The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. ?: Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Douce 104 (Dc) William Langland Edited by Stephen H. A. Shepherd Associate Editor: M. Gail Duggan Technical Editor: Daniel Pitti Graduate Research Assistants Computer Consultants and Programmers Daniel Pitti SEENET and The Medieval Academy of America ??. ISBN: 0-472-002???

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 20?? Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Douce 104 (Dc) Combined facsimile & documentary edition. Identification of hands PMB and PRB = Patricia Bart HND 1 computer optical disk : col. ; 4 3/4 in. SEENET and The Medieval Academy of America ?? Source copy consulted: ???

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Latin French German 21 November 2009 revise header Hoyt N. Duggan New header created Passus octauus vt pryus Quod perkyn þe ploughman : be seint peter of Rome had I erred þis half acre : and sowed affter I wold wend wiþ ȝow : and þe hey way tech þat were a long lettynge : quod a lady in a sclayrehare What schuld we women : worch in þe whiles I pray ȝou for ȝour profite : quod peres to þe ladyes þat sum sow þe sake : For schedynge of þe whete and þe worthelyy women : wiþ ȝour long fyngers nota de women what þey shold do þat ȝe on silk an on sendel : sew whan tyme is chesebles for chapelens : churches to honour wyffes & wodowes : wol & flex spynnen Consciens consaileþ ȝeu : cloþe for to make For profite of þe pore : and pelsaunce of ȝour silfen For y schal leue hem liflod : but þe lond faile as long as I lyue : for þe lordis loue of heuene And al maner men : þat by þe mold susteyneþ Helpeþ hem to worch witterly : þat wynnen ȝur fode By cryst quod a kneȝth þo : he kenneþ vs þe beste nota de knyȝthod ac onrþat tyme ey trewly : taugh taugh[t]was I neuer I wold y couþe quosaid þe kneth : by crist and his modir I wold assay sum tyme : for solas as hit were Sikirly sir keth : said peres þan I schaldschal swynke and swete : & sow for vs boþ and labour for ...?... þo þat þou louest : al my liue tyme In couenante þat þou kep : holy kyrke & my silfe for wastours & fro wicked men : þat þis world strueþ and go hunte hardely : to hares & to foxes To berres & to buckes : þat brkkeþbr[e]kkeþ a-doun. my hegges and affaite þi facouns : to kyl þe wyle fowles For þei comeþ to my croft : my corne to defoule Curteysly þe kneȝth : þan conseyued þe wordis By my power peres : y plyȝth þe my trowþe To defend þe in fyȝth : fyȝth þoȝth y schuld and ȝit a-poynt quod peres : y prey ȝow of more Et Incipit visio eiusdem de do-well & cetera Thus robyd in russet : I roued a-boute al a someres seysoun : for to sech do-well and frayned ful oft : of folke þat I mett nota houu þey soght dobett þifyif ony wiȝth wist : wher do-wel is at In and what man he myȝth be : of many I asked was newer wyȝth in þis world : þat me wys couþe Where he ..was longet : las ne more To hit fel on a fryday : two freres ImetteI mette Maystrs of þe menours : men of grete witte I hailsed hem hendely : asI had lered and preyd hem purcharitepur charite : ar þei passed furþer ȝif þei knew ony contre : or costes a-boute Wher þat do-well dwelliþ : dere frendis telliþ me For ȝe ar men of þoys molde : þat most wyde walkeþ and knoweþ contrees & courtes : & many kyn places Boþ prynses palyes : & pore men cottes and do-wel and ded[o]-euel : wher þei dwel boþe Soþely said þe frere : he soiourneþ wiþ us freres Visio de Dowell And euer haþ as I hopp : and euer wil her-aftir Contra quod I as a clerke : and comsed for dispute and saide sothely: sepcies in die cadit Iustus Fallyng fro Ioy : Ihesus wot þe soþe Seuen syþes saiþ þe boke : synneþ day by day þe ryȝthfullist renke : þat regneþ on erþe a gesturing figure in a black, hooded robe and who synneþ I saide : certis he doþ noȝth well For who synneþ sykerly : he doþ euel and dowel & do-euel : may noȝth dwel to-gyders Ergo he is noȝth alwey : at home a-mong ȝou freres he is oþere-whyle elles-wher : to wisse þe pepul nota I schal say þe my sone : said þe frere þan how seuen sythes þe sad man : synneþ on þe day By a forbysen quod þe frere : I schal þe fair schew let bryng a man in a boot : a-myd þe brod watir þe wynd and þe water : and waggynge of þe boot Makeþ þe man many tyme : to stumble ȝif he stond for stond he neuer so styffely : þroȝth meuyng of þe boot nota nota houu ... syþ... þe... synnyþ þe... fol... he bendiþ & boweþ : þe body is so unstable and ȝit he is saf and sound : & so it fareþ he þe riȝthful þoȝth he fal he falleþ noȝth : but as who falleþ in on boot þat ay is saf and sound : þat sitteþ wiþ-in þe borde so hit fareþ quod þe frere : by þe ryȝthful manus fallyng þoȝth he þroȝth fondynges fal : he falliþ noȝt out of charite so dedely syn doþ he noȝth : for do-wel hym helpiþ þe water is lykened to þe world : þat wanieþ and waxeþ þe godis of þe grond : are like to gret wawes þat as wyndys and weders : waloweþ a-boute þe boot is likened to our body : þat burtil is of kynd and þoȝth þe fend & our flessch : and þis freel world synneþ seuen sythes : þe sad man on erþe and þe lifholiest of lif : þat lyueþ undir sonne ac fre will and fre wytte : foloweþ man euer To repente and to a-rise : and row out of synne To contricioun & to confessioun : to he come to his ende For rather haue we no rest : to we restitue our lif to our lorde god : for our lykame-is giltis I haue no kynde knowelechynge : to seyue al þis spech ac ȝif I may liue and loke : I schal go lerne better I be-ken þe crist quod he : þat on þe cros deyed and saide þe same : saue ȝou fro mychaunce and ȝif me grace on þis grond : wiþ gode end to dey I went forþ wyde-where : walkyng myn on By a wyde wildernesse : & by a wodis syde blys of þo brydis : a-byde me made and undir lynde a-pon a launde : leued I a-stound to lythen her layes : and her lusty notys Myrþe of her moþwþes : mad me þer to slep and meruellously me .met. : a-myd al þat blis a much man as me þoȝth : like to my-silf Come and called me : by my kynd name what art þou quod I : þat þou my name knowest þat wist þou wel quod he : & no wyȝth better nota de þoȝt nota wot I quod I who art þou : þoȝth seide he þan I haue sewed þe þis seuen ȝere : saugh þou me no rather art þou þoȝth quod I þo : þou cow.yst me wys whar þat do-wel dwelliþ : and do me to know do-wel & do-bett quod he : and do-best þe þerd are þre faire vertues : and be noȝth fer to fynde who is trew of his tonge : & of his two hondys and þroȝth leletreve labour lyueþ : & louen his euencristen and þere-to trewe of his tayle : & of his two hondis and is noȝth dronkelew ne deynous : do-wel hym folowen do-bett doþ al þis : and ȝit he doþ more he is lowe as a lombe : and louelich of spech and helpiþ al men : of þat he may spare þo bagges & þe bygirdelis : he haþ to-broken hem all Visio deDowell þat þe Erle of auerous : held and his heyres and of mamones money : maked hym many frendes and is roun in-to religioun : and haþ rendered þe bibil and precheþ to þe pepil : seynt poules wordis nota libenter suffertis incipientes cum sitis vos ipsi sapientes ȝe worldylich wyse : unwyse þat ȝe suffer leue hem & loue hem : þis latyn is to mene nota de do-best do-best ber schal : þe bysschopes crose and hale wiþ þe hoke end : il men to gode and wiþ þe pike put a-doun : preuaricatores legis lordis þat lyueþ as hem lust : & no lawe a-counten For her moke and her mnebls : such men þynkeþ suichuld no bisschopp .: her byddyng to wiþ-sette and do-best schul dred hem noȝth : but do as god heȝte Nolite timere eos qui possunt occidere corpus þus do-wel and do-be...tte : demed and do-best and crouned on to be kynge : & kyl wiþ-out syn þat wil do as do-best : deuyned & taugth þus do-wel and do-better : and do-best þe þred Crouned to be kynge : to kep us al and reule reumes : by har þre wittes But oþer-wyse ne elles noȝth : but as þei þre assenteþ I þonked þoȝth þo : þat he me so taugth ac ȝit sauered noȝth me : þi sawes so me crist help a more kynder knowynge : couete I to hyre of do-wel & do-better : & who doþ best of all But ȝif witt wold þe wisse quod þoȝth : W..here þe þerd dwelleþ rich Elles know I none þat can : in no kyn wyse þoȝth and y þus : thre dayes we ȝeden disputenge a-pon do-well : day aftyr oþer nota de wyt and are we ware were : wiþ witt gan we mete he was long and lene : like to non oþer sade of his sembelaund : & wiþ a soft chere I dorst meue no matyre : to make hym to Iangle But I bade þoȝth þo : to be a mene be-twene and put forþe sum purpose : to proue his wittes nota what was dowellfro do-better & do-bestfro hem boþ what was do-well fro do-better : and do-best for hem boþe þan þo&ȝ541;th in þat tyme : sayd þos wordis wher do-wel and better : and do-best be in lond her is on wold I wyt : ȝif witt couþe tech and what lyues þei lyue : & what lawe þei vsen and what þei drede and doute : der sire telliþ sir do-wel dwelleþ quod witt : no&ȝ541;th a day hennes In a castel þat kynd made : of four kyn þynges of erþe of eyre hit is made : medeled to-gyders wiþ wynd and wiþ water : wittely Ioyned kynd haþ closed þere-In : craftely wiþ all a lemmaidd þat he loueþ : like to hym-sylf Anima scho hatte : to hir haþ Enuie a proude pryker of fraunce : princeps huius mundi and wold wyn hir a-way : wiþ wyles ȝif he myȝth & kynd knoweþ þis wel : & kepeþ hir þe better he haþ doun hir wiþ sir do-wel : duke of þos marches do-better is hir damisel : sir do-wel is doȝther To serue þat lady ..trevely< : haþ late and rathe do-best is a-bowe boþ : a bisschopis pere and by his lerynge is ladde : þis ilk lady anima ac þe constable of þat castell : þat kepeþ hem all nota de Inwytte Is a wise kneȝth wiþ-al : sir Inwitte he hatteþ he haþ fyue fayre sonnes : by his first wiff Sir se-wel and say-wel : & here-wel þe hende sir worthe wel wiþ þyn hand : a wyȝth man of stryngþe and sir gode fayþe go wel : gret lordis all þos fyue bene sette : for to saue anima&ȝ00b7 To kynd come and sende : and kep hir hym-sylf what kyn þynge is kyn..d quod I : can þou me tell kynd is a creatour quod wytt : of all kyn þynges Fadir and foromer : of al þat forþe groweþ þe whoch is god grettyst : be-gynnyng had he neuer lorde of lif and of lyȝth : of blisse and of payne Visio de Dowell Angelus and al þynge : are at his will Man is hym most like : of membris and of face and semblable in soule to god : but if syn hit make and as þou seest þe sonne : sum-tyme for cloudys May noþth schyne ne schew : for schalkes on erþe so lette lechury : and oþer lider synnes þat god sueþ noȝth such synful men : & suffer hem mysfare and sinn hengeþ hem-sylf : and oþer-whyle drencheþ god wil noȝth of hem witt : but lat hem i-worþe as þe sauter saiþ : by synful scherews Et dimisi eos secundum desideria eorum such lyþer lyfyngmenlyfyng men : lome ben riche of gold and of oþer gode : ac godis grace hem faileþ for þei loueþ and be-leueþ : al her lyue-tyme on catel more þan on kynd : þat al þynges wroȝth þe woch is loue and lyf : & lasteþ wiþ-outen end In-witt & al wittes : closed ben þere-In by loue and .....trowþ : þer by lyueþ anima and loue lyueþ by Inwitt : and lerynge of kynd Inwitt is in þe heued : & anima in þe herte and wmuch worcheþ hem : þat Inwitt mys-spendiþ for þat is goddis ouen gode : his grace & his tresour þat many a lede leseþ : þroȝth likorouse drynke As lote did & noe : and herode þe daff ȝaf his doȝther for a dauncesynge : In a dissch þe hede of þat blessed Iohn baptyst : by-for al his gistes Euery man þat haþ Inwitt : & his hele boþe haþ tresour y-noȝth of treuþe : to fynd hym-silf ac faunte-kynes and foles : þe woch þat fauteþ Inwitt Frendes schuld fynd hem : and fro foly kepe and holy church help to : & so shuld no man beg* Ne spil spech ne tyme : ne mysspend noȝt here Meuabil ne unmeuabil : in met noþer drynke and þan did we al wel : & wel bet ȝit to loue our enemyes enterely : and help hem at her nede and ȝit wer best to ben a-boute : & bryng to hepe þat al londes loueden : & in on lawe be-leued Bisschopis schuld ben her-a-boute : & bryng þis to hep for to lese þere-for her londe : & her lif aftyr þe catel þat crist had : þre cloþes hit were þere-of was he robbet & ryfeled : or he on rode deyed and seþ he lees his lif : for lawe schuld loue waxen prelatis & prestis : and princes of holy church schuld noȝth doute no deþe : ne no dere ȝeres To wend as wyde : as þe world were To tylye þe erþe wiþ tong* : & tech men to be-leue For who so loueþ leueþ me wel : god wil noȝt hym sterue In mischef for defaute of mett : ne for myssyng of cloþes Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono &ȝ00b7 Who loueþ in lawe : and in loue doþ well as þos wedded men : þat þis world susteneþ For of her kyn þei come : boþ confessours & marres prophetis & patriarkes : popes and maydenes For god seyeþ hym-silf : schal neuer gode appel þroȝth no sotyl scient : on sour stoke grow nota de men þat benegatten out ofmatrimony and is no more to mene : but men þat ben be-getten out of matrimony noȝth moylourri : mow noȝt haue þe grace þatterue be-gatt by þe law : mowen clayme and þat my saue is soþe : þe sauter berreþ wittenesse nota Concepit in dolore & peperit iniquitatem Caym þe corsed creature : conseyued was in syn After adam & Eue : haddemn synnyed wiþ-out repentaunce of her rechelessnes : a rybaud þei engendred as an .Iewe þat erreþ noȝth : auntereþ hym to sow on a ley lond : a-ȝenes his lordis will so was Caym conseyued : & so ben cursed wraches þat lycam han aȝenes þe lawe : þat our lord ordened Vision de Dowell all þat come of kaym : kaytyfs wheren euer and for þe syn of kyaymes sede : saide god to Noe penitet me fecisse hominem and bad go schappen hym a schipp : of schydes & of bordis þi-silf and þi sonnes þre : and seþ ȝour wyfes Bruske ȝou to þat boot : and a-byde þere-In To fourty dayes be fulfillit : and flod haue wesschen Clene a-wey þe corsed blod : þat of kaym is spronge ¶ Bestes þat now beþ : schal ban þe tyme þat euer þat cursed Caym : come on þe erþe al schullen dey for his dedis : by dalis and by hillis and þe foules þat fleeþ : forþe wiþ oþer bestes out take onlich : of vch kynd a peyre þat in þe shyngelid schip : schal be wiþ þe saued her-a-boȝth þe barne : þe bele-sires giltes and al-so for her faders : ferden þe wors þe gospel is her-a-gayn : as gomes may rede Filius non portabit iniquitatem patrys holy wrytt wyttenesseþ : þat for no wicked dedes þat þe syre by hym-silf doþe : þe sone schuld be noȝth þe wors Ac wesmynster lawe I wot wel : worcheþ þe contrary For þoȝth þe fadir be a frankelyn : & for feloun be honget þe heretage þeat þe heyre schuld haue : is at þe kyngis will Ac þe gospel is a glose here : & hideþ þe gr.ete trewþe For god seid ensample : of such maner issue þat kynd foloweþ kynd : & contrarieþ neuer Nunquid colligitur de spinis unas EtalibiEt alibi Bona arbor bonum fructum facit Ac why þe world was dreynt : holy wrytt telleþ was for mariage makynge : þat men made þat tyme after þat kaym Cursed : had killed abell Sethe Adam-is sone : seþ was engendered an god sent to sethe : so sone he was of age nota de marryagis with-in degree þat for no kyn catel : ne no kyn be-heste suffer his sede scheden : wiþ kaym-is sedes broþer and seþ for he suffered it : god saide me forþynkeþ þat I man made : or matrimony suffered For gode schuld wed gode : þoȝth þei no gode had For i am via & veritas : and may a-vaunsen all ac few folk now folow þis : for þei ȝeue her childeren for couetys of catel : and connynge chapmen of kyn ne of kenered : counteþ men but litil and þoȝth scho be louelith to lok on : & lossum a-bed amayda mayd and wel manered : & of godemen sprong But ȝif scho haue sum gode : haue wil hir no ryche and lat hir be vnlouely : and lossom a-bed a bastard & a bond : an a begneldes doȝter þat no curtesy ne can : but let hir be know for riche and rented wel : þoȝth scho reuel for elde þer ne is squier ne kneȝth : in contre a-boute þat he ne wil bow to þat bond : & bid hir an hosbond and wed hir for hir welthe : & wisschen on þe morow þat his wife wer wex : to a walle.t ful of nobles In Ielosye and Iangelynge a-bedde Many a payre seþ þis pestilens : haþ pliȝth troþe to loue ac þei lyen trewly : for nether likeþ oþer þe frute þat þei bryngeþ forþ : ar many foul wordis haue þei no childeren but ch.ide : & choppes hem be-twene þoȝth þei doun hem to donemow : but þe deuel hem helpe To folow for þe fliche : fetten þei hit neuer but þei boþ be for-swor : þat bacoun þei tynt For-þi I consaile al aristen : coued neuer be weddid for no couetisse of catel : in none kyn wyse maydys wed maydis & wodous wed wodous but maydenes and maydenes : mari ȝou to-gydir and wodowes and wodowers : wedde ȝou eyþer oþer And loke þat loue be more þe cause : þan lond oþer noblys Passus 1 de Dowell And euery man seculer : þat may noȝth contynu wysely go wed : and war hym fro syn þat lechury is a lykynng þynge : & a lymeȝerd of hell and while þou art ȝonge and ȝeþ : & þi wepyn kene a wrek þe þere-wiþ on wyfynge : for goddis werks I hold it Dum sis vir fortis &ȝ00b7; ne des tua robora scortis scribitur in portis meritrix &ȝ00b7; est ianua mortis and ȝe þat haue wyfes beþ war : & worch noȝt out of tyme as adam did and eue : as I will here ȝou telde For schuld no bed-bourde be : but ȝif þei boþ were Cleue of lif and in loue : of soule and in .treue wedloke for þat dede derne : do no man schuld but wyfes and wedded men : as holy wrytt telliþ Bonum est ut vnusquisque vxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionem þat oþer gatis beþ gat : for ga.delyns ben holden and fals folke & foundelenges : faitours & lyers vngracious to gat gode : or get loue of pepil a-waiten & wasten : al þat þe cache mow Aȝene do-wel þei doþ euel : and þe deuel serueþ and after her deth day : dwell shollen in helle but ȝif hem grace her .þey go her to amend and þus is do-wel my frende : to do as þe law To louy and to loue þe : and no lif to greue ac to louy and to loue : leue me is do-bette ac to ȝeue and to ȝeme : boþ yuonge and olde helen and helpyn is do-best of all for þe more a man may do : by so þat he do hit þe more he is worþy and worth : of wise & of gode prised Passus primus de visione de do-well Than had witt a wif : was hott dam study þat ful lene loked : and lif holy semed scho wonderly wrothe : þat wit me so tauȝth Al starrynge dame study : sternely saide wel art þou quod scho to witt : such wisdomus do schew To ony fole or to flaterrer : or to frantike pepil and saide Nolite mittere in viam : ȝe men margery perles a-mong hogges þat haue : hawes at wil þei doun but dreuel þere-on : draf wher hem leuer þa.n al þe preciose perle : þat ony prince weldeþ I sig hit by such quod witt : þat schew by her werkes þat louen lond & lordchip : and lyknge of body More þan holynesse or hendenesse : or al þat seyntis techeþ wysdome & witte : now is noȝth worth a cars but hit be car.pid wiþ couetys : as kemesters kemeþ her wol wo can dysseyw& be-gyle schallbe callitte to consayll Who can cast & contrew : to disseyue þe ryȝthful and lett wiþ a loueday : treuþe þ be-gyle þat couet can and cast þus : Men clepiþ hym to consaile Qui sapiunt vngasnugas . & crimina lege vocantur Qui recte sapiunt : lex iubet ire foras he is reseyued and robyd : þat can rob þe pepill þroȝth fallax and fals questus : & þroȝth fikel spech via impiorum Iob þe gentil in his gestus : wyttenesseþ What schal worth of such : when þei lif letten Ducunt in bonis dies suos : & in fine descendunt in infernum þe sauter seyeþ þe same : of al such riche Ibunt in progenie patrum suorum : & vsque ineternumin eternum non videbit lumen Et alibi Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes & cetera lo seyþ holy letterure : woch lordis beþ þos scherewes þo þat god most gode ȝeueþ : greueþ most ryȝth & trewþe Quia perfecisti destruxerunt harlotes for her harlodry are holpyn : are þey be nedy pore and þat is noȝth riȝth ne reysoun : for rather men schuld help hem þat haþ noȝth : þan þo þat haue no nede ac he þat haþ holy writte : ay in his moþe and can tel of treuþe : and of þe twolue apostolus and of þe passioun of crist : or of purgatory þe peynes litil is he loued or let of here : for among lordys at festes Now is þe maner at þe mette : when mynsterls beþ still Passus 1 de Dowell þe leued a-ȝenes þe lered : þe holy lore to dispute and tel of þe Trinite : how two slew þe þred and brynge balled resounes : tak bernard to wittenesse And put forþ presupcioun : to proue þe soþe þus þey dreuyl at þe dees : þe deite to know and gnaweþ god by þe gorge : when her gottis filliþ nota nota de pore & nakitte ac þe carful may cry : and quake at ȝette Boþ an hongered & a-þroste : & for defaute spill Is none so hend to haue hym in : but hott hym go wer god is þan semeþ hit to my siȝth : to such þat so biddiþ god is noȝth in þat home : ne his hopp neþer litil loueþ he þat lorde : þat lent hym al þat blis þat so partiþ wiþ þe pore : a parcel whan hem nediþ Ne wer mercy in mene men : mor þan in ryȝth ryche Many tymes mendinauntz : myȝth go an hongered and so seyeþ þe sauter : I saugh hit in memento Ecce audiuimus eam & caritatem in effrata Clerkes and kneȝthes : carpeȝ of god ofte and haþ much in her mouþe : ac mene in herte nota de freres &faytowrs Freres and faitours haue found : vp such question To pleise þe proud men : seþen þis pestelens and precheþ at seynt poules : in pur enuie of clerkes þat folk is noȝth firme in þe fayþe : ne fre of her godis Ne sory for her synnes : so is prid en-haunsed þat priers haue no power : þos pestelens to lett For godisgod is deff now-a-daies : & deyneþ vs noȝt to hire and god men for our giltis : he al to-grynt to deþe and ȝit þos wreches of þis world : is non war by oþer Ne for dred of ony dethe : wiþ-draweþ hem fro pride Ne partyþ wiþ þe pore : as pur charite wold But in gaynes & glotony : for-glotten her godis and brekeþ noȝth her brede : to þe pore as þe boke hoteþ Frange esurienti panem tuum & egenos in duc Ac þe more he wynneþ : and haþ þe worle at his wil and lordiþ in ledis : þe las gode he deleþ Tobye techeþ noȝth so : takeþ hede ȝe ryche hew he told in a tyme : and taugh his sone dele Si tibi sit copia &ȝ00b7; habundanter tribue Si autem exiguum illud &ȝ00b7; impertiri libenter stude and is to mene no more : but who much gode weldiþ be large þere-of while hit lasteþ : to ledes þat beþ nedy and ȝif þou haue litil leue sum : loke by þy lif Gette þi loue þere-wiþ : þoȝth þou wors fare ac lust no lotrd now ne lettered men : of such lore to hyre But lusteþ how he myȝth hire : lest gode spend and loweþ lordis now : and letten it do-well for is no witt worþe now : but it of wynnyng sound For-þi witt quod scho be war : holi wrytte to schew a-mong hem þat haþ : hawes at will þe woch is a lykyng of lust : and loue of þe world and whan witt was warr : what study mened I myȝth gat no grayn : of witt-is gret wittes but al laughynge he louted : & loked a-pon study semyng þat I schuld : be-sech hir of grace and whan I waswar of his wil : to þat. woman can I loute and said mercy medame : ȝour man schul I worþe as long as I lyue : boþ late and raþe and for worche ȝour wil : þe whyl my lif dureþ Wh..yth þat ȝe kende me kyndely : to know what is do-wel for þi mekenes man quod scho : and of þy mild spech nota de clergy I schal ken þe to clerge : my cosyn þat knoweþ all kyn conynges : and comsynges of do-wel of do-bett and do-best : for doctour he is y-knowen and ouer scriptour þe skylful : & scryueners be trewe For he is sib to þe seuen ars : and al-so my suster and clerge ishis wedid wif : as wise as hym-silf Passus 1 de Dowell of lore and of letterrour : of law and of resoun so wiþ þat clerge can : and consail of scryptour þou schalt ken and know : kyndely do wel þan was I as fayne : as foule of faire morowen gladir þan gleman : þat gold haþ to ȝeft and asked of hir þe hey-way : wher þat clerge dwelled and tel me sum token quod I : for tyme is þat I wend aske þe hey-way : hennis to suffer Boþ wel and wo : ȝif þou wylt lerne and ryde forþe by richesse : rest noȝth þere-In and ȝif þou couetest to be rych : to clerge comest þo neuer Boþ women and wyne : wreche Ire & sleuþe ȝif þo hem vse or haunte : haue god my treuþe To clerge schaltow neuer come : ne know what is do-wel ac þif þou happ quod he : þat þou hit on clerge and hast vnderstandyng : what he wil mene sey hym þi-silf : ouer-se many bokes and sey I gret wel his wif : for y wrote hir a bibil and set hir to sapiens : & to þe sauter glose logyk I lerne hir : and al-so þe lawe after and al þe musons of musike : I mad hir for to know plato þe poete : I put hym first to boke Aristotil and oþer : to arguen I taugh Gramer for gurles : I gart first wryte and bett wiþ .........ȝardis : but ȝif þei wold lerne of al kyn craftes : I conterfete her tolys of carpendry & keruers : and contreued þe compas and cast mett by squier : boþ lyne & leuell nota de þeology and þroȝth my lore be men lerne : þoȝth I loke dyme ac theology haþ tened me : ten schor tymes þe more I muse þer-on : þe misteliker he semeþ and þe depper I deuine : þe dorker me þynkeþ hit It is no sciens sikerly : but a stidfast be-leue Ac for hit lereþ man to loue : I be-leue þere-on þe better for loue is a likynge þynge : & loþ for to greue lerne for to loue : ȝif ȝe like do-wel for of do-better and do-best : her doctour is dere loue þo went I my wey : wiþ-out more lettyng ¶ And to Clerge I come : as clerkes me sayde I grette hym godely : and grathely I hym tolde how þat witt and his wyf : wyssyd me to heym To ken and to know : kyndely do-well kep þe ten comandementz : and kep þe fro syn and be-leue .trevely : how godis sonn a-liȝth on þe mayden mary : for mankynd-is sake and be-come man of a maide : wiþ-out man-kynd and al þat holy church : her-of can þe lere leue hit .trevely and loke þou do þere-aftir austeyn þe old : her-of made bokes who was his auctour : & hym of god taȝth patriarkes and prophetis : a-postolus & angelis and þe trewe trinite : to austene appered and he us saide as he saugh : & so I beleue þat he saugh þe fadir : & þe sone & þe seynt spirit to-gider and al þre but on god : & here-of he made bokes who beþ his wyttenes : Ego in patre & pater in me est Et qui me vidit &ȝ00b7; patrem meum vidiet &ȝ00b7; qui est in celis all þe clerkes vndir crist : ne couþe noȝt þis assoile But þus hit be-longeþ to be-leue : al þat likeþ do-wel For had neuer fyne witt : þe fayþe to dispute Ne man myȝth haue merite : þer-of myȝt hit be proued Fides non habet meritum : vbi humana racio prebet nota de be-leve trowyth & low þus in bele........ve & trowþ : and loue is þe þred þat makeþ men do wel : and do bett and do beste þan scriptour scorned me : and many sithes schewed and contenans made to clerge : to conge me hit semed and lakked a latyn : and liȝth by me sette and saide . Multi multa sciunt . & se ipsos nesciunt þo weped I for wo ; and wreþed of her wordis and in wynkyng I worþe : and wonderly I mette Forþ Passus 1 de Dowell Forþe was I rauesched riȝth þere : for fortune me fette and in a lond of longynge : an loue scho me broȝth and in a myrour þat heȝth mydilerþe : scho mad me to loke and seþ scho saide to me : her myȝth þou se wondrys and know þat þou couetest : and come þer-to parauentour þan had fortune folowynge : two faire maydenes Concupiscencia carnis : men called þe eldir maide and couetys of eyes : called was þat oþer and pride of parfite lyuyng : pursuete me faste and bad me for my continens : counte klerkes techyng liȝth Concipiscencia carnis : conford me on þus maner nota de youth and saide þou art ȝong and ȝepe : & haþ ȝeres I now fort to lyue longe : and ladies to louye and in þis myrour þou myȝth se : myrthes ful many þat wold lede þe to lykyng : al þy lyue-tyme þe secunde said þe same : I schal serue þi wyl To þou be a lorde and haue lond : letten I þe nyll þat I ne schal folow þi felewchip : if fortune like he schal fynd me his frend : quod fortune þere-after þe man þat me like to help : myȝt noȝth mys happ þan was þere on þat heȝte elde : and heuy was of chere Man quod Elde ȝif y-mete wiþ þe : by mary of heuen þou schalt fyne fortune þe faile : at þi most nede and Concupiscencia carnis : clene þe for-sake Bitterly schalt þou ban : þan boþ dayes & nyȝthes Couetys of eyes : þat euer þou hir knew and pride of parfite lyuynge : to much perel þe brynge notade..les ȝe reche þe neuer quod recheles : stod forþ in ragged cloþes Folow forþ þat fortune wol : þou hast ful far to Elde a man may stoup tyme y-noȝth : when he schal ...les his crod.. Sir wanhopp was sib to hym : as sum men me told For Recheslesnysse in his rybaudy : ryȝth þus saide Go I to hell or to heuen : I schal noȝth go myn one W..rere hit al soþe þat ȝe sayen : þou scriptour and clerge I leue þat neþer lorde ne lady : þat lyueþ her on erþe schal sit in goddis siȝth : ne se god in his blys Ita est impossibile diuiti inrtrare in regnum celorum sicut camelus For clerge seyþe þat he saugh : in þe seynt ewangely þat I man made was : and my name entered In þe legent of lif : long ar I were predestinat . þei prechen : prechours þat þis scheweþ or prescite imparfite : put out of grace vn-wrytten for sum wickednesse : as holy wrytte scheweþ Nemo ascendit ad celum : nisi qui de celo descendit and I be-leue it wel : bi our lorde & on no letterrour better For salomon þe sage : þat sapiens made nota de salomun god gaf hym grace of witt : and of gode after Neuer to no man so much : þat men can of tell To rule al reumes : and riche to make and demed wel and wysely : women berriþ wittenesse Nec michi nec tibi : sed diuidatur Aristotil and he : who taugh men better Maystres þat men techen : of goddis mercy & treten wittenesseþ þat har wordis : and her werkes boþe wher wondir gode and wysest : in her tyme and holy church as I hire : haldeþ boþ in hell and ȝif we schuld wyrch : aftyr her werkes to wyn us he.. þat for her werkes and witt : woneþ now in payne þan wroȝth I vnwisely : for al ȝour wise techynge ac I counter-sig þe noȝth clerge : ne þi connynge scriptour þat who doþ by ȝour doctrine : doþ wel y be-leue ac me wer leuer by our lorde : a lipp of goddis grace þan al þe kynd wytt þat ȝe can boþ : & connyng of ȝour bokes For of fele witty in fayþe : litil ferly I haue þoȝth ȝour gost be vngracious : god for to plese For many men in þis mold : more setteþ her herte In gode þan In god : for why hem grace faileþ ac in her most mychef : mercy wher þe beste and mercy of mercy : nedes most a-rise as holy wrytt wittenesseþ : godis word in þe gospell Passus 1 de Dowell nota seld is hit sey clerkislew as þey techyn Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remetietur wel witty men : And wel lettered clerkes selden are þei seen : so lyuen as þei lereþ wittenesseþ goddus word : þat neuer was vn-trew Super cathedram moysi & cetera ac y wene hit worþe of many : as in noe-is tyme þo he schop þe schypp : of schydes and of lordis was neuer wryȝth þat þere-on wroȝth : ne werkeman saued but byrdes and bestes : and þe blessed Noe and his wif and his sonnes : & his sounes wyfes of wryȝthes þat hit wroȝth : was non of hem saued God leue þat hit fare noȝth so : by folk þat þe faythe techeþ of holy church þat sculd kep : al cristen soules for archa noe nymeþ hede : is no more to mene But holy church herbrew : to al þat ben blessed þe culorum of þis clause : curaturs is to mene þat ben carpenders vndir crist : holy kyrke to make For leued folke goddus foles : & his fre bestes homines & Iumenta saluabis & cetera A domus-day a deluuye : woȝth of deþe in fire at ones worcheþ ȝe wryȝthes of holy church : as holy writt techeþ lest ȝe be lost as þe labourres wer : þat laboured vnder Noe nota of þe þefe þatheng on þe cros byour lord on gode fryday I fynd : a felond was saued þat unlawfoly had lyued : al his lif-tyme and for he knew on þe cros . and to crist schrof hym he was sonner saued þan seynt : Iohnan þe baptyst and or adam .I say : or ony of þe prophetys þat had lay wiþ lucifer : many long ȝeres a robbour was raunsoned : rader þan þai all wiþ-out penaunce oþer passioun : oþer ony oþer payne passeþ forþe paciently : to parpetuel blys þan mary maudeloyn : who myȝth do wors as in lykyng of lechury : no lif denied Or dauid þe doȝthty : þat deuyned how vrye Myȝth lyȝthlokest be slaw : and send hym to were t.revely as by his lokes . wiþ a letter of gyle Paule þe appostel no pyte had : cristes pepil to kyl to deþ and now beþ þos seyntes : by þat men seyen & souerenges in heuen þo þat worst wroȝthen : þe while þat þei wer here by þat salomon seyeþ : hit semeþ þat no wyȝth wote who is worthy : for wel or for wyked wheþer he is worthy : to wel or to wyked pyne sunt Iusti atque sapientes : & opera eorum in manu dei sunt þus I rechelesnesse haue rad : regestres & bokes and fond I neuer in fayþe : for to tel treuþe þat clerge of crystes mouþe : comandid was euer For crist said to his seyntes : & to such as he loued dum steteritis ante reges & presides : nolite cogitare þoȝth ȝe come be-for kynges : and clerkes of þe law be noȝth a-dred of þat folke : for I schal ȝef ȝou tonge and connynge and clerge : to conclude such all dauid makeþ mencioun : he spak a-mong kynges ac myȝth no kynge ouercome hym : as in conyng of spech sothely said rechelesnesse : ȝe se by many eudenses þat witt ne wittenesse : w..an neuer þe maystry wiþ-out þe gift of god : wiþ grace of fortune for he þat most sey and saide : of þe soþefast trynite was austeyn þe old : þat euer was wyiste seyd þus in hes sermond : for ensample of gret clerkes Ecce ipsi ideoti rapiunt celum vbi nos sapientes in inferno demergimur and is to mene no more : to men þat beþ lered are now rather rauached : f..or þe riȝth be-leue Comunes þan clerkes : most knowyng & connynge Ne non sanner saued : ne non saddir in beleue nota ploghmen & herdis& porer commynys þan ploughmen and pastoures : and pore comune pepil persen wiþ a pater noster : paradise oþer heuen and passeþ þroȝth purgatory : penauncles for her parfit beleue Breuis oracio penetrat celum Passus 2 de Dowell seld falleþ þe seruant : so dep in arerage as doþe þe reue or þe countrollour : þat reken most & acount of al þat þei haue y-had : of hem þat is her mayster ac leued labourres : of litil vndirstandyng seld falliþ so fould : and so deþ in syn as clerkes of holy kerke : þat kep schuld and saue lewed men in gode be-leue : and lene hem at ar nede homo proponit quod he : let god do his will al þat trewþe attacheþ : and testifieþ for gode þorȝth þei folow þat fortune : wold no foly y hit hold Ne concupiscencia carnis : ne schuld greue þe gretely Ne be-gile þe : but ȝif þou woll ȝe fare wel fippe quod .........yougth : & forþ can me draw Til concupiscencia carnis : a-cordid to my wordis of do-wel & do-bet : no doute me ne þoȝth ne cl....erge ne his consail : I count hit but lytil passus secundus de do-well & cetera nota de alde & holynys Alace ey quod Elde : and holynesse boþe þat witt schal torne to wrachednesse : for wil haþ his wyl Couetys of eyes : conford me aftir and saide rechelesnesse recthe neuer : by so þou riche were Confesse þe to sum frere : he schal assoile þe þus sone how so euer : þow wyn hit For while fortune is þi frend : freres wil þe loue and festene þe in her fraternite : & for þe be-seke To her priour prouinciale : his pardoun to haue and prey þe pol by pol : ȝif þou be pecunious pena pecuniaria non sufficit By wissyng of þis wench : I did hir wordis was so swete To I for-ȝet ȝouth : and ȝorne in-to elde and þan was fortune my foo : for al hir fair be-heste and powerte parsuete me : and put me to be low and flittynge fond I þe frere : þat me confessed and said he myȝth me noȝth assoile : but I siluer had To restitue resenabely : for al vnriȝthful wynnynge howgh quod I þo : and my hed wagget nota de wowere By my fayȝth frere quod I : ȝe fareþ like a wowere þat wil noȝth þe wodow : but for to weld hir godis Rith so by þe rode quod I : rethe ȝe neuer wher my body be byried : so ȝe had my godis and þan laugh ....trowþ : for I loured on þe frere why lourest þou quod ....trowþ : leue sir I saide For þis frere flatered ...: þe while he fond me riche and now I am pore and penyles : at litil pris he set me I wold hit wer no syn I saide : to sey þat wer treweþ þe sauter seyþ hit is no syn : for such men þat ben vntrewe To sig þat þai seen : saue only prestes Existimasti inique quod ero similis tibi arguam te & statuam contra faciem tuam þeiwolþei wol a-leg al-so : & by þe gospel proue hit Nolite iudicare : quem-quam&ȝ00b7; and wher of serueþ lawe : quod ....etrowþ & lif vndertoke Falssenes ne faytry : for sumwhat þe apostil saide Non oderis fratrem tuum : secrete in corde þynge þat al þe world wote : wher-for schuld þou sp To reherse hit by rethorik : to a-rate dedely syn Ac be neuer more þe first : þe defaute to blame þoȝth þou se say noȝth : sum-tyme þat is trewþe þynge þat wold be pryue : publysched þou hit neuer Noþer for loue labbit out : ne lake it neuer for enuie nota houu scyrptourprechyt..d Para lauda &ȝ00b7; vitupera parcius he seyþ soþe quod scriptour þo : & skipte on hey & preched ac þe matyre þat he meweþ : ȝif lewed men it knew þe lasse as I leue : louen þei wolde þe be-leue of our lorde : þat lettered men techeþ of her teme and her talis : I toke ful gode hede þei saide in her sermond : selcoþe wordis Multi to a mangery : and to þe met were sumpned and whan þe pepil was plener com : þe perterporter & vnpynned þe ȝatte Passus 2 de Dowell And plyȝth in pauci : priuely & lete þe remenant go al for tene of þat texte : tremled myn hert and in awerea were gan I wox : & wiþ my-silf to dispute weþer I wer chose or noȝth chose : on holy church I þoȝth þat vnderfong me at þe faute : for on of godis chesen For cryst clept vs al to come : ȝif we wold sarasenes and sismatikes : and so he did þe Iewes and bade hem ...syk for her syn ....& knok at his brest and drynk bote for bale : brouke who-so myȝth O vos omnes scicientes &ȝ00b7; venite ad aquas þan may al cristen come : & clayme þere to entre by þat blod þat he boȝth us woþ : & bapten as he tauȝth Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit for þoȝth a cristen man coueten : his cristendom to reney Rithfullith to reney : no reysoun wold For may no cherles charter make : ne his catel syll wiþ-outen leue of þe lorde : no law wohl hit graunt Ac he may renne in a-rerage : and rome fro home as a recheles caytif : or a reneyed as hit semeþ ac resoun schal reken wiþ hym : & rebuke hym at þe last and consciens a-count wiþ hym : cast hym in a-rerages and put hym aftir in prisoun : in purgatory to brenne and for his rechelessnys reward hym þere : riȝth to þe day of dome But ȝif contricioun & confessioun : cry by his lyue Mercy for his misdedis : wiþ mouþe and wiþ herte þat is soþe saide scriptour : may no syn lette Mercy þat he ne may al a-mende : & mekenes hir folow þei beþ as our bokes telliþ : are a-bow godis werkes Misericordia eius &ȝ00b7; super omnia opera eius baw for bokes quod on : was broken out of hell I Troianes a trew kneȝth : I take wittenes of a pope how y was ded & dampned : to dwel in hell For I ham on cristen creatour : seynt gregory wott þe soþe þat al þe cristendom vnder crist : ne myȝth me cach fro þennes nota de troiann þe trewhemperour & a pagan But only loue and l....trewþ : as in my lawes demynge Gregory wist þis wel : and wilned to my soule sauacioun for þe soþenesse : he saugh in my werkes and for he wilned wepynge : þat I wer saued God of his godenesse : saugh his gret will and wiþ-outen mo beddis biddynge : his bone was underfong and I saued as ȝe may se : wiþ-out syngynge of masses loue wiþ-outen ...treve be-leue : and my lawe ryȝthful saued me sarasenn : soule and body boþe lo lordis what .....trowþ did : & ...treve deme vsed Wel oȝth ȝe lordis þat lawe kepeþ : þes lesoun to haue in mynd and on troIanes trewþ to þynke : al tymes of ȝour liue and lerne for our lordis loue : to do .....trowþ euermore for law wiþ-out l.trew..þ : lay þer a bene or ony sciens vndir sone : þe seuen artes and al But ..w..h...w.loue and trewþ hem lede : loste is al þe tyme of hym þat traualiþ þere-on : but trewþe be his lyfyng so loue and ltrewtþ : þei ben our lordis bokes and cristus is ouen clerge : he come fro heuen to tech hit and seynt Iohan sayd hit : of his techynge Qui non diligit &ȝ00b7; manet in morte and namelith pore pepil : her prieris may us help for god as þe gospel seyeþ : goiþ ay as þe pore nota de men þat makythfestys and as þe wangelist wittenesse : whan we mak festis whe schuld noȝth clep kneȝthes þer-to : ne non kyn ryche Cum facitis conuiuia nolite vocare amicos Ac calleþ þe careful þere-to : þe croked and þe pore for vch a frend fyneþ oþer : and fondiþ how he best may q.. Meles and manchpsmanch[i]ps : euch a rich man oþer ac for þe pore may noȝth pay : I wil pay my-silfe þat loueþ and leneþ hem : largely I quite ac caluary of cristus blod : cristen can sprynge and blody bretheren we be-come : þer-of on body wan Passus 2 de Dowell as quasi modo geniti : gentyl men vchon No beggers ne boy a-manges vs : but ȝif hit syn make Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccati In þe old law as lettered telleþ : mennis sonnis men called us of adam-is ussue and eue : ay to god man deyed and aftir his resurreccioun : redemptor was his name and we his bldody breþeren : as wel beggers as lordis For-þi loue we as leue childeren : lene hem þat nedyþ and euery man help oþer : for hennis schal we all To haue as we haue serued : as holy wrytt wyttenesseþ Qui bona egerunt &ȝ00b7; ibunt in vitam eternam þe laweof low For why lerne we þe law of loue : as our lord taugh and pore pepil fayle we noȝth : wile ony peny vs lesteþ for in her likenes our lorde : lome haþ ben knowen Wittenesse in þe pasch woke : whan he ȝede to emaus Cleophas ne knew hym noȝth : þat he crist were for his pore apparaile : and pilgrym-his cloþes To þat he blessed her bred : & brak hit hem be-twene so by þos werkes þei wisten : þat he was Ihesus and by his cloþyng þei knew hym noȝth : so caytif he ȝede and al was ensample sethely : to vs sinful here þat we schuld be low & lowelich : & ....treve vch man to oþer and pacient as pilgrimis : for pilgrimis are we all In þe apparaile of a pilgrim : & in pore lykenesse holy seyntes hym saugh : ac neuer in sete of riche and seynt mary his modir : as mathew berreþ wittenes was a pure pore maide : and to a pore man weddid Martha an mary maudeleyn : a huge pleynt made and to our saueour silf : seyd þos wordis domine non est tibi cure &ȝ00b7; quod soror mea relinquam and he ayþers wil : hastely god assoiled and ayþers werkes and willes : rith wel a-lowed ac pouerte god put be-for : and proued for þe better Maria optimam partem elegit &ȝ00b7; que non auferetur porte is best yefpaciens hit follouu all þe wisse þat euer were : by oȝth þat I can aspy preseþ pouerte for best : ȝif paciens hit folow ac boþ blessediyr and better : by many-fold þan riches al þoȝth he be sour to suffer : þer comeþ a swetter after as on a wal-note : wiþ-out is a bitter barke and after þe bitter barke : be þe schale a-way Is a kerner of confort : kynd to restory so after penaunce and pouerte : paciently I-take Makeþ man to haue mynd in god : & in his mercy to craue þe wech is þe kerner of comferd : for al cristen soulis and wel sykerer he slepeþ : þe seg þat is pore and las drediþ by day : or in dorke to be robbid þan he þat is riȝth riche : resoun berreþ wyttenesse Pauper ego ludo &ȝ00b7; dum tu diues meditaris holy wrytte wyttenesseþ : who-so for-sakeþ his fadir or his frendes : fremen oþer sibbe or ony welthe in þis world : his wif or his childeren for þe loue of our lorde : loweþ hem to be pore he schal haue an hondered-folde : of heuen-rich blis and lyf lestynge for euer : by-fore our lord in heuen Quicumque relinquerit &ȝ00b7; patrem & matrem Cryst accordiþ eft þere-wiþ : clerkes wit þe sothe what god seid hym-silf : to a segg þat he lowed ȝif þou listest to lyue quod god : þe lif þat is parfite al þat þou hast her : hastely go syll hit ȝif pore pepil þe penyes : þere-of purs þou none ac ȝif hem forþe to þe pore folke : þat for my loue it as. For-sake al and sue me : and so is þe beste Si vis perfectus esse : vade & vende omnia ȝit consaileþ crist : in comune to vs all who-so couet to cum : to my kyng-richedome he most for-sake hym-silfe : his susteres & his breþen Passus 2 de Dowell Passus 2 de Dowell and al þat þe world wold : & my wil folow Nisei renunciaueritis omnia que possidetis Mo prouerebis ȝe myȝt haue : of many holy seyntes To testifie for treuþe : þe tale þat y schew and poetis to prouen hit : purfurie & plato Arestotele Eneide : eleuen hondered Tullius Tholomeus : I can noȝth tel her names proueþ paciens pouerte : prynces of al vertues And by þe greyn þat groweþ : god vs al techeþ Mischef on molde : mekely to suffer Nisi granum frumenti cadens &ȝ00b7; in terra mortuum fuerit But ȝyf þe sedde þat sowen is : in þe sloo sterue schal neuer spire spryng : ne spike on straw kerne schuld neuer whete wex : but whete first dey and oþer sedes al-so : In þe same wyse þat ben layde on lowe erþe : lore as hit were and þroȝth þe grace of god : & grayn dede on erþe at þe last launceþ vp : wher-by we liuen all ac sedes þat ben sowen b..e & mow..........n suffer wenter arn tydiore & teuore : to mannis be-hoste þan sedes þat sowen bene : & mow noȝth wiþ forstes Ne wyndes ne wederes : as In wynter tymes as lynen sede leke sede : & lenten sedes all ar noȝth so worþy as whete : ne so well mowe In þe feld wiþ þe forst : & hit frese longe Ryth so sothely : þat suffere many penaunces worth a-lowed of our lorde : at þe last ende and for her pacience bene preysed : as for a pur marter or for a confessour kydde : þat counteþ noȝth a russche Fyre ne flame : ne fals mennis tonges But as an hosbond hoppiþ : after an hard wynter ȝif god ȝif hym lif : to haue a gode herueste so proueþ þus prophetis þat paciently sufferd mischefs and myshappis : and many tribulacoinstribulacions be-tokeneþ trewly : In tyme comynge aftyr Myrth for her mournynge : & þat moch plente for crist saide to his seyntes : þat for his sake þolled pouerte and impacient : and persecutioun of body þen angelis in her anger : on þis wyse hem grette Tristicia vestra &ȝ00b7; vertetur in gaudium sour sorow in-to solas : schal torne at laste and out of wo in-to wel : ȝour wordis schal change Ac who-so redeþ of riche : þe reuerce may fynde nota of rich man how god as þe gospel telliþ : geueþ fool to name and þat his gost schal go : and his gode be-leue and askyþ hym : who schal haue hit þe catel þat he kepeþ : so in cofers and in bernes and art so loþ to leue : þat let schal þou nedys O stulte ista nocte &ȝ00b7; anima tua egredietur Thesaurizat & ignorat A unredy reue : þe resydue schal spend þat many mothe was mayster : In a myte-whyle vpholders on þe hil : schal haue hit to sill lo lordes loand ladies : takeþ hede hit lastiþ noȝth longe : þat is licorous swete as pese-coddis pere Ionetis : plummes & cheries þat liȝtely launceþ vpp : litil while doureþ and þat radest ripeþ : roteþ most sonnest on fatt lond ful of donge : fowlest wedis groweþ rith so sothely : such as ben bisschopes nota de rich lordis ¶ Erles and erchedekenes : and oþer riche clerkes þat chaffar as chapmen : and chid but þai wyn and haue þe world at her wil : oþer-wyse to lyuen Rith as wedis waxen : In wose and in donge so on richesse a-pon richesse : a-riseþ all vices lo lond ouer-layde wiþ marle : and with donge whete þat þere-on waxeþ worth long or hit rippe Riȝth so sethely : for to ... treuþe Passus 3 de Dowell ouer-plente pride norcheþ : þere pouerte destrueþ For whow hit euer be won : but hit be wel despendid worldely þyngewel is wyked þynge : to hym þat hit kepeþ For ȝif he be fer þere-fro : ful oft haþ he dred þat fals folk fech hit a-way : felounlich his godis and ȝit more hit makeþ men : many tymes & ofte To syn and to seche : sotultees of gyle for couetysse of þat catel : to kyl hym þat hit kepeþ and so is man morþered : for his money & hys godis and þo þat did þat dede : dampned þare-for after and he for his hard holdyng : in hel perauentour so couetys of catel : was combrans to hem all lo how pens purchaseþ : faire places & grete þat rote is of robbers : þe riches wiþ-In Passus tercius de do-wel AAc wel worth pouerte : for he may walk vn-robbid a-mong pelours in pees : ȝif paciens hym folow our prince Ihesus pouerte chees : & his apostlus all and ay þe longer þey lyued : þe las gode þei had Tanquam nichil habentes ȝit redeþ men þat abraham : in Iob was wonder-riche and out of noumbre þo men : many mneblis had Abraham for his : had much tene for in a grete pouerte he was pute : a prince as hit were nota houuabram-iswif wastak fro hem be nome his hosewyf : & abraham noȝt herdy ones to let hym Ne for bryȝthenes of hir bewte : his spouse to be .know & for he suffered and saide noȝth : our lorde send token þat þe kyng cryed hym mercy : þat tyme and delyuered þe wy his wif : wiþ much welthe aftir nota de Iob Iob þe gentil : what Ioy had be on erþe and how bittyr he hit boȝth : as þe boke telleþ and for he songe in his sorow : si bona suscepimus a domino derword & dere god : do we so mala all his sorow to solas : þroȝth þat songe turned and Iob be-come a ... man : and al his Ioy newe lo how pacience and pouerte : þe patriarkes releued and broȝth hem al a-boue : þat in bale roted as grayn þat lyȝth in þe ground : & þroȝth grace at þe laste spryng and sprediþ : so did þe fadir abraham and þe gentil Iob : her Ioy haþ no ende ac leueþ noȝth lewed men : þat I lake richesse þoȝth I preyse pouerte þus : & proue hit by ensanpls worþier as by holy wrytte : and wyse fylossofers Boþ þei bene gode : be ȝe ful certeyn and leueþ þat our lord loueþ : large weyes to heuen ac þe pore paciens : purgatory passeþ rather þan þe riche : þoȝth þei renne at ones nota de marchan& messengere ¶ For ȝif a Marchond & a mesager : mette to-gydrs and schuld wend on a wey : þere boþ mott reste and reken by-for resoun : a reysonable a-counte what on haþe & what oþer haþe : & what þei boþ had þe Marchond mott nede be lett : longer þan þe mesager for þe parcel of his papir : and oþer pryue dettes wol let hym as I leue : þe lenþe of a myle þere þe mesager doþ no more : but wyþ his mouþe telliþ his errand and his letter schewiþ : & is anon deliuered and þoȝth þei went by þe way : þo two to-gyders þoȝth þe mesager make his wey : a-myd þe fair whete wil no wise man be wroþe : ne his wed take Necessitas non habet legem Ne no heiward is hate : his wed for to take ac þif þe marchond mak his wey : ouer men corne and þe heyward hap wiþ hym : for to mete oþer his hatte oþer his hode : or elles his gloues þe marchond mot for-go : or money of his pors and ȝit be blett as I leue : for þe law axeþ Marchand for her marchaundz : in many places to toll and ȝit þoȝth þei went on way : to wesmynster fair þe marchond wiþ his marchondys : may noȝt go so swyþe Passus 3 de Dowell as þe mesager may : ne wiþ so moch ese for þat on berryþ but a box : a breuet þere-In þere þe marchond ledeþ a male : wiþ many kyn þynges and dredeþ to be dede þere-for : and he in durke mete wiþ robours and reuours : þat riche men dispoylen þer þe mesager is ay mery : & his mouþe ful of songes and leueþ for his letteres : þat no wiȝth wil hym greue ac ȝit myȝth þe marchond : þroȝth his money hand his ȝeftis haue hors & hardi men : þoȝth he met þeues wold none such assayle hym : for such as hym foloweþ and sauely as þe mesager : and as sone at his hostile come ȝe wote þe wise men : what þis is to mene þe Marchond is no more to mene : but men þat beþ riche are al a-countable to crist : and to þe kynge of heuen þat hold mot þe hey-way : euen to þe ten hestes boþ louye and lene : ...treve and un...treve and haue reuthe and releue : wiþ his riches by his power all maner of men : in myschef fal fyne beggers bred : bakkes for þe cold Teþen here gode trewly : a toll as hit semeþ þat our lorde lokeþ aftyr : of vch a lif þat wynneþ wiþ-outen wyles and wronges : or women at þe stues and ȝit more to make pes : and quite menis dettes and spel & spare to spend : a-pon þe nedeful as crist hym-silf comandiþ : al cristen pepil Alter alterius &ȝ00b7; onera portate þe mesager are þos mendinantz : þat liueþ by men almes Beþ noȝth bound as þe riche : to boþ two lawes To lene ne to lerne : ne lentenes faste and oþer pryue penaunces : þe woch þe prestes wot well þat þe lawe ȝeueþ leue : such low folk to be excused as non teþes to teþe : ne to cloþe þe naked Ne in non enquestes to come : ne contomax þeȝth he worthe holy day and holy euen : his mete to deserue For he lyueþ & be-leueþ : as þe lawe techeþ Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit : saluus erit Telliþ þe lord a tale : as a trew mesager and schoweþ by his sele : & seþ by letter wiþ what lord he dweli. knowlech hym cristen : and of holy church be-leue þer is no lawe as I leue : wol let hym þe gate þere godis þe gateward hym-silf : & euch a gome knoweþ so þe pore of pur ryȝth : may perform þe lawe In þat he williþ and wold : vch a wyȝth as hym-silf For þe wil is as much worþe : of a wrech begger ac al þat þe riche may rauyme : & riȝtheful dele and as much mede for a myte : þer he offereþ as þe riche man for his money : & more as by þe gosspel Amen dico uobis quia &ȝ00b7; hec vidua paupercula nota de prestis So pore and so paciens : parfitest lif is of al vch a parfite preste : to pouerte schuld draw for spera in deo spekeþ of prestis : þat haue no spendyng sil... þat ȝif þei trauale trewly : & crist in god almyȝthy hem schal neuer lake liflode : neþer lynnen ne wollen þe titil þe take ȝour orders by : telliþ ȝe ben awaunsed an nede noȝth to nyme siluer : for masse þat ȝe sing For h.e þat toke ȝou a tytil : shuld take ȝou wagis Or þe bysschop þat blessed ȝou : & enbaumed ȝour fyngles For made neuer kynge no kneȝth : but he had catel to spend as by-fel for a kneȝth : or fond hym for his streynþe For he is a carful kneȝth : & of a caytyfe kynge maked þat hath neþer lond ne lynage riche : ne gode los of his hond þe same I say for soþe : by such as ben prestes þat haþ neþer conyng ne kyn : but a croune on and a titil a tale of noȝth to his lyflode as hit were Euel beþ þai suffered : such as schendiþ þe masse þrogh her lyther lyueng : and leued understanding a charter is chalangable : by-for a chiff Iustice ȝif fals latyn be in þe letter : þe lawe hit epugneth or peynted perenterlynarie : parselis oueskipped þe gome þat gloses þe charteres : for a goky is halden so he So he is a goky by god : þat in þe gospel fayleþ or in masse or in matyns : makeþ ony defaute Qui offendi.t in vno : in omnibus est reus For ouerskippers also : þe sauter seyeþ dauid psallite deo nostro psallite : quoniam rex terre deus psallite sapienter þe bisschop schal be blamed : by-for god as I leue þat crouned such for godis knȝthes : þat con noȝth sapienter noþer : synge ne rede an neþer noþere is blameles : þe bisschop ne þe chapeleyn for ignorancia non excusat : as i haue herd in bokes nota kynd wittcome clergeto help þus rechelesnesse in a rage : a-reysound clerge and scryptour scorned : þat many skyllis schoned Til þat kynd witt come : clerge to kep and in a myrour of mydil erþe : mad hym eft to loke To know by vch a creatour : kynd to louye and y bowed my body : by-held al a-boute and saugh þe sone and þe see : & þe sond aftir and wher þat bryddis and bestis : by her make þei ȝode wyle wormes in woddis : and wonderful foulis wiþ flecked fethers : & of fele colowris Man and his make : I myȝth se boþe pouerte and plente : boþ pees and werre Blys and bale : boþ I saugh at ones and how þat men mede toke : & mercy refused Reysoun I saugh sothely : sew al bestes In ettyng In drynkynge : In engenderyng of kynd aftir cours of concepcioun : none toke kep to oþer and whan þei had rotied a-none þei rest after Males drow hem to males : a-mournyng by hem-sylf and femals to femals ferde and drough þere ne was cow ne cow-kynd : þat conseyued had þat ne lees þe lykyng of luste of flessch as hit were Saue man and his make : and þere-of me wondered For out of reysoun þay raue : recheslesly toke on As In deren dedis both drynkyng and ellis byddis I be-held : In buskes made nestes had neuer wy witt : to worche þe leste I had wondir at whom : and wher þe pye lerne to leg stykkes : þat leyden in hir neste þer Is no wryȝth as I wene : shuld worch hir neste to paye ȝif ony masoun mad a mold : þere-to much wonder me thynketh and ȝit me meruelit more : mony al þos bryddys hidden and heleed : her egges so derenly for no foule schuld hem fyne : but his fere & hymsilf and sum teredden I toke kep : and on trees bredde and broȝth forþ her briddes : al a-boue þe grounde In mareis and in mores : In myres and In watres dompynges diued : der god I sayd Wher had þe-wile such witt : & at what scole and how þe pekok cauked : þere-of toke I kep how vncurtesly þe kok : his kynd forþ strenede and ferly of hys fayrenesse of his foul ledene and seþ y loken on þe see & so forþ on þe sterres Many selcouthes Y seyh aren nat to segge nouthe Ne what of floures of felde and of here fayre coloures and how out of greut & of gras : grewe so many hewes and sum sour & sum swete selcouthe me thouhte of her kynd & of her colour : to carpe hit were to longe nota de ac of þat most meued me : & my mode chaungede was þat I saugh resoun : sewen al bestes saue man and mankynd : mony tymes me thouhte Reson reuled hem noȝth : neþer ryche ne pore þat I aresouned resoun and ryht til hym y sayde I haue wondir in my wittes : so wys as thow art holden wher-for & why : as wyde as thow regnest þat þou ne reulest rather renkes then other bestes I se non so oft surfeten sothely so mankynde In mett out of mesure : and many tymes In drynke In women In wedys : and In worckes boþe Passus 3 de Dowell þei ouerdo it day and nyȝth : & so doþ noȝth oþer bestes þei rule hem al by resoun : ac renkes ful fewe and þere-for merueyleþ me : for man is most and like þere-of witt : and werkes why he ne loueþ þi lore : and lyueþ as þou techest and resoun resoned me : and said rett þe neuer why I suffer and noȝth suffer : certis he sayde ech a segge for hym-silf : salomon vs techeþ de re qui non molestat &ȝ00b7; nolite certare Who suffered more þan god : quod he no gome as I wene he myhte amend al on myte-while : al þat amys standiþ ac he suffered in ensample : þat we schul suffer all Is no vertue so fair : ne of valu ne profite so in soffrance sufferentely : so hit be for godis loue and so witnesseþ wise : and wisseþ þe frenche .........sufferer fait luy soferable a bene venire forthy quod resoun I rede þe rule þe tonge euer and ar thow lacke any lif : lak who is to pryse For is no creature vnder crist : þat can hym-silf make and if creatures cristen : couþe make hem-sylf such a lede wold be lacles : leue þou no noþer Man was made of such a matyre : he myȝth noȝt wel astart that some tyme hym be-tideþ to folew his kynd caton acordeth therwith Nemo sine crymine viuit tho cauhte y colour a-none : and comsed to be aschamed and awakede þere-wiþ : wo was me þan that y ne hadde met more : so mery as I slepte and saide anoen to my-silf : slepynge had I grace to wyte what do-wel is : ac wakyng neuer and then was ther a wyȝth : what he was I nyste what is do-well what is do-well quod þat wyȝth : y-wys sir I saide to se moche and suffer al : certis is do-well haddestow suffered he saide : slepynge þo þou were þou schuldist haue know : þat clerge can & conseyued mor þan resoun For resoun wold haue rehersed þe : ryȝth as clerge seyde Ac for þyn entermentyng : here art þou for-sake philoȝsophus fuisses &ȝ00b7; si tacuesses Et alibi locutum me aliquando &ȝ00b7; penituit tacuisse nonquamnunquam nota de adamwhy he wasput ont paradys Adam þe whiles he speke noȝth : had paradis at his wil ac whan he mamelid a-boute mete : & mused for to know þe wisdom and þe witt of god : he was put out of blis Rith so ferd resoun by þe : for þi rude spech and for þou woldist witt : why resoun is pryuete pride of presumpcioun : of þy parfite lyuynge Resoun refused þe : and wold noȝth reste wiþ þe Ne clerge of his connynge : kepeþ þe noȝth to schewe For schal neuer or scham come : a scherew wel be chasted For let a dronken daff : in on diche fall lett hym lig loke noȝth on hym : to hym lust to rise For þoȝth resoun rebuke hym þan : reke he neuer Ne of clerge ne of kynd witt : count he noȝth a russche To blame or to bett hym : þan I hold hit but syn ac whan nede nymeþ hym vpp : a-none he is a-schamed and þan wote he wherfor & why : he is to blame ȝe seyeþ soþe by my soule quod I uich haue sey ofte þer smyteþ no þynge so smert : ne smyleþ so foule as scham þere he schewt hym : vch man schoneþ his company why ȝe worden to me þus : was for y a-resoneþ resoun ȝe certis quod he þat is soþe : and schop hym to walke and I a-rose vp ryȝth wiþ þat : & reuerensed hym fayre and ȝif his wil were : he wold his name tell Passus quartus de do-well vt prius I Am ymaginatif quod he : Idil was I neuer nota de ymagynatyff cþoȝth I sitte by my-silf : such is my grace I haue folowed þe in fayþe : more þan fourty wynter and wissed þe ful oft : what do-wel was to mene and consailed þe for crystis sake : no creatour to be-gyle Neþer to ley ne to lake : ne lerne þat is defended Ne to spil no speche : ac for to speke Idyll Ne no tyme to tyne : ne trew þyng tene loue þe and lyue forþ : in þe lawe of holy church Passus 4 de Dowell and þan doest þou wel wiþ-out drede : who can do bet no fors Clerkes þat conne al : I hopp þei can do better ac hit sufficit to be saued : and be such as I tauȝth ac for to louye and to lene : and lyue wel and beleue Is called caritas : kynd loue en englissch and þat is do-bette ȝif ony such be : a blessed man þat helpeþ þat pees be and pacience : and pore out of defaute Beatius est dare quam petere Ac catel and kynd wytte : accombreþ ful many Wo. is hym þat ...moch weldiyweldiþ . but he hyet wel spend scienti & non facienti : varijs flagellis vapulabunt ac comuly connynge : and vnkynd richesse as lorels to be lordis : and lewed men techers and holy church horen help : auarous and couetous dryueþ out do-wel : and destrued do-best Ac grace is a gre þere-to : to donn hem eft growe ac gras ne groueþ noȝth : to god wol gyf rayne and wakeþ þroȝth gode werkes : wycked hertys ac or such wyl wex : worcheþ god and sendiþ forþ ...seynt spyrit : to do lowe sprynge spiritus vbi &ȝ00b7; wlt spyrat so grace wiþ-out grace of god : & al-so gode werkes nota de spirtussanctus May noȝth be be ȝou sikker : þoȝth we byd euer ac clerge comeþ but of syȝth : and kynd witt of sterres as to be borne or begete : in such a constyllacioun þat wytt wexeþ þere-of : and oþer wordis boþe Wltus huius seculi : sunt subiectei wltibus celestibus so grace is a gift of god : and kynd witt a chaunce and clerge an connynge : of kynd wittes techynge and ȝit is clerge to commend : for cristis loue more þan any connynge of kynd witte : but clerge hit rule for moyses wyttenesseþ þat god wrote : & crist with his fyngers lawe our lorde wrote lang are criste ware and criste came and confermed : & holy kyrke made In þe sonde a synge wrote : and seyde to þe Iewes þat seiþ hym-silf synneles : sese noȝth I hote To stryke wiþ a ston or wiþ staf : þis strumpet do deþe Quis vestrum sine peccato est For þy I consaile vch a creatour : clerge to honour For as a man may noȝth se : þat mysseþ his eyes No more can no clerke : but þif hit come of bokes God was hermaysterher mayster : and seynt spiritus þe samplarie and said whate : men schuld wryte and riȝth as syȝth serueþ a man : to see þe hey strete Rith so lereþ letterure : leued men to resoun and as a blynd man in batayl : bereþ wepen to fyȝth and haþ happ wiþ his axe : his enemy to hitte no more can a kynd witted man : but clerkes hym tech Come for al his kynd witt : þroȝth cristendom to be saued þe woch is þe cofre of cristis tresour : & clerkes kepeþ þe keyes To vnlok as her lykynge : þe leued and þe lered to help To ȝeue mercy for mysdedis : ȝif men wil hit aske Buxumly and benyngly : and bid hit of grace Archa dei &ȝ00b7; in þe old lawe : leuites hit kept had neuer leued man leue : to lig honde on þe chest But hit were prestes or prestes sonnes : patriarch or prophetis Saul for he sacrified : sorow hym be-tyd and his sonnes for his synnes : sorow hem be-tydde and al þat leued þat layd hond þer-on : loren lif aftir For þi I consaile alcreaturesal creatures : no clerke to dispise Ne set schort by her sciencis : what-so þei donn her-silf Tak we her wordis aworþe : for he wittenys beþ trewe & medel we noȝth much wiþ hem : to meue ony wrathe lest ...wreþ chause us two : & chopp euery man oþer and do we as dauid techeþ : for dout of godis vengais Nolite tangere &ȝ00b7; cristos meos Passus 4 de Dowell for clerge Is cristis vicary : to conford & to cure Boþ leued & lered wer lost : ȝif clerge ne were kynd witted men : haue clerge by hem-silfe of cloudes and of customes : þei contraried many thynges and makeþ in her maner : and muse þer-on to knowe and of þe selcouþes þat þei saugh : her sounns þere-of þei taugth for þei helditheld it for a hey scient : her sotteltees to know and þroȝth her science sothely : was neuer soule saued Ne broȝth by her bokes : to blis ne to Ioy for al her kynd knowynge : come but of diuerse syȝthes of bryddis and of bestes : of blys & of sorow patriarkes and prophetis : reprowiþ her sciense & seyd her werkes ne her wysdomes : was but foly as to clerge of crist : þei counted but tryful Sapiencia huius mundi &ȝ00b7; stulticia est apud deum For þe hey holi gost : heuen schal to cleue and loue schal lepe out aftir : in-to þis lowe erþe and clennes schal cache hit : & clerkes schal hit fynd Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem hit spekeþ þere-of riche men riȝth noȝth : ne of riche lordis but of clennes of clerkes : and of kepers of bestes nota of þe byrþof our lord Ibant magi &ȝ00b7; ab oriente & cetera ȝif ony frere werre found þere : I ȝif þe fyue sillynngis Ne in no cotte ne caytif hous : þe best of þe toune To pastours and to poetes : apered þe angel And bad hem go to bethleem : goddis byrthe to henour and syng a songe of solas : Gloria in excelsis deo Riche men rowted þo : and in her rest werre To hit schon to þe scheperdis : a schewer of blys Clerkes knew þe comete : & come wiþ her presentes and did her omage honourabely : to hym þat was almyȝty why I haue told þe al þis : I take ful gode hede how þou contrariest clerge : wiþ crabbed wordys nota de lewytt men& conyng men þat is how þat leued men & lyther : liȝter wer to saue þan connynge clerkes : of kynd undirstondynge and þou seiest soþe of sum : ac I se in what maner Tak two strang men : and in temes cast hem and boþ naked as a nedel : her non hendir þan oþer þat on haþ connyng : & can swym and dyuen þat oþer is leued of þat labour : & lerne neuer to swym Woch trowest of þe two : In temes is most dred he þat can noȝth swym I saide : it semeþ to al wittys Rith so quod þat renke : Resoun hit scheweþ þat he þat knoweþ clerge : can sonner a-rise out of syn and be saaf : þoȝth he syn ofte ȝif hym likeþ and lust : þan ony lewed sothely for ȝif þe klerke be connynge : & knoweþ what is syn and how contrcioun wiþ-out confessioun : conforteþ þe soule as we sene in þe sauter : in psalmis on or tweyn how contricioun is commendid : for hit caccheþ a-wey syn beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates and þat conford vch a clerke : & kouereþ fro wanhopp þe woch flode þe fend fondeþ : a man hardyst and þe leued liþe stil : and lokeþ aftir lewte and haþ no contricioun : ar he come to schrift and þan can he litil tel : but as hi.s loris-man hym lereþ beleued and troweþ : and þat is aftir his persounn oþer his peroch preste : & perauentour boþ lewed To lere leued men : as luke beryþ wittenesse dum secus ducit secum For much wo was in hym merked : þat wad schal with þe leued wel may þe barne bles : þat th..hym to boke sette þat longeþ aftir letterrure : saued hem lif and soule dominus pars hereditatis mee : is a myry vers hit haþ saued fro tybourne : twonty stronge þeues þer leued þeues ben lolled vp : lok how þei beþ saued þe þefe þat had grace of god : on gode friday as þou tolde Passus 4 de Dowell was for he ȝeld hym creaunce to crist : & his grace asked and god is ay gracious : to al þat grediþ to hym and wol no wicked man be lost : but ȝif he wol hym-silf nota de þef þatwent to heun Nolo mortem peccatoris &ȝ00b7; sed magis conuertatur ac þoȝth þat þefe had heuen : he had noȝth hey blys as seynt Iohan and oþer seyntes : þat haue deserued better Rith as sum man ȝeuef men mette : and setteþ me amyd þe flore I haue mette more þan I-noȝth : ac noȝth wiþ much wyrcheþ as þo þat sitteþ at þe hey table : or wiþ þe seruice in hall But as a begger bordeles : by my-silf on þe ground So hit fareþ by þe feloun : þat on godefrydaygode fryday was saued he sittyþ neþer wiþ seynt : Iohan ne wiþ symond ne Iude Ne wiþ maydenes ne wiþ martyres : ne wiþ myld wodowes But as a soleyn by hym-silf : serued a-pon þe ground For þat is ones a þefe : Is euer more in daunger and as þe lawe lykeþ : to lyue oþer dey de peccato propiciato &ȝ00b7; noli esse sine metu and for to serue a seynte : and such a þefe to-gyders hit wer no resoun ne ryȝth : to reward boþ y-liche and rithȝ as Troianes þe trew kneȝth : fel noȝth dep in hell þat our lorde ne heued lyȝthely out : so leue þe þefe in heuen for he is in þe louest of heuen : ȝif our be-leue be trewe and wel loselly he lokeþ þere : as by þe lawe of holy church Et reddet vnicuique &ȝ00b7; iuxta opera sua ac why þat on þef a-pon þe cros : creant hym ȝeld Raþer þan þat oþer : þoȝth þou woldest appose al þe clerkes vndir crist : ne couþe þis assoile Quare placuit &ȝ00b7; quia voluit and so I sey by þe : þat sekest after þe wh..eys how creatures haue kynd witt : & how clerkes come to bokes and how þe floweres in þe fryth : come to faire hewes was neuer creatour vnder criste : þat knew wel þe begynnygebegynnyng But kynd þat contreued hit first : of his corteys will he taugh þe turtyl to tred : þe pokoke to kawke Adam and Eue : and al oþer bestes A cantel of kynd witt : her kynd to saue of gode and .of wicke : kynd was þe firste seep hit and sufferd hit : and seyde ithit hbe schuld dixit & facta sunt Ac whi he wold þat wicked were : I wene & I leue was neuer man a-pon mold : þat myȝth ..hit aspy ac long libbyng men : lykeneþ men lyuynge To bryddis and to bestes : as her bokes telleþ þat þe fayrest foule : foulest engendereþ and felelestfeblest foule of flyȝth is : þat fleeþ or swymmeþ þat is þe pokok or þe popynyiay : wiþ her proud feders Be-tokeneþ riȝth ryche men : þat regneþ her on erþe for pursue a pokok : oþer a pohenne to cache and haue hym in haste : and in þyn ouen will for þei may noȝth fle farre : ne ful hey neþer for her feders þat fair ben : to fle fer hymletteþ his leden is vnlouely : and loþely his caroynge ac for his peynted pennes : þo pokok is hounoured Mor þan for his faire flessch : or for his myry note Ryth so men reuerenseþ more : þe riche for his mnebles þan for ony kyn he come of : or for his kynd wittes þus þe poet preseþ þe pokok : for his fetheres and þe rich man for his rentes : or for riches in his schopp þe larke þat is a las foule : is lustiest of leden and swettour of sauor : and swyftest of wenge To low lyuynge men : þe larke is be cyn .... resembled and leletreve and to lyf holy : þat loueþ al trewþe nota de salamoun& þe phylossofures þus purfurie and plato : and poetes many lykeneþ in lo...kyggyk þe lest foule outen and wheþer þey be saaf or noȝth saaf : þe soþ wot no klerge Ne of sortes ne of salomon : no scriptour can tell Passus 5 wheþere þei ben In hell or in heuen : or arestotil þe wise ac god is so gode I hopp : þat seþ he gaf wittes To wissen vs weyes þere-wiþ : þat wenen to be saued and þe better for her bokes : to bid we ben holden þat god for his grace : geuen her soules reste For letteredmenlettered men wher-as lewed men ȝit : ne wer þe lore of þo klerke All þos clerkes quod I þo : þat on crist leuen wiþ-outen baptym as lnIn har bokes ; beþ noȝth saued nota de Imagynatyf Contra quod Imaginatif þo : and comsed to loure and said vix instus saluabitur &ȝ00b7; In die Iudicij Ergo saluabitur quod he : and said no more latyn nota of iiijfollyny. Troianes was a trew kneȝth : and toke neuer cristendom and he is saf seyþ þe boke : and his soule in heuen ac þere is follynge of fonte : and fullynge in blod schedynge and þroȝth f...yre is fullynge : and in firme be-leue Aduenit ignis diuinis &ȝ00b7; non comburens sed illuminas ac trew þat trespased neuer : ne treuersed a-ȝenes his lawe but lyueþ as his lawe taugh : & leueþ þere be no better and ȝef þere were he wold : & in such a wil deyeþ Ne wold neuer trew god : but trewe trewþe wer alowed and w..rere it worþe or worþe noȝth : þe beleue is grete of trewþe and hopp hangeþ ay þere-on : to haue þat treuþe deserneþ Quia super pauca &ȝ00b7; fuisti fidelis & cetera and þat is loue anda large hyre : ȝif þe lord be trewe and a curtesy mor þan couenant was : what so clerkes carpe for al worþ as god wol : & þere-wiþ he a-wanyssched Passus quintus de visione vt supra And I a-waked þere-wiþ : witteles nere hond and as a freke þat fey were : forþ can I walke In maner of a mendinant : many ȝer after and many tymes of þos sue...nes : much þoȝth y had nota de fortune hemhyt falyth First how fortune me failed : at my most nede and how Elde manased me : so myȝth happ And I lyued longe : leue me be-hynde and wansch al my uertues : and my fair lokes and how þat freres folowed : folk þat wer riche And pepil þat was pore : at litil pris setten Ne no corse of pore comine : in her kyrke ȝerd moȝt lig But quik he be-quath hem oȝth : or wold help to quit her detis and how þat couetys ouer-came : al kyn sectys and þat lewedmenlewed men beþ lad : but our lord hem help þroȝth vn-konynge curatours : to vncurable peynes and how þat ymaginatyf : in dremes me told of kynd and of his connynge : & ...vhatwhat conyng he ȝaf bestes and how loueynge he is to vch a lif : a-lond & a-water and al he wissed and ȝeuen witt : þat walkeþ & crepeþ and I meruele in hert : how Imaginatif seyde þat Iustus by-for Ihesu : In die Iudicij non saluabitur : but vix helpe and whan he saide so : how sodeynly vanissched and so y mused on þis materyre : þat me lust to sclep nota de consiens &clergy and þan come consciens : and clerge after and baden me rise vp & rombe : & with resoun schuld I dyne and I a-rose and rombed forþe : & wiþ resoun we mette whe reueressed resoun : and rombed forþ softely and mett wiþ a mayster : a man like a frere Consciens knew hym : and welcomed hym faire þei weschen and wypeden : and went to þe dyner þer come paciens as a pore þynge : & pried met purcharite I-like peres þe plougman : as he a palmer were Craued and cryed : for cristis loue of heuen A meles mette for a pore man : or money ȝif þei had Consciens knew hym wel : and welcomed hem all wechen & wepeden : and wenten and seten þe mayster was made sitt fyrst : as for þe most worþy resoun stode styghteled : as for stiward of hall paciens and I was put : to be marchallis Passus 5 And seten by our-sylf : at a syde table Clerge caled aftir me : and þan come scriptour and serued hem þus sone : of sundry mettes many of austeyn of ambrose : of al þe four euuaglistes Edentes & bybentes : que apud eos sunt and of þis mette þat mayster : myȝth noȝth wel chewe For-þi ette he mette of more cost : mortrewes & potages of þat men myswon : þei mad hem wel at ese ac her saus was ouer soure : and vnsauerely y-ground In a morter post mortem : of al bitter peynes but ȝif ȝe syng for þe soules : and wepe salte terys vos qui peccata hominum comeditis &ȝ00b7; nisi pro eis lacrimas & orationes effuderitis ea que in delicijs &ȝ00b7; comeditis in tormentes euometis þan as resoun rad : a-nonn ryȝth after þan consciens comande : schuld do cum to scriptour and brynge brede for paciens : bytynge a party and to me þat was his mache þo : & oþer mett boþ nota de sowrlof And set a soure lof and seyde : Agite penitenciam And seþ he draw us drynke : dya perseuerante As long quod he as lyf : and lycame may dure þis is a semely seruice : saide pacience þan come contricioun : þat had coked for hem all and broȝth forþ a petaunce : was pro hac orabit omnis sanctus &ȝ00b7; in tempore oportuno þan consciens comford vs : boþ clerge and scriptour and seide Cor contritum & humiliatum : deus non despicies paciens was wel a-paide : of þis propir seruice and mad myry wiþ þis mette : ac I mourned euer For a doctour at þe hey dees : drank wyne faste ve vobis qui potentes estis &ȝ00b7; ad bibendum vinum and ete many sondry mettes : morturus and podynges braune and blod of gees : bacoun and colopus þan said I to my-silf : so paciens hit herde hit is noȝth þre dayes don : þis doctour þat he preched At poules by-for þe pepil : what penance þei suffered All þat couete to come : to any kyn Ioy and how poule þe appostil : what penance he þolled for our lordis loue as holy letter telliþ : In fame & frigore Ac me wondereþ in my witte : why þat þei ne precheþ as poul þe appostil preched to þe pepill ofte Periculum est &ȝ00b7; in falsis fratribus holy writte biddiþ men be war : and wysely hem kepe be war of falsfreris þat no fals frere : þrogth flaterynge hem be-gyle ac me þynkeþ loþe þoȝth : I þ.. latyn knew to lat any sett For al be we bretheren : þoȝth we be diuerse cloþed ac I wist neuer freke þat frerer-is I called : of þe four mendnauntz þat tok hit for his teme : & told hit with-out glose þei precheþ þat penaunce : is profitable to þe soule and what mychef and male ese : crist for man þolled ac þis doctour and diuinour quod I : and decretistre of canouin and also a gredy glotoun : wiþ two grete chekes haþ no pite of vs pore : he parfowromeþ euel þat he precheþ he proueþ noȝth : paciens I tolde and wissed witterly : wiþ wil ful egre þat in þe maw of þat mayster : al þo mettes were Boþ dissches and dublers : wiþ al þe dentees after I schal Iangel wiþ þat Iordane : with his Ioust womb and appose hym what penaunce is : & purgatory on erþe and why he lyueþ noȝth : as he þe pepil lereþ let be quod paciens and saide : þou schal se þus sone whan he may no more : he schal haue a penaunce In his foule paunche : and puf at vch a worde and þan schal gorelen his gottes : an be-gyn to galpe Now he haþ dronke so depe : he wol deuine sone and proue hit by har apocalips : & þe passioun of seynt avey þat neþer bacoun ne braune : ne blank manger ne murterous Is neþer flessch ne fissch : but fode for penanster Passus 5 and tak wittenes at a trinite : & t.ak his falew to wittenesse what he fond in a forell : of a freres lywynge and but þe fyrst lefe be lesynge : leue me neuer aftyr and þan is tyme to talke : to appose þis doctour of do-well and do-bett and ȝif do-best do ony penaunce I sate styl as paciens wold : & þus sone þis doctour as roddy as a rose : roddis his chekes Coughed and carpyd : and consciens hym herde and told hym of a trynite : & toward me he loked what is do-well sir doctour : is do-best any penaunce do-wel quod þis doctour : and he dranke after do þi neȝthbor no harme : ne þy-silf noþer and þan doist þou wel & wysely : I dar hit wel a-wowe Certis sir þan seyd I : hit semeþ noȝth so here In þat ȝe part noȝth wiþ vs pore : þat ȝe passeþ do-wel Ne lyueþ noȝth as ȝe lereþ : as our lorde wolde Et visitauit & fecit &ȝ00b7; redempcionem plebis sue and ȝif ȝe fariþ þus wiþ ȝour seke freres : ferly me þynkeþ þat do-wel wol endite ȝou : In die Iudicij þan consciens ful corteysly : a contenans he made and prynte a-pon paciens : to preey me be styll And seid hym-silf sir doctour : by so hit be ȝour wil what is do-wel and do-bett : ȝe duyuinours knoweþ I haue saide quod þat segg : I kan sey no bettyr But do-wel as doctours techeþ : for do-wel ich hit hold þat trauayleþ & techeþ oþers : I hold hit for þe better and doþ as he techeþ : I hold hit for þe best Qui facit & docuerit &ȝ00b7; magnus vocabitur Now þou clerge quod consciens : carpis what is do-well haue me excused quod clerge : be crist but in scole schal no such motyf be meued : for me but for oþer For peres loue þe palmer : ȝitt þat enpungned ones all kyn konynges : and al kyn craftes saue loue and lbelev : and lownesse of herte and no texte ne takeþ : to proue þis for treuþe But dilige deum & proximum &ȝ00b7; and domine quis habitabit and proue by pure skyl : unparfite al þynges Nemo bonus but lbelev loue : & treuþe þat loþ is to be I-found nota de paciens quod peres þe ploughman : pacientes vincunt by-for perpetuel pees : I schal proue þat I saide and wow by-for god : and for-saked neuer þat disce doce dilige deum : & þyn enemy help enforþ þy myȝth Cast hote colles on his hede : of al kynd spech fond þroȝth witt & þroȝth word : his loue for to wyn ȝif hym eft and efte : euer as he nediþ Comfort hym wiþ þy catel : & wiþ þy kynd spech and ley on hym þus wiþ loue : to he laugh on þe and but he bow for þis betynge : blyn but he worþe and whan he had wordid þus : wist no man after wher peres þe ploughman become : so priuely he went and resoun ren after : & riȝth wiþ hym ȝede saue consciens and clerge : I couþe no more aspy saue paciens propurly spake : þo pers was þus passed þat loueþ lbele.vtt quod he : of holy wyrte a party pacientes vincunt For by hym þat me made : myȝth neuer pouerte Misese ne myschef : no man wiþ his tonge Tene þe ony tyme : and þou take paciens and ber hit in þi bosom : a-bout wer þou wendyst In þe corner of a kart-wele wiþ a crow crowne schal neuer berne be a-bassched : þat haþ þis a-bowt with hym Ne noþer hete ne hayle : ne hell pouk. hym greue Neþer fyir ne flode : ne be affrayed of his enemys Caritas expellit &ȝ00b7; omnem timorem Neþer is no wyȝth in þis world : þat wold þe lette To haue al londys at þi lykyng : & þe her lord make and mayster of al her .noblsmebls : & of her money after þe kynge Passus 5 þe kynge and al þe comune : & clerge to þe loute as for her lorde and her leder : and lyue as þou techest þis is a dido quod þis doctour : a dissours tale al þis witte of þis world : and wyȝth men streyngh ConnoȝthCon noȝth performe a pees of þe pop : and his enemys profitable for boþe parties : and put þe bord fro hym and toke consciens and clerge : to consail as hit were ac consciens I toke kepe : congied son þis doctour and seþ he saide to clerge : so þat I hit herd By crist quod consciens : clerge I wold noȝt ly Me wer leuer by our lorde : and I lyue schule haue paciens parfitely : þan half þy pak of bokes letterure & long study : letteþ ful many þat þei knoweþ noȝth quod consciens : what is kynd paciens For-þy quod consciens : crist y þe be-teche wiþ paciens wil I pas : parfitenesse to fynde and went forþ on her way : wyþ gret wil y folowed þan had paciens as pylgryms haue : In her pokes vitailes soberte & symple spech : and soþefast be-leue To conford hym and consciens : ȝif þei come In place þere vnkyndenes and couetys : ...beþ hongry contreres boþe nota de actiuavita and as þei went by þe way : of do wel can þei carpe þei mette wiþ a mynstrale : as me þo þoȝth paciencs apposed hym : and preed he schuld tell what craft þat he couþe : and curtesly he saide nota I am a mynstrale quod þis man : my name is actiua vita peres prentys þe ploughman : al pepil to conford what maner mynstrasy my dere frend : quod consciencs hastow vsed or hauntyd : al þy lyue-tyme Mynstrasy can I noȝth much : but make men myry as a waffere wiþ wafres : and wel-come godes giftes of my labour þei lau.ssheþ : þe las and þe more þe pore and þe riche I plese : and payne fynde and few robys y fong : or furred gounes wold I ly and do men laugh : þan lacche y schold oþer mantyl oþer money : among lordys mynstrales I can noȝth tabour ne trumpe : ne tel faire gestes Farten ne fythelen : at festes ne harpe Iape ne IageleIangele : ne gentelich pype Ne noþer sayle ne sautryen : ne synge with þe guturne I haue no gode giftes : of þos grete lordys For no brede þat I be-trauaile furst : to by-for lordis Ne wer hit þat þe paroch prest : preeþ for me on sonedayes I am sory þat I sowe or sett : but for my-sylf ac þe preste and oþer pepil : preyeþ for peres þe ploughman and for me actyf his man : þat ydelnesse hateþ lordis and lorelles : lyther and gode From mychel-mas to mychel-mas : I fynd mett & drynk I fynd payne for þe pope : and pryen hym I wold þat pestilens to pees : and parfite loue torne for fend I þat his blessynge : or his bul myȝth lette þis lither : and leche þe seke as þe boke berreþ wyttenesse : þat he bere myȝth In his mouþe mercy : and a-mend vs all Super egros manus ponebant &ȝ00b7; & bene habebunt and þan wold I be bysy : and buxum to helpe vch a kynd creatour : þat on cryst leueþ For seþ he haþ þe power : þat petre had he haþ þe potte : wiþ þe salue Argentum & aurum non est michi &ȝ00b7; quod habeo hoc tibi do Ac ȝyf myȝth of myracle hym faile : is for man is noȝt wor.. To haue þe grace of god : and no gilte of þe pope For mayy no blyssyng donn us bote : but ȝif wewolwe wol a-mend Ne mannis preer make pees : a-mong cristen pepil To pride be purely for-do : and þat þroȝth payn faute habundancia panis & vini &ȝ00b7; turpyssimum peccatum aduenit plente of payne : þe pepil of sodome and rost oan riche mettes : rybaudes hem made Passus 5 Pees quod paciens : I preue ȝou syr actyff For neþer payne ne plough : ne potage were pryd wold put hym-silf forþ : þorthþoȝth no plough erre hich am I þat fynd all folke : and from hongre saue þroȝth þe help of hym : þat me hiddir sent and said lo her is liflod I-noȝth : if our beleue be trewe For lente neuer was þere lyf : but liflod wer schapp Wher-of or wer-for : and wher-wiþ to lyue þe worme þat woneþ ondir erþe : & in water fissches þe cryked by kynd of ....hete : and corleu by þe wynd Bestes by grasse and by grayn : and by grene rotys In menyng þat al men : myȝth þe same lyuen þroȝth l..treve beleue : as our lorde wittenesseþ nota de pater noster Quodcumque pecieritis &ȝ00b7; in nomine meo &ȝ00b7; dabitur enim vobis & alibi Non in solo pane &ȝ00b7; vinit homo hastow quod actif : ay such mette wiþ þe ȝe quod paciens : and out of his poke hente a pece of a pater noster : and profered to vs all and listened and loked : what liffelod hit were and þan was hit fiat voluntas tua : þat schuld fyne vs all haue actif quod paciens : and ette þis whan þou hongerest or whan þou clomest for colde : or clyngest for ony drewþe and schal neuer gyreues þe greue : ne grete lordis wraȝth prysoun ne oþer peyne : for pacientes vincunt by so þat þou be sobre : of syȝth and of tonge In ettyng in handelynge : In al þe vfyue wyttes dar þe noȝth care for no corne : ne for cloþe ne for drnynke Ne depe drede ne deuil : dey as god lykeþ wher þroȝth hongre or hete : ac his wil be hit For ȝif þou lyue aftir his lore : þe schorter lif þe better Si quis amat christum : mundum non diligit istum þroȝth his breþe bestes wax : and a-brod ȝeden dixit & facta fuerunt & cetera þroȝth his be...hest bestes lyued : boþ men and fysschis as wittenessȝwittenesseþ holy wrytte : when we seyen our grace Aperis tu manum tuam & imples omne animal benedictione hit is found þat fourty wynter : folk lyued & tilied noȝth and out of þe flynt sprong þe flod :þat folk & bestis dronke and in helies tyme : heuen was closed þat no rayne ne roen : þus redeþ men in bokes þat many wynter men lyued : & no mett ne tylied seuen slept as seyeþ þe boke : mor þan sixty wynter lyued wiþ-out liflod : and þe last a-waked and ȝif men lyued as mesure wold : schuld neuer be defaut among cristen creatoures : ȝif cristis worde be trewe dabo tibi secundum &ȝ00b7; peticionem tuam what is parfite paciens : quod actiua vita Mildenes and myld spech : and men of one will þe woch wil loue led : to hour lordis place and þat is charite : Champioun chef of al uertues and þat pore paciens : al pereles to suffer wher pouerte and paciens : pleseþ more god al-myȝty nota de ryghtfullrich þan riȝthful riches : and resonable to spend ȝe quis est ille quod paciens : quike laudamus eum þoȝth men rede of ryȝth riche : to þe world-is end þan whan he draueþ to þe deþe : þat he ne dred sorer þan ony pore paciens : & þat proue I be reysoun þat ar but few folke of þes rich : þat ne falliþ in arerage þer pore dar plede : and proue by pur resoun Ioy þat neuer Ioy had : of riȝthful Iuge he axeþ To haue a-louaunce of his lorde : by pur law he cleymeþ and seieþ byriddis & bestes : þat no blis ne know & wile wormes in woddis : þroȝth wynter þou hem greuest & makest hem wel ney meke : & myld for defaute þere-aftir þou sendest hem sommer : þat is her souerouynge and blis to al þat bene : boþ to wyle and tame þan may beggers as bestes : after blis aske þat her lif haþ lyued : in langour and in defaute Passus 6 de Dowell But god send hem sum-tyme : sum maner of Ioy or her or elles-wher : elles hit were reuþe For to wroþer-hele was he wroȝth : þat neuer Ioy schappid Angels þat in hell now ben : had sum-tyme Ioy and diues in his dentees lyued : and in his ........svete lywe and now he byeþ hit bitter : he is a begger of hell dauid in þe sauter : of such makeþ mynd and seyeþ dormierunt : & nichil inuenerunt & alibi velud sompnum surgencium Passus sextus de do-well Alas þat riches schal reue : and rowe mannis soule fro þe loue of our lorde : at his laste ende þai þat haue her hyre be-for : ar euermor pore And selden deyen out of dette : to dyne are he deserued Whan his deuer is donn : and his dayes Iornay þan may men witt what he is worþe : & what he haþ deserued and noȝth to fonge be-for : for dred of dissalowynge So I say by ȝou riche : hit semeþ noȝth þat ȝe schuld haue two heuenes : for ȝour herbeynge Moch myrth is in may : a-mong wile bestes and so-forþ whil somer lasteþ : her solas dureþ and much a-mong riche men : is þat haue mneblis I-noȝt & hele ac beggers a-bout missomer : bredeles þei soupe ac ȝit is wynter for hem wors : for wette-schon þei gon a-þroste and an-hongered : and foule rebuked of þis world rich men : þat reuth is to hyre Now lorde send hem somurs : sum-tyme to solas & to Ioy þat her lif leden In lowenes : and in pouerte For myȝthyst þou haue made : men of grete welthe and I-liche witty and wyce : and lyue wiþ-out nede Ac for þe best as I hopp : are sum pore and riche Riȝth so haue reuþe on vs al : and a-mende vs for þy mercy and make : vs all meke low and lbelev and loueynge : and of herte pore do-well iscontricioun and send vs contricioun : to clenes wiþ our soules and confessioun to kyl : al kyn synnes and satisfaccioun þe woch fulfilliþ : þe faderis wil of heuen and þos ben do-wel : & do-bett and do-best of all Cordis contricio : comeþ of sorow of herte and oris confe...scio : þat comeþ of schreft of mouþe & satis faccio þat for soulis : paieþ & fro al synnes quit Cordis contricio : oris confescio : operis satisfactio&ȝ00b7; þe þre wiþ-outen doute : þolleþ al pouerte and lereþ leued men : & lereþ hey & low to know who doþ wel or better : or best a-boue all and holy church and charite : her of her charite made and but þos þre þat I spake of : at domis-day vs defend Elles is all an ydill : all our lyuynge here our preers and our penaunce : & pilgrimages to Rome but our spenses & our spendyng : sprynge of a trewe well elles is al our labour loste : lo how men wryten In fenestres at þe freres : ȝif fals be þe fondement For-þi cristen schuld be in comine : ȝif no couetys wer for seuen synnes þat þere ben : þat assayleþ vs euer þe fend foloweþ hem al : and fondeþ hem to help ac wiþ riches þo rybaudes : radest men be-gyleþ For þere as riches regneþ : reverences foloweþ and þat is plesans to pride : In pore & in riche and þe riche is reuerensed : by resoun of his riches þere þe pore is put be-hynde : & perauentour can more of wytt and of wysdome : þat far awey is bettyr þan riches or ryalte : & rather hard in heuen for þe riche haþ much to reken of : & ryȝth soft walkeþ þe hey-way to heuenward : he halt noȝth ful euen þer þe pore presseþ be-for : wiþ a pak on his rigge opera enim illorum &ȝ00b7; sequntursequuntur illos bataunt-liȝth as abeggers doþ : & baldely he craueþ for his pouerte and his paciens : parpetuel Ioy And pryd in riches regneþ : raþer þan in pouerte Passus 6 de Dowell Or in þe mayster or in þe man : sum mansioun he haþ ac in pouerte þere paciens is : pride haþ no myȝth Ne non of þe seuen synnes : sit ne may þere longe Ne haue pouer in pouerte : if paciens hym folow For þe pore is ay prest : to plese þe riche and boxum at his byddynge : for his bred & his drynke nota de boxumnys& bost an euermor at were and boxumnes and bost : are euer more at were and eyþer hateþ oþer : & may noȝth wend to-gydrys ȝif wraþe warsteliþ with þe pore : he haue þe wors end for if þei boþ pleyn : þe pore is but feble and if he chide or chatter : hym cheueþ þe wors ¶ For lowlych he lokeþ : and low is his spech þat mett or money : of strang men most bege And ȝif glotony greue pouerte : he gadereþ þe las for his rent wol noȝt reche : riche mettes to byge and þeȝth his glotony be of gode ale : he goþ to a cold beddyng and his hede vn-helled : unheysyly wryed and when he streyneþ hym to streche : þe straw is his schetys so for his glotony : and his grete syn he haþ a greuaunce : þat is wel-lowo whan he a-wakeþ : and wepeþ for cold so is he neuer myry : so much hym folowyþ and þoȝth couetys wold : wiþ þe pore wrastel þei mai noȝth come to-gyders : and by þe neke namely þer may none : henten oþer for men knoweþ wel : þat couetys is of a ken wyll and haþ handis and armes : of a long leynþe and pouerte is but a petit þynge : apperit to his naulle and louely loke was hit neuer : by-twen along & aschort And þoȝth auarice wold anger pouerte : he haþ but litil myȝth for pouerte haþ but .....baggis : to put in his godis þere auaries haþ almories : & Iren-bounden cofers and wheþer be better : and las bost to make To breke a beggers bag : þan an Iren-bound cofere and lechury loueþ no pouerte : for he haþ but litil siluer Ne deþ men dyne delitabely : ne drynk wyne ofte A straw for þe steues : it stod noȝth had it no haunt but pore and þoȝth sleuth sue pouerte : & serue noȝt god to pay Mischef is ay mene : and makeþ hym to þynke þat god ....ys grettest help : and no gome ellis and his seruaunt al-wey : he seyþ & his sute boþ & wheþer he be or he be noȝt : he berreþ þe synge of pouerte In þat sett oure saueour : saued al mankynd for-þi al pore þat pacient be : of pur riȝth he may cleyme aftir endyng here : heuen riche blys Much hardier may he aske : þan heþat þer myȝth haue his wil In lond and in lordchep : In lykyng of body and for godis loue leueþ al : & liueþ as a begger as a mayde doþ for a mannis loue : his modir for-sake hir fadir and hir frendis : & goiþ forþ wiþ hir paramour Much is such a mayde to loue : of a man þat such on takeþ More þan þat maide is : þat is maried by brokagis as by assent of sondry personis : and siluer to bote More for couetys of catel : þan kynd of þe mariage so hit farit by vch a persone : þat possessioun for-sakeþ and put hym to be pacient : & in pouerte weddiþ þe woch is syb to crist hym-silf : and sembeable boþ Quod actif þo al angrilich : and arguynge as hit werre what is pouerte paciente : quod he y prey þat þou tell paupertas quod paciens : est odibile bonum &ȝ00b7; remocio curarum &ȝ00b7; possessio sine calumpnia &ȝ00b7; donum dei sanitatis mater absque solitudine semita : sapiencie tempatrix negocium sine dampna &ȝ00b7; incerta fortinafortuna absque solitudine felicitatis : I can noȝth tel al þis quod actiua uita &ȝ00b7; parfay quod paciens : propurly to tel hit al þis in englessch hit is hard : and sumdel I schal tell þe Passus 6 de Dowell i nota what pridemost hatyth ¶ pouerte Is þe first poynt : þat pride most hateþ þant is pouerte gode by god skyl : þoȝth it greue a litil al þat may put of pryde : In ony place þere he regneþ ij Remocio curarum &ȝ00b7; seld sitteþ pouerte : þe soþe to declare or a Iustice to Iuge men : men eneyiuneþ þere-to no pore Ne to be meyre ouer men : mynyster vndir kynges seld is ony pore put : to punche ony pepil Ergo pouerte and pore men : parformeþ þe commandementis Nolite Iudicare quemquam : poscessio sine calumpnia iij ¶ seld is þe pore riche : but of his rithful heritage wynneþ he noȝth wiþ wi.ȝthes fals : ne with unselet mesure Ne boroweþ of his neȝthbor : but þat he may wel pay and men leueþ lyȝtely few men : & men weneþ hym pore iiij ¶ þe ferþe is a fortune : þat florisscheþ þe soule wiþ soberte wiþout al synnes : a..nd al-so ȝit more he defendeþ þe flessch : fro folies ful many a colleteralle comford : crystus ouen sonde v donum dei ȝit it is modir : of myȝth and mannis helthe and frend to fondynges : and of al foule euel leche sanitas mater vj ¶ þe syxte is a path of pees : ȝe þroȝth pas aultoun pouerte myȝth pas : wiþ-out perele of robbynge for þer as pouerte passeþ : pees foloweþ comynly and þe las þat on lede : þe liȝther his herte is þere as he þat not newer : wiþ whom on nyȝthtyme to mete &ȝ00b7;Seneca &ȝ00b7; papertaspaupertas est absque &ȝ00b7; solitudine semita vij ¶ þe seuen us a wel of wysdome : & few wordis scheweþ for lordis louen hem litil : or leggeþ ere to his resoun he tempereþ tþe tonge to treuþe-ward : þat no tresoun coueteþ viij ¶ þe eȝte is a ...trev labour & : and loþ to take more þan he may sothely deserue : In somour or in wynter and þoȝth he cleffarcheffar he chargeþ no loos : may he charite wynn Negocium sine dampno ix ¶ þe Nythe is swete to soulis : non sugur swetter For paciens is his panter : & pouerte payne her fyndeþ and sobierte ȝif hir swete drynke : & solaseþ hir in al angers þus lered me a lerne men : for our lordis loue seynt austyn þat pur pouerte and paciens : was a low lifyng on erþe a blyssed lif wiþ-out bysynes : but only for þe soule absque solitudine felicitas Now god þat al gyueþ : grant his soule rest þat wrote þus to wisse men : what pouerte was to mene þan had actif a leder : þat heȝth &ȝ00b7; liberum arbitryum nota fre will and knew consciens ful wel : & clerge boþ he þat haþ lond & lordchep : quod he at þe last ende schal be porest of power : at his partynge hennes þan had I wonder what he was : þat liberum arbitrium and pree.yt paciens : þat I appose hym myȝth and suffered me and saide : assay his oþer name leue liberum arbitrium : quod I of what lond ar ȝe and ȝif þou be cristus creatour : for cristus loue tel me I am cristus creatour quod he : & cristen in many a place and in cristus court know wel : & of his kyn a party Is neþer petre þe porter : ne poule wiþ þe fauchoun þat wold de-fende me heuen dor : dyne I neuer so late at mydnyȝth at mydday : my voise is so knowen þat vch acreatoura creatour þat loueþ crist : welcomeþ me faire wher-of serueþ ȝe I saide : sir liberum arbitrium of sum tyme to fiȝth quod he : falssenesse to destrwe and sumtyme to suffer : boþ tene and sorow layke or leue : at mylikyngmy likyng chese To do wel or wyket : a will wiþ a resoun and ..wmay noȝth be with-out a body : to ber me were hym likeþ þan is þat body better þan þou quod I : nay quod he no bettyr but as wode wer a-fyre : þan wre þer boþ and aiþer is oþer-is hete : and al-so of one will and so is man þat haþ his mynd : myd liberum arbitrium nota de corpus and whilis I hate corpis : called am I anima Passus 6 de Dowell liberum arbit... And willen & wold : anima I hatte and for þat I can and know : callid am I mens and whan I make mone to god : memoria I hatte and whan I deme domus : I do as treuþe techeþ þan is racio my riȝth name : resoun an englyssch and whan þat I folk techeþ : my riȝth name is sensus and þat is witt and wissdoum : þe wel of al craft and whan I challange : or chalange noȝth : chese or refuse þan am I consciens called : goddis clerke & his notary and whan I wol do or noȝth do : gode dedis or ill þan am I liberum arbitrium : as lettered men telleþ and whan I loue .....trewþ : our lord and al oþer þan is leletrev loue my name : and in latyn amor and whan I fle fro þe body : & fey leue þe caroyng þan am I spirit specheles : and spiritus þan I hatte Austeyn and ysodorus : aiþer of hem boþe Nempneþ me þus by name : now þou myȝtest chese how þou couetest to cal me : now þou knowest al my names Anima pro diuersis accionibus &ȝ00b7; diuersa nomina sortitur : dum viuificat Corpus anima est &ȝ00b7; dum wult animus est &ȝ00b7; dum recolet memoria est dum Iudicat racio est &ȝ00b7; dum sentit sensus est &ȝ00b7; dum amat amor est dum declinat de malo ad bonum &ȝ00b7; liberum arbitrium est &ȝ00b7; dum negat nel consentit Consciencia est dum spirat spiritus est nota de houu manynameis a byschop hath ȝe beþ as a bisschop quod I : al bourdynge þat tyme For bisschopus blessed : þei berriþ many names Presul and pontifex &ȝ00b7; and metropilitanus and oþer names and hepp : Episcopus and pastor þat is soþe he saide now : I se þy will þow woldist know al kune : þe cause of al her names and of mynd ȝif þou myȝthest : me þynkeþ by þi spech ȝe sir I sayd so : no man wer greued al sciense vnder sonne : & al þe sotil craftes I wold I knew and konne : kydely in myn hert þan art þou Imparfite quod he : and on of pride-is kneȝthes nota lusafer For such a lust and a likynd : licaferlucafer fel fro heuen ponam pedem meum &ȝ00b7; in aquilone hit wer a-ȝenes kynd quod he : and kyn resoun þan ony creatour schuld con al : except crist on aȝenes al such salomon : despised al her wittes and seyeþ sicut qui mel comedit multum non est bonum sic qui scrutator est maiestatis : opprimatur a gloria nota þe man þat ettythmoch hony To englessch men þis is to mene : þat mow spek & hire þe man þat much hony etteþ : his maw is engleymyd þe wittier þat ony wyȝth is : but ȝif he worch þer-aftir þe bitterrer he schal byg : but ȝif he wel worche beatus seyeþ seynt bernard : qui scripturas legit Et verba vertit in opera : enforþe his power Couetys to konne : and to know al scienesse pPut out of paradisse : boþ adam & Eue sciencie appetitus hominem &ȝ00b7; immortalitatis gloriam spoliauit Riȝth as hony is : euel to defye Rith so sotile sciensses : swelleþ a mannis soule and doþe hym to be deynous : & deme þat beþ noȝt lered Non plus sapere sayd þe wyse : quam oportet sapere lest synne of pryde waxe Freres fele tymes : to þe folke þei precheþ Meuen motifis many times : in solibles & fallax þat beþ lewed & lered : of her beleue dowten To tech þe ten comandementis : tensiþeten siþe were better and þoȝth þat folke fullich : .her fiue wittes myspendiþ as wel freres as oþer folke : folilich myspendiþ In housyng in hellyng : In hey clerge schewynge Mor for pomp and pride : as þe pepil wote well þat I ly noȝth loo : for lordis ȝe plese and reuerensseþ þe rich : þe raþer for his siluer a-ȝene þe consail of crist : an holy clerge wittenesseþ Ne sitis : acceptores personarum lo what holy wrytte wittenesseþ : of wyked techeres As holynesse & honeste : out of choly churche Passus 6 de Dowell spryngeþ and spredeþ : and enspyreþ þe pepil þroȝth parfite presthod : and prelatis of holy church riȝth so out of holy church : al euel spredeþ þroȝth imparfite presthode : is prechers and techers and se hit by ensample : In somour tyme on trees þere sum bowes bereþ leues : and sum berreþ none þe bowes þat bereþ noȝth : & beþe noȝth grene leued þer is a myschef in þe more : of such maner stokkes nota parsonnesprestes Riȝth so parsones & prestes : & prechurs of holy church are þe rote of þe riȝth feyþ : to rule þe pepil ac þere þe rote is roten : Resoun wot þe soþe schal neuer frute ne flour wex : ne fayr lef ne grene for wold ȝe lettered leue þe lechury : and cloþynge and be curteys and kynd : of holy church godis parte wiþ þe pore : and ȝour pryde leue and þere-to trewe of ȝour tonge : and of ȝour taile al-so and haten harlodry : and vnderfonge no theþes of vsurers and of hores : and al euel wynnynggys loþe were leued : but þei ȝour lore folowed and a-menden of her mysdedis : mor for ȝour ensample þan for to preche and proued noȝth : ypocrysy hit semeþ nota nota de epocrysy Ipocrysy Is a ybranch of pryde : and most a-mong klerkes and hit is lykened In latyn : to a loly dong-hepe þat wer be-snewed wiþ snow : & snakes wiþ-In Or to a wall whyte lymed : and wer blak wiþ-In Rith so many prestes : prechurs and prelatis þat beþ enblaunched with bele paroles : and wiþ bele cloþes and as lambes þei lokeþ : and lyueþ as wolues Iohanes Crisostomus : carpiþ þus of clerkes Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur &ȝ00b7; sic de templo omne malum procedit &ȝ00b7; si sacerdocium integrum fuerit &ȝ00b7; tota floret ecclesia Si autem corrupta fuerit omnium fides marcida est &ȝ00b7; Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis &ȝ00b7; totus populus conuertetur &ȝ00b7; ad peccandum &ȝ00b7; Sicut Cum videris arborem pallidam & marcidam &ȝ00b7; Intelligis quod vicium habet in radice &ȝ00b7; Ita cum videris populum indissiplinatum & irriligiosuu sine dubio &ȝ00b7; sacerdocium eius non est sanum &ȝ00b7; Alas leuedmenleued men : much lese ȝe þat fynde unkunnynge curatours : to be kepers of ȝour soules Ac þynge þat is wikked won : and wiþ fals sleȝt..ses wold neuer oþer-wyse : but wicked men hit had as imparfite prestes : and prechurs aftir siluer secutares and sodenes sompnours : and her lemmondes And þat wiþ gyle was gat : vngrasiously be despendid Curatours of holi kirke : and clerkes þat beþ auarous lyȝthely þat þat þei leue : loseles deuouren leued wel lordis : boþ leued and lered þat þus ....yivth her godit : at þe last ende þat lyue a-ȝenes holy lore : and þe loue of charite charyte Charite quod I þo : þat is þynge for-sothe þat maysters comendiþ much : wher may hit be fond I haue lyued in lond : many longe ȝeres and fond I neuer in fayþe : as freres it precheþ Charite þat chargeþ noȝth : ne chideþ þoȝth men greue hym as poule in þe pistil : of hym berreþ wittenesse Non inflatur &ȝ00b7; non est ambiciosa I knew neuer be criste : clerke neþer leued þat he ne asked aftir his : and oþere-while couetid þyng þat nede hym noȝth : & nym hit ȝif he myȝth For þoȝth men soȝth al þo sectes : of susteren & of brethere and fynd hym but figuratifly : a ferly me þynkeþ hic in enigmate &ȝ00b7; tunc facie ad faciem and so I trow trewly : by þat men telliþ of charite Charite is a childissch þyng : as holy church witteness Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuly & cetera As proud of a penny : as of a pond of golde and as glade of a goundgoun : of grey rosset As of a cote of camaca : or of clene skarled Passus 6 de Dowell he is glad wiþ al glad : as gurles þat laughen all and sory when he seeþ man sory : as þou seest childeren laughen wher men laughen : and lour þere oþer loure and when men swerreþ for soþe : for soþe he hit troweþ wheneþ þat no wyȝth : wold ly and swere Ne þat ony gome : wold gyle ne greue For drede of god þat so gode is : and þusgatus vs techeþ Quodcumque uultus ut faciant vobis &ȝ00b7; homines facite eis haþ he no lykynge to laught : ne to lyken men to scorne al sekenes and sorowes : for solasses he takeþ and al maner myschefs : as mynstracies of heuen of deth ne of derthe : dredeþ he neuer Ne myschef þoȝth he lore : or leued þat ylke þat neuer paied penny aȝen : in places þer he boroweþ who fyndeþ hym his fode quod I : or what frend haþ he Rentes oþer riches : to rule hym at his nede of rentes ne ryches : recheþ he neuer A frend he haþ þat fyndeþ hym : þat fayleþ hym neuer one Aperis tu manum tuam : al þynges hym fyndeþ fiat voluntas tua : fedeþ hym vch a day And also he can clerge : Credo in deum patrem and portrayeþ wel pater nostere : and peynt hit with auees and oþer-while wond is : to wend in pylgrymages þere pore men and prisoneres ben : and payeþ for her fode Cloþeþ hem & conford hem : an of crist precheþ hem what sorow he sufferd : in ensample of vs al þat pouerte and penance : paciently takeþ worth moch merite to þat man : þat hit may suffer and whan haþ þus visite : fetered folke & oþer folk pore þan ȝerneþ he in-to ȝouthe : and ȝepely he secheþ pryde wiþ al his purtenaunce : & pakkeþ hym to chyd and laueþ hym at his brest : and beteþ hit ofte and wiþ warme water of his eyes wessiþ it til hit be wet lauabis me & super niuem dealbabor And þan syngeþ he whan he doþe so : And sum tyme wepyng Cor contritum & humiliatum &ȝ00b7; deus non despicies W..er I wiþ hym be crist quod I : I wold neuer fro hym þoȝth I ......my lyflou schuld beg : about at menis hacches weþer clerkes knoweþ hym noȝth quod I : þat kepeþ holi church peres þe ploughman quod he : most parfiteli hym knoweþ Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum by cloþynge ne by carpynge : know schal þou hym neuer ac þroȝth werkes þou myȝth wit : wher forþe he walkeþ operibus credite & cetera he is myreyest of mouþe : at mette þere he sitteþ Nolite tristes fieri &ȝ00b7; sicut ypocrite trystes I haue se hym my-silf : sum-tyme in rosset Boþ in gray & in grys : and in gilte herneyþ and so gladely he hit gaf : to gomes þat hit neded Edmond and Edward : aþer wer seyntes and chef charite wiþ ham : and chast al her lif I haue se charite al-so : syngyn and rede Rydyng and ran : in ragged cloþes ac biddyng as a begger : be-held y hym neuer ac in riche robis : rachest he walkeþ CelledCalled and crimiled : and his croune schaue and in a freres froke : he ...dwas fouesnd ones ac hit fare & fele ȝere : In fraunces-is tyme In þat secte sech : to seld he haþ be found Riche men he recomandeþ : and of her robis takeþ of þo þat trevly lyue : & louen & be-leuen Beatus est diues &ȝ00b7; sine macer In kynges courte he comeþ : ȝif his consail be trewe ac ȝif couetys be of his consaile : he wil noȝt cum þere-In among þe comine In courte : he comeþ but selde for braglyng & bakbytyng : & berryng of fals wittenes In constory be-for þe comsary : he comeþ noȝth ful ofte for euer long is her lawe : but ȝif þei lacche siluer wiþ bysschopis he wol be : for beggers sake ac auarice Passus 7 de Dowell Ac auarice oþer-whiles : holdeþ hym wiþ-out þe gate kynges and cardinals : know hym sum-tyme and þroȝth couetys of his consaile : congied is he ofte and who coueteþ to knowymknow ym : such a kynd hym foloweþ as I told þe wiþ tong : a litil tyme passed For neuer he ne beggeþ ne biddiþ : ne boroweþ to ȝelde he holdiþ hit for a vice : and a foule schame To begge or to borow : but of god one panem nostrum cotidianum passus septimus de do-wel &ȝ00b7; & explicit Ther is non such I saide : þat sum tyme ne boroweþ or beggeþ or biddiþ : be he riche or pore and ȝit oþer-while wroȝth : with-outen ony syn who is wrothe and wold noȝt be a-wreke : holy wryt proueþ quod he he passeþ cheff charite : ȝif holy church be trewe Caritas omnia fuffertsuffert & cetera holy wrytt wittenesset : þat þere was such an heremitis solitary by hym-silf : in her selles lyued nota of holyhermmyts wiþ-out borowenge or beggyng : but of god on Excepte Egidie : a hynd oþer whyle To his selle seld come : and sufferd to be mylked Elles foules fede hem : In fretthes þere þei wonned Boþ antony and arseny : and oþere ful many Paulus primus heremita : had parroked hym-silf þat ne man myȝth se hym : for mosse and for leues Foules hym fed : ȝif frere austeynes be trewe and he ordeyned þat ordir : or elles þei gabben paule aftir his prechynge : paniers he made and wan wiþ his hondis : al þat hym nedid petre fissched for his fode : and his fere andrewe som þei sod & sum þe solde : & so þyþei lyued boþe Marie þe maudeleyn : by mores lyued þ dewes loue and ...trew be-leue held her lif : & her soul to-gyders Marie Egipciata : ette in þirty wyntyr But þre litil loues : and loue was hir soule I can noȝth reken hem riȝth now : ne reherse her names þat liued þus for our lordis loue : many longe ȝeres wiþ-outen borowenge or beggynge : or þe boke lyeþ and woned in wyldernesse : a-mong wile bestes ac dorst no best bytt hem : by dayes ne be nyȝth but myldely when þei metten : mad low chere and faire be-for þo men : fanned wiþ her tayles ac bestes broȝth hem no mett : but onely foules In token þat trew men : al tymes schuld fynd honest men & holy men : & oþer riȝthful pepil For wold neuer faythfulgodfaythful god : þat freres & monkes Toke liflod of lyther wynygges : In al her liue-tyme as wittenes holy wrytte : what Toby said to his wiff whan he was blynd : he herd a lambe blete wif be war quod he : what haue we her-In lord leue quod þat lede : no stol þyng be her-In videte ne furtum sit & alibi Melius est mori quam mal þis is no more to mene : but men of holy chuchchurch of men of holychurch lordysmen of law& marchaunys schuld refuse riȝth noȝth : but þat þat riȝth wold and refuse reuerensses : and raueners offrynge þan wold lordis & ladies : be loþe for to agylte and to take of her tenauntz : mor þan treuþe wolde and merchandis merciable wold be : & men of law boþ wold religious refuse : rauyours almes and þan grace schuld grow ȝit : & grene leues wex and charite þat s.hceld is now : schold ....hete of hem-silf and comford al cristen : wold holy church a-mend Iob þe parfite patriarke : þis prouerbe wrote & tauȝth To make men loue mesure : þat Monkes ben & frerres Numquid dicit Iob rugiet onager : cum habuerit herbam aut mugiet bos &ȝ00b7; cum ante plenum stetit presepe brutorum animalium natura te condempnat quia cum paululumpabulum comune sufficiat &ȝ00b7; ex adipe prodijt iniqui-tas tua Passus 7 de Dowell ȝif leued men knew þis latyn : a litil þei wold a-wise hem or þei mortesed any more : for monkes or for chanones alas lordis and ladies : leued consail haue ȝe To feff such and fede : þat founded to be þe ful wiþ þat ȝour eyres and ȝour blod : by gode law myȝth clayneclayme For god bade his blessed : as þe boke techeþ honora patrem & matrem & cetera To help þi fadir formast : by-for freres & monkes or ar prestes or pardoners : or any pepil elles help þi kyn kryst byddiþ : For þer be-gynneþ charite and aftirward a-waite : who has most nede and þer help ȝif þou hast : & þat hold I charite lo laueras for his largenes : as holy lore telliþ þat his mede and his manhod : for euer-mor schal laste Iusticia eius manet ineternumin eternum he gaf godis men godis godis &ȝ00b7; & noȝth to gret lordis and fede þat hongry wer : and in defaute lyued I dar noȝth carp of clerkes now : þat cristis tresour kepeþ þat pore pepil bi pur riȝth : her parte myȝth aske of þat þat holy church : of þe old law cleymeþ prestes on apparaile : & on pernel now spendiþ Men may now liken lettered men : to a lussbourue or wors and to a bad penny : wiþ a gode prente of much money : þe mytail is noȝth nota and ȝit is þe prent trew : and parfitely graue and so hit fareþ by fals crysten : her fullyng is trew Cristendom of holy church : þe kynges merke of heuen ac þe mytail þat is mannis soule : of þos techers Is a-layed wiþ lechury : & oþer lust of synne þat god couete noȝth þe coyne : þat crist hym-silf printeþ and for þe syn of þe soule : for-sakeþ his ouen koyne þus are þe lettered men lykend : to a lusshburues sterlyng þat faire be for folke : prechen and techen and worcheþ noȝth as ȝe fynd y-wrytte : & wisseþ þe pepil For what þroȝth wer & wrake : and wicked .enuyes May no prier pees make : In no place hit semeþ leued men haþ no beleue : & lettered men erren Noþer see us sond : noe þe sedeȝeldensede ȝelden as þei woned were : In whom is defaute Noȝth in god þat he nys gode : & þe ground boþe and þe see and þe seed : þe sonne & þe mone donn her deuer day & nyȝth : did we so al þere schuld be plente & pees : perpetuel euer nota of schepmen weddir wiþ schipmen now : and oþer witty pepil haue no be-leue to þe liste : ne to þe lode-sterre astronomyens al day : In her arte faylen þat W.....sume-tym warned men by-for : what schuld be-fal after schippmen and scheperdis : by þe seuen sterres wisten wel and told : whan hit schuld rayne Tuliers þat tulied þe erþe : tolden her maysters by þe sede þat þei sew : what þei sill myȝth and what to lyue by and leue : þe lond was so trewe Now faileþ þis folke : boþ folowers & schipmen Noþer þei knoweþ ne kone : on cours by an oþer Astronomyens al-so : are at her wittes ende of þat was calculid of þe clemat : þe contrary þei fynde Gramer þe ground of al : be-gyleþ now þe childeren For is none þat Nymmeþ hede : þat versify fayre or formabely endite ne þat con construe : kyndely þat poetis made Go we now to any degre : and but gile be hold a mayster and flaterer for his vsscher : ferly me þynkeþ doctours of decre : and of diuinite maysters þat schuld þe seuen artes con : and assoile ad quod-libet but þei fayle in philosofy : and philosofers lyued lord let þat þos prestes : ..treuly synge her masse Passus 7 de Dowell þat þai ouerhipp noȝth for hast : as I hopp þei do noȝt þoȝth it suffice for our saluacioun : soþe fast beleue as clerkes in corpus christi feste : syngeþ & reden þat sola fides sufficit : to saue wiþ leued pepil Ac ȝif prestes donn her deuer : we schal donn þe better for sarasenes may be saued : ȝif þei beleued In þe lettyng of her lif : to leue on holy church what is holy church ...lef frend quod I : charite he saide life and loue and ....trew : and ....in god be-leue al kynne cristen cleuynge : in on will wiþ-outen gile and gabbynge : ȝeue & syl & lene loue law wiþ-out lbe...lev : a lowable was hit neuer God lereth no lif to loue : wiþ-out l.l.trev cause Iewes and gentyl sarasenes : Iugen hem-siluen þat ..treuly be-leue : & þityit her law deuyseþ and one god þat al be-gan : with gode hert þei honoureþ and eiþer loueþ and be-leueþ : in on lorde almyȝty ac our lord a-loweþ no loue : but lawe be þe cause For lechures loueþ a-ȝenes þe law : an at þe last be dampned ¶ and þeues loueþ and be....levþ : hateþ & at þe last be hongyt and leued men lyueþ as lawe techeþ : þere-of loue a-ryseþ þe woch is þe hede of charite : & hele of mannis soule nota de mand... dilige deum propter deum &ȝ00b7; & propter ueritatem & inimicum tuum propter mandatum id est propter legem & amicum propter amorem id est propter caritatem loue god for he is gode : And ground of al treuþe loue þyn enemy enterely : godis hest to fulfill loue þi frend þat foloweþ þy wil : þat is þi faire soule for al frendes faileþ : and fleeþ a-wey in deyenge þan seueþ þe soule : to sorow or to Ioy and hoppeþ eft to be : wiþ ..þe body at þe last In myrþe or in mournyng : & neuer eft to departe and þat is charite leue child : to be chere ouer þy soule Contrarie hir noȝth as In consciens : ȝif þou wilt cum to heuen Wheþer sarasenes I saide : se noȝth what is charite hit may be so þat sarasenes : haue such a maner charite loue as by lawe of kynde : our lorde god almyȝty It is kyndely þyng þat creatour : his creatour to honour for þere is no man þat mynd haþ : þat ne mekeþ hym & be-secheþ to þat lord þat hym lif lent : & liflod hym send ac many maner men þere ben : as sarasenes & Iewes loueþ noȝth þat lorde a-riȝth : as by þe legend sanctorum and lyuen out of leletrev be-leue : for þe loue of a man A man þat heȝth Machomet : for messy þei hym holdiþ and aftir his lernyng þei lyue : & by lawe of kynd and whan kynd haþ his cours : & no contrary fyndeþ þen is lawe lost : and lbe...lev vn-know Beaute sauncz bounte : blessed was hit neuer Ne kynd sauncz curtesy In none contrey I preised Men fyndeþ þat Machomet : was a man crysten and a Cardinal of court : a gret clerk wiþ-all þat pursued to haue ben pope : prince of holy church ac for he was like a lusshburue : I leue our lord hym lette For þi soȝth he in-to surre : and suteled how he myȝth be mayster ouer al þo men : & on þus maner he wroȝth he endaunted a dowe : & day & nyȝth her fedde In eyþer of his eres : pryuely he hadde Corne þat coluer ete : whan he come In places and In what place he preched : & þe pepil taught þan schuld þe coluer : come to þe clerkes ere Menyng as aftir mette : þus Machomet hir enchanted and whan he come þus : þan kneled þe pepil for Machomet to men sware : hit was a mesager of heuen and sothely þat god hym-silf : In such a coluer lykenes Told hym & taugh hym : how he schuld tech þe pepil þus machomet in mys-beleue : man & woman broȝth and on his lore þey lyuen ȝit : as wel leued as lered Passus 7 de Dowell And seþ our saueour suffered : such a fals cristen deseyue so þe sarasenes : sothely me þynkeþ holy men as I hopp : þroȝth help of holy gost schulden conuerten hem to crist : & cristedom to take alas þat men so long : on machomet be-leueþ so many prelatis to prech : as þe pope makeþ of Nazareth of Niniue : of Neptalym and of damasse þat þei ne went as holy writte biddiþ : Ite in vniuersum mundum seþ ȝe willeþ þe name : to be prelatis & preche þe passioun of Ihesus : and as hym-silf saide so to lyue and so to dey : bonus pastor animam suam ponit hit is rewþe to rede how rich : holy church men lyueþ how þei defouleþ her flessch : for-soke her ouen will fer fro kuyth and fro kyn : euel cloþed ȝeden baddely bedded : no boke but her consciens Ne no riches but þe rode : to reIoysen hem In Absit michi gloriari misi in cruce domini nostri ihesu christi nota hou redenobill is wyrshupitt þand was pees and plente : a-mong pore & riche and now is rewþe to rede : how þe rede noble Is reuerensed by-for þe rode : & reseyued for þe worthyer To amend and to make : as wiþ men of holy church þan crystis ....cros : þat ouer-came deeþ & dedely syn and now is werr & wo : & who so whyl askeþ for couetys after a crosse : þe croun stontd in gold Boþ riche and religioun : þat cros þei honoureþ Mor tresour þan treuþe : I dar noȝt tel þe soþe how þo cursed cristen : catel & riches wirchepeþ Resoun and ryȝthful dome : þo religyoun dampneþ Riȝth so ȝe clerkes ȝour couetys : ar come oȝth longe schal dampned dos ecclesie : & depose ȝow of ȝour pride deposuit potentes de sede & cetera ȝit kneȝthhod and kynd wytte : & þe comine consciens To chiders loue .etreuly : leueþ hit bysschops þe lordechep of londes : lese ȝe schal for euer and lyuen as leuitici did : and as our lord ȝou techeþ Per primicias & decimas ¶ whan Constantyn of his curtesy : holy church dowed wiþ londes & ledes : lordecheps and rentes an angyl men herd : an hey at Rome cry dos ecclesie þis day : haþ dronke venyme and þat haþ petre-is power : ar poysound al a medicine most þere-to : þat myȝth amend þe prelatis þat schuld prey for þe pees : & possessioun hem lette Take her londes ȝe lordis : & let hem lyue by dymscimas ȝif þe kyng couete : in cristus pees to lyue For ȝif possessioun be poysoun : and imparfite hem make þe hedes of holy church : & þo þat ben vndir hem hit wer charite to discharg hem : for holy church sake and purge hem of þe old poysoun : ar mor perel fall for wer preshodepresthode mor parfitte : þat is þe pope formast þat wiþ money meyteneþ men : to wer a-pon cristen aȝene þe lore of our lorde : as seynt luce wittenesseþ Michi vindictam & ego retribuam his pryers wiþ paciens : to pees schuld brynge al londes in-to loue : and þat in litil tyme þe pope wiþ al prestes : pax vobis schuld make and take hede how machomet þroȝth a myld dowe had al surre as hym-sylf wold : & sarasenes in equite Bot noght þroȝth manis-slaȝth : & manis streynþe machomet had þe maystry But þoȝth paciens and priue gyle : he was prince of hem al In such a maner most : þe pope me þynkeþ prelatis and prestes : prey and be-seche deuoutely day and nyȝth : & wiþ-draw hem fro syn and cry to cryst he wold : his coluer sende þe woch is þe hey holy goste : þat out of heuyn descendiþ And make a perpetuel pees : be-twen þe prince of hewen Passus 7 de Dowell And al maner men : þat on þis mole libbiþ ȝif presthode wer parfitte & precheþ þus : þe pepil schuld a-mend þat contraryeþ now crysten law : & crystendom despisen for seþe þat þos sarasenes : scrybys and þe Iewes haue a lippe of our beleue : þe liȝther me þynkeþ þei schold who-so trauayl wold : & of þe trynite tech hem For al payneyn preeþ : & parfytely be-leueþ In þe grete god : and in his grace askeþ and makeþ her mone to machomet : her messag teto schew þus in a feyþe lyueþ : þat folke and in a fals mene and þat is rewþe for þo ryȝthfulmenryȝthful men : þat in þat reme wonneþ and a perele for prelatis : þat þe pope makeþ þat berreþ þe name of neptalym : Nenyue & damasse for when þe kynge of heuen : send his sonne to erþe Many myracles he wroȝth : man for to torne In ensample þat men schold : se by sad resoun þat myȝth be saued : but þroȝth mercy and grace and þroȝth penaunce & passioun : & parfitt be-leue and be-come man of a maide : and Metropolitanus and baptimed and be-scyned : wiþ þe blod of his herte al þat wilneþ and wold : wiþ Inwytt be-leue it Many a seynt seþ : souered dethe also for to conferme þe faythe : ful wydywsvhar deyed In Inde in alysaundir : in armony In spayne and fro mysbeleue : many men torned In sauacioun of manis soule : seynt Thomas of canturbery a-mong vnkynd crysten : In holy church was sclawe and al holy church honoureþ : þroȝth þat deyenge he is a forbyseen to al bysschopus : and a bryȝth merour and souerenly of such : þat of surre berreþ þe name and noȝth inegelonengelond to hypp a-boute : to halow mennis auteres Nolite mittere falcem : in messem alienam Many Man for crystus loue : was martyred a-mong romanes or cristendom wer know þere : or ony cros honoured euery bisschop by þe lawe : schold buxumly walke and paciently þroȝth his prouynce : & to his pepil hym schew Fede hem & fullen hem : and fere hem fro syn In baculi forma &ȝ00b7; sit presul hec tibi norma fer trahe punge gregem &ȝ00b7; seruando per omnia legem an enchaunce hem to charite : on holy church to beleue for as þe kynd is of a kneȝth : and for a kyng to be take a-mong his enemys : in mortale batayles To be kylled and ouercome : þe comine to defende So is þe kynd of a curatour : for cristus loue to preche and dey for his der childeren : to destrw dedely syn Bonus pastor animam suam &ȝ00b7; ponat pro ouibus suis and namelich þer þat leued : lyuen & no lawe knoweþ ac we crysten conneþ þe lawe : and haue of our toung Bychopus and bokes : þe be-leue to teche Iewes lyuen in þe lawe : þat our lorde taugh Moyses to be mayster þere-of : to messie come and on þat lawe þei leuen : and leten hit for þe best and ȝit know þei cryst : þat cristendome taugh and for a parfitte prophete : þat much pepil saued and of selkouþe sores : saued men ful ofte By þe myracles þat he made : messie he semed þo he lift vp lazar : þat layd was in graue Quatriduanus cold : quyke dede hym walke Iewes saide þat hit saugh : wiþ sorcery he wroȝth and studied how to struen hym : & str..dued hem-sylf and her power þroȝth hys paciens : to pur noȝt broȝth and ȝit þei sey soþely : and so do þe sarasenes þat Ihesus was but a Iegelour : & a Iaper a-mong þe commine and sophistre of sorsery : and a seudo propheta and þat his lore was lesenges : & lacken hyt all Passus 1 de Dobetter And hopp þat he be to come : þat schal hem rule Moyses or machomet : her maysters deuyneþ and haue a suspeccioun to be saaf : boþ sarasenes an Iewes þroȝth moyses and machomet : & myȝth of god þat mad all and seþen þe sarasenes : and al-so þe Iewes kon þe first clause of our beleue : Credo in deum patrem prelatis and prestes : schuld proue ȝif þey myȝth lere hem literellum and literellum : Et in ihesum cristum filium and to þei couþe speke & spell : & in spiritum sanctum Recordit & rede hit : wiþ remissionem peccatorum Carnis resurrectionem : & vitam eternam Amen Passus primus de do-bette nota de liberum arbitrium LEue liberum arbitrium quod I I leue as I hopp þou couþest tell me & tech me : to Charite as I leue þan lough liberum arbitrium : & led me forþ wiþ talis To we come to a contre : cor hominis it heȝth Erber of al priuetes : and of holynesse Euen in þe myddis : an ympe as hit were þat heȝth ymago dei : graciously hit grewed þan can I aske what hit heȝth : and he me sone tolde þe tree hat trew loue quod he : þe trynite hit sette þroȝth louely lokynges it lyueþ : & launseþ vp blossomis þe woch blossomis : bernes benynge spech it calleþ þere-of comeþ a gode frute : þe woch men calleþ werkes of holynesse and hendenesse : ofto help hem þat nedeþ þe woch is caritas called : cristus ouen fode and solasseþ al : sorowful in purgatory Now certis I saide : and siked for Ioy I þanke ȝou a þousand syþes : þat ȝe me hidder kenned and seþen þat ȝe vouchen saaf : to sey me as hit hotteþ and he þanked me þo : but þan toke I hede hit had schoriers to schuyen it vp : þre chides of on leynþe and of on kynd colour : of kynd as me þoȝth al þre y-lich longe : and I-liche large Much merueled me : on what more þei growed and asked eft of yhym : of what wod þei were þos þre schorieris quod he : þat berreþ vp þis plaunte Be-tokeneþ trewly : þe trynite of heuen þre persones indepartable :perpetuel wer euer of on wil of one wytte : and her-wiþ y kepe þe frute of þis faire tree : fro þre wyked wyndes and fro fallynge þe stoke : hit faile noȝth of his myȝth þe world is a wicked wynd : to hem þat wold treuþe Couetys comeþ of þat wynd : & caritas hit abiteþ and for-fretteþ þat frute : þroȝth many faire suyȝthes and wiþ þat first planke : I palle hym doune potencia dei patri þan is þe flessch a fel wynd : & in flourynge tyme þroȝth lechury and lustes : solouso loud be-gynneþ blow þat norissheþ nyse syȝthes : & sum-tyme wordys and many wicked : wormes of syn and for-biteþ caritas : riȝth to þe harde stalke þan sett I þe secunde planke : sapiencia dei patris þe woch is þe passioun & þe penaunce : & þe parfitenes of Ihesus and wiþ þat I ward þis erþe : whylew hit wex rype and fond I þe fende : my frute to destrw and leyd a laddir þere-to : of lesenges beþ þe ronges and wyþ al þe wyles þat he can : wagged þe rote þroȝth bakbytynes and braulers : & þroȝth bold chyders and schakeþ hit ne wer it vndir schoryed : it schold noȝt stonde so þos lordeynes liþ þere-to : þat al his leues falleþ and fecheþ awey þe frute sum-tyme : be-for boþ myn eyes and þan palle y adoun þe plank : wiþ þe þyrde schori.. þe woch is spiritus sanctus : and soþefast be-leue and þat is grace of holy gost : & þus gat I þe mayst I stodied a-pon þe tre þo : & þan toke I hede Passus 1 de Dobetter Wheþer þe frutte wer faire : or foule for to loke on And þe frute was faire : non fairer be myȝth Ac in þre degrees hit grew : gret ferly me þoȝth and asked eft þo : weþer it were al of on kynde ȝe certis he saide : and sothelith leue hit hit is al of on kynd : and þat schal y proue ac sum are swetter anþand sum : and sonner wil rotie nota de appyl tre Men may se on an appel tree : many tymes and ofte of one kynde appeles : are noȝth y-liche grete Ne snyng smale : ne of swetenes swete þo þat sitteþ on þe sone syde : ar sonner rype sweter and sauryer : and al-so more gretter þan þo þat seld haue þe sonne : & sitteþ in þe norþe half so hit fareþ sothely : sone by our kynde Adam was a tree : and we ar al as his apples sum of vs sothefast : and sum variable sum litil sum large : I-lyke apples of on kynd as wedded men and wodowes : & riȝth worþy maydenes þe woch beþ seynt spyrit : seweþ þe sonn of al heuen and comford hem in her continence : þat lyue in contemplacioun nota de contemplacioun ac monkes and monials : men of holychurch þis haue þei of þe holy gost : as haþ crop & tre of þe sonne wodowes and wodowers : þat her ouen wil for-sake and chast leden har lif : is lif of contemplacioun and mor lycand to hour lorde : þan lyue as kynd askeþ and folow þat þe flessch wil : & frute forþe brynge þat actiua vita lettered men : in her langage hit calleþ ȝe sir I saide seþ : þei are but two lyues þat our lorde a-loweþ : as lettered men vs telleþ actiua vita &ȝ00b7; and contemplatiua vita why groweþ þis frute in þre degrees : a gode skyl he saide her be-neþe I may nyme : ȝif y nede had nota de wedlokwoddowot& maydenot Matrymony a most frute : þat multipli þe pepil and þat a-boue is bettyr frute : .& two boþ beþ gode wodowod mor worþier þan wedlok : as in heuen þat is uirginite is mor vertuose : & fayrest as in heuen for þat is euen wiþ angeles : and angelus pere hit was þe first frute : þat þe fadir of heuen blesed and bade hit be of a batte : of eþreerþe a man of a mayde In menyng þat þe first þyng : þe first þyng schuld honour and þe clennest creatour : first creatour know In kynges court kneȝthes : þe clennest men an fairest schal serue for þe lorde hym-silf : & so farith god almyȝth Maydenes and martyris : mynystered hym her on erþe and in hey lheuen hys ......heyest : and next hym by reson and for þe fairest frute : by-for hym as of erþ and swete wiþ-out swellyng : soure worþ hit neuer þys a propre plaunte quod I : and priuely hit blowed and broȝth forþ frute : folk of al naciones Boþ parfite and imparfite : p..rov faire I wolde assay what sawre hit had : and saide þat tyme nota de elde leue liberum arbitrium : let sum lif hit schake and a-none he heȝth Elde : on hey for to clyme and schaked hit scharpely : þe ripe schuld fall and eld clymed to þe cropward : þan comsed to cry he wagged wodewed : and hit wept aftir he mowed matrymony : hit made a foule noyse and euer as elde had ...evil donn : þe deuel was ful redy and gadred hem al to-gyders : boþ gret and smale nota de Adam &þe profettys Adam and abraham : and Isay þe prophete Sampson and samuel : & seynt Iohan þe baptiste and bare hem forþe baldely : no-body hym lette and made of holy men his horde : In lymbo inferni þer is dorkenes and drede : and þe deuil mayster þan moued his mode : In maiestate dei Passus 1 de Dobetter þat libera voluntas dei : laughe þe mydil schorye and hit after þe fende : happ how it myȝth Filius by þe faders wil : fley: wiþ spiritus sannctus To go ransake þat ragman : & reue hym of his apples þat þroȝth fals be-hest : & frute first man desseyued nota gretyn of our lady and þan spake spiritus sanctus : In gabriel-is mouþe To a maide þat heȝth mari : amekea meke þynge wiþ-all þat on Ihesus a Iusticies sone : most Iouke in hir chambre Til plenitudo temporis : tyme come were þat Elde feld eft þe frute : ifor fully to be rype þat Iustice schuld Iuste þere-for : and by Iugement of armes who schuld fech þis frute : þe fend or Ihesus seluen þe maid mekely : þe mesager scho graunted and seyd hendely to hym : lo me his hande-maiden For to worchen his will : wiþ-outen ony synne Ecce ancilla domini and in þe wombe of þat wenche : was he fourty weckes and be-come man of þat maide : mankynd to saue Bygge and bydynge and bold : of his barnehod To haue foȝthen with þe fende : are ful tyme come Ac lyberum arbitrium leche-craft he tauȝth To plenitudo temporis : by tyme approchyd þat such surgiane : sech seen was neuer Ne non so faith-ful ficissiane : for al þat be-soȝth hym he leched hem of her longour : boþ lazarus & blynd Claudi ambulant &ȝ00b7; leprosi mundantur Ac comine women conuerted : & clansed hem of synne and lift vp lazarus : þat lay in his toumbe quatriduanus cold : quicke did hym rombe ac are he made þat miracle : messias cepitt esse and wept water wiþ his eyes : þe why wytten few ac þo þat saugh þat selcouþe : saide þat tyme þat he was god or godis sone : for þat grete wonder And sum Ieues sayde : þat sorcery he wroȝth and þroȝth þe myȝth of Mahond : and þroȝth mysbeleue demonium habes þat is satan ȝour saueour quod Ihesus : & had saued ȝou oft ac hitI semeþd ȝou sondery tymes : and al-so I fed ȝow wiþ fyue fissches ...& ij loues : fyue þousand at ones and I lefte basketes ful of broke met : bere awey wo s.w vnkynd and vnkonnynge quod crist : & wiþ a rope smote .. and ouer-torned in þe temple : her tables & her stalles and drew hem out al : þat þere boȝth or sold And said þis is an hous : of orisond & of holynesse and whan þat my wil is : I wil hit ouer-þrew and are þre daies aftir : edified newe þe Iewes told þe Iustice : how þat Ihesus saide ac þe ouertournyng of þe temple : be-tokeneþ his resurrec. nota of þe treysounþat Iudas dede Envie and euel wil : erne in þe Iustice and pursued hym pryuely : and for pens hym boȝth Ne forte tumultus &ȝ00b7; fieret in populo of Iudas þe Iewe : Ihesus ouen dissiple þis byfel on a fryday : a litil by-for pasche þat Iudas an Iewes : Ihesus þei mette Aue rabi quod þat ribaude : & riȝth to hym he ȝode and kyssed Ihesus to be know þer-by : & caugh of þe Iew. þan Ihesus to Iudas saide : and to þe Iewes Falssenesse I fynde : in þy faire spech and kene kare in þy kyssyng : & combrance to þy-sil. þou schalt be myrour : to many men to dissyue wo to þo þat þy willes vsen : to þe worldis end ve homini illi per quem scandalum venit seþ I be tresoun am take : &in-to ȝour wil Iewes suffyr myn appostlus in pees : and in pees gang þis Iewes to þe Iustice : Ihesus þei ladde wiþ much noyse þat nyȝth &ȝ00b7; nere frantik I waked In inw Passus 1 de Dobetter In inwytte and in al wyttes : aftir liberum arbytryum I aweyted wytterly : ac wodir he wente I ne wyst And þan mett I wiþ a man : a mydlente soneday as hore as a haue-þrone : and abraham he heȝte of whenus artow quod I : and hendely hym grete I am wiþ faith quod þat freke : it fal noȝth me to ly an heraud of armes : are any lawe were what is þy quynsaunt quod I : in cohys cote of armes nota of iij persones in trinite þre persones in on pensel : and departable fro oþer on spech on spyryt : spyngengespryngenge out of all of one witt of one will : w...ere neuer a-twene and sondery to se appon : solus deus he hoteþ seþ þei boþ .........of oo strenþ quod I : þei haue sondery names þat is soþe saide he þan : þe syre hatteþ pater and þe secunde is a sone : of þe syre filius þe þerd is þat holdiþ al : a þyng by hym-sylf holy gost is his name : and he is in all þis Is a myrke þyng for me quod I : and for many anoþer how on lord myȝth lyue a þre : I leue hit noȝth y sayde Muse noȝt to much þere-on quod fayth : to þou more know ac leue þou hit ..treuly : al þy lyue tyme þat þre be-longeþ to a lord : þat legeauncz clanymeþ myȝth and a mene : to se his ouen myȝth of hym-sylf and his seruant : & what suffereþ hem boþ god þat be-gynnynge had neuer : but þo hym god þoȝth sent forþe his sone : as for his seruant þat tyme To ocupie hym here : to issue wer spronge þe woch ar chylderen of charite : & holy church þe modir patriarkes and prophetis : and appostolus wher þe childeren and criste and cristendome : and al cristen helyholy church be-tokeneþ þe trynite : and trewe be-leue on god al-myȝty : þat man mad and wroȝth semblable to hym-sylf : are any synne were ac þre he is þer he is : & her-of ber wittenesse þe workes þat hym-silf wroȝth : & þis world boþ Celi enarrant gloriam dei þat is þe þre persones departable : I proue it by mankynd and on god al-myȝty : ȝif al men ben of adam Eue of adam was : and out of hym drawen and abel of hem boþ : and al þre one kynd and þos þre þat I carp of : adam and Eue and abel þat Issue are : but on in manhode Matrymony wiþ-outen moillery : is noȝt much to pres. as þe bibil berreþ wittenesse : þe boke of þe old lawe þat a-corssed all coupls : þat no kynde forþ broȝth Maledictus sic homo &ȝ00b7; qui non reliquid semen in israel and man wiþ-outen a make : myȝth noȝth wel of kyde Multiply no more-ouere : wiþ-out a make louye Ne wiþ-outen a sower : be such seed þis we se al Now go we to þe godhed : In god fadir of heuene was þe sone in þe silf : In a simile as Eue was whan god wold : out of þe wey drawe and as abel of adam : and of his wiff eue sprong forþe and spake : a spire of hem tweyn so out of þe syre & þe sone : þe seynt spyrit of heuen Is and ay were : as þre persones palpable and purly but : on. mankyndhede þe woch man & his make : & moileri her issue so is god godis sone : In þre persones þe trynite In matrymony are þre : & of one man cam al and to godhede goþ þre : & on is al þre lo trois encountre trois quod he as I sate in my porch where god com gangynge as þre : riȝth by my gate Tres vidit &ȝ00b7; & vnum adorauit I rose vp and reuerensed god & riȝth fair hym grete Passus 1 de Dobetter Wessch her fete & wiped hem : & afterward þei eten and what I þoȝth and my wife : he vs wel tolde he be-heȝth us vssue : an heyre in our old age ful trew tokenes be twen vs : when tyme come þat I met hym how he fond me first : my fair sone Isaac To make sacrifice of hym : & hete me hym to honour I wiþ-fettesette noȝth his heste : I hopp & I be-leue wher y walke in þis world : he wil hit me a-low I circumsidid my sone : al-so for his sake My-silf and my mene : al þat males were Bleden blod for þat lordys loue : I hopp to bles þat tyme My affiance and my fayþe : is firme in his beleue For hym-silf sayde I schud haue : & myn vssue boþe lond and lordchip I noȝth : and lyue wiþ-outen ende To me and myn vssue : more he me heȝth Mercy for oure mysdedis : as many tymes as we wilned and wold : wiþ mouþe & hert aske and seþ me to seyen : and saide þat I schuld wirchipp hym wiþ wyne : and wiþ brede boþe at masse an at an auter : In wirchepp of þe trinite and make sacrifice so : sumwhat hit be-tokeneþ I leue þat Ilk lorde þynkeþ : a newe lawe to make fiat vnum ouile &ȝ00b7; & vnus pastor þus haue I ben his heraund : here and in hell and comford many carful þere : þat after his comyng lokeþ for-þi I seke hym I saide : for seynt Iohan þe baptiste said þat he saugh hym : þat schuld saue vs all Ecce agnus dei & cetera þan had I wonder of his wordis : and of his wide cloþes for in his bosom bar þyng : and þat he blyssed oft and I loked in his lapp : and lazar lay þere-In wiþ patriarkes and prophetis : pleynge to-gyders what a-waytist þou quod faith : & what woldestou haue I wold witt quod I þo : what is in þyn lapp lo quod he lAnd lete me se : lord mercy I saide þis is a present of much prise : what prince schal it haue hit is presious present quod he : ac þe pouke hit haþ attached and me þere-wiþ quod he : may no wede vs quyte Ne no berne be our borth : ne bryng vs out of daunger fro þe pouke-is pynfold : ne maynpris may vs fech Tyl he come þat y carpe of : crist is his name þat schal delyuer vs sum day : out of þe deuilis pouer and better wedde for vs wagen : þan be we al worþi and þat is lif for lif : or lyg þus euer lollyng in my lapp þus : to such a lorde vs feche alas I said þat synne : so long schal lette þe myȝth of godis mercy : þat myȝthusmyȝth us al amende and weptid for his wordis : with þat saugh I on oþere rapely ren þe rith way : he wente and I a-frayned first : fro wennus che come what he heȝth : and whodir he wolde and wytterly : he vs tolde Passus secundus de dobet I am spes quod he : and spereȝ after a kneȝth þat toke me a mandement : a-pon þe mont of caluary to rule al reumes þere-wiþ : in rith and in resoun lo her þe letter quod he : on latyn and on eberewe þat þat I said is soþe : se who-so lykeþ Is hit seled I saide : may me se þy letteres Nay he saide I seke hym : þat haþ þe sele to kepe þe woch is crist and crystendome : & crois þer-on to heng were it þere-wiþ asselid : I wot wel þe soþe þat lucifers lordchip : lowe schuld lyge let se þyn letteres quod I : we myȝth þe lawe know he plyȝth forþ a patent : a pece of an hard roche wher-on was wrytten : two wordis and on þis wise glosed &ȝ00b7; Dilige deum &ȝ00b7; & proximum þis was þe texte trewly : I toke ful gode geme þe glose was gloryously : wrytten wiþ a gylt pen Passus 2 de Dobetter In hijs duobus mandatis &ȝ00b7; pendet lex &cetera Is here al þi lordis letteres quod I : ȝe leue me he saide and who-so worcheþ after þis wrytt : I wil vnder-take schal neuer deuel hym dere : ne depe in soule greue for þoȝth I say hit my-silf : I haue saued with þis charme of men and of women : many schor þousand nota de fayth he saiþe soþe quod fayþe : I fonde hit trew lo her in my lapp quod fayþe : þat leued on þat letter boþ Iosue and Iudith : and Iudas machabeus and six þousand mo quod fayþe : I can noȝth sey her names ȝour wordis are wordirfulwondirful quod I þo : wher any of ȝou be trew and ...treve to be-leue on : for body or for soule abraham saide þat he saugh : holy þe trynyte þre persones parcelmel : departable fro oþer and al þre but on god : þus abraham bereþ wittenesse and haþ saued þat be-leueþ so : & ben sory for her synnes he can no certeyn some tel : & sum are in his lap what nediþ hit þan : a new lawe to bryng seþ þe fyrst sofficeþ : to be-leue and be saued and now comeþ þis spes : þat haþ a-spyed þe lawe and of no trynite me telliþ : ne mo persones To godhed but one god : and one god almyȝthy hit is lyȝth for tolewed : and for lered boþ ac for to lelue in on lorde : þat lyueþ in þre persones and lereþ þat we loue schuld : as wel lyers as leltrev Go þi gate quod I to spes : so me god help þo þat lerneþ þi lawe : wol litil whille hit vse And as we went in þe way þus : wordyng of þis matir þan saugh we a samaritane : com sittyng on a mule nota de samaritan Ridyng ful rappely : þe ryȝth way we ȝeden Comyng fro a contre : þat men calliþ Ierico To Iuste in Ierusalem : he iaced a-wey ful faste Boþ abraham and spes : and he met at ones In a wyle wildernes : wher þeues had bound a man as me þoȝth : to moch care þei broȝth for he ne myȝth styrre ne stande : ne strer fote ne handis Ne helphelp hym-silf sothely : for semiuif he semed and as naked as a neld : & non help aboute ¶ faith fyrst of hym saugh : ac he fley a-syde and wold noȝth ney hym : by nyne londes leynghe hopp come hyppen after : þat had so bosted how he wiþ moyses mandement : had many man help ac when he had siȝth of þis seke : asyd he can hym draw and dredfully wiþ-drow hym þo : & dorst go no nere hym ¶ ac so sone þe samaritan : had fyȝth of þe careful he liȝth a-none of lyard : and lad hym in his hond and to þis wy he went : his wondis to be-hold and parseyued by his pous : he was in perele to dey & but ȝif he had recouurer þe raþer : rise schuld he neuer and vnbokeled his botels : & boþ he attained wiþ wyne and wiþ oyle : his wondis he can lithe Enbaumed hym and bond his hed : & on bayard hem set and lede hym forþe to lauacrum : lex dei a grange Is syx myle or seuen : be-seyd þe new marked and left hym þar a lechynge : to lyue ȝif he myȝth and toke two pans to þe hosteler : to take kep to hym and þat more goþe for his medicyn : I make þe gode a-ȝenward for y may noȝt let quod þat lede : and lyard he be-stryde and rapped hym to ryde : þe ryȝth way to Ierusalem Boþ fayþe and his felew spes : folowed fast aftir ac I seued þe samaritan : and saide how þei boþe weren a-ferde and flowen : fro þe man wounded haue hym excused quod þe samaritan : har help may not auayle ne no medicyn vnder molde : þe man to help bryng Neþer fayþe ne fyn hop : so festered beþ his wondys wiþ-outen blod of þat barne : he woȝþeworþe noȝt saued þe woc.h barne most nedis be borne : of a mayde Passus 2 de Dobetter and wiþ þe blod of þat barne : enbaumed & baptised and þoȝth he stone and stepe : ryȝth strong worþ he neuer To he haue etten of þat barne : & his blod dronken and ȝit be plastered wiþ pacience : when fondynges hem prickeþ for went neuer man þis way : þat he ne was herryfeled saue my-sylf sothely : and such as I loueþ and ȝit but ȝif þei leue l..ytreuly : a-pon þat litil baby þat his licham schal lechen : ..ldat þe last vs all A sir I saide : schal noȝth we be-leue as fayþe and his felew spes : enformed me boþe In þre persones as parcelles : de-portable from oþer nota to low god alow al þyngs& þe neghtbore and al þre but one god : more me ne told and lered me for his loue : to loue al mankynd and hym a-boue al : and ...my neȝbor as my-sylf Noþer lake ne lose : ne leue þat þer wer any wickeder in þe world : þan I wer my-sylf and most imparfit of al persones : & pacienly suffere al maner men : and þoȝth I myȝth venge I schuld ȝold and þonke hym : þat me euel wolde he saide soþe quod þat samaritan : & so I rede þe also and as abraham þe old : of one god þe taught loke þou louye and be-leue : al þy lyue tyme and ȝif kynd carpe her-agayn : or ony kyn þoȝthes Or heretykes wiþ argumentis : þyn hand þat þou hym schew for god þat al be-gan : In gynnyng of þe world Ferd fyrst as a fyste : and ȝitt is as I leue nota Mundum pugillo continens ¶ As wiþ a fyst wiþ-out on fyngere : fold to-gydir To hym lyked and luste : to vnfold þat fynger and profered forþ as with a paume : to what plas hit schuld þe paume is þe pyche of þe hand : & profered þe fyngrs To mynyster or to make : þat myȝth of hand knoweþ and be-tokeneþ trewly : tel who-so lykeþ þe holy gost of heuen : he is as þe paume þe fyngers þat h.so sbene : to folde and to clynch be-tokeneþ soþely þe sonne : þat sent was to eþþeerþe Touched and tasted : at techyng of þe paume seynt mary a mayde : and mankynd laught Natus ex maria virgine ¶ þe fadir is þan as þe fy..st : with fyngers & with paume To byde and to hold : as holy wrytte telliþ omnia traham &ȝ00b7; ad meipsumme ipsum and þat þe fynger gropit : hit grypit but ȝif hit greue þe paume þus are þei but one : as hit a. hande were a fyst wyþ-out fyngers : & a ful paume and a fyst is a ful hande : fold to-gyders so is þe fadir a ful god : þe fyst of hem al as my fist is first : ar I my fyngrs schew and he is fadir and formour : þe first of al þynges Tu fabricator omnium &ȝ00b7; and al þe myȝth wiþ hym is : and was & worþe euer þe fyngers is a ful hand : for fyayleþ þei her thoumbe purteray ne peynt : parfitely y leue schuld no wryȝth worche : wer þei a-wey Ryth so faileþ þe sone : þe syre be ne myȝth Ne hold ne helpe : ne hente þat he loueþ dextere dei &ȝ00b7; tu digitus þe paume is purely þe hande : & haþ pouer by hym-silf oþer-wyse þan þe wreþen first : or werkemanchip of fyngris for þe paume haþ power : to put out þe Ioyntes and to vnfold þe fist : to hym hit be-longeþ and reseyue þat þe fyngris recheþ : & refuse ȝif hym likeþ al þat þe fyngers & þe fyst : feliþ and toycheþ but he be greued wiþ her gryp : þe holy gost let fall and þus is holy gost god : neþer gretter ne lessore þan is þe sire oan þe sone : & þe same myȝth and al þre but one god : as myn hond & my fyngers Passus 2 de Dobetter vnfoldyn or foldyn : on fyst wyse or ellis al hit is hote a. hond : how-so it torne hit ac who-so is hurt in þe hand : euen in þe myddys he may reseyue ryȝth noȝth : resoun hit scheweþ For þe fyngers þat folde schuld : & þe fyst make For peyne of þe paume : power hym fayleþ To clynch and to claw : to clype or to holde wiþ þe mydil of myn honde : wiþ-outen malyce In many kyn maners : I myȝth my-sylf helpe Boþ meue and mend : þoȝth al myn fyngers oke By þis symile he saide : I se an oþer euedence þat wo-so synneþ In þe seynt aspyryt: assoyleþ worþe hem neuer nota who synnyþ inholy gost Noþer her ne ellyswher : as I herde tell Qui peccat in spiritu sancto &ȝ00b7; for he prycheþ god as in þe paume : þat peccat in spiritum sanctum For god þe fadir is &ȝ00b7; as þe fyst þe sone is &ȝ00b7; as þe fyngrys þe holy gost of heuen : he is þe paume so who-so synneþ : a-ȝen þe seynt .spirit hit semeþ þat he greueþ god þere he grypiþ : & wold is grace quynche For to a torche or to a taper : þe trynyte is lykened as wex and weke : wer twen to-gyders and þan flammeþ fyre : forþ of hem boþe and as wex and weke : and warme fyre to-gyder fosteren forþ a flamme : and a fyre leye þat serueþ þos swynkers : to see by nyȝthes so doþe þe syre and þe sone : & seynt spyrit to-gyders fosteren forþe a-mong folke : fyne loue & be-leue þat al kynd crysten : clanseþ of synne and þou seest sum-tyme : sodenly of a torche þe blase be blowen out : ȝit brenneþ þe weke wiþ-outen leye & lyȝth : ly....ggyth fyre in þe macche and so is þe holy gost god : and grace wiþ-out mercy To al vnkynd creatures : þat couet to destrwe lele lycame and lyf : þat our lorde schop and as glowyng gledys : gladiþ noȝt þus workemen þat worcheþ and wakeþ : In wynteres nyȝthes as doþ a wex or a candel : þat cacche haþ fyr & blaseþ No more doþ þe syre no sone : ne seynt espirit to-gidyr grauntteþ ony grace : ne for-ȝeuenes of synnes To þat þe holy gost gynneþ : to glowe & blase So þat þe holy gost gloweþ : but as a glede To þat loue and be-leue : lely to hem blowe and þan flammeþ he as fuyr : on fadir & on filius and makeþ myȝth in-to mercy : as we may se on wentyr ysekels on euesynges : þroȝth hete of þe somesone ¶ Melteþ in on myte-whyle : to myst & to water so grace of holy gost : þe grete myȝt of þe trinyte Melteþ al to mercy : to merciable & to no noþer and as wex with-outen more : oppon þe warm gledis wold brand and blase : be þey to-gydir and solas hem þat mow noȝth se : syttyng in dorkenes so wil þe fadir for-geuen folk : of myld hertis þat refullyreufully repenten : and restitutioun make In as moch as þei mowen : a-mend & payen & ȝif hit sufficz noȝth for a-seth : If in such a wil deyen mercy for her mekenes : wil mak gode þe remenaunte & as þe weke in warm fyre : wil mak a fuir flamme for to .....lyght men wiþ : þat in dorke sittyn so wil crist of his curtesy : & men cry hym mercy boþ for-ȝeue and for-ȝetten : & ȝit bid for vs To þe fadir of heuen : for-ȝeuenes to haue Ac hew fyre at a flynt : four hondered wynter but þou haue tach to take it : wiþ tynder or broches al þy labour is lost : and þy long trauaile For may no fuir flamme make : fail hit is kynd Passus 2 de Dobetter so is þe holy gost god : and grace wiþ-out mercy To al vnkynd creatoures : as crist hym-sylf wyttenesseþ Amen dico nobis nescio vos be vnkynd to þyn encrysten : and al þat þou can byd dele and do penaunce : day and nyȝth euer and purchas al þe pardon : of pamphylion & of rome and haue indulgens I-now : & be Ingratus to þi kynd þe holy goste berreþ þe noȝth : ne helpeþ þe be þou certyne for vnkyndenesse quyncheþ hym : þat he can noȝt schyne Ne bren ne blase clere : for blowynge of vnkyndenesse Poule þe appostel preueþ : wher I ly si linguis hominum For-þi be war ȝe wisemenwise men : þat wiþ þe world deleþ nota rychmenrych men þat riche ben of resoun knoweþ : rule wel ȝour soule beþ noȝth vnkynd I consail ȝou : to ȝour encrysten for many of ȝou riche men : by my soule I ly noȝth ȝe brenne ac ȝe blase noȝth : & þat is a blyn beken Non omnes qui dicunt michi domine domine Intrabit in regnum Mene ȝe noȝth ȝe rych men : to woch a myschefe þat diues deyed and dampned is : for his vnkyndenesse of his mette and of his money : to men þat hit neded ȝit wan he noȝth wiþ wronge : ne wiþ queynt sleȝthes but ryȝthfully as men redeþ : al his riches cam hym and on hym-silf as seyþe þe boke : sotelid how he myȝth Most lordely lyue : and on his licame were cloþes of most cost : as clerkes berreþ wyttenesse Et epulabatur splendide & induebatur bysso and for he was a nygard : & noþyng to þe nedeful pore for godis traytour he is told : for al his trew catell and dampned he dwelleþ : with þe deuyl In hell & seþ wiþ-outen wyles wan : & wil noȝth atemye lordely for to lyue : and likendly ben cloþed and in hell for al þat : how wold riches now excuse hem þat beþ vnkynd : & ȝit her catel won wiþ wyles : and wiþ lyther wyȝthes and ȝit wil noȝt : a-temy to go semely Ne sit seþ holy wrytte ...... techeþ facite amicos vobis de mamona iniquitatis ¶ Euch a riche I rede : rewarde of þat he takeþ and ȝif ȝour gode to þat god : þat grace of aryseþ for þat ben vnkynd to his : hopp ȝe no noþer But þat þe dwel þer diues is : daies with-out end þis is vnkyndenes : & quencheþ as hit were þe grace of holy gost : god his ouen kynde Nota for þeves ¶ For þat kynd doþ vnkynd : for-doþ al þes cursed þeues vnkynd crysten men : for couetys and envie sleeþ a man for his mnobls : wiþ mouþe or with hondis for þat holy gost haþ to kepe : þe harlotes destrueþ þe woch is lif and loue : þe l...yffe of manis body for euery maner gode man : may be lykenid to a torche or ellis a tapyr to reuerence : wiþ þe trynite & who-so mourþereþ a gode man : me þynkeþ by myn Inwi.. he for-doþ þe liȝth þat our lord : lokeþ to haue wirchip of and ȝit in me maners : men offendiþ þe holy goste ac þis is þe worst wyse : þat ony wyȝt myȝth synne a-ȝenes þe seynt espirite : assent to destrw for couetys of ony kyn þynge : þat crist dere boȝth how myȝth he aske mercy : or ony mercy hym defende þat wickedly and wilfully : wil mercy aneynte Innocens is next god : & nyȝth an day hit cryeþ veniaunce veniaunce : for-ȝeuen be hit neuer þat schent vs an sched our blod : forchop us as hit seme. vindica sangunemsanguinem Iustorum þus veniaunce veniaunce : verray charite askeþ and seiþ charite of holy church : his charge is so sore leue I neuer þat our lorde : at þe last ende wol louye þat lif : þat loue and charite struweþ I pose I had synnet so quod I : & schuld now dey and am sory þat I so : þe seynt spryrit a-gylte Confesse me and cry his grace : god þat al made and mekely his mercy aske : myȝt I noȝth be saued Passus 2 de Dobetter ȝus saide þe samaritan : so þou myȝtest repente þat ryȝthwyse þroȝth repentaunce : to rewþe myȝth torne t....rouþ ac hit is but seld seen : þere sothenes berreþ wittenesse eny creatour be culpable : be-for a kynges Iustice nota þer þe kyngmay noghtpardome by raunsond for his repentauns : þer al resoun hym dampneþ þere þe party persueþ : þe appele is so huge þat may no kyng mercy graunt : to boþ þe men accede þat eyþer party haue equitens : as holy wyrte wyttenesseþ Nunquam dimittitur peccatum donet restituatur ablatum þus farit hit by such folke : þat foloweþ her one wyll þat euel lyuen & let noȝth : til lif hym for-sake sum drede of disperacioun : þennes dr.eudi.þ grace þat mercy in her mynd : may noȝt þan fall for gode hopp þat help þen schul : in-to wanhop þer tourneþ and noȝth of þe non-power of god : þat he nys ful of myȝth To a-mend al þat a-mys is : and his mercy gretter þan our wicked werkes : as holy wrytte telleþ Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius ac are þis riȝthwysnes to rewþe tourne : restytucoin hit makeþ as sorow of herte is satisfaccioin : for such as may noȝt pay nota de þre þyngisþat puttyþ a manout of hyshous ac þre thynges þere bene : þat donn a man to sterte out of his one hous : as holy wrytte scheweþ þat his wyked wyff : þat wold noȝth be chastised he for fleeþ hir : for fere of hir tonge and ȝif his hous be vnhelled : and reyn on his hede he sekeþ and sekeþ : to he slep dry ac when smoke and smodir : smyte on his eyes hit doþ hym wors þan his wif : or wete slepp For þroȝth smoke ..or smodir : smerteþ his syȝth To he be bler eyed or blynd : or þe bur in his þrotte Cowgh ek and ....cursyth : þat crist gyf h.ym sorow þat schuld bryng in better wode : or blow it þat it brenne þos þre þat I tel of : þus bene vndirstondynge þe wyf is our wicked flessch : wol noȝt be chastised For kynd cleueþ on hym : euer to contrary þe soule and þoȝth he fal he fyndyþ skyllis : þat freelte it mak and þat is liȝtely for-ȝeuen : & for ȝitt boþe To man þat mercy askeþ : & amendiþ þynkes þe rayne þat rayneþ : þer we rest schuld Bene sekenes and oþer sorowes : þat we suffer oft as poule þe appostel : in his epystel telliþ virtus infirmitate perficitur and þoȝth men mak delemuch dele : in her anger and be inpacient in her penaunce : þat resoun knoweþ þat þei haue cause to contrary : by kynd of her sekenes and lyȝtely our lorde : at her lyues ende haþ mery of such men : þat euel may suffer ac þe smoke and þe smoder : þat smyteþ in ouer eyes þat is couetys and vnkyndenes : woch quencheþ godis mercy for vnkyndenys is þe contrary : of kynd resoun for þere ne is seke ne sory : ne non so much wreche þat he ne may louye & hym lyke : & lene of his herte God wil gode worde : boþ wissen and willen al maner men mercy : and for-ȝeuenesse & louye hym .....þat yav hym-silf : þat his lif amend I may no lenger lett quod he : & lyard he pricked and went a-wey as þe wynd : & þer-wiþ I a-waked Passus tercius de do-bett Wolward and weteschod : went I forþ aftyr as a recheles renke : þat reche noȝt of sorew and ȝede forþ like : a lorel al my lif-tyme To I wex wery of þe world : & wilned eft to slepe and lened me to lenten : and long tyme I slepte of gurles and of gloria laus : gretely me dremed and how osoanna by orgone : old folk songe vnsemblabe to þe samaritan : & sumdel to pers þe plougman bare-fote on an asse bake : boteles com prykkyng wiþ-outen spores oþer sper : scharply he loked as is þe kynde of a kneȝth : þat comeþ to be dobbid To geten hym gylt spoires : and galaches coupyd Passus 3 de Dobetter þat was fayth in a fenestre : and cried o fili dauid as doþ and herod of armes : when auntres comeþ to Iustes old Ieues of Ierusalem : for Ioy þey songen Benedictus qui venit &ȝ00b7; in nomine domini þan I frayned at fayth : what al þat fare be-mened and who schuld Iuste in Ierusalem : Ihesus he sayde and fech þat þe fende cleymeþ : pers frutte þe ploughman Is pers in þis place quod I : and he p..rynched on me liberum dei arbitrium : for loue haþ vndirtaken nota how Ihesusschal Iowstin pers-is armour þat þis Ihesus of his gentryse : schal Iuste in peres armour In his helme & in his habergon : humana natura þat crist be noȝth knowen : for consummatus deus In peres plates þe ploughman : þis prikker schal ride for no deite schal hym dere : as in deitate patris who schal Iuste wiþ Ihesus quod I : Iewes or scrybis Nay quod fayth but þe fende : and fals dome to dey nota de deth & lyf deþe seieþ he wol for-do : and a-doun brynge al þat lyueþ or lokeþ : a lond or a water lif seyeþ he lyeþ : & haþ leyd his lyf to wede þat for al þat deþe can do : wiþ-in þre dayes to walke and fech fro þe fende : peres frute þe ploughman and leg hit þere hym lykeþ : and lucifer blynde and for-bette adoun and brynge : bale to deþe for euer O mors tua ero &ȝ00b7; morsus tuus þan came pilatus wiþ much pepul : sedens pro tribunaly To se how doȝthy deþe schul do : and deme þe boþ her ryȝth þe Iewes and þe Iustice : a-ȝenes Ihesus þey were and al þe court cryed : crucifige loude þan put hym forþe a pellour : by-for pilat and saide þis Ihesus of our Iewen tempil : iaped and disspised To for-do it on a day : and in þre dayes after Edifien it efte newe : her he standiþ þat saide it and ȝit make hit as much : in al maner poyntes Boþ as longe and as large : a-loft and a-ground and as wyde as hit euer was : þis we wittenes all Crucifige quod a cachepol : he can on wychcrafte Tolle tolle quod a-noþer : & toke kenne þornes and be-gan of grene þorne : a gelrlond to make and set hit sore on his hede : & saide in envie Aue rabi quod a rybaude : & redis schot vp to his eyes and nayled hym wiþ þre nayles : naked oppon þe rode and with appolea pole poysoun : put vp to his lippes & bad hym drynke his deþe to let : an his dayes lang and said ȝif he be sotil : he hym-sylf : now wil he help and ȝif þou be crist : and cryst godis sone Come a-doun of þis rode : and þan schal we leue þat lif þe loueþ : and wil noȝth let þe dey Consummatum est quod crist : & comsed for to swoune pytously and pale : as a prysoun þat deyeþ þe lorde of lif and of lyȝth : þo leyd his eyes to-gyders þe day for drede þere-of wiþ drowugh : & dork be-com þe son þe wal of þe temple to-cleef : euen in two peces þe hard roche al to-roof : & ryȝth dorke nyȝth hit semed þe erþe to quake & to quassch : as hit quyke were and ded men for þat dyn : come out of her graues and told why þe tempest : so long while dured for a bitter bataile : þe dede body saide lif and deþe in þis dorkenes : on ferd on oþer ac schal no wyȝth wytt wytterly : who schal haue þe maister. or sonday aboute þe son rysyng : & sank wiþ þat to erþe some saide he was godis sone : þat so fair deyed vere filius dei &ȝ00b7; erat iste & sum saide he can of sorcery : gode is þat we assay wheþer he be dede or noȝth dede : doune or he be take Two þeues þo þolled deþe : þat tyme vppon crosses by-syde crist : so was þe comune law a cachpol come : & craked a-two her legges and her armes after : of euerych of þe þeues nota þat þer was no man þatmyȝth tewch godisbody ac was no boy so bold : godis body to touche for he was kneȝth an kynges son : kynd for-ȝaue þat tyme þat had no boy hardynes : hym to tuch in deyinge Passus 3 de Dobetter ac þer come forþe a blynd kneȝth : with a ken sperre grounden heȝth longeus as þe letter telliþ : & long had lore his syȝth By-for pilatus and oþer pepil : In þe plas þei houed Magre his many teþe : he was made þat tyme Iuste wiþ Ihesus : þe blynd Iewe longeus for al wer þei vnhardy þat houed þere and stode To touch hym &ȝ00b7; or to tryonen hym : or tak hym doun or graue hym but þis blynd bacheler : þat bare hym þroȝth þe herte þe blod sprange doun by þe sper : & vnspered þe kneȝthes eyes þo fel þe kneȝth a-pon knees : and cryed ihesu mercy aȝenes my wil hit was quod he : þat I ȝou wound made and syked and saide : sore it me for-þynkeþ of þe dede þat I haue do : I do me in ȝour grace boþ my londe and my lycame : at ȝour lykyng take it and haue mercy on me ryȝthful Ihesus : & riȝth wiþ þat he wepyd þan can fayþe fouly : þe fals Iewes to despyse Called hem caytifs : a-corsed for euer for þis was a wile welany : weniaunce ȝou be-fall þat made þe blyne bette þe dede : þat was a boyes dede Cursed caytifs kneȝthhod : was hit neuer To bette a body bounded : wiþ ony bryȝth wepen þe gree ȝit haþ he I-getten : for al his grete wondys for ȝour champeon cher chef : kneȝth of ȝou all ȝeld hym creaunt reynyng : ryȝth at Ihesus wil for be þis dorkenes do : deþe worþe vencused nota howIvysbecamebonmenbondmen an ȝe lordeynes haþ lost : for lyf schal haue maystry and ȝour franchyse þat fre was : fallen in-to þraldome and al ȝour childeren chorles : cheue schal ȝe neuer Ne haue lordchep in londe : ne no londe tullye and ay barraynge be : and by vsure l...ewe þe woch is þe lyf þat our lorde : In al law defendeþ Now be ȝour gode dayes donn : as danyel of ȝou telleþ whan crist þroȝth cros ouercam : ȝour kyngdom schud to-cleue Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum &ȝ00b7; cessat vestra vnctio what for fere of þis ferly : and of þe fals Iewes I wiþ-drow me in þat dorkenes : to descendit ad inferna and þer I sagh soþely : secundum scripturas nota de mercy & trouþ out of þe west as hit were : a wench as me þoȝth Come walkynge In þe way : to helward scho loked Mercy heȝte þis maide : a myld þyng wiþ-all and ful benynge bryd : and buxum of speche hir soster as hit semed : come softely walkynge euen out of þe est : and westeward scho þoȝth a comly creatour and a clene : trewþ scho heȝth for þe vertu þat hir folowed : a-ferd was scho neuer when þos maydenes mette : Mercy and Trewþe eyþer asked oþere : of þis grete wondir of þe dyn and þe dorkenes : & whow þe day rowed and woch a lyȝth and a leme : lay by-for hell I haue ferly of þis fare : In faiþe said treuþe and am wendyng to witte : what þis wonder meneþ haue no meruayl þere-of &ȝ00b7; quod mercy : myrth it be-tokeneþ a mayd þat heȝth mary : & modir with-outen felynge of kynd creatour : conseyned þroȝth spech and grace of holy gost : wex grete wiþ childe wiþ-outen woman wem : In þis world broȝth hym and þat my tale is trew : I take god to wittenes seþ þis baryne was borne : be þirty wynter passed deyed and deþe þolled : þis day a-bout mydday and þat is cause of þis clippes : þat ouercloseþ now þe sonn In menyng þat men schuld : from merkens be draw þe while þis liȝth and his loke : schal lucifer blynd for patriarches and prophetis : haþ preched her of wel oft þat what tynt þroȝth tre : tre schal hit wyn and þat deþ doun broȝth : deþe schal releue nota detrowþ þat þou tellest quod treuþe : is but a tale of waltoris For adam and eue : and abraham wyþ oþer Passus 3 de Dobetter patriarches and prophetis : þat in pyne liggen leue þou neuer þat ȝou liȝth : hem a-loft brynge Ne haue hem out of hell : hold þy tonge mercy hit is but tryful þat þou tellest : I trouþe wot þe soþe þat þyng þat ones is in hell : out comet neuer Iob þe parfite patriarclepartriarche : reproueþ þy sawes nota de mercy Quia in inferno &ȝ00b7; nulla est redempcio þan mercy ful myldely : meued hir wordis þroȝth experiens quod scho : I hopp þei schal be saued for venym for-doeþ venym : þer f....ech I euedence þat adam and eue : haue schal bote for of al frettyng venymes : þe vilyst is þe scorpioun May no medycyn a-mend þe place : þere he stynggeþ to he dede be do þere-to : and he destrueþ þe fyrst venym out : þroȝth vertu of hym-silf and so schal þis deeþ for-do : I dar my lif leg al þat deeþ and þe deuel : did formast to eue and ryȝth as þe gylour þroȝth gyle : be-gyleyt man formast so schal grace þat be-gan al : make a gode ende and be-gyle þe gylour : and þat is a gode sleȝth Ars ut artem falleret Now suffer we saide treuþe : and se as me þynkeþ out of þe nypp of þe norþe : noȝth ful fer hennes nota de ryȝtwysnys Ryȝwynys come rynnynge : rest we þe whyle for he wotte more þan we : he was or we boþe þat is soþe saide mercy : and I se her by sowþe wher comeþ pees pleyeng : In pacient-is cloþynge loue haþ couet hir long : leue I no noþer but loue haþ send hir sum letter : what þis liȝth be-meneþ þat ouer-houeþ hell þus : he vs schal tell and whan pees in paciens cloþes : a-proched hir eyþer oþere Rythwyssenesse reuerensed pees : & in hir riche cloþynge and preyed pees to tell hir : to what place scho wolde and wiþ hir gay garment : what scho gladely þoȝth My wil is to wend quod pees : & wel-come all þat many day myȝth I noȝth se : for myrkenes of syn adam and Eue : and oþer mo in hell Moyses and many mo : mercy schal synge and I schal daunce þere-to : do þou so soster for Ihesus Iusted wel : Ioy be-gan to dawe Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus &ȝ00b7; & ad matutinum leticia loue þat is my lemman : such letteres he me sente þat mercy my suster and I : mankynd schal saue and god haþ for-gyue : & grant to al mankynd Mercy my suster and me : to maynpris hem haue and þat cryst haþ conuertyd : þe kynd of ryȝthwysnes In-to pees and pyte : of his pur grace lo her is þe patent quod pees : In pace in idipsum and þat þis dede schal dure : dormiam & requiescam Rauest þou quod ryȝtwysnes : or þou art ryȝth dronke leuest þou þat ȝou liȝth : vnloke myȝth hell and saue mannis soule : soster wen hit neuer at þe be-gynnyng of þe world : god gaue þe dom hym-sylf þat adam and eue : and allhire issue schul dey doun-riȝth : & dwel in payne euer ȝif þai towched þat tree : & of þe frute eten Adam afterward : a-ȝenes his defense Frette of þe frute : and for-soke as hit were þe loue of our lorde : and his lore boþe and folowed þat þe fend taȝuthtauȝth : & his flessch wyl a-ȝenes resoun &ȝ00b7; I &ȝ00b7; ryȝthwysenes : recorde wiþ treuþe þat her peyne is perretuel : no pryer may hem help For þi hem cheue as þey chose : & schide we noȝt susteres for hit is boteles bale : þe butte þat þei eten and I schal prey quod pees : her peyne may haue ende and þat her wo in wel : mot wend at þe laste nota de well & wo For had þei wist of no wo : wel had þei noȝth know For no wyȝth wote whate wel is : þat neuer wo sufferd Ne what is hote honger : þat neuer had defaute who can kyndely whyte : coloures discryue Passus 3 de Dobetter ȝif al þe worle were whyte oras swan : & whyte al þynges ȝif no nyȝth were : no man I leue schuld witte witterly : what day is to mene Ne had god suffered &ȝ00b7; of sum oþer : þan hym-sylf he had noȝth wyst witterly : wer deþ sour or swete For schal neuer ryȝth ryche man : þat lyueþ in rest and hele wit what wo is : ne were þe deþe of kynde so god þat be-gan al : of his gode wyll be-came man of a maide : mankynd to saue and suffered to be solde : to se þe sorow of deyeng þe woch vnknetteþ al care : & comsyng is of reste forteforþe moryne mett wyþ vs : I may hit wel awow Ne wote no wiȝth as I wene : what is now to mene For-þy god of his godenesse : þe fyrst man adam set hym in solas fyrst : and in soueren myrth and seþ he suffered hym to synne : sorow to felde To wit what wel was þer þroȝth : & kyndely to know and affter god auntered hym-sylf : to take adams kynd To wyt what he haþ suffered : in þre sondry places boþ in heuen and in erþe : & now to hell he þynkeþ To witt what al wo is : þat wote of all Ioy Omnia probate &ȝ00b7; quod bonum &ȝ00b7; est tenete so hit schal fare by þis folke : her foly & her synne schal lere hem what loue Is : and b..lese wiþ-outen ende for wote no wyȝth what wer is : þer as pes regneþ Ne what is witterly wel : to weolo a-wey hym take þan was þere a wyȝth : wiþ two bȝodbrod eyes Boke heȝth þat beaupere : a bold man of spech by godis body quod þis boke : I wold ber wittenes þo þat barne was borne : þer blased a sterre þat al þe wyse of þe world : In on witt accordid þat such a barne was borne : In bethlem þe cete þat mannis soule schuld saue : and synne destrue and al þe elementis quod þat boke : her-of berreþ wittenes þat he was god þat al wroȝth : þe welken first schewed nota de stella comata þo þat wer in heuen : toke stella comata and tendid as a torch : to reuerensse hir berthe þe lyȝth folowed þe lorde : In to low erþe þe water wittenesseþ &ȝ00b7; þat he was god : for he went on hym dry petre þe appostel : parseyued his gate and as he went on þe water : wel hym knew & saide domine Iube me &ȝ00b7; venire ad te and lo how þe sone gan loke : hiris liȝth in her-silf whan he saugh hym suffer : þat sone & see made lo þe erþe for heueynesse : þat he wold suffer Quake as a quycke þynge : & also to quassch þe roches lo hell myȝth noȝth hold : but oppened þo to god ȝold and let out symones sones : to se hym hong on rode Non visurum &ȝ00b7; se mortem and now schal lucifer leue liȝth : þoȝth hym loþ þynkeþ for Ihesus as geaunt : wiþ a gyn comeþ ȝende To breke and to bete a-doun : al þat be a-ȝenes hym and to haue out al : of hem þat hym lykeþ and ȝyt I boke wil be brant : but he aryse to lif and comford al his kyn : and out of care brynge and al þe Iewen Ioy : vnIoy & vnloken But þei reuerens his resurreccioun : and þe rode honour and be-leue on a new lawe : be lost lif and soule suffer we saide trewe : I hire and see boþe a spiritt spekeþ to hell : & biddiþ vnsper þe ȝattes Attollite portas &ȝ00b7; pryncipes vestras nota how a woyssayd to lossyfere A voyse lowde in liȝth : to lucifer saide prynce of þis place : prest vndo þus ȝattes for he comeþ wiþ croune : þe kyng of al glorie þan sighid satan : and said to hell such a liȝth a-genes our leue : lazar hit sette Care and combraunce : Is come to vs al ȝif þis kyng come In : mankynd wil he feche and lede it þere lazer is : & liȝtely me blynd Passus 3 de Dobetter patryarkes and prophetis : han parled her-of longe þat such a lord and a liȝth : schuld lede hem al hennes ac aryse vp ragamofyn : and reche me al þe barres þat belial þi bele-syre : bett wiþ þy dame and I schal lett þis lord : and his liȝth stopp are we þroȝth bryȝthenes be blynt : go barre we þe ȝattes cheke and chyne we : and vch a chyne stopp þat no liȝth lep In : at louer ne at loaupe astarot hot out : and haue out our knawes Coltyn and al his kyn : þe care to saue Brynston boylant : brennyng out caste hit al hote on her heuedis : þat entre neȝth þe walles setten bowes of brake : and brasen gonnes and schoteþ out schot Inoȝth : his scheltroun to blynd set Mahond at þe magrellmangrell : and mylstones þroweþ and crokes and kalkyntraps : & cloy we ham vchon nota de lussyfer lusteþ quod lucifer : for I þis lorde knowe boþ þis lorde and his liȝth : is long a-go y knew hym May no deþ þis lorde der : ne no deuel is qu.ynttys wher he woll is his way : ac war hem of þe perelles ȝif he ȝyf me of his ryȝth : he robbeþ of his maystry For by ryȝth and by resoun : þe renkes þat ben here Body and soule beþ myne : boþ gode and ill For hym-silf sayd it : þat syre is of heuen þat adam and Eue : and al his yssue schul dey wiþ dele : and her dwel euer ȝif þat þei touched a tree : & tok þere of an appel þus þis lord of lyȝth : such a lawe made and seþ he is so ....trev a lorde : I leue þat he wil noȝth reue vs of our riȝth : seþ resoun hym dampneþ and seþ we haþ ben seysed : þis .....fywe þousand wynter and neuer was þere-a-gayn : and now wold he be-gyne þan wer he vn-.....trewe of his word : þat wittyest is of trewþe nota de satan þat is soþ said satan : but I me sore doute for þou gettest hem wiþ gyle : & his gardyn broke a-ȝenes his loue and his leue : on his lond ȝedest Noȝth in forme of a fende : but in forme of an addyr and enticedist Eue to ette by hir on : ve soli and be-hetest hir and hym : aftir to know as two godis wiþ god : boþ gode and euel þus wiþ tresoun and trechury : þou unledest hem boþ and didest hem breke her boxumnes : þroȝth fals be-hestes and so hadyst þou ham out : and hiddir at þe laste hit is noȝth graythely gatten : þer gyle is þe rote nota goblyn and god wil noȝth be be-gyled : quod gobelyn ne be Iaped we haue no trew titil to hem : for-þi treson hit makeþ for-þi I dred me quod þe deuel : lest treuþe wil ham fech and as þou be-gylest godis ymagis : In goyng of an addir so haþ god be-gyled vs al : In goying of a.........s amanea mane For god haþ go quod gobelyn : in a gome-is lykenes þis þyrty wynter as I wene : & went a-bout and preched I haue assayled hym wiþ synne : & sum-tyme I asked wheþere he were god or godis sonne : he gaf schort answer þus haþ he troyled forþe like a tydi man : þis two & þirty wyn and whan I saue it was so : I soteled how I myȝth lette hem þat loued hym noȝth : lest þei wold hym martyr I wold haue lenget his lif : for I leued ȝif he deyed þat ȝif his soule hiddir come : hit schuld schen vs all and now i se wher is his soule : comeþ syllyng hiddward wiþ glorie and wiþ grete liȝth : god it is I wotte well I rede we fle quod þe fende : fast al hennis For vs wer better noȝth be : þan a-byde in his syȝth nota lussyfere-yslessyngys For lesenges lucifer : we losten first our Ioy and out of heuen hiddir : þi pride mad vs fall For we leued on þi lesengis : þat þou lyed to Eue we haue lost our lordchep : a lond and in hell Nunc princeps huius mundi : seyeþ þat satan Passus 3 de Dobetter Missaide þis foule lucifer : for his leseynges leue I no noþer but our lorde at þe last : liers rebuke and wyte hem al þe wrechednesse : þat wroȝth is on erþe Be war ȝe wyse clerkes : and witty of lawe þat ȝe be-gyle noȝth þos leuedmenleued men : for at þe last dauid wittenes in his wrytynges : wat is lyers mede Odisti omnes qui operantur &ȝ00b7; Iniquitatem perdes omnes &ȝ00b7; qui loqunturloquuntur &ȝ00b7; mendacium a litil I ouer-leppt : for lesenges sake þat I ne sig as I saugh : suant my teme for oft þat lyeþ : bad vnlekkeþ what lorde art þou quod lucifer : a voys a-loude sayde þe lorde of myȝth and of mayn : þat mad al þynges dukes of þis dyme place : a-none vndo þos ȝattes þat cryst may come In : þe kynges sone of heuen and wiþ þat brethe hel brake : wiþ al belial-is barres For ony wy or warde : wyde oppen þe ȝattes patriarkes and prophetis : populus in tenebris syngeþ wiþ seynt Iohan : Ecce agnus dei lucifer loke ne myȝth : so lyȝth hym a-blynt and þat þat our lorde loued : forþ-with þat lyȝth flowen lo me her quod our lorde : lif and soule boþe for al synful soulis : to saue our boþ ryȝth Myn þey wer and of me : I may þe better hem clayme al-þoȝth resoun recordid : and riȝth of my-silf þat ȝif þei eten þe appel : al schul dey I be-heȝth hem noȝth here : hell for euer for-þi dedely syn þat þei did : þi disseyt hit made wiþ gyle þou hem gett : a-genes al resoun For in my palys paradise : in persoun of an addir nota de gylours Falssely fettest þere : þat me be-fel to loke by-glosedest hem &ȝ00b7; & be-gyledyst hem : & my gardyn broke a-ȝene my loue and my leue : þe olde lawe tellyþ þat gylours beþ be-gyled : and in her gyle fall and who-so hitteþ out a mannis ey : or ellis his for-toþe or ony maner membre : maymeþ or hurteþ þe same sore schal he haue : þat ony so smyteþ dentem pro dente : & oculum pro oculo nota de lyffe &deth so lyf schal lif lette : þere lif haþ lif anyeyn hent so þat lif quite lif þe old lawe it axeþ Ergo soule schal soule quyte : & syn to syn wende and al þat man mysdid : I may to amendid and þat deþe fordid : my deþe to releue and boþ quyte and quyte : þat quenched was þroȝth syn and gyle be be-gyled : þroȝth grace at þe laste ars vt artem falleret so leue I noȝth lucifer : aȝeaȝen þe lawe I fecce here ony synful soule : souerenly by maystry nota houu manwas lostþrogh a tree but þroȝth ryȝth and þroȝth resoun : raunsoun her myI lege Non veni soluere legem : sed adimplere so þat wiþ gyle was gatten : þroȝth ryȝt is now wonne and adam and all : þroȝth a tree deyed Adam and al þroȝth a tree : schal torne to lyue and now be-gynneþ þe gyle : a-gaynes on þe to tourne and my grace to grow ay : widdir and widdir and bitternes þat þou hast brow : now brouked þi-silf þat art doctour of deþe : drynk þat þou madyste For I þat am lorde of lif : loue is my drynke and for þat drynke to-day : I deyed as hit semed ac I wil drynk of no dissch : ne of dep clergees But of comune ....smen : al crysten soules ac þi drynk wo.erþ deþe : and dep hel þy boll I saght so much þrusteþ : ȝit for mannis soule scicio nota of day ofdome May no pyment ne pomade : ne preciose drynkes Most me to þe ful : ne my þroste slake Til þe ventage fal :in to þe vale of Iosephat and drynk riȝth rype muste : Resurrectio mortuorum and þan schal I come a kyng : wiþ croune & wiþ angelis Passus 3 de Dobetter and haue out of hell : al mannis soules fendes and fendkenes : by-for me schal stond and be at my biddyng : at blis or at pyne ac to merciable to man : þan my kynd askeþ for we beþ breþer in blod : and noȝth in baptisme all ac al þat beþ myn ouen breþer : in blod in& in baptisme schal neuer in hel efte come : be þey ones out Tibi soli peccaui & malum coram te feci hit is noȝth vset on erþe : to hong ony felownes nota of a kyng-yspower ofter þan ones : þoȝth þey wer traytourus and ȝif þe kyng &ȝ00b7; of þe kyngdomm : come in þe tyme þer a þefe þol schuld : deþ oþer Iawes lawe wol he ȝaf hym lif : and he loked on hym amn I þat am kyng ouer al kynges : schal come such a tyme þere þat dome to þe deþe : dampned al wicked and law wil I loke on hem : hit lyeþ in my grace wheþer þei dey or dey noȝth : did þei neuer so ill be it ony-þyng a-boȝth : þe boldenes of her synne I may do mercy of my ryȝtwysnes : & al my word trew for holy wrytte wol &ȝ00b7; þat I be wroke : of ham þat wroȝth il ac Nullum malum impunitum &ȝ00b7; & nullum bonum irremuneratum and so of al wicked : I wil her take veniaunce & ȝit be kynd in my kyn : ..her schal constrayne my wil domine ne in furore tuo &ȝ00b7; arguas me neque To be merciable to many : of myn half breþeren for blod may se blod : boþ a-þrost & a-cold ac blod may noȝth se blod blede : but hym rewe audiui archana uerba &ȝ00b7; que non licet homini loqui ac my ryȝthwisnes & my riȝth : schal regne in hell and mercy and mankynd : be-for me In heuen for I wer vnkynd kynge : but I my kyn holp and namelich at such a nede : þat nedis hys help askeþ Non intres in iudicium : cum seruo tuo domine þus by lawe of our lorde : lede I wil fro hennis þo þat I louye : and leued in my comynge ac for þe leseynge þat þou lyed : lucifer to Eue þou schalt a-by bittyr quod god : & bond hym wiþ chaynes astarot and al oþeres : hyd hem in heyrnes þey dorst noȝth loke on our lorde : þe lest of hem all but lett hym lede forþ woch hym lust : & leue woch hym liked Many hondered of angelis : harpid þo & songe Culpat caro &ȝ00b7; purgat caro &ȝ00b7; regnat deus dei caro &ȝ00b7; þan piped pees : of a poete-is note Clarior est solide &ȝ00b7; post maxima nebula phebus post inimicicias &ȝ00b7; claror est & amor Amor aftirscharpestaftir scharpest schurus : most schene is þe sone Is no weddir warmur : þan aftyr watry cloudis Ne to loue leuer : ne leuer frendys þan aftir were and wrake : whan loue & pees beþ maysters war neuer wer in þis world : ne wikked enemy þat loue and hym lust : to l.ȝ.Ioyng broȝth and pes þroȝth paciens : al pereles stopeþ Trew is quod treuþe : þus tellist vs soþe by ihesus Clyp we wiþ couenant : and of vs kys oþer and þat no pepil quod pes : perseyue þat we chide for impossibile is no þyng : to hym þat is al-myȝthy þou seist soþe quod riȝthwysnes : & reuerensly hir kyssed pes and pes her : per secula seculorum Mysericordia & veritas &ȝ00b7; obuiauerunt sibi Iusticia & pax &ȝ00b7; osculate sunt Treuþe trompet þo : and sange Te deum laudamus and luted loue In a loud note : Ecce quam bonum & quam Til þe day dawed : þos damisels carolyd þat men range to þe resurreccioun : & riȝth with þat I woke and called kyt my wife : & calot my doȝter a-rise and go reuerense : godis resurreccioun and crepe to þe cros on knees : & kyssed for a Iowell and riȝth-fullich a releke : none richer on erþe for godis blessed body : hit bare for our bote Dobeste and hit a-fereþ þe fend : for such is þe myȝth may no grysely goste : glide þer hit schadoweþ Explicit do bett Incipit do beste Tþhus I waked : & wrote what I had dremed and diȝth derely : & did me to kyrke To hir holy þe masse : & to be hoseled after In myddis of þe masse : þo men ȝod to offerynge I fel eft-sones a-sclep : and sodenly me mette þat peres þe ploughman : wos peynted al blody and come wiþ a cros : be-for þe comune pepil and ryȝth lyke in al lymmes : to our lorde Ihesu and þan callid I consciens : to ken me þe soþe Is þis Ihesus þe Iuster quod I : þat Iewes did to þe deþe or hit is peres þe ploughman : who peynted hym rede quod consciens and kneled þo : þis are crystis armes his colours and his cote of armes : cac þat comeþ so blody Is þiscryst wiþ his cros : conquerour of crysten nota de nameof crist & Ihesus why called þo hym cryst : seþ Iewes called hym Ihesus patriarkes and prophetis : prophesied be-fore þat al kyn creatoures : schul knelen and bowen anone as me nempned : þe name of god Ihesu Ergo þer is no name : to þe name of Ihesus Ne none so nedeful to nempne : be nyȝth ne be day for al dorke deuelis are drede : for to hyren hit and synful ben solassed : and saued by þat name and ȝe callen hym cryst : for what cause telleþ me Is crist more of myȝth : and more worþier name nota de knyȝt kynge& conquerour þan Ihesu or Ihesus : þat al our Ioy come of þou knowest wel quod consciens : & þou con reysoun þat kneȝth kynge &conquerour : may ben in on persoun and to be called a kneȝth is fayr : for men schal knele to hym To be called a kynge is fayrer : for he may kneȝthes make and to be conquerour called : þat comeþ of special grace and of herdynes of herte : and of hendenesse To make lordis and ladies : of lond þat þey wynneþ and fremen foule þralles : þat foloweþ noȝth his lawe þe Iewes þat wer gentyl men : Ihesu þey dispysed botþ his lore and his lawe : now are þei lowe chorles as wyd as þe world is : woneþ þer none but vndir trybut and tallage : as tykers & chorlys and þat be-come cristen : by consail of baptysme are frankeleyns and fre men : þroȝth fallyng þat þei toke and gentil men wiþ ihesus : for Ihesus was fullyd and a-pon caluary on cros : crouned kyng of Iewes hit be-comeþ for a kynge : to kepe and defende and conquerour of his conquest his layies & his legaris and so did Ihesus þe Iewes : he Iustified & taght hem þe lawe of lif : þat lest schal euer and fended hem fro foule euelys : feueres & fluxus and fro fendes þat in hem was : and in fals be-leue þo was hei called Ihesu of Iewes : gentil prophete and kynge of her kyngedome : & croune bare of þorne and þo conquered he on cros : as conquerour noble myȝth no deþe hym for-do : ne adoun bryng þat he ne rose and regned : and rauyssede hell and was he conquerour called : of quike and of dede for he ȝaf adam and Eue : and oþer mo blessed þat long had ley be-for : as lucifers chorles and toke lucifer þe lothly : þat lord was of hell and bond as he is bound : wiþ bondes of yren who was hardier þan he : his hert blod he schede To make al folke fre : þat foloweþ his lawe and seþ ehe ȝeueþ largely : all his leletrew leges places in paradyse : at her partynge hennes he may be wel called conquerour : & þat is cryst to mene ac þe cause þat he come þus : with his cros & his passioun Is to wesschen vs þere-wiþ : þat whan we be tempted þere-wiþ to fyȝth and fend vs : fro fallyng in-to synne and se by his sorow : þat who-so loued Ioy To penaunce and to pouerte : he mot put hym-silf Dobeste And much wo in þis world : willen and suffer and to carp more of crist : & how he come to þat name faithly for to speke : his first name was Ihesus þo was he bor in bethlem : as þe boke telleþ and come to take mankynd : kynges and angelis Reuerensed hym faireyr : wiþ riches of erþe angelis out of heuen come : knelynge and songe Gloria in excelsis deo nota of þe iij kyngisof Collyn whatþey offyrt Kynges come aftir : kneled and offered myrre and much gold : wiþ-out mercy askenge or onny kyn katel : but knowelech hym souereynge Boþ of sonde sone and see : and sennes þei went Into her kyngdom kouth : by consaile of angelis and þere was þat word fulfilled : þe woch þou of speke omnia celestia terrestria &ȝ00b7; flectantur in hoc nomine Ihesu for al þe angelis of heuen : at his berþe kneled and al þe wytte of þis world : was in þo þre kynges Resoun and riȝthwysnesse : and reuthe þei offered wher-for and why : wissemenwisse men þat tyme Maystris and lettered men : magi hem called nota de sens þat on kyng cam wiþ resoun : keuered vnder sense þe secundum kynge seþ : sothely offered nota de gold Ryȝthwysnes vnder rede gold : resoun-is felew gold is likened to lbe..telev : þat last schal euer and resoun to ryche gold : to ryȝth and to trewþe þe þyrd kyng come : and kneled to Ihesu nota de myrre and present hym wiþ pyte : apperyng by myrre for myrr is mercy to mene : & myld spech of tonge Erdelych honest þynges : was offered þus at ones þroȝth þre kynd kynges : knelyng to Ihesu Ac for all þes precious presentes : our lord prince Ihesus was neuer kyng ne conquerour : to he comsed was In þe maner of a man : and þat by much sleȝth As hit be-comeþ for a conquerour : to con many sleȝthes and many wyles and wytte : þat wil be a leder and so did Ihesus in his dayes : who-so dorst tel hit sum-tyme he suffered : and sum-tyme he hid hym and sum-tyme he flaȝthfaȝth fast : and fley oþer-whyles and sum-tyme he gaf gode : and grant hele boþe lif and lym &ȝ00b7; as hym luste : he wroȝth as kynd is of and conquerour : so comsed Ihesu To he had al hem : þat he for bledde In his Iuuente þis Ihesus : at Iewes festes Torned water in-to wyn : as holy wrytte telleþ and þere be-gan god : of his grace to do wel nota de wyne for wyne Is lykened to lawe : and lif holynesse and lawe lacked þo for men : loued noȝt her enemys and crist consailed þus : and comandiþ boþe Boþe to lered and to leued : to louye our enemys so at þe fest fyrst : as I be-for tolde By-gan god wiþ grace : and godenes to do wel and þo was he clepped and called : noȝt only crist but Ihesus a fauntekyn ful of witte : filius marie for by-for his modir mary maide : made he þat wondir þat scho first and formast : schold firme beleue þat þroȝth grace was gatte : & of no gome elles he wroȝth þat by no witte : but þroȝth worde one after þe kynd þat he come of : þere comsed he do wel and whan he was wax mor : In his moder absent he made lame to lepe : & ȝaf lyȝth to blynd and fede wiþ two fissches : and fyue loues Sore a-hongered folke : more þan fyue þousand þus he conford careful : and caȝth a grete name þe woch was do-bette : wher þat he wente For deff þroȝth his doynges : & domb spech & herde and al he heled and helped : þat hym of grace asked Dobeste and þo was he called : In contre of þe comine pepil for he did þat dede : filij dauid Ihesus For dauid was þe doȝtheest : of dedys in his tyme þe burdes þo song . saul interfecit mille &ȝ00b7; & dauid x milia For-þi þe contre þere Ihesus come : called hym filij dauid and nempned hym of nazareth : & no man so worþy To be sesar or kynge : of þe kyngdomm of Iuda Ne ouer Iewes Iusticie : as Ihesus was hem þoȝth nota de Cayphas ¶ her-of had Cayphas envie : and oþer Iuwes and for to do hym to deþe : day and nyȝth þey casten and kyled hym on þe cros wyse : at caluary on a fryday and seþ byryed his body : and beden þat men schuld kep hym fro nyȝth-comers : wiþ kneȝthes armed for no frend schuld hym feche : for prophecy hem tolde þat þat blessed body : of byryles schuld a-ryse and goynd into galile : and gladyn his appostolis and his modir mary : þus men be-for dyuyned þe kneȝthes þat kept hit : by-knewen hem-silfen þat angelis and arkangelis : are þe day sprong Comen knelynge to þat cors : and songen christus resurgens : and hit a-rose after verray man by-for hem al : & forþe wiþ hem ȝede þe Iewes pr.eyed hyam of pees : and preyed þo kneȝthes Tel þe commune þat þere come : a company of his appostlus and be-wychede hym as þei woke : and a-wey stellen ihym nota de Mari mavdelyn ac mary maudeleyn : mett hym by þe way Goyng toward galile : In godhede & in manhede and a-lyue and lokyng : and a-loude cryed In vch a company þer he come : christus resurgens þus come it out þat crist ouere-came : rekeuered & lyued Sic christum pati &ȝ00b7; & Ita intrare for þat woman witterly : it myȝth noȝth wel be consaile petre perseyued al þis : and pursued after boþ Iames and Iohan : Ihesu to seke Thadee and ten mo : wiþ thomas of Inde and as al þos wyse wyȝthes : weren to-gyders In an hous al be-scheten : and her dore barred Cryst cam In and al closed : boþ dorres & ȝates To petre and to his apostlus : and said pax vobis and toke Thomas by þe honde : & taȝth hym to grop and fele wiþ his fyngers : his flesschly herte Thomas touched hit : and wiþ his tong sayde dominus meus &ȝ00b7; & deus meus þou art my lorde I be-leue : god lord Ihesu deyest and deþe þollest : and deme schal vs al and now art þou lyuynge : & lokynge & last schal euer Cryst carpit þan : and curteysly sayde Thomas for þou trowest þis : & trewly be-leuest þis blessed mot þou be : and be schal for euer and blessed mot þei be : In body & in soule þat neuer schal se me : astas þou seest nowe and .elytrevly be-leuen al þis : I loue hem & bles hem Beati qui non viderunt &ȝ00b7; & noncrediderunt and whan þis dede was donn : do-best he taught nota de pers ploughman-is pardoun and ȝaf peres power : and pardoun he graunt To al maner of men mercy : and for-ȝeuenes he myȝth men assoile : of al maner synnes In couenante þat þei come : and knoweleched to pay To peres pardoun þe ploughman : Redde quod debes þus haþ peres pouer : be his pardoun payed To bynde and to vnbynd : boþ here and elles and assoile men of her synnes : saue þe dett one a-none after on hey : vpp in heuen he went and woned þer : & wol come at þe last and reward hem ryȝth wel : þat reddet quod debes payeþ parfitely : as pure trewþe wold and what persoun payeþ it noȝth : punchen he þynke Dobeste And deme hem at domis day : boþ quyk & dede þe gode to godhed : and to grette Ioy and wycked to wonny : in wo wiþ-out ende þus consciens of crist : and of þe cros carped and consailed me to knele þer-to : & come me þoȝth nota de holy þorsday on spiritus paraclitus : to peres and his felewes In lykenes of a liȝthenynge : an lyȝth on hem all and mad hem conne and know : al kyn langages I wondered what þat was : þat wagget so consciens and was a-ferd for þe liȝth : for In fyre-is lykenes spiritus paraclitus : ouer-passed hem al Quod consciens and kneled : þis is crystis mesager and comeþ fro þe gret god : grace is his name knele now quod consciens : & ȝif þou connest synge wel com hym & wirchep hym : with veni creator spiritus and sang þat song : and so did many hondered and cried wiþ consciens : help vs god of grace and þan be-gan grace go : wiþ peres ploughman and consailed hym and consciens : þe commune to sumpne for I wil del to-day : and dyuyde grace To al kyn creatures : þat can his fyue wittes Tresour to lyue by : to her lyues ende and wepen to fyȝth wiþ : þat wil neuer faile nota antecrist For antecrist and h...ys : al þe world schul greue and combre þe consciens : but ȝif crist þe helpe and fals prophetis fele : flaterers and gloseres schal come and be curatures : ouer kynges & erles and schal pryde þe pope : & prince of holy church Couetys and vnkyndenes : cardenals hem lede for-þy quod grace or I go : I wil gyf ȝou tresour and wepen to fyȝth wiþ : whan antecrist ȝou assayleþ and gaf vch man a grace : to gy wiþ hym-sylf þat Idelnes en-combre hym noȝth : ne envie ne pryde diuisiones graciarum sunt nota de pchewrsprechewrs Som men he gaf wytt : wiþ wordys to schew To wyn wyþ treuþe : þat þe world askeþ as prechurs and prestes : and prentys of lawe þei ..lytrevli to lyue : by labour of tonge and by witt to wyssen oþer : as grace hem wol teche and sum he kenneþ hem craft : connyng of syȝth nota de craftymen& labores wiþ syllyng and byggyn : her by lif to wyn and sum he lereþ to labour : a-lond and in water and lyue by þat labour : ......a lowly lif & a trewe and sum he taugh to tuly : to diche and to coke as her wytt wold : when þe tyme come and sum to dyuyne : and dyuide nombres to kenne and sum to compas : and colours to make and sum to se & to sey : what schuld be-fall Boþ of wel and of wo : and be war be-for as astronomyer.s þroȝth astronomy : & philosofers wyse nota and sum to ryde and sum to reken : þat vn-rithfully was w. he wissed men to witt hit a-ȝeyn : þroȝth wittenys of han. and fechen fro fals men : wiþ folleuyll.. lawes and sum he lered to lyue : In longyng to be hennes In pouerte and penaunce : prey for al crysten and al he lereþ to be ..letrewe : & vch a craft loue oþer Ne non bost ne debate : be a-mong hem all þoȝth sum be clenner þan sum : ȝe se wel quod grace þat al craftes and connygnesconnynges : come of my ȝefte loke þat non lake oþer : but louen as breþeren and þat mestries can : be myldest of berrynge and crouneþ consciens kyng : & mak craft ȝour styward and after craft consaileþ : cloþe ȝou and fedeþ For I mak peres þe ploughman : my procuratour & my reue and register to reseyue : Redde quod debes My prowour and my ploughman : peres schal be on erþ and for Dobeste And for to tuly treuþe : a teme schal he haue Grace gaf peres a tems : four grete oxen nota de pers-ys plogbestys þat on was luke a large best : & a low chered and marke and mathew þe þyrd : myȝty bestes boþ and Ioyned to hem on Iohan : most gentyl of all þe prys neet of peres plough : passyng al oþere and seþ grace of his godenesse : gaf peres four stottes al þat þos oxen erred : þey harrowed after one heȝth austeyn : and ambrose þe oþer Grygory þe grete clerke : and Ierom þe gode þos foure þe fayth to teche : folowed peres tems and harowed in an handwyle : al holy scriptour wiþ two ...h..lawes þat þey had : on olde & a newe IdestId est vetus testamentum & nouum and grace gaf peres graynes : cardinal vertues and sewe hit in mannis soule : and seþ he toke her names nota de iiij sedys þat grasyaw to pers Spiritus prudencie : þe fyrst sede heȝth þat woho-so ette þat : ymagyne schuld are he did ony dede : dyuyse wel þe ende and lered men a ladil bygge : wiþ a long stele þat cast for to kele a croke : and saue þe fatte a-bowe þe secundum sede heȝth : spiritus temporancie he þat ette of þat sede : had such a kynde sculd neuer mette ne myschef : mak hym to swell Ne schuld no sco.rner : out of skyle hym brynge Ne neþer wynnynge ne welthe : of wordely riches wast worde of Idelnesse : ne wicked spech mene Schuld no curious cloþe : come on his rigge Ne no mette in his mouþe : þat mayster Iohan spysed þe þyrd seed þat peres sewe : was spiritus fortitudinis and who-so ette of þat seed : hardy was euer To suffer al þat god sente : sekenes and angers Miȝth no lyers wiþ lesenges : ne los of worles catel Mak for ony mournynge : þat he ne was myry in soule bold and abydynge : .....desseyes to suffer and pleded al wiþ paciens : & parce michi domine and couered hym vndir consail : of catoun þe wisse Esto forti animo &ȝ00b7; cum sis dampnatus inique þe ferþe sede þat peres sewe : was spiritus Iusticie and he þat ette of þat seed : schuld be euer trew wiþ god and noȝth a-gast : but of gyle one For gyle goþ so pryuely : þat gode fayþe oþer-whyle May noȝth be aspyed : þroȝth spiritus Iusticie spiritus Iusticie : spareþ noȝth to spile hem þat ben gilty : and for to correcte þe kyng and þe kyng : fayle in ony gilte for conteþ he no kynges wraȝth : wan he in court sitteþ To deme as a domus-man : a-drad was he neuer Neþer of duke ne of deþe : þat he ne did lawe for present or for pryer : or ony princes letteres he did equite to al euen : þroȝth his knowynge þos four sedes peres sewe : and seþ he did ham harow wiþ old law and new lawe : þat loue myȝth waxe a-mong þos four vertues : and vices destrw for comunly in contres : cammokes and wedes Fouleþ þe frute in þe feld : þere þei groweþ to-gyders and so doþ vices vertues : for-þy quod peres haroweþ al þat conneþ kynde witte : by consail of þos doctours and tulieþ after her techyng : þe cardinal uertues a-ȝenes þe grayns of grace : be-gynneþ for to rype nota de pers-yshows Ordeyn þe a hous peres : to herbrow in þy cornes By god-is grace quod peres : ȝe most ȝif me tymber and ordeyn þat hous : or ȝe hennes wende and grace gaf hym þe cros : wiþ þe croune of þornes þat crist a-pon caluary : for mankynd was peyned and of his baptissme an blod : þat he bled on rode Dobest and made a maner of a morter : and mercy hit heȝth and þere-wiþ grace by-gan : to mak a gode fundement he watteled and walled hit : wiþ peynes of his passioun and of al holy wrytte : he made a roof after nota de cartdraw pers-ycorne and called þat hous vnite : holy church and englissch and whan þis dede was donn : grace dyuysed a carte heȝth crystendome : to cary home peres scheues and gaf him capls in his carte : contrycioun & confessioun and made prestod heyward : þe whyles hym-silf wente as wide as þe world is : wiþ peres to tully trouþe and þe lawe of byleue : þoue lawe of holy church Now is peres and þe plough : Pryd þis aspied and gadered hym a grete oste : greue he þynkeþ Consciens and al cristen : and cardynal vertues blew hem doun and brake hem : and bote a-two þe mores and send forþe surquidoures : his seriaunt of armes and his spy spil loue : one speke euel be-hynde þis two come to consciens : and to crysten pepyl and told hem tydynges : þat tyn he schuld þe sedes þat syr peres sewe : þe cardinals vertues and peres berne worþe broke : & þey þat ben in vnite schal come out and consciens : and ȝour two capls Confessioun & contricioun : and ȝour carte þe beleue schal be coloured so queyntely : & keuered onder our sophistry þat consciens schal noȝth know : by contrycioun Ne by confessioun : who cristen is oþer heþen Ne no maner marchaunt : þat wiþ money deleþ weþer he wyn wiþ ryȝth : wiþ wrong or wiþ vsure wiþ such colour and queyntes : comeþ Pryde armed wiþ þe lord þat lyueþ : aftir þe lust of his body To wasten and to wel fare : and in wyked kepynge al þe world in on whyle : þroȝth our vices & pryde Quod consciens to al crysten þo : my consail is we schuld hastely to vnite : and hold we vs þere prey we þat pees were : in peres berne þe ploughman For witterly I wote wel : we be noȝth of strynþe To go a-gayn pride : but grace wer wiþ vs and þan come kynde witte : consciens to teche nota de kynd wyt and cried and commaunded : al cristen pepyl To deluen and to diche : depe a-boute vnyte þat holy church stode in holynesse : as hit were a pole Consciens commanded þo : al cristen to delue and make a much mote : þat myȝth be a streynth To help holy church and hem : þat hit kepeþ þen al kynd crysten : saue comune women repented and refused syn : saue þei one nota de questmangers& somnours And a sysour and a sompnour : þat were for-sworen oft wittynge hem wilfully : wiþ þe fals þei helden and for syluer wer forswere : soþely þe wist hit þere ne was cristen creatour : þat kynd witt had þat he ne holp a quantyte : holynes to wex sum þroȝth beddis byddynge : and sum by pilgrimages oþer .....proue penaunce : & sum þroȝth penyes delynge and þan walled water : for wicked werkes Egerly rynnynge out : at mennes eyes Clennes of þe comune : & clerkes clene lyueynge Mad vnite in holy church : In holynes stande I car noȝth now quod consciens : þoȝth Pryde come now þe lord of luste schal be lette : al þis lente I hopp Comeþ quod consciens : ȝe cristen and dyneþ þat haþ laboured ...trevly : al þis lente tyme nota de god-ysbody infowrmeof bred her is brede blessed : & godis body þere-vndir Grace þroȝth godis wordys : gaf peres þe ploughman Power and myȝth to make hit : and men for to etten hit In help of her hele : ones in one monþe Dobeste Or as oft as þei had nede : þo þat had payed To pers pardoun þe ploughman : redde quod debes how quod al þe comune : þou consailest vs to ȝeld al þat we ouen ony wyȝth : or þat we go to houselde þat is my consail quod consciens : & cardinal uertues or vch a man for-ȝeuen oþer : and þat wil þe Pater noster Et dimitte nobis &ȝ00b7; debita nostra &ȝ00b7; and so to ben assoyled : and seþ to ben hoseled nota de brewesters ȝe baw quod a brewere : I wil noȝth be ruled by Ihesus for al ȝour Iangelyn : after spiritus Iusticie Ne after Consciens be cryst : I couþe sill Boþ dregges and draf : and draw at one holl þyke ale and þyne : and þat is my kynde and noȝth hak after holynesse : hold þy tong Consciens of spiritus Iusticie : þou spake much ydel Caytyf quod consciens : curssed wreche vnblessed art þou brewer : but ȝif þe god helpe But ȝif þou lyue by lore : of spiritus Iusticie þe chef sede þat peres sewe : saued worþ þou neuer But consciens þi comune : and cardinal vertues nota de lewytwykerry leued we ben loste : boþ lif and soule þan is many loste : quod a leued vicary I am a curatour of holy church : and come neuer in my tyme Man to me þat me couþe tell : of cardinal vertues Or þat counte Consciens : at a kokes fether I knew neuer cardinal : þat he ne come fro þe pope and we clerkes when he come : for her comines payeþ for her pelour and here palfray his met & his pillours foloueþ þe comune clamat cotidie : vch a man to oþer þe contre is þe corsdedir : þat a cardinal come þere-In and þere þei lyge and leng most : lechury þere regneþ For-þi quod þat vicary : by verray god I wold þat no cardinal come : a-mong þe comune pepill But In here holynesse : hold hem styl at aueoun a-monge Iewes : Cum sancto sanctus eris Or in rome as her rule wold : þe relekes to kepe and þou consciens In þe kynges court : & schuld neuer cum þennis and grace þat þou gredest so of : be gyour of al clerkes and peres wiþ his newe plough : & al-so his olde Emperour of al þe world : þat al men wer cristen Imparfite is þat pope : þat al pepil schuld help and sendeþ hem þat sleep : such as he schuld saue as wel worþe peres þe ploughman : þat persueþ god in doyng Qui pluit super Iustos & iniustos at ones and sent þe sonle ..to saue : as cursed mannis tulþe as bryȝth as to þe best man : or to þe best woman Rith so peres þe ploughman : peyneþ hym to tully as wel for a wastour : as for a wench of þe stues as for hym-silf and his seruant : saue he is first serued so blessed be peres þe ploughman : þat peyneþ hym to tulye and traualeþ and tulieþ : for a traytour al so sore as for a trew tydy man : al tymes I-lyche and worchoped be he : þat al wroȝth boþ gode & wicke and suffered þat synful be : to sum tyme þat þei repente and god a-mend þe pope : þat pilliþ holy church and cleymeþ be-for þe kynge : to be keper ouer crysten and conteþ noȝth þoȝ crysten : be killed and robbed and fynd folke to fyȝth : and cristen blod to spyl aȝen þe old law & þe newe : as luce berreþ wyttenes Non occides &ȝ00b7; Michi vindictam hit semeþ by so hym-silf : had his will hym rekeþ riȝth noȝth : of þe remenaunt and crist of his curtesy : þe cardanal saue and turne her witte to wisdome : & to wel for þe soule For þe comune quod þis curatour : counteþ ful lytyl Dobeste þe consail of consciens : of cardinal uertues But yif þei sone as by siȝth : sumwhat ifto wynnygewynynge of gile ne of gabbynges : geueþ þei no tale of spiritus prudencie : a-mong þe pepil is gyle and þo faire vertues : as vices þei semeþ for vch a man soteliþ : a sleȝth syn to hyde and colourhit it for a connygconyng : and a clene lyfyng þan lough þer a lorde : and by þis lyȝth saide I hold it ryȝth and resoun : of my reue to take and þat myn auditour : or elles my styward Consaileþ me by her a-counte : & my clerkes wrytynge wiþ spiritus Intellectus : þei toke reues rolles and wiþ spiritus fortitudinis : feȝch hit it wil he nyl he And þen come þere a kynge : and by his croune sayde I am kynge wiþ croune : þe comune to rule and holy church and clerge : fro cursed men to defende and ȝif me lackeþ to lyue by : lawe wil þat itakei take hit þere I may hastelyest haue : for I am hede of lawe and ȝe ben but members : & I a-boue al and seþ I am ȝour aldir hede : I am ȝour alder hele and holy church chef help : & cheuentyn of þe comune and what I take of ȝou two : I take hit at þe techynge of spiritus Iusticie : for I Iuge ȝou all so y may boldely be houseled : for I borow neuer Ne craue of myn comune : but as my kynd askeþ In condicioun quod consciens : þat þou þe comine defende and rule þi reme in resoun : riȝth wel and in treuþe þat þou haue al þyn askynge : as þe lawe askeþe omnia sunt tua ad defendendum sed non þe vicary had fer home : and faire toke his leue and I a-waked þer-wiþ : & wrote as me mette passus secundus de do beste And as I went by þe way : whan I was þus a-waked wiþ heuy chere I ȝede : and elyng In herte for I ne wiste where to ette : ne at what plas and hit neȝed ney none : & wiþ nede I mette þat fronted me foule : and faytour me called Coudyst þou noȝth excuse þe : as did þe kyng & oþer þat þou toke to lyue by : to cloþes and to sustenaunce was by techyng and by tellyng : of spiritus temporancie and þat þou nome no more : þan nede þe taght nota de nedehath no lawe and nede had no lawe : ne noȝth schal fal in dette For þre þynges þat he takeþ : his lif for to saue þat is mette when men hym warneþ : for he no mony weldiȝ and wot þat non wol be his borth : ne no wed had to leg and caccheþ in þat caas : and cum þere-to by sleȝth he synneþ noȝth sothely : þat so wynneþ his fode and þoȝth he come to a cloþe : & can ne better chefsauns Nede a-none riȝth : nymmeþ vndir maynprys and ȝif hym lust for to lappe : þe lawe of kynde wolde þat he dranke at a diche : or he dey for þurste so nede at grete nede : may nym as for his ouen wiþ-out consail of consciens : or cardinal vertues so þat sowe and saue : spiritus temporancie for is no vertu be-for : spiritus temporancie Neþer spiritus Iusticie : ne spiritus fortitudinis for spiritus fortitudinis : forfeteþ ful ofte he schal do more þan mesure : many tymes & ofte and bete men ouer-bitter : and sum-body to litil and gouern men gretter : þan gode fayþe it wolde for spiritus Iusticie schal Iuge : wil he nyl he aftyr þe kynges consail : and þe comune like and spiritus Iusticie : In many a poynt schal faile of þat he weneþ wol fal : ȝif is witt ne werer Passus 2 de Dobeste wenyng is no wysedom : ne wyse ymagynacoiunymagynacioun homo proponit deus disponit : god couerneþgouerneþ al gode vertues nota de ned and nede is next hym : for a-none he makeþ as low as a lomebe : for lackyng þat hym nedyþ for nede makeþ nede : fele tyme low hertyd philosofers for-soke welthe : for þei wold be nedy and wenten wel elyngly : and wold noȝth be ryche and god al his grete Ioy : gostely he lafte and cam and toke mankynd : and be-come nedy so he was nedy as seyþe þe boke : in many sondry places and he saide in his sorow : on þe silf rode Boþ fox and foule may fle : to hol & crepe and þe fissch had fyn : to flett wiþ to reste þere nede haþ nome me : þat I met nede a-byde and suffer sorowes ful soure : þat schal to Ioy tourne for-þi be noȝth a-basshite : to byde and to be nedy seþ he þat wroȝth al þe world : was wilfully nedy Ne neuer none so nedy : ne porer deyed whan nede had me vndir nome : þus a-none I fel a-sclep nota de antecryst and mette ful merueously : þat in manis forme Antecriste come þan : and al þe cropp of trewþe Torned hit vp-so-doun : and ouer-tulde þe rote and made fals sprynge and spred : & spede mannis nedis In vch a contre þer he come : kytte a-wey treuþe and gart gyle grow þere : as he a god were Freres folowed þat fende : for he ȝaf hem copes and religioun reuerensed hym : and ryngen her bellis and al þe couent cam : to wel-come a tyraunt and al his as wel as hym : saue only foles wer wel gladir to dey : þan to lyue lenger seþ lble..leve was : so Foule rebuked And a fals fende antecrist : ouer al folke regned and þat wer myld men & holy : þat no myschef dreded defyed al falssenes : & folk þat hit vsed and what kyng þat hym conforted : knoweng her gylte þei cursed and her consail : wer it clerke or lewed nota de antecristys herrottisof armys antecrist had þus sone : honderedis at his baner and pride hit bare : boldely a-boute wiþ a lorde þat lyued : aftir lykyng of body and come a-ȝenes consciens : þat keper was and gyour ouer kynd cristen : and cardenal vertues I consail quod consciens þo : com wiþ me ȝe foles In-to vnite holy church : and hold we vs þere and cry we to kynd : þat he come & defende vs foles fro þos fendes lymmes : for peres loue þe ploughman and cry we on al þe comune : þat þei come to vnyte and þer a-byde and byker : a-ȝenes belial-is childeren kynd consciens þo herd : and come out of þe planetis and send forþe his foriours : feuores & fluxus Coughes and cardiacles : crampes & toth aches Reumes and radegundes : and reynous schabbes Biles and bocches : and brennyng angres Frenesies and foule eueles : foragers of kynd had pricked and pared : polles of pepil largely a legyoun : lees þe lif: sone þo was harrow and help : her comeþ kynde wiþ deþ þat is dredful : to vndone vs al þe lorde þat lyued after lust : þo a-loude cryed nota de herrensof armysþat destruytlordis affter conford a kneȝth come : and ber his baner a-larum a-larum quod þat lorde : vch lif kep his ouen þan mett þos men : as mynstrals myȝth pype and har heraudes of armes : had destrued lordis Old and hore he was : in þe war.forward Passus 2 de Dobeste And bare þe baner by-for deþe : by riȝth hit claymed kynd come aftir hym : wiþ many kyn sores as pokkes and pestilens : much pepil schent so kynd þroȝth corupciones : kylled ful many nota de deþ deþe come dreiuyng after : and al to duste passhde kynges and kneȝthes : kaysers and popes lered and lewed : he left no man stond þat he hutt euens : þat euer stirred after Many a louely lady : and her lemmandis kneȝthes swoned and swelt : for sorow of deþe dyntes Consciens of his curtesy : þo kynd he be-soȝtht To sytt and to suffer : and weþer þei wolde leue Pride priuely : and be-come cristen nota de fortune-ysflatrynge and kynd cessed þo : to se þe pepil a-mend Fortune gan flattur þan : þe few þat werne a-lyue and he be-heȝth hem long lif : and lechury he sente a-mong al maner men : weddid and vnweddid and gadered a grete ost : a-ȝenes consciens þis lechury leyd on : wiþ laughyng chere and wiþ pryue spech : and peynted wordys and armed hym in ydelnesse : and in hey beryng he bare a bow in his hond : and many abrode arowes wer federed wiþ faire be-hoste : & many a fals truce wiþ vntydy tales : he tened ful ofte Consciens and his company : of holy church þe techers þan come couetys : and cast how he myȝth ouer-come consciens : and cardinal vertues and armed hym wiþ auarice : and hongeryli lyued his wepen was of wyles : to wyne and hyden wiþ glosenges and gabbynges : be-gyled þe pepil Symony hym sued : to assaile consciens and preched on þe pope : and prelatis þei made To hold wiþ antecrist : her temporalte to saue And come to þe kynges consaile : as a kene baroun and konckedknocked consciens : in courte by-for hem al nota houu falce scholdabid in kyngiscowrt & all oþercowrtis and gart gode fayth to fle : and flas to a-byde and baldely bare a-doun : wiþ many a brode noble Much of þe witt & þe wisdoum : of wesmynstrer hall and oIogget to a Iusticie : and rou...nyt in his ere and ouer-tylte al his trouþe : with take þis on amendement And in-to þe arches in haste : he ȝede a-none aftyr and torned syuel in-to symony : & seþ he toke þe officiale and for a meneuer mantyl : he made ....on-trev matrymony departe or deþe come : and a deuors schapped A-las quod consciens þo : and cryed wold cryst of grace þat couetys wer crysten : þat is so kene to fyȝth and bold and a-bydyng : þe whyle þe bage lasteþ And þan lough lif : and lett dag his cloþes and armed hym in haste : In harlotes wordys and held holynes . a iape : & hendenesse a wastour and lete lo...eve a chorld : and lier a freman Consciens and his consaile : he counted hit foly þus releued lif : for a litil fortune and prycked forþ wiþ pryde : preyseþ he no vertu he carpiþ noȝth how kynd slow : & schal come at laste and kyl al erþely creatoures : saue consciens one lif lept a-syde : and laugh.dt hym a lemm..ond hele and I quod scho : and heynes of herte schal do þe noȝth drede : neþer deþe ne Elde and to forȝett ȝouthe : and ȝif noȝth of synne þis lyked lif : and his lemmand fortune nota nota de sleȝt and gatten in her glorie : a gaddelyn at þe laste One þat much wo wroȝth : sle.ȝth was his name sle.ȝth was wonder ȝerne : and sone was of age and wedded one wanhopp : a wenche of þe stues hir sire was a sysour : þat neuer swar treuþe Passus 2 de Dobeste ¶ On thom two tong : atteynte at vch a queste þis sle.ȝth was sley of were : & a slyng made and þroȝth drede of dispere : a doseyne myle a-boute for care consciens : þe cryed vppon Elde and bade hym fonde to fyȝth : and after wanhopp and Elde hent gode hopp : and hastely schrof hym and wayfet a-way wanhop : and wiþ lif he foȝthen nota de fesyk and lif fley for ferde : to fysike after help and be-soȝth hym of socour : and of his salue hade and gaf hym gold gode wone : þat gladed his herte and þai gafe hym a-gayne : a glasen howe lif leued þat lechecraft : lette schuld Elde and dryue a-wey deþe : wiþ dayes and dregges And Elde auntred hym on lif : and at þe laste he hit a ficissiane wiþ a furred hode : þat he fel in on palisie and þer deyed þat doctour : are þre dayes aftyr Now I se saide lif : þat surgery ne fysyke May noȝth a mytte a-vayle : to medel a-ȝenes Elde and in hop of his hele : gode herte he hente and rode so to a rule : riche plas and a myry þe company of conford : men cleped it sum-tyme nota de heldeyed our menhedys and Elde after hym : and ouer mennis hedes ȝede and made men balled be-for : and bare on þe crone so herd he ȝede ouer menis heuedys : hit wold be sene euer sir euel taugh Elde quod I : vn-hende go wiþ þe seþ whan was þe way : ouer mennis heuedys haddist ben hend quod I : þou woldest haue asked leue ȝe leue lorde quod he : and layde on wiþ age and hit me vndir þe ere : vneþe myȝth I hyre he bofet me a-boute þe mouþe : & bet out my wangh teþe and geuen me in goutes : I may noȝth go at large And of þe wo þat I was In : my wyfe had rewþe and wissed wel witterly : þat I wer in heuen For þe lym þat scho loued me for : & lefe was to felde on nyȝthes namely : when we naked were I ne myȝth in no maner : mak it at hir will So Elde and scho : hit had for bette nota how kyndpassite and as lI sate in þis sorow : I saugh how kynd passed and deþe drow ney me : for drede I gan to quake and cryed to kynd : out of care me brynge lo how Elde þe hore : haþ me be-sey a-wreke me ȝif þi wil be : for I wold be hennis ȝif þou wilt be wroke : wend in to vnite and hold þe þer euer : tyl I send for þe and loke þou con sum craft : are þou come þennis Consaileþ me kynd quod I : what craft beis best to lere lerne to loue quod kynd : and leue al oþer how schal I come to catel so : to cloþe me and to fede and þou loue l.lytreuly : lake schal þou neuer wede ne wordely mette : while þy lif lasteþ and I by consail on kynde : comsed to rombe þroȝth contricioun and confessioun : til I come to vnite and þere was consciens constable : cristen to saue Beseged soþely : wiþ seuen grete geauntes and wiþ antecrist helden : hard a-ȝenes consciens sle.ȝth wiþ his slynge : and hard saute he made Proud prestes come wiþ hym : passyng an hondered In paltokes and pyked schoes : and pyssers long knyues Come a-ȝenes consciens : wiþ couetys þei helden by mary quod a mased prest : was of þe march of wales I counte no more consciens : so I cacche siluer þan I do to drynke : a draȝth of gode ale and sosaide syxti : of þe same contre and schotten a-ȝenes hym : wiþ schot many a schef of oþe. Passus 2 de Dobeste And brode hoked arowes : goddis hert and his nayles And haþ al-moste vnite : and holynes a-doun put Consciens cried helpe : clerge or y faile þroȝth imparfite prestes : and prelatis of holy church Freres herd hym cry : and come hym to help and for þei couþe noȝth wel her craft : consciens for-soke hem Nede neyed þo nere : and consciens he tolde þat þei come for couetys : to haue cure of soules and for þei are pore parauentour : for patrimonijs hem fayleþ þei wold flatter to fare wel : folk þat be riche and seþ þei chose ..hylcold : and kaytif and pouerte lett hem chew as þey Chose : & charge hem wiþ no cure for lomer he lyeþ : þat liflod moste beg þan he þat laboureþ for his liflod : and leued to beggers and sethd freres for-soke : þe felicite of erþe let hem be as beggers : and lyue by angelis fode Consciens of his consaile : þo comsed to laugh nota de conciens and curtesly comford hem : and called hem In al freres and sayde syrres sothely : wel-come be ȝe al To vnite and holy church : ac on þyng I ȝou pray hold ȝou in vnite : and haueþ non envie To lerede ne to leued : but lyueþ aftyr ȝour rule and I wil be ȝour borth : ȝe schal haue brede & cloþes and oþer necessariis I-now : ye schal no þyng lake wiþ þat ȝe leue logik : and lerneþ for to louye for loue left þei lordchyp : boþ lond and schole Frere fraunces and domynyk : for loue to be holy and ȝif ȝye coueteþ cure : kynd wol ȝou tell þat in mesure god made : al maner of þyngys and sett hit at a certeyn : and at a syker nombre and nempned hem names : and nombred þe sterres Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum & cetera nota de nowmbyr kynges and kneȝthes : þat kepen and defenden haue officers vndirhemvndir hem : and vch of hem a certeyn and ȝif þei wage men to werr : þe wrytten hem in nombre wil no tresurer taken hem wages : trawayle þei neuer so sore but þei be nempned in þe nombre : þat beþ waged al oþer in batayle : ben holden bryboures pylours and pyke harneys : in vch paroch a-corsed Monkes and monyals : & al men of relygioun her ordir and her rule wold : to haue a certeyn nombre of lered and leued : þe lawe wol and askeþ a certeyn for a certyn : saue only of freres For-þy quod consciens by crist : kynd witt me taught hit is wicked to wage ȝou : ȝe waxeþ out of nombre heuen haþ euen nombre : & hel is out of nombre for I wold hit witterly : þat wer in regester and ȝour nombre vndir notaries sygne : & noþer mor ne l.. Envie hard þis : and hete freres go to schole and lerne logike and lawe : & eke contemplacioun and preche me of plato : and proue hit by seneca þat al þynges vndir heuen : oȝth to be comune he lyeþ as I leue : þat þe leued so teche For god made to man a lawe : & moyses hit taught Non concupisses rem proximi tui and euel is hit hold : In paroches of engelond For parsones and paroch prestes : þat schuld þe pepil schryue and curatoures ben called : to know and to hele al þat ben her parochnes : penaunce to en-Ioynen nota of ham þatbeþ aschamto be schrew and ben a-schamed in her schryft : ac schame make hem wend and fle to þe freres : as fals folke doþ to westmynster þat boroweþ and berreþ it þadir : & þan biddiþ frendys ȝorne of har for-ȝeuenesse : or lenger ȝeres leue Ac whil he is in westemynster he wil before be and mark Passus 2 de Dobeste nota of ham þat s....to frerys and make hym myry : wiþ oþer menis godys and so hit fareþ wiþ much folke : þat to þe freres schryueþ As sysoure and seketoures : þat schal ȝeue þe freres a parcel to prey for hem : and make hem myry wiþ remenaunt þat oþer men be-swonke&ȝ00b7; and suffer þe dede in dette : to þe day of dome Envie hor-for hateþ consciens and freres to philosophy : he fond hem to scole þe whyle couetys and vnkyndenes : consciens assoyled In vnite holy church : consciens held hym and pes porter : to pyn þe ȝates of al tale tellers : & tytareres on Idyl ypocrisy and þei : and hard saute made nota de ypocrysy ypocrisy at þe ȝatte : hard gan fyȝth and wonded wel wyckedly : many a wyse tocher þat wiþ consciens accordid : and cardinal vertues Consciens called a leche : þat couþe wel schryue To salue þat seke were : and þroȝth syn wonded ...yft schop scharp salue : & mad men do penaunce for her mysdedis : þat þei wroȝth had and þat peres pardoun wer payed : redde quod debes sum lyked noȝth þis leche : and letteres þei sende ȝif ony surgeane wer in þe sege : þat soft couþe plauster sir lif to lyue in lechury : lay þer and groned for fastyng of a fryday : a-ferd as he wold dey þer is a surgeane in þe sege : þat soft can handel and more of fysike by fer : and fairer he plastereþ one frere flaterer : is ficissiane and surgiane Quod contricioun to consciens : do hym com to vnite for her is many hurte : þroȝth ypocrysy we haþ no nede quod consciens : I wote no better leche þan persoun or paroch prest : penytansyer or bysschop Saue peres þe ploughman : þat haþ power ouer all and Indulgens may do : but ȝif dette h.. lette I may wel suffer quod consciens : such as ȝe desyreþ nota de frere flaterrere þat frere flaterer be fette : and fissike ȝ.. allseke þe frere her-of herde : and hyed faste To a lorde for a letter : leue to haue to curen as a curatour he were : and come wiþ his letter baldely to þe bisschop : and his bref had In contrees þere he come : comfessiones to hyre and come þere consciens was : & knoked at þe ȝate Pees ..pynned hit : was porter of vnite and in haste asked : what his wil were In fayth quod þis frere : for profyd & for held Carpe I wold wiþ contrycioun : & þere-for I com hiddir he is seke said pes : and so is many oþer ypocrysy haþ hurte hym : ful hard ȝif he keuere I am a surgiane saide þe frere : & salues can make Consciens knoweþ me wel : & what I can boþe I pray þe quod pes þo : are þou passen farþer what hattest þou I prey þe : hele noȝth þy name Certes saide his felew : sir penitrans domos ȝe go þy gate quod pees : by god for al þy fyseke but þou con ony craft : þou comest noȝth þere-In I know such one ones : noȝth eȝthe wynter passed Come in þus coped : at a court þer I dwelled and was my lordys leche : and my ladyes boþ nota how þat frer salwtour women and at þe laste þys lymytour : þo my lolrd was out he salued so our wymmen : to sum wer wiþ childe hende spech hit pes þo : oppened þe ȝattes and lette in þe frere his felew : & make hem fayr chere he may se and hir here : so may be-fall þat lif þroȝth his lore : schal leue couetys Passus 2 de Dobeste And be a-dred of deþe : & wiþ-draw hym fro pryde and accorde wiþ consciens : and kys her eyþer oþer þus þroȝth hende spech : entered þe frere and come to consciens : and curteysly hym grette þou art wel-cum quod consciens : constu hele seke her is contricioun quod consciens : my cosyn wounded Comford hym quod consciens : and take kep to his sores þe plausters of þe parsoun : and pouders ben so sore and let hym lig ouer-long : and loþ is to chaunge fro lenten to lenten : he lett his plausters byte þat is ouer-long quod þis lymytour : I leue I schal a-mendid and goþ grop contricioun : and gaf hym a plaster of a pryue payment : and schal prey for ȝour and for hem þat ȝe are holdyn to : al my lyf-tyme and make ȝou my lady In masse and in matyns of freres of our fraternite : for a litil siluer þus he goþ and gadereþ : & gloseþ þere he schryueþ To contrycioun had clene for ȝit : to cry & to wepe and wake for his wycked werkes : as he was wont be-for for conford of þis confessour : contricioun he lafte þat is þe souereyn salue : for al kyn þynges Sleuþe saugh þat : and so did pryde and come wiþ a kene wil consciens to assaile Consciens cried eft clerge : cum help hym and bad contricioun to cum : to helpe to kep þe ȝattes he lyeþ a-drynte quod pes and so doþ many oþer þe frere wiþ his fysyke : þe folke haþ enchaunted doþ men drynk dwal : þat men dred no synne By crist quod consciens þo : I wil be a pylgrym and wend as wyde : as þe world regneþ To seke peres þe ploughman : þat prid myȝth destrw and at freres had a fyndyng : þat for nede flatereþ and counterpledeþ me nowconsciens : now kynd me a-wen. & send me help and hole : to I haue peres þe ploughm.. and se.th he gred after grace : til I can a-wake Explicit liber de Petro ploughman Anno ii henrici sexti sexto ante fuim Michael Incepte transf... Et sire Iones