a lufly lady of lere . in lynene was y-cloþed

cam doun fro þe chyfLX . ⁊ / & called me fayre .

And sayde sone sclepyst þou . seyst þou þis peple

how bysy þat þei be . a-boute þe mase  

þe moste party of þe peple . þat passyth on lyue

haue þei worschepys of þis wordle . þei kepe no betere .

Of oþer heuene þan here . hold þei no tale

I was a-ferd of hire face . þow sche fayre were 

and sayde mercy madame . what may þis by-mene

þe tour in toft quod sche . trouþe is þer-inne .

Wolde þat þou wrouȝtest . as his word schewys

for he is fader of feyth . and formed vs T alle 

with fel and whyt face . ⁊ / & a fyn wyt

for to worschepe hym þerwith . whyl þat ȝeT ben here .

Ther-fore he lyȝthe T in-to T erþe . to helpe vs echone

of wollene of lynene . of lyflode at nede 

in mesurable manere . to maken vs atese / at ese

and commaunded of his cortesye . in comoun þre þynges .

Are non nedful but þo . to meuyn hem I þenke

and rekkene hem in resoun . reherse ȝe hem after 

þat on is vesture verylyche . from C chele ȝou to saue

þat oþer mete at ȝour mel . for myschef of ȝour-selue .

Drynke when þou dryest . ac do hit not out of resoun

so þat ȝe wyrche þe worce . when ȝe swynke schulde 

for loot in his lyfdayes . for lykyng of drynke

dede by his douȝtryn . as þe deuel lykyd .

DelytedP hym in drynke . as the deuyl wolde

and lecherye hym lauȝthe . and lay by hem boþe  

and al he wyted þe wyn . þat wyckede dede

dred delytable drynke . and þou schalt do þe betere .

Mesure is medycyne . þey þouT moche desyre

al is not good to þe gost . þat þe gut askyt 

ne lyfful to lykame . þat lyf is to þe soule

lef not ȝut ȝu[r] lykame . for alþer / a l[y]er hem techys .

That þis wreched wordle . þe to be-traye

for þe fend and þy flesch . folwyn to-gedere 

to schende þi sely soule . set hit in þyn herte .CT

A madame mercyP quod I . me lykes wel ȝour wordis .

Ac þe money of þis molde . þat men so faste holdys

telleþ me to whom . þat tresoure apendys 

go to þe gospel quod sche . þat god seyde hym-selue

þo þe peple hym aposyd . with a peny in þe temple .

ȜifP þei schulde worschep þer-with . sesar þe kyng C

and god C asked of hem . of whom spak þe lettere 

and ymage lyke . þat þer-inne standys

sesar þei sayde . we sen wel echone .

Reddite sesaris / [i]P quod  C god þat sesar byfallyþ

⁊ / & que sunt dei deo . or ellys ȝe do ylle 

For ryȝthful resounC schal reule ȝow alle

and kende P wit be wardeyn . ȝowre welþe to kepe .

And tutour of ȝour trosour C to take hit ȝou at nede

for husbondrye and he . holden to-gedere 

þanne I frayned hure fayre . for hym þat hure made

þe doungoun in þe dale . þat dredful is of syȝth .

What may hit by-mene . madame I þe by-seche

þat is þe castel of care . who-so comeþ þer-to 

may banne þat he bore was . to body or to soule

þer-inne woneþ a wyȝth . þat was y-hote .

Fader of falfhede / fal[s]hede . he fonde hit hym-self

adam and eue . he heggede hem to helle 

and conseyled caym . to kylle his broþer

iudas he iapede . with Iewene syluer .

And syþen on a eldere . heng hym-self after

he is lettere of loue . and seyneth T hem alle 

þat trustyn on his trosour . be-trayd ar sonered soner[e]P .

þan haddy / hadd y wonder in my wit . what womman hit were .

That suche wyse wordes . of holy wryt schewde

and assched her on þe hye name . or þen sche þenne ȝede .

what sche were wyterly . þat wyssed me so fayre .

holychurche I am quod sche . þou auȝtys me to knowe .

I vnderfong þe furst . and ȝut / ȝu[r] feyþ þe tauȝthe

þou brouȝtes / brouȝtes[t] me borwys . my byddyng to wyrche 

to loue me lely . þe whylys þy lyf durythP C

thanne I knelyd on my kneys . ⁊̃ / & cryed hure of grace .

Prayede hure pytusly . to praye for my synnys

and ek teche me kyndely . on cryst to byleue 

þat I myȝthe wyrke his wille . þat wrouȝthe me to manne

teche me to no trosour . but tel me þis ylke .

Hou I may saue my soule . þat seynt arn T y-holde

whenne alle tresoures aren / arn tryed quod sche . trouþe is þe beste 

I do hit on deus caritas . to deme þe soþe

hit is as derworþe a dreury . as dere god hym-selue .

For who-so is trewe of his tonge . tel hit tel[l]i[þ]T non oþer

doþ þe werkes þer-wiþ . wyllyþ no man ylle 

he is a god by þe gospel . on grounde and a-lofthe

and eke lyk to oure lord . by seynt Iamys C wordys .

Clerkes þat hit knoweþ . schulde kenne hit a-boute

for crystene and vncrystene . cleymeþ echone  

kynges and knyȝthes . schulde kepe hit by resoun

and ryde and rappe adoun . in remys a-boute .

And take trespasoures . and tyȝe hem faste

til truþe haue C termynyd . here truþeT to an ende 

for dauyt in his dayes . dubbede knyȝtes

and dude hem swere on her swerdys . to serue truþe euere .

This is þe prophecye apertly . þat a-pendyþ to knyȝtes

and nouȝth to faste a fryday . in fyue score wynter 

but holde with hym and with hure . þat askeþ þe truþe

and neuere leue hem for loue . ne for lachyngeP of syluer .

And he / o-so þat pursewyt T . he is apostata in her ordere

and cryst kyngene kyng . knyȝthede tene 

cherubyn ⁊ / & seraphyn . and such seuene oþere

and ȝaf hem myȝth in hisC mageste . þe meryere hem þouȝthe .

And ouer his mayne . made hem archangelys

tauȝthe hem þorw þe trinyte . þe treuþe to knowe 

to be buxum at his byddyng . he bad hem nouȝt ellys

lucyferP with legyonys . lered hit in heuene .

And wat / wa[s] þe louelekyst of syȝth . after oure lord C

tyl he brak buxsumnesse . þorw bost of hym-selue 

þanne fel he with his felawys . and fendys by-come

out of heuene in-to helle . hoblede þey faste .

Summe in erþe and some in eyre . doun in-to helle depe

and lucyfer lowest . lyȝthe of hem alle 

for pride þat he putte oute . his payne haþ non ende

and alle þat worschepe with wrong . wende þey schulde .

After here deþ-day . and dwelle with þat schrewe

ac þo þat worche þat word . þat holycherche techys 

and endeþ as I ere sayde . in parfyte workys

mowe be syker þat her soule . schal wende in-to heuene .

Ther truþe is in trinite . and trowen T hem alle

for-þy I seye as I sayde ere . by sentT of þese tyxtes 

whanne alle trosures be tryed . truþe is þe beste

leryþ þus lewyde men . for letteryd hit knowyn .

That truþe is tresour . þe tryeste on erthe

ȝut haue I no knowynge quod I . ȝe mot me betere teche 

by what crafthLX in my cores / [s]LX . hit comeþ and where

þou dotede daffe quath he / [sc]heT . dulle are þy wittes .

Hit is a kynde knowynge . þat comes in þyn herte

for to loue þi lorde . leuer þan þy-seluyn 

no dedly synne to do . þeȝ þou deye schuldest

þis I trowe be truþe . who can teche þe betere .

Loke þou suffre hym to say . ⁊ / & syþe lere after

for þus witnesseþ his word . worche þou þer-after 

þat loue is þe leuyste þing . þat oure lord askeþ

and ȝe [þ]e plente of pes . prechyd T in þyn harpe .

Ther þou art merye at mete . whem whe[n]P heny T byddyt þe ȝedde

for in kynde knowynge of herte . ther comeþ amerthe / a merthe 

and þat falleþ to þe fader . þat {t}formedeP vs alle

lokede on vs with loue . and let his sone deye .

Meklyche for oure mysdedys . to a-mende vs alle

and ȝut wolde hym no wo . þat wrouȝthe hym þat pyne 

but mekly by mouþe . mercy by-souȝthe

to haue pyte on þat peple . þat pyned hym to deye .

Here myȝthe þou se exaumples . in hym-self one

þat he was mercyful and meke . and mercy gan graunte 

to hem þat hengyn hym by . and his herte þerled

for-þy I rede þe þou ryche . haue reutheC on þe pore .

Thow ȝe be myȝthy to mote . beþ meke of ȝour workys

for þe same mesure ȝe mete . amys oþer ellys 

ȝe schul be weye þer-with . whenne ȝe goþ hennys

for-þy beþ trowe P of ȝour tonges . and trewlyche wynne .

And ek be chast as a chylde . þat in þe cherche wepys

but ȝe loue lely . þe poreT 

of such gode as god sent . goudlyche departyn

þei haue no more meryte . in masse ne in houres .

Than malkyn of hire maydynhede . þat no man desyres

for Iamys þe gentyl . Iugyd in his bokys 

þat feyþ withoute fet . is febeler þan nouȝth

and ded as a dore nayl . but ȝif þe dede folwe .

Chastite with-oute cheryte . worþ schrynedT in helle

Hit is as lewyd as a laumpe . þat no lyȝth is inne 

manye chapelaynes are chaste . ac cherite is a-waye

are no men hardere þan þey . whan þey beþ a-vaunsed .

Wonkynde to her kyn . and eke to alle crystene

schewen here cherite . and chyden after more 

such chastyte with-oute cherite . worþ schryned T in helle

ȝe curatures þat kepe ȝou . clene of ȝour body .

Ȝe beþ a-combred with synne T . ȝe counne nouȝt out crepe

so hard haþ auaryce . hasped ȝou to-gedere 

þat is no truþe of trynite . but trecherye of helle

and a begynnynge to lewede men . þe latter to dele .

For þis are wordis y-wryten . in þe ewangelye

Date ⁊ / & dabitur uobis . for I may dele ȝou alle 

þat is þe lok of loue . þat lateþ oute my grace

to comforte þe carfulle . a-combred with synne  .

Loue ys þe leuysteP þyng . þat oure lord askeþ

and eke þe redyeste gate . þat goþ in-to heuene  

dame worch whanne tyme is . perys wyf hatte

his douȝter hatteT ryȝth so . or þi dame schal þe bete .

His sone hatte suffre þy soueraynys . to haue here wille

and dem hym nouȝt for þou dost . þou schalt hit sore a-bye 

let god wyrche þer-withalle . for so his word teches

for now I am olde and hore . and haue of myn owe .

To penaunce ⁊ / & to pylgermage . wyl I passe with oþere

for-þy I wyl or I wende . do wryte my be-questes C

In dei nomine amen . I makyd my-seluyn

for he schal haue my soule . þat best haþ deserued .

And defende hit fro þe fend . for so is my by-leue

til I come to his a-countes . as my crede me techys 

to haue reles and remyssyoun . on þat rente I leue

þe cherche schal haue my careyne . ⁊̃ / & kepe my bonys .

For of my corn and my catel . he craueþ þe tyþys

I payde hem a-prestly . for peryl of my soule 

he is by-holde I hope . to haue me in mynde

and monne me in his memorie . a-mong alle crystene .

My wyf schal haue al þat I wan . truly and no more

and dele a-mong my frendys . and my dere chyldryn 

for þouȝ I deye to-day . my dettes beþ y-quytted

I bar home þat I borwed . or I to bedde ȝede .

And with þe resydue and þe remenaunt . by þe rode of chestre

I wolde worschepe þer-with . truþe by my lyue 

and be his pilgrym at þe plow . for pore menys sake .

my plow schal be my pykstaf . and pyke wp [v]p þe rotes .

And helpe my culter to kerue . and close þe forewys C

Now is peres and þe pilgrimys . to þe plow fare

to herye þe half akere . helpyn hym manye

dykeres and delueres . dyggyng on þe bankes 

Ther-with was perkyn a-payde . and preysed hem ȝerne

oþer werk-men þer were . þat wrouȝthyn ful faste 

euerey man on his manere . made hym to done

and some to plese perkyn . gaderyd out þe wedys .

At þe hey prime peres . let þe plow stande

to ouer-sey hem hym-self . who-so best wrouȝthe 

schuld be heryed þer-after . when heruest tyme comeT

þanne sete þer some . and sunge at þe ale .

And helpen to eryeP þat half akre . with dusadammeme / dusa dammeme

by þe prince of paradys . quod peres þo I i[n] wratthe 

but ȝe ryse þe raþer . ⁊ / & rape ȝou to werche

schal no greyn þat her groweþ . glade ȝou at nede .

And þey ȝe deye for dol . þe deuel hange þat recke

þanne were faytourys a-ferd . and fayned hem blynde 

some leyde þe leg a-lery . as suche loselys counne

and pleyned hem to peres . with suche pytous wordis .

We haue no lymes to lobore with . lord y-graced be ȝe

ac we praye for ȝou peres . and for ȝour plow boþe 

þat god for his grace . ȝoure greyn multyplye

and ȝelde ȝou for ȝour almesse . þat ȝe ȝyue vs here .

For we mowe noþer swete ne swynke . such febelnysse vs eyleþ

ȝif hit beT quod peres þat ȝe seye . I schal hit sone a-spye 

ȝe beþ wastores I wot wel . ⁊ / & truþe wot þe soþe

and I am his olde hyne . I auȝte hym to warne .

sWhyche P wastores in þis wordle . his werkmen to destroyin

ȝe eten þat I schulde ete . þat erye for vs alle 

ac truthe schal teche ȝou . hys teem for to dryue

boþe to sette and to sowe . and to saue his tilþe .

Chace gees from þe corn . ⁊̃ / & kepe his bestis

or ȝe sculle eten barly bred . and of þe brok drynke 

but he be blynd oþer brokeschankyd . oþer bedred lygges

ȝe schulleT as I . so me god helpe .

Til god of his grace . gere hem to a-ryse

ankeres and ermites . þat holdeþ hem in her sellys 

ȝe schal haue of myn almesse . al þe while I lybbe

y-now eche day at non . ac no more ar morwe .

Lest{e}C his flesch and þe fend . foulyd his soule

onys at non is y-nowȝ . þat no werk ne vsyþ 

he a-bydeþ wel þe betere . þat bommeþ not to ofþe

þan gan þe wastores aryse . and wolde haue y-fouȝte .

To pers þe plowman . he proferyd his gloue

a bretonyr a braggere . bostede hym al-so 

and bad hym go pysse hym with his plow . pylede schrewe

wille þou nelle þou we wil haue . oure wilC of þy flour .

Thy flees fette a-way . wanne / w[h]anneT so vs lykyþ

and makeC vs merye þer-with . maugre þy chekys 

þanne peres plowman . pleyned hym to þe knyȝthys

to kepe hym as couenaunt was . f{o}romP cursede schrewes .

Fro wasteres þat wayte . wynneres to schende

curteysly tho þe knyȝth . asC his kynde wolde 

warnede wastores . and wyssede hem betere

or ȝe schal a-byȝe by þe laweC . by þe lord þat I welde

I was not woned to worche quod wastores . now wil I not bygynne

⁊̃ / &T let lyth of þe lawe . and lasce of þe knyȝth 

and countede peres at a pese . and his plow boþe

and mancede hym and his men . whanne þei nyxt mette .

Now by þe peril of my soule quod peres . I schal apeyre ȝou alle

and hopyd after hounger . þat herde hym at þe fyrste 

a-wrek me on þes wastores quod peres . þat þis wordle schendis

hounger in haste þenne hente . wastores by þe mawe .

And wrang hem by þe mawe . þat alle watered her eyen

and buffeted þe bretoner . a-bouþe þe chekys 

þat he loked as a lanterne . al his lyf after

he bet hem so boþe . and brak nere here mawes .

Ne hadde peres with a pese lof . prayed hym belyue

and with a bene bach . he hadde by-twene 

and hitte hounger þer-with . a-mydde his lyppys

and bledde in-to þe body-ward . a bolle ful of grouuel .

Ne hadde þe fesysyoun . defended hem water

to bate þe barly bred . and þe benys y-grounde 

þei hadde ben dede by þis day . and doluen al warme

faytoures for fere . flowyn in-to bernys .

And flappyn on with flaylys . fro morwe til eue

þat hounger was not so hardy . onys on hem to loke 

for a potel of pesyn . þat peres hadde y-maked

an hep of ermytes . hente hem spadys .

And doluen dryt and donge . to dryue hounger out

blynde and blereyed . were a-boute a þowsand 

þat leyȝe blynde and broke-legged . by þe hye-waye .

hounger hem helede . with an hot cake .

And manye lame mennys lymes . were lyþed þat tyme

and by-comen knauys . to kepe peres bestes 

and prayde for cherite . with peres for to dwelle

and for couetyse of his corn . to chace a-way hounger .

And peres was proud þer-of . and putte hem in-to offys

ȝaf hem mete and mone . as þey myȝthe a-serue 

þanne hadde peres pyte . and prayde hounger to wende

home in-to his owen ȝerd . and holde hym þer euere .

And ȝut I praye quod peres . or þou passe ferþer

of beggeres and bydderes . what is best to done 

for I wot wel be þou went . þey wil worche ylle

myschef hit makeþ . þey beþ so meke nowþe .

And for defaute of fode . þus faste þey wyrche

and hit beþ my blody breþryn . for god bouȝthe vs alle 

truþe tauȝthe me onys . to loue hem echone

and helpe hem of al þing . what þat hem nedyþ .

Now wolde I wyte ȝif þou wystyst . what were þe beste

hou I myȝthe a-mastrye hem . and make hem to wyrche 

here now quod hounger . ⁊ / & hold hit for a wysdom

bolde beggeres and bygge . þat mowe her bred by-swynke .

With houndys bred and horsebred . hold vp her hertes

and bayte hem with bonys . for swellyng of her wonbys wo[m]bys 

and ȝif þe gromys grucche . byd hem go and swynke

for he schal soupe swetter . when he haþ hit deserued .

Ac ȝif þou fynde ony freke . þat fortune haþ a-peyred

with fyre oþer with falce men . fonde suche to knowe 

comforte hym wiþ þy catel . for cristes loue of heuene

loue hem and lene hem . for so lawe of kynde wolde .

And alle men þat þou myȝthe a-spye . þat nedy beþ or nakedT

and nouȝth haue to spende . with mete ne with mone 

lat make T þe frendys þer-with . and so mathew vs techys

Facite uobis amicos ⁊ / & cetera . T wolde not gryue god .

For-þy I seye as I sayde ere . by sent of þese tyxtes

whan alle tresoures are tryde . truþe is þe beste 

now haue I told þe what truþe is . þat no tresour is betere

I may no longer lette . now loke þe oure lord.