The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. ?: Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Bodley 814 (Bo)William LanglandEdited by Bryan P. Davis Graduate Research Assistants ??????. Computer Consultants and Programmers Kirk V. Hastings, Susan Munson, Beth Nowviskie, Daniel Pitti, David Seaman and John Unsworth.University of Michigan Press Ann Arbor, Mich. ISBN: 0-472-002???

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200? Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Bodley 814 (Bo)

late 14th or early 15th century Source copy consulted: Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Bodley 814 (Bo)

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LatinFrenchGerman200? Editor Hoyt N. Duggan New header created and structure reorganized. IN a somer sesoun  whan softe was þe sonne I shop me in-to a shrowde  as y a shep were In abite of an heremyte  vnholy of werkes Wente forþ in þe worlde  wondris to here And say many sellis  and selcouþ þynges Ac on a may mornyng  in maluerne hullys Me bifel for to slepe  for werynesse of walked And in a launde as y lay  lened y and slepte And meruailousliche me mette  as y may ȝow telle Al þe welþe of þe world  and þe woo boþe Wynkyng as hit were  wytterlyche y say hit Of trewþe and trecherye  tresoun and gyle Al y say slepynge  as y shal telle Estward y biheld  after þe sunne And say a tour as y trowid  treuþe was þerynne Westward y waytid  in a whyle after And say a deep dale  deeþ as y leue Woned in þo wones  and wickede spiritis A fair feld ful of folk  fond y þer bitwene Of alle manere of men  þe mene and þe pore Worchyng and wandryng  as þis world axiþ Summe putte hem to þe plough  played ful selde In settynge and in sowynge  swonken ful harde And wonnen þat þise wastours  wiþ glotonye distroieþ And summe putte hem to pride  and apparailid hem þer-aftir In contenaunce and cloþyng  in many kynne gyse In praieris and penaunce  putte hem manye And for loue of oure lorde  lyueden swyþe harde In hope to haue a good ende  and heueneriche blisse As ancres and heremyte  þat holdep hem in her sellis Coueyten not in cuntrees  to carien aboute For no likerous liflode  her likhame to plese And summe chesen chaffare  þei cheueþ þe betre As hit semeþ to oure syȝte  þat suche men þryueþ And summe myrþis to make  as mynstrelis kunneþ Wilneþ neiþer swynke ne swete  but sweren grete oþes Fyndeþ out foule fantasyes  and fooles hem makiþ And han wytt at wylle  to worche if þei wolde Þat poul prechid of hem  preue hit y myȝte Qui turpiloquium loquitur  is luciferis knaue Bidderis and beggeris  faste aboute ȝede Til her bagge and her bely  was bret-ful y-crammed Faitiden for her foode  and fouȝten at þe ale In glotonye þo gomes  goþ þay to bedde And riseþ wiþ ribaudrie  þo roberdes knaues Sleep and also sleuþe  suweþ suche euere Pilgrymes and palmeres  plyȝten hem to-gedres To seke Seynt Iame  and seyntes at rome Wenten forþ on her way  wiþ many wyse tales And hadden leue to lye after  al her lyf tyme Heremytes on an heep  wiþ hokid stauves Wenten to walsyngham  and here wenches after Grete lobies and longe  þat loþ weren to swynke Cloþed hem in copes  to be knowe fram oþere And maden hem-self heremytes  here aise to haue ac vidit fratres I fonde þere of freres  alle þe foure ordris preche for copes Prechyng þe peple  for profyt of þe wombe And gloseden þe gospel  as hem good liked For coueyse of copes  contrarieden summe doctours Many of þise maistres of mendynaunt freris Here moneye and marchaundises  maken to-gedris Ac siþ charite haþ be chapman  and chief to shryue lordes Many ferlies han falle  in a fewe ȝeerys And but holichirche and charite  choppe a-doun suche shryueres Þe moste meschief in londe  mounteþ vp faste Þere preched a pardoner  as he a preest were And brouȝte forþ a bulle  wiþ bischopes seelis Seyde þat hymsilf myȝte  assoilen hem alle Of falsnesse of faytynge  of vowes y-broken Lewed men lyueden hym wel  and likeden his wordis And comen and kneleden  to kusse his bullis He bonched hem wiþ his breuet  and blerid her eiȝen And rauȝte wiþ his rageman  ryngis and brochis Þus ȝe gyue ȝoure gold  glotones to helpe And leueþ hit lorelis  þat lecherie haunten Were þe byschop y-blissid  and worþ boþe hys eren His seal shulde not be y-sent  in disceyt of þe peple Ac hit is not by þe bischop y leue  þat þe boye precheþ For þe parische preest and þe pardoner  parten þe siluer Þat þe pore peple in parisches  shulden haue if þei nere Persones and parische preestes  pleyneden to þe bischop Þat here parischenes weren pore  siþ þe pestilence tyme To have a licence and leue  at londoun to dwelle And synge þere for symonye  while siluer is so swete Bischopes and bacheleres  boþe maistris and doctours Þat han cure vndir crist  and ben crowned in tokene And ben charged wiþ hoichirche  charite to tilie Þat is lele loue and lyf  among lerid and lewed Lyen yn londoun  in lenten and elles Summe seruen þe kyng  and his siluer tellen In þe checker and in þe chauncerie  chalangen his dettis Of wardis and of wardemotis weyues and streyues And summe arn as seneschales  and seruen oþer lordes And ben in stede of stywardis  and sytten and demen Conscience cam and accusid hem  and þe comue herde itIdolatry And seyde ydolatrie ȝe suffren  in sondry places manye And boxes ben y-set forþ  y-bounden wiþ iren To vndirtake þe tool  of vntrewe sacrifice In meuynge of myracles  moche wax hangiþ þere Al þe world wot wel  hit myȝt not be trewe And ȝee for hit profiteþ in-to pursward  prelatis hit suffren Þat lewed men in mysbileue  leuen and dyen I leue by oure lorde  for loue of ȝoure couietyse Þat al þe world be worse  as holy wryt telleþ What cheste and meschaunce  feel to þe children of israel On hem þat free were  þurgh two false prestes For Offines synne  and Fines his broþer Þey weren disconfited in bataile  and losten archa domini And for her sire say hem synne  and suffred hem do ille And chastised hem not þer-of  and nolde not rebuke hem Anoon as hit was told hym  þat þe children of israel Were disconfyt in batayle  and archa domini lorn  & his sones slawe Þere anoon he feel for sorwe  fro his chayre þer he sat And brak his necke a-tweyne  and al was for vengeaunce He bet not his children  and for þey weren prestis & men of holichirche God was wel þe wroþere  and tok þe raþer vengeaunce For-þy y seyȝe ȝe preestis  and men of holicirche Þat suffreþ men do sacrifice  and worschipe mametis And ȝe shulde be her fadris  and teche hem bettre God shal take vengeaunce  on alle suche prestys Wel hardere and grettere  on suche shrewid fadris Þan euere he dide on Offines  and Finees his broþer For ȝoure shrewid suffraunce  and ȝoure owne synne Ȝoure masse and here matynes  and many of here houres Arn don undevoutliche  drede is at þe laste Lest crist in consistorie  acurse of hem manye I parceyued of þe powere  þat petir hadde to kepe To bynde and to unbynde  as þe boke telleþ How he hit lefte wiþ loue as oure lorde wolde Among foure vertues  most vertuous of vertues Þat cardynals ben cald  and closynge ȝatis Þer crist is in kyngdom  to close and to shutte And to opne hit to hem  & heuene blysse shewe powre mad Ac of þe cardynals at court  þat kauȝt han suche a name syr pope And power presumed in hemsilf  a pope to make To haue þe power þat petir hadde  impugne hem y nylle For in loue and lettrure  liche þe grete eleccioun Counteplede hit not quod conscience  for holychirche sake Þanne cam þer a kyng  knyȝthode hym ladde Myȝt of þo men  made hym to regne And þanne cam kynde wytt  and knyȝthode to-gederis Cast þat þe comune  shulde here comunes fynde Kynde wytt and þe comune  contreueden alle craftis And for most profitable  a plough gunne þei make And wiþ lele labour to lyue  while lyf on londe lasteþ Þanne kynde wytt to þe kyng  and to þe comune sayde Crist kepe þe kyng  and þy kyngriche And leue þe lede so þi lond  þat lewte þe louye And for-þy ryȝtful reulyng  be rewarded in heuene Conscience to clergie  and to þe kyng sayde Sum rex sum princeps  neutrum fortasse deinceps O qui iura regis  Christi specialia regis Hoc quod agas melius  iustus es esto pius Nudum vis a te  vestiri vult pietate Qualia vis metere  talia grana sere Si seritur pietas  de pietate metas Conscience and þe kyng  in-to court wente Where houed an hundred  in hoves of sylke Sergeauntes hit semed  þat serueþ at þe barre Plededen for penyes  and powndes þed lawe And not for loue of oure lord  vnlose her lippis ones Þow myȝtest bettre meten myst  on maluerne hulles Þan to geten a Mum of her mouþ  er money be shewed Þanne ran þere a route  of ratones as hit werethe conspirycie And smale Mees wiþ hem  mo þan a þowsandof the rattes and Comen til a conseil  for here comyn profytethe myce ayainst the For a caat of a court  cam whan hym lykedcatts And ouerlepe hem lyȝtliche  and lauȝte hem alle at wille And played wiþ summe perilously  and putte hem þer him likid And if we grucche of his game  he wole greue vs ful sore And wiþ his clees clawe vs  and in his clouches vs halde Þat vs loþeþ þe lyf  ar he lete vs passe Myȝte we wiþ eny wytt  his wille wiþ-sitte We myȝte be lordis a-lofte  and lyue as vs luste A ratoun of renoun  most resonable of tounge Sayde y haue seren grete sires  in citees and in townes Beren beyes of bryȝt gold  al a-boute her neckes And coleris of crafty werk  boþe knyȝtes and squyeris Were þer a belle on her beyȝe  by ihesu as me þynkiþ Men myȝte y-wete where þei wente  & her way briȝt siluer And knyȝtte hit on a coler  for oure comyn profyt And hangen hit a-boute þe cattes hals  þanne here we may Where he renneþ or resteþ  or romeþ to playe And if vs luste for to layke  þanne loke we mowe And appere in his presence  þer while hym pleye lykeþ And if hym wratthe be we war  and his way shonye Alle þis route of ratones  to his resoun assenteden Ac þo þe belle was y-bouȝt  and on þe beyȝe hanged Þer ne was in al þe route  for al reme of fraunce Þat durst haue bounde þe belle  a-boute þe cattes necke Ne haue hanged hit aboute his hals  al Englond to wynne And leten her labour y-lost  and al her longe studye A mous þat moche good couþe  as me þo þouȝte Strok forþ sternely  and stod bifore hem alle And to þe route of ratones  rehersid þese wordis Þouȝ we hadden y-killed þe caat  ȝitt shulde þer come anoþer To cracche vs and al oure kynde  al þouȝ we crepe vnder benchis For-þi y conseile for oure comyn profyte  late þe caat y-worþe And be we neuere so bold  þe belle hym to shewe For y herde my sire sayn  seuene ȝere y-passyd Þere þe caat is but a kytoun  þe court is ful elenge Wytnesse at holy wrytt who-so can rede Ve terre vbi puer rex est I seye hit for me quod þe mous  y se so moche aftir Shal neuer þe caat ne þe kytoun  by my conseil be greued Ne carpe of here coleris  þat coste me neuere And þouȝ hit costid me catel  biknowen y ne wolde But suffre and seye not  and so is þe beeste Til þat myschief a-mende hem  þat many man chaseþ For many mannys malt  we mees wolden distroie And þe route of ratones  of reste men a-wake Ne were þe caat of þe court  & ȝonge kytouns toward For hadde ȝe ratouns ȝoure reik  ȝe couþe not reule ȝowsylue What þis meteles bymeneþ  ȝee men þat beþ merie Deuyne ȝe for y ne dar  by dere god almyȝty Ȝut matte me more  of mene and of ryche As barouns and burgeys  and bonde-men of thropes Al y saw slepyng  as ȝe shal here her-after Boþe bakeris and breweris  bocheris and oþere Websteris and walkeris  and wynneris wiþ handis As taylours and tauerners and tilieris of þe erþe As dykers and delueres  þat doþ here dedis ille And dryueþ forþ her dayes  wiþ dieu vous saue dame Emme Cokes and her knaues  crieden hote pies hote Goode gees and gris  gowego we dyne gowego we Tauerners til hem  tolde þe same Whyt wyn of Oseye  and wyn of Gascoigne Of þe ryne and þe rochel  þe roost to defye Al þis y sauȝ slepynge  and seuene siþes more Passus primus de visione petri le ploughman What þe mountayne bymeneþ  and þe merke dale And þe feld ful of folk  y shal ȝow faire shewe A louely lady of lore  in lynnen y-cloþid Cam doun fro þe castel  and called me by name And sayde sone slepist þow  seest þow þis peple How bisy þay ben  aboute þe mase Þe moste partye ofþis peple þat passiþ out ofþis erþe Haddeþei worshipe inþis world þei wilneþ no bettre Of oþer heueneþan here þei halde no tale I was a-ferd of her face þouȝ she fair were And sayde mercy madame what mayþys be to mene Þe tour vpponþe tofte quod she treuþe isþer-ynne And woldeþat ȝe wrouȝten as his worde techiþ For he is fadir of faiþ  and formere of alle To be faiþful to hym  he ȝaf ȝow fyue wyttis Forto worschipe hym wiþ þer-whylis ȝe lyuen here Wherfore he heetþe Elymentis  to helpe ȝow in alle tymes And bryngeþ forþ alþat ȝe bi-lyue  boþe lynnene & wollen And in mesureþouȝ moche were  to make ȝow at aise And comaundid of his curtesye  in comuneþreþyngis Arn none defouled butþoþre  and nempne hem yþenke And rekene hem bi-rewe  reherse hem whereþe likeþ Þe firste is foode  and vestureþe secounde And drynkþat doþþe good  and drynke not out of tyme Loot in his lyue þurgh lykerous drynke Wickidly wrouȝt  and wrathed god almyȝty In his dronkenesse on a day  his doughtres he diȝte And lay by hem boþe  asþe book telliþ In his glotenye he bigat  gurlesþat weren cherllis And al he wytteþe wyn  his wicked dede Inebriemus eum vino  dormiamus que cum eo vt seruare Possimus de patre nostre semen . Genesis & cetera Þourgh wyn and þourgh womman  þer was looth acumbred For-þi drede delitable drynk  boþe daye and nyȝttis Mesure is medicyne þouȝþou moche ȝerne Al is not good toþe gost þatþe gut axeþ Ne liflode toþe licame þat lief isþe soule Lief notþy licame  for a liȝere hit hym techiþ Which isþe wrecchid worlde þat woldeþe bigile Forþe fend andþi flesch  folwen to-gedris Andþat seeþe soule  and seiþ hit inþin herte And wisseþþe to ben y-war  what woldeþe disceyue A madame mercy  me likeþ wel ȝoure wordis Acþe moneye ofþis molde þat men so faste kepen Telleþ me to whom þat tresour bilongiþ Goo toþe gospel quod she  and see what god saide Whanneþe peple apposid hym  of a peny inþe temple And god axid at hem  hose wasþe coyne Cesares þei seide  soþliche we knouleche Reddite cesari . seide god þat to cesar bifalliþ Et que sunt dei deo  or ȝe don ille For ryȝtfulliche resoun  shulde reule ȝow alle And kynde wytte be wardeyn  ȝour welþe to kepe And tutour or ȝoure tresour  and take hit ȝow at nede For husbondrie and he  holdiþ to-gedres I frayned hire faireþo  for hymþat hire made Þe deep dale andþe derke  so vnsemly to see What may hit bymene  madame yþe biseche Þat isþe castel of care  who-so comeþþer-ynne May banneþat he born was  in body and in soule Þer-ynne woneþ a wiȝth  þat wrong is his name Fadir of falshed  fond hit first of alle Adam and Eue  he eggede to ille And consailed Caym  to kille his broþer Iudas he byiaped  þurgh þe Iewis siluer And aftyrward heeng hym-self  hyȝ on hiller tree He is lettere of loue and lyȝeþ alle tymes Þat tristeþ in tresour of erþe  he bitraieþ sonest To encombre men wiþ couetise  þat is his kynde and his lore Þanne hadde y wondir in my wytt  what womman he {she} was Þat suche wise wordis  of holiwryt me shewid And halside hire inþe hyȝe name  er sheþennes wente What she were sykirly þat wised me so and taughte Holychirche y am quod she þou auȝtest me to knowe I vndirfyngþe formeste  and free manþe made Þow brouȝtest me borwes  my byddyng to fulfille Leue on me and loue me  alþi lyf tyme Þanne y knelid on my knees  and cried to hire of grace And praied hire pitously  to praye for meþat y amende And also kenne me kyndely  in cristene lileue Teche me to tresour  but telle meþis ilke How y may saue my soule þat saynt art y-holde Whanne alle tresouris ben y-tried  treþe isþe beste I do hit vp deus caritas  to demeþe soþe Hit is a dere worþi drury  as dere god hymsilue For who-so is trewe of his tounge  and of his two handis And doiþþe werkisþer-wiþ and willneþ noman ille He is a god byþe gospel  and graunte may hele And also lik oure lord  by seynt lukys wordis Clerkis wel knowe hit isþus  and shulden kenne hit aboute For cristene and vncristene  claymeþ hit echone Kyngis and knyȝttis  shulden kepe hit by resoun Riden and rappen a-doun  in rewmes aboute And take transgressours  and teyen hem faste Til treuþe hadde termyned  her trespas to þe end And halden wiþ hym and wiþ hire  þat han trewe accioun And for no lordis loue  leue þe trewe partie Treulyche to take  and treuliche to fiȝte Is þe prophecioun  and þe pure ordre THORN;at appendiþ to knyȝttis  and who-so passeþ þat poynt Is apostata of knyȝthod  for þei sholde neiþer faste Ne forbere þe sike  but fyȝte and defende treuþe And neuere leue for loue  in hope to lacche siluer Dauid in his dayes  dubbede knyȝttis And dede hem swere on her swerde  to serue treuly euere And god whanne he bigan heuene  in þat grete blysse Made knyȝttis in his court  creatures ten Cherubyn and Ceraphyn suche seuene  and anoþer lucifer louelokest þo Ac litil while hit dured  he was an angel of heuene On of goddis knyȝttis  he and oþere wiþ hym Helden not wiþ treuþe  lopen out in loþly forme For his fals wille  þat hadde lost to be lyke To his blisseful lord  þat was almyȝtty Ponam pedem meum in aquilone et similis ero altissimo Lord why wolde he þo  þat wickid lucifer Lippen a-lofte  in þe north side Þanne sytten in þe sunne side  þer þe day roweth Nere hit for northerne men  a-noon y-wolde ȝow telle Ac y wol lacke no lyf  quod þat lady soþly Hit is sikerere bi souþe  þer þe sunne regneþ Þan in þe norþ bi mony notes  no man leue oþer Forþider as þe fend fley  his foot forto sette Þere he faylede and fel  and his felawes alle And helle is þer he is  and he þere ybounde Euene þe contrarie sitteþ crist  clerkis witeþ þe soþe Dixit dominus domino meo  sede a dextris meis Ac of þis matere nomore  nempnen y nylle Hewen in þe haliday  after heete wayten Ac þei caren not þouȝ hit be colde  knaues whan þei worche Wonder-wise holy wryt telliþ  how sodeynly þei fellen Summe in erþe summe in aier  summe in helle depe Ac lucifer lowest lieþ of hem alle For pride þere hym poked  his payne haþ non ende And alle þat worchen þat wickednesse  wende þei shulle Aftir here deeþ day and dwelle  þere as wrong is And alle þat han wel y-wrouȝt  wende þei shulle Estward til heuene  euere þere to a-bide Þere treuþe is þe tour  þat þe trinite Inne sytteþ Lere hit þus to lewid men  for lettrede hit knoweþ Þat treuþe and trewe loue  is no tresor bettre I haue no kynde knowyng quod y  ȝit mot ȝe kenne me bettre By what weye hit wexyþ and whider  out of my menyngis Þow doted daffe quod she  dulle arn þyne wittis To lite lernedest y leue  latyn in þi ȝouþe heu michi quod sterilem duxi vitam iuuenilem Hit is a kynde knowyng  þat kenneþ in þyn herte For to louye þi lord  leuest of alle Deye raþer þan do eny dedly synne Melius est mori quam male viuere And þis y trowe be treuþe  who-so can teche þe bettre Loke þou suffre hym to seie  and so þou myȝt lerne For treuþe telliþ þat loue is triacle  to abate synne And most souereyn salue  for soule and for body Loue is plante of pees  most precious of vertues For heuene holde hit no myȝtte  so heuy hit first semed Til hit hadde of erþe y-ȝotun hit-silue Was neuere leef vppon lynde  lyȝtere þer-aftir As whanne hit hadde of þe folde  fleisch and blod taken Þo was hit portatif and parsaunt  as is þe poynt of a nedle May non armure hit lette  ne none heyȝe wallis For-þi hit is loue ledere  of oure lordis folk of heuene And a mene as þe Mair is  bitwene þe kyng and þe comune Riȝt so is loue ledere  and þe lawe shappiþ Vppon man for his mysdedis  þe mercyment he taxeþ And for to knowe hit kyndely  he comenseþ by myȝt And in þe herte þer is þe heed  and þe heiȝe welle For of kynde knowyng of herte  þer amyȝte bigynneþ And þat falliþ to þe fadir  þat formed vs alle Lokid on vs wiþ loue  let his sone deyȝe Mekeliche for oure mysdedis  to amende vs alle And ȝut wolde hem no woo  þat wrouȝten hym al þat tene But mekeliche wiþ mouþe  mercy he bisouȝte To haue pite on þat peple  þat payned hym to deþe Here maist þou see ensaunples  in hymsilf one Þat he was myȝtful and meke  and mercy gan graunte To hem þat hengen hiȝe  and his herte þirlide For-þi y rede ȝow ryche  haueþ reuþe vppon þe pore Þouȝ ȝe ben myȝtty to mote  beþ meke in ȝoure werkis For þe same mesure þat ȝe meteþ  amys oþer ellis Ȝe shal be weye þerwiþ  whanne ȝe wende hennys Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis For þouȝ ȝe be trewe of ȝoure toungis  and treuly wynne And ben as chast as a child þat chidiþ neiþer ne fiȝtteþ But if ȝe loue leeeliche  and leue þe pore Of suche good as god ȝow sente goudliche parteþ Ȝee ne haueþ no more merite  in masse ne in houris Þan malkyn of hire maydenhod  whan nomanno man hire couetteþ For Iames þe gentile  Iuggeþ in his bokis Þat faiþ wiþ-outen þe feet  is feblere þan nouȝt And as deed as a dore nayl  but if þe dedis folwe Fides sine operibus mortua est Chastite wiþ-outen charite  worþ cheyned in helle Hit is a lewid þyng as a laumpe  þat no liȝt is Inne Many chapleyns arn chaste  ac charyte hem faileþ Arn none hardere ne hungryere  þan men of holichirche Auerous and euylwillid  whan þei ben auansed Vnkynde to her kyn  and to alle cristene Chewen here charite  and chiden aftir more And ben acumbred wiþ coueytise  þei can not crepe out So harde haþ auarice  y-hasped hem to-gedres And þat is no treuþe of þe trinite  but trecherie and synne And a lyþer ensaumple lief me  as for þe lewid peple For þise arn wordis y-wryten  in þe Euangelie Date et dabitur vobis For y dele ȝow alle  and þat is þe lok of loue And vnloseþ my grace  þat conforteþ alle careful  enencumbred with synne So loue is leche of lyf  and lisse of alle payne And þe graffe of grace  and redieste way til heuene For-þi y may seye as y seide er  best of þes textes Whanne alle tresoris ben tried  treuþe is þe beste Loue hit quod þat lady  lette may y lenger To lere þe what loue is  and leue at me she lauȝte Passus secundus de visione vbi prius And þanne y knelede  vppon my knees & cried to hire of grace And sayde mercy madame  for marie loue of heuene Þat bar þat blissid barn  þat bouȝt vs on þe rode Kenne me by sum craft  to knowe þe false Loke vppon þy lyft half  and loo where he standiþ Fals and fauel fikil of tounge  and liȝere And many mo of here maneres  of men and wommen J loked vppon my lift half  al þe lady me tauȝte And a womman as hit were  wondirly y-cloþed She was purfilid in pelure  non purere in erþe And crowned in a crowne  þe kyng haþ non betre On alle hire fyue fyngris  ful rychely y-rynged And þerjnne rede rubies and oþer riche stones Hire Robynge was richer  þan y rede couþe For telle of hire attire  no tyme haue y nouþe Hire array and hire richesse  rauyschid myn herte Whose wyf she were  and what was hire name Leue lady quod y þo  layne hit not if ȝe knowen Þat is mede þe mayde  haþ noiȝed me ful ofte And y low on my lemman  þat leute is hoten And lackiþ hym to lordis  þat lawes han to kepe Jn kyngis court in comune court  contrarieþ my techynge Jn þe popis palays  he is priue as my-sylue Ac soþnesse wolde not so  for she is abastarda bastard Oon fauel was hire fadir  þat haþ a fikil tounge And seldon soþ seiþ  but if he souche gyle And mede is manered aftir hym  as men of kynde carpeþ Qualis pater talis filius For shal neuere brere bere  berie as a vyne Ne on a crokid kene þorn  kynde fige waxe Bona arbor bonum fructum facit & cetera J auȝte ben herrere þan he  I com of a bettre Þe fadir þat me forþ brouȝte  filius dei he hoteþ Þat neuere liȝede ne lauȝthed  in al his lyf tyme And y am his dere douȝhter  duchesse of heuene Þat what man me louyeþ  and my wille folweþ Shal haue grace to good y-now  and a good ende And what mede loueþ  my lyf y dar wedde He shal leese for hire loue  and lippe of trewe charite Þat helpeþ man most to heuene  mede most lettiþ J do hit vppon dauid  þo doumbe wil not lyen Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo & cetera And dauid vndoiþ hym-sylue  as þe doumbe shewiþ ¶; Et super Jnnocentem munera non accepit To-morwe worþ mede y-maried  to amased wrecche To oon fals faiþles  of þe fendis kynne Fauel þourgh his flaterynge speche  haþ mede foule enchaunted And al is liȝeris ledynge  þis lady is þus y-weddid Suffre and þou shalt see  suche as ben apaied Þat mede is þus ymarried  to-morwe þou shalt aspie Knowe hem wel yf þou canst  and kepe þe fro hem alle Þat loueþ here lordschipe  lasse oþer more Lacke hem not but lat hem worþe  til leute be Iustice And have power to punsche hem  þanne put forþ þi resoun For y bikenne þe crist quod she  and his clene moder And acombre þou neuere þy conscience  for coueitise of mede Þus lefte me þat lady  lyggynge as a-slepe And y say how mede was married  metynge as hit were Al þe riche retenaunce  þat roteþ hem of fals lyuynge Weren beden to þat bridale  aboþe half þe cuntree Of many manere men  þat of mede kyn were Of knyȝttis of clerkis  and of oþer comyn peple As sissoures sompnours  shereues and her clerkis Bedeles bailyues  and brocours of chaffares Forageres and vitailers  and a-voketes at þe arches J can not rekene þe route  þat ran aboute mede Ac symonye and Ciuile  and sisours of cuntres Weren most priue wiþ mede  of eny men me þouȝte Ac fauel was þe firste  þat fette hire out of chaumbre And a brocour brouȝte hire forþ  to be ioyned to þe false Whanne symonye and Ciuile  y-seeþ her boþe wille Þey assenteden hit were so  at silueres prayere Þanne lep liȝere forȝ  and seide loo here a chartre Þat gile haþ gyuen to falsnesse  and graunted al-so mede And praieþ Cyuyle to see hit  and symonye to rede hit Þanne symonye and Cyuyle  standeþ forþ boþe And vnfoldeþ þe feffament  þat fals haþ y-makid Þanne seide symonye  þat Cyuyle hit herde Al þat loueþ and bileueþ  vp likyng of mede Leueþ hit leely  þis worþ her laste mede Þat folweþ falsnesse  fauel and liȝere Mede and suche men  þat aftir mede wayten Sciant presentes et futuri & cetera Wyten and witnessen  þat wonen on erþe Þat mede is married  more for hire richesse Þan for holynesse oþer hendenese  oþer for heyȝ kynde Falsnesse is fayn of hire for he wote hire riche And fauel þat haþ a fals speche  feffiþ hem by his lettre To be pris in pride  and pouert to dispise To bacbite and to boste  and bere fals wytnesse To scorn and to scolde  and sclaundre to make Vnbuxom and bold  to breke þe ten beestis Þe erldom of enuye  and ire he hem graunteþ Wiþ þe chastel of cheste  and chateryng out of resoun Þe counte of coueytise  and consenteþ to hem boþe Wiþ vserie and auarice  and oþer false sleyþes Jn bargaynes and brocages  wiþ þe borghe of þefte Wiþ al þe lordschipe of lecherye  in lengþe and in brede And in werkis and in wordis  and in waytyng of þeues In woldis and in wischyngys  and wiþ ydil þouȝtes Þere as wille ne wolde  wekmanschipe faileþ Glotonye agyuep hem  and grete oþis to-gedres Alday to drynke  at dyuerse tauernes And þere to Iangele and to iape  and iuge her euencristen And on fastynge dayes to frete  bifore noone and drynke Wiþ spicerie speke ydilnesse  in vayn speke and spende And suwe for such felaschipe  til þei ben faste in sleuþe And awake wiþ wanhope  and no wil to amende And lyueþ forþ al in bost  til whan þat he his lif letiþ Þis lyf to folwe falsnesse  and folk þat on hym bileueþ Aftir her deþ þey dwellen  day wiþ-outen ende In lordschipe wiþ lucifer  as þis lettre sheweþ Wiþ alle þe apportenaunce of purgatorye  & þe peyne of helle In witnesse of þis þyng  wrong was þe firste And Peris þe pardoner  of paulines queste Bette þe bedel  of Bannebury sokene Reynald þe reue  of Rutland sokene Munde þe myllere  and many mo oþere In þe date of þe deuyl  þis dede is assealed By syȝtte of sire Symonye  and Cyuyles leue Þanne tenede hym theologie  whan he þise talis herde And seyde to symonye  now sorwe mote þou haue Such a weddyng to worche  þat wraþþe myȝtte treuþe And er þis weddyng be wrouȝt  woo þe bitide For mede is moilere  amendis was hire dame Al-þouȝ fals were hire fadir  and fikil tounge hire belsire Amendis was hire modir  by trewe mennys lokyng And wiþ-oute hire modir amendis  mede may not be weddid For treupe plyȝt hire trewþe  to wedde on of hire doughters And god graunte hit were so  so no gile were And þou hast gyuen hire as gyle tauȝte  now god ȝeue þe sorwe For Cyuyle and þy-silue  seldom fulfilliþ Þat god wolde were ydo  wiþ-oute sum disceyt Þe tixtis telliþ not so  treuþe wot þe soþe Dignis est operarius mercede sua Worþi is we werkman  his mede to haue And þou hast fastnede wiþ fals  fy on þy lawes For al is falsnesse and lesyngis  and lecherie þat þou werkis Symonye and þisilue  shenden holichircheholi chirche Ȝee and þe notaries  þat sore anoien þe peple Ȝe shullen biegge hit boþe  bi god þat me made Wel ȝe witen wirnardis  but if ȝoure wyttis fayle Þat fals is a faytour  and feynt of his werkis He is bastard y-bore  of belsabubbes kynde And mede is mulere  a mayden of goode She myȝte kysse þe kyng for cosyns  if he wolde Worchip by wisdom  and by wytt aftir Lediþ hire to londoun  þer as lawe is handlid Ȝif þat eny lawe wole loke  þat þei lieggen to-gredre And þe iustise iuge hire  to be ioyned wiþ fals Ȝit be war of þat weddyng  for wytty is treuþe And conscience is of his conseil  and knoweþ ȝow echone And if he fynde ȝow in defaute  and wiþ þe fals holden Hit shal be sette to ȝoure soulis  wel sore at þe laste Herto assentiþ Cyuyle  ac Symonye ne wolde Til he hadde siluer for his seales  and for his signes Þanne fette fauel forþ  florynes y-nowe And bad gile faste goo  and ȝeue gold aboute And nameliche to notaries  þat hem noon fayle And feffe fals wittnesse  wiþ fele faire noblis For þei may mede maystrien  and maken hire at her wille Þo þys gold was y-gyuen  gret was þe þankyngis To fals and fauel  for here fayre ȝiftes ¶; And comen & confortiden fro And seiden for certeyn  ceesse ne shulde we neuere ¶; Care þe fals Til mede be þi weddid wif þourgh wytt of vs alle For we haue mede maistried  wiþ oure merie speche And þat she graunted wiþ vs to go  wiþ a goode wille To londoun to loke  ȝif þat þe lawe wolde Juggen ȝow to-gedre ioyntly  in ioye for euere Þanne was fals fulfayn  and fauel fulbliþe And lete sumpne alle þe sissours  aboute in shiris And al so bonde-men  beggeris and oþere To wende wiþ hem to westmynstre  to wytnesse þat dede Þanne karieden þei for caplis  to carye hem þider Þanne fette fauel forþ  folis of þe beste And sette mede on a shereue  y-shod al newe And fals sat on a sissour þat fetisly trotted And fauel vppon fair speche  queyntely attirid Þere hadden notaries none hors  anoied þei weren Þat symonye and Cyuyle  shulden on fote gang Þanne swor Cyuyle  and seide by þe rode Þat sumpnoures shulden be sadeled and seruen hem echone And let apparaile þise provisours  in palfreies wise Sire Symonye hym-silf  sat vppon her backis Alle þe officiales and denes  as destreris hem diȝte For þei shulden bere þe bischopis  and brynge hem at reste Paulynes peple  for pleyntis in þe constorie Shullen serue my-silf  þat Cyuyle hatte And cart sadil oure comyssarie  oure carte shal drawe And fette forþ oure vytailis  fro fornycatouris And makiþ of liȝere a long carte  to lede alle þise oþere As foolis and faytours  þat on her feet trotten Fals and fauel faren forþ  boþe to-gidir And mede in mydddis  and al þis meyne aftir J haue no tome to telle  þe tail þat hem folwid Of many manere of men  þat in þis world libbiþ Ac gile was forgoere  and gyed hem alle Sothnesse sei hym wel  and sayde but litil And priked forþ on his palfray  and passed hem alle And com to þe kynges court  and conscience tolde And conscience to þe kyng  carpid hit aftir Now bi crist quod þe kyng  and y myette kacche Fals oþer fauel  or eny of his feris J wolde be wroken of þise wrecchis  þat worcheþ hem so ille And hange hem by þe hals  and alle þat hem maynteyneþ Shal þere neuere man of molde  meynprise þe leste But riȝt as þe lawe loked  let falle on hem alle And comaundid a constable  þat com at þe firste To attache þise tyrauntis  þat for no catel ȝe ne lette J hote ȝow to fettre falsnesses faste  for eny-skynnes ȝiftis And gerde of gylours heed  let hym go no ferþer And bryngeþ mede to me  maugre hem alle Symonye and Cyuyle  y sende hem to warne Þat holichirche for hem worþ harmed  for eueremore And if ȝe kacche liȝere  let hym not askape Er he be put on þe pillory  for eny preiere y-hote And þerto y charge ȝow and bidde  þat he not askape Þat herde drede þe at þe dore þere he stod  al þat harde dome And wiȝtliche hym wente  to warne fals and bad hym flee for ferd  and hise feris alle Þanne falsnesse for ferd  fledde to þe freris And gile doþ hym to go  agast for to deye Ac marchaundyse mette wiþ hym  and made hym abide An shetten hym in here shoppis  to shewe her ware Apparaileden hym as apprentis  þe peple to serue Liȝtliche liȝere lep away  lurkynge þurgh lanes He was nowher welcome  for his many talis Oueral he was hunschid  and yhote trusse Til pardoneres hadden of hym pyte  and putten hym to house Weischen hym and wipeden hym  and wonndon hym in cloþis And senten hym on sonendayes wiþ seales  to chirche And ȝaf pardon for pans pound-mel aboute Þer of herde a leche  and lettris hym sente For to wonye wiþ hym  and watres to loke A spicer spak wiþ hym  to aspie hem her ware For he couþe on her craft  and knew many gummes And mynstrelis and messangeris metten wiþ hym ones And wiþhelden hym wiþ hem  þe terme of her lyues To ben of here consail  whann þei carieden aboute Frerys wiþ faire speche  fetten hym þennys Fro knowyng of comers copeden hym as a frere Ac he haþ leue to lippen  out as ofte as hym likiþ And is welcome whan he wole  and wonyeþ wiþ hem ofte Alle fledden for fere  and flowen in-to hernes Saue mede þe mayde  nomanno man durste abide Ac trewly to telle  she tremblid for drede And weepe and wrang  whan she was attachid