The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. ?: Newnham College MS 4, Newnham College, Cambridge (Y)

The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. ?: Newnham College MS 4, Newnham College, Cambridge (Y)William LanglandEdited by Katherine Heinrichs and Hoyt N. DuggganImage Editor: Patricia Riles Bart Associate Editors: Graduate Research Assistants Michael Blum, Carrie ? Computer Consultants and ProgrammersThe Medieval Academy of America and SEENET Cambridge, MA ISBN: 0-???-002???

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200? Newnham College MS 4, Newnham College, Cambridge

Early 15th cent.Source copy consulted: Newnham College MS 4, Newnham College, Cambridge

Attribute Values br brown ink ab anglicana bastarda it italic lc Lombard Cap o[number] ornamented capital, N lines high rb rubricated tr touched in red tx textura ul underlined ur underlined in red gr green ink bl blue ink

LatinFrenchGerman May 2001 John Ivor Carlson New header created. June 2009 Hoyt N. Duggan New header and shell. Parsed. Added KD Numbers and supplied XML version. In a somer seson whan softe was the sonne I shope me in shroudes as I a shepe were In habit as an heremyt vnholy of werkes Wente wide in this world wonndres to here Ac on a May mornynge on maluerne hulles Me bifel a ferly of fairye me thoughte I was wery forwandred and wente me to reste Vnder a brode bank by a burnes syde And as I lay and lened and loked in the watres I slombred in a slepyng{tail} it sweyued so merye Than gan I meteto meten a merueillous sweuene that I was in a wildernesse wist I neuere where As I bihelde in-to the Est an heigh to the sonne I seigh a Tour on a toft trielich{bar} ymaked A depe dale bynethe a dongeonther-Inne With depe diches and derke & dredful of sight A faire felde ful of folke fond I there bitwene Of alle manere of men the mene & the riche Worchyng{tail} and wandrynge as the world asketh Som put hem to the plowe pleyed ful selde In settyng{tail} and in sowyng{tail} swonken ful harde And wonnen that wastours with{bar} glotonye destroyeth And som putten hem to pride apparailled hem ther-aftere In countenaunce of clothynge comen disgised In preyers and in penaunce puten hem many Alfor the loue of oure lorde lyueden ful streyte In hope for to haue heuene-riche blisse As Ancres and heremites þat holden hem in hir selles And coueiten nought in contree to carien aboute For no likerous liflode hir likham to plese And som chosen chaffare they cheuen the bettre As it semeth to oure sight that swich men thryueth{bar} And som murthes to make as mynstrallez konneth{bar} And geten gold with hir glee synnelees I leue As Iapers and Iangelers Iudas clildrenc[h]ildren That feynen hem fantasies and foles hem maketh{bar} And han hir wit at wille to worchen if they sholde That poule precheth{bar} of hem I nyl nouȝt{tail} preue it here Qui turpiloquium loquitur & cetera isis luciferes knaue Bidders and beggers faste aboute yede With hir bely and hir bagge of brede ful ycrammed{tail} Fayteden for hir foode foughten atte ale In glotonye god it woot gon they to bedde And risen with ribaudie tho roberdes knaues Slepe and sory sleuthe seweth hem euere ¶ Pylgrimes and palmers plighted hem togidres To seke seint Iames and seyntes in Rome They wente forþ in hir wey with many wise tales And hadden leue for to lye al hir lif after I seigh some þat seiden they had ysought seyntes To ech a tale that they tolde hir tonge was tempred to lye More than to sey soth it semed by hir speche ¶ Heremites on an hepe with hoked staues Wenten towalsyngham and hir wenches after Grete lobies and longe that loth were to swynke Clothed hem in copes to ben knowen fram othere And shopen hemheremites hir ese to haue ¶I fonde there Freres alle the foure ordres Preched the peple for profit of hem-selue Glosed the gospel as hem goode liked{tail} For coueitise of copes construyed it as they wolde Many of thise maistrees freres mowe clothen hem at likyng{tail} For hir monoye and merchandizesmarchandise marchentogidres For sith charite hath be chapman & chief to shryue lordes Many ferlies han fallen in a fewe yeres But holy chirche and hij holdenbittrebetter togidres The moste meschief on molde is mountynge wel faste ¶ Ther preched a Pardoner a preest as he wereas he a prest were Brought forth a bulle withbisshopes seles And seide þat hym-self{tail} myghte assoilenhem alle Of falshede of fastyng{tail} and of vowes ybroken Lewed men leued hym wel and liked hise wordes Comen vp knelyng{tail} to kissen hise bulles He bonched hem with{bar} his breuet & blered hir eyes And raught with his ragman rynges & broches Thus they gyuen hir gold{tail} glotons to kepe And leneth{bar} it swhich losels þat leccherie haunten Were the bisshop yblessed or worth{bar} bothe hise eres His seel sholde nouȝt be sent to deceyue the peple Ac it is nought by the bisshop that the boy precheth For the parissh preest And the pardoner parten þe siluer That the pouere poraille of þe parissh{bar} sholde haue yf they ne were ¶ Parsones and parissh{bar} preestes playned hem to the bisshop That hir parisshes were pore sith þe pestilance tyme To haue a licence & a leueleue at london to dwelle And syngen ther for symonye for siluer is swete ¶ Bisshopes andbichilersbachelers bothe maistres and doctours That haue cure vnder Crist and crownyng{tail} in tokene And signe þat they sholden shryuen hir parisshenes Prechen & prey for hem and the pore fede Liggen in london in lenten& elles Som seruenthe kyng{tail} and his siluer tellen In Cheker and in chancerie chalengen his dettes Of wardes and wardemotes weyues and streyues ¶ And som seruen as seruantz lordes and ladies And in stede of stuwardes sitten and demen Hir masse and hir matynes and many of hir houres Arn don vndeuoutlich drede is at the laste Lest crist in consistorie acorse ful many I parceyued of the power þat peter had to kepe To bynde and to vnbynde as the book{tail} telleth{bar} How he it left{tail} with{bar} loue as our lord hight Amonges foure vertues the best of alle vertues That cardinales ben called and closyng{tail} yates Ther crist is in kyngdomto close & to shutte And to opne it to hem & heuenblisse shewe Ac of the cardinales at court / þat cauȝt of þat name And power presumed in hem a pope to make To han þat power þat Peter hadde Impungnen I nylle For in loue and lettrure þe electioun bilongeth{bar} For-thy I kan & nouȝt kancan nauȝte of court speke more ¶ Thanne cam ther a kyng{tail} knyghthode hym ladde Mighte of þe comunes made hym to regne And þanne cam kynde wit and clerkes he made For to conseil the kyng{tail} and the comune saue ¶ The kyng{tail} and knyghthode and clergie bothe Castenþatthe comune sholde hem-self{tail} fynde ¶ The comune controued of kynde wit craftes And for profit of alle þe peple plowmanplowmen he ordeynedordeygned To tilye and trauaille as trewe lif asketh{bar} The kyng{tail} and the comune & kynde wit þe thridde Shepeordeygned lawe and leaute ech man to knowe his owne ¶ Thanne loked vp a lunatik{tail} a lene thyng{tail} with{bar}-al And knelyng{tail} to the kyng{tail} clergealy he seyde Crist the kepekepe þe sir kyng{tail} and thy kyngriche And lene the to lede thy londe so leaute þe louye And for thy rightful reulynge be rewarded in heuen ¶ And sithen in the aier anheigh an angel of heuene Lowed to speke in latyn for lewed men to koudene Iangle ne Iugge that Iustifie hem sholde But suffren & seruen for-thy seide þe angel Sum rex sum princeps neuturumneutrumneutrum fortasse deinceps O qui iura regis Cristi specialia Regis Hoc quod agas melius iustus es esto pius Nudum ius a te vestiri vult pietate Qualia vis metere talia grana sere Si ius nudatur nudo de iure metatur Si seritur pietas de pietate metas ¶ Thanne greued hymahym aGoliardeys a glotonof wordes And to the angel an heigh answered after CumDum Rex a regere dicatur nomen habere Nomen habet sine re nisi studet iura tenere ¶ Than gan althe comune crie in vers of latyn To the kynges conseil construe who-so wolde Precepta Regis sunt nobis vincula legis ¶ With þat ran ther a route of Ratons atones And smale mys with hem mo þan a thousand{tail} And comen to a counseil for the comune profit For a cat{tail} of a Courte cam whan hym liked And ouer-lepe hem lightlich & laughte hem at his wille And pleyede with hem parilously & passed hem aboute For doute of diuerse dredes we dar nat wel loke And yf we grucche at his gamen he wol greue vs alle Cracche vs & clowe vs & in his clouches holde That vs lotheth{bar} þe lif{tail} er he lat vs passe Mighte we with any wit / his wille withstonde We mighte be lordes a-lofte & lyuen at oure ese ¶ A raton of renoun moost renable of tonge Seide for a souereyn help to hym-selue I haue yseyn segges quod he in þe Cite of london Beren bighes ful bright aboute hir nekkes And som colersof crafty werk{tail} vncouplede þey wenden Bothe in wareyn & in waste where hem leue liketh And other-while they aren elles-where as I here telle Were þer a belle on hir biȝes by Ihesu as me thynketh{bar} Men myghte wite where they wente & away renne And right so quod þat raton reson me sheweth{bar} To bugge a belle of bras or of bright siluer And knytten it on a coler for oure comune profit And hangen it vp-onthe cattes hals þanne here we mowen Where þat he rit or reste or romethrenneth to pleye And if hemhim liste for to laike þanne loke we mowen And peren in his presence ther while hym pley liketh{bar} And if hym wrattheth be ywar & his wey shonye ¶ Al this route of ratons to this reson they assented Ac tho the belle was I-bouȝte and on þe biȝe hanged{tail}a iij Ther ne was raton in al þe route for al þe reame of Fraunce fre That{tail} dorst haue ybounden þe belle aboute þe cattes nekke Ne hangen it aboute þe cattes hals alEngelond to wynne And helden hem vnhardy and hir conseil fieble And leten hir labour lost and hir longe studie ¶ A mous that muche good kouthe as me thoughte Stroke forth sternely & stode biforn hem alle And to the route of ratons reherced thise wordes Though we kulle the cat yet sholde ther come another To cracchy vs & al oure kynde though we crepe vnder benches For-thy I counseille al the comune to late þe catte worthe And be we neuere so bolde the belle hym to shewe For Iherde my sire seyn is seuene yere ypassed Ther þe catte is a kyton the Court{tail} is ful elenge That witnesseth holy writwhoso wol it rede Ve terre vbi puer Rex est & cetera ¶ For may no renke ther rest haue for ratons by nyght{tail} The while he caccheth conynges he coueiteth nouȝt oure caroyne But fet hym al with venyson defame we hym neuere For bettre is a litel losse than a longe sorwe The mase among{tail} vs alle though we mysse a shrewe For many mannesmannus malte we mys wolde destroye And also the route of ratons rende mannes clothes Ther that catte of that Court / that kan yow ouer-lepe For had þeȝe rattes youre wille ȝe kouthe nouȝt reule ȝour-selue I say for me quod þe mous I se so mykel aftere Shal neuere þe catte ne the kyton by my conseil be greuede Ne carpyng{tail} of þis coler that coste me neuere And though it had coste me catel biknowen it I nolde But suffre as hym-self{tail} wolde to do ashymliketh{bar} Coupled and vncoupled to cacche what þey mowe For-thy ich a wise wight I warne wite welhis owne ¶ What thise meteles bymeneth ye men þat beth murye Deuyne ye for Ine dar by dere god in heuene ¶ Yet houed ther an hondred in howues of silk{tail} Sergeantz it semed þat serueden at the barre Plededen for penyes and poundes the lawe And nouȝt for loue of oure lord vnlose hir lippes ones Thow myghtest bettre mete þe myste on Maluerne hulles Than gete a wordemomme of hir mouthe but moneye were shewed{tail} ¶ Barons and burgeys and bondmen als I seigh in this assemble as ye shul here after Baxsters and brewesters and bochers many Wolne websters anan[d] weuers of lynnen Taillours and Tynkers and tollers in Markates Masons and Mynours and many other craftes Of alkyn libynge laborers lepenlopenforth somme As dikers & deluers that done hir dedes ille And dryuen forth þe longe day with dieu vous saue dame Emme Cokes and hir knauesCrieden hote pies hote Goode gris and gees go we dyne go we Tauerners vn-tilhem tolde the same White wyne of Oseye and rede wyne of Gascoigne Of the Ryne and of þe Rochel the roste to diffyen ¶ Passus Primus de visione What þis mounteigne bymeneth & þe merke dale And þe felde ful of folk I shal yow faire shewe A louely lady of lire in lynnen yclothed Com doun from a Castel and called me faire And seide sone slepestow sestow this peple How bisy they ben aboute the mase The moost{tail} partie of this peple þat passeth on þeþis erthe Haue they worship in þis world{tail} they wilnen no bettre Of other heuene than here holde they no tale I was afered of hir face though she faire were And seyde mercy ma-dame what is this to mene The tour vp the toft quod she treuthe is there-Inne And wolde þat ye wroughten as his word techeth For he is fader of feyth fourmed yow alle Both with felle & with face & yaf yow fyue wyttes For to worship hym ther-with þe while þe yeþat ye ben here And ther-fore he highte þe erthe to helpe ȝow echone Of wollen of lynnen of liflode at nede In mesurable manere to make yow at esea iiij And comaunded of his curtesie in comune three thynges Aren non nedeful but tho and nempne hem I thenke And rekene hem by reson rehercereherce þow hem after That on is vesture from chele the to saue And mete at mele for myseyse of thy-selue And drynk whan thow dryest ac do nouȝt out of reson That thow worth{bar} the werse whan thow worche sholdest{tail} For loth in his lifdayes for likyng{tail} of drynk{tail} Dide by hise doutghtres that the deuel liked Delited hym in drynk as the deuel wolde And leccherie hym laughte & lay by hem bothe And al he witedwitt it the wyne that wikked dede Inebriemus eum vino dormiamus cum eo & ceteraeo vt seruare possimus de patre nostro semen Thorugh wyne & thorugh womman ther was was [loth]was loth acombred And ther he gate in glotonie gerles þat were cherles For-thy drede delitable drynke & thow shalt do þe bettre Mesure is medicyne though thow muche yerne It is nauȝt al good to þe goost that the gutte axeth{bar} Ne liflode to thy likham þat leue is to the soule Leue nauȝt thy likham for a lyer hym techeth That is the wrecched world wolde the bitraye For theyþe fende and thy flessh{bar} folweth þe togidres This and þat seestseeþ thy soule soule · and seith it in thyn herte And for thow sholdest ben yware I wisse þeþe þe beste ¶ Ma-dame mercy quod I me liketh{bar} wel youre wordes Ac the moneye of this molde þat men so faste holdeth Telle me to wom ma-dame þat tresore appendeth{bar} ¶ Go to the gospel quod she þat god seide hym-seluen Tho the peple hym apposed with a peny in þe temple Whether they sholde ther-with worshipe þe kyng{tail} Cesar And god axed of hem of whom spak the lettre And the ymage ylike that ther-Inne stondeth Cesaris they seide we seen hym wel echone ¶ Reddite Cesari quod god that to Cesarcesari bifalleth{bar} Et que sunt dei deo or elles ye don{curl} ille For rightful reson sholde rule yow alle And kynde wit be wardeyn youre welthe to kepe And Tutour o.f youre tresoure toand take it yow at nede For housbondrie and hij holden to-gidres Than I frayned hir faire for hym þat mehir made That dongeoun in the dale that dredful is of sighte What may it be to mene ma-dame I yow biseche ¶ That is the Castell{bar} of care who-so cometh ther-Inne May banne þat he borne was to body or to soule Ther-Inne wonyeth a wight that wronge is I-hote Fader of falshede and founded it hym-selue Adam and Eue he egged to ille Conseilled Caym to kulle his brother Iudas he Iaped with Iuwen siluer And sithen on an Eller honged hym after He is letter{curl} of loue and lyeth hem alle That trusten on his tresore bitrayeth he sonnest ¶ Thanne had I wondre in my wit what womman it were That{tail} swich wise wordes of holy writ shewed And asked hir on the heigh name er she thennes yede What she were witerly that wissed me so faire ¶ Holicherche I am quod she thow oughtest me to knowe I vnderfenge the first and the feyth taughte And broughtest me borwes my biddynge to fulfille And to loue me lealy the while theþi lif dureth{bar} ¶ Than I courbede on my knees and cried hir of grace And preyed hir pitously prey for my synnes And also kenne me kyndely on crist to bileue That I myght worchen his wille þat wrought me to man Teche me to no tresore but telle me this ilke How I may saue my soule that seint art holdenyholden ¶ Whan alle tresores ben tried quod she treuthe is the beste I do it on deus caritas to deme the sothe It is as derworth a drewerie as dere god hym-seluen Who-so is trewe of his tonge and telleth non other And doth the werkes ther-with & wilneth no man ille He is a god by the gospel a-grounde and a-loft{tail} And ylike to oure lord by seynt lukes wordes þe clerkes þat konwethk[no]wethknoweth this sholde kenne it aboute For cristen and vncristen claymeth it vchone ¶ Kynges and knyghtez sholde kepe it by reson Riden and rependoun{curl}repen doun{curl} in reames aboute And taken transgressorez and tyen hem faste Til treuthe had I-termyned hir trespas to þe ende And that is the profession apertly þat appendeth to knyghtes And nouȝt to fasten a Fryday in fyue score wynter But holden with hym & with hir þat wolden al treuthe And neuere leue hem for loue ne for lacchyng{tail} of siluer ¶ For dauid in his dayes dobbesdubbed knyghtes And dide hem swere on hir swerd serueto serue treuthe euere And who-so passed þat poynt iswas Apostata in þe ordre ¶ But Crist kyngen kyng{tail} knyghted ten Cheruben and seraphyn suche seuene & another And yaf hem myght in his mgageste þe muryer hem thouȝte And ouer his mene meyne made hem hishem Archangels ThauȝteTauȝteTauȝte hem by þe Trinite treuthe to knowe To be buxom at his biddyng{tail} he bad hem nouȝt elles ¶ Lucifer with legiones lerned it in heuene But for he brake buxomnesse his blis gan he tyne And fel fro that felawship in-toin a fendes likenesse In-to a depe derke helle to dwelle ther for euere And mo thousandes with hym than man kouthe nombre Loupen out{tail} with lucifer in lothelich forme For they leueden vp-on hym þat lyed in this manere Ponam pedem in aquilone et similis ero altissimo ¶ And alle þat heoped it myght be so non heuene myghte hem holde But fellen out in fendes likenesse nyne dayes togidres Til god of his goodnesse gan stable & stynte And garte the heuene to steke and stonden in ¶ Whan thise wikked went out wonder wise they fellen Som in ertheeyre som in the eirerthe & som in helle depe Ac lucifer lowest lith of hem alle For pride þat he put forthout his peyne hath non ende And alle that worcheth with wronge wenden hij shulle After hir dededeth day and ;2*** dwelle with that sherewe Ac tho that worche wel as holy writ telleth And enden as I er seide in treuthe that is besteþe best Mowe be siker that hir soule shal wende to heuene Ther istreuthe is in Trinite and troneth hem alle For-thy I sey as I seyde er by þebi sight of thise textis Whan alle tresores aren ytried than treuthetreuthe is þe beste Lereth it thise lewed men for lettred men it knowe That treuthe is tresore the triest on erthe ¶ Yet haue I no kynde knowyng{tail} quod I yet mot ye kenne me better By what craft in my corps it comseth and where ¶ Thow doted daffe quod she dulle aren thy wittes To litel latyn thow lernedest lede in þi youthe Heu michi quia sterilem duxi vitam Iuuenilem ¶ It is a kynde knowyng{tail} quod she þat kenneth in thyn herte For to louye thy lord leuere than thy-seluenselue No dedly synne that thow do deye though thow sholdest This I trowe be treuthe who kan teche þe bettre ¶ Loke thow suffre hym to sey and sithen lere it after For thus witnesseth his word worche thow ther-after For treuthe telleth þat loue is triacle inof heuene May no synne be on hym sene þat vsethe þat spice And al hise werkes he wroughte with loue as hym liste And lered it moyses for þe leuest þyng{tail} & most like to heuene And also the planetesplente of pees most preciouse of vertues ¶ For heuene myght{tail} naught holden it it was so heuy of hym-self{tail} Til it had of the erthe eten his fille ¶ And whan heit hadde of this folde flessh{bar} & blode taken Was neuere leef vp-on lynde lighter ther-after And portatif and parsaunt as þe poynt{tail} of a nedele That myghte non armurre it lette ne noun heigh walles For-thy is loue leder of the lordes folk{tail} of heuene And a mene as the Mair is bitwixe þe kyng{tail} & þe comune Right so is loue a leder and the lawe shapeth Vp-on man for his mysdedes the mercyment he taxeth And for to knowe it kyndly it cometh{bar}comseth by myghte And in þe herte ther is the hed and the heigh welle For in kynde knowyng{tail} in herte ther a myghte bigynneth And that falleth to the fader þat formed vs alle Loked on vs with loue and lete his sone deye Mekely for oure mysdedes to amende vs alle And yet wolde he hem no wo þat wrouȝte hym þat peyne But mekelyche with mouthe mercy he bisoughte To haue pitee ofon that peple that peyned hym to deth ¶ Here myghtestow se ensamples in hym-selue oone That he was myghtful & meke and mercy gan graunte To hem þat honged hym an heigh and his herte thirled ¶ For-thy I rede yow riche haue reuthe ofon the pouere Though ye be myghtful to mote beth meke in your werkes For the same mesures þat ye mete amys other elles Ye shullen ben weyen ther-with whan ye wende hennes Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis ¶ For though ye be trwe of youre tonge & trewelich wynne And as chaste as a childe þat in chirche wepeth But if ye louen lealyche and lene the poure Swich goode as god yow sent goodlich parteth{bar} Ye ne haue na more merite in masse ne in houres Than makyn of hir maydenhode þat no man desireth ¶ For Iames the gentil Iugged in hise bokes That feith with-outen faitþe faite is right no thyng{tail} worthy And as dede as a dore tree but yf þe dedes folwe Fides sine operibus mortua est & cetera ¶ For-thy chastite with-oute charite worth cheyned in helle It is as lewed as a laumpe that no light is Inne ¶ Many chapeleyns aren chaste ac charite is a-wey Aren no maen auarouser than hij whan they ben auaunced Vnkynde to hir kyndekyn and to alle cristne Chewen hir charite and chiden after more Swich chastite with-outen charite worth cheyned in helle ¶ Many creaturscuratoures kepen hem clene of hir bodies They ben acombred with coueitise þey konne nouȝt don it fram hem So harde hath auerice yhasped hem togidres And þat is no treuthe of þe Trinite but trecherie of helle And lernedlernyng to lewed men the latter for to dele For-thy thise wordes ben writen in the gospel Dato & dabitur vobis for I dele yow alle And þat is the lokke of loue and lateth out my grace To confort the carful acombred with synne ¶ Loue is leche of lif and next oure lord hym-seluenselue And also the graythe gate that goth in-to heuene For-thy I say as I seyde ere by the textes Whan alle tresores ben ytried treuthe is the beste Now haue I tolde ye what treuthe is þat no tresore is bettre I may no lenger lenge ye with now loke ye oure lord ¶ Passus secundus de Visione Ȝet I courbed on my knees and cried hir of grace And seyde mercy ma-dame for marie loue of heuene That bar þat blisful barne þat bought vs on þe rode LerneKenne me by som craft to knowe the fals Loke vp-on thy left{tail} half and lo wher he stondeth Both fals and fauel and bhir feres many ¶ I loked on my left half as þe lady me thaughte And was war of a woman worthyly yclothed Purfiled with pelure the fynest vp-on erthe Ycrouned with a croune the kyng{tail} hath non bettere Fetislich hir fyngres were fretted with gold wire And ther-on rede rubies as rede as any glede And diamauntz of derrest pris & double manere saphers Orientales and ewages envenymes to destroie Hir robe was ful riche of rede scarlet greynedeengreyned With rubiesribanes of rede gold and of riche stones Hir array me rauysshed suche richesse saw I neuere I had wonder what she was and whos wif{tail} she were ¶ What is this womman quod I so worthily atired ¶ That is Mede þe mayde quod she hath anoyednoyed me ful ofte And ylakked my lemman þat leaute is hoten And bilowen hir to lordes that lawes han to kepe In the popes paleys isshe is priue as my -seruese[l]ueselue But sothnesse wolde nouȝt so for she is a bastard{tail} ¶ For fals was hir fader that haddehath a fikel tonge And neuere soth seyde siþ he come tilto erthe And mede is manered after hym right as kynde axeth QalisQ[u]alisQualis pater talis filius bona arbor bonum fructum facit I aughte ben hyer than she I cam of a bettre My fader the grete god is and grounde of alle graces O god with-outen gynnynge and I his goode doughter And hath yueȝoue me mercy to marie with my-self{tail} And what man be merciful and lealy me loue Shal be my lord and I his lief{tail} in þe heigh heuene ¶ And what man taketh mede my lif{tail}myne hed dar I legge That he shal lese for hir loue a lippelappe of caritatis How construeth dauid the kyng{tail} of men þat taketh mede And men of this molde þat maynteneth treuthe And how ye shul saue yow-self{tail} þe sauter bereth witnesse Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo & cetera ¶ And now worth this Mede ymaried al to a mansed shrewe To on fals fikel tonge a fendes biȝete Fauel thorugh his faire speche hath þis folk{tail} enchaunted And al is lyers ledyng{tail} þat she is thus ywedded To-morwe worth ymade þe maydenes bridale And þer myghte þou wite yf þou wolt which þey ben alle That longeth to þat lordship the lasse & the more Knowe hem ther if þou kanst and kepe welom. þi tonge And lakke hem nouȝt but lat hem worthe til leaute be Iustice And haue power to punysshenpunysshe hem þanne put forth þy reson ¶ Now I bykenne the Crist quod she and his clene moder And lat{tail} no conscience acombre the for coueitise of Mede ¶ Thus left me that lady liggynge a-slepe And how mede was ymaried in metels me thoughte That alle the riche retenaunce þat regneth with þe fals Were boden to the bridale on bothe two sydes Of alle manere of men the mene & the riche To maryee this mayden was many man assembled As of knyghtes and clerkes and otheothe[r]other comune peple As sisours and somponours shireues and hir clerkes Bedelles and Baillifs ada[n]dand Brokours of chaffare Forgoers and vitaillers and vocates of the arches I can nat rekene the route that ran aboute Mede ¶ Ac symonye and Ciuile and sisours of Courtes Were moost pryue with Mede of any men me thoughte Ac fauel was the first that fette hir out of boure And as a brokour broughte hir to be with þewith fals enioigned Whan symonie and Ciuile seigh hir baþre wille They assented for siluer to sey as bothe wolde Than lepe lyer forth and seyde lo here a chartre That gile with hise grete othes gaf hem to-gidres And preyde Ciuile to se and simonye to rede it Thanne symonye & Ciuile stodenstonden forth bothe And vnfolden the feffement that fals hath ymaked And thus bigynnen thise gemesg[o]mesgomes to greden ful heigh Sciant presentes & futuri & cetera ¶ Witteth and witnesseth that wonyeth vp-on this erthe That Mede is ymaried more for hir goodes Than for any vertue of fairnesse or foror any fre kȝynde Falsnesse is fayn of hir for he wote hir riche And Fauel with his fikel speche feffeth by this chartre To be princes in pride and pouerte to dispise To bakbite and to bosten and bere fals witnesse To scorne & to skolde and sclaundre to make Vnbuxom and bolde to breke the ten hestes ¶ And the Erldom of enuye and wratthe togidres With the chastilet of cheste & chateryng{tail} out of reson The Cuntee of coueitise and alle the costes aboute That is vsure and auarice alle I hem graunte In bargaynes and in brocages with al þe burgh of theft{tail} ¶ And al the lordship of leccherie in lengthe & in brede As in werkes and in wordes and waytynges with eyes And in wedes and wisshynges & with ydel thoughtes Ther as wille ne woldewolde werkmanshipand werkmanschipe failleth ¶ Glotonye he gaf hem eke and grete othes togidres And alday to drynke at diuersesdiuersedyuerse tauernes And ther to Iangle & to Iape & Iuge hir euene-cristne And in fastyngdayes to frete er ful tyme were And than to sitten & soupen til slepe hem assaille And breden as burgh swyn & bedden hem esily Til sleuthe and slepe sliken hir sides And thanne wanhope to a-wake hym so with no wille to amende For he leueth be bost[l]ost lost this es hir last ende ¶ And they to haue & to holde and hir heires after A dwellyng{tail} with þe deuel and dampned be for euere With alle þe purtenaunce of purgatorie in-to þe pyne of helle Yeldyng{tail} for this thyng{tail} at oone yeres ende Hir soules to sathan to suffre with hym peynes And with hym to wonye in wo while god is in heuene ¶ In witnesse of whiche thyng{tail} wrong{tail} was þe first And piers the pardoner of paulynes doctrine Bette the bedel of / Bekyngham-shireBokyngham-shire Reynald the Reue of Rutland Sokene MaudeMunde the Mellare and many mo other In the date of the deuel theþis dede I assele By sighte of sir symonye and Ciuiles leue ¶ Thanne tened hym Theologie whan he þis tale herde And seyd to Ciuile now sorwe mote thow haue Suche weddynges Suche weddynges to makeworche to wratthe with treuthe And er this weddyng{tail} be wrouȝt wo the bitide ¶ For mede is moylere of amendes engendrethengendred And god grauntedgraunteth to gif / mede to truthe And þou hast gyuen hir to a gilour now god gif þe sorwe TheThi text telleth þe nouȝt so treuthe wote þe sothe For dignus est operarius his hir to haue And thow hast feste hir to fals fy on thi lawe For aba[l]al by lesynges þou lyuest and lecherouse werkes Symony & thi-self / shenden holicherche The notaries and ye ;2 noyeth the peple Ye shul abiggen it both by god that me made Wel ye witen wernardes but if your wit faille That fals is faitheles and fikel in his werkes And was a bastard ybore of Belsabubes kynne And mede is moyleriemoylere a mayden of good And myght kisse the kynge for cosyn & she wolde ¶ Forthy worcheth by wisdome and by wit also And ledeth hir to londoun ther lawe is yshewed Yf any lawe wol loke they ligge togideres And though Iustices Iugge hir to be Ioigned with fals Yet beth war of weddyng{tail} for witty is treuthe And conscience is of his counseil & knoweth yow echone And if he fynde yow in defaute & with þe fals holde It shal bisette youre soules ful soure atatte laste ¶ Herto assenteth Ciuile ac symonye ne wolde Til he had siluir for his seruice & also þe notaries Thanne fette Fauel forth floreyns ynowe And bad gile to gyue gold al aboute And nameliche to þe notaries that hem non ne faillefaille And feffe fals witnesse with floreyns ynowe For they may Mede amaistrie & maken at my wille Tho this gold was gyue grete was the thonkynge To Fals and to Fauel for hir faire yiftes And comen to comfort fram care the fals And seyden certes sire cese shal we neuere Til Mede be thy wedded{tail} wif through wittes of vs alle For we haue Mede amaistried with oure mery speche That she graunteth to gon with a goode wille To londoun to loke if that the lawe wolde Iugge yow ioyntliche in ioie for euere ¶ Thanne was falsnesse fayne & Fauel as blithe And leten sompne alle segges in shires aboute And bad hem alle be bown beggers and othereb j To wende with hem to westmynstre to witnesse this dede ¶ Ac thanne cared they for caples to carien hem thider And fauell{bar} fette forth þanne fooles ynowe And sette Mede vp-on a shireue shodde al newe And Fals sat on a sisour that softlich trotted And Fauele on a flaterere fetislich atired ¶ Tho hadde notaries noun anoyed they were For simonye and Ciuile sholde on hir feet gange ¶ Ac thanne swore symonie and Ciuile bothe That sompnourz sholde be sadled and serue hem vchone And lat apparaille thise prouisours in palfreys wise Sire simonye hirhymhym-seluen shal sitte vp-on hir bakkes ¶ Deanes and suddenes draw yow togidres Erchedekenes and Officials and alle youre Registres Lat sadel hem with siluer oure synne to suffre As auoutrie and deuorses and derne vsurie To bere bisshopes aboute abrood in visitynge ¶ Paulynes priues for pleyntes in the Consistorie Shal serue my-self{tail} that Ciuile is nempned And cartesadel oure Comissarie oure carte shal he lede And fecchen vs vitailles at{tail} Fornicatores ¶ And maketh of lyere a longe carte to lede alle thise other As freres and faitours that on hire fete rennen And thus fals and fauel fareth forth togidres And Mede in the myddes and alle thise other after ¶ I haue no tome to telle the taile that hem folweth Of many manere man that on this molde libbeth{bar} Ac gile was for-goer and gyed hem alle ¶ Sothenesse seigh hym wel and seyde but a litel And priked his palfrey and passed hem alle And com to the kynges Court & consciens it tolde And conscience to the kyng{tail} carped it after ¶ Now by crist quod the kyng and I cacche myghte Fals or fauel or any of his feres I wold be wroke of þeþo wrecches þat worcheth so ille And don hem hange by the hals & alle þat hem maynteneth Shal neuere man of molde maynprise þe leste But righrigh[t]riȝt as the lawe wol look{tail} lat falle on hem alle And comanded a Conestable atteþat come atte first To attache tho tirauntz for any thyng I hote And fettereth faste falsnesse for any kynnes yiftes And girdeth of giles hede and lat hym go no forthere And if ye lacche lyer lat hym nought escapen Er he be put on pilorie for any preyer I hote ¶ Drede atte dore stode and the dome herde And how the kyng{tail} comanded conestables and sergeantz Falsnesse and his felawship to fetteren & to bynde Thanne drede went wightliche and warned þe fals And bad hemhym flee for fere & his falawes alle ¶ Falsnesse for fere þanne fleigh to tototo the freres And gile doth hym to godgo agast for to dye Ac marchauntz mette with hym & made hym abide And bishetten hym in hir shope to shewen hir ware And apparailled hym as a prentys the peple to serue ¶ Lightlich lyer lepe awey thanne Lurkyng{tail} thorugh lanes to-lugged of manye He was nowher welcome for hise many tales Ouer al I-howted and I-hote trusse Til pardoners hadde pite & pulled hym in-to house They wesshed hym and wiped hym & wounden in cloutes And sente hym with seles on sondayes to chirche And gaf pardoun for pens poundemele aboute ¶ Thanne loured leches and lettres they sente That he sholde wonye with hem lettreswateres to loke Spicers spoke with hym to spyen hire ware For he kouthe of hir craft / & knewe many gommes ¶ Ac mynstralles and messagers mette with hym ons And helden hym an half yere and elleuene dayes ¶ Freres with hirwith faire speche fetten hym thennes And for knowyng{tail} of comers coped hym as a frere Ac he hath leue to lepe out as oft as hym likedliketh And is welcome whan he wille & wonyeth with hem ofte ¶ Alle fledden for fere and flowen in-to hernes Saue Mede the maide namo durst abide Ac trewely to telle she trembled for drede And ek{tail} wepte & wronge{tail} whan she was attachede ¶ Passus tercius de Visione vt suprab ij Now is Mede ;2a the mayde and namona mo of hem alle With bedelles & with baillifs brouȝt bifore þe [kyng] The kyng{tail} called a clerk{tail} kan I naught his name To take Mede the mayde and make hir at ese I shal assaye hir my-self{tail} and sothlich apose What man of this molde þat hir were leuest{tail} And if she worche by my wit and my wille folwe I wol forgyue hir this gilt so me god helpe ¶ Curteisliche the Clerk{tail} ;2a thanne as þe kyng{tail} highte Took Mede ;2a by the mydel and brouȝte hir in-to chambre And ther was murthe and mynstralcye Mede ;2a to plese ¶ They þat wonyeth in westmynstre worshiped hir alle Gentilich with Ioie the Iustices somme Busked hem to the boure ther þe birde dwelled To confort hir kyndely by clergise leue And seyde mourne thow nought Mede ne þou no sorwe For we wisse the kyng{tail} ;2a and thy way shape To be wedded at þi wille and wher the loue liketh For al conscience caste or craft as I trowe ¶ Mildeliche Mede ;2a thanne mercied hem alle Of ther grete goodnesse and gaf hem echone Coupes of clene golde and coppes of siluere Rynges with rubies and richesses manye The lest mane of hir meyne a motoun of golde Thanne laughte they leue thise lordes at Mede ¶ With that comen clerkes to confort hir the same To loue hem lealy and lordes to make And in the Consistorie atte Court do calle hir names Shal no lewednesse lette the leode þat I louye That he ne worth first auansed for I am biknowen Ther konnyng{tail} clerkes shul clokke bihynde ¶ Thanne com ther a confessour coped as a Frere To Mede the mayde he medled thise wordes And seide ful softly in shrift as it were Theigh lewed men and lered men had leyn by þe bothe And falsnesse hadde folwed þe al thise fifty wynter I shal assoille the my-self{tail} for a seme of whete And also be thy bedeman and bere wel thy message Amonges knyghtes and clerkes conscience ;2 to torne ¶ Thanne Mede for hir mysdedes to that man kneled And shroue hir of hir shrewednesse shamelees I trowe Tolde hym a tale and took{tail} hym a noble For to ben hir bedeman and hir brokour als ¶ Thanne he assoilled hir sone and sithen he seide We haue a wyndow a ;2a- wirchyng{tail} wol sithen vs ful heigh Woldestow glase þat gable and graue ther-Inne thy name Siker sholde thy soule be heuene to haue ¶ Wist I that quod that womman I wold nouȝt spare For to be your frende frere and faille yow neuere While ye loue lordes that leccherie haunteth And lakketh nouȝt ladies þat loueth wel þe same It is a frelete of flessh ye fynde it in your bokes And a course of kynde where-of we comen alle Who may scape þe sclaundre the scathe is sone amended It is synne of the seuene sonnest relessed{tail} ¶ Haue mercy quod Mede of men that it haunte And I shal couere youre kirk{tail} your cloistre do maken Wowes do whiten and wyndowes glasien Do peynten and purtreye & paye for the makynge That euery segge shal seyn I am suster of your hous ¶ Ac god to alle good folk{tail} swich grauyng{tail} defendeth To writen in wyndowes of hir wel dedes On auenture pride be peynted ther & pompe of þe world For crist knoweth thy conscience & thy kynde wille And thy coste & thy coueitise & who the catelle oughte For-thy I lere yow lordes leueth swiche werkes To writen in wyndowes of your wele dedes Or to greden after goddes men whan ye delen doles On auenture ye han your hire here & your heuene als Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra ;2a Late nat thy left half{tail} late ne rathe Wite what thow worchest with thy right syde For thus bit the gospelle good men do hir almesse ¶ Maires and maceres that menes ben bitwene The kyng and the comune to kepe the lawesb iij To punysshen on pilories and pynyng{tail} stoles Brewesters and Baxsters bochers and Cookes For thise aren men on this molde þat most harme worcheth{bar} To the pore peple that parcelmele buggen For they poysen the peple priuelich{bar} and ofte They richen thorugh regraterie and rentes hem buggen With that þe pouere peple sholde put in hir wombe For took{tail} they on trewely they tymbred nouȝt so heigh Ne boughte non burgages be ye ful certeyn ¶ Ac Mede the mayde the Mair hath bisoughte Of alle swiche sellers siluer to take Or presentes with-oute pens as peces of siluer Rynges or other ricchesse the regraters to mayntene ¶ For my loue quod þat lady loue hem echone And suffre hem to selle somdele ayeins resoun ¶ Salamon the sage a sermon he made For to amende Maires and men that kepen lawes And tolde hem this teme that I telle thenke Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera & cetera Amonges thise lettred leodes this latyn is to mene That fir shal falle and brenne al to bloo askes The houses and the homes of hem þat desireth Yiftes or yeresyues by cause of hir offices ¶ The kyng{tail} from counseil cam & called after Mede And of sente hir als swithe with sergeantz manye That broughten hir to boure with blisse & with Ioie ¶ Curteisliche the kyng thanne comsed to telle To Mede the mayde melleth{bar} thise wordes Vnwittily womman wrought hastow ofte Ac worse wroughtestow neuere thanne tho þou took fals But I forgyue the that gilte & graunte þe my grace Hennes to thy deth day do so no more ¶ I haue a kynght conscience cam late fro biyonde If he wilneth the to wif woltow hym haue ¶ Ye lord quod that lady lord forbode elles But I be holy at youre heste late hange me soone And thanne was conscience called to come & appere Bifore the kyng and his counseil as clerkes & other Knelynge conscience ;2 & to the kyng loowted To wite what his wille were and what he do sholde ¶ Wiltow wedde this womman quod the kyng if I wol assente For she is fayn of thy felawship for to be thi make ¶ Quod conscience to the kyng crist it me ;2 forbede Ar I wedde swich a wif{tail} wo me bitide For she is frele of hir feith fikel of hir speche And maketh men mysdo many score tyme Trust of hir tresore treyeth ful manye Wyues & wydowes wantounnesse she techeth And lereth{bar} hem leccherie that{tail} loueth hir yiftes Youre fader she felled thorugh fals biheste And hath apoysounde popes and peyred holy chirche Is naught a bettre baude by hym þat me made Bitwene heuene & helle in erthe though men soughte For she is tikel of taile talwis of hire tonge As comune as a cartwey to ech a knaue þat walketh{bar} To monkes & to mynstralles to mesels in hegges Sisours and sompnours swich men hir preiseth Shireues of shires were shent if she nere For she doth men lese ;2 hir londe and hir lif ;2 bothe She leteth passe prisoners & payeth{bar} for hem ofte And gyueth the gaillers golde and grotes togidres To vnfettre the fals flee where hem liketh And taketh the trewe by the top & tyeth hem fast And hangeth hem for hatered þat harm dide neuere ¶ To be cursed in Consistorie she counteth nouȝt a russhe For she copeth the Comissarie & coteth hise clerkes She is assoilled as sone as hir-self{tail} liketh And may neigh as muche do in a moneth ones As youre secret seal in six score dayes For she is priue with the pope prouisours it knoweth For sire simonye and hir-self seleth hir bulles She blesseth thise Bisshopes theigh they be lewed Prouendreth parsons and prestes maynteneth To haue lemmannes and lotebies al hir lyue dayes And bryngen forth barnes ayenes fobode lawes Ther she is wel with the kyng{tail} wo is the reame For she is fauorable to the fals and sowleth{bar} treuthe ofte By Ihesus with hir Iueles your Iustices she shendethb iiij ;2 And lith ayein the lawe ;2 and letteth hym the gate That feith may nought haue his forth hir floreyns go so thikke She ledeth the lawe as hir leste and louedayes maketh And doth men lese thorugh hir loue þat lawe myghte wynnen The mase for a mene man though he mote here euere Lawe is so lordlich and loth to make ende With-oute presentes or pens she pleseth wel fewe ¶ Barons and Burgeys she bryngeth in sorwe And alle the comune in care þat coueiten lyue in trouthe For clergie and coueitise she coupleth togidres This is the lif of that lady now lord yeue hir sorwe And alle þat maynteneth hir men meschaunce hem bitide For pore men mowe haue no power to pleyne hem though þei smerte Swich a maistre is Mede amonge men of goode ¶ Thanne morned Mede and mened hir to the kyng{tail} ;2a To haue space to speke spede if she myghte ¶ The kyng graunted hir grace with{bar} a goode wille Excuse the if thow kanst{tail} I kan namorena more seggen For conscience accuseth the to congeye the for euere ¶ Nay lord quod that lady leueth hym the worse Whan ye witen witerly wher the wronge liggeth{bar} Ther that meschief is grete Mede may helpen And thow knowest conscience I cam nouȝt to chide Ne depraue thy persone with a proude wille Wel thow woost Warnard but if thow wolt gabbe Thow hanged on myn half elleuene tymes And also griped my golde gyue it where the liked And why thow wratthest the now wonder me thenketh Yet I may as I myghte menske the with yiftes And mayntene thy manhode more than þou knoweste ¶ Ac thow hast famed me foule byfore the kyng here For kulled I neuere no kyng{tail} ne counseilled ther-after Ne dede as thow demest i do me on the kyng{tail} ;2a ¶ In Normandie ;2a was he nouȝt noyede for my sake Ac thow thi-self sothely shamedest hym ofte Crope in-to a cabaun for colde of thy nayles Wendest þat wyntere wolde haue lasted euere And draddest to be dede for a dym cloude And hiedest homward{tail} for hunger of thy wombe With-oute pite pilour pore men thow robbedest And bare hir bras at thy bakke to caleys to selle Ther I lefte with my lord his lif for to saue I made his men mery and mournyng{tail} letted I batered hem on the bak and bolded hir hertes And dide hem hoppe for hope to haue me at wille Hadde I ben Marschal of hise men by Mary ;2a of heuene I durst haue leyd my lif{tail} ;2 and no lasse wedde He sholde haue be lord of þat londe a lengthe & a brede And also kyng of that kitthe his kynne for to helpe The leste brolle of his blood a barons pere Cowardliche thow Conscience conseilled hym thanne To leuen his lordship for a litel siluer That is the ricchest reame þat reyne ouer-houeth ¶ It bicommeth to a kyng that kepeth the reame To yeue mede to men þat mekelich hym serueth To alienes and to alle men to honure hem with yiftes Mede maketh hym biloued and for a man holden Emperours and Erles and manere lordes For yiftes han yongmen to renne & to ride The pope and alle prelates presentes vndirfongen And medeth men hem-seluen to maintene hir lawes Seruantz for hir seruice we se wel the sothe Taken Mede of hir maistres as they mowe acorde Beggers for hir biddyng{tail} bidden men Mede Mynstralles for hir murthe mede they aske The kyng hath mede of his men to make pees in londe Men that techen children craue of hem ;2a Mede Prestes þat prechen the peple to goode aske of hem mede And masse-pens and hir mete at the mele tymes Alle kynne crafty men crauen mede of hir prentys Marchantz and Mede mote nede go togidres No wight as I wene with-oute Mede may libbe ¶ Quod the kyng{tail} to conscience by crist as me thynketh Mede is wel worthy the maistrie to haue Nay quod conscience to the kyng and kneled to the erthe Ther aren two manere of Medes my lord with youre leue That on god of his grace ;2 graunteth in his blisse To tho that wel worchen while they ben here The prophete precheth ther-of and put it in the sauter domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo ;2a ¶ Lord who shal wonye in thy wones and with thyn holy seintes Or resten in thy holy hilles ; this asketh dauid And dauid assoilleth it hym-self ; as þe sauter telleth Qui ingreditur sine maculomacul[a] & operatur Iusticiam Tho þat entren of on colour ; and of oone wille And han wroughte werkes ; with right & with resoun And he that ne vseth nauȝt ; the lif of vsurie And enfourmeth pore men ; and pursueth treuthe Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram & munera super Innocentem & cetera And al þat helpeth the Innocent and halt with þe rightful With-outen Mede doth hem goode ; and þe treuthe helpeth Swich manere men my lord ; shal haue þe first Mede Of god at a grete nede ; whan they goon hennes Ther is an other Mede mesureles þat maistres desireth To mayntene mysdoars ; mede they take And ther-of seith the sauter ; in a psalmes ende In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt dextera eorum repleta est muneribus And he that gripeth hir golde ; so me god help Shal abye it bettre ; or the book{tail} lyeth ¶ Prestes and parsons ; that plesyng{tail} desireth That taketh mede & mone ; for masses þat they syngeth Taketh hir Mede here as Mathew vs techeth Amen . Amen . recipiebant mercedem suam ¶ That laborers and lowfolk{tail} ; taketh of hir maistres It is no manere mede ; but a mesurable hire In marchaundise is no mede ; I may it wel avowe It is a permutacioun apertly ; a ; penyworth for an othere ¶ Ac reddestow neuere Regum thow recrayed Mede Why the vengeaunce fel ; on saul & on his children God sent to saul by samuel ; the prophete That agag of amalek{tail} and alle his peple after Shold deye for a dede that doun hadde hir eldres ¶ For-thy seide samuel to saul god hym-self hoteth The be buxom at his biddyng{tail} ; his wille to fulfille Wende to amalek{tail} with thyn oste ; & what þou fyndest þer slee it Bernes & bestes ; brennen hem to dede Widewes & wyues ; wommen and children Moebles and vnmoebles ; & al þat þou myght fynde Brenne it bere it nouȝt awey ; be it neuere so riche For mede nor for monoie ; look{tail} thow destroye it Spille it and spare it nouȝt ; þou shalt spede þe bettre And for he coueited hir catel ; and the kyng spared Forbare hym and his bestes boþe ; as the bible witnesseth{bar} Other-wise than he was warned of the prophete God seide to samuel that saul sholde deye And al his sede for that synne ; shenfullich ende Swich a meschief Mede made saul the kyng to haue That god hated hym for euere ; and alle his eyres after ¶ The Culorum of the cas ; kepe I nouȝt to shewe On auenture it noyed men ; non ende wol I make For so is this world went ; with hem þat han power That who-so seith hem sothes ; is sonnest I-blamed ¶ I conscience knowe this ; for kynde wit me it tauȝte That resoun shal regne ; and reames gouerne And right as Agag{tail} hadde ; happe shul somme Samuel shal sleen hem ; and saul shal be blamed And dauid shal be diademede ; and daunten hem alle And on cristne kyng{tail} ; kepen hem alle ¶ Shal namore Mede be maistre ; as she is nouthe Ac loue and lownesse ; and leaute togidres Thise shul be Maistres on molde ; treuthe to saue And who-so trespasseth ; ayeins treuthe ; or taketh ayeins his wille Leaute shal doun hym lawe ; and no lif elles Shal no sergeantz for hir seruice ; were a silk howue Ne no pelure in his clooke ; for pledyng{tail} atte barre Mede of mysdoars ; maketh many lordes And ouer lordes lawes ; reuleth the reames ¶ Ac kynde loue shal come yet ; & kynde loueconscience togidres And make of lawe a laborere ; swich loue shal arise And swich a pees among{tail} the peple ; & a parfit treuthe That iewes shal wene in hir wit and waxen wonder glade That Moises or Messie be come in-to this erthe And haue wondre in hir hertes ; þat men beth so trewe ¶ Alle that bereth baslarde ; broode swerde or launce Axe other hachet ; or any wepne elles Shal be demed to the deth ; but if he do it smythye In-to sikel or to sithe ; to share or to culter Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres & cetera Ech man to pleye with a plowe ; pikoys or spade Spynne or spred donge ; or spille hym-self with sleuthe ¶ Preestes and parsons ; with placebo ; to hunte And dyngen vp-on dauid eche a day til euene Huntyng{tail} or haukyng{tail} ; if any of hem vse The boste of his benefice ; worth bynome after Shal neither kyng ne knyght Constable ne Mair Ouer lede the comune ; to the Court sompne Ne put hem in panelle ; to doun hem plighte hir treuthe But after the dede ; þat is doun one dome shal rewarde Mercy or no mercy ; as treuthe wol acorde ¶ Kynges Court and Comune Court consistorie and Chapitle Al shal be but one Court ; and on baron be Iustice Thanne worth trewe tonge a tidy man ; þat tened me neuere Batailles shal non be ; ne no man bere wepne And what smyth þat any smyteth ; be smyte ther-with to doþ Non leuabit gens ; contra gentem . gladium & cetera And er this fortune falle ; fynde men shal þe worste By six sonnes and a shippe and half a shef of arwes And the mydel of a Moone ; shal make þe Iuwes to-torne And sarasens ; for that sight shal synge gloria in excelsis deo & cetera For Makometh and mede myshappe shal that tyme For melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe ¶ Also wroth as the wynde ; wex Mede in a while I kan no latyn quod she ; clerkes wote the sothe Se what salamon ; seith in sapience bookes That hij that yeueth ȝiftes ; the victorie wynneth And muche worship had ther-with as holy writ telleth Honorem adquiret qui dat mineram[u]nera & cetera I leue wel lady quod conscience ; that thy latyn be trewe Ac þou art like a lady ; that redde a lessoun ons Was omnia probate and that plesed hir herte For that lyne was no lenger ; at the leues ende Had she loked that other half ; & þe leef{tail} torned She sholde haue founden fele wordes ; folwyng{tail} ther-after Quod bonum est tenete ; truthe that texte made ¶ And so ferde ye ma-dame ; ye kouthe no more fynde Tho ye loked on sapience ; sittyng{tail} in your studie This tixte þat ye han tolde ; were goode for lordes Ac yow failled a konnyng{tail} clerk{tail} þat kouth þe leef haue torned And if ye seke sapience ; eft fynde shal ye þat folweth A ful teneful tixte to hem that taketh Mede And that is animam autem aufert accipientium & cetera And that is the taille of the texte ; of þat that þe shewede That theigh we wynne worship ; and with mede haue victorie The soule that þe soude taketh by so muche is bounde Passus quartus de Visione vt supra Sesseth seith the kyng i suffre yow no lenger Ye shal sauȝtne for-sothe and serue me bothe Kisse hire quod the kyng conscience I hote ¶ Nay by crist quod conscience congeye me rather But reson rede me ther-to rather wol i deye And I comaunde the kyng to conscience thanne Rape the to ride and reson thow fecche Comaunde hym that he come my counseil to heren For he shal reule my reame & rede me the beste Of Mede and of mo other and what man shal hir wedden And acounte with the conscience ;2a so me crist helpe How thow lernest the peple the lered & the lewede ¶ I am fayne of that forward{tail} seide the freke thanne And rit right to reson and rowneth in his ere And seyde as the kyng badde & sithen took his leue ¶ I shal arraie me to ride quod resoun reste the a-while And called Caton his knaue curteise of speche And also Thome Trewtonge tel me no tales Ne lesyng{tail} to laugh of for I loued hym neuere And sette my sadelle vp-on suffre til i se my tyme And lete warrok{tail} it wel with witty wordes gerthes And hange on hym the heuy bridel to holde his hede lowe For he wol make we he twies er he be there ¶ Thanne conscience vp-on his caple kaireth forth faste And resoun with hym ryt{tail} rownynge togidres Whiche maistries Mede ;2a maketh on this erthe ¶ Oon waryn wisdom ;2a and witty his fere Folwed hem faste for they hadde to done In the Cheker & in the chauncerie to be descharged of thynges And riden faste for resoun sholde rede hem the beste For to saue hem-selue fram shame & fram harmes ¶ And Conscience knewe hem wel they loued coueitise And bad resoun ride faste and recche of hir neither They aren wily in hir wordes & with Mede they dwelleth Ther as wratthe & wranglyng{tail} is þere wynne þey siluer ¶ Ac ther is loue & leaute they wol nought come ther Contricio & infelicitas in vijs eorum & cetera They ne gyueth nouȝt of god oone goos wenge Non est timor domini ante oculos eorum & cetera For woot god they wolde do more for a dozeynn of chekenes Or as many capones or for a seme of Otes Than for loue of oure lord or alle hise leue seyntes For-thy resoun lete hem ride tho riche by hem ;2a-seluen For conscience knoweth hem nouȝt ne crist as I trowe And thanne resoun rode faste the right heigh gate As conscience hym kenned til they come to the kyng{tail} ;2a ¶ Curteisliche the ;2 Kyng thanne come ayeins Resoun And bitwene hym ;2a- self & his sone sette hym on benche And wordeden wel wisely grete while togidres ¶ And thanne come Pees in-to parlement & put forth a bille How wrong ayeins his wille hadde his wif taken And how he rauysshed Rose Reynoldes loue And Margarete of hir maydenhode maugre hir chekes Both my gees & my gris hise gadelynges feccheth I dar nouȝt for fere of hym fighte ne chide He borwed of me bayard he brought hym hom neuere Ne no ferþyng{tail} for hym for aught I koude plete He maynteneth his men to morther myn hewen Forstalleth my faires fighteth in my chepyng{tail} And breketh vp my bierne dores & bereth awey my whete And taketh me but a taille for ten quarters of otes And yet he bet me therto and lith by my mayde I am nouȝt hardy for hym vneth to looke ¶ The kyng{tail} knewe he seide soth for Conscience hym tolde That wrong was a wikked luft & wroughte muche sorwe ¶ Wrong{tail} ;2a was affered thanne and wisdom he soughte To make pees with hise pens & profered hym manye And seide had I loue of my lord the kyng{tail} ;2a litel wolde I recche Theigh pees and his power pleyned hym euere Thanne wente wisdom ;2a and sire warynn the witty For that wrong{tail} had ywrought so wikked a dede And warned wrong tho with swich a wise tale Who-so worcheth by wille wratthe maketh ofte I sey it by thy-self{tail} thow shalt it wel fynde But if Mede it make thy meschief{tail} is vppe For bothe thy lif{tail} and thy londe lith in his grace ¶ Thanne wowed wrong{tail} wisdom furful yerne To make his pees ;2 with his pens handy dandy payed Wisdom and wit than wenten togidres And took Mede myd hem mercy to wynne ¶ Pees put forth his hede and his panne blody With-outen gilte god it woot gate I this skaþe Conscience and the comune lawe knowen þe sothe ¶ Ac wisdom and wit were aboute faste To ouer-come the kyng with catel if they myghte ¶ The kyng swore by crist and by his crowne bothe That{tail} wrong for hise werkes sholde wo tholye And comaunded a Constable to caste hym in Irnes And late hym nouȝt this seuene yer seen his feet ones ¶ God woot quod wisdome that were nauȝt the beste And he amendes mowe make lat mainprise hym haue And be borgh for his bale and biggen hym bote And so amenden þat is mysdo and euere more the bettre ¶ Wyt acorded ther-with and seide the same Bettre is that bote bale adoun brynge Than bale be ybete and bote neuere the bettre ¶ And þanne gan Mede to mengen hir & mercy she bisouȝte And profred pees a present al of pure gold Haue this man of me quod she to amende þi scathe For I wol wage for wrong he wol do so namorena more ¶ Pitously Pees thanne preyed to the kyng{tail} ;2a To haue mercy on that man þat mysded hym so ofte For he hath waged me wel as wisdom hym taughte And I forgyue hym þat gilte with a good wille So that þe kyng assent I kan sey no bettre For Mede hath made me amendes I may namorena more axe ¶ Ney quod the kyng tho so me Crist help Wrong{tail} wendeth nouȝt awey erst wol I wite more For loupe he so lightly laughen he wolde And eft{tail} the balder be to bete myn{curl} hewen But Reson haue reuthe on him he shal reste in my stokkes And that as longe as he lyueth but lownesse hym borwe ¶ Som men redde Reson tho to haue ruthe on þat shrewe And for to counseille the kyng and Conscience ;2a after That Mede most be mainpernour Resoun they bisoughte ¶ Rede me nouȝt quod Resoun no routhe to haue Til lordes and ladies louen al trouthe And haten al harlotrie to heren it or to mouthen it Til peronelle purfile be put in hir hucche And children cherisyng{tail} be chastisyng{tail} with yerdes And harlotes holynesse be holden for vnhende Til clerkes coueitise be to clothe þe pore & to fede And religious romares recordare ;2a in hir cloistres As seint Benet hem bad Bernard{tail} and Fraunceys And til prechours prechyng{tail} be proued on hem-seluen Til the kynges counseil be the comune profit Til bisshopes bayardes ben beggers chaumbres Hir haukes & hir houndes ;2 help to pore religious ¶ And til seint Iames be sought ther I shal assigne That no man go to Galis but yf he go for euere And alle Rome renners forbberes of byȝonde Bere no siluer ouer see that signe of kyng{tail} sheweth{bar} Neither graue ne vngraue gold neither siluer Vp-on forfeture of þat fee who-so fynt hym at douere But if he be marchaunt or his man or messagers with lettres Prouisour or preest or penaunt for his synnes ¶ And yet quod Resoun by the Rode I shal no reuthe haue While Mede hath maistrie in this moote halle Ac I may shewe ensamples ;2 as I see other while I sey it by my-self quod he and it so were That I were kyng{tail} ;2a with crowne to kepen a reame Slolde neuere wrong{tail} in this world þat I wite myghte Ben vnpunysshed in my power for peril of my soule Ne gete my grace for giftes so me god saue Ne for no mede haue mercy but mekenesse it make For nullum malum the man mette with impunitum ;2a And badde nullum bonum be irremuneratum Lat ȝour confessour Lat your confessoure sire kyng{tail} construe this vnglosed And if ye worken it in werke I wedde myn eres That lawe shal ben a laborere and lede a felde donge And loue shal lede thy londe as the lief liketh ¶ Clerkes that were confessours coupled hem togidres Alle to construe this clause for the kynges profit Ac nought for confort{tail} of the comune ne for þe kynges soule ¶ For I seigh Mede in the moot halle of men of lawe wynken And they laughyng{tail} lope to hir and laft{tail} reson manye ¶ Waryn wisdome wynked vp-on Mede And seide ma ;2a- dame I am your man what{tail}-so my mouthe iangleth I falle in floreins quod that freke and faille speche ofte ¶ Alle rightful recorded that resoun trouthe tolde And wit acorded there-with and comaunded hise wordes And the most peple in the halle and many of the grete Lenten mekenesse a maistre and Mede a mansed shrewe ¶ Loue lete of hir light and leaute yet lasse And seide it so heigh þat al the halle it herde Who-so wilneth hir to wif{tail} for welthe of hir goodes But he be knowe for a cukwold{tail} kut of my nose ¶ Mede mourned tho and made heuy chere For the moste comune of that Court called hir an hore Ac a sisour and a sompnour suyede hir faste And a shireues clerk{tail} bisherewed al the route For oft haue I quod he holpe yow atte barre And yet yeue ye me neuere the worth of a russhe ¶ ThTh[e] kyng called conscience and afterwardes Resoun And recorded þat reson had rightfullich shewed And modilich vp-on Mede with myght þe kyng loked And gan wax wroth with lawe for Mede had almost shent it And seide thorugh youre lawe as I leue I lese many chetes Mede ouermastrieth lawe and muche treuthe letteith Ac Reson shal rekne with yow if I regne any whilec j And deme yow by this day as ye haue deserued Mede shal naught mainprise yow by the Mary of heuene I wol haue leaute in lawe & lete be all youre ianglyng{tail} And as moost folk witnesseth wel wrong{tail} shal be demed ¶ Quod conscience to the kyng{tail} but the comune wol assent It is ful hard by myn hede her-to to brynge it Alle youre liege leodes to lede thus euene ¶ By hym þat raughte on the rode quod Resoun to þe kyng{tail} But if I reule thus your reame rende out my guttes If ye bedden buxomnesse be of myn assent{tail} ¶ And I assent seith the kyng{tail} by seynte marie my lady Be my counseil comen of clerkes & of erles Ac redily resoun thow shalt nouȝt ride fro me For as longe as I lyue lete the I nelle ¶ I am aredy quod Reson to reste with yow euere So conscience be of oure counseile I kepe no bettre And I graunte quod the kyng{tail} goddesforbode it faille As longe as oure lif lasteth lyue we togidres ¶ Passus quintus de Visione & cetera ;2a The kyng{tail} and hise knyȝtes to the kirke wente To here matyns of the day and the masse after Thanne waked I of my wynkyng{tail} & wo was with-al That I ne hadde sleped sadder and I ;2a- seyen more Ac er I hadde faren a furlong{tail} feyntise me hente That I ne myghte ferther a foot for defaute of slepyng{tail} And satte sothly a ;2a- downe and seide my bileue And so I babeled on my bedes they broughte me a-slepe And þanne saw i muche more than I bifore tolde For I seigh the felde ful of folk þat I bifore of seide And how Reson gan arrayen hym alle þe reame to preche And with{bar} a crosse a ;2a- for the kyng{tail} comsed thus to prechen ¶ He preued þat thise pestilences was al for pure synne And the southewest wynde on sattirday at euene Was pertliche for pure pride and for no poynt elles Piries and plumtrees were puffed to the erthe In ensample ye segges ye sholden do the bettre Beches and brode okes were blowen to the grounde Torned vpward hir tailles in tokenyng{tail} of drede That dedly synne er domesday shal fordoun hem alle ¶ Of this matire I mighte mamlye ful longe Ac I shal seye as I saw so me god helpe How pertly a-for the peple Reson gan to preche ¶ He bad wastour go worche ;2 what he best kouthe And wynnen his wastyng{tail} with som manere craft{tail} ¶ And after he preyed Peronelle hir purfille to lete And kepe it in hir coffre for catelle at hir nede ¶ Thomme Trewe tonge he taughte to take two staues And fecche Felice ;2a home fro the wyuen pyne He warned watte ;2a his wif was to blame Þat hir hed was worth half{tail} a mark{tail} his hede nouȝt worth a grote And bad Bette kut{tail} a bowe other tweyne And bete betoun ther-with but yf she wol worche And thanne he charged chapmen to chastisen hir children Late no wynnyng{tail} hem forweny while they be yonge Ne for no pouste of pestilence plese hem nouȝt out of resoun ¶ My sire seide so to me and so dide my dame That the leuer childe the more lore bihoueth And salamon seide the same that sapience made Qui parcit virge odit filium & ccetera ccetera~ The Englissh of this latyn{curl} is who-so wol it knowe Who-so spareth the sprynge spilleth hise children ¶ And sithen he preyed prelates and preestes togidres That ye prechen to the peple preue it on your-seluen And doth it in dede it shal drawe yowe to goode If ye lyuen as ye leren vs we shal leue yow þe bettre ¶ And sithen he radde religioun hire reule to holde Lest the kyng{tail} and his counseil youre comunes appairec ij And ben stiwardes of youre stedes til ye ruled bettre ¶ And sithen he counseiled the kyng{tail} the comune to louye Yit is thy tresore if treson ne were and triacle at thy nede And sithen he preyed the pope haue pite on holichirche And er he gyue any grace gouerne first hymselue ¶ And ye that han lawes to kepe lat treuthe be your coueitise More than gold or other giftes if ye wol god plese For who-so contrarieth treuthe he telleth in þe gospel That god knoweth hym nouȝt ne no seynt of heuene Amen dico vobis nescio vos & cetera ¶ And ye þat seketh seynt Iames and seyntes of Rome Seketh seynt treuthe for he may saue yow alle Qui cum patre & filio that faire hem bifalle That suweth my sermon and thus seide ¶ Than ran repentaunce and reherced his teme And gret welle to wepe water with hise eyen ¶ Peronelle Proude herte platte hir to the erthe superbia And lay longe er she loked and lord mercy cried And bihighte vn-to hym that vs alle made She sholde vnsewen hir serk{tail} and sette ther an heire And affaiten hir flessh that{tail} fierce was to synne Shal neuere heigh herte me hente but holde me lowe And suffre to be myssaide and so dide I neuere But now wol i meke me and mercy biseche For al this I haue hated to-fore in myn herte ¶ Thanne lecchour seide allas and on oure lady he cried ;2aluxuria ;2a To make mercy for hise mysdedes bitwene god & his soule With þat he sholde the saterday seuene yer ther-after Drynk but myd the doke and dyne but ones ¶ Enuye with heuy herte asked after shrift{tail} And carfullich mea culpa he comsed to shewe ;2aInuidia He was as pale as a pelet in the palsye he semede And clothed in a ;2aCaurymaury I kouthe it nouȝt discryue In kirtil and in courteby ;2 and a knyf{tail} by his syde Of a freres frokke were the forsleues And as a leke hadde I ;2a- laye longe in the sonne So loked he with lene chekes louryng{tail} foule ¶ His body was to-bolle for wrath þat he bote his lippes And wryngyng{tail} he yede with the fiste to wreke hym-self he þouȝte With werkes or with wordes whan he seigh his tyme Ech a word þat he warpe was of an audres tonge Of chidyng{tail} and chalangyng{tail} was his chief liflode With bakbityng{tail} and bismere and beryng{tail} of fals vitnesse this was al his curteisie where that euere he shewed hym ¶ I wolde ben I ;2a- shryue quod this shrewe and I for shame durst I wolde be gladder by god that Gibbe had meschaunce Than though I hadde this woke ywonne a weye of Essexe chese ¶ I haue a neighbore neigh me I haue enuyed hym ofte And lowen on hym to lordes to doun hym lese his siluer And made hise frendes ben hise foon{curl} thorugh my fals tonge His grace and hise goode happes greueth me ful sore Bitwene many & many I make debate ofte That bothe lif and lyme is lost thorugh my speche ¶ And whan I mete hym in Market þat I moste hate I hailse hym hendelich as I his frende were For he his doughtier þan I i dar do non other Ac hadde I maistrie & myghte god woot my wille ¶ And whan I come to þe kirke & sholde knele to þe rode And prey for the peple as the preest techeth For pilgrymes & for palmers for al þe peple after Than I crye on my knees þat crist yeue hem sorwe That bare awey my bolle & my broke shete A-wey fro the auter thanne turne I myn eighen And biholde how Eleyne hath a newe cote I wisse thanne it were myn & alle þe webbe after ¶ And of mennes lesyng{tail} I laughe that myn hert{tail} aketh And for his wynnyng{tail} I wepe and waille þe tymec iij And deme þat hij doun ille ther I do wel worse Who-so vndernymeth me here-of I hate hym dedely after I wold that ech a wight were my knaue For who-so hath more than I þat angreth me sore And thus I lyue loueles like a luther dogge That al my body bolneth for bittre of my galle ¶ I myghte nouȝt ete many yeres as a man oughte For enuye and yuel wille is yuel to diffye May no sucre ne swete thyng{tail} asswage my swellyng{tail} Ne no diapenidion dryue it fro myn herte Ne neither shrifte ne shame ;2 but who-so shrape my mawe ¶ Yis redely quod repentaunce and radde hym to þe best Sorwe of synnes is sauacioun of soules ¶ I am sory quod that segge I am but selde other And þat maketmaketh me thus megre for I ne may me venge Amonges burgeys haue I be dwellyng{tail} at londoun And gerte bakbitynge be a brocour to blame mennes ware Whan he solde and I nouȝt than was I redy To lye & to loure on my neighbore & lakke his chaffare I wole amende this if I may by myght of god almyghty ¶ Now awaketh wratthe with two white eyenIra And nyuelyng{tail} with hise nose & his nekke hangyng{tail} I am wratthe quod he I was som tyme a frere And the Couentes gardyner for to graffen Impes On lymitours and listres lesynges I imped Til they bere leues of lowe speche lordes to plese And sithen they blosmed a-brode in bour to here shriftes And now is fallen ther-of a fruyt þat folk han wel leuere Shewen hir shrift to hem than to hir parsones And now han parsons parceyued þat freres parte with hem Thise possessioners preche and depraue Freres And Freres fynden hem in defaute as folk{tail} bereth witnesse That whan they preche þe peple in any place aboute I wratthe walke with hem & wisse hem of my bookes Thus they speke of spiritualite þat either dispiseth other Til they be bothe beggers & by my spiritualte libben Or elles alle riche and riden aboute I wratthe reste neuere þat I ne moost folowe Thise wikked folk{tail} for swich is my grace ¶ I haue an aunte to Nonne and an Abesse bothe Hir were leuer swowe or swelte than suffre any peyne I haue be cook{tail} in hir kychyne and the Couent serued Many monthes with hem & with monkes bothe I was the Prioresse potager and other pouere ladyes I made hem Iowtes with Ianglyng that dame Iohna was a bastard{tail} And dame Clarice a knyghtes doughter ;2 & a cokewold was hir sire And dame peronelle a prestes file Prioresse worth she neuere For she had clildec[h]ilde in chiritime al oure capitre it wiste ¶ Of wikked wordes I wratthe hire wortes made Til thow lixte and thow lixte lopen out atonesat ones And either hit other vnder the cheke Hadde they had knyues by Crist either had kulled other ¶ Seynt gregory was a good Pope & had a goode forwit That no prioresse were preest for þat he ordeyned They had than be infamis þei kan so yuel holde conseil ¶ Amonges Monkes I myghte be ac many tyme I shonye For ther ben many fele frekes my feres to aspye Bothe priour and suppriour and oure pater abbas And if I telle any tales they take hem to-gidres And do me fast Fridayes to brede & to water And am chalanged in the Chapiterhous as I a child were And baleised on þe bare ers & no breche bitwene For-thy haue I no likyng{tail} with þo leodes to wonye ¶ I ete ther vnhende fisshe and fieble ale dronke Ac other while whan wyne cometh & I drynke it at euene I haue a fluxe of a fulle mouethe wel fyue dayes after Al the wikkednesse þat I wote by any of oure brether I couthe it in oure Cloistre þat al the Couent woot it ¶ Now repent the quod repentaunce & reherce þou neuere Counseille that thow knoweste by countenaunce ne by right And drynk{tail} nouȝt ouer delicatly ne to deep neitherc iiij That thy wille be cause ther-of to wratthe myghte torne Esto sobrius he seide and assoilled me after And bad me wilne to wepe my wikkednesse to amende ¶ And than cam Coueitise kan I hym nought discryue So hungrely and holowe sir heruy hym loked He was bitilbrowed and baburlipped also With two blered eighen as a blynde hagge And as a lethren purs lolled hise chekes Wel sydder than his chynne they clyueled for elde And as a bonde man of his bacoun his berd was bidraueled With an hode on his hed ;2 a lousy hat aboue And in a tawney taberd of twelf wynter of age Al to-torne and baudy and ful of lis crepyng But if that a louse couthe haue lopen the bettre She shold nouȝt haue walked ther-on so was it thredbare ¶ I haue be coueitous quod this caytif I knowe it here For som tyme I serued symne atte stile And was his prentise I-plight his profit to wayte First I lerned to lye a leef other tweyne Wikkedliche to weye was my first lessoun To wye and to wynchestre I went to the faire With many manere marchandise as my Maistre me highte Ne had the grace of gile go among{tail} my chaffare It had ben vnsolde this seuene yer so me god help ¶ Than drowe me among drapers my donet to lerne To drawe the leser a-long{tail} þe lenger it semed Among{tail} the riche Rays I rendred a lessoun To broche hem with a paknedel and pleyted hem togidres And put hem in a prasse and pynned hem ther-Inne Til ten yerdes or twelue had tolled out thrittene ¶ My wif was a webbe and wollen cloth made She spak{tail} to spynnesters to spynnen it oute Ac the pounde she payed by weyed a quarteroun more Than myn{curl} owne auncer who - so weyed treuthe ¶ I bought hir barly malt{tail} she brewe it to selle Peny ale and puddyng{tail} ale she poured togidres For laborers and lowe folke þat lay by hem-selue The best ale lay in my boure or in my bed chambre And who-so bommed there-of he bought it ther-aftere A galoun for a grote god woot no lesse And yet it cam in coppemele this craft my wyf vsed Rose þe Regratere ;2a was hir right name She hath holden hokkerie alle hir lif tyme ¶ Ac I swere now so theik{tail} that synne wol i lete And neuere wikkedlich weye ne wikked chaffre vse But wenden to walsyngham and my wif als And bid the rode of Bromholm brynge me out of dette ¶ Repentestow euere quod repentaunce or restitucioun madest Yis ones I was herberwed quod he with an heep of chapmen I roos whan they were arest and riflid hir males ¶ That was no restitucioun quod repentaunce but a robbers theft Thow haddest be bettre worthy to be hanged ther-fore Than for alle þat thow hast here now shewed ¶ I wende riflynge were restitucioun quod he I lerned neuere on book{tail} And I kan no frensshe in feith but of þe ferrest ende of Norffolk{tail} ¶ Vsedestow euere vsurie quod repentaunce in al thy lif tyme ¶ Nay sothly he seide saue in my youthe I lerned among{tail} lumbardes and Iewes a lessoun To weye pens with a peys & pare þe heuyeste And lone it for loue of þe crosse to legge a weddes & lese it Swich dedes I dide write if he his day breke I haue mo manoirs thurgh rerages than thorugh miseretur & comodat{tail} ¶ I haue lente lordes and ladyes my chaffare And ben hir brokour after and bought it my-selue Eschaunges and cheuysaunces with swich chaffare I dele I lene folk{tail} þat lese wol a lippe at euery noble And with lumbardes lettres I ladde golde to Rome And took it by taille here and tolde hem ther lasse Lentestow euere lordes for loue of hir maintenaunce ¶ Ye I haue lente lordes loued me neuere after And haue made many knyght both mercer & drapere That payed neuere for his prentishode nat a paire gloues ¶ Haddestow pitee on pouere men þat moot nedes borowe ¶ I haue als muche pitee of hem as pedler haþ of cattes That wolde kulle hem if he myght for coueitise of hir skynnes ¶ Artow manlich among{tail} thy neighboures of memete & of drynke ¶ I am holden as hiende quod he as hounde is in kychynne Amonges myn neighboures namelich swich a name ich haue ¶ Now god lene neuere quod repentaunce but þou repente þe rather The grace on this grounde thy good wel to bisette Ne thyn heires after þe ;2 haue Ioie of þat þou wynnest Ne thyn executours bisette thy siluer þat þou hem leuest And þat was wonne with wrong{tail} with wikked men be dispended For were I frere of þat hous ther good feith & charite is I nolde cope vs with þi catel ;2 ne our kirke amende Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce of thyn by my soule hele For the best boke in our hous theigh brent gold were þe leues And I wist witerly þow were swich as þou tellest Or elles that I kouthe knowe it by any kynnes wise Seruus es alterius cum fercula pinguia queris Pane tuo pocius vescere liber eris ¶ Thow art an vnkynde creature I kan þe nauȝt assoille Non dimittitur peccatum donec restituatur oblatum & cetera For alle þat haue of thy goode haue god my trouthe Been holden at þe heigh dome to helpe þe to restitue And who-so leueth nought this be soth loke in þe sauter glose In miserere mei deus where I mene trouthe Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti & cetera ¶ Shal neuere werkman in this world thryue with þat þou wynnest Cum sancto sanctus eris & cetera ;2a construe me þat on Englissh{bar} Thanne wex þat shrew in wanhope & wolde han hanged him-self Ne had repentaunce þe rather reconforted hym in this manere Haue mercy in thy mynde and with þi mouthe biseche it For goddes mercy is more than alle hise other werkes Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius And alle the wikkednesse in this world þat man miȝt do or þinke Nys namore to the mercy of god þan in þe see a glede Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei est quasi Sintilla in medio maris & cetera ;2a ¶ For-thy haue mercy in thy mynde and marchandise leue it For thow hast no goode grounde to gete the with a wastelle But if it were with thy tonge or elles with thy two handes For the good þat þou hast geten bigan al with falshede And as long{tail} as þou lyuest therwith þou yeldest nauȝt{tail} but borwest And if þou wost neuere to which ne whom to restitue Bere it to the Bisshop and bid hym of his grace Bisette it hym ;2a- self as best is for the soule For he shal answere for þe at the heigh dome For the and many mo that man shal yeue a reknynge What he lerned yow in lenten leue ye non{curl} other And what he lente yow of his goode to wite yow fro synne For he sholde help yow of oure lordes goode ¶ Now bigynneth Gloton for to go to shrift{tail}Gula And kaireth hym to kirkeward his coulpe to shewe ¶ Ac Beten the Brewestre bad hym goode morwe And axed of hym with that whiderward he wolde ¶ To holichirche quod he for to here masse And sithen I wol be shryuen and synne no more ¶ I haue goode ale gossib quod she Glotoun ;2a wil þou assaye Hastow ought in thy purs any hote spices ¶ I haue pepir and piouns quod he & a pounde of garlek{tail} A ferthyngworth of fenel sede for fastyng{tail} dayes ¶ Thanne goth Glotoun Inne & grete othes after Cesse the souteresse satte on the benche Watte the warner and his wif bothe Symme the Tynker and tweyn of his apprentices Hikke the hakenayman and hugh the Nedler Clarice of Cokkeslane and the clerk{tail} of the Chirche Dawe the dyker and a dozeyne other Sire piers of Pridie and Peronelle of Flaundres A Ribiboure a Ratonere a Raker of Chepe ;2a A Roper a Rydyngkyng{tail} and Rose the dissheres Godfray of gerlekhiþe and Griffyn the walshe And vpholders an hepe erly by the morwe Gyuen Glotoun with chere good ale to hanselle ¶ Clement the Cobeler caste of his clooke And at the newefair he nempned it to selle Hikke þe hakenayman hitte his hoode after And bad Bette þe Bochere ;2 ben on his syde There were chapmen chosen this chaffare to preyse Who-so hadde þe hode sholde haue amendes of þe clooke ¶ Two risen vp in rape and rowned togidres And preised this penyworthes a ;2a- parte by hem-selue They couthe nat by hir conscience acorden in trouthe Til Robyn þe Roper ;2 aroos by the southe ;2a And nempned hym for a nounpiere þat no debate nere For to trie this chaffare bitwixen hem three ¶ Hikke the hostilere had the clooke In couenaunt Clement sholde the cuppe fille And haue hikkes hode the hostiler & holden hym serued And who þat repented rather shulde arise after ¶ And grete wele sire Glotoun with a galon ale Ther was laughyng{tail} and louryng{tail} and lat go the cuppe And so seten they til euensonge and songen vmwhile Til Glotoun hadde globbet a galoun a galon & a gille Hise guttes bigonne to gothely as two gredy sowes He pissed a potell in a pater noster while And blew his round rewet at his rugge bones ende That al that herd þat horun held hir nose after And wissheden it had be wexed ;2 with a wispe of firses He myghte neither steppe ne stounde er he his staf hadde And thanne gan he go ;2 lik{tail} a glemannes bycche Som tyme a 2a- syde and som tyme aderere As who-so layth lynes for to lacche fowles ¶ And whan he drough to the dore thanne dymmed hise eighen He stombled on the thresfold and threw to the erthe Clement þe Cobilere caughte hym by the mydel For to lift hym a-loft{tail} and leide hym on his knowes Ac Glotoun was a grete cherle & a gryme in þe liftynge And coughed vp a caudale in Clementes lappe Is non so hungry hounde in hertford shire Dorst lape of þat leuynges so vnlouely they smaughte ¶ With al the wo of this world his wif and his wenche Bare hym hom to his bedde and brouȝt{tail} hym ther-Inne And after al this accesse he hadde an accidie That he slepe satirday & sonday til sonne took reste Thanne waked he of his wynkyng{tail} & wiped hise eighen First word þat he warp was wher is the bolle His wit gan edwite hym tho how wikkedlich he lyued And repentaunce right so rebuked hym that tyme As thow with wordes & werkes hast wrought ille in thy tyme Shryue the and be shamed ther-of and shew it with mouthe ¶ I Glotoun quod this gome gilty me yelde That I haue trespassed with my tonge I kan nat{tail} telle how ofte Sworen goddes soule & so god me help & holy dome Ther no nede was nyne hundreth tymes And ouerseye me atte soper and som tyme at nones That I glotoun gert vp er I hadde goon a myle And spilt that myght be spared & spended on som hungerie Ouer delicatly on fastyngdayes dronken & eten bothe And satte som tyme so longe ther þat I slept & ete atonesat ones For loue of tales in tauernes to drynke þe more I dyned And hyed to the mete er none whan fastyngdayes were ¶ This shewyng{tail} shrift{tail} quod repentaunce shal be mercye to þe And than gan Glotoun grete and gret dole make For his lither lif that he lyued hadde And auowed to faste for hungre or for thruste Shal neuere fissh on friday diffyen in my wombe Til abstinence myn aunte haue yeue me leue And yet haue I hated hir al my lif tyme ¶ Than cam sleuthe al bislabred with two slymy eighenAccidiaAccidia I most sitte seide the segge or elles sholde I nappe I may nat stonde ne stoupe ne with-oute a stole knele Were I brought a-bedde but if my tailend it made Shold no ryngyng{tail} do me rise er I were ripe to dyne He bigan benedicite with a bolke and his brest knokked And roxede & rored and rutte atte laste ¶ A-wake þenkerenke quod repentaunce and rape the to shrift If shulde dye by thys day me list nouȝt to loke I kan nouȝt parfitly my pater noster as þe prest syngeth But I kan rymes of Robyn hode and Randolf erle of Chestre Ac neither of oure lord ne oure lady þe lest þat is made ¶ I haue made vowes fifty & for-yete hem on þe morwe I parfourned neuere penaunce as the preest me highte Ne right sory for my synnes yet was I neuere And if I bidde any bedes but if it be in wratthe That I telle with my tonge is two myle fro myn hert{tail} I am occupied ech day haliday and othere With ydel tales at the ale and othere while in chirches Goddes peyne and his passioun ful selde thenke I þer-on{curl} ¶ I Visited neuere fieble men ne fettred folk{tail} in puttes I haue leuere here an harlotrie or a somere game of souters Or lesynges to laughe at and bilye my neighbores Than al that euere Mark made mathew Iohan & lucas And Vigiles and fastyngdayes ;2 alle thise lat I passe And ligge abedde in lenten and my lemman in myn armes Til matyns & messe be do and thanne go I to þe freres Come I to Ite missa est I holde me serued I am nought shryuen som-tyme but sekenesse it make Nought twies in two yere & thanne vp gesse I shryue me ¶ I haue ben preest and parson passyng{tail} thirty yere Yet kan I nethere solf ne synge ne seyntes lyues rede But I kan fynde in a felde or in a furlong{tail} an hare Bettre than in Beatus vir or in Beati omnes Construe on clause wel and kenne it to my parisshens I kan holde louedayes and here a Reues reknyng{tail} Ac in Canoun ne in decretales I kan nat rede a lyne If ibiggei bigge and borowe it but if it be tailled I foryete it as yerne and if men me it axe Sexe sithes or seuene I forsake it with othes And thus teene I trewe men ten hundreth tymes ¶ And my seruantz som tyme hir salarie is bihynde Reuth is to here þe reknyng{tail} ;2 whan we shul rede acountes So with wikked wille and wratthe my werkmen I paye ¶ If any man do me a benefait or helpe me at nede I am vnkynde ayeins his curteisie & kan nouȝt{tail} vnderstonde it For I haue and haue had somdel haukes maners I am nouȝt lered with loue but aught ly vnder þe thombe ¶ The kyndenesse þat myn euene-cristne kidde me fernyer Sexty sithes I sleuthe haue foryete it sithe In speche and in sparyng{tail} I spilt many tyme Bothe flessh and fissh ;2 butir melk and chese Bothe brede and ale and many other vitailles For-sleuthed in my seruice til it myghte serue no man I ran aboute in youthe and gaf me nouȝt{tail} to lerne And euere sithen haue be begger for my foule sleuthe Heu michi quia sterilem vitam duxi Iuuenilem & cetera Repentedestow nat quod Repentaunce & right with þat he swowned Til vigilate the veille fette water at his eighen And flatte it on his face & fast on hym cried And seyde war the for wanhope wold the bytraye I am sory for my synnes sey to thy-selue And bete thy-self on the brest & bidde hym of grace For is no gilt here so grete that is goodnesse is more ¶ Thanne satte sluthe vp and seyned hym swithe And made auowe to-for god for his foule sleuthe Shal no sonday be this seuene yere but seknesse it lette That I ne shal do me er day to the dere chirche And here matyns and messe as I a monke were Shal noon aale after mete holde me thennes Til I haue euensonge herde I bihote to þe Rode And yet wol I yelde ayein if I so muche haue Al that I wikkedly wanne sithen I wit hadde ¶ And though my liflode lakke leten I nelle That ech man ne shal haue his er I hennes wende And with þe residue and the remenaunt by þe Rode of Chestre I shal seeke treuthe erst er I see Rome ¶ Robert the Robber on Reddere looked And for ther was nouȝt wher-of he wept swithe sore Ac yet the synful shrewe seide to hym-selue Crist that on Caluarie vp-on the Crois deidest Tho dismas my brother bisought yow of grace And haddest mercy of that man for memento sake So rewe on this Robber that Reddere ne haue Ne neuere wene to wynne with craft þat I owe But for thy mykel mercy mytigacioun I biseche Ne dampne me nought at domesday for þat I dide so ille ¶ What bifelle of this Feloun I kan nouȝ faire shewe Wel i woot he wept fast water with bothe hise eighen And knowlichid his gilt to Crist yete eft-sones That penitencia ;2a his pik he sholde polissh{bar} newe And lepe wit hym ouer londe al his lif tyme For he hadde leyn by latro luciferes aunte ???? ¶ And thanne had Repentaunce reuthe & rad hem alle to knele For I shal biseche for alle synful our saueour of grace To amende vs of oure mysdedes and do mercy to vs alle ¶ Now god quod he of thy goodnesse þat gonne þe world make And of nouȝt madest aught and man moost like to þi-selue And sithen suffredest for to synne a sekenesse to vs alle And al for the beste as I bileue what-euere þe book{tail} telleth O felix culpa o necessarium peccatum ade & ccetera ¶ For thorugh that synne thy sone sente was to this erthe& bicam And bicam man of a maide mankynde to saue And madest thy-self with thi sone & vs synful I-liche Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem & similtudinemsimil[i]tudinem nostram Et alibi qui manet in caritate in deo manet & cetera ¶ And sith with thy self sone in oure suyt deidest On good Friday For mannes sake at ful tyme of þe day Ther thi-self ne thy sone no sorwe in deth feledest But in oure secte was the sorwe & thy sone it ladde Captiuam duxit captiuitatem & cetera ¶ The sonne for sorwe therof lese his light for a tyme Aboute mydday whan most light is & mele tyme of seyntes Feddest with thy fressh blode oure forfadres in derknesse Populus qui ambulat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam ¶ And thorugh the light þat lepe out of the lucifer was blent And blew al thy blissed to the blis of Paradys The thrid day after thow yedest in oure suyte And synful Marie the seigh er seint Marie þi dame And al to solace synful thow suffredest it so were Non veni vocare iustos sed peccatores ad penitenciam ¶ And al that mark hath ymade Mathew Iohan and lucas Of thyne doughty dedes were doon in oure armes Verbum caro factum est & habitauit in nobis ¶ And by so muche me semeth the sikere we mowe Bidde and biseche it{tail} if it be thy wille That art oure fader & oure brother be merciable til vs And haue reuthe on thise ribaudes þat repenten hem here sore That euere they wratthed the in þis world in word þouȝt or dede Than hent hope an horun of deus tu conuersus viuificabis And blew it with Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates That alle the seyntes in heuene songon at tonesat ones Homines & Iumenta saluabis quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus ¶ A thousand of men tho thrungen togidres Cried vpward{tail} to Crist and to his clene moder To haue grace to go with hem treuthe for to seke Ac ther was wight non so wis the wey thider kouthe But blustreden forth as bestes ouer bankes & hilles Til late was and longe that they a leode mette Apparailled as a panym in pilgrymes wise He bar a burdoun ybounde with a brode list In a swithe wyndes wise ywounden aboute A bolle and a bagge he bar by his syde An hundreth of ampulles on his hatte seten Signes of synay and shelles of Galicer And many crouche on his clook{tail} and keyes of Rome And the vernicle bifore for men sholde knowe And se by his signes whom he soughte hadde ¶ Thise folk{tail} freyned hym first fro wennes he come Fro Synay he seid and fro oure lordes sepulcre In Bedlem and in Babiloyne I haue ben in bothe In Ermonye in alisaundre in many other places Ye may se by my signes þat sitte on myn hatte That I haue walked ful wide ; in wete & in drye And soughte goode seintes for my soules helthe ¶ Knowestow ought a corseynt þat men calle treuthe Koudestow wissen vs the wey wher þat he dwelleth ¶ Nay so me god help seide the gome thanne I seigh neuere Palmer with a pike ne with scrippe Axen after hym er now in this place ¶ Peter quod a Plowman and putte forth his hede I knowe hym as kyndely as clerk doth his booke Conscience and kynde wit kenned me to his place And dide me swere sikerly to serue hym for euere Both to sowe and to sette the while I swynke myghte I haue ben his folwer al thise fifty wynter Both sowen his sede and swede hise bestes With-Inne and with-outen wated hise profit I dyke and I delue I do that treuthe hoteth{bar} Som tyme I sowe and som tyme I thresshe In taillours craft{tail} & tynkers craft{tail} what treuthe kan deuise I weue and I wynde I do what treuth hoteth For though I sey it my-self{tail} I serue hym to paye Ich haue myn hire wel and other whiles more He is the prestest payer ;2 þat pore men knoweth He withholt non hewe his hire þat he ne haþ it at eue He is as lowe as a lombe and louelich of speche And if ye wilneth to wite where þat he dwelleth I shal wisse yow witerly the wey to his place ¶ Ye leue Piers quod thise pilgrimes and profered hym hire For to wende with hem to treuthe dwellyng{tail} place ¶ Nay by my soule quod Piers and gan for to swere I nold fong{tail} a ferthyng{tail} for seint Thomas shryne Treuthe wold loue me the lasse longe tyme aftere Ac if ye wilneth to wende wel this is the wey thider That I shal sey to yow and sette yow in the sothe ¶ Ye moot go thorugh mekenesse bothe men and wyues Til ye come to conscience that{tail} Crist wite þe sothe That ye louen oure lord god leuest of alle thynges And than youre neighbores next in no wise appaire Other-wise than thow woldest he wrouȝte to thy-selue ¶ And so boweth forth by a brook{tail} beth buxom of speche Til ye fynden afordea forde your fadres honurreth Honora patrem & matrem & cetera ~ ¶ Wadeth in þat water and wesshe yow wel there And ye shul lope the lighlier al youre lif tyme And so shaltow swere nought but if it be for nede And namely an ydel the name of god almyghty Than shaltow come by a croft{tail} ;2 but come nat ther-Inne That croft{tail} hatte couaite nought men catel ne hir wyues Ne non of hir seruantz þat noyen myghte Look ye breke no bowes ther but if it be youre owne ¶ Two stokkes ther stonde ac stynt ye nouȝt there They hatte stele nouȝt ne sle nouȝt strike forth bifore And leue hem on thy left half and loke nouȝt þerafter And holde wel thyn haliday heigh til euene ij d Than shaltow blenche at a bergh bere no fals witnesse He is frithed in with floreyns and other foos manye Looke thow plukke no plaunte ther for peril of thy soule ¶ Thanne shul ye see sey sooth so it be to doone In no manere elles nought for no mannes biddyng{tail} ¶ Thanne shaltow come to a Court as clere as þe sonne The mote is of mercy the manere aboute Alle the walles ben of wit to holden wille oute And kirnelled with cristendome mankynde to saue Botrased with bileue so or thow beest nouȝ ysaued And alle the houses be hiled halles & chambres With no lede but with loue & lowe speche as brethren The brugge of bid wel the bet may thow spede Ech piler is of penaunce of preyer to seyntes Of almesdede are the hekes the gates hangen on{curl} Grace hat þe Gateward{tail} a good man for-sothe His man hatte amende yow for many men hym knoweth Telleth hym this tokne that treuthe wite the sothe I parfourned the penaunce the preest me enioyned{tail} And am ful sory for my synnes and so I shal euere Whan I thenke ther-on theigh I were a Pope ¶ Biddeth amende yow meke hym to his maistre ones To wayue vp the wiket{tail} þat the womman shette To Adam and Eue eten the apples vnrosted ¶ For he hath the keye and the cliket though þe kyng{tail} slepe And if grace graunte the to go in this wise Thow shalt se thy-selue treuth sitte in thyn herte In a cheyne of charite as thow a childe were To suffre hym and segge nouȝt ayeins þi sires wille ¶ Ac be war than of wratthe that is a wikked shrewe He hath enuye til hym þat in thyn herte sitteth And plukketh forth pride to preyse thy-seluen þe boldnesse of þi bienfaites make the blynde thanne And than worstow dryuen out as dewe & þe dore closed Keyed & cliketed to kepe the with-outen Haply an hundred wynter or thow eft entre Thus myghte thow lesen his loue to lete wel by thy-selue And neuere happilich efte entre but grace thow haue ¶ Ac ther ben seuen sustren þat seruen treuthe euere And be porters of the posternes þat to the place langeth That oon hat abstinence and humilite an other Charite and chastite ben hise chiel maidens Pacience and pees muche peple they helpeth Largenesse the lady she let In ful manye She hath holpe a thousand out of the deueles punfold{tail} And who-so is sibbe to thise seuene so me god helpe He is wonderlich welcome and faire vnderfongen And but if ye be sibbe to som of thise seuene It is ful hard by myn hede quod Piers for any of yow alle To geten Ingonge at the gate ther but grace be the more ¶ Now by Crist quod a kutpurs I haue no kynne there Nor I quod an apeward by aught þat I kan knowe ¶ Wite god quod a wafrestere wist I this for-sothe Sholde I neuere forther a foot for any freres prechynge ¶ Yis quod Piers the Plowman & pikked hem alle to goode Mercy is a mayden ther hath myght ouer alle And she is sibbe to alle synful and hir sone also And thurgh the helpe of hem two hope thow non other Thow myghte gete grace ther-by so thow go by tyme By seynt Poule quod a Pardonere par auenture I be nouȝt knowe þer I wol fecche my box with my breuettz & a bille with bisshopes lettres By Crist quod a Commune womman thy compaignye wol i folowe Thow shalt sey I am thy suster I ne wote wher they bicome ¶ Passus Sextus This were a wikked wey ;2 but who-so had a gyde Þat wolde folowe vs ech a foot þus þise folk{tail} hem mened Quod perkyn þe plowman by seint peter of Rome ;2a I haue an half acre to erie by þe heigh wey Hadde I eried this half acre and sowen it after I wol wende with yow and the wey teche ;2a d iij This were a longe lettyng{tail} quod a lady in a slaire What sholde we wommen worche the whiles Som shul sowe the sakke quod piers for shedyng{tail} of whete And þe louely ladyes with youre long{tail} fyngres That ye haue silk and sandel to sowe whan tyme is Chesibles for chapeleyns chirches to honoure ¶ Wyues and widowes wolle and flexe spynneth Maketh cloth I counseil yow & kenneth so youre douȝtres The nedy and the naked nymeth hede how they legge And casteth hem clothes for so comaundeth treuthe For I shal lene hem liflode but if þe londe faille Flessh and brede bothe to riche & to pouere As long{tail} as I lyue for the lordes loue of heuene And alle manere of men þat þurgh meet & drynk libbeth Helpeth hym to werche wiȝtlich þat wynneth youre foode ¶ By crist quod a knygh tho he kenneth vs the beste Ac on the teme trewely tauȝte was I neuere Ac kenne me quod þe knygh and I wol assaye ¶ By seint Poule quod Perkyn ye profre yow so faire That I shal swynk{tail} and swete and sowe for vs bothe And other labours do for thy loue al my lif tyme In couenant þat thow kepe holy kyrke and my-selue Fro wastours and wikked men þat this world{tail} struyeth And go hunte hardiliche to hares and to foxes To bores and to brokkes þat breke adowne myn hegges And to afaite thy faucons wilde fowles to kille For swich cometh to my croft{tail} and croppeth my whete ¶ Curteisliche the knyght þanne comsed thise wordes By my power Piers quod he I plighte þe my trouthe To fulfille this forward though I fighte shulde As longe as I lyue I shal the mayntene ¶ Ye and yet a poynt quod Piers I prey yow of more Look ye tene no tenant but treuthe wol assente And though ye mowe amercy hem lat mercy be taxour And mekeness thy maister maugre medes chekes And though pouere men profre yow presentes & yiftes Nymme it nat an auenture ye mowe it nat deserue For thow shalt yelde ayein at oone yeres ende In a ful perilous place Purgatorie it hatte ¶ Misbede nat thy bondemen the better maistow spede Though he be thyn vnderlyng{tail} here wel may happe in heuene That he worthier sett and with more blisse Amice ascende superius & cetera ~ Thanne thow but thow do bet and lyue as thow shulde For in charnel and in chirche cherles ben yuel to knowe Or a knyght from a knaue knowe this in thyn herte And be trewe of thy tonge and loke thow tales hatye But if it be of wisdome or wit thy werkmen thow chastie Holde with no harlotes ne here nought hir tales And namelich at meet swich men eschue For it ben the deueles disours ;2 I do the to vnderstonde ;2 ¶ I assent by seynt Iame the knyght seide thanne For to worche by thy wordes the while my lif dureth ¶ I shal apparaille me quod Perkyn in pilgrimes wise And wende with yow I wol til we fynde treuthe And caste on my clothes yclouted and hoole My cokeres and my cuffes for colde of myn nailes And hange myn hoper at myn hals in stede of a scrippe A busshel of bredecorn{curl} brynge me ther-Inne For I wol sowe it my-self and sithen wol i wende To pilgrymage as palmers doon{curl} pardon fortofor to haue Ac who-so helpeth me to erie or sowen ar I wende Shal haue leue by oure lord to lacche hire in herueste And make mery ther-mydde maugre who-so gruccheth And alkyn crafty men þat konne lyue in trouthe I shal fynden hem fode that feithfully libbeth ¶ Saue Iakke the Iogelour and Ionette ;2a of the stewes And danyel ;2a the dees player and Enote the Baude And frere the faitour and folk{tail} of his ordre And Robyn the Ribandour for hise rusty wordes Treuthe told me ones and bad me telle it after Deleantur de libro viuencium ;2 I shold nouȝt dele with hem For holychirche is hote of hem no tithe to take Quia cum iustis non scribantur They be escaped goode auenture god hem amende ¶ Dame werche whan tyme is Piers wif highte His doughter highte do right so ;2 or thy dame shal þe bete His sone highte suffre þi souereynes to hauen hir wille Denie hem nought for yf þou do þou shalt{tail} it dere abugge Lat god worth with al for his word techeth For now I am olde & hoor & haue of myn owne To penaunce and pilgþymagepilg[r]ymage I wol passe wit{tail} other For-thy I wol er I wende do write my biqueste In dei nomine amen I make it my-selue He shal haue my soule þat best hath I-serued it And fro the fende it defende for so I bileue Til i com to his acountes as my Credo me telleth To haue a relees and a remissioun on þat rental I leue ¶ The kirke shal haue my caroigne & kepe my bones For of my corun and catel he craued the tithe I payed it hym preestly for peril of my soule For-thy is he holden I hope to haue me in his masse And mengen in his memorie amonge alle cristene ¶ My wif shal haue of þat I wanne with treuþe & nomoreno more And dele among{tail} my doughtres and my dere children For though I dye to-day my dettes er quitte I bare hem þat I borwed er I to bedde yede ¶ And with þe residue and the remanaunt by þe Rode of lukes I wol worship ther-with treuthe by my lyue And be his pilgryme at plow for pouere men sake My plowfoot shal be my pikstaf{tail} & picche a ;2a- two þe rotes And help my Cultour to kerue and clense þe forwes ¶ Now is perkyn and hise pilgrimes to þe plow faren To erie this half{tail} acre holpen hym manye Dikers and deluers digged vp the balkes Ther-with was perkyn appaied and preised hem faste Other werkemen ther were made hem-self{tail} to doone And som to plese perkyn piked vp the wedes ¶ At heighe prime piers lete the plow stonde To ouersen hem hym ;2a- self{tail} and who-so best wroughte He shulde be hired ther-after ;2 whan herueste tyme come ¶ And thanne seten som and songen at the nale And holpen erie his half{tail} acre with how trolly lolly ¶ Now by peril of my soule quod Piers al in pure tene But ye arise the rather and rape yow to worche Shal no greyn þat groweth gladde yow at nede And though ye dye for doole þe deuel haue þat reccheth ¶ Tho were faitours aferd and feyned hem blynde Som leyde hir legges alirie as swich losels konneth And made hire mone to Piers and preyed hym of grace For we haue no lymes to laboure with lord I-graced be ye Ac we preye for yow Piers ;2 & for youre plow bothe That god ;2a of his grace youre greyn multiplie And yeld yow of youre almesse þat ye yeue vs here For we may nouȝt swynk ne swete swich sikenesse vs eyleth{bar} ¶ If this be soth quod Piers I shal it soone aspye Ye be wastours I wote wel and treuthe woot the sothe And I am his olde hyne and highte hym to warne Which they were in this world hise werkmen appaied ¶ Ye wasten that men wynnen with trauaille & tene Ac treuthe shal teche yow hise teme to dryue Or ye shul ete barly brede and of the brook drynke But if he be blynde or brooke legged ;2 or bolted with Irnes He shal ete whete brede and drynk{tail} with my-selue Til god of his goodnesse amendement hym sende Ac ye myghte trauaille as treuthe wolde & take mete & hire To kepe kyene in the feld the corn fro the bestes Dyken or deluen or dyngen vp-on sheues Or help make morter or bere mukke a-felde In leccherie and losengerie ye lyuen and in sleuthe And al is thorugh suffraunce þat vengeaunce yow ne taketh ¶ Ac ancres and heremytes þat ete nat but at nones And namorena more er morwe myn almesse shal they haue And catel to cope hem with þat han cloistres & chirches ¶ Ac Robert Renne aboute shal nought haue of myn Ne Postlees but they preche konne & haue power of þe bisshop They shul haue payn and potage and make hem at ese For it is an vnresonable religioun that hath no þinge in certein ¶ Thanne gan a Wastour wratthe hym and wold han I-fought And to piers þe Plowman he profred hise gloue A Britoner a Bragger abosteda bosted piers als And bad hym go pisse with his plow forpyned shrewe Wiltow or nyltow we wol haue oure wille Of thy flour and of thy flessh facche whan vs liketh And make vs merye ther mydde maugre thy chekes ¶ Than Piers þe plowman pleyned hym to the knyght To kepe hym as couenaunt was ;2 fro cursed shrewes And fro thise wastours wolfskynnes þat make the worlde dere For þo wasten and wynne nouȝt and þat ilke while Worthe neuere plentee among{tail} the peple þe while my plow liggeþ ¶ Curteisliche the knyght thanne as his kynde wolde Warned wastour and wissed hym bettre Or thow shalt a-bugge by the lawe by the ordre þat I bere ¶ I was nat wont to worche quod wastour & now I nyl bygynne And lete light of the lawe ;2 and lasse of the knyght And sette piers at apesea pese and hise plow bothe And manaced piers and hise men if they mette eft soone ¶ Now by the peril of my soule quod Piers I shal appair yow alle And houped after hungre þat herde hym atte firste A-wreke me of thise wastours quod he þat þis world shendeth{bar} ¶ Hunger in haste tho hente wastour by the mawe And wrong{tail} hym so by the wombe þat both hise eighen wattred He buffeted the Britoner aboute the chekes That he loked like a lanterne al his lif after And bette hem so bothe he brast nere hir guttes Ne had piers with a pese lofe I-preyed hunger to cesse They had be doluen bothe ne deme thow non othere ¶ Suffre hem lyue he seyde & late hem ete with hogges Or elles benes and branne ybaken togidres Or elles mylk{tail} and mene ale thus preyed Piers for hem Faitours for fere ther-of flowen in-to bernes And flapped on with flayles fro morwe til euene That hunger was nouȝt so hardy on hem fortofor to looke For a potful of pese that piers hadde ymaked{tail} ¶ An hepe of heremites henten hem spades And kutten hir copes and courtepies hem made And wenten as werkmen with spades & shouelles And doluen & dikeden to dryue awey hungre ¶ Blynde and bedreden were botoned a thousand That seten to begge siluer soone were they heled For that was bake for bayard was bote for many hungry And many begger for beenes buxom was to swynke And ech a pouere man wel peyed to haue pesen for his hire And what piers preyed hem to do as prest as a sperhauk{tail} And ther-of was piers proude and putte hem to werke & yaf hem mete as he myghte a-forth & mesurable hire ¶ Thanne had piers pite and preyed hunger to wenden{curl} Home to his owne erthe and holden hym there For I am wel awroke now of wastours thurgh þi myght Ac I preye þe or thow passe quod piers to hunger Of beggers & bidders what{tail} best is to doone For I woot wel be thow went they wol werche ful ille For meschief it maketh they beth so meke nouthe And for defaute of hir foode þis folk{tail} is at my wille & yet they er my blody brether for god boughte vs alle Treuthe taughte me ones to louen hem echone And to helpe hem of al thyng{tail} ay as hem nedeth And now wold I wite of the what were the beste And how I myghte maistrie hem & make hem to worche ¶ Here now quod hunger and holde it for a wisdome Bolde beggers and bigge þat mow hir brede biswynke With houndes brede and horsbredehors brede holde vp hir hertes Abate hem with benes for lollyng{tail} of hir wombe And if they grucche thanne bidde hem go swynke And he shal soupe swetter whan he it hath deserued And if thow fynde any freke þat fortune hath appaired Or any maner fals men fonde þou swich to knowen Confort hem with thy catel for cristes loue of heuene Loue hem and lene hem for so þe law of god techeth Alter alterius onera portate ¶ And alle manere of men þat thow myghte aspye That nedy ben and noughty help hem with thy goodes Loue hem & lakke hem nouȝt lat god take þe vengeaunce Theigh they doun yuel lat god worche Michi vindictam & ego retribuam ¶ And if thow wilt be gracious to god do as þe gospel techeth And biloue the amonges lowmen so shaltow lacche grace Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis ;2a ¶ For I wolde nouȝt greue god quod piers for al þe goode on grounde Mighte I synneles do as thow seist seide piers thanne ¶ Ye I bihote the quod hungre or elles the Bible ;2a lyeth Go to Genesis þe geaunt þe engenderour of vs alle In sudore ;2a and swynk{tail} thow shalt thy mete tilye And laboure for thy liflode and so oure lord highte And sapience seith the same I seigh it in þe bible ;2a Piger pro frigore no feld nolde tilye & ther-fore shal he begge & bilde & no man bete his hungre ¶ Mathew with mannes face mouthed thise wordes That seruus nequam had a Mnam & for he nolde nat chaffare He hadde maugre of his maister euermore after And bynam hym his Mnam for he ne wolde werche And yaf þat Mnam to hym that ten Mnammes hadde And with that he seide that holichirche it herde He that hath shal haue and helpe ther it nedeth & he þat nouȝt hath shal nouȝ haue and no man hym helpe And þat he weneth wel to haue i wol it hym bireue ¶ Kynde wit{tail} wolde that ich a wight wroughte Or in dykynge or deluyng{tail} or trauaillyng{tail} in preyers Contemplatif lif or actif lif{tail} crist wolde men wroughte The sauter seith in the psalme of Beati omnes The freke þat fedeth hym-self{tail} with his feithful labour He is blissed by the book{tail} in body and in soule Laborez manuum tuarum ¶ [I??] preye yow quod Piers par charite and ye konne [??]leef of lechecraft{tail} lere it me my dere For som of my seruantz and my-self ben seke other while And of al a wyke worche nat so oure wombe aketh ¶ I woot wel quod hunger what sekenesse yow ayleth Ye han manged to muche and þat maketh yow to grone And I bihote the quod hunger as thow thyn hele willest That thow drynke no day er thow dyne somwhat Ete nouȝt I hote the er hunger þe take And send the of his sauce to sauour with thy lippes And kepe som to soper tyme and sitte nat to longe And rise vp er appetit haue eten his fille Lat nouȝt sire surfaite sitten at thy borde [??]e hym nat for he is lecherous and likerous of his tonge And after many manere metes ;2 his mawe is a ;2a- fyngred{tail} ¶ And if thow dyete the thus I dar legge myn eres That fisik shal his furred hodes for his fode selle And his clooke of calabre with al the knappes of golde And be feyn by my feith his phisik to leete And lere to laboure with londe for liflode is swete For mortherers ben many leches lord hem amende They do men dye thurgh hir drynkes er destyne wolde ¶ By seynt poule quod piers thise aren profitable wordes Wende now hunger whan thow wolt þat wel be þou euere For this is a louely lesson lord the foryelde ¶ Bihote god quod hunger hennes wol I nat wende Til I haue dyned by this day and ydronke bothe ¶ I haue no peny quod piers poletts for to bigge Nether goos ne gris but two grene cheses A fewe cruddes and creme and an hauer kake And two loues of benes & brenne ybake for my fauntes And yet I sey by my soule I haue no salte bacoun Ne no cokeney by Crist colopes for to make Ac I haue parcelle and poretts and many cole plantes And ek a cow and a calf and a carte mare To draw a-felde my donge þe while þe weder is drye And by this liflode we moot lyue to herueste tyme come And by that I hope to haue herueste in my croft And thanne may I dighte thy dyner as me dere liketh Alle þe pouere peple tho pesecoddes fette Benes and baken apples they broughten in hir lappes Chibolles and cheruelles and rip chiries many To make piers a present to plese with hunger ¶ Al hunger ete in haste and asked after more Thanne pouere folk{tail} for fere Fedde hunger yerne With grene poretts and pesen to poison hunger they þouȝte By that neighed herueste newe corn come to chepynge Than was folk fayn{curl} and fedde hunger with þe beste With goode ale as Gloton taughte and gerte hunger go slepe ¶ And tho wold wastour nouȝt werche but wandred aboute Ne no begger ete brede that benes Inne were But of coket and clere-matyne or elles of clene whete And noun halpeny ale in noun wise drynke But of þe beste & the brounest that in brugge is to selle ¶ Laborers þat haue no lande but lyue with handes Wold ete no nyght olde wortes ne drynk{tail} no peny ale But fressh flessh other Fisshe fried other bake And that chaude ;2a or plus chaude for chillyng{tail} of hir mawe And but he be heighliche hired elles wol he chide Ayeins Catouns conseil ;2a comseth he to Iangle He greueth hym ayeins god and gruccheth ayeins reson And he curseth the kyng{tail} and al his conseil after Swiche lawes to look{tail} laborers to greue And whiles hunger was hir Maister wolde they nat chide Ne stryue ayins his statute so sternelich he loked Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento Ac I warne yow yerkmen wynneth while ye mowe For hunger hiderward hasteth hym faste He shal awake with water wastours to chastie Er fyue yere be fulfilled swich famyn{curl} shal arise Thorugh flodes and foule wedres frutes shul faille And so seyde saturne and sente yow to warne Whan ye se the sonne amys and two monkes hedes And a mayde haue the maistrie and multiplie by eghte Thanne shal deth withdrawe and derthe be Iustice And dawe the diker deye for hunger But if god of his goodnesse graunte vs a trewe Treuthe herde telle here-of and to piers he sente To taken his teme and tilyen the erthe And purchaced hym a pardoun a pena & a culpa ;2a For hym and for hise heires for euere-more after And bad hym holde hym at home and herien hise leyes And al þat halpe hym to erien or sette or to sowe Or any other mestier that myghte piers auaille Pardoun with piers plowman treuth hath I-graunted ¶ Kynges and knyghtes þat kepen holy chirche And rightfullich in reaumes reulen the peple Han pardoun thurgh purgatorie to passen ful lighte With patriarkes & prophetes in paradys to be felawe ¶ Bisshopes I-blissed if they ben as they shulden Legistres of bothe þe lawes the lewed ther-with to preche And in as muche as they mowe amenden al synful Arn peres with the apostles this pardoun piers sheweth And at þe day of dome at the heighe deys to sitte Marchauntz in the margyne hadde many yeres Ac non a pena & a culpa the Pope nolde hem graunte For they holde nouȝt hir halidayes ;2 as holy chirche techeth And for they swere by hir soule & so god most hem helpe Ayeins clene conscience hire catel to selle And vnder his secret seal treuthe sente hem a lettre That they shulde bugge boldely þat hem beste liked And sithen selle it ayin and saue the wynnyng{tail} And amende meson{curl}deux ther-myd and myseysed folk helpe And wikked deyes wightlich hem amende And do boote to brugges that to-broke were Maryen maydens or maken hem Nonnes Pouere peple and prisons fynden hem hir liflode And sette scolers to scole or to som other craftes Releue religious and rente hem bettre And I shal sende yow my-self{tail} seynt Michel myn archangel That no dyuel shal yow dere ne fere þou in your doynge And witen yow fro wanhope if ye wol thus werche And sende youre soules in sauftee to my seyntes in Ioie ¶ Thanne were marchantz mury and wepten for Ioie And preysed Piers the plowman that purchaced this bulle ¶ Men of lawe leest pardoun hadde þat pleteden for mede For the sauter saueþ hem nouȝt swhich as taketh yiftes And namelich of Innocens that noun yuel konneth Super Innocentem munera non accipies ¶ Pledours shuld peynen hem to plede for swich & helpe Princes and prelates shulde paye for hir trauaille A regibus & principibus erit merces eorum ¶ Ac many Iustices and Iurour ;2 wold for Iohan do more Than pro dei pietate leue thow non other Ac he þat spendeth his speche and speketh for the pouere That is Innocent{tail} and nedy & no man appayreth Conforteth hym in þat caas with-outen coueitise of yiftes And sheweth lawe for oure lordes loue as he it{tail} hath lerned{tail} Shal no deuel at his deth day deren hym amytea myte Þat he ne worth sauf{tail} & his soule þe sauter bereth witnesse domine quis habitabitdomine quis habitabit Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo & cetera ccetera ¶ Ac to bugge water ne wynde ne wit ne fir the ferthe Thise foure the fader of heuene made to his folk{tail} in comune Thise ben treuthes tresores trewe folk{tail} to helpe That neuere shal wex ne wany with-outen god hym ;2a- self{tail} ¶ Whan they drawe vnto þe deth and Indulgences wolde haue His pardoun is ful petit at hir partynge hennes That any mede of mene men for his motyng{tail} taketh Ye legistres and lawyers holdeth this for treuth That if that I lye Mathew is to blame For he bad me make yow this & this prouerbe me tolde Quocumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines facite eis ¶ Alle libbyng{tail} laborers that lyuen with hir hondes That trewelich taken and trewelich wynnen And lyuen in loue and in lawe for hire lowe hertes Haueth the same absolucioun that sent was to Piers ¶ Beggers ne bidders ne beth nouȝ in the bille But if the suggestioun be soth þat shapeth hem to begge For he that beggeth or bit but if he haue nede He is fauls with the fende and defraudeth the nedy And also he bigileth the gyfer ayeins his wille For if he wiste he were nouȝt nedy he wolde it gyue another Þat were more nedy than he so þe nediest shulde be holpe Caton kenneth men thus & the Clerk of stories Cui des videte is catouns techynge ¶ And in the stories he techeth to bistowe thyn almesse Sit elemosina tua in manu tua donec studes cui des Ac Gregory ;2a was a good man and bad vs gyuen alle That asketh for his loue þat vs al loueth Non eligas cui miseriaris ne forte pretereas illum qui meretur Accipere quia incertum est pro quo deum magis placeas ¶ For ye woot neuere who is worthy ac god woot who hath nede In hym that taketh is the trecherie if any tresoun walk{tail} For he that yiueth yeldeth{bar} & yarketh hym to reste And he that biddeth borweth and bryngeth hym-self in dette For beggers borwen euere mo & hir brough is god almyghty To yelden hem þat yeueth hem and yet vsure more Quare non dedisti pecuniam meam ad mensam & ego veniens cum vsuris exigissem For-thy biddeth nouȝt ye beggers but if ye haue nede For who-so may bugge hym brede þe book bereth witnesse He hath ynough þat hath brede ynough þouȝ he haue nouȝt elles Satis diues est qui non Indiget pane Lat vsage be your solas of seintes lyues redyng{tail} The book banneth beggeris & blameth in this manere Iunior fui etenim senui & non vidi Iustum derelictumnec semen eius querens panem For ye luye nouȝ in no loue ne no lawe holden Many of how ne wedde nouȝt þe womman ye with delen But as wylde bestes with wehe worth vp and worchen And bryngeth forth barnes that bastardes men calleth Or the bak or som bon he breketh in his youthe And sith goon fatten with youre fauntes for euere more after Ther is mo myshappe peple among{tail} thise beggers Than of al manere men þat on this molde walketh And they þat lyue thus hir lif mowe lothe þe tyme That euere he was man wrought whan he shal hennes fare Ac olde men and hoore þat helplees ben of strengthe And wommen with childe that werche ne mowe Blynde and bedred and broken hir membres That taken thise meschiefs mekliche as mesels and other Han as pleyn pardoun as the plowman hym- seluen For loue of hire lowe hertes oure lord hath hem graunted Hir penaunce and hir purgatorie here on this erthe Piers quod a preest tho thy pardoun moost I rede For I wol construe ech clause & kenne it the on Englissh{bar} And I bihynde hem bothe bihelde al the biulle Al in two lynes it lay and nouȝt a leef more And was writen right thus in wittnesse of treuthe Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam Qui vero mala in ignem eternum Peter quod the preest tho I kan no pardoun fynde But do wel and haue wel and god shal haue thy soule And do yuel and haue yuel hope thow non other And after thy dede day the deuel shal haue thy soule And Piers for pure tene pulled it a-tweyne And seide si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es I shal cessen of my sowyng{tail} quod Piers and swynk nat so harde Ne be aboute my bely Ioie so bisily namore Of preyers and penaunce my plow shal ben here-after And wepen whan I sholde slepe thouȝ whete brede me faille The prophete his payn ete in penaunce and in sorwe By that þe sauter seith so did many other That loueth god lely his liflode is ful esy Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac / nocte And but if luc lye he lereth vs by fowles We shulde nouȝt be to bisy aboute the worldes Ne solicite sitis he seith in the gospel And sheweth vs by ensaumples vs selue to wisse The fowles in the felde who fynt hem mete at{tail} wynter Haue they no gerner to go to but god fynt hem alle What quod the preest to Perkyn peter as me thynketh Thow art lettred a litel who lerned the on book{tail} Abstinence the Abbesse quod Piers myn a b c me taughte And Conscience come afterward and kenned me muche more Where thow a preest Piers quod he þou miȝte preche where þou sholdest As diuinour in diuinite with dixit insipiens to þi teme Lewed lorell quod Piers litel lokestow on the bille And on Salomon sawes selden thow biholdest Ecce derisores & Iurgia cum eis ne crescant The preest and Perkyn apposed either other That thorough hire wordes a- wooke and wayted aboute And seigh the sonne in the south satte that tyme Meteles and moneles on Maluerne hulles Musyng{tail} on thise metels and many wey ich yede Many tyme thise metels hath maked me to studie Of that I seigh slepyng{tail} if it so be myȝte And also for Piers the plowman ful pensif{tail} in herte And with a pardoun Piers hadde alle the peple to conforte And how the preest impugned it with two propre wordes Ac I haue no sauoure in songewarie for I se it ofte faille Canon and canonistres conseillen vs to leeue T sette sadnesse in songewarie for sompnia ne curis Ac for the book{tail} of the bible bereth witnesse How danyel deuyned the dremes of a That was nabugodonosor nempned of clerkes danyel seide sire kung{tail} thy dremeles bitokneth{bar} Þat vncouthe knyghtes shul come thy kyngdome to clayme Amonges lower lordes thy londes shal be departed And as danyel deuynd in dede it felle after The kyng{tail} lees his lordship and lower men it hadde And Ioseph mette merueilously how þe mone & þe sonne And þe elleuene sterres hailesed hym alle Than Iacob iugged Ioseps sweuene Beau fitz quod his fader for defaute we shullen I my-self and my sones seche the for nede It bifelle as his fader seide in pharaos tyme That Ioseph was Iustice Egipte to loken It bifel as his fader tolde hise frendes ther hym sought And al this maketh me on thise metels to thenk{tail} And how the preste preued no pardoun to do wel Biennales & triennales And bisshopes lettres & how dowel at þe day of dome is dignelich vnderfongen And passeth al the pardoun of seint Petres chirche Now hath the pope power pardoun to graunte þe peple With-outen penaunce to passen in-to heuene This is oure bileue as lettred men vs techeth{bar} Quod cumque ligaueris super terram erit ligatum & in celis & cetera And so I leeue lealy lordes forbode elles That pardoun and penaunce & preyers don þe same Soules þat haue synned seuene sithes dedly Ac to triste to this triennale treulich me þinketh Is nouȝt so siker for the soule certes as is dowel For-thy I rede yow renkes þat riche ben on this erthe Vp-on trist of youre tresore triennales to haue Be ye neuere the baldere to breke þe ten heestes And namely ye maistres maires & Iugges That haue the welthe of þis world{tail} þat wise men ben holden To purchace yow pardoun and the popes bulles Ac the dredful dome whan dede shal arise And comen alle bifore crist acountes to yelde How thow laddest thy lif{tail} here & hise lawes keptest And how þou didest day by day this dome wol reherce A pook{tail} ful of pardoun ther ne prouyncials lettres Theighe ye be founde in þe fraternite of alle þe foure ordres & haue Indulgence double folde but if do wel yow helpe I sette youre patentes & youre pardoun at oon pyes hele For-thy I conseille alle cristne to crie god mercy And Mary his moder be oure mene bitwene That god guye vs grace here er we goon hennes Swich werkes to worche while we ben here That after oure dede day do wel reherce At þe day of dome we dide as he highte Passus octauus de Visione & primus passus dedowelPassus octauus de Visione & primus passus dedowel Thus yrobed in russet I romed aboute Al a somer seson for to seeke do wel And frayned ful ofte of folk{tail} that I mette If any wigh wist wher do wel was at Inne And what man he myghte be of many man I axed Was neuere wight{tail} as I wente that me wisse kouthe Wher this leode longed lasse ne more Til it bifel on a friday two freres I mette Maistres of the Menours men of grete witte I hailesed hem hendly as I hadde lerned And preyed hem par charite er they passed ferther If they knewe any contres or coostes as þey wente Ther þat do wel dwelleth do me to witee For they beth men of this molde þat most wilde walkyn & knowen contrees and courtes & many kynnes places Both princes paleys and pouer mennes cootes And do wel and do yuel wher þey dwelle bothe Amonges vs quod the mynours þat man is dwellyng{tail} And euere hath as I hope and euere shal here-after Contra quod I as clreccl[er]c and comsed to disputen And seide hem soithly sepcies in die cadit Iustus Seuene sithe seith the book{tail} synneth the rightful & who-so synneth I seide dooth yuel as me thynketh And do wel & do yuel mowe nouȝt dwelle togidres Ergo he is nouȝt alwey amonges yow freres He is other-while elles- where to wisse the peple I shal sey the my sonne seide the frere thanne How seuene sithes þe sadman on a day synneth By a forbisyn quod þe frere I shal þe faire shewe Lat brynge a man in a boote amyd the brode water The wynde & þe water & þe boote waggynge Maketh a man many a tyme to falle and to foonde For stode he neuere so styf{tail} he stombleth if he meueth And yet is he sauf & sounde & so hym bihoueth For if he ne arise the rather and raughte to þe stere T wynde wolde with þe water þe boote ouer-throwe And thanne were his lif loste thorugh lacchesse of hymself{tail} And thus it falleth quod þe frere by folk{tail} here in erthe The water is likned to the world þat wanyeth & waxeth T goodes of þis grounde arn like to þe grete wawes That as wyndes & wederes walketh aboute T boote is likned til oure bodies þat brotel is of kynde Þat thorugh the fende & þe flessh & þe frele worlde Synneth the sadman a day seuene sithes Ac dedly synne doth he nouȝt for dowel hym kepeth & þat is charite the champioun chief ayenis synne For he strengthed man to stonde and stereth mannes soule And thouȝ thy body bowe as boote doth in þe water Ay is thy soule sauf / but if thy-self wol D o a dedly synne and drynche thy soule God wol suffre wel thy sleuthe if þi-self liketh For he yaf þe to yeresyeue to yeme wel thy-selue And þat is wit and free wille to euery wight a porcioun To fleyng{tail} fowles to fisshes and also to beestes Ac man hath moost ther-of and moost is to blame But if he worche wel ther-with as dowel hym techeth{bar} I haue no kynde knowyng{tail} quod I to conceyue alle your wordes Ac if I may lyue and look {tail} I shal lerne bettre And I bikenne the crist þat on the cros dyed And I seide the same saue yow fro meschaunce & yeue yow grace on this grounde : good men to worthe And thus I wente wide- where walkyn myn oon By a wilde wildernesse and by a woodes syde Blisse of the briddes broughte me a-slepe And vnder alyndea lynde vp-on a launde lened I a stounde To lithe the layes the louely fowles made Mirthe of hir mouthes made me ther to slepe The merueillousest metels mette I me thanne That euere dremed wight in world as I wene A muche man as me thought & like to my-selue Come & called me by my kynde name What artow quod I tho þat thow my name knowest That thow woost wel quod he & no wight bettre Woot I what thow art thought seide thanne I haue sued the þis seuene yere seigh þou me no rather Artow thought quod I thoo thow koudest me wisse Where that do wel dwelleth and do me þat to knowe Do wel and do bet and do best{tail} the thridde quod he Aren thre faire vertues and ben nouȝt ferre to fynde Who-so is trewe of his tonge and of his two handes And thurgh his labour and his londes his liflode wynneth And is trusty of his taillyng{tail} and taketh but his owne And is nouȝt dronkelewe ne dedeignous do wel hym folweth{bar} Do bet doth right thus and he doth muche more He is as lowe as a lombe and louelich of speche And helpeth alle men after þat hem nedeth The bagges and the bigirdils he hath to-broke hem alle That the Erle auarous helde and hise heyres And thus Mamondes monoie he hath made hym frendes And is ronne to religioun and hath rendred þe bible And preched to the peple seint Poules wordes Libenter suffertis insipientes cum sitis ipsi sapientes And suffreth the vnwise with yow for to libbe And with glade wille do hem good for so god yow hoteth Do best is aboue bothe and bereth a bisshopes crosse Is hoked on þat oon ende to halye men fro helle A pike is on the potente to pulle a-down þe wikked That wayten any wikkednesse do wel to teene do wel and do bet amonges hem ordeyned To crowne oon to be kyng{tail} to rulen hem bothe That if do wel or do bet do ayeins do beste Thanne shal the kyng{tail} come & casten hem in Irnes And but if do beste bid for hem they to be ther for euere Thus do wel and do bet and do best thridde Crowned oon to be kyng{tail} to kepen hem alle And to rule the reaume by hir thre wittes And non other wise but as they thre assented I thanked thought tho that he me thus taughte Ac yet sauoureth me nouȝt þi seggynge I coueite to lerne How do wel & do best don amonges the peple But wit konne wisse þe quod thought wher tho thre dwelle Elles woot I noon that konne þat now is a- lyue Thought and I thus thre dayes yeden Disputinge vp-on do wel day after other And er we were war with wit gonne we mete H he was longe and lene lich to non other Was no pride on his apparaille ne pouerte neither Sadde of his semblant and of softe chere I dorste moeue no matere to make hym to Iangle But as I bad thought tho be mene bitwene And putte forth som purpose to proven hise wittes What was do wel fro do bet & dobest fram hem bothe Thanne thought in þat tyme seide thise wordes Where do wel do bet and do best ben in londe Here is wille wolde wite if wit kouthe teche hym And wheither he be man or womman this man wolde aspyen And worchen as they þre wolde this is his entente Passus Nonus {???} Passus Nonus {???} Sire dowel dwelleth quod wit nought a day hennes In a castell that kynde made of foure kynnes thynges Of erthe and eyre is it made medled togidres With wynde & with water witerly enioigned Kynde hath closed ther-Inne craftily with-alle A leman that hym loueth like to hym-selue Anima she hatte ac enuye hir hateth A proude priker of Fraunce princeps huius mundi And wolde wynne hir a-wey with wiles & he myghte Ac kynde knoweth this wel & kepeth hir þe bettre And hath don hir with sire dowel duk of thise marches Do bet is hir damosel sire do wel doughter To serue this lady lely bothe late and rathe Do best is aboue bothe a bisshopes piere That he bit moot be don he ruleth hem alle Anima that lady is lad by his lerynge Ac the constable of þat castel þat kepeth alle the wacche Is a wise knyght with- al sire Inwit he hatte And hath fyue faire sones by his first wyf Sire see wel and say wel and here wel the hende Sire werche wel with thyne hande a wight man of strengthe And sire Godfrey go wel ;2 grete lordes for-sothe Thise fyue be sette to saue this lady anima Til kynde come or sende to sauen hir for euere ¶ What thyng{tail} is kynde quod I kanstow me telle ¶ Kynde quod wit is a creature of al kynne thynges Fader and fourmour of al þat euere was maked And that is the grete god þat gynnynge had neuere Lord of lif and of light of lisse and of peyne Angels and al thyng{tail} aren at his wille Ac man is hyme moste like of marke & of shafte For thurgh þe word þat he spak{tail} wexen forth bestes Dixit & facta sunt & cetera ;2a And made man likest to hym ;2a- selue oon And Eue of his ribbe boon with-outen any mene For he was singuler hym-self & seide faciamus ;2a As who seith more moot her-to thanne my word oon My myght moot help now with my speche Right as a lord shulde make lettres & hym lakked parchemyn Though he kouthe write neuere so wel if he had no penne The lettre for al the lordship I leue were neuere ymaked And so it semeth by hym as the book telleth Ther he seith dixit & facta sunt & ccetera He moost werche with his word and his wit shewe & in this manere was man made thurgh myght of god almyghty With his word and werkmanship & with lif to laste And thus god yaf hym a goost of the godhede of heuene And of his grete grace graunte hym blisse And that is lif þat ay shal laste to alle lynages after And þat is the castel þat kynde made Caro it hatte And is as muche to mene ;2 as man with a soule And þat he wrought with werk{tail} ;2 & with word bothe Thurgh myghte of þe magestee man was ymaked Inwit and alle wittes closed be ther-Inne For loue of the lady anima that lif is ynempned Ouer al in mannes body he walketh & wandreth Ac in the herte is hir home and hir moost reste Ac Inwit is in the hede and to the herte he loketh What anima is leue or lothe he lat hir at his wille And after the grace of god the grettest is Inwit Muche wo worth þat man þat mysruleth his Inwit And þat ben glotons globbers hir god is hir wombe Quorum deus venter est & cetera ;2a ¶ For they seruen sathan hir soules shal he haue That lyueth synful lif{tail} here hir soule is like þe deuel And al þat lyuen good lif arn like to god almyghty Qui manet in caritate in deo manet ¶ Allas þat drynk{tail} shal for-do that god dere aboughte And doth god forsaken hem þat he shope to his liknesse Amen dico vobis nescio vos & alibi & dimisi eos secundum desideria & cetera ;2a Fooles þat fauten Inwit I-fynde þat holychirche Shulde fynden hem þat hem fauteth and faderlese children And widewes þat han nouȝt wher-with to wynnen hem hir foode Madde men and maydens that helples were Alle thise lakken Inwit and lore bihoueth ¶ Of this matere I myghte make a longe tale And fynde feel witnesse amonges the foure doctours And that I lye nouȝt of þat I lere þe luk{tail} bereth witnesse ¶ Godfader and godmoder that seen hir godchildren At myseise & meschief and mowe hem amende Shul haue penaunce in purgatorie but if they hem helpe For more bilongeth to the litel barn{curl} er he þe lawe knowe Thanne nempnyng{tail} of a name and he neuere þe wiser ¶ Sholde no cristen creature crien at the yate Ne faille payn ne potage & prelates dide as they sholde A Iewe wolde nouȝt seen a Iewe go Iangelyng{tail} for defaute For alle the moebles on this molde & he amende it myghte Allas þat a cristen creature sholde be so vnkynde to an other Sithen Iewes þat we Iugge Iudas felawes Either of hem helpeth other of þat that hym nedeth Why nyl we cristen of cristes goode be as kynde As Iewen þat ben oure loresmen shame to vs alle The comune for hir vnkyndenesse I drede me shal a-bye Bisshopes shul be blamed for beggers sake He is wors than Iudas that yeueth Iapers siluer And biddeth the begger go for his broke clothes Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda qui patrimonium Cristi minus distribuit & alibi perniciosus dispensator est qui res pauperum invtiliter consumit ¶ He doth nought wel þat doth thus ne drad nouȝt god almyghty Ne loueth nouȝt salomons sawes that sapience taughte Inicium sapiencie timor domini & cetera cc :2a Drede god for loue & þou dost wel but noȝt for Vengeance & þou dost bet Thow doste beste if thow withdrawe by day & by nyght To spille any speche or any space of tyme Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus cc ¶ Lesyng{tail} of tyme treuthe woot the sothe Is moste yhated vp-on erthe of hem þat ben in heuene And sith to spille speche that spire is of grace And goddes gleeman and a game of heuene Wolde neuere the feithful fader his fithele were vntempred Ne his gleeman a godelyng{tail} a goer to tauernes ¶ To al trewe tidymen{curl}tidy men{curl} that trauaille desiren Oure lord loueth hem or lent londe othir stille Grace to go to hem and a goun hir liflode Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono ;2a ¶ Trewe wedded libbyng{tail} folk{tail} in this world is dowel For they mote werche & wynne & þe world susteyne For of hir kynde þey come þat confessours ben nempned Kynges and knyghtes kaisers and cherles Maydens and martirs oute of a man come The wyf was made the wey forto helpe werche And thus was wedlok{tail} I-wrought with a mene persone First by the fadres wille and the frendes conseil And sith by assent of hem-self{tail} as they two myghte acorde And thus was wedlok{tail} ywrouȝt & god hym ;2a- self it made In erthe the heuene is hym ;2a- self{tail} was the witnesse Ac fals folk{tail} feithlees theeues and liers Wastours and wrecches out{tail} of wedlok{tail} I trowe Conceyued ben in yuel tyme as Caym was of heuene Of swich synful shrewes the sauter maketh mynde Concepit in dolore & peperit iniquitatem & cetera ¶ And alle þat come of that kaym ;2 come to yuel ende For god sent to seem and seide by an angel Thyn issue in thyn issue I wol þat they be wedded And nouȝt thy kynde with kaymes ycoupled ne spoused ¶ Yet some ayein the sonde of oure saueour of heuene Kaymes kynde and his kynde coupled togidres Til god wratthed with hir werkes and swich a word seide That I maked man now me it a ;2a- thynketh Penitet me fecisse hominem cc & ccetera ;2a And come to Noe anon{curl} & bad hym nouȝt lette Swith go shape a shippe of shides & of bordes Thy-self and thy thre sones and sithen youre wyues Buske yow to þat bote and bideth ye ther-Inne Til fourty dayes be fulfilled þat þe flode haue ywasshen Clene a-wey the cursed bloode þat Caym hath ymaked{tail} ¶ Bestes þat now ben shulle banne the tyme That euere þat cursed Caym come in this erthe Alle shul dye for hise dedes by dales & by hulles And the foules þat fleen forth with other bestes Except onliche of ech a kynde a couple That{tail} in thy syngled shippe shul ben ysaued ¶ Here boughte the barne the belsire giltes And al for hir forfadres they ferden the worse The gospel is here agayn in o degree I fynde FilliusFilius non portabit iniquitatem patris & pater non & cetera ;2a ¶ Ac I fynde if the fader be fals or a shrewe That somdele the sone shal haue þe sires tacches ¶ Impe on an Ellerne and if thyn appul be swete Muche merueille me thynketh & more of a shrewe That bryngeth forth any barne but if he be the same And haue a sauour after the sire selde sestow other Numquam colligimus de spinis vuas nec de tribulis ficus ¶ And thus thorugh cursed caym cam care vp-on erthe And al for they wrought wedlok{tail} ayeins goddes wille For-thy haue they maugre þat so marien hir children For som as I see now sothe for to telle For coueitise of catel vnkyndlich he wedded{tail} Ac careful concepcion cometh of swich mariages As bifel of the folk{tail} þat I bifore of tolde For good shul wedde good thouȝ hij no goode hadde I am via & veritas seith crist I may auaunce alle It is an vncomely couple by crist as me thynketh To yeue a yonge wenche to an olde fieble Or wedden any widowe for welthe of hir goodes That neuere shal barne bere but if it be armes Many a peire sith þe petilence han plighte hem togidres The fruyt þat they brynge forth aren fowle wordes In Ialousie Ioieles and Ianglyng{tail} a-bedde Haue þei no children but chest and cloppyng{tail} hem bitwene ¶ And though þey don hem to donmowe but if þe deuel helpe To folowen after the flicche fecche þei it neuere And but they bothe be forsworne þat bacoun they tyne ¶ For-thy I conseille alle cristne coueite nouȝt be wedded{tail} For coueitise of catel ne of kynred riche Ac maidenes and maidenes macche yow togidres Widowes and widowers worcheth the same For no londes but for loue loke ye be wedded & thanne gete ye þe grace of god & good ynough to lyue with ¶ And euery manere seculer þat may nouȝt continue Wisely go wedde and war hym fro synne For lecchery in lokyng{tail} is lyme yerde of helle Whiles thow art yonge & thy wepne keene Wreke the with wyuyng{tail} if þou wolt ben excused Cum sis vir fortis ne des tua robora scortis ~ Scribitur in portis meretrix est Ianua mortis Whan ye haue wyued beth war and wercheth in tyme Nouȝt as adam and Eue whan Caym was engendred For in vntyme trewely bitwene man and womman Ne sholde no bourde o bedde be but if þey boþe were clene Both of lif and of soule and in parfit charite That ilke derne dede do no man ne sholde For he made wedlok{tail} first{tail} and hym ;2a- self{tail} it seide Ac if they leden thus hir lif{tail} it liketh god almyghty Bonum est vt vnusquisque vxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionem ¶ And they þat other-gates be geten for gedelynges ben holden As fals folk{tail} fondelynges faitours and lyers Vngracious to gete goode or loue of the peple Wandren and waste what they cacche mowe Ayeins doo wel they don yuel and þe dyuel serue And after hir deth day shal dwelle with þe same But god gif hem grace hem-selue to amende ¶ Do-wel my frende is to don as the lawe techeth{bar} To loue thy frende and thy foo leue me þat is do-bet To yeuen and to yemen bothe yonge & olde To helen and to helpen is do-best of alle ¶ And do-wel is to drede god and do-bet is to suffre & so cometh do ;2a- best of bothe & bryngeth a-downe þe mody And þat is wikked wille þat many werke shendeth And dryueth awey do ;2a- wel thorugh dedly synne Passus decimus Thanne had wit a wif{tail} was hote dame studie That lene was of lire and of liche bothe She was wondrelich wroth þat wit me thus taughte And al staryng{tail} dame studie sternelich seide Wel artow wise quod she to wit any wisdomes to telle To flaterrers or to fooles þat frenetik{tail} ben of wittes And blamed hym & banned hym & bad hym be stille With swich wise wordes to wisse any sottes And seide noli mitere;2a man margerie perles Amonges hogges þat haue hauwes at wille They don but drauel ther-on draf were hym leuere That al the precious perre þat in paradys wexeth I sey it by swich quod she þat sheweth by hir werkes That hem were leuere londe and lordship on erthe Or richesse or rentes and reste at hir wille Than alle the sothe sawes þat salamoun seide euere ¶ Wisdom and wit now is nouȝt worth a kerse But if it be carded with coueitise as clothers kemben wolle Who-so kan controue deceites and conspire wronges And lede forth a loue day to lette with{bar} treuthe He þat swich craftes kan to conseil is cleped They lede lordes with lesynges and bilieth treuthe ¶ Iob the gentil in hise geestes gretly witnesseth{bar} That wikked men welden the welthe of this worlde And þat they beth lordes of ech londe ;2 þat oute of lawe libbeth Quare impij viuunt bene est homnibus qui preuaricantur & inique agunt The sauter seith the same by swich þat don Ille Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes in seculo optinuerunt diuicias ¶ Lo seith holy lecture which lordes beth thise shrewes Thilke þat god moost gyueth leest goode they deleth And moste vnkynde to the comune þat most catel weldeth Que perfecisti destruxerunt iustus autem & ccetera ¶ Harlotes for hir harlotrie may haue of hir goodes And Iapers and Iogelours and Iangelers of geestes Ac he that hath holy write ay in his mouthe And kan telle of Tobie & of twelue appostles Or prechen of penaunce þat pilat wroughte To ihesu the gentil that Iuwes to-drowen Litel is he loued that swich a lessoun sheweth Or daunted or drawe forth I do it on god hym-selue ¶ But tho that feynen hem fooles & with faityng{tail} libbeth Ayein the lawe of oure lord and lyen on hym ;2a- selue Spytten and spewen and speke foule wordes Drynken and dryuelen and do men forto gape Likken men and lyen on hem þat leneth hem no giftes they konne namorena morethey konne namorena more They konne namorena more mynstralcie ne musik men to glade Thanne Munde the Milnere of Multa fecit deus Ne were hir vile harlotrie haue god my trouthe Sholde neuere kyng{tail} ne knyght ne chanoun of seint Poules Yeue hem to hir yeresyeue the value of a groot ¶ Ac murthe and mynstralcye among{tail} men is nouthe Leccherie and losengerie and losels tales Glotonye and grete othes this murthe louyeth ¶ Ac if they carpen of crist thise clerkes and thise lewed At mete in murthes whan mynstralles ben stille Than telle they of þe Trinite a tale other tweyne And bryngen forth a balled reson & take bernard to witnesse And putten forth a presumpcioun to preue the soth Thus they dryuele at hir deys the deite to knowe And gnawen god with the george whan hir gutte is fulle ¶ Ac the carful may crie and carpen at the yate Bothe afyngred and a ;2a- thrust and for chele quake Is non to nymen hym ner his noye to amende But heoun on hym as an hounde and hoten hym go thennes Litel loueth he þat lord þat lente hym al that blisse That thus parteth with þe pouere a parcel whan hym nedeth Ne were mercy in mene men more thanne in riche Mendynantz meteles myghte go to bedde God is muche in the george of thise grete maistres Ac amonges mene men his mercy & his werkes And so seith the sauter I haue seyn ofte Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata inuenimus eam in campia silue ¶ Clerkes & other kynnes men carpen of god faste And haue hym muche in the mouthe ac men in herte ¶ Freres & faitours han founde swich questiouns To plese with proude men sith þe pestilence tyme And prechen at seynt poules for pure enuye of clerkes That folk{tail} is nouȝt fermed in the feith ne fre of hire goodes Ne sory for hir synnes so is pride woxen In Religioun & in al the reaume amonges riche & pouere That preyers haue no power the pestilence to lette And yet þe wrecches of this world{tail} is non ywar by other Ne for drede of the deth with-drawe nauȝt hir pride Ne beth plentyuouse to the pouere ;2 as pure charite wolde But in gaynesse and glotonye forgluten hir goode hem-selue And bregen nouȝt to the begger as the book techeth Frange esurienti panem tuum & ccetera ¶ And the more he wynneth and welt{tail} welthes & richesses And lordeth in londes the lasse goode he deleth Thobie telleth yow nouȝt so take hede ye riche How the book{tail} of the bible of hym bereth witnesse Si tibi copia sit habundanter tribue si autem exiguum impertiri stude libenter ccetera Who-so hath muche spene muche so meneth Thobie And who-so litel weldeth rule hym ther-after For we haue no lettre of oure lif how longe it shal dure Swich lessons lordes sholde louye to here And how he myght moost meyne manlich fynde ¶ And nouȝt to fare as a fitheler or a frere for to seke festes Homlich at other mennes houses and hatyen hir owne Elenge is the halle ech day in the weke Ther the lord and the lady liketh nouȝt to sette Now hath eche a rule to eten by hym ;2a- selue In a pryue parlour for pure mennes sake Or in a Chambre with a Chymeney & leue þe chief halle That was made for meles men to eten Inne And al to spare to spille þat spende shal another ¶ I haue herde heigh men etynge at the table Carpen as they clerkes were of crist & of hise myghtes And leyden fautes on the fader þat fourmed vs alle And carpen ayein clerkes crabbed wordes Why wolde oure saueour suffre swich a worme in his blisse That bigiled the womman and the man after Thorugh which whiles & wordes they wenten to helle And al hire sede for hire synne þe same deth suffred Here lyeth youre lore thise lordes gynneth dispute Of þat þe clerkes vs kenneth of crist{tail} by the gospel Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris & ccetera Whi sholde we þat now ben for the werkes of Adam Roten and rende resoun wolde it neuere Vnusquisque portabit onus suum & ccetera ¶ Swich motynges they moeue thise maistres in hir glorie And make men in mysbileue þat muse muche on hir wordes Ymagynatif here afterward shal answere to your purpos Austyn to swich arguers telleth this teme Non plus sapere quam oportet & cetera ;2a ¶ Wilneth neuere to wite whi that god wolde Suffre sathan his sede to bigile Ac bileueth lealy in the lore of holy chirche And pray hem of pardoun & penaunce in þi lyue And for his muche mercy to amende yow here For alle that wilneth to wite þe whyes of gogod almyghty I wolde his eye were in his ers and his fynger after That euere wilneth to wyte whi þat god wolde Suffre sathan his ;2 sede to bigile Or Iudas to the Iuwes ihesu bitraye Al was as thow woldest lord worshiped be thow And al worth as thow wolt{tail} ;2 what-so we dispute And tho that vse thise hauylounes to blynde mennes wittes What is do-wel fro do-bet{tail} now deef moot he worthe Sith he wilneth to wite which they ben bothe But if he lyue in the lif þat longeth to do-wel For I dar ben his bolde borgh þat do-bet wol he neuere Theigh do-best drawe on hym day after other ¶ And whan þat wit was war what dame studye tolde He bicom so confuse he couthe nouȝt look{tail} And as doumbe as deth ;2 and drowe hym arere ¶ & for no carpyng{tail} I couthe after ne knelyng{tail} to þe grounde I myghte gete no greyn of hise grete wittes But al laughyng{tail} he louted ;2 & loked vp-on studie In signe þat I sholde biseche hir of grace & whan I was war of his wille to his wif gan I loute And seide mercy ma-dame your man shal I worthe As longe as I lyue bothe late and rathe For to werche youre wille the while my lif dureth With þat ye kenne me kendely ;2 to knowe what is do-wel ¶ For thy mekenesse man quod she & for þi mylde speche I shal kenne the to myn cosyn{curl} that clergie is hoten He hath wedded a wif with-Inne thise sex monthes Is sibbe to the seuene artz scripture is hir name They two as I hope after my techynge Shulle wissen þe to do-wel I dar it vndertake Thanne was I also fayn as fowle of faire morwe And gladder than the gleman þat gold hath to yifte And axed hir the heigh weye where þat clergie dwelte And telle me som tokne quod I for tyme is þat I wende ¶ Axe the heigh wey quod studye hennes to suffre Bothe wel and who if þat thow wolt lerne And ride forth by richesse and reste nouȝt ther-Inne For if thow couplest ye ther-with to clergie comstow neuere [¶] And also the likerous launde that leccherie hatte Leue it on thy left hand a large myle and more Til thow come to a Court{tail} kepe wel thy tonge Fro lesynges and lither speche and likerouse drynkes ¶ Than shaltow see sobrite and simplete of speche That ech wight be in wille his wit the to shewe And thus shaltow come to clergie ;2 þat kan many thynges Sey hym this signe i sette hym to scole And þat I grete wel his wif{tail} for I wrote hir many bokes And sette hir to sapience and to the sauter glose Logik{tail} I lerned hir and many other lawes And alle the musons in Musek{tail} I made hir to knowe ¶ Plato the poete I putte hym first to book{tail} Aristotle and other mo to argue I taughte Gramer for gerles ;2 I garte first write & bette hem with a balays but if they wolde lerne Of alkynnes craftes I controued tooles Of carpenterie of keruers and compassed masons And lerned hem leuel and lyne thouȝ I loke dyme ¶ Ac theologie hath tened me ten score tymes The more I muse ther-Inne the mistier it semeth And the depper I deuyne the derker me it thynketh It is no science for-sothe ;2 for to sotile Inne A ful lethy thyng{tail} it were if þat loue nere And for it lete best by loue I loue it þe bettre For ther that loue is leder ;2 ne lakketh no grace Look thow loue lealy if the liketh do-wel For do-bet and do-best ben of loues kynne In other science it seith I seigh it in Caton Qui simulat verbis nec corde est fidus amicus Tu quoque fac simulesim[i]le cum ars deluditur arte ¶ Who-so gloseth as gilours doun do hem the same And so shaltow false folk{tail} and feithlesse bigile This is Caton kennynge to clerkes þat he lereth Ac theologie techeth nouȝ so who-so taketh yeme And kenneth vs the contrarie ayeins catons wordes For he bit vs be as brethren ;2 and bid for oure enemys And louen hem þat lyen on vs & lene hem whan hem nedeth And do good ayeins yuel god hym-self{tail} it hoteth Dum tempus habemus operemur bonum ad omnes maxime autem ad domesticos fidei ccetera ¶ Poule preched to the peple ;2 that parfitnesse loued To do goode for goddesloue and gyuen men þat asked And namelich to swich þat suweth oure bileue And al þat lakketh vs and lieth vs god techeth vs to louye And nouȝt to greue hem þat greue vs ;2 god þat forbedeth Michi vindictam & ego retribuam & ccetera & ccetera ¶ For-thy look thow louye as longe as thow durest For is no conscience vnder sonne ;2 so souereyne for þe soule Ac astronomye is an harde thyng{tail} ;2 & yuel for to knowe Geometrie and gemesie is gynful of speche Who-so thenketh werche with þo two ;2 thryueth ful late For sorcerie is the souereyne book þat to þe science longeth ¶ Yet ar ther fibiches in forcers of fele mennes makynge Experiementz of alkenamye ;2 the peple to deceyue If thow thenke to do-wel dele ther-with neuere Alle thise sciences I my-self{tail} sotiled and ordeyned And founded hem formest folk{tail} to deceyue ¶ Telle clergie thise toknees and scipturesc[r]ipture after I conseille the kyndely to knowe what is dowel ¶ I seide graunt mercy ma-dame and mekelich hire grette And went wightlich awey withoute more lettyng{tail} And til i come to clergie I kouthe neuere stynte And grette the goodman ac studie me taughte And afterwardes the wyf and worshiped hem bothe And tolde hem the toknes that me taughte were Was neuere gome vp-on this grounde ;2 sith god made þe worlde Fairer vnderfongen ne fryndeloker at ese Thanne my-self sothlich soone so he wiste That I was of wittes hous & with his wif dame studie I seide to hym sothely þat sente was I thider Do-wel and do-bet and do-beste to lerne ¶ It is a comune lif quod clergie ;2 on holy chirche to bilyue With alle the articules of the feith þat falleth to be knowe And that is to bileue lealy bothe lered and lewed On the grete god that gynnynge hadde neuere And on the sothfast sonne þat saued man-kynde Fro the dedly deeth and the deueles power Thorugh þe help of þe holy goost þe which goost is of bothe Thre persones ac nouȝt{tail} in plurel noumbre For al is but oon god and ech is god hym-selue Deus pater deus filius deus spiritus sanctus ¶ God þe fader god the sone ;2 god holy goost of bothe Maker of mankynde and of bestes bothe ¶ Austyn the olde here-of made bookes And hym-self ordeyned to sadde vs in bileue Who was hise auctor ;2 alle þe foure ewangelistes And crist cleped hym-self{tail} sso þe ewangelist bereth witnesse Ego in patre & pater in me est & qui videt me videt & patrem meum ¶ Alle the clerkes vnder crist ; ne couthe this assoille But thus it bilongeth to bileue to men þat wol do-wel For had neuere freek{tail} fyn wit the feith to despute Ne man had no merite ; myghte it ben y-proued Fides non habet meritum vbi humana racio prebet experimentum ¶ Thanne is do-bet to suffre for thy soules sake Alle þat the book bit ; by holy chirche techynge And þat is man by thy myghte for mercies sake Look thow worche it in werke þat þi word sheweth Swich as thow semest in sight be in assay yfounde Appare quod es vel esto quod appares ¶ And late no body be ; by thy berynge bigiled But swich in thy soule ; as thow semest withoute Thanne is do-best to be bolde ; to blame þe gilty Sithen thow seest thy-self{tail} ; as in soule clene Ac blame thow neuere body ; and þou be blame-worthy Si culpare velis culpabilis esse cauebis Dogma tuum sordet cum te tua culpa remordet ¶ God in þe gospel grymly ; repreueth Alle that lakketh any lif{tail} ; and lakkes han hem-selue Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui trabem in & cetera Why meuestow thy mode ; for a mote in þi brotheres eye Sithen a beme in thyn owne ; ablyndeth thy-selue Ecce primo trabem de oculo tuo & cetera Which letteth the to look ; lasse other more ¶ I rede ech a blynde bosard ; do boote to hym-selue For abbotes and priours ; and al manere of prelates As parsons and parisshprestesparissh prestes ; þat preche sholde and teche Alle manere of men to amenden by hir myghte This texte was tolde yow to be war er ye taughte That ye were swich as ye seide ; to salue with other For goddes worde wolde nouȝt ; be loste for þat worcheth{bar} euere If it auailled nouȝt þe comune ; it myghte auaille yow-seluen ¶ Ac it semeth now sothely ; to the worldes sighte That goddes word worcheth ; nouȝt on lered ne lewed But in swich manere ; as Mark{tail} meneth in þe gospel Dum cecus ducit cecum ambo in foueam cadunt ¶ Lewed men may likne yow ; þat þe beme lith in youre eighen And the festu is fallen ; for youre defaute In alle manere men ; thorugh mansed preestes The bible bereth witnesse ; þat al the folk{tail} of Israel Bittre boughte the giltes ; of two badde preestes Offyn & Fynees for hir coueitise Archa dei mishapped and Ely brake his nekke For-thy correctours claweth here-on ; & correcteth first your-seluen And þanne mowe þe saufly sey as dauid made þe sauter Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis arguam te & statuam Contra faciem tuam cetera & cetera Thanne shal borel clerkes be abasshed ; to blame yow or to greue And carpen nouȝt as þey do now & calle yow dombe houndes Canes non valentes latrare cetera & And drede to wratthe yow in any worde ; your werkmanship to lette And be prestyer at youre preyer ; than for a pounde of nobles And al for youre holynesse haue ye this in herte ¶ In scole ther is a scorne ; but if a Clerc wol lerne And a grete loue and likyng{tail} for ech of hem loueth other And now is religioun a rider a Romer by stretes A leder of loue dayes ; and a londe bugger A priker on a palfrey ; fro manoir to manoir An heep of houndes at his ers ; as he a lord were And but if his knaue knele þat shal hym coppe brynge He loureth on hym and axeth who tauȝt hym curteise Litel hadde lordes to doon ; to yeue londe from hir heires To religious þat haue no reuthe ; though it reyne on hir autres ¶ In many place ther hir parsons beth ; by hem-selue at ese Of the pouere haue they no pyte ; & þat is hir charite And they letten hem as lordes ; hir londe lith so brode ¶ Ac ther shal come a kyng{tail} ; and confesse yow religious And bet yow as the bible telleth ; for brekyng{tail} of youre rule And amende moniales Monkes ; and chanouns And put hem to hir penaunce ; ad prestinum statum ire And barons and erles beten hem thorugh Beatus vir techyng{tail} That hir barnes claymen and blame yow foule Hij in curribus & hij in equis ipsi obligati sunt ¶ And thanne freres in hir fraitour shul fynden a keye Of Constantynes cofferes ; in which is the catel That Gregories godchildren ; haue yuel despended ¶ And thanne shal the Abbot ; of Abyntoun & al his issue for euere Haue a knokke of a kyng{tail} ; and incurable the wounde That this worth sooþ seke ye ; þat ofte ouer-see þe bible Quomodo cessauit exactor quieuit tributum contriuit dominus baculum Impiorum & virgam dominancium credencium plaga insanabili ¶ Ac er that kyng{tail} com Caym shal awake And do-wel shal dyngen hym adoun ; & distroye his myghte Thanne is do-wel and do-bet{tail} quod I dominus & knyghthode I nyl nouȝt{tail} scorne quod scripture ; but yf scryueyns lye Kynghode & knyghthode ; by nouȝt I kan a-wayte Helpeþ nouȝt to heuenward{tail} ; oone heres ende Ne ricchesse right nouȝt ; ne rente of lordes ¶ Poule preueth it inpossible ; riche men haue heuene Salomon seith also ; that siluer is worst to louye Nichil iniquius quam amare pecuniam & cetera And Caton kenneth vs to coueiten nouȝt ; but as it nedeth Dilige denarium set parce dilige formam & cetera And patriarkes and prophetes ; and poetes bothe Writen to wissen vs ; to wilne no richesse And preysen pouerte with pacience ; þe apostles bereth witnesse That they haue heritage ; in heuene and by trewe right Ther the riche men no right may cleyme but of ruth & grace ¶ Contra quod I by crist ; that kan I repreue And preue it by Peter and by Paule bothe That ben baptised ben saued be they riche or pouere ¶ That is in extremis quod scripture amonges sarazens & Iuwes They mowe be saued so ; and that is oure bileue That an vncristned in þat cas ; may cristne an hethen And for his leele bileue ; whan he the lif tyneth Haue the heritage of heuene ; as any man cristne Ac cristene men with-oute more ; may nouȝt come to heuene For þat Crist for cristen men deyde ; & confermed þe lawe That who-so wole and wilneth ; with Crist to arise Si cum cristo surrexistis & cetera He sholde louye and lene ; and the lawe fulfille That is loue thy lord god leuest ; aboue alle thyng{tail} And after alle cristen creatures in comune ; ech man other And thus bilongeth to louye ; þat leueth to be saued And but we do thus in dede or the day of dome It shal bisitten vs ful soure ; þe siluer þat we kepen And bakkes þat motheten ben and son beggers go naked Or delite vs in wyn{curl} ; and wildefoule & wote any defaute For euery cristen creature ; sholde be kynde til other And sithen hethen to helpe in hope of amendement God hoteth bothe heigh and lowe ; þat no man hurte other & seith sle nouȝt þat is semblable ; thyn owne liknesse But if I sende the som tokne and seith non necaberis??Yslee nouȝt{tail} but suffre & alle for the beste For I shal punysshe hem in purgatorie or in þe putte of helle Ech man for hise mysdedes ; but mercy it lette This is a longe lessoun quod I ; & litel am I þe wiser Wher do-wel is or do-bet ; derklich ye shewen Many tales ye tellen ; that Theologie lerneth And þat I man made was ; and many name entred In the legende of lif{tail} longe ; er I were Or elles vnwriten for wikkednesse ; as holy writ witnesseth Nemo ascendit ad celum nisi qui de celo descendit & cetera ¶ I leue it wel by oure lord quod I & on no letture bettre For salomon the sage ; that sapience taughte God gaf hym grace of witte ; & alle hise goodes after He demed wel and wisely ; as holy writ telleth Aristotle and he who wissed men bettre Maistres þat of goddes mercy ; techen men & prechen Of hir wordes they wissen vs for wisest as in hir tyme And alle holy chirche hold hem bothe ydampned And if I sholde werke by hir werkes to wynne me heuene That for hir werkes and wit ; now wonyeth in pyne Than wrought I vnwisely ; what-so-euere ye preche And of fele witty in feith ; litel ferly I haue Though hir goost be vngracious ; god forto plese For many men on this molde ; more sette hir hertes In good þan in god ; for-thy hem grace failleth Ac þe most meschief{tail} ; whan they shul lif{tail} lete As salomon dide & swich other þat shewed grete wittes Ac hire wordes as holy writ seith ; was euere þe contrarie For-thy wise witted men ; and wel ylettred clerkes As they seyn hem-self{tail} ; selden don ther after Super cathedra moysi & cetera ¶ Ac I wene it worth of many ; as was in Noes tyme Tho he shope þat shippe ; of shides and bordes Was neuere wright saued ; þat wrought þeron ne oþer werkman elles But briddes and bestes ; and the blissed Noe And his wif with hise sones ; and also hir wyues ¶ God lene it far nouȝt so by folk{tail} þat þe feith techen Of holy cherche þat herberwe is and goddes hous to saue And shilde vs fro shame ther-Inne ; as Noe ship dide bestes And men þat maden it amydde ; the flood adreynten The culorum of this clause ; curatours is to meene That be carpenters holy chirche to make for cristes owne bestes Homines Iumenta saluabis domine & cetera ¶ On goode Fryday I fynde a feloun was saued That had lyued al his lif with lesynges & with thefte And for he biknewe on þe crosse & to crist shroue hym He was sonner I-saued ; þan seint Iohan þe baptiste And er Adam or I sayeIsaye ; or any of the prophetes That had ylayen with lucifer ; many longe yeres A Robber was raunceoned rather ; þan they alle With-outen any penaunce of purgatorie to perpetuel blisse ¶ And marie Magdalene ; what womman dide werse Or who wors than Dauid that Vries deth conspired Or Poule the apostlee ; that no pitee hadde Muche cristne kynde to kulle to deth And now be thise ; as souereynes & seintes in heuene Tho þat wrought wikkedest in world tho they were And tho þat wisely wordeden ; and writen many bookes Of wit and of wisedom ; with dampned soules wonye That salomen seith I trowe be soth ; and certeyn of vs alle Sine iusti atque sapientes & opera eorum in manu dei sunt{tail} & cetera Ther ar witty and wel libbyng{tail} ; & hir werkes ben I-hudde In the hondes of al-myghty god ; & he woot the sothe Wher-fore loue a man worth alowed ther & his lele workes Or elles for his yuel wille ; and enuye of herte & be alowed as he lyued ; so for by lither men knoweth þe goode And wher-by wite men which is white if al þing{tail} blake were And who were a good man but if þer wher som shrewe For-thy lyued we forth with luther men ; I leue fewe ben goode For quant oportet cometh in place il nad que pati And he that alle may amende ; haue mercy of vs alle For sothest word þat euere god seide ; was tho he seide nemo bonus Clergie tho of cristes mouth ; comended was litel For he seide to seynt Peter ; & to swich as he loued Dum steteritis ante Reges & presides & cetera Though ye come bifore kynges ; and clerkes of the lawe Beth nouȝt abasshed for I shal be in youre mouthes And yeue yow wit and wille ; and knonnyng{tail}konnyng{tail} to conclude Hem alle þat ayeins yow ; of cristendom disputen ¶ Dauid maketh mencioun ; he spake amonge kynges And myght no kyng{tail} ouer-come hym as by konnyng{tail} of speche But wit ne wisdom ne wanne neuere the maistre Whan man was at meschief withoute þe more grace The doughtiest doctour and diuinour of the Trinite Was Austyn the olde and heiest of the foure Seide thus in a sermon I se it writen ones Ecce ipsi ydeote rapiunt celum vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur ¶ And is to mene on Englissh{bar} to more and to lesse Aren non other rather rauysshed ; fro the right bileue Thanne aren thise konnyng{tail} clerkes þat konne many bokes Ne non sonner saued ; ne sadder of bileue Than plowmen and pastours and other comune laborers Souters and shepherdes ; and swich lewed Iottes Percen with a pater noster the palays of heuene And passen purgatorie penaunceles ; at hir hennes partyng{tail} In-to the blisse of paradis for hir pure bileue That inparfitly here knewe and eke lyued{tail} ¶ Ye men knowe clerkes ; that han cursed the tyme Þat euere they kouthe on the book{tail} ; more þan Credo in deum & cetera And principally hir pater noster many a parson haþ wisshed ¶ I see ensamples my-self{tail} and so may many other That seruantz þat seruen lordes ; selde falle in arrerages But tho þat kepen the lordes catel ; clerkes & Reues Right so lewed men ; and of litel knowyng{tail} Selde falle they so foule ; & so fer in synne As clerkes of holy kirke ; þat kepen cristes tresore The which is mannes soule ; to saue as god seith in þe gospel Ite vos in vineam meam & cetera Passus vndecimus Thanne scripture scorned me and a skile tolde And lakked me in latyn and light by me sette And seide multi multa sciunt & seipsos nesciunt{tail} ¶ Tho wepte I for wo and wratthe of hir speche And in a wyndyng{tail} wratthe wex I a - slepe A merueillous sweuene mette I me thanne That I was rauysshed right ther & fortune me fette And in þe lond of longyng{tail} allone she me broughte And in a Mirour þat hight mydlerd{tail} she made me biholde Sithen she seide to me here myghte þou se wondres And knowe þat thow coueitest{tail} & come þerto paraunter ¶ Thanne hadde fortune folwyng{tail} hir two ;2 faire damoisels Concupiscencia carnis men kalled þe elder mayde And coueitise of eighes called was þat other Pride of parfit libynge pursuyed hem bothe And bad me for my contenaunce acounte clergie lighte ¶ Concupiscencia carnis colled me aboute the nekke And seide þou art yonge & yepe and haste yeres ynowe For to lyue longe and ladies to louye And in this Mirour thow myghte se murthes ful manye That lede the wol to likyng{tail} al thy lif tyme ¶ The seconde seide the same I shal sue thy wille Til thow be lord and haue londe lete the I nylle That I ne shal folowe thy felawship if fortune it like He shal fynde me his frende quod fortune ther-after The freek{tail} þat foloweth my wille failled neuere blisse ¶ Than was ther on þat hight Elde þat heuy was of chere Man quod he if I mete with the by marie of heuene Thow shalt fynde fortune the faille at thy moost nede And Concupiscencia carnis clene the forsake Biterlich shaltow banne thanne bothe dayes & nyghtes Coueitise of eighe þat euere thow it knewe And pride of parfit lyuynge to muche peril the brynge ¶ Ye recche the neuere quod recchelnesse stood forth in ragged cloþes Folowe forth þat fortune wolle thow hast wel faire to Elde A man may stoupe tyme ynough whan he shal tyne þe crowne Homo proponit quod a poete and Plato he highte And deus disponit quod he lat god don his wille If treuthe wol witnesse it be wel do fortune to folwe Concupiscencia carnis ne coueitise of eighes Ne shal nouȝt greue þe gretly ;2 ne bigile þe but þou wolt ¶ Ye fare-wel Phippe quod faunteltee & forth gan me drawe Til Concupiscencia carnis acorded alle my werkes ¶ Allas eighe quod Elde and holynesse bothe That wit shal torne to wrecchednesse for wille to haue his likyng{tail} Coueitise of eighes conforted me soone after And folowed me fourty wynter or fifty & more That of dowel ne do-bet no deynte me thoughte I had no likynge ne no luste ;2 of hem ouȝt to knowe Coueitise of eighes cam ofter in mynde Than do-wel or do-bet{tail} amonge my dedes alle Coueitise of eighes conforted me ofte And seide haue no conscience how thow come to goode Go confesse the to som frere & shewe hym thy synnes For whiles fortune is thy frende freres wol þe louye And fecche þe to hir fraternite and for þe biseke To hir Priour prouincial a pardoun for to haue And prey for the pol by pol if þou be pecuniosus Set pena pecuniaria non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis ¶ By wissynge of this wenche I wrought hire wordes were so swete Til i for-yate youthe and yerne in-to elde And thanne was fortune my foo for al hir faire biheste And pouerte pursued me and put me lowe And tho fonde I the frere a-fered & flittyng{tail} bothe Ayeins oure first forward for I seide I nolde Be buried at hir hous but at my parisshe chirche For I herde ones how conscience it tolde That ther a man were cristned by kynde he sholde be buried Or where he were parisshen right ther he sholde be grauen ¶ And for I seide thus to freres a fool they me helden And loued me the lasse for my lele speche And yet I cried on my confessour ;2 þat helde hym-self so konnyng{tail} By my feith frere quod I þe faren like thise wowers That wedde no widewes ;2 but for to welde hir goodes Right so by the rode roughte ye neuere Where my bodye were buried by so ye hadde þe siluer Ich haue muche merueille of yow & so haþ many other Why youre couent coueiteth to confesse & to burye Rather than to baptize barnes þat beth catekumylyns Baptisynge & buryinge both ben ful nedfulle Ac muche more meritorie me thynketh is to baptize For a baptized man may as maistres telleth Thorugh contricion come to þe heigh heuene Sola contricio delet peccatum & cetera Ac a barne with-oute bapteme may nouȝt be saued Nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua & cetera ¶ Look ye lettred men whether I lye or nouȝt And leaute loked on me and I loured after Wherfore lourestow quod leaute & loked on me harde If I dorste quod I amonges men thise metels anowe Ye by peter and by poule quod he & took bothe to witnesse Non oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo set publice argue illos They wol allegge also quod I and by the gospel preuen Nolite iudicare quemquam ¶ And wher-of serueth lawe quod leaute if no lif vnder-took it Falsnesse ne fayterie for somwhat the gospel seyde Non oderis fratrem and in the sauter also seith Existimasti inique quod ero tui simulis & cetera ¶ It is licitum for lewed men to segge the sothe If hem liketh and list{tail} ech alawea lawe it graunteth Except parsons and preestes and prelates of holy chirche It falleth nouȝt for þat folk{tail} no tales to telle Though þe tale were trewe and it touched synne ¶ Thyng{tail} þat al þe world woot{tail} wherfore shuldestow spare And reden it in Rethorik{tail} to arate dedly synne Ac be neuere more the first{tail} þe defaute to blame Though thow se euyl sey it nought{tail} first be sory it nere amended{tail} A thyng{tail} þat is priue publice þou it neuere Neyther for loue laude it nouȝt ne lakke it for enuye Parum lauda vitupera parcius ¶ He seith soth quod scripture tho & skippet an heigh & preched Ac the matere þat he moued if lewed men it knewe The lasse as I leue lauyen it they wolde This was hir teme and hir tixte I took{tail} ful good hede Multi to amangeriea mangerie & to þe meet were sompned & whan þe peple was plener comen the porter vnpynned þe gate And plukked in pauci priuelich & lete þe remenaunt go Rome ¶ For al tene of hir tixte trembled myn herte And in a were gan I wax & with my self dispute Wheither I were chosen on holy cherche I thoughte That vnderfengen me at the fount for oon of goddes chosen For crist cleped vs alle come if we wolde Saracenes and scismatikes & so he dide þe Iuwes & bad hem souke& bad hem souke And bad hem souke for synne saufly at his breste And drynk{tail} boote for bale brouke it who-so myghte ¶ Thanne may al cristen come quod I and cleyme ther entree By þe blood þat he bought vs with & thurgh baptesme after Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit & cetera For though a cristen man coueited his cristendom to reneye Rightfullich to renye no reson it wolde For may no cherle chartre make ne his catel selle With-outen loue of his lord no lawe wol it graunte Ac he may renne in arrerage and rowme so fro hom And as a reneyed caitif{tail} reccheles aboute Ac resoun shal rekne with hym & caste hym in arrerage And putten after in prison in purgatorie to brenne For his arrerage rewarde hym ther-to þe day of dome But if contricioun wol come and crie by his lyue Mercy for hise mysdedes with mouthe or with herte ¶ That is soth quod scripture may no synne lette Mercy alle to amende and mekenesse hir folowe For they both as oure bokes telleth aboue goddes werkes Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius & cetera ¶ Ye bowe for bookes quod oon was broken oute of helle Hight Troianus had ben a trewe knyght took witnesse at þe Pope How he was dede and dampned to dwellen in peyne For an vncristen creature clerkes woot þe sothe That al the clergie vnder Crist myghte[ne] myghte me cracche fro helle But oonlich loue and leaute & my lawful domes ¶ Gregorie wist this wel and wilneth to my soule Saluacion for sothenesse þat he seigh in my werkes And after þat he wepte & wilneth me were graunted Grace with-oute any bede biddyng{tail} ;2 his boone was vnderfonge And I saued as ye may se with-outen syngyng{tail} of masses By loue and by lernyng{tail} of my lyuyng{tail} in treuthe Broughte me fro bittre peyne ther no biddyng{tail} myghte ¶ Lo ye lordes what leaute dide by an Emperour of Rome That was an vncristen creature as clerkes fynde in bookes g jg j Nought thorugh preyer of a pope but for his pure treuthe Was that sarasen saued as seint Gregory bereth witnesse ¶ Wel oughte ye lordes þat lawes kepe this lessoun haue in mynde And on Troianus treuthe to thynke and do treuthe to þe peple Lawe with-outen loue quod Troianus leye ther a beene Or any science vnder sonne the seuene artz & alle But they be lerned for oure lordes loue lost is al þe tyme For no cause to cacche siluer ther-by ne to be called a maister But al for loue of oure lord and to bet{tail} to loue þe peple For seynt Iohan seide it and soth aren his wordes Qui non diligit manet in morte ccetera ¶ Who-so loueth nouȝt leue me he lyueth in deth deyinge And that alle manere men enemys and frendes Louen hir either other and lene hym as hir-seluen Who-so leneth nouȝt he loueth nouȝt{tail} god woot the sothe And comandeth eche creature to conferme hym to louye And souereynlich pouere peple and hir enemys after For hem þat haten vs is oure merite to loue And pouere peple to plese hir preyers may vs helpe For oure ioie and oure hele Ihesu crist of heuene In a pouere mannes apparaille pursueth vs euere And loketh on vs in hir liknesse & þat with louely chere To knowe vs by oure kynde herte & castyng{tail} of oure eighe Wheither we loue the lordes here bifore oure lord of blisse And exciteth vs by the euaungelie þat whan we maken festes We sholde nouȝt clepe oure kynne ther-to ne non kynnes riche Cum facitis conuiuia nolite Inuitare amicos & ccetera ¶ Ac calleth the carful ther-to þe croked and the pore For youre frendes wol feden yow and fonde yow to quyte Youre festyng{tail} and youre yiftes ech frende quyteth so other Ac for þe pouere I shal paie & pure wel quite hir trauaille That yeueth hym meet or monoie & leneth hem for my sake For the best ben som riche & som beggers and pouere For al aren we cristes creatures & of hise coffres riche And bretheren as of blood as wel beggers as Erles For on Caluarie of cristes blood cristendom gan spryng{tail} And blody bretheren we bicome ther of oo body ywonne As quasi modo geniti and gentil men echone No begger ne boye among{tail} vs but if it synne made Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccati & cetera ¶ In the olde lawe as holy lettre telleth Mennes sones men called vs echone Of Adames issue and Eue ay til god man deyed And after his resureccioun Redemptor was his name & we hise brethren thorugh hym bouȝt boþe riche & pouere For-thy loue we as leue brethren shal & ech man laughe vp-on oþer And if þat ech man may for-bere amende ther it nedeth And euery man helpe other for hennes shul we alle ¶ Alter alterius onera portate & ccetera And be we nouȝt vnkynde of oure catel ne of oure konnynge neither For noot no man how it is to be ynome fro bothe Ne vndernyme nouȝt foule for is noon with-oute faute For what-euere clerkes carpe of cristendom or elles Crist to a comune womman seide in comune at the feste That fides sua sholde sauen hir & saluen of hir synnes ¶ Thanne is bileue a lele help ;2 aboue logyk{tail} or lawe Of logyk{tail} ne of lawe in legenda sanctorum Is litel alowaunce made but if bileue hem helpe For it is ouerlonge er logyk{tail} any lessoun assoille And lawe is loth to louye but if he lacche siluere Both logyk{tail} and lawe that loueth nouȝt to lye I conseille alle cristen men to clyue nouȝt þeron to sore For som wordes I fynde writen were of feithes techyng{tail} That saued synful men as Seint Iohan bereth witnesse Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis & cetera For-thy lerne we þe lawe of loue as oure lorde taughte And as seynt Gregorie seide for mannes soule helthe Melius est scrutari scelera nostra quam naturas rerum ¶ Why I meue this matere is moost for the pouere For in his liknesse oure lord oft hath ben I-knowe Witnesse in pasque wike whan he yede to Emaus Cleophas knewe hym nouȝt that he crist were For his pouere apparaille and pilgrymes wedes Til he blissed and brake the brede þat they eten g ijg ij So by hise werkes they wisten ;2 that he was Ihesus Ac by clothyng{tail} they knewe hym nouȝt ne by his carpyng{tail} of tonge ¶ And al was in ensample to vs synful here That we sholde be lowe and louelich of speches And apparaille vs nouȝt to proudely for pilgrymes arn we alle And in thapparaillethe apparaille of a pouere man and pilgrymes liknesse Many tyme god hath ben mette among{tail} nedy peple Ther neuere segge hym seigh in secte of the riche Seint Iohan and other seyntes were seyn in poure clothyng{tail} And as aas pouere pilgrymes preyden mennes goodes Ihesu Crist{tail} on a Iuwes doughter alight gentil womman thouȝ she were Yet was she a pure pouere mayde and to a pouere man wedded ¶ Martha on Marie magdaleyne an huge pleynt she made And to oure saueour self seide thise wordes Domine non est tibi cura quod soror mea reliquit me solam & cetera And hastilich god answerde and eitheres wille folwed Both in Marthas and in Maries as Mathew bereth witnesse Ac pouerte god putte bifore and preised it þe bettre Maria optimam partem elegit que non auferetur ab ea And alle the wise þat euere were by aught I kan aspye Preisen pouerte for best lif if pacience it folowe And bothe bettre and blesseder by many folde þan ricchesse And though it be soure to suffre ther cometh swete after As on a walnote with-outen is a bettre barke And after þat bittre barke be þe shelle a ;2a- wey Is a kirnel of confort kynde to restore So is after pouerte or penaunce pacientlich I-take For it maketh man to haue mynde in good & a grete wille To wepe & to wele bidde wher-of wexeth mercye Of which crist is a kirnel to conforte the soule And wel sikerer he slepe the man that is pouere And lasse he dredeth deth and in derke to be robbed Than he that is right riche reson bereth witnesse Pauper ego ludo dum tu diues meditaris & cetera Al-though salamon seide as folk{tail} seeth in the bible Diuicias ne paupertates & cetera ¶ Wiser than salamon was bereth witnesse and taughte That parfit pouerte ;2 was no possession to haue And lif moost likyng{tail} to god as luk{tail} bereth witnesse Si vis perfectus esse vade & vadevende & cetera And is to mene to men that on this molde lyuen Who-so wol be pure parfit moot{tail} possession for-sake Or selle it as seith the book{tail} and the siluer dele To beggers þat goon{curl} an begge & bidde goode for goddeslouegoddes loue ¶ For failled neuere man meet that myghtful god serued As dauid seith in the sauter to swich þat ben in wille To seruen god goodlich ne greueth hym no penaunce Nichil inpossibili volenti & cetera ;2a Ne lakketh neuere lilodeli[f]lode lynnen ne wollen In quirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono ¶ If preestes were parfit they wolde no siluer take For masses ne for matyns nouȝt hir meet{tail} of vsurers Ne neither kirtel ne cote though they for colde sholde deye And they hir deuour dide as dauid seith in þe sauter Iudica me deus & discerne causam meam & cetera spera in deo & cetera ;2a Speketh of prestes þat haue no spendyng{tail} siluer That of they trauaille trewelich and trust in god almyghty Hem sholde lak{tail} no liflode neither wollen ne lynnen And the title they take ordrebyordre by telleth þe be auaunced Than nedeth nouȝt yow take siluer for masses þat þe synge For he þat tooke yow youre title sholde yow your wages Of þe bisshop that blisseth yow if þat ye ben worthy For made neuere kyng{tail} ne knyght but he had catel to spende As bifel for a knyght or fonde hym for his strengthe It is a carful knyght and of caytif kynges makyng{tail} Þat hath no londe ne lynage riche ne goode loos of his hondes The same I sey for sothe by alle swich preestes That haue neither konnyng{tail} ne kynne but a crowne oon And a title a tale of nouȝt to his liflode at mischief He hath more bileue as I leue to lacche thurgh his croun{curl} Cure þatþa[n] for konnyng{tail} or knowyng{tail} for clene of beryng{tail} I haue wondre and why & wherfore þe bisshop Maketh swich preestes þat{tail} lewede men bitrayen ¶ A chartre is chalengeable bifore a chief Iustice g iijg iij If fals latyn be in the lettre the lawe it impugneth Or peynted parentrelynarie parcelles ouer-skipped The gome that gloseth so chartres for a go-ky is holden So is it a go ;2a- ky by god ;2 that in his gospel failleth Or in masse or matyns ;2 maketh any defaute Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus & ccetera And also in the sauter{curl} seith dauid to ouer-skippers Psallite deo nostro psallite quoniam rex terrae deus Israel psallite sapienter ¶ The bisshop shal be blamed bifore god as I leue That crowneth swich goddes knyghtes þat komethko[nn]eth nouȝt{tail} sapienter Synge ne psalmes rede ne segge a masse of þe day Ac neuere neither is blamelees þe bisshop ne þe chapeleyn For euere either is endited & þat is of ignorancia Non excusat Episcopos nec ydiotes prestes ¶ This lokyng{tail} on lewede prestes hath don me lepe fro pouertee Which I preise þer pacience is more parfit{tail} than ricchesse ¶ Ac miche more in metyng{tail} thus with me gan oon despute And slepyng{tail} I seigh al this and sithen cam kynde And nempned me by name and bad me nymen hede And thorugh the wondres of this world wit for to take And on a montaigne þat mydlerd hight as me tho thoughte I was fet forth by ensamples to knowe Thurgh ech a creature and kynde my creatour to louye I seigh the sonne and the see sonde after & where þat briddes & beestes by hir make they yeden Wilde wormes in wodes ;2 and wonderfulle foules With flekked fetheres and of fele coloures Man and his make I myght bothe biholde Pouerte and plentee bothe pees and werre Blisse and bale bothe I seigh atonesat ones And how men token mede and mercie refused Reson I seigh sothly suen alle beestes In etynge in drynkyng{tail} ;2 and in engendrynge And after cours of concepcioun noon took{tail} kepe of other And whan they had ride in roteye tyme a-non riȝt þerafter Males drowen hem to males amorwenges by hem-selue And in euenynges also the males fro females Ther was cow ne cowkynde þat conceyued hadde That wolde belwe after bulles ne bore after sow Bothe hors and houndes ;2 and alle other bestes Medled nouȝt with hir makes þat with fooles were ¶ Briddes I bihelde that in buskes made nestes Had neuere wye wit to werche the leeste I had wondre at whom & wher þe pye lerned To legge the stikkes in which he leith & bredeth Ther nys wright as I wene ;2 sholde hir neste pays If any mason made a molde þerto muche wondre it were ¶ And yet me merueilled more how many other briddes Hudden and hilieden hir egges ful derne In marreis and more for men sholde hem nouȝt fynde And hudden hir egges whan they ther-fro wente For fere of othere foules and for wilde bestes ¶ And som troden hir makes and on trees bredden And broughte forth hir briddes aboue the grounde And som briddes at þe bille thorugh brethyng{tail} conceyued And somme kakeled I took{tail} kepe how pecokkes bredden Muche meruailled me what maister they hadde And who taughte hem on trees to tymbre so heighe Ther neither barne ne beste may hir briddes reche ¶ And sithen I looked on the see and so on the sterres Many selcouthes I seigh ben nouþt to sey nouthe I seigh floures in the frith and hir faire colours And how among{tail} the grene gresse grewe so many hewes And som sour & som swete selcouthe me thoughte Of hir kynde and hir colour to carpe it were to longe ¶ Ac that moost{tail} moeued me and my moed chaunged That reson rewarded{tail} and rules alle bestes Saue man & his make many tyme and ofte Ne no reson hem folwed ;2 and than I rebuked{tail} Resoun and right til hym-selue seide I haue wondre of the quod I that witty art holden Why þou ne suest{tail} man of his make þat no mysfait hem folowe g iiijg iiij And Reson arated me and seide recche the neuere Why I suffre or nouȝt suffre thy-self{tail} hast nouȝt to doone Amende thow if thow myghte for my tyme is to abide Suffraunce is souereyn vertue and a swift vengeaunce Who suffred more than god quod he no gome as I leue He myghte amende in a mynute while al þat mystondeth{bar} Ac he suffreth{bar} for som mannes goode and so is oure bittre The wise and witty wroot thus in the bible De re que te non molestat noli certare ¶ For be a man faire or foule it falleth nouȝt for to lakke The shap ne the shaft that god shope hym-selue For al þat he did was wel I-do as holy writ witnesseth Et vidit deus cunta que fecerat & erant valde bona And bad euery creature in his kynde encreste AltoAl to murthe with man that moost wo tholye In fondynge of the flessh and of the fende bothe For man was maad of swich a matere he may nouȝt wel asterte That ne som tyme hym bitid to folwen his kynde Caton acordeth ther-with nemo sine crimine viuit ¶ Tho caughte I colour anon{curl} and comsed to ben ashamed And I awaked ther-with wo was me thanne That I in metels ne myght{tail} more haue I-knowen Thanne seide I to my-self{tail} and chidde þat tyme Now I woot what{tail} do-wel is quod I by dere god as me thynketh And as I cast vp myn eighen oon loked on me and axed On me what thyng{tail} it were I-wis sire I seide To se muche and suffre more certes quod I is do-wel Haddestow suffred he seide slepyng{tail} tho thow were Þou sholdest haue I-knowe þat clergie kan & conceyued more þurȝ resoun For reson wolde haue reherced the riȝt as clergie seide And for thyn entremetyng{tail} here artow forsake Philosophus esses si tacuisses cc & cc ¶ Adam whiles he spak{tail} nouȝt had paradis at wille Ac whan he mamelede aboute mete & entremette hym to knowe The wisdom of þe wit{tail} of god he was putte fro blisse And right so ferde reson by the þou with rusty speche Lakkedest & losest thyng{tail} yat langed nouȝt to be doun Tho hadde he no likynge for to lere the more [¶] Pride now and presumpcioun par auenture wol the appele That clergie thy compaignye ne kepeth nouȝt to suwe Shal neuere chalangynge ne chidynge chastie a man so soone As shal shame and shenden hym and shape hym to amende For late a dronken daffe in a dike falle Lat hym legge look{tail} nouȝt on hym til hym liste to rise For though reson rebuked hym þanne it were but pure synne And whan nede hym vp nymeth for doute leste he sterue And shame shrapeth hise clothes and hise shynnes wassheth Thanne woot that dronken daffe ;2 wher-fore he is to blame ¶ Ye seggeth soth quod I ich haue yseyn it{tail} ofte Ther smyt no thyng{tail} so smert{tail} ne smelleth so soure As shame there it sheweth ;2 hym for euery man hym shonyeth Why ye wisse me thus quod I was for I rebuked resoun ¶ Certes quod he that is sothe ;2 & shope hym for to walken And I aroos vp right with þat and folwed hym after And preyde hym of his curteisie to telle me his name Passus duodecimus I am ymagintaif{tail} quod he ; ydel was I neuere Though I sitte by my-self in sikenesse & in helthe I haue folowed the in feith thise fyue & fourty wynter And many tymes haue moeued to thenk on thyn ende And how fel ferneyers arn{curl} faren & so fewe to comen And of thy wilde wantonesse ; tho thow yonge were To amende the in thy mydel age; leste myght þe faille In thyn olde elde ; that so yuel kan suffre Pouerte or penaunnce ; or preyers bidde Si no in prima vigilia nec ni secundam & cetera Amende the while thow myght ; thow hast be warned ofte With poustee of pestilence ; with pouerte ; & with angres And with thise bittre baleises ; god beteth his dere children Quem diligo castigo & cetera ¶ And dauid in the sauter ; seith of swich that loue Iesu Virga tua & baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt & cetera Al-though thow strike me with þi staf with stikke other yerde It is but murthe as for me ; to amende my soule & þou medlest the with mastries ; & myȝtest go sey thy sauter And bid for hem þat yeueth þe brede ; for ther ar bokes ynowe To tel men what do-wel is ; do-bet & do-best bothe And prechours to preue what it is of many a pierep[ei]re freres ¶ I seigh wel he seide me soth ; and somwhat me to excuse Seide caton{curl} conforted his sone ; þat clerk þough he were To solacen hym som tyme ; as I do whan I make Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis & cetera And of holy men I herd quod I how þey other-while Pleyden the parfiter to ben in many places Ac if ther were any wight ; þat wolde me telle What were do-wel & do-bet ; & do-best at þe laste Wolde I neuere do werk but wende to holy cherche And ther bid my bedes ; but whan ich ete or slepe Poule in his pistle quod he preueth what is do-wel Fides spes caritas & maior horum & cetera ¶ Feith hope and charite ; and al ben goode And sauen men sondry tymes ; ac non{curl} so soone as charite For he doth wel withoute doute ; þat doth as leaute techeth That is if thow be man maried ; thy make þou louye And lyue forth as lawe wolle ; while ye lyuen here ¶ Right so if thow be religious ; renne þou neuere ferther To Rome ne to Rochemadour ; but as thy rule techeth And holde the vnder obedience ; þat heighte wey is to heuene And if þou be maiden to marie ; and myghte wel continue Seke þou neuere seynt ferther ; for no soule helthe And what made lucifer to lese the heigh heuene Or salamon his sapience ; or sampson his strengthe Iob the Iuwe his Ioie dere he it aboughte Aristotle and othere mo ; ypocras and Virgile Alisaundre that al wanne elengelich ended ¶ Catel and kynde wit was combraunce to hem alle Felicie hir fairnesse fel hir alle to sclaundre And Rosamond right so rufully bysette The beaute of hir boy in badnesse she dispended Of many swich I myghte rede ; of men & of wommen That wise wordes kan sey ; and werche the contrarie Sunt homines nequam de virtute bene loquentes ¶ And riche renkes right so ; gaderen and sparden And the men þat they moost haten mynystren it at þe laste And for they suffren and see ; so many nedy folkes And loue hem nouȝt as god bit lesen hir soules Date & dabitur vobis & cetera ¶ And ricchesse right so ; but if the rote be trewe Ac grace is a grasse ther-of ; the greuaunce to abate Ac grace ne groweth nouȝt ; but amonges lowe Pacience and pouertee ; the place is ther it groweth And in lele lyuyng{tail} men ; and in lif holy And thurgh the gift of the holy goost ; as þe gospel telleþe Spiritus vbi vult super spirat & cetera ¶ Clergie and kynde wit ; cometh of sight and techyng{tail} As the book bereth witnesse ; to barnes þat konne rede Quod scimus loquimur quod vidimus testamur & cetera Of quod scimus cometh clergie and konnyng{tail} of heuene And of quod vidimus cometh kynde with of sight of diuerse peple And grace is a gift{tail} of god ; and of grete loue spryngeth Knewe neuere clerc how it cometh forth ; ne kynde wit þe weyes Nescit aliquis vnde venit aut quo vadit & cetera ¶ Ac yet clergie to comende ; and kynde wit bothe And namly clergye for cristes loue ; þat of clergie is rote For Moises witnesseth þat god wroot ; for to wisse þe peple In the olde lawe ; as the lettre telleth þat was þe lawe of Iuwes That what womman were in auoutre taken riche other pouere With stones men sholde hir strike ; & stoone hir to deth A womman as we fynden ; was gilty of þat dede Ac crist of his curteisye ; thorugh clergie hir saued For thorugh carectes þat Crist wroȝt þe Iuwes knewe hemselue Geltier as a-fore god ; and gretter in synne Than þe womman þat ther was ; & went awey for shame The clergie þat ther was ; conforted the womman Holy kirke knoweth this ; þat cristes writyng{tail} saued So clergie is comfort ; to creatures that repenten And to mansed men meschief ; at hir ende ¶ For goddes body myght nouȝt be ; of brede withouten clergie The whiche body is bothe ; bote to þe rightful And deth and dampnacion{curl} to hem þat dyen yuel As cristes carectes conforted ; & bothe coupable shewed The wommamwomman þat Iuwes broughte þat Iesus thoughte to saue Nolite indicare a non Iudicabimini & cetera ¶ Right so goddes body brethren ; but it be worthily taken Dampned vs at þe day of dome ; as þe carectes dide þe Iuwes For-thy I conseil the for cristes sake clergie to louye For kynde wit is of his kynne ; & neigh cosyns bothe To oure lord leue me ; for-thy loue hem I rede For bothe ben as Mirours to amende oure defautes And leders for lewed men ; and for lettred bothe ¶ For-thy lakke thow neuere logik lawe ne his custumes Ne contreplede clerkes I conseille the for euere For as a man may nouȝt see þat mysseth hise eighen NamoreNa more kan no clerc but if he cauȝte at first thorugh bokes Al-though men made bookes god was the maistre And seynt spirit his samplarie ; & saide what men sholde write And right as sight serueth a man to seigh þe heigh strete Right so ledeth lettrur{curl} ; lewed men to reson{curl} And as a blynde man ; in bataille bereth wepne to fighte And hath non hap with his Axe ; his enemy to hitte NamoreNa more kan a kynde witted man ; but if clerkes hym teche Come for al his kynde wit ; to cristendom & be saued Which is the cofre of cristes tresore ; & clerkes kepe þe keyes To vnloken it at hir likyng{tail} ; & to þe lewed peple Yaue mercye for hir mysdedes ; if men it wol aske Boxomlich and benignelich ; and bidden it of grace Archa dei in þe olde lawe ; leuites it kepten Hadde neuere lewed man leue ; to legge honde on þe cheste But he were preste or preestes sone ; patriarke or prophete ¶ For clergie is keper vnder crist of heuene Was þer neuer no knyght but clergie hym made Ac kynde wit cometh of alkynnes sightes Of briddes and of bestes of tastes of truthe & of deceytes ¶ Lyuyers to-forn vs vseden to marke The selcouthe þat they seighen hir sones for to teche And helde it an heigh science ; hir wittes to knowe Ac thorugh hir science sothly was neuere soules saued Ne brought by hir bokes ; to blisse ne to Ioie For al hir kynde knowyng{tail} come but of diuerse sightes ¶ Patriarkes and prophetes reproued hir science And seiden hir wordes ne hir wesdomes nas but folye As to the clergie of crist counted but a trufle Sapiencia huius mundi stulticia est apud deum & cetera For the heigh holy goost ; heuene shal to-cleue And loue shal lepe oute after ; & to this lowe erthe And clennesse shal ch cacchen it ; & clerkes shal it fynde Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem & cetera ¶ He speketh ther of riche men nouȝt ne of right witty Ne of lordes that were lewed men but of þe hiest lettred oute Ibant magi ab oriente & cetera ¶ If any frere were founde ; ther iche yiue þe fyue shylynges Ne in non beggers cote ; was that barn{curl} born{curl} But in a burgeys place ; of Bethlem the beste Set non erat locus in diuersorio & pauper non habet diuersorium ¶ To pastours and to poyetes ; appered the Aungel And bad hem go to Bethlem ; goddes burthe to honour And songe a song{tail} of solace gloria in excelsis deo & cetera Clerkes knewen it wel ; & comen with hir presentes And dide hir homage honurabily ; to hym þat was al-myghty & goddes sone þat sitteth in heuene ; & shal saue vs alle ¶ Why I haue tolde the al this I took ful goode hede How thow contrariest clergie ; with crabbed wordes How þat lewed men lightloker ; than lettred were saued Than clerkes or kynde witted men ; of cristen peple And thow seidest soth of som ac se it in what manere Take þou stronge men ; and in theimse caste hem And bothe naked as a nedle ; er non sikerer than other That oon hath konnyng{tail} and kan swymen and dyuen That other is lewed of þat labour ; lerned neuere to swymme Which trowestow of this two ; in Theimse is in moost drede He that neuer ne dyued ne nouþt kan of swymmyng{tail} Or the swymmer þat is sauf{tail} by so hym-self like Ther his felawe flete forth ; as the flode liketh And is in drede to drenche ; that neuere dide swymme ¶ That swymme kan nouȝt I seide it semeth to my wittes ¶ Right so quod the renke ; reson it sheweth That he þat knoweth clergie ; kan sonner arise Out of synne and be sauf{tail} ; though he synne ofte If hym liketh and list þat any lewed lely For if the clerk be konnyng{tail} ; he knoweth is synne And how contricion{curl} with-oute confession{curl} conforteth þe soule And þou seest in thy sauter ; in psalmes oon or tweyne How contricion{curl} is comended ; for it caccheth awey synne Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates & quorum tecta And this conforteth ech a clerc & keuereth hym fro wanhope In which flood the fende fondeth a man herdest Ther the lewed lithe stille and loketh after lenten & hath no contricion er he come to shrift ; & þan kan he litel telle And as his loresman leres hym ; bileueth & troweth And þat is after parson{curl} or parisshpreesteparissh preeste ; and perauenture Vnkonnynge to lere lewede men ; as luk bereth witnesse Dum cecus ducit cecum & cetera Wo was hym marked ; þat wade moot with þe lewede Wel may the barn{curl} blisse ; þat hym to book{tail} sette That lyuyng{tail} after letture ; saued hym lif & soule Dominus pars hereditatis mee is a merye verset That hath taken fro Tiburne twenty stronge theues Ther lewed theues ben lolled vp loke how they be saued The thief þat hath grace of god ; on goode friday as thowe speke Was for he yalt hym creant to crist on þe cros ; & know hym gilte And grace axed of god ; and he is euere redy That buxomly bid it and be in wille to amende hem And though that{tail} thief had heuene ; he had no heigh blisse As seynt Iohan and other seyntes ; þat deserued had bettre ¶ Right so as som men yeue me mete ; & sette me amydde þe flore Ich haue meet more than ynough ; ac nouȝt so muche worship As tho that sitten at the table ; or with souereynes of the halle But sitte as beggers bordles ; by my-self on the grounde So it fareth by þat felon{curl} þat on goode Friday was saued He sit neither by seynt Iohan ; symond ne Iude Ne with maydens ne martiris ; confessours ne widowes But by hym-self{tail} as a soleyn ; and serued on the erthe For he that is ones a thief{tail} is euere more in daunger And as lawe liketh to lyue ; or to dye De peccato propiciato noli esse sine metu & cetera ¶ And for to seruen a seynt and swich a thief togidres It were neither Reson{curl} ne right ; to rewarde hem bothe yliche & right as Troianus þe trewe knyght ; tilde nouȝt depe in helle That oure lord ne had hym lightlich out ; so leue I þe theef be in heuene For he is in the lowest heuene ; if oure bileue be trewe And wel loselich he lolleth ther ; by the lawe of holy chirche ¶ Quia reddit vnicuique iuxta opera sua & cetera And why that oon theef{tail} on þe cros creaunt hym yelte Rather than that other theef ; though thow wolde appose Alle the clerkes vnder crist ; ne kouthe the skille assoille Quare placuit quia voluit & cetera And so I sey by the sekest after the whyes And a-resonedest reson ; a rebukyng{tail} as it were And of the floures in the frith ; & of hir faire hewes Wher-of they cacche ; hir coloures so clere & so brighte And willest of briddes and bestes ; & of hir bredyng{tail} knowe Why som be a-lowe ; and som a-loft thy likyng{tail} it were And of the stoones & of þe sterres ; þou studiest as I leue How euere beste or bridde hath so breme wittes ¶ Clergie ne kynde wit ; ne knewe neuere the cause Ac kynde knoweth þe cause hym-self ; & no creature elles He is the pyes patron ; & putteth in hir ere That ther þe thorn{curl} is thikkest ; to bulden & brede And kynde kenneth þe pecok to kaukyn in swich a kynde And kenned Adam to knowe ; hise priue membres And taughte hym and Eue to helien hem with leues ¶ Lewede men many tymes maistres apposen Why Adam hilled nouȝt first his mouthe þat ete þe appul Rather than his likham alowe lewed asken thus clerkes Kynde knoweth why he dide so ; and no clerk elles Ac of briddes and of bestes ; men by olde tyme Ensamples token & termes as telleth thise poetes And þat the fairest fowle ; foulest engendreth And fieblest fowle of flight is þat fliest or swymeth And þat is þe pecok & þe pehenne proude riche men þey bitokne For þe pecok & men pursue hym may nouȝt flee heighe For the traillyng{tail} of his tail ; ouer-taken is he soone And his flessh is fowle flessh and his feet bothe And vnlouelich of leodne ; and laythe for to here ¶ Right so ye riche if he his richesse kepe And deleth it nouȝt til his deth day ; þe tail of alle sorwe Right as the pennes of the pecok ; peynen hym in his flight So is possession peyne ; of pens or of nobles To alle hem þat it holdeth ; til hir taile be plukked And though the riche repent ; thanne & birewe þe tyme That euere he gedered so grete ; & gaf þerof so litel Though he crie to crist thanne with kene wille I leue His leden is in oure lordes ere like a pyes And whan his caroigne shal come in caue to be buried I leue it flambe ful foule the folde al aboute And alle the other ther it lyeth enuymeth thorugh his attre ¶ By the pofeetpo feet is vnderstoude ; as I lerned in Auynet Executours fals frendes ; that fulfille nouȝt his wille That was writen and they witnesse ; to werche as it wolde Thus the poeet preueth þat þe pecok for his fetheres is reuerenced Right so is the riche by reson{curl} of hise goodes ¶ The larke that is a lasse foule is more louelich of leodne And wel awey of wynge swifter than the pecok And of flessh by fele folde fatter and swetter To lowe libbyng{tail} men the lark is resembled ¶ Aristotle the grete clerk swich tales telleth Thus he likneth in his logike ; the leste fowle oute And where he be sauf or nouȝt ; þe sothe woot no clergie Ne of sortes ne salamon{curl} ; no scripture kan telle Ac god is so goode I hope that sith he gaf hem wittes To wissen vs weyes ther-with ; þat wissen vs to be saued And the bettre for hir bookes ; to bidden we ben holden That god for his grace ; gyue hir soules reste For lettred men were lewed yet wern lore of hir bokes ¶ Alle thise clerkes quod I tho that on crist leuen Siggen in hir sermones ; þat no sarasen ne Iuwe Ne no creature of cristes liknesse ; withoute cristendom worth saued ¶ Contra quod ymagynatif ; tho and comsed for to loure And seide saluabitur vix iustus in die Iudicij Ergo saluabitur quod he and seide namorena more latyn Troianus was a trewe knyght and took neuere cristedom And he is sauf as seith the booke & his soule in heuene For ther is fullyng of fount ; & fullyng{tail} in blood shedyng{tail} And thorugh fire is fullyng{tail} And þat is ferme bileue Aduenit ignis diuinus non comburens set illuminans & cetera Ac truthe þat trespassed neuere ne trauersed ayeins his lawe But lyueth as his lawe techeth ; & leueth þer be no bettre And if ther were he wolde amende & in swich wille deyeth Ne wolde neuere trewe god but treuthe were allowed And an hope hangyng{tail} ther-Inne to haue mede for his trouthe Que deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam suis hoc est fidelibus Et alibi si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis & cetera ¶ The glose graunteth vp-on þat vers a grete mede to truthe And wit & wisdom quod þat wye ; was som tyme tresore To kepe with a comune ; no catel was holde bettre And muche murthe & manhode & riȝt with þat he vanisshed ¶ Passus terciodecimus And I a-waked ther with witlees nere hande And as a freke þat fre were ; forth gan I walke In manere of a mendinaunt ; many yere after And of this metyng{tail} many tyme ; muche thought I hadde First how fortune ; me failled ; at my moost nede And how that Elde maneced me ; we myghte neuere mete ¶ And how that freres foloweden ; folk þat was riche And folk þat was pouere at litel pris they sette And no cors in hir kyrkyerd ; ne in hir kirke was buried But quik he biquethe hem aught ; or shold helpe quite hir dettes And how coueitise ouercome ; clerkes and preestes And how that lewed men ben ladde ; but oure lord hem helpe Thorught vnkonnyng{tail} curatours ; to incurable peynes ¶ And how that ymaginatif ; in dremels me tolde Of kynde and of konnyng ; & how curteys he is to bestes And how louynge he is to bestes ; on londe & on watre Leueth he no lif lasse ne more ¶ The creatures that crepen of kynde ben engeyndred And sith how ymaginatif seide ; vix iustus saluabitur And whan he had seide so ; how sodeynlich he passed ¶ I ley don{curl} longe in this thought ; & at þe last I slepte & as crist wolde ; ther come conscience ; to conforte me þat tyme And bad me come to his court ; with clergie sholde I dyne & for conscience of clergie spake ; I come wel the rather And ther I seigh a maister ; what man he was I neste That lowe louted & louelich vn-to scripture ¶ Conscience knewe hym wel and welcomed hym faire They wessheden and wipeden ; & wente to dyner ¶ Ac pacience in the paleys stoode in pilgrymes clothes And preyde meet per charite for a pouere heremyte Conscience called hym Inne ; and curteislich seide Welcome wy go wasshe thow shalt{tail} sitte soone This maister was made sitte ; and for the moost worthy Than clergie and conscience ; & pacience come after ¶ Pacience and I were put to be macches And seten by oure-selue ; at o syde borde ¶ Conscience called after mete ; & than cam scripture And serued hem thus soone ; of sondrie metes manye Of Austyn of Ambrose of alle the foure euangelistes Edentes & bibentes que apud eos sunt ¶ Ac this maister ne his man ; no manere flesshe eten Ac they ete meet of more cost ; mortreux & potages Of that men myswonne they made hem wel at ese Ac hir sauce was euere soure ; and vnsauorye grounde In a morter post mortem of many bittre peyne But if they synge for tho soules ; & wepe salt teres Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis nisi pro eis lacrimas & oriciones effu- deritis ea que in delicijs comeditis in tormentis euometis ¶ Conscience curteisly tho comended scripture Bifore pacience brede to brynge ; & me þat was his make He sette a sour loof to-fore vs & seide agite penitenciam And sithen he drough vs drynk{tail} dia parseuerans As longe quod I as I lyue ; and likham may dure Here is propre seruice quod pacience ther fareth no prince bettre ¶ And than he brought forth other mete of Miserere mei deus And of Beati quorum of Beatur vir makyng{tail} Et quorum tecta sunt peccata in a disshe Of derne shrift dixi and confitebor tibi ¶ Brynge pacience som pitaunce ; priuelich quod conscience And thanne come to pacience a pitaunce I-broughte Of pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno And conscience conforted vs ; & carped vs mery tales Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despecies & cetera ¶ Pacience was proude of that propre seruice & made hym murthe ; with his meet ac I mourned euere For this doctour on the heigh deys ; drynk wyn so faste Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum & cetera ¶ He ete many sondrie metes mortreux and puddynges Wombe cloutes and wilde brawn ; & egges fryed with grece It is nouȝt foure dayes þat þis freek{tail} bifore þe dean of poules Preched of penaunce ; that poule þe apostle suffred In fame and&& in frigore and flappes with scourges TherTer cesus sum & a Iudeis quinquies quadrage nas & cetera ¶ Ac oo word they ouer-hippen at ech tyme þat they prechen That poule in his pistle ; to alle the peple tolde Periculum est in falsis fratribus & cetera ¶ Holy writ bit men be war ; I wol idouȝt write it here On englissh an auenture ; it shold be reherced to ofte And greue ther-with þat good ben ac gramariens shol rede Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat quia vt dicitur periculum est in falsis fratribus & cetera Ac I wist neuere freek{tail} þat as a frere yede bifore me on Englissh Take it for hir tyme & telle it without glosynge They prechen þat penaunce is profitable to the soule And what meschief or maleise ; crist for man tholed Ac this goddes gloton{curl} ; quod I with hise grete chekes Hat no pitee on vs pouere men ; he perfourneth yuele That he precheth he preueth nouȝt to pacience I tolde And wisshed witerly with wille of egre That disshes and doublers ; bifore this ilke doctour Were molten lede in his mawe ; a Mahon{curl} amyddes I shal Iangle to this Iurdan ; with his Iuste wombe To telle me what penaunce is of which he preched rather ¶ Pacience perceyued what I thoughte ; & wynked on me to be stille & seide þou shalt see thus ; soone whan he may na more He shal haue a penaunce in his paunche ; and puffe at ech worde And than shal hise guttes grothele ; & he shal galpen after For now he hath dronke so depe ; he wol deuyne soone And preue it by hir pocalippes ; and passion{curl} of seynt Auereys That neyther bacon ne brawn{curl} ; blankmang{tail} ne mortreux Is neyther fisshe ne flessh ; but foode for a penaunce And than shal he testifie ; of a Trinite & take hise felawes to witnesse What he fonde in a frayel ; after freres lyuynge And but if the first life be fals ; leue me neuere after And than is tyme to take ; and to appose this doctour Of do-wel and do-bet ; & if do-best be any penaunce ¶ And I sete stille as pacience seyde ; & thus soone þis doctour As rody as a rose ; rubbed hise chekes Coughed and carped ; and conscience hym herde And tolde hym of a Trinite ; and toward vs he loked ¶ What is do-wel sire doctour quod I is do-wel any penaunce Do-wel quod this doctour ; & took{tail} the coppe and dranke Do non yuel to thyn euen-cristne nouȝt by thy power ¶ By thys day sire doctour quod I thanne be ye nouȝt in dowel For ye han harmed vs two ; in þat ye eten þe puddyng{tail} Mortreux and other mete ; and we no mosel hadde And if ye fare so in youre fermarie ; ferly me thynketh But cheste ther charite sholde be ; and chldrench[i]ldren sholde pleyne I wole permute my penaunce with your ; for I am in poynt to do-wel Than conscience curteislich a contenaunce made And preynte vp-on pacience ; to preye me be stille And seide hym-self sire doctour ; and it be your wille What is do-wel and do-bet ; ye diuinours knoweth Qui facit &a docuit magnus vocabitur in regno celorum &cetera Do-wel quod the doctour ; do as clerkes techeth And do-bet is he that techeth ; & trauailleth to teche other And do-best doth hym-self{tail} so as he seith & precheth ¶ Now thow clergie quod conscience ; carpest what is d0-wel ¶ I haue seuene sones he seide ; seruen at a castelle Ther the lord of lif wonyeth ; to lerne hem to do-wel ¶ Til I se tho seuene ; and my-self{tail} acorden I am vnhardy quod he ; to any wight to preue it For oon Piers þe plowman ; hath impungned vs alle And sette alle sciences ; at a soppe ; saue loue oon And no tixte ne taketh ; to mayntene his cause But dilige deum and domine quis habitabit & cetera And seigh þat do-wel and do-bet ; aren two infinites Which infinites with a feith ; fynden out do-beste Which shal saue mannes soule ; þus seith Piers plowman ¶ I kan nouȝt here on quod conscience ; ac I knowe piers He wol idouȝt ayein holy writ speken ; I dar vndertake Than passe we ouer til Piers come ; & preue this in dede Pacience hath be in many places ; & perauenture knoweth That no clerk ne kan ; as crist bereth witnesse Pacientes vincunt & cetera At your preyer quod pacience tho ; so no man displese hym Disce quod he doce and dilige Inimicos Disce and do-wel ; doce and do-bet Dilige and do-best ; thus taughte me ones A lemman þat I loued ; loue was hir name With wordes and werkes quod she ; & wille of thyn herte Thow loue lealy thy soule al thy lif tyme And so þou lere þe to louye ; for þe lordes loue of heuene Thyn enemy in al wise ; euene forth with thy-selue Cast coles on his hede ; and al kynde speche Bothe with werke and word fonde his loue to wynne And ley on hym thus with loue ; til he laughe on the And but he bowe for thy betynge ; blynde mote he worthe ¶ Ac for to fare thus with thy frende ; a folye it were For he that loueth the lely litel of thyn coueiteth Kynde loue coueiteth nouȝt no catel but speche With half a laumpe lyite in latyn ex vi transicionis ¶ I bere ther-Inne abounteaboute ; faste ybounde do-wel In a signe of the saturday ; þat sette first þe kalender And al the wit of the wednesday ; of þe next wyke after The mydel of the moone ; is the myght of bothe And here with am I welcome ; ther I haue it with me ¶ Vn-do it lat this doctour deme ; if dowel be ther-Inne For by hym þat me made ; myghte neuere pouerte Miseise ne meschief ne man ; with his tonge Colde ne care ne compaigne of theues Ne neither hete ne haile ; ne non helle þouke Ne neither fire ne floode ; ne fere of thyn enemy Tene the any tyme ; and thow take it with the Caritas nichil timet cetera ¶ It is but a dido quod this doctour ; a disours tale Alle the wit of this world ; and wight mennes strengthe Kan nouȝt confourmen a pees ; bitwene þe pope & his enemys Ne bitwnebitw[e]ne two cristen kynges ; kan no wight pees make Profitable to either peple and putte þe table fro hym And took clergie and conscience ; to conseil as it were That pacience tho moost passe ; for pilgrymes konne wel lye ¶ Ac conscience carped loude ; and curteisliche seide Frendes fareth wel ; and faire spake to clergie For I wol go with this gome ; if god wol yeue me grace And be pilgryme with pacience ; til I haue preued more ¶ What quod clergie to conscience ; er ye coueitous nouthe After yeresyiues or yiftes ; or yernen to rede ridels I shal brynge yow a bible ; a book{tail} of the olde lawe To lere yow if yow like ; the lest poynt to knawe That pacience the pilgryme ; parfitely knewe neuere ¶ Nay by crist quod conscience ; to clergie god þe foryelde For al þat pacience me profereth proude am I but lithe Ac the wille of þe wye ; & ye wol of folk{tail} here Hath moeued my mood ; to mourne for my synnes The good wille of a wight{tail} was neuere bouȝt to þe fulle For ther is no tresore ther-to ; to a trewe wille ¶ Hadde nouȝt Magdaleyne more for a box of salue Than Zacheus for he seide dimidium bonorum meorum And the pouere widowe ; for a peire of mytes Than alle tho that offreden in to Gazophilacium ¶ Thus curteislich conscience congeyed first þe frere And sithen softlyche he seide in clergies ere Me were leuere by our lord ; & I lyue sholde Haue pacience parfitly þan half þy pakke of bokes Clergie to conscience no congie wolde take But seide ful sobrelich þou shalt se þe tyme Whan thow art wery forwalked ; wilne me to conseil That is soth quod conscience ; so me god helpe If pacience be oure partyng{tail} felawe ; & priue with vs bothe Ther is no wo in this world ; þat we ne sholde amende And confourmen kynges to pees ; and alle kynnes londes Sarasens and surry and so forth alle þe Iuwes Torne in-to þe trewe feith ; and in-til oon bileue ¶ That is soth quod clergie ; I se what þou menest I shal dwelle as I do my deuour to shewen And confermen fauntekynnes ; & other folk{tail} I lered Til pacience haue priued the ; & parfit the maked ¶ Conscience tho with pacience ; passed pilgrimes as it were Than had pacience as pilgrimes han in his poke vitailles Sobrete and simplite speche ; and sothfast bileue To confort hym & conscience if they come in place Þer vnkyndenesse and coueitise is ; hungry contreys bothe ¶ And as they went by the wey ; of do-wel they carped They mette with a mynstralle ; as me tho thoughte Pacience apposed hym first ; & preyde he sholde hem telle To conscience what craft he kouthe & to what contre he wolde ¶ I am a mynstral quod that man ; my name is Activa Vita Alle ydel ich hatye for actif ys my name A wafrer wol ye wite ; and serue many lordes And few robes I fonge ; or furred gownes Kouthe I lye to do men laughe ; than lacchen I sholde Outher mantel or moneye ; amonges mynstralles Ac for I kan nether tabore ne trompe ; ne telle non gestes Farten ne fithelen at festes ne harpen{curl} Iape ne Iogelye ; ne gentiliche pipe Ne neither sailly ne saute ; ne synge with þe giturne I haue no good giftes ; of thise grete lordes For no brede þat I brynge forth ; saue a beneyson{curl} on þe sonday Whan þe preest preyeth the peple ; hir pater noster to bidde For Piers þe plowman ; & þat hym profit wayten And that I am actif that ydelnesse hatye For alle trewe trauaillours ; and tiliers of erthe For myghelmesse to myghelmesse I fynde hem with wafres ¶ Beggers and bidders ; of my brede crauen Faitours and freres ; & folk{tail} with brode crounes I fynde payn for the pope ; & prouendre for his palfrey And I had neuere of hym haue god my treuthe Neither prebendre ne parsonage ; yet of þe popes yiftes Saue a pardon{curl} with a peys of lede ; & two polles amydde Had ich a clerk that kouthe write ; I wol cast hym a bille Þat he sente me vnder his seel ; a salue for þe pestilence And þat his blissyng{tail} and hise bulles bocches myghte destroye In nomine meo demonis eicient & super egros mamusma[n]us imponent & bene habebunt & cetera And thanne wolde I be prest to þe peple ; paste for to make And buxom and bisy aboute brede & drynke For hym & for al his fonde I þat his pardon{curl} Mighte lechen a man as I bileue it sholde For sith he hath the power ; þat peter hym-self hadde He hath the pot with the salue sothly as me thynketh Argentum & aurum non est michi quod autem habeo tibi Do In nomine [??] domini surge & ambula ¶ Ac if myght of miracle hym faille ; it is for men be nat wothy To haue the grace of god ; And no gilt of þe pope For may no blissyng{tail} don vs bote ; but if we wol amende Ne mannes masse make pees ; amonges cristen peple Til pride be purlich{bar} fordo ; & þat thorugh payn defaute ¶ For er I haue brede of meel ; erst moot I swete And er the comune haue corn{curl} ynough many colde mornyng{tail} So er my wafres ben wrought ; muche wo I tholye Alle london{curl} I leue ; liketh wel my wafres And louren whan they lakken it ; it is nouȝt longe passed Ther was a carful comune whan no cart come to towne With brede fro Stratford ; tho gonnen beggers wepe And werkmen were agast a litel ; this wol be thought longe In þe date of oure drighte ; in a dry Aprille A thousand & thre hundreth twies twenty & ten My wafres weren gesen ; whan Chichestre was Mair ¶ I took good kepe by crist and consicence bothe Of haukyn the actif man ; & how he was clothed He had a cote of cristendom as holy chirche bileueth And it was moled in many places ; with many sondry plottes Of pride here a plot & ther a plot of vnbuxom speche Of scornynge ; and of scoffynge ; and of vnskilful berynge As in apparaille and in porte ; proude amonges the peple Other-wise than he hath with herte or eighe shewynge Hym willyng{tail} þat al men wende ; he were þat he is nouȝt For-why he bosteth and braggeth ; with many bolde othes And in obedient to be vndirnome ; of any lif lyuyng{tail} And so singuler by hym-self{tail} ; ne noon so puppe holy Habited as an heremyt ; An ordre by hym-self Religion{curl} sanz rule ; and resonable obediente Lakkyng{tail} lettred men & lewed men bothe In likyng{tail} of lele lif{tail} and a lyer in soule With Inwit and with outwit ; ymagynen & studie As best for his body be ; to haue a badde name And entremetyng{tail} hym ouer-al ther he hath nouȝt to done Willyng{tail} þat men wende his wit were the beste And if he gyueth ouȝt to pore gomes ; tel what he deleth Pouer of possession{curl} in purs and in coffres bothe And as a lyon on-to loke ; & loueliche of speche Boldest of beggers ; a boster that nouȝt hath In town and in tauernes ; tales to telle & segge thyng{tail} þat he neuere seigh & for sothe sweren it Of dedes þat he neuere dide ; demen & bosten And of werkes ; þat he wel dide ; witnesse & seggen ¶ Lo if thow leue me nouȝt ; or that I lye wenen Axeth at hym or at hym ; and he yow kan telle What I suffred and seigh ; and som{curl} tymes hadde And what I kouthe and knewe ; & what kynne I com of Al he wolde that men wiste ; of werkes & of wordes Which myght plese the peple ; & preisen hymseluen Si hominibus placererem Cristi seruus non essem & cetera Et alibi nemo potest duobus dominus seruire By crist quod conscience tho thy best cote haukyn Hath many moles and spottes it moost ben ywasshen ¶ Ye who-so took hede quod haukyn ; bihynde & bifore What on bak{tail} & what on bodye ; & by the two sides Men sholde fynde many frounces ; & many foule plettes ¶ And he torned hym as tite and thanne took I hede It was fouler by fele fold thanne it first semed It was bitropped with wratthe ; and wikked wille With enuye and yuel speche ; entisynge to fighte Lyuyng{tail} and laughyng{tail} ; and leue tonge to chidde Al that he wiste wikked ; by any wight tellen it & blame men bihynde hir bak{tail} ; & bid hem meschaunce And þat he wiste by wille ; tellen it watte And þat watte wiste wille wiste it after And made of frendes foos ; thorugh a fals tonge Or wit of mouthe ; or thorugh mannes strengthe Amenge me fele tymes ; other frete my-selue With-Inne as a shepster shere ; yshrewed men & cursed Cuius maladiccione os plenum est & amaritudine sub lingua euis & cetera Et alibi filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte & lingua eorum gladius acutus ¶ Ther is no lif þat I louye ; lastynge any while For tales that I telle ; no man trust to me And whan I may nouȝt haue the maistrie with malencolye I take That I cacche the crompe ; the cardiache som tyme Or an augue in swich an angre ; and som tyme a feuere That taketh me al a twelf moneth til þat I dispise Lechecraft of oure lorde ; & leue on a wicche And segge that no clerc ne kan ne crist as I leue To the souter of southewerk{tail} or of shordich dame Emme And segge þat no goddes wordes ; gaf me neuere boote But thorugh a charme ; bad I chaunce & my chief hele ¶ I waited bisiloker aboute ; & than was it soilled With likynge of leccherie ; & by lokyng{tail} of hise eighe For ech a mayde that he mette he made hir a signe Semyng{tail} to synneward ; & som tyme he gan taste Aboute the mouthe ; or bynethe he gynneth to grope Til either wille wexeth keene and to þe werke yeden As wel in fastyng{tail} dayes as fridayes & forbode nyghtes As wel in lente as out of lente ; alle tymes Iliche Swich werkes with hem ; were neuere out of seson Til they myght namorena more ; & than had mery tales And how that leccherous louyen laughen & Iapen And of hir harlotrie ; and hordom in hir elde tellen ¶ Than pacience parceyued of poyntes of his cote Was colomy thorugh coueitise ; & vnkynde desiryng{tail} More to gode than to god ; the gome his loue caste And ymagyned how he it beste myghte haue With fals mesures ; and mette ; & with fals witnesse Leued it for loue of the wed & lothe to do treuthe And awaited thorugh which wey to bigile And menged hise marchandise ; & made a goode moustre The werst with-Inne was a grete wit I lete it And my neghboor had any hyne ; or any beste elles Moer profitable than myn many sleightes I made How I myghte haue it ; al my wit I caste And but I had it by other wey ; at þe last I stale it Or priuelich his purs shooke ; vnpiked hise lokkes Or by nyght or by day aboute was ich euere Thorugh gile to gaderen ; the goode þat ich haue ¶ If I yede to the plough I pynched so narwe That a foot londe ; or a forowe fecchen I wolde Of my next neighbore nymen of his erthe And if I repe ouer-reche or yaf hem rede þat repen And seise to me with my sikle ; þat I ne sewe neuere ¶ And who-so borweth of me aboughte the tyme With presentz priuelich ; or payed som certeyn So wolde he or he nolde ; wynne I noldewoldewolde And bothe to kitthe and to kynne vnkynde of þat ich hadde And who-so cleped my chaffare ; chiden I wolde But he profred me to paye a peny or tweyne More than it was worthe ; & yet wolde I swere That it coste me muche more & swore many othes In dayes and holy chirche ; whan ich herde masse Hadde I neuere wille woot god ; witerly to biseche MErcy for my mysdedes ; that ne morned more For los of goode leue me ; than for my likhams giltes Ac if I had dedly synne doon ; I drede nouȝt that so soore As whan I leued it lost ; or longe er it were payed So if I kydde any kyndenesse ; myn euene-cristen to helpe Vp-on a cruel coueitise ; myn herte ; gan hange And if I sente ouer see ; my seruauntz to brugges Or in-to prucelonde ; my printice my profit to waiten To marchanden with monoie ; and make hir eschaunges Mighte neuere me confort ; in the mene tyme Neither masse ne maytyns ; ne non manere sightes Ne neuere penaunce parfourned ; ne paternoster seide That my mynde ne was more ; on my goode in a doute Than in the grace of god ; and his grete helpes Vbi thesaurus tuus ibi & cor tuum ¶ Wich ben the braunches þat brynge a man to sleuthe His womman morneth nouȝt for his mysdedes ; ne maketh no sorwe Ac pacience þat þe preest enyoigneth perforneth yuel Dooth non almesdede drede hym of no synne Lyueth ayein the bileue ; and no law holdeth Ech day is an haliday with hym ; or an heigh ferie And if he aught wol here ; it is an harlotes tonge Whan men carpen of crist ; or clennesse of soule He waxet wroth & wol idouȝt here ; but wordes of murthe Penaunce & pouere men ; & þe passion{curl} of seyntes He hateth to here ther-of ; and alle þat it telleth Thise be the braunches be war ; þat brynge a man to wanhope ¶ Ye lordes and ladies ; and legates of holy chirche That fedeth foles sages ; flaterers and lyers And hath likyng{tail} to lithen hem to do yow to laughe Ve vobis qui ridens & cetera And yeueth hem meet and mede ; and pouere meme[n] refuse In youre deth deyinge ; I drede me ful sore Lest tho thre manere men ; to muche sorowe þou brynge Consencientes & agentes pari pena punientur Patriarkes and prophetes ; and prechours of goddes wordes Sauen thorugh hir sermon ; mannes soule from helle Right so flaterers and foles ; and the fendes disciples To entice men thorugh hir tales ; to synne and harlotrie Ac clerkes that knowen holy writ ; shold kenne lordes What dauid seith of swich men ; as the sauter telleth Non habitabit in medio domus mee qui facit superbiam & qui loquitur iniqua & cetera ¶ Shold non harlote haue audience ; in halle ne in chambres Ther wise men were witnesseth goddes wordes Ne no mysproude man ; amonges lordes ben alowed ¶ Ac flaterers and fooles thorugh hir foule wordes Leden tho that louen hem ; to luciferes feste With turpiloquio alaya lay of sorwe ; & luciferes fithele Thus haukyn þe actif man ; hadde ysoiled his cote Til conscience acouped hym þerof in a curteys manere Why he ne had wasshen it or wiped it with a brusshe Passus quartodecimus I haue but oon hool hatre ; quod{tail} haukyn ; I am þe lasse to blame Though it be soyled & foule ; I slepe ther-in on nyghtes And also I haue a wif hewen and chldrenchildren Vxorem duxi & ideo non possum venire That wolden bymolen it many tyme ; maugre my chekes It hath ben laued in lente ; & out of lente bothe With þe sop of siknesse ; that seketh wondre depe And with þe losse of catel ; bothe fortofor to ; agulte God or any goode man ; by aught þat I wiste & was shryuen of þe preest þat gaf me for my synnes To penaunce or pacience ; as pouere meme[n] to fede Al for coueitise of my cristendom ; in clennesse to kepe it ¶ And kouth I neuere by crist kepen it clene an houre That I ne soyled it with sight ; or som ydel speche Or thorugh werk{tail} or worde ; or wille of myn herte But I ne flobour it foule fro morwe til euen ¶ & I shal kenne the quod{tail} conscience ; of contricion{curl} to make That shal clawe thy cote of alkynnes filthe Cordis contricio & cetera & ¶ Do-wel wasshen it & wryngen it thorugh a wise confessour Oris confessio & cetera ¶ Do-bet shal beten it & bouken it as bright as any scarlet & engreynen it with goode wille ; & goddes grace to amende ye And sithen sende the satisfaccion{curl} for to sowen it after Satisfaccio & cetera ¶ Do-best shal neuere myst bymolen ne moth after biten it Ny fynde ne fals man defoulen it thy lyue Shal no heraude ne harpour a fairer garnement Than haukyn the actif man & þou do by my techynge Ne no mynstral be more worthe amonges pouere & riche Than haukyns wif the wafrer ; with his Actiua vita ¶ And I shal purueye the paste quod{tail} pacience though no plouȝ erye And flour to fede flok{tail} with as best be for the soule Though neuere greyn growed ne grape vp-on vyne Alle þat lyueth and loketh liflode wolde I fynde And þat ynough shal non failled of þyng{tail} þat hem nedeth We sholde nouȝt be to bisie about our liflode Ne soliciti sitis & cetera volucres celi deus pascit eos & cetera Pacientes vincunt & cetera ¶ Than laughed haukyn a litel ; & lightly gan swere Who-so leueth yow by oure lord I leue nouȝt he be blissed ¶ No quod pacience paciently ; & oute of his poke hente Vitailles of grete vertues ; for alle manere bestes & seide lo here liflod ynough if oure bileue be trewe For lent neuere was lif ; but liflode were shapen Wher-of or wher-fore ; or wherby to libbe ¶ First the widewil[d]e worme ; vnder wete erthe Fisshe to lyue in the Floode ; & in þe fir the krikat{tail} The curlew by kynde of the erþ moost clennest flessh of briddes And bestes by gras and greyn{curl} ; and by grene rotes In menyng{tail} that alle men myghte don the same Lyue thorugh leel bileue and loue as god witnesseth Quodcumque pecieritis a patre in nomine meo & cetera Et alibi non in solo pane viuit homo set in omni verbo quod procedit & cetera ¶ But I loked what liflod it was ; þat pacience so preised And than was it a pece of the pater noster fiat voluntas tua ¶ Haue haukyn quod pacience ; & ete this whan þe hungreth Or whan thow clomsest for colde ; or clyngest fro drye Shul neuere gyues the greue ne grete lordes wratthe Prison ne peyne for pacientes vincunt By so that thow be sobre of sight & of tonge In etynge and in handelyng{tail} & alle thy fyue wittes Tharthow neuere care for corn{curl} ne lynnen cloþ ne wollen Ne for drynk ne deth drede but deye as god liketh Or thorugh hungre or thorugh hete at his wille be it For if thow lyuest after his lore ; þe shorter lif þe bettre Si quis amat Cristum mundum non diligit istum For thorugh his brethe bestes wexen and a-brood yeden Dixit & facta sunt & cetera Ergo thorugh his brethe mowen men and bestes lyuen As holy writ witnesseth whan men segge hir graces Apperis tu manum tuam & imples omne animal benediccione ¶ It is founden þat fourty wynter folk lyued without tylyinge And out of the flynt spronge the flood þat folk & bestes dranke And in Elyes tyme heuene was yclosed That no rayn ne roon thus rede men in bokes That many wynteres men lyueden & no men ne tilieden Seuene slepe as seith the book seuene hundreth wynter And lyueden withoute liflode ; & at þe laste they woken And if men lyued as mesure wolde sholde neuere be defaute Amonges cristen creatures ; if cristes wordes be trewe Ac vnkyndenesse Caristiam maketh amonges cristen peple And ouer-plente maketh pride among pouere & riche Ac mesure is so suche worth ; it may nouȝt be to dere For þe meschief & þe meschaunce ; amonges men of sodome Wex thorugh plente of payn and of pure sleute Ociositas & habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutriuit ¶ For they mesured nouȝt hem-self{tail} of þat they ete & dronke Diden dedly synne that the deuel liked So vengeance felle vp-on hem for hir ville synnes They sonken in-to helle tho Cites echoon ¶ For-thy mesure we vus wel & make oure feith oure sheltron{curl} And thorugh feith cometh contricion conscience woot wel Which dryueth awey dedly synne & doth it to be venial And though a man myghte nat speke contricion myghte hym saue And brynge his soule to blisse so that faith bere witnesse That whiles he lyued he bileued the lore of holy chirche Ergo contricion feith conscience ; is kyndelich do-wel And surgiens for dedly synnes ; whan shrift{tail} of mouthe failleth ¶ Ac shrift of mouthe more worthy is ; if man be Inlich contrit For shrift of mouthe sleeth synne be it neuere so dedly Per confessionem to a preest peccata occiduntur Ther contricion doth but dryueth it down in-to a venial synne And Dauid seith in the sauter Et quorum tecta sunt peccata ¶ Ac satisfaccion{curl} seketh oute the rote & bothe sleeth & voideth And as it neuere had I-be to nouȝt bryngeth dedly synne That is neuere eft sene ne soor ; but semeth as wounde heled ¶ Wher wonyeth charite quod{tail} haukyn ; I wist neuere in my lyue Man þat with hym spak as wide as I haue passed Ther parfit treuthe and pouere herte ; is & pacience of tonge Ther is charite þe chief chamberer ; for god hym-selue Wheither pacience pouertee quod haukyn be more plesant to oure drighte Than richesse rightfulliche wonne ; & resonabliche spende Ye quis est ille quod pacience quik laudabimus eum Though men redde of richesse ; right to þe worldes ende I wist neuere renk that riche was ; þat whan he rekne sholde Whan he drough to his deth day ; þat he ne drad hym soore And that at þe reknyng{tail} in arrerage fel rather þan out of dette Ther the pouere dar nat plede and preue by pure reson{curl} To haue alowance of his lord ; by þe lawe he it cleymeth Ioie that neuere Ioie hadde ; of right-ful Iuge he axeth And seith lo briddes and bestes ; þat no blisse ne kouthe And wilde wormes in wodes thorugh wyntres þou hem greuest And makest hem wel neigh meke & mylde for defaute And after þou sendest hem somer þat is hir souereyn{curl} Ioie And blisse to alle þat ben bothe wilde and tame ¶ Than may beggers and bestes after hoote weyten That al hir lif haue lyued in langour & in defaute But god sent hym tyme som manere Ioie Outher here or elles-where kynde wolde it neuere For to ouer muche wo was he wrought þat neuere Ioie was shaped ¶ Aungels þat in hel now ben hadden som tym Ioie And diues in deyntes lyued and in douce vie Right so reson sheweth ; þat no men þat were riche And hir makes also lyued hir lif in murthe ¶ Ac god is of a wondre wille by þat kynde wit sheweth To yiue many men his mercymonie er he it haue deserued Right so fareth god by som riche ; ruthe me it thynketh For they haue hir hire here ; and heuene as it were And ek grete likyng{tail} to lyue with-oute labour of body & whan he deyeth ben disalowed as dauid seith in þe sauter Dormierunt & nichil inuenerunt And in an other stede also velut sompnum surgencium domine In Ciuitate tua & ad nichilum regeriges ¶ Allas that richesse shal reue & robbe mannes soule Fram the loue of oure lord at his last ende Hewen þat han hir hyre a-fore aren euere more nedy And selden dyeth he out of dette ; þat dyneth er he deserue it And til he haue don{curl} his dauoir ; & his dayes Iourne For whan a werkman hath wroughte than may men se þe sothe What he were worthy for his werk & what he hath deserued And nouȝt to fonge bifore ; for drede of disalowynge So I segge by yow riche ; it semeth nouȝt þaT ye shulle Haue heuene in youre hereberyng & heuen here after Right as a seruant taketh his salarie bifore ; & sith wolde clayme more As h hehe that non{curl} hadde and hath hire atte laste It may nouȝt be ye riche men ; or mathew on god lyeth De delicijs ad delicias difficile est transire ¶ And if ye riche haue ruthe ; and reward wel þe pouere And lyuen as lawe teccheth ; doon leaute to hem alle Crist of his curteisie ; shal confort yow alle And reward alle double richesse ; þat rufulle hertes habbeth And as an hyne þat hadde his hire er he bigonne & whan he haþe don{curl} his dauoir wel men doth hym oþer bounte Yeueth hym a cote aboue his couenaunt riȝt so crist yeueþ heuen Bothe to riche to nouȝt riche ; that rewfullich libbeth And alle that don{curl} hir dauoir wel ; han double hir for hir trauaille Here foryeuenesse of hir synnes and heuene blisse after Ac it nys it nysit nys but selde yseyne as by holy seyntes lyues That god rewarded double reste ; to any riche weye For muche murthe is amonges riche ; as in mete & clothynge And muche murthe in may is amonge wilde bestes And so forth while somer lasteth ; hir solace dureth ¶ Ac beggers aboute mydsomer ; and bredles they soupe And yet is wynter for hem wors ; for wete-shod they gange A first sore and affyngred ; and foulich rebuked And arated of riche men ; that reuthe is to here Now lord sende hem somer ; and som manere Ioie Heuene after hir hennes goyng{tail} þat here han swiche defaute For alle myghtestow haue made ; non{curl} mener þan other And ylich witty and wis ; if the wel had liked And haue reuthe on thise riche men þat reward nouȝt þi prisoners Of the goode that þou hem gyuest Ingrati ben many Ac god of thy goodnesse gif hem grace to amende For may no derthe ben hem dere ; droughte ne wete Ne neither hete ner heille haue they hir hele Of that they wilne and wolde ; wanteth hem nouȝt here ¶ Ac pouere peple thy prisoners lord in the put of meschief Confort tho creatures ; that muche care suffrend Thorugh drighte and droughte ; alle hire dayes here Wo in wynter tymes ; for wantyng{tail} of clothes And in somer tyme selde soupen to the fulle Confort thy careful Crist in thy riche For how thow confortest alle creatures clerkes bereth witnesse Conuertimini ad me & salui eritis & cetera ¶ Thus in genere of gentrice Iesu crist seide To robbers and reuers ; to riche and to pouere Thow taughtest hem in the Trinite to take baptesme And be clene thurgh þat cristenyng{tail} of alkynnes synnes And vs felle thurgh folye to falle in synnes after Confession and knowlichyng{tail} and crauynge thy mercy Sholde amende vs as many sithes ; as man wolde desire Ac if þe pope wolde plede here-ayein & punysshe vs in conscience He sholde take þe acquitaunce as quik & to þe quede shewe it Pateat pro passionem domini & cetera And putten of þe pouke and preuen vs vnder borwe Ac þe parchemyn of this patent of pouerte be moste And of pouere pacience and parfit bileue Of pompe & of pride ; the parchemyn decorreth And principally of alle peple ; but they be pouere of herte Elles is al on ydel that euere we writen Pater noster and penaunce & pilgrimage to Rome But oure spences and spendyng{tail} ; sprynge of a trewe welle Elles is al oure labour loost ; lo how men writeth In fenestres at the freres ; if fals be the foundement For-thy cristen sholde be in comune riche non coueite for hym-selue ¶ For seuene synnes ther be ; assailen vs euere Þe fende foloweth hem alle & fondeth hem to helpe Ac with richesse þat ribaude ; rathest men bigileth For ther that richesse regneth reuerence foloweth And that is plesaunt to pride in pouere & in riche And the riche is reuerenced by reson of his richesse Ther the pouere is put bihynde & per auenture kan more Of wit & of wisdom that fer awey is bettre Than richesse or realte & rather herde in heuene For the riche hath much to rekne ; & right softe walketh The heigh wey to heueneward oft richesse letteth Ita possibile[in]possibile diuiti & cetera ¶ Ther þe pouere preseth bifore þe riche with a pak at his rugge Opera enim illorum sequuntur illos cetera Batantliche as beggers don{curl} and boldelich he craueth For his pouerte and pacience a perpetuel blisse Beati pauperes quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum ¶ And pride in richesse regneth rather than in pouerte Arst in the maistre than in the man som mansion he hath Ac in pouerte ther pacience is pride hath no myghte Ne non of the seuene synnes sitten ne mow þer longe Ne haue power in pouerte if pacience it folowe For the pouere is ay prest to plese þe riche And buxom at his biddyng{tail} for hise brook{tail} loues And buxomnesse and bost arn{curl} euere more at werre And either hateth other in al manere werkes ¶ If wratthe wrastel with the pouere he hath þe wors ende For if they bothe pleyne the pouere is but fieble And if he chide or chatre hym cheueth the wors ¶ And if coueitise cacche þe pouere they may nouȝt come togidres & by the nekke namly hir noon may hent other For men knowe wel þat coueitise is of a kene wille And hath hedes and armes ; of a longe lengthe And pouerte is but a petit thyng{tail} appereth nouȝt to his nauele & louely laike was neuere bitwene þe longe & þe shorte ¶ And though auarice wolde angre þe pouere he haþ but litel myȝte For pouerte hath but pokes to putten Inne hise goodes That auarice hath almarys and Iren bounde coffres And wheter be lighter to breke ; lasse boost it maketh A beggers bagge than an Iren bounden coffre ¶ Leccherie loueth hym nouȝt ; for he yeueth but litel siluer Ne doth hym nouȝt dyne delicatly ne drynk wyn ofte A strawe for þe stuwes it stood nouȝt I trowe Hadde they no thyng{tail} but of pouere men hir houses stood vntiled ¶ And though sleuthe swe pouerte ; & serue nouȝt god to paye Meschief is his maister & maketh hym to thenke That god is his grettest helpe ; and no gome elles And his seruant as he seith ; and of his suyte bothe And whether he be or be nouȝt ; he bereth þe signe of pouerte And in that seite oure saueour ; saued al men kynde For-thy al pouerte þat pacient is ; may cleymen & asken After hir endyng{tail} here ; heuene-riche blisse ¶ Michel hardier may he axen ; þat here myghte has wille In londe & in lordship ; and likyng{tail} of body And for goddes loue leueth al ; & lyueth as a begger And as a mayde for mannes loue ; hir moder forsaketh Hir fader & alle hir frendes & foloweth hir make Muche is swich a mayde to loue ; of þat swich oon taketh More than a mayden is ; þat is maried thurgh brokage And by assent of sondri parties ; & siluer to bote More for coueitise of goode ; þan kynde loue of bothe So it fareth by ech a person{curl} ; þat possession{curl} forsaketh & putteth hym to be pacient ; & pouerte weddeth The whiche is sibbe to god hym-self ; & so to hise seyntes ¶ Haue god my trouthe ; quod haukyn ye preise fast pouerte What is pouerte with pacience ; quod{tail} he proprely to mene Paupertas quod pacience ; est odibile bonum RemoueRemocio cura Possessio sine calumpnia ; donum dei sanitas mater absque Solicitudine semita ; sapiencie temperatrix negocium sine dampno Incerta fortuna absque solicitudine felicitas ¶ I kan nouȝt construe þis quod haukyn ; ye most seyn on englissh ¶ On Englissh quod pacience ; it is wel hard wel to expounen Ac somdel I shal seyn{curl} it ; be so ye vnderstonde ¶ Pouerte is the first poynt ; þat pride most hateth Than is it goode by goode skille ; al þat agasteth pride Right as contricion{curl} is confortable ; þing{tail} consciens woot wel And a sorowe for hym-self & solace to the soule So pouerte propreliche penaunce and Ioie Is to the body ; pure spiritual helthe Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum & cetera And contricion confort and Cura animarum the seconde Seld sitte the pure ; the sothe to declare Or as Iustice to Iugge men ; enioigned is no pouere Ne to be amaira mair abouen men ; ne ministre vnder kynges Selde is any poure putte to punisshe any peple Remocio curarum Ergo pouerte and pouere men ; perfourneth the comandement Noliter indicare quemquam the thridde ¶ Selde is any pouere riche ; but of rightful heritage Wynneth he nouȝt with weightes fals ne vnseled mesures Ne borweth of his neighboures ; but þat he may wel paye Possessio sine calumpnia & cetera ¶ The ferthe is a fortune ; that florissheth the soule With sobrete fram alle synnes ; and also yet more It affayteth the flessh ; fram folyes ful manye A collateral confort ; cristes owne yifte Donum dei ¶ The fifte is moder of helth ; a frende in alle fondynges And for the lawde euere a leche ; a lemman of al clennesse Sanitas mater ¶ The sexte is a path of pees ; ye thorugh the pas of aultonn Pouerte myghte passe with-oute peril of robbynge For ther that pouerte passeth ; pees foloweth{bar} after And euere the lasse ; þat he bereth þe hardyer he is of herte For-thy seith Seneca paupertas est absque solicitudine semitA And an hardy man of herte ; amonge an hepe of theues Cantabit paupertas coram latrone & cetera ¶ The seuenthe is welle of wisdom and fewe wordes sheweth For lordes alloweth hym litel or listneþ to his reson{curl} He tempreth the tonge to trutheward{tail} & no tresore coueiteth Sapiencie temperatrix & cetera ¶ The eighteth is a leel labour ; and lothe to take more Than he may wel deserue ; in somer or in winter And if he chaffare he chargeth no losse mowe he charite wynne Negocium sine dampno The nynthe is swete to the soule ; no sugre swetter For pacience is payn{curl} for pouerte hym-selue And sobrete swete drynk{tail} & goode leche in siknesse Thus lered me alettred a lettred man ; for oure lordes loue Seint Austyn a blissed lif with-outen bisynesse For body and soule absque solicitudine felicitas ¶ Now god that al good gyueth ; graunte his soule reste That thus first wroot to wissen men what pouerte is to mene ¶ Allas quod haukyn þe actif man tho þat after my critendomcri[s]tendom I ne hadde ben dede & doluen for do-wel sake So hard it is quod haukyn to lyue & to do synne Synne suweth vs euere ; quod he ; and sory gan wexe And wept water with hise eighen ; and weyled the tyme That euere he dide dede ; þat dere god displesed Swowned and sobbed ; and siked ful ofte That euere he had loonde ; or lordship ; lasse other more Or maistre ouer any man ; mo þan of hym-selue I were nouȝt worthy quod haukyn to were any clothes Ne neither sherte ne shoon saue for shame oon To couere my caroigne quod he and cried fast mercy And wepte and weled ; and ther-with I awaked Passus quindecimus finit de do-wel & incipit do-bet Ac after my wakyng{tail} it was wonder longe Er I koude kyndely knowe what was do-wel & so my wit wexe & wanyed til I a fool were And som lakked my lif allowed it fewe And leten for a lorel and lothe to reuerence Lordes or ladies ; or any lif elles As parsons in pelour ; and with pendantz of ofof siluer To sergeantz ne to swich seide nouȝt oones God loke yow lordes ; ne louted faire That folk held me a foole ; & in that folye I raued Til reson had ruthe ; on me & rokked me a-slepe Til I seigh as it sorcerie were ; a sotil þing with-al Oon with-outen tonge & teeth tolde me whider I sholde And wher-of I cam and what kynde ; I coniured hym atte last If he were cristes creature ; for cristes loue me to telle ¶ I am cristes creaturescreature quod he ; & cristen in many a place In cristes court I knowe wel ; and of his kynne a partie Is neither peter ne poule with his fauchon{curl} That wol defende me the dore dynge ich neuere so late At mydnyght at mydday my voce is so knowe That ech a creature of his Court welcometh me faire ¶ What er ye called in that Court quod{tail} I amonge cristes peple ¶ The whiles I quykke was in the corps quod{tail} he called am I Anima And whan I wilne and wolde Animus ich hatte And for that I kan and knowe ; called am I mens And whan I make mone to god memoria is my name And whwh[an] I deme doomes and doo as treuthe techeth Than is racio my right name and reson on englissh{bar} And whan I fele that folk{tail} telleth my first name is sensus And þat is wit and wisdom ; the welle of alle craftes And whan I chalenge or chalenge nouȝt ; clepe or refuse Than am I Conscience called goddes clerk & his notarie And whan I loue lely oure lord & alle other Than is lele loue my name ; and in latyn Amor And whan I flye fro the flessh & forsake þe caroigne Than am ich spirit specheles spiritus than ich hatte Austyn and Isodorus either of hem bothe Nempned me thus to name now thow myghte chese How thow coueitest to knowe me ; now knowestow alle my names Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur dum viuificat Corpus anima est dum vult animus esse est ; dum scit mens est Dum recolit memoria est ; dum iudicat racio est Dum sentit sensus est ; dum amat amor est Dum negat vel consentit consciencia est ; dum Spirat spiritus est & cetera ¶ Ye ben as a bisshop quod I al bourdyng{tail} that tyme For bisshopes yblessed beren many names Presul and pontifex and metropolitanus And other names an hepe ; Episcopus and pastor That is soth quod he ; now I se thy wille Thow woldest knowe and konne þe cause of alle hir names And of myn if thow myghtest ; me thenketh by þy speche ¶ Ye sire I seide by so noman{curl}no man{curl} were agreued Alle þe science vnder sonne ; & alle the sotel craftes I wolde I knewe and kouthe ; kyndely in myn herte ¶ Than artow vnparfit quod he ; & oone of priDes knyghtes For swich a lust and likynge ; lucifer fel fram heuene Ponam pedem meum in aquilone & simil ero altissimo ¶ It were ayeins kynde quod he ; and alkynnes reson{curl} That any creature sholde konne al ; except crist oon Ayenis swich salomon speketh ; & dispiseth hir wittes And seith sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum Sic qui crutator est maiestas opprimitur a gloria ¶ To englissh men þis is to mene ; þat mowen speke & here Þe man þat muche hony eteth his mawe it englaymeth & þe mor þat amana man of good matere hereth But he do ther-after it doth hym double scathe Beatus est seith seynt Bernard qui scripturas legit Et verba vertit in opera ; fullich to his power ¶ Coueitise to konne and to knowe science Pute out of paradis Adam and Eue Sciencie appetitus hominem inmortalitatis gloria spoliauit ¶ And right as hony is yuel to defie & englaymeþ þe mawe Right so that thurgh reson{curl} ; wolde þe roote knowe Of god & of his myghtes ; his grace is letteth For in þe likyng{tail} lith a pride ; & in a likames coueitise Ayeins cristes conseil ; and alle clerkes techynge That is non plus sapere quam opertet sapere ¶ Freres and fele other maistres ; þat to þe lewed men prechen Meuen materes inmesurable to telle of þe Trinite Þat oft tymes þe lewede peple ; of hir bileue douten Better to leue were many doctours swich techynge And telle men of ten comaundementz ; & touche þe seuen synnes & of þe braunches þat burgeoneth of hem ; & bryngeþ men to helle And how that folk{tail} in folyes myspenden hir fyue wittes As wel freres as other folk{tail} folich they spenden In housynge in hateryng{tail} ; and heigh clergie shewyng{tail} More for pompe than fore pure charite ; þe peple woot þe sothe That I ne lye nouȝt loo ; for lordes ye plesen And reuerence þe riche ; the rather for hir siluer Confundatur omnes qui adorant sculptilia & cetera & alibi vt Quid diligitis vanitatem & queritis mendacium ¶ Go to the glose of ye vers ; þe grete clerkes If I lye on yow to my lewed wit ; ledeth me to brynnynge For as it semeth ye forsaketh ; no mannes almesse Of vsurers of hores ; of Auerous chapmen And louten to thise lordes ; þat mow lene yow nobles Ayeins your rule and religion{curl} ; I take record of Iesus That seide to hise disciples ne sitis personarum acceptores ¶ Of this matere I myght make a longe bible Ac of curatours of cristen peple ac clergie bereth witnesse I shal tellen it for truthes sake ; take hede who-so liketh As holynesse and honeste ; out of holy chirche spredeth Thorugh lele libbyng{tail} men ; þat goddes lawe techen Right so out of holy chirche alle yuel spredeth Ther inparfit presthode is prechours and techers And se it by ensample ; on somer tyme on trowes Ther som bowes ben leued ; & som bereth noon{curl} Ther is a meschief in þe moore of swich manere bowes Right so parsons and prestes ; and prechours of holy chirche That aren rote of þe right feith to rule þe peple Ac ther þe rote is roten ; reson woot the sothe Shal neuere flour ne fruyt ne faire leef be grene For-thy wolde þe lettred leue þe leccherie of clothyng{tail} & be kynde as bifelle for clerkes ; & curteise of cristes goodes Trewe of youre tonge ; & of your tail bothe & hatyen al harlotrie ; and nouȝt to vnderfonge Tithes of vntrewe thyng{tail} ytilied or chaffare Lothe were lewed men ; but þey your lore folowed And amenden hem þat mysdoon ; more for yuel ensamples Than for to prechen and preue it noutȝ ; ypocrisie it semeth For ypocrisie in latyn likned to a donghihille That were bisnewed with snow ; & snakes with-Inne Or to a walle that were white lymed without & foule with-Inne Right so many prestes ; prechours and prelates Aren enblaunched with bele paroles & with clothes also Ac youre werkes and wordes ; þat vnder arn{curl} vnlouelich Iohnes crisostoumus of clerkes speketh and prestes Sicut de templo omne bonum egreditur sic de templo omne malum procedit si sacerdocium integrum fuerit tota floret ecclesia si autem coruptum fuerit omnium fides marcida est ; si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis totus populus conuertitur ad peccandum ; sicut cum videris arborem pallidam & marcidam intelligis quod vicium habet in radice Ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum & irreligiosum sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum ¶ If lewed men wiste ; what this latyn moneth & who was myn auctor ; muche wondre me thenketh But if many a prest bere for hir baselardes & hir broches A peire bedes in hir honde ; and a book vnder hir arm{curl} Sire Iohn and Sire Geffrey hath agirdela girdel of siluer A baselard and a ballok knyf ; with botons ouergilte Ac a porthors þat shul be his plow placebo to segge Had he neuere seruice to saue siluer ther to seiþ it with ydel wille Allas þe lewed men muche lese ye on preestes Ac thyng{tail} þat wikkidlich is wonne ; & with false sleightes Wolde neuere of witty god the wit ; but wikked men it hadde The which arn{curl} preestes inparfit and prechours after siluer Setours and suddenes somonours and hir lemmannes This that with gile was geten vngracioulichvngraciou[s]lich is spended So harlotries and hores arn holpen with swich goodes And goddes folk for defaute þer-of forfaren & spillen ¶ Curatours of holy chirche ; as clerkes þat ben auerouse Lightlich þat they leuen losels it habbeth Or dyeth intestat and þan þe bisshop entreth And maketh murthe ther-with ; & his men bothe & segge he was a nygard ; & no goode myghte aspare To frende ne to fremde ; the feende haue his soule For a wrecched hous he helde al his lif tyme & þat he spared and bispered ; spende we in murthe ¶ By lered by lewed ; that loth is to spende Thus goon hir goodes ; by the goost faren Ac for good men god woot ; grete doel men maken And bymeneth goode mete yeuers ; & in mynde haueth In preyers & in penance ; and inparfitin parfit charite Illarem datorem diligit deus What is charite quod I tho a childissh thyng{tail} he seyde Nisi efficiciaminiefficiamini sicut non intrabitis in regnum celorum With-outen faunteltee or folye a free liberal wille Wher sholde men fynde which a frende with so fre an herte I haue lyued in londe quod I my name is Longe Wille And fonde I neuere ful charite ; bifore ne byhynde Men beth merciable to mendinantz and to pouere And wol lene ther they leue ; lealy to be payde Ac charite þat poule preseþ best & moost pleseþ our saueour As non inflatur non est ambiciosa non querit que sua sunt ¶ I seigh neuere swich a man ; so me god helpe That he ne wole aske after his ; and outher-while couette Thyng þat nedeþ hym nought & nyme it f Clerkes kune me that ; crist is in alle places Ac I seigh hym neuere sothely ; but as my-self in a Mirour Ita in enigmate tunc facie ad faciem And so I trowe trewely by þat men tellen of charite It is nouȝt champions fight ; ne chaffare as I trowe ¶ Charite quod he ne chaffareth nouȝt ; ne chalenger ne craueth As proude of a peny as of a pounde of golde & is as glad of a gowne ; of a grey Russet As of a tunicle of ofof a Tarse ; or of trie scarlet He is glad with alle glad ; & good til alle wikked He leneth and loueth al þat oure lord made Curseth he no creature ne he kan bere no wratthe Ne no likyng hath to lye ; ne laughe men to scorne Al þat men seyn he let it soþ ; & in solace taketh And alle manere meschiefs ; in mydenessmy[l]deness he suffreþ Coueiteth he non erthely goode but heuene-riche blisse Hath he any rentes or richesse or any riche frendes ¶ Of rentes ne of richesse ; reccheth hym neuere For a frend þat dyndeth[f]yndeth hym ; failleþ hym neuere at nede Fiat voluntas tua fynt hym euere more & if he soupeth he ete but a soppe of spera in deo He kan purtrey wel þe pater noster & peynt it with aues And other wille he is wone to wende ; pilgrymages The pouere men and prisoners ; liggeth hir pardon{curl} to haue Though he bere hem no brede ; he bereþ hem swetter liflode Loueth hem as our lord biddeth ; & loketh how they fare ¶ And whan he is wery of þat werk{tail} þan wol he som tyme Labouren in lauendrye ; wel þe lengthe of a Mile And yerne in-to yougthe ; & yeplich speke Pride with alle þe apertenaunce ; & pakken hem togidres And beuken hem at his brest ; & beten hem clene And leggen on longe with laboraui in gemitu meo & with warme water at his eighen wasshen hem after And than he syngeth whan he doth so ; & som tyme seith wepyng{tail} Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies By crist I wolde I knewe hym no crature leuere With-outen help of piers plowman quod{tail} he ; his persone sestow neuere ¶ Where clerkes knowe hym quod I þat kepen holy cherche ¶ Clerkes haue no knowyng{tail} quod he ; but by werkes & wordes Ac piers þe plowman ; perceyueth more deppere Wher is the wille ; & wherfore ; þat many wight suffreth Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum For ther er ful proude herted men pacient of tonge And buxom as of beryng{tail} to burgeys & to lordes & to pouere peple han peper in the nose And as lyon he loketh ther ; men lakketh hise werkes ¶ For ther er beggers & bidders bedmen ata[s] it were Loken as lambren and semen lif holy Ac it is more to haue hir mete in swich esy manere Than for penaunce ; or parfitnesse þe pouere þat swich taketh Ther-fore by colour ne by clergie ; knowe shaltow hym neuere Neither thurgh wordes ne werkes ; but thurgh wille oon And that knoweth no clerk{tail} ne creature in erthe But Ppiers the plowman Petrus id est cristus ¶ For he is nouȝt in lolers ne in land lepers heremites Ne at ancres ther a boxe hangeth ; alle swich they faiten Fy on faitours and on fautores suos For charite is goddes champion{curl} ; & as a good childe hende And the meriest of mouthe ; at mete wer he sitteth The loue þat lith in his herte ; maketh hym light of speche And is compaygnable ; and confortif{tail} as crist bit hym-selue Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes ¶ For I haue seyn hym in silk & som tyme in russet Bothe in grey and in gris and in gilte harnerys And as gladlich he it gaue to gomes þat it neded Edmond and Edward either were kynges And seyntes yset til charite hem folowed ¶ I haue seyn charite also syngen & reden Riden & rynnen in ragged wedes Ac biddynge as beggers ; bihelde I hym neuere Ac in riche robes rathest he walkest Ycalled and crymayled ; & his croune shaue And clenlich I-clothed in cipres & in tartaryn And in a freres frokke he was yfounde oones Ac it is far a-go in Seynt Fraunces tyme & in þat seite siþ to selde haþ he be knowen ¶ Riche men he recomendeth ; & of hir robes taketh That with-outen wyles ; ledeth hir lyues Beatus est diues qui & cetera ¶ In kynges Court he cometh oft ther þe conseil is trewe Ac if coueitise be of þe conseil ; he wol nouȝt come þer-Inne In Court among{tail} Iapers he cometh nouȝt but selde For braulyng{tail} & bakbityng{tail} & kepyng{tail} of fals witnesse ¶ In þe Consistorie bifore þe comissarie ; he cometh nouȝt ful ofte For lawe dureth ouerlonge ; but if they lacchen siluer And matrimonye for monoie maken & vnmaken And that conscience & crist hath I-knyt faste They vndon{curl} it vnworthily ; thise doctours of lawe ¶ Ac I ne lakke no lif{tail} but lord amende vs alle And gyue vs grace goode god charite to folowe And who-so myght mete with hym ; swich maneres hym ailleth Neither he banneth ne blameþ ; ne bosteth ne preiseth Craueth ne coueiteth ne crieth after more Lakketh ne loseth ne loketh vp stierne In pace in idipsum dormiam & cetera ¶ The most liflode he lyueth by ; is loue in goddes passion Neither he biddeth ne beggeth ; ne borweth to yelde Misdoth he no man ne with mouthe greueth Amonges cristen men this Mildenesse sholde laste In alle manere angres haue this at herte That though they suffred al this god suffred for vs more In ensample we shold do so ; & take no vengeaunce Of oure foos þat doth vs falsnesse ; þat is oure fadres wille For wel may euery man wite ; if god had wolde hym-selue Sholde neuere Iudas ne Iuwe ; haue Iesu don{curl} on rode No han martires Peter ne Poul ne in prison{curl} holden Ac he suffred in ensample ; þat we sholde suffre also And seide to swich þat suffre wolde that pacientes vincunt Verbi gracia quod he and verray ensamples many In legenda sanctorum the lif of holy seyntes In hungre & in hete ; in alle manere angres What penance & pouerte and passion{curl} they suffred Antony and Egidie and other holy fadres Wonyden in wildernesse ; amonge wilde bestes Monkes and mendynantz men by hem-selue In spekes and in spekelonkes ; selden speken togidres Ac neither antony ne Egidye ne heremyt þat tyme Of lyones ne of leopardes ; no liflode ne tooke But as of fowles þat fleigh þus fynde men in bokes Except þat Egidie after an hynde cryed & thorugh þe mylk of þat mylde best þe man was sustened And day by day had he hir nouȝt his hungre for to slake But selde and sondrye tymes ; as seith þe book & techeth Antony a-dayes aboute noone tyme Had a bridde that brouȝte hym brede þat he by lyued And though the gome had a gest ; god fonde hem bothe Poule primus heremita hadde parroked hym-selue That no man myght hym see ; for mosse & for leeues Fowles hym fedde ; fele wynteres with alle Til he founded freres ; of austyns ordre ¶ Poule after his prechyng{tail} ; panyers he made And wan with hondes ; that his wombe neded ¶ Peter fisshed for his foode and his felawe andrew Som they solde & somme they sothey ; & so þey lyued bothe And also Marie madalene by mores lyued & dewes Ac moost thorugh deuocion{curl} ; & mynde of god almyghty I shold nouȝt this seuene dayes ; seggen hem alle That lyueden thus ; for oure lordes loue many long{tail} yeres Ac ther ne was lyon{curl} ne leoparde ; þat on laundes wenten Neither bere ne boor ; ne other best wilde That ne fel to hir feete ; & fawned with þe tailes & if they couthe han ycarped by crist as I trowe They wolde han y-fed that folk{tail} bifore wilde fowesfow[l]es Ac god sent hem foode by fowles & by no fierse bestes In menyng that meke thyng{tail} ; myld þyng shold fede And who seith religious rightful men sholde fynde And lawful men to lif holy men liflode brynge And than wolde lordes and ladies ; be loth to agilte And to take of hir tenantz ; more þan treuthe wolde Founde they that freres ; wolde forsake hir almesse & bidden hem bere it ther it was borwed For we ben goddes fowles and abiden awey Til briddes brynge vs mete ; þat we sholde lyue by For han ye potage & payn ynouȝ & peny ale to drynke & a mess ther-myd ; of any manere kynde Ye had riȝt ynough ye religious ; and so youre rule me tolde Numquam dicit Iob onager cum herbam habuerit aut mugiet bos cum ante plenum presepe steterit Brutorum animalium natura te condempnat quia cum eis pabulum comune sufficiat ex adipe prodiit iniquitas tua & k i ¶ If lewed men knewe this latyn they wolde look{tail} wh{bar}o þey yeue & auise hem bifore ; a fyue dayes or sexe Er they amortiseden to monkes ; or chanones hir rentes Allas lordes & ladyes lewed counseil haue ye To yeue from youre hieres ; þat youre Aieles yow laste And yeueth to bidde for yow to swich þat ben riche And ben founded and feffed eke to bidde for other Who parfourneth this prophecie ; of þe peple þat now libbeth Dispersit dedit pauperibus & cetera If any peple parfourne this text it ar the pouree freres For þat þei beggen aboute ; in bieldyng{tail} they spene & on hem-self som ; & swich as ben hir laborers & of hem þat habbeth they taken & yeue hem þat ne habbeth ¶ Ac clerkes and knyghtes and comuners ; þat ben riche Fele of yow fareth as if I a forest hadde That were ful of faire trees and I fonded & caste How I myghte mo ther-Inne amonges hem sette Right so ye riche ye robeth that ben riche & helpeth hem þat helpeth yow ; & yeueth ther no nede is As who-so filled a toune ; of fressh Ryuere & went forth with þe water to wook{tail} with Themese Right so ye riche ; ye robbeth and fedeth Hem that han as ye han ; ye make at ese ¶ Ac religious that riche ben ; sholde rather feste beggers Than burgeys þat riche ben as the book{tail} techeth Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauperibus dare Item peccatoribus dare est demonibus Immulare Item Monache si indiges & accipis pocius das quam accipis ; si autem non eges & accipis rapis ; Porro non indiget Monachus si habeat quod nature sufficit & cetera ¶ For-thy I counseil alle cristen ; to confourme hem to charite For charite withouten chalangyng{tail} vnclargeth þe soule And many a prison fram purgatorie ; þorugh hir preyers deliuereth Ac ther is a defaute in the folk{tail} that þe feith kepeth Wher-fore folk is the fiebler ; and forme nouȝt of bileue In lussheburwe is a lither alay ; & þet loketh he like a ["??"]ng The marke of þat monoie is good ; ac the metal is fieble And so it fareth by som folk now ; þei han a faire speche Crown and cristendom the kynges merke of heuene Ac þe metal that is man soule with synne is foul allayed Bothe lettred and lewed beth now alayed with synne That no lif loueth other ; ne oure lord as it semeth For thorugh werre and wikked werkes & wedres vnresonable Wedir-wise shipmen & witty clerkes also Han no bileue to lifte ne to the lore of philophers ¶ Astranomyens also aldayal day in hir Arte faillen Þat whilom werned bifore what sholde falle after Shipman & shepherdes þat with ship & shepen wenten Wisten by þe walken what sholde bitide As of wedres & wyndes they warned men ofte Tilyers þat tilyden the erthe tolden hir maistres By þe seed þat they sewe what þey selle myghte & what to leue & what to lyue by ; þe lond was so trewe Now failleth the folk of the flood & of þe londe bothe Shepherdes & shipmen ; and so doo thise tilyers Neither þey konneth ne knoweth oon cours bifore an other ¶ Astronomyens also arn{curl} at hir wittes ende Of þat was calculed of the elements þe contrarie þey fynde Grammer þe grounde of al bigileth now children For is noon of þise newe clerkes who-so nymeth hede That kan versifie faire ne formelich enditen Is nouȝt oon amonges an houndreth þat an auctor kan construe Ne rede a lettre in any langage but latyn & englissh So now to any degre & but if gile be the maistre And flaterer his falawe vndir hym to fourmen Muche wondre me thynketh ; amonges vs alle Douctours of decrees ; & of diuinite maistres That sholde kenne & knowe alkynnes clergie And answer to argumentz & also to a quodlibet I dar nouȝt segge it for shame ; if swhich weren apposed Ther sholde faille of hir felosophie ; & in phisik bothe Wherfore I am afferde of folk of holy chirche Lest ther ouer huppen as other doon{curl} in offices & in houres Ac if they ouerhuppe as I hope nouȝt oure bileue suffiseth As clerkes in corpus Cristi feste syngen and reden That sola fides sufficit to saue with lewed peple ¶ And so many sarasens be saued eribes and Iuwes Allas but oure loresmen ; lyuen as they leren vs And for hir lyuyng{tail} þat lewed men beth þe lother god a-gulten For sarazenes han somwhat ; semyng to oure bileue For they loue and bileue in o person almyghty And we lered and lewed ; in o god byleueth And oon Makometh a man of mysbeleue Brouȝt sarasenes of surre ; & se in what manere This makometh was cristen & for he most nouȝt be a pope In-to surre he soughte & thurgh his sotile wittes Daunted a dowue & day and nyght hir fedde The corn that she cropped he caste it into his ere And if he among þe peple preched or in place come Than wold the coluer come to þe clerkes ere Menynge as after mete thus makometh is enchaunted & dide folk falle on knees ; for he swore in his prechyng That this coluer that come so come fro god of heuene As messenger to makometh ; men for to teche & thus thorugh wiles of his wit & a white dowue Makometh in mysbyleue men & wommen broughte That lered & lewed yet leeuen in hise lawes ¶ And sithen oure saueour suffred the sarazens so bigiled Thorugh a cristen clerk acursed in his soule & for drede of deth I dar nouȝt telle truthe How englissh clerkes a coluer feden that coueitise hatte And ben manere after Makometh þat no man vseth truthe ¶ Ancres and heremytes and monkes & freres Peren to apostles thurgh hir parfit lyuyng Wold neuere the faithful fader þat hise mynystres sholde Of tiraunts þat teneth trewe men taken any almes But doon as Antony dide domynyk and Fraunces Benet and bernard þe whiche hem first taughte To lyue by litel & in lowe houses by lele mennes almesse Grace sholde growe & be grene thurgh hir good lyuyng And folkes sholde fynde ; that ben in diuerse sekenesse The bettre for hir biddynges in body & in soule Hir preyers and hir penaunce ; to pees sholde brynge Alle that ben at debate ; and bedmen were trowe Petite & accipietis & cetera Salt saueth the catelle seggen thise wyues Vos estis sal terre & cetera The hedes of holy chirche and they holy were Crist calleth hem salt for cristen soules Et si sal euanuerit in quo salietur ¶ Ac fressh flessh other fisshe whan it salt failleth It is vnsauory for-sothe ; ysothe or ybake Or is mannes soule sothly ; that seeth no good ensample Of hem of holy chirche ; þat þe heigh wey sholde teche And be guyde and go bifore ; as a good baneour And hardy hem þat bihynde ben ; & yeue hem good euidence Elleue holy men alle the worlde torned In-to lele bileue the lightloker me thynketh Sholde alle manere men ; we haue so many maistres Preestes and prechoures ; and a pope aboue That goddes salt sholde be to saue mannes soule ¶ Alle was hethenesse som tyme Ingelond & Wales Til Gregory gerte clerkes to go & to preche Austyn at Caunterrbury cristned the kynge And thurgh miracles as men mowe ; rede al þe marche he torned To crist and to cristendom and cros to honoure And fulled folk fast ; that the feith taughte More thorugh miracles than thorugh muche prechyng As wel thorugh hise werkes as with hise holy wordes And seide hem what fullyng{tail} & feith was to mene ¶ Cloth þat cometh fro the weuyng is nouȝt comly to were Til it be fulled vnder foot or in fullyng stokkes Washen wel with water and with taselles cracched Ytronked and yteynted and vnder taillours hande And so it faireth by a barne þat born{curl} is of wombe Til it be cristned in Cristes name and confermed of þe bisshop It is hethen as to heueneward{tail} and helples to the soule ¶ Hethen is to mene after heth and vntilyed erthe As in wilde wildernesse wexeth wilde bestes Rude and vnresonable rennyng{tail} with-oute crepers ¶ Ye myngen wel how Mathew seiþ how a man made a fest He fedde with no venyson ; ne fesantz ybake But with fowles that from hym nolde but folwed his whistilng Ecce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt And with calues flessh he fedde þe folk þat he loued The calf bitokneth clennesse in hem þat kepeth lawes ¶ For as the cow thorugh kynde mylk þe calf norissheþ til an oxe So loue & leaute lele men susteneth And maydens and myld men mercie desiren Right as the Cow calf coueiteth swete mylke So don{curl} rightful men mercie and truthe ¶ Ac who beth þat excusen hem þat arn{curl} parsones & preestes That hedes of holy chirche ben þat han hir wille here With-oute trauaille the tithe deel þat trewe men biswynken They wol be wroth for I write thus ac to witnesse I-take Bothe Mathew and Mark and Memento domine dauid What pope or prelate now parfourneth that crist highte Ite in vniuersum mundum & predicate & cetera ¶ Allas þat men so longe on Makometh sholde bileue So many prelates to preche as þe pope maketh Of Nazareþ of Nynyue of Neptalyn and damask That þey ne went as crist wisseth ; siþ þei wol haue name To be pasteurs and preche the passion{curl} of Iesus & as hym-self seide to lyue & dye Bonus pastor animam suam popnitponit & cetera And seide it in saluacion{curl} of sarasens & other For cristen and vncristen crist seide to prechours Ite vos in veniam meam & cetera ¶ And siþ þat þise sarasenes scribes and Iewes Han a lippe of oure bileue the lightloker me thynketh They sholde torne who-so trauaille wolde to teche hem of þe Trinite Querite & inuenietis & cetera ¶ It is reuthe to rede how ; rightwis men lyueden How they defouled hir flessh ; forsook hir owne wille Fer fro kith & fro kynne yuel clothed yeden Badily ybedded no book but conscience Ne no richesse but þe rode to reioisse hem Inne Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri & cetera ¶ And tho was plente and pees amonges pouere & riche And now is ruthe to rede ; how þe rede noble Is reuerenced er the rode receyued for þe worthyer Than cristes cros ; þat ouercam deth & dedly synne ¶ And now is werre and wo ; & who-so why axeth For coueitise after cros þe crowne stant in golde Bothe riche and religious ; þat rode they honoure That in grotes is ygraue ; and in gold nobles For coueitise of that cros men of holy kirke Shul torne as templers did the tyme approcheþ faste Wite ye nouȝt wise men how tho men honoured More tresore than treuthe ; I dar nouȝt tell þe sothe Reson and rightful dome tho religious demed Right so ye clerkes for youre coueitise er longe Shal they demen dos ecclesie and your pride depose Deposuit potentes de sede ¶ If knyghthode and kynde wit and comune conscience Togideres loue lely leueth it wel ye bisshopes The lordship of londes ; for euere ye shul lese And lyuen as leuitici as our lord yow techeth Per primicias & diuicias ¶ Whan Constantyn of curteisie holy chirche endewed With londes and ledes ; lordshipes and rentes An aungel men herden an heigh at Rome crie Dos ecclesie this day hath ydronke venyme And tho þat han Peters power ; arn{curl} apoisoned alle ¶ A medicyne moot ther-to þat may amende prelates k iiijk iiij That sholden prey for the pees ; possession{curl} hem letteth Taketh hir londes ye lordes ; & letteth hem lyue by dismes If possession{curl} be poison{curl} and inparfit hem make Good were werewere to dischargen hem ; for holy chirche sake And purgen hem of poison ; er more peril falle ¶ If presthode were parfit the peple sholde amende That contrarien cristes lawe ; and cristendom dispise For all panymes preyeth & parfitly bileueth In the holy grete god ; & his grace they axen And make hir monoye to makometh hir messages to shewe Thus in a feith leeue þat folk{tail} & in a false mene And þat is ruthe for rightful men þat in þ reame wonyen And in a peril to the pope ; & prelates þat he maketh That bere bisshopes name ; in Bethlem & babiloyne That hippe aboute in EnlondEn[g]lond to haluwe mennes autres And crepe amonges curatours ; confessen ayein þe lawe Many man for cristes loue ; was martired in Romaigne Er ar any cristendom was knowe þer or any cros honoured Nolite mittere falcem in messem alienam Euery bisshop þat bereth cros by that he is holden Thorugh his prouynce to passe ; & to his peple shew hym Tellen hem & techen hem on the Trinite to bileue And feden hem with gostly foode ; & gyue þer it nedeth In domo mea non est panis necque vestimentum & ideo nolite constituere me in Regem & cetera ¶ Orias seith for swich þat sike men & fieble Inferte omnes decimas in orreum meum vt cibus in domo & cetera Ac we cristen creatures ; þat on the cros bileuen Arn{curl} ferme as in þe feith goddes forbode elles & han clerkes to kepen vs þerInne ; & hem {bar}at shal come after ¶ And Iewes lyuen in leal lawe oure lord wrote hym-selue In stoon for it stedfast is ; and stonde shul euere Dilige deum & proximum is parfit Iewen lawe And toke it Moises to teche men til messie come And on þat lawe they leeuen yet & leten it þe best & yet know they Crist & cristendom taughte For a parfit prophete that muche peple saued Of selcouthe sores they seyen it ofte Bothe of miracles & merueilles & how he men fested With two fisshes and fyue loues ; fyue thousand peple & by þat mangerie men myght wel se ; þat Messie he semed & whan he lifte vp lazar that leide was in graue And vnder stoon{curl} dede and stanke with stil vois he called Lazare veni foras & cetera Dide hym rise and rome right bifore the Iuwes Ac they seiden and sworen with sorcerie he wroughte And stodieden to stroyen hym ; & stroyden hem-selue & thorugh his pacience ; hir power to pure nouȝt he broughte Pacientes vincunt & cetera Danyel of his vndoynge deuyned & seide Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat cessibat vnxio vestra & cetera And yet wenen tho wrecches ; þat he were pseudo-propheta And that his lore be lesynges ; & lakken it alle And hopen that he be to come that shal hem releue Moyses eft or messie hir maistres yit deuyneth Ac sarazens and Pharisees scribes and Grekes And folk of oon feith þe fader god þei honouren And sithen þat the sarazens ; & also the Iuwes Konne the first clause of oure bileue Credo in deum patrem Prelates of cristen prouynces ; sholde preue if þei myghte Lere hem litlum and litlum & in IesumCristum filium eius & cetera Til they kouthe speke & spelle & in spiritum sanctum & cetera And reden it and recorden it with remissionem peccatorum Carnis resureccion{curl} & vitam eternam Amen ¶ Passus sexiodecimus Now faire falle yow quod{tail} I tho for your faire shewynge For haukyng loue that actif man euere I shal yow louye Ac yet I am in a were what charite is to mene ¶ It is a ful trie tree quod he trewely to telle Mercie is the more ther-of þe mydel stokke is ruthe The leues ben lele wordes ; the lawe of holy chirche The blosmes beth boxom speche ; and benigne lokynge Pacience hatte þe pouere tree ; & pure simple of hert And so thorugh god and goodmen ; groweth þe fruy charite ¶ I wolde trauaille quod{tail} I this tree to see twenty hundreth myle And to haue my fille of that fruyt ; forsake alle oþer saule Lord quod{tail} I if any wight wite whider oute it groweth It groweth in a gardyn quod{tail} he ; þat god made hym-selue Amyddes mannes body the more is of þat stokke Herte hatte the arber ; that it Inne groweth And liberum arbitrium haþe þe londe to ferme Vnder Piers the powmanp[l]owman ; to piken it & wede it ¶ Piers þe plowman{curl} quod I tho & al for pure Ioie That I herde nempne his name anon I showned after And lay long in a loue dreme ; & at þe last me thought That Piers the plowman al the place me shewed And bad me to toten on the tree ; on toppe & on rote With thre piles was it vnder-pight ; I parceyued it soone Piers quod I I prey the why stonde thise piles here For wyndes wiltow wite quod he to witen it fram fallynge Cum ceciderit Iustus non collidetur quia dominus supponit manum suam And in blowyng tyme abite þe floures but if þise piles helpe ¶ The world is a wikked wynde to hem þat willen treuthe Coueitise cometh of þat wynde ; & crepeth amonges þe leues And forfrete neigh the fruyt thorugh many faire seightes Than with þe first pile I palle hym down þat is The flessh is a felle wynde ; and in flouryng tyme Thorugh likyng and lustes so lowde gynneth blowe That it norissheth nyce sightes & som tyme wordes And wikked werkes ther-of wormes of synne And forbiteth the blosmes right so to þe bare leues ¶ Than sette I to the seconde pile sapiencia dei Þat is þe passion{curl} and the power of oure prince Iesu Thorugh preyers and penaunces ; goddes passion{curl} in mynde I saue it til it ripen and somdel Ifruyted Than fondeth the fende my fruyt to destroye With alle the whiles ; þat he kan ; & waggeth þe rote And casteth vp to the crope ; vnkynde neighbores Bakbiters breke cheste ; brawelers and chiders & leyth a laddar ther-to ; of lesynges ar the ronges & feccheth awey my floures som tyme afore bothe myn eighen Ac liberum arbitrium letteth hym som tyme That is lieutenant to loken it wel by leue of my-selue Videatis qui peccat in spiritum sanctum numquam remittetur & cetera hoc est idem qui peccat per liberum arbitrium non repung Ac whan the fende and the flessh forth with the world Manacen byhynde me ; my fruyt fortofor to fecche Than liberum arbitrium laccheth the first plante And palleth adoun{curl} the pouke purelich thurgh grace And help of the holy goost ; & thus haue I the maistrie ¶ Now faire falle yow piers quod{tail} I so faire ye descryue The power of thise postes and hir propre myght & I haue thoughtes a threve of this thre piles In what wode ther wexen & wher they growed For alle yliche longe þei ben non lasse than other & to my mynde as me thenketh on a more þey groweth & of oon gretnesse and grene of greyn they semen That is soth quod Piers ; it myght so bifallen I shal telle þe as stit ; what this tree hatte Þe grounde ther it groweth ; goodnesse it highte & I haue tolde þe what hiȝte þe tree þe Trinite it meneth And egrelich he loked on me and ther-fore I spared To axen hym any more ther-of ; & bad hym ful faire To discryue þe fruyt; þat so faire hangeth ¶ Her now bynethe quod he tho if I nede hadde Matrimoyne I myȝte neuen a moiste fruyt withal That continuance is ner the crop ; as calawey bastard Than bereth the crop kynde fruyt & clennest of al Maidenhed aungels Piers & rapest wol be ripe And swete with-outen swellyng soure worth it neuere Piers to pulle adoun an appel & he wolde & suffre me to assay what sauour it hadde to the crop & þan comsed it to crie And wagged widewhode and it wept after And whan it moeued matrimoignie it made a foule note That I hadde ruthe whan Piers rogged it gradde so rufully For elle as they dropped adoun the deuel was redy And gadered hem alle to-gideres ; boþe grete and smale Adam & Eue ; and Isaie the prophete Sampson and samuel & seint Iohan the Baptiste Bar hem forth bodily no body hem letted And maade of holy men his hord In limbo inferni Ther-as darknesse & drede is & þe deuel maistre And Piers for pure tene ; þat oon pile he laughte And hitte after hym happe how happe myght Filius by the fader wille ; and frenesse of To go robbe that ragman & reue the fruyt fram hym And thanne spak spiritus in Gabrielis mouthe To a maiden þat highte Marie a mek þing withalle That oon Iesus a Iustice son{curl} most Iouke in hir chambre Til plenitudo fullen comen were That Piers fruyt floured and fele to be ripe & thanne sholde Iesus Iuste þerfor by Iugement of armes Whethir sholde foonde the fruyt þe fende or hym-selue ¶ The maide myldelich tho the messenger graunted And seide hendilich to hym lo me his hand-maide For-to worchyn his wille with-outen any synne [illegible] ¶ And in the wombe of that wenche was he fourty wookes Til he wex a faunt thurgh hir flessh ; & of feightynge kouthe To haue yfoughte with the fende er ful tyme come And Piers the plowman parceyued plener tyme And lered hem lechecraft his lif fortofor to saue & þouȝ he wer wounded with his enemy to warisshe hym-selue & dide hym assay his surgerie on hem þat sike were Til he was parfit practisour if any peril felle And soughte oute the sike and synful bothe And salued sike and synful boþe blynde & crokede And comune wommen conuerted & to goode torned Bothe mesles and mute ; & in the menyson{curl} blody Oft he heled swich he ne helde for no maistrie Saue tho he leched lazar that hadde yley in graue Quadriduanus quelt quyk dide hym walke Ac as he made the maistrie mestus cepit esse And wept water with his eighen ; ther seen it manye Som that the sight seen ; seide that tyme That he was leche of lif ; and lord of heigh heuene Iewes Iangled ther-ayeins and Iugged lawes And seyde he wroughte with wichecraft ; & with þe deueles myght habes & cetera ¶ Than er ye clerkes quod ich and your children bothe And sathan youre saueour yow-self now ye witnessen ¶ For I haue saued youre-self seiþ crist and your sones after Youre bodies youre bestes ; And blynde men holpen And fedde yow with fisshes & with fyue loues And lafte baskettz ful of broke brede ; bere awey who-so wolde & mysseide þe Iewes manlich & manaced hem to bete And knokked on hem with a corde & cast adoun hir stalles That in chirche chaffareden and changeden any monoie And seide it in sight of hem alle so þat al herden I shal ouertorne this temple ; and adoun throwe And in thre dayes after ; edifie it newe And make it as muche other more in al manere poyntes As euere it was and as wide wherfore I hote yowe Of preyers & of parfitnesse ; this place þat ye callen [illegible] vocabitur & cetera ¶ Enuye and yuel wille was in the Iewes They casten & controueden to kulle hym whan þey myght Ech day after other ; ther tyme they aweyted Til it bifel on a friday ; a litel bifore Pasque The thoresday bifore ther he maide his maunde Sittyng{tail} at the soper he seide thise wordes I am sold thurgh oon of yow ; ye shul the tyme rewe That euere he his saueour solde for siluer or elles Iudas Iangled ther-ayeins ac Iesus hym tolde It was hym-self sothly and seide [illegible] Than wente forth ; þat wikked man ; & with the Iewes mette & tolde hem a tokne how to knowe with Iesus And which tokne to this day to muche is vsed That is kissyng{tail} and faire contenaunce ; & vnkynde wille And so was with Iewes tho ; that Iesus bitrayed Aue raby quod that ribaude and right to hym he yede And kist hym to be caughte þerby ; & kulled of the Iewes ¶ Than Iesus to Iudas and to the Iewes seide Falsnesse I fynde in thy faire speche And gile in thy gladde chere ; & galle is in þy laughynge Thow shalt be a Mirour to many men to deceyue Ac þe wors & þy wikkednesse shal worthe vp-on thy-selue Necesse est vt veniant sandalas[c]andala ve homini illi per quem & cetera Though I by treson be take ; at youre owne wille Suffreth myn{curl} apostles in pays & in pees gange On a Thoresday in thesternesse ; thus was he taken Thorugh Iudas and Iewes ; Iesus was his name That on the friday folowynge ; for mankynde sake Iusted in Ierusalem ; a Ioie to vs alle On cros vp-on Caluarie ; Crist tooke þe bataille Ayeins deth and þe deuel distroyed hir bother myghtes Deyed and deth fordide ; and day of nyght made ¶ And I awaked ther-with ; and wiped myn eighen And after Piers plowman ; pried & stared Estward and westward ; I waited after faste And yede forth as an ydiot in contre to aspye After Piers the plowman ; many a place I soughte And thanne mette I with a man on mydlenten sonday As hoor as an hawthorn{curl} and Abraham he highte I fraymed hym first ; fram whennes he come And of whennes he were ; & whider he thoughte ¶ I am feith quod this freek it falleth nouȝt to lye & of Abrahames hous ; an heraud of armes I seek after a segge ; þat I seigh oones A ful bold bachiler I knewe hym by his blasen ¶ What bereth þat barn{curl} quod I tho ; so blisse the bitide Thre leodes on oo lithe ; noon lenger than other Of on muchel and oon myghte ; & mageste in mesure & lengthe That oon doth al doth ; and ich doth by hym oone ¶ The first hath myght & mageste ; maker of alle thyng{tail} Pater is his name ; a persone by hym-selue The seconde is of that sire ; sothfastness filius Wardeyn of þat wit hath ; was euere with-oute gynnynge ¶ The thridde hatte the holy goost ; a persone by hymselue The light of al þat lif hath ; a londe & a watre Confortour of creatures ; of hym cometh alle blisse So thre bilongeth for a lordship cleymeth Might and a mene to knowe his owne myght Of hym & of his seruant{tail} ; & what þey suffre bothe So god þat gynnyng{tail} had neueree ; but þo hym good thoughte Sent forth his sone as for seruant that tyme To occupien hym here ; til issue were spronge That is childeren of charite ; & holy chirche þe moder ¶ Patriarkes and prophetes ; and apostles were þe children And Crist and cristendom ; and cristen holy cherche In menyng þat man moost on o god bileue And ther hym liked and loued in thre persones hym shewed And that it may be so and soth ; manhode it sheweth Wedlok and widowhode with virginite ynempned In tokne of the Trinite was taken out of a man Adam oure aller fader ; Eue was of hym-selue And the issu þat he hadde ; it was of hem bothe And either is otheres Ioie ; in thre sondry persones & in heuene and here ; oon singuler name And þus is mankynde or manhode ; of matrimoyne I-spronge ¶ Might is matrymoigne ; that multiplieth the erthe And bitokneth trewely telle it if I dorste He þat first fourmed al the fader of heuene ¶ The sone is if I dorste seye resemblaunt to the widowe Deus meus deus meus vt quid dereliquisti me That is creature wex creature to knowe what was bothe As widow with-oute wedlok was neuere yet seye NamoreNa more myghte god be man ; but if he mdermoder hadde So widow with-oute wedlok may nouȝt wel stande Ne matrimoigne with-oute moillerie ; is nouȝt muche to prayse Maledictus homo qui non requiri reliquitreliquit semen in Israel ¶ Thus in thre persones ; is parfitliche manhode That is a man and his make ; & moillerie chirdrenchi[l]dren & is nat but gendre of generacion{curl} bifore Iesu crist in heuene So is the fader forth with þe sone ; & fre wille of bothe Spiritus procedens a patre & filio & cetera Which is the holy goost of alle ; & alle is but oo god Thus in somer I hym seight ; as I satte in my porche I rose vp and reuerenced hym & right faire hym grette Thre men to my seight I made wel ateseat ese Wesshe hir feet and wiped hem ; & afterward þey eten Calues flessh and caak brede ; & knewe what I thought Ful trewe toknes bitwene vs ; is to telle whan me likeþ First he fonded me ; if I loued bettre Hym or Isaak myn heir the which he highte me kulle He wiste my wille by hym he wol me it alowe I am ful siker in soule ther-of ; and my soule bothe I circumcised my sons ; sith for his sake My-selue and my meyne ; and all þat mail were Bleden blood for that lordes loue ; & hope to blisse þe tyme Myn affiance and my feith is ferme in this bileue For hym-self bihighte to me ; & to myn issue bothe Londe and lordship and lif with-outen ende To me and to myn issue ; more yet he me graunted Mercy for oure mysdedes ; as many tyme as we axen Quam olim abrahe promisisti & semini eius & cetera ¶ And sith he sente me to seye ; I sholde do sacrifice And don hym worship with brede ; and with wyn bothe And called me foot of his feith ; his folk for to saue And defende hem fro the fende ; folk þat on me leuede Thus haue I ben his heraud ; here and in helle And conforted many careful þat after his comynge weyteden And thus I seek hym he seide ; for I herde seyn late Of a barn{curl} that baptized hym Iohan baptist was hir name That to patriarkes and prophetes and other peple in derknesse Seide that he seigh here ; that sholde saue vs alle Ecce Agnus dei & cetera ¶ I hadde wondre of his wordes ; and of hise wide clothes For in his bosom he bare a thyng{tail} þat he blissed euere And I loked on his lappe ; a lazar ley ther-Inne Among{tail} patriarkes and prophetes ; pleyinge togidres ¶ What awaitestow quod he ; and what woldestow haue ¶ I wolde wite quod I tho ; what is in youre lappe ¶ Loo quod he and lete me see ; lord mercie he seide This is a present of muche pris ; what pris shal it haue ¶ It is a prescious present quod he ; ac þe ponke it hath atached And me ther-mydde quod that man may no wedde vs quyte Ne no burn{curl} ben our borugh ; ne brynge vs fram his daunger Out of þat poukes penfold ne no maynprise may vs fecche Til he com þat I carpe of crist is his name That shal deliuere vs som day out of the deuels power And bettre wedde for vs legge ; than we ben alle worthy That is lif for lif or ligge I thus euere Lollyng{tail} in my lappe ; til swich a lord vs fecche ¶ Allas I seide þat synne so longe shal lette The myght of goddes mercye ; þat myght vs alle amende I wepte for hise wordes ; with þat saugh I another Rapelich renne forth the right wey he wente I affrayned hym first fram whennes he come &what he highte & whider he wolde wightliche he tolde ¶ Passus decimus septimus I am spes ; quod he a spye ; and spir after a knyght That took me a mandement ; vp-on the mount of synay To rule alle reames with I bere it write here Is it asseled I seide ; may men see the lettres Nay he seyde I seke hym þat hath the seal to kepe &þat is cros & cristendom and crist ther-on to hange And whan it is asseled so I woot wel the sothe That lucifers lordship last shal no lenger ¶ Lat see thy lettres quod I we myght the lawe knawe Than plukked he forth a patent a piece of an harde roche Wher-on were writen two wordes on this wise yglosed Dilige deum & proximum tuum & cetera ¶ This was the texte trewely ; I took ful goode yeme The glose was gloriouslich writen with a gilte penne De hijs duobus mandatis tota lex pendet & prophete ¶ Ben here alle thy lordes lawes quod{tail} I ye leue me wel he seide Who-so worcheth after this writ I wol vndertaken Shal neuere deuel hym dere ; ne deet in soule greue For though I sey it my-selue I haue saued with þis charme Of men and womman many score thousandes ¶ He seith seide the heraud I haue founded it ofte Lo here in my lappe that leued on that charme Iosue and Iudith and Iudas macabeus Ye & sexty thousand biside forth þat ben nauȝt seyn here ¶ Youre wordes ben wondirful quod I which of yow is trewest And lelest to leue on for lif & for soule Abraham seith that he seigh holy the Trinite Thre persons in parcelles departable fro other And alle thre but on god thus abraham me taughte & hath saued þat bileued so ; & sory for hir synne He kan nouȝt segge the somme ; & som arn in his lappe What nedeþ it thanne a newe lawe to bigynne Sith the first suffiseth to saluacion{curl} & to blisse ¶ And now bigynneth spes & spekeþ þat haþ aspied þe lawe & telleth nouȝt of the Trinite þat took hym hise lettres To bileue & louye in o lord almyghty And sith righ as my-self ; so louye alle þe peple ¶ The gome þat goth with a staf{tail} he semeth in gretter hele Þan he þat goth with two staues to sight of vs alle And right so by the rode ; reson me sheweth It is lighter to lewed men a lesson to knowe Than for to techen hem two ; & to harde to lere þe leste It is ful hard for any man on abraham bileeue And weylawey wors yit for to loue a shrewe It is lighter to leue in thre louely persones Than for to louye and lene as wel lorelles as leles ¶ Go thy gate quod I Spes so me god helpe Tho that lerneth thy lawe wel litel while vsen it And as we went thus in the wey wordyng{tail} togidres Than seigh we a samaritan{curl} sittynge on a Mule Redying{tail} ful rapelich þe right wey we yeden Comynge fro a contree that men called Ierico To a Ioustes in Ierusalem he chaced awey faste Bothe h thethe herand and hope and he mette atonesat ones Wher a man was wounded & with theues take He myghte neither steppe ne stonde ; ne stire foot ne handes Ne help hym-self sothly for semiuf he semed & as naked as a nedle ; and non help but hym-selue ¶ Feith had first sight of hym ; ac he fleigh on syde & nolde nouȝt neighen hym by nyne londes lengthe Hope cam hippyng after ; and had so ybosted How he with moises mandement ; had many men holpe Ac whan he had sight of þat segge a-side Dredfully by this day as dook doth fram the faucon{curl} Ac so soone so the samaritan{curl} had sight of þis lede He light adoun of lyard and lad hym in his hande And to the wye he wente ; hise woundes to biholde And parceyued by his pouse ; he was in peril to dye And but if he had recouerer the rather ; þat rise sholde he neuere With wyne & with oile ; his woundes he wasshed Enbawmed hym and bonde his hed ; & in his lappe hym layde & ladde hym so forth on liard to lex Cristi a graunge Wel sex Myl or seuene ; biside the newe Market Herberwed hym at an ostrie ; and to ostiler called & seyde haue kepe þis man ; til I come fro þe Iustes And lo here siluer he seide ; for salue to hise woundes And he took hym{curl} two pans ; to liflode as it were And seyde what he speneth more ; I make the goode here-after For I may nouȝt lette quod þat leode ; and hardliard he bistrode And raped hym to Ierusalem-ward ; the right wey to ride Feith folowed after faste ; and fonded to mete hym And spes spaklich hym spedde ; spede if he myghte To ouer-tak hym and talke til hym ; er þey to towne come ¶ And whan I seigh this I soiourned nouȝt ; but shope me to renne And suwed that samaritan ; þat was so ful of pitee And graunted hym to be his grome ; graunt mercy he seide Ac thy frende and felawe ; he seide ; thow fyndest me at nede ¶ And I thanked hym tho ; and sith I hym tolde How þat feith fleigh awey and spes his felawe bothe For sight of þe sorwful man ; þat robbed was with theues Haue hem excused quod he hir help may litel auaille May no medicyne on molde þe man to hele brynge Neither feith ne fyn hope so festred ben hise woundes With-out the blood of a barn{curl} ; born{curl} of a mayde And he be bathed in þat blood ; baptized as it were And than plastred with penaunce ; & passion{curl} of þat body He sholde stonde and steppe ; ac stalworth worth he neuere Til he haue eten al þe barn{curl} ; & his blood ydronke For went neuere wye in this world ; thurgh þat wildernesse That he ne was robbed or rifled ; roode he ther or yede Saue feith and his felawe spes and my-selue And thy-self now and swich as suwen oure werkes ¶ For outlawes in the wode ; and vndir bank lotieth And mowe ech man se ; and good marke take Who is bihynde & who bifore ; & who ben on hors For he halt hym hardier on hors þan he þat is on foot For he seigh me that samaritan{curl} am suwen forth{bar} and his falawe On my caple þat hatte Caro ; of mankynde I took it He was vnhardy that harlot ; & hidde hym Ac er thys day thre dayes ; I dar vndirtaken That he worth fettred þat felon{curl} ; faste with cheynes And neuere eft greue grome ; þat goth this ilke gate ¶ And than shal feith be forster here & in þis frith walke And kennen comune men ; that knowen nought þe contre Which is þe wey þat ich wente ; and wherforth to Ierusalem And hope þe hestilers man shal be þer þe man lith in helynge And al þat fieble and feynte be þat feith may nouȝt teche Hope shal lede hem forth ; with loue as his lettre telleth & hostel hem and hele ; thorugh holy chirche bileue Til I haue salue for al sike ; & than shal I retourne And come ayein by this contre and confort alle sike That craueth it or coueiteth{bar} it ; and crieth þerafter For the barn{curl} was born{curl} in Bethlem of a clene mayde That shal with his blood ; saue alle þat lyuen in feith And foloweth the techyng{tail} of holpe þat is his felawe ¶ A swete sire I seyde tho ; wher shal I bileue As feith and his felawe ; enformen me bothe In thre persones departable ; þat perpetual were euere And alle thre but on god ; thus Abraham me taughte And hope afterward ; he babbad me to louye On god with al my goode ; and alle gomes after Louye hem like my-self{tail} ac oure lord aboue alle ¶ After Abraham quod he ; that heraud of armes Sette faste thy feith ; and ferme bileue And as hope highte þe ; I hote þat thow louye Thyn euene-cristen euermore euene forth with þy selue And if conscience carpe ther-ayein ; or kynde wit either Or heretiks with argumentz ; thyn honde thow hym shewe For god is after an hande ; I-here now & knowe it{tail} ¶ The fader was first a fist with a fynger foldynge Til hym loued and liste ; to vnlosen his fynger & profre it forth as with a paume ; to what place it sholde The paume is purly the hand & profreth forth þe fyngers To mynstre and to make ; þat myght of hand knoweth & bitokneth trewely ; telle who-so it liketh The holy goost of heuene ; he is as the pavme Þe fyngers þat fre ben to folde & to serue Bitokneth soþely þe sone ; þat sent was til erthe That touched & tasted ; at techyng{tail} of the palme Seynte marie a mayde ; and mankynde laughte Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto natus & cetera The fader is thanne ; as a fust ; with fynger to touche Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum & cetera Al that the pavme parceyueth profitable to fele Thus arn{curl} they alle but oon ; as it an hand were And thre sondry sightes ; in oon shewynge Þe pavme for he putteth forth fyngers & þe fust bothe Right so redily reson{curl} it sheweth How he þat is holy goost ; sire and sone preueth & as the hand halt hard ; & al thyng{tail} faste Thorugh foure fyngers ; and a thombe ; forth with þe pavme Right so þe fader & þe sone ; & seynt spirit þe thridde Halt al the wide world with-Inne hem thre Bothe welkne and the wynde water and erthe Heuene & helle ; and alle that ther-Inne is Thus it is nedeth no man to trow non other That thre þinges bilongeth in oure lord of heuene And arn{curl} sereples by hem-self a-sondre were þey neuere NamoreNa more than myn hande may moeue ; with-oute my fyngres ¶ And as my fust is ful hande yfolde togidres So is the fader a ful god fourmour and shapeour Tu fra fabricatorfabricator omnium & cetera Al thy myght myd hym is in makyng{tail} of al thyng ¶ The fyngres fourmen a fulhandeful hande ; to purtrey or paynte Keruyng{tail} and compassyng{tail} as craft of the fyngres Right so is the sone ; the science of the fader And ful god as is the fader no fiebler ne no better ¶ The pavme is purlich the hande ; haþ power by him-selue Otherwise þan the writhen fust or werkmanship of fyngers For the pavme hath power to putte out alle the ioyntes & to vnfolde the folden fust ; as the fyngres wille So is the holy goost god neither gretter ne lasse Than is the sire & þe sone and in the same myghte And alle arn{curl} they but o god as my hande & myn fyngres Vnfolden or folden my fust and my fust and my pavme Alle is but oon hande euene in the myddes For þe fyngres that folde sholde ; & þe fust make For peyne of the pavme ; power hem failleth To clucche or to clawe ; to clippe or to holde Were the mydel of myn honde ; ymaymed or I-perisshed I shole receyue right nouȝt of that I reche myghte Ac though myn thombe and my fyngres bothe were to-shulle And the mydel of myn hand ; with-out male-ese In many kynnes maners I myght my-selue helpe Bothe moeue and amende ; though al my fyngers oke By this skyl me thynketh I se an euidence That who-so synneth in seint spirit ; assoilled worth he neuere Neither here ne elles-where ; as I herde telle Qui peccat in spiritu sancto & cetera For he prikeþ god as in the pavme þat peccat in spiritu sancto For god the fader is as a fust ; þe sone is as þe fynger The holy goost of heuene ; is as it were þe pavme And who-so synneth in seint spirit ; it semeþ þat he greueth God that he gripeth with and wolde ; his grace quenche ¶ And to a torche or a tapure the trinite is ylikned As wax and a weke were twyned togidres And than a fire flaumynge forth oute of bothe And as wax and weke ; and hote fir togidres Fostren forth a flaumbe and a faire leye So doth the sire and the sone and also spiritus sanctus Fostren forth amonges folk{tail} loue & bileue That alkynnes cristen clenseþ of synne And as thow seest some tyme ; sodeynlich a torche The blase ther-of yblowe out yet brenneth the weke With-oute leye or lighte þat þe smacche brenneth So is þe holy goost god and grace with-oute mercye To alle vnkynde creatures ; þat coueite to destroye Leel loue oþer lif{tail} that our lord shapte And as a glowynge glede ; ne gladeþ nouȝt thise werkmen That worchen and waken in wyntres nyghtes As doþ a kex or a candel þat kaught haþ fir & blaseth NamoreNa more doþ sire ne sone ne seint spirit togidres Graunte no grace ne foryeuenesse of synnes Til the holy goost gynne to blowe & to blase So that þe holy goost gloweth but as a glede Til that lele loue ligge on hym and blaowebl[o]we And than flammeth he as fire ; on pater & on filius And melteth hir myght to mercye as men may se in wynter Isokils in euese ; thorugh hete of the sonne Melteth in a mynut{tail} while to myst & to water So grace of the holy goost ; þe grete myght of þe Trinite Melteth to mercye ; to merciable and to non other ¶ And as wax with-oute more ; on a warme glede Wol brennen and blasen ; be þey togidres & solacen hem þat may se ; þat sitten in derkenesse So wol þe fadir foryeue folk of mylde hertes That rufullich repenten and restitucion{curl} make In as muche as they mowen amenden & payen And if it suffiseth nouȝt for assetz in swich wille deyeth Mercy for his mekenesse & make goode þe remanaunt And as þe weke and fir wol make a faire flaumbe For to murthe men with ; þat in merke sitten So wol crist of his curteisie & men crie hem mercye Bothe foryme and for-yet and yet bidde for vs To the fader of heuene ; for-yeueness to haue ¶ Ac hewe fire at a flynt four hundreth wynter But thow haue towe to take it with tondre or breches Al thy labour is loost & al thy longe trauaille For may no fir flaumbe ; make faille it his kynde So is þe holy goost god And grace with-oute mercy To alle vnkynde creatures crist hym-self witnesseth Amen dico vobis nescio vos Be vnkynde to thyn euen-cristne ; & al þat þou kanst bidden Delen or do penaunce ; day & nyght euere & purchace alle þe pardon{curl} ; of pampilon{curl} & Rome And indulgences ynowe ; & be ingratis to þy kynde The holy goost hereth the nouȝt ne helpe may þe by reson For vnkyndenesse quencheth hym þer he kan nouȝt shyne Ne brenne brennebrenne ne blase clere but blowyng{tail} of vnkyndnesse Poule the apostle preueth where I lye Si linguis hominibi hominumhominum loquar & cetera For-þy be war ye wise men ; þat with the world deleth That riche ben and reson knoweth ; ruleth wel youre soule Beth nouȝt vnkynde I counseille ; yow to youre euen-cristne For many of yow riche men ; by my soule men telleth Ye brenne but ye blase nouȝt ; þat is a blynde bekne Non omnis qui dicit domine domine & cetera Diues deyed dampned ; for his vnkyndenesse Of his mete and monoie to men þat it neded Ech a riche I rede rewarde ; at hym take And yiueth youre goode ; to þat god þat grace of ariseth For they þat ben vnkynde ; to hise hope I non other But they shul dwelle ; ther diues is dayes withoute ende Thus is vnkyndenesse ; the contrarie ; þat quencheþ as it were The grace of the holy goost ; goddes owne kynde For þat kynde doth vnkynde ; fordoth as thise cursed theues Vnkynde cristen men ; for coueitise and enuye Sleeth a man for his moebles wiþ mouþe or with hondes For that the holy goost hath to kepe tho harlotes destroieth The which is lif and loue ; the leye of mannes bodye For euery manere good man ; may be likned to a torche Or elles to a taper to reuerence the Trinite And who-so morthereþ a gode man ; me þynkeþ by myn Inwit He fordoth the leuest light ; that our lord loueth ¶ Ac yet in many mo maneres ; men offende þe holy goost Ac this is the worst wise ; þat any wight myghte Synnen ayein seint spirit ; assenten to destroye For coueitise of any þyng{tail} þat crist dere boughte That wikkedlich and wilfulliche wold mercye anientice ¶ Innocence is next god ; and nyght & day it crieth Vengeaunce vengeaunce ; foryiue be it neuere That shent vs and shad our blood forshapt vs as it were Vindica sanguinem Iustorum Thus vengeaunce vengeaunce ; verray charite asketh And sith holy chirche and charite ; chargeþ þis so sore Leue I neuere þat our lord wol loue ; þat charite lakkeþ Ne haue pite ; for any preyer ; þer that he pleyneth ¶ I pose I hadde synned so and shold now deye And now am sory þat I so þe seint spirit agulte Confesse me and crie his grace god þat al made And myldelich his mercy aske ; mygh I nouȝt be saued ¶ Yis seide þe samaritan{curl} so wel thow myght repente Þat rightwisnesse thorugh repentaunce to ruthe might trane Ac it is but seldom seye that sothnesse bereth witnesse Any creature þat is coupable a-fore a kynges Iustice Be ransoned for his repentaunce ; þeral reson{curl} hym dampned For þer that partie pursueth ; the peple is so huge That þe kyng{tail} may do no mercie ; til boþ men acorde And either haue equite ; as holy writ telleth Numquam dimitatur peccatum douet & cetera Thus it fareth by swich folk{tail} þat falsly al hir lyues Yuel lyuen and leten nouȝt ; til lif hem forsake Good hope that helpe sholde to wanhope tourneth Nought of non{curl} power of god þat he ne is myghtful To amende al that amys is ; and his mercye gretter Than al oure wikked werkes ; as holy writ telleth Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius & cetera Ac er his rightfulnesse to ruthe torne som restitucion{curl} bihoueþ His sorwe is satisfaccion{curl} for hym þat may nouȝt paie ¶ Thre thynges ther ben þat don a man by strengthe FortoFor to fleen his owne hous ; as holy writ sheweth That oon is a wikked wif{tail} þat wol nouȝt be chastied Hire feere flyeth fro hir ; for fere of hir tonge & if his hous be vnhilled ; & reyne in his bedde He sekeþ al aboute ; til he ligge drye & whan smoke or smolder smyteth in hise eighen Til he be blereighed or blynde ; and hoos in þe throte Coughed & curseþ þat crist yeue hym sorwe That shold brynge Inne better wode or blowe it til it brende ¶ This þre that I telle of ; be thus to vnderstonde Þe wif is our wikked flessh þat wol nouȝt be chastied For kynde cleueth on hym euere; to contrarie þe soule And þough it falle it fynt skilles þat froltee is made & þat is lightly foryeuen & foryeten bothe To man that mercye asketh & amende thynketh The reyne that reyneth ther we reste sholde Ben siknesse and sorwes ; that we suffren ofte As poule the apostle ; to the peple taughte Virtus in infirmitate perficitur & cetera And though þat men make muche doel in hir Angre And inpacient in hir penaunce ; pure reson{curl} knoweth That they han cause to contrarie by kynde of hir siknesse And lightlich oure lord at hir lyues ende Hat mercye on swich men ; þat so yuel may suffre ¶ Ac the smoke and the smolder ; that smyt in oure eighen Is coueitise ; and vnkyndenesse ; þat quencheþ goddes mercy For vnkyndnesse is the contrarie ; of alkynnes reson{curl} For ther nys sik{tail} ne sory ne non{curl} so muche wrecche That he ne may louye and hym like & lene of his herte Good wille and good word bothe wissen & willen Alle manere men mercy and foryeuenesse And loue hem liche hym-self ; and his lif amende I may no lenger lette quod he ; and hard priked And went a-wey as wynde ; and þerwith I awaked ¶ Passus decimus Octauus Wolleward and wete-shoed ; wente I forth after & as a reccheles ; renke þat of no wo reccheth And yede forth like a lorel al my lif tyme Til I wex wery of þe world{tail} & wilned efte to slepe & lened me to a lenten ; and longe tyme I slepte And of cristes passion{curl} and penaunce þe peple þat of taughte Reste me ther and rutte fast til Ramis palmarum Of gerles and of Gloria laus greth me dremed And how Ozanna by orgonye olde folk songen ¶ On semblable to þe samaritan{curl} & som-del to piers þe plowman Barfoot and on an Assebak{tail} boteles gan prike With-oute spores oþer sper ; spaklich he loked As is the kynde of knyght ; þat cometh to be dubbed To geten hym gilte spores ; and galoches ycouped Thanne was feith in a fenestre and cried A fili dauid As doth an heraud of armes ; whan aunterous comeþ to Iustes Olde Iewes of Ierusalem for Ioie they songen Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini & cetera Than I freyned at feith ; what al þat fare bymente And who shulde Iuste in Ierusalem Iesus he seyde And fecche þat the fende cleymeþ Piers fruye þe plowman ¶ Is piers in þis place quod I ; and he preynte on me This Iesus of his gentrice ; wol Iuste in Piers armes In his helme & in his haubergeon humana natura That crist be nouȝt knowe here fore consummatus est In Piers paltok{tail} þe plowman þis priker shal aride For no dynte shal hym dere as in deitate patris Who shal Iuste with Iesus quod I Iewes and scribes ¶ Ney quod he the foule fende and fals dom & dethe Deeth seith he shal for-do ; and adoun brynge Al that lyueth or loketh ; in londe or in water Lif seith that he lyeth and leyth his lif to wedde That for al that deth kan do with-in thre dayes To walke and fecche fro þe fend Piers fruyt plowman{curl} And legge it ther hym likeþ ; and lucifer bynde And for to bete & a-doun brynge ; bale & deth for euere O mors ero mors tua & cetera ¶ Thanne cam Pilatus with peple sedens pro tribunali To se how doughtilich deþ shold do ; & deme hire botheres riȝt The Iewes and the Iustices ; ayeins Iesu þey were & al þe Court of hym cried Crucifige sharpe Tho putte hym forþ a pilour bifor pilat & seyde This Iesus of oure Iewes temple Iaped & dispised To for-don it on a day ; and in thre dayes after Edifie iftit eft newe here stant he þat seide it & yet maken it as muche ; in alle manere poyntes Boþe as longe & as large by loft & by grounde Crucifige quod a cacchepolle ; I warant hym a wicche Tolle tolle quod another ; & took of kene thornes And bigan of kene thorn{curl} a gerland to make And sette it soor on his hed ; and seide in enuye Aue raby quod that ribaude ; and threwe redis at hym Nayled hym with thre nayles ; naked on the rode And poyson on a pole ; they putte vp to hise lippes And bede hym drynke his deth yuel hise dayes were doone And if þat thow subtile be helpe now thy-seluen If thow be crist and kynges sone ; come down of the rode Than shul we leue þat lif þe loueth & wol nouȝt lete þe deye Consumatam est quod crist and comsed fortofor to swowe Pitouslich and pale as a prison that deyeth The lord of lif & of light þo layde hise eighen togidres The day for drede ; with-drowe ; and derke bigan þe sonne The walk wagged & clef & al the world quaued Dede men for that dyn come out of depe graues And tolde why þat tempeste ; so longe tyme dured For a bitter bataille ; the dede body seide Lif & deþ in this derknesse here on fordoþ hir other Shal no wight wite witerly who shal haue þe maistrie Er sonday aboute sonne risyng{tail} and sank{tail} with þat til erthe Som saide that he was goddes sone ; þat so faire deyed{tail} Vere filius dei erat iste & cetera And som seide he was a wicche ; goode is þat we assaye Where he be dede ; or nouȝt dede ; doun er he be taken ¶ Two theues also tholed deth þat tyme Vp-on a cros biside crist ; so was the comune lawe And cacchepolle cam forth & craked bothe hise legges And hir armes after for either of tho theues Ac was no boy so bolde ; goddes body to touche For he was knyght & kynges sone ; kynde for-yaf þat tyme That no harlot were so hardy to ley hande vp-on hym ¶ Ac ther come forþ a knyght with a kene spere I-grounde Hight Longeus as the lettre telleth ; & longe had lore his sight Bifore pilat and other peple ; in the place he houed Maugre his many tethe he was made þat tyme To take þe spere in hise honde & Iusten with Iesus For alle þei were vnhardy ; þat houed on hors & stoode To touchen hym or tasten hym or taken hym doun{curl} of rode But this blynde bachiler þanne bar hym thurgh þe herte The blood spronge doun by the spere & vnsperred hise eighen Than fel the knyght vp-on knees & cried hym mercye Ayeins my wille it was lord to wound yow so soore He seighed and seide ; sore it me athynketh{bar} For þe dede that I haue doon ; I do me in your grace Haue on me reuthe rightful Iesu & riȝt wiþ þat he wepte ¶ Than gan feith felly þe fals Iewes despise Called hem caytyues ; acorsed for euere For this foule vilanie ; vengeaunce to yow alle To do þe blynde bete hym ybounde ; it was a boys conseil Cursed caytif knyghthode was it neuere To mysdo a dede body by day or by nyght The gree yet hath he geten for al his grete wounde ¶ For youre champion{curl} chiualer chief knyght of yow alle Yelt hym recreaunt rennyng{tail} right at Iesus wille Be þis derknesse I do his deth worth auenged & þe lordeynes han I lost ; for lif shal haue þe maistrie And youre fraunchise þat fre was ; fallen is in thraldom{curl} And ye clerkes & your children ; cheue shul ye neuere Ne haue lordship in honde ne no londe tilye But alle bareyn be and vsurie vsen Which is lif þat oure lord in alle lawes acorseth Now youre goode dayes ern{curl} don{curl} as danyel prophecied Whan crist cam hir kyngdom ; & crowne sholde cesse Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum cessabit vnxio vestra ¶ What for feer of þis ferly ; and of the fals Iewes I drow me in derknesse ; to descendit ad inferna And ther I saugh soþely secundum scripturas Oute of þe west cost a wenche as me thoughte Cam walkyng{tail} in þe wey to helleward she loked{tail} Mercy hight that maide ; a meke þing{tail} with-alle A ful benigne burd and buxom of speche ¶ Hir suster as it semed ; cam sothly walkyng{tail} Euen out of þe Est ; and westward she loked A ful comly creature ; truthe she highte For þe virtue þat hir folowed ; a-fered was she neuere Whan thise maydens metter mercye and truthe Either axed other of þis grete wondre And of þe dyn and þe derknesse ; & how þe day rowed And which a light and a leme lay bifore helle Ich haue ferly of this fare ; in feiþ seide truthe And am wyndyng{tail} to wite ; what þis wondre meneth ¶ Haue no merueille ; quod mercy ; murthe it bitokneth A maiden þat hatte Marie ; & moder withoute felyng{tail} Of any kynnes creature ; conceyued thurgh speche And grace of þe holy goost ; wex grete with childe Withoute wombe in this world she brouȝte hym And þat my tale be trewe ; I take god to witnesse Sith þis barn{curl} was bore ; ben thritty wynter passed Which deyed and tholed þis day aboute mydday And þat is cause of þis clipse ; þat closeþ now þe sonne In menyng{tail} þat man shal fro ; merknesse be drawe The while þis light and þis leme ; shal lucifer blynde For patriarkes & prophetes ; han preched here-of often That man shal man saue ; thurgh a maydens helpe & þat was tynt thurgh tree ; tree shal it wynne And þat deth down brouȝt deth shal releue ¶ That þou tellest quod truthe ; it is but a tale of waltrot For Adam and Eue and Abraham with other Patriarkes and prophetes ; þat in peyne liggen Leue þou neuere þat yon light a-lofte shal brynge Ne heue hem out of helle ; holde thy tonge mercy It is but a trufle þat þou tellest ; I truþe woot þe soth For þat is oones in helle ; out comth it neuere Iob the prophete patriarke repreueth thy sawes Quia in inferno nulla est redem redempcioredempcio ¶ Than mercye ful mydly ; mouthed thise wordes Thurgh experience quod she ; I hope þey shal be saued For venym fordoth benym ; and þat I preue by reson{curl} For of al venym foulest is the scorpion{curl} May no medicyne helpe þe place þat he styngeþ Til he be deþ and do ther-do ; the yuel he destroyeth The first venym most þurgh venym of hym-selue So shal this deth for-do I dar my lif legge Al þat deth dide firsty thorugh the deuel entisynge And right as thorugh gile ; man was bigiled So shal grace þat bigan ; make a goode ende Ars vt artem falleret ¶ Now suffre we seide treuthe I see as me thynketh Out of the nyppe of the North ; nouȝt ful fer hennes Rightwisnesse cam rennyng{tail} reste we þe while For he woot more þan he wewe he was or we bothe ¶ That is soth seid mercy ; and I se here bisouthe Where pees cometh ; pleyinge in pacience yclothed Loue hath coueited hir longe ; leue I non{curl} other But he sent hir som lettre ; what this light bymeneth{bar} That ouerhoueþ helle thus ; she vs shal telle ¶ Whan pees in pacience yclothed approched neigh hem tweyne Rightwisnesse hem reuerenced ; for hir riche clothynge And preyed pees to telle hir ; to what place she wolde And in hir gay garmentz whom she grete thoughte ¶ My wille is to wonde quod she ; & welcome hem alle That many day myght nouȝt se ; for merkenesse of synne Adam and Eue and other mo in helle Moises & many mo mercy shul haue I shal daunce ther-to do thow so suster For Iesus Iusted wel Ioie bigynneth dawe Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus & ad matutinum leticia ¶ Loue þat is my lemman ; swich lettres me sente Þat mercy my suster and I mankynd shul saue And þat god hath foryeuen ; & graunted me pees & mercie To be mannes maynpernour for euere more after Lo here the patent quod pees In pace in idipsum And that this dede shal dure dormiam & requiescam ¶ What rauestow quod{tail} rightwisnesse ; or þou art riȝt dronke Leuestow þat yonde light ; vnlouke myghte helle And saue mannes soule ; suster wene it neuere at þe bigynnyng at þe bigynnyng At the begynnyng{tail} god gaf the dome hym-self{tail} That Adam and Eue and alle þat hem sewed Sholde deye doun right and dwelle in pyne after If that they touched a tree ; & þe fruyt eten Adam afterward ayeins hise defense Freet of that fruyt ; and forsook{tail} as it were The loue of oure lord and his lore bothe And folowed þat the fende taughte and hise felawes wille Ayeins reson and rightwisnesse ; recorde thus with treuthe That hir peyne be perpetuel ; & no preyer hem helpe For-thy lat hem chewe as þey chese ; & chide we nouȝt suster For it is boteles bale ; the bit that they eten ¶ And shal preue it quod pees hir peyne moot haue ende And wo in-to wel mowe wende at the laste For bad þey wist of no wo wel had þey nouȝt knowen For no wight woot what wel is ; þat neuere wo suffred Ne what is hote hunger ; þat had neuere defaute If no nyght ne were ; no man as I a lyue Sholde wite witerly ; what day is to mene Sholde neuere right riche man þat lyueth in reste & ese Wite what wo is ne were þe deth of kynde So god that bigan al of his goode wille Bicam man of a mayde ; mankynde to saue And suffred to be selde to se þe sorwe of deyinge The which vnknytteth al care ; & comsyng{tail} is of reste For til modicum mette with vs I may it wel auowe Woot no wight as I wene ; what is ynought to mene For-þi god of his goodnesse ; þe first gome Adam Sette hym in solace ; and in souereyn murthe And sith he suffred hym synne ; sorwe to fele To wite what wel was ; kyndelich to knowe it And after god graunted hym-self ; & took Adammes kynde To wite what he hath suffred in the sondrie place Bothe in heuene & in erthe ; now til helle he thynketh To wite what al wo is ; þat woot of al Ioie So it shal fare by this folk{tail} hir foly & hir synne Shal lere hem what langour is & blisse withoute ende Woot no wight what werre is ther þat pees regneth Ne what is witerly wel til weylawey hym teche Than was ther a wight with two brode eighen Book hight that beaupere ; a bolde man of speche By goddes body quod this book I wol bere witnesse That tho þis barn{curl} was bore ; ther blased a sterre That al the wise ; of this world ; in o wit acorden That swich a barn{curl} was bore ; in Bethlem Citee That mannes soule sholde saue ; & synne destroye And alle þe elementz quod the book{tail} here-of bereth witnesse Þat he was god þat alle wrought ; þe walkne first shewed Tho that weren in heuene token stella comatA And tenteden hir as a torche ; to reuerence his burthe The light folowed þe lord in-to þe lowe erthe ¶ That water witnesseþ þat he was god ; for he went on it Peter þe apostle parceyued his gate & as he went on the water ; wel hym knewe & seyde Iube me venire ad te super aquas And lo how þe sonne gan louke hir light in hir-selue Whan she seigh hym suffre þat sonne & se made ¶ The erthe for heuynesse that he wolde suffre Quaked as quyk thyng{tail} and al biquassht þe roche Lo helle myght nouȝt holde ; but opned þo god tholed And lete out simondes to seen hym hange on rode And now shal lucifer leue it though hym loth thynke For gigas the geant ; with a gynne engyned To breke an to bete ; adown þat ben ayenis Iesus & I book wol be brente but Iesus rise to lyue In alle myghtes of man ; & his moder gladye & confort alle kynne ; and out of care brynge And alle þe Iewen Ioie ; vnioignen & vnloken & but they reuerencen his rode ; & his resurreccion And leuen on a new lawe ; be lost lif & soule And þis I book witnesse ; & yet muche more ¶ Suffre we seide truthe I here & se bothe How a spirit speketh to helle ; & bit vnsperre þe yates Atollite portas & cetera A vois loude in that light ; to lucifer crieth Prynces of þis place ; vnpynneþ & vnlouketh For here cometh with crowne ; þat kyng{tail} is of glorie ¶ Than siked sathan ; and seide to hem alle Swich a light ayeins oure leue ; lazar it fette Car and combraunce is come ; to vs alle If this kyng{tail} com Inne ; mankynde wol he fecche & lede it ther hym liketh ; and lightlich me bynde Patriarkes and prophetes ; han parled here-of longe Þat swich a lord and a light ; sholde lede hem alle hennes ¶ Listneth quod lucifer ; for I this lord knowe Bothe this lord and this light ; is longe ago I knewe May no deth hym dere ; ne no deueles queyntise And where he wol is his wey ; ac war hym of þe periles If he reueth me my right ; he robbeth me by maistremaistr[i]e For by right and reson{curl} þo renkes þat ben here Body and soule ben myn boþe goode & ille If Adam ete the appul ; alle sholde deye And dwelle with vs deuels ; þis þretyng{tail} he made And he þat sothnesse is seide þise wordes And sithen is yseisd many hundreþ wynter I leue that lawe nyl nouȝt ; lete hym þe leste ¶ That is soþ seide sathan but I me sore drede For thow gete hem with gile ; & his gardyn breke And in semblaunce ; of a serpent satte on þ appultre And eggest hem to ete ; Eue by hir-selue And toldest hir a tale ; of treson wer þe wordes & so þou haddest hem oute ; and hider at the laste It is nouȝt graythely geten ; þer gile is the rote For god wol nouȝt be bigiled ; quod{tail} Gobelyn ne byIaped We haue ne trewe title to hem ; for thurgh treson were þey dampned Certes I drede me quod{tail} þis deuel ; list treuþe wol hem fecche Out of oure pouste and leden hem hennes Thise thritty wynter ; as I wene haþ he gon{curl} & preched I haue assoiled hym with synne ; & som tyme yasked Where he were god or goddessonegoddes sone ; he gaf me short answere & þus haþ he trolled forth thise two & thritty winter And whan I seigh it was so ; slepyng{tail} I wente To warne pilates wif ; what doone man was Iesus For Iewes hateden hym ; and han doon{curl} hym to deth I wolde haue longed his lif ; for I leued if he deyed That his soule wolde suffre ; no synne in his sight For þe body while it on bones yede ; aboute was euere To saue men fro synne ; if hem-self wolde & now I se wher a soule cometh ; hiderward saillyng{tail} With glorie & with grete light ; god it is I woot wel I rede we fle quod{tail} he ; fast alle hennes For vs were bettre nouȝt be ; than biden his sight For thy lesynges lucifer ; lost is al oure preye First thorugh þe we fellen fro heuen so heigh For we leued thy lesynges ; ylore we haue Adam & alle oure lordship I leue a londe & a water Nunc princeps huius mundi eicietur foras ¶ Eft þe light bad ynlonken and lucifer answered What lord artow quod lucifer quis est iste Rex glorie the light soone seide And lord of myght ; & of mayn & al manere vertues Dukes of thys dym place ; anon{curl} vndo þise yates That Crist may come Inne ; þe kynges soone of heuene And with þat breeth helle brake ; with belial berres For any wy or warde wide vpne þe yates Patriarkes & prophetes populus in tenebris Songen seint Iohan songe Ecce Agnus dei Lucifer loke ne myght ; so light hym ableynte & þo that oure lord loued in-to his lighte he laughte And seide to sathan lo here my soule to amendes For alle synful soules to saue þo þat ben worthy Myn þei be and of me I may þe bet hem cleyme Alle-þough reson{curl} recorde ; and right of my-selue That of þey ete the Appul ; alle sholde deye I bihighte hem nouȝt here ; helle for euere For þe dede þat they dide ; thy deceyte it made With gile thow hem gete ; agayn alle reson{curl} For in my place Paradis ; in persone of an addre Falslich thow fettest ; thyng{tail} that I loued ¶ Thus ylike a lusarde ; with{bar} a lady visage Theflich thow me robdest ; the old lawe graunteth Dentem pro dente & oculum pro oculo Ergo soule shal soule quite ; and synne to synne wende And al that man hat mysdo ; I man wol amende Membre for membre ; by þe old lawe was amendes And lif for lif also ; & by the lawe I clayme it Adam and al his issue at my wille here-after & þat deth in hem fordide ; my deth shal releue And both quyke and quyte ; þat queynt was þurgh synne And þat grace gile destroye ; gode feith it asketh So loue I nouȝt lucifer Ayein þe lawe I fecche hem But by reson and right ; ransoun{curl} here my lieges Non veni soluere legem set adimplere Thow fettest myn{curl} in my place ; ayeins al reson{curl} Falslich and felonliche ; good feith me it taughte To recouere hem thurgh ranson{curl} ; and by no reson{curl} elles So that thurgh gile thow gete ; thurgh grace it is wonne Thow lucifer in liknesse of a luther adder Getedest by gile ; tho that god loued Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit And in liknesse of a leode ; þat lord am of heuene Graciouslich þy gile haue I quyt ; go gile ayein gile & as Adam and alle thurgh a tree deyden Adam and alle thurgh a tree shul torne ayein to lyue And gile is bigiled and in his gile fallen ¶ Now bigynneth thy gile ; ayein the to torne And my grace to growe ; ay gretter and widder The bitternesse þat þou browe ; broke it þy-seluen That art doctour of deth ; drynke þat thow madest For I that am lord of lif ; loue is my drynke & for þat drynk{tail} to-day I deyed vp-on erthe I faughte so me thristeth yit ; for mannes soule sake May no drynk me moiste ne my thurst slake Til the vendage falle in the vaille of Iosaphat That I drynke right ripe muste resurrecio mortuorum & þan shal I com as kyng{tail} crowned with Aungels And haue oute of helle ; alle mannes soules Fendes and fendkynnes ; bifore me shul stande And be at my biddyng{tail} where-so euere me liketh And to be merciable to man my kynde it askeþ For we ben brethren of blood ; but nouȝt in baptesme alle Ac alle þat beþ myn{curl} hole brethren in blode ; & in baptesme Shul nouȝt be dampned to the deþ ; þat is with-outen ende ¶ Tibi soli peccaui & cetera It is nouȝt vsed in erthe ; to hangen a felon Ofter þan ones ; though he were a traitour & yf þe kyng{tail} in that kyngdom come in þat tyme Ther þe felon thole sholde deth or other wise Lawe wolde he yeue hym lyue ; if he loked on hym And I þat am kyng{tail} of kynges ; shal come swich a tyme Wher doome to þe deth ; dampneþ alle wikked & if lawe wol I loke on hem ; it lith in my grace Wheither they deye or deye nouȝt ; for þat they dide ille Be it any thyng{tail} the boldnesse of hir synnes I do mercy thorugh righwisnesse ; & alle my wordes trewe And though holy writ wol þat I be wroke of hem þat dide ille Nullum malum impunitum{curl} & cetera They shul be clensed clerelich & wasshen of hir synes In my prison purgatorie til Parce it hote & my mercy shal be shewed ; to many of my brethren For blood may suffre blood ; both hungrie and a-cale Ac blood may nouȝt se blood blede but if hym rewe Auduiui Archana verba que non licet homini loqui & cetera Ac my rightwisnesse & right shal rulen alle helle And mercy al mankynde ; bifore me in heuene For I were an vnkynde kyng{tail} but I my kynde helpe & namelich at swich an nede ; ther nedes helpe bihoueþ Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo ¶ Thus by lawe quod oure lord ; lede I wol from hennes Tho þat me loued ; and leued in my comyng{tail} & for thy lesyng{tail} lucifer ; þat thow leighe til Eue Thow shalt abye it bittre ; & bond hym with cheynes Astaroth & al þe route hild hiddenhiddenhild hidden hem in hernes They dorst nouȝt look on oure lord ; þe boldest of hem alle But lete hym lede forth what hym liked & lete what hym liste Many hundreth of Aungels ; harpeden & songen Culpat caro purgat caro regnat deus dei caro Than piped pees of poesye a note Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus Post inimicicias clarior est & amor ¶ After sharpe shoures quod pees ; most shene is þe sonne Is no wedder warmer ; than after water cloudes Ne no loue leuer ; ne leuere frendes Þan after werre & wo whan loue & pees beth maistres Was neuere werre in þis world ; ne wikkednesse so kene That ne loue & hym liste ; to laughynge ne brought And pees thurgh pacience ; alle periles stopped ¶ Trewes quod treuthe thow tellest vs soth by Iesus Clippe we in couenaunt{tail} ; & ech of vs kisse other And lete no peple quod pees ; parceyue þat we chide For impossible is no þing{tail} to hym þat is almyghty ¶ Tow seist soth quod rightwisnesse ; & reuerentlich hir kiste Pees and pees here per secula seculorum Misericordia & veritas obuiauerunt sibi Iusticia & pax oculateo[s]culate sunt & cetera Treuthe tempred þo and songe te deum laudamus And than luted loue ; in a loude note Ecce quam bonum & quam iocundum & cetera Til þe day dawed thise damoiseles daunced That men ronge to þe resurreccion{curl} & riȝt with þat I waked And called kitte my wif ; and calote my doughter Ariseth & reuerenceth goddes resurreccion{curl} & crepeþ to þe crosse on knees ; & kisseþ it for a Iewel For goddes blissed body it bare for oure bote & it affereþ þ fende for swich is the myght May no grisly goost glide ; ther it shadweth Passus decimus nonus Thus I a-waked & wroot what I hadde dremed And dight me derely ; & dide me to chirche To here holy the masse ; þo men yede to offeryng{tail} That piers þe plowman was peynted alle blody And come Inne with a crosse ; bifore þe comune peple And right like in alle lymes to oure lord Iesu Thanne called I conscience ; to kenne me þe soothe Is þis Iesus the Iuster quod I that Iewes dide to dethe Or it is piers the plowman who peynted hym so rede ¶ Quod conscience & kneled tho ; thise arn{curl} piers armes Hise colours and his core armure ; ac he þat comeþ so blodye Is crist with his cros conquerour of cristne ¶ Why calle ye hym crist quod I sith Iewes called hym Iesus Patriarkes and prophetes prophecied bifore That alle kynne creatures shulde knelen & bowen Anon{curl} as men nempned þe name of god Iesu Ergo is no name to the name Iesus Ne non so nedful to nempne by nyght ne by day For alle derke deueles aren adrad to here it And synful aren solaced ; and saued by þat name & þe callen hym crist for what cause telleth me Is crist more of myght ; & more worthy name Than Iesu or Iesus ; that al oure Ioie come of ¶ Thow knowest wel quod{tail} conscience & þou konne reson{curl} That knyght kyng{tail} conquerour may be of oo persone To be called a knyght is faire for men shal knele to hym To be called a kyng{tail} is fairer ; for he many knyghtes make And to be conquerour called ; þat comeþ of speciale grace And of hardynesse of hert ; & of heendenesse bothe To make lordes of laddes ; of londe þat he wynneth & fre men foule thralles ; þat folowen nouȝt hise lawes ¶ The Iewes þat were gentile men Iesu they despised Bothe his lore & hise lawe now ar they lowe cherles As wide as the world is wonyeth ther noon{curl} But vndir tribut & talliage as tikes & cherles And þo þat bicome cristne by counseil of þe baptesme Aren frankleyns fre men ; thurgh fullyng & þey took And gentil men with Iesu ; for Iesus was yfulled And vp-on caluarie on cros ; ycrowned kyng of Iewes ¶ It cometh to a kyng to kepe & to defende And conquerour of conquest his lawes & his large And so dide Iesus the Iewes he Iustified & taughte hem The law of lif that last shal euere And fenden fram foule yueles ; feueres & fluxes And fro fendes þat in hem were ; and false bileue Tho was he Iesus of Iewes called ; gentil prophete And kyng of hir kyngdom{curl} and crowne bare of thornes ¶ And tho conquered on cros ; as conquerour noble Might no deth hym for-do ; ne a-doun brynge That he ne aros and regned ; and rauysshed helle And tho was he conquerour called of quyke & of dede For he yaf Adam and Eue ; and other mo blisse That longe had leyne bifore as lucifer cherles ¶ And sith he yaue largelye alle hise lele leges Places in paradise atte hir partyng{tail} hennes He may wel be called conquerour & þat is crist to mene Ac the cause þat he cometh þus ; with cros of passion{curl} Is to wissen vs ther-with þat whan we be tempted Ther-with to fight & fenden vs fro fallyng{tail} in-to synne And se by his sorwe ; that who loueth Ioie To penaunce & to pouerte ; he moost put hym-selue And muche wo in þis world willen & suffren ¶ Ac to carpe more of crist and how he come to þat name Feithly for to speke his first name was Iesus Tho he was born{curl} in bedlem ; as þe book telleth & come to take mankynde kynges & aungels Reuerenced hym faire with richesse of erthe Aungels out of heuene com knelyng & songe Gloria in excelsis deo & cetera Kynges com after knelyng and offred Mirre and muche golde with-oute mercy askyng Or any kynnes catel but knowlichyng{tail} hym souereigne Bothe of sonde & sonne & see & sithen þey wente In-to hir kyngenlith by counseil of Aungels And ther was þat worldword fulfilled þe which yow of speke Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc & nomine Iesu For alle the Aungeles of heuene ; at his burthe kneled And al the wit of the world ; was in þe thre kynges Reson{curl} & rightwisnesse and ruthe þey offred Wherfore and why ; wise men that tyme Maistres and lettred men Magi hem called ¶ That ofo kyng{tail} cam with reson{curl} keuered vnder sens The seconde kyng{tail} ech sothlich offred Rightwisnesse vnder rede gold resones felawe Gold is likned to leaute ; that fastlast shal euere And reson{curl} to rich gold ; is right & to truthe The thridde kyng tho cam knelyng{tail} to Iesu And presented hym with pitee ; appaieryng{tail} by myrre For myrre is mercye to mene ; & myld speche of tonge Thre yliche honeste thynges were offred þus atonesat ones Thurgh thre kynne kynges ; knelyng{tail} to Iesu ¶ Ac for alle thise presciouse presentz oure lord prince Iesus Was neither kyng{tail} ne conquerour til he gan to wexe In the manere of a man ; & by muche sleighte As it bicomeþ a conquerour to konne many sleightes And many wiles & wit ; þat wol ben a ledere And so dide Iesu in hise dayes who-so hadde tyme to telle it Som tyme he suffred & som tyme he hidde hym & som tyme he faught faste & fleighe other while And som tyme he gaf good & graunted hele bothe Lyf and lyme as hym liste he wroughte As kynde is of a conquerour ; and so comsed Iesu Til he had alle hem þat he forebledde ¶ In his Iuuentee þis Iesus at þe Iewen feste Water in-to wyn torned as holy writ telleth & ther-by gan god of his grace do wel For wyn is likned to lawe and lif of holynesse And law lakked þo for men loued nouȝt hir enemys & crist counseilleþ vs & comaundeþ bothe Boþe to lered and to lewed ; to louye oure enemys So at þe feste first as I bifore tolde Bygan god of his grace & goodnesse to do wel & þo was he cleped & called nouȝt holy crist but Iesu A faunt fyn ful of wit Filius Marie For bifore his moder marie ; mad he þat woundre That she first and formest ; ferme sholde bileue That he thurgh grace was gete; and no gome elles He wrought þat by no wit but thorugh word oone After the kynde þat he come of ; the comced he do wel And whan he was waxen more ; in his moder absente He made lame to lepe and yaf light to blynde And fedde with two fisshes ; and with fyue loues Sore afyngred folk moo than a thousand Thus he conforted carful and kaught gretter name The wich was do-bet{tail} wher that he wente For deef thorugh hise doynges to here ; & dombe speke he made And al he heled and halpe ; that hym of grace asked And tho was he called in contre of þe comune peple For þe dedes that he dide Iesu fili dauid For dauid was doughtiest of dedes ; in his tyme The birdes þat songe saul interfecit nulle & dauid decem milia For-thy þe contre ; þer Iesu {check for placement of tag} come ; called hym fili dauid And nempned hym of nazareth ; and no man so worthy To be Caiser or kyng{tail} of the kyngdom of Iuda Ne ouer Iewes Iustice ; as Iesus was hem thoughte ¶ Wher-of Caiphas had enuye ; and other of þe Iewes And for to doon{curl} hym to deeth day & nyght they casten Kulled hym of cros-wise at caluarie on friday And sithen buried his body and beden þat men sholde Kepen it fro nyght comers with knyghtes armed For no frendes sholde hym fecche for prophetes hem tolde That that blissed body of buryeles sholde rise And goon{curl} in-to galilee ; and gladen hise apostles And his moder Marie thus men bifore demed ¶ The knyghtes þat kepten hym biknewe it hem-selue That aungels and archangels er the day spornge Com knelyng to the corps and songen Cristus resurgens Verray man bifore hem alle & forth with hem he yede ¶ The Iewes preyed hem pees and bisoughte þe knyghtes Telle the comune þat þer cam a compignye?? of his apostles As prechours and preestes ; and prentices of lawe They lely to lyue by labour of tonge And by wit to wissen other ; as grace hem wolde teche And som he kenned craft and konnyng{tail} of sight With sellyng{tail} and biggynge ; hir bileue to wynne And som he lered to labour a lele lif & trewe And som he taughte to tilye ; to diche & to hegge To wynne with hir liflode ; by lore of his techynge And som diuyne and diuide nombres to kenne & som to compas craftly ; & colours to make & som to see and to seye what slodes[h]o[l]de bifalle Bothe of wel and of wo telle it er it felle As astronomyens thurgh{bar} astronomye & philoforesphilo[so]fores wise And som to ride ; & som to recouere þat vnrightfully was wonne He wissed hem wynne it ayein thurgh wightwisnesse of handes & fecchen it fro fals men ; with foluiles lawes And som he lered to lyue in longynge to ben hennes In pouerte & in penaunce to preie for alle cristne And al he lered to be lele and ech a craft loue other And forbadde hem al debate þat non were amonge hem Though som be clenner þan som þe se wel quod grace Þat he þat vseþ þe fairest craft to þe foulest I kouþe haue putte hym Look þat no lakke other but alle as brethren ¶ And who þat moost maistries konne be myldest of berynge And crowned conscience kyng{tail} & maken craft þour stiward And after craftes counseil clotheth yow and fede For I make piers þe plowman ; my procuratour & my Reue And Register to receyue ; Redde quod debes My proweour and my plowman Piers shal be on erthe And for to tilye truthe a teme shal he haue ¶ Grace gaf piers a teme foure grete oxen That oon was luk a large beste & a lowe chered And Mark and Mathew þe thridde myghty bestes bothe And Ioyned to hem oon Iohan þe most gentil of alle The pris neet of piers plough passyng alle other ¶ And grace gaf piers of his goodnesse foure stottes Al þat hise oxen eried they to harewe after Oon hight austyn and ambrose an other Gregory the grete clerk{tail} and Ieromye þe goode Thise foure the feith to teche foloweþ Piers teme And harowed in handwhile al holy scripture With two harowes þat they had an olde & a newe Vetus testamentum & nouum ¶ And grace gaf greynes the cardinales vertues And sewen it in mannes soule & sithen told hir names Spiritus???? prudencie the first sede hight And who-so ete þat ymagyne he sholde Er he dide any dede ; deuise wel the ende And lerned men a ladylady[l] bugge ; with a longe stele And cast for to kepe a crokke ; to saue þe fatte aboue ¶ The seconde sede hight spiritus temperancie He that ete of þat sede ; hadde swich a kynde Sholde neuere ne muchel drynke make hym to swelle Ne sholde no scorner ne scolde out of skile hym brynge Wast word of ydelnesse ; ne no wikked speche meue Sholde no curious cloþ comen on his rugge Ne no mete in his mouthe þat maistre Iohan spiced ¶ The thridde seed þaT piers sewe ; was spiritus fortitudinis & who-so ete of þat sede ; hardy was euere To suffre al that god sent ; & siknesse & angres Might no lesynges ne lyer ne los of worldly catel Makyn hym for any mournynge ; þat he nas murye in soule & bold & abidynge ; bismeres to suffre And pleyeth al with pacience ; & with parce michi domine And coueren hym vndir counseil of caton{curl} þe wise Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique ¶ The forthe sede þat piers sewe was spiritus Iusticie & he þat ete of þat sede sholde be euere trewe With god and nouȝt agast but of gile oon For gile goþ so priuely ; þat gode feith other while May nouȝt ben aspyed for spiritus Iusticie Spiritus Iusticie spareth nouȝt to spille Hem that ben giltye ; and for to correcte Thy kyng{tail} if he falle in gilte or in trespas For counteth he no kynges wrathe ; whan he in court sitteþ To demen as a domes-man ; adred was he neuere Neither of duc ne of deþ ; þat he ne dide lawe For present or for preyer or any princes lettres He dide equitee to alle euene forth his power ¶ Thise foure sedes Piers sowe & sith he dide dem harowe With olde lawe & newe lawe þat loue myght wexe Amonge þe foure vertues and vices destroie Fof comunes in contres ; cammokes & wedes Fouleth the fruyt in the feld ; ther þey growe togidres And so don{curl} vices ; vertues worthy Quod piers harweþ al þat konne kyndly wit by counseil of þise doctours And after tilieth hir techyng{tail} the cardinalle vertues Ayeins þi greynes quod{tail} grace to Piers bigynneþ to ripe Ordeigne þe an hous to herberwe Inne thy corne ¶ By gode Grace quod piers ye moot yeue tymbur And ordeigne that hous er ye hennes wende ¶ An grace gaf hym the crosse with þe crowne of thornes That crist vp-on Caluarie for mankynde on pyned And of his baptesme and blood þat he bledde on rode He made a manere morter ; & mercy it highte And ther-with grace bigan to make a goode fondement & wattled it & walled it with hise peynes & hise passion{curl} And of al holy writ he made a roof after And called þat hous vnite holy chirche on Englissh{bar} ¶ And whan þis dede was don{curl} grace diuised A cart hight cristendom to carie Piers sheues And gaf hym caples to his carte ; contricion & confession{curl} And made presthode heyward while hym-self wente As wide as the world is with piers to tilye treuthe ¶ Now is piers to þe plough and pride it aspied And gadered hym a grete hoost ; to greuen he thynketh Blow hem doun and breke hem and bite a-two þe mores And sent forth surquyrdons his sergeant of armes And his spye spille loue oon speek yuel byhynde Thise two come to conscience ; and to cristen peple And tolde hem tithynges ; þat tyme þey sholde the þethe sedes That piers ther had Isowen the cardinal vertues And Piers berne worth broke ; & þey þat beth in vnite Sholde come oute of conscience ; and youre two caples Confession{curl} & contricion{curl} and youre carte the bileue Shal be coloured so queyntly & couered vnder oure sophistrie That conscience shal nouȝt knowe by contricion Ne by confession{curl} who is cristen or hethen Ne no manere marchant ; þat with monoie deleth Wher he wynne with right with wronge or with vsurie ¶ With swiche coloures and queyntise comeþ pride yarmed With the lord þat lyueth after ; þe luste of his bodye To wasten on welfare ; and on wikked kepynge Alle the world in a while ; thorugh oure wit quod{tail} pride ¶ Quod conscience to alle cristen tho ; my counseil is to wende Hastilich in-to vnite and holde we vs there & prey we þat a pees were in piers berne ; the plowman For witerly I woot wel we beþ nouȝt of strengthe To goon ayein pride ; but grace were with vs ¶ Than cam kynde wit ; conscience to teche And cried & comaunded Alle cristen peple For to deluen and diche ; depe aboute vnite That holy chirche stode in vnite as it a pile were ¶ Conscience comaunded tho ; al cristen to delue And make a muche muootemoot ; þat myght ben a strengthe To help holy chirche and hem þat it kepeth ¶ Thanne alkynne cristen saue comune wommen Repenteden and refuseden{curl} synne saue þei oon{curl} And fals men flateres vsurers and theues Lyers & questmongeres ; þat were forswore ofte Wittyng and wilfully ; with the fals helden And for siluer were forswore ; sothly they wist it Ther nas no cristen creature ; þat kynd wit had Saue sherewes oone ; and swich as I spak{tail} of That he ne haþe a quantite ; holynesse to wexe Som thurgh bedes biddynge ; and som thorugh pilgrymage And other priue penaunce ; And som thurgh pens delyng{tail} ¶ And thanne welled weter ; for wikked werkes Egrelich ernynge ; out of mennes eighen Clennesse of the comune ; & clerkes clene lyuyng{tail} Made vnyte holy chirche ; in holynesse stonde I care nouȝt quod{tail} consicence ; though pride come nouȝthe Tho lord of lust shal be letted ; al this leaute I hope Comeþ quod conscience ; yy[e] cristen & dyneth That han laboured lely al this lente tyme Here is brede I-blessed and goddes body ther-vnder Grace thorugh goddes word ; gaf piers power Mightes to maken ; & men to eten after In help of hire ; hele ones in a monthe Or as ofte as they hadde nede ; þey þat had payed To Piers pardon{curl} the plowman Redde quod debes ¶ How quod{tail} al the comune thow counseillest vs to yelde Al þat we owne any wight ; er we go to housel That is my counseil quod conscience and cardinal vertues That ech man foryeue other ; & þat wol the pater noster Et dimitte nobis debita nostra And so to ben assoilled ; and sithen to be houseled ¶ Ye bow quod a brewer ; I wol nouȝt be ruled By Iesus for al youre Ianglyng{tail} with spiritus Iusticie Ne after conscience ; by crist while I kan selle Bothe dragges and draf{tail} ; & drawe it at an hole Thikke ale and thyme ale ; for þat is my kynde And nouȝt hakke after holynesse ; holde þy tonge conscience Of spiritus Iusticie thow spekest much an ydel ¶ Caytif quod conscience ; cursed wrecche Vnblissed artow brewer ; but if the god helpe But thow lyue by lore of spiritus Iusticie The chief sede þat piers sewe ; ysaued worstow neuere But conscience the comune fede and cardinal vertues Than is many a man{curl} lost quod a lewed vicorie I am a curatour of holy kirke ; & come neuer in my tyme Man to me þat kouthe telle of cardinale vertues Or þat counted conscience ; at a cokkes fether or a hennes I knewe neuere cardinale ; þat he ne come fro þe pope And we clerkes whan they come for his comunes paieth For hir pelure & hir palfreys ; meet & pilours þat hem foloweþ The comune clamat cotidie ech of hem to other The contree is the curseder ; þat cardinals com Inne And þer they ligge & lenge most leccherie ther regneth For-thy quod þis vicorye by verrey god I wolde That no cardinal come among{tail} comune peple But in hir holynesse holden hem stille At Auinon amonge þe Iewes ; Cum sancto sanctus eris Or at Rome as hir rule wil ; the relikes to kepe & þou conscience in kynges court ; & sholdest neuere com thennes And grace þat þou gredest so of ; guyour of alle clerkes And piers with his new plough & eke with his olde Emperour of al the world{tail} ; þat alle men were cristen ¶ Inparfit is the pope that alle the peple sholde helpe & sendeþ hem þat sleeth swich as he ; sholde saue And wel worth piers the plowman ; þat pursueþe god in doynge Qui pluit super Iustos & Iniustos atonesat ones And sent thy sone to saue ; acorsed mannes tilthe As bright as the best man ; & to the best womman Right so piers þe plowman ; peyneth hym to tilye As wel for a wastour ; and wenchez of the stuwes As for hym-self & his seruantz saue he is first seruede And trauailleþ & tilieþ for a treytour also sore As for a trewe tidyman ; alle tymes yliche And worshiped be he þat wrought al boþe goode & wikke & suffreþ þat synful be til som tyme þat þey repente And god amende þe pope ; þat pileþ holy chirche And cleymeþ bifore þe kyng{tail} to be keper on cristen And counteþ though cristen be kulled & robbed And fynt folk to fight ; and cristen bloode to spille Ayein the olde lawe & new law as luk þerof witnesseþ Non occides michi vindictam & cetera It semeþ by so hym-self hadde hise wille That he ne recceþ riȝt nouȝt of al the remanaunt And crist of his curteisy the cardinales saue And torne hir wit to wisdom ; and to wele of soule For þe comune quod theizthiz curatour counten ful litel The counseil of conscience ; or cardinal vertues But if they sight as by sight ; somwhat to wynnyng{tail} Of gile ne of gabbyng{tail} gil they neuer tale For spiritus prudencie Amonge þe peple is gile And al the fare vertues ; as vices they semed Ech man subtileth a sleight synne for to hyde And coloureþ it with a konnyng{tail} ; & a clene lyuyng{tail} Than lough ther a lord & by this light seide I holde it right and reson{curl} of my Reue to take Al that myn Auditour or elles my stiward Counseilleþ me by hir acounte ; & my Clerkes writyng{tail} With spiritus ImtellectusI[n]tellectus to seeke the Reues rolles And with spiritus fortitudinis fecche it wole ¶ And thanne cam ther a kyng{tail} and by his crowne seide I am kyng{tail} with crowne ; the comune to rule & holy kirke & clergie fro cursed men to defende And if me lakkeþ to lyue by the lawe wol I take it Ther I may hastlokest it haue ; for I am hede of lawe For ye ben but membres ; and I aboue alle And sith I am youre aller hede ; I am your aller hele & holy chirche chief helpe ; & chieftayn{curl} of þe comune And what I take of yow two ; I tak it at þe techynge Of spiritus Iusticie for I Iugge yow alle So I may boldely be houseled ; for I borow neuere Ne craue of my comune ; but as my kynde askeþ In condicion quod conscience ; þat thow konne defende & rule þy Reame ; & reson{curl} right wel & in treuthe Tak þou may in reson{curl} ; as thy lawe asketh Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum set non ad deprecandum The viker had fer hom ; and faire took his leue And I awakned ther-with ; & wroot as me mette Passus xxusvicesimus et prima de do-best Thanne as I went by þe wey; whan I was þus awaked Heuy chered I yede and elenge in herte ¶ I ne wist where to ete ; ne at what place & it neighed nere the noone ; & with nede I mette That afrounted me wel fowle and faitour me called Kanstow nouȝt excuse the ; as dide the kyng{tail} & other That thow took to thy bileue to clothes & to sustenance & by techynge & tellynge of spiritus temperancie And thow nome namore than nede þe taughte And nede haþ no law ne neuere shal falle in dette For thre thynges he takeþ his lif for to saue Þat is mete whan men hym warneþ & he no monoye weldeth Ne wight non wol ben his borowe ; ne wedde haþ non to legge & he caught in that caas ; and com ther-to by sleighte He synneþ nouȝt sothelich þat so wynneþ his fode And though he come so to a cloth ; & kan no bettre cheuisance Nede anon{curl} right nymeþ hym vnder meynprise And if hym liste to lape ; the lawe of kynde wolde That he dronke at ech a diche ; or he for thirst deyed So nede at grete nede ; may nymen as for his owne With-outen counseil of conscience ; or cardinal vertues So that he swe and saue spiritus temperancie ¶ For is no vertue by fer to spiritus temperancie Neither spiritus Iusticie ne spiritus fortitudinis For spiritus fortitudinis forfeteth ful ofte He shal do more than mesure ; many tyme & ofte And bete men ouer bittre and som of hem to litle & greue men gretter ; than goode feith wolde ¶ And spiritus Iusticie shal Iuggen wol he nyl he After the kynges conseil and the comune like And spiritus prudencie in many a poynt shal faille Of þat he weneþ woldeþ falle ; if his wit ne were Wenyng{tail} is no wisdom{curl} ; ne wise ymagynacion{curl} Homo proponit deus disponit & gouerneþ alle good vertues Ac nede is next hym ; for anon{curl} he mekeþ & as lowe as a lamb for lakkynge of þat hym nedeth Wise men forsook wel ; for they wolde be nedy And woneden in wildernesse ; and wolde nouȝt be riche And god al his grete Ioie gostly he lefte And cam & took mankynde And bicam nedy So nedy he was as seith þe book{tail} in many sondrie places That he seide in his sorwe on the selue roode Bothe fox and foughele ; may flee to hole & crepe & the fisshe haþ fynne ; to flete with to reste Ther nede haþ ynome me that I moot nede abide And suffre sorwes ; ful sour þat shol to Ioie torne For-thy be nouȝt abasshed to bid & to be nedy Sith he þat wrouȝt al the world ; was wilfullich nedy Ne neuere noon{curl} so nedy ; ne pouerer deyede ¶ Whan nede had vndernome ; me þus ; anon I felle a-slepe And mette ful merueillouslich þat in mannes forme Antecrist come thanne & al þe croppe of treuthe Torned it vp so down{curl} and ouertilt the roote And fals sprynge ; and sprede ; & speddes mennes nedes In ech a contree ; ther he come ; he kutte awey truthe And gert gile grewe ; ther-as he a god were Freres folowed þat fende ; for he yaf hem copes And religious reuerenced hym ; & rongen hir belles And al the couent forth come ; to welcome þat Tiraunt And al his as wel as hym ; saue oneliche fooles Which foles were wel leuere to deye þan to lyuye Lenger than leuten to be so rebuked And a fals frend antecrist ; ouer al folk{tail} regned And þat were mylde men ; & holy þat no myschief dredden{curl} Deffied al falsnesse ; and folk{tail} þat it vsed And what kyng{tail} þat hem contrefeted ; knowyng{tail} hem any while They cursed and hir conseil ; were it clerk{tail} or lewed ¶ Antecrist had thus soone hundrethes at his banere & pride bar þe baner loldelich aboute With a lord that lyueth after likyng{tail} of body That com ayein conscience þat keper was & gwyur Ouer alkynne cristen ; and cardinale vertues ¶ I counseille quod conscience ; ye comeþ with me ; ye fooles In-to vnite holy chirche ; & holde we vs there & crie we to kynde ; þat he come & defende vs Foles fro þis fendes lymes for piers þe loue plowman{curl} And crie we to alle the comune ; þat þey come to vnite And ther Abide & biker ayeines beliales children Kynde conscience þo harde ; & com out of þe planetes And sente forþ hise forreiours ; feuers & fluxes Coughes and cardiacles ; crampes & toth aches Rowmes and radegoundes and ruyouse scalles Biles and bocches ; and brynnynge agwise Frenesies and foule yueles ; forragers of kynde Had ypriked and prayed ; polles of the peple That largely a legion{curl} ; loren hir lif{tail} soone ¶ Ther was harrowe ; and helpe ; here comeþ kynde With deth þat is dredful to vndon{curl} vs alle ¶ The lord þat lyued after lust tho a-lowde criede After confort a knyght ; to come & bere his banere Alarme alarme quod þat lord ich lif kepe his owne & thanne mette thise men ; er mynstralles myght pipe And er heraudes of armes ; hadde descryued lordes ¶ Kynde come after with many keene soores As pokkes and pestilences ; & muche peple shente So kynde thorugh corrupcions ; kulled ful many Deth cam dryuynge after ; and al to durst passhed Kynges and knyghtes ; kaisers and popes Lered ne lewed ; he lete no man stonde That he ne hitte euene ; þat stired neuere after Many a louely lady & lemmannes of knyghtes Swowned and swelted ; for sorwe of dethes dyntes ¶ Conscience of his curteisie ; to kynde he bisoughte To cesse and suffre ; and se wher they wolde Leue pride priuely ; and be parfit cristen And kynde cessed þo ; to se the peple amende ¶ Fortune gan flateren thanne ; þe fewe that were alyue And bihight hem longe lif ; & leccherie he sente Amonges alle manere men ; wedded & vnwedded An gadered a grete hoost al ayenis conscience This leccherie leide on with a laughyng{tail} chere And with priue speche ; & peynted wordes And armed hym in Idelnesse ; & in heigh berynge He bar a bow in his hande & many blody arwes Were fethered with faire bihest & many a fals truthe For with hise vntidy tales ; he tened ful ofte Conscience and his companye of holy chirche þe techers Thanne cam coueitise and caste how he myghte Ouer-com conscience ; and cardinal vertues And armed hym in auarice ; & honglelich he lyued Hise wepne was alle wiles ; to wynnen & to hiden With glosynges & gabbynges ; he giled þe peple Symonye hym sente ; to assoille conscience & preched to the peple ; & prelates they hem maden To holden with antecrist ; hir temperaltes to saue And come to the kynges counseil as a kene baron{curl} & kneled to conscience at court a-fore hem alle And gert good feith flee and fals to Abide And boldelich bar a-down{curl} ; with many bright noble Muche of þe wit & wisdom{curl} of westmysterwestmy[n]ster halle He Iugged til a Iustice ; and Iusted in his ere And ouer-tilt al his treuthe with tak{tail} þis vp amendement & to þe Arches in haste ; he yede anon{curl} after And torned Ciuile in-to symonye siþ he took þe official For a mantel of menyuere ; he made lele matrimoyne Departen er deth cam ; and dyuorce shapte ¶ Allas quod conscience & cried þo ; wolde crist of his grace That coueitise were cristen ; þat is so kene a fighter And bolde and bidyng{tail} while his bagge laste And þan lough lif{tail} and lete dagge hise clothes & armed hym in haste ; in harlotes wedes & helde holy a Iape and hendenesse a wastour & lete leaute a cherle ; & lyer a free man{curl} Conscience and counseille he counted it folye Thus relyed lif for a litel fortune & priked forth with pride ; preised he no vertue He careþ nouȝt how kynde slowe ; & shul come at laste & kille alle erthely creature ; saue conscience oon{curl} Life lepe a-syde and laughte hym a lemman Hele and I quod he ; and heighnesse of herte Shal do ye nouȝt drede ; neither deeth ne elde And to foryete sorwe and yif nouȝt of synne Thys liked lif & his lemman fortune And geten in hir glorie a gadelynge at laste Oon that muche wo wrought sleuthe was his name Sleuthe wex wondre yerne & sone was of age And wedded oon wanhope ; a wenche of þe stewes Hir sire was a sisour ; that neuer swore treuthe Oon Thomme two-tonge ytanit at ech a queste This sleuthe wex war of werre ; & a slynge made And trewe drede of dispaire ; a dozeyn{curl} Mile aboute For care conscience ; tho cried vp-on Elde And bad hym fonde to fight ; and a-fere wanhope ¶ And Elde hent good hope ; & hastilich he shapte hym And wayned awey wanhope ; and with lif he fighted And lif{tail} flieth for fere ; to phisik{tail} after helpe And bisought hym of socour ; & of his salue hadde And gaf hym golde goode wone ; þat gladdes his herte And they gyuen hym ayein a glasen howue Lif leue þat lechecraft{tail} lette ; sloldes[h]olde elde And dryuen a-wey deth with dias & dragmas And elde auntred hym on lif{tail} & at þe laste he hitte A phicien wiþ a furred hode ; þat he felle in the palsye & ther deyed þat doctour er thre dayes after Now I se seide lif þat surgiens ne phisik{tail} May nouȝt a myte auaille ; to meldle ayeins elde & in hope of his hele ; good herte he hente And roode so to Reuel a riche place & a murye Þe compaignye of Court men ; cleped it som{curl} tyme & elde anoon{curl} after me ; & ouer myn hede yede & made me balled bifore ; & bare on þe crowne So harde he yede ouer myn{curl} hede ; it wol be seen euere ¶ Sire yuel ytaught Elde quod I vnhende go with þe Synne whan was the wey ; ouer mennes hedes Haddestow ben hende quod{tail} I ; þou woldest haue asked leue Ye leef lordynge quod{tail} he ; & leyde on me with age & hitte me vnder the ere ; vnnethe may ich here He buffeted me aboute þe mouthe ; & bet me on þ tethe And gyued me in goutes ; I may nouȝt go at large And of þe wo þat I was Inne ; my wif hadde ruthe And wissed ful witerly ; þat I were in heuene For the lyme þat she loued me fore ; & leef was to fele On nyghtes namelich whan we naked were I ne myght in no manere ; maken it at hir wille So elde and she soth hadden it for-beten ¶ And as I satte in this sorwe ; I seigh how kynde passed & deþe draughe neigh me ; for drede gan I quake And cried to kynde ; out of care ; me brynge Lo Elde the hore ; hath me biseye A-wreke me if youre wille be ; for I wolde ben hennes If thow wolt ben Iwroke ; wende in-to vnite And hole the there euere ; til I sende for the And loke thow konne som craft ; or þou thennes go ¶ Conseille me kynde quod{tail} I what craft is best to lerne Lerne to loue quod kynde ; and leue of alle other ¶ How shal I come to catel so ; to cloth me & to fete And thow loue lealy quod{tail} he lakke shal the neuere Meet ne worldly wede ; while thy lif lasteth And ther by conseil of kynde ; I comsed to Rome Thurȝ contricion{curl} and confession{curl} ; til I cam to vnite And ther was conscience Constable ; cristen to saue And biseged sothly ; with grete geantz That with Antecrist helden ; hard ayein conscience ¶ Sleuth with his slynge ; and hard assaute made Proude prestes come with hym mo þan a thousand In paltokes and piked shoes ; and pisseres longe knyues Comen ayeins conscience with coueitous they helde ¶ By Marie quod a mansed prest ; of the marche of Irland I counte namore conscience ; by so I cacche siluer Than I do to drynke a draughte of goode ale & so seyden sexty ; of the same contree And shoten ayein hym with shotte ; with many sheef of othes & broke hoked arwes ; goddes herte & his nayles And hadden al-most vnite ; & holynesse adown ¶ Conscience cried help clergie ; or elles I falle Thurgh inparfit preest ; & prelates of holy chirche Freres herden hym crye ; and comen hym to helpe And for they koude nouȝt wel hir craft conscience forsook hem Nede neighed þo nere ; and conscience he tolde That they come for coueitise to haue cure of saules & for þey aren pouere per auenture for patrimonigne hem failleþ They wol flatere to fare wel folk þat ben riche An seyn they chosen chele ; and cheitif pouerte Lat hem chewe as they chosen ; & charge hem with non cure For lomer he lith that liflode moote begge Than he þat laboureþ for liflode ; & leneth it beggers & sithen freres forsook{tail} the felicite of erthe Lat hem be as beggers or lyue by aungels fode ¶ Conscience of þis conseil tho ; comsed for to laughe & curteislich conforted hem & called Inne alle freres And seide sires sothily welcome be ye alle To vnite and holy chirche ; ac oon thyng{tail} I yow preye Holdeþ yow in vnite and haueþ noon enuye To lered ne to lewed ; but lyueþ after your rule And I wol be youre borwe ; ye shul haue brede & clothes And other necessaries ynowe ; yow shal no thyng{tail} faille Wiþ þat he leue logik{tail} & lerneth for to louye For loue laft they lordship l boþe londe & scole Freres fraunceys and domynyk{tail} for loue to ben holy ¶ And if ye coueiteþ cure ; kynde wol yow teche That in mesure god made al manere thynges And sette it at a certein and at a siker nombre And nempned names ynowe ; and nombred þe preestes Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum & omnibis eis nomina & cetera Kynges & knyghtes þat kepen and defenden Han officers vnder hem ; and ech of hem certeyn And if they wage men to werre þey write hem in nombre Wol no tresorer hem paye trauaille þey neuere so soore Alle other in bataille beþ yholde bribours Pilours & pike harneys in ech place acursed ¶ Monkes & monyales and al men of religion{curl} Hire ordre and hir rule wille to han a certein nombre Of lewed & of lered ; the lawe wol & axeth A certein for a certein ; saue oonlich of freres For-thy quod conscience by crist kynde wit me telleþ It is wikked to wage yow ; ye wexeth out of nombre For-thy I wolde witerly ; þat ye were in the Registre And your nombre vnder notaries signes & neither mo ne lasse ¶ Enuye herde þis and heet freres go to scole And lerne logik and lawe ; and ek contemplacion{curl} And preche men of plato & preue it by seneca That alle thynges vnder heuene ; oughten to ben in comune ¶ And yet he lyeth as I leue þat to þe lewed so precheth For god made to men a lawe ; and Moises it taughte Non concupisces rem proximi tui & cetera And yuel is this yholde in parisshes of Ingelonde For parsones and parissh{bar} preestes þat sholde the peple shryue Ben curatours called to knowe & to hele Al þat ben hir parisshenes penaunce to enioyne And sholde be ashamed in hir shrift ; ac shame makeþ hem wende And fleen to the freres ; as fals folk{tail} to westmynster That borweþ & bereþ thider ; & þan biddeþ frendes Yerne of foryeuenesse ; or lenger yeres loone ¶ Ac while he is in westmynster he wel be bifore And maken hym mury with other mennes goodes & so it fareþ by muche folk{tail} þat to þe freres shriueth As sisours & executours they wol yeue þe freres A parcel to prey for hem & make hem-selue murie With the residue & the remenaunt þat oþere men biswonke And suffre the dede in dette ; to þe day of dome ¶ Enuye here-fore ; hated conscience & freres to philosophie ; he fond hem to scole The while coueitise & vnkyndenesse ; conscience assailled In vnite holy chirche ; conscience helde hym & made pees the porter ; to pynne the yates Of alle tale tellers ; and titerers in ydel ¶ Ypocrisye and he an hard assaut they made YpocisyeYpoc[r]isye at the yate ; harde gan fighte And wounded wel wikkedlich many wise techer That with conscience acorded & cardinale vertues ¶ Conscience called a leche ; þat wel kouthe shryue Go salue þo that sike ben ; thorugh synne ywounded Shrift shope sharpe salue ; & made men do penaunce For hir mysdedes ; that they wrought hadden And that piers were payed Redde quod debes ¶ Som liked nouȝt this leche ; and lettres they senten If any surgien were þe segge þat softe koude plastre Sire leef to lyue in leccherie lay ther & gronede For fastyng{tail} of a friday ; he ferde as he wolde deye Ther is a surgien in this sege þat softe kan handle And more of phisik{tail} by fer ; and fairer he plastreth Oon frere flaterer is phicien and surgien ¶ Quod contricion to conscience ; do hym come to vnite For here is many amana man hurte ; thourgh ypocrisie We han no nede quod conscience ; I woot no bettre leche Than parson or parissh preest ; penitauncer or bishop Saue Piers the plowman ; þat haþ power ouer hem alle And Indulgences may do but if dette lette it ¶ I may wel suffre seide conscience sith ye desiren That frere flaterere be fette an phisik yow sike ¶ The frere here-of herde and hyed faste To a lord for a lettre ; leue to haue curen{curl} And as a curatour he were & cam with hise lettres Boldely to the Bisshop ; and his brief hadde In contrees ther he come Inne ; confessions to here And cam ther conscience was & knokke at þe yate ¶ Pees vnpynned it was porter of vnite And in haste asked what his wille were In feith quod þis frere ; for profit and for heythe Carpe I wolde with contricion{curl} ; & therfore cam I hider ¶ He is sike quod{tail} pees ; and so er many other Ipocrisie haþ hurted hem ; ful hard is if they ¶ I am a surgien seide the segge ; & salues kan I make Conscience knoweþ me wel ; & what I kan doo bothe ¶ I prey the quod{tail} pees þo ; er thow passe ferther What hattestow I preye ye ; hele nouȝt thy name Certes seide he felawe sire penetrans domos Ye go thy gate quod{tail} pees ; by god for al thy phisik{tail} But thow konne som craft ; þou comest nought ther-Inne I knowe swich oon ones ; nouȝt eight winter passed Come Inne thus ycoped at a Court there I dwelte And was my ladies leche ; and my lordes bothe And at the last the limitour ; þo my lord was oute He salued so oure wommen ; til somme were with childe ¶ Hiende speche heet pees to opne ye yates Lat Inne the frere & his felawe & make hem faire chere He may se & here so it may bifalle That lif thorugh his lore ; shal leue coueitise And be adrad of deth & with-drawe hym fram pride And acord with conscience ; and kisse hir either other Thus thorugh hende speche ; entred þe frere And in to conscience and curteislich hym grette ¶ Thow art welcom{curl} quod{tail} conscience ; kanstow hele þe sike Here is contricion{curl} quod conscience ; my Cosyn I-wounded Conforte hym quod conscience ; & take kepe to hise sores The plastres of the parson{curl} & poudres biten to soore He leet hem ligge ouer-longe & lothe is to chaunge hem Fro lenten to lenten ; he lete his plastres bite ¶ That is ouerlonge quod þis lymytour ; I leue I shal amende it And goþ and gropeth contricion{curl} & gaf hym a plastre Of a priue paiement & I shal prey for yow And for alle þat ye ben holde to ; al my lif tyme And make yow my lady ; in masse & in matyns As suster of oure fraternite ; for a litel siluer Thus he goþ and gadereþ ; & gloseþ þer he shryueþ Til contricion{curl} had clene ; forgeten to crie & wepe And wake for hise wikked werkes he was went to doone For confort of his confessour contricion{curl} he lafte That is þe soueraynest salue ; for askynne synnes ¶ Sleuthe seigh that ; and so dide pride & cam with a kene wille ; conscience to assaille Conscience cried efte ; and bad clergie helpe And also contricion ; for to kepe þe yate ¶ He lith and dremeth seide pees ; and so did many other The frere with his phisik thise folk hath euchanted And plastraedplastr[e]d hem so esily they drede no synne By crist quod conscience tho I wol bicom a pilgryme And walken as wide as al the world lasteth To seek piers þe plowman ; þat pride may destroie And þat freres hadde a fyndyng{tail} þat for nede flateren And contrepledeþ me conscience ; now kynde me avenge And send me happe and hele til I haue piers þe plowman And sith he gradde after grace til I gan a-wake Explicit hier dialagus Petrus Plowman