The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. ?: Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Ashmole 1468 (A)

The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. ?: Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Ashmole 1468 (A) William LanglandEdited by Marilyn Gail Duggan and Hoyt N. DugganAssociate Editors: Patricia Riles BartTechnical Editor: Daniel Pitti Graduate Research Assistants Computer Consultants and Programmers Shayne Brandon, Cynthia Girard.Society for Early English and Norse Texts (SEENET) ISBN: ???

2004 Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Ashmole 1468 (A)

??? Source copy consulted: Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Ashmole 1468 (A)

SEENET, A.?

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LatinFrenchGerman20 October 2006 cataloger Hoyt N. Duggan Conversion to XML He ...---...ly ; he .... for vs alle Ane ...---... ; yt ..ent hym tene But mekely w(i)t(h) ... ; Mercy gan seche To hauyn on þat puple ; þat pyned hym to dede Here mygth þu sen example ; on þe-selfe onys That he was mygthi & meke ; & mercy gan graunte In dei nomine??? q??? To hem þat hengyn on hym ; & his hert thrillid For-þi I rede ȝow riche ; haue reuth on þe pore Thou the be mygthi to mote ; be meke in ȝoure werk(es) For þe same mesuris þat ȝe to oþer men metyn Schal ben metyn to þu ; whan ȝe henys wende Thow ȝe ben trewe of tunge ; & treweliche wynne And as chaste as a child ; þat in chirche wepit But þu loue lely & loue wel þe pore Of sweche god as god hath þe sent ; loueliche depart Tho han no more merite of heuene-riche blisse Than malkyn of here maydynhed ; þat no man dishirith For iamis þe ientil he ggith in his bokis That feyth w(i)t(h)-oute feute is febelere þan nout As dede as a dor nayle ; but þine dedis folwyn Castite w(i)t(h)-oute charite ; worth tenyd in helle It is as lewid as a lampe þat no lygth is Inne Many chapeleynes arn chrafti & chast & charite is awey Arn none hardede þan þay whan þai avaunsid bene Vnkende to here kynrede ; and to alle cristene he chouhen here charite ; & chidyn aftyr more For-þi ȝe creaturis þat kepyn ȝow clene ; of ȝoure bodyes ȝe be comberid w(i)t(h) coueytice ; ȝe can not out crepe So hard hath auarice ; happid ȝou to-gedur That is no treuth of þe trenite but trecc...ie of helle And lernyng to lewid men ; þer for to .....[dwelle] For þese arn þe wordes ; wretyn in þe vangelie Date dabitur uobis & c(etera) for I dele ȝou alle That is lok of loue ; þat lette out my grace to comforth ȝe carful ; a-comerid w(i)t(h) synne Loue is þe leuyst þing ; þat oure lord askith And eke þe grettest gate ; þat goth in-to heuene For I sey as I seyde er be þe tyxtis whan alle tresor is tried ; trewþe is þe best Now haue I told what trewþe is ; is non tresor bettir I may no lengur lende ; lord loue ȝou alle Passus secundus de visione And ȝet I knelid on my knes & preyd here of grace and seyde mercy madame for mari loue of heuyn That bar þat blisful baron þat boute vs on þe rode kenne me sum crafte ; for to knowe þe falce lo where þei standyn boþe false & fauel and here feris many ; vnfeythfully to knowe I lokid on my lyfte halfe ; as þe lady me taut And was worthily war of a woman fayre I- ~~cho~~ cloþid I-purid w(i)t(h) pellure ; þe purets on erde Croundid w(i)t(h) a coroune ; þe kyng(e) hath no better Alle here fyue fyngeris ; were federid w(i)t(h) ryngis Of þe purest perre ; þe prince werid eu(er) I scharled round robe ; and rebaund w(i)t(h) golde Her is no quene queynter ; þat quik is on lyfe what is þat woman quot I ; þ(a) is þ(us) worthily a-tyred t is mede þe mayde ; þat greuyth me ofte And eke lackith my lore ; to lordis a-boute And mede in þe myddis ; and þese men aftir I haue no tunge to telle ; þe tayle þat þem folwid Of many maner of men ; þat on erde libbith Gyle was for-goeere ; & be-gylith hem alle Sothnes say hem wel ; & seyde but lytil But prekith forth on his palfray ; & pasid hem alle And cam to þe kyngis hous ; & conciens tolde And conciens to þe kyng ; & told it aftir Be cristr quot þe kyng þanne ; and I hem caut may Falce or fauel ; or ony of here feris I schuld be wrekyn on þo wrecchis ; þat werkyn so ille And don hem hange be þe halce ; & alle þat þem me(n)tenyth Schal no man on þis molde ; meinprice þe leste But rygth as lawe wole ; lat fallyn on hem alle And comaunde a constable þat cam at þe fryst For to cache þo terauntes ; for ony þing I hote Federith falsenes for ony kynnys ȝiftis And gyrdith of gilis hed ; & lat hym go no ferthere And bryngith mede to me magreþ hem alle Symonye & cyuile send hem to warne That holy chirche for hem worth harmyd for euyr and ȝif ȝe lacche lyere ; lat hym not a-schape Put hym on þe pelori for ony thyng I hote Dred at þe dore stod & hard þe dom Wytely he wente a-wey to warne þe falce That bad hym fast fle ; & his feris alle Than falsenes for ferde fled to þe freris And crep in a cope ; & held hym þer-Inne And gyle doth hym to go ; & gessid for to deþ And marchaundis mette w(i)t(h) hym & bad hym abyde And syttyn in here schoppis ; to schewyn her ware Peraylid has a prentice . þe puple for to serue Lytely liere went a-wey þanne Lurkyd þorow lanys ; to lyen on manye And was no-wher wolcome for his many talis Ouyr-al huntid ; & bad hym trusse ferþere Til p(ar)doneris had pete ; & tollid hym to house weschid hym & wypid hym ; & put hym in cloþis And sente on sondays ; w(i)t(h) selis to chirche And ȝaf p(ar)don for pens ; pound-mele a-boutyn Tho louredyn lechis ; and letteris sentyn For to wone w(i)t(h) hem ; wateris to loke Spiceris spokyn to hym ; to a-spyen her ware For he cowde on þe crafte ; an knew many gommes Mynstrelis & massengeris ; mette w(i)t(h) hym onys And w(i)t(h)-heldyn hym halfe a ȝere ; & eleuene days Freris w(i)t(h) fayre speche fecchid hym þenis For knoweris of comeris ; copid hym as a frere And he had leue to lepyn out ; as ofte as he wolde And is wolcom whan he comyth ; & wonyth þer ofte Alle fleddyn for ferd ; & floyn in-to hyrnis But mede þe mayde no mo durst a-byde And trewely to telle ȝhe tremelid for ferd wepyd & wrong here handis whan ȝhe was atachid Tercius passus de vissoni NOw is mede þe mayde & no mo of hem alle w(i)t(h) bedelis & balice ; brout be-for þe kyng The kyng callid in a clerk ; I can not his name To take mede þe mayde ; & make here at ese I schal a-sayn here me-selfe ; sothly here apose What man of þis werld ; were here leuest ȝif ȝhe werche be witte ; & my wi folwe I wil for-gefe here my gyle ; so god me helpe Curteysly þe clerk þanne ; as þe kyng hygth Tok mede be þe myddil ; and brout her to chambre And þe was meche mynstralsy ;mede for to plese That wonyn at westemynster ; worchepid her alle Gentely w(i)t(h) ioy þe iustices summe Busked hem to þe boure ; þer þe berde dwellid Comfortid here kyndely ; be clergies leue And seyde morne þu not mede ; ne mak þu no sorwe We wil spek to þe kyng ; & þe wey makyn For alle concience cast ; a crafte as I trowe Myldeliche mede þan myrthed hem alle For here gret goodnes ; gaf hem echone Coppis of clene gold ; and oþer ȝiftis many Riches & ryngys & rybies manye The lest man of here meny ; a motou(n) of gold Than tok þai leue ; þe lordis a-boute at mede Than comyn clerkis ; to comfort here þe same Bad here be blyth ; for we be þi nowyn Myldeliche þan ; ȝhe be-hygth þem þe same To louyn hem lely ; & lordis hem make The lest brolle of here blod ; a baronys pere Than cam þer a confessor copid as a frere To mede þe mayde loweliche he lowtyd And seyde wol softely ; in schrifte as it were Thow lerid & lewyd had loy be þe echone And yow falshed had folwid þe ; þis fyftene wyntir I schal a-soyle þe my-selfe for a sem of whete And eke ben þi baudekyn ; and bere þine erande A-mongis klerkis & kynytis ; conciens to felle ThamTha[n] mede for here mysdede ; to þe frere knelid And schrofe here of here schrewidnes schamles I trowe Tolde hym a tale ; & tok hym a noble For to ben here bedeman ; & here baude aftir We han a wyndowue in werchyng ; & wil stand vs hye Woldis þu glace þe gable & wrygth þer þi name Sekyr schuld þi soule ben ; heuyn blis to haue Wost I þat quot ȝhe ; I wold it grauyn And myne name þer-inne wrytyn Thatalle folke schuld sen ; I wer suster of ȝo(ur) houce But god to alle men ; sweche wrytn defendith And sethe Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra & c(etera) lat not þi lyfte halfe late ne rathe Be war what þi rygth hand werchis For it is pride for soþe as I sey For þi merite is lost in syth & in sowele I sey þe verili so god hym-selfe knowith For whi I lere þese wordis ; leuith sweche wrytyng To wrytyn in ȝoure wyndouuys ȝoure wele dedis Or to gredyn aftir goys men ȝerne Of ȝoure wele dedis ; whan ȝe dele dolis In auntir ȝhe & he haue ȝoure here þer-fore For oure sauyour it seth ; & hym-selfe prchidprechid Amen amen recipiebant & c(etera) Meyris & maceris ; þat ben pece menis Be-twyn þe kyng & comonneris ; to kepe þese lawis To ponyschin on pelory ; & on pynyng stolis Breusteris & baxteris ; bocheris & kokis Thece arn þe men on þis molde ; most harm werchis To þe pore puple ; þat p(ar)cel-mele bigge For þei prechyn þe [puple ; preuyly fol ofte And rechyn w(i)t(h) regatris regratrie ; & rentis hem byggyn Of þat þe pore puple schuld puttyn in here wombe Toke þai on treweliche ; þai tymberid not so hye Ne boute no burgace ; þis is certayn And mede þe mayde ; þe meyre ȝhe hath be-south Of alle sweche selleris ; siluyr for to take As present w(i)t(h)-out pens ; as pecis of siluyr Ryngis & oþer ryches ; euyr þe regrateris to may(n)tyne For my loue quot þat lady loue hem echone Suffere hem to selle ; sumwhat a-geyne resun Salomon þe sage ; in a sermoun he made For to mede men & meyris þat kepe þe lawis And told hem þis teme ; þat I telle thynke Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eor(um) qui libenter accipiunt munera Among þece letterid lordis ; þis latyne a-mounteth The fere schal fallyn & brenne at þe last The houcis & þe homys ; of þem þat dyshyryn To take ȝiftis or ȝeriuys ; in youth or in dede The kyng from þe councel cam & cryed aftir mede For to haue a seriaunt here for to fette And brout here to boure ; w(i)t(h) blysse & w(i)t(h) ioye Curteysly þe kyng þanne ; be-gan for to telle To mede þe mayde ; & mevede þese wordis Vnwysely wrouth ; hast þu wol ofte And wers wroutist þu neu(er) ; but whan þu falce tok And I for-ȝif þe in þi gylte ; & graunt þe my grace Hene to þi ded-day ; so þu do so no more I haue a knyte conciens ; cam late from be-ȝondyn ȝif he wil þe wyfe ; wilt þu hym haue ȝa lord quot þat lady ; god for-bede ellis But I be holy at ȝoure hest ; lat me hange sone Than was conciens cald to com and a-pere Be-for þe kyng & his councell clerkis & other knelyngconciens ; be-for þe kyng loutid what þat is wille were ; & what he do schuld wil þu wedde þis woman ȝif I wil assentyn ȝhe is fayn of þi felachep ; for to be þi make quot conciens to þe kyng ; crist it me for-bede Or I wedde sweche a wyfe crist it me for-bede ȝhe is freel of here feth ; fekil of here speche And makit men mys-do many schor tymis Be trost of here tresor ; ȝhe tenyth wol manye Schul a-by it ful bittirly ; or ellis þe bok lyeth Prestis & p(ar)souns þat prechit and dishirith Takyn medis & mony ; for messis þa þai syngyn schul haue mede on þis molde ; þat matheu hath grauntid Amen amen dico uobis receperunt mercedem suam That laboreris & lewdfolke ; takyn of here maystris It is no more of mede ; but a mesurable hire In marchaundice is no mede ; I may wel a-vowe It is a p(er)mutacioun a-p(er)ly ; a peny-worth for a-nother But reddist þu neu(er) regum ; þu recreyd mede Whi þe vengauns fel vp-on his children ; of þe man saul. God sent hym to seyne ; be samuelis mowth That agag of amalek ; & alle his puple aftir Schuld dey for a dede ; þat don had here elderis A-ȝeyne israel & aron ; & moyses here broþ(er) Samuel seyde to saul ; god sent to þe & hotyth To ben buxum & bou(n) ; his biddyngis to ful-fille Wyndith þedur w(i)t(h) þin ost ; women for to kille Children & cherlis choppe of here hedis Loke þu kille þe kyng ; coueyte not his godis For ony miliounis of gold ; dismenbre hem echone Bernys & bestis ; brenne hem to dede For he killid not þe kyng ; as crist hym bode sente Coueyte here good ; killid not here bestis But brouth w(i)t(h) hem þe bestis as þe bible tellit God seyde to samuel ; þat saul schuld dey And alle he seyde ; for þat synne synfully endid Sweche a mysse mede ; made þe kyng for to haue? That god hatid hym for euyr ; & his eyris aftir The colour of þis cace kepe I neu(er) to schewe In auntur it noyed me ; non ende wil I make I conciens schal knowe þat ; for kynd witte me tauth That resonis schul reyne & realmis gouerne And rygth as agag hauyd ; ryght so schal synne Samuel schal sle hym ; & saul lschal be blamyd And dauyt schal bigge dyademys& dauntyn hem alle And on cryste(n) kyngis schal kepe ȝou echone schal no more mede ; be maystir vp-on erde But loue & lownes ; and leute to-gederis And ho-so trespas to trewþe ; & takith a-ȝeynys his wille Leute schal don hym lawe ; and no lyfe ellis Schal no seriaunt for here seriuce ; were þe silkene houys Ne non Ray robis ; w(i)t(h) riche pellure Mede of mysdoeris ; mak(i)t t hem to riche That lawe is lord waxen ; & loue is ful pore Vnkendenes is comaundour ; & kendenes is blamichid And kynde witte schal come ȝet ; & conciens to-gederis And make of wo lawe a laborere ; sweche loue schal rice Passus quartus de visione SEkyr seyde þe kyng I suffre ȝou no longer ȝe schal a-corde & serue me for soþe boþe Kys here quot þe kyng ; conciens I hote Nay be crist quoth conciens ; coueytid no more But resun red me þer-til ; raþere wil I dey And I comaunde þe quot þe kyng ; to conciens þanne hape þe to ridyn ; & resoun fecche to councell Comaunde hym for to come ; my councel to here For he schal rydyn my reme ; & red me þe best Of mede & of mo other ; what man schal here wedde And counte w(i)t(h) conciens ; so me god helpe He rytte rygth to reson & rownyth in his ere Seyde hym as þe kyng sent ; & aftir tok his leue I schal a-rayn me to rydyn quot resun ; rest þe þer wlyl And callith caton his knawe ; curtaysie of speche And eke þe tenour of trewe tunge ; to tellis me no talis Ne lesying for to lawhe of ; for I louyd hem neuyr Set my sadil vp-on suffre til I se my tyme Let warrokyn wele hym ; with wittful gyrthis hange on hym þe heuy brydil ; to holdyn his hed lowe For he wil make many wey & whehe ; or he com þere Than conciens on his capil ; carid forth fast And resun w(i)t(h) hym rygth ; & rapid hym in hast And warnyd wisdom ; & witty his felawe Folwe ȝe fast for we han to done In cheker in chaunserie ; to be dyschargid of iugis And redyn fast for resun schuld rede hem þe beste For to saue hem-selfe ; fro schamys & harmis An conciens cam frist to þe court be a myle And romyd forth w(i)t(h) resun ; rygth to þe kyng Curtaysly þe kyng cam ; a-ȝens resun Be-twene hym and his sone ; sette hym on þe benche And spokyn fol wittely ; a gret while to-gederis Than cam pes in to þe p(ar)lement ; and put for a bille how wong a-ȝens his wille ; had his wille takyn And how he raueschid rose ; renaldis loue And morgarte of here maydenhed magrey here chekis Boþe my gris & my gees ; & here goselyngis fecchyn I dar not for ferd of hym ; ne fyte ne chiden he borowid of me bayard ; & brouth hem me neuyr Ne no ferþing þer-for ; for not I cowde plete he moynteit his men to mortheryn my owis Brekith vp my berne doris & berith a-wey my whete And tak(i)t me but a tayle ; of ten quarteris hotis I am not hardy for hym to wynkyn ne to loke The kyng knew he seyde soth ; for conciens hym tolde Wrong a-ferid þo ; and wysdom he south To makyn pes w(i)t(h) his pens ; proferid monye & seyde Had I loue of my lord þe kyng ; I wold litil recche Tho pes & his pouer pleyned hem euyr wysdom þan w(i)t(h) a wyse tale ; & so ded witte also For wrong had wrouth so wikkid a dede Qwo werchit be wil ; wreth he makit ofte And warnyth wrong ; w(i)t(h) a wyse tale I sey be my-selue þu schalt þe soþe fynde But ȝif I it make þi myschep is huppe Boþ þi lyfe & þi lond ; lien in his grace Wrong vp-on wisdom & wepid for helpe And wisdom in handydandy hastely he payed Tho wyisdom & witte wente to-gederis And nome mede w(i)t(h) hem mercy to wynde & wynne Pes put forth his hed ; & his panne blody w(i)t(h)-oute gilt god it woot ; gate he þis schathe Conciens & þe kyng knew wel þe soþe And wisdom wist wel ; þat wrong was a schrewe wysdome & witt ; weryn a-boute faste To ouyr þe kyng ; w(i)t(h) catel ȝif þei mygt The kyng swore be hym-selfe ; & be is croune boþe That wrong for his werke ; schuld wrong tholyn And comande a constable ; to caste hym in Irenis And schal not þis seuene ȝere ; sen his feet onys God wot quot wysdom þat were not þe best And he a-mendis may make ; lat hym meinpris haue And brout out of his bale ; & bigg hym bote A-mende þe mysdede ; & euyr-more þe bettir witte a-cordith þe-with & seyde þe same Better is þat bote ; þat bale a-doun bryngyth Than bale be bote ; & hote neuyr þe bettir Than gan mekyn here mede ; and mercy be-south And p(ro)ferid pens in presens ; & pecis of gold Haue þis man of me ; quot ȝhe to a-mende þi schathe For I wage for wrong ; he wil do so no more Petousely þan pes ; preyed to þe kyng To haue mercy on þat man ; þat mysse-dede hym ofte For he hath wagid me wel as wysdom hym tauth I for-gefe hym þat gilt w(i)t(h) a good wille Nay quot þe kyng þo ; so god ȝif me blysse wrong wendith not so a-way ; or we wetyn more Lope he so lytely a-way ; lawhen he wolde And eke þe baldere to be ; to betyn my hewys But resun haue reuth on hym ; he restit in my stokkis As longe as I leue ; but bettir loue it makis Su(m)me reddyn resun ; to haue rewþe on þat schrewe And concelid þe kyng ; & conciens alce That mede must be meinp(er)our ; resun þe be-south Red me quot resun ; no reuth for to haue Til lordis & ladyes louyn alle trewþe And p(er)nellis purfil ; be putte in here hucche Til childeris chastisyng be chastisid w(i)t(h) ȝerdis And harlotis holinis ; ben holdyn for an hyne Til clerkis & knytis ; ben curteyce of here mouþis Til prestis here prechyng preuyth hem-selue And don it in dede ; to drawyn vs to gode Til seint iamis be south ; þer I schal a-sygne That no man go to galis ; but he go for euyr And alle rome-renneris ; for robbyng of be-ȝonde Bere no siluyr ouyr þe see ; þat sygne of þe kyng schew(i)t Neyther grotis ne gold ; graue w(i)t(h) þe kyng?ys croune ?Vp-on forfeture of þat fee ; ho-so fynte hem at douyr But ȝif it be marchaunt or his man ; or messenger w(i)t(h) letteris Or prouisiour or ony prest ; þat þe pope auaunsith And quot resun be þe rode ; I schal no reuthe haue whil mede hath þe maistrie to motyn in þis halle I may schewyn ȝou example ; as ȝe sen other I sey it for my-selue and it so were And I were a kyng w(i)t(h) croun ; to kepyn a rem Schuld þey neuyr wrong in þis werld þat I wete mygth Ben vn-ponyschid in my pouer ; for perel of my soule Ne gete my grce þorow gyfte ; so me god helpe But for no mede haue merci ; but mekenes it made For nullum malum met w(i)t(h) infinitum And bad nullum malum be inremuneratum Late þi confessour sere kyng ; construe þis on engelis And werch it in werke ; I gefe þe myne eris But lawe be a laborere ; & led on feld donnge And loue schal ledyn þi lond ; as þe leue likyth Clerkis þat arn confessouris ; cowplid hem to-gederis For to construe þis clauce ; þai declyned faste And resun a-monge þo renkis ; hadde rehersid þo wordis Ther was man in þe mote-halle more ne lesse That he ne held mekenes a mayster ; and mede a wrecche Simul invnum diues & pauper lawid here to schorne And seyde it so lowde ; þat sotnes it harde Ho-so wold here to wyfe ; for welth of here godis But ȝif he be mad cokewald ; cutte of myne nose Than boþe witte & wysdom in fere Coude not carpyn a word ; to w(i)t(h)-sege resun But staryd for stodyeng ; and stodyn as bestis The kyng a-cordyd be crist ; to resonys sawis And rehersid þat resun ; that resun hath rythfully schewid It is ful hard to brynge to-gederis Alle my ligge londis ; for to lede euene Be hym þat was rauth up-on rode ; seyde resun to þe kyng But ȝe reule þus ȝo(ur) rem ; rende oute my rybbis ȝif it e þat buxumnes ; be at ȝoure assent I assent quot þe kyng ; be sent mary my lady Be my councelle come ; of clerkis & of erlis Redely resun þu schalt not ride henys As longe as I leue ; leuyn þe I nylle So conciens be of ȝo(ur) councelle kepe I no bettir I graunt quot þe kyng ; god for-bede elles As long as I leue may ; leue we to-gederis Passus quintus de visione THe kyng & his knytis ; to þe chirche wente For to here matynes & messe ; & to mete aftir Tho wakyd I of my wynkyng ; & wo was w(i)t(h)-alle That I had slepyn hardere ; & I sey more Or I had faryn a forlong ; a feyntice me hent That I mygth no ferþere ; for defaute of slepyng I sat softely adoun ; and seyde my be-leue And babbid on my bedis it brout me a-slepe Than sey I meche more ; þan I a-forn tolde For I sey a felde ful of folke ; as I a-forn tolde And conciens w(i)t(h) a cros ; cam for to preche And prechid þe puple ; to hauyn pete of hem-selue And prouyd þat þe pestelence ; was for pure synne And þe southerne wynde ; on þe Saturday at euyn was a-perty for pride ; and for no thyng ellis Pyries & plumtres ; were puffyd to þe erde In example I sey ; ȝe schuld don þe bettir Bechis & brod hokis ; where blowyn to þe grounde And turnyd vp here tayle ; in tokyn of drede That dedli synne at domys-day ; schal for-don hem alle On þis mater I mygth ; mamelyn ful longe But I schal sey as I seyde ; as so me god helpe whan conciens w(i)t(h) a cros ; comyd to preche And bad wastour to werche ; what he best coude And bad p(er)nel here purfyle to leue And kepe it in cofyr ; for catel at nede And was to warne watte ; þat is wyfe was to blame That here hed was wor a mark ; & his his hed not worth a grote He bad bett brekyn a bow þat wel wold bende And betyn beton þer-with but ȝhe wold werke Thomas he taut to takyn to stauis And bynde hem to-gedur ; schrewyd to techyn Willyam he wysid wollis to wynde And fecchyn hom fellis ; wyfes to spynne And preyed prestis & prelatis to-gedur That he prechyn þe puple ; preue it hem-selue And leuyn as þay lerne vs ; we schul loue hem þe ettir And sytthen he red religyoun here reule for to helde And ȝe þat sekyn sent iame & sentis of rome Sekyth sent treuth for he may saue ȝou alle Qui cum patre et filio & c(etera) fayre ȝou be-falle Than ran repentauns ; & rehersid his teme And gart to wille to wepe watur w(i)t(h) boþe is yne Pernel þe proud plat doun to grounde And lay longe or ȝhe lokyd & mercy gan crie And be-hyth to hym þat vs alle makyd That ȝhe wold vnsewe here syrke ; & sette þ(er) an hayre Tho a-feyntyn here flesche ; þat frele was to synne Schal neuyr hey hert me hold ; but eu(er) holdyn it lowe And suffre to be missede and so dede I neuyr But now I meke me ; & mercy be-seche Of al þat I haue had of enuye in myne hert Lecchour sede allas & to oure lady cryed Tho makyn mercy for his sowle ; be-twyn god & hym of mysdede And þat he schuld þe saturday ; seuene ȝere aftir Drynk w(i)t(h) þe doke ; & dyne but onys Enuye w(i)t(h) heuy hert ; askid aftir schrfte And carfully his counte com for to schewe He was as pale as a pelet ; in þe palsie he semyd He was clad in a cawrimawri I cowde not dyscrye A kyrtil and a corteby ; a kneuet be his syde As a freris frog weryn his forme sleuys As a leyke þat had layn long in þe sunne So lokyd he w(i)t(h) lene chekis ; louryng fowle his body was bolne w(i)t(h) wretth ; bote he on his lyppis He lokyd vndur his browis ; as a bond dogge wyrmys or vermyn or vinegre ; or wyrmis I trowe walkyn in my wombe ; werkyn or I dyne I haue a neythebor ny me ; hath noyd me ofte I haue be-lowyn to lordis ; to don hym lese siluyr Tho don his frendis ben his fon w(i)t(h) my falce talis His grace & his goodnes ; greuyth me ofte Be-twyn men & here mene ; I haue makid wreche Boþe lyfe & leme was lost ; thorou my wikkyd tonge Whan I mette hym in þe morket ; þat I most hatid I heylid hym as frendely ; as I his frend were He was doutiere þan I ; y dar non harm don hym Had I maystrie & myght ; I wold a dystroyed hym for heuyr Whan I cam to þe kyrke ; & knelid be-forn þe rode I preyd for þe puple ; as þe prest techith For pilgrymes for palmeris ; & for þe puple aftir On my knes þan I cryed ; þat god ȝif hem sorow That brokyn my bolle ; & borne a-wey my schete Also to-forne þe auter ; ȝit myne eyne I turnyd And be-held how hyne ; had a newe cloke Than I wyschid it were myne and al þe webbe aftir Of his lesyng I lawhe ; a lytil in myne herte Of his wynnyng I wepte ; and weylid þe while I deme men in myne hert þat þai don ille But ȝit I do werse be dom of my-selfe I wold þat eche a wythe ; were my knawe And ho-so haue more þan I ; it greuyth myn hert And þus I leue loue-les ; liche a ledur dogge And alle my brest bolnyth ; for bitter of my galle May no sugre ne no swete þing ; swagit an vnche Ne non dyapendron ; drawe it fro myne herte And ȝif schryfte schuld it stoppe ; it were gret wondur A ȝis redely quot repentans ; & red hym þe beste Sorwe for synnys ; sauyth many on I am sori quot enuye ; I am but seldom other Also wilsun in hert ; & pensyue in hert & thouth And þat makith me so mad ; þat I may not venge Than cam sone coueytice I can hym not dyscrie So hungri he lokid ; so heri & so ille He was bittil browid ; & eke babirlyppid w(i)t(h) to blereyd eyn ; as a blynd hagge And a lederend purs ; so lokyd is chekys had an hatte on his heed ; & is hood also But ȝif a lous coude lepe ; & schippe as I trowe he schuld not wandre on þat wolde ; so was it thredbare I haue ben coueytous quot þat caytefe ; I be-knowe here For sum tyme I seruyd synne ; it þouth me mery I was his prentyce a-plyte ; it þout me mery is p(ro)fyte to wayten wykkydly to weyn was my fryst lessun Ne had grace of gyle good ; ben a-mong my ware It hadde ben vn-sold þis seuene ȝere : so me god helpe That drow I me a-mong draperis ; my donet for to lere To drawe þe lyste on longe ; þe lengur it semyd And a-mong þe riche rayes ; I renderid my fyrst lessun Brochid hem w(i)t(h) a batnedil ; & platte hem to-gedur And puppe hem in a pressur ; & pyned hem to þ(er)-Inne Til ten ȝerdis or thwelfe ; drow out thretene My wife was a webstere ; and wollene cloth made ȝhe spak to þe spynneris ; for to spynne out The pound þat ȝhe payde hem ; it peysid a quarter More þan my poundur dede ; þat was lytil trewþe I browt here barly ; ȝhe brewe it to selle Peny-ale & pelawey ; ȝhe powryd to-gedur For laborelis & lewid folke ; it lyth be þe-selue The best in my bedchambre it lyth be þe wowe And ho-so bubbith þer-of ; boutitbout it þer-aftir A galun for a grott god wote & no lasse Whan it cam in coppis medelid it ȝhe & þat craft vsid Rose þe regratere was here rygth name ȝhe hadde holdyn ostrie long eleue wyntir I swere so mote I the ; þis synne schal be lafte I schal neuyr wickydliche werke ; ne falce crafte vsyn But wyndyn to walsyngh(a)m ; & my wyfe boþe And bid þe good rode of bromholm brynge vs out of deth paraph tic?Now be-gynnyth gloten to gon his wey And carith to chirche his countis for to schewe And beton þe brewster bad here good morwe And askid hym whedur þat he walde Tho holy chirche quot he ; for to here messe And sythen be scheeuyn & synne no more I haue good ale gosseppe gloton wilt þu assay Hast þu oute quot herry ; ony hote spycis ȝa gossyp glotoun ȝhe quath ; god wot wol hote I haue pepyr & pyanes ; and a pound of garlyk And a ferþingworth of fenkel sede ; for fastyng dayes Ha ha quot gloton ; gowego we in and drynk Than goth gloton in and grete oþis aftyr Sybbe þe sewistere sat on þe benche watte þe bereward & his wyfe boþe Thomme þe tynkere & tweyne of his knavis Hikke þe hakeney man & lawe þe nedelere Claris of cokkyslane & þe clerk of þe chirche Sere peris of pride ; and p(er)nel of flaundris Dawe þe drynkere & a dosen othere Godfrey of garlechythe ; and gryffyn of walsche And vp-holderis an hep ; erly be þe morne ȝfe gloton w(i)t(h) good chere good ale to hansele Clement þe cobelere kest of his cloke At þe newe feyre he must it selle Hykke þe osteler ; kest his hod aftir And bad bette þe bocher ben on his syde Ther were chapmen chosyn ; þe chaffare to prysyn Ho-so had þe hood schuld haue mendis of þe cloke Thay rysyn vp in rape ; and roundyn to-gederis And preysden a peny-worth a p(ar)te be hym-selue Ther weryn othis for to heryn ; for þe hood & þe cloke Til robyn þe rop(er)e ; was red for to ryse And namyd for a nompere ; non baddere was neuyr Hikke þe osteler had þe cloke in rape In couienaunt þe clement þe coppe schuld fille And han hikkis hod osteler ; & holdyn hym seruyd And ho-so repente raþest ; schuld rysyn rathest aftir And sone gretyn gloton w(i)t(h) a galon of good alle He setyn þus til euynsong tyme ; and sungyn wum whille Til glotun had gabbid a galun of gyle His guttis gunne crie as a gredy sowe he pyssyd apotela potel in a pater noster while he blew þe round reuet at þe ryngbonys ende Til alle þat hardyn þe horn ; hled here nose aftir And wyssedyn had ben waschid w(i)t(h) a wyspe of fere he had no strength to stonde ; til he had is stafte Than gan he hehegon as a gelmannys bicche Sum tyme a-rere and sum tyme a-syde As ho-so leyde lynes ; to cacche w(i)t(h) foulis Whan he drow to þe dore ; þan dummyd his yen And stomelid on þe threswald ; and fel on þe erthe Clement þe cobbelere ; cawte hym be þe myddil Gloton was a gret cherle & heuy in þe lyftyng And cowhed vp a cawdel in clementis lappe Is non so hungry hound in herteford-schire Durst lappe on þat laueneþ ; so loþely it smakkid w(i)t(h) alle þe wo of þis werld ; his wyfe& his wenche Born hym to his bed ; & brouth hym þe-Inne And aftir þis surfette an axesse hym hadde þat he slepte saturday & sunday ; til þe sunne wente to rest Than wakid he of his wynkyng ; & wypid hys yen The fryst word þat he spak where is þe bolle His wyfe wytid hym his wikkydnes & eke is synne Than was he a-schamyd þat schrewe ; & schrapid his eris And gan grete greuously ; & gret dol make For his ledur lyfe ; þat he leuyd hadde And voued to faste ; for hungur & for thrist Schal neuyr fysche on þe fryday defye in my wombe Or abstinence myne aunte ; hath ȝeue me leue And ȝit I here al my lyfe tyme ; haue I here hatid Slawth for sorow fel doune in sweye Til vigilate þe veyle ; fet watir at his yen And plat on his face ; & fast on hym cryed And seyde war þe fro wanhope wil þe be-traye I am sory for my synnes ; sey so þi-selue And bete þe-selue on þe brest ; and bid hym of grace Is no gylt here so gret ; his goodenes is more Than satte slawth vp ; and syhed ful faste And mad a vow to god ; for his foule slawth Schuld no sunday þis seuyn ȝere but seknes it made But I schal do me er day to þe dere chyrche And here messe & matynes ; as I a mounk were Schal non ale aftir mete holdyn me þeine Til I haue euynsong herd I hote þe be þe rode All þat I wan widdydly ; syn I witte hadde Tho I my lyue-lode ; lede ; letyn I ne wille That euyri man schal han his ; er I henys wende w(i)t(h) þe remembrans & residue ; be þe rode of chestre I wil seke trewþe er I se rome Robard þe robere ; on reddyte ful reufulli he lokid But þe was non þer ; but he wepte ful sore And þe synful schrewe ; seyde to hym-selue Crist vp-on caluery þat vp-on cros deydist Tho dysmas my broþer he be-south þe of mercy And yu had mercy on þat man for memento sake Thi wil werche vp-on me as I haue dysseruyd To han helle for euyr ; ȝif hope ne were Thou rewe on þis roberd ; þat reddere non hath Ne neuyr wenyth to wynne ; w(i)t(h) craft þat I knowe But þi meche mercy mitigacioun I be-teche Dampne me not at domys-day for I dede so ille But wath fel on þat feloun ; I can not fayre schewe But wele I wote he wepte wat(er) ; w(i)t(h) boþen his yen And knolichid his coupe ; to crist ofte sythis Than penitencia his pyke ; pollyschon efte sonys And lepid w(i)t(h) hym ouyr lond alle his lyfe tyme For he had loyn be latro ; lucifer-is auntte He cried vpward to crist ; & to his clene modur Passus sextus de visione Grace to gon to trewþe ; god leue þat he mote Here was non so wyse ; þat þe wey þedur coude But blusterid forth as bestis ; ouer bankis & hillis Til late and to longe ; þai a lede mette Perraylid as a paynyn in pilgrymes wede He bar aburdoun boundyn aboute w(i)t(h) a brod lyste A bagge & a bolle ; he bar be is syde An hundred of ampolis ; on his hat sotyn Sygnes of a-syce ; and schellis of galis And many a crouche on his cloke ; & keys of rome And þe vernache be-forn þat men schul hym knowe And sene be þe synis ; whom he south hadde Thus folke freyned hym fast ; fro whene þat he come Fro synai he seyde ; & fro þe sepulcre of oure lord At bedlem at babilony ; I haue ben at boþe In ermonie in alisaundre ; in many other placis ȝe mow sen be my synys þat syttyn on my hatte I haue walkid wol wyde ; in wete & in drye ; And sekid good seyntis ; for my soule hele knowist þu out a corsent þai clepe sent trewþe quot þai Canst þu wyschen vs þe wey þer þ(a)t wyte dwellith Nay so god me help sayde þe gome þanne I sey neuer palmer askyn aftir sent trewþe Petur quot a plowman ; and putte forth his hed I knowe hym as kyndely ; as a clerk doth is bokis Clene conciens & witte ; kennyth me to his place And dede me sweryn sythen ; for to serue hym euyr Boþe to sowe & to sette ; whil I swynk mygth I haue ben his folwere alle þis fourty wyntir Boþe sowyn is sede ; & folwid his bestis And kepid his corn & caried it to house I dikid I dalfe ; I dede þat he hyth wyth-inne & w(i)t(h)-oute wayted his p(ro)fyth Ther is no laborere in his lordchepe þat he louyd bettyr For þow I seyþ my-selfe ; I serue hym to pay I haue myne hyre of hym wel & sumtyme more He is þe prestest payere ; þat men knowyn he ne w(i)t(h)-holdith no mannys hire ; þat he ne hath it at euyn He is as lowe as a lomb ; and louely of speche ȝif ȝe wil wetyn where þat wyte dwellith I schal wysse ȝow wel to his owyn place ȝa leue peris quot þe pilgrimes ; and p(ro)ferid hire Nay be þe p(er)ele of my soule quot pers ; & gan swere fast I ne wold fange a ferþing ; for sent thomas schryne Trewþe wold loue me þe wers alonga long while aftir And ȝe wil wende þis is þe wey þedur ȝe must gon be mekenes boþe man & wyfes Til ȝe come to conciens ; þat crist wot þe soþe That ȝe louyn hym leuyr ; þan þe lyfe of ȝour hertis And þon ȝo(ur) neytebo(ur)s nexte ; in no wyse a-peyre And mo more harm to hym ; þan to þe-selue And wende forth be a brok ; be buxum of speche Forth til ȝe fyndyn a forde ; of honour Wadyth in þe watir ; and wasche ȝou þere Thou schalt not swere ; but ȝif it be for nede And nameleche in Idylchepe ; non othe of god al-mygth Thou schalt come be a crofte ; come þu not þer inne The crofte hite coueyte mennys catel ne here wyuys To stokkis þer stondith ; stynt þu not þere loke þu plokke no bowe but it be þine owyn Thay hyten stele not ; ne sle not ; stirte fro hem boþe leue hem on þi lyfte hand ; & loke not þer-aftir Hold wel þine haliday holly til euyn Than schalt þu blenche bere no falce wytnes That is federid w(i)t(h) floreyns ; and oþer federis many Loke þu plokke no plant for perel of þi soule Loke þu lye not for no mannys byddyng Than schalt þu come to a courte as bryght as þe sunne The motte is of mercy ; þe maner aboute And þe wollis ben of witte ; to holdyn wil oute The corneris ben of cristendom ; þat kende to saue And boterasid w(i)t(h) elmes so ; or ellis þu best not sauyd The housis ben helid alle & chamberis w(i)t(h) led w(i)t(h) loue & louwenes as breþeryn of .o. wombe The tour is trewþe is inne hym-selfe ; is vp to þe sunne He may don w(i)t(h) þe sterne ; what hym dere likith Deth dar not do þat he defendith I haue no tom to telle ; how þe tour standith The brygge hattyth bydewel ; þe bette may þu spede Eche peler is penaunce ; poliched ful clene Grace hyte þe gateward ; a good man for soþe I p(ar)formyd þe penaunce ; þat þe prest me enioyned And I am sory for my synnis ; & so schal I euyr Prey hym to weyn vp þe weket þat þe aungel schet Tho adam & eue heten here bane He hath þe key of þat cleket ; þou þe kyng slepe ȝif grace graunt þe to go ; on þis wyse Thou schal sene trewþe þe-selfe syttyn in þine herte But be war of wreth ; for he is a schrewe He hath enuye w(i)t(h) hym ; & settyn hym in ȝo(ur) hertis And poketh forth pride ; to preyce þe-selue The boldnes of þi benefeth ; makith þe blynd þanne And so dreuyn out as dewe ; and þe dore closid I-keyed & I-klekedyd ; to kepe ȝou w(i)t(h)-oute Happely an hundred wyntir ; or þu entre Thus myght þu lese his loue ; to lete wele be þi-selue And gete it a-gayn þorow grace ; & be no gyfte ellis Ther arn seuene systeris ; to serue trewþe euyr He arn porteris of þe posternis ; þat to þe place longith The ton hyte abstinens ; & humilite þe tother Paciens & pes mechil puple þai helpyn largenes þat lady ; latith in wol many Ho-so be sibbe to þese systeris ; so me god helpe He is worþi to be wolcomyd ; & fayre vndurfonge But ȝif he be sybbe to summe of þese seuene To getyn in t þe gate ; but grace be þe more Be crist quot a cutpurs ; I haue no kyn þore Ne I quot an hapeward ; be oute þat I knowe I-wys quot a waferere ; wyst I þis for soþ Schuld I neuer feyre ; for no freris prechyng ȝis quot pers þe plowman ; and pluckyd here to gode Mercy is a Mayden ; þat hath myght ouyr hem alle And is sibbe to alle synful ; and here sone also And þoro(ur) helpe of hem to ; hope þu non other Thow myght gete grace ȝif þu go be tyme Passus septimus de visione THis oþer were a wyckyd wey ; but ho-so had a gyde þat mygth folwyn vs eche a fote ; til we were þere Quot perkyn þe plowman ; be sent powle þe postele I haue an halue acre to herie ; be þe hey wey Had I heried þat halfe acre ;and also sowyn aftir I schuld wende w(i)t(h) ȝou til we come þere This were a long lettyng ; quot a lady in a sleyre What schuld we women werche þer while Go summe sewe þe sek ; for schedyng of þe whete And þe wyfes þat han þe wollen ; schul werche it faste Spynnyth fast spare not ȝoure fyngeris But it be an halday ; or an holy euyn lokith forth ȝo(ur) linnen ; and labore þer-on fast To þe nedy & þe nakid nemyth kep ; how þat þay lygge Cast hem cloþis for cold ; & so byddyth trewþe For I schal lenden hem lyuelode but ȝif þe lond fayle As longe as I leue for þe lordis loue of heuyn And ȝe louely ladyes w(i)t(h) ȝoure longe fyngeris Werchit cheseplis for chapelis ; holy chirche to honoure Helpe hem to werche wytely ; wynnyth ȝoure fode Be crist quot a knyth þo þu kennys vs þe best On þat teme trewely ; tauth was I neuyr Kenne me quot þe knyte ; sum thyng for to werche Be sent poule quot p(er)kyn ; for þu p(ro)ferist so fayre I swynkyn & swetyn ; & sowe for vs boþe And eke laboryn for þi loue ; al my lyfe tyme In couienaunt þat þu kepe holy chirche & me-selue For wastouris & wikkyd men ; þat wold me dystroye And go hunte hardely ; at haris & at foxis To boris to bolis þat brekyn myne heggis And ȝit I prey þe quot pers ; þat þu kenne me woldyst Ony lyfe of lechecrafte ; kenne me my dere For summe of my seruauntis ; ben sek oþer while Alle þe woke þei werche not so her wombe akitt I wot wel quot hungur ; what sekenes hem eylith I hote þe quot hungur ; ȝif þu þine hele woldis hauyn That þu drynk no day or þu dyne sumwhat And not ȝet I hote or hungur þe take And sende þe of his sewis ; to sauo(ur) þi lippis And kep sum til soper tyme ; & sitte not to longe A-ryse vp or apetite ; hath etyn his fille lete not sere surfeth syttyn at þi bord ȝif þu do þus I dar ley myne armys That fesike schal his furrid hod ; for his fode sellyn And no cloke of calabre ; & his coppis of gold he schal be fayne be my feyth ; his fesike to leuyn Ther arne mo lyeris þan lechis ; god hem a-mende Thei don men dey w(i)t(h) here drynk god hem amende Be sent pernel quot pers þese ben p(ro)fitable wordis This is a louely lessun lord it þe ȝelde wend wan þi wil is ; wele be þu euyr I hote god quot hungur ; henys nil I wende Or I haue dyned be þis day & drunkyn boþe I haue no peny quot pers poletis to bigge Neyther goos ne gryse ; but to grene chesis And a fewe cruddis & crem ; and an hauyr kake A lofe of benys & bryn ; I made for my chideryn Be my soule I sey ; haue I no salt bacoun Ne non cokeneis ; colopis to makyn I haue p(ar)sel & poret ; and many plante colis And a cowhe & a calfe ; and a carte mare Tho drawyn on feld my dunge ; whil þe drouth l Benys and appillis þei broutyn in here lappis Alle þe pore puple ; pescodis þei fechedyn Chibolis & cheruel & many rype cheries Grene poret & pesyn ; to apoysened hym þe wolde And proferid pers þis present for to plese w(i)t(h) hun[lost in sewing] Hungur hent þis in hast ; and askyd aftyr more Than þis folk for ferd fecchid hym manye Grene poret& pesyn ; to a-posyn hym þei wolde Whan it neschid nere haruest & corn cam to chepyng Than was folke fayne & fed hungur w(i)t(h) þe best w(i)t(h) good ale bad gloton go slepe Tho wolde wastour not slepe ; but wanderid a-boute He is be-holdyn I hope ; to haue me in his messe My wyfe schal haue of þat I wan ; trewely & no more For to dele a-mong my frendis ; & also my children For þow I deie to day ; my dettis arn quytte I bar hom þat I borwid or I ȝede to bedde And w(i)t(h) þe resude & þe remelaund ; be þe rode of chestre I wil worchep þer-w(i)t(h) ; sent trewþe in my lyfe And ben his pilgrym at þe plow for pore mennys sake My plow staf schal be my potent ; & pike vp þe rotis And helpe my cultur to kerue ; & clense þe forwis Now is p(er)kyn & his pilgrymes ; to þe plow fare To herien þe half hacre ; hopyn hym many Diggeris & delueris ; dyggid vp þe balkis Ther-of was p(er)kyn wele I-payd ; & preysid hem ȝerne Oþer werkemen þer were ; þat wroutyn ful faste Eche man on his maner made hym to done Summe plesid pekynp(er)kyn ; pikkedyn vp þe weys At hei p(ri)me peris let þe plow stande To ouyr-sen hym so so best wrouth He schal ben hyrid þer-aftir ; whan heruest tyme comyth Than setyn somme ; and sungyn at þe nale Holpyn to herye þe half acre ; w(i)t(h) hei trolly lolly Be þe prynce of p(ar)adice ; quot peris in wreth But ȝ rysyn þe raþere ; and rape ȝou to werche Scholyl no greyne þat here grow(i)t(h) helpe ȝou at nede cij Thou ȝe dey for dole þe deuyl haue hym þat rechith Than were þo faytouris a-ferde & feyned hem blynd Summe leyde here leggis on lery ; as summe loselis cunne And pleyned hem to peris ; w(i)t(h) pitous wordis We han no lemys to labo(ur) w(i)t(h) ; lord grace be ȝe We prey for ȝow peris ; and for ȝoure plow boþe That god of his grace ; ȝour greyne multiplie For sekenes vs eylyth ; that we mow not laboryn ȝif it be so as ȝe seyn quot peris ; I schal it aspie ȝe ben wastouris I wot wel ; trewþe wot þe soþe I am is hold hyne I aut hym to warne Sweche wastouris his werkemen dystroen ȝe etyn þat þai schuldyn ; þat eryen for us alle And trewþe schal teche ȝou ; his teme for to dryue To settyn & to sowyn & to sauyn his tilþe Cacche cow from þe corn ; kepyn his bestis Or ȝe schal etyn barly bryn ; & of þe brok drynkyn But ȝe bryng abrokea broke schank ; or bedrede lyggyn Schul þai ete as good as I so god me helpe Til god of his grace ; gar hem to ryse Ankeris & hermytes þat wonyn in here sellis Schul haue of myne almes while þat I ~~bene~~ libbe Eche day at none but no more til morwe In auenture þat bred flesche & þe fende ; schuld foulyn her soule He a-bit wele þe bette þat bibbith not to ofte Onys at non is I-now þat no werke vsyth Tho be-gan wastour & wold þan a foutyn And to peris plowman ; he proferid his gloue A bretoner a bragger ; he bost hym alse Bad hym go pysse w(i)t(h) his plow ; foule pyne wreche Wilt þu or nylt þou ; we wil han oure wille Of þi floure & of þi fysche ; fecche whan vs likith And make vs mery þer-w(i)t(h) magrey þi chekis Than peris plouman pleyned hym to þe knyth To kepyn hym as couiennant was fro cursid schrewis For wastouris þat waytid werke-men to schende And bid hem go werchyn ; what he best likith Curtesly þe knyth be kende as he wel wolde Warned wastour ; and wyssid hym bettir Or þu schalt a-bye be þe lawe ; be þe ordre þat I welde I was not wonte to werche quot wastour I wol not now be-gynne And lete lytely of þe lawe ; and lesse of þe knyte He countid peris at a pece ; & his plow boþe Manasid hym & his men ; whan þai next mettyn Be þe p(er)ele of my soule quot peris ; I schal apeyre ȝou alle He wyschid aftir hungur he harde hym at þe fryst Wreke me on þese wastouris quot pers ; þat þis werd schendt Hungur in hast þan hent ; wastour be þe wombe And wrong hym so be þe wombe ; þat alle watterid his yen ciij And buffetid so þe bretoner ; a-boute þe chekis That he lokid lyke alantarnea lantarne ; al is lyfe aftir He bet hem so boþe ; he brast ner here wombis Ne had peris w(i)t(h) a pece lofe ; a preyed hem be-leue And w(i)t(h) a bene batte ; he wente hem be-twene And hitte hungur þer-w(i)t(h) in myddis of þe lyppis And bled in-to his body-ward ; a bolle ful of growel Ne had fryst þe fecician a defende hym watur To abate þe barly bred ; and þe benys grounde They had be ded be þis day ; and dolfyn al warme For ferd þese wastouris ; flowyn to bernys And flappid w(i)t(h) freyles fro morne til euyn That hungur was not hardy on hem for to loke For a potel of pece þat pers had mad And an hep of hermytis hente hem spadis And doluyn drytte & dounge to holdyn hungur oute Blynd & bederede were betyn athousanda thousand Ther leyn blynd & bedrede be þe hey wey hungur hem helid ; w(i)t(h) an hote cake lame mennys leggis ; where litid þat tyme And be-comyn knauys ; and cepte peris bestis And preyden for charite w(i)t(h) peris for to dwelle For coueytice of his corn ; to cacchyn a-wey hungur Peris was proud þer-of & put hem in office ȝaf hem mete & mone ; as þai myght dysseruyn Than had perce pete ; & preid hungur for to wende In-to his owyn lond ; and dwelle þer for euyr ȝit I prey þe quot peris ; er þu passe ferþere Of þese beggeris & bidderis ; what is best to done For wele I wot be þu went ; he willyn werche ful euyl For myschep it makith ; þei ben so meke now And for defaute of helpe & fode ; þus fast þei werchyn And alle ben my breþeryn ; god boute vs alle Trewþe taut me onys ; to louyn hem echone Thei þat han nede ; helpe hem in alle þinge Now wold I wetyn ȝif þu wistid ; what were þe best Here now quot hungur ; and held it for wysdom Bolde beggeris þat beggyn ; þat mowe here bred swynk w(i)t(h) hundis bred & hors bred ; hold vp here hertis A-baue hem w(i)t(h) benys ; for bolnyng of here wombe ȝif þu fynde ony freyke ; þat fortune has a-peyred w(i)t(h) fyre or w(i)t(h) falsmenfals men ; fond sweche to knowe Comfort hem w(i)t(h) þi catel for godis loue of heuyn loue hem & lene hem ; for þe lawe of kynde it wolle And alle maner of men ; þat þou myght a-spie That in nede ben or nakid ; or nouth han to spende w(i)t(h) mete or w(i)t(h) mone ; lat hem be þe bettere ciiii Or w(i)t(h) werke or w(i)t(h) dede ; whil þu art here Make þe frendis þer-mydde ; & so mathew vs techit Facite amicos vobis amicos . I ne wold god greue Quot peris ; for alle þe gold on þe grounde Myte I synles don as þu seyde ; seyde peris þanne ȝa I hote þe quot hungur ; or ellis þe bibil lyeth And sapiens seyth þe same ; I sey it in þe bible Piger p(ro)pter frigus no feld wolde it telle He schal go beggyn & byddyn ; to bete a-way his hungur Mathew w(i)t(h) mannys face ; mevith þes wordis That Seruus nequam hath a man & he ne wold it vsyn He had a magrey of his mayster eu(er) more aftir And be-nam hym is man ; for he wold not werche And ȝaf it hym in hast ; þat had ten þer be-fore And sythen he seyde ; þat is seruuauntis it harde He þat hath schal haue ; to helpyn þer ned is he þat nouth hath ; schal not haue ne no man hy(m) helpe And þat he wenyth to haue ; I wil it hym be-reve kynde wolde ; þat eche man wrouth w(i)t(h) techyng or w(i)t(h) tellyng ; w(i)t(h) handis or w(i)t(h) trauelyng Contemplatife lyfe or actife lyfe crist oure lord wolde Oure lord seyth in þe salme of Beati omnes Labores manuu(m) tuaru(m) & c(etera) he þat wynnyth his fode Thorow trauayle of his hand ; god geuyth hym is blyssyng Ne no beggere ete bred ; þat benys in come Ne non halpeny ale ; in no wyse drynk But of þe best & þe brounest ; þat breusteris seldyn laboreris þat had no lond ; but leuyd be here handis Deyned to dyne on þe day ; nygth old wrotis May no peny-ale hem payn ; ne non pece of bacon But it be fresche flesche & fysche ; fryed or rostid Chauyd & pluchaud ; for chillyng of here mawis That he werkman be-come ; he weylid þe tyme Thay cursyn þe kyng ; & þe counsel aftir Sweche lawis to lokyn ; laboreris to chastesyn whil hungur was maister wold non chide Ne stryue a-geyne þe statute ; so sterneliche he lokid I warne ȝou werkmen ernyth whil ȝe mowe For hungur is hedurward ; he hastit for fast He schal a-wake ȝo(ur) watenis ; wastouris to chastysyn Or fyue ȝere be ful-fillid ; sweche famyne schal a-ryse Thorow flod & foule wederis ; freutis schul faylen And so seyth saturne ; and sent ȝou to warne Passus octauus de visione Treuth hard tellyn her-of ; & to peris sent To takyn hym teme ; and telyen þe erde He purchasid hym aperdona perdon ; a pena culpa For hym & for is heyris ; euyr more aftir And þo þat hym holpyn to erye & to sowe Or ony maner myster þat mygth pers helpe Pert in þat p(ar)don þe pope hath I-grauntid kyngis & knytis þat kepyn holy chirke chirche Han p(ar)don þorow purgatori ; to passyn ful sone w(i)t(h) patriarkis in purgatori in paradidice ; to pleyn þer-aftir Buschopis þat blyssyn ; and boþe lawis conyn Loken on þe lawe ; and lerne men bettir And prechyn here p(er)sonis ; þe p(er)el of synne How þat schabbyd schep ; schuld here wolle saue Han p(ar)don w(i)t(h) postelis when he p(ar)tyn henys At þe day of dom ; at þe des for to sitte Marchaundis in here marchaundice han many ȝerdis But pena culpa ; þe pope wold non graunte For þai hold not here haliday as holy chirche techit And he swor be here sowele ; & so god must hem helpe A-geyne clene conciens ; catel to selle And vndur his sekir sele ; trewþe sent hym alettira lettir And bad hym bygge boldely ; what hym best likid And syth saue it to selle ; & saue þe wynnyng And make mescon dyeu ; þat mede myssede men to helpe wikkid weys ; wytely amende Mary maydenis & make hem nonnes That he was man wrouth ; whan he schal henys wende But old men & hory ; þat helpeles ben of strenght And women w(i)t(h) childe ; þat werche ne mowe Blynd & bedrede ; and brokyn here membris That takith here myschefe mekely & as me-selfe & oþ(er) Han as pleno(ur) p(ar)don ; as þe plowman hym-selfe hath For here lowe hertis ; oure lord hath hem grauntid Here penauns & here purgatori ; here vp-on erde Pers quot a prest þanne ; þi p(ar)don must I rede I schal construe iche clauce ; & telle þe on engelische And peris at his preire ; þe p(ar)don vnfoldyd I be-hynd hem boþe ; be-held þe bulle In to lynes it lay ; and not a lettir more And was wretyn ryght þus ; in witnes of treuþe Et qui bona egerunt ; ibunt in vitam eternam Et qui vero mala ; in ignem eternam Petur quod pers þo ; I can non oþer p(ar)doun Do wele & haue wele ; & god schal haue þi soule Do euyl & haue euyl ; & hope þu non other Aftir þi ded-day ; þe deuyl schal haue þi soule Peris for pure tene ; pullid it on tweyne ; and seyde Si ambulauero i(n) medio vmbre mortis no(n) timebo mala I schal sese of my sowyng ; and swynk not so harde Ne aboute my lyfe-lode ; besy me no more Of preyeris & penauns ; my plow schal ben her-aftir In þe sauter þus seyth ; and so don oþer manye The prophetis were pyned ; in penauns & in wepyng That louyth god lely ; is life-lode is ful mete Fuerunt m(ichi) panes die ac nocte & c(etera) But ȝif luke lye ; he lernyth vs be folis We schuld not be besy ; aboute bodyly ioyes Ne soliciti sitis he seyth in his gospel And schew(i)t be example ; vs-selfe to wysse The foulis in þe fyrmament ; ho fynt hem in wyntir Whan þe frost fresith ; fode hem be-houyth Haue þay no garner to go to ; but god fynt hem alle Quot þe prest to p(er)kyn ; petir as me thynkyt Thou art letterid but lytil ; ho lernyd þe on boke Abstinence myne aunte ; myne a.b.c. me touthe Conciens cam aftirward ; an tauth me bettir Where þu a prest peris quot he ; þu myght prewe þe soþe Co(n)n litteram non cognoui myth be þi teme A lewid losel quot peris ; litil lokyst þu þe bibil Of salomonis sawis ; litil þu be-holdist Ecce dirisores & virga cum eis non crescant The prest & perkyn ; eyther a-posid oþer I trowe here wordis wok ; & waytid aboute And say þe sunne syttyn euyn south ; in þat tyme Meteles & mony-les on maluerne hillis Musyng on þes metelis ; a myle wey I ȝede Many tyme þese metelis ; han mad me to stodie And for peris loue þe plowman ful pensife in hert For þat I say slepyng ; ȝif it so be myght As caton construyth it nay ; & canonystris boþe And he hem-selfe boþe Sompnia ne cures For þus þe buke berith For þus þe bible ; berith wittnes How danyel deuyned ; þe drem of þe kyng Of nabugodonosor ; ne myght no clerkis Daniel seyde sere kyng ; þi swenene is þus to mene That vnconyng knytis schul come ; þi kyngdom to cleyme Among hyere lordys ; þi lond schal be de-p(ar)tid As daniel demyd ; so it fel aftir The kyng lost his lordschepe ; and lesse lordis it haddyn As iosep mette merueyously ; of þe mone & þe sunne And þe eleue sterris ; he heylid hym also Beuseris quot his fadur ; for defaute we schullyn may fynd us a fole/for soferyng so [...]/myche of t../chylderne I me-selue & my sonys ; sekyn þe for nede It fel as þe fadur seyde ; in pharo tyme That iosep was iustice egipte to kepe Al þis makith me on metelis to thynk Many tyme at mydnyth ; whan men schuld slepe Of peris þe plowman ; swoche p(ar)don he had And how þe prest inpugnyd it ; al to pure resun And deuyned þat dowel ; indulgence pasid Byonalis & trionalis ; and buschopis letteris Dowel at þe day of dom ; is derly vndurfongyn He pasith al þe perdon of sent petir chirche Now hath þe pope pouer perdon to graunte The puple w(i)t(h)-oute penauns ; to pasyn into Ioy This is oure be-leue ; as lernyd men vs techith Quodcumq(ue) ligaueris sup(er) terram erit ligatum & in celis And so I leue lely god for-bede ellis That p(ar)don and penauns ; preyeris don saue Soulis þat han synnyd ; seuene sythis dedly For to storn trostyn on trionalis ; trewely me thynkith Is non so seker for þe soule ; as for to dowel Trostyth not vp þat tresor ; trionalis to haue To purchace p(ar)don & þe popis billis At þe dredful dom ; whan men schul ryse And comyn be-forn crist ; a-countis to ȝelde How þu leddis þi lyue here ; & how his lawis kepist And how þu dost day be day ; þi dom it wil reherce A pound ful of p(ar)don þore ; ne no prouincialis selis And þow þu be in þe fraternite ; in alle foure orderis And haue in-dulgence dubbilfold ; but do-wel þe helpe I nold ȝif for þi patentis of p(ar)don ; a pece hole Ther-fore I rede alle cristen men to crye god mercy And mary his modur ; to ben mene be-twene That god of his grace here ; or we goon henis Sweche werkis to werche ; whil we ben here That aftir oure ded-day ; dowel may reherce At þe day of dom ; w(i)t(h) crist for to wone Hic incipit vita de dowel dobet & dobest Thus I-robid in russet ; I romyd abowte Al a somer sesun ; for to seke dowel I freyned ful ofte of folke þat I mette ȝif ony wiste where dowel was at Inne And what man he myght be ; ȝif ony man askyd Was neuyr wyte as I wente ; þat me wysse cowde Where þat lede loggede lesse noþer more Til it fel vp-on a fryday ; to freris I mette Maystris of þe menouris ; men of gret witte I heylid hem hendely ; as I had lernyd And preyd hem besili ; or þei went ferþere ȝif þai knewyn ony contre ; or coustis a-boute Where þat dowel dwellid ; do me to wysse Mary quot þe menouris ; a-mong vs he dwellith Euyr hath as I hope ; & euyr schal here-aftir Contra quot I as a clerk I gan to dysputyn Sepcies in die cadit iustus Seuene sythis on þe day ; synnyth þe ryghtful And ho-so synnyth as I say ; sertis me thynkith That dowel & do euele mow not stond to-gederis Ergo he is not at hom al-wey a-mong ȝou freris He is ellis oþer-while ; to wyssyn þe puple I schal say þe my sone ; seyde þe frere þanne How seuyn sythis þe sadmansad man ; synnyth on þe day Be a for-besene quot þe frere ; I schal þe fayre schewe Lat bryng a man in a bot ; in myddis a brok watur The wynd & þe watur ; & þe waggynge of þe boot Makith a man many tymis to fallyn & to stonde For stand he neuyr so fast ; he stomelith in þe waggyng And ȝit he is saue & sound ; and so hym be-houyth For ȝif he ne rese raþere ; & ȝede to þe sterne The wynd & þe watur þe boot ouyr-throw(i)t Ther wer þe mannys lyfe lost ; for lacchans of hym-selue Thus it faryth quot þe frere ; be men of þis erde The watur is lykened to þis werld ; þat waxith & wanyth The godis of þis ground ; ben lykened to þe waues As wyndis & wawis walkyn aboute The bot is likened to þe body ; þat brechel is of kynde That þorow þe fend & þe flesche ; & þe false werd Synnyth þe sadmansad man ; seuene sythis on þe day Dedly synne he doth nout ; for dowel hym helpit That is charite þe champlioun ; cheffe a-geyne synne Ay is þi soule saue ; but ȝif þu wille Folwe þe wil of þi flesche ; & þe fendis aftir And do dedly synne ; and drenche þe-selue God sufferith þe to deyn so ; for þe-selfe to haue þe maystrie I be-kenne þe to crist ; þat on cros deyd And þai seyde þe same ; saue þe fro myschaunce and 3if þe grace on þis erde ; in good lyfe to ende Thus I went wyde for dowel to sekyn Vpon alyndea lynde in alawndea lawnde ; lenyd I a stounde To lystyn þe layes ; þat þe foulis madyn The blysse of þe bryddis ; brout me a-slepe The meruelyest metyng mette I þanne That euyr dremyd wyth ; in drouth as I wene A meche man me þouth ; like to my-selue Come & callid me be my ryght name What art þu quot I ; þat myne name knowyst Thou wost wel quot he & no man bettir Wost icche what þu art quot I ; thouth seyde he þanne I haue sewyd þe al þis seuene ȝere ; sey þu me no raþe Art þu þouth quot I ; canst þu me telle Where dowel dwellit do me to wysse Dowel quot he ; dobest ; & dobet þe thrid Arn iijthre fayre vertuis ; & be not to fynde Ho-so be meke of his mouþe ; & meke of his speche Whil he hath of is owyn helpit þe nede That þe erle auarice had ; or ony of his eyris W(i)t(h) mamonis monye ; had mad hym frendis He is ronnyn to religious ; and renderith is bille And prechit þe puple sen poulis wordis Libenter suffertis & c(etera) The wyse sufferith þe vn-wyse ; w(i)t(h) ȝou for to leue And w(i)t(h) good wil do hem good ; so god hym-selfe hite Dobest is abouyn hem boþe ; berith a buschopes crose Is hokyd at þe ton ende to hold men in good lyfe And as dowel & dobet ; dedyn hym vndurstonde And as dowel &/dobet ; dedyn??? Thay haue corounyd a kyng ; to kepyn hem alle ȝif dowel or dobet ; weryn a-ȝeyne dobest Than schuld þe kyng comyn ; and caste hem in presun And cast hem in penaunce ; w(i)t(h)-oute pete or grace But dobest bede for hem ; þei bedyn þer for euyr Thus dowel & dobet ; and dobest þe thride Corounyd hym to be kyng ; and here councel werche And reule þe reme ; be reule of hem alle I thankid þouth þo þat he me so tauth And ȝit sauerid me not in seyng ; as so me god helpe How dowel & dobest & dobet ; don on þe erde But witte wysse þe quot þouth ; where þese dwellyn Ellis wot I no man ; þat now is on lyfe Thouth and I þese thre dayes ȝedyn dysputyng on dowel day be day Or we wer ware ; w(i)t(h) wtite ; gun we mete He was lond & lene ; like to non other Was no pride in his a-p(ar)ele ; ne pouert neþer I durste meue no mater ; to makyn hym to iangle ȝif put I forth a purpos ; to preuyn his witte Than þouth in þat tyme ; seyde þese wordis Where dowel & dobet & dobest ; ben in þis lond His wil wold I-wetyn ȝif witte coudd me techen Primus passus de dowel [a cross and an alphabet] Sere dowel dwellyth quot witte ; not a day henne In a castel þat kende made of kynde thyngis Of herde & of heyre it is mad ; medelid to-gederis W(i)t(h) wynd & w(i)t(h) watur ; wittely enioyned Kynde hath closid þer-in ; crftelycraftely w(i)t(h)-alle A leman þat he louyd ; like to hym-selue a(n)i(m)a ȝhe hyte To here had Enuye a proud preker of fraunce p(ri)nceps hui(us) mu(n)di And wold a woned here a-wey ; w(i)t(h) wilys ȝif he mygth And kende know(i)t here wele ; and know(i)t here þe betture And had don here seke dowel ; dwke of þe marches Dobet is here damysele ; sere dowel-is douter And seruyd þis lady lely ; boþe late and rathe Thus dowel & dobet & dobest þe thride Be maystres of þis maner þis mayde to kepe As constable of þe castelle ; þat kepith hem alle Is a knyth wyse w(i)t(h)-alle ; sere Iewet he hythe And had fyue fayre sonys be his frist wyfe Sere dowel & sere seywel ; and here wele þe thride Bene marystris of þis maner ; þes mayden to kepe Sere werche wel w(i)t(h) þine hond ; w(i)t(h) man of strenth And sere godfrey gowel ; gret lord w(i)t(h)-alle These sexe ben sette ; for to saue þe castel Tho keppyn þis woman ; þese sexe ben chargid Til kend comeor sende ; to kepe here hem-selue Wath calle ȝe þe castel ; þat kende hath makid What kynnys þing is kende ; canst þu me telle Kende quote he is a kreature ; of alle kynde bestis Fadur and formour ; fryst of alle þing That is þe grete god ; þat gynnyng had neuyr The lord of lyfe & lyth ; of blyssis & of peyne Angelis and alle þing arne at his wille As man is hym most lyke ; of merke & of face For be his word & be is werke ; wexen forth bestis And alle þing at his wille he wrout w(i)t(h) on speche Dixit & facta sunt ip(s)e mandauit & c(etera) Saue man þat he made ; like to hym-selue Gaf hym gost of his godhed ; & grauntid hym blisse Lyue þat ay schal laste ; and his lynage aftir That is þe castel of kende mad ; caro yt hattith As mechil is mene ; as man w(i)t(h)-oute þe soule That he wrouth w(i)t(h) word ; and w(i)t(h) werke boþ Thorow myght of þe maieste man was I-makid Faciamus ho(m)i(n)em ad ymaginem n(ost)ram In-witte and alle wyttis ; closid ben þer-inne For loue of þat lady ; þat lyue is I-menyd That is a(n)i(m)a þat ouyr al in þe body wanderis In þe hert is here hom ; heyst of alle ȝhe is lyfe ledere ; a leman of heuyn In-witte is þe help þat a(n)i(m)a dyshyrith Aftir þe greace of god ; þat grettest is inwytte In-wytte in þe heuyd is ; and help to þe soule For þorow is conyng is kepte caro & anima In rewle and resun ; but recches it makyth He eggith þe eye sygth to goode ; and heryng also Of god speche & of good dede ; he is be-gynnere In mannys brane he is most ; and mytiest to knowe Ther is his boure bremest ; but ȝif blod it make Whan blod is brymmere þan brayne ; þan is inwitte bounde Eke wantone & wilde ; w(i)t(h)-outyn ony resun W(i)t(h) ȝong fau(n)tes & folis ; w(i)t(h) hem faylith inwitte And eke sottis þu mygth se ; þat syttyn at þe nale Thei holdyn ale in here hed ; til inwytte be dronchen And ben braynwod as bestis ; so here blod waxeth Than hath þe pouke pouere sere p(ri)nceps hui(us) mundi Hath of sweche maner of men mygth in here soule Ofe fauntis & folis ; þe fende hath no mygth For no werke þat þai werkyn ; wikkyd or ellis The faderis & þe frendys ; for fauntis schul be blamyd But he wyte hem fro wantounes ; whil þai be ȝonge ȝif he be pore for catelles ; to kepe hem from ille Than is holy be-holdyn to kepe hem from ille and saue Fro falsed & folyes ; and fyndyn til þai ben wysere Eche wytte in þis werld ; þat hath vndurstondyng Is chefe souereyne ou(er) hym-selue ; his soule to ȝeme And clense hym fro heuy charge ; whan his child-hed passith Saue hym-selue from synne ; and so hym be-houith For werche he wele or ellis worng ; þe witte is his owyn Than is dowel a duke ; þat dystroet vices And sauith þe soule ; þat synne hath no mygth To routyn ne to restyn ; to rotyn in þine herte And þat is dred of god dowel it makit It is gynnere of goodnes ; god frist for to dredyn Salamon seyde a soth tale Inicuium sapiencie timor d(o)m(ini) For dowt men do þe þe bettyr dred is sweche a mayster That he makith men meke ; and mylde of her speche And alle scholeris ; in schole for to lerne Than is dobet to ben war ; for betyng of þe ȝerde Of þat seyth þe sauter ; þe-selue mygth it rede Virga tua & baculus tuus ȝif conciens a-corde þat þi soule dowel While þu wonyst in þis werld ; for to don bettere For intencio indicat hominem Be councelle of conciens ; acordith w(i)t(h) holy chirche Loke þu wysse þi witte and þi werkis aftir Fro falsed & fo[lies] For ȝif þu do a-ȝenys conciens ; þu comerist þe-selue Witnessith holy wrytte; and godis word boþe Qui agit contra conciensiam ȝif þu werche be godis worde ; I warne þe for þe best What-so men worden of þe ; reche þe neuyr Caton techith so ; take kep of his techyng Cum recte viuas ne cures uerba malor(um) ȝif þu be-gynne to clyme ; and woldyst heyrere Thow mythist lesyn þi lownes for alitela litel pride I haue lernyd how lewyud men ; lerne here children Seldom mosith þe merbil ; þat men oftyn trede And ryght so be renneris ; þat rennyn aboute Fro religion to religiun ; recheles ben þai euyr Ne men þat connyn alle craftis ; clargie it tellith That thrifte of or thedom ; w(i)t(h) þo is selde seyn Qui circuit omne genus in nullo genere est Poule þe postele in his pystele wrythet In example of sweche ; schuld not renne aboutyn And for wysdom it is wretyn ; and wyttens in chirche In eadem uocacione qua uocati estis ; State ȝif þu be man maried monk oþer chanon Hold þe stable and stedfast ; a beggere þow þu were Loke þu grucche not on god ; þow he ȝeue þe lytil Be payed w(i)t(h) þi possessioun ; pore oþer riche Thus in dred dobest dowel ; and dobet to suffre For þorow sufferans se þu myth ; how souereynte a-rysith and so lernyth luke ; þat lyed neuyr Qui se ex humiliat ~~humiliabitur~~ exaltabitur And þus dred of dede ; dobest a-rysith Wheche is þe flour & þe freute fore fosterid aboue As whete out of þe wede ; waxith of þe erde So dobest out of dobettir ; ad dowel be-gynnyth to spyrnge Among men of þis molde ; þat meke ben and kynde For loue of here lownesse ; oure lord ȝif hem grace Werkis for to werche ; þat he þer-w(i)t(h) is plesid Formest and frist ; to folke þat ben wele weddid That leuyth as here lawe wil þat likith god almyghti Thorow wedlak þe werd stant ; ho-so it knowe Thei ben þe ricches of remys ; þe rote of dowel Of þat kynde þai comyn ; þat confessouris be namyd Boþe maydenis and maystris ; munkis and ankeris Kyngis & knytis ; and alle oþer clerkis Barouns & burgeis and bond-men of touunes False folke and feytheles ; as theuys and lieris Ben conceyuyd in cursid tyme ; as caym was of eue Aftir adom and eue ; had etyn þe appil A-ȝenys þe hest of hym ; þat hem of nouth made The aungil in angur made hem to wende In-to þis wrecchid werd ; to wonyn and to leue In tene and in trauayl into here lyuys ende In þat cursid constillacion ; þei knewe to-gederis And brouth forth a baron þat mekil bale wrouth Caym þai hym clepid ; in cursid tyme engenderid And so seyth þe sauter ; seyth won þu likith Concepit dolorem & peperit iniquitatem Alle þat cam of þat caym ; crist hetid hem aftir And a miliouns mo of men ; & of women Ther of seth and his systir ; sethen for comyn For þai maried w(i)t(h) cursid hed ; w(i)t(h) men of caym-is kynne Alle þat comyn of caym ; cursyd þai were Alle þt coupillid hem to þat kyn ; crist hatid hem aftir For-þi he sent to .sem. & þe aungil seyde to hym To kepe his kynnerede fro caymis ; þei couplid not to-gedur And syth sem and his systir ; were spousid to-gederis A-ȝenys þe hest of god ; garlis þei gotyn God was wrouth w(i)t(h) here werkis ; and sweche wordis seyde Penitet me fecisse hominem That is to mene a-mong vs alle That I man makid ; now me ouyr-thynkith And cam to noe a-non and bad hym not lette Go schapyn hym a schip of schidis and of bordis Hym-selue and his sonys thre ; & sythen here wyues Buskym hem brymme to þt bot ; and holdym hem þ(er)-inne Til fourti days hath ful-fillid þat flod hath I-waschen Clene a-wey þe cursid blod ; þat caym hath I-makid Bestis þat now ben schul banne þat stounde That euyr cursid caym cam on grounde Alle schul deyn for his dede ; be dounys & hillis Boþe fyschis and foulis forth w(i)t(h) oþer bestis Out-takyn seuene soulis ; & of eche a best a couple That in þe sengle schip schul be sauyd Ellis schul alle deyen & to helle wendyn Thus þorow cursid caym ; cam care vp-on alle Alle for sem & his sisteris childeryn spousid to-gederis A-ȝeynis þe lawe of oure lord ; loyn to-gedur And were maried to myschef ; as men do now here children For summe as I se now ; þe soþe for to telle For coueytice of catel ; vnkendeliche be maried A carful concepcioun comith on sweche a weddyng It is vnkendely weddyng be crist as me thynkith To ȝeuyn a ȝong wenche to an old feble Or wedde ony wedowe ; for ony welth of goodis That neu(er) schal baron bere ; but it be in here armis Ielisie ioyles ; an iangelyng in bedde Many peyre syn þe pestelence ; han plyt hem to-gederis The frute þat þei bryng forth arn many foule wordis Thei don hem to donmow ; but ȝif dowel helpe To folwyn aftir þe flyk ; fatte þai it neuyr But boþen ben for-sworn ; þat bakon þei tyne I councel alle cristene ; coueyte not to be weddid For coueytice of catel ; & of kenrede riche But maydenis meke ȝou to-gederis Wedueris & wedues ; werche ȝe þe same Lawe hath grauntid eche man to haue a make In mariage of wedlak ; werche þu þat werke On þi wyfe a(n) no woman ellis Aȝeyn dowel þai don euyl ; and þe deuyl plesyn Aftir here ded-day ; schul dwelle w(i)t(h) þe same Than is do-wel to dredyn ; and dobest to sufferyn So comyth dobest aboutyn ; and bryngith doun mody And his wikkid wil þat many werke schendith Passus secundus de dowel Than had he a wyfe þai clepid dame stodie That lene was of liche ; and of lowe chere Sche wondurly wroth was ; þat witte þus me tauth And alle schornely dam stodie ; sternely seyde Wele art þu wyse quot ȝhe ony wisdom to telle To faytouris & to folis ; þat frentik ben of witte And blamyd hem and bannyd hem ; and bad hem ben stille W(i)t(h) sweche wyse wordis ; to wyssyn ony folis And seyde Nolite mittere margery perlis Among hoggis þat han hawis at here wille Thay don but drauelyn þer-on ; draf were hem leuyr Than alle þe presiouce perre ; þat in p(ar)adice growith I sey it be þo quot ȝhe ; þat schew(i)t be here wordis That hem were leuyr lond ; and lordchep on erde Riches or rent ; and rest at here wille Than alle þe soth sawis þat saloman seyde Wysdom an witte is now not worth a russche But ȝif it be cardet w(i)t(h) coueytice ; & to conspire wrong(es) And ledyn forth alouedaya loueday ; and leuyn þe trewþe That scwedche do can ; ben clepid to councel And ben sseruyd as seris ; þat seruyn þe deuelis loris Iob þe gentil in his gestis seyde Quare uia impior(um) p(re)parabitur b(e)n(e) e(st) in o(m)(n)ib(us) q(ui) p(ra)ue & iniq(ue) agerunt He þat hath holy wrytte hyn his mouþe And can tellyn of tobie ; and is .xij.twelue a-postelis And prechyn of þe penauns ; þat pilatus wrouth To ihesu þe ientil þat iewis to-drowyn On cros vp-on calueri ; as clerkis vs techyn Lytil is louyd or late by ; þat sweche a sermoun schew(i)t Or honourid or drawe forth ; þese desouris wot þe soþe For ȝif harlatrie ne helpe hem þe bettere ; so god me helpe More þan musike ; or makyng of god almyti Wold neþer kyng ne knyth ; nor chanon of sen poulis ȝif hem to here ȝeris ȝifte þe valew of a grote Mynstralsie & myrth a-mong men is nouth Losenrye & rebaudie ; and loselis talis Glotonie and grete oþis arn gamys now on days ȝif þai carpyn on crist ; þese clerkis and þese lewid men At mete and at myrth ; þece mynstrallis arn stille Than tellyn þai of þe trenite how þe to slow þe thridde Bryngith forth aballida ballid resun ; barnard I take to wyttnes And puttyn forth a presumcioun ; to preuyn þe soþe And gnawyn god in þe gorge ; whan here guttis fillyn The carful man may cryen at þe ȝate For hungur and for thrist ; and for cold quakyn Is þer non w(i)t(h)-Inne ; þat is noye wil amendyn hold hym out as an hound ; and hunte hym so þenis Litil louyth he þat lord ; þat lent hym alle his blysse That þus p(ar)tith w(i)t(h) þe pore ; a p(ar)cil whan hym lyste Ne were mercy in mene man more þan in riche God is meche in here gorge ; of þese grete maysteris Among mene men his mercy & his werchyng As seyth þe sauter ; sekyth memento Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata Clerkis and courtemen spekyn of god faste And han hym mechil in here mouþe ; an mene men in hert Freris & faytouris ; han foundyn vp a questioun To plesyn w(i)t(h) þe proud men ; syn þe pestelens tyme That defoulid oure feyth ; at festis þer þaio syttyn Now is eche boy bold ; ȝif þat he be riche For to tellyn of þe trenite ; and ben holdyn aserea sere And fynte forth fantesies oure feyth to apeyre And eke defamith þe fadur ; þat vs alle made And carpith ageyne clergise ; crambit wordis an sayth Whi wolde oure sauiour suffre þat worme in his blisse To be-gile þe woman and þe man aftir Thorow wheche & while þai wentyn to helle And alle here sed for here synne þe same wo sufferid Sweche maysties þei meuyn ; þes maistris in here glorie And makyn men in misse-be-leue þat mousin on her wordis As austyn þe elde ; of alle sweche prechouris And sweche tale telleris ; sweche a teme iseyde Non plus sapere & c(etera) That þis were to wetyn whi That god wold satan his sed ; for to be-gile Alle þat wole wetyn þe weys of god al-myti I wold his eye were in his ars and his hele aftir That euyr wold wetyn whi þat god wold To suffre satan his sed for to be-gyle Or iudas þe Iue ; ihesu to be-traye Al was as he wold now worchepid be he Alle wrouth as þu wilte ; what-sum-eu(er) we telle Now comyth a comoune and wold wetyn of my wyttis What is wel fro dobet ; now def mote he worþin SþeS[i]þe he wil wetyn what he ben alle But he leue in þe lest degre ; þat longith to dowel I dar ben his bold borow ; dobet schal he neuyr Thou dobest drawe on hym ; day aftir oþer Whan witte was war how is wyse tolde He be-come so confusid ; he coude speke no more As dom as a dore nayle ; drow hym on syde For no carpyng I coude ; ne for no knelyng to grounde I myte getyn no grayne ; of his grete wittis But alle lawhyng he loutid ; and lokyd on stodie In sygne þat I schuld ; prey here of grace Whan I was war þat it was is wille To his wyfe gan I gon ; and knelid to grou(n)d And seyde mercy madame ; ȝo(ur) man schal I worþe To kenne me kendely wath is dowel For þi myldenes quot ȝhe & þi mylde speche I schal kenne þe to my cosyne ; þat clergie hotith He hath weddyd a wyfe w(i)t(h)-inne þese wekis sexe Is sybbe to þe seuene artis ; þ(a)t scripture is I-nemelid Thai to as I hope ; þorow my be-sekyng Schal wyse þe to dowel ; I dar vndur-take Than was I as fayne as foule on erne morne Gladere þan þe gle-man þat hath gold to ȝifte And axkid þe hey wey þer clergie wel dwellid And telle me token of hym ; it is tyme þat I wende Axke þe wey quot ȝhe ; henys to suffre Boþe wele and wo ; ȝif þu wilt lerne Ryde forth be rychesse ; but byde not þere ȝif þu couple w(i)t(h) hym ; to clergie comyst þu neuyr And leue þe lande þat rebaudie hauntith Lete hym on þi lyfte halfe a large mile an more [?]han þu come to a courte kep wel þi tunge Fro lesyngis fre ledur speche ; & fro likerous drynk(es) Than schal þu sobirte ; and sympilnes of speche That eche wyth be in wil ; his witte þe to schewyn So schal þu couþe to clergice ; þ(a)t con many thyngis Sey hym þe syne I sette hym to schole That I gret wel is wyfe ; I wroth here þe bible And sette here to sapience ; an to þe sauter I-glosid Logike I lernyd here ; and alle þe lawe aftir And alle þe musun in misik ; I made here to knowe Plato þe poete put hym frist to boke Aristodil and oþer mo to argue I tauth Gramer for gerlis ; I gan frist to wryte And bette hem w(i)t(h) abaylesa bayles but þai wold lerne For alle kynis craftis ; I contrued tolis Of carpenteris of carueris ; I kennyd fryst masonis leuel & lyne I hem lernyd þow I loke dymme Teologie hat tenyn me ten schore tynne The more I musid þer-In ; þe mistiere it semyd It is no sience for soþe ; for to sotelyn Inne Ne were þe loue þat lyth þer-In ; a lewid þing it were For loue is alorda lord ; þer lakith no grace Now leue þu Er-on ; ȝif þu thynk to dowel For dobet and dobest ; ben drawyn of lowest lore In other sience it seth ; in caton þu may rede Qui similiat verbis nec cordis est fidus amicus Teologie techith not so ; ho-so takit kepp He kennys vs þe contrary ; a-ȝenys caton-is wordis And bid us ben as breþeren and blissyn oure fomen And do good a-geynes euyl ; & so god biddyth And schewid it hym-selue ; in example of lownes Necesse est ut uenient schandala Astronomie is hard heuy þing ; & euil for to knowe Gemetrie & gemessie ; is synful of speche That thynk to werche w(i)t(h) hem thre ; thryfyn ful late For sorcerie to þis science longith ȝit arn þer febeles in manys wittis Of exp(er)imentis of alcamie ; of albertis makyng Nygramauncie & p(er)maunsie ; þe pouke to reysen ȝif þu thynke to dowel medil w(i)t(h) hem neyther Alle þese science sekryrly ; I me-selue formest hem foundyd in feth ; folke to dysseyuyn I went wytely my wey w(i)t(h)-outyn ony lettyng And fond as ȝhe for-told ; and forth gan I wende And ere I cam to clergie ; coude I neuyr stondyn I gret þat good man ; as þe good man me tauth And aftirward þe gode wyfe ; I worchepid boþe And told here tokenys ; þat me taut were Was neu(er) gome on þis ground ; syn god mad heuyn Fayrere vndurfonge ; ne frendeliere mad at ese Curtessely clergie callid me ; and kyssid me And axkid how witte ferd ; and his wyfe stodie And I seyde soþely ;þei sent me hedur To lerne at ȝou dowel and dobet þer-aftir And aftirward to se sumwaht of dobest It is a wel lele lyfe quot he ; a-mong þe lewid puple Actyf is it hotyn ; husbondis it vsyn Trewe telieris on þe erde ; talliouris and toucheris And alle kynnys crafti men ; to leuyn for here fode Diken or deluyn dowel it hotith To breke beggeris bred ; & also for to cloþu(n) hem Comforth þe carful ; þat in þe castel lythe federid And seke out þe seke ; and send hem þat nedith Obedient also breþerin ; þus ben dobet So witnes þe sauter Ecce quam bonu(m) & qua(m) iocundum Seke w(i)t(h) þe sory ; synge w(i)t(h) þe glade GaudeteGaudere cu(m) gaudentib(us) flere cum flentib(us) Sekyrly þis is dobet ; dobest wot þe soþe Sere dobest hast ben in office &^ so is best worthi Be þat god in þe gospel grauntit & techit For-þi dobest is a boschopes pere Qui facit & docuitdocu[er]it magis uocabitur in regno celor(um) Prynce ouyr godis puple ; to preche & to teche Dobet do ful wele ; endued is he als Possescionis in pluralite ; for pore mennys sake For a-mendement at myssechef ; þe men weryn dued That is ryghtful religioun ; and non rennere a-boutyn And no leperis ouyr lond layes to serue Gregori þe grete clerk ; a good pope in his tyme Of religyoun þe reule rehersyth in his moralis And seyth be example ; þei schuld don þe bettir Whan fysche faylith flod ; eyther fysche þe watur Thei deyn for þe drouth ; whan þe drye lyggith Right so be religioun be religioun ; it reylith & steruyt That out of couent an cloyster ; coueyte to leue Now is religioun a ridedere a romere be stretis A ledere of ladies & a lond byere John Pop(er)it on his palfrey fro toun to toune A bedew and a baselard he berith be is syde Godis flesche & his feyth ; and his fyue woundis Arin more in his mende ; þan þe memorie of his frendis This is þe lyue of þes lordis þat leuyn & schuld dobet And wele werce ; & I wold it telle I wend þat kynghod & knyttehod quot I & cayser & erlis For I haue sen it my-selue ; & sythen red it aftir How crist kennyd þe comoune ; and tauth hem þis tale Sup(er) cathedram moysi sederunt principes qui dicunt facite For þai wende þo weyes weren best of alle I wil not schorne quot scripture ; but schreueneris lye Kynghod & knythod ; be out I can speye helpith not to heuyn-ward on ȝeris ende Ne riches ne rentis ; ne realte of londis Poule prouyth impossible riche men in heuyn Pore men and pacient ; in penauns to-gedur Han eritage in heuyn ; and riche men non Contra quot I be crist and þat I dar wel say I proue it be þe pistil ; þat petur is I-nemelid Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit saluus erit That is in extremis quot scripture among sarzinis & iewis That vn-cristene in þat cas may cristen on heyen As for his lele be-leue ; whan he is lyue tenyth Haue heritage in heuyn as a man þat is cristene Cristen men god it wot come not so to heuyn For cristen men han a de-gre ; and is here comoun speche Dilige d(om)inu(m) d(eu)m tuu(m) & c(etera). & p(ro)ximu(m) tuu(m) sicut te-ip(su)m Godis word witnessith ; we schuld ȝeue & dele Oure ennemyes and alle men þat arn nedy & poure And schew(i)t þis sermoun ; þat sone sueth aftir Du(m) te(m)p(us) est op(er)iem(ur) bonu(m) ; ad om(n)es maxime ad domesticos & c(etera) Alle kynde creaturis ; þat crist ben like We ben hold holy ; to heryn & honoure And ȝif hem of oure good ; as good as oure-selue And souereyneliche to sweche ; þat sewyn oure be-leue That is eche cristene creature ; be kynde til oþere [repetition of part of last line, and something illegible; then "it".] Tho harme hem ne to slo hem ; in his ten be-hestis Non mecaberis ne sle not is þe engelysche Michi uindictam & ego retribuam I schal ponyschen in purgatori or in þe pitte of helle Eche man for his mys-dedis but ȝif mercy it lette And ȝit am I neuyr þe ner for out I haue walkyd To wetyn wath is dowel wittyrly in herte For ho-so werche in þis werld wrong or ellis I was merkid w(i)t(h)-oute merke & myne name enterid In þe legende of lyue ; long er I were Or ellis vn-wretyn for wikkid as wittenessit þe gospel Nemo assendit in celum n(isi) qui decendit de celo leue it wel be oure lord ; no lettere bettere For salamon þat sage ; þat sapience made God ȝaf hym grace & riches to-gedere For to rewelyn his rem ryth at his wille Dede he not wel & wysely ; as holy chirche techit Boþe in werk & word ; inward in his teme Aristodil & he ; he wretyn bettyr And alle holy chirche holdyn hem in helle Was neuyr in þis to wysere clerkis For alle connyng clerkis syn god went on erde Takyn example of here sawis in sermonys þat þei makyn Be here werkis & wordis ; wyssyn vs to do wel ȝif I schal werche here werkis ; & wynne me heuyn And I w(i)t(h) here werkis & witte ; wynne me pyne Than wrouth I vn-wysely ; w(i)t(h) alle þe wittis þat I lere On good fryday I fynde þat a feloun was sauyd That had leuyd alle is lyue in lesyngis & thefte For he be-knew on þe cros ; and to crist schrof hym Soner had he sauacioun þan sen Ion þe baptist Or adam or ysay or ony of þese prophetis A robbere had re-missioun ; raþere þan he alle W(i)t(h)-outyn penaunce of purgatorie ; haiþe p(ar)adise for euyr Than mary maudeleyn ho myght do werse Or ho ded wers þan dauit ; þat vrie dystroed Or poule þe postele ; þat no pete hadde Cristene kynd to kylle to deth Arne þer non for soþe ; so souereyne-liche in heuyn As þese þat wroutyn wikkydly ; in þis werld wan þei weryn And ȝit I for-gat ferþere of fyue wittis techyng Wat clergie of cristis mouth ; comeendid was Dum steteritis ante reges & presides nolite cogitare Is as meche to mene ; as men þat be lewid Whan þei ben posid of pryncis ; and prestis of þe lawe For to answeryn hem haue ȝe no dowte For I schal graunt ȝou grace ; of god þat ȝe seruyn The helpe of þe holy gost to answeryn hem alle The doutiest doctor or deuynour of þe trenite That austyn þe elde Is heyest of hem alle foure Seyde þus in a sermoun as so me god helpe Ecce ip(s)i i(n)-docti rapiunt celu(m) vbi nos sapientes in infernu(m) Margimur It is to mene in oure mouth noyer lesse ne more Arne none raþere rauesched from þe ryth be-leue Than arn þes grete clerkis þat cun many bokis Ne non soner sauyd ; ne saddere of concience Than pore puple as plowmen þat pasture her bestis Saweris & soweris ; sweche lewid iottis Mon p(er)syn w(i)t(h) apatera pater n(oste)r þe pales of heuyn I w(i)t(h)-oute penauns at here p(ar)tyng into þe blisse of heuyn