1055: Uc.15.233: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1056: Uc.15.233: ponebat: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads inponent.]

[^1057: Uc.15.235: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.15.226-42.]

[^1058: Uc.15.238: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1059: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1060: Uc.15.251: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.15.251-53.]

[^1061: Uc.15.254: Wont: "mole" (MED).]

[^1062: Uc.15.254: Schmidt, and Pearsall: Þe worm þat woneth. Russell-Kane: Þe worm and wonte.]

[^1063: Uc.15.259: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1064: Uc.15.260: Russell-Kane prints this line and the preceding as a single runover line.]

[^1065: Uc.15.264: Russell-Kane: And y lystnede]

[^1066: Uc.15.275: The Russell-Kane apparatus errs in saying that the Uc text is defective after lore the.]

[^1067: Uc.15.276: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1068: Uc.15.278: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1069: Uc.15.278: Dixit facta &: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Dixit &.]

[^1070: Uc.15.278: The Vulgate for Pss. 32.9 and 148.5 reads, "ipse dixit et facta sunt."]

[^1071: Uc.15.280: on: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads oure.]

[^1072: Uc.15.281: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1073: Uc.15.282: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.15.282-84.]

[^1074: Uc.15.291: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1075: Uc.15.293: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.15.292-98.]

[^1076: Uc.15.300: Russell-Kane here supplies the following line from B as line 281: Y wiste neuere renke þat ryche was þat whan he rekene sholde.]

[^1077: Uc.15.301: Faint left-margin sidelining extends from Uc.15.301 to Uc.15.309; it is farther left than the sidelining by hand14 that spans lines 15.300-309.]

[^1078: Uc.15.302: Left-margin sidelining by hand14 spans lines 15.300-309.]

[^1079: Uc.15.309: makest: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads makest hem.]

[^1080: Uc.15.310: Left-margin sidelining extends from Uc.15.310 through the incipit of Passus 16.]

[^1081: Uc.15.311: meke: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads tame.]

[^1082: Uc.15.312: a beggere: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads beggares.]

[^1083: Uc.15.320: A [rightward pointing-hand icon] made by hand14 in the left margin highlights this line.]

[^1084: Uc.15.320: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.15.320-25.]

[^1085: Uc.15.326: Russell-Kane prints this line as one with the preceding and puts Et alibi with the following line. Schmidt and Pearsall print this line as one with the following line.]

[^1086: Uc.15.327: The Russell-Kane apparatus errs in saying that Et alibi is here omitted from Uc; in fact, the phrase is found in Uc at the end of the preceding line.]

Passus sextus de dowelle

[^1087] A las þat richesse shal reue & robbe mannes soule
fro þe loue of our lord at his last ende
hewen þat han her huyre bifore &[^1088] euermore pore
and selde dyon out of dette to dyne ar he deserue hit
when his deuere is doen and his daies iourne
þenne may men wite what he is worþ & what he haþ deserued
But not to[^1089] fonge bifore for drede of disalowyng
the riche haue not two hevens .
so y saye by ȝou riche hit semeth not þat ȝe sholde[^1090]
haue to heuenes for ȝoure here beyng
Miche murþe is in may amonges wilde bestes
and so forth whil somur lasteþ her solas duyreth
and mych myrthe among rich men is þat han meble ynow & hele
But beggeres aboute myssour mysso[m]ur bredles þey soupe
and ȝut is wyntur for hem worse for weet-shod þey goen
a-furst & a-fyngred · & foule rebuked
Of þis world riche men þat ruthe is to here
Now lorde sende hem somur sumtyme to solas & to ioye
þat al her lif ledon in lowenes & in pouerte
God might haue made all men of like welth & witte . /
[^1091]For alle myghtest þou haue maed men of gret welthe
and ylich witty & wys and lyue with-oute nede
But for þe beste as yhope y hope arn somme pore & rich
Right so haue ruthe on vs alle & amende vs for þi mercy[^1092]
and make vs alle meke
low & leel & louyng & of herte pore
and sende vs contricion to clanse wiþ our soules
and confessioun to kille alle kynne synnes
and satisfaccioun þe which fulfilleth þe fader wille of[^1093] heuen
and þise ben dowel & dobet & dobest of alle
[^1094] Cordis contricio cometh of sorowe of herte
and oris confessio þat cometh of shrifte of mouthe
and satisfaccion þat for soules paieth & for alle synnes quitiþ
[^1095] Cordis contricio oris confessio operis satisfaccio
þise þre with-oute doute tholieth al pouerte
and lereth lewed & lered hy & low to knowe
who doth wel or bet · or best aboue alle
and holychurch & charite herof a chartre made
Contricion

[Uc.16.37: Hand14 here gives, apparently as a line-end space filler, a flourish in the form of a large tilde with looped ends.]

Confession & Satisfaccion . /
[^1096]and bot þise þre þat y spak of adomes -day a domes -day vs defende
Elles ys al yn idel al our lyuyng here
Our preyeres & our penaunces & pilgrimages to Rome
But oure spenses & our spending spring of a true welle
Elles ys al our labour lost · lo how men writeth
yn fenestres at þe freres · yf fals be þe foundement
For-þi cristene sholde be yn comune rich noen coueitous for him[^1097] - selue
For seuen synnes þat þer ben · þat assailon vs euere
þe feend foloweth hem alle & fondeth hem to helpe
riches · bringeth reuerence of þe poore

[Uc.16.45: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1098]and with richesse þo ribaudes rathist men bigileth
For þat richesses regneth reuerenses foloweth
the riche is reuerensed the pore put bak though he be wiser .
and þat is plesaunt to pruyde yn pore & in rich[^1099]
and þe rich is reuerensed bi resoun of his richesse
þere þe pore is put byhinde and perauntur can more
of wit & of wisdom þat feraway fer away is bettere
þen richesse oþer realte and rathir herd in heuen
For þe rich haþ mich to rikene & right soft walkeþ
þe hi way to heuene-ward he halt hit not ful euene
þere þe pore preseth bifore · with a pak at his rugg
[^1100] Opera eorum sequntur illos
Batauntlich as beggeres doen & baldlich he craueth
For his pouerte & his pacience perpetuel ioye
{ pryde regneth in the riche rather then in þe pore .
and pride in richesse regneth rathir þen in pouerte
Or in þe maister or in þe man som mansioun he haueþ
But in pouerte þere pacience ys prid hath no myght
Ne noen of þe seuen synnes sitte ne may þere longe
Ne haue power ne pouerte[^1101] · yf pacience him folowe
nota þe nedy poore
for þe pore ys ay prest · to plese þe riche
the pore is euer redye to please þe Riche .

[Uc.16.65: The marginal comment by hand14 here is bounded on the left by a curly bracket.]

but þe rich · hateth þe poore

[Uc.16.65: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

and buxum at his bidding for his breed & his drinke
and buxumnesse & bost arn euermore at werre
[^1102]and aithir hatith othir & may not wone to-gideres
yf wrathe wrastle with þe pore he hath þe wors ende
For yf þei boþe pleyne þere þe pore is but feble
and yf he chide or chatere him cheueth þe worse
for louelich he lokith & low is his speche
þat mete or money · of straunge men mot begge[^1103]
[^1104]and þogh his glotonye be of goed ale he goþ to acold a cold bedding
þe dronken roge ·
and his heed vnhiled · vnesilich ywrie
For when he streyneth him to strecch · þe straw is his shete
so for his glotonye & his greet synne
he hath a greuous penaunce · þat is welowo
when he awaketh · & wepeth for colde[^1105]
So he is neuere mury so myschef him foloweth
and þogh coueitise wolde with þe pore wrastle
þey come[^1106] to-gidres & by þe necke namlich
her noen may henton othir[^1107]
Covetyes hath long handes and armes .
For men knoweth wel þat coueitise is of a kene wille
and hath hondes & armes · of a long lengthe
and pouerte ys but apety a pety þing · appereth to his nauelle
and louely laik was hit neuere bitwene along a long & a short
and þogh auarice wolde angre pouerte he hath but litel[^1108] myght
For pouerte haþ but pokes to putton in his godes
þere auarice haþ almaries · & yre-bounde coffres
and wheþer be bettur to breke lasse bost maketh[^1109]
To breke a beggeres bagge þen an yron-bounde coffre
Lecherye loveth not the pore .
[^1110]and leccherie loueþ no pore · for he haþ but litel suluer
Ne doþ men dyne delicatly · ne drinke wyn ofte
a straw for þe stuyues hit stoed not had þei noen haunt but þe[^1111] pore
and þogh sleuþe sewe pouerte & serue not god to pay
Mischef is ay amene a mene & maketh him to þenke
þat god is his grettist help & no gome elles
and he is seruant alway he saith · & of his sute boþe
and wher he be or be not · he bereth þe signe of pouerte
and yn þat secte our saueour saued al man-kynde
the patyent pore · may clame heven .
[^1112]For-þi al pore þat pacient ys of puyr right may clayme
aftir her endyng here heuen-rich blisse
But it is hard for him þat hath londe Lordship & lykinge of bodye . /
Mich hardiore may he aske · þat here might haue his wille
yn lond & in lordshipe yn likyng of body
and for godes loue al[^1113] & liueth as a beggere
as amaide a maide for a mannes loue · her moder forsoke
her fadir & alle her frendes · & goþ forþ wiþ hir paramour
A Comparason .
[^1114]Mich is such amaide a maide to loue · of aman a man þat suchon such on takiþ
More þen þat maide ys · þat is maried bi brocage
as by assent of sondri persones and suluer to bote
More for coueitise of catelle þen kinde loue of þe mariage
so hit fareth by such a persone þat possessioun forsaketh
And pot him to be pacient & pouerte weddith
þe wich is sib to crist him-self and semblable bothe
Quod actif þo al angrilich & arguyng as hit were
A diffynicion of povertye . / describid in . 9 . partes & declared by pacience

[Uc.16.116: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

what is pouerte pacience quod he y preye that þou telle hit
A grett compfort to þe pacient pore
[^1115] Paupertas quod pacience est odibile bonum remocio curarum pos sessio sine calupnia calu[m]pnia donum dei sanitatis mater absque solitu dine soli[ci]tu dine semita sapiencie temporatrix temp[e]ratrix negocium sine dampno incerta fortuna absque solicitudine felicitas
y can not telle al þis quod actiua vita
parfay quod pacience properlich to telle hit
al yn english hit is ful hard · but sumdel y shal shewe
pryde hateth pouertye the firste pointe 1
Pouerte is þe fist fi[r]st point þat pride most hatith
þenne is pouerte goed by goed skile · þogh hit greue a litelle
al þat may potte of pruyde en any place þere he regneth
pouertye is seldom put in auctoritie the second pointe 2 .

[Uc.16.124: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Remocio curarum selde sit pouerte the soþe to declare[^1116]
Or a iustise to iugge men me enioyneþ þerto no pore
Ne to be amair a mair ouer men · ne mynistre vnder kynges
Selde ys any pore yput · to punyshe any peple
without consiense stained . 3 .
Ergo pouerte & pore men perfourme þe comaundement
[^1117] Nolite iudicare quemquam possessio sine calumpnia[^1118]
pouertie getts his goods with good consience þe 4 . pointe

[Uc.16.130: The marginal comment "þe 4 . pointe" here is bounded above and below by underlining done by hand16.]

selde is þe pore right riche · bot of his rightful heritage
wynneth he not with false wightes · ne with vnseled mesures
Ne boroweþ of his neighebore bot þat he may wel paye
and me leneth lightly fewe[^1119] · & me wene hem pore
[^1120] þe fifte hit is a fortune þat florisheth þe soule
with soberte from alle synnes & also ȝut more
pouertie addorneth the soule þe . 5 . pointe

[Uc.16.136: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

hit defendith þe flesh fram folies ful manye
a collateral counfort cristes owne sonde
[^1121] donum dei ȝut hit is moder of myght & of mannes helthe
and frend yn alle fondinges & of foul eueles leche
pouertie ys the · pathe of pees þe . 6 . pointe
[^1122] Sanitatis mater þe sixt hit is a paþ of pees · ȝe þorgh þe pas of altoun
Pouerte myght passe wiþ-oute perel of robbyng
For þere-as pouerte passeth pees foloweth comunlich
and euere þe lasse þat oen lede · þe lightore his herte is þere
as he þat wot neuere wiþ wham on nyghtes -tyme to mete
[^1123] Seneca paupertas est absque solicitudine semita
pouertie is A well of wisdome þe . 7 . pointe

[Uc.16.146: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

þe seuenthe ys a welle of wisdom & fewe wordes sheweþ
For lordes alloweþ him litel · or leith ere to his resoun
he tempreth þe tonge to truthe-ward · þat no resoun[^1124] coueitiþ

[^1087: Uc.16.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital here and extends from Uc.15.324 through the bottom of the side at Uc.16.14.]

[^1088: Uc.16.3: &: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Hewen þat haen here huyre byfore aren eueremore pore / And selde deyeth he oute of dette þat dyneth ar he deserue hit. Pearsall: Hewen þat haen here huyre byfore aren eueremore pore / And selde deyeth oute of dette þat dyneth ar he deserue hit. Schmidt: Hewen þat haen here huyre byfore aren eueremore pore / And selde deyeth oute of dette, to dyne ar he deserue hit.]

[^1089: Uc.16.7: The shaft of the t in the added to rises well above the horizontal stroke, unlike those in the main text hand.]

[^1090: Uc.16.8: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.16.8-10.]

[^1091: Uc.16.19: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.16.19-21, and another lines 22-24.]

[^1092: Uc.16.22: Russell-Kane relineates thus this line and the following: Riht so haue reuthe on thy renkes alle / And amende vs of thy mercy and make vs alle meke. Pearsall shows the same lineation, reading for thy mercy instead of of thy mercy. Schmidt reads thus: Riht so haue reuthe on vs alle, þat on þe rode deydest, / And amende vs of thy mercy and make vs alle make.]

[^1093: Uc.16.27: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1094: Uc.16.29: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1095: Uc.16.32: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1096: Uc.16.37: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.16.37-39.]

[^1097: Uc.16.43: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1098: Uc.16.46: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.16.46-47.]

[^1099: Uc.16.48: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.16.48-55.]

[^1100: Uc.16.56: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1101: Uc.16.63: ne: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads in.]

[^1102: Uc.16.67: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^1103: Uc.16.72: Russell-Kane adds the following two lines as 71-72: And yf glotonye greue pouerte he gadereth þe lasse / For his rentes wol nat reche ryche metes to bugge]

[^1104: Uc.16.73: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.16.73-74.]

[^1105: Uc.16.78: Russell-Kane relineates, giving the following for lines RK16.76-77 (Uc.16.76-78): So for his glotonye and his grete synne he hath a greuous penaunce / Þat is welowo when he waketh and wepeth for colde.]

[^1106: Uc.16.81: come: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads may nat come.]

[^1107: Uc.16.82: Russell-Kane gives the following for lines RK16.79-80 (Uc.16.80-82): And thogh coueytyes cacche þe pore they may nat come togyderes / And by þe nekke namelyche here noen may henten other. Schmidt and Pearsall give the lines as follows: And thogh Coueytyse wolde with þe pore wrastle they may nat come togyderes / And by þe nekke, namelyche, here noen may henten other.]

[^1108: Uc.16.87: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1109: Uc.16.90: maketh: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads hit maketh.]

[^1110: Uc.16.92: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.16.92-93.]

[^1111: Uc.16.94: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1112: Uc.16.101: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.16.101-104.]

[^1113: Uc.16.105: al: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads leueth al.]

[^1114: Uc.16.108: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left marginspans lines Uc.16.107-10.]

[^1115: Uc.16.117: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this runover line, which occupies four lines in the manuscript. A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1116: Uc.16.124: Schmidt and Pearsall print the Latin tag and the English here as separate lines. Russell-Kane also separates them but prints the Latin tag after RK16.128 (Uc.16.129).]

[^1117: Uc.16.129: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1118: Uc.16.129: Schmidt and Pearsall separate these two Latin tags between quemquam and possessio, printing them as successive lines. Russell-Kane prints the second tag after RK16.132 (Uc.16.133).]

[^1119: Uc.16.133: fewe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads fewe men.]

[^1120: Uc.16.134: Some comment in the left margin, now illegible, has been obscured by the binding.]

[^1121: Uc.16.138: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1122: Uc.16.140: Some comment in the left margin, now illegible, has been obscured by the binding. At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1123: Uc.16.145: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1124: Uc.16.148: resoun: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads tresor. After this line, Russell-Kane prints Sapiencie temperatrix as line RK16.146α.]

¶ The eyghthe ys a leel labour & loth to take more
pouertie is A consience to deserue well þe . 8 . pointe

[Uc.16.151: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining and a flourish done by hand16.]

þen he may soþly deserue · in somur or in wyntur
and þogh he chaffare he chargith no los[^1125] · may he charite[^1126] wynne
[^1127] Negocium sine dampno
þe nynthe hit is sweet to soules noen sugur swettore
For pacience is his panter · & pouerte pain hir fyndeth
and soberte ȝiueth hire swet drinke & solaseþ hire in alle[^1128] angres
þus lered me a lered man · for our lordes loue seint austyn
pouertye a blessed Life .
þat puyr pouerte & paciense was alow a low lyuyng on erthe
a blessid lif with-oute besinesse bot onlich for þe soule
swettere then sugare absque timore sollicitudine felecitas þe . 9 . pointe

[Uc.16.159: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

þe meane estait most blessed

[Uc.16.159: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1129] absque solicitudine felicitas
Now god þat al gyueth graunte his soule reste
þat wroet þus to wise[^1130] men · what pouerte was to mene
þenne hadde actif a ledere þat hight liberum arbitrium
and knew conscience ful wel · & clergie bothe
he þat hat lond & lordshipe quod he · at þe last ende
shal be porest of power · at his parting hennes
þenne hadde ywonder y wonder what he was þat liberum arbitrium
and preyde pacience þat y appose him moste
and he soffred me & saide · assaie his othir name
Leue liberum arbitrium quod y · of what lond are ȝe
and yf þow be cristes creature for cristes loue telle me
y am cristes creature quod he · and cristene yn many aplace a place
and yn cristes court yknowe wel · & of his kyn apartie a partie

[Uc.16.173: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this marginal comment.]

In medeo concistit virtus
ys nothir petur þe porter ne paul wiþ þe fauchoun
þat wole defende me heuen dore · dynge y neuer so late
at mydnyght at mydday · my vois is so yknowe
þat vch a creature þat loueth crist · welcomeþ me faire
wher-of serue ȝe y saide sire liberum arbitrium
the propertyes of liberum arbitrium .
Of somtyme to fighte quod he falsnes to destruye[^1131]
and somtyme to soffre bothe tene & sorowe
laike or leue at my likyng chese
To do wel or wicke · awille a wille with a resoun
and may not be with[^1132] a body · to bere me wher he liketh
þenne is þat body bettere þen þow quod y · nay quod he no bettere
Bot as a wode wer a-fuyre · þenne worcheþ boþe
liberum arbitrium
and aither is oþeres hete · & also of oen wille
and so is man þat haþ his mynde · with liberum arbitrium
Anima .
and whiles y quike þe cors y-cald am · y anima
Animus .
and when y wolde & wilne[^1133] · animus y hatte
Mens
and for þat y can & knowe · ycald am y mens
Memoria .
and make[^1134] mone to god · memoria y hatte
and when y deme domes & do as truþe techith
Ratio .
þenne ys racio my right name resoun en english
Sence
and when yfele y fele þat folk tellith · my first name is sensus
and þat is wit & wisdom · þe welle of alle craftes
and when y chalenge or chalenge not · chepe or refuse
Consience gods Notory
þenne am y conscience cald · godes clerk & his notary
and when ywol y wol do or not do gode dedes or ille
liberum Arbitriu m
þenne am y liberum arbitrium as lettrid men tellith
and when y loue lelly · our lord & alle othir
Amor or Leell Loue ·
þenne ys leel loue my name & yn latyn amor
and when y fle fro þe body & feye leue þe caroyne
Spiritus .
þenne am y spirit speche-les · & Spiritus þenne y hote
austyn & ysodorus aither of hem bothe
Nempned me þus to name now þou might chese
how þou coueitest to calle me now þou knowest alle my names
liberum Arbitrium qui declinat a malo ad bonum

[Uc.16.207: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1135] Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur[^1136]Dum viuificat corpus anima est  dum vult animus est  dum recolit memoria est  dum iudicat racio est  dum sentit sensus est · dum amat amor est · dum declinat de malo[^1137]ad bonum liberum arbitrium est · dum negat vel consentit con sciencia est · dum spirat spiritus est
ȝe beth as abisshop a bisshop quod y al bourdyng þat tyme
For bisshopes yblessid þey bereth many names
Metropolita nus

[Uc.16.209: Line-end word-division of Metropolitanus is marked with an equals sign.]

Doctor Sed pastor solus est

[Uc.16.209: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Presul & pontifex and metropolanus metropol[it]anus[^1138]
and othir names an heep episcopus & pastor
þat is soth he saide nowy now y se þi wille
þow woldest knowe & conne þe cause of alle her names
and of myne yf þou mightest me thinketh bi thi spech
Ȝe sire he[^1139][^1140] saide by so no man wer greued
alle þe sciences vnder sonne and alle þe sotil craftes
y wolde y knew & cowde kyndlich in myn herte
þenne art þou inperfit quod he & oen of prides knyghtes
For such a lust & likyng lucifer fel from heuene
Ponam pedem meum in aquilone & . cetera .
hit were aȝenes kynde quod he & al kynne resoun
þat any creature sholde conne al · excepte crist one
aȝenes such salamon speketh · & dispiseth her wittes

[^1125: Uc.16.151: Russell-Kane reports the reading of Uc here as les. However, the vowel here is best understood as a hastily and poorly formed o; all the other e's in this line have a circular cursive form with a stroke through the middle.]

[^1126: Uc.16.151: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1127: Uc.16.152: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1128: Uc.16.155: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1129: Uc.16.159: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1130: Uc.16.161: Russell-Kane: wisse]

[^1131: Uc.16.178: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.16.178-81.]

[^1132: Uc.16.182: with: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads withoute.]

[^1133: Uc.16.188: wolde & wilne: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads wilne and wolde.]

[^1134: Uc.16.190: make: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads when y make.]

[^1135: Uc.16.206: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1136: Uc.16.206: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1137: Uc.16.206: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights the manuscript line containing the words ad bonum liberum arbitrium est.]

[^1138: Uc.16.209: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^1139: Uc.16.214: Russell-Kane: y.]

[^1140: Uc.16.214: The e in he has been altered from an o, apparently by hand1.]

¶ and saith sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum
[^1141] Sic qui scrutator est maiestatis opprimatur a gloria
To english men þis is to mene þat mowen speke & here
þe man þat mych hony eet his mawe hit engleymeþ
þe wittiore þat eny wight ys but yf he worche þeraftir
þe wors[^1142][^1143] he shal a-bigge · but yf he wel worche
Beatus seith seint Bernard qui scripturas legit
Et verba vertit in opera enformeth[^1144] his power
Coueytise to knowe[^1145] alle scienses
Put owt of paradis adam & Eue
[^1146] Sciencie appetitus hominem inmortalitatis gloriam spoliauit
and right as hony · ys euel to defie
Subtyle Scyences make men proude .
Right so sotil sciences swellith a mannes sowle
and doth him to be deynous · & deme þat beth not lered
[^1147] Non plus sapere saide þe wise quam oportet sapere
propertie bredeth singularitie & Pride .
lest synne of pruyde wexe
Freres fele tymes to þe folk þere þei prechon
Meuon motyues many tymes insolibles & fallas
þat bothe lered & lewed · of here byleue douton
To teche þe ten comaundmentz · ten sithe wer bettere
Ayenst freares .
and þogh[^1148] þat folk foliliche · her fyue wittes myspendon[^1149]
Skornefull flatterers

[Uc.16.244: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1150]as wel freres as othir folk folilich spendon
yn housing yn helyng · in high clergy shewyng
More for pomp & pruyde · as þe pepel woet wel
þat y lie not lo for lordes ȝe plese
and reuerense þe riche þe rathir for her suluer
aȝen þe counsel of crist as holy clergie witnessith
to haue no respecte of persons

[Uc.16.250: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16. The abbreviation-stroke on the p of persons is drawn from right to left and then doubled back to draw the boundary-line from left to right. Only the word persons is actually underlined, because the rest of the marginal comment falls within the text area (after the short Latin tag) rather than in the right margin proper.]

Ne sitis acceptores personarum
nota perfect presthod bringeth forth holynes .

[Uc.16.251: This marginal comment continues at Uc.16.254. The two marginal comments are bounded at the left, and linked into a single running sidenote, by a curly bracket drawn by hand14.]

Lo what holy writ witnessith of wicked techers
as holinesse & honeste out of holichurche
springeth & spredith · & enspireth þe peple
Inperfect presthod all euell

[Uc.16.254: This marginal comment is continued from Uc.16.251.]

þorgh perfit presthoed · & prelates of holichurche
Right so out of holy churche al euel spredith
þere inperfit presthoed ys · prechers & techers
and se hit by ensaumple · yn somur tyme on trees
þere somme bowes bern leues · & somme beren none
A Comparason .
þo bowes þat bereth not & be not grene yleued[^1151]
þere ys a myschef in þe more of such manere stockes
Right so persounes & prestes & prechoures of holi churche
ys þe rote of þe right faith to reule þe peple
But þere þe rote ys roton resoun woet þe soþe
shal neuere flour ne fruyt wexe ne fair leef be grene
For wolde ȝe lettered leue þe leccherie of clothing
and be curteys & kynde · of holichurch godes
nota
Parte with þe pore & ȝour pruyde leue
[^1152]and þerto true of ȝour tunge & of ȝour tail also
and haten harlotrie & to[^1153] vnderfonge tithes
Of vsurers of hores of alle euel wynnynges
loth were lewed bot þei ȝour lore folowedon
and amendon of here mysdedes · more for ȝour ensaumples
to preach & prove it not , is Ipocrisye .

[Uc.16.273: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.16.267-79.]

þen forto[^1154] preche & preue hit not ypocrisie hit semeth
pride in þe clergie

[Uc.16.274: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

ypocrisie ys a braunche of pruyde & most amonges clerkes
and ys ilikned yn latyn to a lothly dongheepe
þat were bysnewed al with snow & snakes wiþ-ynne[^1155]
Right so many prestes prechoures & prelates
þat ben enblaunchid with bele paroles & wiþ bele[^1156] clothis
and as lambes þei loke · & lyuon as wolues
Iohannes Crisostomus aganste three bad pes

[Uc.16.280: Pes: viz., p's.]

[Uc.16.281: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1157] Iohannes Crisostomus · carpeth þus of clerkes
Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur sic de templo omne malum procedit Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit tota floret ecclesia · Si autem corupta fuerit omnium fides marcida est Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis totus populus conuertitur ad peccandum sicut cum videris arborem pallidam & marcidam intelli gis quod vicium habet in radice Ita cum videris populum indissipli natum & irreligiosum sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum
alas lewed men mych lese ȝe that fynde
vnconnynge curatoures to be keperes of ȝour soules
But thing þat wickedlich is wonne & wiþ fals sleithus
Ayenst Inperfect prestes & prechers
[^1158]wolde neuer othir-wise god · but wicked men hit hadde
as inperfit prestes & prechoures aftir suluer
Hirelings to impropriaci ons .

[Uc.16.287: Line-end word-division of impropriacions is marked by an equals sign.]

Secutoures & sodones[^1159] somnoures & her lemmanes
and þat wiþ gile was gete vngraciouslich be spendid
Curatoures of holichurch & clerkes þat ben auerous
Whose goodes euel gotten are as · euell spent . /
lightly þat þey leue · loseles hit deuouron
bothe Bushopps and coufitous patrones ·

[Uc.16.291: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

loueth[^1160] hit wel lordes · bothe lewed & lered[^1161]
nota
þat þus goth her godes at þe last ende
þat lyuon aȝen holy lore & þe loue of charite

[^1141: Uc.16.224: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1142: Uc.16.228: Wors is written over an erasure that extends two characters beyond the word wors, leaving three characters of blank space before he. The blank space is filled with a double virgule. The corrector appears to be hand1.]

[^1143: Uc.16.228: wors: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads bittorere.]

[^1144: Uc.16.230: enformeth: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads emforth.]

[^1145: Uc.16.231: to knowe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads to conne and to knowe.]

[^1146: Uc.16.233: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1147: Uc.16.237: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1148: Uc.16.243: Russell-Kane: how.]

[^1149: Uc.16.243: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.16.239-49.]

[^1150: Uc.16.244: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.16.244-45.]

[^1151: Uc.16.259: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.16.257-66.]

[^1152: Uc.16.268: Faint left-margin sidelining, apparently by the same hand responsible for the nota in the left margin at Uc.16.267, spans Uc.16.268-74, running outside the curly bracket that spans Uc.16.267-79.]

[^1153: Uc.16.269: The shaft of the t in the added to does not rise above the horizontal stroke, and in that respect it differs from those in the main text hand.]

[^1154: Uc.16.273: forto: The Russell-Kane apparatus mistakenly records the reading of Uc here as fo rather than for.]

[^1155: Uc.16.276: Russell-Kane here prints the following line omitted in Uc: Or to a wal ywhitlymed and were blak withynne.]

[^1156: Uc.16.278: Crowding between the b and the e in bele creates the possibility of reading lele, as per the Russell-Kane apparatus.]

[^1157: Uc.16.280: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1158: Uc.16.285: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.16.282-92.]

[^1159: Uc.16.287: OED subdean; MED souden.]

[^1160: Uc.16.291: loueth: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Leueth.]

[^1161: Uc.16.291: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.16.291-92.]

¶ Charite quod y tho · þat is a thing forsoþe
þat maistres comenden myche wher may hit be yfounde
y haue lyued in londe many longe ȝeres
and y neuere[^1162] in faith · as freres hit prechith
charite þat chargeth nought · ne chit þogh me greue him
as paul in his pestil of him bereth witnes
[^1163] Non inflatur non est ambisiosa
y knew neuere by crist clerk nothir lewed
þat he ne asked aftir his & othir-whiles coueytid
þing þat nedide[^1164] him naught & nyme hit yf he myghte
For þough me soughte al the sektus of sustren & breþeren
and finde him but figuratifly a ferly me thinketh
[^1165] hic in enigmate tunc facie ad faciem
and so y trowe truly by þat me tellith of charite
charite ys a childisshe thing as holy churche witnessith
[^1166] Nisi efficiamini sicut & paruuli & cetera ·
as proud of a peny as of a pound of gold
and as glad of agoune a goune of gray russet
as of a cote of camaca or of clene scarlet
he ys glad with alle glade as gurles þat laughon alle
and sory when he seeth men sory as þow seest childron
Charytie .
laughe þere men laugheth · & loure þere othir louron[^1167]
and when aman a man swerith for soth · for soþe he hit troweth
weneth he þat no wight wolde lye & swerie
Ne þat eny goem wolde gile othir ne greue
For drede of god þat so goed ys & þus-gates vs techith
[^1168] Quodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines facite eis
hath he no likyng to laughe ne to likne men to scorne
[^1169]alle siknesses & sorowes for solas he hit taketh
afflicions , persicutions , and Sorrowes , compared truly · to heuenlye mussick to a regenerat man

[Uc.16.323: The marginal comment here is bounded on the left and right by curly brackets in the form of stacked parentheses, and below by underlining, all done by hand16.]

and alle manere myscheues · as mynstralcie of heuen
Of deth ne of derth dradde he neuere
Ne mysliked þogh he lore · or lened þat ilke
þat neuere paide peny aȝen · yn places þere he borowed
who fynd[^1170] him his fode quod y or what frendes hath he
Rentes oþer richesse to rule him at his nede
of Rentes ne richesse ne reccheth he neuere
a frend he hath þat fint him þat failed him neuere
Oen aperis tu manum tuam alle thinges him fyndeth
[^1171] Fiat voluntas tua festeth him vch aday a day
and also he can clergie Credo in deum patrem
and portraie wel þe pater noster & peynton hit wiþ auees

[^1162: Uc.16.297: and y neuere: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads And fonde y neuere.]

[^1163: Uc.16.300: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1164: Uc.16.303: The scribe spaces nedide as ne dide. However, scribal spacing is elsewhere erratic enough that the reading is here construed as a single word.]

[^1165: Uc.16.306: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1166: Uc.16.309: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1167: Uc.16.315: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.16.310-23.]

[^1168: Uc.16.320: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1169: Uc.16.322: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.16.322-23. A curved line connects that bracket with the one highlighting the comment in the bottom margin.]

[^1170: Uc.16.327: fynd: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads fynt.]

[^1171: Uc.16.332: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ and othir-while his wone ys to wende yn pilgrimages
þere pore men & prisounes ben & paie for her fode
Clothiþ hem & counfortith hem[^1172] & of crist prechith hem
what sorowe he soffred yn ensaumple of vs alle
þat pouerte & penaunce paciently ytake
worþ mych merit to þat man þat hit may soffre
and when he haþ visited þus fetured folk & oþer folk pore
þene ȝerneth he in-to ȝouthe · & ȝeeply he seketh
Charytie .
[^1173]pruyde with al purtinaunces & packeth hem to-gideres
and laueth[^1174] in þe lauendrie laboraui in gemitu meo
Boukeþ hem at his breest & betith hit ofte
and with warm watur of his yes wokeþ hit til he white
[^1175] Lauabis[^1176] me & super niuem dealbabor
and þenne singeþ he when he doþ so & somtyme weping
Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies
were y with him by crist quod y · y wolde neuere fro him
þogh y my bilyue sholde begge · aboute at menne hacches
wher clerkes knowe him not quod y · þat kepon holi church
nota
[^1177]Pers þe ploughman quod he most perfitly him knoweth
[^1178] Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum
pers þe Ploughman perfitly knowethe Charitie

[Uc.16.355: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

By clothing ne by carpyng knowe shalt þou him neuere[^1179]
nota Charitie is known by workes . / .
But þorgh werkes þou myghte wite wherforth he walketh
[^1180] Operibus credite[^1181] he is þe muryest of mouthe at mete þere he sitteþ
and compenable yn companye as crist him self techith
Nolite tristes fieri sicut ypocrite
y haue seyn him my self som-tyme in russet
Boþe in gray & in gris & in gult harneys
and also gladlich he hit gaf to gomes þat hit nedid
Edmond & Edward aither wer seyntes
and chef charite with hem & chast alle her lyue
y haue y-seyn charite also syngon & rede[^1182]
Ridon & renne in raggid clothis
But biddinge as a beggere biheld y him neuere
But yn riche robes rathist he walketh
Charitie seldom sene in þe freres
y-called & ycrinyled ycrimyled[^1183] · & his croune y-shaue
And yn a frere frocke was[^1184] yfounde ones
But hit is fer & fele ȝeer yn fraunceys tyme
yn þat sekte sithe to selde he haþ be founde
Riche men he recomendith & of her robes takith
Of þo þat leellich lyuon & louon & bileuon
[^1185] Beatus est diues sine macula
nor in þe Kinges Courte except Covetyse be absent . /
yn kynges court he cometh yf his counsel be trewe[^1186]
But yf coueytise be of his counselle he wil not come þerinne
amonges þe comvne in Court · he cometh but selde
for braulyng & bacbiting & bering of fals witnes

[^1172: Uc.16.337: Hem has been changed from him by hand1.]

[^1173: Uc.16.343: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.16.336-53.]

[^1174: Uc.16.344: laueth: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads laueth hem.]

[^1175: Uc.16.347: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1176: Uc.16.347: The Russell-Kane apparatus lists the reading of MS Uc here as Alauabis with the A added. However, the upper part of the supposed A is the loop on the majuscule L. The lower part of the supposed A is a wavy flourish at the start of the underlining, which represents merely a casual execution of the CC-style pointer that marks most of the Latin quotations in the MS.]

[^1177: Uc.16.353: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line and links it to the comment in the bottom margin.]

[^1178: Uc.16.354: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1179: Uc.16.355: In the bottom right corner, the tops of the letters of some catchwords survive, the rest having been lost to trimming.]

[^1180: Uc.16.357: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1181: Uc.16.357: Russell-Kane separates the Latin and the English here as lines RK16.342α and 343, suggesting in the apparatus that Uc's placement of the Latin tag is unique.]

[^1182: Uc.16.365: In the right margin is what appears to be a pen-trial or a scribble, written perpendicularly from top to bottom as if the manuscript had been rotated counterclockwise ninety degrees before writing. It perhaps is the name John with an ending flourish, written in a free hand of the fifteenth or sixteenth century. One may compare the John scribbles at the top of fol. 88r (Uc.17.30) and on fol. 125v, where the name John Robert Machelle is evident.]

[^1183: Uc.16.369: Russell-Kane: ycrimyled.]

[^1184: Uc.16.370: was: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads he was.]

[^1185: Uc.16.375: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1186: Uc.16.376: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.16.376-79. Note that the marginal comment here is a continuation of the one at line Uc.16.369, and is itself continued at Uc.16.381.]

¶ yn constorie bifore comissarie he comeþ not ful ofte
nor in Constorye Courte nor

[Uc.16.381: This marginal comment continues at Uc.16.383.]

For ouerlenge is her lawe but yf þei lacch suluer
wiþ bisshopes he wolde be · for beggeres sake
with Bisshops .

[Uc.16.383: This marginal comment is continued from Uc.16.381.]

But auarice othir-whiles · halt him with-oute þe gate
kynges & cardinals knew him sumtyme
But þorgh couetise & his councelle congeyed is he ofte
and who-so coueyteth to knowe him such a kynde him foloweþ
As y tolde þe wiþ tonge a litel tyme ypassed
For nowthir he beggith ne biddith ne boroweth to elde[^1187]
he halt for a vice · & a foul shame
To begge or to borowe but of god one panem nostrum cotidianum & cetera .[^1188]

[^1187: Uc.16.388: to elde: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads to ȝelde.]

[^1188: Uc.16.390: Russell-Kane gives the Latin tag as a separate line.]

Passus septimus de dowelle & explicit

[^1189] T here is no such y saide þat somtyme ne boroweth
Or beggith or biddith be he rich or pore
And ȝut othir-while wroth wyth-owton any synne
who is wroeth and wolde be a-wreke
holy writ preued[^1190] quod he passeth[^1191] chef charite yf holy chirch be trewe[^1192]
Caritas omnia suffert[^1193] holi writ witnessith þat þer wer such[^1194] heremites
Solitarie by him-selue yn here selles lyuede
with[^1195] borowyng or beggyng bot of god one
Excepte þat Egide · a hynde othir-while
To his selle selde cam & soffred be mylked
Elles foules fedde hem yn frithes þere þei wonede
Bothe antony & arsone[^1196] & othir ful manye
Paul primus heremita · hadde y-parroked him -selue
þat no man myght see him for mos & for leues
Foules him fedde yf frere Austyns be trewe
For he ordeyned þat ordre · or elles þei gabbon
Paul aftir his preching · paniers he made
and wan with his handes al þat him nedid
petur fisshed for his fode & his fere Andrewe
sum þei sode & sum þey solde & so þei lyuede bothe
Marie þe maudeleyn by mores lyued & dewes
loue & leel bileue held lif & soule to-gidres
Marie egipciaca eet in þretty wyntur
Bot þre litel loues & loue was hir soule
ycan y can not rikene hem right now ne reherse her names
þat lyuedon þus for oure lordes loue many longe ȝeres
wiþ-owte borowyng or beggyng or þe boek lyeth
and wonedon yn wildernesses amonges wilde bestes
ac durste no best bite hem by day ne by nyght
Iohn

[Uc.17.30: The pen-trials on fol. 125v suggest that this John may be John Robert Machelle, whose name appears there completely signed once, and with additional trials of John Robert and Robert.]

But myldelich when þei metton hem[^1197] madon low chere
and faire bifore þo men faunede with þe tailes
But bestes broughte hem no mete but onlich þe foules
yn tokenyng þat trewe man alle tymes sholde
Fynde honest men & holy men · & othir rightful peple
freres & monkes lyvelode of lyther wynninges .
For wolde neuere faithful god þat freres & monkes[^1198]
Toke liflode of lither wynnynges yn al her lif-tyme
as witnessith holy writ what tobie saide to his wif
when he was blynd he herde a lomb blete
wif be y-war quod he what haue we her-ynne
Lord leue quod þat lede no stole þing be her-ynne
[^1199] Videte ne furtum sit & alibi Melius est mori quam male viuere[^1200]
nota If men of holye Church wold do nought but right then wold Lordes , Lawyers , and merchauntes , do lyke .
þis is no more to mene bot men of holichurch[^1201]
sholde do[^1202] right naught but þat þat right wolde
and refuce reuerenses & raueyneres offringes
þenne wolde lordes & ladies be loth forto a-gulte
and to take of here tenauntes · more þen truthe wolde
and marchauntes merciable wolde be & men of lawe boþe
wolde religious refuse raueynoures almes
and þenne grace sholde growe ȝit  & grene loue wexe
and charite þat child ys now · shold chaufon of him selue
and conforte alle cristene wolde holichirch amende
Iob þe perfit patriark þis prouerbe wroet & taughte
To make men loue mesure þat monkes ben & freres
[^1203] Numquam dicit Iob rugiet onager cum habuerit herbam aut mugiet bos cum autem plenum steterit[^1204] presepe
Brutorum animalium natura te condempnat quia cum papulum comune sufficiat ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua
nota Ayenst Monkes and Chanons . freres prestes pardoners .
yf lewed men knew þis latyn alitel a litel þei wolde auison hem[^1205]
ar þei amorteised any more for monkes of o[r] for chanons
Alas lordes & ladies lewed counsel haue ȝe
To feffe such & fede · þat foundid ben to þe fulle
with þat ȝour barnes & ȝour blod by god lawe may clayme
Charitie · is þat · furst we helpe father & kynred & then such as haue most nede before freres &c . /
[^1206]For god bad his blessid as þe boek techith
[^1207] honora[^1208] patrem & matrem & eris & cetera .
To helpon þin fader formest bifore freres or monkes
Or ar prestes or pardouneres or any peple elles
helpe þin kyn crist bid for þere byginneth charite
and aftirward awaite · who hath most nede
and þere help yf þow hast & þat halde y charite
Lo laurence for his largenes as holi lore tellith
þat his mede & his manhed for euere more shal laste
Iusticia eius manet ineternum in eternum
he ȝaf godes men goddes godes & not to grete lordes
and fedde þat a-fyngred were · & yn defaut lyuede
nota
[^1209]y dar not carpe of clerkes now · þat cristes tresor kepe
the pore haue right to a parte of Christes treasure in prestes handes
[^1210]þat pore peple by puyr right her part myght aske
Of þat þat holichirch of þe olde lawe claymeth
prestes on aparail & on purnel now spene
Me may now likne lettered men · to a losheborgh or worse
counterfett curaites

[Uc.17.78: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

· a bad body . doth shewe well
and to a badde peny with a goed prente
Of myche mone þe metal ys nought[^1211] · & ȝit is þe prente trewe
and perfitly ygraue & so hit fareth bi fals cristene her folling is trewe
A Comparason betwixt . a false Christian & a bad penye wyth . a good prynte . /
[^1212]Cristendom of holy chirch þe kynges mark of heuene
all cristi ans are not faithfull

[Uc.17.82: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

But þe metal þat is mannes soule of þis thechers[^1213]
ys alaied with leccherie & othir lustes of synne
þat god coueytith not þe coyn þat crist him-self prentid
and for þe synne of þe soule forsaketh his owne coyne
þus ar ȝe lither likned to lusshborghs sterlynges
þat faire bifore folk prechon & techen
and worcheth not as ȝe fyndeth ywrite & wisseth þe peple
For what þorgh werre & wrake & wicked hedes
May no preyere pees make yn no place hit semeth
lewed men han no byleue · & lettered men erron
Noþer see ne sond ne þe seed ȝeldith
as þey ywoned were · yn wham is defaut
if we did our dutie as all other creatures , then shold we haue peace & plentye . /
Not yn god þat he ne ys goed & þe ground bothe[^1214]
and þe see & þe seed · þe sonne & þe mone
doen her deuere day & nyght dide we so also
þere sholde be plente and pees perpetuel euere
wedor-wise shipmen nou & othir witty peple
han noen byleue to lift[^1215] · ne to þe lod-sterres[^1216]
astromyens alday · in here arte failon
þat whilom warned men bifore what sholde bifalle aftir
shipmen & shepherdes by þe seuen sterres
wiston wel & tolde · when hit sholde reyne
Tuliers þat tiled þe erthe toldon her maistres
By þe seed þat þei sewe what þei sulle myghte
and what lyue by & leue[^1217] þe lond was so trewe
Now faileth þis folk boþe folowers & shipmen
Noþer þei ne knoweth ne conneth oen cours by anothir
astromyens also arn at her wittes ende
of þat was calculed of þe climat þe contrarie þei fynde
Gramer þe ground of al · bigileth nouthe childron
Gyle & flatterye Master & vssher in all scyences & degrees .
For is noen who so nymeth hede þat can versifie faire[^1218]
Or formely endite ne þat can construe kyndly þat poetes made
Go we now to eny degree · and bot gile be hold amaistur a maistur
and flaterare for his vssher ferly me thinketh
doctoures of decree of diuinite maistres[^1219]
þat sholde þe seuen ars conne & assoile a quodlibet
But þei faile in filosophie & filosofres lyuede[^1220]
of Masse prestes .
Lord lete þat þes prestes · lelly seyn her masse[^1221]
þat þei ouerhippe not forhastite for hastite as y hope þei do not
þough hit suffice for our sauacioun · sostfast so[þ]fast byleue
as clekes cle[r]kes yn corpus Christi feste syngon & redon
þat sola fides sufficit · to saue with lewed peple
ac yf prestes doen her deuer wel shal[^1222] þe betture
For sarisenes may be saued so · yf þei so bileued
yn þe letyng of her lif · to leue on holichirche
holy church . chere is Charytie .
[^1223]what is holy churche chere frend quod y  charite · he saide
lyf & loue & lewte in oen bileue a lawe
a loue knotte of leute & of leel byleue
alle kynne cristene cleuyng on oen wille
with-owton gile & gabbyng · gyue & sulle & lene
loue lawe wiþ-outon leute · allowable was hit neuere
God lereth no lif to louye with-outon leel cause

[^1189: Uc.17.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital here and extends from the top of the side at Uc.16.388 through Uc.17.15.]

[^1190: Uc.17.5: preued: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads preueth.]

[^1191: Uc.17.5: passeth: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads A passeth.]

[^1192: Uc.17.5: Russell-Kane prints the first part of this line, as far as quod he, as part of the preceding line, suggesting in the apparatus that the Uc lineation is unique.]

[^1193: Uc.17.6: Russell-Kane separates the Latin and the English here as lines RK17.5α and 6, suggesting in the apparatus that Uc's placement of the Latin is unique.]

[^1194: Uc.17.6: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1195: Uc.17.8: Russell-Kane: Withoute.]

[^1196: Uc.17.12: arsone: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads arseny.]

[^1197: Uc.17.30: hem: The Russell-Kane apparatus construes the abbreviation-stroke through the h here as producing the reading here. Although the stroke has this meaning in the word heremite, the following partial list of instances of hem shows that in this case it should be construed as a nasal-stroke: Uc.P.109, Uc.P.136, Uc.2.157, Uc.2.247, Uc.5.128, Uc.6.259, Uc.8.78, Uc.8.119, Uc.8.161, Uc.8.181, Uc.8.207, Uc.8.297, Uc.8.303.]

[^1198: Uc.17.35: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.17.35-38.]

[^1199: Uc.17.41: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1200: Uc.17.41: At the end of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1201: Uc.17.42: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.17.42-53.]

[^1202: Uc.17.43: Russell-Kane: reseue.]

[^1203: Uc.17.54: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1204: Uc.17.54: Russell-Kane: cum ante plenum presepe steterit.]

[^1205: Uc.17.56: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.17.56-60.]

[^1206: Uc.17.61: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.17.61-70.]

[^1207: Uc.17.62: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1208: Uc.17.62: The text scribe apparently began to write honara, noticed the error, and corrected it by thickly overwriting the a as o.]

[^1209: Uc.17.73: Left-margin sidelining by hand16 extends from this line to the bottom of fol. 89r at Uc.17.126.]

[^1210: Uc.17.74: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.17.73-77.]

[^1211: Uc.17.79: Russell-Kane relineates this line and the following thus: Of moche mone þe metal is nauhte / And ȝut is þe printe puyr trewe and parfitliche ygraue. / And so hit fareth by false cristene: here follynge is trewe. Uc's line-division here is unique.]

[^1212: Uc.17.81: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.17.78-93.]

[^1213: Uc.17.82: A curly bracket in the right margin, written by hand16 in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights lines Uc.17.82-83 and links them to the marginal comment.]

[^1214: Uc.17.94: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.17.94-97.]

[^1215: Uc.17.99: to lift: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads to þe lyft.]

[^1216: Uc.17.99: A marginal comment, now illegible, appears to have been erased from the right margin.]

[^1217: Uc.17.106: The reading could be lene, viz. "lend," as per Pearsall. But leue (as per Russell-Kane and Schmidt), with the sense "not bother to harvest" (perhaps to leave gleanings for the poor), better fits the context concerning the harvest of grain.]

[^1218: Uc.17.112: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.17.112-15.]

[^1219: Uc.17.116: Russell-Kane: Doctours of decres and of diuinite maistres. Schmidt, and Pearsall: Doctours of decre and of diuinite maistres.]

[^1220: Uc.17.118: Schmidt and Pearsall both here supply the following line, rejected by Russell-Kane: And wolde wel examene hem—wonder me thynketh!]

[^1221: Uc.17.119: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.17.119-20.]

[^1222: Uc.17.124: shal: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads we shal do.]

[^1223: Uc.17.127: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.17.127-32.]

[^1224] ¶ Iewes & gentil sarazines iuggen hem-selue
Iewes & Sarazins do both beleue in God the father
[^1225]þat lellich þei bileue & ȝut her lawe diuerseth
and oen god þat al bygan wiþ goed herte þei honoureth
and aithir loueth & bileueth yn oen lord almyghty
But our lord alloueth no loue but lawe be þe cause
No loue vnlaufull is to be allowed .
[^1226]For lecchoures louen aȝen þe lawe · & at þe laste be dampned
and þeues louyen & leute haton & at þe laste be hangid
and lewed men lyue as lawe techith · & loue þerof ariseþ
þe which is þe heued of charite & hele of mannes soule
[^1227] dilige deum propter deum . id est . propter veritatem & inimicum tuum propter mandatum . id est . propter legem & amicum propter amorem . id est . propter caritatem
Loue god for he is goed · & ground of alle truthe
Loue þin enemy enterly · godes hest to fulfille
Loue þi frend þat foloweth þi wille · þat is þi fair soule
For whene alle frendes failon · and flen away in deyng
Thenne seweth þe sowle to sorowe or to ioye
and ay hopeth eft to be with her body at þe laste
yn myrthe or in mournyng & neuere eft to departe
and þat is charite leue child to be cher ouer thi soule

[^1224: Uc.17.134: Still visible is the leftmost of the pair of virgules that marked the spot for insertion of the blue paraph marker.]

[^1225: Uc.17.135: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.17.135-37.]

[^1226: Uc.17.139: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.17.138-41.]

[^1227: Uc.17.143: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1228] ¶ Contrarie hir not as in conscience · yf þou wolt come to heuen
where sarasines y saide · y-se not what is charite
hit may be so þat sarasines han such amanere a manere charite
Louen as by lawe of kynde our lod lord god almyghty
hit is kyndly þing creature his creatour to honoure
For þere is no man þat mynde hath · þat ne mekith him & bisechiþ
To þat lord þat him lif lente liflode him sende
and mane men[^1229] þer ben as sarazines & iewes
loueþ not þat lord aright as by þe legende sanctorum
and lyuen out of leel byleue for þey loue[^1230] a mene
nota
[^1231]a man þat highte macameth for messie þei him holdeþ
and aftir his lering þei lyue · & by lawe of kynde
and when kynde hath his cours & no contrarie fyndeth
þenne ys lawe ylost and lewte vnknowen
bewtie without bountie Kynde without curtosye .
Bewte sanz bounte · blessid was hit neuere
Ne kynde saunz curtesie yn noen contrey is preysed
Macometh was crystened & wold haue ben pope .
Me fynt wel þat Macometh was aman a man cristned[^1232]
and a cardinal of court · agret a gret clerk with-alle
and pursued to haue be pope prince of holy chirch
But for he was so lik[^1233] a lossheborgh · y leue our lord him lette
For-þi soughte he in-to surrie & sotiled how he myghte
Be maister ouer alle þo men · and þis manere he wroughte

[^1228: Uc.17.152: Still visible is the double virgule marking the insertion point for the paraph marker.]

[^1229: Uc.17.159: mane men: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads many manere men. The Russell-Kane apparatus reports the reading of Uc as substantially manere men, with many omitted. However, Uc's omission is actually manere; a flourish descending from the 2-shaped r in lord in the line above is construed by Russell-Kane as the abbreviation-mark signifying er. The Uc scribe's error is haplography resulting from the visual similarity of mane (with the flourish above it) and manere (with its abbreviation-mark).]

[^1230: loue: Russell-Kane reads leue on. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, Uc is unique in the omission of on, though it shares the reading loue with some other manuscripts.]

[^1231: Uc.17.162: Left-margin sidelining extends from this line to the bottom of the side at Uc.17.190.]

[^1232: Uc.17.168: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.17.168-70.]

[^1233: Uc.17.171: so lik: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads lyk.]

¶ he endauntid a dowue · & day & nyght hir fedde
yn aithir of his eres priueilich he hadde
corn þat þe coluer eet · when he come yn places
and yn what place he prechid · and þe pepel taughte
the deceyte of Macometh by a Dove . /
þenne sholde þe coluer come to þe clerkes ere[^1234]
Menyng as aftir mete þus macomet hir enchauntid
and when þe coluer cam þus þenne kneled þe peple
For Macameth to men swar · hit was a messanger of heuen
and sothlich þat god him selue yn such a coluer liknes
Tolde him & taught him how to teche þe peple
þus Macameth in mys-bileue man & womman broughte
and on his lore þey leuon ȝit · as wel lerid as lewed[^1235]
and sith our saueour soffred such a fals cristene
disceyue so þe sarazines soþly me thinketh
holy men as y hope þorgh help of þe holigost holi gost
sholdon conuerte hem to crist & cristendom to take
alas þat men so longe · on Macameth bileueth
So many prelates to preche as þe pope maketh
Of nazareth of nynyue of neptalim of damask
þat þei ne wente[^1236] as holy writ bid[^1237] Ite in vniuersum mundum
sithe ȝe wilne þe name to be prelates & preche
þe passioun of Iesu & as him selue saide
So to lyue & dye Bonus pastor animam suam ponit pro ouibus suis
nota

[Uc.17.197: This marginal comment continues at Uc.17.218.]

[^1238]hit is ruthe to rede · how right holymen holy men lyuede
how þei defouled her flesh forsoek her owne wille
Fer fro kuth or[^1239] fre[^1240] kyn euel yclothid ȝedon
holye men had no boke but Conscyence
Baldelich[^1241] y-beddid no boek but her conscience
Ne no richesse but þe rode to reioyson hem ynne
absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri & cetera .

[^1234: Uc.17.178: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.17.174-84.]

[^1235: Uc.17.185: The Russell-Kane apparatus reports the reading of Uc here as lowed. However, the vowel in the first syllable is best construed as a circular cursive e, with the outermost right-hand side of the letter run into the following w and the lower right-hand part of the letter faded. One may compare the e in Tolde, Uc.17.183, for similar ductus and similar fading of the thinnest stroke. On this view, the reading lewed accords with the vast majority of C-version witnesses as reported in Russell-Kane.]

[^1236: Uc.17.193: Pearsall here includes in world and relineates this and the following three lines, breaking the lines after byd, name, Iesus, and deye. Russell-Kane reads wente þe way and similarly relineates. Schmidt also relineates, reading this line thus: That they ne wente as Holy Writ byt—sethe ȝe wilne þe name, / Ite in vniversum mundum .]

[^1237: Uc.17.193: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1238: Uc.17.197: Left-margin sidelining extends from this line to the bottom of the side at Uc.17.222.]

[^1239: Uc.17.199: or: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads and.]

[^1240: Uc.17.199: Russell-Kane reads fro, not noting any variant in Uc.]

[^1241: Uc.17.200: Baldelich: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Baddeliche.]

[^1242] ¶ and þo was pees & plente amonges pore & rich
and now ys ruthe to rede · how þe rede noble
ys reuerensed bifore þe rode & resceyued for þe worthiore
To amende & to make as with men of holichirch
þen cristes cros þat ouercam deþ & dedly synne
and now is werre & wo · & who-so whi asketh
For coueytise aftir a cros þe corone stant yn gold
Covetyse shall ouertorne Clerkes .
[^1243]Boþe riche & religious þat rode þei honoure
þat in grotes ys graue & in golde nobles
For coueitise of þat cros · clerkes of holichirch
sholon ouerturne as þe templeres dide þe tyme approchiþ[^1244] faste
Mene[^1245] ȝe not lettered men how þo men honoured
More tresour þen truthe y dar not telle þe sothe
how þo corsed cristene · catelle & richesse worshepid
Resoun & rightfuldom rightful dom tho religious dampned

[^1242: Uc.17.203: Still visible partly underneath the paraph marker is the double virgule marking its insertion point.]

[^1243: Uc.17.210: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.17.205-14.]

[^1244: Uc.17.213: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1245: Uc.17.214: Russell-Kane: Minne.]

bene

[Uc.17.218: This marginal comment is continued from Uc.17.197.]

¶ Right so ȝe clerkes ȝour coueytise or come ought longe
shal dampne dos ecclesie & depose ȝou for ȝour pride
deposuit potentes de sede & . cetera .
yn[^1246] knyghthoed & kynde wit & þe comvne & conscience
To-gidres louon lellich · leueth hit bisshopes
Bisshops shall lose temporall Landes . & lyve of tenthes .

[Uc.17.223: This comment is bounded on the left by a curly bracket done by hand14.]

þe lordshipe of Londes lese ȝe shal for euere
and lyuon as leuitici dide · & as our lord ȝou techeth
Per primicias & decimas & cetera
nota
[^1247] whan constantyn of his curtesie holy chirch dowede
An Angell cryed þat þe church was poysoned .

[Uc.17.227: This comment is bounded on the left by a curly bracket drawn by hand14.]

with Londes & ledes lordshipes & rentes
an angel men herde an hi at rome crie
dos ecclesie þis day hath ydronke venym
and þat han petres power arn appoisouned alle
amedicine a medicine most þerto þat might amende þe prelates
þat sholde preye for þe pees & possessioun hem lettith
A Counsayll for Kynges . to take possessions from the pope & all þe clergie
Taketh her londes ȝe lordes & let hem lyue by dymes[^1248]
yf þe kynges coueyte in cristes pees to lyuene
For if possessioun be poisoun & inperfit hem make
þe heuedes of holichirch & þo þat ben vnder hem
hit were charite to dischargen hem for holi chirch sake
and purgen hem of þe olde poisoun ar more perelle falle
For were presthoed more perfit þat is þe pope formest
þat with money meynteneth men to werre vpon cristene
aȝen þe lore of our lord as seynt luk witnessith
[^1249] Michi vindictam · & cetera .
his preyeres wiþ his paciense to pees sholde bringe
alle londes in-to loue & þat in litel tyme
þe pope wiþ alle prestes pax vobis sholde make
nota
and take heed how macomete þorgh a mylde dowue
Macometh & the pope compared .
hadde al surrie as him self wolde & sarazines in equite[^1250]
Not þorgh manslaughte & mannes strengthe Macomet hadde[^1251] þe maistrie
Bot þorgh pacience & priuey gile · he was prince ouer hem alle
yn such a manere me thinketh moste þe pope

[^1246: Uc.17.221: Russell-Kane: Ȝif.]

[^1247: Uc.17.226: A bluish smudge in the left margin here, and the fact that the preceding and following paraphs are both red, suggest that a blue paraph may have been erased here.]

[^1248: Uc.17.233: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.17.231-41.]

[^1249: Uc.17.242: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1250: Uc.17.247: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.17.247-50.]

[^1251: Uc.17.248: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

¶ Prelates & prestes[^1252] preye & biseche
deuoutly day & nyght & wiþ-drawe hem fro synne
and crie to crist he wolde his coluer sende
þe which is þe hie holigost · þat out of heuen descendit
To make a perpetuel pees · bytwene þe prince of heuen
and alle manere men þat on þis molde libben
presthod inperfit
yf presthoed wer perfit & preyed þus  þe pepel sholde amende
þat contrarion now cristes lawes & cristendom dispison
For sithon þat þes sarazines scribz & þis iewes
han a lippe of our bileue þe lightloker me thinketh
þey sholde[^1253] who-so trauayle wolde & of þe trinite teche hem
For al paynyme precheth & perfitlich bileueth
yn þe grete god & in his grace asken
and maken her mone to macomete her message to shewe
þus in afaith a faith liueth[^1254] þat folk & in a fals mene
and þat is ruthe for þo rightful men · þat in þat reume wonyeþ
and a perel for prelates þat þe pope maketh
þat berith name of neptalim of nynyue of damask
For when þe hie kyng of heuen sente his soule[^1255] til erthe

[^1252: Uc.17.251: The phrase & prestes is written over an erasure.]

[^1253: Uc.17.261: Russell-Kane: sholde turne.]

[^1254: Uc.17.265: Russell-Kane: leueth. Schmidt, and Pearsall: lyueth.]

[^1255: Uc.17.269: Russell-Kane: his sone.]

¶ Many myracles he wroughte man for[^1256] turne
yn ensaumple þat men sholde see by sad resoun
þat men myght not be saued bot þorgh mercy & grace
and þorgh penaunce & passioun & perfit bileue
and bycam man of a mayde · & metropolanus metropol[it]anus
and baptised & bishined with þe bloed of his herte
alle þat wilnede & wolde · with inwit bileue hit
Many aseint a seint sithe soffred deth also
Forto enferme þe faith fulwide ful wide -where dyede
yn ynde in alisaundre · yn armonye yn spayne
and fro mysbylei mysbyle[ue] many men turned
yn sauacioun of mannes soule seynt Thomas of Canterbury
amonges vnkynde cristene in holichirch was slawe
an Vnsownd opynion . / /
[^1257]and al holy church honourede þorgh þat deyng
he is a forbiseen to alle bisshopes & a bright myrrour
and souereynly of such þat surie[^1258] bereth þe name
and not yn ynglonde to hippe aboute & halowe menne[^1259] auteres
and crepe yn amonges curatoures & confesson aȝen þe lawe
[^1260] Nolite mittere falcem in messem alienam & cetera
Many man for cristes loue was martired amonges romaynes
ar cristendom were kowe k[n]owe þere or any cros honoured
nota A Bisshops office
[^1261]Euery bisshope by þe lawe sholde buxumly walke[^1262]
and paciently þorgh his[^1263] prouynce & to his peple him shewe
Fonden[^1264] hem & follon hem & fere hem fro synne
[^1265] In baculi forma sit presul hec tibi norma
Fer trahe punge gregem seruando per omnia legem
and enchaunte hem to charite on holy church to byleue
For as þe kynde is of a knyght · or for a kyng to betake be take
and amonges her enemyes yn mortel batailes
To be culd & ouercome þe comvn to defende
So ys þe kynde of a curatour · for cristes loue to preche
And dye for his dere childron · to destruye dedly synne
Bonus pastor & cetera .
and namelich þere þat lewed lyuon & no lawe ne knoweþ
But when[^1266] cristene conneth þe lawe & han of oure tonge
Bisshopes & bokes þe byleue to teche
Iewes lyuon in þe lawe þat oure lord taughte
Moises to be maister þerof til messie come
and on þat lawe þey leue · & leton for[^1267] þe beste
and ȝut knew þei crist þat cristendom taughte
and for a perfit prophete þat mych pepel sauede
and of selcouth sores saued men ful ofte
By þe myracles þat he made messie he semyd
þo he lifte vp lazar þat laid was in graue
[^1268] Quatriduanes Qua[d]riduan[u]s cold · quik dide him walke

[^1256: Uc.17.270: for: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads for to.]

[^1257: Uc.17.283: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.17.281-86.]

[^1258: Uc.17.285: surie: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads of surie.]

[^1259: Uc.17.286: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1260: Uc.17.288: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1261: Uc.17.291: Left-margin sidelining extends from this line to Uc.17.303.]

[^1262: Uc.17.291: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.17.290-92.]

[^1263: Uc.17.292: The gh in þorgh and the h in his appear to have been written over an erasure. A faint yogh remains visible underneath the h in his.]

[^1264: Uc.17.293: Fonden: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Feden.]

[^1265: Uc.17.294: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1266: Uc.17.304: when: The Russell-Kane apparatus construes the abbreviation here as yielding the Uc reading where. Although the stroke has this meaning in the word heremite, the following partial list of instances of when shows that in this case it should be construed as a nasal-stroke: Uc.1.128, Uc.3.170, Uc.6.163, Uc.13.248, Uc.15.323, Uc.16.5, Uc.16.188, Uc.16.191, Uc.16.199. The Russell-Kane text reads we, and the apparatus suggests that even as corrected to when, the reading of Uc here is unique.]

[^1267: Uc.17.308: leton for: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads leten hit for.]

[^1268: Uc.17.314: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ Iewes saide þat hit say wiþ sorcerie he wroughte
and studiodon how to struyon him & struyodon hem selue
and her power þorgh his pacience to puyr nought turnede

¶ and ȝut þei seyn soþly · & so do þe sarazines
þat Iesu was bot a iogelour a iapere amonges þe comvne
and a sofistre of sorcerie & a speudo-propheta pseudo-propheta[^1269]
and his lore was lesinges & lackon hit alle
and hopon þat he be to come þat shal hem rule
Moises oþer Macomete here maystres deuyneth
and han a suspecion to be saf boþe sarazenes & iewes
þorgh Moises & Macomete & myght of god þat made al
and sithe þat þis sarazines & also þe iewes
Conne þe firste clause of our byleue · Credo in deum patrem
prelates & prestes sholde proue yf þei myghte
lere hem litlum & litlum & in Iesum Christum filium
Til þei couthe spele[^1270] et in spiritum sanctum
Recordon hit & redon hit wiþ remissionem peccatorum
carnis resurreccionem & vitam eternam amen

[^1269: Uc.17.320: The text scribe's unusual spelling of the prefix pseudo- as speudo-, though unattested in the MED and the OED, is analogous to the form spalm for psalm at Uc.3.470 and Uc.5.49.]

[^1270: Uc.17.330: spele: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads speke and spele.]

Passus primus de Dobet

[^1271] L Eue liberum arbitrium quod y · y leue as y hope
þou cowdest telle me & teche me to charite as y leue
liberum arbitrium
þenne lough liberum arbitrium & ladde me forth wiþ tales
Til we cam in-to a contre cor hominis hit highte
Cor hominis .
Erber of alle priueytees & of holinesse
Euene in þe myddes an ympe as hit were
Imago . Dei .
þat highte ymago dei graciously hit growed
þenne gan y aske what hit highte & he me sone tolde
þe tree hette trewe loue quod he þe trinite hit sette
þorgh louely lokynges hit lyueth & launseþ vp blosmes
þe which blosmes buyrnes · benyngne speche hit calleth
And þerof cometh a goed fruyt þe which men calleþ werkes
Of holines of hendenes of help him þat nedith
Charitas .
þe which is caritas cald cristes owne fode
and solaseth alle soules sorowful yn purgatorie
Now certes y saide & siked for ioye
y þanke ȝou a thousand sithe þat ȝe me hidor kennyd
and sithen þat ȝe vouchon saf to sey me as hit hotith
[^1272]and he þonked me þo but þenne toek y hede
hit hadde shoriers to shuyuon hit vp · þre shides of oen[^1273] lengþe
and of oen kynne colour & kynde as me þoughte
alle þre ylich long · & y-liche large
Miche merueiled me · on what More þei growede
and askid eft of him of what wode þay were
þise þre shoriers quod he þat bereth vp þis plonte
Bytokeneth truly þe trinite of heuene
þre persones vndepartable perpetuel wer euere
Of o wille of o wit & here-with y kepe
þe fruyt of þis faire tree fro þre wicked wyndes
the World .
and fro falling þe stok hit faile not of his myght
þe world ys a wicked wynd to hem þat wolde truthe
Coueitise cometh of þat wynd & caritas hit abiteth
and forfret þat fruyt · þorgh many faire sightes
and with þe firste planke y palle hem down potencia dei patris

[^1271: Uc.18.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital here and extends from Uc.17.329 through Uc.18.17.]

[^1272: Uc.18.19: A double virgule in the left margin marks a spot where a paraph marker was meant to be inserted.]

[^1273: Uc.18.20: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1274] ¶ þenne is þe flesh afelwynd a fel wynd & in flouring tyme
the fleshe .
þorgh leccherie & lostes so lowde he gynneth blowe
þat norisheth in see sightes[^1275] & som-tyme wordes
and many wicked werkes wormes of synne
and al forbit caritas · right to þe bare stalke
þenne sette y þe seconde plante[^1276] · Sapiencia dei patris
þe which is þe passioun & þe penaunce & þe perfitnes of Iesu
and þerwith y warde hit othir-while til hit waxe ripe
and þenne fondith þe feend my fruyt to destruye
and laith a laddere þerto of lesinges ben þe ronges
and with alle þe wiles þat he can waggeþ þe rote
þorgh bakbiteres & braules · & þorgh bolde chiders
and shaketh hit ne were hit vnder-shorid
hit sholde not wel[^1277] stande[^1278]
so þis lordones lythereth þerto · þat alle þes[^1279] leues falleth
and feccheþ away þe fruyt som-tyme · bifore boþe myn yes
and þenne palle ya-doun y a-doun þe powke with þe þridde shoriare
þe which is spiritus sanctus & sothfast byleue
And þat is grace of þe holigost & þus gete y þe maistry
y totid vp-on þat tree þo & þenne toek y hede
whethir þe fruyt wer fair or foul forto loke on
and þe fruyt was fair none fairore be myghte
But yn þre degrees hit grew gret ferly me þoughte
and asked eft þo · wher hit were al oen kynde
ȝe certes he saide & sothly leue hit
hit isal is al of oen kynde & þat shal y preuen
But somme arn swettore þensomme þen somme & somme woln rotie
Me may see on an appel tree many tyme & ofte
Of oen kynde apples arn not ylich grete
Ne suynge smale ne of swetnesse swete
þo þat sitton yn þe sonne syde sonnere arn ripe
swettore & saueryore & also more grettore
þen þo þat selde han þe sonne & sitton in þe north half
and so hit fareth sothly sone by oure kynde

[^1274: Uc.18.35: One virgule to the left of the paraph marker is still visible from the pair that presumably marked the insertion point for the marker.]

[^1275: Uc.18.37: Russell-Kane: That hit norischeth nise sihtus. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, the Uc reading in see is unique.]

[^1276: Uc.18.40: Russell-Kane: planke.]

[^1277: Uc.18.48: not wel: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads nat.]

[^1278: Uc.18.48: Russell-Kane joins this line to the preceding, thereby mending the alliteration.]

[^1279: Uc.18.49: þes: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þe.]

[^1280] ¶ Adam was a tree & we arn as his apples
somme of vs sothfast & somme variable
Somme litle somme large ylik apples of oen kynde
as weddid men & wedowes & right worthi maydones
þe which þe seint spirit sueth þe sonne of al heuenne
and counfortith hem in her continence þat lyuon in contemplacion
as monkes & monials men of holichurch
þise han þe sonne[^1281] of þe holigost as haþ crop of tree þe sonne
wedowes & wedowares þat her owne wille forsaken
and chast ledon here lif is lif of contemplacioun
and more lykynde to oure lord þen lif as kynde asketh
and folowe þat þe flesh wole & fruyt forth bringe

[^1280: Uc.18.69: The double virgule marking the insertion point for the paraph marker is still visible. At the extreme left margin is a wavy red line, perhaps a pen trial made by the rubricator.]

[^1281: Uc.18.76: sonne: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads hete.]

[^1282] ¶ þat actiua lif lettered men in her langage hit calleth
ȝe sire y saide & sithon · þere arn but two lyues
þat oure lord al alloweth[^1283] as lerid men vs techith
actiua vita & contemplatiua vita
Matrimonye .

[Uc.18.85: This marginal comment continues at Uc.18.88.]

[^1284]whi groweth þis fruyt in þre degrees agoed a goed skyle he saide
here bynethe y may nyme yf y nede hadde
Matrimonye a moist fruyt þat multiplieth þe peple
Wydowhod .

[Uc.18.88: This marginal comment is continued from Uc.18.85 and continues at Uc.18.90.]

and þenne aboue ys bettere fruyt · but boþe two be gode
wedowhod more worthiore þen wedlok as yn heuen
Vyrginytie

[Uc.18.90: This marginal comment is continued from Uc.18.88.]

þenne ys virginite more vertuous & fairest as in heuen
For þat[^1285] euene with angels & angels pere
hit was þe firste fruyt þat þe fadyr of heuen blessid
and bad hit be of a bat of erthe · aman a man & amaide a maide
yn menyng þat þe fairest thing · þe first thing shold honoure
and þe clennest creature first creatour knowe
yn kynges court in[^1286] knyghtes court[^1287] þe clennest men & fairest
sholn serue for þe lord self & so fareth god almyghty
Maydones & martres mynistred him on erthe
and hy heuen his preuyost[^1288] & next him by resoun
and for þe fairest fruyt bifore him as of erthe
and swete with-owte swellyng sour worth hit neuere
[^1289]þis is a proper plonte quod y · & preueyli hit bloweth
and bringeth forth fruyt folk of alle nacioun
Boþe perfit & inperfit puyr fayn ich wolde
assaie what sauour hit hadde & saide þat tyme
Leue liberum arbitrium lat som lif hit shake
and anoen he highte Elde · on hy forto clymbe
and shakon hit sharlich sharplich þe ripe sholdon falle
and clymbe[^1290] to þe cropward þenne comsed hit to crie
he wagged wedowhoed · & hit wepte aftir
he meued matrimonye · hit made afoul a foul noyse
For euere as Elde hadde any down · þe deuel was ful redy
and gaderid hem alle to-gidres boþe grete & smale
adam & abraham & ysaie þe prophete
Sampson & samuel and seint Iohan þe baptist
and baer hem forth baldly · no-body him lette
[^1291]and made of holy men his horde in limbo inferni
þere is derknesse & drede & þe deuel maister
þenne meued him moed in magestate dei
þat libera voluntas dei laughte þe myddel shoriare
and hitte aftir þe feend · happe how hit myghte
Filius by þe fadres wille fley with spiritus sanctus
To go ransake þat rage-man & reue him of his apples
þat þorgh fals bihest & fruyt first man disceyued
and þenne spak spiritus sanctus in grabrieles gabrieles mouthe
To a maide þat highte marie · a meke þing with-alle
Ihesus A carpenters sonn þe sonn of þe Iudge of all Iustices in this worlde

[Uc.18.127: Underlining by hand16 in Uc.18.127 extends into the left margin in such a way as to link the marginal comment with that line of the poem. Also, the marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

þat oen Iesu a iustises sone moste iowken in here chaumbre
Til plenitudo temporis tyme come y were[^1292]
þat elde felde eft þe fruyt or fulle to be ripe
þat Iesu sholde iouste þerfore & by iuggement of armes
who sholde fecche þis fruyt þe feend or Iesu seluen
þe maide myldely þe messangere she grantid
and saide hendly to him lo me his hand-maide
Forto worchon his wille with-owton any synne
Ecce ancilla domini & cetera .
A wench ought to be A virgine butt hardly in this wickitt age
and yn þe wombe of þat wenche was he fourty woukes
and by-cam man of þat maide mankynde to saue
Byg & abidyng & bloed[^1293] in his barnhoed
To haue yfoughte with þe fend ar fol tyme come
But liberum arbitrium leche-craft him taughte
Til plenitudo temporis hy tyme aprochid
þat such a surgien sithen yseye was þere neuere
Ne noen so faithful ficisien for alle þat bysoughte him
he lechid hem of her langour boþe lazeres & blynde
Claudi ambulant leprosi mundantur

[^1282: Uc.18.81: Still visible is the leftmost virgule of the pair used to mark the insertion point for the paraph marker.]

[^1283: Uc.18.83: al alloweth: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads alloweth.]

[^1284: Uc.18.85: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.18.85-90.]

[^1285: Uc.18.91: Russell-Kane: þat is.]

[^1286: Uc.18.96: in: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads and in.]

[^1287: Uc.18.96: knyghtes court: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads knyhtes.]

[^1288: Uc.18.99: Russell-Kane: And in heuene is priueoste. Schmidt, and Pearsall: And in hey heuene is priueoste. The Russell-Kane apparatus suggests that the omission of in is unique to Uc.]

[^1289: Uc.18.102: A double virgule in the left margin perhaps marks a spot where a paraph marker was meant to be inserted.]

[^1290: clymbe: Russell-Kane reads Elde clemp. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, Uc's reading is unique both in the omission of Elde and in the form of the verb.]

[^1291: Uc.18.117: A double virgule in the left margin perhaps marks a spot where a paraph marker was meant to be inserted--though the insertion point seems ill suited to a paraph division.]

[^1292: Uc.18.128: come y were: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ycome were.]

[^1293: Uc.18.138: Russell-Kane: bold.]

Marie Magdiline

[Uc.18.146: The marginal comment here is bounded on the right by a curly bracket done by hand16.]

¶ and comvne wymmen conuertide & clansid hem of synne
and lift vp lazar þat lay in his tombe
Quatriduanes Qua[d]riduan[u]s cold quyk dide him rome
But ar he made þat myracle mestus cepit esse
and wepte watur with his yes · þe whi weton fewe
But þo þat sey þat selcouth saide þat tyme
þat[^1294] god or godes sone for þat grete wonder
and somme iewes saide with sorcerie he wroughte
But[^1295] þorgh þe myght of mahond & þorgh mysbyleue
nota . The sinn aganst þe holly goste .
demonium habes
þenne ys satan ȝour saueour quod Iesu · & haþ ysaued ȝou ofte
But y saued ȝou sondry tymes & also y fedde ȝou
with fisshes & loues fyue thowsand at ones
and y lefte basketes ful of broke mete bere a-way who-so wolde
vnkynde & vnconnyng quod crist & with a roep smot hem
and ouerturnede in þe temple her tables & her stalles
and drof hem out alle þat þere boughte or solde
and saide þis is an hous of orisounes & of holinesse
and whenne þat my wille is · y wole hit ouer -þrowe
and ar þre dayes after edifie hit newe
þe iewes tolde þe iustice · how þat Iesu saide
But þe ouerturnyng of þe temple bitokened his resurreccion
Enuye & euel wille arn in þe iewes
and pursued him priueyly & for pens him boughte
Ne forte tumultus fieret in populo
of Iudas þe iew Iesus owne disciple
þis bifel on a friday alitel a litel bifore paske
þat Iudas & iewes Iesu þei mette
aue raby quod þo ribaudes & right til him þei ȝede
and kiste Iesu to be knowe þere-by & caught of þe iewes

[^1294: Uc.18.152: þat: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads That he was.]

[^1295: Uc.18.154: But: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads And.]

¶[^1296] þenne Iesu to Iudas & to þe iewes saide
falsnesse y finde in þin fair speche
and kene care in þin kissing & combraunce þi-selue[^1297]
Thow shalt be myrrour to manye · men to dysceyue
Iudas .
wo to þo þat wiles[^1298] vsen to þe worldes ende
[^1299] Ve homini illi per quem scandalum venit
Sithe y bi tresoun am take · & to ȝour wille iewes
Soffreth my postles in pays & in pees gange
þus iewes to þe iustises Iesu þei ladde
with mych noise þat nyght ner frantik y a-waked
yn inwit in alle wittes aftir liberum arbitrium
yawaited y awaited weturly but whodir he wente y ne wiste
and þenne mette y with a man amydlentones a mydlentones sonday
as hor as an hawe-þorn  & abraham he highte
Of whennes art þou quod y · & hendelich him grette
y am with faith quod þat frek · hit falleth not me to lye
an herawd of armes ar any lawe were
what is his conysaunce quod y in his cote-armure
Abrahams Armes thre prones þe holy & blished Trinitie .

[Uc.18.194: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[Uc.18.194: Aiscough (hand16) has here misread the manuscript's persones, with the abbreviation-stroke through the p omitted by the text scribe, as prones or proues. What word Aiscough had in mind is difficult to say. Presumably he interpreted prones as meaning "prone human figures," since the other possible meanings of prone or proue are difficult to construe sensibly in the context: prove, proof, and prou (i.e. advantage, benefit) are too abstract, prow (of a boat) is attested too late, the spelling is unlikely for prune or prong, and Aiscough clearly did not write þrones.]

þre psones p[er]sones in oen pensel quod he departable from oþere
Oen speche & spirit springeth out of alle
Of o wit of o wille wer neuere atwynny
and sondry to see vpon solus deus he hotith
Sithe þei ben suyrlepes quod y · þei han sondri names
þat is soth saide he þenne þe sire hatte pater
and þe seconde is a sone of þe sire filius
þe þridde is þat halt al a thing by himselue
holy gost is his name & he is in alle

[^1296: Uc.18.176: The red paraph marker has suffered some fading. Visible through it is the double virgule marking its insertion point.]

[^1297: Uc.18.178: þi selue: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads to thysulue.]

[^1298: Uc.18.180: wiles: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads thy wyles.]

[^1299: Uc.18.181: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ þis is merk þing for me quod y · & for many anothir
how oen lord myghte lyue a þre y leue hit not y saide
Muse not to mych þerof[^1300] quod faith  til þou more knowe
But leue hit lelly al þi lif-tyme
þat þre bilongeth to a lord · þat liggeance claymeth
Mighte & a mene to se his owne myghte
Of him selue & his seruant & what soffreth hem bothe
God þat byginnyng hadde neuere but þo him goed þoughte
Sente forth his sone as for seruant þat tyme
To occupion him here til issue were yspronge
þe which arn childron of charite & holichirch þe moder
Patriarkes & prophetes & apostles wern þe childron
and crist & cristendoem & alle cristene holy chirche
Bytokeneth þe trinite & trewe byleue
Oen god almyghty þat man made & wroughte
semblable to him selue ar any synne were
On þre he is þere he is & hereth &[^1301] bereth witnes
þe werkes þat him selue wroughte & þis world boþe
[^1302] Celi enarrant gloriam dei & cetera .
þat he is þre persones indepartable[^1303] y preue hit by mankynde
And oen god almyghty yf alle men ben of adam

[^1300: Uc.18.205: þerof: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þeron.]

[^1301: Uc.18.219: hereth &: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads hereof.]

[^1302: Uc.18.221: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1303: Uc.18.222: indepartable: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads departable.]

¶ Eue of adam was · & out him[^1304] ydrawe
and abel of hem boþe · & alle þre oen kynde
and þise þre þat y carp of adam & Eue
and abel her issue arn bot oen yn manhod
nota

[Uc.18.227: The marginal comments here are bounded on the right by an irregularly shaped curly bracket done by hand16, except that the lower part of the bracket curves leftward and bisects the word the and the word wome. From the center of the curly bracket an otiose curl rises to the right.]

Barrenes of the wome Matrimony of the Bible which þe Pappists and munks do allowe is here disconmended disco[m]mended .

[The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Matrimoyne with-oute moillere ys not mych to preyse
as þe bible berith witnesse aboek a boek of þe olde lawe
þat acorsede alle couples þat no kynde forth broughte
[^1305] Maledictus sit homo qui non reliquit semen in israel
and man with-oute a make myght not wel of kynde
Multiplie ne more-ouere with-owton amake a make louye
Ne with-owton a sowere by[^1306] such seed þis we seen alle
Now go we to godhed in god fader of heuene
A Symylitude betwixt the Trenytie . & Adam Eve & Abell . /
was þe sone in him-selue in asimile a simile as Eue[^1307]
was whan god wolde out of þe weye drawe
and as abel of Adam & of his wif Eue
Sprang forth & spaek aspir a spir of hem tweyne
So out of þe sire & of þe sone · þe seint spirit of hem boþe
ys & ay wer and as þre persones palpable
and puyrlich but oen mankynde[^1308]
þe which is man & his make & moiller her issue
So is god godes sone in þre persones þe trinite
yn matrimonie arn þre & of on man cam alle þre
And to godheed goth þre · & oen god ys alle þre
Lo treis encountur treys quod he in godhed & in manhed

[^1304: Uc.18.224: out him: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads out of hym.]

[^1305: Uc.18.231: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1306: Uc.18.234: by: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads be.]

[^1307: Uc.18.236: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.18.236-39.]

[^1308: Uc.18.242: Russell-Kane: Is and ay were & worþ wiþouten ende. / And as thre persones palpable is puyrlich bote o mankynde.]

¶ hast þow y-sey þis y seide alle þre & oen god
nota

[Uc.18.249: A double hyphen in the form of an equals sign links this nota to line 18.249.]

yn a somur y him sey quod he · as y sat in my porch
where god cam gangyng athre a thre right by my gate
Abraham sawe thre angells & worshiped before his tente dore which resemblid the Trinitie

[Uc.18.251: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Tres vidit & vnum adorauit
y roes vp & reuerensed god & right faire him grette
wyshe her feet & wiped hem · & afturward þei eton
and what y þoughte & my wif he vs wel tolde
he byhighte vs issue & air in oure olde age
Ful trewe tokenes bytwene vs ys · when tyme cometh þat ymette y mette him
how he fondid me first my faire sone ysaak[^1309]
To make sacrifice of him he heet me · him to honoure
y wiþ-saet not his hest · y hope & bileue
where y walke in þis world he wol hit me allowe
y circumsised my sone also for his sake
My selue & my mayne & alle þat male were
Bleddon blod for þat lordes loue yhope y hope to blesse þat tyme
Myn affiaunce & my faith · is ferme in his bileue
nota . þe faithfull seed of

[Uc.18.265: Hand16 gives a dot and dash after the word of, perhaps merely to fill out the line-length within the marginal annotation to a measure approximately equal to that of the other lines in the annotation.]

Abraham are not only promissed all temporall plassinges

[Uc.18.265: Viz., "blessings."]

. butt also eternall

[Uc.18.265: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1310] for him self saide y sholde haue & myn issue boþe
Lond & lordshipe ynow & lif with-owton ende
To me & myn issue more he me bihighte
Mercy for oure mysdedes as manytymes many tymes
as we wilnede & wolde with mouth & herte aske
and sithe he sente me to seyn · & saide þat y sholde
worshipe him with wyn & wiþ breed bothe
at ones on an auter in worship of þe trinite
and make sacrifice so sumwhat hit bitokeneth
y leue þat þe[^1311] lord þenkith a newe[^1312] to make
[^1313] fiet vnum ouile & vnus pastor
þus haue y ben his heraud her & in helle
and counfortid many a carful þere þat aftir his comyng lokon
For-þi y seke him y[^1314] saide for seint Iohan þe baptist
Saide þat he say hire[^1315] þat sholde saue vs alle
[^1316] Ecce agnus dei
Iohn Baptist bore in his bosham Christe in the simillitid of A layser before his comminge in the fleshe which layser represented all the faitfull borne before Christe
[^1317]þenne hadde y wonder of his wordes & of his wide cloþes
For in his bosom he baer thing & þat he blessid ofte
and y lokid in his lappe · alazar a lazar lay þerinne
with patriarkes & prophetes pleyinges[^1318] to-gideres
what awaitest þou quod faith & what wost þou haue
y wolde wite quod y tho what is in thin lappe
Loo quod he & leet me see · lord mercy y saide
þis is apresent a present of mych pris what prince shal hit haue
no plege for oure sinnes butt the deathes bloude of Criste no not in the faitful before his death & comminge

[Uc.18.289: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1319]hit is a presious present quod he · but þe pouk hit haþ atachid
and me þerwith quod þe wye · may no wed vs quyte
Ne no barn be oure borough ne bring vs out of þat daunger
fro þe poukes poundfold no maynpris may vs fecch
nota
Til he come þat y carpe of crist is his name
þat shal deliuere vs sumday out of þe deueles power
and betere wed for vs wagon þen we ben alleworthi alle worthi
and þat is lif for lif · or ligge þus euere
lollyng in my lappe thus · til such a lord vs fecche

[^1309: Uc.18.257: The k in ysaak has a flourish rather than a final e. For a less pronounced version of the same flourish, see UcP.196, fol. 10r, Strok.]

[^1310: Uc.18.265: Curly brackets made by hand16 in the left and right margins span lines Uc.18.265-69.]

[^1311: Uc.18.274: þe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ilke.]

[^1312: Uc.18.274: Russell-Kane: newe lawe.]

[^1313: Uc.18.275: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1314: Uc.18.278: Russell-Kane: he.]

[^1315: Uc.18.279: Viz. "here." MED s.v. her adv.]

[^1316: Uc.18.280: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1317: Uc.18.281: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.18.281-88.]

[^1318: Uc.18.284: pleyinges: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads pleynge.]

[^1319: Uc.18.289: Left-margin sidelining by hand16 spans lines 18.289-97.]

¶ Alas y saide þat synne so longe shal lette
þe myght of godes mercy þat myghte vs alle amende
and wepte for his wordes with þat saw y anothir
Rapelich renne þe right way we wente
and y frayned him first fro whennes he come
what he highte & whoder he wolde & wightly he vs tolde

Passus secundus de Dobet & cetera .

[^1320] I am spes a spie quod he & spere aftir a knyght
þat toek me amaundement a maundement vpon þe movnt of synay
to rule alle rewmes þerwith in right & in resoun
nota þe olde and the newe testamente
lo here þe lettere quod he yn latyn & in ebrewe[^1321]
þat · þat y saye is soþ see who-so liketh
ys hit asseled y saide may men se þi lettres
Nay he saide y seke him þat haþ þe seel to kepe
nota Christe is þe seale of the testament

[Uc.19.8: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

þe which is crist & cristendom & croes þeron to hange
wer hit þerwith asseled y woet wel þe soþe
þat luciferes lordshipe lowe sholde ligge

[^1320: Uc.19.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital here and extends from Uc.18.297 through the bottom of the side at Uc.19.17.]

[^1321: Uc.19.4: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

¶ let se þi lettres quod y · we myght þe lawe knowe
nota
he pluyght forth a patente apece a pece of an hard roche
wheron was writon two wordes & on þis wise glosid
Moyes Moy[s]es tabill wherein þe lawe was ritt
Dilige deum & proximum
þis was þe tixt truly  y toek ful goed geme[^1322][^1323]
þe glose was gloriously wreton · with a gult penne
In hijs duobus pendet tota lex & cetera .
ys here al þi lordes lettres quod he[^1324] ȝe leue me he saide
and who worchith aftir þis writ · y wol vndertaken
shal neuere deuel him dere ne deth in soule greue
fayth & kepinge the Commaundementes saveth
[^1325]For þough y seye hit my selue · y haue saued wiþ þis charm
Of men & of wymmen many score thowsande

[^1322: Uc.19.15: The headform in the MED is yeme," as also in the OED.]

[^1323: Uc.19.15: Russell-Kane: gome.]

[^1324: Uc.19.18: he: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads y.]

[^1325: Uc.19.21: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.19.21-22.]

¶ he saith soþ saide faith · yfounde y founde hit trewe
Lo here in my lappe quod faith þat leued vpon þat lettre
Boþe Iosue & Iudith & Iudas Machabeus
and sixe thousande mo quod faith · y can not say her names
ȝoure wordes arn wonderful quod y tho · wher any of ȝou be trewe
and leel to byleue on for body or for soule
Abraham sawe þe . 3 . persons of þe . trenytie .
Abraham saith þat he · say holly þe trinite
þre persones parselmel departable from othir
and alle þre bot oen god þus Abraham bereth witnes
and haþ ysaued þat byliued so · & sory for her synnes
he can no certeyn somme telle & somme arn in his lappe
what nedid hit þenne a new lawe to bringe
sithon þe firste sufficed to bileue & be saued
and now cometh þis spes þat haþ aspied þe lawe
þat of no trinite ne tellith · ne of[^1326] mo persones
To godhede but oen god · & oen god almyghty
þe which alle men arn holde · ouer al þing to honoure
and sithe loue & to[^1327] lene · for þat lordes sake
alle manere men as mych as oure selue
and forto louye & bileue yn oen lord almyghty
hit is light for lewed men & for lerid bothe
but for to bileue yn a lord · þat liueþ in þre persones
and lereth þat we loue sholde · as wel lyeres as lele
the lawe lerned & lytle vsed .
[^1328]Go þi gate quod y to spes · so me god helpe
þo þat lerneth þi lawe · woln litel while hit vse
and as we wenton in þe way · þus wording of þis matere

[^1326: Uc.19.37: ne of: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, the added word of is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ne taketh.]

[^1327: Uc.19.40: Above the t in to is an otiose abbreviation-stroke as if for an er, by hand1.]

[^1328: Uc.19.46: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.19.46-48.]

¶ þenne say we a samaritan · cam syttinge on a mvyle
Rydinge ful Rapely þe right way we ȝedon
Comynge from a contrey · þat men calde ierico
To iouste in ierusalem hehased he hased[^1329][^1330] away ful faste
the Samarytan
Boþe Abraham & spes · & he mette at ones
yn a wilde wildernes · where þeues hadde bounde
a man as me þo þoughte to mych care þei broughte
For he ne myghte steppe ne stande ne stere foet ne handes[^1331]
Ne helpe him-selue soþly · for semyuyf he semed
and as naked as a nedel · & noen help abowton
say[^1332] first of him sight[^1333] · but hefley he fley a-side
and wolde[^1334] neyghe him by nyne londes lengthe
hope cam hipping aftir · þat hadde so ybostid
how he with moyses maundement hadde many man holpe
But when he hadde sight of þis sike · a-side he gan him drawe
and dredfully with-drough him þo & durst go no ner him
But as sone as þe samaritan · hadde sight of þis carful
he lighte anoen of lyard & lad him yn his handes
and þo[^1335] þis weye awente[^1336][^1337] his woundes to biholde
and perseyued by his poues · he was in peril to dye
and but he hadde recouerer þe rathir rise sholde he neuere
and vnbokeled his botels · & bothe he attamed
with wyn & with oyle · his woundes he gan lithe
Enbaumed him & boend his heued · & on bayard him sette
and ladde him forth to lauacrum · lex dei agraunge a graunge
ys sixe myle or seuen by-side þe newe market
and lefte him þere a leching[^1338] · to lyue yf he myghte
and toek two pens þe hostiler · to take[^1339] to him
and þat more goth for his medicine y make hit goed[^1340] aȝenward
For y may not lette quod þat lede & lyard he bistridith
and raped him to ride þe right way to ierusalem
Bothe faith & his felawe spes folowed faste aftir
But y swed þe samaritan & saide how þey bothe
wern aferd & flowe fram þe man ywoundid

[^1329: Uc.19.52: hased: Apparently a scribal nonce-word. MED (citing only this one passage): "jacen v. Also jasen. [From chacen; ?altered for alliteration.] To hurry, rush."]

[^1330: Uc.19.52: hased: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Iaced.]

[^1331: Uc.19.56: The abbreviation-stroke in handes is rendered as a bar through the h. This is unusual for hand1, but one may compare him in Uc.19.63, where the abbreviation-stroke extends through the h and over the vowel.]

[^1332: Uc.19.59: say: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Fayth.]

[^1333: Uc.19.59: Russell-Kane: Fayth hadde furst siht of hym. Schmidt: Fayth furste of hym sihe. Pearsall: Fayth furst had of hym siht.]

[^1334: Uc.19.60: Russell-Kane, and Pearsall: nolde nat. Schmidt: wolde nat.]

[^1335: Uc.19.67: þo: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads to.]

[^1336: Uc.19.67: MED awenden, "To turn, go, depart." Neither MED nor OED lists a preterite in -te, but cf. the forms for wenden.]

[^1337: Uc.19.67: Russell-Kane: And to the wey a wente. Schmidt, and Pearsall: And to this wey a wente.]

[^1338: Uc.19.75: The flourish on the g in leching has here been interpreted as making cursive ligature with a raised point.]

[^1339: Uc.19.76: take: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads take kepe.]

[^1340: Uc.19.77: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

¶ haue hem excused quod samaritan[^1341] her help may not auayle
Ne no medcine vnder molde þe man to hele bringe
Noþer fay ne fyn hope · so festred arn his woundes
with-oute þe bloed of a barn he beth not y-saued
which[^1342] barn mot nedes be born of a mayde
and with þe blod of þat barn enbaumed and baptised
And þogh he stande & steppe right strong worth he neuere
Til he haue eton al þat barn & his blod dronkon
And ȝut be plastered with pacience when fondinges him prikeþ
For wente neuere man þis way · þat he ne was her y-ruyfled
Saue my selue sothly & such as y louede
And ȝut bote þei leue lelly  vpon þat litel baby
þat his licam shal lechon at þe laste vs alle
A sire y saide shal not we byleue
As faith & his felawe pes[^1343]  enfourmed me boþe
yn þre persones on parceles departable fram othir
And alle þre but on god þus Abraham me taughte
And hope aftir[^1344] oen god · more me tolde
and lered me for his loue · to loue almankynde al mankynde
And him aboue alle & hem as my selue
Noþer lacke ne alose ne leue þat þer were
Any wickeddore in þe world þen y wer my selue
And most inperfit of alle persones & paciently soffre
alle manere men & þough y myghte venge
y sholde tholie & thanken hem þat me euel woldon

[^1341: Uc.19.83: samaritan: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads the samaritaen.]

[^1342: Uc.19.87: which: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads The whiche.]

[^1343: Uc.19.97: pes: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads spes.]

[^1344: Uc.19.100: aftir: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads afturward of.]

¶ he saide soþ quod þat samaritan & so y rede þe also
And as Abraham þe olde of oen god þe taughte
Loke þou loue & byleue al thin lif-tyme
and yf kynde carpe her-aȝen or any kynne þoughtes
Or heretikes with argumentes · þin hoend þat þou hem shewe
For god þat al bygan · yn gynnyng of þe world
Ferde first as a fist · & ȝut ys as y leue
Mundum pugillo continens
as with a fust with oen fyngur yfolde to-gidres
Til him liked & lust to vnlose þat fingur
And profred hit forth as with þe paume to what place hit sholde

¶ þe paum ys þe pith of þe hand & profreth þe fyngres
To Ministre & to make þat myght of hand knoweth
A symilitude of þe trenytie & þe . hande . /
and bitokeneth truly telle who-so liketh[^1345]
þe holi gost of heuen he is as þe paume
þe fingres þat fre ben · to folde & to clucche
Bitokeneth sothly þe sone · þat sent was til erthe
Touchid & tastide at teching of þe paume
Seynt marie amaidon a maidon & mankynde laughte
[^1346] Natus est ex maria virgine
þe fadir ys þenne as þe fist with fyngur & with paume
To huyde & to holde as holy writ tellith
[^1347] Omnia traham ad meipsum
and þat þe fingur gropeth he gripeth bot yf hit greue þe paume
þus arn þei alle bot oen · as hit an hand were
A fust with oen[^1348] fyngur[^1349] & oen[^1350] ful paume
and as þe fist is a ful hand yfolde to-gidres
So is þe fader a folgod fol god · þe firste[^1351] of hem alle
as my fust ys first  ar y my fyngres shewe
and he fader & formeour þe firste of alle thinges
[^1352] Tu fabricator omnium
And al þe myght with him is was & worth euere[^1353]
þe fyngres ys aful a ful hoend · for failled þei her thombe
Portreye ne peynte perfitly y leue
Scholde no wright worche · wern they away
Right so failede þe sone · þe sire be ne myghte
Ne holde ne helpe  ne hente þat he louede
Dextre dei tu digitus
þe paume is puyrly þe hond · & hath power by him selue
oþerwise þen þe wrethen fust or workmanshipe of fingres
For þe paum hath power to putte out þe ioyntes
and to vnfolde þe fust · for to him hit bilongeth
And resceyue þat þe fyngres rechith & refuse yf him likeþ
Al þat þe fyngres & þe fust felith & touchith
But he be[^1354] greud with her gripe þe holy gost lat falle
and þus is þe holigost god · naythir grettore ne lasse

[^1345: Uc.19.121: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.19.119-34.]

[^1346: Uc.19.127: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1347: Uc.19.130: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1348: Uc.19.133: oen: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads a.]

[^1349: Uc.19.133: For the y in fyngur, Hhnd1 originally wrote u or n but corrected it to y by adding a tail.]

[^1350: Uc.19.133: oen: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads a.]

[^1351: Uc.19.135: The rste in firste appears to have been written over an erasure.]

[^1352: Uc.19.138: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1353: Uc.19.139: Some faded pen-trials, with an orientation perpendicular to the baseline of the poem's text, can be seen in the right margin spanning lines Uc.19.139-42.]

[^1354: Uc.19.152: Russell-Kane: But be he. Schmidt, and Pearsall: Be he.]

¶ þenne is þe sire & þe sone of[^1355] þe same myght
and alle þre ys but oen god · as myn hond & my fingres
vnfoldon or foldon · yn[^1356] fust wise or elles
al ys hit but oen hond how-so y turne hit
But who is hurt in þe hond euen in þe middes
he may resceyue right nought resoun hit sheweth
For þe fingres þat folde sholde & þe fust make
For peyne of þe paume power hem faileth
To clucch or to clawe · to clippe or to holde
wer þe myddel of myn hand with-oute male-ese
yn many kynne manere y myghte my selue helpe
Boþe meue & amende þogh alle my fyngres oke
By this simule he saide y see an euidence
þat who-so synneth in þe seint spirit · assoiled worþ he[^1357] neuere
Noþer her ne elles-where as y herde telle
[^1358] Qui peccat in spiritu sancto & cetera .
A symylitude of the Synne ayenst the holy gost . / to the palme of the hande
[^1359]For he priketh god as in his paume þat peccat in spiritum sanctum
For god þe fadir ys as þe fist · þe sone is as þe fyngur
þe holy gost of heuene · he is as þe paume
So who-so synneþ aȝen þe seint spirit hit semeþ þat he greueth
God þere he gripeth · & wolde his grace quenche

[^1355: Uc.19.154: of: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads and of.]

[^1356: Uc.19.156: yn: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads a.]

[^1357: Uc.19.167: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1358: Uc.19.169: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1359: Uc.19.170: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.19.170-74.]

a symyle of a torche . /

[^1360] ¶ For to a torche or to a taper þe trinite ys likned
and wex & weke wer twyned to-gidres
and thenne flaumynge fuyr forth of hem bothe[^1361]
and as wex & weke & warm fuyr to-gidres
Fostren forth a flaume & a fuyr leye
þat serueth þes swynkers to se by an nyghtes
So doth þe sire & þe sone & seint spirit to-gidres
Fostron forth amonges folk fyn loue & byleue
þat alle kynne cristene · clansith of synne
and as þou seest somtyme sodeinlich of a torche
peccatum contra spiritum sanctum . /
þe blase be y-blowen out ȝut brennyth þe weke
with-oute leye & light · light[^1362] fuyr in þe mach
So ys þe holy gost god & grace with-owton mercy
To alle vnkynde creatures · þat coueyton to destruye
leel lycam & lif[^1363] · þat our lord shupte
and as glowyng gledes gladeth not þes werkmen
þat worchon & wakon in wynteres nyghtes
as doth a kex or a candel þat caughthath caught hath fuyr & blaseth
No more doth þe sire ne þe sone ne seynt[^1364] to-gidres
Graunton any grace · ne forgifnes of synnes
Til þat þe holi gost gynne to glowe & blase
So þat þe holigost gloweth but as a glede
Til þat loue & byleue lellich to him blowe
and thenne flaumeth he as fuyr on fadir & on filius
and meketh[^1365] myght in-to mercy as we may see yn wyntur
ysekelus in euesinges · þorgh hete of þe sonne
Meltith in a myte-while to myst & to watur
So grace of þe holigost þe gret myght of þe trinite
Meltith al to mercy · to merciable & to noen othir

[^1360: Uc.19.175: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.19.175-76.]

[^1361: Uc.19.177: Right-margin sidelining by hand14 spans this entire side, Uc.19.177-207.]

[^1362: Uc.19.186: Russell-Kane: lith.]

[^1363: Uc.19.189: The flourish on the f in lif has here been interpreted as making cursive ligature with a raised point.]

[^1364: Uc.19.193: Russell-Kane: seynt spirit.]

[^1365: Uc.19.199: meketh: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads melteth.]

[^1366] ¶ And was[^1367] wex[^1368] with-outon more · vpon awarm a warm glede
wol brennen & blason · be they to-gydres
And solace þat mowe not see sitting in derknes
So wol þe fadir forȝiue folk of mylde hertes
þat reufullich repenton & restitucion maken
yn as myche as þei mowen amendon payon[^1369]

[^1366: Uc.19.204: Still visible is the left stroke of the double virgule that marked the insertion point for the paraph marker.]

[^1367: Uc.19.204: was: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads as.]

[^1368: Uc.19.204: The Russell-Kane apparatus suggests that Uc here offers a unique reading wey. However, the word is better construed as simply containing an imperfectly formed x in which one diagonal crosses the other only minimally; for a similar example elsewhere, see Uc.12.54, where the xcan be compared with one in the line immediately preceding.]

[^1369: Uc.19.209: payon: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads and payen.]

¶ And if hit suffiseth not for a sech[^1370] þat in such awille a wille[^1371] dieth
Mercy for his mekenes wol make goed þe remenant
And as þe weke & warm fuyr wol make a fuyr flaume
Forto myrthe men with þat in merk sitton
So wol crist of cortesie[^1372] & men crien him mercy
Bothe forȝiue & forȝete & ȝut bidde for vs
To þe fader of heuene forȝifnes to haue
and hewe fuyr &[^1373] flynt foure hondrid wyntur
Bot þou haue trash to take hit with tondri & broches
al þi labour is lost & al þi long trauaile
For may no fuyr flaume make faile hit his kynde
So ys þe holigost god & grace with-owton mercy
To alle vnkynde creatoures as crist him selue witnessith
[^1374] Amen dico vobis nescio vos
Be vnkynde to thin euencristene & al þat þou canst bidde
dele & do penaunce day & nyght euere
and purchase al þe pardoun of pampilioun & of Rome
No pardon can dispens with vnkyndnes . /
and yndulgenses ynowe & be ingratis to þi kynde
þe holigost hereth þe not ne helpeth þe be þou certeyn
For vnkyndnes quenchith him · þat he ne can not shine
Ne brenne[^1375] ne blase cleer for blowyng of vnkyndnes
Paul þe apostil preuyth wher y lie
[^1376] Si linguis hominum loquor · & . cetera .
ayenst vnkyndnes in riche men . /
[^1377]For-thi beth ywar ȝe wise men þat with þe world deliþ
þat riche ben & resoun knoweth · reule wel ȝour soule
Beth not vnkynde y counsele ȝou to ȝour euencristene
For many of ȝou rich men · by my soule y lie not
ȝe brennyth but ȝe blasith not · & ys[^1378] ablynd a blynd bekene
[^1379] Non omnis qui dicit domine domine intrabit in regnum celorum · & cetera .
nota
Mone[^1380][^1381] ȝe not riche men to which a myschaunce
þat diues was[^1382] dampned for his vnkyndnesse
Of his mete & of his mone to men that hit nedide
ȝut wan he nought with wrong ne with queynte sleythes
Bot rightfullich as men rat al his richesse cam him
and him-selue as saith þe boek sotilede how he myghte
Most lordlich lyue & ȝut his licam werie
Clothus of most cost as clerkes berith witnes
Epulebatur splendide & induebatur bisso & cetera

[^1370: Uc.19.210: Russell-Kane: for aseth (viz., satisfaction or amends).]

[^1371: Uc.19.210: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1372: Uc.19.214: cortesie: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads his cortesye.]

[^1373: Uc.19.217: &: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads at a.]

[^1374: Uc.19.223: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1375: Uc.19.230: For the r in brenne, the text scribe seems to have begun writing an e and then corrected to an r by overwriting.]

[^1376: Uc.19.232: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1377: Uc.19.233: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.19.233-38.]

[^1378: Uc.19.237: ys: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þat is.]

[^1379: Uc.19.138: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1380: Uc.19.239: MED monen v.(1), "To recall, remember."]

[^1381: Uc.19.239: Mone: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Minne.]

[^1382: Uc.19.240: was: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads deyede.]

of Diues þe riche man an argument a Maiore . /

¶ And for he was a nygard & a nything to þe nedful pore[^1383]
For godes traitour he is told · for al his trewe catelle
and dampned he dwellith with deuel[^1384] yn helle
and sithon he with-owton wiles wan & wel myght ateine[^1385][^1386]
Lordly forto lyue & lykyngly be clothid
and ys in helle for al that · how wol rich nowthe
Excuse hem þat ben vnkynde & ȝut her catelle wonne
with wiles & with lither wightes & ȝut wol not ateyme[^1387][^1388]
To go semly ne sitte sith holy writ techith[^1389]
[^1390] Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis
vch arich a rich y rede reward here-of take
and gyueth ȝour god to[^1391] þat god þat grace of ariseth
For þat ben vnhende to hise hope ȝe noen othir
Bot þei dwelle þere diues ys  daies with-owton ende
þus ys vnkyndenes & quenchith as hit were
þe grace of þe holigost godes owne kynde
For þat kynde doth vnkynde fordoth · as this corssid þeues
Vnkynde cristene men for coueitise & enuye
Sleth aman a man for his mebles · with mouth or with hondes
For þat þe holigost hath to kepe · to[^1392] harlotes destruyeth
þe which is lif & loue · þe leye of maurnes ma[n]nes body
For euery manere goed man may be likned to atorche a torche
Or elles a taper to reuerense with þe trinite
and who[^1393] murtherith a goed man  me þinkiþ by myn inwit
he fordoþ þe light þat oure lord loketh to haue worshipe of
and ȝut in mo maneres men offendon þe holigost
But þis is the worste wise þat any wight myghte
Murther þe worst synne ayenst þe holye gost .

[Uc.19.275: This marginal comment is bounded on the right by a curly bracket drawn by hand14.]

synne aȝen þe seint spirit assente to destruye
For coueitise of any-kynne thing þat crist here[^1394] boughte
Quere

[Uc.19.277: Quere: viz., query. Cf. OED s.v. quaere.]

. /
how myghte he aske mercy or any mercy him defende
þat wikkedly & wilfully wolde mercy anyente
ynnocense ys next god & nyght & day hit crieth
veniaunce veniaunce forȝiue be hit neuere
þat shente vs & shedde our blod forshupt vs as hit semed
[^1395] Vindica sanguinem iustorum & cetera .

[^1383: Uc.19.248: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.19.241-57.]

[^1384: Uc.19.250: deuel: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þe deuel.]

[^1385: Uc.19.251: MED atteinen, "To attain." The manuscript's reading could be construed as ateme (as per the Russell-Kane apparatus), but then either the spelling or the sense is problematical. For a defense of the reading atymye (MED atemien), see George Kane, "Word Games: Glossing Piers Plowman," pp. 52-53. The moral argument is not so "awkwardly shaped" as Kane suggests (p. 52), and in this manuscript runs thus. Even though Dives won his wealth honestly, still he was damned despite his honest wealth (Uc.19.249, for all his trewe catelle) because of his lack of mercy toward the poor. Since he earned his money without deception and was able legitimately to attain ("wel myght ateine," Uc.19.251) to the status of living like a lord, and yet is nonetheless in hell, how much more will they be damned who are unmerciful to the poor ("ben vnkynde," Uc.19.254) and also won their wealth dishonestly. These latter, despite their undeserving ("ȝut," Uc.19.255), will not humble themselves ("wol not ateyme," Uc.19.255) to live in a suitable fashion and to give their ill-gotten wealth to the poor as Holy Writ teaches in Luke 16.9. The punning contrast between ateine (to living like a lord, Uc.19.251) and ateme (to giving to the poor, Uc.19.255) is not quite as pointed as if the two words were exact homophones, but it still has some force of wit in this manuscript—regardless of whether the whole body of textual evidence suggests that it is an authorial reading.]

[^1386: Uc.19.251: Russell-Kane, Schmidt, and Pearsall: atymye. The word is glossed "attain" by Pearsall (p. 387) and "hold back from, refrain from, check the impulse to" by Kane ("Word Games: Glossing Piers Plowman," p. 52).]

[^1387: Uc.19.255: MED atemien, "To subject oneself, be humble." See the lexical note on ateine in Uc.19.251.]

[^1388: Uc.19.255: Russell-Kane, Schmidt, and Pearsall: atymye. The word is glossed "attain" by Pearsall and "hold back from, refrain from, check the impulse to" by Kane ("Word Games: Glossing Piers Plowman," p. 52).]

[^1389: Uc.19.256: Russell-Kane prints the following line as line 250: That that wickedliche is wonne to wasten hit and make frendes?]

[^1390: Uc.19.257: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1391: Uc.19.259: The presence of the the homographs god ("wealth, substance") and god ("God") in close proximity led the text scribe into the momentary haplography of starting to write a thorn after the first god, but he immediately corrected by overwriting the letter as t before going on to the next letter.]

[^1392: Uc.19.267: to: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads tho.]

[^1393: Uc.19.271: who: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads hoso.]

[^1394: Uc.19.276: here: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads dere.]

[^1395: Uc.19.282: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ veniaunce veniaunce veray charite asketh
and sith charite þat holichurch is chargith þis so sore
Leue y neuere þat oure lord at þe last ende
wol louye þat lif þat loue & charite destruyen[^1396]
y pose y hadde synned so quod y  y[^1397] sholde not[^1398] deye
and am sory þat y so þe seint spirit agulte
Confesse me & crie his grace god that al made
and myldely his mercy aske myght y not be saued
Þus[^1399] saide þe samaritan so þou myghtist repente
þat rightwisnesse þorgh repentaunce to ruthe might turne
But hit is but selde y-seyn · þere sothnes berith witnes
Eny creature be coupable by-fore akynges a kynges iustice
Be y-raunsomed for his repentaunce þere al resoun him dampneþ
þere þat party pursueth · þe appel is so huyge
þat may no kyng mercy graunte til boþe men acorde
þat aithir partie haue equitee as holy writ witnessith
[^1400] Numquam dimittitur peccatum & cetera .
þus hit fareth by such folk þat folowen her owne[^1401] wille
þat euel lyuon & leton not til hem forsake[^1402]
Som drede of desperacion · thenne driueth[^1403] grace
þat mercy in her mynde may not þenne falle
For goed hope þat helpith þenne sholde to wanhope þere turne
and not of þe nownpower of god · þat he neys ne ys ful of myght
To amende al þat amys is & his mercy grettore
þenne alle oure wicked werkes as holy writ tellith
[^1404] Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius

[^1396: Uc.19.286: Russell-Kane: destruyeth.]

[^1397: Uc.19.287: y: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads and.]

[^1398: Uc.19.287: Russell-Kane: nouthe.]

[^1399: Uc.19.291: Þus: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Ȝus.]

[^1400: Uc.19.299: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1401: Uc.19.300: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1402: Uc.19.301: Russell-Kane, and Pearsall: til lif hem forsake. Schmidt: til hem forsake synne.]

[^1403: Uc.19.302: Russell-Kane: dryueth away.]

[^1404: Uc.19.308: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

sorowe of herte is satisfaccion to þem þat cannot paye . /

[Uc.19.309: This marginal comment is bounded on the left by a curly bracket drawn by hand14.]

¶ But ar his rightwisnes to ruthe turne · restitucion hit makeþ[^1405]
as sorowe of herte ys satisfaccion · for such þat may not paie
[^1406]But þre thinges þere ben þat don aman a man to sterte
Owt of his owne hous as holywrit holy writ sheweth
A wycked wyfe .

[Uc.19.313: This comment continues at Uc.19.316.]

þat ys a wicked wif þat wol not be chastid[^1407]
hire fere fleth hire · for feer of hire tonge
and yf hous be vnheled & reyne on his bedde
an house vncouered

[Uc.19.316: This comment is continued from Uc.19.313 and continues at Uc.19.319.]

he seketh & seketh til he slepe druye
But when Smoke & Smoder · Smyt in his yes
hit doth him worse þen his wif · or wete to slepe
& the smoke . are compared to .

[Uc.19.319: This comment is continued from Uc.19.316 and continues at Uc.19.324.]

For þorgh Smoke & Smolder · Smertith his sight
Til he be bleryed or blynd · or þe burre in his þrote
Coueth & corseth · þat crist ȝif him sorowe
þat sholde bringe yn bettere wode · or blowen[^1408] hit til hit brenne

[^1405: Uc.19.309: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.19.309-11.]

[^1406: Uc.19.311: In the left margin are some markings difficult to decipher. Several vertical lines drawn downward from a common point of origin seem to highlight lines 311-313. At the top of these lines are two marks that perhaps signify a nota: a rectangle with two horns (the right-hand side of the rectangle coinciding with the sidelining), and above that, a pi-shaped mark.]

[^1407: Uc.19.313: Right-margin sidelining by hand14 extends from this line to the bottom of the side, Uc.19.335. It then continues as left-margin sidelining on the verso side, spanning Uc.19.336-42 and uniting all the marginal comments in the span Uc.19.313-42 into a single running sidenote.]

[^1408: Uc.19.322: The word blowen appears to have been written over an erasure.]

[^1409] ¶ þise þre þat y telle of þus ben vnderstonde
the flesh .

[Uc.19.324: This comment is continued from Uc.19.319 and continues at Uc.19.329.]

þe wif is our wicked flessh · wol not be chastid
For kynde cleuith on him euere to contrarie þe soule
and þough he falle he fint skiles þat freelte hit made
and þat is lightly forȝiue & forȝete bothe
To man þat mercy asketh & amende thenkith
Syknesses .

[Uc.19.329: This comment is continued from Uc.19.324 and continues at Uc.19.338.]

þe rayn þat rayneth þere we reste sholde
Been syknesses & oþer sorowes þat we soffron owghte
As paul þe apostel yn his epistles techith
[^1410] Virtus in infirmitate perficitur
and þogh þat men make mych deel in her angur
and be inpacient in her penaunces  puyr resoun knoweþ
þat þei han cause to contrarion · by kynde of her siknesses
and lightly oure lord at here liues ende
hath mercy on such men þat euel may soffre
Covetyse and vnkyndnes . /

[Uc.19.338: This comment is continued from Uc.19.329.]

But þe Smoke & þe Smolder þat smyt in oure yes
þat is coueitise & vnkyndenes  which quenchith godes mercy
For vnkyndnes is þe contrarie of alle kynne resoun
nota
For þere ne is sik ne sory ne noen so mych wrecche
þat he ne may loue & him like & lene of his herte
Goed wille goed word bothe wisshon & wilnon
alle manere men mercy & forȝiuenesse
And loue him ylich him-silf þat is lif & amende[^1411]
y may no lengur lette quod he · & hard he prikede
and wente away as wynd & þerewith y waked

[^1409: Uc.19.323: Still visible is the left virgule from the double virgule used to mark the insertion point for the paraph marker.]

[^1410: Uc.19.332: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1411: Uc.19.345: Russell-Kane: yliche hymsulue and his lyf amende. Schmidt, and Pearsall: yliche hymsulue, that his lyf amende.]

Passus tercius de Dobet

[^1412] W oleward & wetshoed wenton[^1413] forth aftir
As y[^1414] recheles renk þat recchith not of sorowe
and ȝede forth ylik a lorel al my lif-tyme
til y wax weri of þe world & wilnede eft slepe
and lened me til lente & long tyme y slepte
Of gurles & of gloria laus gretlich me dremede
and how osanna by organ old folk songe
Oen semblable to þe samaritan & somdel to pers þe ploughman
Barfot on an asse bak boteles cam priking
with-owten spores othir spere · sharply he lokid
as ys þe kynde of a knyght þat cometh to be dobbed
To geton here gult spores · & galoches ycowped

[^1412: Uc.20.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital and extends from Uc.19.342 to Uc.20.17.]

[^1413: Uc.20.1: wenton: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads wente y.]

[^1414: Uc.20.2: y: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads a.]

¶ And thenne was faith in a fenestre & cried a fili dauid
as doth an heraud of armes when auntres[^1415] comeþ to ioustes
Olde iewes of ierusalem · for ioye þei songon
Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini
þenne y frayned at faith what al fare[^1416] by-mente
and who sholde iouste in ierusalem Iesu he saide
and fecche þat þe feend claymeþ pers fruyt þe ploughman
ys pers in þis place quod y · & he preynte on me
Liberum dei arbitrium for loue hath vndertake[^1417]
þat this Iesu of his gentirise shal iouste in pers armes
yn his helm & yn his haberioun humana natura
þat crist be not yknowe from[^1418] consummatus deus
yn pers plates þe ploughman þis prikiar shal ride
for no dynt shal him dere as yn deitate patris
who shal iouste with Iesu quod y iewes or scribes
Nay quod faith bot þe feend · & fals doem to deye
deth saith he wol fordo & adown bringe
al þat liueth or loketh on lond or on watur
lif saith þat he lieth · & hath leid his lif to wedde
þat for al þat deth can do with-inne thre daies to walke
and fecche fro þe fend pers fruyt þe ploughman
And legge hit þere him liketh & lucifer bynde
and forbite adown & bringe · bale deth[^1419] for euere
O mors · mors tua ero morsus
þenne cam pilatus wiþ mich peple sedens pro tribunali
To see how doughtilich deth sholde do & demen þer aither[^1420] right
Tho[^1421] iewes & þe iustises aȝen[^1422] Iesus þei were
and al þe court cried crucifige loude

[^1415: Uc.20.14: MED aventurous adj. 3.(b).]

[^1416: Uc.20.17: Russell-Kane: al þat fare.]

[^1417: Uc.20.21: An otiose abbreviation-mark as if for an er can be seen above the t in vndertake.]

[^1418: Uc.20.24: from: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads for.]

[^1419: Uc.20.35: Pearsall, reading forbete, offers the following translation of this line: "And thoroughly beat down (death [bale]) and bring death (bale) death for ever." Russell-Kane: And forbete and adown brynge bale deth. Schmidt prints the line substantially as it appears here in MS Uc.]

[^1420: Uc.20.38: aither: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads beyre.]

[^1421: Uc.20.39: Tho: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads The.]

[^1422: Uc.20.39: The a in aȝen appears to have been written over an erasure.]

¶ Thenne potte him forth a pelour bifore pilatus & seide
þis Iesus of oure iewene temple · iaped & despised
To fordon hit on aday a day & in thre daies after
Edifien hit newe · here he stand þat saide hit
and ȝut maken hit as mich in alle manere poyntes
Bothe as long & as large a-lofte & a-grounde
And as wyd as hit euere was this witnesson alle
Crucifige quod a cachepol he can of wicch-crafte
[^1423] Tolle tolle quod a-nothir and toek of kene þorunes
And bigan of grene thorn a garlond to make
and sette hit sore on his heued & sithe saide enuye[^1424]
[^1425] Aue raby quod þat ribaude · & redes shet vp to his eyes
and nayled him with þre nayles naked vpon arode a rode
A sponge of vinniger .
and with a pole puysoun potton vp to his lippes
and bedon him drinke his deth to lette & his dayes lengþe
and saidon yf he sotil be him self now wil helpe
and yf þow be crist & crist godes sone
Come adown of this rode and þenne shal we leue
Þat lif þe loueth & wol not late þe dye
[^1426] Consummatum est  quod crist & comsed forto swowne
Pitouslich & pale as a prisoun þat deyeth
þe lord of lif & of light tho leyde his eyes to-giders
þe day for drede þerof with-drough · & derk bicam þe sonne
þe wal of þe temple to-clef euene in-to peses
þe hard roche alto roef al to-roef & right derk nyght hit semed
þe erthe to-quasshed & quoek as hit quyk were
the Authore varieth somewhat from þe worde of god .
[^1427] and dede men for that dyne cam out of depe graues[^1428]
and tolde whi þe tempest so longe tyme duyrede
nota . A dombe speche of deade bodies
For a bitur bataile þe dede body saide
lif & deth in þis derknes · her oen fordoth anothir
ac shal no wight wete weturlich who shal haue þe maistry
ar a sonday aboute þe sonne rising & sank wiþ þat til erthe
somme saide he was godes sone þat so faire diede
[^1429] Vere filius dei erat iste
and somme saide he can of sorcerie goed is þat we assaie
wher he be deed or not deed down ar he be taken
Two þeues þo tholedon deth þat tyme
vpon cros biside crist so was þe comune lawe
acachepolle a cachepolle cam & craked ato her legges
and her armes aftir of euerych of þo two þeues
nota
ac was no boye so bold godes body to touche
For he was knyght & kynges sone kynde forȝaf þat time
þat hadde no boy hardinesse him to touche in deying

[^1423: Uc.20.49: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1424: Uc.20.51: Russell-Kane: saide in Enuye.]

[^1425: Uc.20.52: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1426: Uc.20.60: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1427: Uc.20.67: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.20.67-70.]

[^1428: Uc.20.67: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights lines Uc.20.67-68.]

[^1429: Uc.20.74: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ Ac þere cam forth ablind a blind knyght with a kene spere grounde
highte longius as þe lettere tellith · & longe had lore sight[^1430]
By-fore pilatus & othir peple in þe place he houed
Maugrey his mony teth he was maed þat tyme
iouste with Iesus þe blinde iew longius
For alle wer þei vnhardy · þat houed þere stoed[^1431]
To touche him or to trinon[^1432] · or to taken him doun & grauon him
Bot þis blinde bacheler · þat baer him þorgh þe herte

[^1430: Uc.20.85: sight: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads his sihte.]

[^1431: Uc.20.89: stoed: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads or stode.]

[^1432: Uc.20.90: MED trinen v.(1), "to lay a hand (on sb), . . . touch (sb)."]

¶ The blood sprang doun by þe spere & vnspered þe knyghtes[^1433]
Tho fel þe knyght vpon knees & cried Iesu mercy
aȝen my wille hit was quod he þat y ȝou wounde made
and sighed & saide sore hit me forthinketh
Of þe dede þat y haue do · y do me in ȝour grace
Bothe my land & my licam at ȝour likyng taketh hit
and haue mercy on me rightfol Iesus & right with þat he wepte
þenne gan faith fouely[^1434] to fals iewes to despise[^1435]
Calde hem caytyues acorsed for euere
For this a vil vylanye vengeaunce ȝou bifalle
þat made þe blinde bete þe dede þis was aboyes a boyes dede
Corsede kaitiues knyghthoed was hit neuere
To bete abody a body ybounde with eny bright wepene
The gree ȝut hath he geten for al his grete woundes
For ȝoure champioun Cheualler chef knyght of ȝou alle
ȝelt him creaunt[^1436] remyng right at Iesus wille
For be þis derknes y-do · deth worth yvenkused
and ȝe lordeyns han lost for lif shal haue maistrie[^1437]
and ȝour fraunchise þat free was yfallon ys in-to þraldom
and alle ȝoure childron cherles cheue shal neuere
Ne haue lordship in londe ne lond[^1438] tulye
and as barayne be & by vsure libbe
þe which is þe lif þat oure lord in alle lawe defendith
Now ben ȝour good dayes ydon as daniel of ȝou tellith
When crist þorgh cros ouercam ȝour kyngdom sholde to-cleue
Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum & cetera
What for feer of þis ferly & of þe fals iewes
y with-drow in þat derknesse to descendit ad inferna
and þere y say sothly secundum scripturas
heaune in þe weste

[Uc.20.121: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

nota þe maid Mary

[Uc.20.121: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

out of þe west as hit were a wenche as me þoughte
cam walking in the way to helle -ward she loked
Mercye
Mercy highte þat maide a milde thing with-alle
and a ful benyngne buyrde & buxom of speche
her sustur as hit semed cam · softly walkyng
truthe .
Euene out of þe est & westward she þoughte
a comly creature & a clene truthe she highte
For þe virtue þat hir folowede a-feerd was she neuere
whenne þes maidones mette · mercy & truthe
aythir asked othir of þis grete wonder
of þe dyne & of þe derknes & how þe day roued[^1439]
and which a light & a leem · lay bifore helle
y haue ferly of this fare in faith saide truthe
and am wendinge to wite what þis wonder menith
haue no mervyle þerof quod mercy myrthe hit bitokeneth
a maide þat hotith marie & moder with-oute felyng
Mary the virgine .

[Uc.20.137: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

of any kynde creature conceyued þorgh speche
and grace of þe holi gost wax gret with childe
Christe was borne without a medwyfe in a manger

[Uc.20.139: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

with-oute wommanne wem in-to þis world brought him
and þat my tale ys trewe take god to wynesse wy[t]nesse
sithon þis barn was ybore ben thretty wyntur passed
died & deth þolede þis day aboute mydday
and þat is þe cause of þis eclyps · þat ouercloseþ now þe sone
yn menyng þat man shal fro mekenes[^1440] be drawe
þe while þis light & þis lowe shal lucifer ablende
For patriarkes & prophetes han prechid herof ofte[^1441]
[^1442]þat was tynt þorgh tree  tree shal hit wynne
and þat deth down broughte deth shal releue
þat þou tellest quod truthe ys bot atale a tale of walterot
For adam & Eue · & abraham with othere
Patriarkes & prophetes þat in peyne liggon
leue hit neuere · þat ȝone light hem a-loft bringe
Ne haue hem out of helle hold þi tonge mercy
truth is directly against purgatory and limbo patrum

[Uc.20.154: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1443] hit is but truyful þat þou tellest ytruthe y truthe woet þe sothe[^1444]
nota
þat thing þat ones is in helle out cometh hit neuere
Iob þe perfit patriark repreueth þi sawes
[^1445] Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio
þenne mercy ful mildely mouthid this wordes
þorgh experiense quod he · y hope þei shal be saued
for venym fordoth venym þere fecche y · euidence
þat adam & Eue haue shollon bote
the venym of Scorpions styngeth till deth . /
For of alle freting venymes þe vilest is þe scorpioun[^1446]
May no medicine amende þe place þere he styngeth
Til he ded · y-do þerto[^1447] & þenne he destroieth
þe firste venymoust venymouste[^1448] · þorgh vertue of him selue
and shal[^1449] þis deth fordo · ydar y dar my lif legge
al þat deth & þe deuel dide formest to Eue
and right as þe gilour þorgh gile bigileþ man formest
So shal grace þat bigan al makon agoed a goed ende
and bigile þe gilour · and þat is agoed a goed sleithe
[^1450] ars vt artem falleret ·
Rightwysenes .
Now soffre we saide truthe ysee y see as me thinketh
out of þe nype of þe north not ful fer hennes
Right-wisnes come rennyng reste we þe while
For he woet more þan we · he was ar we bothe
þat is soth saide mercy & y see here bisouthe bi southe
peace . patyence and love .
where cometh pees pleyinge in pacience clothid
loue hath coueitid hir longe leue y noen othir
Bot loue haue sent hir som lettere · what þis light bymeneth
þat ouerhoueth helle þus he vs shal telle
when pees in pacience yclothid aprochid hir aithir othir
nota pees bringeth · plentie & pride
Rightwisnes reuerensed pees in her riche clothing
and preyde pees to tellon hire to what place she sholde
Spalme

[Uc.20.184: For this spelling of psalm, see OED as well as Uc.3.470 and Uc.5.49.]

· Dauid · Mercy · and truth , are mett together · Rightwsenes Rightw[i]senes , & pees , haithe cissed ech other

[Uc.20.184: The biblical quotation, from Mercy to ech other, is bounded on the left and the right by curly brackets in the form of stacked parentheses, drawn by hand16.]

and hire gaye garnementz[^1451] whom she glade þoughte
My wille ys to wende quod pees & welcome hem alle
þat many day myght y not see for merknes of synne
adam & Eue & othir mo in helle
Moyses & many mo · mercy shal synge
and y shal daunce þerto . do þow so sustur
For Iesus iousted wel ioye biginneth dawe
[^1452] Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus & ad matutinum leticia
loue þat is my leman succh letteres he me sente
þat mercy my suster & y man-kynde shal saue
and þat god hath forgyue & grauntid to almankynde al mankynde
Mercy my suster & me to maynprison hem alle
and þat crist hath conuertid þe kynde of rightwysnesse
yn-to pees & pite of his puyre grace
Loo here þe patent quod pees In pace inidipsum in idipsum
and þat þis dede shal duyre dormiam & requiescam
Rauest þow quod rightwisnesse or þou art right dronke
leuest þow þat ȝone light vnloke myght helle
and saue mannes soule sustur wene hit neuere
at þe byginnyng of þe word[^1453] god gaf þe doem him -selue
þat Adam & Eue & al his issue
Sholdon deye down-right & dwellon in peine euere
yf þat þei touched þat tree & of þe fruyt eton
Adam aftirward aȝen his defense
Freet of þe fruyt · and forsoek as hit were
The loue of oure lord & his lore bothe
and folowede þat þe feend taughte & his flessh wille
aȝenes resoun y rightwisnes recorde hit with truthe
þat her peyne ys perpetuel no preyer may hem helpe
For-thi hem[^1454] cheue as[^1455] þei chose & chide we not sustres
For hit[^1456] boteles bale · þei bite þat þei eton
and y shal preye quod pees · here peyne mote haue ende
and þat her wo in-to wele mot wende at þe laste
[^1457]For hadde þei wist of no wo wele hadde þei not knowe
For no wight woet what wele is · þat neuere wo soffred
Ne what is hoet hungur þat hadde neuere defaut
who cowde kyndelich whit colour descreue
yf al þe world where were whit · or swan whit alle thinges
yf no nyght ne were no man yleue y leue
sholde wete weturly what day is to mene
Ne hadde god soffred of som othir þen him selue
he dedde[^1458] wist weturly wher deth wer sour or swete
For sholde neuere right rich man þat liueth in reste & hele
ywite what wo ys ne were þe deth of kynde
So god þat bigan al of his god wille
By-cam man of amayde a mayde mankynde to saue
and soffred to be sold to see þe sorowe of deying
þe which vnknitteth alle care & comsing is of reste
For til moreyne mete with vs y may hit wel a-vowe
Ne voet[^1459] no wight as y wene what is ynow[^1460] to mene
For-thi god of his godnesse  þe fist fi[r]st man Adam
sette him in solas firste & in souerayn myrthe
and sithe he soffred him to synne · sorowe to fele
To wite what wele was þerthorgh kyndlich to knowe
and aftir god auntred him selue & toek adames kinde
To wite what he hath soffred in thre sondri places
Bothe in heuene & in erthe · & now to helle he þenketh
To wite al what[^1461] wo is · þat woet of al ioye
[^1462] Omnia probate quod bonum est tenete
So hit shal fare by þis folk her foly & her synne
Shal lere hem what loue ys & liffe with-outon ende
nota · Englands careles Securitie

[Uc.20.244: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

For woet no wight what werre ys þere as pees regneth[^1463]
Ne what is weturlich wele til welawey him teche
þenne was þere awight a wight · with two brode yes
nota The Bibill Book ·

[Uc.20.248: This marginal comment is bounded on left and right by curly brackets in the form of stacked parentheses, done by hand16.]

Boek highte þat beupere abold a bold man of speche
By godes body quod this boek y wol here[^1464] witnesse
þo þis barn was bore þere blased a sterre
þat alle þe wyse of þe world · in oen wit acordid
þat such a barn was bore in bedlem þe citee
þat mannes soule sholde saue & synne destruye
and alle þe elementes of[^1465] þe boek herof beron witnes
þat he was god þat al wrought þe welkyn first shewed
Tho þat wern in heuene token stella comata
and tendon hit as a torche to reuerson reuer[en]son his birthe
þe light folowed þe lord in-to low erthe
þe watur witnessith þat he was god · for he wente on him drye
Petur þe apostel perceyued his gate
and as he wente on þe watur wel him knew & saide
[^1466] domine Iube me venire ad te
and lo how þe sonne gan loke · her light in her-selue
when he say him soffre · þat sonne & see made
loo þe erthe for heuynes þat he wolde soffre
Quakid as a quyk thing & also to-quash þe roches
Symonds sons which were in hell .
Lo helle myght not holde bot opened þo god þoled
and leet out symoundes sones · to seen hym hange[^1467] on rode
[^1468] Non visurum se mortem & cetera .
and now shal lucifer leue hit · þogh him loth þinke
For Iesus as ageaunt a geaunt with agyn a gyn cometh ȝende
To breke & to bete adoun alle þat ben agaynes[^1469] him
and to haue out alle of hem þat him liketh
and ȝut y boek wol be brent · bot he arise to lyue
and counforte al his kyn & out of care bringe
and al þe iewene ioye vnioynon & vnlokon
and bote þei reuerence þis resurreccion · & þe rode honoure
and byleue on a newe lawe be y-lost lif & soule
soffre we saide truthe ych here & see bothe
a spirit speketh to helle · & bit vnspere þe ȝates
[^1470] Attollite portas & cetera ·
a voys loude in that light to lucifer saide
Princeps of þis place prest vndo þe ȝates
For here he cometh with croune þe king of alle glorye[^1471]
þenne sighed satan & saide to helle
such a light aȝenes oure leue lazar hit fette
Care & combraunce ys come to vs alle
yf þis kyng come yn mankynde wol he fecche
nota a question where Lazarus was . when Abraham was in Inferno .
and lede hit þere lazar ys & lightlich me bynde[^1472]
Patriarkes & prophetes han parled herof longe
þa[^1473] such alord a lord & a light shale lede hem alle hennes
ac a-rise vp ragamoffyn & rech me alle þe barres
þat belial þi belsire · bet with þi dame
and y shal lette þis lord & his light stoppe
ar we þorgh þorgh brightnes be blent  go barre we þe ȝates
Cheke & cheine we & vch a chine stoppe
þat no light lepe yn · at louer ne at loupe
astaroet hoet out · & haue out oure knaues
Colting & al his kyn · the car to saue
Brimstoen boylaunt brennyng out cast hit
al hoet on her hedes þat entrith ny þe walles
Setteth bowes of brake & brasene gonnes
and shetith out shote y-now his sheltrom to blende
Settith manhoed[^1474] at þe mangrelle[^1475] & mylle -stones þroweth
and crokes[^1476] & kalketrappes & cloye[^1477] we hem vchone
Lesteneth quod lucifer for y this lord knowe
Bothe þis lord & þis light ys longe go[^1478] y knew him
May no deth þis lord dere ne deueles queyntise
and wher he wole ys his way · but war him of þe periles
yf he reue me of my right · he robbeth me of his maistrie
For bi right & bi resoun · þe renkes þat ben here
Body & soule beth myne bothe gode & ille
For him selue saide hit · þat sire ys of heuene
þat adam & Eue & al his issue
sholde deye with deel · &[^1479] here dwelle euere
yf þat þei touched atree a tree or toek þerof an appelle
Thus þis lord of light · such a lawe made
and sithe he is so lele a lord y leue þat he wol not
Reuen vs of oure right sith resoun hem dampned
nota vij · millia yere was Adam in Hell ·

[Uc.20.320: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

contrary to Elias computa cion ·

[Uc.20.320: Line-end word-division of computacion is marked witn an equals sign.]

[Uc.20.320: Elias computacion: This apparently refers to a computation of the age of the world made by Elias Reusner (1555-1612) and published in 1600: Eliae Revsneri Leorini Professoris historiarum in Academia Ienensi publici Commentariolvm de vera annorvm mvndi ad natvm Christvm svppvtatione: chronologiae in Isagoge historica observatae solidas continens demonstrationes (Jena, 1600). The Isagoge historica is his larger work of world chronology published in the same year.]

[Uc.20.320: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

and sithon we han ben sesed seuen thowsand wyntur
and neuere was þere-aȝen & now wolde byginne
Þenne wer he vnwraist of his word þat witnes is of truthe
þat is soth saide satan bot y me sore doute
For þow gete hem with gile & his gradeyn g[ar]deyn breke
aȝen his loue & his leue on his lond ȝedest
Not in fourme of a feend bot in fourme of an adder
and entisedest Eue to eton bi hir one · Ve soli[^1480]
and bihettist hir & him aftir to knowe
as two godes with god bothe good & ille
Thus with tresoun & treccherie · þou troiledest hem boþe
and dust[^1481] hem breke here buxones buxomnes þorgh falsbihestes fals bihestes
and so haddest hem out & hider at þe laste
[^1482]hit is not graithly ygete þere gile ys þe rote
and god wol not be bigiled quod goblyn ne be-iaped
we han no trewe title to hem for þi tresoun hit makeþ[^1483]
For-þi y drede me quod þe deuel · last truthe wol hem fecche
and as þow bigiledest godes ymages yn goyng of an adder
So hath god bigiled vs alle yn goyng of a weye
For god hath goo quod gobelyn · yn a gom liknes
þes thretty wyntur as y wene & wente aboute & prechid
y haue assailed him with synne & somtyme yasked y asked
whethir he were god or godes sone he ȝaf short answer
þus haþ he troyled[^1484] forth lik atidy a tidy man this two & þretti[^1485] wyntur
and when y say hit was so y sotiled how ych myghte
lette hem þat louede him not · last þei him wolde martre
y wolde haue lengthid his lif · for yleued y leued yf he dyede
þat if his soule hidor cam · hit sholde shende vs alle
For þe body whil hit on bones ȝede  aboute was hit euere
To lere men to be lele & vch man to loue othir
The which lif & lawe be hit longe vsed
hit shal vndo vs deueles & down bringe vs alle
and now y see where his soule comeþ siling hederward
with glory & with gret light god hit is ych woet wel
y rede we flee quod þe feend · faste alle hennes
For vs were bettere not be þen abide in his sight
For lesinges lucifer we loston first oure ioye
and out of heuene hidor þi pride made vs falle
For we leued on thi lesinges[^1486] þat þow lowe til eue
we[^1487] han lost oure lordshipe a-lond & in helle
[^1488] Nunc princeps huius mundi sethe þat satan[^1489]
Missaide þus foule lucifer for his lesinges leue y noen oþer
But oure lord at þe laste lyares rebuke[^1490]
ayenst lyers .
and wyte hem al þe wrecchidnes · þat wrought is her on erthe[^1491]
Beth ywar ȝe wise clerkes & ȝe witty of lawe
þat ȝe be-lye not þis lewed men · far[^1492] at þe laste dauid
wyttnessith in his writinges · what is lyar[^1493] mede
[^1494] Odisti omnes qui operantur iniquitatem perdes omnes qui loquntur mendacium[^1495]
a litel y ouerleep for lesinges sake
þat y ne seye as y say suynge my teme
For eft þat light bad vnloke
what lord art þow quod · lucifer · a vois a-loud saide
þe lord of myght & of mayn þat made[^1496] alle thinges
Dukes of þis dymme place anoen vndoth þes ȝates
þat crist may · come yn · þe kynges sone of heuene
and with þat breeth helle braek wiþ alle belials barres
For eny weye or warde wide opene þe ȝates
Patriarkes & prophetes populus in tenebris
songon with seint Iohan ecce Agnus dei
Lucifer loke ne myghte so light him ablente
and þo þat oure lord louede forth with þat light flowon
Lo me here quod oure lord lif & soule bothe
For alle synfelle soules to saue oure bothe right
Myne þei were & of me y may þe bet hem clayme
Al-þough resoun recordid & right of my selue
þat yf þei ete þe appelle alle sholdon deye
y by-highte hem not here helle for euere
For þe deedly synne þat þei dide þin disseit hit made
with gile þow hem gete ageynes alle resoun
For in my palays paradys yn persone of an adder
Falslich fettist þere · þat me biful to loke
þe serpinte alegedged aleged criptur [s]criptur . to Euæ .

[Uc.20.391: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1497] Biglosedest hem & bigiledest hem & my gardeyn breke[^1498]
aȝen my loue & my leue þe olde lawe techith
þat giloures bigilede[^1499][^1500] and yn her gile falle
and who-so hit out a mannes ye or elles his forteeth
Or any manere membre maymeth othir hirtith
þe same sore shal he haue þat eny so smytith
[^1501] dentem pro dente & oculum pro oculo
So lif shal lif lete · þere lif hath lif anyentid
So þat lif quyte lif þe olde lawe hit asketh
[^1502] Ergo soule shal soule quyte & somme[^1503] to synne wende
and al þat man mysdede · y man to amende hit
and þat deth fordide my deth to releue
and bothe quike & quyte þat queynt was þorgh synne
and gile bigiled þorgh grace at þe laste
[^1504] Ars vt artem falleret & cetera
So leue hit not lucifer aȝen þe lawe y fecche
here any synful soule · souereynlich by maistrie
Bot þorgh right & þorgh resoun raunsome here my lege
[^1505] Non veni soluere legem set adimplere
so þat with gile was gete þorgh grace is now y-wonne
nota by þe frute of a tree dampned . by þe death on tree Saued

[Uc.20.411: The comment here in the right margin is bounded on the right by a curly bracket done by hand16.]

and as adam & alle þorgh a tree dyede[^1506]
adam & alle þorgh a tree shal turne to lyue
and now biginneth þi gile · agayn on þe turne
and my grace to growe ay widdore[^1507] & widdere
þe bitturnes þat þow hast browe now brouke hit þi-selue
þat art doctour of deth drink þat þow madest
For y am lord of lif loue ys my drinke
and for þat drinke to-day y deyed as hit semed
ac y wol drinke of no dish ne of deep clergise
Bot of comune coppes alle cristene soules
ac þi drinke worth deth & deep helle þi bolle
y faught so me furstith ȝit for mannes soule sake
[^1508] Scicio[^1509][^1510] may no pyement ne pomade ne precious drinkes
Moiste me to þe folle ne my furst slecke
the vayle of

[Uc.20.424: Hand14 here gives, apparently as a line-end space filler, a flourish in the form of a large tilde with looped ends.]

Iosephat resurreccion
Til þe vendage falle in þe vale of iosephat[^1511]
and drinke right ripe most Resurreccio mortuorum
and thenne shal y come as akyng a kyng with croune & with angels
and haue out of helle alle mennes soules
Fendes & Fendkines by-fore me shal stande
and be at my biddyng at blisse or at peyne
ac to be merciabel to man þenne my kynde asketh
For we be breþeren of oen blod ac not in baptisme alle
note this —
but alle þat beth myne hol brethren in blod & in baptisme[^1512]
shal neuere in helle eft come be he ones owte
[^1513] Tibi soli peccaui & malum coram te feci
hit is not vsed on erthe to hange any felounes[^1514]
oftir þen ones þough þei were traitoures
and yf þe kyng of þe kyngdom · come in þe tyme
þere a thef thole sholde deth othir iewise
lawe wolde he ȝaf him lif & he lokid on him
and y þat am king ouer kynges shal come such atyme a tyme
þere þat doem to þe deeth dampneth alle wicked
and yf lawe wol loke[^1515] on hem  hit lith in my grace
whethir they die or die not dide þei neuere so ille
Be hit any thing abought þe boldnes of her synne
y may do mercy of my rightwisnes & alle my wordes trewe
For holi writ wole þat y be wroke of hem þat wrought ille
As nullum malum impunitum & nullum bonum irremuneratum
and so of alle wicked y wole here take vengeaunce
and ȝut my kynde in my kene ire shal constraine my[^1516] wille
[^1517] domine ne in furore tuo arguas me & cetera
To be merciable to manye of myne half breþeren
For bloed may[^1518] bloed boþe a-furst & a-cale
ac blod may not se blod · blede but him rewe
[^1519] audiui archana verba que[^1520] non licet homini loqui
Iustyce in hell Mercye in heven .

[Uc.20.456: This marginal comment is bounded on the right by a curly bracket made by hand14.]

But my rightwisnes & right shal regnon in helle
and mercy & mankynde by-fore me in heuene
For y were vnkinde kyng bot y my kyn holpe
and namelich at such a nede þat nedes help asketh
[^1521] Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo
Thus bi lawe quod oure lord · lede y wol fro hennes
þo þat y loue & leued in my comyng
Bot for þe lesing þat þow lowe lucifer til eue
Thow shalt abie bittur quod god & bond him with cheynes
astarot & alle oþere hiddon hem in hernes
þei durste not loke on oure lord þe leste of hem alle
not all ransomed
[^1522]Bot leton him lede forth which he[^1523] luste and leue whiche him liked
Many hondred of aungel aungel[s] harpedon þo & songon
[^1524] Culpat caro purgat caro regnat deus dei caro
þenne pipede pees of poetes anote a note
[^1525] Clarior est solito & cetera . post inimicias inimic[it]ias clarior est & amor[^1526]
after sharpest shoures quod pees most shene is þe sonne
ys no wedor warmore · þen after watury cloudes
Ne no loue leuere · ne leuere frendes
þenne after werre & wrake when loue & pees ben maistres
was neuere werre in this world ne wickeddore enuye
þat loue & him luste to laughinge broughte[^1527]
and pees þorgh pacience alle periles stopped
Trewes quod truthe þow tellest vs soth by Iesus
Clyppe we in couienaunt & vch of vs kisse othir
and lat no pepel quod pees perceyue þat we chide
For impossible is no thing to him þat is almighti
þow saist soth saide rightwisnesse & reuerentlich hir kiste
Pees & pees here per secula seculorum
[^1528] Miseracordia & pax[^1529] obuiauerunt sibi Iusticia & pax osculate sunt
truthe trompede tho & song te deum laudamus
and þenne luted loue in a loud note
[^1530] Ecce quam bonum & quam iocundum & cetera .
Til þe day dawede þis damyseles carolode
þat men rang to þe resurreccion & right with þat y waked
and kalde kitte my wif & calote my doughtur
arise & goo reuerense godes resurreccion
Idolatrye .
and crepe to þe cros on knees & kisse hit for a iewel[^1531]
and rightfollokest a relik noen richere on erthe
For godes blessed body · hit baer for oure bote
and hit affereth þe feend for such is þe myght
May no grisly gost glide þere hit shadoweth

[^1433: Uc.20.92: Russell-Kane: vnspered his yes. Schmidt: vnspered the knyhtes yes. Pearsall: vnspered the knyhte yes. According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, the omission of yes is unique to Uc.]

[^1434: Uc.20.99: MED foul(e, viz. "foully."]

[^1435: Uc.20.99: Russell-Kane: Thenne gan faith felly þe false iewes dispice. Schmidt, and Pearsall: Thenne gan Faith fouely þe fals Iewes to dispice.]

[^1436: Uc.20.107: Russell-Kane: recreaunt.]

[^1437: Uc.20.109: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.20.109-15.]

[^1438: Uc.20.112: ne lond: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ne no londe.]

[^1439: Uc.20.131: MED reuen v.(2), "to dawn, grow light."]

[^1440: Uc.20.144: Russell-Kane: merkenesse.]

[^1441: Uc.20.146: Russell-Kane gives the following after this line, as lines 142-43: That man shal man saue thorw a maydenes helpe / And that was tynt thorw tre, tre shal hit wynne. Schmidt and Pearsall omit the additional line.]

[^1442: Uc.20.147: A [rightward pointing-hand icon] in the left margin and a curly bracket made by hand14 highlight lines Uc.20.147-49.]

[^1443: Uc.20.154: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.20.154-55.]

[^1444: Uc.20.154: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.20.154-55.]

[^1445: Uc.20.157: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1446: Uc.20.162: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.20.162-63.]

[^1447: Uc.20.164: Russell-Kane: Til he be ded and ydo þerto. Schmidt: Til he be ded ydo þerto. Pearsall: Til he be ded and do þerto.]

[^1448: Uc.20.165: Russell-Kane: venemouste.]

[^1449: Uc.20.166: shal: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads so shal.]

[^1450: Uc.20.171: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1451: Uc.20.184: Russell-Kane: And in here gay garnementes.]

[^1452: Uc.20.191: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1453: Uc.20.203: Viz. "world." For similar spelling of worldliche or worldly as wordliche or wordly, see Uc.3.372, Uc.10.93, Uc.12.254, and Uc.21.299.]

[^1454: Uc.20.213: Russell-Kane: let hem chewe.]

[^1455: Uc.20.214: For the a in as, the text scribe initially wrote s but corrected to an a, albeit a taller one than usual, by overwriting.]

[^1456: Uc.20.214: hit: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads hit is.]

[^1457: Uc.20.217: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.20.217-18.]

[^1458: Uc.20.225: dedde: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads hadde nat.]

[^1459: Uc.20.233: MED witen v.(1); OED wot.]

[^1460: Uc.20.233: For the y in ynow, the text scribe initially wrote two minims and then corrected to y by the addition of the tail.]

[^1461: Uc.20.241: al what: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads what al.]

[^1462: Uc.20.242: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1463: Uc.20.245: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin spans lines Uc.20.245-46.]

[^1464: Uc.20.249: Russell-Kane: bere.]

[^1465: Uc.20.254: of: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads quod.]

[^1466: Uc.20.262: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1467: Uc.20.268: hange: The Russell-Kane apparatus, reporting hage for Uc, fails to note the abbreviation-stroke, which forms a long, continuous line with the one from the preceding word.]

[^1468: Uc.20.269: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1469: Uc.20.272: For the g in agaynes, the text scribe seems to have initially written a and then corrected to g by addition of the descender.]

[^1470: Uc.20.281: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1471: Uc.20.284: For the y in glorye, the text scribe seems to have written two minims and then corrected to y by the addition of the tail.]

[^1472: Uc.20.289: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.20.289-90.]

[^1473: Uc.20.291: þa: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads That.]

[^1474: Uc.20.304: manhoed: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Mahond.]

[^1475: Uc.20.304: Russell-Kane: Set Mahond at þe mangnel.]

[^1476: Uc.20.305: For the c in crokes, the text scribe seems to have initially written a tall r and then corrected to c by overwriting the top part of the letter.]

[^1477: Uc.20.305: Russell-Kane: With crokes and kalketrappes acloye.]

[^1478: Uc.20.307: MED gon vb. 8(d), "past."]

[^1479: Uc.20.315: The Russell-Kane apparatus mistakenly reports the omission of and here; the Tironian sign for and, in the form of a plus sign, is spaced so closely to the following word here as to tempt misreading as there.]

[^1480: Uc.20.327: Russell-Kane prints the Latin tag as a separate line.]

[^1481: Uc.20.331: dust: The MED attests this form as a 2 sg. preterite as well as present.]

[^1482: Uc.20.333: A curly bracket in the left margin, probably made by hand14, highlights this line.]

[^1483: Uc.20.335: One could construe for-þi tresoun hit makeþ: "therefore it amounts to treason." The for-þi in the following line makes this reading stylistically repetitious. Moreover, the logic of the preceding two lines suggests that the treason is the cause (þe rote) and not the result of the lack of legitimate claim.]

[^1484: Uc.20.343: Russell-Kane: trolled.]

[^1485: Uc.20.343: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1486: Uc.20.358: Russell-Kane: For we leued on thy lesynges there losten we blisse; / And now for a later lesynge þat thow lowe til Eue, / We haen ylost oure lordschipe.]

[^1487: Uc.20.359: Hand1 is responsible for what is either an otiose abbreviation-stroke over the e in we or a correction of the letter e by overwriting that leaves it about twice its usual height.]

[^1488: Uc.20.360: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1489: Uc.20.360: Russell-Kane relineates thus: 'Nunc princeps huius mundi.' Sethe þat satan myssaide thus foule Lucifer for his lesynges, leue y noen oþer.]

[^1490: Uc.20.362: Russell-Kane: he rebuketh. Schmidt, and Pearsall: here rebuke.]

[^1491: Uc.20.363: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.20.363-66.]

[^1492: Uc.20.365: far: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads for.]

[^1493: Uc.20.366: lyar: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads lyares.]

[^1494: Uc.20.367: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1495: Uc.20.367: Russell-Kane divides into two lines these two parts of Psalm 5.7 between iniquitatem and perdes. Schmidt and Pearsall print them as a single line.]

[^1496: Uc.20.372: The e in made contains a slight extra stroke as if the text scribe began, in ligature with the e, the first bow of the following a but then desisted and left space before the next word.]

[^1497: Uc.20.391: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.20.391-93.]

[^1498: Uc.20.391: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.20.391-93.]

[^1499: Uc.20.393: Above the g in bigiled is an otiose flourish.]

[^1500: Uc.20.393: Russell-Kane: beth bigiled.]

[^1501: Uc.20.397: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1502: Uc.20.400: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1503: Uc.20.400: somme: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads synne.]

[^1504: Uc.20.405: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1505: Uc.20.409: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1506: Uc.20.411: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, and the same in the right margin, span lines Uc.20.411-12.]

[^1507: Uc.20.414: Russell-Kane: gretter.]

[^1508: Uc.20.423: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1509: Uc.20.423: Viz. sitio, "I am thirsty," from John 19.28.]

[^1510: Uc.20.423: Russell-Kane prints the Latin tag as a separate line.]

[^1511: Uc.20.425: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.20.425-26.]

[^1512: Uc.20.433: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.20.433-34.]

[^1513: Uc.20.435: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1514: Uc.20.436: Right-margin sidelining by hand14 extends from this line to the bottom of the side at Uc.20.441 and continues as left-margin sidelining on the verso side to Uc.20.455.]

[^1515: Uc.20.443: Russell-Kane: if lawe wol y loke.]

[^1516: Uc.20.450: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1517: Uc.20.451: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1518: Uc.20.453: may: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads may suffre; Schmidt, and Pearsall, may se.]

[^1519: Uc.20.455: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1520: Uc.20.455: A red caret sign marks the supralinear insertion here.]

[^1521: Uc.20.460: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1522: Uc.20.467: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin highlights this line.]

[^1523: Uc.20.467: he: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads hym.]

[^1524: Uc.20.469: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1525: Uc.20.471: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1526: Uc.20.471: Russell-Kane divides the two tags into two lines, separating them before the word post.]

[^1527: Uc.20.477: Russell-Kane: ne brouhte.]

[^1528: Uc.20.485: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1529: Uc.20.485: pax: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads veritas. Cf. Ps. 84.11.]

[^1530: Uc.20.488: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1531: Uc.20.493: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.20.491-97.]

Explicit dobet & incipit dobest

[^1532] T hus y awaked & wroet what y hadde y-dremed
and dighte me derely & dide me to kirke
To here holly þe masse & to be hoseled after
yn myddes of þe masse þo men ȝede to offring
y fel eft-sones a-slepe & sodeinlich me mette
þat pers þe ploughman was peyntid al blody
and cam yn with a cros bifore þe comune peple
and right lik in alle lymes to oure lord Iesu
and thenne cald y conscience to kenne me þe sothe
ys this Iesus þe ioustere quod y þat iewes didon to dethe
or hit is pers þe ploughman who peintid him rede
pers plough man wereth þe cote armor of Christ

[Uc.21.12: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1533]Quod conscience & kneled þo þis arn cristes[^1534] armes[^1535]
his coloures & his cote armure · bot he þat comeþ so blody
ys crist with his cros conquerour of cristene
whi calle ȝe him crist sithon iewes caldon him Iesus
Patriarkes & prophetes prophecied bifore
þat alle kynne creatures sholdon knele & bowen
Anoen as men nempned of god[^1536] Iesu
[^1537] Ergo þere is no name to þe name of Iesus
Ne noen so nedful to nempnie by nyght ne by day
For alle derk deueles arn drad forto heron hit
And synful ben solased & saued by þat name
And ȝe callon him crist for what cause telleth me
ys crist more of myght & more wortheore name
þen Iesu or Iesus  þat al oure ioye cam of
þow knowest wel quod conscience & þou conne resoun
þat knyght kyng conquerour may be oen persone
To be cald aknyght a knyght is fair for men shal knele to him
To be cald akyng a kyng is fairore · for he may knyghtes make
But to be conquerour cald þat cometh of special grace
And of hardinesse of herte & of hendenesse
To make lordes of laddes · of lond þat he wynneth
And fre men foule thralles þat foloweth not his lawes
þe iewes þat were gentil men Iesu þei dispised
Iewes vnder tribute
[^1538]Bothe his lore & his lawe now ar thei lowe churles
as wide as þe world ys wonyeth þere none
But vnder tribut & taillage · as tikes & churles
and þo þat bicome cristene bicounsel bi counsel of þe baptist
arn frankeleynes & fre men · þorgh folling þat þei toek
and gentil men wiþ Iesu · for Iesu was yfolled
and vpon caluarie on cros ycrowned kyng of iewes
bycometh[^1539] for a[^1540] kyng to kepe & to defende
and conquerour of his conquest his layes & his large
and so dide Iesus þo[^1541] iewes he iustified & taughte hem
þe lawe of lif þat laste shal euere
and fendid hem from foule eueles feueres & fluxes
and fro fendes þat in hem was & fals byleue
Tho was he Iesu of iewes cald gentil prophete
and kyng of here kyngdom & croune baer of thornes
and þo conquered he on cros as conquerour noble
Might no deth him fordo ne adown bringe[^1542]
Þat he ne aroes & regnede & rauyshed helle
And þo was he conquerour cald of quyke & of dede
For he ȝaf Adam & Eue & othir mo blisse
þat longe haddon leye bifore as luciferes churles
and toek lucifer þe lothlich þat lord was of helle
and bond him as he bounde[^1543] with bondes of yron
who was hardiore þen he his herte blod he shedde
To make alle folk fre þat foloweth his lawe
and sithe he ȝiueth largly al his leel lege
places in paradys · at her parting hennes
nota Christ betokneth conqueror ·

[Uc.21.62: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16. The underlining is continuous with that which runs under Uc.21.62.]

he may be wel cald conquerour & þat is crist to mene
But þe cause þat he cometh þus with his cros & his passioun
ys to wisson vs þerwith þat when we ben ytemptid
þere-with to fighte & fende vs fro falling in-to synne
[^1544]and see by his sorowe þat who-so loueth ioye
without the cros no Crowne .
To penaunce & to pouerte he mot putte him selue
and mich wo in this world wilnon & soffron
But to carpe more of crist & how he cam to þat name
Ihesus A Sauioure
Faithly forto speke his furst name was Iesus
Þo he was bore in bedleem as þe boek tellith
and cam to take mankynde kynges & angels
Reuerensed him right faire with richesses of erthe
Angels out of heuene come kneled & songe
Gloria in excelsis deo
kynges cam after kneled & offred[^1545]
Mirre & mich gold with-outon mercy askyng
Or any kynne catelle bot knowlechid him souerayn
Bothe of sand sonne & see · & sithen þei wente
yn-to her kyngene kuth by counsel of angels
and þere was þat word fulfild þe which þou of speke
[^1546] Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Iesu
For alle þe angels of heuene at his birthe kneled
nota
and al þe wit of þe world was in tho thre thinges
Resoun & Rightfulnes & ruthe þei offred
wherfore & whi wise men þat tyme
A definition of the offerings of the three wismen wis men

[Uc.21.87: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1547]Maistres & lettered men · Magi hem calde
þat oen kyng cam with resoun y-keuered vnder sense
The seconde kyng sithe sothlich offred
Rightwisnesse vnder rede gold resounes felawe
Gold is likned to lewte þat laste shal euere
and resoun to riche gold to right & to truthe[^1548]
Reson Righti ousnes

[Uc.21.87: Line-end word-division of Rightiousnes is marked with an equals sign drawn by hand16]

Truth ·
þe thridde kyng cam & kneled to Iesu
and presentid him with pite appering by myrre
For myrre is mercy to mene & mylde spech of tonge
Erthely honest thinges was offred þus at ones
þorgh þre kynne kynges kneling to Iesu
But for al þis precious presentes our lord prince Iesus
was noþer kyng ne conquerour til he comsed wexe
yn þe manere of a man & þat by myche sleithe
as hit bicomeþ for a conquerour to conne many sleythus
and many wiles & wit þat wol be a ledere
and so dide Iesus in his dayes who-so durste tellon hit
som tyme he soffred & som tyme he hidde him
and som tyme he faught faste & fley othir-while
and som tyme he gaf goed · & grauntid hele bothe
lif & lyme as him luste he wroughte
as kynde is of a conquerour so comsed Iesu
Til he hadde alle hem þat he fore bledde
In his Iuuentee þis Iesus at iewene feste
Turned watur in-to wyn as holy writ tellith
and þere bigan god of his grace to do welle
For wyn ys lykned[^1549] to lawe & lif-holinesse
and lawe lackid tho for men loued not her enemyes
and crist counseleth þus & comandith bothe
To lered & lewed[^1550] to loue here enemyes
So at þe feste first as y bifore tolde
Bigan god of his grace & godnesse to do welle
and þo was he cleped & cald not only crist but Iesu
a fauntekyn ful of wit filius marie
for bifore his moder marie made he þat wonder
þat þe[^1551] first & formest sholde ferme bileue
þat he þorgh grace was gete & of no gome elles
he wroughte þat by no wit bot þorgh word one
After þe kynde þat he cam of þere comsed he do welle
and when he was woxon more in his moder absence
he made lame to lepe & ȝaf sight to blynde
and fedde with two fisshes & fyue loues
sore afyngred folk mo þen fyue thousand
þus he counfortid carfole & caughte a grettere name
þe which was dobet where þat he wente
For de ue thorg his doynges & doumbe speke he herde[^1552]
and alle he helid & halpe þat him of grace askid
and þo was he cald yn contray of þe comune peple
For þe dedes þat he dide fili dauid Iesus
For dauid was þe doughtiest of dedes in his tyme
þe Madens or biriydes
þe buyrdes tho songe saul interfecit mille & dauid decem milia
for-þi þe contre þere Iesu cam calde him fili dauid
and nempnid him of nazareth & no man so worthi
To be kaiser or king of þe kingdom of iuda
Ne ouer iewes iustise · as Iesus was hem thoughte
her-of hadde cayphas enuye & oþer iewes
and for to do him to deth day & nyght þei caston
and kildon him on cros wise at caluarie on a friday
and sithon buriodon his body & bedon þat men sholde
kepon hit from nyght comeres with knyghtes armed
for no frend sholde hit fecche for prophetes hem tolde
þat · þat blessid body of buriels sholde arise
and gon in-to galilee & gldon gl[a]don his apostles
and his moder marie thus men afore deuyned
nota
þe knyghtes þat kepton hit biknewon hem seluon
þat angels & archaungels or þe day spronge
comon kneling to þat cors and songon
[^1553] Christus resurgens & hit aroes after
verray man bifore hem alle & forth with hem ȝede
þe iewes preyed hem of pees & preyde þe knyghtes
telle þe comune þat þer cam acompany a company of his apostles
and bywicched hem as þey woke & a-way stelon hit
But marie maudeleyn mette him by þe weye
Goynge toward galile in god-heed & in manheed
a-lyue & lokyng & a-loud cried
yn vch a company þere she cam Christus resurgens
þus cam hit out þat crist ouercam rekeuered & lyuede
[^1554] Sic Christum pati & intrare & cetera .[^1555][^1556]
women can kepe no counsell ·

[Uc.21.165: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

nota
For þat a womman woet hit may not wel be counselle
Petur perceyued al this & pursued aftir
Bothe Iames & Iohan Iesu to seke
Tadee & ten mo with thomas of ynde
and as alle þes wise wies wern to-gidres
yn an hous al by-shut · and her dore barred
Crist kam yn & al closed bothe dore & ȝates
To petur & hise Apostles & saide pax vobis
and toek Thomas by þe hond & taught him to grope
and fele with his fyngres his flesshlich herte
Thomas towchid hit & with his tonge saide
[^1557] dominus meus & deus meus
þow art my lord y bileue god lord Iesu
dyedest & deth tholedest and deme shalt vs alle
and now art lyuynge & lokynge & laste shalt euere
Crist Carped þenne & Corteislich saide
Thomas for þow trowest this & trulich bileuest hit
yblessed mote þow be & be shalt for euere
and yblessed mote þey be in body & in soule
þat neuere shal see me yn sight as þow seest nouthe
and lellich bileuen al this · y loue hem & blesse hem
[^1558] Beati qui non viderunt & crediderunt

[^1532: Uc.21.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital and extends from Uc.20.493 to the bottom of the side at Uc.21.6.]

[^1533: Uc.21.12: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights Uc.21.12-13.]

[^1534: Uc.21.12: Russell-Kane, and Pearsall: Peres. Schmidt: his.]

[^1535: Uc.21.12: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^1536: Uc.21.18: of god: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þe name of god.]

[^1537: Uc.21.19: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1538: Uc.21.35: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.21.34-37.]

[^1539: Uc.21.42: bycometh: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Hit bicometh.]

[^1540: Uc.21.42: A flourish over the a gives the appearance of an otiose tilde.]

[^1541: Uc.21.44: þo: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads þe.]

[^1542: Uc.21.51: In the right margin from Uc.21.51 through Uc.21.54 is a series of faded pen trials apparently representing the letter y. They are arranged in three lines, with five in the first line, six in the second, and six in the third.]

[^1543: Uc.21.57: bounde: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads is bounde.]

[^1544: Uc.21.66: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.21.66-70.]

[^1545: Uc.21.76: Russell-Kane, and Pearsall: offrede sense. Schmidt: offrede / Ensense, mirre and moche gold.]

[^1546: Uc.21.82: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1547: Uc.21.87: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.21.87-97.]

[^1548: Uc.21.90: Russell-Kane: For it shal turne tresoun to riht and to treuthe. Schmidt, and Pearsall: And Resoun to richeles—to riht and to treuthe.]

[^1549: Uc.21.113: A flourish on the end of the l in lykned creates the appearance of an otiose abbreviation-stroke above the y.]

[^1550: Uc.21.116: lewed: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads to lewed.]

[^1551: Uc.21.122: Russell-Kane: she.]

[^1552: Uc.21.132: Russell-Kane: speke & herde.]

[^1553: Uc.21.154: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1554: Uc.21.164: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1555: Uc.21.164: Russell-Kane (as also Schmidt and Pearsall) prints Sic oportet christum pati & intrare &c.]

[^1556: Uc.21.164: This tag seems to conflate two Biblical verses: Luke 24.26, "nonne haec oportuit pati Christum et ita intrare in gloriam suam," and Luke 24.46, "sic oportebat Christum pati et resurgere a mortuis die tertia."]

[^1557: Uc.21.176: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1558: Uc.21.186: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

¶ and when this dede was doen dobest he þowghte
peter
and ȝaf pers power & pardoun he grauntid
To alle manere men mercy & forȝifnes
him[^1559] · myght · men to assoile of alle manere synnes[^1560]
yn couenaunt þat þei come & knowlechid to paie
þe ploughman sonnest pardoned for his sinnes then any other caullinge

[Uc.21.192: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

To pers pardoun þe ploughman Redde quod debes
þus haþ pers power be his pardown paid
To bynde & vnbynde · bothe here & elles
and assoile men of alle synnes saue of dette one
an-noen aften[^1561] on hy · vp in-to heuene
he wente & woneth þere · & wol come at þe laste
and rewarde him rightwel right wel þat Redde quod debes[^1562]
Paieth perfitly as puyr truthe wolde
and what persone paieth hit not punyshon he thenketh
and demen hem at domes-day bothe quyke & de de[de]
the gode to godhede & to gret ioye
and wicked to wonye y[^1563] woo with-owton ende
Thus conscience of crist & of þe cros carped
and counseled me to knele þerto & þenne cam me þought
Oen spiritus paraclitus to pers & to his felawes
yn liknes of alightþing a light þing · a-lighte on hem alle
and made hem conne & knowe alle kynne langages
ywondred y wondred what þat was & waggid conscience
and was a-ferd for þe light for in fuyres liknes
[^1564] Spiritus paraclitus ouersprad hem alle
Quod conscience & knelid þis is cristes messangere
and cometh fro þe grete god grace ys his name
knele now quod conscience & yf þou canst synge
welcome him & worship him with veni creator spiritus
and y sang þat song & so dide many hondred
and criedon with conscience helpe vs god of grace
nota · grace is more aquanted with the ploughman then any other trad .

[Uc.21.218: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

and thenne bigan grace to go with pers þe ploughman
and counseiled him & conscience þe comune to sompne
For y wol dele to-day  & dyuyde grace
to alle kune[^1565] creatures þat can his fyue wittes
Tresour to lyue by to her lyues ende
and wepene to fighte with þat wol neuere faile
nota
For antecrist & hise al þe world shal greue
and a-combre þe conscience bot yf crist þe helpe
false prophetes · Antichrist þe pope . Covetyse .
[^1566]and false prophetes · fele flatureres and glosers
shal come & be curatoures ouer kynges & erles
nota shall sitt in gods sett and bost him-selfe as god

[Uc.21.228: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

and þenne shal pruyde be pope & prince of holichurch
Coueytise & vnkyndenes cardinals him to lede
For-thi quod grace ar y go y wol gyue ȝou tresour
and wepene to fighte with when antecrist ȝou assaillith
and gaf vch man a grace to gye with him seluon
þat ydolnes encombre hem not ne nuye ne pruyde[^1567]
diuisiones graciarum sunt
preachers prestes and lawyers lyve by labor of tonge
som men he ȝaf wit with wordes to shewe[^1568]
To wynne with truthe þat þe world asketh
as prechoures & prestes & prentises of lawe
þey lelly to lyue by labour of tonge
and by wit to wisson othir as grace hem wolde teche
and somme he kenned hem craft & connyng of sight
with sullyng & buggyng her byleue to wynne
and somme he lerid to laboure · on lond & on watur
and lyue by þat labour aleel a leel lif & a trewe
and somme he taughte to tulie to teche & to coke
as her wit wolde when þe time come
and somme to deuyne & diuyde · nombres to kenne
and to compace & coloures to make
and somme to see & to saie what shold bifalle
bothe of wele & of wo and be ywar bifore
as astromyens þorgh astronomye & philosophres wise
and somme to ride · & som to rekeuere þat vnrightfullich was wonne
he wissed men wynne hit aȝen þorgh whitnes[^1569] of handes
and fecchon hit fro fals men with foleuyle lawes
and somme he lerid to lyue in longyng to be hennes
yn pouerte & in pacience to preye for alle cristene
and alle he lerid to be lele & vch a craft loue othir
Ne noen bost ne debate be among hem alle
þough somme be clennere þen somme ȝe sen wel quod grace
þat alle craft & connyng cam of my ȝifte
loke þat noen lacke othir bot louyeth[^1570] as breþeren
and þat most maistries can be myldiste of beryng
and crouneth concience king & makith craft ȝour stiward
and after craftes counsel clothith ȝou & fedith
The ploughman the worlds Stuarde
For y make pers þe ploughman my procuratour & my reue
nota
[^1571]and registrer to resceyuon redde quod debes
My prowor & my ploughman pers shal be on erthe
and forto tulie truthe ateme a teme shal he haue
The Evangelistes ·
grace pers a teme[^1572] foure grete oxon
þat on was luk alarge a large best & a low cherid
& mark & mathew þe thridde myghti bestes bothe
and ioyned to hem oen Iohan most gentille of alle
nota peers the deuins p[...]

[Uc.21.272: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

þe pris neet of pers plough passing alle other
and sithe grace of his godnesse gaf pers foure stottes
al þat his oxes erede þey harowed after
The Doctors .
Oen hette austyn & ambrose anothir
Gregory þe grete clerk & Ierom þe gode
þise foure þe faith to teche folowed pers teme
and harwed in an hand-while al holy scripture
with two aithes þat þei hadde an old & a newe
[^1573] id est vetus testamentum & nouum
and grace gaf pers graynes cardinals vertues
and sowe hit in mannes soule & sithe he tolde her names
[^1574] Spiritus prudencie first[^1575] seed highte
þat who so eet þat ymagine he sholde
ar he dide any dede · deuyse wel þe ende
prudence .
[^1576]and lered men a ladel · bugge with a long stale
þat caste for to kele a crocke · & saue þe fatte aboue
þe seconde sethe[^1577] highte spiritus temperancie
he þat eet of þat seed hadde such a kynde
sholde neuere mete ne myschef maken him to swelle
Temporance
[^1578]Ne sholde no scornere out of skile him bringe
Ne neuere wynnyng[^1579] ne welthe · of worldlich richesse
wasten[^1580] word of ydelnes ne wicked speche meue
sholde no curious cloth comon on his rugge
Ne no mete in his mouth · þat maister iohan spised

[^1559: Uc.21.190: Schmidt: To him. Pearsall: Ȝaf hym.]

[^1560: Uc.21.190: Russell-Kane lines 183-85: And ȝaf peres pardoun and power he graunted hym, / Myhte men to assoyle of alle manere synnes, / To alle manere men mercy and forȝeuenesse.]

[^1561: Uc.21.196: aften: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads aftur.]

[^1562: Uc.21.198: Russell-Kane: reddit quod debet.]

[^1563: Uc.21.203: y: sc. "in." See MED s.v. i, OED s.v. in.]

[^1564: Uc.21.211: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1565: Uc.21.221: kune: viz. kin, i.e. "kind."]

[^1566: Uc.21.226: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.21.226-29.]

[^1567: Uc.21.233: ne nuye: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads enuye; Schmidt and Pearsall, ne Enuye.]

[^1568: Uc.21.235: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.21.235-39.]

[^1569: Uc.21.252: whitnes: Sc. wihtness. See MED s.vv. wight and wightnesse.]

[^1570: Uc.21.260: The text scribe leaves space between the o and the u in louyeth.]

[^1571: Uc.21.265: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.21.264-66.]

[^1572: Uc.21.268: Russell-Kane: Grace gaf Peres a teme.]

[^1573: Uc.21.280: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1574: Uc.21.283: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1575: Uc.21.283: first: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads the furste.]

[^1576: Uc.21.286: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.21.284-87.]

[^1577: Uc.21.288: Russell-Kane: sede.]

[^1578: Uc.21.291: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.21.288-95.]

[^1579: Uc.21.292: The word wynnyng appears to have been written over an erasure.]

[^1580: Uc.21.293: Russell-Kane: Waste.]

[^1581] ¶ þe thridde seed þat pers sew was spiritus fortitudinis
and who-so eet of þat seed hardy was euere
fortytude .
[^1582]To soffre al þat god sente siknes & angres
Mighte no liare with lesinges · ne los of wordly[^1583] catelle
maken for eny mornyng þat he ne was murye in soule
bold & a-biding bismeres to soffre
and pledid[^1584] al with pacience · and parce michi domine
and keuered him vnder counsel of catoun þe wise
[^1585] Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique

[^1581: Uc.21.296: Still visible is the leftmost of the pair of virgules used to mark the insertion point for the paraph marker.]

[^1582: Uc.21.298: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.21.296-99 and continues in the right margin on fol. 115r to line Uc.21.304.]

[^1583: Uc.21.299: See MED and OED for spellings of worldly without the l. Cf. also Uc.3.372, Uc.10.93, and Uc.12.254.]

[^1584: Uc.21.302: pledid: Thus Pearsall. Russell-Kane: pleieþ. Schmidt: plede.]

[^1585: Uc.21.304: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

¶ The ferthe seed þat pers sew was spiritus iusticicie iusticie
and he þat eet of þat seed sholde be euene trewe
with god & not a-gast bot of gile one
For gile goth so priueily þat good faith oþerwhile
May not be aspied þorgh spiritus iusticie
Iustyce .
Spiritus iusticie sparith not to spille[^1586]
hem þat ben gulty · & forto corecte
þe kyng & þe kyng falle yn any a-gult[^1587]
For countith he no kynges wrathe when[^1588] in court sittith
To demon as a domesman adrad was he neuere
Noþer of duk ne of deth · þat he ne dide þe lawe
For present or for preyere or any prinses lettres
he dide equite to alle euenforth his knowyng
þes four sedes pers sew & sethon he dide hem harowe
with olde lawe & new lawe þat loue myght wex
among þes foure vertues · & vices destroye[^1589]
For comunlich in contrayes cammokes & wedes
Fouleth þe fruyt in þe feld þere þey growe to-gidres
and so doth vices vertues for-thi quod pers
haroweth alle þat conneth kynde wit by counsel of þis doctoures
and tulieth aftur teching[^1590] þe cardinal vertues
aȝenes þi graynes quod grace byginneth forto ripe
Ordeyne þe an hous pers to herborow ynne þi cornes
By god grace quod pers ȝe mot ȝiue tymbor
and ordeynon þat hous ar ȝe hennes wende
and grace gaf him þe cros with þe croune of þornes
þat crist vpon caluarie for mankynde on peyned
and of his baptem & blod þat he bledde on rode
he made amanere a manere mortere & mercy hit highte
vnytie
[^1591]and þerewith grace bigan to make agood a good fundament
[^1592]and wateled hit & walled hit with his peynes & his passioun
and of al holy writ he made arof a rof after
and calde þat hous vnite holichurch on english
and when þis dede was don grace deuysed
acarte a carte highte cristondom to carie hom pers sheues
and gaf him caples to his cart contricioun & confessioun
and made presthod hayward þe while him self wente
as wide as þe world ys with pers to tulie truthe
and þe lond of bileue · þen lawe[^1593] of holichurche
pryde
Now ys pers þe ploughman[^1594] · pruyde hit aspied
and gaderid him agret a gret ost greue he thenketh
Conscience & alle cristene & cardinal vertues
Blowe hem down & breke hem · & bite atwo þe mores
and sente forth sorquidoures[^1595] his seriauntz of armes[^1596]
and his spie spilleloue spille loue oen speke euel bihinde
þise two cam to conscience & to cristene peple
and tolde hem tithinges · þat tyne þei sholde þe sedes
þat sire pers sew þe cardinal vertues[^1597]
and pers berne worth broke & þei þat ben in vnite
shal come out & conscience & ȝour two caples
Confessioun & contricioun & ȝour cart þe bileue
shal be to-leured to[^1598] queyntly[^1599] & couered vnder our sophistrie
þat conscience shal not knowe by contricioun
Ne by confessioun who is cristene or hethon[^1600]
Ne no manere marchant þat with money delith
wher he wynne with right with wrong or with vsur
with such coloures & queyntises cometh pruyde armed
with þe lord þat liueth after þe lust of his body
To waston on welfare · and in wicked kepyng
al þe world in a while · þorgh our wit quod pruyde

[^1586: Uc.21.310: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.21.305-18.]

[^1587: Uc.21.312: Russell-Kane lines 302-303: Spiritus iusticie spareth nat to spille the gulty / And to corecte the kyng and the kyng falle in gulte.]

[^1588: Uc.21.313: when: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads when he.]

[^1589: Uc.21.320: Pen-trial scribbles extend through the right margin from Uc.21.320 through 326.]

[^1590: Uc.21.325: teching: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads here techynge.]

[^1591: Uc.21.334: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.21.332-37.]

[^1592: Uc.21.335: A [rightward pointing-hand icon] made by hand14 in the left margin highlights lines Uc.21.332-37.]

[^1593: Uc.21.343: Russell-Kane: the lawe.]

[^1594: Uc.21.344: þe ploughman: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads to the plouh.]

[^1595: Uc.21.348: MED surquidrous, adj., "Presumptuous; proud, arrogant."]

[^1596: Uc.21.348: Thus Schmidt. Russell-Kane, and Pearsall: surquidous, his seriaunte of Armes]

[^1597: Uc.21.352: Russell-Kane lines 342-43: And toelde hem tydynges, þat tyne thei sholde / Þe sedes that sire Peres sewe, þe cardinale vertues.]

[^1598: Uc.21.356: to-leured to: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads coloured so.]

[^1599: Uc.21.356: Russell-Kane: Shal be coloured so queyntly.]

[^1600: Uc.21.358: Russell-Kane prints this line and the preceding as a single line: That Consience shal nat knowe ho is cristene or hethene. Schmidt prints the two lines substantially as they appear here in MS Uc. Pearsall reads thus in a single line: that Consience shal nat know (be contricioun ne bi confessioun) ho is cristene or hethene.]

¶ Quod conscience to alle cristene þo · my counsel ys we wende
hastilich to vnite · & holde we vs þere
preie we þat pes were in pers berne þe ploughman
For weturly ywot y wot wel we be not of strengthe
To gon agayn pruyde · bot grace were with vs
and þenne cam kynde wit concience to teche
and cried & comaundide alle criston peple
To deluon a dich depe a-boute vnite
þat holichurch stod in holinesse as hit were a pole[^1601]
Conscience comaundid þo alle cristen to delue
and make a myche mote þat myghte be a strengthe
To helpe holichurch & hem þat hit kepith
þenne alle kynne cristone saue comune wymmen
nota common hores & Sumpners · enimies to the the Churche

[Uc.21.378: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1602]Repentidon & refusedon synne  saue þey one[^1603]
and a sisour & a sompnour þat wern forsworn ofte
wetinge & wilfully with þe fals þei heldon
and for suluer wern forswore sothly þei wyston hit
þere ne was cristene creature þat kynde wit hadde
þat he ne halp a quantite holines to wexe
somme þorgh bedes bidding · & by pilgrimages
or othir priue penaunses & somme þorgh pens deling
and þenne welled watur for wicked werkes
Egorlich ernyng out at mennes yes
Clannes of þe comune & clerkes clene lyuyng
Made vnite holichurche in holines stonde
y care not now quod conscience þogh pruyde come nouthe
þe lord of lust shal be ylet · al þis lente yhope y hope
Cometh quod conscience ȝe criston & dyneth
þat han laboured lelly · al þis lenton tyme
nota gods body vnder þe elliment of brede not transsupstan ciacon transsupstan ciac[i]on

[Uc.21.394: Line-end word-division of transsupstan ciac[i]on is marked by an equals sign done by hand16.]

here ys bred yblessed & godes body þere-vndor
Grace þorgh godes word gaf pers þe ploughman
power & myght to maken hit & men forto eton hit
yn help of her hele ones in a monthe
Or as often as þei haddon nede þo þat haddon payd
To pers pardoun þe ploughman · Redde quod debes
how quod al þe comune thow counseilest vs to ȝelde
al þat we owon any wyght ar þat we go to hosele
þat is my counsel quod conscience & cardinal vertues
Or vch man forȝiue othir & þat wol þe paternoster
[^1604] Et dimitte nobis debita nostra & cetera
and so to ben assoiled & sithon to ben hoseled
A baudy Bruer ·
ȝe baw quod a breware ywol y wol not be ruled
By Iesu for al ȝour ianglyng · after spiritus iusticie
Ne after conscience by crist y couthe selle[^1605]
Bothe dregges & draf & drawe at on hole
Thicke ale & thinne & þat is myn kynde
and not to hacke after holines hold þi tonge conscience
Of spiritus iusticie þow spekest myche yn ydel
Caitif quod conscience corsid wrecche
vnblessed art þow brewere · bot yf þe god helpe
Bot yf þow lyue by lore of spiritus iusticie
þe chef seed þat pers sew · saue[^1606] worst þou neuere
Bot conscience þi comune fode[^1607] & cardinal vertues
Leue hit we ben lost boþe lif & soule
A vile vicare nota ·
þenne ys man[^1608] lost quod a lewed vicary
I am a curatour of holichurch & kam neuere in my tyme
Man to me þat me couthe telle of cardinal vertues
or þat acountid conscience acockes a cockes fethere or henes
I knew neuere cardinal þat he ne cam from þe pope
and we clerkes when þei come for her comunes paieth
For her pelure & palfrayes mete & peloures þat hem foloweth
þe comune clamat cotidie vch aman a man to othir
Lecherye regneth wher Cardynals dwell . /
[^1609]þe contrey is þe corsedore þat cardinals cometh ynne
and þere þei liggeth & lenge most · leccherie þere regneth
For-þi quod þis vicary · by veray god ywolde y wolde
þat no cardinal come among þe comune peple
Bot in her holines holdon hem stille
at auynovn among iewes cum sancto sanctus eris
or in Rome as her rule wolde · þe relikes to kepe
and þow conscience in kynges court & sholde neuere come þennes
and grace þat þou gredost so of gyour of alle clerkes · a[^1610][^1611]
and pers with his new plough & also his olde
Emperour of al þe world þat alle men wer cristene

[^1601: Uc.21.373: Russell-Kane: as hit a pyle were. Schmidt, and Pearsall: as hit were a pile.]

[^1602: Uc.21.378: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.21.378-79.]

[^1603: Uc.21.378: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin spans lines Uc.21.378-79.]

[^1604: Uc.21.404: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin quotation here.]

[^1605: Uc.21.408: Russell-Kane: while y can sulle.]

[^1606: Uc.21.416: Russell-Kane: ysaued.]

[^1607: Uc.21.417: Russell-Kane: Bote Consience be thy comunes. Schmidt: Bote Consience be thy comune fode. Pearsall: Bote Consience thy comune fynde.]

[^1608: Uc.21.419: man: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads many a lyf.]

[^1609: Uc.21.427: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.21.427-30.]

[^1610: Uc.21.435: Probably MED o adv., "ever."]

[^1611: Uc.21.435: clerkes a: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads Clerkes.]

the pope shold save .

¶ Inperfit is þat pope þat alle peple sholde helpe[^1612]
and sowdith hem þat sleeth such as he sholde saue
But wel worth pers þe ploughman · þat pursueth god in doynges
[^1613] Qui pluit super iustos & iniustos at ones
and sent þe soule[^1614] to saue acorsed a corsed mannes tulthe
as bright as to þe beste man or to þe best womman
Right so pers þe ploughman payneth him to tulie
as wel for a wastour & for[^1615] a wenche of þe stues
as for him self & his seruantz saue he is furst yserued
so y-blessid be pers þe ploughman þat peyneth him to tulie
and trauaileth & tulieth for a traitour al-so sore
as for a trewe tidy man alle tymes y-lik
and worsheped[^1616] be he þat wroughte al bothe goed & wicke
and soffreþ þat synfol be til som tyme þat þei repente
the popes vyces .
and god amende þe pope þat pileth holichurche[^1617]
and claymeth byfore þe kyng to be kepere ouer cristene
and countith not þggh þ[o]gh cristene be kild & y-robbed
and fynde folk to fighte & cristene blod to spille
aȝen þe olde lawe & þe newe as luk berith witnes
[^1618] Non occides michi vindictam & cetera .
hit semeth by so him self hadde his wille
him recketh right nought of þe remenant
and crist of his cortesie þe cardinals saue
and torne her wit to wisdom[^1619] & to wel for þe soule
Iesus
For þe comune quod þis curatour counton fol lytol
þe counsel of conscience or cardinal vertues
Bot yf þey soune as by sight somwhat to wynnyng
Of gile ne of gabbynges gyueth þei neuere tale
prouidence in oure daies ys but gyle

[Uc.21.466: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

For spiritus prudencie among þe peple ys gile
and alle þo faire vertues as vises þei semeth
For vch man sotileth a[^1620] sleithe synne to huyde
and coloureth hit for a connyng & a clene lyuyng

[^1612: Uc.21.438: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.21.438-39.]

[^1613: Uc.21.441: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1614: Uc.21.442: Russell-Kane: sonne.]

[^1615: Uc.21.445: & for: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads and; Schmidt and Pearsall, or for.]

[^1616: Uc.21.450: The word worsheped is divided as worshe and ped by the text scribe's having written around a hole in the vellum.]

[^1617: Uc.21.452: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.21.452-56.]

[^1618: Uc.21.457: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1619: Uc.21.461: The m in wisdom has an unusually long leading stroke for the minuscule form. Apparently the scribe began to write an e and corrected to m without erasure.]

[^1620: Uc.21.468: The scribe first wrote the s of the following word, realized his omission of this a, and turned the sigmoid s into a very tall a by adding an upper loop and a vertical.]

¶ þenne lough þere alord a lord & by þis light saide
I halde[^1621]Right & resoun of my reue to take
al þat myn auditour or elles my stiward
Counseleth me by her acounte & my clerkes writing
with spiritus intellectus þei cote[^1622][^1623] þe reues rolles
and with spiritus fortitudinis fecche hit wol he nyl he
and þenne cam þere akyng a kyng & by his corone saide
y am kyng with corone þe comune to rule
and holy churche & clergie for[^1624] corsed men to defendon
and if me lackith to lyue by þe lawe wol þat y take hit
the Kinge is above his Lawe . yet ounder þe rigore of þe lawe by reprihension as Nathan rebucked Dauid .
[^1625]þere y may hastilokest hit haue for y am hed of lawe
and ȝe ben bot membres & y aboue alle
and sithe y am ȝouraller ȝour aller heed · yam y am ȝour aller hele
and holichurche chef help & cheueteyn of þe comune
and what ytake y take of ȝou to ytake y take hit at þe teching
Of spiritus iusticie for iugge[^1626] ȝow alle
so y may baldely be hoseled · for I bowe neuere
Ne craue of my comune bot as my kynde asketh
yn condicioun quod conscience þat þow þe commne com[u]ne defende
and rule þi reme in resoun right wel & in truthe
þat þou haue al thin askyng as þi lawe asketh
[^1627] Omnia sunt tua ad defendendum set non deprehendendum[^1628]
þe vicary hadde fer hom & fair toek his leue
and y awakned þerwith & wrot as me mette

[^1621: Uc.21.471: Russell-Kane: halde hit.]

[^1622: Uc.21.474: MED coten v. (2): "(a) To annotate (a book); (b) to compute (years), reckon." The OED headform is quote.]

[^1623: Uc.21.474: Russell-Kane: they toke.]

[^1624: Uc.21.478: Russell-Kane: fro.]

[^1625: Uc.21.480: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.21.476-91.]

[^1626: Uc.21.485: Russell-Kane: y iuge.]

[^1627: Uc.21.491: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1628: Uc.21.491: deprehendendum: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads ad deprehendendum.]

[Uc.22.0: A CC-style pointer in red highlights the Latin heading here.] Passus secundus de Dobest [Uc.22.0: A flourish on the t in Dobest forms a virgule which is then followed by another, parallel virgule in the same ink as that of hand1.]

[^1629] A Nd as y wente by þe way when y was þus wakened[^1630]
heuy[^1631] chered y ȝede & elinge in herte
For y ne weste where to ete ne at what place
and hit neyghed ny þe noen & with nede y mette
þat afrountid me foule & faitour me calde
Cowdest þow not excuse þe as dide þe king & othir
þat þow toke to lyue by to clothus & to sustinaunce
was by teching & by tellyng of spiritus temperancie
and þat nome[^1632] no more þen nede þe taughte
Need hath no Lawe . /
and nede hath no lawe ne neuere shal falle in dette
For þre thinges þat he takith his lif forto saue
þat is mete when men him wernyth for he no money[^1633] weldiþ
Ne with[^1634] þat noen wol be his borow[^1635] · ne wed haþ[^1636] to legge
and he cacche in þat caes · and come þerto by sleiþe
he synneth not sothlich þat so wynneþ his fode
and þogh he come so to a cloþ & can no bettere cheuisaunce
Nede anoen-right nymeth vnder maynprise
and yf him luste forto lape · þe lawe of kynde wolde
þat he dronk at vch adich a dich ar he deye for furst
So nede at gret nede may nyme as for his owne
with-owton counsel of conscience · ar[^1637] cardinal vertues
So þat he sewe & saue spiritus temperancie
For ys no vertue by fer  to spiritus temperancie
Nouthir spiritus iusticie ne spiritus fortitudinis
for spiritus fortitudinis forfetith ful ofte
he shal do more þen mesure many tymes & ofte
and bete men ouer bitere & som body to litel
and greue men grettere þen good faith hit wolde
and spiritus iusticie shal iuggen wol he nyl he
after þe kynges counsel and þe comune like
and spiritus prudencie in many apoynt a poynt shal faile
of þat he weneth wol[^1638] falle · yf his wit ne were
Timor dei is wisdome

[Uc.22.33: This marginal comment is bounded on the right by a curly bracket made by hand16 in the form of stacked parentheses.]

nota
wenyng ys no wysdom ne wys ymaginacion
[^1639] homo proponit deus disponit god gouerneþ alle gode vertues[^1640]
Neede meeketh · a proud mnde minde ·

[Uc.22.35: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

nota
and nede ys nexst him for anoen he meketh
and as lowe ase a lomb · for lackyng þat him nedith
Diogines disdained all vaine glory
For nede maketh nede · fele nedes low herted[^1641]
philophres philo[so]phres forsoke welthe for þei wolde be nedy
and wonedon ful elyngly · & woldon not be riche
and god al his gret ioye gostliche he lefte
Christ became need for vs

[Uc.22.41: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

and cam & tok mankynde & bycam nedy
so he was nedy as saith þe boek · in many sondri places
þat he saide in his sorowe · on þe self rode
Needye . /
Bothe fox & foul may fle to hole & crepe
and þe fish hath fyn to flete with to reste
þere nede hath ynome me · þat y mot nede abide
and soffre sorowes ful soure þat shal to ioye turne
nota . A greate compfort in necessi [tie]
For-þi be not abasht to abide & be nedy
Sithon he þat wroughte þe world · was wilfollich nedy
Ne neuere noen so nedy ne porore[^1642] dyede

[^1629: Uc.22.1: Red tracework surrounds the ornamental capital here and extends from the top of the side through Uc.22.17.]

[^1630: Uc.22.1: wakened: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads awaked.]

[^1631: Uc.22.2: Staining from a liquid has nearly blotted out the h in heuy, but the letter is still barely visible.]

[^1632: Uc.22.9: nome: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads thow nome.]

[^1633: Uc.22.12: Hand1 uses a caret sign here to show the supralinear insertion of the rest of the line because of line-end crowding.]

[^1634: Uc.22.13: with: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads wyht.]

[^1635: Uc.22.13: Russell-Kane, and Schmidt: Ne wyht non wol be his borwe. Pearsall: Ne wyht þat now wol be.]

[^1636: Uc.22.13: ne wed haþ: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc, although Fc reads the closely similar ne hath wed. Russell-Kane reads ne wed hath non; Schmidt and Pearsall, ne no wed hath.]

[^1637: Uc.22.21: ar: The MED lists this form (s.v. or) as an error. However, the OED says, "Forms parallel to or are ar (reduced from aþer), er (from either); our, treated here, may be reduced from outher."]

[^1638: Uc.22.32: Russell-Kane: wolde.]

[^1639: Uc.22.34: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1640: Uc.22.34: Russell-Kane prints the Latin tag as a separate line.]

[^1641: Uc.22.37: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.22.37-39.]

[^1642: Uc.22.50: Between porore and dyede is a blot of the ink used by hand1, too large for a punctus.]

[^1643] ¶ when nede hadde vndor-nome þus · anoen y fel a-slepe
and mette ful merueylously · þat in mannes fourme
antecrist cam þenne · & al þe crop of truthe
Torned hit tid vpsedown · & ouertult þe rote
freares folowe Antechriste .
[^1644]and made fals springe & sprede & spede men nedes
yn vch a contre þere he cam kut awey truthe
nota Gile þe grounde of Antechrist
and gart gile growe þere · as he a god were
Freres folowed þat fend for he ȝaf hem copes
and religious reuerensed him & rongon her belles
and al þe couent cam to welcome atiraunt a tiraunt
as marters Christians gods Fooles in this world

[Uc.22.61: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

and alle hise as wel as him · saue onlich foles[^1645]
but fooles will rather dye . / /
[^1646]wer wel gladdore to deye þen to lyue lengore
[^1647]Sython þat lewte was so rebuked[^1648][^1649]
of a fals feend antecrist · þat ouere alle folk regned[^1650]
and þat were mylde men & holy þat myschef[^1651] draddon
defied al falsnesse & folk þat hit vsed
and what kyng þat hem counfortid knowyng her gile
þei corsed & her counselle wer hit clerk or lewed
antecrist hadde þus sone hondredes at his baner
Antechristes battayl ayenst Conscyence .
and pruyde hit bar baldely aboute[^1652]
with a lord þat lyueth after lyking of body
þat cam aȝen conscience þat keper was & gyour
Ouer kynde cristene & cardinal vertues

[^1643: Uc.22.51: Still visible is the leftmost of the pair of virgules used to mark the insertion point for the paraph marker.]

[^1644: Uc.22.55: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.22.53-61.]

[^1645: Uc.22.61: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin spans lines Uc.22.61-63.]

[^1646: Uc.22.62: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.22.62-63.]

[^1647: Uc.22.63: Three lines of marginal annotation have been erased from the bottom left margin.]

[^1648: Uc.22.63: Russell-Kane lines 62-63: Whiche foles were wel gladere to deye / Then to lyue lengere sethe leautee was so rebuked.]

[^1649: Uc.22.63: An end-of-line space-filler in the form of a large tilde appears to have been drawn by hand16.]

[^1650: Uc.22.64: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads And a fals fende auntecrist ouer all folke regnede.]

[^1651: Uc.22.65: For the f in myschef, the text scribe appears to have begun writing an st ligature, stopped, and corrected by overwriting with an ink blot at the point of ligature.]

[^1652: Uc.22.70: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the right margin spans lines Uc.22.69-73.]

¶ I counsele quod conscience tho cometh with me ȝe foles
vnite þe castell of christianitie of all gods fooles in the churche

[Uc.22.75: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1653]yn-to vnite holichurche & hald we vs þere[^1654]
and crie we to kynde þat he come & defende vs
Foles · fro þe fendes lymes for pers loue þe ploughman
and crie we on al þe comune þat þei come to vnite
and þere abide & bikore aȝens belials childron

[^1653: Uc.22.75: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.22.74-78.]

[^1654: Uc.22.75: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin spans lines Uc.22.74-78.]

¶ kynde conscience þo herde & cam out of þe planetes
and sente forth his forreoures feueres & fluxes
Coughes & cardiakles crampes & tothakes
Reumes & Radegoundes · and roynous scabbes
Byles & bocches and brennyng agwes
pestilences and warres are sent of god to fight againste Antechrist and his angells

[Uc.22.85: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Frenesies & Foul eueles forageres of kynde[^1655]
hadde ypriked an prayed[^1656] · polles of peple
a legion of angels attend on ante christe

[Uc.22.87: Line-end word-division of antechriste is marked by an equals sign done by hand16. The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1657] largly a legioun lees þe lif sone
þere was harow & helpe here cometh kynde
with deth þat is dredful to vndon vs alle
The lord þat lyued aftur lust · þo a-lowd cried
after counfort a knyght come & bere his banere
alarme alarme quod þat lord · vch lif kep his owne
Thenne mette thise men as[^1658] mynstrals myght pipe
And ar heraudes of armes haddon discreued lordes
old . age . bereth deathes standerd
Elde þe hore was[^1659] in þe vant-warde
and bar þe baner bifore deth · by right he hit claymed
kynde cam after him with many kene sores
as pockes & pestilenses & myche pepel shente
so kynde þorgh corupcions kilde ful manye
deth cam driuyng after & al to dust pashte
kynges & knyghtes kaysers & popes
Death killeth all estates .
[^1660]lered ne lewed he lefte noen[^1661] stonde
þat he hitte him euene[^1662] þat euere stired after
Many a louely lady & her lemmanes knyghtes
swouned & swelte for sorow of deþus dyntes
Conscience of his cortesie þo kynde bysoughte
To sese & to soffre & see wher þei wolde
leue pruyde priueylich and bicome cristene[^1663]

[^1655: Uc.22.85: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin spans lines Uc.22.81-93.]

[^1656: For the r in prayed, the text scribe appears to have written an a and then overwritten with the r.]

[^1657: Uc.22.87: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.22.81-93.]

[^1658: Uc.22.93: Russell-Kane: ar.]

[^1659: Uc.22.95: Russell-Kane: he was.]

[^1660: Uc.22.102: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.22.100-105.]

[^1661: Uc.22.102: noen: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads no man.]

[^1662: Uc.22.103: Russell-Kane: That he hitte euene.]

[^1663: Uc.22.108: Russell-Kane: and be parfyt cristene.]

¶ and kynde sesid þo · to see þe peple amende
Fortune gan flateron þenne · to fewe þat wern on lyue
and bihight hem long lif & leccherie he sente
amonges alle manere men weddid & vnweddid
lecheryes · battayll ayenst Conscience
[^1664]and gaderid a greet ost al agayn conscience
þis leccherie leyd on with laughing chere
lecherie liuerie is continuall Idelnes with flatterie and decepte

[Uc.22.115: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

and with priue speche & peyntid wordes[^1665]
and armed him in ydelnes & in hi bering
he bar a bowe in his hond & many brod arwes
wern feþered with fair bihest · and many afals a fals truthe
with vntidy tales he tened ful ofte
Conscience & his company of holichurche þe techers
Covetyse also ayenst Consciens
[^1666] þenne cam coueitise & cast how he myghte
Covetysnes liuerie is nigarlines and wiles

[Uc.22.122: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

Ouercome conscience & cardinal vertues[^1667]
and armed him in auarice and hongrilich lyuede
his wepene was al wiles · to wynnon & to huydon
with glosinges & gabbynges he giled þe peple
Symonye causeth þe pope to hold with Antechryste .

[Uc.22.126: This comment continues at Uc.22.129.]

Symonie him sued to assaile conscience[^1668]
and presed on þe pope & prelates þei made
To holde with antecrist her temporalte to saue
Knocketh conscyence .

[Uc.22.129: This comment is continued from Uc.22.126 and continues at Uc.22.131.]

and cam to þe kynges counsel · as a kene baroun
and knocked conscience yn court bifore hem alle
dryveth away fayth .

[Uc.22.131: This comment is continued from Uc.22.129 and continues at Uc.22.132.]

and garte god faith fle & fals to a-bide
nota overthroweth wisdom of Westminster hall .

[Uc.22.132: This comment is continued from Uc.22.131 and continues at Uc.22.134.]

[^1669]and baldlich bar adoun · with many abright a bright noble
Miche of þe wit & wisdom of westmynster halle
overturneth truth

[Uc.22.134: This comment is continued from Uc.22.132 and continues at Uc.22.136.]

he iogged til a iustice & ioustid in his here[^1670]
and ouertulte al his truþe wyth tak þis on amendment
turneth Syvile in þe . Arches . / &

[Uc.22.136: This comment is continued from Uc.22.134 and continues at Uc.22.138.]

and yn-to þe arches in hast he ȝede anoen after
and turned Syuyle in-to symonye & siþe he toek þe official
parteth Matrimonye by devorce . /

[Uc.22.138: This comment is continued from Uc.22.136.]

and for a menyuer mantelle he maed leel matrimoyne
departon ar deþ come · and a devors shapte
[^1671]alas quod conscie conscie[nce] þo & cried , wolde crist of his grace
þat coueitise wer cristene þat is sokene so kene to fighte
and bold & abyding þe while þe bagge lastith
nota liuely loue clad in vaine harlotry which holdeth religion a geste
and þenne lough lif & leet dagge his clothes
and armed him in hast in harlotes wordes
and held holynes a iape & hendnes a wastour
and leet leute a churl & lyare a fre man
Conscyence accompted folye . /
Conscience & counsel he countid hit folie
vaine folly of youtfull youthfull lyfe

[Uc.22.148: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

nota
Thus reliede lif for a litel fortune
and priketh forth with pruyde preyseþ he no vertue
Ne carith not how kynd slough and shal come at þe laste
and kille al erthly creature saue conscience onely[^1672]
lyf health and pride of harte regards not consience nor deathe
lif lepte a-side & laught him alemman a lemman[^1673]
nota
[^1674]hele & y quod he and hynes of herte
shal do þe not drede noþer deth ne elde
and to forȝete ȝouthe & ȝiue not of synne
Iesu mercy lady helpe lyf and fortune begate in there youth Sleuthe who marride in his boysage a Post knigtes

[Uc.22.156: OED post-knight, "a notorious perjurer."]

daughter in a vaine hope · of youthe ·
þis liked lif & his lemman fortune[^1675]
and geton in her glorie a gadeling at þelaste þe laste
Oen þat miche wo wroughte sleuthe was his name
sleuthe wax wonder ȝerne & sone was of age
nota
[^1676]and weddid on wanhope a wench of þe stuyues
her sire was a sysour þat neuere swor truthe
Oen tomme tow tonge ateynt at vch enquest
This sleuthe was sly of werre & a slynge made
and þorgh[^1677] drede of dispair a dozeyn myle abouton
For care conscience þo cried vpon Elde
and bad him fonde to fight · and a-fere wanhope
and Elde hente good hope & hastilich shrof him
and wayued away wanhope · & with lif he fightiþ
and lif fley for feer to fisik after helpe
and bisought him of socour and of hir salue hadde
and gaf him gold good oen[^1678] þat gladid her hertes
and þei geuon him agayn a glason houe
lif leued þat leche-craft lette sholde elde
and drif away[^1679] deth with dyaes & drogges
and elde avntred him on lif & at þe laste he hitte
a ficisian with a forred hoed þat ful[^1680] in a palesy
þe vicare of Bindbrocke .
and þere died þat doctour ar þre dayes after
Now y see saide lif þat surgerie ne fisik
May not amyte a myte a-vaile to medlon aȝen elde
No surgerye nor physik ayenst old age . /
and yn hope of his hele good herte he hente
and roed so to reuel a riche place & a mury
The companye of counfort men cleped hit somtyme
age is bald befor
[^1681]and elde after him & ouer myn hede ȝede
and made me balled byfore · & bare on þe crowne
so harde he ȝede[^1682] ouer myn heed hit wol be sene euere
Sire euel taught elde quod y · vnhende go with þe
sithon whanne was þe way ouer mennes hedes
haddest þou be hende quod y · þou wost haue asked leue
ȝe leue lordeyn quod he · & leyd on with age
nota þe ere yelds to elde
and hitte me vndor þe ere vnneþe may y here
þe teth and grinders decaeth
[^1683]he boffetid me aboute þe mouth & beet out my wangteþ
and gyued me in goutes y may not go at large
þe leges are gouttie
and of þe wo þat y was ynne my wif hadde ruthe
and wyshte wel weturly · þat y were in heuene
For þe leme þat she loued me fore & leef was to fele
on nyghtes namelich when we naked were
mariage and elde killeth lust . of þe body .
[^1684]y ne myght in no manere maken hit at her wille[^1685]
so elde & she hit hadde forbete
all men miste m[u]ste paie there debt to Nature ·

[Uc.22.199: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

and as y sat in this sorowe y say how kynde passed
and deþ drough ny me for drede gan y quakon
and cried to kynde out of kare me bringe
Lo how elde þe hore hath me biseye
a-wrek me yf ȝour wille be for y wolde be hennes
yf þow wolt be wreke wende in-to vnite
and halde þe þere euere til y sende for the
and loke þou conne som craft · ar þou þennes[^1686]
Counseleth[^1687] me kynde quod y · what craft be best to lerne
lerne to loue quod kynde · and lef alle oþere
how shal y come to catelle so to cloþe me & to fede
nota þe godlie which loue god truly shall never lacke in this lyfe , nor in þe lyfe to come
and þou loue lelly lacke shal þe neuere
wede ne worldly mete whil þi lif lastith
and y bycounsel by counsel of kynde comsed to rome
Thorgh contricioun & confessioun · til y cam to vnite
and þere was conscience constable cristene to saue
and biseged sothly with seuene grete geauntz
þat with antecrist heldon hard aȝen conscience
sleuthe with his slynge · an hard saut he made
Proude prestes come with him passing an hundred
yn paltokes & piked shoes & pissers longe knyues
Comon aȝen conscience with coueitise þei heldon
nota litle or no consience to be founde in the marches of Irelande

[Uc.22.221: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

By þe marie quod a mased prest was of þe march of yrland[^1688]
ycounte y counte no more conscience by so y cacche suluer
Then ydo y do to drinke adraught a draught of good ale
and so saide sixty of þe same contre
and shoton aȝenes him with shet many a shef of oþes
and brode hoked arwes godes herte & his nayles
and haddon al-most vnite and holinesse adowne
Conscience cried help clergie or y falle
þorgh inperfit prestes & prelates of holichurche
Freres herde him crie & comon him to helpe
Ayenst prestes & freres
[^1689]and for þei cowde not wel her craft conscience forsok hem
Nede neyghed þo ner & conscience he tolde
þat þei cam for coueytise to haue cure of soules
and for þei arn pore perauntur for patrimonie hem faileþ
þey wol flatere to fare wel folk þat ben riche
and sithon þey chose chele · and cheitifte pouerte
lat hem chewe as þei chose · and charge hem wiþ no cure
For lomere he lieth · þat liflode mot bye[^1690]
þen he þat laboureþ for liflode · & leneth hit beggeres
and sithon freres forsoke · þe felice felic[it]e of erthe
lat hem be as beggeres · or lyue by angels fode
Conscience of þis counsel þo comsed forto laughe
and corteislich counfortid hem & calde hem in alle freres
and saide sires sothly welcome be ȝe alle
To vnite & holichurche ac oen þing y ȝou preye
holdith ȝou in vnite & haueth noen enuye
To lered ne to lewed bot lyueth after ȝour rule
and y wol y wol be ȝour borow ȝe shal haue bred & clothus
and othir necessaries ynowe ȝou shal nothing lacke
with þat ȝe leue logik & lerneth forto louye
For loue lefte þei lordshipe boþe lond & scole
Frere Fraunceys & domynyk for loue to be holy
and yf ȝe coueyteth cure kynde wol ȝou telle
þat in mesure god made alle manere thinges
and sette hit at a certeyn & at a sykor nombre
and nempned hem names & nombred þe sterres
[^1691] Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum & cetera .
kynges & knyghtes þat kepon & defendon
han officeres vnder hem & vch of hem a certeyn
and yf þei wage men to werre þei writon[^1692] hem in nombre
wol no tresorer taken hem wages trauaile þei neuere so sore
Bot hi ben nempned in þe nombre of hem þat beþ wagid
alle othir in bataille ben holde briboures
Piloures & pikharneys yn vch aparish a parish acorsed
Monks & monials & alle men of religioun
her ordre & her rule wole to haue a certeyn nombre
Conscyence will not give ought to þe freres . they are so many & out of Nombre
of lewed & of lered þe lawe wol & asketh
a certeyn for a certeyn saue onlich of freres
For-þi quod conscience by crist kynde wit me tellith
hit is wicked to wage ȝou ȝe wexith out of nombre
heuen hath euene nombre · & helle ys with-outon nombre
For-thi y wolde weturly þat ȝe were in registre
and ȝour nombre vnder notarie signe & noþer mo ne lasse
Enuye herde þis & het freres go to scole
and lerne logik & lawe & eke contemplacion
and preche men of plato & preuon hit by seneca
þat alle thinges vnder heuene ought to be in comune
he lieth as y leue þat to þe lewed so prechith
For god made to men a lawe & moises hit taughte
Non concupisces rem proximi tui & cetera
[^1693] andeuel and euel ys þis yholde in parishes of yngelond
For persounes & parishprestes parish prestes þat sholde þe pepel shriue
and þei ben curatoures cald to knowe & to hele
alle þat ben her parishenes penaunses enioynon
and ben a-shamed in her shrifte · but shame makeþ hem wende
and fle to þe freres as fals folk to westmynster
þat boroweþ & berith hit þidor & þenne biddoþ frendes
ȝerne of forȝeuenes · or lengor ȝeres leue
But while he ys in westmynster he wol be bifore
and maken him murye with oþer mennes godes
and so hit fareth with myche folk þat þe[^1694] freres shriueþ
as sisoures & secutoures · þei shal ȝiue þe freres
a parcelle to preye for hem & make hem murye with þe remenant
þat othir men byswonke[^1695]
and soffron þe dede in dette · to þe day of dome
Envye fyndeth freres at Schole
Enuye her-fore hatid conscience
and freres to philosophie he fond hem to scole
The while coueytise & vnkyndnes conscience assailed
yn vnite holichurche conscience held him
and made pees portere to pynne þe ȝates
of alle tale tellers and titereres yn idel
ypocrysie .

[Uc.22.302: Hand16 here gives, apparently as a line-end space filler, a flourish in the form of a large tilde with looped ends.]

woundeth many prechares
ypocrisie & þei an hard sawt þei ȝeuon
ypocrisie at þe ȝate · harde gan fighte
and woundid wel wickedly · many awys a wys techere
þat with conscience acordid & cardinal vertues
Conscience calde a leche þat couthe wel shriue
Go salue þat sik were & þorgh synne ywoundid
shrifte shop sharp salue and made men do penaunses
For her mysdedes þat þey wrought hadde
And þat pers pardoun wer paid Redde quod debes
somme liked not þis leche · and letteres þei sente
yf any surgien wer in þe sege þat softere cowde plastere
Sire lif to lyue in leccherie lay þere & groned
For fasting of a friday · he ferde as he wolde dye
þere is a surgien in sege[^1696] · þat softe can handle
freare flatterye a phisician & surgean

[Uc.22.316: This comment is bounded on the left by a curly bracket done by hand14.]

and more of fisik bi fer & fairore he plasteres
Oen frere flaterere ficisien[^1697] & surgien
Quod contricioun to conscience do him come to vnite
For here is many hurt þorgh ypocrisie
we han no nede quod conscience ywot y wot no bettur leche
þen persoun oþer parissh prest penytauncer or bisshope
Saue pers þe ploughman þat haþ power ouer hem alle
and indulgence may do bot yf dette lette hit
y may wel soffre saide conscience sithon ȝe desiron
þat frere flaterere be fet and fisik ȝou seke
¶[^1698] þe frere herof herde & hiede faste
To a lord for a lettere · leue haue to curon
as a curatour he were and kam with his lettere
Baldelich to þe bisshope and his brief hadde
yn contreis þere he cam confessiounes to here
and cam þere conscience was · and knocked at þe ȝate
Pees vnpynned hit · was porter of vnite
and yn hast asked what his wille were
yn faith quod this frere · for profith & for helthe
Carpe wolde · I · with contricioun & þerfore y kam hidor
he is sik saide pees · & so ar many othere
ypocrisie haþ hirt hem · ful hard is · ar þei keuere
yam y am a surgien saide þe frere · and salues can make
Conscience knoweth me wel · and what y kan bothe
y preye þe quod pers[^1699] þo · ar þow passe forthere
what hattist þou · I · preye þe hele not þin name
Certes saide his felawe · sire penetrans domos
ȝe goo þi gate quod pers[^1700] by god for al þin fisik
bot þow conne any craft þow comest not her-ynne
y knew suchon such on ones not eighte wyntur passed
kam in þus ycoped at a court þere y dwelte
and was my lordes leche & my ladies bothe
and at þe laste þis limitour þo my lord was oute
hippocreticall

[Uc.22.349: The r in hippocreticall has been thickly overwritten (as long r), then further clarified by the addition of a 2-shaped r above the original letter.]

women friers with the salue of loue .

[Uc.22.349: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

nota
he salued so oure wymmen til somme wern with childe

[^1664: Uc.22.113: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.22.109-19.]

[^1665: Uc.22.115: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin spans lines 22.114-16.]

[^1666: Uc.22.121: A curly bracket made by hand14 in the left margin spans lines Uc.22.120-24.]

[^1667: Uc.22.122: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin spans lines Uc.22.121-24.]

[^1668: Uc.22.126: Right-margin sidelining, probably by hand14, runs the length of this side from Uc.22.125 to Uc.22.155.]

[^1669: Uc.22.132: A curly bracket in the left margin, in the form of six tiny stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.22.132-33.]

[^1670: Uc.22.134: here: Sc. "ear." For this spelling, see MED s.v. here.]

[^1671: Uc.22.140: A [rightward pointing-hand icon] made by hand14 in the left margin highlights this line.]

[^1672: onely: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading onely is unique to MS Uc—understandably, since the hand adding the -ly is that of Francis Aiscough, who on fol. 26r at line Uc.4.37 dates his marginal comments to 1603. Russell-Kane reads one.]

[^1673: Uc.22.152: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin spans lines Uc.22.152-55.]

[^1674: Uc.22.153: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.22.152-55.]

[^1675: Uc.22.156: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin spans lines Uc.22.156-64.]

[^1676: Uc.22.160: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.22.156-63.]

[^1677: Uc.22.164: Russell-Kane: threw.]

[^1678: Uc.22.171: oen: MED wone n.(3) 3. "Abundance, plenty."]

[^1679: Uc.22.174: The added a in away has a single-looped secretary form, in contrast to the anglicana two-compartment a characteristic of the main scribe.]

[^1680: Uc.22.176: ful: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads he ful.]

[^1681: Uc.22.183: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin spans lines Uc.22.183-84.]

[^1682: Uc.22.185: The word ȝede is difficult to read because it runs into a blemish on the vellum which cause the text scribe to skip some space.]

[^1683: Uc.22.191: Left-margin sidelining by hand16 spans lines Uc.22.191-96.]

[^1684: Uc.22.197: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, spans lines Uc.22.197-98.]

[^1685: Uc.22.197: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

[^1686: Uc.22.206: þennes: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads come thennes.]

[^1687: Uc.22.207: In writing the un of Counseleth, the text scribe appears first to have inadvertently omitted a minim, giving Comseleth, but then to have noticed the mistake and corrected by overwriting the right-hand side of the o with an added minim.]

[^1688: Uc.22.221: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the right margin spans lines Uc.22.221-24.]

[^1689: Uc.22.231: Left-margin sidelining, probably by hand14, spans this entire side Uc.22.218-48, continuing in the right margin of fol. 122r to line Uc.22.273.]

[^1690: Uc.22.238: Russell-Kane: begge.]

[^1691: Uc.22.257: At the start of the red underlining of the Latin is a wavy red flourish.]

[^1692: Uc.22.260: There is an otiose abbreviation-stroke above the n in writon.]

[^1693: Uc.22.281: Left-margin sidelining, probably by hand14, spans lines Uc.22.281-91.]

[^1694: Uc.22.291: þe: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc, although several C-version manuscripts read to the. Russell-Kane reads to.]

[^1695: Uc.22.294: Russell-Kane omits this partial line, rendering thus Uc.22.293 as RK22.292: A parcel to preye for hem and pleye with þe remenaunt. Pearsall: A parcel to preye for hem, and make hem merye / With þe remenaunt that oþere men biswonke. Schmidt: A parcel to preye for hem, and pleyen hem merye / With þe remenaunt that oþere renkes biswonke.]

[^1696: Uc.22.315: sege: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads the sege.]

[^1697: Uc.22.317: ficisien: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads is fiscicien.]

[^1698: Uc.22.326: The paraph marker is smudged.]

[^1699: Uc.22.340: Russell-Kane: Pees.]

[^1700: Uc.22.343: pers: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads pees.]

¶ hende speche heet pees þo opene þe ȝates
lat in þe frere & his felawe & make hem fair chere
he may see & here · here so may bifalle
þat lif þorgh his lore shal leue coueitise
and be adrad of deth & withdrawe hem[^1701] fro pruyde
and acorde with conscience and kisse her aither oþer
þus þorgh hende speche · entred þe frere
and cam to conscience & corteisliche him grette
þou art welcome quod conscience canst þou hele sike
here is contricioun quod conscience my cosyn wounded
Counforte him quod conscience & take keep to his sores
þe plastereres plasteres of þe persoun and poudres ben to sore
and let hem ligge ouerlonge · and loth is to chaungen
Fro lenton to lenton · he leet his plasteres bite
þat is ouerlonge quod þis limytour yleue y leue yshal y shal amende hit
and gooth gropeth contricioun · & gaf him aplastere a plastere
of a priue paiement & shal praie for ȝou
and for hem þat ȝe arn holde to al my lif-tyme
and ȝou[^1702] my lady in masse & in matynes
of freres of oure fraternite for a litel suluer[^1703]

[^1701: Uc.22.354: Russell-Kane: hym.]

[^1702: Uc.22.368: ȝou: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads make of ȝow; Schmidt and Pearsall, make ȝow.]

[^1703: Uc.22.369: For this line and the preceding, Russell-Kane gives the following: And make of ȝow memoria in masse and in matynes / As freres of oure fraternite for a litel suluer. Schmidt: And make ȝow and my Ladye in masse and in matynes / As freres of oure fraternite, for a litel suluer. Pearsall: And make ȝow my Ladye in masse and in matynes / Of freres of oure fraternite, for a litel suluer.]

¶[^1704] þus he gooth & gadereth & glosith þere he shriueth
contrition ys filled with Ipocracy . nota
Til contricioun hadde clene forȝete to crie & to wepe
and wake for his wicked werkes ase he woned[^1705] bifore
nota daubers with vntempered morter .

[Uc.22.373: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

For counfort of his confessour contricioun he lefte
þat is þe souereyne salue · for alle kynne synnes
Sleuth and prid enimies to consience

[Uc.22.375: The marginal comment here is bounded below by underlining done by hand16.]

[^1706]Sleuthe say þat & so dide pruyde
and comon with a kene wille conscience to assaille

[^1704: Uc.22.370: The paraph marker is faded.]

[^1705: Uc.22.372: woned: According to the Russell-Kane apparatus, this reading is unique to MS Uc. Russell-Kane reads was woned.]

[^1706: Uc.22.375: A curly bracket made by hand16 in the left margin, in the form of stacked parentheses, highlights this line.]

¶ Conscience cried efte clergie come help him
and bad contricioun to come to helpe to kepe þe ȝates
he lith adreint saide pees and so doth many othir
þe frere with his fisik þis folk haþ enchauntid
and doth men drinke dwale þat men drat no synne
By crist quod conscience tho ywol y wol bicome a pilgrim
and wendon as wide as þe world regneth
consience desiers þe company of þe plough man who ys moste voyde of pride of all occupacions · nota
To seke pers þe ploughman þat pruyde myght destruye
and þat freres hadde a fynding þat for nede flateron
and counturpledith me conscience now kynde me avenge
and sende me happe & hele til y haue pers ploughman
Concience ys a-sleppe till he come in againe Consience will not come into this lande till the proude Prelates and Couitous lawyeres be swepe awaie / which will not be longe to Amen · So be it
and sithe he gradde after grace til ygan y gan awake & cetera

Explicit liber vocatus Pers plogh man