Passus sextus de visione & cetera
CWyth þat ran repentaunce & rehersed his teme
and made wille to wepe watur with his eyes
Purnel proud herte plat hire to þe erthe
and long was ar he loked vp · & lord mercy cried
and bihighte to him · þat vs alle made
she sholde vnsewe here serk & sette þere an haire
To affaiton here flesh · þat fers was to synne
shal neuere high herte me hente but holde me lowe
and suffre to be mysseyd & so dyde y neuere
But now wole y meke me & mersy by-seche
Of alle þat y haue hatid in myn herte
Repente þe quod repentaunce as resoun þe taughte
And shriue þe sharplich shake of al pruydeC
y pruyde pacientlich penaunce aske
For y formest & first to my fader & moder
haue be vnbuxum y biseche god of mercy
and vnbuxum ybe · not abasht to a-gulte ·
God & gode men so gret was myn herte
ynobedient to holikirke · & to hem þat þere serueth
demed for here euel vices · and exited othir
Thorgh my word & my wit · her euel werkes to shewe
and scornyd hem & othir · yf y a skyle founde
Laughing al alowd · for lewed men sholde
wene y were witty · & wisore þen anothir
Skornere & vnskilful · to hem þat skile shewed42C
yn alle manere maneres · my name to be knowe
semyng a souereyn oen · where-so me byfulle
To telle any tale · y trowed me wisore
To carpe and counsele · þen any clerk or lewed
Proud of aperail · yn port amonges þe peple
Othirwise þen y haue with-ynnen & wiþ-outon
Me wilnynge þat men wente · y were as yn aveerC
Riche & resounable & rightful of lyuyng
Bosting & bragging · with many bold othes
CVauntynge vp my vayn glorie · for any vnder-nymyng
and ȝit so syngulerlyT by my-selue as to þe sight of peple
was noen such as him-selue · ne noen so popholy
sum tyme yn oen sekte · sum tyme yn a-nothir
yn alle kynne couent · contreued how y myghte
Be holdon for holy · and honoured by þat enchesoun
wilnynge þat men wende · my werkes wer þe beste
and þe conyngest of my craft clerkish or othir
and strengist vpon stede · and steuest vnder girdel
and louelokest to loke vpon and likyngest abedde
and likyng of such alif / a lif · þat no lawe preyseth
Proud of my faire faitures · and for y song shille
and what y gaf for godes loue · to gossipes y tolde
þey to wene þat y were ful holy & fulalmesful / ful almesful
and noen so bold a beggere to bidde & to craue
Tales to telle yn tauernes & yn stretes
Þing þat neuere ne was þought · and ȝut he swor y say hit
and layde on my lycame and on my lif bothe
Of werkes þat y wel dide · witnesses take
and segge to such · þat sette me biside
Lo yf ȝe leue me not · or þat y lye wenen
asketh at him or at hire · and he ȝou can telle
what y soffred & say · & sumtymes hadde
and what y cowde & knew · & of what kyn y come
al he wolde þat men wiste when hit to pruyde souneth
as to be preysed amonges þe peple · þogh he pore seme
CSi hominibus placerem Christi seruus non essem
Nemo potest duobus dominis seruire
Now god for his godnes gyue þe grace to amende
Quod repentaunce right with þat & þenne aroes enuye
¶ Enuye wiþ heuy herte · asked after shrifte
and cried mea culpa · cussing alle hise enemys
his clothis wern of corsed menT · & of kene wordes
he wroeth his fust vpon wrath · hadde weshes at willeT
sholde no lif lyue þat on his lond pissed
Chiding & chalenging þat was his chef liflode
and blame men bihinde here bak · & bidde hem myschaunce
and þat he wiste by wille to wadkyn he tolde hit
and al þat he wiste by watte · tolde hit wille afterC
and made of frendes foes · þorgh skile & fals tonge
Or þorgh myght of mouthe · or þorgh mannes sleythes
Venged me fele tymes oþer freet my-self wiþ-ynne
Aȝen þe counsel of crist clerkes fyndeth yn bokes
CCuius maledictione os plenum est amaritudine sub lingua
eius labor & dolor Filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte
& lingua eorum gladius acutusT
and when y may not haue þe maistrie such malencoly y take
þat y cacche þe crampe · þe cardiacle sumtyme
Or an ague yn such anger · & sumtyme a feuere
þat takeþ me al a twelmonthe · til þat y dispise
leche-craft of oure lord · & leue on a wicche
and segge þat no clerk kan · ne crist as y leue
To þe sowtere of suthwerk · such is his grace
For god ne godes word · ne none grace halp me neuere
but þorgh acharm / a charm hadde y chaunce · & my chef hele
For enuye & euel wil · ys euel to defie
May no sugur ne swet thing · aswage my swellyng
Ne derworthe drinke driue hit from myn herte
Noþer shame ne shrift · but who-so shraped my mawe
Thus redily quod repentaunce · and þow be right sory43C
For þine synnes souereynly · and by-seke god of mercy
y am euere sory saide enuye · y am selde othir
and þat maketh me so megre for y ne may me venge
ȝut am y brokour of bacbyting · and to blame menne ware
amonges marchauntes many tymes and namelich in londoun
when he sholde & he not þenne was al redyT
To lye & to loure · & lacke myn neyghebores
here werkes here wordes where þat y sete
Now hit athinketh me in my thought þat euere y so wroughte
Lord ar y lif lete · for loue of þi-selue
Graunte me gode lord grace of amendement
¶ þenne awaked wrathe wiþ two white yes
and with a nyuelinges nose · nypping his lippes
y am wrath quod þat wye · wole gladlich smyte
Bothe with stoen & with staf · & stele vpon myn enemy
To sle him slily sleithes y by-thenke
þough y sitte þis seuen ȝeer · y sholde not wel telle
The harm þat y haue do · wiþ hand & wiþ tonge
Inpacient yn alle penaunces · and pleyned as hit were
On god when me greued ought · & groched of his sonde
as somtyme yn somer · and also yn heruest
But y hadde wedur at my wille · y witte god þe cause
yn alle manere angres þat y hadde or feled
amonges alle manere men · my dwellyng ys sumtyme
with lewed & lered þat leef ben to here
harm of any man · by-hynde or byfore
¶ Freres folowen my fore fele tymes & ofteC
and preuen ynperfit prelates of holichirche
with licence & leue · & herby lyueth wrathe
þus þei speke & dispute · þat vchon spiseth othirC
þus beggeres & barones · at debate arn ofte
Til y wrathe wexe an hy · and walke wiþ hem bothe
Or til þey boþe be beggeres · & by spiritual lyue
Or alle riche & ride reste shal y not wrathe
þat y ne mote folowe þis folk my fortune ys noen oþere
¶ y haue an aunte to nonne and an abbesse
here wer leuere swoune or swete · þen soffre any payne
y haue be coek yn here kychene · and þe couent serued
Many monthes with hem · & wiþ monkes bothe
y was þe prioresse potager · and oþere pore ladies
and made hem iowtes of iangelyng · dame Ione was a bastard
and dame clarice a knyghtes doughtur · a cokewold was hire sire
and dame purnele aprestes / a prestes file · prioresse worth she neuere
Thus þei sitten þo sustres · sumtyme & disputen
Til þow lixt & þow lixt · be lady ouer hem alleC
and thenne awake y wrathe · & wolde be avenged
and þenne y crie & cracche · wiþ my kene nayles
Bite & bete · & bringe forth such thewes
amonges wyues & wedowes y am woned to sitte
y-parroked yn pues · þe persoun hit knoweth
how litel y loue letise at þe stile
For she hadde halibred ar y · myn herte gan chaunge
after mete afterward · she and she chiddon
and y wrathe was war · & warth on hem bothe
Til ayther clepid oþer hore · and on with þe clothesT
Til bothe here hedes wern bare · and blody here chekes
amonges monkes y myghte be ac many tyme y spare
For þere arn many felle freykes · myn aferes to aspie
þat ys priour & suppriour and oure pater abbas
and y telle any tales þey taken hem to-gydores
and doen me faste fridaies · þe breed & þe waterT
ȝut am y chalenged yn oure chapitre-hous · as y a child were
and baleised on þe bare ers & no brech by-twene44C
y haue no lust leue me amonges monkes to longeT
For y ete more fish þen flesh & febel ale drinkeC
y haue a flux of a foul mouth · wel fyue dayes after
and al þat y wiste wicked by any of oure couent
y cough hit vp yn oure cloyster þat al þe couent woet hit
Now repente þe quod repentaunce · & reherse neuere
Counsel þat þow knowest · by continaunce ne by speche
and drink not ouerdelicatly · ne to depe neyther
Cþat þi wille ne thi wit · to wrathe myghte turne
Esto sobrius he saide & assoileT him after
and bad him bidde to god · be his help to amende
¶ Thenne saide leccherie alas · & to our lady cried
Lady to þi leue sone loute for me nouthe
þat he haue pite on me putour · of his puyre mercy
with þat y shal quod þat shrewe · saturdaies for þi moder loue
Drinke bot with þe doke · & dyne but ones
y gulty in goest to god y me shriue
as yn likyng of leccherie · my licames gultes
yn word & yn wedes yn wastingT of yes
For eche maide þat y mette · y made hire a signe
Semyng to synneward · & summe y gan taste
aboute þe mouth & bynethe gan y to grope
CTil bothe our wille was oen · and to þe werk we ȝedon
as wel fastingdaies & fridaies · and hereT festes euenes
as leef yn lente as owte of lente alle tymes yliche
Til we myghte no more , þenne hadde we mery tales
Of putrie & of paramoures · & prouedon þorgh speche
and handeling & halsing & also þorgh kissing
Exited aither oþer til oure olde synne
Csotiled songes & sent owt olde baudes
To wynne to my wille wymine with gile
By sorserie sumtyme · & sumtyme By maystrye
y lay by þe louelokest & loued hire neuere afterC
when y was oeld & hoer · & hadde lore þat kynde
y hadde likyng to lithe of leccherie tales
Now lord for þi lewte on lecchoures haue mercy
¶ Thenne cam coueytise y can not him discreue
So hungrily & holough sire heruy him loked
he was bitelbroued & baberlipped with two blered yes
And as a letherene pors lolleden his chekesC
wel siddore þen his chyn · y-cheueled for elde
and as a bondemannes bacown his berd was y-shaue
with his hoed on his heued · & his cappeT bothe
yn atore / a tore taberd of twelue wyntur Age
But yf a lous cowde lepe · y leue hit y trowe
sheT sholde not wandre vpon þat welch so was hit þredbare
y haue be coueytows quod þis caitif y by-knowe hit here
For sumtyme y serued symme at þe stile
and was his prentys yplight · his profit to wayte
First y lerned to lye · a lesyng oþer tweyne
wyckedlich to waye · was my first lessoun
To wy & to wynchestere y wente to þe faire
with many manere marchaundise as my maister highte
Ne hadde þe grace of gyle go among my ware
hit hadde be vnsold þis seuen ȝeer so me god helpe
¶ þenne drowgh y me among draperes my donet to lerne
To drawe þe liser along · þe lengur hit semed
amonges þe riche raieresT · y rendrede a lessoun
To brochen hem wiþ a pak-nedele · & band hem to-gyderes
Putte hem in pressoures · and pynne hem þerynne
Til ten ȝerdes oþer twelue tolde out þrettene
My wif was a webbe · & wollone cloth made
and spak to þe spinsteres · to spynnen oute
þe pound þat she paide hem by · peysed a quarter
More þen Myn auncelle · when y weyed truthe
y boughte hire barly she brew hit to selle
Penyale & puddyngale she poured hitT to-gidores
For laboreres & low folk þat lay by him-selue
and þeT beste ale lay in my boure · & yn my bed-chaumbre
A galoun for a grote & ȝut no graith mesure
when hit cam yn cuppe-mele þis craft my wyf vsed
Rose þe regrater was hir right name
she hadde yholde huxtrie þis elleuen wyntur
Repentedest neuere quod repentaunce · ne restitucion madest
y roes & ruyfled her males · when þey a reste were
¶ þat was a ruful restitucion quod repentaunce forsoþe
þow wolt be hanged hie þerfore · here oþer in helle
vsedest euere vsurie yn al thi lif tyme
Nay sothly she saide · saue yn my ȝouthe
y lerned amonges lumbardes · alessoun / a lessoun & of iewes
To weye pens wiþ a peys · & pare þe heuygost
and lente for loue of þe wed · þe which y leet betture
and more worth þen þe moneye or men þat ich lened
y lene folk þat lese wole alippe / a lippe of vch anoble / a noble
and with lombardes lettres · lene gold at Rome
So what barn of me borowed · he boughte þe tyme
Lenedest euere any lord for loue of his mayntenaunce
y haue lent lordes & ladies · þat loued me neuere after
and haue ymaed many aknyght / a knyght boþe mercer & draper
paide neuere for his prentishoed not apaire / a paire gloues
þat chaffared with my cheuysaunces cheued selde after
¶ Now redyly quod repentance & by þe rode y leue
Ne þin heires as y hope · haue ioye þat þow wonne
For þe pope with al his pentaunceres power hem faileth
To assoyle þe of þis synne Sine restitucioun
CNumquam dimittitur peccatum & cetera ·
wiþ false wordes & wyghtes · haue ych wonne my godes
and wiþ gile & glosing ygadered þat ich haue
Medled my marchaundise · & made a goed mostre
þe worste lay with-ynne a greet wyt y leet hit
and yf myn neyghbore hadde an hyne or any beest elles
More profitable þen myn y made many wentes
how y myghte haue hit al my wit y caste
¶ and but y hit hadde by oþer weye · at þe laste y stale hit
Or priueylich his purs shok · & vnpiked his lokes
and yf y ȝede to þe plough · y pinched on his half-acre
þat afotelond / a fote lond or a forough · fecchon y wolde
of my neighebore next · nymen of his erthe
and yf y raap ouerreche · or ȝaf hem rodT þat repe
To sese to me with here sikel · þat y ne sew neuere
¶ yn halidaies at holichurche · when y herde messe
For mysdedesT þat y ne mourned ofter
For los of goed leue me þen for lycames gultes
as þough y deedly synne dide · y dradde hit so sore
as when y lened & leued hit lost · or longe or hit were paid
and yf y sente ouersee my seruauntes to bruges
Or in-to pruys-lond my prentises · my profit to awaite
To marchaunde wiþ my money · and make here eschaunges
Mighte neuere me counforte in þe mene tyme
Noþer matynes ne masse ne no manere sightes
Ne neuere penaunce perfourmed ne paternoster saide
þat my mynde ne was more yn my godes abouteT
þen yn þe grace of god · and yn his gret myghte
Vbi thesaurus tuus ibi cor tuum
Now redily quod repentaunce y haue ruthe of þi lyuing
were y a frere yn goed faith · for al þe gold on erthe
y ne wolde cope me wiþ catelT · ne oure kirke mende
Ne take a meles mete of thine · and myn herte hit wiste
þow were such as þou saist y sholde rathir sterue
Melius est mori quam male viuere
¶ y rede no faithful frere at þin feste to sitte
ȝut wer me leuere by oure lord lyue al by welle-cresses
þen haue my fode & my fyndyng of fals menne wynninges
CSeruus es alterius cum fercula pinguia queris
Pane tuo poscius vescere liber eris
þow art an vnkynde creature y can þe not assoile
Til þow haue maed by þi myght to alle men restitucion
For alle þat haen of þin goed · haue god my truthe
ys halden at þe hie doem · to helpe þe restitue
ȝe þe prest þat þi tithe toek · trowe y noen othir
shal parte with þe in purgatorie · & helpe paie þi dette
yf he wiste þou were such · when he resceyued þin offring
And what lede leueth þat y lie loke yn þe sauter glosed
On ecce enim veritatem dilexisti
Cand þere shal he wite weturly · what vsure is to mene
and penaunce þe prest shal haue · þat proud is of his tiþes
For an hore of hire ers-wynnyng may hardiloker tiþe
þen an erraunt vsurer haue god my truþe
and arst shal come to heueneT
¶ þenne was þere a walshe man · was wonderly sory
highte euanT ȝelde aȝen · yf y so myche haue
al þat y wickedly wan · sithen þatT y wit hadde
and þough my liflode lacke letton y nelle
þat yche man ne shal haue his · ar y hennes wende
For me ys leuer yn þis lif as a lorel begge
þen yn lisse to lyue · and lese lif & soule
Robert þe Ruyflere · On reddite loked
and for þere nas not where-with he weep swithe sore
¶ and ȝut þat synful shrewe saide to þe heuene
Crist þat on caluarie on þe cros dyedest
þo bismasT my brothir bysoughte ȝou of grace
and haddest mercy vpon þat man for memento his sake
So rewe on Robert · þat reddere ne haue
Ne neuere wene to wynne with craft yknoweT
For þin miche mercy mytigacioun y biseche
dampne me not at domesday for þat y dide so ille
what bifel of this feloun y can not faire shewe
wel y woet he wepte faste water with his yes
and knowleched to crist his cowpe ȝut eftsones
þat repentaunse his pik-staf · he wolde polshe newe
For he hadde y-leye by latro · Lucifers aunte
By þe rode quod repentaunce · þow romest toward heuene
By so hit be yn þin herte as y here þin tonge
Crist in his myche mercy · and ȝut þow myght be saued
For al þe wrecchednes of þis world & wicked dedes
Fareth as flonk of fuyr · þat ful amid temse
and diede with a drop water · so doth alle synnes
COmnis iniquitas quo ad misericordiam dei est quasi sintilla
in medio maris
¶ Repente þe anoen quod repentaunce right to þe vserer
and haue his mercy in thin mynde & marchaundise leue hit
For þow hast no goed by goed faith · to gete þe wiþ a wastelle
For þe goed þat þou hast gete · bygan al wiþ falsheed
and as longe as þou lyuest þerwith · þou ȝeldest not but borowest
and yf þou wite neuere to wham · ne where to restitue
Bere hit to thi bisshop and bidde him of his grace
To bisetton hit him-selue · as best be for thin soule
For he shal answere for the · at þe hie doem
For þe & for many mo · þat man shal ȝiue rekenyng
what he lered ȝou to lyue with · and lette ȝou fram þefte
¶ Now bigynneth glotoun forto go to shrifte
and kaires him to kirkeward · his cowpe to shewe
Fasting on a friday forth gan he wende
By Beton hows þe brewster · þat bad hemT goed morowen
and whoderward he wolde þe bruwyf him asked
To holy churche quod he forto here masse
and sithen sitte & byT shryuen · and synne no more
y haue goed ale gossip glotoun wolt þow assaye
y haue peper & pyonye and a pound of garlek
a ferthingworth of fenkelsedes for fastingdaies I bought it
¶ þenne goth glotoun yn · and gret othes after
Sesse þe souteresLX · sat on þe benche
watte þe whernereLX & his wyf dronke
Tymme þe tynkere · and tweyen of his knaues
hicke þe hakeney man · & howe þe nedler
Clarise of Cokkeslane & þe Clerk of þe churcheC
CSire pers of pridie · and purnel of Flaundres
an hayward an heremyte · þe hangman of tyborne
Dawe þe dykere with a dozeyne of harlotes
Of portoures & of pike-purses & piled toth drawers
a Rybybour a Ratoner a rakyer and his knaue
a rope a reding kyng · & rose þe disshere
Godfray þe Garlekmongere & Griffith þe walsheC
and of vpholders an heep erly by þe morwenT
Geuen glotown with glad chere goed ale to hanselle
¶ Clement þe cobler cast of his cloke
and to þe newe faire nempned hitC forth to selle
hicke þe hakenay man hit his hoed after
and bad botte þe bocher to ben on his side
þere wern chapmen ychose þis chaffare to preyse
þat who-so hadde þe hoed shold not haue þe cloke
and þat þe bettere þing by arbytroures sholde bote þe werse
Two risen vp rape and rouned to-giders
and preised þis penyworthes apert / ap[a]rt by hem-selue
and þere wern othes an heep · for oen sholde haue þe worse
They myghtP not by here conscience · acorden for truthe
Til Robyn þe Ropere arise þey bysoughte
and nempned him for a nounpere · þat noen debate were
hicke þe hosteler hadde þe cloke
yn couenaunt þat Clement sholde þe cuppe fullen
and haue hickes hoed þe hostiler · and holde him yserued
and who-so repentid him rathist · sholde arise after
and grete sire glotoun with a galoun of ale
þere was laughing & louryng & lat go þe coppe
Bargaynes & beuerages bygan tho to walke
and seton so til euensong and songon vmwhileT
Til glotown hadde yglobbed · a galoun & a gille
his guttes bigan to gothele · as two gredy sowes
he pissed a potel yn a paternoster while
þat alle þat herde þe horn helden her neses after
and wisshed hit hadde be wasshe with a wisp of breres
he myghte nothir steppe ne stande til he a staf hadde
and þenne gan he go lik a glemannes bicche
Somtyme a-syde & somtyme a-rere
as who-so laith lynes forto lacche foules
and when he drough to þe dore þenne dymmed his yes
and thrombled at þe thresshold · & þrew to þe erthe
and Clement þe Cobler caught him by þe myddel
and forto lifte him a-loft laid him on his knees
andT glotoun was a gret churl · & he groned in þe liftyng
¶ and coughed vp a caudel yn Clementes lappe
ys noen so hungry hound in hertfordshire
durst lape of þat lyuyng so vnlouely hit smaughte
with al þe wo of þis world his wif & his wenche
Beron him to his bed & broughton him þerynne
and aftir al þis exces · he hadde an accidie
he sleep saturday & sonda / sonda[y] til þe sonne ȝede to reste
þenne gan he awake ful{wel} wanne · & wolde haue ydronke
þe first word þat he spak was who halt þe bolle
his wif & his ynwit blamed{edwitid} him of his synne
he wax a-shamed þat shrew · & shrof him as swithe
To repentaunce right þus · haue ruthe on me he saide
þow lord þat aloft art · & alle lyues shoep
To þe god y glotoun gulty y me yelde
of þat y haue trespassed wiþ tonge y can not telle how ofte
sworn godes soule & his sides · & so helpe me god almyghty
þere no nede ne was many sithe falsly
and ouersouped at my soper and somtyme at nones
More þen my kynde myghte defie
and as a hound þat eet gras · so gan y to brake
and spilde þat y aspeleLX myghte · y can not speke for shame
þe vyleny of my foule mouth & of my foul mawe
and fastingdaies bifore noen · fede me with ale
Out of resoun among ribaudes her ribaudie to here
hereof gode god graunte me forȝiuenes
Of al my lither lif yn al my liftyme
For y avowe to veray god for any hungur or furst
shal neuere fish on þe friday defien yn my wombe
Til abstinence myn aunte · haue ȝiue me leue
and ȝut haue y ihatid hire al my lif tyme
Wrath ·
wine Inne witt owte
Lecherye .
in the clergie and othersC
bawdy songes and bauds nurces of lecherye
decepte in
ailewiues ·
ailewiues ·
Lumbards
Crafte
Crafte
nota
nota
The nature
of gluttony
of gluttony
companions
of the ale
Rood .
of the ale
Rood .
Prowde harte
nota
Envye ·
þe nature of
Envye · /
Envye · /
emulacoun
in all degres
in all degres
nota
nota
Causeth fluxes
fatt foles
places of lechery
lecherie had by sorcery
or ells by Rapine
or ells by Rapine
lecherie desiers change
Covetyse . /
marks of covetise
folckes ·
folckes ·
in a torne coote /
an vseror . orC marchant
Drapers drepe
mens purses
mens purses
filthy & bitinge
VsurieC
VsurieC
exemplatum vsq[…]C
Glotoun
Glotonye .
wil
faste on all
Fridayes
faste on all
Fridayes
Drunkinnes
& swering
& swering
gluttonnys horne his
tale
tale