This MS. of "Piers Plowman" contains a text made up of two different versions of the poem, viz. of the first or earliest version and of the third or latest . The portion containing the earliest version (in full) (all but the Last Passus) is from the beginning, to the end of Passus secundus de dowel -- at which point the early versions end in most MSS. See the words "Breuis "Passus tercius de dowel ; Breuis or(ati)o penetrat celum" - on fol. 52. r. cf 30r The remainder consists of the latter part of the third version : the junction being made (as well as it could be) by help of the quotation, "Breuis oratio" &c

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An evident indication of this junction is afforded by noting that "Passus tercius de dowel" is only 17 lines long, & is followed by "Passus secundus de dobet" / where dobet is an error for dowel / this "Passus secundus" being reckoned according to the system of numbering usual in the third or latest version.

Walter W. Skeat

In a somer sesoun whanne softe was the sonne I shop me in-to a shroud as I a shep were In abite as an Ermyte vnholy of werkis Wente wyde in þis world wondris to here But on a may morwenyng vpon maluerne hilles Me befel a ferly of fairie me þou&yogh;te I was wery of wandrit & wente me to reste Vnder a brood bank be a bournis side And as I lay & lenide & lokide on þe watris I slomeride into a slepying it swi&yogh;ede so merye Þanne gan I mete a merueillous sweuene Þat I was in a wildernesse wiste I neuere where Ac as I beheld in-to þe Est an hei&yogh; to þe sonne I sai&yogh; a tour on a toft tri&yogh;ly I-makid A depe dale beneþe a dungeoun þere-inne Wiþ depe dikes & derke & dredful of si&yogh;t A fair feld ful of folk fand I þere betwene Of alle maner of men þe mene & þe riche Werchinge & wandringe as þe world askiþ Summe putte hem to plou&yogh; plei&yogh;ede ful selde In settynge & sowynge swonke ful harde Whom þat þise wastours wiþ glotonye destroi&yogh;eþ And summe putte hem to pride aparailide hem þere-aftir In cuntenaunce of cloþinge comen disgisid In preyours & penaunce putten hem manye Al for loue of oure lord lyuede wel streite In hope to haue heuene-riche blisse As ancris & Ermytes þat holden hem in cellis Coueite not in cuntre to cairen aboute For no likerous liflode here likam to plese And somme chesen to chaffare þei cheuide þe betere As it semiþ to oure si&yogh;t þat suche men þriuen And somme merþis to make as mynstral conne And gete gold wiþ here gle giltles I trowe Ac Iaperis & iangleris Iudas children Fonden hem fantasies & foolis hem make And haue wyt at wille to wirche &yogh;if hem list Þat poule prechiþ of hem I dar not proue it here Qui loquitur turpiloquium ; his luciferis hyne Bidderis & beggeris faste aboute &yogh;ede Til here bely & here bagge were bratful ycrammid Flite þanne for here foode fou&yogh;ten at þe ale In glotonye god wot go þei to bedde And risen vp wiþ ribaudrie as robertis knaues Slepe & sleuþe sewiþ hem euere Pilgrimes & palmeris pli&yogh;ten hem togidere For to seke seint Iame & seintes at rome Wenten forþ in here wey wiþ many wise talis And hadde leue to lei&yogh;e al here lif aftir Ermytes on an hep wiþ hokide staues Wenten to walsyngham & here wenchis aftir Grete lobies & longe þat loþ were to swynke Cloþide hem in copis to beknowen from oþere Shopen hem Erymytes here ese to haue I fond þere Freris alle þe foure ordris Prechinge þe peple for profit of þe wombe Gloside þe gospel as him good likide For coueitise of copis construide it as þei wolde Manye of þise maistris may cloþe hem at lykinge For here mony & here marchaundise meten togidere Siþen charite haþ ben chapman & chief to shryue lordis Manye ferlis han fallen in a fewe &yogh;eris But holy chirche & þei holdes bet togidere Þe moste meschief on molde is mountynge vp faste Þere prechide a pardoner as he a prest were Brou&yogh;te forþ a bulle wiþ bisshopis selis And seide þat hym-self mi&yogh;te assoile hem alle Of falsnesse of fastynge & of auowes broken Lewide men leuide it wel & likide his speche Comen vp knelynge to kissen his bulle He bunchiþ hem wiþ his breuet & bleriþ here ei&yogh;e And rau&yogh;te wiþ his rageman ryngis & brochis Þus þei &yogh;ouen here gold glotonis to helpe And leniþ it loselis þat lecherie haunten But were þe bisshop yblissid þamp worþ boþe hise eris His sel shulde not be sent to disseyue þe peple It is not al be þe bisshop þat þe boy prechiþ Ac þe parissh prest & þe pardoner parte þe siluer Þat þe pore peple of þe parissh shulde haue &yogh;if þei ne were Personis & parissh prestis pleynide hem to here bisshop Þat here parissh was pore siþþe þe pestilance tyme To haue a licence & leue at lundoun to dwelle To synge for symonye for siluer is swete Þere houide an hundrit in houuis of silke Seriauntis it semide þat seruide at þe barre Pleten for penis & poynteþ pe lawe And nou&yogh;t for loue of oure lord vnlose here lippes ones Tho mi&yogh;test betere mete myst on maluerne hilles Þanne gete a mom of here mouþ til mony be shewid I sau&yogh; bisshopis bolde & bacheleris of deuyn Become clerkis clerkis of acountis þe kinge for to serue Archideknes & demers þat dignites hauen To preche þe peple & pore men to fede Ben ylope to lundoun be leue of hire bisshop And ben clerkis of þe kinges bench þe cuntre to shende Barouns burgeis & bondage also I sau&yogh; in þat semele as &yogh;e shuln here aftir Baxteris & bocheris & breusteris many Wollene websteris and weueris of lynen Taillours tanneris & tokkeris boþe Masonis mynours & manye oþere craftis As dikeris & delueris þat doþ here dede ille And driueþ forþ þe longe day wiþ dieu saue dame emme Cookis & here knaues crieþ hote pyes hote Goode gees & gris gowe dyne gowe Tauerners to hem tolde þe same . Wiþ wyn of osay & wyn of gascoyne Of þe ryn & of þe rochel þe rost to defie . Al þis I sau&yogh; slepyng & seue siþes more Primus passus de visione ; What þe mounteyne meniþ & eke þe derke dale And eke þe feld ful of folke I shal &yogh;ow faire shewe A louely lady of lire in lynene ycloþid Com doun fro þat kiþ þamp callide me faire And seide sone slepist þou sest þou þis peple How besy þei ben aboute þe mase Þe moste partie of þis peple þat passiþ on þis erþe Haue þei worsshipe in þis world þei kepe no betere Of oþer heuene þanne here holde þei no tale I was a-ferd of hire face þei&yogh; heo fair were . And seide mercy ma-dame what is þis to mene Þe tour of þe toft quaþ heo treuþe is þere-inne And wolde þat &yogh;e wrou&yogh;ten as his word techiþ For he is fadir of feiþ & fourmide &yogh;ow alle . Boþe wiþ fel & wiþ face & &yogh;af &yogh;ow fyue wyttes . For to worsshipe hym þere wiþ whiles &yogh;e ben here . And þerfore he hi&yogh;te þe erþe to helpe &yogh;ow ichone Of lynene of wollene of liflode at nede In mesurable maner to make &yogh;ow at ese And comaundite of his curteisie in comoun þre þinges Narn none nedful but þo & nempne hem I þenke And rekne hem in resoun reherse þou hem þeraftir Þat on is vesture fro chele þe to saue Þater is mete at meel for myseise of þi-selue And drink whanne þe dri&yogh;eþ ac do it nou&yogh;t out of resoun Þat þou worþe þe wers whanne þou werche shuldist For loth in his lyf dayes for lykynge of drinke Dede be his dou&yogh;ters þat þe deuil lykide And leccherie hem lau&yogh;te & lay be hem boþe And al he wytide it wyn þe wykkide dede Dred delitable drynk & þou shalt do þe betere Mesure is medicine þei&yogh; þou muche &yogh;erne Al is not good to þe gost þat þe gut likiþ Ne liflode to þe lykam þat lef is to þe soule Leue not þi lycam for a liþer hym techiþ Þat is þe wrecchide world þe to betraye For þe fend & þi flessh folewiþ togidere . For to shende þi soule set it in þin herte And for þou shuldist be war I wisse þe þe beste A ma-dame mercy quaþ I me likiþ wel &yogh;oure wordis Ac þe mone on þis molde þat men so faste holdiþ Tel me to whom þat tresour apendiþ . Go to þe gospel quaþ heo þat god seide him-seluen Þo þe peple hym aposide with a peny in þe temple &YOGH;if þei wile worsshipe þer-wiþ cesar þe king And he askide of hem of whom spak þe lettre And þe ymagis like þat þere-inne standis Cesar þanne seide we se wel ichone Reddite cesaris ; quaþ god þat cesari befalle Et que sunt dei deo ; er ellis &yogh;e don ille For ri&yogh;tfulliche resoun shulde rewele &yogh;ow alle And kynde wyt be wardeyn &yogh;oure welþe to kepe And tutour of &yogh;our tresour & take it &yogh;ow at nede For husbondrie & he holden tog-ideris Þanne I fraynide hire faire for him þat hire made Þe dungeon in þe dale þat dredful is of si&yogh;t What may it mene ma-dame I þe biseche Þere is þe castel of care who þat comiþ þere-inne May banne þat he born was to body or to soule Þere-inne woniþ a wy þat wrong is yhoten Fadir of falshed he foundit it hym-selue Adam & Eue he eggide hem to ille Counseilid kaym to kiln his broþer Iudas he iapide wiþ Iewene siluer And siþen on an Eldir hongide him aftir He is lettere of loue lei&yogh;eþ hem alle Þat tresten on his tresour betraid arn sonnest Þanne hadde I wondir in my wyt what womman it were Þat suche wise wordis of holy writ shewide And hailside hire on þe hei&yogh;e name er heo þennis &yogh;ede What he were witterly þat wisside me so faire . Holy chirche I am quaþ heo þou au&yogh;test me toknowe I vndirfange þe ferst and þi feiþ tau&yogh;te Þou brou&yogh;test me borewis my biddyinge to werche To loue me lelly whiles þi lif duriþ Þanne I knelide on my knes & cri&yogh;ide hire of grace Prei&yogh;ede hire pitously prei&yogh;e for my sennes And ek kenne me kyndely on crist to beleue Þat I mi&yogh;te werchen his wil þat wrou&yogh;te me to man Teche me to no tresour but tel me þis ilke How I may sauen my soule þat seint art yhoten Whanne alle tresours arn tri&yogh;ed treuþe is þe beste I do it on Deus caritas to deme þe soþe It is as derworþi a dreury as dere god hym-seluen For who-so is trewe of his tunge telliþ non oþer . Doþ þe werkis þer-wiþ & wilneþ no man ille . He is a god be þe gospel on ground & on lofte And eke lyke to oure lord be seint lukis wordis Þe clerkis þat knowe it shulde kenne it aboute For cristene & vncristene cleymeþ it ichone Kinges & kni&yogh;tes shulde kepe it be resoun And riden & rappe doun in reaumes aboute And taken trespassours & tei&yogh;en hem faste Til treuþe hadde termined here trespas to þe ende For dauid in hise dayes dubbide kni&yogh;tes . Made hem to swere on his swerd to serue treuþe euere Þat is þe professioun apertly þat apendiþ to kni&yogh;tes And nou&yogh;t to fasten a friday in fyue score wynter But holde wiþ hym & wiþ hire þat aske þe treuþe And neuere leue hym for loue ne lacchinge of &yogh;eftis And who-so passiþ þat poynt is apostata in his ordre And crist kinge of kinges kni&yogh;tide tene . Cherubyn & seraphyn such seuene & a-noþer xxvi &YOGH;af hem mi&yogh;t in his mageste þe meryere hem þou&yogh;te And ouer his meyne made hem archaungelis Tau&yogh;te hem þoru&yogh; þe trinite þe trouþe to knowe To be buxum at his biddinge he bad hem nou&yogh;t ellis Lucifer wiþ legionis leride it in heuene And was þe louelokest to loke on aftir oure lord Til he brake buxumnesse þoru&yogh; bost of hym-seluen Þanne fil he wiþ felawis & fendis bicome Out of heuene in-to helle hobelide þei faste Summe in eir summe in erþe summe in helle depe . And lucifer lowest liþ of hem alle For pride þat he put out his peyne haþ non ende And alle þat werchen with wronge wenden þei shuln Aftir here deþ day & dwelle wiþ þat shrewe Ac þo þat werchen þe word þat holy writ techiþ And enden as I er seide in perfite werkis Mowe be sikur þat here soule shal wende in-to heuene Þere treuþe is in trinite & tronen hym alle For-þi I seye as I seide er be si&yogh;te of þise textis Whanne alle tresours arn tri&yogh;ed treuþe is þe beste Leriþ it þus lewide men for lettrid it knowiþ Þat treuþe is þe tresour tri&yogh;est here on erþe . &YOGH;et haue I no kynde knowynge quaþ I &yogh;et mote &yogh;e me bet kenne Be what craft in my cors it compsiþ & where Þou dotide daffe quaþ heo dulle arn þine wittes It is a kynde knowynge þat kenneþ in þin herte For to loue þi lord leuere þanne þi-selue No dedly synne to do di&yogh;e þei&yogh; þou shuldist Þis I trowe be treuþe who can teche þe betere Loke þou suffre hym to seyn & siþþe lere it aftir For þus askiþ wytnesse his woord werche þou þer-aftir Þat loue is þe leuest þinge þat oure lord askiþ And ek þe plante of pes preche it in þin harpe &YOGH;if þou art mercy at mete &yogh;if men bidde þe &yogh;edde For in kynde knowynge in herte þere comsiþ a mi&yogh;t And þat falliþ to þe fadir þat fourmide vs alle Lokide on vs wiþ loue & let his sone dei&yogh;e Mekliche for oure misdedis to amende vs alle And &yogh;et wolde he hem no woo þat wrou&yogh;te him þat pyne But mekly wiþ mouþe mercy he besou&yogh;te To haue pite on þat peple þat pynede hym to deþe Here mi&yogh;t þou sen ensaumplis in hym-selfe one Þat he was mi&yogh;tful & mek & mercy gan graunte To hem þat hongide him by & his herte þirlide For-þi I rede þe riche haue reuþe on þe pore Þei&yogh; &yogh;e ben mi&yogh;ty to mote beþ meke of &yogh;our werkis For þe same mesour &yogh;e mete amys oþer ellis &YOGH;e shuln be wei&yogh;e þer-wiþ whanne &yogh;e wende hennes For-þi be trewe of &yogh;oure tunge & treweliche wynne And ek as chast as a child þat in chirche wepiþ But &yogh;if &yogh;e loue lelly & lene þe pore Of such good as god sent goodlyche parteþ &YOGH;e ne haue no more meryt in matynes ne in masse Þanne malkyn of hire maidenhed þat no man desiriþ For Iames þe ientil ioynide in his bokis Þat feiþ wiþoute fait is feblere þan nou&yogh;t And as ded as a dorenail but &yogh;if þe dede folewe Chastite wiþoute charite worþ cheynide in helle It is as lewid as a laumpe þat no li&yogh;t is inne Manye chapellenis arn chast ac charite is a-weye Arn none hardere þan þei whanne þei ben auauncid Vnkynde to here kyn & ek to alle cristene Chewen here charite & chiden aftir more Such chastite wiþoute charite worþ cheynid in helle &YOGH;e curatours þat kepe &yogh;ow clene of &yogh;our body &yogh;e ben a-cumbrid wiþ coueitise &yogh;e mowe not out crepe So faste haþ auarice haspide &yogh;ow to-gideris Þere is no treuþe of trinite but a treccherie of helle And a leringe to þe lewide men þe lattere to dele . And a lerynge to þe lewide men þe lattere to dele For þise arn þe wordis writen in þe Euaungelie Date & dabitur vobis ; for I dele &yogh;ow alle Þat is þe lok of loue þat letiþ out my grace To counforte þe carful a-cumbrid wiþ synne Loue is þe leueste þinge þat oure lord askiþ And eke þe graiþ gate þat goþ in-to heuene For-þi I sei&yogh;e as I seide er be si&yogh;te of þise tixtes Whan alle tresouris arn tri&yogh;ede treuþe is þe beste . Now haue I told þe what treuþe is þat no tresour is betere I may no lengere lenge now loke þe oure lord . Passus secundus de visione ; &YOGH;et knelide I on my knes & cri&yogh;ede hire of grace And seide mercy ma-dame for marie loue of heuene Þat bar þe blisside barn þat bou&yogh;te vs on þe rode Kenne me be sum craft to kenne þe false xvii Loke on þi left half & lo where he standis Boþe fals & fauel & hise feris manye I lokide on þat left half as þat lady me tau&yogh;te And was war of a womman wondirliche cloþide Ipurfilid wiþ pelure þe pureste in erþe Icorounid in a coroune þe king haþ non betere Alle here fyue fyngris were frettid wiþ rynges Of þe þureste perrei&yogh;e þat prince werde euere . In red scarlet robid & ribande wiþ gold Þere nis no quen queyntere þat quyk is o lyue What is þis womman quaþ I þus worþily atirid Þat is mede þe maide haþ noi&yogh;ede me ful ofte And lakkide my lore to lordis aboute In þe popis paleis heo is preuy as my-selue . And so shulde it not be for wronge was hire sire Out of wronge heo wex to wroþerhele manye I au&yogh;te ben hi&yogh;ere þanne heo for I com of a betere To-morewe worþ þe mariage mad of mede & of fals Fauel wiþ fair speche haþ forgid hem to-gidere Gile haþ begon hire so heo grauntiþ alle his wille And al is li&yogh;eris ledynge þat hy li&yogh;en to-gideris To-morwe worþ þe mariage ymad as I þe telle Þere mi&yogh;te þou wyte &yogh;ife &yogh;if þou wilt whiche þei ben alle Þat longiþ to þe lordsshipe þe lasse & þe more Knowe hem þere &yogh;if þou canst and kep þe from hem alle &YOGH;if þou wilnest to wone wiþ treuþe in his blisse I may no lengere lette lord I þe bekenne And become a good man for any coueitise I rede Alle þe riche retenaunce þat regniþ wiþ false . Were beden to þe bedale on boþe two sides . Sire symonye is assent to a-sele þe chartres Þat fals & fauel be any fyn halden And feffe mede þer-wiþ in mariage for euere . Þer nas halle ne hous to herberwe þe peple Þat iche feld nas ful of folke al aboute In myddis a mounteyne at mydmorewe-tide Was pi&yogh;t vp a pauyloun proud for þe nones And ten þousand of tentis teldite beside Of kni&yogh;tes of cuntres of comeres aboute For sisours for somenours for selleris for beggeris For lerid for lewid for laboureris of þropis Alle to wytnesse wel what þe writ wolde In what maner þat mede in mariage was feffid? To be fastnid wiþ fals þe fyn is arerid Þanne fauel fettiþ hire forþ & to fals takiþ In foreward þat falshed shal fynde hire for euere And he be bounde at his bode his biddinge to fulfille At bedde & at boord buxum and hende And as sire symonye wile segge to sewen his wille Symonye & cyuyle stondiþ forþ boþe And vnfolde þe feffement þat fals haþ ymakid Þus begynne þe gomes & gredde wel hei&yogh;e Wytan & wytnessen þat wonen vpon erþe Þat I fauel feffe falsnesse to mede To be present in pride for pouere oþer riche Wiþ þe Erldom of enuye for euere to laste Wiþ alle þe lordsshipe of leccherie in lengþe & in brede Wiþ þe kingdom of coueitise I croune hem to-gidere . And al þe Ile of vsurie & auarice þe faste Glotonye & grete oþes I gyue hem to-gidere Wiþ alle þe delites of lust þe deuil for to serue In al þe signiure of slouþe I set hem togidere Þei to haue & to holde & here eires aftir . Wiþ alle þe purtenaunce of purcatorie in-to þe pyne of helle &YOGH;eldinge for þis þinge at o &yogh;eris ende . Here soulis to sathanas to synken in pyne . Þere to wone wiþ wronge while god is in heuene In witnesse of whiche þinge wronge was þe furste And piers þe pardoner poulynes doctor Bette þe bedel of bukyngham-shire Randolf þe reue of rutelondis sokne Munde þe myllere & manye mo oþere . In þe date of þe deuil þe dede is asselid Be si&yogh;te of sire symonye & signes of notories Þanne tenide hym theologie whan he þis tale herde And seide to cyuyle now sorewe on þi bokes Such weddynge to werche to wraþþe wiþ treuþe Er þis weddynge be wrou&yogh;t wo þe betide For mede is molere of frendis engendrit God grauntide to gyue mede to treuþe And þou hast gyuen hire to a gilour now god &yogh;iue þe sorewe Þe textis telle not so treuþe wot þe soþe Dignus est operarius mercede ; Worþi is þe werkman his mede to haue And þou hast fastnid hire wiþ fals fy on þi lawes For al be lesinges þou lyuest & leccherous werkis Symonye & þi-self shenden holy chirche &YOGH;e & þe notories noye þe peple &YOGH;e shuln abigge boþe be god þat me made Wel &yogh;e wyte wernardis but &yogh;if &yogh;oure wyt faile Þat fals is a faitour feyntles of werkis As a bastard yborn of belsaboukis kynde And mede is a mulere of maides engendrit She mi&yogh;te kisse þe kinge for cosyn &yogh;if he wolde Werchiþ be wysdom & be wyt aftir Lediþ hire to lundoun þere lawe is yhandlit &YOGH;if any leaute wile loke þei ligge togidere And &yogh;if þe iustice iugge hire to be ioyned with fals &YOGH;et be war of þe weddynge for witty is treuþe For consience is of his counseil & knowiþ &yogh;ow ichone And &yogh;if he fynde &yogh;ow in defaute & wiþ þe fals holden It shal besette &yogh;oure soulis wel sore at þe laste Here-to assentiþ syuyle ac symonye ne wolde . Til he hadde siluer for his selis & signes Þanne fette fauel forþ floreynes ynowe And bad gile go gyue gold al aboute . And nameliche to þe notories þat hem non ne failiþ . And feffe false wytnesse wiþ floreynes ynowe . For he may mede a-maistrien and maken at my wille Þo þis gold was gyue gret was þe þonkinge To false & to fauel for here faire &yogh;eftis And comen to counforte fro care þe false And seide certis cesse shuln we neuere Til mede be þi weddit wyf þoru&yogh; wyt of vs alle . For we haue mede a-maistried wiþ oure mery speche Þat he grauntiþ to gon wiþ a good wille . To lundoun to loke &yogh;if þat lawe wolde . Iuggen &yogh;ow ioyntly in ioye for euere Þanne was fals fayn & fauel als bliþe . And let somoune alle þe segges abouten in shires And alle be boun beggeris & oþere To wende wiþ hem to westmynstre to wytnesse þe dede Þanne cariede hy forþ capelis to carien hem þider Þanne fette fauel folis of þe beste Sette mede on a shirreue shod al newe And fals sat on a sisour þat softeliche trottide And fauel vpon fair speche fetisliche atirid Þere hadde notories none anoyed þei were Þat symonye & cyuyle shulde on here fet gange Þanne swor cyuyle & seide be þe rode Þat somenours shulde be sadelit & serue hem ichone . And let apparaille þise prouisours in palfreis wise . Sire symonye hym-selfe shal sitte on here bakkis . And alle þe denis & southdenis as destreris hem di&yogh;te For þei shuln bere þise bisshopis & bringe hem at here reste Paulynes peple for pleyntes in constorie Shuln serue my-selfe þat cyuyle hatte . And let cartesadil þe Comissare oure carte shal be drawe And fetten oure vitailes fro fornicatouris And makiþ of lyere a lange carte to leden al þis oþere As folis & faitours þat on here feet iotten Fals & fauel fariþ forþ to-gidere And mede in þe myddis & al þis mene aftir I haue no tom to telle þe tail þat hem folewiþ Of many maner of man þat on þis molde libbeþ Ac gile was forgoere and gyede hem alle . Soþnesse sei&yogh; hem wel & seide but litel . But prikede forþ on his palfray & passide hem alle And come to þe kinges court & consience tolde And consience to þe kinge carpide it aftir Be crist quaþ þe kinge & I mi&yogh;te cacche . Fals oþer fauel oþer any of his feris I wolde be wroken of þise wrecchis þat werchen so ille And do hem hange be þe hals & alle þat hem maynteniþ Shal neuere man of þis molde meynprise þe beste But ri&yogh;t as þe lawe lokis let falle on hem alle And comaundite a cunstable þat com at þe ferste To atache þis tiraunt for any tresour I hote Feteriþ falsness faste for any skynes &yogh;eftis And gederiþ of giles hed let hym go no ferþere And bringeþ mede to me maugre hem alle . Symonye & cyuyle I sente hem to warne . Þat holy chirche for hem worþ harmid for euere And &yogh;if &yogh;e lacche lei&yogh;ere let him not askape Er he be put on þe pillorie for any preyour I hote Dreed at þe dore stood & þat doom herde And wi&yogh;tliche wente to warne þe false And bad hym fle for fer & hise feris alle Þanne fal[s]nesse for feer flei&yogh; to þe Freris. And gile doþ him to go agast forto dei&yogh;e . Ac marchauntis mette wiþ hym & made him abide Besshette hym in here shoppis to shewen here ware Aparailide hym as a prentice þe peple to serue . Li&yogh;tliche li&yogh;ere lep a-wey þennes Lurkynge þoru&yogh; lanes to-luggid of manye He was nowhere welcome for his many talis Oueral yhuntid & yhote trusse Til pardoners hadde pite & pulden him to house Wysshen hym & wypide him & wounde hym in cloþis And senten hym on sundais wiþ selis to chirche And &yogh;afe pardoun for panis poundmel aboute Þanne louride lechis & lettris besente For to wone wiþ hem & watris to loke Spiceris speke wiþ hem to aspie here ware For he coude on here craft & kneu&yogh; manye gommes And mynstralis & messangeris mette wiþ him ones And wiþheld him halfe &yogh;er & elleuene dayes Freris wiþ fair speche fetten hym þennes Fro knowinge of comeris copide hym as a Frere Ac he haþ leue to lepen out as ofte as him likiþ And is welcome whanne he wile & woniþ wiþ hem ofte Alle fledden for fer & flowen in-to hernis Saue mede þe maiden no mo durste abide Ac trewely to telle heo tremblide for fere And eke wep & wrange whan heo was atachid Passus tertius de visione ; Now is mede þe maide & no mo of hem alle Wiþ bedelis & baillifs ybrou&yogh;t to þe kinge Þe kinge calliþ a clerke I can not his name To take mede þe maide & make hire at ese I wile assaie hire my-self and soþly apose What man of þis world þat hire were leuist And &yogh;if heo werche be wyt & my wil folewe I wile forgyue hire þe gilt so me god helpe Curteisliche þe clerke þanne as þe kinge hi&yogh;te Toke mede be þe myddel & brou&yogh;te hire to chaumbre Ac þere was merþe & mynstralcie mede to plese Þat woniþ at westmenstre worsshipeþ hire alle Ientily wiþ ioye þe Iustices sone Buskiþ hem to þe bour þere þe burde dwelliþ Counfortiþ hire kyndely be clergie leue And seide mourne nou&yogh;t mede ne make þou no sorewe For we wile wisse þe kinge & þi wey make For al consiences cast a craft as I trowe Mildeliche mede þanne merciede hem alle Of here grete goodnesse & &yogh;af hem ichone Coupis of clene gold pecis of siluer Rynges wiþ rubies & ricchesse manye Þe leste man of here mayne a mutoun of gold Þanne lau&yogh;te hy leue þise lordis at mede Wiþ þat come clerkis to conforten hire þe same And bidden hire be blyþe for we ben þin owene For to werche þi wil while þi lif lastiþ Hendely þanne heo behi&yogh;te hem þe same To loue hem lelly & lordis hem make And in constory at court callen here names Shal no lewidnesse hym lette þe lede þat I louye Þat he ne worþ ferst auauncid for I am beknowe Þere cunnynge clerkis shuln clokke behynde Þanne com þere a confessour ycopid as a frere To mede þe maiden mekeliche he loutide And he seide ful softely in shrifte as it were Þei&yogh; lerid & lewide hadde lei&yogh;e be þe ichone And þei&yogh; falshed hadde folewid þe þis fiftene wynter I shal assoile þe my-selfe for a sem of whete And ek be þi baudekyn & bere wel þin arnede Amonge clerkis & kni&yogh;tes consience to felle Þanne mede for hire mysdedis to þat man knelide And shrof hire of hire shrewidnesse shameles I trowe Tolde hym a tale & toke hym a noble For to be hire bedeman & hire baude aftir Þanne he assoilide hire sone & siþen he seide We haue a wyndowe of werchinge wile stonde vs wel hei&yogh;e Woldist þou glase þe gable & graue þere þin name Sikir shulde þi soule be heuene to haue Wiste I þat quaþ þe womman þere nis wyndowe ne auter Þat I ne shulde make or mende & myn name writen Þat iche segge shal se I am sistir of &yogh;our hous Ac god alle good folke such grauynge defendiþ And seiþ Nesciat sinister quid faciat dexter ; Let not þi left hond late ne raþe Be war what þi ri&yogh;t hond werchiþ or deliþ And so preuyliche parte it þat pride be not sei&yogh;e Neiþer in si&yogh;t ne in þi soule for god hym-selfe knowiþ Who is curteis or kynde or coueitous or ellis For-þi I lere &yogh;ow lordis leuiþ such wrytynge To writen in wyndowis of &yogh;oure wel dedis er to grede aftir godis men whan &yogh;e &yogh;iue dolis An aunter &yogh;e haue &yogh;oure hire þerof hire For oure sauiour it seide & hym-selfe prechid Amen Amen recipiebant &c ; Meiris & maistris hir þat ben mene Betwyn þe kinge þamp þe comunes to kepe þe lawis As to punisshen on pillories & on pynnynge stolis Breweris & bakeris bocheris & cokes For þise arn men of þise molde þat most harm werchiþ To þe pore peple þat parcel-mel biggen For þei poisone þe peple preuyly wel ofte And risen vp þoru&yogh; regratie & rentis hem biggen Of þat þe pore peple shulde putte in here wombe For tok he on trewely he tymbride not so hei&yogh;e Ne bou&yogh;te none burgages be &yogh;e wel certayn Ac mede þe maide þe mair heo besou&yogh;te Of alle suche selleris siluer to take Or presauntis wiþoute panis as pecis of siluer Rynge or oþer richesse þat regratour to meynteyne For my loue quaþ þat lady loue hem ichone And suffre hem to selle sum-del a&yogh;ens resoun Salamon þe sage a sarmon he made For to amende men þat kepiþ þe lawis And tok hym þis teeme þat I telle þenke Ignis deuorabit tab[er]nacla eor[um] qui libenter accipiunt munera Amonge þise lettride lordis þis latyn amountiþ Þat fuyr shal falle & forbrenne at þe laste Þe hous and þe homes of hem þat desiren To haue &yogh;eftis for here seruice in &yogh;ouþe or in elde Þe kinge fro counseil com & callide aftir mede And of-sente hire as swiþe seriauntis hire fecche And brou&yogh;te hire to borugh wiþ blisse & wiþ ioye Certis þe kinge compsiþ to telle To mede þe maide melis þise wordis Vnwittily ywys wrou&yogh;t hast þou ofte Ac wers wrou&yogh;test þou neuere þan þo þou fals toke Ac I forgyue þe þe gilt & graunte þe grace Henis to þi deþ day do þou so no more I haue a kni&yogh;t hatte consience com late fro be&yogh;onde &YOGH;if he wilneþ þe to wyue wilt þou hym haue &YOGH;a lord quaþ þat lady lord forbede ellis Þanne was consience callid to comen & aperen Before þe kynge & his counseil clerkis & oþere Knelynge consience to þe kynge loutide What þat his wille were þamp what he do shulde Wilt þou wedde þis womman &yogh;if I wile assente For heo is fayn of þi Felasshipe for to be þi make Quaþ consience to þe kynge crist it forbede Er I wedde such a wif wo me betide She is freel of hire feiþ fikel of hire speche She makiþ men mysdo manye score tymes In trist of hire tresour she teniþ ful manye Wyues & wydewis wantonness techiþ Leride hem leccherie þat louiden hire &yogh;eftis &YOGH;oure fadir he fellide þoru&yogh; false behest Apoisonide popis apeiride al holy chirche I not a betere baude be hym þat me made Betwyn heuene & helle & erþe þei&yogh; men sou&yogh;te She is tykil of hire tail talewys of hire tunge As comoun as þe cartewey to knaue & to monke To mynstrelis to messangeris to myselis in heggis Sisours & sompnours suche men hire preisiþ Shirreues of shires were shent &yogh;if heo ne were She doþ men lese here land & here life boþe And letiþ passe prisoners & paieþ for hem ofte And &yogh;iueþ þe gaileris gold & grotis togidere To vnfetere þe fals fle where hym lykiþ He takiþ þe trewe be þe top tei&yogh;eþ hym faste And hangiþ hym for hattrede þat harmide neuere To be cursid in constorie heo countiþ not a risshe? For heo copiþ þe Comissarie and cloþiþ hise clerkis Heo is assoilid so sone as hire-self likiþ She may nei&yogh; as muche do in a moneþ ones As &yogh;oure secre sel in seue score dayes She is preuy wiþ þe pope prouisours it knowiþ Sire symonye & hire-selfe seliþ þe bullis She blissiþ þise bisshopis &yogh;if þei be lewid Prouendrours prestis & persones she maynteniþ to holde Lemmanis & lotebies alle here lif dayes And bringen forþ barnes a&yogh;ens forboden lawis Þere she is wel wiþ þe kinge wo is þe reaume For she is fauourable to fals & fouliþ treuþe ofte Barouns & burgeis she bringeþ in sorewe Be Iesu wiþ hire Iuelx &yogh;oure Iustice she shendiþ And leiþ a&yogh;en þe lawe & lettiþ þe treuþe Þat feiþ may not haue his forþ hire floreynes go so þikke She let lawe as hire list & louedaies makiþ Þe mase for a mene man þei&yogh; he mote euere Lawe is so lordlich & loþ to make ende Wiþoute presentis or panis he plesiþ ful fewe Clergie & coueitise he coupliþ to-gidere Þis is þe lif of þat lady now lord &yogh;if hire sorewe And alle þat meynteniþ hire men meschaunce hem betide For pouere men mowe haue no power to pleyne &yogh;if hem smerte Such a maister is mede amonge men of goode Þanne mournide mede & menide hire to þe kinge To haue space to speke spede &yogh;if she mi&yogh;te Þe kinge grauntide hire grace wiþ a good wille Excuse þe &yogh;if þou canst I can no more sei&yogh;e For consience acusiþ þe to cunge for euere Nay lord quaþ þat lady leue him þe wers Whanne &yogh;e wyte wytterly where þe wronge liggeþ Þere þat meschiefe is gret mede may helpe And þou knowist consience I can nou&yogh;t for to chide Ne to depraue þi persone wiþ a proude herte Wel þou wost consience but &yogh;if þou wilt lei&yogh;e Þou hast hongid on myn half enleuene tymes And eke grepe my gold & gyue it where þe likiþ Why þou wraþþest þe now wondir me þinkiþ &YOGH;et I may as I mi&yogh;te auaunce þe wiþ &yogh;eftis And maynteyne þi manhod more þan þou knowist And þou hast famid me foule before þe kinge here For kilde I neuere no kinge ne counseilide þer-aftir Ne dide as þou demist I do it on þe kinge In normandie was he nou&yogh;t anoyed for my sake Ac þou þi-selfe soþly asshamidest hym ofte Crope in-to a caban for cold of þi nailes Wendist þat wynter wolde han last euere And dreddist to be ded for a dym cloud And hastide þe homward for hunger of þi wombe Wiþoute pite pilour pore men þou robbest And bar here bras on þi bake to caleis to selle Þere I lefte wiþ my lord ; his lif for to saue And made hym merþe mournynge to leue And bateride hym on þe bak boldite his herte Dede hym hoppe for hope to haue me at wille Hadde I be marchaunt of his men be marie of heuene I durste han leid my life & no lesse wed He shulde haue be lord of þat lond in lengþe & in brede And ek kinge of þat kiþ his kyn for to helpe Þe leste brol of his blood a barouns pere To leuen his lordsshipe for a litel siluer Þat is þe riccheste reaume þat regniþ ouer on It becom a king þat kepiþ a reaume To &yogh;iuen hise men mede þat mekly hym seruen To alienes to alle men to honoure hem with &yogh;eftis Mede makiþ hym be louid & for a man holde Emperours & Erlis & alle maner lordis Þoru&yogh; &yogh;eftis han &yogh;onge men to renne & to ride Þe pope wiþ his prelatis presentis vndir-fongiþ And mediþ men hym-selfe to mayntene here lawis Seruauntis for here seruyse we se wel þe soþe Takiþ mede of here maistris as þei mowe accorde Beggeris for here biddinge biddiþ of men mede Mynstralis for here merþis mede þei asken Þe kinge haþ nede of his men to make pes in londis Men þat ben clerkis crauen of hym mede Prestis þat preche þe peple to goode Asken mede þamp messe-penis & here mete alse Of alle kyn crafty men craue mede for here prentis Mede & marchaundise mote nede go to-gidere No wi&yogh;t as I wene wiþoute mede mi&yogh;te libbe Quaþ þe kinge to consience be crist as me þinkiþ Mede is worþi þe maistrie to haue Nay quaþ consience to þe kinge & knelide to þe erþe Þere arn to maner of medis my lord be &yogh;our leue Þat on god of his grace gyueþ in his blisse To hem þat werchen wel whiles þei ben here Þe prophet prechiþ it & put it in þe sauter Qui pecuniam suam dedit ad vsuram ; Tak no mede my lord of hem þat ben trewe Loue hem & leue hem for oure lordis loue of heuene Godis mede & his mercy þer-wiþ mi&yogh;te þou wynne Þere is a mede mesurles þat maistris desiriþ To mayntene mysdoeris mede þei taken And þerof seide þe sauter in a salmis ende In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt dextera eorum repleta est muneribus And he þat gripiþ here giftes so me god helpe Shal abi&yogh;e it bitterly or þe bok li&yogh;eþ Prestis & personis þat plesinge desiriþ Þat take mede & money for massis þat þei synge Shal haue mede on þis molde þat mattheu haþ grauntid Amen Amen recipiebant mercedem suam Þat laboureris & lou&yogh; folke taken of here maistris Is no maner of mede but a mesurable hire In marchaundie is no mede I may it wel a-uowe It is a permutacioun apertly a peny for a-noþer Ac reddist þou neuere Regum þou recrei&yogh;ede mede Why þe vengeaunce fel on saul & on his children God sente hym to segge be samuels mouþ Þat agage of amalege & his peple aftir Shulde di&yogh;e for a dede þat don hadde here eldren Samuel seide to saul god sendiþ þe & hotiþ To be buxum & boun his biddinge to fulfille Wende þidir with þin ost wommen to kille Children & cherlis choppe hem to deþe Loke þou kille þe kinge coueite nou&yogh;t hise godis For any mylionis of mone murdre hem ichone Barnes and bestis brenne hem to deþe And for he kilde not þe kinge as crist bode sente Coueitide here catel kilde nou&yogh;t hire bestis But brou&yogh;te wiþ hym þe bestis as þe bible hym tolde God seide to samuel þat saul shulde dei&yogh;e And al his sed for þat synne senfully shulde ende Such a meschefe mede made þe kynge haue Þat god hatiþ þat kinge & alle hise heires aftir Þe culorum of þis clause kepe I not to shewe An aunter it me noi&yogh;ide an ende wile I make In consience knowe I þis for kynde it me tau&yogh;te Þat resoun shal regne & reumes gouerne And ri&yogh;t as agage hadde happe shal somme Samuel shal slen hym & saul shal be blamid And dauid shal be dyademid & daunten hem alle And o cristene kinge kepe vs ichone Shal no more mede be maister on erþe But loue & lou&yogh;nesse & leaute togideris And who-so trespassiþ trewely & takiþ to þe wronge His wykkide leaute shal do hym lawe or lese his lif ellis Shal no seriaunt for þat seruyse were a silke houue Ne no ray robe of riche pelure Mede of mysdoeris makiþ hem so riche Þat lawe is lord waxen & leute is pore Vnkyndenesse is comaundour & kyndenesse is banisshit Ac kynde wyt shal come &yogh;et & consience to-gidere And make of lawe a labourer such loue shal arise Passus quartus de visione ; Sessiþ seide þe kinge I suffre &yogh;ow no lengere &YOGH;e shuln sau&yogh;te forsoþe & serue me boþe Kisse hire quaþ þe kinge consience I hote Nay be god quaþ consience cunge me raþere But resoun rede me þer-to erst wole I dei&yogh;e And I comaunde þe quaþ þe kinge to consience þanne Rape þe to riden & resoun þat þou fecche Comaunde hym þat he come my counseil to here For he shal rewele my reaume & rede me þe beste Of mede & of mo oþere what man shal hire wedde And counte wiþ consience so me crist helpe How þou lerist þe peple þe lerid & þe lewid I am fayn of þat foreward seiþ þe freke þanne And ri&yogh;t renneþ to resoun & rouniþ in his ere Seide hym as þe kinge sente & siþþe toke his leue I shal araye me to ride quaþ resoun reste þe a-while And calde catoun his knaue curteis of speche Sette my sadil vpon suffre-til-I-se-my-tyme And let warroke hym wel wiþ ri&yogh;tful gerþis Hange on hym þe heuy bridel to holde his hed lowe And &yogh;et wile we make many wehe er we come þere Þanne consience on his capil cairiþ forþ faste And resoun wiþ hym rit & rapiþ hym &yogh;erne Ac vnwary wisdom and witty his fere Folewide hem faste for hy hadden to done In cheker & in chauncerie to be dischargid of þinges And riden faste for resoun shulde rede hem þe beste For to saue hem-selfe from shame & from harm Ac consience com arst to court be a myle wey And rombide forþ wiþ resoun ri&yogh;t to þe kinge Curteisliche þe kinge þanne com in to resoun And betwyn hym-selfe & his sone sette hym a-benche And wordiden a gret while wel wisly togidere Þanne com pes in-to þe parlemente & putte vp a bille How wronge a&yogh;en his wil hadde his wyf take And how he rauisshide rose reynaldis loue And margerete of hire maydenhed maugre hire chekis Boþe my gees & my gris hise gadelynges fecchen I dar not for fer of hym fi&yogh;te ne chide He borewide of me bayard & brou&yogh;te him neuere a&yogh;en Ne no ferþinge þerfore for nou&yogh;t I couþe plete He maynteniþ his men to murþre myne hynen Forstalliþ my feiris fi&yogh;teþ in my chepynge Brekiþ vp my berne doris . beriþ awey my whete And takiþ me but a taile . for ten quarteris of otis And &yogh;et he betiþ me þer-to & liþ be my maiden And I am not hardy vnneþe . on hym for to loke Þo kneu&yogh; þe kinge he seide soþ . for consience hym tolde Wronge was a-ferd þo & wisdom he sou&yogh;te To make his pes with his panis & profride hym manye And seide hadde I loue of my lord þe kinge . litel wolde I recche Þei&yogh; pees & his power . pleynide hem euere Wysdom wan to þo & so dede wyt also For þat wronge hadde wrou&yogh;t . so wykkide a dede And warnide wronge þo wiþ . suche a wys tale Who-so werchiþ be wil . wraþþe makiþ ofte I sey it be my-self þou shalt it sone fynde But &yogh;if mede it make meschiefe is vppe For boþe þi lyf & þi lond . liþ in his grace Wronge þanne on wysdom wepiþ . hym to helpe For of hise penys he proffride . handy-dandy to paye Þanne wisdom & wyt . wente togidere And toke mede wiþ hem mercy to wynne Pees putte hym forþ his heued . & his panne blody Wiþoute gilt god wot . gat I þis skaþe Consience & þe kinge kneu&yogh; wel þe soþe And wisten wel þat wronge was . a shrewe euere Ac wisdom & wyt . were aboute faste To ouercome þe kinge wiþ catel &yogh;if þei mi&yogh;te Þe kinge swor be crist & be his croune boþe He shulde not þis seue &yogh;er . se hise feet ones God wot quaþ wysdom . þat were not þe beste And he amendis mowe make . let maynprise hym haue And be borugh for his bale & bringen hym bote Amende þat he mysdede & euere-more þe betere Wyt accordiþ þere-wiþ & seide þe same Betere is þat boote . bale adoun bringe Þanne bale be bet . & bote neuere þe betere Þanne gan mede to meke hire & mercy besou&yogh;te And profride pees a presaunt al of purid gold Haue þis of me man quaþ heo . to amende þi skaþe For I wile wage for wronge . he shal do so no more Pees þanne pitousliche . preyede to þe kinge To haue mercy . on þat man . þat mysdede hym ofte For he haþ wagid me wel as wysdom hym tau&yogh;te I forgyue hym þe gilt . wiþ a good wille So &yogh;e assente þerto . I can sey no more For mede haþ mad my mendis . I may no more axen Nay quaþ þe kinge so god &yogh;iue me blisse Wronge wendiþ not so awey er I wyte more Leep he so li&yogh;tly awey . lau&yogh;en he wolde And ofte þe boldere to be . to bete myn hynen But resoun haue reuþe on hym . he shal reste hym in þe stokkis As longe as I lyue . but more loue it make Summe men redde resoun . to haue reuþe on þat shrewe And to counseile þe kinge . & consience boþe Þat mede muste be meynpernour . resoun þei besou&yogh;te Rede me not quaþ resoun no reuþe to haue Til lordis & ladies . louen alle treuþe And pernelis purfile . be put in hire hucche Til childris cherisshinge . be chastisid with &yogh;erdis And harlotis holynesse . be holde for an hyne Til clerkis & kni&yogh;tes . be curteis of here mouþes And haten here harlot[ri]e . oþer mouþe it with tungis Til prestis here prechynge proue it hem-selue And do it in dede . to drawe vs to goode Til seint Iame besou&yogh;t . þere I shal assigne Þat no man go to galis . but &yogh;if he go for euere And alle þe rome renneris . for robberis of be&yogh;onde Bere no siluer ouer se . þat signe of kinge shewide Neiþer grotis ne gold . ygraue wiþ kynges coyn Vpe forfaiture of þat fe . who fynt hym do euere But it be marchaunt . oþer his man . oþer messangeris with lettres Oþer prouisour . or prest . þat þe pope auaunciþ And &yogh;et quaþ resoun be þe rode . I shal no reuþe haue Whil mede haþ þe maistrie . to mo in þis halle Ac I may shewe ensaumplis . as I se forsoþe For I sei&yogh;e it be my-selfe . & it so were Þat I were kinge wiþ croune . to kepe a reaume Shulde neuere wronge in þis world . þat I wyte mi&yogh;te Be vnpunisshit at my power . for peril of my soule Ne gete my grace þoru&yogh; giftes . so me god helpe Ne for no mede haue mercy . but meknesse it made For nullum malum ; he may mete with Inpunitum ; And bad Nullum malum irremuneratum ; Let þi confessour sire kinge . construe it þe on englissh And &yogh;if þou werche þis werk . I wedde myne eris Þat lawe shal ben a labourer . & lede a-feld donge And loue shal lede þi land . as þe lef likeþ Clerkis þat wern confessours . couplide hem to-gideris For to construe þis clause . declynede faste Ac resoun amonge þise ronkis . reherside þise wordis Þer nis no man in þe mothalle . more ne lesse Þat he ne held resoun a maister . & mede a muche wrecche Loue let of hire li&yogh;t & lou&yogh; hire to scorne And seide it so loude . þat soþnesse it herde Who-so wilneþ hire to wyue . for welþe of hire godis But he be cokewald ycald . kitte of my nose Warne wisdom þo . ne no wyt his fere Couþe nou&yogh;t warpen a word . to wiþ-sigge resoun But staringe & stodyenge . stoden as bestis Þe kinge acordite be crist . to resonis sawis And reherside þat resoun . ri&yogh;tfulliche shewide Ac it is wel hard be myn hed . her-to . to bringe it And alle my lige ledis . to lede hem þus euene Be hym þat dei&yogh;ede on þe rode . quaþ resoun to þe kinge But &yogh;if I reule þus þi reaum ; rend out my ribbes &YOGH;if it be þat buxumnesse . be at myn assent And I assente quaþ þe kinge . be seinte marie my lady Be my counseil ycome . of clerkes and Erlis Ac redily resoun . þou shalt not wende henne For as longe as I lyue . loue þe I wile I am redy quaþ resoun . to reste wiþ &yogh;ow euere So consience be of &yogh;our counseil . kepe I no betere I graunte quaþ þe kinge . godis forbode he faille As longe as I lyue . libbe we togideris Passus quintus de visione ; Þe kinge & kni&yogh;tes to þe chirche wente To here matynes & masse and to þe mete aftir Þanne wakide I of my wynkynge & wo was wiþ-alle Þat I ne hadde yslepe saddere & yseyn more Er I hadde faren a furlonge feyntise me hadde Þat I ne mi&yogh;te ferþere a fote for defaute of slepynge I sat softely in my bedis & seide my beleue And so I babelide on my bedis þei brou&yogh;te me a-slepe Þanne sau&yogh; I meke more þan I before tolde And consience wiþ a cros com for to preche And preyede þe peple haue pite on hem-selue And prouide þat þise pestilences wern for pur synne And þe southwestryne wynd on satirday at eue Was apertly for pride & for no poynt ellis Piries & plantes wern put to þe erþe In ensaumple sent god þat &yogh;e shulde do þe betere Bechis & broode okis wern blowen to grounde And turnide vpward here tail in toknynge of drede Þat dedly synne er domisday shal fordon hem alle Of þis mater I mi&yogh;te mamele wel longe Ac I shal sei&yogh;e as I sai&yogh; so me god helpe How consience wiþ a cros cumside to preche He bad wastour go werche what he best couþe And wynne þat he wastide wiþ sum maner of craft And preyede pernel hire purfil to leue And kepte it in hire coffre for catel at nede Thomas he tau&yogh;te to take two staues And fecche felis his wyf fro wyuene pyne He warnide watte his wyf was to blame Þat hire hed was worþ a mark & his hod not worþ a grote He chargide chapmen to chastice here children Let no wynnynge for-wanye hem whiles þei ben &yogh;onge He prechiþ prelatis & prestis togidere Þat þei preche þe peple & proue it hem-selue And libbe as &yogh;e lere vs we wile leue &yogh;ow þe betere And siþþe he redde religioun hire reweles to holde Lest þe kinge & his counseil &yogh;our comunes apeiriþ And be steward of &yogh;oure stede til &yogh;e be stewid betere And &yogh;e þat seke seint Iame & seintes at rome Sekiþ at hom seint treuþe for he may saue &yogh;ou alle Qui cum patre & filio ; Faire mote &yogh;ow befalle Þanne repentaunce reherside his teme And made wil to wepe watir wiþ his ei&yogh;en Pernel proud herte plat hire to þe erþe And lay longe er heo lokide vp & lord mercy criede And behi&yogh;te to hym þat vs alle made Heo shulde vnsewe hire serke & sette þere an heire For to affaiten hire flessh þat fers was to synne Shal neuere hei&yogh; herte me hente but holde me lowe And suffre to be misseid & so dide I neuere But now wile I meke me & mercy beseke Of alle þat I haue had enuye in myn herte Lecchour seide allas & to oure lady criede To make mercy for his mysdede betwyn god & hym Wiþ þat he þe satirday seue &yogh;er per-aftir Shulde drinke but wiþ þe doke & dyne but ones Enuye wiþ heuy herte askide aftir shrift And carfulliche his cope begynneþ he to shewe He was as pale as a palet & on þe palesie he semide He was cloþid in a caury-maury I can it nou&yogh;t descryue A kertil & a courtepy a knyf be his side Of a Freris frokke were þe fore-sleuys As a lek þat hadde leyn longe in þe sonne So lokide he wiþ lene chekis lourande foule His body was bolnid for wroþ þat he bot his lippe And wroþliche he wroþ his fest to wreke hym he þou&yogh;te Wiþ werkis þamp wordis whanne he sai&yogh; his tyme Venym & verious or vynegre I trowe Walewiþ in my wombe & waxiþ as I wene I mi&yogh;te not many day do as a man mi&yogh;te Such wynd in my wombe wexiþ er I dyne I haue a nei&yogh;ebour nei&yogh; me I haue noi&yogh;ed hym ofte And blamide hym behynde his bake to bringe hym in fame To apeire hym be my power I pursuide wel ofte And belowen hym to lordis to don hym lese siluer And don hise frendis ben hise fon þoru&yogh; my false tunge His grace & hise gode happis greuide me wel sore Betwyn hym & his meyne I haue mad wraþþe Boþe his lyme & his life was lost þoru&yogh; my tunge Whanne I mette hym in a market þat I most hatide I hailside hym as hendeley as I his frend were He is dou&yogh;tiere þanne I ; I dar non harm don hym Ac hadde I maistrie & mi&yogh;t I wolde murdre hym for euere Whanne I come to þe chirche & knelide to þe rode To preye for þe peple as þe prest techiþ Aftir þanne I cri&yogh;e on my knes þat crist gyue hym sorewe Þat bar a-wey my bolle & my broken shete Fro þe auter myn ei&yogh;e I turne & beholde How heyne haþ a newe cote; I wysshe it were myn howne And of his lesinge I lau&yogh;e þerof in myn herte Ac of his wynnynge I wepe and weile þe tyme I deme men þere þei don ille & &yogh;et I do wers I wolde þat iche wi&yogh;t were my knaue And who-so haþ more þanne I þat angriþ myn herte Þus I lyue loueles as a lyþer dogge And al my brest bolniþ for bittir of my galle May no sugre ne swet þinge swage it an vnche Ne no dyapendyon dryue it fro myn herte &YOGH;if þat shrift shulde it shop a gret wondir &YOGH;is redily quaþ repentaunce & redde hym to goode Sorewe for synne sauiþ wel manye I am sory quaþ enuye I am but selde oþere And þat makiþ me so mad for I ne may me venge Þanne com coueitise I can hym nou&yogh;t descryue So hungirly & holewe sire heruy hym lokide He was bittirbrowid & babirlippid boþe Wiþ two bleride ei&yogh;en as a liþene purs lollide his chekis In a torn tabbard of twelue wynter age But &yogh;if a lous couþe lepe I may it nou&yogh;t leue He shulde wandre on þat walsshe scarlet so was it þred-bare I haue ylouid coueitise quaþ he al my life-tyme I knowe hire for sum tyme I seruide symme at þe noke And was his prentis ypli&yogh;t his profit to loke Ferst I lernide to lei&yogh;e a lef oþer twei&yogh;e Wykkidly to wei&yogh;e was my ferste lessoun To wynchestre & to wy I was sent to þe feire Wiþ many maner of marchaundise as my maister me hi&yogh;te Ne hadde grace of gile gon amonge my ware It hadde be vnsold þis seue &yogh;er so me god helpe Þanne drou&yogh; I me amonge drapers my donet to lere To drawe þe list a-longe þe lengere it semide Amonge þe riche rayes I rendrit a lessoun Brochide hem wiþ a pakke nedle & pleit hem to-gidere Putte hem in a pressour & pynnede hem pere-inne Til ten &yogh;ardis oþer twelue tollide out þrittene My wyf was a wynstere & wollene cloþ made And spake to þe spynstere to spynnen it softe Þe pound þat heo weid by peisid a quarter more Þanne any aunsel dede & I wei&yogh;ede treweþe I bou&yogh;te hire barly heo breu&yogh; it to selle Penyale & pile-whey heo pouride to-gidere For laboureris & lou&yogh; folke þat lay be hem-selue Þe beste in my bed-chaumbre lay be þe wou&yogh; And who-so bummide þerof bou&yogh;te it þere-aftir A galoun for a grote god wot no lasse Whanne it com in cuppe-mel þat craft my wyf vside Rose þe regratour was hire ri&yogh;te name Sheo haþ yholde huxterie elleuene wynter Ac I swere now soþly þat synne shal I lete Ne neuere wykkidly wei&yogh;e ne wykkide chaffare make But wende to walsyngham & my wyf alse And bidde þe rode of bromholm bringe me out of dette Now begynneþ glotoun for to shrift And cariede hym to chircheward hise synnes to shewe And Betoun þe breustere þere bad he good morewe And heo askide of hym whidirward he wolde To holy chirche quaþ he for to here masse And siþen I wile be shriuen & synne no more I haue good ale gossib quaþ heo glotoun wilt þou assaie Hast þou quaþ he any hote spices &YOGH;a glotoun gossib quaþ heo god wot wel hote I haue pepir & peynye & pound of garleke And a pound of felkene sedis for fastynge dayes Þanne goþ in glotoun and grete oþis aftir Cisse þe soutere sat on þe bench Watte þe waffrer & his wyf boþe Symme þe tynkere & tweyne of his knaues Hikke þe hakeneyman & hogge þe myllere Claris of cokkislane & þe clerke of þe chirche Dawe þe dykere & a dus&yogh;eyn opere A ribibour a ratoner & a rakiere of chepe A ropere a redynge-kinge & rose þe disshere Of vpholderis an hep erliche be þe morewe &YOGH;eue glotoun wiþ glad chiere good ale to hansele Clement þe cobeler cast of his cloke And at þe newe feire nempnide it to selle Hikke þe hostiler hitte his hood aftir And bed bette þe bocher be on his side Þere were chapmen chosen þat chaffare to preise Who-so hadde þe hood shulde haue amendis of þe cloke Þo risen þei vp in a rape & rombeden to-gideris And preisiden þe peneworthis apertly be hem-seluen Þere were oþes an hep þanne þei ne couþe Be here consience acorden togidere Til robyn þe ropere was red to arisen And nempnide hym for a noumpere þat no debate nere Hikke þe hostiller þanne hadde þe cloke In couenaunt þat clement þe coupere shulde felle þe cuppe And haue hikkes hood þe hostiller & holde hym yseruid And who-so repentiþ raþest shulde rise aftir And grete sire glotoun wiþ a galoun ale Þere was lau&yogh;inge & lourynge & lete go þe cuppe Bargoynes & beuerechis begonne for to arise And seten so til euesonge & songe sum-while Til glotoun hadde ygulpid a galoun & a gille He pisside a potel in a pater-noster while And bleu&yogh; þe rounde ryuet at þe rigge-bones ende And alle þat herden þat horn held here nose aftir And wisshide it hadde be wexid wiþ a wysp of firsen He hadde no strengþe to stonde er he his staf hadde And þanne gan he to go sum tyme asid & sum tyme arere As who-so leide lynes to lacche wiþ larkes Whanne he drou&yogh; to þe dore þanne dymmede hise ei&yogh;en He stumblide on þe þresshewold & fel to þe erþe Þat wiþ al þe wo of þe world his wyf & his wenche Bere hym to his bed & brou&yogh;te hym þer-inne And aftir al þis surfet an axesse he hadde Þat he slepte satirday & sonneday til sonne &yogh;ede to reste Þanne wakide he of his wynkynge & wypide his ei&yogh;en Þe ferste woord þat he spake was where is þe bolle His wyf blamide hym þanne of wykkidnesse & synne Þanne was þat shrewe asshamide & shrapide hise eris And gan grete grymly & gret doel made For his liþer life þat he lyued hadde And auowide to faste for any hungir or þrist Shal neuere fissh on þe Friday defie in my wombe Er abstinence myn aunte haue ygyue me leue And &yogh;et haue I hatid hire al my lif-tyme Sleuþe for sorewe fil doun a swowe Til vigilate ; þer-while fet watir to his ei&yogh;en And flattide it on his face & faste on him criede And seide war þe for wanhope wile þe betraye I am sory for my synne sey to þi-seluen And beet þi-selfe on þe brest & bidde hym of grace For is no gilt here so gret þat his goodnesse nis more Þanne sat sleuþe vp & seynide hym faste And made auowe tofore god for his foule slouþe Shal no sonneday be þis seue &yogh;er but seknesse it make Þat I ne shal do me er day to þe dere chirche And here masse & matynes as I a monke were Shal non ale aftir mete holde me þennis Til I haue euesonge herd I behote þe rode And &yogh;et wile I &yogh;elde a&yogh;en &yogh;if I so muchel haue Al þat I wykkidly wan siþen I wyt hadde Þei&yogh; my liflode lakke leten I nille Þat iche a man shal haue his er I hennis wende And wiþ þe residue & þe remenaunt be þe roode of chestre I wile seke treuþe er I seke rome Robert þe robbour on reddite lokide Ac for þere was nou&yogh;t where-with he wepte swiþ sore And &yogh;et þe synful shrewe seide to hym-selue Crist þat on caluarie vpon þe rode di&yogh;edist Þo dismas my broþer besou&yogh;te þe of grace And þou haddist mercy on þat man for memento is sake Þi wil werche vpon me as I haue wel deseruid To haue helle for euere &yogh;ife þat hope nere So rewe on þis robert þat red non ne hauiþ Ne neuere weniþ to wynne ; wiþ craft þat he knowiþ 15v But for þi muchel mercy mytygacioun I beseche Dampne me nou&yogh;t at domisday for þat I dede so ille Ac what befel of þis feloun I can not faire shewe Wel I woot he wep faste watir wiþ his ei&yogh;en And knowelechide his gilt to crist &yogh;et eft-sones Þat penitencia his pike he shulde pulsshe newe And lepe with hym ouer lond al his life tyme For he hadde lei&yogh;e be latro luciferis hyne And þou-sand of men þe wronge togideris Wepynge & weylynge for here wykkide dedis Criede vpward to crist & to his dere modir To haue grace to seke treuþe god leue þat hy moten Passus sextus de visione ut prius Ac þere was fewe men so wys þat þei þider couþe But blustrid forþ as bestis ouer valeis & hilles Til late & longe þat hy a lede mette Aparailid as a paynym in pilgrim wyse He bar a burdoun ybounde wiþ a brood list In a way wendis wyse he bond hym aboute A bagge & a bolle he bar be his side An hundrit of ampollis on his hat seten Signes of synay & shilles of galis And many crouch in his cloke & kei&yogh;es of rome And þe vernicle beforn for men shulde knowe And sen be his signes whom he sou&yogh;t hadde Þis folke fraynide hym faire whenis þat he come Fro synay he seide & fro þe sepulcre At bedlem at babiloyne I haue ben in boþe In armonye in alisaundre in manye oþere places &YOGH;e mowe se be my signes þat sitten on myn hat Þat I haue walkid wel wide in wet & in dri&yogh;e And sou&yogh;t goode seintes for my soule hele Knowist þou ou&yogh;t a corseint quaþ þei þat men callen treuþe Canst þou wisse vs þe wey where þat wy dwelliþ Nay so god mote me helpe seide þe man þanne I sau&yogh; neuere palmere wiþ pike ne wiþ scrippe Axen aftir hym er now in þis place Petir quaþ a plou&yogh;-man and putte forþ his hed I knowe hym as kyndely as clerk doþ his bokis Clene consience & wyt kende me to his place And dede me to sure hym to serue hym for euere Boþe sowe his seed while I swynke mi&yogh;te I haue ben his folewere al þis fourty wynter Boþ sowen his seed & sewide hise bestis And kepide his corn & cariede it to house Dyken & deluen . & do what he hi&yogh;te Wiþinne & wiþoute ; waytide his profit Þere is no labourer in his lordsshipe . þat he louiþ beter For þei&yogh; I sey it my-selfe I serue hym to pay And haue myn here of hym . & oþerwhile more He is þe presteste payere . þat pore men knowen He ne halt non hyne his hire . þat he ne haþ it at eue He is as lou&yogh; as a lomb . & loueliche of speche And &yogh;if &yogh;e wilneþ to wyte . where þat wy dwelliþ I shal wisse &yogh;ow wel þe ri&yogh;t way to his place &YOGH;a leue piers quaþ þe pilgrimes . & profride hym hire Nay be þe peril of my soule . quaþ . piers & gan to swere I nolde fonge a ferþinge . for seint Thomas shryne For treuþe wolde loue me þe wers . a longe tyme aftir Ac &yogh;e þat wilneþ to wende . þis is þe weye þider &YOGH;e mote go þoru&yogh; meknesse . boþe men & wyues Til &yogh;e come in-to consience þat crist wyte þe soþe Þat &yogh;e loue hym leuere . þanne þe life in &yogh;oure hertis And þanne &yogh;oure nei&yogh;ebours next in none wise apeiriþ Oþer-wise þanne þou woldist men wrou&yogh;te to þi-selue And so bou&yogh; forþ be a banke be buxum of speche For-to &yogh;e fynden a foorþe &yogh;oure fadris honouriþ Wadiþ in þat watir & wasshiþ &yogh;ow wel þere And &yogh;e shuln lepe þe li&yogh;tliere . al &yogh;oure life tyme So shalt þou se swere nou&yogh;t but it be for nede A nameliche an ydel þe name of god almi&yogh;t Þanne shalt þou come be a croft . ac come þou nou&yogh;t þere-inne Þat croft hattip coueite nou&yogh;t menis catel ne here wyues Ne none of here seruauntis þat noi&yogh;e hem mi&yogh;te Loke þou breke no bowis þere but it be þin owene Two stokkis þere stonde but stynte þou not þere Þei hote stele nou&yogh;t ne sle nou&yogh;t but strike forþ be boþe Leue hem on þi left halfe & loke nou&yogh;t þere-aftir And hold wel þin haliday hei&yogh; til þe euen Þanne shalt þou blenche at a bourne bere no fals wytnesse He is frettid in wiþ Floreynes & oþere flouris manye And loke þou plukke no plantis þere for peril of þi soule And þanne shalt þou sey soþ so it be to done Loke þat þou lei&yogh;e nou&yogh;t for no manis biddynge Þanne shalt þou come to a court cler as þe sonne Þe mot is of mercy þe Maner al aboute And alle þe wallis ben of wyt to holde wil þeroute Þe kirnelis ben of cristendom þat kynde to saue And boterasid wiþ beleue oþer þou worst not sauid Alle þe housis ben helid hallis & chaumbris Wiþ no led but loue & lou&yogh;nesse as breþeren of o wombe Þe tour þere treuþe is hym-selfe is vp to þe sonne He may do wiþ þe day sterre what hym dere likiþ Deþ dar not do þinge þat he defendiþ Grace hattiþ þe porter a good man forsoþe His man hattiþ amende &yogh;ow for many man he knowiþ Tel hym þis tokne treuþe wot þe soþe I perfourmde þe penaunce þe prest me enioynide And am sory for my synnes & so shal I euere Whanne I þenke þere-on þei&yogh; I were a pope Biddiþ amende &yogh;ow meke hym to his maister Ones to weue out þe wyket þat he with-shette Þo Adam & Eue eten here bane For he haþ þe kei&yogh;es & þe cliket þei&yogh; þe kinge slepe And &yogh;if grace graunte þe to gon in þis wise Þou shalt se treuþe him-self wel sitte in þin herte And lere þe for to loue & hise lawes holden Ac be war þanne of wraþþe þat wykkide shrewe For he haþ enuye to hym þat in þin herte sitteþ And pokiþ þe for pride to preise þi-selue Þe boldnesse of þi bien-fait makiþ þe blynd þanne And so worst þou dryuen out as dew & þe dore closid I-kei&yogh;id & ycliket to kepe þe þeroute Happily an hundrit wynter er þou eft entre Þus mi&yogh;t þou lese his loue to lete wel be þi-selue And geten it a&yogh;en þoru&yogh; grace & poru&yogh; no gift ellis Ac þere arn seuene sistris þat treuþe louf euere And ben porteris to þe posternis þat to þe place longiþ Þat on hattiþ abstinence and meknesse a-noþer Charite & chastite beþ hire chief maidenes Pacience & pees mekil folke þei helpen Largenesse þe lady let in wel manye Ac who-so is sib to þis sistris so me god helpe He is wondirliche welcome & faire vndirfonge But &yogh;if &yogh;e be sibbe to summe of þis seuene It is wel hard be myn hed any of &yogh;ow alle To gete ingange at any gate but grace be þe more Be crist quaþ a cuttepurs I ne haue no kyn þere Ne I quaþ an apeward be au&yogh;t þat I knowe Wyte god quaþ a waffrer wiste I þat forsoþe Shulde I neuere ferþere a foote for no freris prechinge &YOGH;is quaþ peris þe plou&yogh;man & pukide hym to goode Mercy haþ a maiden haþ mi&yogh;t ouer alle And she is sib to alle synful & hire sone alse And þoru&yogh; þe helpe of hem hope þou non oþer &Tou mi&yogh;t gete grace so þou go be-tyme Passus septimus de visione ut prius Þis were a wikkide weye but who-so hadde a gide Þat mi&yogh;te folewe vs iche fote til þat we were þere Quaþ perkyn þe plou&yogh;man be seint poule þe apostel I haue an halfe akir to ern be þe hei&yogh;e wei&yogh;e Hadde y herd þat halfe akir so me god helpe I wolde wende wiþ &yogh;ow til &yogh;e were þere Þis were a longe lettynge quaþ a lady in a scleire What shulde we wommen werche þe while Summe shal sewe þe sake for shedynge of þe whete And wyues þat han wollene werchiþ it faste Spynneþ it spedily spariþ not &yogh;oure fyngris But &yogh;if it be holy day oþer holy euen Lokiþ forþ &yogh;oure lynen & laboureþ þeron faste Þe nedy & þe nakid nymeþ hed how þei liggen Caste hem cloþis for cold for so wile treuþe For I shal lene hem lyflode but &yogh;if þe lond faile As longe as I lyue for þe lordis loue of heuene And &yogh;e loueliche ladies wiþ &yogh;our louely fyngris Þat han silke & sendel sewiþ it whanne tyme is Chesiblis for chapellis chirches to honoure And alle maner of men þat be þe mete libbiþ Helpiþ hem werche wi&yogh;tly þat wynne &yogh;oure foode Be crist quaþ a kni&yogh;t þo þou techist vs þe beste Ac on þe tem trewely tau&yogh;t was I neuere Ac kenne me quaþ þe kni&yogh;t & I wile lerne to eren Be seint poule quaþ perkyn for þou profrist þe so lowe I shal swynken þamp sweten þamp sowe for vs boþe Ac ek laboure for þi loue al my life tyme In couenaunt þat þou kepe holy chirche And my-self fro wastours þat wolde me destroye And go hunte hardily þe hare & þe fox And þe boris þamp þe bukkes þat breken myn heggis And fecche þe hom fauconis þe foulis to kille For þise comiþ to my croft & croppiþ my whete Curteisliche þise kni&yogh;t compsiþ þise wordis Be my power piers I pli&yogh;te þe my treuþe To fulfille þe foreward whiles I may stande &YOGH;a & &yogh;et a poynt quaþ perkyn I preye þe more Loke þou tene no tenaunt but treuþe wile assent And þei pore men profre þe presauntis or &yogh;eftis Nyme hem nou&yogh;t an aunter þou mowe hem nou&yogh;t deserue For þou shalt &yogh;elde it a&yogh;en at one &yogh;eris ende In a wel perilous place þat purcatorie hattiþ And mys-bede nou&yogh;t þi bonde-men þe bet shalt þou spede And þat þou be trewe of tunge þamp talis þou hate But it be of wysdom or of wyt þi werkmen to chaste Holde wiþ none harlotis ne here nou&yogh;t here talis And nameliche at mete for suche men eschewen For it arn þe deuelis disours I do þe to vndirstonde I assente be seint Iame seide þe kni&yogh;t þanne For to werche be þi woord while my lif duriþ And I shal apparaille me quaþ perkyn in pilgrym wyse And wende wiþ &yogh;ow þe wey til we fynde treuþe He caste on his cloþis ycloutid & hole Hise cokeris & his cuffis for cold of his nailes And henge his hoper at his hals in stede of a scrippe A busshel of breed corn brou&yogh;te he þere-inne For I wile sowe it my-selfe & siþþe wile I wende And who-so helpiþ me to eren or any þinge swynke Shal haue be oure lord þe more here in heruist And make hym mery wiþ þe corn who-so it begrucchiþ And alle kyne crafty men þat conne lyue in treuþe I shal fynde hem foode þat feiþfulliche libbeþ Saue Iakke þe Iugelour & Ionete of þe stewis And robyn þe ribaudour for hise rusty woordis Treuþe tolde me ones & bad me telle it forþ Deleantur de libro I ne shulde not dele wiþ hem For holy chirche is holden of hem no tiþes to asken Et cum iustis non scribantur Þei arn askapid good auntir ; now god hem amende Dame werche-whanne-tyme-is piers wyf hatte His dou&yogh;ter hattiþ do-ri&yogh;t-or-þi-damme-shal-þe-bete His sone hattiþ suffre-þi-souereynes-to-hauen-here-wille And-deme-hem-nou&yogh;t-for-&yogh;if-þou-dost-þou-shalt-it-dere-abiggen- Let-god-worþe-wiþal ; for-so-his-woord-techiþ For I am old þamp hor ; & haue of myn owene To penaunce & to pilgrimage wile I passe withere For-þi I wile er I wende do wyte my bequest In dei nomine Amen ; I make it my-seluen For he shal haue my soule þat best haþ deseruid And defende it fro þe fend for so I beleue Til I come to his acountes as my crede me techiþ To haue reles & remissioun on þat rental I leue Þe chirche shal haue my caroyn & kepe my bones For of my corn & my catel I crauide þe tiþes And payede hym prestly for peril of my soule He is holden I hope to haue me in mynde And monewe me in his memorie amonge alle cristene My wyf shal haue of þat I wan wiþ treuþe & namore And dele amonge my frendis & my dere children For þei&yogh; I dei&yogh;e to-day my dettis ben quyt I bar hom þat I borewide er I to bedde &yogh;ede And wiþ þe residue & þe remenaunt be þe rode of chestre I wile worsshipe þere-wiþ treuþe in my lyue And ben his pilgrym at þe plou&yogh; for pore menis sake My plou&yogh;-pote shal be my pyke & putte at þe rotis And helpe my cultir to kerue & close þe forewis Now is peris & þe pilgrimes to þe plou&yogh; faren To erien þis halfe akir helpen hym manye Dikeris & delueres dykeþ vp þe balkis Þere-wiþ was perkyn payed and preisid hem &yogh;erne Oþere werkmen þere were & wrou&yogh;te ful faste Eche man on his maner made hym-self to done And summe to plese perkyn pykide vp þe wedis At hei&yogh; prime peris let þe plou&yogh; stande To ouersen hem hym-selfe who-so best wrou&yogh;te Shulde ben hirid þere-aftir whan heruist tyme come Þanne seten somme & sungen at þe ale And holpen ere þe half akir wiþ hey trolly-lolly Be þe prince of paradis quaþ piers þo in wraþþe But &yogh;if &yogh;e rise þe raþere & rape &yogh;ow to werche Shal no greyn þat here growiþ glade &yogh;ow at nede And þei&yogh; &yogh;e dei&yogh;e for doel &yogh;e deuil haue þat recche Þanne were faitours a-ferd & feynide hem blynde Somme leide here lege a-lery as suche lorellis cunne And pleynide hem to peris wiþ suche pitous wordis We haue none hondis to laboure wiþ lord ygracid be &yogh;e Ac we preye for &yogh;ow peris & for &yogh;oure plou&yogh; boþe Þat god of his grace &yogh;our greyn multiplie And &yogh;elde &yogh;ow of &yogh;our almesse þat &yogh;e &yogh;iuen vs here For we mowe not swynke ne swete such seknesse vs eileþ &YOGH;ef it be soþ quaþ peris þat &yogh;e seyn I shal it sone aspie &YOGH;e ben wastours I wot wel & treuþe wot þe soþe And I am his olde hyne & au&yogh;te hym to warne Suche wastours in þis world his werk-men distroyeþ &YOGH;e eten þat I shulde ete þat eren for vs alle Ac treuþe shal teche &yogh;ow his tem for to dryue Boþe to setten & to sowen & sauen his telþe Chase gees from his corn kepen hise bestis Or &yogh;e shuln ete barly bred & of þe brod drynke But he be blynd or brokesshankid or beddrede ligge Þei shuln ete as good as I so me god helpe Til god of his grace gare hym to arise Ankeris & heremytes þat holde hem in here sellis Shuln haue of myn almesse al þe while I libbe Inou&yogh; iche day at non ac nomore til on þe morewe Lest his flessh & þe fend foulide his soule Ones at noon is ynou&yogh; þat no werke ne vsiþ He abideþ wel þe betere þat bummiþ nou&yogh;t to ofte Þanne gan þe wastour arise & wolde haue yfou&yogh;te To peris þe plou&yogh;man he profride his gloue A bretoner a braggere he bostide hym also And bad hym go pisse wiþ his plou&yogh; pilide shrewe Wilt þou nilt þou we wile haue oure wil of þis flour And þi flessh fecche awey whanne vs likeþ And make vs merye þer-wiþ maugre þi chekis Þanne peris þe plou&yogh;man pleynede hym to þe kni&yogh;t To kepen hym as couenaunt was fro curside shrewis Fro wastours þat waite wynneres to shende Curteisliche þe kni&yogh;t þanne as his kynde wolde Warnide þe wastour & wisside hym betere Or þou shalt abigge be þe lawe be þe ordre þat I bere I was not wonid to werche quaþ wastour now wile I not begynne And let li&yogh;t of þe lawe & lesse of þe kni&yogh;t And countide peris at a pese & his plou&yogh; boþe And manacide hym & his men whanne he next metten Now be þe peril of my soule quaþ peris I shal appeire &yogh;ow alle And houpide aftir hungir þat herde hym at þe ferste A-wreke me on wastour quaþ peris þat þis world apeiriþ Hungir in haste þanne hente wastour be þe mawe And wronge hym so be þe wombe þat al watride his ei&yogh;en And buffetide þe bretoner aboute þe chekis Þat he lokide like a lanterne al his lif aftir He beet hem so boþe þat he brast ner here mawis N hadde peris but a pese lof þei preyede hym beleue And wiþ a bene batte he hadde betwene And hitte hunger þer-wiþ amydde hise lippes And bledde in-to þe bodyward a bolle ful of growel Ne hadde þi fisician ferst defendite him watir To abate þe barly bred & þe benis ygrounde Þei hadde be ded be þis day & doluen al warm Faitours for fer flowen in-to bernis And flatte on wiþ flailes fro morewe til eue Þat hunger was not hardy on hem for to loke For a potel of pecis þat peris hadde mad In helpe of heremites henten hem spadis And doluen drit & dunge to ditte out hunger Blynde & bedrede were botind a þousand Hungir hem helide wiþ an hot cake And lame menis lymes wern liþnid þat tyme And become knaues to kepe peris bestis And prei&yogh;ede pur charite wiþ peris for to dwelle Al for coueitise of his corn to chase awey hungir And pieris was proud þerof & putte hem in office And &yogh;af hem mete & monie as þei mi&yogh;te asserue Þanne hadde piers pite & prei&yogh;ede hungir to wende Hom in-to his owene erþe & holde him þere euere Ac &yogh;et I preye þe quaþ peris er þou passe ferþere Of beggeris & bidderis what best is to done For I wot wel be þou ywent hy wile werche ille Meschief it makiþ hym ben so meke nouþe And for defaute of foode þus faste hy werchiþ And it ben my blody breþeren for god bou&yogh;te vs alle Treuþe tau&yogh;te me ones to loue hem ichone And helpe hem of alle þinge þat hem of nedide I wolde wite &yogh;if þou wistest what were þe beste And how I mi&yogh;te a-maistrie hem & make hem to werche Here now quaþ hungir & holde it for a wisdom Bolde beggeris & bigge þat mowe here breed beswynken Wiþ houndis bred & hors bred holde vp here hertis And baue hem wiþ bones for bollnynge of here wombe And &yogh;if þe gromes grucche bidde hem gon & swynke And he shal soupe swettere whanne he it haþ deseruid Ac &yogh;if þou fynde any freke þat fortune haþ apeirid Wiþ fuyr or wiþ false men fond suche knowen Counforte hem wiþ þi catel for cristis loue of heuene Loue hem & lene hem & so þe lawe of kynde wolde And alle maner of men þat þou mi&yogh;te aspien Þat nedy ben or nakid & nou&yogh;t han to spende Wiþ mete or mone let make hem at ese And make þe Frendis per-miþ for so matheu vs techiþ Facite vobis amicos ; I wolde not greue god Quaþ peris for al þe gold on þis ground Mi&yogh;te I synneles do as þou seist seide peris þanne &YOGH;e I hote þe quaþ hungir oþer ellis þe bible lei&yogh;eþ Go to genesis þe geaunt engendrour of vs alle In sudore &c & swynke þou shalt þi mete Tilen & labouren for þi liflode & so oure lord hi&yogh;te And sapience seiþ þe same I sai&yogh; it in þe bible Piger propter frigus no feld wolde tilie He shal go bidde & begge & no man bete his hungir Matheu wiþ þe manis face nempniþ þise wordis Seruus nequam had a nam ; & for he nolde it vsen He hadde a maugre of his maister for euere-more aftir And benom hym his nam ; for he nolde werche And &yogh;af hym in haste þat hadde ten þere before And siþen he seide his seruaunt it hadde He þat haþ shal haue to helpe þere nede is And he þat nou&yogh;t haþ shal nou&yogh;t haue ne no man him help And þat he weniþ wel to haue I wile it be hym bereuid Kynde wyt wolde þat iche wi&yogh;t wrou&yogh;te Oþer wiþ techingeer tellinge or trauaillynge of hondis Actif lifeer contemplatif crist wolde it alse The sauter seiþ in þe salme ; of Beati omnes Labores manuum tuarum quia manducabis &c He þat get his fode here wiþ trauaile of his hondis God &yogh;iueþ his blissinge þat here liflode here so wynneþ &YOGH;et I preye þe quaþ peris pur charite &yogh;if þou kenne Eny life of lechecraft lere it me my dere For summe of my seruauntis ben seke oþer while Of alle þe wyke werkiþ nou&yogh;t so here wombe akiþ I wot wel quaþ hunger what seknesse hem eileþ Þei han mangid ouer muche þat makiþ hem grone ofte Ac I hote þe quaþ hunger as þou þin hele wilnest Þat þou drynke no day er þou dyne sum-what And ete nou&yogh;t I hote þe er hunger þe take And sende þe of his saus to sauoure þi lippes And kep sum for soper tyme & sit nou&yogh;t to longe Aris vp er aptid haþ eten his fille Let nou&yogh;t sire surfet sitten at þi bord Leue hym nou&yogh;t for he is a lecchour & likerous of tunge And aftir many maner of metis his mawe is alongid And &yogh;if þou di&yogh;ete þe þus I dar ley myn armes Þat fisik shal his furrid hood for his foode selle And ek his cloke wiþ calabre & þe knoppis of gold And be fayn be my feiþ his fesik to leten And lerne to laboure wiþ lond lest liflode hym faile Þere arn mo li&yogh;eris þan lechis lord hem amende Þei do men di&yogh;e þoru&yogh; here drynkes er destenye it wolde Be seint pernel quaþ peris þise arn profitable wordis Þis is a louely lessoun lord it þe for&yogh;elde Wende now whanne þi wille is þat wel be þou euere I behote god quaþ hunger henis nile I not wende Er I haue dyned be þis day & ydronke boþe I haue no peny quaþ piers pulettis to biggen Noþer gees no gris but two grene chesis A fewe cruddis & crem & non oþer cake A lof of benis & bren ybake for my children And I sei&yogh;e be my soule I haue no salt bacoun Ne no cokenay be crist colopis to maken Ac I haue persile & poret & many cole plantis And eke a cow & a calfe & a carte mare To drawe on feld my donge while þe drou&yogh;t lastiþ Be þis liflode I mote lyue til lammasse tyme Be þat I hope for to haue heruest in my croft And þanne may I di&yogh;te þi dyner as þe dere likeþ Alle þe pore peple pesecoddis fetten Benes & blake applis hy brou&yogh;te in here lappe Chibollis & chiriuellis & riche chiries manye And profride peris a present to plese þere-wiþ hungir And hungir hente þis in haste & askide aftir more Þanne þise folke for fer fetten hym manye Be þat it nei&yogh;ide ner heruest newe corn com to chepynge Þanne was folke fayn & fedde hunger with þe beste Wiþ good ale & glotonye he gart hym to slepe And þo nolde wastour not werche but wandrite aboute Ne no beggere ete bred þat benis in come But coket or clermatyn or of clene whete Ne non halpeny ale in no wyse drynke But of þe beste & þe brunneste þat breusteris sellen Laboureris þat haue no land but lyue on here handis Deyneþ nou&yogh;t to dyne a day ni&yogh;t olde wortis May no penyale hem paye ne no pece of bacoun But &yogh;if it be fressh flessh oþer fissh yfried And chaud & pluys chaud for chillynge of his mawe But &yogh;if he be hei&yogh;liche hirid ellis wile he chide Þat he was werkman ywrou&yogh;t warie þe tyme And þanne curse þe kinge & alle þe counseil aftir Suche lawis to loke laboureris to chastise Ac while hunger was here maister wolde þere non chide Ne stryue a&yogh;en þe statut so sternely he lokide I warne &yogh;ow werkmen wynneþ while &yogh;e mowe For hungir hiderward hastiþ hym faste He shal awake . þis water wastours to chaste Or fyue &yogh;er be fulfild such famyn shal arise Þoru&yogh; flood oþer þoru&yogh; foule wederis fruytes shuln falle And so seiþ satourne & sente &yogh;ow to warne Passus octauus de visione ut prius Treuþe herde telle here-of & to peris sente To take his tem & his erþe tilien And purchace hym a pardoun a pena & a culpa þe pope wolde hym graunte For þei helde nou&yogh;t here haly dayes as holy chirche tec And for þei swere be here soule & so god muste hem he A&yogh;ens clene consience here catel to selle Ac vndir his secre sel treuþe sente hym a lettre And bad hym begge boldely what þat hym likeþ And siþen selle it a&yogh;en & saue þe wynnynge And make mesonis deux þere-wiþ myseises to helpe Wykkide weyes wi&yogh;tly for to amende And bynde brugges aboute þat to-broke were Marie maidenis also & maken hem nonnes Wydewis þat wiln not be wyues helpe hem þere-aftir Fynde suche here foode for oure lordis loue of heuene Sette scoleris to scole or summe skynes craftis Releue religioun & renten hem betere I shal sende my-selfe seynt Michel myn aungel Þat no deuil shal &yogh;ow dere di&yogh;e whan &yogh;e di&yogh;e Þat I ne shal sende his soule saufe in-to heuene And before þe face of my fadir fourme &yogh;oure setis Vsure & auarice & oþes I defende Þat no gile go wiþ &yogh;ow but þe graiþ treuþe Þanne were marchauntis merye many wepe for ioye And &yogh;af wille for his writynge wollene cloþis And for he coupide þus here clause þei &yogh;eue hym gret mede Men of lawe hadde lest for lewid þei ben alle For so seiþ þe sauter & sapience boþe Super innocentem munera non accipies a regibus & principibus Of princes & prelatis here pencioun shulde arise And of no pore peple no peny to take Ac he þat spendiþ his speche & spekiþ for þe pore Þat is Innocent & nedy & no man apeiriþ Counfortiþ hym in þat cas coueitiþ nou&yogh;t his goodis Ac for oure lordis loue lawe for hym shewiþ Shal no deuil at his deþ day derie hym a myte Þat he ne worþ saufe sykirly & so seiþ þe sautir Ac to bigge watir ne wynd ne wyt is þe þridde Ne wolde neuere holy writ god wot þe soþe Þise þre for þrallis ben þrowe amonge vs alle To waxen & wanyen where þat god likiþ His pardoun in purcatorie wel litel is I trowe Þat any mede of mene men for motynge resceyueþ &YOGH;e legistris & lawisteris wyten &yogh;if I lei&yogh;e Siþen &yogh;e sen it is þus sewiþ to þe beste Alle libbynge laboureris þat lyuen be here hondis Þat trewely taken & trewely wynnen And lyuen in loue & lawe for here lou&yogh; herte Hadde þe same absolucioun þat sent was to peris Beggeris & bidderis ben not in þe bulle But &yogh;ife þe suggestioun be soþ þat þei fore begge For he þat beggiþ or bit but he haue nede He is fals wiþ þe fend & kiliþ þe nedy And giliþ þe gyuere ageyns his wille Þei lyue nou&yogh;t in loue ne no lawe holden Þei ne wedde no womman þat hy wiþ delen But as wilde bestis wiþ wehe & worþ vp togideris And bringen forþ barnes þat bois ben holden Or his bake or his bon þei breken in his &yogh;ouþe And gon & faiten wiþ here fauntis for euere-more aftir Þere ben mo mysshapen amonges hem who-so takiþ hede Þanne of alle oþer maner men þat on þis molde wandriþ Þo þat lyuen þus here life mowe loþe þe tyme Þat euere he was man wrou&yogh;t whanne he shal henne fare Ac olde men & hore þat helpeles ben of strengþe And wommen wiþ childe þat werche ne mowe Blynde & bedrede & broken here membris Þat takiþ his meschiefe mekliche as myselis & oþere Han as pleyn pardoun as þe plou&yogh;-man hym-selue For loue of here lou&yogh; herte oure lord haþ hem grauntid Here penaunce & here purcatorie vpon þis pur erþe Piers quaþ a prest þi pardon muste I rede For I shal construe it iche clause & kenne it þe on englissh And peris at his preyour þe pardoun vnfoldiþ And I behynde hem boþe beheld al þe bille In two lynes it lay & nou&yogh;t o lettre more And was writen ri&yogh;t þus in witnesse of treuþe Qui vero mala in ignem eternum ; Petir quaþ þe prest þo I can no pardoun fynde But do wel & haue wel & god shal haue þi soule And do euele & haue euele & hope þou non oþer Þat aftir þi deþ day to helle ne shalt þou wende And piers for tene pulde it assondir & seide Quoniam tu mecum es ; I shal cesse of my sowynge quaþ peris & swynke not so harde Ne aboute my liflode so besy be namore Of preyours & of penaunce my plou&yogh; shal ben here-aftir And be-loure þat I lou&yogh; er þei&yogh; liflode me faile Þe prophet his peyne in penaunce & in wepynge Be þat þe sauter vs seiþ & so dede manye oþere Þat louiþ god lelly his liflode is þe more . a . b . c me tau&yogh;te And consience com aftir & kennide me betere Were þou a prest piers quaþ he þou mi&yogh;test preche where þe likiþ Eice derisores & iurgia cum eis ne crescant And þe prest & perkyn aposid eiþerer And þoru&yogh; here wordis I wok & waitide aboute And sau&yogh; þe sonne euene souþ sitte þat tyme Metelis on merueilles on maluerne hilles Musynge on þis metelis a myle wey I &yogh;ede Manye tyme þis metelis han mad mad me to stodie And for peris loue þe plou&yogh;man wel pensife in herte For þat I sai&yogh; slepynge &yogh;if it so be mi&yogh;te Ac catoun construiþ it & canonistris boþe Sompnia ne cures ; Ac for þe bible beriþ wytnesse how Dauid demide þe drem of a kinge Þat nabugodonosor nempne þise clerkis Daniel seide sire kinge þi sweuene is to mene Þat an vnkynde kni&yogh;t shal come þi kingdom to cleyme Amonge lewide lordis þi londis shuln be departid As daniel demide in dede it fel aftir Þe kinge les his lordsshiþe & lesse men it hadde And Ioseþ mette merueillously how þe mone & þe sonne And þe enleuene sterris halsiden hym alle Beau fitz quaþ his fadir for defaute we shuln I my-self & my sones seke þe for nede It befel as his fadir seide in faraos tyme Þat Ioseþ was Iustice Egipt to kepe Al þis makiþ me on metelis to þinke Manye tymes at mydni&yogh;t whan men shulde slepe On peris þe plou&yogh;man whiche a pardoun he hauiþ And how þe prest inpugnid it al before resoun And he leuide þat do-wel indulgence passiþ Bienalis & trienalis & bisshopis lettres Do-wel at þe day of dome is digneliche vndirfongen He passiþ al þe pardoun at seint petris chirche Now haþ þe pope power pardoun to graunte Þe peple wiþoute penaunce Quodcumque ligaueris super terram &c ; And so I leue lelly lord forbede ellis Þat pardoun & penaunce & preyours do salue Soulis þat han ysynned seue siþes dedly And to triste on þis trionalis trewely me þinkeþ It is not so sikir for þe soule certis as is do-wel For-þi I rede &yogh;ow renkes þat riche ben on erþe Vpon trist of &yogh;our tresour trienalis to haue Be þou neuere þe baldere to breke þe ten hestis And nameliche &yogh;e maistris as meiris & iuggis Þat han þe world at wille & wise men ben holden At þe dredful dom day whanne þe dede shal arisen And come before crist acountes to &yogh;elden How þou leddist þi life here & his lawe keptest What þou dedist day þe dom wile reherce A pokeful of pardoun þere ne þe prouincialis lettres Þei&yogh; þou be founde in þe fraternite amonge þe foure ordris And haue indulgence double-fold but do-wel þe helpe I ne wolde &yogh;iue for þi patent on pye hele For-þi I counseil alle cristene cri&yogh;e god mercy And marie his modir to be mene betwene Þat god &yogh;iue vs grace er we go hennis Suche werkis to werche whiles we ben here Þat aftir oure deþ day do-wel reherse Þat at þe day of dome we dede as he hi&yogh;te Explicit hic visio . willelmi ?? de Petro de Plou&yogh;man ; Eciam Incipit vita de do-wel do-bet & do-best secundum wyt & resoun Thus yrobid in rosset I rombide aboute Al a somer sesoun for to seke do-wel And fraynide ful ofte of folke þat I mette &YOGH;if any wi&yogh;t wiste where do-wel was at Inne And what man he mi&yogh;te be of many man I askide Was neuere wi&yogh;t as I wene þat me wisse couþe Where þis lede lengide þe lesse ne þe more Til it be-fel on a Friday two Freris I mette Maistris of þe menours men of gret wyt I hailside hem hendely as I hadde ylernid And prei&yogh;ede hem pur charite er þei passide ferþere &YOGH;if þei knewen any cuntre or costis aboute Where þat do-wel dwellide do me to wisse Marie quaþ þe maistris amonge vs he dwelliþ And euere haþ I hope & euere shal here-aftir Sepcies in die cadit iustus ; Seue siþes seiþ þe boke falliþ þe ri&yogh;tful Ac who-so synneþ I sei&yogh;e sertis me þinkiþ Do-wel & do-euele mowe not dwelle togidere And vndir a lynde vpon a launde lenide I me a stounde To lerne þe laies þat louely briddis maden Blisse of þise briddis brou&yogh;te me a slepe Þe merueilleste metynge mette me þanne Þat euere dremide dri&yogh;t in doute as I wene A muchel man me þou&yogh;te lik to my-selue Com & callide me be my kynde name What art þou quaþ I þo þat my name knowist Þat þou wost wel quaþ he & no wi&yogh;t betere Wot ich quaþ I who art þou þou&yogh;t seide he þanne I haue sewide þe seuen &yogh;er sei&yogh;e þou me no raþere Art þou þou&yogh;t þo quaþ I þou couþest me telle Where do-wel dwelliþ & do me to wisse Do-wel quaþ he & do-bet & do-best þe þridde Arn þre faire vertues & ben not for to fynde Who-so is meke of his mouþ mylde of his speche Trewe of his tunge & of his two handis And þoru&yogh; his labour or his lond his liflode wynneþ Trusty of his tailende takiþ but his owene And nou&yogh;t drunkelewe ne deynous do-wel hym folewiþ Do-bet þus doþ ac he doþ muche more He is as lou&yogh; as a lomb louelich of speche Whiles he haþ ou&yogh;t of his owene he helpiþ þere nede is Þe bagges & þe breigerdlis he haþ broken hem alle Þat þe Erl auerous hadde or his eires And wiþ mammones money he haþ mad hym frendis And is ronne to religioun & haþ rendrit þe bible And prechiþ þe peple seint poulis wordis Libenter sufferte &c ; The wise suffriþ þe vnwise with &yogh;ow to libbe And wiþ glad wil doþ hem good for so god bit hym Do-best is aboue hem boþe & beriþ a bisshopis croce Is hokid at þat on ende to holde men in good life A pike is in þat potent to pungen adoun þe wykkide Þat waiten any wikkidnesse do-wel to tenen And as do-wel & do-bet dede hem to vndirstonde Þei han crounide o kinge to kepe hem alle Þat &yogh;if do-wel & do-bet dede a&yogh;ens do-best And were vnbuxum at his biddinge and bold to don ille Þat þanne shulde þe kynge come & casten hem in presoun And putten hem þere in penaunce wiþoute pite or grace But do-best bede for hem abide þere for euere Þus do-wel & do-bet & do-best þe þridde Corounid on to be kynge & be his counseil werchen And rewele þe reaum be red of hem alle And opere wise & ellis nou&yogh;t but as þei þre assentide I þankide þou&yogh;t þo þat he me so tau&yogh;te Ac &yogh;et sauouriþ me nou&yogh;t þi segginge so me god helpe More kynde knowynge I coueyte to lere How do-wel do-bet & do-best don on þis erþe But wyt can wisse þe quaþ þou&yogh;t where þo þre dwellen Ellis wot no man þat now is o lyue Þou&yogh;t & I þus þre dayes we &yogh;eden Disputynge on do-wel day aftir oþer Ac er we ywar were wiþ wyt gonne we mete He was longe & lene lyk to non oþer Was no pride on his apparail ne no pouert noþer Sad of his semblaunt & of a softe speche I ne durste meue no mater to make hym to iangle But as I bad þou&yogh;t þo be mene betwene To putte forþ sum purpos & prouen hise wittes Þanne þou&yogh;t in þat tyme seide þis wordis Where þat dowel & dobet & dobest beþ in londe Here is wil wolde wyte &yogh;ife wit couþe hym teche Passus primus de dowel &c ; Sire do-wel dwelliþ quaþ wyt nou&yogh;t a day hennes In a castel þat kynde made of foure skenis þinges Of erþe & eir it is mad medlit togideris Wiþ wynd & wiþ watir wi&yogh;tliche enioynede Kynde haþ closid þere-inne craftily wiþ-alle A lemman þat he louiþ like to hym-selue Princeps huius mundi And wolde wynne hire awey with wyles &yogh;if he mi&yogh;te Ac kynde knowiþ hire wel and kepiþ hire þe betere And haþ don hire to sire do-wel duke of þise marchis Do-bet is hire damysele sire dowelis sistir And seruiþ þis lady lelly boþe late & raþe Þus do-wel & do-bet & do-best þe þridde Beþ maistris of þis maner þis maide to kepe Ac þe cunstable of þe castel þat kepiþ hem alle Is a wys kni&yogh;t with-alle sire þou&yogh;t he hatte And haþ fyue faire sones be his furste wyf Sire se-wel & sey-wel & here-wel þe hende Sire werche-wel-wiþ-þine-hond & wi&yogh;t man of strengþe And sire godefrey gowel grete lordis alle Þise sixe ben yset to saue þe castel To kepe þise womman þise wise men ben chargid Til kynde come oþer sende to kepe hire hym-selue What calle &yogh;e þat castel quaþ I þat kynde haþ ymakid Kynde quaþ he is creatour of alle kenis bestis Fadir & fourmour þe ferste ofalle þinge And þat is þe grete god þat gynnynge had neuere Þe lord of life & of liþ of lisse & of peyne Aungelis & alle þinge arn at his wille Ac man is hym most lik of mark & of shape For þoru&yogh; þe woord þat he warp wexe forþ bestis And al at his wil was wrou&yogh;t wiþ a speche Dixit & facta sunt ; &c Saue man þat he made ymage to him-selue &YOGH;af hym gost of his godhed & grauntide hym blisse Life þat ay shal laste & al his lynage aftir Þat is þe castel þat kynde made Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem nostram Inwit & alle wyttes enclosid ben þerinne For loue of þat lady þat lif is ynempnid Þat is anima desiriþ . Aftir þe grace of god Inwyt is þe grettest . Inwyt in þe heuid is & an help to þe soule For þoru&yogh; his connynge is kept princeps huius mundi Ouer suche maner of men mi&yogh;t in here soulis Ac in fauntis ne in folis þe deuil haþ no mi&yogh;t For no werk þat þei werche wykkide oþer ellis Ac þe fadir & þe Frendis for fauntis shuln be blamid But &yogh;ife þei witen hem fro wauntouness whiles þei be &yogh;ouþe And &yogh;if þei ben pore & cateles to kepe hem fro ille . Þanne is holichirche owynge to helpe hem & saue Fro folies & fynde hem til þei ben wise And iche wi&yogh;t in þis world þat haþ wys vndirstondinge Is chief souereyn ouer hym-selfe his soule to &yogh;eme And cheuisship hym for any charge whan he childhod passiþ Saue hym-self fro synne for so hym behouiþ For werche he wel oþer wronge þe wyt is his owene Þanne is do-wel a duce þat destroyeþ vices And sauiþ þe soule þat synne haþ no mi&yogh;t To routen ne to resten ne roren in þine herte And þat is dred of god do-wel it makiþ It is begynnynge of goodnesse god for to douten Salamon it seide for a soþ tale Virga tua & baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt Ac &yogh;if clene consience acorde þat þi-selfe dost wel Wilne þou neuere in þis world why for to do betere For Qui agit contra conscientiam ; &c ; Ac &yogh;if þou werchist be godis word I warne þe þe beste What-so men worden ofe þe wraþþe þe neuere Catoun counseilliþ tak kep of his techinge ; Qui circuit &c ; Poule þe apostel in his pistil wrot it In ensaumple of suche shulde not renne aboute And for wisdom is writen & witnessid in chirches Qui se humiliat exaltabitur &c ; And þus of dred & here dede do-best arisiþ Which is þe flour & þe fruyt fostrid of boþe Ri&yogh;t as a rose swet out of a raggit rote And a rou&yogh; brere springeþ & sprediþ þat spiceris desiriþ Or as whete out of weed waxiþ out of þe erþe So dobest out of dobet & dowel gynneþ springe Amonge men of þis molde þat meke ben & kynde For loue of here lou&yogh;nesse oure lord &yogh;iueþ hem grace Such werch to werche as he is wiþ paied And formest & ferst to folke þat ben weddit And lyuen as here lawis wiln it likeþ god almi&yogh;ty Þat þoru&yogh; wedlake þe world stant who-so wile it knowen Þei be þe riccheste of reaumes & þe rote of do-wel For of here kynde þei comen þat confessours ben nempnid Boþe maidenis & nonnes monkes & ancris Kinges & kni&yogh;tes & alle kyne clerkis Barouns & burgeis & bonde-men of tounes Ac fals folke & feiþles as þeuis & lei&yogh;eris Ben conseyuid in cursid tyme as kaym was on Eue Aftir þat adam & she eten þe appil A&yogh;ens þe hest of hym þat hem of nou&yogh;t made An aungel in angir hi&yogh;te hym to wende In-to þis wrecchide world to wonen & to libben In tene & trauaille to here lyues ende In þat curside constellacioun þei knewe to-gideris And brou&yogh;t forþ a barn þat muche bale wrou&yogh;te Caym þei hym callide in cursid tyme engendrit And so seiþ þe sauter se it whanne þe likiþ Concepit dolore & peperit iniquitatem ; &c ; Alle þat comen of þat caym crist hatid aftir And manye mylions mo ofe men & of wommen And of seth & his sistir siþþe forþ come For þei mariede hem wiþ curside men of caymes kyn For alle þat comen of þat caym acursid þei were And alle þat couplide hem with þat kyn crist hatide euere For-þi he sente hym to seyn & sende hym be an aungel To kepe his kynrede fro kaymes þei couplide nou&yogh;t to-gideris And siþen sem & his suster wern spousid to kaymes Ageyns godis hest girlis hy geten Þat god was wroþ wiþ here werkis & seide suche wordis Penitet me fecisse hominem ; And is as muche to mene amonge vs alle Þat I man makide now it me forþinkeþ And com to noe anon and bad hym nou&yogh;t lette Swiþe to shapen a sship of shidis & bordis Hym-selfe & his sones þre & siþen here wyues Buskide to þat boot & biden þere-Inne Til fourty dayes be fulfild þat flood haue ywasshe Clene awey þe cursid blood þat caym haþ ymakid Bestis þat now ben shuln banne þe tyme Þat euere curside caym com on þis erþe Alle shuln dei&yogh;e for his dedis be dounes & hilles Boþe fisshis & foulis forþ miþ oþere bestis Out-take þe ei&yogh;te soulis & of iche beste a couple Put þat in þe same ship þat shal ben ysauid Ellis shal alle di&yogh;en & to helle wenden Þoru&yogh; curside caym þus cam care vpon alle And al for sem & his sister children spouside eiþerer A&yogh;en þe lawe of oure lord ley hem togideris And mariede at meschiefe as men do now here children For summe as I se now soþ for to telle For coueitise of catel vnkyndely be maried A carful concepcioun comiþ of such weddynge As fel of þe folk as before shewide It is an vncomely copil be crist as I wene To &yogh;iuen a &yogh;onge wenche to an old feble Or wedde any wydewe for any wele of godis Þat neuere shal bere child but it be in armes In gelosie ioyeles & ianglynge of bedde Manye peire siþen þis pestilence han pi&yogh;t hem togidere Þe fruyt þat þei bringe forþ arn manye foule wordis . Haue þei no children but chidinge & choppis togidere . Þei&yogh; þei don hem to dunmowe but &yogh;if þe deuil helpe To folewe aftir þe flicche fecche þei it neuere But &yogh;if þei boþe be forsworn þat bacoun þei tyne For-þi I counseile alle cristene coueite not be weddit For coueitise of catel or of kynrede riche But maidenis & maidenis macche &yogh;ow ysamme Wydeweris & wydewis werchiþ ri&yogh;t also And glade &yogh;e god þat al good sendiþ For in my tyme treweliche betwyn men & wommen Shulde no bed-bourd be but þei were boþe clene Of life & of loue & lawe also Þat dede derne do no man ne shulde As betwyn sengle & sengle siþþe lawe haþ ygrauntid Þat iche man haue a make in maner of wedlak And do þat werke on his wyfe & on no womman ellis . Þat oþere gatis be geten for gadelynges ben holden . And þat ben fals folke & fals eires also foundlynges & folis Vngracious to gete loue or any good ellis But wandriþ & wastiþ what þat þei mowe A&yogh;ens do-wel hy don euele & þe deuil plesen And aftir here deþ day shuln dwelle with þe same But &yogh;if god &yogh;iue hym grace here to amende Þanne is do-wel to dreden & do-bet to suffre And so comiþ do-best aboute and bringeþ doun mody And þat is wykkide wil þat many werke shendiþ Passus secundus de dowel &c ; Þanne hadde wyt a wyf þat hatte dame studie Þat lene was of lich & of loþly chere She was wondirliche wroþ þat wyt so tau&yogh;te And sterneliche staringe dame studie seide Wel art þou wys wyt quaþ she any wisdomis to telle To flatereris or to folis þat frentyke ben of wittis And blamide hym bitterly & bad hym bestille Wiþ suche wise wordis to wisse any foolis And seide Quare via impiorum preparatur ve est omnibus qui praue agunt & inique ; And he þat haþ holy writ ay in his mouþ And can telle of tobie & of þe twelue apostlis Or prechen of þe penaunce þat pilatis wrou&yogh;te To iesu þe gentil þat Iewis to-drowe On crois vpon caluarie as clerkis vs techiþ Litel is he louid or lete by þat suche a lessoun techiþ Or dauntid or drawe forþ þise disours wyte þe soþe For &yogh;if harlotrie ne halp hem betere haue god my trouþe More þanne musike or makynge of god almi&yogh;t Wolde neuere kinge ne kni&yogh;t ne canoun of seint poulis &YOGH;iue hem to here &yogh;eris-&yogh;iue þe value of a grote Menstralsie & merþe amonge men is nouþe Leccherie & losengerie & loselis talis Glotonye & grete oþis þise arn games now-adayes Ac &yogh;if þei carpen of crist þise clerkis & þise lewid At þe mete & at merþe whanne mynstralis ben stille Þanne telle þei of þe trinite how two slowe þe þridde And bringe forþ a ballid resoun toke bernard to witnesse And putte forþ presumpcioun to proue þe soþe Þus þei dryuelen at here deis þe deite to knowe And gnawen god in here þrote whanne here guttis fullen Ac þe carful may cri&yogh;en & carpe at þe &yogh;ate . Boþe for hungir & for þrest & for chele quakiþ . Is non to nymen hym In ne his anguyssh amende But hunsen hym as an hound & hoten hym go þenne Litel louiþ he þat lord þat leniþ hym al þat blisse . Þat þus partiþ wiþ þe poore a parcel whanne hym nediþ Nere mercy in mene men more þan in riche Manye men meteles mi&yogh;te go to bedde God is muche in þe þrote of þis grete maistris Ac amonge men hise mercy & his werkis And so seiþ þe sauter se it in Memento ; Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata inuenimus eam in campis silue ; Clerkis and kid men carpen of god faste And han muchel in here mouþ ac mene men in herte Freris and faitours han founden vp suche questiouns To pleise wiþ proude men siþen þe pestilence tyme Þat defouliþ oure false at þe feste þere þei sitten For now is iche boy bold & he be riche . To tellen of þe trinite to beholden a sire . And fyndiþ forþ fantasies oure feiþ to apeire . And defame þe fadir þat vs alle made . And carpide a&yogh;ens clergie crabbide wordis . Why wolde oure sauiour suffre such a worm in his blisse . Þat he gilide þe womman & þe wy aftir . Þoru&yogh; whiche a werke & wille þei wenten to helle And alle here seed for here synne þe same wo suffride Suche motifs þei meuen þise maistris in here glorie And make men to mysbeleue þat musen on here wordis Ac austyn þe olde ; for alle suche prechide And for suche tale telleris suche a teme shewide And axide hire þe hei&yogh;e wey where clergie wonide And tel me sum tokne to hym for tyme is þat I wende Axe þe hei&yogh;e wey quod heo from henis to suffre- Boþe-wele-&-wo &yogh;if þat þou wile lerne And rid forþ be ricchesse ac reste þou not þere-inne For &yogh;if þou couplist þe with hym to clergie comist þou neuere And eke þe longe launde þat leccherie hatte Leue hym on þi left half a large myle or more Til þou come to a court kepe-wel-þi-tunge For-lesinges-&-li&yogh;eris-speche-&-likerous-drinkes Þanne shalt þou se sobirte & simplite of speche Þat iche wi&yogh;t be in wille his wyt þe to shewen So shalt þou come to clergie þat can many wyttes Sey hym þis signe I sette hym to scole And þat þou grete wel his wyf for I wrot hire þe bible And sette hire to sapience & to hire sauter yglosid Logike I lerid hire & al þe lawe aftir And alle þe musons of musik I made hire knowe alse Plato þe poete I putte hym ferst to boke Aristotel & oþere mo to arguen I tau&yogh;te Gramer for girles I garte ferst write And bet hem wiþ a baleis but &yogh;if þei wolde lerne And alle kynne craftis I contreuide here Tolis of carpenteris & kerueris & kende ferst masons And lernide hym lyuel & lyne þei&yogh; I loke dymme Ac theologie haþ tenid me ten score tymes . For þe more I muse þeron þe mistlokere it semiþ . And þe deppere I deuynide þe derkere me þou&yogh;te It is no science for-soþe for to sotile þere-inne Ne were þe loue þat liþ þere-in a wel lewid þinge it were Ac for it lat best be loue I loue it þe betere For þere þat loue is lord lakkiþ neuere grace Leue lelly þeron &yogh;if þou þenke do-wel For do-bet & do-best ben drawen of louis skile In oþer science it seiþ I sai&yogh; it in catoun Qui similat verbis nec corde est fidis amicus Ac theologie techiþ vs not so who takiþ heed He kenniþ vs þe contrarie a&yogh;ens catonis wordis And vs ben as breþeren & blissen oure enemys And louen hem þat li&yogh;en on vs & lenen hem at here nede And do good a&yogh;ens euil god hym-selfe hotiþ And seide it hym-selfe in ensaumple for þe beste Necesse est vt veniant scandala ; Astronomye is hard þinge & euil for to knowe . Geometrie & geomesie is gynful of speche Þat þinkeþ werche werche wiþ þo þre þriueþ wel late For sorcerie is þe souerayn bok þat to þat science longiþ &YOGH;et arn þere febicchis of Forellis of many manis wittes Experimentis of alkenemye of albertis makynge Nigromancie & permansie þe pouke to reisen &YOGH;if þou þenke do-wel deile þere-with neuere Alle þise sciences sikir I my-selfe foundit Hem formest folke for to desceyue I bekenne þe crist quaþ she I can teche þe no betere I seide graunt mercy ma-dame & mekly hire grette And wente wi&yogh;tly my wey wiþoute more lettynge . And fond as she fore-tolde & forþ gan I wende And er I com to clergie coude I neuere stynte I grette þe goode man as þe gode wyf me tau&yogh;te And aftirward his wyf I worsshipide boþe And tolde hire þe toknes þat me ytau&yogh;t were Was neuere grom vpon þis ground siþþe god makid heuene Fairere vndirfonge ne frendliere mad at ese Þanne my-selfe soþly so sone heo it wiste Þat I was of wyttis hous & wiþ his wyf dame stodie Curteisliche clergise callide me & kiste And axide how wyt ferde & his wif studie And I sei&yogh;e soþliche þei sente me hider To lere at &yogh;ow dowel & do-bet þere-aftir And siþen aftirward to se sum-what of dobest It is a wel lelly life quaþ she amonge þe lewide peple Actif it is hoten lewide men it vsen Trewe tilieris on erþe taillours & souteris And alle kyne crafty men þat cunne here foode wynne Wiþ any trewe trauaille toille for here foode Diken or deluen do-wel it hatte To breke beggeris bred & bakken hem with cloþis Counforte þe carful þat in castel ben fetterid And seken out þe seke & sende hem þat hem nediþ Obedient as breþeren & sustren to oþere Þus bed þe do-bet so beriþ witnesse þe sauter Gaudere cum gaudentibus ; Et flere cum flentibus God wot þis is dobet sire dobest haþ benefices So is he best worþi be þat god in þe gospel grauntiþ & techiþ And haþ possessions & pluralites ; for pore menis sake For mendynaunt&yogh; at meschiefe þe men were dewid And þat is ri&yogh;tful religioun none renneris aboute Ne no leperis ouer lond ladies to shryue Gregory þe grete clerke a good pope in his tyme Of religioun þe rewele he reherside in his morals And seide it in ensaumple þat þei shulde do þe betere Whanne fisshes faile þe flood or þe fresshe watir Þei di&yogh;e for þe drou&yogh;te whanne þei drei&yogh;e lengen Ri&yogh;t so be religioun it roileþ & steruiþ Þat out of couent & cloistre coueiten to libben Ac now is religioun a ridere & a rennere aboute A ledere of ladies & a lond biggere . Poperiþ on a palfrey to toune & to toune . A bidowe or a baselard he beriþ be his side Godis flessh & his fet & hise fyue woundis Arn more in his mynde þan þe memorie of his foundours Þis is þe lif of þis lordis þat lyuen shulde wiþ do-bet And wel-a-wey wers and I shulde al telle I wende þat kinghed & kni&yogh;thed & caiseris wiþ Erlis Wern do-wel & do-bet & do-best of hem alle For I haue sei&yogh;e it my-selfe & siþþen red it aftir How crist counseilliþ þe comune & kenneþ hem þis tale Super cathedram moisi sederunt principes ; For-þi I wende þat þo wyes wern do-best of alle I nile not scorne quaþ scripture but scryueyns li&yogh;e Kinghod & kni&yogh;thod for au&yogh;t I can aspie Helpiþ nou&yogh;t to heuene at one &yogh;eris ende Ne ricchesse ne rentis ne realte of lordis Poul prouiþ it is vnpossible riche men in heuene Ac pore men in pacience & penaunce togidere . Hauen eritage in heuene ac riche men non . Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit saluus erit Þat is Dilige deum &c ; Et proximum tuum sicut teipsum ; Godis word witnessiþ we shuln &yogh;iue & dele oure enemys And alle men þat arn nedy & pore men & suche mecaberis ; ne sle nou&yogh;t is þe kynde englissh For Nemo ascendet ad celum nisi qui de celo descendit ; And I leue on oure lord & on no lettrure betere For salamon þe sage þat sapience made God &yogh;af hem grace & ricchesse to-gidere For to reule his reaum ri&yogh;t at his wille Dede he not wel & wisly as holy chirche techiþ Boþe in werke & in woord in world in his tyme Aristotle & he who wrou&yogh;te betere And al holy chirche holden hem in helle And was þere neuere in þis world to wysere of werkis For alle cunnynge clerkis siþþe crist &yogh;ede on erþe Taken ensaumplis? of here sawis in sarmonis þat þei maken And be here werkis & here wordis wissen vs to dowel And &yogh;if I shal werke be here werkis to wynne me heuene And for here werkis & for here wyt wende to pyne . Þanne wrou&yogh;te I vnwisly wiþ alle þe wyt þat I lere A goode friday I fynde a feloun was sauid . Þat hadde lyued al his lyf wiþ lesinges & þeftis And for he kneu&yogh; on þe crois & to crist shrefe hym Sonnere hadde he saluacioun þanne seint Ion þe baptist Or adam or ysaye or any of þe prophetis . Þat hadde leyn with lucifer manye longe &yogh;eris . A robbere hadde remission raþere þanne þei alle Wiþoute penaunce of purcatorie to haue paradis for euere Þanne marie þe maudeleyn who mi&yogh;te do wers Or who dede wers þanne dauid þat vrie destroyede Or poule þe apostil þat no pite ne hadde Cristene kynde to kille to deþe And arn now for-soþe souereynes in heuene As þise þat wrou&yogh;t wykkidly in world whanne þei were And &yogh;et any I forget ; for of fyue wyttis techinge Þat clergie of cristis mouþ comendite what is neuere For he seide it hym-selfe to summe of his disciplis Dum steteris ante presides nolite cogitare And is as muche to mene to men þat ben lewid Wheþer &yogh;e ben aposid of princes or of prestis of þe lawe For to answere hem haue &yogh;e no doute For I shal graunte &yogh;ow grace of god þat &yogh;e seruen Þe help of þe holy gost to answere hem at wille Þe dou&yogh;tiest doctour or dyuynour of þe trinite Þat austyn þe olde & hi&yogh;este of þe foure Seide þis for a sarmoun so me god helpe Ecce ipsi ydioti rapiunt celum ; vbi nos sapientes in infernum mergemur And is to mene in oure mouþ more ne lesse Arn none raþere yrauisshid fro þe ri&yogh;te beleue Þanne arn þise grete clerkis þat conne many bokis Ne none sonnere ysauid ne saddere of consience Þanne pore peple as plou&yogh;men and pastours of bestis Souteris & seweris suche lewide iottis Percen wiþ a Passus tercius de dowel ; Breuis oratio penetrat celum ; Selde falliþ þe seruaunt ; so depe in arerage As doþ þe reue & þe countrollour þat rekne mote & acompte Of alle þat þei han had of hym þat is here maister Ac lewide laboureris of litel vndirstonde Selde falliþ so foule & so depe in synne As clerkis of holy chirche þat kepe shulde & saue Lewide men in good beleue & lene hem at here wille Homo proponit quaþ a poete þo and plato he hi&yogh;te Et deus disponit quaþ he let god do his wille Alle þat treuþe techiþ & testifieþ for goode Þei&yogh; þei folewe þat fortune no foly ich it holde Ne concupiscencia carnis &c Ne shal not greue þe gretly ne begile þe but þou wille Tho fare-wel siþþe quaþ fauntelot and forþ gan me drawe Til concupiscencia carnis ; accordite til al my werkis . Of do-wel ne of dobet no deynte me ne þou&yogh;te Ne clergie ne his counseil I counte it ful litel Passus secundus de dobet ; Allas ey quaþ elde & holynesse boþe Þat wyt shal turne to wrecchidnesse for wil haþ al his wil Coueitise of ei&yogh;es counfortide me aftir And seide recchelesnesse recche þe neuere so þou riche Haue no consience how þou comist to good confesse þe to sum Frere He shal assoile þe sone how-so þou euere wynne it For while fortune is þi frend Freris wile þe loue And faste þe in here Fraternite & for þe beseche To here priour prouincial his pardoun to haue And preye for þe pol be pol &yogh;if þou be Pena pecuniaria non sufficit &c ; Be wyssynge of þis wenche I dede here wordis wern so swete Til I for&yogh;et &yogh;ouþe & &yogh;orn in-to elde And þanne was fortune my fo for al here faire behest And pouert pursuid me & putte me to be lowe And flittid fond I þe Frere þat me confesside And seide he mi&yogh;te me not assoile but I siluer hadde To restitue resonabliche for al vnri&yogh;tful wynnynge How quaþ I þo to hym & myn heuid waggide Be my faiþ Frere quaþ I &yogh;e farn lik þe wowere Þat wilneþ nou&yogh;t þe wydewe but for to welde hire godis Ri&yogh;t so be þe rode quaþ I rou&yogh;te þe neuere Were my body buried be so þou hadde my godis And þanne lou&yogh; lenten for I lourid on þe Frere Why louridest þou quaþ lenten leue sire he seide For þis Frere flateride me þer whiles he fond me riche And now I am pore & penyles at litel pris he set me I wolde it were no synne he seide to sei&yogh;e þat were treuþe Þe sauter seiþ it is no synne for suche men ben trewe To sigge as þei sen & saue only prestis Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis Arguam te & ero contra faciem tuam ; Thei wiln alegge also & be þe gospel preue it Nolite iudicare quemquam &c ; And where-of seruiþ lawe quaþ lenten & no leue vndirtoke Falnesse ne faitiure for sum-what þe apostel seide Neþer for loue loue it nou&yogh;t ne lakke it for enuye Parum lauda vitupera parcius ; A seiþ soþ quaþ scripture þo & skipte an hei&yogh; & prechide Ac þe mater þat she meuide & lewide men it kneu&yogh; Þe lasse as I leue louyen þei wolde Þe beleue of oure lord þat lettride men techiþ Of here tem & of here talis I toke wel good heed He seide in here sarmon selcouþ wordis . pauci priuyly & let þe remenaunt go rombe Al for tene of here text tremblide myn herte And in a wer gan I waxe & with my-selfe to dispute Wheþer I were chose or nou&yogh;t chose on holy chirche I þou&yogh;te Þat vndirfonge me at þe font for on of godis chosen For crist clepide vs alle come &yogh;if we wolde Sarisines & sismatikes & so he dede þe Iewis And bad hem souke for synne saufe at his brest And drinke bote for bale brouke it who-so mi&yogh;te O vos omnes sicientes venite ad aquas Þanne may al cristene come & cleyme þere to entre Be þat blood þat he bou&yogh;te wiþ & baptem as he tau&yogh;te Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit &c For þei&yogh; a cristene man coueitide his cristendom to reneye Ri&yogh;t-folliliche to renei&yogh;e no resoun it wolde For may no cheril chartre make ne his catel fille Wiþoute leue of þe lord no lawe wolde it graunte But he may renne in areragis & rombe from hom As reccheles caitife or renei&yogh;ed as it semiþ But resoun shal rekne wiþ hym & rebuke hym at þe laste And consience acompte wiþ hym & caste hym in arreragis And putte hym aftir in prisoun in purgatorie to brenne And for his recchelesnesse rewarde hym þere ri&yogh;t til þe day of dom But &yogh;ife contricioun & confessioun he cacche in his lyue Mercy for his mysdedis wiþ mouþ & wiþ herte Þat is soþ seide scripture may no synne lette Mercy quaþ heo ne may al amende & meknesse hire folewe Þei ben as oure bokis telliþ aboue godis werkes Et misericordia eius super omnia opera &c ; &YOGH;a baw for bokis quaþ on was broken out of helle Þat troianes & trewe kni&yogh;t ; I take wytnesse of a pope How he was ded & dampnid ; to dwellen in helle For an vncristene creatour seint Gregory wot þe soþe Þat al þe cristendom vndir crist ne mi&yogh;te me cacche fro þenne But onliche loue & leaute þat in my lawis demynge Gregory wiste þis wel & wilnide to my soule Sauacioun for þe soþnesse he sei&yogh; in my werkes And for he wilnide wepynge þat I were ysauid God of his goodnesse it sei&yogh; his grete wille And wiþoute mo bedis biddinge his bone was vndirfonge And ysauid as &yogh;e may se wiþoute singinge of mo messis Loue wiþoute lele byleue & my lawe ri&yogh;tful Sauide me sarisyn soule & body boþe Lo lordis what leute dede & lefdom yvsid Wel owen lordis þat lawis kepen þis lessoun to haue in mynde And on troianis treuþe to þenke alle tymes in &yogh;our lyue And loue for oure lordis loue & do leute ouer-more For lawe wiþoute leaute ley þere a bene Or any science vndir sonne þe seuene ars & alle But loue & leaute hem lede ylost is al þe tyme Of hym þat trauailliþ þeron but treuþe be his leuynge So loue & leaute ben oure lordis lokis And cristis owene clergie he com from heuene to teche it And seint Iohann siþen seide it of is techinge Qui non diligit manet in morte ; And nameliche pore peple here preyeris may vs helpe For god as þe gospel seiþ goþ as þe pore And as þe Ewangelie wytnessiþ whan we make festis We ne shulde not clepe kni&yogh;tes þer-to ne none ken riche Cum facitis conuiuia nolite vocare amicos But calliþ þe careful þer-to þe crokide & þe pore For euery frend fediþ oþer & fondiþ hym best to quyte Melis & mansshipis iche a man oþer For þe pore may not paye I wile paye my-seluen Þat louiþ & leniþ hem largeliche þer quyte At caluarie of cristis blood cristendom gan springe And blody breþeren we be-come þere of a body ywonne As Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccati ; In þe elde lawe þe lettre menis sonis calde vs Of adamis issue & Eue ay til god man di&yogh;ede And aftir his resureccioun Et qui bona egerunt &c ; For-þi lerne we þe lawe of loue as oure lord tau&yogh;te And pore peple faile we nou&yogh;t while any peny vs lastiþ For in here liknesse oure lord whilom haþ beknowe . Witnesse in þe paske wouke whanne he &yogh;ede to romaynes Cleofas ne kneu&yogh; hym nou&yogh;t þat he crist were For his pore parail & pilgrimes cloþis Til þat he blisside here bred & brak it hem betwene So be his werkis þei wisten þat he was iese But be knowinge þei knewe hym nou&yogh;t so caitifly he &yogh;ede And al was in ensaumple soþly to vs synful here Þat we shulde be lou&yogh; & loueliche & lele iche man til oþer And pacient as pilgrimes for pilgrimes arn we alle In þe parail of a pilgrim & in pore liknesse Holy seintes hem seiþ but neuere set in liche And seinte marie his modir as matheu beriþ witnesse Was a pur pore maide & to a pore man yweddit Marth on marie maudeleyn an huge pleynt she made Vnto oure sauiour self seide þise wordis Maria optimam partem elegit que non &c ; And alle þe wyes þat euere were be au&yogh;t I can aspie Preiside pouert for best &yogh;if pacience it folewide And boþe betere & blisside be many fold þanne ricchesse Al þei&yogh; it be sor to suffre þere comiþ a swet aftir As on a walnote wiþoute is a bitter barke And aftir þat bitter barke be þe skale awey Is a kirnele of counfort kynde to restore So aftir penaunce & pouert pacientliche ytake Maken men haue mynde of god & his mercy to craue Þe whiche is þe kirnele of counfort for alle cristene soulis And wel sikerere he slepiþ þe segge þat is pore And lasse drat in day or in derk to be robbit Þanne he þat is ri&yogh;t riche resoun beriþ witnesse Pauper ego ludo dum tu diues meditaris Holichirche witnessiþ who-so forsakiþ His fadir or his frendis fremde oþer sibbe Oþer any welþe in þis world his wife or his children For þe loue of oure lord lowiþ hym to be pore He shal haue an hundirfold of heuene-riche blisse And lif lastynge for euere before oure lord in heuene Quicumque relinquid patrem & matrem &c ; Crist accordiþ ofte here wiþ clerkis wite þe soþe What god seide hym-self to a segge þat he louide &YOGH;if þou lykist to lyue quaþ god þe life þat is parfit . Al þat þou hast here hastily go selle it &YOGH;if þe pore peple þe penys þerof porse þou none But &yogh;if it forþ to þe pore folk þat for my loue it aske Forsake al & sewe me & so is þe beste Nisi renunciauerit omnia que possidet &c Mo prouerbis I mi&yogh;te haue of many holy seintes To testifie treuþe þe tale þat I shewe And poetis to preuen it porferie & plato Aristotel emredie elleuene hundrit Tollynes tolloneis I can nou&yogh;t telle here names Preuiþ pacient pouert prince ofe alle vertues And be þe grayn þat growiþ god vs alle techiþ Meschiefs on molde mekly to suffren Nisi granum frumenti cadens in terram mortuum fuerit &c But &yogh;if þe sed þat sowen is in þe slo sterue Shal neuere spik springe vp ne spir of straw kerue Shulde euere whete wexe but whete ferst dei&yogh;ede And oþere sedis also on þe same wyse Þat ben leid in lou&yogh; erþe ylore as it were And þoru&yogh; þe grace of god & grayndit on erþe At þe laste launceþ vp wher-by we lyuen alle But sedis þat ben sowen & mowe suffre wyntres Arn tidyere & tonore to manis behofe Þanne sedis þat sowen ben & mowen not with frostis Ne wyndis ne wederis as in wynter tymes As lensed & leksed lenteun-sedis alle Arn nou&yogh;t so worþi as whete ne so wel mowe In þe feld wiþ þe frost & it frese longe Ri&yogh;t so soþly þat suffre may penaunce Worþ a-lowid of oure lord at here laste ende And for here pacience ben ypreisid as for a pur martir Or for a confessour ykid þat countide not a risshe Fere ne famyne ne false menis tunges But as an housebond hopiþ aftir an hard wynter &YOGH;if god &yogh;iueþ hym þe lif to haue a good heruist So preuiþ þise profetis þat pacientliche suffren Meschiefs & myshappis & many tribulaciouns Betokniþ trewely in tyme comynge aftir Merþe for his mournynge & þat muche plente For crist seide to hise seintes þat for his sake þoliden Pouert & penaunce & persecucioun of body Þanne aungelis in here angir in þis wise hem grette O stulte ista nocte anima mea egrediator thezaurizat & ignorat An vnredy reue þi residue shal spende Þat many man was maister in in a mynt while Vphalderis on þe hil shuln haue it to selle Lo louely lordis lo & ladies take hede It lastiþ not longe þat is likour swete As pesecoddis þere ionettis plumis & chiries Þat li&yogh;tliche launsiþ vp litel while duriþ And þat rapest ripeþ roteþ most sonnest On fat lond & foul donge foulest wedis growiþ Ri&yogh;t so soþliche suche þat ben bisshopis Erlis & erchedeknis &map oþere riche clerkis Þat chaffaren as chapmen & chide but þei wynne And han þe world at here wil oþer-wise to lyue Ri&yogh;t as wedis waxiþ in wose & in dunge So on ricchesse vpon ricchesse arist alle vices Lo lond ouer-leid wiþ marle & wiþ dunge Whete þat þeron wexiþ worþ legge er it ripe Ri&yogh;t so soþly for to sey treuþe Ouer-plente pruyde norisship þere pouerte it distroyeþ And how it euere be ywonne but it be wel dispendit Worldly wele is wykkide þinge to hem þat it kepiþ And so is many man murdrit for his mony & his goodis And þo þat dide þe dede ydampnid perfore aftir And he for his harde holdynge in helle pyne paraunter So coueitise of catel was cumbraunce to hem alle Lo how penys purchasiþ faire places & dred . Þat rote is of robberis þe ricchesse wiþ-inne . B ut wel worþe pouert for he may walke vnrobbit Amonge pilours in pes &yogh;if pacience hym folewiþ Oure prince Iesu pouert ches & his postlis alle And ay þe lengere þei lyuede þe lasse good þei hadde Tanquam nichil habentes ; &YOGH;et rat me þat abraham & Iob were wondir riche And out of noumbre þo men many meblis hadden Abraham for his au&yogh;te had muche tene For in gret pouert he was put a prince as it were Benom his hosewif & abraham not ones so hardy to lette him Ne for bri&yogh;tnesse of hire beaute hire spousehod to beknowe And for he suffride & seide nou&yogh;t oure lord sent tokne Þat kynde comely kynge criede hym mercy And delyuerede þe wy his wyf with muche welþe aftir Iob þe ientil what ioye hadde he on erþe . And how bitterly he it abou&yogh;te as þe bok telliþ . And for he suffride so mekly his sorewe ouer &yogh;ede Si bona accepimus a domino ; Derworþi dere god do we so Necessitas non habet legem Ne non heyward is hoten his wed for it taken But &yogh;if þe marchaunt make his wey ouer menis corn And þe heyward happe wiþ hym for to mete . er his hat oþer his hood or ellis hise gloues Þe marchaunt mote for-go or money of his purs And &yogh;et be ylet as I leue for þe lawe askiþ Marchauntis for here marchaundise in many place to tollen And &yogh;et þei&yogh; þei wende a wey to wynchestre feire Þe marchaunt wiþ his marchaundise may not go so swiþe As þe messanger may ne with so muchel ese For þat on beriþ but a box a breuet þer-inne Þere þe marchaunt let a male with many skenis þinges And drediþ to be ded þerfore and he in derke mette Wiþ robberis & reueris þat riche men dispoilen Þere þe messanger is ay merye & his mouþ ful of songes And leuiþ for hise lettres þat no lede wile hym greue But &yogh;et mi&yogh;te þe marchaunt þoru&yogh; his mony & oþer &yogh;eftis Haue hors & hardy men þei&yogh; he mette þeuis Wolde non suche assailen hym for such as hym folewen And as safly as þe messanger & as sone at his ostel &YOGH;et wite wel þe wise men what is þis to menen Þe marchaunt is no more to mene but men þat ben riche Arn alle countable to crist & to kynge of heuene Þat holde mote þe hei&yogh;e wey euene þe ten hestis Boþe louely & lene leel & vnleel And haue reuþe & releue wiþ his ricchesse Be his power alle maner men þat in meschiefe falliþ Fynde beggeris bred & bakkis for cold . And tiþe here good trewely a tol as it semiþ Þat oure lord lokiþ aftir of iche a lif þat wynneþ Wiþoute wiles or wronges or wonnen at þe stewis And &yogh;et more to make þees & quyte menis dettis And spele & spare to spende on þe nedful As crist hym-selfe comaundiþ alle cristene peple Alter alterius onera portate ; Þe messangeris arn þise mendinaunce þat lyuen be menis alme Ben not bounde as ben þe riche to boþe to þe lawis To lene ne to lerne ne in lentenys to faste And oþere priuy penaunce þe whiche þe prest wot wel And þe lawe &yogh;iueþ leue such lou&yogh; folke be excusid As none tiþes to tiþe ne cloþe þe nakid Ne in no quest to come contumax þei&yogh; he worþe Haly day or haly eue his mete to deserue For he louiþ & beleuiþ as þe lawe techiþ Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit &c ; Telliþ þe lord a tale as a trewe messanger And shewiþ be seel & siþþe be lettre wiþ what lord he dwelliþ Knowelechiþ hym cristene & of holy chirche beleue Þere is no lawe as I leue wile lette hym þe gate Þere god is gateward hym-selfe & iche a gom knowiþ So þe pore of pur reuþe may parfourne þe lawe In þat þei wilneþ & wolde iche wy as hym-selue For þe wil is as muche worþ of a wrecche beggere As al þat þe riche may rayme & ri&yogh;tfulliche dele And as muche mede for a myte þere he offriþ As þe riche man for al his money & more be þe gospel Amen dico vobis quia hec vidua paupercula &c ; So pore pacient parfitest lif is of alle Iche a parfit prest to pouert shulde drawe For Qui in vno offendit in omnibus est reus ; For ouerskippis also in þe sauter seiþ dauid For ignorancia non excusat ; as I haue herd in bokis . Þus recchelesnesse in a rage a-resonide clergie And scripture scornide it & manye skiles shewide Til þat kynde com clergie to helpe And in þe myrour of myddelerþe made hym ofte loke To knowe be iche a creatour kynde to loue . And I bowide my body & beheld aboute . And sei&yogh; þe sonne & þe se & þe sond aftir And where þat briddis & bestis ; be here make þei &yogh;eden Wilde wermes in wodis & wondirful foulis Wiþ flikkide federis & of fele colours . Man & his make I mi&yogh;te se boþe . Pouert & plente boþe pees & werre Blisse & bale boþe I sei&yogh; at ones And how þat men mede toke & mercy refuside Resoun I sei&yogh; soþly sewe alle bestis In etynge & drynkynge & in engendrure of kynde . Aftir conuers of concepcioun non toke kep of oþer . And whanne þei hadde yrotied anon þei reste aftir . Malis drowe hem to malis a morewenynge be hem-selue And femelis to Femelis ferdide & drowe Þere ne was cow ne cow-kynde þat conseyuid hadde Þat wolde bere aftir bole ne bor aftir sowe . Þere ne was no kyn kynde þat conseyuyd hadde Þat ne les þe lykynge of lust of flessh as it were Saue man & his make & þerof me wondrit For oute of resoun þei ride & recchelesliche token on As in derne dedis boþe in drinkynge & ellis Briddis I beheld in buskis made nestis Hadde neuere wi&yogh; with to werche þe leste I hadde wondir at whom & where þat þe pye Lernide to leyn stikkes þat lyn in here nest . Þere nis no wi&yogh;t as I wene shulde werche hire nest to pay . &YOGH;if any masoun made a molde þerto muche wondir me þinkiþ . And &yogh;et me merueilide more manye of þe briddis Hidden & heliden here egges dernely For no foul shulde it fynde but hire fere & hire-seluen And summe treden I toke kep & on trees bredden And brou&yogh;te forþ hire briddis al aboue þe ground In mareis & in moris in myris & in watris Doupynge dyuede dere god I seide . Where hadde þise wilde such wyt & at what scole . And how þe pecoke caukide þerof toke I kep . How vncourteisliche þe coke his kynde forþ strenide And forliede of his fairnesse & of his foule lenide And siþþe I lokide on þe se & so forþ on þe sterris Many selcouþis I sei&yogh; arn none to sey nouþe Ne what on flouris on feld & of here faire colours And how out of greut & grace growe so many hewis And summe soure & somme swete selcouþ me þou&yogh;te Of here kynde & of here colour carpe it were to longe But þis most meuide me & my mood chaungide Whanne þat I sai&yogh; resoun sewe alle bestis Saue man & mankynde many tymes me þou&yogh;te Resoun rewlide hym nou&yogh;t noþer riche ne pore Þanne I aresonide resoun & ri&yogh;t to hym seide . I haue wondir in my wyt so wys as þou art holden Wherefore & why as wyde as þou regnest Þat þou ne rewelist raþere renkis þanne oþere bestis I se non so often surfaiten soþly so man kynde In mete out of mesure & many tymes in drynke In wommen in wedis & in wordis boþe Þei ouerdon it day & ni&yogh;t & so do not oþer bestis Þei rewle hem alle be resoun but renkis ful fewe And þerfore merueilliþ me for man is most lyke of wyt & of werkis Why he ne louiþ þi lore & leuiþ as þou techist And resoun aresonide me & seide recche þe neuere Why I suffre or not suffre certis he seide . Iche a segge for hym-selfe salamon vs techiþ . De re que non molestat nolite certare Who suffriþ more þan god quaþ he no gom as I leue He mi&yogh;te amende in a mynt-while al þat amys standiþ But he suffriþ in ensaumple þat we shulde suffre alle Is no verture so fair ne of value ne profit So is suffraunce souerleynliche so it be for godis loue And so witnessiþ wel wise & wissiþ þe frenssh Bele vertue est suffraunce male dire est petit veniaunce Bien dire & bien suffrer ; fait luy suffrable a bien venir For-þi quaþ resoun I rede þe rewele þi tunge euere . And er þou lakke any life loke who is to preise . For is no curatour vndir crist þat can hym-selfe marke And &yogh;if creatures cristene couþe make hem-seluen Iche a lede wolde be lakles leue þou non oþer . Man is mad of suche a mater he may not wel a-sterte Þat sum-tyme hym ne betit to folewen his kynde Catoun acordiþ kyndely þerwiþ Nemo sine crimine viuit ; Þo cau&yogh;te I colour anon & compside to ben asshamid And albakide þere-wiþ wo was me þanne Þat I ne hadde met more so mery as I slepte And seide anon to my-selfe slepynge hadde I grace To wyte what do-wel is but wakynge nere And þanne was þere a wi&yogh; what he was I niste What is do-wel quaþ þat wi&yogh; I wys sire I seide To se muche & suffre al certs is do-wel Haddist þou suffride he seide slepynge þo þou were Þou shuldist knowe þat clergie can & conseyue more þoru&yogh; resoun For resoun wolde haue rehersid þe ri&yogh;t as clergie seide . For þin entrementynge here art þou forsake Philosophus esses si tacuisses &c ; & alibi ; Locutum me aliquando penituit tacuisse numquam . Adam þe whiles he spak not had paradis at wille And whanne he mamelide aboute mete he muside to knowe Þe wisdom & þe wyt of god he was put out of blisse Ri&yogh;t so resoun fariþ be þe for þi ruyde speche And for þou woldist wyte why resoun is preuyte Pride or presumpcioun of þi parfit lyuynge Resoun refuside þe & wolde not reste wiþ þe Ne clergie of his connynge kepiþ þe not to shewe For shal neuere er shame come a shrewe wel chaste For let a drunke daffe in a dich fallen . Let hym ligge & loke not on hym til he liste arise For þei&yogh; resoun rebuke hym þanne recchiþ he neuere Ne of clergie ne of kynde wyt countiþ he not a risshe To blame hym or to bete hym þanne I ne holde it but synne . But whanne nede nymeþ hym vp anon he is asshamid . And þanne wot he why & wherfore he is to blame . &YOGH;e segge soþ be my soule quaþ I I haue I-sei&yogh;e it ofte . Þere smyt no þinge so smart & smelliþ so foule As shame þere he shewiþ hym iche man shoniþ his companye Why &yogh;e wordite to me þus was for I resonide resoun &YOGH;a certis quaþ he þat is soþ & shop hym to walke . And I aros ri&yogh;t vp wiþ þat & reuerenside hym faire And &yogh;if his wille were he wolde his name telle Passus quartus de dowel ; I am ymaginatife quaþ he Idel was I neuere Þei&yogh; I sitte be my-selfe such is my grace I haue folewid þe in feiþ more þanne fourty wyntir And wissid þe ful ofte what do-wel was to mene And counseilide þe for cristis sake no creatour to begile . Noþer to lei&yogh;e ne to lakke ne lere þat is defendit . Ne to spille no speche as for to speke an ydel . Ne no tyme tyne ne trewe þinge tene . Lowe þe & lyue forþ in þe lawe of holy chirche And þanne dost þou wel wiþoute dred who can do bet no for Clerkis þat connen al I hope þei conne do-betere But it suffisiþ to be sauid & beseche as I tau&yogh;te But for to loue & lene & lyue wel & beleue Is ycald Beacius est dare quam petere ; But catel & kynde wyt accumbriþ ful manye Wo is hym þat hem weldiþ but &yogh;if he hem wel dispende Spiritus vbi vult spirat ; So grace wiþoute grace of god & of goode werkis May not be so sikir þei&yogh; we bidde euere But clergie comiþ but of si&yogh;t & kynde wyt of sterris As to be bore or begete in suche a constellacioun Þat wyt waxiþ þerof & oþere wordis boþe boþe more Þanne any cunynge of kynde wyt clergie it rewele For moyses witnessiþ þat god wrot & crist with his fyngir Lawe of loue oure lord wrot longe er crist were And crist com & confourmide & holy chirche made And in sonde a signe writen & seide to þe Iewis Þat seed hym-selfe synneles sese not I hote To strike wiþ ston or wiþ staf þis strumpet to deþe Quis vestrum sine peccato est ; For I counseille iche a creatour clergie to honoure For as a man may not se þat missiþ hise ei&yogh;es No more can no clerke but &yogh;if it come of bokis Al-þei&yogh; men made bokis god was here maister And seint spirit þe saumplarie & seide what men shulde writt And ri&yogh;t as si&yogh;t serueþ a man to se þe hei&yogh;e strete Ri&yogh;t so leriþ lettrure lewide men to resoun And as a blynd man in bataille beriþ wepne to fi&yogh;te And haþ non hap wiþ his ax his enemy to hitte No more can a kynde wyttide man but clerkis hym teche Come for al his kynde wyt þoru&yogh; cristendom to be sauid Whiche is þe coffre of cristis tresour and clerkis kepe þe kei&yogh;es To louken it at here likynge þe lewide & lernide to helpe To &yogh;iue mercy for mysdedis &yogh;if men it wile aske BuxmlicheBuxumliche & benigneliche & bidden it of grace Nolite tangere christos meos ; For clergie is cristis victorie to counfort & to oure Boþe lerid & lewid were lost &yogh;if clergie ne were Kynde wittide men han a clergie be hem-selue Of cloudis & of customis þei contreuide many þinges And markide it in here maner & muside þeron to knowe And of þe selcouþis þat þei sei&yogh;en here sones þerof þei tau&yogh;te For þei held it an hei&yogh; science here sotiltes to knowe But þoru&yogh; here science soþly was neuere soule sauid Ne brou&yogh;t be here bokis to blisse ne to ioye For al here kynde knowynge com but of diuerse si&yogh;tes Of briddis & of bestis of blisse & of sorewe Patriarkes & prophes repreuide here science And seide here wordis for here wisdomis was but a foly As to þe clergie of crist þei countide it but trifle Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem &c ; It spekiþ þere of riche men ri&yogh;t nou&yogh;t ne of þe lordis no&yogh;er But of clennesse & clerkis & keperis of bestis Ibunt magi ad Orientem ; &YOGH;if any Frere were founde þere I &yogh;iue þe fyue shillynges Ne in no cote ne caitifs hous crist was ybore But in a burgeis hous þe beste of þe toun Two pastours & two poetis aparide to þe aungel And bad hem go to bedlem godis berþe to honure And songe a songe of solas ; Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates ; And þat counfortiþ iche a clerke & keueriþ fro wanhope In whiche flood þe fend fondiþ man hardest Þere þe lewide liþ stille & lokiþ aftir leute And haþ no contricoiun er þei come to shrift And þanne can he litel telle but as his loris man leriþ hym And þat is aftir persoun & parissh prest & parauntur boþe lewid To lere lewide men as luk beriþ witnesse Dominus pars hereditatis mee ; is a mery vers . For it haþ take fro tibourne twenty stronge þeuis Þere lewide þeuis ben lollid vp loke how þei ben sauid Þe þef þat hadde grace of god on goode Friday as þou toldist Was for he &yogh;ald hym creaunt to crist & his grace askide And god is ay gracious to alle þat grediþ to hym . And wile no wykkide man be lost but &yogh;if he wile hym-seluen Nolo mortem peccatoris &c ; But þei&yogh; þat þefe hadde heuene he hadde non hei&yogh; blisse As seint Iohann & oþere seintes þat han seruid betere Ri&yogh;t as sum man &yogh;iueþ me mete & set me amyd þe flore I haue mete more þan ynou&yogh; but not with muche worsshipe And þo þat sitten at þe sid table or with þe souerayn in alle But as beggere bordles be my-self on þe grounde So it ferde be þe feloun þat on goode friday was sauid He sit neiþer wiþ seint Iohann ne wiþ symon ne Iude Ne with maidenis ne with martiris ne with mylde wydewis But as a soleyne be hym-selfe & yseruid on þe ground For he þat is ones a þef is euere more in daunger And as þe lawe likiþ to lyue or to dei&yogh;e De peccato propiciato noli esse sine metu ; And for to seruen a seint & suche a þef togideris It were no resoun ne ri&yogh;t to rewarde boþe ylich And ri&yogh;t as troianus þe trewe kni&yogh;t telde not depe in helle Þat oure lord ne hadde hym li&yogh;tliche out so lyueþ þat þefe in heuene For he is in þe lowest of heuene &yogh;ife oure beleue be trewe And wel loueliche he lolliþ þere as be lawe of holy chirche Quare placuit quia voluit &c ; And so I sey be þi-selfe þat sekist aftir þe wi&yogh;es How creaturis hadde kynde wyt & how clerkis come to bokis Was neuere creatour vndir crist þat kneu&yogh; wel þe gynnynge But kynde þat contreuid it ferst of his kynde wil He tau&yogh;te þe turtil to trede þe pecoke to cauke And adam & Eue & alle oþere bestis A cantel of kynde wyt here kynde to saue Of good & of wykke kynde was þe furste Sei&yogh; it & suffride it & seide it be shulde But longe lyuynge men lyknide menis lyuynge To briddis & to bestis as here bokis telliþ Þat þe faireste foul fouleste engendriþ And þe febleste foul of fli&yogh;t is þat fleþ or swymmeþ Þat is þe pecok & þe popeiay wiþ here proude federis Betokniþ ri&yogh;t riche men þat regniþ on þis erþe For pursue a pecoke or a pohenne to cacche And haue hem in haste at þin owene wille For þei may not fle fer ne ful hei&yogh;e noþer For here federis þat faire ben to fle fer hem lettiþ His leden is vnlouelich & loþlich his caroyne . For his peyntide pennis þe pecok is honourid More þanne for his faire flessh or for his faire note Ri&yogh;t so men reuerensiþ more þe riche for his meble Þanne for any kyn he com of or for his kynde wittes Þus þe poete preisiþ þe pecoke for his federis And þe riche man for his rente or for ricchesse in his shoppe Þe lark þat is a lesse foul is louelokere of ledoun . And swettere of sauour & swiftere of wenge . To lowe lyuynge men þat lark is resemblit . And to leue & loue holy þat louiþ alle trewe . Þus pophorie & plato & poetis manye Lykniþ in here logike þe leste foul oute And wheþer he be sauf or not sauf þe soþe wot not clergie Ne of sortes ne of salamon no scripture can telle . Wheþer þei ben in helle oþer in heuene oþer aristotle þe wise But god is so good I hope þat siþþe he gaf hem wittes To wissen vs wyes þere-wiþ þat wenen to be sauid And þe betere for here bookis to bidde we ben holde Þat god for his grace &yogh;iue here soulis reste For lettride men were as lewid &yogh;et nere lore of here bok Alle þe clerkis quaþ I þo þat on crist leuen Seyn in here saroms þat noþer sarasines ne Iewis Wiþoute baptem as be here bokis ne beþ not ysauid vix saluabitur iustus in die iudicij Ergo saluabitur quaþ he & seide no more latyn . Troianus was a trewe kni&yogh;t & tok neuere cristendom And he is sauf seiþ þe book & his soule in heuene But þere is folewynge of funte & fullynge in blood shedynge And þoru&yogh; fuyr þe folewynge & alle ferme beleue . And &yogh;if þere were he wolde leue & in such a wil he di&yogh;eþ . Ne wolde neuere trewe god but trewe trouþe were allowide . And were it worþ were it nou&yogh;t worþ þe beleue is gret of trouþe . And hope hangiþ ay peron to haue þat treuþe deseruiþ . Quia super pauca fuisti fidelis supra multa te constituam And þat is loue & large hire &yogh;if þe lord be trewe And a curteisie more þanne couenaunt was what so clerkis carpe For al worþ as god wile & þere-wiþ he vanisshide Passus quintus de visione ut supra ; And I awakide þer-wiþ wytles nerhande And as a freke þat fey were forþ gan I walke In maner of a mendinant many &yogh;er þer-aftir And many tymes of þise metelis muche þou&yogh;t I hadde Ferst how fortune me failide at my ferste nede And how elde manasid me so mi&yogh;ty hap he hadde Þat &yogh;if I lyuede longe leue me behynde And vanisshe al my vertues & my faire lotes And how þat Freris folewide faste folke þat were riche And peple þat wern pore at litel pris þei setten Ne no cors of pore comun in here kirke-&yogh;erd muste ligge But quyk he bequaþ hem ou&yogh;t to helpe quyte here dettis And how coueitise ouercam alle kene settis As wel leride as lewide and lord as þe bonde And how þat lewide men ben lad ; but oure lord hem helpe . Þoru&yogh; vnconnynge curatours to incurable peynes . And how þat imaginatife in dremelis me tolde Of kynde & of connynge & what connynge he &yogh;af bestis And how louyenge he is to iche a life o lond & on watir . For alle he wisseþ & &yogh;iueþ wyt þat walkiþ or crepiþ And I merueillide muche in herte how ymaginatife seide Þat in die iudicij . vix helpe And whanne he hadde yseid so how sodeynliche he vanisshide And so I muside vpon þis matere þat me leste to slepe And þanne com consience & clergie þer-aftir . And beden me risen & rombe for with resoun we shulde dyne And I aros & rombide forþ & with resoun we mette We reuerenside resoun & rombide forþ softely . And mette wiþ a maister a man like a Frere Consience kneu&yogh; hym wel & welcomide him faire Þei wisshen & wypeden & wente to dyner And þere come pacience & pore þinges & prei&yogh;ede mete pur charite I-lyke to piers plou&yogh;man as he a palmere were . Crauide & criede for cristis loue of heuene A melis mete for a pore man or money &yogh;if þei hadde Consience kneu&yogh; hym wel and welcomide hem alle Wysshen & wypeden & wente to sitte Þe maister was mad sitte furst as for þe most worþi Resoun stood & sti&yogh;tlide as for steward of halle Pacience & I prestly was put to be mettis And seten be oure-selfe at a sid table Clergie calde aftir mete & þanne com scripture And seruide hym þus sone of sundry metis manye And austyn & ambrose of alle þe foure euaungelies mortem hi&yogh;t of many bittir peynes But &yogh;if þei synge for þe soulis & wepe salte teris Vos qui peccata hominum comedetis nisi pro eis lacrimet eorum effe oremini ea que in delicus comeditis in tormentis euometis . Whanne as resoun radde anon ri&yogh;t aftir Þat consience comaunde shulde to do come scripture And bringe bred for pacience bitande apartie And to come þat was his mete þo & oþer mete boþe He sette a sour lofe & seidedya perseuerans As longe quaþ he as I may lyue & lycam may dure Þis is a semely seruice seide pacience ; Þanne com contricioun þat hadde cokid for hem alle And brou&yogh;te forþ a pitaunce wasCor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies Pacience was wel apaid of þis propre seruice And made mery with þis mete but I mournide euere For a doctour þat at þe hei&yogh;e deis sat dranke wyn faste For oure lordis loue as holy lettre telliþ In fame & in frigore &c ; But me wondriþ in my wyt why þat þei ne preche As poul þe appostil prechide to þe peple ofte Periculum est in falsis fratribus &c ; Holy writ bit men be war & wisly kepe Þat no fals Frere þoru&yogh; flaterynge hem begile But me þinkiþ loþ þei&yogh; I latyn knowe to lakkyn any foot For alle be we breþeren þei&yogh; we be diuerse cloþid But I wiste neuere freke þat Frere is cald of þe fyue mendynaunce Þat toke þis for here teme & told it wiþoute a glose Þei preche þat penaunce is profitable to þe soule And what meschiefe & malese crist for man þolide But þis doctour & diuinour quaþ I & decristre of canoun And also a gredy glotoun wiþ two grete chekis Haþ no pite on vs pore he parfourniþ euele Þat he prechiþ he preuiþ it nou&yogh;t to pacience I tolde And wysshide witterly with wil ful egere Þat in þe mawe of þe maister alle þo metis were Boþe disshis & dobeleris wiþ alle þe deyntes aftir I shal iangle to þis iurdan with his iusty wombe And apose hym what penaunce is & purgatorie on erþe And why he leuiþ not as he leriþ let be quaþ pacience And seide þou shalt se now sone whanne he may nomore He shal haue a penaunce in his paunche & puffe at iche a word And þanne shal guldelen his guttes & gynne to galpe . For now haþ drunke so depe & wile deuyne sone And prouen it be here pokalipsis and þe passioun of seint aueroy Þat noþer bacoun ne braun blaumager ne mortreus Is noþer fissh ne flessh but fode for penauntis And take wytnesse at þe trinite and take his felawe to wytnesse What he fond in a Forellis of a Freris leuynge And but &yogh;if þe firste lef be lesynges leue me neuere aftir And þanne is tyme to talke & to apose þis doctour Of do-wel & do-bet & &yogh;ife do-bet do any penaunce . I sat stille as pacience wolde ; and þus sone þis doctour As rudy as a rose ruddite his chekis Coughide & carpide & consience hym herde And tolde hym of þe trinite & toward me lokide What is dowel sire doctour quaþ I is do-best any penaunce Dowel quaþ þis doctour & he dranke aftir . Do þi nei&yogh;ebour non harm ne þi-selfe noþer . And þanne dost þou wel & wisly I dar it wel auowe Certis sire þanne seide I it semiþ not here In þat &yogh;e partiþ not with þe pore þat &yogh;e passe do-wel Ne lyueþ nou&yogh;t as &yogh;e leriþ as oure lord wolde Et visitauit & fecit redempcionem ; And &yogh;if &yogh;e fare þus wiþ &yogh;oure seke Freris ferly me þinkeþ But do-wel endite &yogh;ow Qui facit & docuerit magnus vocabitur Now þou clergie quaþ consience carpe what is dowel Haue me excusid quaþ clergie be crist but in scole Shal no such motif be meuid for me þer but for peris loue þe palmer &YOGH;et þat pers inpugnid ones alle kynne cunnynges And alle kynne craftis saue loue & leaute & lou&yogh;nesse of herte And no tixt ne takiþ to preue þis for trewe But ; dilige deum & proximum tuum autem ; Domine quis habitabit in ta- bernaculo tuo ; And preuiþ be pure skile inprofit alle þinges Nemo bonus ; but lel loue & treuþe þat loþ is to be founde Quaþ petris þe plou&yogh;mandisce doce diligere deum ; and þin enemy helpe him for þe mi&yogh;t Caste hote colis on his hed of alle kynde speche Fond þoru&yogh; wyt & with woord his loue for to wynne And &yogh;iue hym eft & eft euere at his nede Counforte hym wiþ þi catel & with þi kynde speche And ley on hym þus wiþ loue til he lei&yogh;e on þe And but he lau&yogh;e on þe for þis lechynge blynd mote he worþe And whanne he hadde wordit þus wiste no man aftir Where peris þe plouman be-cam so priuyliche he wente And resoun ran aftir & ri&yogh;t wiþ hym &yogh;ede Saue consience & clergie I couþe no mo aspie Saue pacience propirly spak whanne piers was þus ypassid Þat loue lelly quaþ he but litel þinge coueitiþ I wolde & I will hadde wynnen al fraunce Wiþoute britnynge of burn or any blood shedynge I take wytnesse quaþ þ wy on holy writ a partie Pacientes vincunt &c ; For be hym þat me made mi&yogh;te neuere pouert Miseise ne mischiefe ne man wiþ his tunge Tene þe any tyme and þou take pacience And bere it in þi bosum aboute where þou wendist In þe corner of a carte whel wiþ o crowe crowne Shal neuere burne be abasshit þat haþ þis aboute hym Ne neuere hete ne haþel ne helle pouk hym greue Neiþer fuyr ne flood ne be a-ferd of enemy Caritas expellit omnem timorem &c ; Ne þere nis wi&yogh; in þis world þat wolde þe lette To haue alle londis at þi lykynge & þe here lord make And maister of al here meble & of here mony aftir Þe kinge & alle þe comun & clergie to þe loute As for here lord & here ledere & lyue as þou techist Þis is dido quaþ þis doctour a disours tale . Al þe wyt of al þis world & wi&yogh;te menis strengþe Can nou&yogh;t parfourme as pes of þe pore & hise enemys Profitable for boþe parties & putte þe bord from hym And toke clergie & consience to counseil as it were But consience I toke kep conged sone þis doctour And siþþe he seide to clergie so þat it herde Be crist quaþ consience clergie wile not lei&yogh;e Me were leuere be oure lord & I lyue shulde Haue pacience parfitliche þanne halfe þi pakke of bokis Lettrure & longe studie lettiþ ful manye Þat þei knowiþ not quaþ consience what is kynde pacience For-þi quaþ consience crist I þe beteche Wiþ pacience wile I passe parfitnesse to fynde And wenten forþ on here wey wiþ gret wil I folewide Þanne hadde pacience as pilgrimes han in here poke vitailes Sobirte & symple speche & soþfast beleue To counforte hym & consience &yogh;if þei come in place Þere vnkyndenesse & coueitise is hungry cuntreis boþe And as þei wente be þe wey of do-wel þei gonne carpe Þei mette wiþ a mynstral as me þo þou&yogh;te Pacience aposide hym & prei&yogh;ede he shulde telle What craft þat he couþe & curteisliche he seide . I am a mynstral quaþ þis man myn name is Hast þou vsid or hauntid al þi lif tyme Menstralcy can I not muche but make men merye As a waffrer with waffris and welcome godis gestis Of my labour þe lau&yogh;e þe lasse & þe more Þe pore & þe riche I plese & payn fynde And fewe robis I fonge or furride gounes Wolde I lei&yogh;e & do men lau&yogh;e þanne lacche I shulde Oþer mantel oþer money amongeer mynstrallis I can nou&yogh;t taboure ne trumpe ne telle faire gestis Farten ne fiþelen at festis ne harpen Iapen ne iogelen ne ienteliche pipen Ne noþer sailen ne sauterien ne synge with þe giterne I haue no goode giftis of þis grete lordis For no bred þat I be-trauaille ferst to bringe before lordis Ne were it for þe parissh prei&yogh;eþ for me on sonnedays I am sory þat I sowe or sette but for my-selfe But þe prestis & oþere peple prei&yogh;eþ for piers þe plou&yogh;man And for me actif his man þat ydelnesse hate Lordis & lorellis & luþere and goode . Fro mighelmasse to mighelmasse I fynde mete & drynke I fynde payn for þe pope & preyen hym I wolde Þat pestilences to pees & parfit loue turnen For fond I þat his blissynge & his bulle mi&yogh;te Lette þise luþere & liþe þe seke As þe book beriþ wytnesse þat he bere mi&yogh;te In his mouþ mercy & amende vs alle Super egros manus ponebant & bene habebunt And þanne wolde I be besy & buxum to helpe Iche a fyne creatour þat on crist leuiþ For siþþe he haþ þe power þat petir hadde he haþ þe pot with þe salue Habundancia panis & vini turpissimum peccatum aduenit ; Plente of payn þe peple of sodome And reste & riche metis ribaudis hem made Pes quaþ pacience I prei&yogh;e &yogh;ow sire actife . For þei&yogh; nere payn ne plou&yogh; ne potage were . Pruyde wolde putte hym-selfe forþ þei&yogh; no plou&yogh; erie It arn I þat fynde alle folk & from hunger saue . Þoru&yogh; þe helpe of hym þat me hidir sente And seide lo here liflode ynou&yogh; &yogh;if oure beleue be trewe For lent neuere was þere lif but liflode were shame Where-of or wherfore & where-wiþ to lyuen Þe worm þat woniþ vndir erþe & in watir fisshis Þe creket be kynde of þe fuyr & þe curlew be þe wynd Bestis be grayn & be gras & be grene rotis In menynge þat alle men mi&yogh;te þe same Lyue þoru&yogh; lele beleue as oure lord witnessiþ Quodcumque pecierit a patre nomine meo dabitur enim vobis & alibi Non in solo pane viuit sed omni verbo quod procedit de ore dei ; Hast þou quaþ actife ay suche mete wiþ þe &YOGH;a quaþ pacience & out of his poke hente A pece of þe pater-noster & profride it to vs alle And I lestnide & lokide what a liflode it were And þanne was it pacientes vincunt Be so þat pou be sobre of si&yogh;t & of tunge In etynge & handlynge & alle þe fyue wyttis Þar þe no care for no corn for cloþ ne for drynk Ne deþ drede ne deuil dei&yogh;e as god likiþ Wherefore hungir or hete at his wille be it For &yogh;if þou lyuest aftir his lore þe shortere lif þe betere Dixit & facta fuerunt ; Aperis tu manum tuam & imples omne animal &c ; It is founde þat fourty wynter folk lyuede & tilde nou&yogh;t And out of þe flynt spronge þe flood þat folke & bestis & drunke And in Elye-is tyme heuene was yclosid Þat no reyn ne ron þus rat men in bokis Þat many wynter men lyuede & no mete ne tilide Seuene slepte seiþ þe booke mo þan sixty wynter And lyueden wiþoute liflode & at þe laste awakiden And &yogh;if men lyuede as mesure wolde shulde neuere be defaute Amonge cristene creatures &yogh;ife cristis wordis be trewe Dabo tibi secundum peticionem tuam ; Wiþ his parfit pacience quaþ Meknesse & mylde speche & men of o wille Þe whiche wil loue lat to oure lordis place And þat is charite champion chef of alle vertues And þat is pore pacient al perelis to suffre Wheþer pouert & pacience pleise more god almi&yogh;ty Þanne ri&yogh;tfulliche ricchesse & resonably to dispende &YOGH;e laudabimus eum Þei&yogh; men rede of ricchesse ri&yogh;t to þe worldis ende Þat whanne he drou&yogh; to þe deþ þat he ne dradde him sorrere Þanne any pore pacient & þat preue I be resoun It arn but fewe folke in þis riche þat þei ne falle in arrerage Þere þe pore dar plede & preue be pur resoun To haue allowance of hs lord ; be pur lawe he cleymeþ Ioye þat neuere ioye hadde of ri&yogh;tful iugge askiþ And seide lo briddig & bestis þat no blisse ne knowiþ And wilde wermis in wodis þoru&yogh; wyntris þou hem greuist And makest hem ful nei&yogh; meke & mylde for defaute Þere-aftir þou sendist hem somer þat is here souerayn ioye And blisse to alle þat ben boþe to wilde & tame Þanne may beggeris & bestis aftir a blisse aske Þat al here lif han lyued in langour & defaute But god sente hem sum-tyme sum maner ioye Oþer here oþer ellis where ellis it were reuþe For to wroþerhele was he wrou&yogh;t þat neuere was in ioye For diues in hise deyntes lyuede & in douce vie And now he bi&yogh;eþ it bitterly he is a beggere in helle Many man haþ his ioye her for alle here wel dedis And lordis & ladies be cald for ledis þat þei haue And slepiþ as it semiþ and somer euere hem folewiþ But whanne deþ awakiþ hem of here wele þat were here so riche Þanne arn it pure pore þinges in purgatorie or in helle Dauid in þe sauter of suche makiþ mynde ; And seiþ Passus sextus de dowel ; Allas þat ricchesse shal reue & robbe a manis soule Fro þe loue of oure lord at þe laste ende . Hewen þat haue here hire beforn arn euere more pore And selde di&yogh;eþ out of dette þat dyneþ er he deserue it Whanne his dyner is don & his dayes iourne Þanne men may wyte what he is worþ & what he haþ deseruid But not to fonge tofore for dred of disallowynge So I sey be &yogh;ow riche it semiþ not þat &yogh;e shulle Haue two heuenis for &yogh;oure here beynge . Muche merþe is in may amonge þe wilde bestis And so forþ while somer lastiþ here solas duriþ And muche merþe amonge riche men is þat han meble ynou&yogh; & hele But beggeris aboute missomer bredles þei soupe And &yogh;et is wynter for hem wers for wetshod þei gon A-furst & afyngrid & foule rebukid Of þis worldliche men þat reuþe is to here Now lord sende hem somer sum tyme to solas & ioye Þat al here life ledden in lou&yogh;nesse & in pouert For alle mi&yogh;test þou haue mad men of muche welþe And ylich witty & wys & lyue wiþoute nede For þe beste as I hope arn sume pore & riche Ri&yogh;t so haue reuþe on þi renkis alle And amende vs of þi mercy & make vs meke ichone Lou&yogh; & lele & louynge & of herte pore And sende vs contricioun to clense with oure soulis And confessioun to kille alle kyne synnes And satisfaccioun þat fulfilliþ þe fadir wil of heuene And þise ben do-wel & do-bet & do-best of alle oris confessio ; þat comiþ of shrifte of mouþe Cordis contricio ; oris confessio ; operus satisfaccio Tho þre wiþoute doute þoliþ al pouert And leriþ lerid & lewid hei&yogh; & lou&yogh; to knowe Who doþ wel or bet or best aboue alle And holy chirche & charite here-of chartre made And but þise þre þat I spake of at domisday vs defende Ellis is al an ydel doynge al oure lyuynge here Oure preyeris & oure penaunces & oure pilgrimagis to rome But oure spensis & oure spendinge springe of a trewe welle Ellis is al oure labour lost lo how men writeþ In Fenestres at þe Freris is fals be þe fundement For-þi cristene shulde be in comun riche non coueitous for him-self For seue synnes þat þer ben þat assailen vs euere Þe fend folewiþ hem alle & fondiþ hem to helpe But wiþ riccheste þo ribaudis raþeste men begile For þere ricchesse regniþ reuerence folewiþ And þat in plesaunt to pride in pore & in riche And þe riche is reuerensid be resoun of his ricchesse Þere þe pore is put behynde & paraunter can more Of wyt & of wysdom þat fer weye is betere . Þanne ricchesse or ryalte and raþere herd in heuene For þe riche haþ muche to rekne & ri&yogh;t softe walkiþ Þe hei&yogh;e wei&yogh;e to heueneward he halt it nou&yogh;t ful euene Þere þe pore pressiþ before wiþ a pakke at his rigge Opera eorum sequntur illos Batauntliche as beggeris doþ and baldliche he crauiþ For his pouert & his pacience perpetuel ioye . And pride in ricchesse regniþ raþere þanne in pouert Oþer in þe maisterer in þe man sum mencioun he hauiþ But in pouert þere is pacience pride haþ no mi&yogh;t Ne none of þe seue synnes sitte may þere longe Ne haue power in pouert &yogh;ife pacience it folewe For þe pore is ay prest to plese þe riche And buxum at his biddynge for his bred & his drynk And buxumnesse & bost arn euere more at werre And eiþer hatiþ oþer and may not wone togideris &YOGH;if wraþþe wrastliþ wiþ þe pore he haþ þe wers ende For &yogh;if þei boþe pleyne þe pore is but feble And &yogh;if he chide or chatere hym cheuiþ þe wers For loueliche he lokiþ & lou&yogh; is his speche Þat mete or money ofe straunge men mut begge And &yogh;if glotonye greuiþ pouert he gaderiþ þe lasse . For hise rentis wiln not reche riche metis to bigge And þei&yogh; his glotonye be of good ale he goþ to a cold beddynge And his hed vnhelid vnesiliche ywrie . For whanne he streyniþ hym to strecche þe straw is his sshetis So for his glotonye & his grete synne he haþ a greuous penaunce Þat is wel lowe whanne he wakiþ & wepiþ for cold . So is he neuere more ful mery so meschief hym folewiþ . And þei&yogh; coueitise wolde with þe pore wrastle þei may no come togideris And be þe nekke nameliche here non may hente oþer . For men knowe þat coueitise is ofe a kene wil And haþ hondis & armes of a longe lengþe And pouert is but pite þinge aperiþ not to his nauele A louely layke was it neuere betwyn a longe & a sshort one And þei&yogh; auerice wolde angre pouert he haþ but litel mi&yogh;t For pouert haþ but pokis to putte in his goodis Þere auarice haþ almaries & yrene bounden coffris And wheþer be betere to breke lasse bost it makiþ To breke a beggeris bagge þanne an yren bounde coffre And leccherie louiþ no pore for he haþ but litel siluer . Ne doþ men dyne delicatliche ne drynke wyn ofte A straw for þe stewis it stood hadde þei no haunt but of pore And þei&yogh; sleuþe seude pouert & serue not god to pay Meschiefe is a mene þat makiþ hym to þenke Þat god is grettest helpe & no gom ellis And he is seruaunt alwey he seiþ & of his sute boþe And wheþer he be or not be he beriþ þe signe of pouert And in þat sekte oure sauiour sauide al man-kynde For-þi al pore þat pacient is of pur ri&yogh;t may claymen Aftir here endynge here heuene-riche blisse Muche hardere may he aske þat here mi&yogh;te haue his wille In lond & in lordsshipe in lykynge of bodye And for godis loue leuiþ al & leuiþ as a beggere As a maide for manis loue hire modir forsoke Hire fadir & alle hire frendis & goþ forþ wiþ hire paramoure Muche is suche a maide to loue of man þat such on takiþ More þanne þat maiden is þat is maried be brocage As be assent of sondry personis & siluer to bote More for coueitise of catel þanne kynde loue of mariage So it fariþ be iche a persone þat possessioun forsakiþ And putte hym to be pacient & pouerte weddiþ . Þe whiche is sib to crist hym-selfe and semblable boþe Quaþ actif þo al angriliche and arguynge as it were What is pouerte pacience quaþ he I prei&yogh;e þe þat þou telle it Paupertas quaþ pacience ; actiua vita ; I can not construe al þis quaþ Remocio curarum ; Shulde sette pouert þe soþe to declare Or as Iustice to iugge men me enioyneþ þer-to no pore Ne to be mair ouer men ne mynestre vndir kynge Selde is any pore yput to punisshe any peple Nolite iudicare quemquam possessio sine calumpnia Selde is þe pore ri&yogh;t riche but of his ri&yogh;tful eritage Wynneþ he not with wyttes false ne with vnselide mesuris Ne borewiþ of nei&yogh;ebour ; but þat he may wel paye . And me leniþ li&yogh;tly fewe men and me wene hym pore . Þe ferþe it is a fortune þat florisshiþ þe soule . Wiþ sobirte from alle synnes and also &yogh;et more It defendiþ þe flessh from folies ful manye A coletral counfort cristis owene sonde Sanitas mater ; Þe sixte it is a paþ of pees þe þoru þe paies of aueltone Pouerte mi&yogh;te passe wiþoute peril of robbynge For þere as pouert passiþ pes folewiþ comunly And euere þe lasse þat on lede þe li&yogh;tere his herte is þere As he þat not nere with whom on ni&yogh;tes tyme to mete Seneca Negocium sine dampno ; Ne neiþe it is swet to soulis is no sugre swettere For pacience is panter & pouert payn he fyndiþ And sobirte &yogh;iueþ hire swet drynke & solaciþ hire in alle angris Þus leride me a leride man for oure lordis loue seint austyn Þat pure pouert & pacience was a lou&yogh; lyuynge on erþe A blisside life wiþoute besynesse but onliche for þe soule Solitudine felicitas ; Now god þat al gyueþ graunte his soule reste Þat wrot þus to wyse men what pouert was to mene Þanne hadde actife a ledere þat hi&yogh;te liberum arbitrium And prei&yogh;ede pacience þat I appose hym lamste And he suffride me & seide assay his oþer name Leue Where-of serue &yogh;e I seide ; sire liberum arbitrium And whiles I am quyke in þe cors I am cald animus ich hatte And for þat I can & knowe I cald am in manis þou&yogh;t And whanne þat I make mone to god Raccio my ri&yogh;te name resoun on Englissh And whanne I fele þat folke telliþ my ferste name is liberum arbitrium as lettrid men me calliþ And whanne I loue lelly oure lord & alle oþere Þanne is lele loue myn name & in latyn spiritus þanne I hote Austyn & ysedre eiþerer of hem boþe Nempnide me þus to name now mi&yogh;te þou chese How þou coueitest to calle me now þou knowist alle my names Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur ; Dum viuificat corpus anima est Dum vult animus est dum recolit memoria est Dum iudicat racio est dum sentit sensus est Dum amat amor est Dum declinat de malo ad bonum liberum arbitrium est ; Dum ne- gat vel consentit consiencia est ; dum spirat spiritus est ; &YOGH;e beþ as a bisshop quaþ I al lourynge þat tyme For bisshopis yblissid þei beriþ many names pontifex & Episcopus & I wolde I kneu&yogh; & kouþe kyndeliche in myn herte Þanne art þou inparfit quaþ he & on of prides kni&yogh;tes For suche a lust & a lykynge lucifer fel from heuene Ponam pedem in aquilone ; It were a&yogh;ens kynde quaþ he & alle kyn resoun Þat any creatour shulde conne al except crist one A&yogh;ens suche salamon spekiþ & dispisiþ here wittes And seiþ Beatus seiþ seint Bernard Sciencie appetitus hominem in-mortalitatis gloria spoliauit And ri&yogh;t as hony is euel to defie Ri&yogh;t so litel science swelliþ a mannis soule And doþ hem to be deynous & deyn þat beþ not lerid Non plus sape seide þe wise Ne sitis acceptores persona ; Lo wiþ holy writ witnessiþ of wykkide techeris As holynesse & honeste out of holy chirche Springeþ & sprediþ & enspiriþ þe peple Þoru&yogh; presthod & prelatis of holy chirche Ri&yogh;t so out of holy chirche al yuel sprediþ Þere in presthod is precheris & techeris And se it be ensaumple in somer tyme on tres Þere summe bowes bern leuis & summe bern none Þe bowis þat beriþ not & ben not grene yleuid Þere is a meschef in þe more of suche maner stokkis Ri&yogh;t so personis & prestis & prechours of holy chirche Is þe rote of þe ri&yogh;te faiþ to reule þe peple But þere þe rote is roten resoun wot þe soþe Shal neuere flour ne fruyt waxe ne fair lef be grene For wolde &yogh;e lettride leue þe leccherie of cloþinge And be curteis & kynde of holy kirke godis Parte with þe pore & &yogh;oure pride leue And þerto trewe of &yogh;our tunge & of &yogh;our tail also And haten harlotrie & to vndirfonge þe tides Of vsureris of horis of alle euile wynnynges Loþ were lewid but þei &yogh;our lore folewid And amendit of here mysdedis more for &yogh;our ensaumplis Þanne for to preche & preue it nou&yogh;t ypocrisie it semiþ Ipocrisie is a braunche of pride & most amonges clerkis And is yliknid in latyn to a loþly dunge hep Þat were besnewid al wiþ snou&yogh; & snakis with-inne Or to a wal whit-lymed & were blak with-inne Ri&yogh;t so many prestis prechours & prelatis Þat ben enblaunchid with bele parolis & with bele cloþis And as lambes þei loken & lyuen as wolues Iohannes crissostomus ; carpiþ þus of clerkis ; Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur ; Sic de templo omne malum procedit ; Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit tota floret ecclesia Si autem corupta fuerit omnium fides marcida est ; Si sacerdos fuerit in peccato totus populus conuertitur ad peccandum sicut cum vi- deris arborem pallidam & mar intelligis quod vicium habet in radice ; Ita cum videris populum indissiplinatum & irreligiosum sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum ; Allas lewide men muche lese &yogh;e þat fynde Vnconnynge curatours to be keperis of &yogh;our soulis But þinge þat wykkidly is wonnen & with false slei&yogh;tes Wolde neuere oþer-wise god but wykkide men it hadde As in parfit prestis & prechours aftir siluer Sekatours & southdenis sompnours & here lemmanis And þat wiþ gile was gete vngraciously myspende Curatours of holy chirche & clerkis þat ben auerous Li&yogh;tliche þat þei leue loselis it deuouren Leuiþ it wel lordis boþe lerid & lewid Þat þus goþ here good is at þe laste ende Þat lyuen a&yogh;en holy lore & þe loue of charite Charite quaþ I þo þat is a þinge forsoþe Þat maistris comende muche where may it be founde I haue lyued in lundoun many longe &yogh;eris And fond I neuere in feiþ as Freris it prechiþ Charite þei charge not ne chit þei&yogh; me greue hym As poule in his pistil of hym beriþ witnesse Non in-flatur non est ambiciosa ; I kneu&yogh; neuere be crist clerke noþer lewid Þat he ne askide aftir his & oþer-whiles coueitide Þinge þat nedite hym nou&yogh;t & nyme it &yogh;if he mi&yogh;te For þei&yogh; men sou&yogh;ten alle þe sektis of sustren & breþeren And fynde hym but furatif a ferly me þinkeþ . Nisi officiamini sicut & paruuli As proud of a peny as of a pound of gold And as glad of a goune of a gray russet As of a cote of camaka or of a clene skarlet He is glad wiþ alle glade as girles þat lau&yogh;en alle And sory whanne he seþ men sory as þou sest children Lau&yogh;e þere men lau&yogh;e þamp loure þere oþere louren And whanne a man sweriþ forsoþe ; forsoþe he it trowiþ Weniþ he þat no wi&yogh; wolde lei&yogh;e & swere Ne þat any gom wolde gile oþer ne greue . For dred of god þat so good is & þus-gatis vs techis Quodcumque vult vt faciant vobis homines facite eis Haþ no lykynge to lau&yogh;e ne to lyke men to scorne Alle seknessis & sorewis for solas he it takiþ And alle maner of meschiefs as mynstracies of heuene Of deþ ne of derþe drad was he neuere Ne myslikid þei&yogh; he lore & lenide þat ilke Þat neuere paiede peny a&yogh;en in places þere he borewide Who fynt hym his foode quaþ I or what frendis haþ he Rentis or ricchessis to releue hym at nede Of rentis ne ricchessis ne recchiþ he neuere A frend he haþ þat fynt hym þat failide hym neuere Domine-aperis-tu-manum -& ; alþinge hym fyndiþ . ; Credo in deum patrem And portreye wel þe pater-noster & peynte it with aues And oþer-while his wone is to wende on pilgrimages Þere pore men & prisonis ben & paye for here fode . Cloþiþ hem & counfortiþ hem & of crist prechiþ hem What sorewis he suffride in ensaumple of vs alle Þat pouerte & penaunce pacientliche taken . Worþ muche meryt to þat man þat it may suffre And whanne he haþ þus visitid feterid folke & oþer folk pore Þanne &yogh;erniþ he in-to &yogh;ouþe & &yogh;epliche he sechiþ Pride wiþ alle þe appertenaunces & pakkiþ hem togideris And lauiþ hem in þe launderie ; Lauabis me & super niuem dealbabor And þanne synneþ he whan he doþ se & sum tyme wepynge Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies Were I wiþ hym be crist quaþ I wolde I neuere from hym Þei&yogh; I my bileue shulde begge aboute at men hacchis Wheþer clerkis knowe hym nou&yogh;t quaþ I þat kepen holy chirche Piers þe plou&yogh;man quaþ he most parfitliche hym knowiþ Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum ; Be cloþinge ne be carpynge knowe shalt þou hym neuere . But þoru&yogh; werkis þou mi&yogh;t wyte where forþ he walkiþ . Operibus credite &c ; He is þe meryest of mouþ at mete þere he sittiþ And compaynable in compaynie as crist him-self techiþ Nolite tristes fieri ; sicut ypocrise ; I haue sei&yogh;e hym my-selfe sum tyme in russet Boþe in gray & in gris & in gilt harneis And also gladliche he it gafe to gomes þat it nedite Edmund & Edward aiþer were seyntes And chef charite with hem & chast al here life I haue sei&yogh;e charite also syngen & rede Riden & rennen in raggide cloþis But biddynge as a beggere beheld I hym neuere But in riche robis raþest he walkiþ Cald & ycrumlid & his croune shaue And in a fair frokke he was yfounde ones But it fer & fele &yogh;er in Fraunceis tyme In þat sekte siþþe to selde he haþ befounde Riche men he recomaundiþ & of here robis takiþ Of þo þat lelliche lyuen & louen & beleuen Beatus est diues sine macula In kinge court he comiþ &yogh;if his counseil be trewe But &yogh;ife coueitise be of his counseil he wile not come þer-inne Amonge þe comunes in court he comiþ but selde . For braulynge & bakbitynge & berynge of fals witnesse In constorie be-fore þe Comissarie he comiþ not ful ofte . For ouerlonge is here lawe but &yogh;if þei lacche siluer . Wiþ bisshopis he wolde be for beggeris sake But auarice oþer-whiles halt hym wiþoute þe gate Kinges & cardinalis kneu&yogh; him sum tyme But þoru&yogh; coueitise & his counseil cunged is he ofte And who-so coueitiþ to knowe hym such a kynde hym folewiþ As I tolde þe wiþ tunge a litel tyme ypassid For neiþer he ne beggiþ ne biddiþ ne borewiþ to &yogh;elde He halt it for a vice & a foule shame To begge or to borewe ; but of god one ; Panem nostrum co Passus septimus de dowel ; & explicit ; There is non such I seide þat sum tyme ne borewiþ Oþer beggiþ oþer biddiþ be he riche oþer pore And &yogh;et oþer-while wroþ wiþouten any synne Who is wroþ & wolde be awreke holy writ preuiþ quaþ he He passiþ chiefe charite &yogh;if holy chirche be trewe Caritas omnia suffert ; Holy writ witnessiþ þere were such herimites Solitarie be hem-selfe in here sellis lyuede Wiþoute borewynge or beggynge but of god one Except þat Egide a hynde oþer-while To his selle selde com & suffride be mylkid Ellis foulis fedde hym in friþþes þere þei wonide Boþe antony & arseny & oþere ful manye Paule egipciaca eet in þritty wynter But þre litel loues & loue was hire soul I can nou&yogh;t rekne hem ri&yogh;t now ne reherse here names Þat lyueden þus for oure lordis loue many longe &yogh;eris Wiþoute borewynge or beggynge or þe book lei&yogh;eþ And woniden in wildernessis amonge wilde bestis But durste no beste bite hem be day ne be ni&yogh;t But myldeliche whan þei metten maden lou&yogh; chere . And faire beforn þe men faunide wiþ þe tailles . But bestis brou&yogh;te hem no mete but only þe foulis . In to-kennynge þat trewe man alle tyme shulde Fynde honest men & holy & oþer ri&yogh;tful peple For wolde neuere faiþful god þat Freris & monkis toke Liflode of luþer wynnynges in al here life tyme As wytnessiþ holy writ what tobie seide to his wife Whanne he was blynd as a betil he herde a lamb blete Wyfe be war quaþ he what haue we here-inne . Lord leue quaþ þe lede þat no stole þinge be here-inne Videte ne furtum sit ; & alibi ; Melius est mori quam male viuere This is no more to mene ; but men of holy chirche Shulde resceyue ri&yogh;t nou&yogh;t but þat ri&yogh;t wolde And reffusse reuerences and rauenours offringes Þanne wolde lordis & ladies be loþ to agilt And to take of here tenauntis more þan treuþe wolde And marchauntis merciable wolde be & men of lawe boþe Wolde religious refuse rauenours offringes Þanne grace shulde growe &yogh;et & grene loue wexe And charite þat child is now shulde chaunce of hem-selue And counforten alle cristene wolde holy kirke amende Iob þe parfit patriarke þis prouerbe wrot & tau&yogh;te . And make men loue mesur þat munkes ben & Freris . Numquam dicit Iob rugiet onager cum habuerit herbam aut mugiet bos cum ante plenum presepe steterit brutorum anima- lium natura te condempnat quia cum pabulum comune sufficiat ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua ; &YOGH;if lewide men kneu&yogh; þis latyn a litel þei wolde auyse hem Er þei amorteisid any more for monke or for chanoun Allas lordis & ladies lewid counseil haue &yogh;e To feffe suche & fede þat foundid ben to þe fulle Be þat &yogh;oure barnes & &yogh;oure blood be good lawe may cleyme For god bad his blissid childir as þe book techiþ Honora patrem & matrem &c ; To helpe þi fadir formest ; before Freris or monkis Or prestis or pardoners or any peple ellis Help þi kyn crist bit for þere begynneþ charite Lo laurence for his largenesse as holy lawe telliþ Þat his mede & his manhed for euere more shal laste Iusticia eius manet in eternum ; He gaf godis men godis goodis & not to grete lordis And fedde þat a-fyngrit were & in defaute lyuede I dar not carpe of clerkis now þat cristis tresour kepe Þat pore peple be pur ri&yogh;t here part mute aske Of þat þat holy chirche of þe olde lawe cleymeþ Prestis on a-parail & on purnel now spenden Men may now likne lettrid men to lusshebourue or wers And to a badde peny wiþ a good printe Of muche mone þat is mad þe metal is nau&yogh;t And &yogh;et þe printe is pur trewe & profitablliche ygraue And so it fariþ be false cristene here folewynge is trewe Cristendom of holy chirche þe kynges marke of heuene But þe metal þat is many soule of many of þis techeris Is a-layed with leccherie & oþere lustis of synne Þat god coueiteþ nou&yogh;t þe coyn þat crist hym-selfe printide And for þe synne of þe soule forsakiþ his owene coyn Þus arn þe liþere yliknid to lusshobouruis starlynge Þat faire before folke prechen & techen And werchiþ not as þei fynde ywrite & wisse þe peple For what þoru&yogh; werre & wrake & wykkide heuedis May no preyer þes make in no place it semiþ Lewide men han no beleue so lettride men erren Noþer see ne sond ne þe sed &yogh;eldiþ As þei&yogh; I-wont were in whom is defaute Not in god þat he nis good & þe ground boþe And þe see & þe seed þe sonne & þe mone Don here deuer day & ni&yogh;t dede we so alse Þere shulde be plente & pes perpetuel euere Wondir-wyse shipmen now & oþer witty peple Haue no beleue to þe lift ne to þe lode sterris Astrimyanes al-day in here art faillen Þat whilom warnide men before what shulde befalle aftir Shipmen & shipherdis be þe shene sterris Wysten wel & tolde whanne it shulde reyne Tilieris þat tilide þe erþe tolden here maistris Be þe seed þat þei sewe what þei selle mi&yogh;te And what lyue by & leue þe lond was so trewe Now failiþ þis folke boþe fouleris & shipmen Neiþer þei knowe ne comiþ o cours be a-noþer Astrymyanis also arn at here wyttes ende Of þat was cakelid of þe clemat þe contrarie þei fynde Gramer þe ground of al begiliþ now þe children For is þer non who-so nymeþ hed can versifie faire or formaly endite Ne þat can construe kyndely þat poetis made Go we now to any degre & but gile be holde a maister And flaterere for his vssher a ferly me þinkeþ Doctours of degre of dyuynyte maistris Þat shulde þe seuene ars conne & assoile a quodlibet . But þei faile in þe philosophie & philisophris lyuede Lord leue þat þise prestis lelly seyn here masse . Þat þei ouerhippe not for hastite as I hope þei do not Þei&yogh; it suffise to oure sauacioun soþfast beleue As clerkis in sola fides sufficit to saue with lewid peple But &yogh;if prestis don here deuer wel we shuln do þe betere For sarisynes may be sauid so &yogh;if þei so beleue In þe lettynge of here lif to leue on holy chirche What is holy chirche dere frend quaþ I charite he seide Leue & loue & leaute in o beleue of lawe A loue knot of leaute & of lele beleue Alle kyne cristene cleuynge on o wil Wiþoute gile & gabbynge gyue & selle lene & loue Lawe wiþoute leaute allowable was it neuere God leriþ no life to loue wiþoute lele cause Iewis & ientil sarisines iuggen hem-seluen Þat lelliche þei beleue and &yogh;et here lawe diuersiþ And o god þat al began with good herte þei honouriþ And eiþer louiþ & beleuiþ in o lord almi&yogh;ty . But oure lord louiþ no loue but lawe be þe cause For lecchours louen a&yogh;ens þe lawe & at þe laste ben dampnid And þeuis louen & leute haten & at þe laste ben hangid And lele men as lawe techiþ and loue þerof arisiþ . Þe whiche is þe heuid of charite & hele of manis soule Dilige deum propter deum id est propter veritutem & inimicum tuum propter mandatum id est propter legem & amicum propter amorem id est propter caritatem Loue god for he is good & ground of alle treuþe Loue þin enemy entierliche godis hest to fulfille Loue þi frend þat folewiþ þi wil þat is þi faire soule For whanne alle frendis faillen & fle awey in doynge Þe sewiþ þe soule to sorewe or to ioye And ay hopiþ for to be wiþ hire body at þe laste In merþe or in mornynge & neuere eft to departe And þat is charite leue child to be cher ouer þi soule Contrarie hire nou&yogh;t as in consience &yogh;if þou wilt come in heuene Wheþer sarisines I seide se not what is charite It may be so þat sarisines han suche a maner charite Louen as be lawe of kynde oure lord god almi&yogh;ty It is kyndely þinge euery creatour his creatour to honoure For þere nis no man þat mynde haþ þat ne mekiþ him & besechiþ To þat lord þat hym lif lente & liflode hym sente . But many maner men þere ben as sarisines & Iewis . Leuiþ not on oure lord ari&yogh;t as be þe legende And lyuen out of lele beleue for þei leuen on a mene As man þat hi&yogh;te macumeþ for messie þei hym holdiþ And aftir his lerynge þei lyue & be lawe of kynde And whan kynde haþ his cours & no contrarie fyndiþ Þanne is lawe yleft & leute vnknowe Beaute sauiþ bounte blissid was it neuere No kynde sauiþ curteisie in no cuntre is preisid Men fynt wel þat macumeth was a man ycristnid And a cardinal of court a gret clerke wiþ-alle And pursuide to haue ben pope prince of holy chirche But for he was lyk a lusshebourue I leue oure lord him lette For-þi sou&yogh;te he in-to surrie & sotilide how he mi&yogh;te Be maister ouer al þo men & in þis maner he wrou&yogh;te He endauntide a douu & day ni&yogh;t hire fedde In eiþer of his eris priuiliche he hadde Corn þat culuer et whanne he com in places And in what place he prechide & þe peple tau&yogh;te Þanne shulde þe culuir come to þe clerkis ere Menynge as aftir mete þus macumeth hire enchauntide And whanne þe culuir cam þus þanne knelide þe peple For macumeth to men swar it was a messanger of heuene And soþliche god him-selfe in suche a culuer likniþ Tolde him & tau&yogh;te him how to teche þe peple Þus macumeth in mysbeleue man & womman brou&yogh;te And on his lore þei leue &yogh;et as wel lerid as lewid And siþþe oure sauiour suffride suche a fals cristene Disceyue so þe sarisines sotily me þinkeþ Holy men as I hope þoru&yogh; helpe of þe holy gost Shulde conuerte hem to crist & cristendom to take Allas þat men so longe on macumeth beleuid So many prelatis to preche as þe pope makiþ Of nazareþ of nynyue of neptalym of damaske Þat þei ne wente in world as holy writ bit Ite in vniuersum mundum ; Siþen &yogh;e wilne þe name of prelate & preche þe passioun of iese And as hym-self seide so lyue & di&yogh;e Absit vobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri iesu cristi . And þo was pees & plente amongis pore & riche . And now is reuþe to rede how þe rede noble Is resceyuid before þe rode & reuerensid for þe worþiere To amende & to make as men of holy chirche Þanne cristis cros þat ouercam deþ & dedly synne And now is werre & wo & who-so why askiþ . For coueitise aftir a cros þe coroune standiþ in gold Boþe riche & religious þat rode þei honouren Þat in grotis is graue & in gold noblis For coueitise of þat crois clerkis of holy chirche Shuln ouerturne as þe templeris dede þe tyme approchiþ faste Mynewe &yogh;e not lettrid men how þo men honouride More tresour þanne treuþe ; I dar not telle þe soþe How þe curside cristene catel & ricchesse worsshipide Resoun & ri&yogh;tful dom þe religious dampnide Ri&yogh;t so þe clerkis þoru&yogh; coueitise er come ou&yogh;t longe Shal come dampne Deposuit potentes de sede &c ; &YOGH;if kni&yogh;thod & kynde wyt & þe come & consience togideris Loueden lelliche leuiþ it wel bisshopis Þe lordsshipe of londis lese &yogh;e shal for euere And lyuen as Per prouincias & decimas &c ; Whanne costantyn of his curteisie holy kirke dowide Wiþ londis & ledis lordsshipes & rentis . An aungel men herde an hei&yogh; at rome crie Michi vindicatam &c ; Hise preyeris wiþ his pacience to pes shulde bringe Alle londis in-to loue & þat in litel while Þe pope with alle prestis Hadde al surrie as him-self wolde & sarisines in quyet Nou&yogh;t þoru&yogh; manslau&yogh;tere & manis strengþe macumeth hadde þe maistrie But þoru&yogh; pacience priuy gile he was prince ouer hem alle In suche a maner me þinkeþ muste þe pope Boþe prelatis & prestis preye & beseke Deuoutliche day & ni&yogh;t wiþdrawe hem fro synne And crie to crist he wolde his culuer sende Þe whiche is þe hei&yogh;e holy gost þat out of heuene discendit To make a perpetuel pees betwyn þe prince of heuene And alle maner of men þat on his molde libbiþ &YOGH;if presthod were parfit & prei&yogh;ede þus þe peple shulde amende Þat contrarie þus cristis lawis & cristendom dispisen For siþþe þat þise sarisines trib&yogh; & þise Iewis Han a lippe of oure beleue þe li&yogh;tlokere me þinkeþ Þei shulde who-so trauaille wolde & of þe trinite teche hem For alle paynynes preyeþ & parfitliche beleuiþ In þe grete god of heuene & his grace asken . And make here mone to macumeth here message to shewe Þus in faiþ lyueþ þat folke & in fals mene And þat is reuþe for þat ri&yogh;tful men þat in reaum woniþ . And a peril for prelatis þat þe pope makiþ Þat beriþ þe name of neptalym of nynyue & of damaske For whanne þe hei&yogh;e kinge of heuene sente his sone to erþe Many miraclis he wrou&yogh;te man for to turne In ensaumple þat men shulde se be sad resoun Þat men mi&yogh;te not be sauid but þoru&yogh; mercy & grace And þoru&yogh; penaunce & passioun & parfit beleue And become man of a maide & Nolite mittere falscem in messem alienam &c ; Many man for cristis loue were martirid amonge romaynes Er cristendom were knowe þere or any cros honourid Euerich bisshop be þe lawe shulde buxumliche walke And pacientliche þoru&yogh; his prouince & to þe peple him shewe Fenden hem & fullen hem & fere hem fro synne In baculi sit forma presul hec tibi norma For trahe ; punge gregem seruando per omnia legem And enchaunten hem to charite on holy chirche to beleue For as þe kynde is of a kni&yogh;t or of þe kinge to betake And amonges here enemys in mortail batailles To be kild or ouercome þe comun to defende So is þe kynde of curatours for cristis loue to preche And dei&yogh;e for his dere children to destroye dedly synne Bonus pastor &c ; And nameliche þere þat lewiden lyuen & no lawe no knowen But we cristene come to lawe & han of oure tunge Bisshopis & bokis þe beleue to techen Iewis lyuen in þe lawe þat oure lord tau&yogh;te . Moises þe maister þer-of til þat messie come And on þe lawe þei lyuen & leten it for þe beste And &yogh;et knewe þei crist þat cristendom tau&yogh;te And for a parfit profit þat muche peple sauide And of selcouþ soris sauide men ful ofte Be þe miraclis þat he made messie he semide Þo he lifte vp lazar þat leid was in graue seudo-propheta And þat is lore was lesinges & lakken it alle And hope þat he be to come þat shal hem releue Moises or macumeth or maistris diuiniþ And han a suspecioun to be saufe boþe sarisines & Iewis Þoru&yogh; moises & macumeth & mi&yogh;t of god þat made al And seiþ þat þise sarisines & also þise Iewis Conne þe furste clause of oure beleue ; et in iesum christum filium eius Til þei couþe speke & spelle remissicionem peccatorum Passus primus de dobet ; LEue liberum arbitrium & ladde me forþ wiþ talis Til we comen in-to a cuntre ; cor hominis it hi&yogh;te Herber of alle priuytes & of holynesse Euene in þe myddis an ympe as it were Þat hi&yogh;te caritas ycald cristis owene foode And solaciþ alle soulis sorweful in purgatorie Now certis I seide & sikide for ioye . I þonke &yogh;ow a þousand siþe þat &yogh;e me hidir kende And siþen þat &yogh;e vouche sauf to sey me as it hotiþ And he þonkide me þo but þanne toke I hed I hadde shorieris to shyue it vp þre shidis of o lengþe And of o kyn colour & kynde as me þou&yogh;te Alle þre yliche longe & ylich large Muche merueilide me on what more þei growide And askide eft of hym of what wode þei were Þise þre shorieris quaþ he þat beriþ vp þis plante Betokniþ trewely þe trinite of heuene Þre personis indepartable perpetuel were euere Of o wil & of o wyt & here-wiþ I kepe Þe fruyt of þis faire tre fro þre wykkide wyndis And fro fallynge þe stok it failliþ not of his mi&yogh;t Þe world is a wykkide wynd to hem þat wolde treuþe Coueitise comiþ of þat wynd & potencia dei patris Þanne is þe flessh a fel wynd & in flowynge tyme Þoru&yogh; leccherie & lustis so loude he gynneþ blowe Þat it norisshiþ nise shi&yogh;teus & sum tyme wordis And many wykkide wormes werkis of synne And al forhitte ; sapiencia dei patris Þe whiche is þe passioun & þe penaunce & þe parfitnesse Þere-wiþ I warde it oþer-while til it wex ripe And þanne fondiþ þe fend my fruyt to distroye And lei&yogh;e a laddere þerto of lesinges be þe rongis And wiþ alle þe wiles þat he can waggiþ þe rote Þoru&yogh; bakbiteris & brawleris and þoru&yogh; bolde chideris And shakiþ it &yogh;if it nere vndirshorid it shulde not stonde So þise lurdeynes liþereþ þer-to þat alle þe leuis fallen And fecchiþ awey þe fruyt sum tyme before boþe myn ei&yogh;en And þanne falle I doun þe pouk with þe þridde shoriere Þe whiche is actiua life lettrid men in here langage it callen &YOGH;e sire I seide & siþen þere arn but tweye lyues Þat oure lord allowiþ as lewide men vs techiþ Actiua vita & contemplatiua vita Why grouiþ þe firmet in þre degres a good skile he seide Here beneþe I may nyme &yogh;if I nede hadde Matrimoyne a moyst fruyt þat multiplieþ þe peple . And þanne abouen is betere fruyt but boþe two be goode . Wydewehod more worþiere is þanne wedlake as in heuene Þanne virginite is most vertuous & fairest is in heuene For þat is euene wiþ aungelis & aungelis pere It was þe ferste fruyt þat þe fadir of heuene blisside And bad it be in a bat of erþe in a man & in a maide In þe menynge þat þe faireste þinge þe furste þinge shulde honoure And þe clenneste creatour furst creatour knowe In kynges court & kni&yogh;tes þe clenneste & faireste Shuln suffre for þe lord hym-selfe & so fariþ god almi&yogh;ty Maidenes & martiris mynestride him here on erþe And he hei&yogh; in heuene is priuyest & next hym be resoun And for þe faireste fruyt before hym as for of erþe And swet wiþoute swellynge sour worþ it neuere Þis is a propre plante quaþ I & priuyliche it blowiþ . And bringeþ forþ fruyt folke of alle nacioun Boþe parfit & inparfit pur fayn I wolde Assaye what sauour it hadde & seide þat tyme Leue in lymbo inferni Þere is derknesse & dred & þe deuil maister Þanne meuide hym mood libera voluntas dei lau&yogh;te þe myddel shoriere And hitte aftir þe fend happe how it mi&yogh;te spiritus sanctus To go ransake þat rageman & reue him of his applis Þat þoru&yogh; fals behest & fruyt ferst man disceyuede And þanne spak plenitudo temporis ; tyme ycome were Þat elde felde eft þe fruyt or fel to be ripe Þat Iese shulde iuste þerfore & be in iuggement of armes Who shulde fette þis fruyt þe fend or iese seluen Þe maide myldeliche þe messanger grauntide And seide hendely to hym lo me his hand maide For to werchen his wil wiþoute any synne Ecce ancilla domini &c And in þe wombe of þat wenche was he fourty woukis And be-com a man of þat maide mankynde to saue Bigge & biddinge & bold in his barnhod To haue yfou&yogh;te with þe fend er ful tyme come But plenitudo temporis ; hei&yogh; tyme aprochide Þat suche a surgien siþen ysei&yogh;e was þere neuere Ne non so faiþful fisician for al þat besou&yogh;te hym He lechide hem of here langour boþe lazeris & blynde Quadrianus cold ded quyk dede him rome But er he made þat miracle Demonium habens ; Þanne is sathan &yogh;our sauiour quaþ iese & haþ ysauid &yogh;ow ofte But I sauide &yogh;ow sundry tymes & also I fedde &yogh;ow Wiþ fyue fisshes & loues fyue þousand at ones And I lefte basketis ful of broke mete bere a-wey who-so wolde Vnkynde & vnconnyngee quaþ crist & with a rop smot hym And ouerturnide in þe temple here tablis & here stallis And drof hem out alle þat þere bou&yogh;te or solde And seide þis is an hous of orisonis & holynesse And whanne þat my wille is I wolde it ouerþrowe And er þre dayes aftir edifie it newe Þe Iewis tolde þe iustice how þat Iese seide But þe ouerturnynge of þe temple betoknide his resureccioun Enuye & euile wil orne in þe Iewis And pursuide hym priuyly & for panis him bou&yogh;te Ne forte tumultus fieret in populo ; Of Iudas þe Iew Iese owene disciple Þis befel on a friday a litel before paske Þat Iudas & Iewis Iese þei mette . Ve homini illi per quem scandalum venit Siþþe I be tresoun am take & to &yogh;oure wille Iewis Suffriþ my postlis in pais & in pees gange Þus Iewis to þe Iustices Iese þei ladde Wiþ muche noise þat ni&yogh;t ner Frentyk I awakid In wyt and in alle wyttes aftir solus deus he hotiþ Siþen þei ben surlepis quaþ I þei han sundry names Þat is soþ seide he þanne þe sire hatiþ filius Þe þridde is þat halt al a þinge be hym-seluen Holy gost is his name & he is in alle Þis is merk þinge for me quaþ I & for many a-noþer . How a lord mi&yogh;te leue o þre I leue it nou&yogh;t I seide Muse not þer-on to muche quaþ faiþ til þou more knowe But leue it lely al þi lif tyme Þre belongiþ to a lord þat leggeaunce cleymeþ Mi&yogh;t & a mene to se his owene mi&yogh;t Of hym-self & seruaunt & what suffriþ hem boþe God þat gynnynge hadde nere but þo him good þou&yogh;te Sente forþ his sone as for seruaunt þat tyme To occupie hym here til issue were spronge Þe whiche arn children of charite & holy chirche þe modir Patriarkes & prophetes & postlis wern þe children And crist & cristendom & alle cristene holy chirche Betokniþ þe trinite and trewe beleue . O god almi&yogh;ty þat man made & wrou&yogh;te Semblable to hym-selfe er any synne were As þre he is þere he is & þerof beriþ wytnesse Þe werkis þat hym-self wrou&yogh;te & þe world boþe Celi enarrant gloriam dei &c ; Þat he is þre personis departable I preue it be mankynde And o god almi&yogh;ty &yogh;ife alle men ben of adam Eue & adam was out of hym ydrawe And abel of hem boþe & alle þre o kynde And þise þre þat I carpe of adam & Eue And abel here issue arn but on in manhod Matrimoyne wiþoute muliere is not muche to preise As þe bible beriþ wytnesse a bok of þe olde lawe Þat acurside alle couplis þat no kynde forþ brou&yogh;te simile as Eue Was whanne god wolde out ofe þe wi&yogh; drawe As abel of adam & of his wife eue Spronge forþ & spake a spire ofe hem tweyne So out of þe sire & þe sone þe seint spirit of hem boþe Is & ay was & worþ wiþouten ende And as þre personis palpablis is priuiliche but o man-kynde Þe whiche is man & his make & moilere is issue So is god godis sone in þre personis þe trinite In matrimoyne arn þre & of o man cam alle þre And to godhed goþ þre & god is alle þre Lo treis acountre treis quaþ he in godhed & in manhed Hast þou soþe þis y said alle þre & o god In a somer I hym sei&yogh; quaþ he I sat in my poche Where god cam gangynge of þre ri&yogh;t be my gate Tres vidit & vnum adorauit ; I ros vp & reuerensid god & ri&yogh;t faire hym grette Wysshen here fet & wypide hem and aftir-ward þei eten And what I þou&yogh;te & what my wyf þou&yogh;te he vs wile telle He behi&yogh;te vs issue & heir in oure old age But trewe toknis betwyn vs is whanne tyme comiþ þat I mete hym How he foundite ferst my faire sone ysake . To make sacrifise of hym he het me hym to honoure . I wiþsat not his hest I hope & I beleue Where I walke in þis world he wile it me allowe I circumsiside my sone also for his sake My-selfe & my meyne & þat male were Bledde blood for þat lordis loue ; I hope to blisse þat tyme Myn affiaunce & myn feiþ is ferme in his beleue For hym-selfe seide I shulde haue I & myn issue boþe Lond & lordsshipe ynou&yogh; & life wiþouten ende To me & myn issue more he me behi&yogh;te Mercy for oure mysdedis also many tymes As we wilne & wolde with mouþ & with herte aske And siþþe he sette me to sayn & seide þat I shulde Worsshipe hym wiþ wyn & with bred boþe But ones on an auter in worsshipe of þe trinite And make sacrifise so sum-what it betokniþ I leue þat ilke lord þinkeþ a new lawe to make Fiet vnum ouile & vnus pastor ; Þus haue I ben his heraud here & in helle And counfortide many a carful þere þat aftir his connynge loken For-þi I seke hym he seide ; For seint Iohann þe baptist Seide þat he sei&yogh; hir þat shulde saue vs alle Ecce agnus dei &c ; Þanne hadde I wondir of his wordis & of his wyde cloþis For in his bosum he bar þinge and þat he blisside ofte And I lokide in his lappe a lazar lay þere-inne Wiþ patriarkes & prophetis plei&yogh;eden togideris What awaitest þou quaþ feiþ & what wost þou haue I wolde wyte quaþ I þo ; what is in þi lappe Lo quaþ he & let me se lord mercy I seide Þis is a present of muche pris what prince shal it haue It is a precious present quaþ he but þe pouke it haþ ytachid And me þer-wiþ quaþ þat wi&yogh; may no wed vs quyte Ne no burn be oure boru&yogh; ne bringe vs out of daunger . Fro þe poukis pounfold no maynprise may vs fecche Til he come þat I carpe of crist is his name Þat shal delyuere vs sum day out of þe deuelis power And betere wed for vs wagen þanne we ben alle worþi And þat is life for life or ligge þus euere Lollynge in my lappe þus til suche a lord vs fecche Allas I seide þat synne so longe shal lette Þe mi&yogh;t of godis mercy þat mi&yogh;te vs alle amende And wepte for hise wordis with þat sau&yogh; I a-noþer . Rapeliche þanne þe ri&yogh;te wey we wente And fraynide hym furst fro whenis he come What he hi&yogh;te & whider he wolde & wi&yogh;tly he vs tolde Passus secundus de dobet ; I am Dilige deum & proximum tuum &c ; Þis was þe tixt trewely I toke ful good &yogh;eme Þe glose was gloriousliche write with a gilt penne In hijs duobus pependit tota lex ; Is here al þi lordis lettris quaþ I &yogh;a leue me he seide And who-so werchiþ aftir þis writ I wile vndirtake Shal neuere deuil hym dere ne deþ in his soule greue For þei&yogh; I sei&yogh;e it my-selfe I haue founde it trewe Lo here in my lappe quaþ feiþ þat leuide vpon þat lettre Boþe Iosue & Iudiþ & Iudas macabeus And sixe þousand mo quaþ feiþ I can not sei&yogh;e here names &YOGH;oure wordis arn ful wondirful quaþ I wheþer any of &yogh;ow be trewe And leles to beleue on for life & for soule Abraham seiþ þat he sau&yogh; holy þe trinite Þre personis parsel-mel departable from oþer . And alle þre but o god þus abraham beriþ wytnesse And haþ sauid þat beleuid so & sory for here synnes He can no certayn somme telle & summe arn in his lappe What nedite it þanne a newe lawe to bringe Siþþe þe firste suffisid so be-leue & be sauid And now comiþ þis And siþþe to loue and to lene for þat lordis sake Alle maner of men as muche as oure-seluen And for to loue & leue in o lord almi&yogh;ty It is li&yogh;t for lewid & for lerid boþe But forto beleue in o lord þat lyueþ in þre personis And leuiþ þat we loue shulde as wel li&yogh;eris as lele Go þi gate quaþ I to pes so me god helpe . Þo þat lerniþ þi lawe wel litel while it vsen And as we wenten in þe way þus wordynge of þis mater Þanne sei&yogh;e we a samaritan com sittynge on a mule Ridande ful rapely þe ri&yogh;te wei&yogh;e we &yogh;eden Comande from a cuntre þat men callen Ierico To iuste at Ierusalem he iaside awey ful faste Boþe abraham & spes & he metten at ones In a wilde wildernesse where þeuis had ybounde A man as me þo þou&yogh;te to muche care þei brou&yogh;te For he ne mi&yogh;te steppe ne stande noþer foot ne hand Ne helpe hym-selfe soþly for semyvif he semide . And as nakid as an nelde & non helpe aboute hym Faiþ ferst had on him si&yogh;t but he flei&yogh; a-side And nolde not nei&yogh;e hym be neyne londis lengþe Hope cam hippynge aftir þat hadde so ybostid How he wiþ moises maundement had many man holpe But whanne he had si&yogh;t of þis seke asid he gan him drawe And dredfulliche wiþ-drou&yogh; him þo & durste go no ner hym But so sone so þe samaritan hadde si&yogh;te of þis carful He li&yogh;te anon of lyard & ledde hym in his hondis And to þis wi&yogh; he wente hise woundis to beholde And perceyuide be hise puffis he was in peril to dei&yogh;e And but &yogh;if he hadde recouere raþere rise shulde he neuere And vnbokelide hise botelis & boþe he gan atame Wiþ wyn & with oyle his wounde he gan liþe Enbaumid hym & bond his hed & on bayard hym sette And ledde hym forþ to lauacrum lex dei a graunge Is sixe myle or seuene beside þe newe market . And lefte hym þere a lechynge to lyue &yogh;if he mi&yogh;te And tok to panys þe hostiller to take kep to hym . And þat more goþ for his medicine I make þe good a&yogh;enward For I may not lette quaþ þat lede & lyard he bestridiþ And rapide hym to ride þe ri&yogh;te wei&yogh;e to Ierusalem Boþe feiþ & his felawe spes folewide faste aftir But I sewide þe samaritan ; and seide how þei boþe Wern a-ferd & flowe from þe man ywoundit Haue hem ascusid quaþ þe samaritan here helpe may not auaile Ne no medicine vndir molde þe man to hele bringe Noþer feiþ ne fyn hope so fostrid arn hise woundis Wiþoute þe blod of a barn he beþ not ysauid Þe whiche barn mote nedis be born of a maiden And with þe blood of þat barn enbaumid & baptisid And þei&yogh; he stonde & steppe ri&yogh;t stronge worþ he neuere Til he haue eten al þat barn & his blood drunken And &yogh;et be plastrid with pacience whanne foundynges hem prikeþ For wente neuere man þis wey þat he nas here riflid Saue my-selfe soþly & such as I louede And &yogh;et but þei leue lelly vpon þat litel babe Þat his lykam shal lechen at þe laste vs alle A sire I seide shal not we beleue As feiþ and his felawe spes enfourmide me boþe In þre personis a parcellis departable from oþer And alle þre but o god þus abraham me tau&yogh;te And hope aftirward of god more me tolde And leride me for his loue to loue al man-kynde And hym abouen alle and hem as my-seluen Neþer lak ne los ne leue þat þere were Any wikkidere in world þanne I were my-selfe And most inparfit of alle persones & pacientliche suffre Alle maner of men and þei&yogh; I me mi&yogh;te venge I shulde þole & þanke hem þat me euil wolde He seide soþ quaþ þe samaritan and so I rede þe also And as abraham þe olde of o god þe tau&yogh;te Loke þou loue & bileue al þi lif tyme And &yogh;ife kynde wyt carpe here agayn or any kyn þou&yogh;tis Or heretikis wiþ argumentis þin hond þat þou hem shewe For god þat al began in gynnynge of þe world Ferde first as a fist and &yogh;et is as I leue Mundum pugillo continens ; As wiþ o fist with a fynger yfolde togidere Til hym likide & list to vnlose þat fynger And profride it forþ as wiþ þe paum to what place it shulde Þe paum is þe pip of o hond and profriþ forþ þe fynger To ministre & to make þat mi&yogh;t of hond knowiþ And betokniþ trewely telle who-so lykeþ Þe holy gost of heuene he is as þe paume Þe fyngris þat fre ben to folde & to clucche Betokniþ soþly þe sone þat sent was to erþe Touchide & techide at tastynge of þe paume Seint marie a maide & mankynde lau&yogh;te Natus est ex maria virgine ; Þe fadir is þanne as þe first with fynger & with paum To hide & to holde as holy writ telliþ Omnia traham ad me ipsum ; And þat þe fynger gropiþ he gripiþ but &yogh;if it greue þe paum Þus arn þei alle but on as it an hond were A fist with a fynger & a ful paume And as þe fist is a ful hond yfolde togideris So is þe fadir a ful god þe firste of hem alle As my fest is ferst er I my fyngris shewe And he fadir & fourmetour þe firste of alle þinges Tu saluator omnium ; And al þe ni&yogh;t with hym is & was & worþ euere Þe fyngris is a ful hond For failide þei here thoumbe Portreye ne peynte parfitly I leue Shulde no wi&yogh;t werche were þei aweye Ri&yogh;t so faillide þe sone þe sire be ne mi&yogh;te Ne holde ne helpe ne hente þat he louide Dextre dei tu digitus ; The paum is purliche þe hand & haþ power be hym-selue Oþere-wise þanne þei write fist oþer werkmansshipe of fyngris For þe paum haþ power to putte out þe ioyntes And to vnfolde þe fist for hym it be-longiþ And resceyue þat þe fyngir rechiþ & refuse &yogh;if him likiþ Alle þat þe fynger & fist feliþ & touchiþ . But he be greuid wiþ here grip þe holy gost let falle And þus is þe holy gost god noþer grettere ne lassere Þanne is þe sire or þe sone & of þe same mi&yogh;t And alle þre is but o god as myn hon & my fyngris Vnfolden or folden as fest wise or ellis . Al is it but on hond how-so I turne it But who is hurt in þe hond euene in þe myddis He may resceyue ri&yogh;t nou&yogh;t resoun it shewiþ For þe fyngris þat folde shulde & þe fist make For þe peyne of þe paum power hym failliþ To cluche or to clawe to clippe or to holde Were þe myddel of myn hond wiþoute malese In many kyn maner I mi&yogh;te my-self helpe Boþe meue & amende þei&yogh; alle my fyngris oke Be þis similitude he seide I se an euidence Þat who-so synneþ in þe seint espirit assoilid worþ he neuere Neiþer here ne ellis-where as I herde telle . Qui peccat in spiritu sancto ; &c ; For he prikeþ god as in his paum þat peccat in spiritum sanctum For god þe fadir is as þe fist ; þe sone as þe fynger Þe holy gost of heuene he is as þe paume So who-so synneþ a&yogh;ens þe seint espirit it semiþ þat he greuiþ God þere he gripiþ & wolde his grace quenche For to a torche or a tapir þe trinite is lyknid As wax & weke wern twynnyd togideris And fostren forþ a flaume & a fair lei&yogh;e Þat seruiþ þise swynkeris to se by a ni&yogh;tes So doþ þe sire & þe sone & þe seint spirit togidere Fostren forþ amonges folke fyn loue & bileue Þat alle kyne cristene clensene of synnes And as þou sest sum tyme sodeynly of a torche Þe blase ben yblowen out &yogh;et brenneþ þe weke Wiþoute lowe oþer li&yogh;t liþ fuyr in þe macche So is þe holy gost god & grace wiþouten mercy To alle vnkynde creaturis þat coueiten to distroye Leel lykam & life þat oure lord shepte And as glowande gledis gladiþ nou&yogh;t þis werkmen Þat wirchen & walken in wyntris ni&yogh;tes As doþ a kix or a candele þat cau&yogh;t haþ feer & blasiþ Ne more doþ þe sire ne þe sone ne þe seint spirit togidere Graunten any grace ne forgyuenesse of synne Til þat þe holy gost begynne to glowe & to blase So þat þe holy gost glowiþ but as a glede . Til þat þe loue & þe leue lelliche to him blowe And þanne flaumeþ he as fuyr on fadir & on filius And meltiþ mi&yogh;t in-to mercy as we may sen a wynter Isikelis in euesinges þoru&yogh; hete of þe sonne . Meltiþ in a mynte-while to myst & to watir . So grace of þe holy gost þe grete mi&yogh;t of þe trinite Meltiþ al to mercy to merciable & to non oþere And as wax wiþoute more vpon a warm glede Wiln brennen & blasen be þei togideris And solace þat mowe not se sittynge in derknesse So wile þe fadir for&yogh;iue folke ofe mylde hertis Þat rewfulliche repenten & restitucioun make In as muche as þei mowen amenden & payen And &yogh;if it suffise not for asseþ þat in such a wil dei&yogh;eþ Mercy for his meknesse wile make good þe remenaunt . And as þe weke & warm fuyr wile make a fair flaume For to merþe men wiþ þat in merke sitten . So wile crist of his curteisie and men crie hym mercy Boþe for&yogh;iue & for&yogh;ete & &yogh;et bidde for vs To þe fadir of heuene for&yogh;iuenesse to haue But hewe fuyr at a flynt foure hundrit wynter But þou haue tassh to take it with tundir or brochis Al þi labour is lost & al þi longe trauaille For may no fair flaum make faile it his kynde So is þe holy gost god & grace wiþoute mercy To alle vnkynde creaturis as crist him-selfe witnessiþ Amen dico vobis ; nescio &c ; Be vnkynde to þin euene cristene and alle þat þou canst bidde Dele & do penaunce day & ni&yogh;t euere ; And purchace al þe pardoun of pampilioun & of rome And indulgensis ynowe & be ingratis to þi kynde Þe holy gost heriþ þe not ne helpiþ þe be þou certayn For vnkyndenesse quenchiþ him þei&yogh; he can not shyne Ne brenne ne blase cler for bowynge of vnkyndenesse Poule þe appostil preueþ wheper I lei&yogh;e Si linguis hominum loquor ; For-þi beþ war &yogh;e wise men þat with þe world deliþ Þat riche ben & resoun knowiþ rewele wel &yogh;oure soule Beþ not vnkynde I counseile &yogh;ow to &yogh;our euene cristene For many of &yogh;ow riche men be my soule I lei&yogh;e not &YOGH;e brenneþ but &yogh;e blase nou&yogh;t & þat is a blynd bekne Non omnis qui dicit domine ; domine intrabit in regno celorum Mene &yogh;e not riche men to whiche a myschaunce Þat diues di&yogh;ede & dampnid was for his vnkyndenesse Of his mete & his mone to men þat it nedite &YOGH;et wan he nou&yogh;t with wronge ne wiþ queynte slei&yogh;tes But ri&yogh;tfulliche as men rat alle his ricchesse com hym And on hym-self seiþ þe boke sotilide how he mi&yogh;te Most lordliche life and &yogh;et on his lykam were Cloþis ofe most cost as clerkes beriþ wytnesse Epulabatur splendide & induebatur bisso ; And for he was a nygard & a nythynge to þe nedful pore For godis traitour he is told for al his trewe catel And dampnid & dwelliþ wiþ þe deuil in helle And siþen he wiþoute wiles wan & wel mi&yogh;te ateme Lordliche for to lyue & lykyngliche be cloþid And is in helle for al þat who wile riche nouþe Excuse hem þat ben vnkynde and &yogh;et here catel wan with wiles And wiþ leþere wittes & &yogh;et wile not ateme To go semeliche ne sitte siþþe holy writ techiþ Þat wykkidliche is wonne to wasten it & make frendis Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis ; Iche a riche I rede reward here-of take And &yogh;iueþ &yogh;oure good to þat god þat grace of ariseþ . For þo þat ben vnkynde to his hope &yogh;e non oþer But &yogh;if þei dwelle þere diues is day wiþouten ende Þus is vnkyndenesse kid & quenchid as it were Þe grace of þe holy gost godis owene kynde For þat kynde doþ vnkynde for-doþ . As þise curside þeuis vnkynde cristene men for coueitise & enuye Sleþ a man for his meblis with mouþ & with handis For þat þe holy gost haþ to kepe þe harlotis distroyeþ Þe whiche is lif & loue þe lei&yogh;e of manis body For euery maner good man may be liknid to a torche Or ellis to a tapir to reuerence wiþ þe trinite And who-so murþreþ a good man me þinkeþ be Inwyt He so doþ þe li&yogh;t þat oure lord lokiþ to haue worsshipe of And &yogh;et in mo maners men offenden þe holy gost But þis is þe werste wise þat any wi&yogh;t mi&yogh;te Synnen a&yogh;en þe seint spirit assente to distroyen For coueitise of any kyn þinge þat crist dere bou&yogh;te How mi&yogh;te he aske mercy or any mercy hym defende Þat wykkidly & wilfully wolde mercy aniente Innocence is next god & ni&yogh;t & day he crieþ Veniaunce veniaunce for&yogh;iue be it neuere Þat shente vs & shedde oure blood Forshepte vs as it semide Vindica sanguinem iustorum Þus veniaunce veniaunce verray charite askiþ And siþþe charite þat holy chirche is charieþ þis so sore Leue I nere þat oure lord at þe laste ende Wile loue þat lif þat loue & lele charite distroyen I pose I hadde synned so quaþ I & shulde now dei&yogh;e And now am I sory þat I so þe seint spirit agilt Confesse me & crie his grace god þat al made And myldely his mercy aske er mi&yogh;te I not be sauid &YOGH;is seide þe samaritan so þou mi&yogh;test repente Þat ri&yogh;twisnesse þoru&yogh; repentaunce to reuþe mi&yogh;te turne But is but selde sene þere soþnesse beriþ witnesse Any creatour be coupable before a kinges iustise Be yraunsonid for his repentaunce þere al resoun him dampniþ Þere þat partie pursueþ þe appel is so houge Þat may no kinge mercy graunte til boþe men accorde Þat euery partie haue equyte as holy writ witnessiþ Numquam dimittitur peccatum ; Þus it fariþ be such folke þat folewen here owene wille Þat euele lyuen & lette nou&yogh;t til hem forsake synne Dred of disparisioun þenne dryueþ grace Þat mercy in here mende may not þanne falle . For good hope þat helpe þanne shulde to wan-hope þer turniþ And not of þe newe power of god þat he nis ful ofe mi&yogh;t To amende al þat amys is & his mercy grettere Þanne alle oure wykkide werkis as holy writ telliþ Et misericordia eius super omnia opera eius ; But er his ri&yogh;twisnesse to reuþe turne restitucioun it make As sorewe of herte is satisfaccioun for suche þat may not paye But þre þinges þere ben þat don a man sterte Out of his owene hous as holy writ shewiþ Þat is a wykkide wif þat wile not be chastied Hire fer fleþ hire fro for fer of hire tunge And &yogh;if his hous be vnheld & reyne on his bed He sekiþ & sekiþ til he slepe dri&yogh;e But whan smoke & smoldir smyt in his ei&yogh;e It doþ hym werse þanne his wyf or wet for to slepe Þoru&yogh; smoke & smoldir smertiþ his si&yogh;t Til he be blerei&yogh;ed or blynd & þe burre in his þrote Cou&yogh;iþ & cursiþ þat crist &yogh;iue hym sorewe Þat shulde bringe in betere wode or blowen it til it brente Þise þre þat I telle of þus ben to vndirstonde Þe wif is oure wykkid flessh wile not be chastid For kynde cleuiþ on him euere to contrarie þe soule And þei&yogh; he falle he fynt skiles þat frelete it made And þat is li&yogh;tly for&yogh;iue & for&yogh;ete boþe To man þat mercy askiþ & amende þinkiþ Þe rayn þat reyneþ þere we reste shulde Ben seknesses & oþere sorewes þat we suffren ofte As poule þe apostil in his pistlis techiþ Virtus infirmitate perficitur ; And þei&yogh; þat men make muche doel in here angir And be in pacience & in penaunce pur resoun knowiþ Þat þei han cause to contrarien be kynde of here seknesse And li&yogh;tliche oure lord at here lyues ende Haþ mercy on suche men þat euele may suffren But þe smoke & þe smoldir þat smyt in oure ei&yogh;es Þat is coueitise & vnkyndenesse whiche quenchiþ godis mercy For vnkyndenesse is þe contrarie of alle kynes resoun For þere ne is seeke ne sory ne non so muche wrecche Þat he ne may loue & hym like & lene of his herte Good wil good woord boþe wisshe & wilne Alle maner of men mercy & for&yogh;iuenesse And loue hem ylike hym-selfe þat is lyue & amende I may no lengere lette quaþ he & lyard he prikide And wente awey as wynd & þerwiþ I waknide Passus tertius de dobet ; Wollewerd & wet-shod wente I forþ aftir As a reccheles renk þat recchiþ nou&yogh;t of sorewe And &yogh;ede forþ ylike a lorellis al my lif tyme Til I wex wery of þe world & wilnide eft slepe And lenide me to lenten & longe tyme I slepte Of gurlis & of gloria laus gretly me dremide And how Osanna be orgene olde folke sungen On semblable to þe samaritan & sumdel to piers þe plou&yogh;man Barfot on an asse bake boteles com prike Wiþoute sporis or spere sprakliche he lokide As is þe kynde of a kni&yogh;t þat comeþ to be dubbit To geten here gilte sporis & galochis ycoupid And þanne was feiþ in a Fenestre & criede o fili dauid As doþ an heroude of armes whanne auntrous comiþ to iustes Olde Iewis of Ierusalem for ioye þei songe Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini ; Þanne I freynide at faiþ what al þat fare bemente And who shulde iuste in Ierusalem iese he seide And fette þat þe fend cleymeþ piers fruyt þe plou&yogh;man Is piers in þis place quaþ I & he preynte on me Liberum dei arbitrium ; For leue haþ vndirtake Þat is iese of his ientrie shal iuste in piers armes In his helm & in his habirioun humana natura Þat crist be not yknowe consummatum deus In piers platis þe plou&yogh;man þis prikere shal ride For no dynt shal him dere as in deitate patris Who shal iuste wiþ iese quaþ I iewis or scribis Nay quaþ feiþ but þe fend & fals dom to dei&yogh;e Deþ seiþ he wile fordo & adoun bringe Alle þat lyueþ or lokiþ o lond or o watir Lif seiþ þat he lieþ & haþ leid his lif to wedde Þat for al þat deþ can do wiþinne þre daies to walke And fecche fro þe fend piers fruyt þe plou&yogh;man And legge it þere hym lykiþ & lucifer bynde And for-bite adoun & bringe bale deþ for euere O mors tua ero morsus ; Þanne com pilatus with muche peple sedens pro tribunali To se how dou&yogh;tiliche deþ shulde do and demen here boþis ri&yogh;t Þe Iewis & þe Iustice a&yogh;ens Iese þei were And al þe court criede crucifige loude Þanne putte hym forþ a pilour before pilatis & seide Þis iese of oure Iewens temple iapide & dispiside To fordon it in a day & in þre daies aftir Edifie it eft newe here he stont þat seide it . And &yogh;et maken it as muche in alle maner poyntes Boþe as longe & as large on lofte & on ground And as wyd as it euere was þis we wytnessid alle Crucifige quaþ a cacchepol he can of wychecraft Tolle tolle quaþ a-noþer & toke of kene þornes And began of grene þorn a garlond to make And sette it sore in his heuid & siþþe seide in enuye Aue raby quaþ þat ribaud & rede shette vp to his ei&yogh;es And nailide hym with þre nailis nakid vpon a rode And with a pole poisoun putte vp to his lippes And beden him drinke his deþ to lette & hise daies lengþe And seide &yogh;if he sotile be hym-selfe now he wile helpe And craftily &yogh;if þou be crist & crist godis sone Come adoun of þe rode and þanne shal we leue Þat life þe louiþ & wile not lete þe dei&yogh;e Consummatum est quaþ crist & cumside for to swone Pitousliche & pale as a prisoun þat dei&yogh;eþ Þe lord of lif & of li&yogh;t þo leide his ei&yogh;es togideris Þe day for dred þerof wiþdrou&yogh; & derke began þe sonne Þe wal of þe temple to-clefe euene in-to pecis Þe harde roche al to-rofe & ri&yogh;t derke ni&yogh;t it semide Þe erþe to-qua&yogh;te & quoke as it quyk were And dede men for þat dene come out of depe graues And tolde why þat tempest so longe tyme duride For a bittir bataille þe dede bodies seide Life & deþ & þis derknesse here on fordoþ þat oþer But shal no wy wyte witterly who shal haue þe maistry Er a sonneday aboute þe sonne risinge & sanke with þat to þe erþe Sum seide he was godis sone þat so faire dei&yogh;ede Vere filius dei erat iste ; And summe seide he can sorcerie good is þat we assaie Wheþer he be ded oþer nou&yogh;t ded doun er he be taken Two þeuis þo þolide deþ þat tyme Vpon crois beside crist so was þe comoun lawe A cacchepol com & crakide a-two here leggis And here armis aftir of euerich of þo þeuis But was no body so bold godis body to touche For he was kni&yogh;t & kinges sone kynde for&yogh;af þat tyme Þat hadde no boy hardynesse hym to touche in dei&yogh;enge But þere com forþ a blynd kni&yogh;t wiþ a kene spere ygrounde Hi&yogh;te longeus as þe lettre telliþ & longe hadde lorn his si&yogh;t Before pilatis & oþere peple in þe place he houide Maugre his many teþ he was mad þat tyme For to iuste wiþ iese þis blynde kni&yogh;t longeus For alle were þei vnhardy þat houide oþer stode To touche hym or to trien hym or to take him doun But þis blynde bacheler þat bar him þoru&yogh; þe herte Þe blood spronge doun be þe spere & vnsperide þe kni&yogh;tes ei&yogh;es Þo fel þe kni&yogh;t vpon his knes & criede iesu mercy A&yogh;en my wil it is quaþ he þat I &yogh;ow wounde made And si&yogh;ede & seide sore it me forþinkeþ Of þe dede I haue ydo I do me in &yogh;our grace Boþe my lond & my lykam at &yogh;our lykynge takiþ it And haue mercy on me ri&yogh;tful Iese & ri&yogh;t with þat he wepte Þanne gan feiþ fouly þe false Iewis to dispise Calde hem caitife acursid for euere for þis was a vil vilenye Veniaunce is to &yogh;ow falle þat made þe blynde Bete þe dede þat &yogh;e dede it was bois dede Curside caitifs kni&yogh;thod was it neuere To bete a body ybounde with any bri&yogh;t wepne Þe gre &yogh;et haþ he geten for alle hise grete woundis For &yogh;oure chaumpioun chiualer chiefe kni&yogh;t of &yogh;ow alle &YOGH;elt hym recreaunt rennynge ri&yogh;t at iese wille For be þis derknesse ydo deþ worþ yvenquyst And þe lordeynes haue lost ; For lif shal haue þe maistrie And &yogh;oure Fraunchise þat fre was yfallen is in þraldam And alle &yogh;oure children cherlis cheue shuln þei neuere Ne haue lordsshipe in lond ne no lond tilye And as barayn be & be vsur libbe Þe whiche is þe life þat oure lord in alle lawes defendiþ Now be &yogh;oure goode daies ydon ; as daniel of &yogh;ow telliþ Whanne crist þoru&yogh; crois ouercam &yogh;oure kingdom shulde to-cleue Dum veniat sanctus sanctorum cessat vnctio vestra ; What fel fer of þis ferly & of þe false Iewis I wiþ-drou&yogh; in þat derknesse to descendit ad inferna And þere I sei&yogh; soþly secundum scripturas Out of þe west as me þou&yogh;te a wenche as it were Com walkynge in þe way to helleward heo lokide Mercy hi&yogh;te þat maiden a mylde þinge with-alle And a ful beynde burde & buxum of speche Hire sustir as it semide com softely walkynge Euene out of þe west & westward she þou&yogh;te . A comely creature . treuthe was her name . For þe vertue þat hire folewide a-ferd was he neuere . Whanne þise maidenis mette mercy & treuþe Eiþer askide oþer of þis grete wondir Of þe dene & þe derknesse & how þe day rowide And whiche a li&yogh;t and a lem lay beforn helle . I haue ferly of þis fare in feiþ seide treuþe And am wendynge to wyte what þis wondir meniþ Haue no merueille þerof quaþ mercy merthe it be-tokniþ A maide þat hattiþ marie & modir wiþoute vilenye Of any kynde of creatour conseyued þoru&yogh; speche And þoru&yogh; grace of þe holy gost wex grete wiþ childe Wiþoute wommanis wem in-to þis world brou&yogh;te hym And þat my tale is trewe I take god to wytnesse Siþen þis barn was born ben þritty wynter passid Dei&yogh;ede & deþ þolide þis day aboute mydday And þat is þe cause of þis clips þat ouercloside now þe sonne In menynge þat men shuln fro merknesse be ydrawe Þe while þis li&yogh;t & þis lowe shal lucifer ablende For patriarkes & prophetis han prechide here-of ofte Þat was tynt þoru&yogh; tre tre shal it wynne And þat deþ doun brou&yogh;te deþ shal releue Þat þou tellist quaþ treuþe is but a tale of walterot For adam & Eue & abraham wiþ oþere Patriarkes & prophetis þat in payn yn liggen Leue it were þat þou list hem o loft bringe Ne haue hem out of helle holde þi tunge mercy It is but trifle þou tellist I trewely wot þe soþe Þat þinge þat ones is in helle out comiþ it neuere Iob þe profit patriarke repreuiþ þi sawes Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio Þanne mercy ful myldely mouþide þise wordis Þoru&yogh; experience quaþ he I hope þei shal be sauid For venym fordoþ venym þere fecche I euidence Þat adam & Eue haue shuln bote For of al Fretande venym þe vileste is þe scorpioun May no medicine amende þe place þere he styngeþ Til he ded ydo þerto & þanne he distroyeþ Þe feste venymeste þoru&yogh; vertue of him-seluen And so shal þis deþ for-do I dar my lif legge Al þe deþ & þe deuil dede formest to Eue And ri&yogh;t as þe gilour þoru&yogh; gile begilide man formest So shal grace þat began al make a good ende And begile þe gilere & þat is a good slei&yogh;te Ars ut artem falleret ; Now suffre we seide treuþe I se as me þinkeþ Out of þe nyþe of þe norþ nou&yogh;t ful fer hennis Ri&yogh;twisnesse com rennynge reste we þere-while . For he wot more þanne we he was er we boþe . Þat is soþ seide mercy & se here be souþe . Where comiþ pes pleynande in pacience ycloþid Loue hadde coueitid hire longe leue I non oþer But loue haue sent hire sum lettre what þis li&yogh;t bemeniþ Þat ouerhouiþ helle þus he vs shal telle Whanne pes in pacience ycloþid aprochiþ here eiþerer Ri&yogh;twisnesse reuerensid pes in here riche cloþinge And preyede peas to tellen hire to what place she wolde And hire gaye garnemente whom she glade þou&yogh;te My wil is to wende quaþ pes & welcome hem alle Þat many day mi&yogh;te not se for merknesse of synne Adam & Eue & oþere mo in helle Moises & many mo mercy shal synge And I shal daunce þere-to do þou so sister For iese iustide wel ioye begynneþ to dawe Ad vesperum demorabitur Fletus ad matutinum leticia Loue þat is my lemman suche lettres heo me sente Þat mercy my sustir & I mankynde shal saue And þat god haþ forgyuen & grauntid to al mankynde Mercy my sustir & me to meynprisen hem alle And crist haþ conuertid þe kynde of ri&yogh;twisnesse In-to pes & pite of his pur grace Lo here þe patent quaþ pes in pace in idipsum And þat þis dede shal dure dormiam & requiescam Rauest þou quaþ ri&yogh;twisnesse or þou art ri&yogh;t drunken Leuist þou þat &yogh;one li&yogh;t vnlouke mi&yogh;te helle And saue manis soule sustir wene it neuere At þe begynnynge of þe world god gaf þe dom him-selue Þat adam & Eue & al his issue Shulde dei&yogh;e doun ri&yogh;t & dwelle in peyne euere &YOGH;if þat þei touchide þat tre & of þat fruyt eten Adam aftirward a&yogh;ens his defence Fret of þat fruyt & forsok as it were Þe loue of oure lord & his lore boþe And folewide þat þe fend tau&yogh;te & his flesshis wille A&yogh;ens resoun & ri&yogh;twisnesse recorde þis wiþ treuþe Þat here peyne is perpetuel no preyer may hem helpe Forþi let hem chewe as þei chosen & chide we not sustris For it is boteles bale þe bite þat þei eten And I shal preye quaþ pes here peyne mote han ende And þat here wo in-to wele mote wende at þe laste For hadde þei wist of no wo wele hadde þei not knowe For no wi&yogh;t wot what wele is þat neuere wo suffride And what is hot hunger þat hadde neuere defaute Who couþe kyndeliche wiþ colour discrie &YOGH;if al þe world were whit or swan-whit alle þinges &YOGH;if ne mi&yogh;te ne were no man I leue Shulde wyte wittirly what day is to mene Ne hadde god ysuffrid of sum oþer þanne hym-selue Hadde he nou&yogh;t wist witterly wheþer deþ is sour oþer swet For shulde neuere ri&yogh;t riche man þat lyueþ in reste & hele I wyte what wo is ne were deþ of kynde So god þat began al of his goode wille Becam man of a maide mankynde to saue And suffride to be sold to se þe sorewe of deyenge Þe whiche vnknettiþ alle care & cumsynge of his reste For til moryn mette with vs I may it wel auowe Ne wot no wi&yogh;t as I wene what is ynowe to mene For-þi god of his goodnesse þe ferste gom adam Sette hym in solace furst & in souereyn merþe And siþþe he suffride hym to synne sorewe to fele To wyte what wele was þere þoru&yogh; kyndenesse to knowe And aftir god auntride hym-selfe & tok adammis kynde To wyte what he haþ suffrid in þre sundry places Boþe in heuene & in erþe & now to helle he þinkeþ To wite what al wo is þat wot of alle ioye Omnia probate quod bonum est tenete ; So it shal fare be þis folk here foly & here synne Shal lere hem what loue is & lisse wiþouten ende For wot no wi&yogh;t what werre is þere as pes regniþ Ne what is witterliche wele til weilawey hym teche Þanne was þere a wi&yogh;t with two brode ei&yogh;es Bok hi&yogh;te þat beau-pere a bold man of speche Be godis body quaþ þis boke I wile bere wytnesse Þo þis barn was bore þere blasid a sterre Þat alle þe wi&yogh;es of þe world in o wyt accordit Þat suche a barn was bore in bethlem þe cite Þat manis soule shulde saue & synne destroye And alle þe elementis quaþ þe bok here-of beriþ witnesse Þat he was god þat al wrou&yogh;te þe welkne ferst shewide Þo þat wern in helle token stella comata And tenden it as a torche to reuerensen his birþe Þe li&yogh;t folewide þe lord in-to þe lou&yogh; erþe . Þe watir witnessiþ þat he was god for he wente on him dri&yogh;e Petir þe apostil perceyuide his gate And as he wente on þe watir wel him kneu&yogh; & seide Domine iube me venire ad te ; And loke how þe sonne gan louke here li&yogh;t in hire-selfe Whanne he sei&yogh; hym suffre þat sonne & se made Lo þe erþe for heuynesse þat he wolde suffre Quakide as a quyke þinge and al to-quasshide þe rochis Lo helle mi&yogh;te not holde but openide þo god þolide . And let out symondis sonis to sen hym hange on rode Non visurum se mortem ; And now shal lucifer leue it þei&yogh; him loþ þinke For iese as a geaunt with a gyn comiþ &yogh;ond To breke and to bete adoun alle þo ben a&yogh;ens him And to haue out of helle alle þo hym likeþ And &yogh;et I boke wile be brent but he arise to lyue And counforte al his kyn & al out of care bringe And alle þe Iewyne ioye vnioynen & vnlouken And but þei reuerence þis resureccioun & þe rode honure And beleue on a newe lawe be ylost life & soule Suffre we seide treuþe I here & se boþe A spirit spekiþ to helle & bit vnspere þe &yogh;atis Attolite portas &c ; A vois loude in þat li&yogh;t to lucifer seide Princes of þis place prest vndo þis gatis For here he comiþ with croune þe kinge of alle glorie Þanne si&yogh;ede sathan & seide to helle Suche a li&yogh;t a&yogh;ens oure leue lazar it fette Care & cumbraunce is comen to vs alle &YOGH;if þis kinge come in mankynde wole he fecche And lede &yogh;et þat lazar is & li&yogh;tliche me bynde Patriarkes & prophetis han parlid here-of longe Þat suche a lord & a li&yogh;t shal lede hem alle hennis But arys vp ragamuffyn & areche me alle þe barris Þat belial þi bele-sire bent wiþ þi damme And I shal lette þis lord & his li&yogh;t stoppe Er we þoru&yogh; bri&yogh;tnesse be blent go barre þe &yogh;atis Cheke we & cheyne we & iche a chyn stoppe Þat no li&yogh;t lepe in at louer ne at loupe Astrot hote out & haue out oure knauis Coltynge & al his kyn þe care to saue Brymston boylande brennande out caste it Al hot on here hedis þat entriþ nei&yogh; þe wallis Sette bowes of brake & brasene gonnes And shette out shote ynou&yogh; his sheltrom to blende Sette mahoun at þe magnail & myllestones þrowiþ And crokes & calketrappis & cloye we hem ychone Lestniþ quaþ lucifer for I þis lord knowe Boþe þis lord & þis li&yogh;t is longe go I kneu&yogh; hym May no deþ þis lord dere ne no deuelis queyntise And we wile wissen his way but ware hym of þe perelis &YOGH;if he reuiþ me of my ri&yogh;t he robbiþ me of his maistry For be ri&yogh;t & be resoun þe renkis þat ben here Body & soule be myne boþe good & ille For him-self seide it þat sire is of heuene Þat adam & Eue & al his issue Shulde dei&yogh;e wiþ doel & here dwelle euere &YOGH;if þat þei touchide þat tre & tok þerof any applis Þus þis lord of li&yogh;t suche a lawe made And siþþe he is so lele a lord I leue þat he wile not Reuen vs of oure ri&yogh;t siþen resoun hym dampnide And siþen we han be cessid seue þousand wynter And neuere was þere agayn & now wolde begynne Þanne were he vnwraist of his word þat witnesse is of treuþe Þat is soþ seide sathan but I me fore-doute For þou gete hem wiþ gile & his gardyn breke A&yogh;en his loue & his leue on his lond &yogh;edist Nou&yogh;t in fourme of a fend but in fourme of a naddere And entisidest Eue to ete be hire one Ve soli & behi&yogh;test hire & him aftir to knowe As two goodis be god boþe good & euil Þus with tresoun & treccherie þou troiledist hem boþe And dedist hem breke here buxumnesse þoru&yogh; false behestis And so haddist hem out & hidir at þe laste It is nou&yogh;t greiþliche ygete þere gile is þe rote For god wile not be begilid quaþ gobelyn ne beiapid We haue no trewe title to hem for tresoun it makiþ For-þi I drede me quaþ þe deuil lest treuþe wile hem fecche And as þou gilist godis ymage in in goynge as a naddere So haþ god begilid vs alle in goynge of o weye For god haþ go be gobelyn in a gomes liknesse Þis þritty wynter as I wene and wente aboute & prechide I haue assailid him with synne & sum tyme yaskid Wheþer he were god oþer godis sone þei&yogh; &yogh;eue me short answere Þus haþ he troilid forþ as a tidy man þis two & þritty wynter And whanne I sau&yogh; it was so I sotilide how I mi&yogh;te Lette hem þat louide him nou&yogh;t lest þei hym wolde martire I wolde haue lengþid his life for I leuide &yogh;if he di&yogh;ede Þat &yogh;if his soule hidir come it shulde sshende vs alle For þe body þe whiles it on bones &yogh;ede aboute was it euere To lere to be lel & iche man to loue oþer Þe whiche lif & lawe be it longe yvsid It shal vndo vs deuelis & doun bringe vs alle And now I se where his soule comiþ silynge hiderwardis Wiþ glorie & with gret li&yogh;t good it is I wot wel I rede we fle quaþ þe fend faste alle hennis For vs were betere not be þanne abide in his si&yogh;t For þi lesinges lucifer we loste ferst oure ioye And out of heuene hidir þi pride made vs falle For he leuide on þi lesinges þere loste we oure blisse And now for a lattere lesinge þat þou lowe til Eue We han lost oure lordsshipe o lond & in helle Nunc princeps huius mundi ; alleluia He sei&yogh; þat sathan misseide þus foule Lucifer for his lesinges leue I non oþer But oure lord at þe laste li&yogh;eris here rebuke And wyte hem alle from wrecchidnesse þat wrou&yogh;t is here on erþe Beþ war &yogh;e wise clerkis & &yogh;e witty of lawe Þat &yogh;e be-lei&yogh;e nou&yogh;t þis lewid men for at þe laste dauid Witnessiþ in his writynge what is li&yogh;eris mede . Odisti omnes qui operantur iniquitatem & perdes omnes qui loquntur mendacium A litel þat ouerlepe for lesinges sake Þat I ne segge nou&yogh;t as I sei&yogh; sewynge my teme For eft þat li&yogh;t bad vnlouke & lucifer answeride What lord art þou quaþ lucifer a vois a-loud seide Þe lord of mi&yogh;t & of mayn þat made alle þinges Dukis of þis dym place anon vndoþ þis &yogh;atis Þat crist may come in þe kinges sone of heuene And with þat breþ helle brake wiþ alle belialis barris For any weye or warde wyde opene þe &yogh;atis Patriarkes & prophetis populus in tenebris Sungen with seint Iohann ; Ecce agnus dei Lucifer loke ne mi&yogh;te ; so li&yogh;t hym ablente And þo þat oure lord louide with þat li&yogh;t folewide Lo me here quaþ oure lord life & soule boþe For alle synful soules to saue oure boþis ri&yogh;t Myne þei were & of me I may þe betere hem cleyme Al-þei&yogh; resoun recorde & ri&yogh;t of my-selue Þat &yogh;if þei ete þe appil alle shuln þei dei&yogh;e I behi&yogh;te hem nou&yogh;t here helle for euere For þe dedly synne þat þei dede þi disceit it made Wiþ gile þou hem gete ageyn alle resoun For in my paleis paradis in persone of a naddere Falsly fettest þere þat me befel to loke Beglosidist hem & begilidist hem & my gardyn breke A&yogh;ens my loue & my leue þe olde lawe techiþ Þat gilouris be begilid & in here gile falle And who-so hit out a manis ei&yogh;e oþer ellis his foreteþ Or any maner membre maym oþer hertiþ . Þe same sor shal he haue þat any so smyteþ . Dentem pro dente oculum pro oculo ; So life shal lif lete þere life haþ life anientid . So þat lif quyte lif þe olde lawe it askiþ Ergo soule shal soule quyte & synne to synne wynde And al þat man mysdede I man to amende it And þat deþ fordede my deþ to releue And boþe quykye & quyte þat queynt was þoru&yogh; synne And gile be begilid þoru&yogh; grace at þe laste Ars ut artem falleret ; So leue it nou&yogh;t lucifer a&yogh;ens þe lawe I fecche Er any synful soule souereynly be maistry But þoru&yogh; ri&yogh;t & þoru&yogh; resoun raunsom here my lige Non veni soluere legem set adimplere So þat þoru&yogh; gile was geten þoru&yogh; grace is now ywonne And as adam & alle þoru&yogh; a tre di&yogh;ede Adam & alle hise þoru&yogh; a tre shul turne to lyue And now begynneþ þe gile ageyn on þe to turne And my grace to growe ay widdere & widdere Þe bittere turnes þat þou hast browe now brouke it þi-selue Þat art doctour of deþ drynk þat þou madest For I þat am lord of life loue is my drinke And for þat drynke to-daye I di&yogh;ede as it semide But I wile drinke of no dissh ne of no dep clergie But of comen cuppis alle cristene soulis But þi drink worþ deþ & dep helle þi bolle I fau&yogh;t so me furstiþ &yogh;et for manis soulis sake Scicio May no pyment ne poynade ne precious drynkes Moiste me to þe fulle ; in þe Vale of Iosaphath And drinke ri&yogh;t rip must resureccio mortuorum And þanne shal I come as kinge with coroune & with aungelis And haue out of helle alle menis soulis Fendis & fend kenis before me shal stande And be at my biddynge at blisse or at peyne But to be merciable to man þat my kynde askiþ For we ben breþeren of blood but not in baptem alle But alle þo ben myne holy breþeren in blood & in baptem Shal neuere in helle eft come be he ones oute Tibi soli peccaui & malum coram te feci ; It is nou&yogh;t vsid on erþe to hangen any felouns Oftere þanne ones ; þei&yogh; þei were tretours . And &yogh;if þe kinge of þe kingdom come in þe tyme Þere a þefe þole shulde deþ oþerere Iewis Lawe wolde he &yogh;af him lif & he lokide on him And I þat am kinge ouer kynges shal come suche a tyme Þere þat dom to þe deþ dampniþ alle wykkide . And &yogh;if lawe wile loke on him it liþ in my grace Wheþer þei dei&yogh;e or dei&yogh;e not dide þei neuere so ille Be it any þinge abou&yogh;t þe boldnesse of here synne I may do mercy of my ri&yogh;twisnesse & alle my wordis trewe For holy writ wile þat I be wreke of hem þat wrou&yogh;ten euele Nullum malum inpunitum & nullum bonum irremuneratum ; And so of alle wykkide I wile here take vengeaunce But &yogh;et my kynde in my kene yre shal constreyne my wille Domine ne in furore tuo arguas me ; To be merciable to manye of myne halfe breþeren For blod may se blod boþe a-furst & a-cale But blood may not se blod blede but him rewe Audiui archana verba que non licet homini loqui ; But my ri&yogh;twisnesse & ri&yogh;t shal regnen in helle And mercy & mankynde before me in heuene For I were an vnkynde kynge but I my kyn holpe And nameliche at suche a nede þat nedis helpe askiþ Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo ; Thus be lawe quaþ oure lord lede I wile from hennes Þo ledis þat I loue & lyuede in my comynge But for þe lesinge þat þou lowe lucifer to Eue Þou shalt abye bitterly quaþ god & bond him with cheynes Astrot & alle oþere hidden hem in hernes Þei durste not loke on oure lord þe leste of hem alle But let hym lede forþ whiche him list and leue whiche him likide Many hundrit of aungelis harpide þo & sunge Culpat caro purgat caro regnat ; Þanne pipide pes of poetis a note Clarior est solito post inimicicias clarior est & amor ; Aftir sharpeste shouris quaþ pes most shene is þe sonne Is no wedir warmeere þanne aftir watry cloudis Ne no loue leuere ne leuere frendis Þanne aftir werre & wrake whanne loue & pes ben maistris Was neuere werre in þis world ne wykkidere enuye Þat loue & hym liste to lau&yogh;inge it ne brou&yogh;te And pes þoru&yogh; pacience alle perelis stoppide Trewis quaþ treuþe þou tellist vs soþ be iese Clippe we in couenaunt & iche of vs kisse oþer And let no peple quaþ pes perceyue þat we chide For impossible is no þinge to him þat is almi&yogh;ty Þou seist soþ seide ri&yogh;twisnesse & reuerentliche hire kiste Pes & pes here ; per omnia secula seculorum Misericordia & veritas obuiauerunt sibi iusticia & pax osculate sunt Treuþe trumpide þo & songe te deum laudamus And þanne loutide loue in a loud tune Ecce quam bonum & quam iocundum &c ; Til þe day dawide þise damyselis carolide Þat men ronge to þe resureccioun & ri&yogh;t wiþ þat I wakide And calde kitte my wyf & calote my dou&yogh;ter Arys & go reuerence godis resureccioun And crop to þe cros on knes & kisse it for a iuel And ri&yogh;tfullokest a relike non ricchere on erþe For godis blisside body it bar for oure bote And it a-feriþ þe fend for such is þe mi&yogh;t May no griseliche gost glide þere it shadewiþ Explicit de do-bet & incipit de dobest ; Thus I wakid & wrot what I hadde ydremid And di&yogh;te me derely & dede me to chirche To here holly þe masse & to be houslid aftir In myddis of þe masse þo men &yogh;ede to offrynge I fel eft-sones a-slepe and sodeynly me mette Þat piers þe plou&yogh;man was peyntid al blody . And com in with a crois before þe comun peple . And ri&yogh;t lyk in alle lymes to oure lord iesu . And þanne calde I consience to kenne me þe soþe Is þis Iese þe iustere quaþ I þat Iewis dide to deþe Or it is piers þe plou&yogh;man who peyntide him so red Quaþ consience & knelide þo þise arn cristis armes His colours & his cote armour ; but he þat comiþ so blody Is crist wiþ his crois conquerour of cristene Why calle &yogh;e hym crist siþen Iewis calden him iese Patriarkes & prophetis propheciede before Þat alle kyne creaturis shulde knelen & bowen A-non as men nempnide þe name of god iesu Ergo is no name to þe name iese Ne noon so nedful to nempne be ni&yogh;t ne be day For alle derke deuelis arn dred for to here it And synful ben solacid & sauid be þat name And &yogh;e callen him crist for what cause telliþ me Is crist more of mi&yogh;t & more worþiere name Þanne Iesu or iese þat al oure ioye cam of Þou knowist wel quaþ consience & þou conne resoun Þat kni&yogh;t kinge conquerour may be o persoun To be cald a kni&yogh;t is fair for men shuln knele to him To be cald a kinge is fairere for he may kni&yogh;tes make But to be conquerour cald þat comiþ ofe special grace And of hardynesse of herte & of hendenesse boþe To make lordis of laddis of lond þat he wynneþ And fre men foule þrallis þat folewiþ not his lawis Þe Iewis þat were ientil men iesu þei dispiside Boþe his lore & his lawe now arn þei lowe cherlis As wyd as þe world is woniþ þere non . But vndir tribut & tailage as tikes & cherlis And þo þat become cristene þoru&yogh; counseil of þe baptist Arn fraunkeleyns & fre men þoru&yogh; fullynge þat þei toke And ientil men with iesu for iesu was yfolewid And vp on caluarie on crois crounid kynge of Iewis It becomiþ for a kinge to kepe & to defende And conquerour of his conquest his layes & his large And so dede Iese to Iewis he iustifiede & tau&yogh;te hem Þe lawe of lif þat laste shal euere And fenden hem from foule euelis Feueris & flixis And from fendis þat in hem was & fals bileue Þo was he iese of Iewis cald ientil profit And kinge of here kingdom & croune bar of þornes And þo conqueride he on cros as conquerour noble Mi&yogh;te no deþ him forde ne a-doun bringe Þat he ne aros & regnide & rauisshide helle And þo was he conquerour cald of quyk & of dede For he &yogh;af adam & Eue & oþere mo blisse Þat longe hadde lif before as luciferis cherlis And toke lucifer þe loþlich þat lord was of helle And bond as he is bounden with bondis of yren Who was hardiere þan he his herte blod he shedde To make alle folke fre þat folewen his lawe And suche he &yogh;iueþ largeliche al his lele lige Placis in paradis at here partynge henis He may be wel cald conquerour & þat is crist to mene But þe cause þat he comiþ þus wiþ his cros & his passioun Is to wissen vs þer-wiþ þat whan we ben temptid Þer-wiþ to fi&yogh;te & fende vs fro fallinge in-to synne And se be his sorewe þat who-so louiþ ioye To penaunce & pouert he mi&yogh;te put him-selue And muche wo in þis world wilnen & suffren But to carpe more of crist & how he com to þat name Feiþly for to speke his furste name was iese Þo he was bore in bedlem as þe boke telliþ . And com to take mankynde kinges & aungelis Reuerensid hym ri&yogh;t faire with ricchesse on erþe Aungelis out of heuene com knelande & songe Gloria in excelsis deo ; Kinges com aftir knelide & offride Mirre & muche gold wiþoute mercy askinge Or any kyn catel but knowelechide him souereyn . Boþe of sond sonne & se & siþenes þei wente In-to here kingene kiþ be counseil of aungelis And þere was þe word fulfild þe whiche þou of speke Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine iesu For alle þe aungelis of heuene at his birþe knelide And al þe wyt of þe world was in þe þre kinges Resoun & ri&yogh;tfulnesse & reuþe þei offride Wherfore & why wise men þat tyme Maistris & lettrid men magi he calde Þat o kinge com with resoun ycouerid vndir cense Þe secounde kinge siþþe soþliche offride Ri&yogh;twisnesse vndir red gold resonis felawe Gold is yliknid to leute þat laste shal euere And resoun to riche gold to ri&yogh;t & to treuþe Þe þridde kinge com & knelide to iesu And presentide hym with pyte aperynge þe myrre For myrre is mercy to mene & mylde speche of tunge Erþeliche honest þinge was offride þus at ones Þoru&yogh; þre kyne kynges knelynge to iesu But for alle þis precious presentis oure lord prince iese Was noþer kinge ne conquerour til he comside to waxe In þe maner of a man & þat be muche slei&yogh;te As it be-comeþ for a conquerour to conne many slei&yogh;te And manye wiles & wyt þat wile be a ledere And so dede iese in his daies who-so durste telle it Sum tyme he suffride & sum tyme he hidde hym And sum tyme he fau&yogh;t faste & flei&yogh; oþer-while And sum tyme he gaf good & grauntide hele boþe Lyf & lyme as hym list he wrou&yogh;te As kynde is of a conquerour so comside þanne Iesu Til he hadde alle hem þat he fore bledde In his Iuuente þis iese Iewene faste turnide Watir in-to wyn as holy writ telliþ And þere began god of his grace to dwelle For wyn is liknid to lawe & lif holynesse And lawe lakkide þo for men louide not here enemys And crist counseliþ þus & comaundiþ boþe To lerid & to lewid to loue oure enemys So at þat feste furst as I before tolde Began god of his grace & goodnesse to do wel And þo was he clepid & cald not only crist but iesu And fauntekyn ful of wyt ; filius marie . For before his modir marie made he þat wondir Þat she ferst & formest ; shulde ferme beleue . Þat he þoru&yogh; grace was gete & of no gom ellis He wrou&yogh;te þat be no wyt but þoru&yogh; word one Aftir þe kynde þat he com of þere comside he do wel And whanne he was waxe more in his modir absence He made lame to lepe & gaf li&yogh;t to blynde And fedde wiþ two fisshis & wiþ fyue loues Sore affyngrid folke mo þanne fyue þousand Þus he counfortide carful & cau&yogh;te a grettere name Þe whiche was do-bet where þat he wente For deue þoru&yogh; hise doynges & doumbe speke & herde And alle helide & halp þat him of grace askide And þo was he cald in cuntray of þe comun peple For þe dedis þat he dede fili dauid iese For dauid was þe dou&yogh;tieste of dedis in his tyme Þe burdis þanne sunge ; Saul interfecit mille & dauid decem milia For-þi cuntre þere iesu com ; calde him ; fili dauid And nempnide him of nazareþ & no man so worþi To be kaiser or kynge in þe kingdom of Iuda Ne ouer Iewis iustice as iese was hem þou&yogh;te Here-of hadde kayfas enuye & othe as oþere Iewis And for to don hym to dede day & ni&yogh;t þei casten And kilden hym on cros wise at caluarie on Friday And siþen buriede his body & bede þat men shulde Kepen it from ni&yogh;t comeres with kni&yogh;tes yarmid For no frend shulde hem fecche For prophetis hem tolde Þat þat blisside body of burielis shulde rise And gon in-to galile & gladen hise apostlis And his modir marie þus men before dyuynide Þe kni&yogh;tes þat kepten it beknewen hem-selue Þat aungelis & archaungelis er þe day spronge Com knelynge on knes and to þat corps sungen Christus rex resurgens & it aros aftir Verray man before hem alle and forþ with hem &yogh;ede Þe Iewis preyede hem of þes & preyede þe kni&yogh;tes Telle þe comun þat þere com a company of hise apostlis And be-wycchide hem as þei woke & awey stelen it But marie þe maudeleyn mette him be þe way Goande toward galile in godhed & manhed And lyues & lokande & aloud criede In iche compenye þere he com christus resurgens Þus cam it out þat crist ouercam & recoueride & lyuede Sic oportet christum pati & intrare &c ; For þat wommen witeþ it may not wel be counseil Petir perceyuide al þis & pursuide aftir Boþe Iames & Iohann Iesu to seke Tadde & ten mo wiþ thomais of Inde And as alle þise wise wyes wern togideris In an hous al besshet & þe dore ybarrid Crist com In & al closide boþe dore & &yogh;atis To petir & to hise appostlis & seide pax vobis And toke thomas be þe hond & tau&yogh;te him to grope And fele wiþ his fyngris his freliche herte Thomais touchide it & wiþ his tunge seide Dominus meus & deus meus Þou art my lord I beleue god lord iesu Di&yogh;edest & deþ þolidest & deme shal vs alle And now art þou lyuynge & lokynge & laste shalt euere Crist carpide þanne & curteisly seide I-blissid mote þou be & be shalt for euere And blissid mote þei be in body & in soule Þat neuere shal se me in si&yogh;t as þou sest nouþe And lelliche lyuen al þis I loue hem & blisse hem Beati qui non viderunt & crediderunt ; And whanne þis dede was don do best he þou&yogh;te And &yogh;af piers power & pardoun he grauntide To alle maner of men mercy & for&yogh;iuenesse Hym mi&yogh;te men to assoile of alle maner of synnes In couenaunt þat þei come & knowelechide to paye To piers pardoun þe plou&yogh;man redde quod debes Þus haþ piers power be his pardoun paied To bynde & vnbynde boþe here & ellis And assoile men of alle synnes saue of dette one Anon aftir on hei&yogh; vp in-to heuene He wente & woniþ þere & wile come at þe laste And rewarde him ri&yogh;t wel & redde quod debet Payeþ parfitly as pure treuþe wolde And what persoun payeþ it nou&yogh;t punisshe him he þinkeþ And demen hym at domisday quyke & ded boþe Þe goode to godhed & to gret ioye And wykkide to wonen in wo wiþouten ende Þus consience of crist & of cros carpide And counseilide me to knele þere-to & þan cam me þou&yogh;t On spiritus paraclitus to piers & to hise felawis In liknesse of li&yogh;tnynge & li&yogh;t on hem alle And made hym come & knowe alle kyne langages I wondrit what it was & waggide on consience And was a-ferd for þe li&yogh;t for in feris liknesse Spiritus paraclitus ouerspradde hem alle . Quaþ consience & knelide þis is cristis messager And comiþ from grete god grace is his name Knele now quaþ consience & &yogh;if þou canst singe Welcome hym & worsshiþe him wiþ veni creator spiritus And I songe þat songe & so dede many hundrit And criede wiþ consience helpe vs god of grace And þanne began grace to go wiþ piers þe plou&yogh;man And counseilide hym & consience þe comun to sompne For I wile dele to-day & dyuyde grace To alle kyne creaturis þat can hise fyue wittes Tresour to lyue by to here lyues ende . And wepne to fi&yogh;te wiþ þat wile neuere faille For antecrist & alle hise al þe world shal greue And acumbre þe consience but crist þe helpe And false prophetis fele flatereris & gloseris Shal come & be curatours ouer kinges & erlis And þanne shal pride be pope & prince of holy chirche Coueitise & vnkyndenesse cardinalis hym to lede For-þi quaþ grace er I go I wile gyue &yogh;ow tresour And wepne to fi&yogh;te with whanne antecrist &yogh;ow assailiþ And gaf iche gom grace wiþ him-seluen Þat ydelnesse encumbre him nou&yogh;t ne enuye ne pride Diuisiones graciarum sunt ; Summe he &yogh;af wit with wordis to shewe To wynne with treuþe as þe world askiþ As prechours & prestis & prentis of þe lawe Þei lelly to lyue be labour of tunge An be wyt to wissen oþere as grace hem wolde techen And summe he kende craft & connynge of si&yogh;t Wiþ sellynge & byenge here by life to wynne And summe he leride to laboure on lond & on watir And lyue be þat labour a lele lif & a trewe And summe he tau&yogh;te to tilye to þecche & to coke As here wyt wolde whanne þe tyme come And summe to deuyne & to deuyde noumbris To keruen & to compacen & colours to maken And summe to se & to say what shulde betide Boþe of wele & of wo & be ywar before As astrymyanes þoru&yogh; astronomye & philisophris wise And summe to ride & to recouere þat vnri&yogh;tfulliche was wonne He wisside men wynne it a&yogh;en þoru&yogh; wi&yogh;tnesse of hondis And fecche it fro false men with felouns lawis And summe he lernide to lyue in longynge to be hennis In pouert & in pacience to preye for alle cristene And alle he lernide to be lel & iche a craft loue oþer No bost ne no debate be amonges hem alle Þei&yogh; summe be clennere þan sum &yogh;e sen wel quaþ grace Þat alle craft & connynge com of my &yogh;efte Loke þat non lakke oþer but louiþ as breþeren And he þat most maistries can be myldest of berynge And crouniþ consience kinge & makiþ craft &yogh;oure steward And aftir craftis counseil cloþiþ &yogh;ow & fediþ For I make piers þe plou&yogh;man my procuratour & my reue And registrour to resceyue redde quod debes My prouour & my plou&yogh;man piers shal ben on erþe And for to telye treuþe a teme shal he haue Grace gaf piers a tem foure grete oxen Þat on was luc a large beste and a lou&yogh; cherid And marchus & mathen þe þridde mi&yogh;ty bestis boþe And ioynide to hem on Iohann most ientil of alle Þe pris note of piers plou&yogh; passinge alle oþere And siþþe grace of his goodnesse gaf piers foure stottis Alle þis his oxes erd þei to harewide aftir On hi&yogh;te austyn & ambrose a-noþer Gregory þe grete clerk & Gerom þe goode Þise foure þe feiþ to teche folewide piers teme And harewide in an handwhile al holy scripture Wiþ two aithes þat þei hadde an old & a newe Id est vetus testamentum & nouum And grace gaf piers greynes cardinalis vertues And seu&yogh; hem in manis soule & siþþe tolde here names Spiritus prudencie þe furste sed hi&yogh;te Þat who-so et þat ymagen he shulde Er he dede any dede deuyse wel þe ende And leride men a ladil bigge with a longe stele Þat caste for to kele a croke & saue þe fatte aboue Þe secounde sed hi&yogh;te spiritus temperancie He þat et of þat sed hadde suche a kynde Shulde neuere mete ne meschief make him to swelle Ne shulde no skurour out of skile him bringe Ne neuere wynnynge ne welþe of worldly ricchesses Wast woord of ydelnesse ne wykkide speche meue Shulde no curious cloþ come to his rigge Ne no mete in his mouþ þat maister Iohann spiside Þe þridde sed þat piers seu&yogh; was ; spiritus fortitudinis ; And who-so et of þat sed hardy was euere . To suffre al þat god sent seknesse or angris . Mi&yogh;te no li&yogh;eris wiþ lesinges ne lost of worldis catel Maken hym for any mournynge þat he nas merye in soule And bold & abydynge bisemaris to suffre And pledite al wiþ pacience & parce michi domine And keueride him vndir counseil of catoun þe wise Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique Þe ferþe sed þat piers seu&yogh; was spiritus iusticie And he þat et of þat sed shulde ben euene trewe Wiþ god & nou&yogh;t agast but of gile one one For gile goþ so priuyly þat good feiþ oþer-while May not ben aspied þoru&yogh; spiritus iusticie Spiritus iusticie spariþ not to spille Hem þat ben gilty & for to corecte Þe kinge & þe kinge falle in any agilt For counteþ he nou&yogh;t kinges wraþþe whanne he in court sitteþ To deme as a domisman drad was he neuere Noþer of duce ne of deþ þat he ne dede þe lawe For present or for preyer or any princes lettres He dede equyte to alle euenforþ his knowynge Þise foure sedis piers seu&yogh; & siþþe dede hem harewe Wiþ old lawe & newe lawe þat loue mi&yogh;te wexe Amonge þise foure vertues & vices destroyede For comunliche in cuntres cannoke & wed Fouliche þe fruyt in þe feld þere þei growe togideris And so doþ vices & vertues forþwiþ quaþ peris Harewiþ it alle þat conne kynde wyt be counseil of þise doctours And telliþ it aftir here techynge þe cardinal vertues A&yogh;ens þi greynes quaþ grace begynneþ for to ripen Ordeyne þe an hous peris to herberwe þi cornes Before god grace quaþ peris &yogh;e mote &yogh;iue me tymber And ordeyne þat hous er &yogh;e henis wende And grace gaf hym þe cros wiþ þe croune of þornes Þat crist vpon caluarie for man-kynde on paynide And of his baptem & blood þat he bledde on rode He made a maner of morter & mercy it hi&yogh;te And þere-wiþ grace began a good fundament And wattlide it & wallide it wiþ his peyne & his passioun And of al holy writ he made a rof aftir And calde þat hous vnite holy chirche on englissh And whanne þise dede was do grace deuyside A carte þat hi&yogh;te cristendom to carte of peris sheuis And &yogh;af hym capelis to his carte contricioun & confessioun He made presthod heyward þe whiles him-selfe wente As wyd as þe world is wiþ piers to tilye treuþe And þe lond of beleue þanne lawe of holy chirche . Now is piers to þe plou&yogh; pride it aspiede And gaderite hym a gret ost greue him he þinkeþ Consience & alle cristene & cardinal vertues Blowe hem doun & breke hem & bite atwo þe mores And sente forþ sirquydours hise seriauntis of armes And his spie spille-loue speke-euele-behynde Þise to comen to consience & to cristene peple And tolde hym tydynges þat tyne he shulde þe sedis Þat peris seu&yogh; þe cardinal vertues And pieris berne worþ broke and þei þat ben in vnite Shal come out & consience & hise two capelis Confessioun & contricioun & &yogh;our carte beleue Shal be colourid so queyntly & keuerid vndir sophistrie Þat consience shal not knowe be contricioun Ne be confessioun who is cristene or heþene Ne no maner of marchaunt þat wiþ mony deliþ Wheþer he wynne wiþ ri&yogh;t with wrongeer wiþ vsur Wiþ suche colours & queyntise comiþ pride yarmid Wiþ þe lord þat lyueþ aftir þe lust of his body To wasten on wel-fare & on wykkide kepynge Al þe world in a while þoru&yogh; oure wit quaþ pride Quaþ consience to alle cristene þo my counseil is we wende Hastiliche in-to vnite & holde we vs þere And preye we þat pes were in peris berne þe plou&yogh;man For witterly I wot wel we ben not of strengþe To go agayn pride but grace with vs were And þanne com kynde wyt consience to teche And criede & comaundite alle cristene peple Delue & dyke depe aboute vnite Þat holy chirche stood in holynesse as it were a piler Consience comaundite þo alle cristene to delue And make a muche mot þat mi&yogh;te be a strengþe To helpe holy chirche & hem þat it kepiþ Þanne alle kyne cristene saue comoun wommen Repentide & refuside synne saue þei one And a sisour & a somenour þat wern forsworn ofte Witynge & wilfully wiþ þe fals þei helden And for siluer wern forsworn soþly þei wiste it Þere ne was cristene creatour þat kynde wyt hadde Þat he ne halp a quantitie holynesse to wexe Summe be bedis biddynge & be pilgrimage Or oþer pryue penaunce and summe be panis delynge And þanne walkide watir fro wykkide werkis Egreliche ernynge out of menis ei&yogh;en Clennesse of þe comoun & clerkis clene lyuynge Made vnite holy chirche in holynesse stonde I care nou&yogh;t quaþ consience þei&yogh; pride come nouþe Þe lord of list shal be let al þis lente I hope Comeþ quaþ consience &yogh;e cristene & dyneþ Þat han labourid lelly al þis lenten tyme Here is bred yblissid & godis body þere vndir Grace þoru&yogh; good word &yogh;af piers þe plou&yogh;man power Mi&yogh;t to maken it & men for to eten it In helpe of here hele ones in a moneþ Or as ofte as þei hadde nede þo þat hadde payed To piers pardoun þe plou&yogh;man redde quod debes How quaþ al þe comun þou counseilist vs &yogh;elde Al þat we owen any wi&yogh;t er we go to husel . Þat is my counseil quaþ consience & cardinal vertues Þat iche man for&yogh;iue oþer & þat wile þe pater-noster Dimitte nobis debita nostra ; So to be assoilid & siþen yhuselid &YOGH;a baw quaþ a brewere I wile not be rewelid Be Iesu for al &yogh;our ianglynge aftir spiritus iusticie Ne aftir consience be crist while I can selle Boþe dreggis & draf & drawe at on hole Þikke ale & penne & þat is my kynde And nou&yogh;t to hakke aftir holynesse hold þi tunge consience Of spiritus iusticie ; þou spekist muche an ydel . Caitife quaþ consience curside wrecche Vnblissid art þou brewere but &yogh;if god helpe But þou lyue be lore or spiritus iusticie Þe chief sed þat piers seu&yogh; ysaue worst þou neuere But consience be comun fode & cardinal vertues Leue it we ben lost boþe body & soule Þanne is many man lost quaþ a lewide vicory I am curatour of holy kirke & com neuere in my tyme Man to me þat me couþe telle of cardinal vertues Or þat acountide consience to a cokkis federe I ne kneu&yogh; neuere cardinal þat he ne cam fro þe pope And clerkis whan þei comen for here comunes payen For here pelure & here palfrey mete & pilours þat hem folewiþ . Þe comun clamat cotidie iche man til oþer Þe cuntre is þe corsidore þat a cardinal comiþ inne And þere þei ligge & regne mest leccherie þere regniþ . For-þi quaþ þis vikory be verray god I wolde . Þat no cardinal come amonge þe comoun peple But in here holynesse held hem stille At avenoun amonge Iewis cum sancto sanctus eris Or in rome as here rewle wolde here relikes to kepe And þou consience in kynges court & shuldist neuere come þennis And grace þat þou greddest so of gyere of alle clerkis And pieris wiþ his newe plou&yogh; & his olde Emperour of alle þe world þat alle men were cristene Inparfit is þat pope þat alle peple shulde helpe And sendiþ hem þat slep suche as he shulde saue Ac wel worþ piers þe plou&yogh;man þat pursuiþ god in doynge Qui pluit super iustos & iniustos at ones ; And sente þe sonne to saue a curside manis tilþe As bri&yogh;t as to þe beste man or to þe beste womman Ri&yogh;t so peris þe plou&yogh;man peyneþ hym to tilye And trauailiþ & tiliþ for a tretour also sore As for a trewe tidy man alle tymes ylich Worsshipid be he þat wrou&yogh;te al boþe good & wykke And suffre þat synful be til tyme þat he repente And god amende þe pope þat pileþ holy chirche And cleymeþ before þe kynge to be kepere ouer cristene And counteþ nou&yogh;t þei&yogh; cristene be kild & robbid And fynt folk to fi&yogh;ten & cristene blood spille A&yogh;ens þe olde lawe & þe newe as beriþ witnesse Non occides michi vindictam & ego retribuam ; It semiþ be so hym-selfe hadde his wille And rekniþ ri&yogh;t nou&yogh;t of þe remenaunt And crist of his curteisie þe cardinal saue And turne here wyt to wisedom & wele for þe soule For þe comun quaþ þis doctour counten ful litel Þe counseil of consience & cardinal vertues But &yogh;if þei soune as be si&yogh;t sum-what to wynnynge Of gile ne of gabbynge gyue þei no tale For spiritus prudencie amonge þe peple is gile And alle þo faire vertues as vices þei semen Iche man sotiliþ a slei&yogh;te synne to hide . And colouriþ it for a connynge and a clene lyuynge Þanne lou&yogh; þere a lord & be þis li&yogh;t seide I halde it ri&yogh;t & resoun of my reue to take Al þat myn auditour or my stiþ steward Counseiliþ me be here acounte & my clerkis writynge Wiþ spiritus intellectus þei toke þe reuis rollis And wiþ spiritus fortitudinis fecchiþ it wile he or nille And þanne com þere a kinge & be his croune seide I am kynge wiþ croune þe comun to rewele And holy chirche & clergise from curside men to defende And &yogh;if me lakke to lyue þe lawe wile þat I take it Þere I may hastlokest it haue for I am hed of lawe And &yogh;e ben but membris & I abouen alle And siþen I am &yogh;our alþer hed I am &yogh;our alþer hele And holy chirche chiefe helpe & chiefteyn of þe comoun And what I take of &yogh;ow two I take it of techynge Of spiritus iusticie for I iugge &yogh;ow alle So I may baldely be husolid for I borewe neuere Ne craue of my comoun but as my kynde askiþ In condicioun quaþ consience þat conne defende And rewele þi reaum in resoun ri&yogh;t wel & in treuþe Trewþe wile þat þou haue þat þe lawe askiþ Omnia sunt tua ad defendendum sed non ad deprehendendum Þe victorie hadde for hem & faire toke his leue And I awakide þerwiþ & wrot as me mette . Secundus passus de dobest ; And as I wente be þe way whanne I was þus awakid Heuy cherid I &yogh;ede & elenge in herte For I ne wiste where to ete ne at what place And it nei&yogh;ide nei&yogh; þe non & with nede I mette . Þat afruntide me foule & faitour me calde Coudist þou nou&yogh;t excuse þe as dede þe kinge & oþere Þat þou toke to lyue by to cloþis & to sustinaunce Was be techynge & tellynge of spiritus temperancie And þat þou nyme no more þan nede þe tau&yogh;te And nede ne haþ no lawe ne neuere shal falle in dette For þre þinges he takiþ his lif for to saue . Þat is mete whan men hym werniþ & he no mony weldiþ Ne wot non to ben his boru&yogh; ne no wed haþ to legge And he cacche in þat cas & come þere-to be slei&yogh;te He synneþ nou&yogh;t soþly þat so wynneþ his fode . And þei&yogh; he come so to a cloþ & can no betere cheuisaunce Nede anon ri&yogh;t nymeþ him vndir And &yogh;af hym list for to lape þe lawe of kynde wolde Þat he drynke at iche dich er þanne he di&yogh;e for þrist So nede at gret nede may nyme as for his owene Wiþoute counseil of consience or cardinal vertues So þat he sewe & saue spiritus temperancie ; For no vertue be ver to spiritus temperancie Neiþer spiritus iusticie ne spiritus fortitudinis For spiritus fortitudinis Foreftiþ ful ofte He shal do more þanne mesur many tyme & ofte And bete men ouer betere & sum body to litel And greue men oftere þan good feiþ wolde And spiritus iusticie shal iugge wile he nille Aftir þe kynges counseil & as þe comoun likeþ And spiritus prudencie in many poynt shal faile Of þat he weniþ wolde faile &yogh;if þat wyt ne were Wenyng is no wisdom ne wyes ymaginacioun Homo proponit & deus disponit ; god gouerniþ hem alle Goode vertues & nede is next hym for anon he makiþ And as lou&yogh; as a lomb for lakkynge þat him nediþ For nede makiþ nede fele nedis lou&yogh; herte Philisofris forsoken welþe for hy wolde be nedy And wonide wel elengeliche & wolde not be riche And god al his grete ioye gostliche he lefte And com & toke man-kynde & becom nedy So he was nedy as seiþ þe boke in many sundry places Þat he seide in his sorewe on þe selue rode . Boþe fox & foul may fle to hole & crepe And þe fissh haþ fyn to flete wiþ to reste Þat nede haþ ynome me I mote nede abide And suffre sorewe ful soure þat shal to ioye turne For þei ne ben not abassht ; to bidde & be nedy Siþen he þat wrou&yogh;te al þe world was wilfulliche nedy Ne neuere non so nedy ne pouerere dide Whanne nede hadde vndirnome me þus anon I fel a-slepe And mette ful merueillously þat in a manis fourme Antecrist com þanne & al þe crop of treuþe Turnide it vp so doun & ouertilte þe rote And made fals springe & sprede & spede manis nede In iche cuntre where he com he cau&yogh;te awey treuþe And gart gile growe þere as he a god were Freris folewide þat frend For he &yogh;af hem copis And religious reuerensid hym & rungen here belle And al þe couent com to welcome þat tiraunt And alle hise as wel as hym saue onliche folis Þe whiche folis were gladdere to di&yogh;e þanne to lyue Lengere siþþe leute was so rebukid . And a fals fend antecrist ouer alle folke regnide . And þat were mylde men & holy þat no meschiefe dradden . Defiede al falsnesse & folk þat it vside And what kynge þat hym counfortide knowynge gile Þei curside & here counseil were it clerke or lewid And antecrist hadde þus sone an hundrit at his baner And pride it bar baldely aboute . Wiþ a lord þat lyueþ aftir lykynge of body Þat a&yogh;ens consience þat kepare was & gyere Ouer kynde cristene & cardinal vertues I counseile quaþ consience comiþ with me &yogh;e folis In-to vnite of holy chirche & halde we vs þere And crie we to kynde þat he come & defende vs Folis fro þe fendis lymes for peris loue þe plou&yogh;man And crie we on alle þe comoun þat þei come to vnite And þere abiden & bikeren a&yogh;ens belialis children Kynde consience þo herde & com out of þe planetis And sente forþ hise ferours feueres & flixes Cou&yogh;es & cardiaclis crumpis & toþachis Remes & redegoundis & runyous skabbis Belis & bocchis & brennynge anguissh Frensies & foule euelis forageris of kynde Hadde prikid & preyed pollous þe peple Largeliche a legioun les þe life sone Þere was harrow & help here comiþ kynde Wiþ deþ þat is dredful to vndo vs alle Þe lord þat lyuede aftir lust þo he loude criede Aftir counfort a kni&yogh;t to come & bere oure baner A-larm a-larm quaþ þe lord iche life kepe his owene Þanne mette þis men er mynstralis mi&yogh;te pipe And er heroud of armes hadde discried lordis Elde [gap=2 / erasure=þe? see Kane] hore he was in þe vannwarde And bar þe baner before deþ be ri&yogh;t he it cleymide Kynde com aftir hym wiþ many kyn soris As pokkis & pestilence þat many peple shente So kynde þoru&yogh; corupcions kilde ful manye Deþ com dryuande aftir & al to dust passhte Kynges & kni&yogh;tes kaiseris & popis Lerid & lewid lefte no man stande Þat he hitte euene neuere steride aftir Many a louely lady & here lemmanis kni&yogh;tes Swonide & swelte for soreweful dentis Consience of his curteisie þo kynde he besou&yogh;te To cesse & to suffre & se where þei wolde Leue pride priuyliche & be parfit cristene And kynde cesside þo to se þe peple amende Fortune gan faltre þanne þo fewe þat wern o lyue And behi&yogh;te hem longe life & leccherie he sente Amonge alle maner of men weddit & vnweddit And gaderite a gret ost a-gayn consience Þis leccherie leide on wiþ lai&yogh;enge chere Wiþ pryue speche & peyntide wordis And armide hym in ydelnesse & in hei&yogh; berynge He bar a bowe in his hond & many brode arwes Wern feþerid wiþ fair behest & many fals trouþe Wiþ vntidy talis he tenide ful ofte Consience & his compenye of holy chirche techeris Þanne cam coueitise & caste how he mi&yogh;te Ouer-come consience & cardinal vertues And armide hym in auarice & hungriliche lyuede His wepne was al wiles to wynnen & to hyden Wiþ glosynge & gabbynge gilide þe peple Symonye hym sewide to assaile consience And preside on þe pope & prelatis made To holde with antecrist here temperalte to saue . And com to þe kynges counseil as a kene baroun And knokkide consience in þe court before hem alle And garte good feiþ fle & fals to abide And boldliche bar adoun with many a bri&yogh;t noble Muche of þe wyt & þe wisdom of westmenstre halle He ioggide to a iustice & iustide in his ere And ouertilte al his treuþe wiþ tak þis on amendement And in-to þe arches in haste he &yogh;ede anon aftir And turnide Ciuile in-to symonye & siþþe toke þe official And for a meneuer mantel made lel matrimoyne Departen er deþ come & a deuos shiften Allas quaþ consience þo & criede wolde crist of his grace Þat coueitise were cristene þat so kene fi&yogh;teþ And bold & bydynge while þe bagge lastiþ And þanne lou&yogh; lif & let dagge his cloþis And armide hym in haste in harlotis wordis And held holynesse a iape & hendenesse a wastour And let leute a cherl & liere a fre man . Consience & counseil he countide it folie Þus releuide life for a litel fortune And prikeþ forþ wiþ pride & preisiþ he no vertue And clariþ nou&yogh;t how kynde shal come at þe laste And kille alle erþely creature saue consience one . Lif lep a-sid & lau&yogh;te hym a lemman Hele & I quaþ he & hei&yogh;nesse of herte Shal do þe noþer drede ne doþ noþer deþ ne elde And to for&yogh;ete þou&yogh;t & &yogh;iue nou&yogh;t of synne Þis lykide lif & his lemman fortune And geten in here glorie a gadelynge at þe laste On þat muche wo wrou&yogh;te sleuþe was his name Þo sleuþe wex wondir &yogh;erne & sone was of age And weddite on wanhope a wenche of þe stewis Hire sire was a sisour þat neuere swor treuþe On thomme two-tunge ateynt in iche a quest Þis slei&yogh;te was slei&yogh; of werre & a slynge made And preu&yogh; dred of dispair a dozeyn myle aboute For care consience þo criede vpon elde And bad hym fonde to fi&yogh;te and a-fere wanhope And elde hente good hope & hastily shrof hym And wayuede a-wey wanhope & wiþ lif he fi&yogh;teþ And lif fleþ for fer to fysike aftir helpe And besou&yogh;te hym of socour & of his salue hadde And gaf hym gold good won þat gladite his herte Þei geuen a-gayn a glasyne houue Lyf leuede þat lechecraft lette shulde elde And dryue a-wey deþ wiþ dyetis & draggeis And elde auntride him on lif & at þe laste hitte A fisisian in a furrid hod þat he fil in a palisie And þere dide þe doctour er þre dayes aftir Now I se seide lif þat surgerie ne fisike May not a myte auaile to medle a&yogh;ens elde And in hope of his helpe good herte he hente And rod so to reuel a riche place & a merye Þe compenye of counfort men clepide it sum tyme And elde aftir hym & ouer myn hed &yogh;ede And made me ballide before & bare on þe croune So harde he &yogh;ede ouer myn hed it wile besene euere Sire elde euele ytau&yogh;t quaþ I vnhende go with þe Siþe whanne was þe wey ouer menis heuedis Haddist þou ben hende þou woldist han askid leue &YOGH;e leue lordeyn quaþ he & leide on me wiþ age And hitte me vndir þe ere vnneþe may I here He buffetid me aboute þe mouþ and bet out my wangteþ . And gyuede me in goutis I may not go at large And of þe wo þat I was inne my wyfe hadde reuþe And wysshite wel wittirly þat I were in heuene . For þe lime þat she lovid me for ; & leefe was to feele One neygghts namely ; when we naked were I ne myght in no manner , mak it at her will So Eld & she sovthlich , han fore-beaton it . And as I sat in þis sorewe I sau&yogh; how kynde passide And deth drou&yogh; faste to me for dred gan I quake And criede to kynde out of care me bringe Lo how elde þe hore haþ me besei&yogh;e A-wreke me &yogh;if &yogh;oure wille be for I wolde be hennis &YOGH;if þou wilt be wreke wend in-to vnite And hald þe þere euere til I sende for þe And loke þou conne sum craft er þou come þennis Counseiliþ me kynde quaþ I what craft be best to lere Lere þow to loue quaþ kynde & leue alle oþere How shal I come to catel so to cloþe me & to fede And þou loue lelly lakke shal þe neuere Wede ne worþi mete while þi lif lastiþ And I be counseil of kynde comside to rome Þoru&yogh; contricioun & confessioun til I com to vnite And þere was consience cunstable cristene to saue And besegite soþly with seuene grete geauntis Þat wiþ antecrist helden harde a&yogh;ens consience Sleuþe wiþ his slynge an hard saut he made Proude prestis com with hym passynge an hundrit In paltokis & pykide shou & pisseris longe knyues Come a&yogh;ens consience with coueitise þei helden Be þe marie quaþ a mansid prest of þe march of Irland I counte no more consience so þat I cacche siluer Þanne I do to drynke a drau&yogh;t of good ale And so seide sixty of þe same cuntre And shoten a&yogh;ens hym with shot many shef of oþes And broode hokide arewis godis herte & his nailes And hadde almest vnite & holy chirche distroyed Consience criede help clergie or I faile Þoru&yogh; inparfit prestis & prelatis of holy chirche Freris herden hym crie & comen hym to helpe Nede nei&yogh;ide þo ner & consience he tolde Þat þei come for coueitise to haue cure of soule And for þei arn pore paraunter for patrimoyne him failiþ Þei wiln flatere to fare wel folk þat ben riche And siþþe þei chosen chele & chaitife pouert Let hem chewe as þei chosen & charge hem with no cure For loome id est seþe he li&yogh;eþ þat liflode mote begge Þere he þat labouriþ for liflode & leniþ it beggeris And siþen Freris forsoke þe Felicite of erþe . Let hem be as beggeris or lyue be aungelis fode Consience of þis counseil þo cumside to lau&yogh;e And curteisly confortid hym & calde in alle Freris And seide sire soþly welcome be &yogh;e alle To vnite & to holy chirche at o þinge I &yogh;ow preye And holdiþ &yogh;ow in vnite & haþ non enuye To lerid ne to lewid but lyue aftir &yogh;our reule And I wile be &yogh;oure boru&yogh; &yogh;e shuln haue bred & cloþis And oþere necessaries ynowe &yogh;e shuln no þinge lakke Wiþ þat &yogh;e leue logike & lerniþ to loue For loue lefte þi lordsshipe boþe lond & scole Frere Fraunceis & dominike for loue to be holy And &yogh;if &yogh;e coueitiþ cure kynde wile &yogh;ow telle Þat in mesure god made alle maner of þinges And sette it at a certayn & at a sikir noumbre And nempnide hem names & noumbride þe sterris Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum ; psal / 147 / Kynges & kni&yogh;tes þat kepen & defenden Han officers vndir hem & iche of hem a certeyn And &yogh;if þei wage men to werre þei write hem be noumbre Wile no tresorer take hem wagis trauaile þei ner so sore But þey ben in nombre . of hem þat ben wagid Alle oþere in bataille ben yholde bribours Pilours & pykeharneis in iche parissh acursid Munkis & monyalis & iche men of religioun Here ordre & here rewle wile to haue a certeyn noumbre Of lewide & leride þe lawe wile & askiþ A certeyn for a certeyn saue only of Freris For-þi quaþ consience be crist kynde wyt me telliþ It is wykkide to wage &yogh;ow &yogh;e wexiþ out of noumbre For-þi I wolde witterly þat &yogh;e wern in registre And &yogh;oure noumbre vndir notories signe & noþer mo ne lesse But þei be nempnid in þe noumbre of þei þat ben wagit Enuye herde þis & hette Freris go to scole And lerne logik & lawe & eke contemplacioun And preche men of plato & preue it be seneca Þat alle þinge vndir heuene au&yogh;te to be in comoun He lei&yogh;eþ as I leue þat to þe lewid so prechiþ For god made to men a lawe & moises it tau&yogh;te Non concupisces rem proximi tui ; Exodus . 20 . And euele is þis yholde in parosshis of Ingelond Þat personis & parissh prestis þat shulde þe peple shryue Þei ben curatouris cald to knowe & to holde . Alle þat ben here parosshenis penaunces enioyne And ben asshamid in here shrift & shame makiþ hem wende And fle to þe Freris & fals folke to westmynstre Þat borewiþ & beriþ it þider & þanne biddiþ frendis &YOGH;erne or for&yogh;iuenesse or lengere &yogh;eris lene Ac while he is in westmenstre he wile be before And makiþ hym merye wiþ oþere mennis godis And so it fariþ be muche folk þat to Freris shriueþ As sisours & executours þei shuln &yogh;iue þe Freris A parcel to preye for hym & make him merye Wiþ þe remenaunt þat oþere men beswonken And suffre þe dede in dette to þe day of dome Enuye here-fore hatiþ consience And Freris to filosofie he fond vs to scole Þe while coueitise & vnkyndenesse consience assaileden In vnite holy chirche consience held hym And made pes porter to pynne þe &yogh;atis Of alle tale telleris & titeris of ydel Ypocrisie & þei han hard saut mad Ypocrisie at þe &yogh;ate harde gan fi&yogh;te And woundite wel wykkidly many wys techeris Þat wiþ consience accordite & cardinal vertues Consience calde a leche þat couþe wel shryue To salue þo þat sek were & with synne ywoundit Shrifte shop sharp salue & made men do penaunce For here mysdedis þat þei hadde ywrou&yogh;t And þat peris pardoun were paied redde quod debes Summe lykide nou&yogh;t þis leche & lettris þei sette &YOGH;if any surgien were in þe sege þat softere couþe plastre Sire lyf-to-lyue-ine-lecchere lay þere & gronide For fastynge of friday ferde as he wolde di&yogh;e Þere is surgian in þe sege þat softe can handle And more of fisik be fer & fairere he plastriþ On Frere flaterere is Fisician & surgian Quaþ contricioun to consience do him come to vnite For here is many a man hert þoru&yogh; ypocrisie We han no nede quaþ consience I wot no betere leche Þanne persoun or parissh prest penitauncer or bisshop Saue piers þe plou&yogh;man þat haþ power of alle And indulgence may do but &yogh;if dette lette it I may wel suffre seide consience siþþe &yogh;e desiren Þat Frere flaterere be fet & fisike &yogh;ow seke Þe Frere here-of herde & hi&yogh;ide faste To a lord for a lettre leue to haue cure As a curatour he were com wiþ his lettre Boldly to þe bisshop & his bref hadde In cuntres þere he com confessionis to here And cam þere consience was & knelide at þe &yogh;ate Pes openide it was porter of vnite And in haste hi&yogh;te what his wille were In faiþ quaþ þis Frere for profit & for helpe Carpe wolde I wiþ contricioun & þerfore com I hidir He is seeke seide pes and so arn many oþere Ypocrisie haþ hert hem ful hard is &yogh;if þei couere I am a surgian seide þe Frere & salues can make Consience knowiþ me wel & what I can don I preye þe quaþ pes er þou passe ferþere What hattist þou I preye þe hele nou&yogh;t þi name Certis seide his felawe sire penetrans domos &YOGH;a go þi gate quaþ pes be god for al þi fisike But þou conne any craft þou comist not here-inne I kneu&yogh; such on ones nou&yogh;t ei&yogh;te wynter passid Com in þus ycopid in court þere I dwewit And my lord leche & my ladies boþe . At þe laste þis lymytour þo my lord was oute He saluide so oure wommen þat summe wern wiþ childe Hende speche hette pes þo opene þe &yogh;atis Let in þe Frere & his Felawe & make hem fair chere He may se & hem here so may befalle Þat lif þoru&yogh; his lore shal leue coueitise And be adrad of deþ & wiþ-drawe hem fro pride And accorde wiþ consience & kisse eiþerer Þo þus þoru&yogh; hende speche entrid þe frere And com to consience & curteisliche him grette Þou art welcome quaþ consience canst þou hele seke Here is contricioun my cosyn liþ woundit Counforte hym quaþ consience & tak kep to his soris Þe plastris of þe parsoun pynen hym sore He let hym ligge ouer-longe & loþ is to chonge From lente to lente he let hise plastris byte Þat is longe quaþ þis lymytour I leue I shal amende it And goþ gropiþ contricioun & gaf hym a plastre Of a priue payement and I shal preye for &yogh;ow And for hem þat &yogh;e arn holde to al my life tyme And make &yogh;ow my lady in masse & in matynes As Freris of Fraternite for a litel siluer . Þus he goþ & gaderiþ and glosiþ þere he shryueþ . Til contricioun hadde clene for&yogh;ete to crie & to wepe And wake for hise wykkide werkis as he was wont before For counfort of his confessour contricioun he lefte Þat is þe souereyneste salue for alle maner synnes Sleuþe seþ þat & so dede pride And comen wiþ a kene wil consience to assaile Consience criede eft clergie come help And bad contricioun come to helpe kepe þe &yogh;ate He liþ & dryueliþ seide pes and so doþ many oþer Þe Frere wiþ his fysyk þese folk haþ enchauntid And doþ men drynke dwale til þei for&yogh;ete synne Be crist quaþ consience þo I wile become a pilgrym And wende as wyde as þe world regniþ To seke piers þe plou&yogh;man þat pride mi&yogh;te destroye And þat Freris hadde a fyndynge þat for nede flateren And countreplediþ me consience now kende me auenge And send me hap & hele til I haue piers plou&yogh;man And siþþe he gradde aftir grace til I gan awake ; Explicit