The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. ?: New York, Pierpont Morgan Library, MS M.818 (J)William LanglandEdited by Eugene Lyman Computer Consultants and ProgrammersDaniel Pitti, David L. Seaman, and John Unsworth.University of ?? Press ?? ISBN: 0-472-00?

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200a/ New York, Pierpont Morgan Library, MS M.818

mid-15th centurySource copy consulted: New York, Pierpont Morgan Library, MS M.818

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LatinFrenchGerman21 November 2001 General Editor Hoyt N. Duggan SGML parsing and set up shells [Prologue] In a summer sesyn whanne softe was þe sunne I schope me in-to þe sche schropbys a schepe as I were In habite of an hermyte vnholy of werkys I went wide in þis werlde wonders to here Bot on a Mays mornyng$ on malueron hillis Me be-fell* a ferly & fayre me it thowte I was wery for-wandrryd$ and went me to rest Vnderneth a brode banke be a broke syde And als I lay & laynyd$ I kokyd[l]okyd on þe water I slomberyd into slepyng$ and sweuedyn ful mery þan gun I mete a meruelus sweuyn þat I was in wyldernes wist I neuer ware Bot as I be-helde to þo est on heght to þo sunne I say a turret in a toft trulyche makyd$ Depe dalys be-nethe a dungyn þerInne With depe dychis & derk & dredeful of syth* A fayre feld ful of folk$ fonde I þer be-twene Of al maner of men þe pore & þe richce Wyrkyng & wandering$ als þis werlde askyth Sume put þem to þe plowhe & playȝid ful seldome In sowing & harowing$ and swynkyd ful harde þat many of þies wastowrs in glotony destroye and summe put þem to þe play & pride & playde þem þerafter In countenaunce of cloþing$ comyn disgysyde In prayer & penaunce put þem ful many For þe fo luffe of oure lorde lyfuyd ful strayte In howpe forto haue heuen-riche blisse As ankyrs & Ermytys þat helde þem in her sellys Couet nought in contre for to scayre a-boute For no lycorus lyflode þer lyham to plese Summe chese hem to chaffare þei cheue wele þe bettur Os semyth be þe marchaundys þat mychil welth haue And summe myrthis to make als mynstrals kone And gete þem gode with þer gle synles I trowe Bot Iapers & Iangerelars Iudas childer Foundes hem fantesy & foles þem makes þat poule preches of þam I dare not proue it here Qui loquitur turpiloquium is luciferes hyne Bidders & beggers fast about ȝede Till* þer belyes & þer bagges were full* cramed$ Fayted$ for þer fode fough*ten at þe ale In glotony godwotegod wote go þai to bedd$ & rysupp{tilde}rys upp{tilde} with rybaudry robardes knaues Slouth* & slep{tilde} sewes þame euer Pilgrimes & palmeres pyke hem to-gyder For to seke sent Iame & sayntes at rome Went forth on her way with many wyse talys þan had þei leue forto lye al þer lyue after. Ermytes on hepys with hokyd stauys Went into walsyngham & þer wenchis after with grete polys & long$ þat lothe wer to swynk Clothid þem in copys to ben knowyn fro oþer four dotsAnd madyn him Ermytes þeir ese for to haue I fonde þer freris for sothe alle þe foure orders Prechand þe pepyl for profete of her wombys Glosyd þe gospel as hem gode lykyd For quayntnes of her copys constru as þei wolde Mani of þer maysters may clothe þem at lykyng$ For mone and marchaundys mettyn togydyr Sethyn charite hath ben chappman & chef to scriuen lordes Many ferlyes haue fallyn in a few ȝeris bot holychyrche & he holdyn to-gydere þe most mischeff on mold ys mountyng vp fast þer prikid ford a pardonere a prest as he we were brouht forth a bulle with bisscoppes seelys seyd þat him-selue myth* a-soylyn hem alle Of falsnesse of fastyng$ of vowys I-broken Lewed men leueden him & lykyklykyt wele his speche kemyn vp knelyng$ to kyssyn þe bulle He blenchet with his breuet & bleryd her yen & raut with his ragman ringgys & broches þusȝe ȝeuyn ȝoure gloulde glotenys to helppe & leuyn it losels þat lychery hauntyn Were þe bysschop{tilde} blissyd & worth bothe his eris His seele sold not be sent to seyuyn þe peple yt is not be þe bysschopp{tilde} þat þe boye prechet Ac þe parisch preste & þe pardonere partyn þe syluure þat þe pore peple suld hauen ȝif þei ne were Persons prestly pleynyd hem to her bysschopp{tilde} þat her parisch ben poure seyn pestelens tyme To haue lycens & leue at londoun to dwelle To synggyn for symony for siluer is swete þer houedyn an hundred in hownys of sylk$ Seriaundes it semyd þat seruyn at þe barre þat pledeyn þe Lawe for penyis & powndes & nouht for lof of oure lorde vnlesyn her lippe ones þu myhtyst bettur metyn myst on maluerne hilles þan getyn a momme of her mouthe or mone be schewyt I say bicchops bolde bacheris of deuyne Be-kemyn clerkys of a-countes þe kyng for to serue Erchedekyns & denys þat dignite haue To prechyn þe peple & pore men to fede Ben lepyn to londoun for lofe of her byschopes And ben clerkes of þe kynges benche þe cuntre to schende Barounys Burges & bondagys als I say in a semble als ȝe scholyn herin after Baksterys brocheris & brewsteris many Wollen websteris and weuerys of Lyne Taylours and Taucheris thackers & tolleris boþe Masounnys and Minouris and many oþer craftes And dykers & delueris þat done her dedys ille And driue forth* þe long day with dei saue dame Emme Tokys & her kaues knauys cryen hote pyes Hote gode gees & gris gowe dyne gowe. ?And tauerneris tolden to hem toldyn þe same With wyn of asoye & wyn of gascoyne And þe ryne & þe rochell* þe rost to de-fye All* þis I say slepyng & seuen sythis more Primus passus ?? paraph indicatorQwhat þe mounte be-menyth* & eke þe myrk dale & eke þe felde ful of folk$ I sal ȝow fayr schewe A louely leuedy on lere in Lynnen I-clothed$ ?kem downe from þat cleffe & called me fayre & seyde sonne slepis thow sest þu þis peple How besy þat þei ben now a-bowten þe mase þe most party of þis peple þat passyth on þis hye Haue þei worchep of þis werld$ kepyn þei no bettur Of oþer heuyn þan heere holdyn hey no tale paraph indicatorI was ferid of her face þof che fayre were & seyde mercy madame qwat is tomene þe toure of þe testre quod che trewthe is þerInne þat wolde þat ȝe wrowhten as his worde techit For he is fadere of feythe þat formed ȝow alle Bothyn with fell* & with face & ȝaf ȝow fyue wyttys Forto worcheppyn him þere-wyth qwylis y ȝe ben here E And þer-for he hyed þe erth to helpyn ȝow icheon In mesurable maner to maken ȝow at ese & comaundded$ of his curtesey in comen þer ȝinges Arun non nedful bot þoo & nemyn hem I thyng$ & Rekken hem be resoun & rehersen hem afftur þat one is vesture for cheld þe non to saue þat oþer is mete at male for myseys of þi-selue & dryng qwan þu driest but do nouth* out of resyn þat wirche wers qwan þu wyrchin scoldyst scholdist$ For loth in his lif day for lykyng of dring$ Did be his dowhter þat þe deuyl liked Delited in dring as þe deuyl wolde And lichery him lauht & lay be hem boþe & al he wyttid wyne þat wykked dede Drede delitable drink þu schal don þe bettere Mesure is medcyn þof þu mykel ȝerne Al is not goode for þe gost þat þe gutte axyt Ne lyflode to þe lykham þat leue is to þe sowle Leue not þi lykham for a lyer him techetȝ ledis þat is þe wreched werlde þe to be-traye For þe fende & þi fleche folwyn to-gydyre & þat scendeth þi sowle set it in þin hert$ & for þu schuldest ben ware I wisse þe þe best A madame mercy quod I me lykyth wele ȝoure wordes Ac þe mone of þis werld$ þat men so fast helden Telleth me to hem þat tresoure apendyth Go to þe gospell* quod sche q þat god seyd him-selue þe peple hem aposyd with penys in þe temple If hy scholden wrchepyn þer-with* Cesar þe kyng$ And God axed of hem as of qwom spekyth* þe letture And to hem wat þe Image k was lykyth þat þerin stodid standis Cesar þei seyde we seen wele Ichone Reddite cesari quod God þat Cesar befallith Et que sunt dei deo or ȝe don ille For ryhtfullyche resoun schulde rewlyn ȝow alle And kynde witte ben wardeyn ȝoure welthe to kepe And tutour of ȝoure tresoure & takyn ȝow at nede For husbandry & he holden to-gydere þan frened I her fayre for him þat her made þat doungen in þat dale þat dredful is of syht$ Qwat may it be-mene madame I ȝow be-seke þat is þe castel of care quod che qwo-so cometh þerIn May bannyn þat he bore was to body or to sowle ? þerin woneth a wyht þat wrong is I-hotyn Fader of falshede he fonde it him-selue Adma & Eue he heggyd to ille & councelde kayme to kyllyn his brodere Iudas he Iapede with Iuen syluere And syyn on a elderine hangyn him after He is swyche a letter of lof he gillith hem alle þat treston to his tresour tyid arn so fast þan had I wondur in my wytte wat womman it were þat swych$ wyse wordes of holy writ schewyd$ I axed hire on þe hye name or sche ȝede þenne Qwat sche was wytterly þat wissed me so fayre Holy chirche I am quod sche þu axist me to knowe I vnderfonged þe first & þe þi faythe tawhte þu browhtes me borowhes myn bidding to wirche To louen me leelly qwylys þi lyue durith þan knelid I on my knes & cried here of grace & prayed her petowsly to prayen for my synnys And als it kenyn me kyndeli on criste to beleue þat I myht werchyn his wille þat wrowht me to man Techit me no tresor but tellit me þis ilkyk ilke Howe I may sauyn my sowle þat seynt art I-hotyn Qwan alle tresors arun tried treuþe is þe best I do it on deus karitas to demyn þe sothe It is a derworth$ drewry as der god him-selue Ho-so is trowe of his tonge tell* he euel of non oþer And do gode werkys þer-with & wil no man ylle He is in god be þe Gospell* on grounde & on lofte & eke lyke to uoure lorde be sent lukes wordes þe clerkys þat kennyn a knowyn it schud kennyn it a-bowten For cristen & vncristen cleymyn it icchon Kynges & ky ky knyhtes schuld kepyn be resoun & rydyn & rapyn doun in rewmys a-boute For to takyn trespasoures & teyen hem fast Til trewthe had turnyd here trespas to þe ende For dauid in his dayes dubbyd knyhtesNota de Militer & did hem swere on here s swerde to seruen truthe euere þis is þe professyon apertly þat longith to knyhtes & Fastyn a friday in fyue score wynter Bu holden with him & with here þat axedyn trewthe And neuer leien hem for luffe ne laccing of ȝiftys And ho-so passet þat poynt is apostata in his ordere And crist knytteie kyng kyng or knyhtysknyttid ten þat tyme Cherubyn & seraphin & seuen moo oþere & ȝaf hem myht in his mageste & oueral his meyne made hem archangelis Tawht hem þorow þe trinite trewthe to knowe To ben boxom at his biddyng$ he bad hem nouth ellis Lucifer with legiounes lerned it in heuene And was luflikest of syht aftur oure lorde dere Tyl he brak buxomnesse þorow bost of him-selue þan fell* he with his felawes & fendes be-come Owte of heuene in-to hell* hobeleden many hy fast Summe in ayre summe in erthe summe in hell* depe Ac Lucifer lowest lith* of hem alle For pride he was þus put owte his payne hath non ende And þat wrchyn with wronge wenden hy schall* Affter her deth-day & dwellyn with þat schrewe Ac þoo þat wrchyn þe worde þat holy writ techeth* Moun ben sykyr þat her sowles sal wenden to heuene þer trewthe is in trinite triest of alle þer-for I sey as I ere seyde be syht of þes tixtes Qwan alle treseyr tresorys arun tried trewthe is þe est To leryd to lewyd men for letterid it knowyn. þat treuthe is þe tresor triest on ered erthe ȝit haue I no kynd knowyng$ ȝe motyn kennyn me bettur Be qwat crafte in myn cors yt comsin & ware þu dotyst daffe quod sche dulle arun þi wyttys It is a kynde knowyng$ þat kennyth þin hert For to louen þin lorde leuer þan þin-selue Non dedli synne to done deyen þof þu scholdyst þis I trowhe be treuthe ho-so can techyn þe better Loke þu suffure him to seyne & seyin lerne it aftur For þus witnessith þis word wyrche þu þeraftir þat loffe is þe leuest þing$ þat oure lorde axith* & eke þe plante of pees priche it in þin hert þer þu art myri at þin mete yif& men bidde þe ȝeddyn For in kynde knowing$ þer comsyt aryht þu conseyuys a myrth & þat fallid to þe fadyr þat formyth vs alle And leykyd on vs with loue & lete his sonne dye Mekelych for oure dedis to amenden vs alle & wolde hem no wo þat wrouuhtyn him þat pyne Bot mekelyche with mouthe mercy be-sowht$ To haue pece on þe peple þat pynyd him to dethe Here may þu sen exaumples in him-selue one þat he was myhtful & meke & mercy gan graunte To hem þat hengyn him by & his hert thrillyd$ þer-for I rede ȝe riche haue reuthe of þe poure þof ȝe ben myhty to mete beth meke of ȝoure werkys For þe same mesour þat ȝe metyn amys oþire ellis ȝe schollyn ben weyn þerwith qwan ȝe wendyns hennys For þei ȝe ben terwe of ȝor tung$ & trewelych wynne And eke as chaste as childe þat in chirche wepith But ȝif ȝe louen lelly & leuen þe pouere Of swyche gode as god hath sent godelich partene ȝe haue no more merite in matyns no in oures messe þan makyn of her maydenhed þat no man desyrith For Iamys þe gentil Iuggid in his bokys þat fayth withouten þe feete is feblere þat nouth* & deffe os a dornayle but if þe dede folowe Chastite withouten charite worth chaynyd in hell* It is as lewed as a Laumpe þat no liht is withInne Many chapelyens arun chast but charite is a-weye Arun no men harder þan hey qwan hy ben avauncede vnkende men to her kyn & eke to all* cristene Chewyn here charite & chiden after more Swyche chastite withouten charite wrth chenyde in hell* ȝe creatures þat kepyn ȝe clene of ȝoure bodis ȝe ben comberyd with kouetys ȝe konyne nouth oute Icrepyn So hard hath aueris happyd ȝow to- k gydyre þer is no treuthe of trinite but treccheri of hell* And a lering to þe lewyd men þe latter to dele For þis arun wordes writyn in euangelye date & dabitur vobis Date & dabitur vobis For I dele gyff ȝow alle quod he þat is a leche of loue þat I lete oute of my grace // to comforthe þe carefull* & cumberd in synne Luffe is þe leef leuest þing þat oure lorde axith & eke þe gate grethed þat goth in-to heuene þerfore I seyn as I seyde ere be syht of þis tixtes Qwan alle þer Tresors ben tried treuth is þe best Now haue I told qwat trowthe is þat non tresor is better I may no lengyr lendyn now loke þe oure lorde

& endyn as I ere seyd$ in profitable werkys [what is this?]

& endyn as I ere seyd$ in profitable werkys [what is this?]

Passus secundus de visione ȝit I knelid on my knes & cried her of grace I seyd mercy madame for mari loue of heuyne þat bare þe blissyd barun þat bouht us on rode Kenne me sum craft to knowene þe fals Loke on þin laft hande quod sche & se qwere hy stondyn{tilde} Both false & fawnell* & his feris many I loked on myn left halfe als þat lady me tauht & was ware of a womman wonderlych clothide I-pelurid with pelure þe finest of erthe Corounyd in a coroun þere kyng hath non better Alle hire fyue fyngeris weryn frettyt with ryngys Of þe purest perry þat prince weryd euere In a red scarlet cote & ryband with golde þer is no quen quayntere þat quyk$ es on lyue Qwat is þis womman quod I so worþilich a-tyryde þat is mede þe mayden hath noyede me ful ofte & lacked myn lore to lordes a-boute In þe popys paleys preue as myn-selue & so scholde sche nouth ben for wrong$ was here syre Oute of wrong$ sche wex to wroþerhayl many I awte to ben hyere þan sche I kam of a bettere To-morowe worth þe maryage made of mede & of fals Fauel with fayre speche hath forged hem to-gydyre Gile hath so be-gon here sche graunted his wille And all is lyeris ledyng þat hy lyen to- gidyere gidere To-morowene worth þe mariage made soth I þe tell* þer thow mayht witen If þu wilt wich* þei ben all* þat longyn to þat lordchip{tilde} þe lesse & þe more Know hem þer if þu kanst$ & kepe þe fro hem alle If þu couet to wone with treuthe in his blisse I may no lengere letyn lorde I þe be-kenne & be-come a godeman for any couetys I rede Alle þe riche retenu þat reignyn with false Weren bodyn to þat bridale on boþin two sydes Sire symony was after sent to selyn þo charter þat fals & fauel be ony fyne holdyn And feffe mede þerwith in mariage for euere þer ne was halle ne house to herberwyn alle þe peple þat iche felde was ful of folke al aboute In myddes a mounteyn at mydmorowe tyde Was pyt vp a pauelyoune proude for þe nonys & ten ȝowsyng$ of tentys tentes telid be-syde Of knyhtes of cuntrees of komerys a-boute For sysours for somonours for selleris & biggeris For lerid for lewyd for labores of thorppys Alle witnesse wele qwat þe writ wolde In qwat maner þat mede in mariage was feffyd$ To ben fastnyd with fals þe fyne is a-rerid$ þan Fauel fet hem forth & to fals takyth In forword þat falshed schal fyndyn here for euere And che ben boxom at his bode his bidding to fulfille At bed & at borde buxom & hende & as sire symony wil seyn to schewyn his wille Symony & Cyuyle stodyn forth bothin & vnfolden þe fefment þat fals hath I-makyd$ þus begynnyn þe gromes & criddyn ful hye þytyth & wytnessyth þat wonyth vp-on erth Nota de ?arta. þat I fauel feffe falsnes with mede To ben present in pride for pouer or for riche with þe Erledame of envye for euere to Last with lordechepp{tilde} of lichery in lengthe & in brede with þe kyngdam of couetys I crowne hem to-gydere with alle þe delitis of lust þe deuyl for to seruem In alle þe synge of slouth I sese hem to-gidere To hauyn & to holde & þer eris after with al þe purtenauns of purgatory in-to þe pyne of helle ȝeldyng for þis þing atte ȝeris ende Her soulys to sathanas to synkyn in pyne þer to wonyn with wrong$ whylis god is in heuyne In witnes of qwyth wrong$ was þe fyrste Peris þo pardonere Bet þe bedell of bokyngham schire Randof þe Reue of Roklond$ sokene Munde þe Myluer & many moo oþere. In þe date of þe deuel þe dede is a-selyde Be syht of sir symony & sygnys of notariys þan tened him tealogy þat qwan he þis call herde And seyde to Cyuyle now sorowyn on þi bokys Swyche weddyng$ to wirche to wrathyn hem with treuthe & ere þis weddyng$ be wrouhte wo þe now be-tyde For mede is a moylere of mendes gendered$ God grauntith for to ȝeuyn mede for treuthe And þu has ȝiuen hire a gyloure god gyf þe sorowe þe tixt tellith now treuthe wote þe sothe Dignus est operarius mercede sua. Worthy es þe werkman his mede to hauyne & þu hast fastned hyre with fals fy on þi lawe For al be lessynges þu leuest & liccherours werkys Symony & þi-selue schenden holy cherche ȝe & þe notaries noyen ofte þe peple ȝe scholyn a-byggen be criste þat me made Wele ȝe wytyn warnarde & witterlybut ȝor witte fayle þat false is a faytoure & defowlys many werkys & as a bastard I-borun of beelsabubes kynne & mede is a meylere a maydoun of gode Komlyche for cosyn þe kyng$ myht sche kysse Wolde sche wyrche be wysdom & be wit aftere Ledith hire to londoun þer law is I- haunted$ handelyd$ If any leute wil loke þei liggyn to-gydere & þei þe Iustyce Iuggen here to bien Iuned to false ȝit be ware of weddyng$ for witty is trewthe For consciens is of his counsell* & knowyth ȝow icchone & if he fynde ȝow in defaute & with false holde It schal ȝoure soulys wel soure abyggyn atte laste Herto asentyd Cyuile ac Symony ne wolde Til he had syluere for selis & sygnys þan fet forth fauel florens I-nowe & bad gile forto ȝeuyn golde al a-boute And namelich to noteryes þat þei none fayled$ And feffe false witnesse with* floreynes I-nowe For he may meden & maysteryn & makyn herin at wille þo þe golde was i-ȝouyn gret was þe thankyng$ To false & to fauel for her fayre ȝiftes And kemyn for to counfortyn ca fro care þe false And þei seyden sertis secyn sulden we neuere Til mede be þi weddyd wife þorow wit of us alle For we haue mede a-maysteryd with oure merye speche þat sche grauntyd to gon with a goode wille To londoun to lokyn for þe lawe þere Wolde Ioynyn ȝow gentely in Ioye for euere þan was false fayne & fauel as blithe And let somen alle þe seggys in schyres a-boute And alle þe bolde beggerys & oþer to wende with hem to westmynster to wytnessyn þis dede þan karidyn þei for caples to karyen hem þidyre And þan fet fauuel foles of þe best And set mede on a schyrreue schod all newe And false sat on a sysoure þat softly trotdyd$ And fauel vpon fayr speche fetelych a-tyryd$ þo had notaryes none anoyed þei were þat Symony & Cyuyle schuldyn on fote gange þan swore Cyuile & seyde be þe rode þat somonours schulde ben sadelyd & seruyn ecchone And lat a-parelyn þis prouysours in palfrayes wyse Sire symony him-selue schal syttyn on þe best$ And alle þes denys as destreris hem dyht$ For he schullyn beryn bischoppys & bryng hem at here rest Paulun pepel for pleynt in constarye Schollen serue my-selfe þat Cyuile hihte And lat cartsadelyn oure comissary oure cart sal ben drawe And fet oure vitayles of fornicatores And makyn of hem a long cart to leden alle þes oþer Als foles & faytours þat on her fete rennyn False & Fauuel faryn forth to-gydyre And mede in þe myddes & alle þe meyny aftere I haue no tome to tellyn þe tayle þat hem folewede Of many maner of men þat on þis molde libbith Sothenes say hem wele & seyd but litel But priked on his palfray & passed hem alle And cam to þe kynges courte & konciens told$ And consciens to kyng carpyd aftere Be crist quod þe kyng þo & I mowe cacchyn here Fals or fauuel or any of here feris I wile ben wreykyn of þe wrecchis þat wyrkyn so ille And don hem hangyn be þe halse & all þat hem mayntene Schal neuer man of þis molde mayprisyn þe best But riht as þe lawe lokyth let fallin of hem alle And comaunde a konstable þat cam atte first To atachyn þo tirauntys for non tresor I hote Fettrith falnese fast for any kenys ȝiftes And gyrde of gylys heuede & let him go no ferthyer And bringith mede to me maugrey to hem alle Symony & Cyuile I sende hem to warne !at holy chirche for hem worth harmed for euere And ȝif ȝe lacchyn lyere lat him nouth a-schape Til he be put on þe pylary for any prayere i hete Drede atte dore stode & grete dyne herde and whytelych wentyn to warnyn þe false And bad hym flene for fere & his feris alle þan falsnes for fere fley to þe Freris And gile doth him to go agast forto dey Ac marchaundes mettyn with him & made him on byde Be-schettyn him in her schoppys & schewyn hire ware Apareyldyn him as a prentys þe puple to serue Lyhtlych lyer lep a-wey þennys And lurked þorow lanys luggyd of many He ne was neqwere welcome for his many talis Ouere all I-huntyd & I-bodyn trusse Til pardoners haddyn pyte & pylledyn him to howse wyschyn weschen him & wyptyn him & woundyn him in cloutes And sentyn him on sonendayes with selys to chirches & ȝaf pardon for penys poundel-mele a-bouten þan lowredyn lechis & letteris for him sent$ For to wonyn with hem watres to lokyn Spycers spokyn him with for to aspyen her ware For he cowthe on her craft & know many gommys & mynstralles & messangeris mettyn with hem onys & wyth-heldyn him halue a ȝere & elleuen dayes Freris with fayre speche fecchin him þennys For knowing$ of incommers kopedyn him as a frere Ac he hath leue to lepyn out as oftyn as him lykys And is welkom qwan he will & wonyth with hem ofte Alle fleddyn for fere & flowen in-to hyrnes Saue mede þe mayde nomo dursten on byde Ac trewly to tellyn sche tremlyd for fere Wept & wrong$ here handdes qwan sche was atachid$ Passus quartus[tercius] de visione Now is mede þe mayde no mo of hem alle With bedels & baylies brohutbro[uh]t to þe kyng$ Þe kyng$ callyd a clerk I can not his name To taken mede þe madyn & make here at ese I wil asayne hir my-selue & sothely a-pose And ȝif sche wyrche be wytte & myn wille folowe I wil for#if#yuen her(e) my gild so me god helpe Curtesly þe clerk$ þo as þe kyng$ hutte Toke mede be þe mudel & brouht her(e) to chaumber(e) Ac þ(ere) was myrthe & mynstralsy mede to plese Þ woned at Westmynster(e) worchipedyn her(e) alle Semtely w(i)t(h) Ioye þe Iustice su(m)me icchone Buskedyn hem to þe boure þere Ee berde dwellyd And co(m)forthdyn kyndely be the clergys cene And seydyn morne mouth mede ne make þ(o)u no sorowe For we wile whissyn þe kyng$ & þi weye schape For al konsciens crafte is cast as I trowe Myldelyche mede þanne myrthed hem alle And of hire greete godenesse ȝaf hem icchone Cowpes of clene golde peces of syluure Rynges with Rubyes and richessys many Þe lest man here moynie a motoun of golde Þan lahutten hy leue þese lordes at mede With þat kemyn clerkys to counfortyn hem þe same And bodyn hyre blithe be for we be þin awne For to wirchin þi wille qwylys oure lyue durith Hendely sche þen behyte hem þe same To louyn hem lelly & lordys to make And in þe constory at courte don callen here names Scal non Lewdenesse lettyn þe Lede þat I luffe he ne worth first avaunced for I am be-knowe Þer klonyng$ clerkys schul klockyn be-hynde Þan cam þer a confessoure copyd as a frere Sot mede þe mayden meklelych he lowted And seyud wel soflych in schrifte as it were Þei leryd & lweyd had ley be þe alle And þei falnesse had folwyd þe þis fyueten wunter I schal a soylyn þe my-selue for a sem whete And als ben þin baudekyn & berin wele þin erdene? Among clerkys þ kynhtys consciens to felle Þan mede of here mysdedys to þat man kneled{flourish} And schroff hir of hir schrewdenes schameles I trowe Tolde him a tale & toke him a nobell{bar} For to bene hir bedman & hire baude after Þand he asoylyd hir sone & seþin he seyde We haue a wyndow in wyrching wil stondyn vs hye Wildys tow glasen þe gable & grauyn þin name Sikyr schude þin soule be heyyn to haue Wist I þat quod þat womman þer ne is wyndowe ne awter Þat I ne schulde mendyn or make & myn name writyn Þat euery segge sal see I am syster of ȝor house Bot god to alle godefolke swyche wrytyng defendith{bar} And seyth Nesciat synister quid facit dexter Lat not þi left halfe late no rathe Wytyn qwat þi rith halfe thinkyth or delyth Ac so priuely parte it þat pride be nouth seyne NOT FINISHED Passus quartus de visione Sescyth now seyde þe kyng$ I suffure ȝow no lengere ȝe schul sawtyn for sothe & seruen me bothe kisse hire quod þe kyng konsciens I rede Nay be crist quod consciens confoundyd wrthe I rdd rathere But resyn rede me þerto erst wil I dey And I comaunde quod þe kyng$ to consiens þanne Rape þe to ryden & consciens þu seche resoun þat þu fecche Comaunde him þat he come my conseyle to here For he schal rewlyn me & redyn me þe best$ Of mede & of oþer moo qwat man schal hire wedde And acountyn with þe consciens so me crist helpe How þu lernyst þe peple lerid & lewyd$ I am fayne of þat forworde quod consciens þanne And rod riht to reson & rownyd in his ere Seyd him as þe kyng seyde & sethyn toke his leue I schal rrapyn me to ride quod resoun rest þe a whyle & callid catoun his knaue curteys of spl speche Set my sadyl vpon suffre tyl I see my tyme And lat warrokyn him wele with witful gerthis Hang on him þe heuy bridyl to holdyn his hede lowe ȝit wil he makyn many we he er we comyn þere þan consciens on his capil caryeth forth fast & resoun with him rit &{no tilde} raped him swythe and þo waryn wisdum & witty his fere Folwedyn hem fast for þei haddyn to done In chekkere & in chaunccery to ben charchid of þingys and rydyn fast to resoun scholde redyn hem þe best$ For to sauen hem-selfe fro schamys & harmys But consciens com first to court be halue a myle & romed riht with resoun forth to þe kyng$ Curtesly þe kyng$ þoo welcomyd resoun Be-twyyin him & his sone set him on benche And wordedyn a grete whyle wysely to-gydyre Nota de Paceþan cam pees in parlenent &{no tilde} put hup a bylle How wrong aȝeyne his will* had his wyf takyn And how he had rauyschid$ roose raynald loue And mergrete of hir maydynhed mawgreyth hire chekys Bothe my geese & my grises his gadlinges fecheyn I ne dar for fere of him fyhtyn ne chidyn He borowed of me bayȝard &{no tilde} browht neuer aȝeyne him me Ne no ferthyng þer fore for nouth I cowthe pledyn He meynteth his men to mortheryn myn hewyn For-stallith my fayres &{no tilde} fytyth in my chepyng$ & breykyth vp my berne dorys &{no tilde} berith awey my qwhete And takyth me but a tayl for ten quarter otys And ȝit he betyth me þerto & liggith be my mayden I am not hardy for him vneth to lokyn þe kyng knewe he seyde soth for consciens him tolde Wrong was aferde þo & wisdom hem sowhte To make pes with his penyes & profere him many and seyde had I I loue of þe kyng litel wold I recche þei pees & his powere pleynyd hem ere euere Wysdom qwan he heryd þoo so dyd witte alse For þat wrong$ had wrouht so wyckyd a dede & warnyd wrong þo with swyche a wyse tale Ho-so wyrchith be wil wrath maketh ofte I sey it be þi-selfe þe sothe þu schalt fynde But ȝif mede it make þi myschef is vppe For [single illegible character both þi life & þi londe lithe in hire grace Wrong þan on wisdom wepede to helpyn him for of his Handy dandy I wisse he payed him þanne Wysdom & witte þo wentyn to-gydere & toke mede with hem mercy to wynne Pees þo put forth his hed & his pan blody Withouten gilt quod he god wote gate I þis scathe Conciens þo &{no tilde} þe kyng$ knewyn wel þe sothe & wistyn wele þat wrong was a sser schrew euere Ac wisdom &{no tilde} with þo weryn abowtyn fast To ouerkom þe kyng with catel If he mowht$ þe kyng swore be crist þo &{no tilde} be his crowne bothe þat wrong for his werkys schuld qwoo tholyn & comaundyd a constabil to castyn him in yrnys He schal not þis seuyn ȝere sene his feete onys God wote quod wisdom þat were nouth þe best & he amendys mow make let meynprise him haue & ben borowe of his bale & beggyn him bote & amendyn þat mysdede & euermore þe bettere Witte a-cordyd þerwith &{no tilde} seyde þe same Better is þat bote bale adoune bringge þan bale be I-betyn & bote neuer þe better þan gan mede mekyn hire & mercy besowhte & proferyd pes a present al of pewre golde Haue þis of me quod sche to amendyn þin state For I wil wagyn for wrong$ he wil do so no more Pees þan petowsly prayed to þe kyng$ To haue mercy of þat man þat mysded him oftyn For he hath wagyde me wele amendis as wisdam him tauht I forȝif him þat gilt with a gode wille So þat ȝe assentyn I can sey no more For he hath made me amendys I may no more axin Nay quod þe kyng þo so god ȝif me blisse Wrong$ wendith not so a-wey or I wyte more Lepe he so lihtly a-wey laqwyn he wolde And eft þe boldere ben to betyn myn hyen But resoun rewe on him he restith in my stokkys as long as I lyfe but ȝif loue it may make Somme reddin resoun to haue reuthe of þat schrewe & to counseylyn resyn þe kyng &{no tilde} conciens bothe þat mede mostyn ben a maynpernoure resyn þei be-sowht Rede me not quod resoun rewthe to haue Til lordys &{no tilde} leuedys louyn alle trewthe & alle here perleys purfyle be put in hire hucche Til childerys cherissyng be chastesyd with ȝerdys & harlatys holynes be howldyn an hyne Til clerkys &{no tilde} knyhtys ben curteys of her mowthis & hatyn to heryn herlatry or mowthn it for euere Til prestis here preching$ it prouyth hem-selue And don it in dede to drawyn vs to gode Til seynt Iemys be sowht þer I schal syngne þat no man go to galis but if he go for euere and rome-renners for robbers of be-ȝendyn Bere no syluer ouer þe see þat syng of kyng$ schewith Neythire grotys ne golde grauyn kyngges crowne Vp forfetourre of þe fee ho-so fynde hem at douere But it be marchaunde or his man or messanger with letter Or ellis prouysour or prest þat þe pope avauncyth And ȝit quod resoun be þe rode I scal no reuthe haue qwil mede hath þe maystri to motyn in þis halle Ac I may schewyn examplis as I se oþere I sey it for my-selue for and it so were And I were kyng with crowne to kepyn a rewme

Scholde neuere ???

Scholde neuere ???

Scholde neuyr wrong wrong in þiw werlde þat I wite myht Ben vp-punschid$ in my powr for peril of my soule Ac g?t getyn no grace þorow ȝifte so me god helpe Ne for mede haue mercy but mekenesse it made For nullum malum þ þe man mete with inpunitum And bad nu? nullum bonum bene inremuneratum Lat þi confessour sir kyng$ construyn þe þis on englische & ȝif þu wirche it in þi werk I wed þerto myn erys þat lawe schal bien a laborer & ledyn on felde dunge And luffe schal ledyn þin londe as þe leue lykyth Clerkys þat werin confessourys cowplede hem to-gydere For to construyn þe clause he declinedyn fast amonge hem þo þei haddyn rehersyd þis wordys þer ne was in þe mote halle more ne lasse þat ne helde resyn a mayster & mede a myche wreche laffe lete of hire liht & lowh hire to scorne & seyd it so loude þat sothnesse it herde ho-so ȝernyth hire to wyue for welth of here godys But he be kokewolde I-callid$ cut of myn nose Weren wisdom þo ne witty his fere Cowthe not werchin a worde to withseyn resoun But staredyn for stondyng & stodyn as bestys þe kyng acordyd be crist to resoun sawys & rehersyd þat resoun hadde rihtfullych schewyd$ ac it is wel harde be myn hede herto to bringyn it and alle my riche ledys to ledyn þus euere Be him þat rawt on þe rode quod resoun to þe kyng$ But if I rewle q þus ȝoure rewme rendith out my ribbys If it be so þat buxomnesse ben at myn assent And I asent quod þe kyng$ be sent mary my lady Be my counsel I-comyn of clerkys & erlys Bit Ryht redyly resoun þu schalt not rydyn hennys For as long as I lyffe lete þe I nylle I am redy quod resoun to restyn with ȝow euere So consciens be of ȝoure counseyle kepe I no better I graunte quod þe kyng goddys forbode he fayle As longe as I lyffe leue we to-gydere Note that there is no head for passus 5 þe kyng & his knyhtys to þe kyrk wentyn To here mateyns & masse & to þe mete after þan wakyd I of my wynkyng$ & woo was with-alle þat I ne had slepyn saddere & I-seyn more But or I had faryn a furlong fayntis me hent þat I ne myht forthere a-fote for defaute of slepyng$ I sat softely a-doune & seyde my be-leue And so I bablede on my bedys þei browtyn me on slepe þan sey I mychel more þan I before tolde I sey þe felde ful of folke þat I be-fore nemyde & I sey consciens with a croyse cam for to prechyne And preyȝed þe peple haue pyte on hem-selue And prouyd þat þis pestelence weryn for pure synne And þe sowthe west wynde on a saterday at euene Was a-party for pride & for no poynt ellis Peries & plumtrees were puffyd to þe erthe In example þat ȝe alle schuldyn done þe better Bechis & brode hookys weryn blowen to þe grounde And turnyd vpward here tayle for tokenyng of drede þat dedely synne or domysday sal for-done hem alle Of þis mater I myht mamelyn wel longe Ac I schal seyn as I sayhe so me god helpe How consciens with a crose be-gan for to preche He bad wastowre go wyrche qwat he best cowthe And wynnyn þat he wastyd with sum maner crafte And prayȝed pernel þe prowde her purfyle to leuyn And kepyn it in here cofyre for catel at nede Tomme of stowe he tawte to takyn to stauys And fecchyn home felyce fro þe wyne pyment He warnyd watte þat his wyue was mychel to blame þat hire hede was wrth a mark & his hode not a grote He bad bette cuttyn a batte oyther twayne And betyn betoun with but sche wold wyrchyn He charged chappemen to chastysyn her childeryn lat no wynnyng for wanyyn hemhem want no wande qwylis þei be ȝong$ He prayȝed prelatys & prestys to-gydere þat he prechyn þe peple & prouyn it hem-selue And lyuyn as ȝe leryn vs we louyn ȝow þe better And sethin he red religioun her rewle to holde þat þe kyng & his counseyle ȝoure comen not a-payre And ben steward of ȝoure stedis til ȝe ben stewyd better And ȝe þat sekyn sent Iamys & sentis at rome Sekyth sent trewthe for he may sauyn ȝow alle Qui cum patre & filio fayre ȝe mot be-falle þan ranne repentaunce & rehersyd his teeme And made wille to wepyn water riht at bothe his Ien Pernel prowde hert plat her to þe erthe And lay long or sche lokyd & lorde mercy cried Sche schuld vnsewyn her serk$ & set þer an hayre For to dawntyn hire flexfleche þat fers was to synne Schal neuer hye hert me hentyn but holdyn me lowe & suffyr to bien missayde & so did I neuere & now I wil mekyn me & meercy be-sekyn Of alle þing þat I haue had pride in my hert De luxuria Lycchere þo seyd allas & on oure lady cried To makyn mercy mene for his misdedis Wyth thi he schulde seuen ȝere sykerly þerafter Drinkyn but with þe duke & dynyn but onys Envye with heuy hert axed after schrifte & karfully his gylt begynnyth for to schewe He was as pale as erthe in palsey he semythd He was cloþid in a kawrymowry I cowthe it not discrien A kyrtil & a cowrteby a knyfe be his syde Of a frere freyke wer þe forne sleues As a leeke þat had lyen long in þe sonne So lokyd he with leene chekys lowring fowle His body was bolnyd for wrathe þat he bote his lippis And wrothly he wroth his fist to wreykyn him he thowth Venym vernycchith or vynegre I trowe Walwith in my wombe & waxith as I wene I myht nouth many day doon as a man myht Swych wynde in my wombe waxith or I dyne I haue a neyebore ny me þat I haue noyȝed ofte And blamyd him behynd his bak & brouht him in fame To apayryn him with my powere I pursued ofte And apayryd him to lordys to done him lesyn siluere And don his frendys ben his fon thorow my fals tung$ Qwan I mete him in market þat I most hate I haylsed him hendely as I his frende were His grace & his gode happys greuyn me sore Be-twyxin man & his meyne I haue made wrathe He is dowhtyar þan I I dar noun harme done him Ac had I maystri I wolde mortheryn him for euere Qwan I come to þe chirche & knele to þe rode I pray for þe peple as þe prest techith & after I crie on my knees þat crist ȝif him sorowe þat bare awey my bolle & my broke schete Fro þe autere myn nye I turne & be-holde How hoge hath a newe cote & his wyf anoþer þan I wische it were myn & alle þe web after Of his lesyng I lawhe it likith myn hert$ Ac for his wynnyng I wepe & weyle þe tyme I deme men þat don ille & ȝit I do werse I couet þat eueryman were be-comyn my knaue And qwo þat hath more þan I þat angrith myn hert$ þus I lif lofles liche a lythyre dogge þat my brest bolnyth for bitter of my galle þer may no sewkyr ne swete þing a-swagyn it an inche Ne noun diapendioun driuyn it fro myn hert ȝif scrifte scholde me saue me thingith it were wondere ȝis redely quod repentaunce & rad him to gode Sorow of her synnys sauith wel many I am sory quod envye I am but seldyn oþere & þat makyth me so mate þat ne may me avengyn þan com kouetyse I can him nouht discriyn Nota de cupiditate So hungry & holwe sir herui him lokyd$ He was bedilbrowyd$ & babirlippid with two I blerid Ien And as a letheryn purs lolledyn his chekyn In a torne tabard of twelfe wynter age But ȝif a lowse cowde renne I may it wele trowe He suld renne þeron ȝerne so was it I threde bare I haue ben couetouse quod þe caytefe I be-knowe it here For sumtyme I seruyd symme atte nokke & was his prentys a-plite his profet to loke First I lernyd to lyen a leef oyþer tweye Wikkydliche to wirke þo was my nexst lessoun To wynchestre & wyrcetre I went to þe fayre with many maner marchaundeys as my mayster hytt Ne had þe grace of gyle gone among my ware It had ben vnsowlde þis seuen ȝere so me god helpe þan drow I me among drapers my donet for to lere To drawyn þe lyser o long þe lenger it semyd$ Among þe riche rayȝes I renderid a lessoun Broched hem with a pacnedel & playtyd hem to-gydere & put hem in a pressoure & pynyd hem þerinne Til ten ȝerdys or twelue toldyn oute thretene My wif was a webster & wollen clothe made And spake to þe spynsterys to spynnyn it softe þe pounde þat sche payȝed by peysyd a quarter more þan myn awnselfe did qwan I wey treuthe I bowht hir barly malt sche brew it to sale Penyale & pilwyle sche powryd to-gydere For laborerys & lowe folke þat layne be hem-selue þe best in my bed-chaumbere lay be þe wowe And ho-so bummyd þerof bowht it þerafter A galon for a grote god wote no lasse Whan it com in coppe-mele þis crafte my wif vsyde Rose þe regrater wyttyly I wote was hir name Sche had holden hoxtery elleuen wynter But I swere now so I think þat synne wil I lete And neuer weyȝyn wikkedly ne wik crafte makyn But wendyn to walsyngham & my wif after And abyddyn þe rode of bromeholme bringgyn me oute of de[?] Nota de gulaNow begynnyth glotun for to go to scrifte schryfte And caryyth him to chirche-warde his gilt for to schewe And betoun þe brewster þer bad he gode morowe And sche axed him þoo wyder-word he wolde To holy chirche quod he for to here masse And sethin I wil be schriuen & synnyn no more I haue gode ale glotyn quod che gossyp wyttow asaye Hastow oute quod he any hote spyces ȝe glotun gossyp quod sche god wote ful hote I haue pepyr & pyan & a pownde of garlyk$ A ferthingworth of fenel sede for fasting dayȝes þan gothe glotyn in & grete othes after Sysse þe sewstere sat on þe benche Wat þe weuer & his wif bothe Tynne þe tynkare & tweyne of his knay knauys Hic þe hakenay man & hwe þe nedelere Claris of kockys lane þe ch clerke of þe chyrche Daw þe dykere & a dosyn oþer A bribure a ratonnere a rakar of chepe A roper a redyngkyng$ & rose þe dychere And vp-holders an hepe erlyche be þe morwe þei ȝaff ȝauyn glotyn with glad chere gode ale to hansel Clement þo cobeler cast of his cloke And at þe newe fayre nemyd it to selle Hic þe hostelere threwe his hode after And bette þe brocher to bene on his syde þer were chappemen I-chosyn þat chaffare to praysyn Ho-so had þo hode schulde haue amendys Two rysyn vp in rape & rownedyn to-gydyre And preysydyn þo penyworþes a party be hem-selue þer weryn othis an hepe ho-so it herde ȝit cowthen he nouht be here consciens a-cordyn to-gyderne Til robard þo ropar were I-rad to rysyn And nemyd for a nownepere þat no debate were Hikke þe ostelere had þe cloke In couinaunt þat clement þe cuppe schuld fille And haue hikkys hode þe ostelere & holdyn him seruyd$ And so ho-so repentyd him sonnest schuld a-rysyn after And gretyn sir glotoun with a galoun ale þer was laqwyng$ & lowryng$ & lete go þe cuppe Bargaynys & beuereches be-gunnyn to rise And sytyn so til euesong$ & sungyn vmbe qwyle Til glotoun had gulpyd a galoun & a gille He pyssyd þoo a potell* in a pater nostre qwyle He blw blewe þe rounde rewet at þe rigbonys hende þat alle þat horne heldyn her nose after & wyschedyn it were wexyd with a wispe of þornys He had no strengthe to stondyn or he his staffe hent þan gan he go sumtyme arere & sumtyme a-syde As he schuld ley lynys to lacchen with fowles Qwan he drowe to We dore þan dymmyd his Ien He stombled on þe threswold & threw him to þo erthe with al þe woo of þis werlde his wif & his wenche Baren him to his bedde & browhtyn him þerInne And after al þis surfete anaxessean axesse he hadde þat he slepe saterday & sonday til sunne ȝede to reste þan wakyd he of his wynkyng$ & wypyd his Iȝene þe first worde þat he spake qwat qwere is þe bolle His wif blamyd him þan of wychydnesse & synne þan was þe schrew asschamyd & gan to scharpyn his eris And gan to gretyn grimly & gret doole to make For his lythir lif þat he lyuyd hadde And avowyd to fastyn for thrist or for hungere Schal neuer fyche on þe friday defyȝin in my mawe Til abstynence myn amyte haue ȝyuyn me leue And ȝit haue I hatyd him al my lyue tyme NotaSlowthe for sorow fel doune in a swowe Nota de accid[ie] Til vigilate þe veyle fet water at his Iȝine And flattid on his face & fast on him criede And seyde be ware of wanhope he wolde þe be-traye I am sori of my synnys sey to þi-selfe And bete þi-selue on þe breste & ? & byd him of grace For þer is no gilt so grete þat his godenesse is more þan sat slowthe vp & crowchid him fast & mad a vowe to-for god for his fowle slowthe þat þer schal no sounnday ben þis seuen ȝere For sorwyn of my synnys but sekenesse it make þat I sal do me or day to þe dere cherche And here masse & matenys as I a munke were Sal non ale after mete holdyn ne thennys Til I haue euesong$ herd I hote to þe rode ȝit wil I ȝelden aȝeyne if I so mychel haue Al þat I wickydly wan seyin I wit hadde & þeit my liflode lacke letyn I nylle þat iche man schal haue his or I hennys wende And with þe resydu & þe remnant be þe rode of chester I wil sekyn trewthe or I se rome nota Roberd þe robbere on reddite loked Nota de furto Ac for þer was not qwerwith he weppid sore And ȝit þat synful schreweseyd to him-selue Crist þat on caluary vp-on crosse deyȝide þo dysmas my brothere be-sowht ȝow of grace ȝe had mercy on þat man for memento sake þi wil worthe vp-on me as I haue deseruyde To haue helle for euere ȝif hope ne ware So rewe on þis robber þat no red hauyth Ne neuer wene to wynnyn with crafte þat I knowe For þi mychel mercy mytigacyon I be-seke Dampne me nouth at domysday for I haue done so ille But qwat fel of þis feloune I can not fayre schewe Wele I wote he weptyd fast water at his Iȝeine And knowleched his gilt to crist ȝit eftsonys þat Penitnencia his pyke apertly schuld he pullyche And lepyn with him ouer londe al his lif tyme For he had ley be latro luciferys lemman A thowsyng of men þo thrungun to-gydere Wepyng & weylyng for her wykkyd dedis Criedyn vpword to crist & to his clene modere To haue grace to sekyn trewthe god leue þat he motyn Note that there is no head for passus 6 Ac þer were few men so wyse þe wey þidyr cowthin But blustryn forth as bestys owere valeyes & hillys Til late & longe þat he a man mettyn Apareylyd as a paynym in pilgrimes wise Wounden a-bowtyn him a bagge a bolle be his syde An hundrid of hampollis on his hatte setyyn Sygnys of synay schellys of galis And many a crowche on his cloke & keyȝis of rome And þe vernicle be-forne for men schuldyn knowe And seene be his signys hom he sowht hadde þis folke fraynyd him fayre qwen þat he come Fro synay he seyde þo & fro þe sepulcure At bedleem at babyloyne I haue bene in bothe In ermony in alisaundere in many oþer place ȝe mow sene be my sygnys þat sittyn on myn hatte þat I haue walkyd wyde qwore & wete & in drye And sowht gode seyntys for my sowle helthe Knowystow oute a corseynt quod þei þat men callyn trewthe Kanstow out wyssyn vus þe wey qwere þat he dwellyth Nay so me god helpe quod þe gome þenne I sayhe neuer palmer with pyke ne with scrippe Axin after him or now in no diuersplacediuers placeNota de PetroPlowhman Petur quod a plowhman & put forth his hede I know him as so kyndely as clerk doth his boke Clene consciens & wit taute me to his place And did me asuryn him syþin to seruyn him for euer Both sowyn & settyn qwyl* I swynckyn myht I haue bene his falwer al þis foure winter Bothe sowyn his seede & sewyd his bestis Hic Inde...fratribus Robertus No...And kepid wele his corne & caryȝid it to howse Dychid & duluyn & do qwat he hyte Withinnyn & withoutyn weele his profete þer is no laborer in his lordechyp þat he louyth bettur For þei I sey it my-selue I serue him to paye I haue myn hire of him wele & oþer qwile more He is þe prestest payer þat powre men knowyn He withholt non hyȝen his hire þat he hath it at euyn He is as lowe as a lombe & loueliche of speche & ȝif ȝe desyrin to wityn were þe wyht dwellith I schal wissyn ȝow wel riht to his place & ȝe leue quod þe pilgrimys & proferedyn hyre Nay be þe perel of my sowle quod peris & gan for to swere I nolde fongyn a ferdyng$ for seynt tomas schryne Treuthe wolde loue me þe wers a long tyme herafter Ac ȝe þat ȝernyn to wite þis is þe wey þidire ȝe motyn gon þorow mekenesse boþe men & wyues Til ȝe comen in-to consciens þat crist wite þe sothe þa ȝe louyn him leuer þan þe lif in ȝor hertys And þan ȝor neyebores next in none wyse apayre Oþerwise þan þu wost men wroute on þi-selue ANd so bowith to a broke beth buxum of speche For to fyndyn ȝoure faderys & hem ȝe honoure Wadith in þat water & wachith ȝow wele þere And ȝe schul lepyn þe lithlichere al ȝoure lif tyme So schal ȝe gon be swere nouth bot it be for nede And nameliche in Idef Idel þe name of god almyhtyn þan schul ȝe comen be a crofte but cometh not þer-Inne þe crofte hite coueyte no mannys catell* Ne her wyuys ne her seruaundes þat hem noȝen myhte Loke þu breyke no bowhe þer for but it be þin awyne Two stockys þer standyn but stynt not þer þei hattyn stele nouth ne sle not strike forth be boþin Leefe hem on þi left halfe but loke not þeraftere And holde wele þin haliday hye til euyn þan schaltow blenchen at a bowhe bere no fals wytnesse He is frettyt with floreynys & oþer feese many Loke þu pukke no plant þer for perel of þi sowle & þan schaltow seyin sey þe soth so it be to done And loke þat þu lye nouth for no mannys byddyng$ þan saltow comen to a courte as clere as þe sunne þe mote is of mercy þe maner al abowte And alle þe wallys bene of wit to wonyn þeroute þe kyrnels bene of cristendome þat kynde to sauere & boteraseded with beleue so worth þu nal þu best now sauyd Alle þe howses bene hylyd hallys & chaumberis with no led bot pure loue as breþeryn of a wombe þe toure þer treuthe is is vp on þat sunne He may don with þe day ster qwat him dere likyth Deth dar nouth don þing þat he defendyth Grace hite þe gatewarde a gode man for soth His man hyhte amende ȝow for many man he knowyth Tel him þis tokyn trewthe wote þe sothe I parformyd þe penaunce þe preste on me leyde And am sory for my synnys & so schal I euere Qwan I thing þer-on þei I were a pope Byddyth amende ȝow mekyn him ȝow to his mayster Onysto wynnyn vp þe weket þat he with schytte þoo adam & eue etyn her bane For he hath þe keye & þe cleket þei þe kyng slepe ȝif grace graunte þe to gone inne on þis wise þu schalt seen trowthe þi-selue wil syttyn in þi hert$ Hic In.........quod RobertusWhytell* Th........... And lernyn ȝow for to louyn him & his lawes holde Ac be ware of wrath he wrathe þe not þat schrewe For he hath envy to him þat syttyth in þin hert$ syttyth And prokerryth forth pride to preysyn him-selue þe boldenesse of þin benefetys blyndeth þe þanne And so worth þu dryuyn oute as dewe & we dore closede Keyed & clekedyd to holdyn þe þer-oute Happyly an hundred wynter er þu est entere eft entre þus mayhtow lesyn his loue to letyn wele be þi-selue mark like upside down modern capital A And getyn it agayne þorow grace & þorow no ȝiftys ellys Ac þer arn seuen sisterys þat seruyn trewthe euere And bene porters of þe posterns þat to þe place longith þat on is callid abstinence humilite an-oþer Charite & chastite beyin her chef maydenys Pacience & pees michel folk þei helpyn Larges þe leuedy lattith inne wel many Ac qwo-so is sibbe to þis systerys so me god helpe Is wonderliche welcom & fayre vnderfongyde Ac bot if he be sybbe to summe of þis seuyne It is wel harde be myn hede any of ȝow alle To getyn in-goiing$ at þe gate but grace be þe more Be criste quod a cutpurs I haue no kynne þer No I quod an apewarde be oute þat I knowe Wite god quod a brewster wist I þis for sothe I wolde neuer forther a-fote for no freris preching$? ȝis quod peris þe plowhman & pokydprokerd hire to gode Mercy is a maydoun þer hath myht ouer hem alle Sche is sib to alle synful & hire sonn als & þorow þe helpe of hem so howpe þu non oþer þu mayht getyn grace þere so þu go be-tyme Note that there is no head for passus 7 þis were a wylsum wey but ho-so had a gyde þat we myht folow him icchon ecchefoteecche fote til we weryn þer Quod perkyn þe plowhman be seynt powle apostel I haue an halue acre to eryn be þe hye weye Had I erid þat with ȝow wold I wende And techyn ȝow riht forth til þat ȝe ben þer þis were a long lettyng quod a leuedy in a scleyre Qwat schulde we wymmen wyrke þerqwyl Summe schul sewe þe sak for spyllyng of þe qwete And ȝe wyuys þat haue wollen wyrchith it fast Spynyth it spedyly spareth not ȝoure fyngeris Bot if it be haliday or ellis haly-euyn Lokyth forth ȝoure lynnene & laboryth it fast þe nedy & þe nakyd nym hede how þei lyggyn Castyth hem clothys for colde for so wil truthe And I schal lenyn hem liflode but if þe londe fayle As long as I lif for lordes lof of heuyn And ȝe loueliche leuedys with ȝoure long fyngerys þat haue sylk & sendel wyrche it qwan tyme is Chesypelis for chapeleynys clerkys to honoure And alle maner of men þat be þe mete libbyth Helpe hem þa wyrchin witliche to wynnyn ȝoure fode Be crist quod a knyht þo þu kennys vs þe best Ac on þo þe teeme trewly tawte was I neuer But kenne me quod knyht & I wil gynne to eryyne Be sent powle quod perkyn for þu profers þe so lowe I schal swynkyn & swetyn & sew for vs bothe & eke laboryn for þi loue al my lyyfe tyme In couienaunt þat þu kepe holy chirche & my-selue For wastowrys & wykkyd men þat wolde hem destruene And go hunt hardiliche two haris & two foxis And beris & buckys þat breykyn myn eggys Feche þe home fawkenys þe fowlys to kylle For þis comyn to my co crofte & croppyn my qwete Curtesly þe knyht þoo answeryd to þe wordys Be my power peris I pliht þe my trewthe To fulfillyn þi forward$ qwylis I may stondyn ȝe & ȝit a poynt quod perkyn I pray þe more Loke þu tene non tenauntis bot truþe wil a-sent And þei powre men profer þe presentes & ȝiftys Dem Nym hem nouth in aunter þu mow hem nouth defserue For þu schatschalt ȝildyn it aȝeyne at þe ȝeris ende [vertical script, like that on previous pages] In a welparlyouswel parlyous place þat purgatory hatte Misbede not þi bondemen þe bettur schaltow spede And þat tow be trewe of þi tunge talys þu hate But it be wysdom or wit þi werkmen to shastysyne Holde with non harlatys no here nouth her talis And nameliche at mete swyche men echchwe For þei ben þe deuelys disowris I do þe vnderstonde I asent be seynt Iame seyde þe knyht þanne For to wyrchyn be þi worde qwylis by lyue durith I scal apareylyn me quod perkyn in pilgrymys wyse And wendyn with ȝow þe wey til we fyndyn trewthe He cast on his closys coutyd & hole His cokerys & his cuffys for cold of his naylys & heng his sedlepe on his halse in stede of a scrippe A bucchel of bredcorne bryng me þerInne For I wil sowyn it my-selue & sethin wil I wende & ho-so helpith me to heryn or any thing to swyng$ Schal haue be oure lorde þe more mede in heruest$ And makyn him mery with þe corne ho-so it be-gruche And alle kynne crafty men þat konyn lyuen in truthe I schal fyndyn hem fode þat feythfullyche lybbith Saue Iac þe Iugelere & Ionet at þe stues And Robyn þe rybaudere for his rusty talis Trewthe told me onys & bad me tellyn ferthere Deleantur de libro viuencium I schold not delyn with hem For holy chirche is howldyn of hem no tithe axin Et cum iustis non scri[bantur] þei ben scapyd god anuter now god hem amende Dame wirche qwan tyme is peris wyf hatte Hir dowhter hat do riht so or þi damme schal þe bete His sonne hatte suffre þi suffr souereynys for to haue her wil[?] & tene hem nouth for if þu do þu schalt it dere abigge Let god wrþin with al so his worde techith For now I am boþe holde & hore & haue of myn owyne To penaunce & pilgrimage I wil passe with þis oþer þerfor I wil or I go do wrytyn my be-quethe In dei nomine amen I make it my-soleselue He schal an my sowle þat it best hath seruyd And defend it fro þe fende for so I be-leue Til I come to acowntys as my crede me techith To haue a reles & remissyon on þat rentel I leue þe cherche sal haue my kareyne & kepyn my bonys For of my corn & my cateyle he crauyth þe tythe I payȝid it prestly for peril of my sowle He is holdyn I howpe to haue me in mynde & mengyn me in his memory among al cristene My wif schal haue of þat I wanne with truthe & no more And delyn amonge my frendys & my dere childeryne For þei I dey to day my dettys arun quytte I bar home þat I borowyd er I to bed ȝede And with þe resydu & þe remenaunt be þe rode of chestere I wil wrchippyn þerwith trewthe in my lyue & ben his pilgrime at þe plowh for powre mennys sake My plowh pote sal ben my pyke-staffe to pycchyn at þe rotys And helpyn my culter to clensyn to keruyn & clensyn þe fowrys Now is peris & þe pilgrimys to þe plowhe faryne To eryn þis halfeacre holpyn him many Dycherys & deluerys doluyn vp þe bankys þerwith was perkyn wele payyd & praysed hem ȝerne Oþer werkmen þer weryn þat wrowhtyn wol fst Ech man on his maner made him-selfe to done And summe to plesyn perkyn pykyd vp þe wedys At hye prime of þe day perys leete þe plowh stodyn To ouer-sene hem alle ho-so est wrowht Schold bene hyryd þerafter qwan heruest tyme comith þan setyn summe & sungun atte nale And holpyn him to l eryyn with hoy trolly lolly Be þe prince of paradyse quod perys þoo in wrathe But ȝif ȝe rysyn þe sunner & rape ȝow to wyrche Schal no grayne þat here growyth glad ȝow at nede And þei ȝe deȝin for dole þe deuyl him hang þat rekkyth þan werin faytours a-ferd$ & feynyd hem blinde Summe leydyn her leggys a-lyry as suche locels konne And plenyd hem to peris with swyche pytus wordes We haue no lymmes to labowryn with lord þankyd be þe Ac we prayȝen for ȝow peris & for ȝowre plowh bothin þat god of his grete grace ȝowre grayne multiplye & ȝelde ȝow of ȝoure almus þat ȝe ȝyfen vs here For we mow neythir swynckyn ner swetyn swyche sek[?] ȝif it be so quod pers as ȝe seyne I schal it sone a-spyen Bot ȝe ben wastours I wote wele & truthe wot þe sothe And I am his holde hyne & awht him to warne Qwyche wastours in þis werlde his werkmen dystroye ȝe etyn þat þey schuld etyn þat swynkyn for vus alle Ac truthe schal techin ȝow his teeme for to dryue Bothin to settyn & to sowyn & sauyn his tylthe To kepyn crowys fro þe corne & kepyn his bestys Othir ȝe schul etyn barly brede & of þe broke drinkyn But he be blinde or broke-lymed or bedred lygge þei schullyn etyn as goode as I so me god helpe Til god of his grete grace graunte hem to a-ryse Ankyrs & ermytys þat holden hem in her sellys Schullyn hauyn of myn almus al þe qwyle I lybbe I nowh* euer I day at noone but no more til on morowh þat þe fende ne his fleche defowle nouht his sowle Onys at noone it is I nowh to him þat no werk vsyth He vmbydyth wele þe better þat bumbyth nouth oftyn þan gan a wastour a-risyn & wold haue I-fowhtyn To pers þo plowhman he profered his gloue A bretouner a bragger a-bostyd him al-so Bad him with his plowh pylled schewe Wyltow nyltow we willyn haue oure wille Of þi floure & of þi fleche to fechin qwan vus lykyth* ?akyn vs myry þerwith mawgreth þþ thy chekys ??rs þe plowhman playnyd him to þe knyht ??yn him as couienaunde was fro cursed schrewes Wastours þat waytyn wynners to schende ??sly þe knyht þoo as his kynde wolde ???d wastour & wissyd him ettur ???þu schat a-byen be þe lawe be þe orde þat I bere ?s not wonte to wyrchin quod wastour now wil I not be-gynnen e lyt be þe lawe & lasse e þe kynyth countyt pers at a peese & his plowh bothe anasyd him & his men qwan þei next mettyn be þe perel of my sowle quod peers I schal peyre ȝow alle oppyd afftur hunger þat herd$ him atte furste yke me of wastoures quod pers þat þis werlde schendyth y in hast þoo hent watour be þe mawe rong him be þe wombe þat his Ien watturedyn ffatid him þe bretener a-bowtyn þe chekys lokyd liche a lanterne all his lyue aftur so hem bothin he brast mer her mawys d pers .with a peese lof peryȝid him be-leue a beene batte he ȝede be-twenyn e hunger þerwith a-myddys þe lyppys led into þe body-ward$ a bollful of grewell* þe fysycian first defendid him water batyn þe barly brede & þe benys groundyn d en ded be þis day & doluyn as warme urs for drede þoo flowyn in-to bernys flappid on with flaylys fro morow in til euyn gur was not so hardy on hem for to lokyn potful of pesys þat pers had made pe of hermys hermytys hentyn hem spadis dulphyn drit & dung$ to dittyn oute hunger Blinde men & bedred weryn þer I-botyd$ A þowsand þat leyn blynde & for brokyn leggys On softe segys on sounndayes be þe hye weye Hunger þoo helid hem with an hote kake And lame mennys lymys weryn lichid þat tyme And be-comyn knauys to kepyn peris hoggis And prayȝidyn par charite with peris to be leuyn Al for couetyes of his corne to cachen a-wey hunger And pers was prowde þer of & put hem in office & ȝaf hem mete & mone as þei myht deserue þan had pers pite & prayȝid hunger to wende Home in-to his owen ȝerd$ & holdyn him þer euere & ȝit I pray þe quod pers er þu passe ferthere Of begges beggeris & bidderis qwat best is to done I wote wele be þu went þei wil wirchin ille Mischeue it makyth þei bene so meke nowe And for defaute of fode þus fast þei wyrchin And it bene þey my blody brethirn for god bouht vus alle Treuthe told me onys to louyn hem icchon And helpyn hem of aler thing$ aftur þat hem nedith Now wold I wytyn ȝif þu wost qwat wer þe best & how I myht a maystrien hem & makyn hem to wyrche Here now quod hunger & hold it for wysdome Bolde beggeris & bigge þat mowne for her mete swynk$ with houndes bred & hors bred holde vp her hertys A-baue hem with benys for bolnyng of her wombe And ȝif þo gromys grochyn bid hem go swynk$ And he sal sowpyn swetter qwan he hath deseruyd$ And ȝif þu fynd any freyke þat fortun hath apayryd$ with fyre or with false men fonde swyche to knowe Counforth hem with þi catel for cristes lof of heuyn Lof hem & lene hem & so þe lawe wolde & alle maner of men þat þu mayt a-spyen y ben or nakyd$& nouth han to spendyn ete or with drink let hem beene þe bettur ir with werk$ or with worde qwylis þu art here þe frendys þerwith & so Mathew vs techith Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitates old not greuyn god quod pers for al þe gold goode o grounde I synles donne as þu seyst seyde pers þanne hote þe quod hunger or ellis þe bible lyeth to genesis þe gyaunt engendrid of vs alle idore & swynke þu schalt þi mete tylye labowryn for þi liflode & so oure lorde hyte sapience seyde þe same I say it in þere byble ger propter frigus no mete wild tylye schal beggyn & byddyn & no man betyn hishungere hew þe manys face mowthith þis wordys us nequam hath a naam & for he nold it usyn had mawgre of his mayster for euermore after be nomyn him þat naam for he nold wyrchin ȝaf it him in hast þat had ten be-fore hin he seyd his seruandes it herde at hath schal han to helpyn þer nede is þat nouth hath nouth schal han ne noman him helpe he þat wenyth weele to han I wil it be him be-reuyd$ witte wolde þat iche a wyht wrowht with teching or tylyyng$ or trauelyng of handes or contemplatyf crist wold it als wter seyth in þe salme of beati omnes manuum tuarum quia manducabis & cetera at getith his fode here with traueyl of his handys ȝiffyth hem his blissing$ her lyflode þat so wynnyn pray þe quod pers par charite ȝif þow konne leefe of lechecrafte lerne it me my dere For summe of my seruandys ben seke oþir while Of al þe woke þei wyrchen nouth so her wombe aky[] I wote wele quod hunger qwat sekenes þat hem eylyth þei han maunged ouer mychel. þat makyth hem gronyn [] Ac I bid þe quod hunger as þu þin heele desirist þat þu drink$ no day er þu dyen sum-qwat & ȝit nouth I bid or hunger þe take And sende þe of his sawse to sauerne with þin ma? lippes And kepe sumqwat to soper tyme & sit not to long$ Arise vp er appetite haue etyn his fille Lat nouth sir surfet syttyn at þi borde Loffe him nouth for he is a lichere & likerous of tu[] And aftur many maner metis his maw is a-longyd And ȝif þu dyht þe þus I dar ley myn armys þat fysyk$ schal his furryd hode for his fode sellyn And eke his cloke of calabre . with knoppys of gold And be fayne be my fay his fysyk$ to letyn And lernyn to labowryn with hande þat him no fode f[] þer arn moo lyers þan lechis lord hem amende þei don men deyyn thorow her drinkys er desteny [] Be seynt powle quod pers þese arn profetable wordys þis is a louely lessoun lorde it þe for-ȝeelde Wende now qwan þi wil is þat weele þe be euere I be-hote þe quod hunger hennys nyl I weende Er I haue dynyd be þis day & I-dronkyn bothe I haue no peny quod Pers pultys with to bycche bi[] Neyþer geese ne grices but two grene chesys And a few cruddys & creeme & an hauerkake And a loofe of benys & bren bake for my childeryn And ȝit I sey be my sowle I haue no salt bakun no kokenay be crist collopys to make I haue parceel & proortys & many cole plantys nd eke a cow & a calfe & a cart mere drawyn dung a-felde qwylys þe drouht lastyth þis lyuelod I mot lyffyn to lammestyme þan ber I howpe to haue heruest in my crofte may I dyhetyn þi dyner as þe dere lykyth þe pore peple pesecoddys þei fette ys & bakyn appyls þei browhtyn in her lappys espollys & chiruellis & ripe chiris many proferedyn pers þis present to plesyn þer-with hunger nger eet al þis in hast & axit aftur more þis folk for feere fettyn him many ene portes & pesyn poysyn him þei wode þan it neyhed nere heruyst þat new corne cam to chepyng$ was þe folke fayne & feddyn him with þe best$ gode ale & glotyenye gartyn him to slepe And þo no wold not wastour wyrchin but wanderyd a-bowte no beggar eetyn bred þat benys in comyn t coket & clerematyn oþir of clene qwete none halpeny ale in none wyse drinkyn t þe best & þe brunnest þat brewsterys sellyn orerys þat han no lande to lyuyn on but her handys ynedyn nouth to dynyn nyht eolde wortys y no peny ale hem payne ne no pece of bakoun t if it be freche fleche oþer fyche I-fryed$ haud$ & plus chaud$ for chillyng of his mawe ut he be hylych hyryyd$ ellis wil he chide he was werkman I-wrowht waryyn þe tyme d þan cursyn þe kyng$ & þe councel aftur þat suche lawes lokyn laboreris to chastyn Ac qwylis hunger was here mayster wolde here no [?] Ne stryuyn aȝeyn her statutis so sternely he lokyd$ I warne ȝow werkmen wynnythe qwil ȝe mowe For hunger rit hidir-word hithid him fast He schal a-wastyn ȝoure watyr þees wasturys to ch[?] Er fyue ȝere ben fulfyllid suche famyn schal [?] Thorow flode & fowle wederys frutys schullin f[?] And so seyth saturne & sent ȝow to warne Passus octauuus de visione Trewthe herd tellyn here-of& to pers sent$ To takyn him teeme & truly tylyyn þe erthe And purchasidyn him a pardoun a pena & a culpa For him & for hi eyris euermore þeraftur And bad him holdyn him at home & eryyn his leyys And alle þat him hulpyn to eryn er to sowyne Or ony maner myster þat myht pers helpe Part in þat pardoun þe pope hath hem grauntyd$ Kynggys & knyhtys þat kepyn holy chyrche And rythfullyche in þe rewme rewlyn þe peple Han pardoun thorow purgatory to passyn wel son[?] with patriarchkys in paradyse to pleyyn þerafter Bischoppys þat blissyn & bothe lawes kenne Lokyn on þat on law & lernyn men othir And bernyn bothin on her back as her baner schewyd & prechyn her personys þe peryl of synne How þat schabbyd schepe schollin here wolle saue[?] Haue pardoun with þe apostlis qwan þei passyn hennys Atte day of dome at here dayes sytte Marchaundys in þat margeyne had many ȝerys But none a pena & a culpa þo pope wold hem graunte ...heldyn not her halidays as holy chyrche techyth for þei sweryn be here sowle so god most hem helpyn ne clene consciens here were to sellyn vndere his secrete seele truthe sent a lettur bad hem byggyn boldly qwat hem best lykyd sethin sellyn it a-ȝeyne & sauyn þe wynnyng$ akyn mesendew þerwith þe meseyse to helpyn wikkyd weyes wyttylyche a-mendyn d makyn briggys a-bowtyn þat to-broke were pyn maydens or makyn hem nunnys ure wydowys þat wil ben no wyues tur fynde suche here fode for louerdys loue of heue te scolars to scole or to sumkyns craftys leue religioun & rent hem bettur d I schal sendyn ȝow my-selue mychael myn angel deuyl schal ȝow dere dey qwan ȝow deye ne schal sendyn ȝowre sowlys saafe in-to heuyn for þe face of my fadyr þat formyd ȝowr [?] setys ire & auarice & othis I defend$ t no gyle go with ȝow but þe hard truthe weryn marchaundys mery þei weptyn for Ioye nyn wille for his writyng$ wollen clothis he copyed þus her clause þei cowthin him grete mede of lawe haddyn lest for letteryd þei ben alle as seyth þe sawter & sapiens bothe per innocentem munera non accipies a regibus & principibus erit merces eorum princes & of prelates her pencioun schal a ryte of no pouer peple no penyworth to take he þat spendyth his speche & speykyth for þe pore ben Innocentys & nedy þat noun men a-payryn fortyth him in þat caase coueytith nouth his godis for oure lordys loue law for hem schewyth Schal no deuyl at his deth-day deryn him a myte þat he worth sykyrlyche saafe & so seyth þe sawter Ac to bygge water & wynde ne wit is þe thridde Ne wyld neuer holy wryt god wote þe sothe þies thre for thrall be throwyn a-mong us alle To & waxin & wanyyn were þat god lykyth His pardoun in purgatory wel lytil is I trowe þat ony meede of meene men for motyng reseyuyth ȝe legysteris & laweȝeris ȝe wytyn ȝif I lye Sythyn ȝe sene it is þus schewyth to þe best$ Alle lyffyng laboreris þat lyuyn be her handdys þat truly tokyn & truly wonnyn And lyuyn in luffe & lawe for her lowe hert$ Haddyn þe same absolucioun þat sent was to pers Beggeris & bydderis weryn not in þat bulle But ȝif þe suggestyoun be sothe þat schapith hem to begge For he þat beggyth or byt but ȝif he haue nede He is fals with þe feende & defraudyth þe nedy & eke gylith þe ȝefarȝeuere aȝeynys his wille þei lyuyn not in loue ne no lawe holdyn þei weddyn no wymmen þat þei with deele But as wylde bestys þat with wehe worchin vp to-gydyr And bringgyn forth barnys þat bastardys been holdyn Othir his bak or his bone he breykys i his u ȝiuthe ȝ[?] And gon tyn with here foode for euermore aftur [?] þer ben moo myschapyn amonges hem ho-so takyd hede þan alle oþer maner of men þat on þis molde wanderith þoo þat lyuyn þus here lyfe mow curssyn þe tyme þat euer was he man I-wrowht qwan he schal hennys fare Ac elde men & hore þat helples ben of strenkyth And wymmen with childe þat wyrkytn ne mowe Blynde men & bedred & brokyn her memris þat takyn mysschef mekelyche as meselys & oþer

haue as pleyn pardoun

... as pleyne pardoun as þe plowman him-selue loue of her lowe hert oure lorde hath hem graunted penaunce & her purgatory vp-on þis pure erthe peris quod a preste þoo þi pardoun mot I rede I wil construyn iche clause & kennyn þe on engliche Peris at his prayer þe pardoun vnfolded hynden hem bothye behelde al þe Bulle Two lynes it lay & nouth a lettur more And was I-writyn riht þus in witnesse of truthe ..qui bona egerut ibunt in vitam eternam qui vero mala in ignem eternam tur quod þat preste þoo I can no pardoun fynde t do wele & haue wele & god schal haue þi sowle do Iuel & haue Iuele & hope þu none oþer aftur þi deth-day to hell þu schalt wende Perys for pure tene pullyd it a-sunder & seyde i ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es domine schal secyn of my sowing$ & swyckyn nouth so harde aboutyn myn lyflode so besy bene no more prayȝers & of penaunce my plowhe schal ben her-aftur belowryn þat I er lowhe þei myn liflode fayle prophete his payne ete in penaunce & wepyng$ þat þe sawter vus seyth soo dydyn many oþer luffith god luffly his liflod is þe more And but if luke lye he lernyth vs anothir Be fowlys þat we ne schuldyn to besy bene a-boute Ne trauellyn to myche to makyn þe wombe Ioye Ne solicit sitis he seyth in his gospell* & schewith vs be exaumple vs-selue to wisse þe fowlys in þe firmament ho fynt hem in wynter Qwan þe frost fresyth fode hem be-houyth þei haue no fode to gon to but god fynt hem alle Qwat quod þe preste to perkyn petur as me thinkyth þu art letteryd a lytil ho taute þe on boke Abstinence þe abesse myn a b.c. me tawte & conscience cam afterwarde & kennyd me better Were þu a preste peris þu mytist prechyn qwan þe lykyd$ Quoniam literaturam non cognoui myht beene þi teme Lewyd lorel quod peris litil lokystow þe byble On salamonys sawys litil þu beholdist$ Ecce derisores & Iurgia cum eis ne crescant$ ?þe preste & perkyn þus oythir aposyd oþer & þotow her wordes I woke & waytyd a-bowtyn & say þe sunne euny sowthe syttyn þat tyme Meteles & moneles a myle wey I ȝede on malueren hillys Musyng on þis mater meteles a myle wey I ȝede Many tyme þis metelys hath made me to stody An for peris lif plowhman petusly in hert$ For þat I say slepyng$ ȝif it so ben myht$ ?Ac caton construyth nay & canonistris both And seyn be hem-selfe sompnia ne cures. But for þe bible berith wytnes how daniel þe prophete Dyuynyd þe dremys of a kyng onys þat Nabugodhonosor nompne þis clerkys Daniel seyd sir kyng$ þi swenyn is to mene þat vnkowþe kyngis schal comyn þi kyngdom to cleue Among lower lordes þi londys schollyn be partid$ As daniel dyuynyd in dede fel it after þe kynkkyng lost his lordschepe & lasse men it hadde nd Ioseph met meruys meruelusly how þe mone & þe sunne d þe eleuene sterrys haylsedyn him alle ewfisȝ quod his fader for defaute we schulle my-selue & my sonys sekyn þe for nede felle as his fader seyde in pharao-ys tyme Ioseph was Iustyce egipte to kepe þis makyth me mychel on metel to thinke any tymys at mydnyht qwan I scholde slepe peris þe plowhman & qwyche a pardon he hadde nd how þe prest inpungnyd him al be pure resoun nd dyuynyd þat dowele indulgncis passed yennalys & triennalis & byschoppys letturs dowele at þe day of dome is dignlyche vnderfongyd$ e passydh al þe pardoun of seynt petur chyrche ow hath þe pope power pardoun to graunte e peple withouten penaunce to passyn to Ioye is a leef of be-leue as letteryd vs techith Quodcumque ligaueris super terram erit ligatum & in celis nd I beleue it lelely lordys forbode ell*is at pardoun & penaunce & prayȝers to-gider owne sauen sowlys þat haue synnyd seuen sythis dedely to tristnyn on þese triennalys trewly me thinkyth nowt so sykyr for þe sowle certis as is do-wele for I rede ȝow lordes þat riche bene on erthe trest of ȝowre tresoure triennal* to haue e ȝe neuer þe baldar to breykyn þe ten hestys And namelyche ȝe maysters meyris & Iugys þat haue þe welth of þe werld & wysemen ben holdyn for to purchasyn pardoun & þe popys bull* At þe dredeful day of dome qwan ded sullyn aryse And comyn alle to-for criste & cowntys to ȝelde How þu ladlyst þi lyf & þin lawe keptist Qwat þu dost day be day þe dome wil reherse A pokeful of pardoun þer ne prouincial letterys þei þu be fownden in þe fraternite among$ þe foure orders And haue indulgence dobel-folde but dowele ȝow help I nold ȝif for ȝoure pardoun o pye hele þer-for I councel al cristen to crien god mercy And mary his moder be mene be-twene þat god ȝif vs grace here or we gon hennys Swyche werkys to wyrchin qwylis we bene here þat after oure deth-day dowele wyl reherce þat we wrowtyn wysely as he vs bad & tawte Amen Explicit visio William de Petro Plowhman Hic incipit Vita de dowele dobet & dobest secudum Wit & res[?gutter] Thus Irobid in russet I romyd abowtyn Al a somer sesyn forto sekyn dowele And fraynyd ful oftyn of folk þat I mette ȝif onyman wist qwere he was at Inne And qwat he myht ben of many man I askyd$ Was neuer man as I went þat me wissyn cowthe Qwere þis lede lenged lesse no more Til it fel on a friday two freris I mette Maysterys of þe menowrys men of grete witte I haylsed hem hendely as I had lernyd And prayȝid hem par charite er þe passed ferthere ȝif þei knewyn ony cost or cuntre a-bowtyn Qwer þat dowele dwellyth doth me to wysse Mari quod þe menourys among vs he dwellyth & euere hath as I howpe & euere schal heraftere Contra quod I as a clerk & wold disputyn Sepcies in die cadit iustus Seuen sythis on þe day syngnyt þe ritful ho þat singnyt I say I wot he doth ille Certys me thinkyth dowele & do-Iuel mow not stondyn to-gydere he is not alwey at home among$ ȝow freris He is oþerqwyle ellis-qwere to wyssyn þe peple schal sey þe my sonn seyd þe frere þanne how seuen sythis þe sad man synnyth on þe day ȝif þu wilt suffir seyd þe frere I schal þe fare schew lat bryngyn a man in a brode water bote amyddys a brod water t makys a man many tymes to fallyn & to stondyn For stond he neuer so styffe he stumbelyth in þe waggyng$ & ȝit he is both hole & sounde & so him be-houyth For ȝif he ne rise þe rather & rawte þe stere þe wynde wilde with þe water þe bote ouer-throwe þer wer þe manys lyf lost for lacchesse of him-selfe But þus it farith quod þe frere be folk here on erthe þe water is lyknyd to þe werld þat wanyth & waxith þes godes on þis grounde be lyknyth to þes wawys þat as wynd & waterys walwyn aboute þe bote is lyknyd to þi body þat brisel is of kynde þat þorow þe fende & þi fleche & þe false werlde Synnyth þe sadman on þe day seuen sythys Ac dedely synne doth he nouth for dowele him helpith þat is charite þe champyoun chef aȝeyn synne For he strengkyth þe to stonde & sterith þi sowle þow þi body bowe as a bote doth in a water Ay es þi sowle saue but þu þi-selue wille Folwyn þin flechis will & þe fende after And don dedly synne & drenchin þi-selue God wil suffrin þe to deyȝin so for þi-selue hath þe maystri I haue no kynde knowing$ quod I to consciens conseyue þi wordys Ac ȝif I may lyfuen & lokyn I wil leryn bettur I be-kenen ȝow criste þat on croys deyȝid$ And þei seydyn þe same saue þe fro myschaunce And ȝif þe grace on þis erthe in gode lyfe to ende Thus I went wyde qwere do-wele to sekyn And als I went be a wode walkyng allone Blisse of þe priddis made me vnbyde And with þe myrthe of her mowthe made me to slepyn þe meruelousest metyng$ met I me þanne þat euere dremyd I ȝit in dowte as I wene A michel man me thowte liche to my-selue Cam & callid me be my propir name Qwat artow quod I þo þat myn name knowyst$ þat wost þu quod he þo & no wyht bettur Wote I quod I artow thout seyd I þanne ȝe I haue suwyd þe seuen ȝere seye þu me no rathare Artow thout quod I þo canstow ouht me telle Qwere dowele duellyth do me to wisse Dowele & doet & dobest þe thridde Arne thre fayre vertues nouth ferre to fynde Ho-so is meke of his mowthe mylde of his speche Trewe of his tung$ & of his two handes And thorow his labore or his londe his liflod wynnyth And crafty of his taylhende & takyth but his owne & ys nouth drunlew ne deynows dowel hym folwyth Dobet doth þus & doth mychel more He is as lowe as a lombe louely of speche Qwyl he hath outh of his owne he helpit þer nede is þe baggys & þe bygyrdelys he hath brokyn alle þat euer erle aueris had or his eyris & with mammonaes mone he hath made him frendys & is runnyn in-to relygioun & hath renderid þe byble d prechith þe peple seynt Powlys wordys wyse sufferith þe vnwyse with ȝow forto lybbe glad wille doth hem gode for so hem god hyhte Dobest is a-bouyn bothyn a bischoppis crose hokyd at þe ende in godelyfe men to holdyn pyke in þat potent to punchin adoune þe wyckyd$ waytyn any wikkydnesse dowele to tene d as dowele & dobet. dydyn him vnderstondyn e hath I-crownyd a kyng$ to kepyn hem alle nd ȝif dowele & dobet dydyn aȝeyn dobest nd weryn vnbuxum at his biddyng$ & bolde to doun ille schuld þe kyng$ comyn & castyn hem in Irnys nd puttyn hem þer in penaunace withoutyn ony grace nd but ȝif dobest bidde for hem vnbydyn þer for euere dowele & dobet & dobest þe thridde ownedyn one to ben kyng$ be her concel to wyrche d rewlyn þe rewme be rede of hem alle d eþerwyse ne ellis but as þei thre acordene thanckyd thowte þoo þat he me so taute ȝit sauowrith me nouth þi seying$ so me god help ore kynde knowing$ I couet to lerne w a wele & his feris done on þis erthe it wit kon wissyn þe quod thout qwere þo thre dwellyn Ellis þer can noman þat now is on lyfe lyue þus thowt & I þre dayes ȝedyn disputyng on dowele ad er we wyst with wytte we gunne metyn was long & lene lyche to none oþer was no pride in his parayle ne pouerte neythire Sad of his semland$ & of softe speche and I durst meuyn no mater with him forto Iangel But as I bad thowt þo be mene be-twenyn and puttyn forth purpos & prouyn his wyttys þan thowt in þat tyme seydyn þis wordys Qwere dowele or dobet or dobest be in londe Here is wille wilde fayne wite ȝif wit kowthe him teche Primus pass[gutter] de dowele Syr dowele dwellyth quod witte not a day hennys In a castel þat kynde hath made rit of foure thingis Of erthe & eyre it is made medlyd to-gyder with wynde & water wyttyly enIoynyd$ Kynde hath closyd þerInne craftyly withalle Aa lemman þat he louyn liche to him-selue Anima sche hyte to hire hath envye A prowde prikere of fraunce princeps hiuus mundi And wold wynnyn hyre a-way with wyl ȝif he myht Ac kynde knowyth his wille wele & kept hire þe better And hath done hire to sire dowele dewke of þis marchys Dobet is hire damysel sire dowelys dowter And seruyth þis lady louely bothe late & rathe Dobest is in hire bowre & boldyth þat lady leuedy And berith a batte on his honde lyche a byschoppys mace þis dowele & dobet & dobest þe thridde Bene maystriys of þat maner þat mayden to kepe Ac þe cunstabel of þat castel þat kepith hem alle Is a wyse knyht sykyr sir Inwytte he hyhte And hat fyue fayre sonnys be his fyrst wyfe Syr seywele & sewele & herewele þe hende Syr wyrche with þin honde a wytty man of strengthe And sir Godfray gowele gret lordys alle þis syxe bene sette forto sauyn þe castel As bo dobest & dobet & dowele a-cordyn To kepyn wele þis womman þes wysemen ben charchydgyd$ Til kynde come or sende & kepe here him-selue Qwat calle ȝe þat castel quod I þat kynde hath I-makyd$ And qwat kynnes thing is kynde konne ȝe me telle Kynde is creatoure quod he of alle kynnes bestes Fadyr & formeoure þe first of alle thing$ nd þat is þe gret god þat gynyng$ had neuere lorde of lyf & of litthe of blisse & of payne aungel* & alle thing$ arn at his wille man is him most liche of martl marke & of schappe For þorow þe worde þat he warp waxin forth bestys nd al thing at his wille was wrowht at a speche Dixit & facta sunt omnia & cetera Saue man þat he made Image to him-selue ȝaf him gost of his godhed & grauntyd him blisse lyf þat euere schal lasstyn & al his kynne after is þe castel þat kynde made Caro it hyhte mychel to menyn as man with body & with sowlee he wrowhte with werke & with worde bothe þorow myht of his mageste man was I-makyd.Faciamus hominem ymaginem [gutter?] wit & al wyttys enclosyd bene þerInne For loue of þat leuedy þat lyf is nempnyd$ t is anima þat oueralle in þe body wanderith But in þe hert is hire home heyest of all Sche is lyf & ledere & lemman of heuen nwit is þe help þat anima desyryth after þe grace of god grettest of alle nwyt is þe heuyd & helpith to þe sowle For þorow his konyng is keppyt caro & anima In rewle & in resoun but rechchilnesse it make he eggyd aye syhte & bering$ to gode Of gode speche & goying$ he is þo kynnere In mannys brayne is he most & myhtyest to knowe þer is his bowre brymmest but ȝif blode it make Qwan blode is brimmer þan brayne bowneyn is Inwitte And eke wantoun & wylde wythouten ony resoun In ȝoung fauntys & folys with hem wanyth Inwytte And eke in sottys þu mayt sene þat syttyn atte nale þei holden dring$ in her heuyd til Inwit be drinchid$ and bene brayne-wode as bestys so her blode waxith þan hath þe fende power sir princeps huius mundi Ouer suche maner of men myht in her sowle Ac in fauntys ne in folys þe fende hath ne myht for no werkys þat þei wyrkyn amys oyther ellis Ac her faderis & her frendes for her fantys schull Bene blamyd but þey kepyn hem from wantounnesse [gutter?] ȝif þei ben kynles & catelles to kepyn hem from ille Is holychirche owyng$ to helpyn hem at nede & fyndyn hem fro folys til þei bene wyser But iche wyht in þis worlde with wit vnderstondyng Is chefe soueruyn of him-selue his sowle to ȝeme To kepyn from euery charge qwan childesse passyth and sauyn him-selue fro synne for so him be-houyth [script that has been lined throughand wyrche he wele eythyr wrong$ þe wyte is his ow[?] þan is dowele a duke þat distruȝit vices And sauyth þe sowle þat synne hath no myht To rowtyn ne to restyn ne rotyn in þe hert$ And þat is drede of god dowele it makyth It is þe bynnyng of godenesse god for to dowte And so seyth salamon for a soth tale Inicium sapiencie timor domini For dowte men done þe bet drede is suche a mayster þat he makyth men meke & mylde of her speche and alle kynne scolars in scole to lerne þan is dobet to bene ware for betyng of ȝerdys And also ȝerde to take ȝeme is ȝouyn to done bet þerof seyth þe sawter þi-selue þu mayt rede Virga tua & baculus tuus Ipsa me consolata sunt ȝif clene consciens acorde þat þi-selue dost wele þu neuyr weye ne worde to done bettur intencio iudicat hominem & cetera councel of consciens acordyng to holy wryht cherche ke þu wysse þi wit & þi werke after do þu aȝeyne consciens þu combrist þi-selue wytnessyth goddes worde & holy writ bothe d ȝif þu wyrche be goddes worde I warne þe þe best wat men spekyn of þe ne wrathe þe neuer þe rathere Catoun conseylith so take hede of his teching$ Cum recte viuas ne cures verba malorum Ac suffir & sitte stille & seke þu no ferther Ac be glad of þe grace þat god hath þe grauntyd$ f þu couet for to clunbe clymbe & for to risyn heyere mayt lesyn þi lownesse for a lytil pride me lernyd þe how lewyd men leryn her childeryn Ac seldom mosyth þe marbel þat men oftyn on wenedyn d rith so be romeris þat rennyn abowtyn o religion to religioun reccheles þei bene euere d men þat kennyn alle craftys clergy tellith thrifte or thedom seldom hem schewyth circuit omne genus in nullo genere est wle þe a postel in his pistyl wrote it example þat swyche schold not rennyn abowtyn for wysdam it is writun & wytnessyd in clergyes cherches eadem vocacione qua vocati estis state þu be man mariȝid monk oythir chanoun de þe strong & stedfast & strengthe þi-selue be blissid for þi bering$ begger þey þu were þu gruche not on gode þe he ȝif þe lytel Be payȝid with þi porcyoun pore oythir riche þus in drede lith dowele & dobet to suffyre For thorow sufferaunce þu mayt se how sufference arysyd And soo lerned vs luke þat lyed neuere Que se humiliat exaltabitur & qui se exaltat humiliabitur And þus of drede & his dede dobest arisith Qwyche is floure & frute fosterid of bothe Rith as redily as a rose þat rede is & swete Oute of a raggyd rote & a rowh brere Sprngith & spredyth þat spycers desyryn Oythir as qwete out of weede waxyth of erthe So dobest out of dobet & dowele gynnyth spring$ Among$ men of þis molde þat meke bene & kynde For luffe of her lowe hert oure lorde ȝifit hem grace Swythe werkys to wyrkyn þat he is with payȝid$ Firste & formest to men þat bene weddy$ Lyuen as her lawe will wele it likyth god almyht For þorow wedlok$ þe worde stonde qwo-so wil it knowe þei bene þe richest of þis remys & Rote of dowele For of hjer kynde þie þei comyn þat co\nfessoures arn callyd$ Bothe maydens & martires monkys & ankeris Kyngys knyhtys & alle kyns clerkys Barounys burges & bonde-men of townys But fals fok folke & faythles theuys & lyers Bene conseuyd in cursed tyme as kayme was of eue After þat adam & Eue etyn þe appyl Aȝeyne þe hestys of him þat ȝow of nouth made An angel in anger het hem to wende In-to þis wreched world to wonyn & libbe In tene & traueyle to her lyues h ende And in þat cursed constellacyon þei knewyn to-gydyr browtyn forth a barne þat mykyl lale wrowte yme þei him calledyn in acursyd tyme ng engenderid$ so seyth þe sawter se it qwan þe lykyth ncepit dolorem & peperit iniquitatem d alle þat camyn of kayme criste hatyd after d many myliounys moo of men & of wymmen of seth & his sistir sythyn forth camyn þei maryedyn hem vnmesourly to men of kamys kynde or alle þat camyn of kayme acursed weryn euere d alle þat cowpledyn hem to þat kyn crist hated dedly for he sent to sem & sayd him be an aungel. kepyn his kynred fro kaymys þei cowpled not to-gyder sethin seem & his susterys seede weryn spowsyd to kaymys ayn goddes hest cherlys þei be ȝete d god was wrothe with her werkys & swyche wordys seyde Penitet me fecisse hominemto nd is as mychyl to mene rith among vs alle I man made now me forthingkyth d cam to noe anone & bad him nouth lette wyche gon schapyn a schippe of schides & bordes m selue & his sonnys þre & sethyn her wyues skyn hem to þat bote vnbydyn þerInne fourtydayes ben fulfilled þe flode haue I wasche lene away þe cursed blode þat kayme hath I-makyde stys þat now bene scholyn bannyn þe stounde euere þat cursyd kayme cam n on þis erthe le schal deyȝyn for her dedys be dounnys & hillis thin fyschis & fowl* forth with oþer bestys wt takyn ȝe eyte & of iche best a cowple n ȝoure schyngelyd schyp schal ben I-sauyd llis schal alle deye & to helle wende þer þorow cursyd kayme kam kare vppon alle And al for seem & his sisterys childeryn leyne to-gydere Aȝeyn þe law of oure lorde spowsyd eythir oþer And weryn mariyd at myschef as men ȝyuyn now her child[gutter?] For sume as I se now þe sothe for to telle For couetyse of catel vnkyndely ben mariyd A kareful concepcion comyth of swyche weddyng as fel of þat folke þat I be-forne schewyd It is rith vncomely be crist as me thinkyth To ȝyuen a ȝoung wenche to an olde feble Or weddyn ony wydow for welth of her godes þat neuere schal beryn barne but it be in her armys In Iolouste Ioyles & Iangelyn on bedde Many payr sen pestelens han pliht hem to-gydyr þe frute þat þei bringyn forth arn many fowle wordys Haue þei no childeryn but chest & choppyn be-twene þow þei don hem to don-now but þe deuyl help To folowyn after þe fliche fecche þei it neuere But ȝif þei bothin be forsworyn þat bakyn þei tyne þerfor I concel alle cristene couetyth not ben weddyd$ For couetys of catel ne of kyn riche But sengil & madenys makkyth ȝow same wydewys & wydoweris wyrchith rith also For no londe but for luffe loke ȝe ben I-spowsyd$ And þan gladyn ȝe god þat alle godys sendyth For in vntyme truly be-twyxin man & womman Scholde no bedbowrde be but ȝif þei bothin were Clene of lyue & of luffe & of lawe als þat derne dede to done no man no scholde But be-twyxin sengle & sengle sethin lawe hath it graun[?] che man haue a make & mariage of wedloke d wyrche þat werk on hi wyue & on no mo wymmen othir-gatys ben getyn for gadelingys ben holdyn d þat bene þis fals folke & eke þis fals eyrys adelyngys lyers vngracious of werkys to getyn ony loue or ony gode ellis wanderin os woluys & wastyn ȝif þei mowe ȝeyne dowel þei don & þe deuyl plesyn d after her deth-day scholyn dwellyn with þat schrewe t ȝif god ȝif hem grace hem here to amende is dowele to drede & dobet to soffre d so comyth dobest & bringith doun mody d þat is wykkyd wille þat many werke schendyth Temporary head for passus J11 n had wytte a wyfe þat hyte dame stody lene was of lyche & of lowe chere he was wonderlyche wrothe þat wytte me þus tawte d al staring$ dame stodye sternelyche seyde l artow wyte quod sche wysdomys to telle flatererys or folys þat frentyke ben in wyttes d blamyd hym & bad him be stille yth swyche wyse wordys to wyssn ony folis d seyde Nolite mittere man margery perlys mong hoggys þat han hawys at her wille ben dreueler þer on draffe were hem leuere e preciousest perre þat in paradyse waxith ey be hem quod sche þat werchin be her werkys hem were leuer lordschepe on erthe rychesse or rentys or rest at her wylle alle þe soth sawys þat salamon seyd euere ysdom & witte now is not worth a rusche t it be kardyd with couetyse as ch clotherys doun wolle þat counterfetyn dysceytys & conspire wrongys And ledyn forth a loueday to lettyn with truthe þat swyche craftys can to councel es clepyd And bene seruyd as syrys þat seruyn þe deuyl Iob þe ientil in his gest seyde it Quare via impiorum prosperatur bene est omnibus qui preuare set & inique agunt And he þat holy writ hath ay in his mowthe And can tellyn of tobye & of þe twelue apostels Or prechyn of þe peanunce þat pylat wrowht To ihesu þe gentyl þat Iues to drowyn On croyce vp-on caluarye as clerkys vs techith Lytyl is he letyn by þat swyche a lessyn lerith Or dawenseld or drawyn forth þes dysourys wytyn þe For ȝif harlotrye ne halp hem bet haue god my truthe More þan ony musyk or makyng$ of gode Nold kyng no knyht ne chanoun of seynt powl* ȝyuyn hen to her ȝerysȝeue þe ȝift of a grote For mynstralcy or merthe amongys men nowe Is lychery losengery & losel talis Gloteny with gret othys is gamyn now o dayes And ȝif þei carpyn of crist þes klerkes & þes lewyd$ At mete in her merthys qwan mynstralis ben stille þan tellyn of þe trinite how two slowyn þe thridde A ballyd resoun þei bringyn forth & takyn bernard to wytnes[se} And puttyn forth presumpcyoun to prouyn þe sothe þus þei dreuelyn at her deyse deuynyte to knowe And gnawyn god in þe gorge qwan þe guttys fyllyth Ac þe careful may cryen & carpyn at þe ȝate Both for hunger & for thriste & for cold quake þer is noun to nemyn him ne his noyce to amende But hoynyn on him as on a hownde & hotyn him go þennys l louyth he þat lord þat lenyth him þat blisse partith with þd pore a parcel qwan hem nedith were mercy in mene men more þan in riche ..dicans meteles myht gon to bedde is mychel in þe gorge of þies gret maysterys amongys mene men his grace & his werkys seyth þe sawter sekyth in memento e audiuimus eim in effrata Inuenimus eam in campis silue kys & cowrtemen carpyn of god fast n him mychel in her mowthe but mene men in hert ris & fayturys han foundyn vp swyche questyounys to plesyn with prowde men sethin pestel pestylens tyme defowlith oure fayth at festys þer þei sittyn now is iche boy bolde & he be riche to tellyn of þe trinite to ben howldyn a syre d fyndyn forth fawtys oure faythe to apeyre d eke famyn þe fader þat formyd vs alle d carpyn a-ȝeyne clergy crabbyd wordes wy wold oure sauyoure suffur swyche a worme in his blisse deceyuyd þe womman & þe man after orow wykkyd werkys & wylle þei wentyn to helle d her sede after for her synne þe same wo suffryn yche motyngys meuyn þies maystris in her glorye d makyn men in mysbeleue þat musyn on her wordys austyn þe olde for alle swyche precheris for swyche tale telleris swyche a teeme schewyth on plus sapere quam oportet & cetera ueytyth neuere to wite qwy þat god wolde rto suffyr sathan his sede to begyle beleue holely in þe leue of holy cherche d pray him of pardoun & penaunce in þi lyue d for his mychel mercy to amendyn vs here or alle þat ȝernyth to wyte qwy þat god wolde Suffryn sory sathan his sede to begyle I wold his Ie were in his ers & his honde after Or qwy þat Iudas to þe Iues ihesu betrayȝyd$ Al was as he wold lorde thankyd be þu And worth as þu wylt qwat-so we telle And now comyth þies comoun to cacchyn of mennys wyttys Qwat is do-wele fro dobet now deefe mot he wothyn Sethyn he ȝernyth to wytyn qwyche þei bene alle But he lyf in þe leeste degre þat longith to do-wele For I dar ben his bold borow dobet wyl he neuere þei dobest draw on him halfe a day after And qwan q þat wit was ware how his wyfe tolde He lost so his cowntenaunce þat he cowthe not carpe And as dowme as a dore drow him besyde But for no carpyng$ I cowthe ne knelyng on grounde I myht no greyne getyn of his grete wyttys But al lawqwyng$ he lowtyd & lokyd vp-on stodye In syngne þat I schold besekyn hir of grace Qwan I was ware of his wil to his wyfe I knelyd And seyd mercy madam ȝor man schal I worthe As long as I lyffe bothin late & rathe For to wyrchin ȝoure wille qwyl my lyfe durith To kennyn me kyndely to knowyn qwat is dowel For þi mekenes quod sche & for þi mylde speche I schal kennyn þe to my cosynys howse þat clergy is hoty6n þei two as I howpe after my byddyng$ Scholyn techene þe to dowele I dar it vndertakyn He hath weddyd a wyfe within wougys sexe þat sibbe is to þe seuen artys & scripture is hotyn þe two as I hope after my bidding$ Schulyn techyn þe to dowele I dar it vndertakyn þan was I as fayne as fowle of fayre morowe dder þan gluman þat gold hath to ȝifte d axed þe hye wey qwere clergy duellyd$ lle me sum tokyn to him for tyme is I wende e þanne þe hye weye hennys to suffre hyn wele & wo ȝif þu wylt lerne e forth be riches rest nouht þer-Inne ȝif þu cowple þe with him þer comyst þu neuyr eke þe long lande þat lechery hatte him on þi lyft halue a myle othir more l þu come to a courte kepe wele þi tung$ lesyngys lethyr spechys lykerous drinkys salt þu sene sobrete & symplesse of speche wat iche wyht be in wylle his wit þe to schewe schaltow comyn to clergye þat can many thingis to him þis syngne I set him to scole þat I gret wele his wife I wrote hire þe byble nd set here to sapience her sawter I glosyde gyk I lernyd here & alle þe Lawe after nd alle þe musounys in musyk$ I mad here to knowe Plato þe poyet I put first to boke rystotyl & othir moo to arguyn first I tawte Gramer ferst for gerlys I gerd forto wrytyn nd bet hem with a baleys but ȝif þei woldyn lerne Of alle kynne craftys I counterfetydfert firste her tolys Carpenterys& keruerys I kennyd & masounys I lerned To wyrchyn with leuel & lyne þei I loke dymme but in teology rit dyrke þat semyth e depper I dyuynyd þe dyrker me thowte is no scyens for sothe forto sotylyn Inne Ne were þe loue þat lith þerinne lewyd thyng it were But for it let best be loue I loue it þe better For þer þat luf is lorde lackyd neuere grace Leue leuely þeron ȝif þu thinke to dowele For dobet & dobest ben drawyn of loue scole In oþer sciences it seyth I seyh it in catoun Qui similat verbis nec corde est fidus amicus Tu quoque fac simile sic ars deluditur arte But theologye techith not so ho-so takyth hede He kennyth vus þe contrary of catounys wordys And biddith vus ben as bretheryn & blissyn oure enmyys And louyn hem þat lyȝyn on vs & lenyin hem at nede And done gode aȝenys euyl god him-selue hotyth & seyd it him-selue in exaumple of þe bestes Necesse est vt veniant scandala Astranomy is an hard thing$ & euyl forto knowe Geometrye & geomecye gynner of speche spece þat thinkyth to wyrchyn with þoo þre thryuyn wel late For sorcery is þe soueryn boke þat þerto longyth ȝit arn þer þre fybychys in forellus of many menys wyttys Experimens for alkonomye of albertys makyng$ Nygramancy & permancye þe deuyl to areyse þyf þu think to doun wele dele þerwith neuere Alle þies scyence sciencys sykyr I my-selue Founded hem formest folke to deceyue I beken þe criste I can þe no better techyn I seyd gremercy madame & mychel here grette And went wyhtlyche my weye . withoutyn more lettyng And fonde as sche for-tolde & forth gan I wende And til I cam at clergy cowthe I neuer stynt I gret þe godeman as stody me taute And afterward his gode wyf I worchepyd bothe & told hem þe tokynyng$ þat me taute were Was neuer gome vpon grounde sythin god made heuyn Fayrer vnderfongyd ne frendloker at ese sey it my-selue so sone so schre wist I was of wyttys howce & with his wyf stody teysly clergye me collyd & kyssyd axid me how witte ferd & his wyfe eke I seyd sothely þei sentyn me hydyr lernyn at ȝow dowele & dobet þerafter sethyn afterward to se sumwaht of dobest s a ful lele lyf among lewyd peple yf it is hotyn husbandys it vsyn ewe tylyers of erþe taylourys & sowterys alle kynne crafty men þat konne her fode wynne ony trewe traueyle tylyin for her fode ychin or deluyn dowel it hyte breykyn beggerys brede & coueryn hem with clothys unfortyn þe careful in castelys fetteryd d k sekyn oute þe seke & sendyn hem þat hem nedyth edyent also as bretheryn & susteryn ben þoo þat doun bet & so seyth þe sawter cce quam bonum & quam Iocundum & cetera kyn with þe sory syngyn with þe glade udere cum gaudentibus flere cum flentibus god wote þat is dobet e dobest hath benefycys & is best worthy þat god in þe gospel grauntyth & techith facit & docuerit hic magnus vocabitur in regno celorum re is dobest a byschoppys pere rince [?]of godes peple & prechyn & chastyn bet doth ful wele & is a dewyd alse hath possessyouns many for pore menys sake mendicans at myscheffe þoo men were I-dewyd þat is rythful relygyoun noun renners abowtyn Ne none leperis ouer lande ladyes to schryue Gregory þe grete clerk pope in his tyme þe rewle of religyoun rehersyth in his moralis And seyth it in example þei scholdyn doun þe better Qwan fyschys faylyn þe flode & þe freche waterys þei deyn for þat drowht qwan þei drye lyggyn Rit so be relygyoun it roylyth & steruyth þat oute of couent & cloystre couetyth to lybbe Now is relygyoun a rider a romer be stretys A ledar of louedays & a loude byggere Prykyth on a palfray fro towne to towne A bedow or a baslard he beryth be his syde Goddes fleche & his fete & his fyue woundys Arn more in his mynde þan memorye of his founderys þis is þe lyf of þo lordys þat lyuyn schuld with dobet [vertical script] And leuyn wel wers wold I al telle I wend þat kynghod & knyhthod kaysers with erlys Weryn dowele & dobet & dobest of alle For I haue seyn it my-selue & sethin red it after How criste counseylyd þe comoun & tellith hem þis tale super cathedram moysy sederunt principes qui dicunt & faciunt & cetera þerfor I wend þat þoo weyys weryn dobest of alle I wil not scorne quod scripture þe soth I wyl seyne Kynghod ne knyhthod for oute I can spye Helpyth not to heuyn-ward atte ȝerys ende Ne rychesse ne rentys ne ryalte of lordys Powle prouyth it vnpossyble ryche men to com to heuen But powre men in pacyens & penaunce to-gydyre Han eritage in heuen but riche men none Contra quod I be crist þat kan I with-seye And prouyn it be þe apostel þat peter is I-nempnyd$ rediderit & baptizatus fuerit ; saluus erit qui vero non & cetera s in extremis quod scripture with sarseynys & with Iues moun ben sauyd so & so is oure beleue rn vncristene in þat kase may be-comen cristene for his gode beleue qwan he lyfe tynyth eritage in heuene as ony cristene cristene crist wote comyth not so to heuene þei han a degre & is her comyn speche ligite dominum & proximum & cetera ddes worde wytnessyth we schullyn ȝeuyn & delyn re enmys & alle men þat nedy arn & pore & seyth tempus est operemur bonum ad omnis maxime autem ad domesticos fidei kynne creaturys þat to crist bene liche bene holden hylyche to heryyn & lonowrynhonowryn d ȝiuen hem of oure gode as gode as [?] oure-selue souerenliche to swyche þat schewyn vs oure beleue he cristen creature bekyndebe kynde til oþire sethin hethyn to help in howpe of amendys hirtyn hem ne to harme hem god biddith vs neuer he seyth him-selue in þe ten hestys s to seyn sle nouth in þe kynd englische hi vindictam & ego retribuam dicit dominus hal punchyn in purgatori or in þe pyt of helle e mannys mysdedys but mercy it make I neuer þe nere for nouth I haue walkyd wytyn qwat Is dowele wytterly in hert how I wyrche in þis werlde amys oþer ellys s merkyd to mercy & my name entrid$ e legende of lyue long ar I were ellys vnwrityn for wykkyd as wytnessyth þe gospell* mo ascendet ad celum nisi qui descendit de celo And I beleue it be oure lorde no letterure bettere For [?] salamon þe sage þat sapience made God ȝaf him grace & richesse to-gydere For to rewlyn his reeme ryht at his wille And he dyd wysely as holy writ techith Bothin in werk$ & worde in worlde in his tyme Aristotil & he ho wrowht better And alle holy chirche helt hem in helle Was neuer in þis werlde two wyser of werkys For alle comoun clergkys sethin crist ȝode on erthe Takyn exaumple of here sawys in sarmounys þat þei make And be her werkys & her wordys wyssyn vus to dowele ȝif I schulde wyrkyn be her werk to wynnyn me heuyn And for her werkys & wit þei wentyn to pyne þan wrowht I vnwysely with al þat I lerne On godefriday I fynde a feloun was sauyd þat had lyuyd al his lyfe be lesyng$ & thefte For he be-knewe on þe croyce & to crist schrof him Sonner was sauyd þan seynt Ion þe baptyst [?]Or adam or Isay or ony of þoo other þat had leyne be lucyfer many long ȝerys A robber had remissyoun rather þan þei alle With-outen penaunce or purgatory paradise for euere And Mari magdalen ho myht doun werce And also þan dauid þat vrye destruȝyd Or pawle þe apostel þat no pete hadde Mychel cristen-kynde to kyllyn to deth And arn noun for soth so souereyn in heuene As þies þat weryn wykkyd in werlde qwen þei were ȝit am I forgyd ferther of fyue wyttys teching$ þat clergy of cristes mowthe comendyd was neuere For he seyth it him-selue to summe of his disciples Dum steteritis ante reges & presides nolite cogitare & cetera And is as mychel to mene to men þat bene lewyd

qwan ȝe ben [gutter?]

n ȝe bene aposed of princys or prestys of þe lawe to answeryn hem haue ȝe no dowte I schal grauntyn ȝow grace of god þat ȝe seruyn help of þe holy gost to answeryn hem alle dowhtyest dyuynoure or doctour of trinite as Austyn þe owlde þe hyest of foure d þus for a sarmoun so me god helpe ipsi Idioti rapiunt celum vibi eium & cetera it is to menyn nethyr more ne lasse bene none rather rauyschyd fro rith be-leue arn þies grete clerkys þat connyn many bokys none ? soner sauyd ne of consciens saddere þe pore peple as plowhmen & pastorrerys of bestys wterys & sewerys & swyche lewyd peple cyn with a pater nostre þe paleys of heuene utyn penaunce at her partyng$ in-to hye blysse Passus tercius de dowele st wote quod Clergy know it ȝif þe like doun my deuer þe dowele to teche ho-so couetyth bene beter þan þe boke tellyth passyth þe apostillis lyue & peryth to angeles I se now I seye as me soth thinkyth were leue for to lerne but loth for to stodye woldyst conyn þat I can & carpyn it after resumptuusly par-auenture aposyn so manye myht turnun me to tene & theologye bothin I wist witterly þu wyldyst doun þer-after þat þu axist asoylyn I wolde //Tunc Vndit scriptura. cornfullyche scripture þe schet vp her browes on clergye criyd on cristye holy name halue [?] it schewe me nout schold$ but I schriuen were þe kynde Cardenal & cristenyd in a founte d seyd so lowyd þat schame me thowte t wer scathe & sclaunder to al holy cherche Sethin teologye þat true is to tellyn it defendyth dauid goddys derlyng$ defendith it also Vidi preuaricantes & tabescebam I sayhe synful he seyde þer-for I seyde no thing$ Til þo wrecches ben in wille her synne to lete And powle preched it oftyn prestys it redyn Audiui archana uerba que non licet homini loqui I am not hardy quod he of þat I herd with erys Telly it with tong$ to synful schrewys And god grauntyd it neuer þe gospel it witnessith In þe passyoun how pylat aposyd god almyht And axed ihesu on hye þer herdyn it an hunderith Quid est veritas quod he veriliche tel vs God ȝaf him none answere but gan his tung holde Rit so I rede quod sche rede þu no ferthere Of þat he ȝernyth to wyte wysse him no beter For he cam nouth be cause to lernyn to dowele But als he seyth swyche I am qwan he with men Iangelyth And qwan scripture þe scolde had þis scole schewyd$ Clery in-to caban crepe anone after And drowe þe dore to him & bad me go dowele Or wykly ȝif I wolde qwethir þat me lykyd$ þan held I h vp myn hondes to scripture þe wyse To bene her man ȝif I most for euere more after With þat sche wolde me wissyn qwere þe toune were þat kynd wytte þe confessoure her kynnysman was Inne þat lady þan lowhe on me & lawht me in her armys And seyd my cosyn kyndewit knowyn is ful wyde And is lyggyng with lyfe þat lorde is of erthe And ȝif þu desyre with him for to dwelle I schal þe wyssyn wynlyche qwere þat he dwellyth and þan I knelyd on my knes & kyssyd here fete sone A thowsyng$ tymes I thankyd hire with throbbyng hert Sche callyd a clergyn þan þat hite Omnia probate aporea pore thing with-alle þu schalt wendyn with wille quod sche qwyl* him lykyth Tyl þe come to þe bowhe quod bonum est tenete Kenne him to my cosynys howce þat kynde wit hite Sey I sent him þis segge & þat he schew him dowele wente forth in my wey with omnia probate r I kam to þe cuntreyys quod bonum est tenete any ferlyys me befel in a fewe ȝeris fyrst ferly I fonde an hunger it me made nd I þan thorow ȝowthe aȝeyn prime dayes stode stil in a stody & stared a-boute l heyle quod on þoo I seyd welcom & with hom be ȝowe am dwellyng with deth & hunger I hyte To lyf & his lordschep longyth my weye To kyllyn him ȝif I can þei kynde wit helpe schal fellyn þat freyke in a fewe dayes wold folwyn þe fayne quod I but fayntys me hentith folwyth suche a fayntyse I may not forth walke we forth quod þe gome I haue agretea grete boyste f battys & brokyn bred þi bely to fille bagge ful of a beggar I bowht it at onys n maungyd I with him vp to þe fulle or myssyng of mete none mesur I cowthe ut ete as hunger me hete til my belly swellyd bad me hunger gode day but I helde me stille or gronyng$ of my guttys I durst gon no ferther þat kam a knaue with a confessouris face ne & rewlyche with leggys ful smale haysyd haylsyd me hym hendely & axid him after f qwennys þat he were & qwedyr þat he wolde with deth I dwelle quod he dayys & nyhetys y name is feuer on þe ferthe day I am athrist euere am mensenger of deth . men haue I twayne on is callyd cotidian a currur of oure howce Tertyen þat othyr true drinkers bothen we haue letterys of his lyf he schal his lyf tyne Fro deth þat is oure duke swyche dedys we bryng$ Myht I se quod he god wote ȝoure gatys wold I holdyn