Incipit Passus Quintus.
Þat y ne hadde slepe saddere / & y-seyn moore.
But er y hadde faren a forlong / a feyntyȝse me hente.
Þat y ne myghte a foote furthere / for defawte of slepe.
Þan sat y softly adoun / & seyde myn beleve.
& y bablede so on my bedis / þey browhte me on sleepe.
¶ & þanne y seyȝ mychil moore / þan y be-fore-hond tolde.
For y seyȝ þe feld ful of folk / þat y be-fore of seyde.
& how Resoun a-rayed hym / al þe Rewme to preche.
& at þe cros by-fore þe kyng / he comsed a teeme.
/ / [¶] He prechede þat þe pestylencys / wheryn for pure synne.
& þat þe Sowþ-west wyȝnd / on a Saturday ateve / at eve.
Was a-pertly for pryȝde / & for no poynt ellys.
Boþe pyryes & plumtrees / wheryn puffyd to þe erthe.
& broode okes & beechis / where blowe to þe grownde.
Þat dedly synne er domes-day / sholde for-don vs alle.
¶ But of þis Matere y / y [myȝt] / mamele ful longe.
But y shal seyȝn ȝow / as y seyȝ / so me god helpe.
How propirly by-fore þe peple / prechen gan resoun.
/ / [¶] He bad wastour goo wyrche / what he beest cowhde.
& wynnyn his wastynge / with sum manere of werkys.
¶ He prayede Peronylle / hire purfyle to leete.
& kepe þe coyn in hire cofre / to conforte hire at neede.
/ / [¶] & Thomme of Stowe he tawhte / to take two stavis.
& Fecche Felice his wif hom / fram wyfene pyȝne.
¶ Also he warnede watte / how hys wif was to blame.
Þat hire heed was worþ half Mark / & his hood not worþ a groote.
To beetyn þerwith Betoun / but yf she wille wyrche.
¶ & namely he chargede Chapmen / to chastyse here childryn.
& leete no wynnynge / for-wayne hem / whilys þey ben ȝonge.
Ne for no pyte of Pestilence / ne pleese hem out of Resoun.
/ / [¶] My sire seyde onys to me / & also seyde my damme.
How þat þe leevere chyld / þe more Loore be-hoveþ.
& Salomon seide þe same / þat sapience book maade.
Qvi parcit virge odit filium.
Þe englyȝs of þis Latyn ys / who þat wille yt knowe.
¶ Þanne parled he to parsones / & to preestis to-gydres.
Looke ȝee preche þe peple / & preve it on ȝoure-selue.
& doþ it sadly in dede / & ȝee shulle drawe to goode.
If ȝee lyve / as ȝee leerne vs / we leve ȝow þe bettre.
/ / [¶] Þanne after he radde Relygious / here rewhlys to holde.
Lest þe kyng by his conseyl / ȝoure comonys a-peyre.
& sytthen he conseylyde þe kyng / to love þe comoun peple.
For þat is tresor / yf tresoun nere / & triacle at neede.
& sytthe he prayede þe Pope / to have rewþe on holy chirche
& er he grawnte ony grace / to governe fyrst hym-selue.
& ȝee þat have Lawis to kepe / let Coueytyse be with trewþe.
More þan gold / or oþire gyftys / if ȝee wille god plese.
For who þat contraryeþ trewþe / as telliþ þe trewe gospel.
Þat god knoweth hym nowht / ne non coorseynt of hevene.
Amen dico vobis . nescio vos.
& ȝee þat seekyn seynt Iemes / or ony seynt of Rome.
Seke first seynt trewþe / for he may save ȝow alle.
Qvi cum patre & filio / alle fayre hem be-falle.
Þat sewyn myn sermoun / & þus seyde sire Resoun.
& made wille to wepe / water with his eyȝen.
& Peronylle prowd-herte / platte hire on þe erthe.
& þere she lay longe / & oure lord / mercy cryȝede.
Shal y neuere have heyȝ herte / but holde me euere lowe.
& suffre to / to [be] mys-seyȝd / & so ȝit dide y neuere.
But now wille y meeke me / & Mercy be-seche.
/ / [¶] Þe Lecclour / Lecc[h]our seyde ofte allas / & to oure Lady he criȝede.
Þanne Envie with heuy herte / askyde after shryfte.
He was as pale / as a pelote / & in þe palesy he semede.
He was cloþid in cawry-mawry / I cowhde it not discryȝe.
He hadde on kyrtyl & coorteby / & a longP knyf by his syȝde.
As a leek hadde y-leyn / longe a-geyn þe sunne.
His body was foule y-bolned / & faste he boot hise lyppis.
& hise hondis he wrong / to ben a-wreke he þowhte.
With werkys / or with wordis / whan he seyȝ his tyȝme.
& euery word þat he warp / was lyk an addir tunge.
Of chydynge & Ianglynge / was his cheef lyflode.P
With bakbytynge & bysmere / & berynge fals witnesse.
Þanne seyde þat shrewe y wolde be shryve / if y for shame durste.
I have a neyȝhebore neyȝ me / y haue noyȝed hym ofte.
& lowhe on hym ful lowhde / & mad hym loost / [lese] his syluer.
& mad hise frendis . hise foon / þorwh my false tunge.
For his grace & goode happis / greve me ful sore.
By-twixe hym & manye men / y make debate ofte.
Þat boþe here lyvis & here lymes / be loost . þoru my speche.
& whan y mete hym in Market / þat y moost hate.
I heyȝle hym ful hendely / as y his frend were.
For he / he [is] dowhtyere þan y / y dar doon non oþir.
But hadde y Maystrie ouer hym / god wot my wille.
& sholde praye for þe peple / as þe parshȝ prest techeþ.
For pylgrymes for palmeres / & penauntys also.
Þanne y criȝe for cristian / þat crist gyve hire sorwe
Þat bar a-wey myn bolle / & my broke sheete.
¶ A-weyȝ fram þe awhter / þan turne y myn eyȝen.
& wisshede ofte / it were myn / & al þe weeb after.
& for mennys leesynge y lawhe / for it lykeþ wel myn herte.
But for his wynnyngge y wepe / & ofte weyle þe tyme.
I deme hem / þat doon Ille / & y do my-selue wel werse.
& who þat vndir-nemeþ me þerof / I hate hym euere after.
& who þat haþ more þan y / ȝee þat angriþ me sore.
& þus y lyve loveles / lych a lythir dogge.
Þat al my body bolneþ / so bytter ys my galle.
I myghte not etyn manye ȝeris / as a man awhte.
For Envye & euel wyl / ys evyl to defyȝe.
Þere may no sewgre / ne swete þyng / a-swage my wombe.
Ne non dyapendyon / dryve it fram myn herte.
Ne neythir shryfte ne shame / but he wil shrape myn mawe
/ / [¶] Ȝys quod Repentawnce redely / & radde hym to þe beste.
Strong sorwe for synne / is saluacioun to þe sowle.
I was a-mong burgeys / þere men bowhte & solde.
& whan he solde & y nowht / þan was y ful redy.
I wille a-mende me if y may / þorgh cristis myght in heuenne.
Al revelynge / [n]evelynge with his nose / & his nekke hangynge.
I am wrothȝ he seyde þo / for sumtyme y was a frere.
& þe Couentys Gardyner / for to graffe yȝmpis.
& on Lemetour & on lyȝstre / lesynges y yȝmpede.
Tyl þey bere Levis of lowh speche / lordis to plese.
& now ys fallyn swich frut þerof / þat folk have wel levere.
& so possessioneris prechyn / & de-prauen Freris.
Þat whan þey preche þe peple / in fele placys a-bowte.
I wratthe walke with hem / & wisshe hem of my bookys.
& make hem so speke of spiritualte / tyl ech dyspyse oþir.
Tyl þey ben boþe beggeris / & byT almesse lybben.
Or ellis boþe be ryche / & ryally ryde a-bowte.
& y wratthe reste neuere / but renne after & folwe.
Alle swiche wykkide folk / for swich is my grace.
Þey weryn leuere to sweltre / þan to suffre a whyle.
I was Cook in here kychene / & þe conuent seruede.
I was þe Prioresse potager / & oþire poore Ladijs.
& Made hem Iowtys of Ianglynge / þat dame Ione was bastard.
& dame Claris a knyghtis dowter / bu / bu[t] she knew not hire fadir.
For she childid in Chirye-tyme / al þe chapetre it wyste.
Tyl þou lyxt & þou lyxt / lopen owt a tonys / at onys.
Hadde þey had knyvis by crist / ech hadde kyllid oþir.
¶ Seynt Gregory was a good pope / & hadde good resoun.
Þat no Prioresse sholde be prest / þat lawe he ordeynede
Þey weryn infamys at þe firste / so cun þei conseil close.
Boþe of Pryour & supprior / & of pater Abbas.
For if itelle / i telle onye talis / þey take hem to-gydres.
& don me faste frydayes / boþe breed & watur.
& y am chastysed in Chapetre / as y a child were.
For-þy y have no lykynge / with þo leedis to dwelle.
For þere y eet vnthende fyssh / & drank feble ale.
Þat y have a flyx & a foul mowth / wel fyve dayes after.
& al þe wykkidnesse þat y woot / be onye of my bretheryn.
I cowthe it in þe Cloystre / til al þe Couent knoweth yt.
¶ A Repente quod Repentaunce / & reerse þou yt neuere.
& drynk not ouer-delycatly / ne to depe neythir.
Þat þy wille be cause þerof / to wratthe it þe turne.
Esto sobrius he seyde / & assoyled me sone þere-after.
& bad me wylne to wepe / my wykkidnesse to amende.
So hugerly / hu[n]gerly / & holwe / sire Hervy lokede.
He was brytyl-brewid / bytyl-brewid / & babirlyppid alse.
With two blerede eyȝen / as a blynd hagge.
& as a ledrene purs / lolleden hise chekys.
Wel syddere þan his chyn / þey shynede / shyu[er]ede for elde.
His hood he hadde on his hed / an heyȝ hat þer vppe.
He hadde on a tany tabbard / of ten ȝeer of age.
¶ I have be Coueytous quod þis caytyf / y be-knowe it here.
For sumtyme y servede / Symme at þe style.
Fyrst y leernede to lyȝe / wel a leef or moore.T
& skarsly to weyȝe þyngis / was my fyrste lessoun.
With many maner of Marchaundise / as my Maister me hyghte.
Ne hadde þe grace of gyle be / þat gan gon a-mong my ware.
It hadde be vnsold þis seuyn ȝeer / so me god helpe.
/ / [¶] Þanne drow y me a-mong draperis / my donet to leerne.
For to drawe þe lyȝste a-long / þe cloþ þe lengere semede.
A-mong þe ryche rayes / y rendred my lessoun
Tyl teen ȝerdis or twelue / tollydP out thrittene.
¶ My wif was a webbe / & wollene she made.
But þe pound þat she payed by / peysed a quarter more.
Þan myn owne awncel / who þat weyȝede trewþe.
/ / [¶] Þan bowhte y here barly malt / she brewh it to selle.
Peny ale & puddyng ale / she porede to-gydre.
& þe beste ale lay in my bowr / or in my bed-chambre.
& who þat bummede þer-of / he bowhte it þer-after.
A galoun for a groote / god woot no lesse.
She haþ y-holde huksterye / al hire lyf-tyȝme.
I swere now so þeechT / þat synne wil y leete.
& neuere wrongly weyȝe / ne wikkid chaffare vse.
But y wenden to walsyngham / & my wif with me.
& bidde þe roode of Bromholm / brynge me fram dette.
¶ Repentist þe euere / quod repentaunce / & restitucioun þou madist.
/ / [¶] Ȝee quod he onys y was herborwhed / with an hep of Chapmen.
& whan þei weryn in reste / y roos / & ryflede here malis.
Þou haddist been bettre þerfore / ben hongyd be þe nekke.
Þan for al þe oþir þyng / þat þou hast here shewyd.
Ne y can no Frenchȝ in feyþ / but of Norþfolk langage.T
¶ Vsedist þou euere vserye quod repentaunce / in al þy lyf-tyme.
/ / [¶] Nay soþly seyde he save sumtyme in ȝowthe.
To weyȝe pens with a peyȝs / & þan to pare þe heuyest
& to leene for love of þe cros / & if þey leyȝde a wed / lese it.
& doble detteT y dide wryte / if he his day brooke.
I have mo Maneris þoruh regages / þan þoruh miseretur & comedat.
¶ I have lent lordis longe / my lovely chaffare.
& be a brokour after / bowht yt a-geyn my-selue.
& with changis & chevesaunces / with chaffare y dele.
& y leene folk þat leese wille / a shelyng in þe noble.
& with lumbardis lettris / y ladde gold to Rome.
& took it here be tale / & tolde it þere lasse.
¶ Lentyst þou euere Lordis quod he for love of Meyntenaunce.
& y have maad many a knyght / boþe Mercyr & drapeer.
¶ Hast þou pyte on poore men / þat muste for nede borwe.
Þat wolde kyllyn hem alle / for coveytyse of here skynnys.
¶ Art þou Manly to þyn Neyȝhebour / of Metis & drynkys.
A-mong my Neygheboures namely / swich a name i have.
¶ Now god gyve grace quod repentaunce / but þou repente / þe rathere.
Grawnte þe grace on þis grownde / þy good so þou be-sette.
Þat þyn houswif after the / have Ioye of þat þou wynnyst.
& þyne seketoures weel be-sette / þe siluer þat þou levist
For as it ys / wonne with wrong / it worþ with wastoures spendid.
For where y Frere of an hows / þere feyþ is fownde þere-Inne.
For þe beste book in oure hous / þeyȝ brend gold where þe levis.
& y wyste wittirly / þou were swych as þou tellyst.
Seruus es alterius cum fercula pinguia queris.
Pane tuo pocius vescere liber eris.
¶ Þou art an vn-kyȝnde creature / y can þe nowht asoyle.
Tyl þou Make restitucioun / & rekne with hem alle.
& þerto / þat Resoun rolle it / in þe regystre of hevene.
For til þou hast maad / ech man good / y may þe noht a-soyle.
Non dimittitur peccatum nisiT restituatur ablatum.
For alle þo þat have þyn good / as god have my trewþe
Or praye þe of for-gyfnesse / or to doon yt for þy sowle.
& ellis he shal have evil hap / but he heendely wirche.
His catel shal fallyn hym froo / or ellis hise freendis goode.
Or ellis his soule shal drynke sour / at o dayes tyme.
Cum sancto sanctus eris / construe now wel þis resoun.
Have mercy in þy Myȝnde man / & with þyn Mowþ god be-seche.
& al þe wykkidnesse / þat ony man / may eyþir wirche or þynke.
Is no moore to goddis mercy / þan in þe see a gleede
For þou hast no good grownde / to gete þerfore a wastel.
But it be with þy tunge / or ellis with þyn hondis.
For al þe good þat / þat [þou] hast geete / þe grownde be-gan with falsnesse.
& as longe þou / [as] þou lyvest þerwith / þou ȝeeldest not but borwist.
& if þou wete neuere to wyche / ne yt / [ȝ]it to whom restore.
Bere it to þyn Bysshop / & bydde hym of his grace.
By-sette yt hym-selue / as beest is for þyn sowle.
For he shal answere for þe / at þe day of doome.
For the / & for manye moo / þat man shal ȝeve reknyng.
& wendis hym to kirkeward / his coupe to shewe.
A-non Betoun þe Brewstere / bad hym good Morwe.
& freyned hym . whens he cam / & whidir þat he wolde.
To holy chirche quod he to heren a-morwe Messe.
& sytthe y wille be shryve / & synne no moore.
¶ Ȝee y have good ale gossip quod she glotoun wilt þou a-saye.
¶ Hast þou in þyn purs quod he ony spyces fyȝne.
I have peper & pyenys / quod she & a pound of gilloffris.
& a ferthyng-worþ of fenel seed / for fastynge-dayes.
A-non gooþ Glotoun in with hire / & grete oþis after.
& fond Symme sowteres wif / syttynge on þe benche.
& Watte Waryner also / & his wif bothe.
& Tomme þe tynkere / & tweyn of hise prentyȝs.
& hikke þe hakeney man / & howe þe nedlere.
& Clarys of cokkyslane / with þe clerk of þe chirche.
& Dawe þe dykere / & wel a doseyn oþere.
A rybybour / a ratoner / & a rakyere of chepe.
& Godefrey / of Garlyngheþe / & Geffrey wasshere.
& vp-holderys a gret heep / herly be þe Morwe.
Þey geve Glotoun with glad chere / a galoun ale in honde.
¶ Sone Clement þe Cobelere / of-caste his cloke.
& in þe newe feyȝre / he nempnyd it to selle.
¶ A-non hikke þe hakeney man / hytte his hood after.
Þere weryn chapmen y-chose / þat chaffare to preyȝse.
Which of hem sholde have þe hood / or who sholde haue þe boþe.
¶ Þan ryse þey ful rathely / & rowneden to-gydres.
But þei cowde not be here consience / a-corde þat tyȝme.
Tyl Robyn þe Ropere / was reysed fram his sete.
& nempned for a nounpere / þat no debate þere fylle.
¶ Þanne hikke hosteler / hadde þe cloke.
In connawnt þat Clement / sholde / sholde [þe] cuppe fylle.
& have hikkis hod hosteler / & holde hym a-payed.
& who þat repentyd rathest / sholde ryse sone.
& gretyn wel sire Glotoun / with a galoun ale.
Þere was lawhyng / & lowryng / & let go þe cuppe.
& setyn þere tyl evynsong / & sunge merye songis.
Tyl Glotoun hadde y-glubbyd / a galoun & more.
Þat hise guttys gunne to gowle / as a gredy sowe.
I trowe he pissed a potel / in a pater noster whyle.
& blewh his rownde rewet / at his regbonys ende.
Þat al þe folk in þe hows / helden here nose after.
& wysshed it were wypid / with a wips of fyrsen.
He myghte not steppe ne stonde / er he a staf hadde.
& þanne gan he goo lych / a glewh-mannys bycche.
Sum-tyme he ȝeede o-syde / & hidirward & þydirward.
As who þat leyþ lyȝnes / larkys to cacche.
& whan he drowh to þe dore / þan dymmed hise eyȝen.
& tripplid / trippid on þe threshold / & ouer-threwh to grownde.
A-non Clement coblere / kawht hym in hise armes.
But Glotoun was a gret cherl / & grim for to lyfte.
& cowhed a potel cawhdel / in Clementis lappe.
Þer is non so hungri hound / in al hertforde-shyre.
Þat leste lape a lyte þerof / so loþly it smellide
/ / [¶] Þan with al þe wo in þe world / his wif & his wenche.
Þey beren hym to his bed / & browhte hym þere-Inne.
& after al þat exces / he hadde swich an accydie.
Þat he sleep al Saturday / & Sunday tyl eve.
& þanne a-waked he wroþly / & wypide hise eyȝen.
& þe fyrste word þat he warp / was where is þe bolle.
& wit gan edwyte hym / how wykkidly he wrouhte.
& ryght so dede Repentance / he rebukyd hym þat tyme.
Þou hast þoruhȝ word & werk / wrowht euele in þy lyve.
I rede þou shryve þe & be a-shamed / & shewe it with þy mowþe.
Þere þat no nede was / nyhȝne hundryd tyȝmes.
I have ouer-seyn me at soper / & sum-tyme at noon melis.
Þat y gert vp a-geyn / er y gan goon a myle.
& ouer-delycatly on fastynge-dayes / y-drunke & etyn boþe.
& sum-tyme sat so longe þere-at / y sleep & eet a tones / at ones.
To heryn talis in tauernys / to drynke þe sunnere y wente.
& ofte hyȝede to mete er noon / whan fastynge-dayes felle.
¶ Now þis shewynge shryfte / quod Repentaunce / shal be meryȝt to þe.
/ / [¶] & a-non gan Glotoun gretyn / & greet dool he maade.
For his loþ lyþir lyf / þat he so lyvid hadde.
& a-vowede to faste / for hungir & þryst boþe
& seyde / shal neuere fyshȝ on fryday / defyen in my wombe.
Tyl Abstynence myn awnte / haþ ȝove me good leve.
& ȝit have y hated hire / In al my lyf-tyme.
I muste sytte seyde þe segge / or y shal ellis nappe.
I may nowht stonde / ne stowpe / with-oute / [ne] with-oute stool knele
Sholde no rynggynge do me ryse / er y were rype to dyghne.
/ / [¶] He gan Benedicite on a book / & his brest he knokkyde.
& rorede with a raskeng / & Rutte at þe laste.
¶ What a-wake quod Repentaunce / & rape þe to shryfte.
I can not my pater noster / as þe preest me tawhte.
But y / y [can] Romaunces of Robynn hod / & of Randolf þe Reve.
But non of oure lord ne oure lady / þe leeste þat is makyd.
¶ I have maad fourty a-vowes a teve / at eve / & for-getyn hem on morwe.
Ne y parformed neuere my penaunce / þat þe preest me Ioynede.
Ne be sory for my synnys / ȝit soþly was y neuere.
& if y bydde ony bedys / but it be in wratthe.
Þat y telle with my tunge / it is two myle fram myn herte.
I am ocupied eueryday / boþe halyday & oþere.
On goddis peynys ne on his passioun / ful seelde y þynke.
& al þat euere seynt Mark made / or Mattheu . Iohan . or lucas.
& vigilijs & fastyng-dayes / alle y leet hem passe.
I lay in bedde in Lentene / & my lemman in myn armes.
Tyl Matinis & Masses / be do / & y muste to þe freris
But come y to Ite Missa est. I holde me wel y-seruyd.
I am nowht shryve but selden / but seknesse it make.
¶ I have be preest & Parsoun / passynge fourty wynter.
& ȝit can y neyþir solue ne synge / ne seyntys lyvis rede.
But y can fyȝnde in a fyȝld / of a furlong an hare.
Bettre þan in Beatus vir / or in Beati omnes.
But in Canon ne in decretalis / y can not rede a lyȝne.
& if y bygge or borwe / but it be wel y-taylid.
I for-ȝeete it as ȝeerne / & if men me yt aske.
Sixe sythis or sevene / y for-swere me with oþis.
& þerwith y tene / trewe men / ten hundred tymys.
¶ & myne seruauntys sum-tyme / here sallarye is be-hyȝnde.
It is hard to heere rekenynge / whan we rede a-cowntys.
& so with wikkid wille & wratthe / my werkmen y peyȝe.
¶ If ony doþ me a benefet / or helpiþ me at neede.
A-geyn hym / y am vnkyȝnde / & kan not it knowe.
For y have / & have had / summe of hawkys Manerys.
For y am nowht lured with love / but sumwhat lygge vndir þumbe.
Sixty syþis for slewhthe / y have for-gete it sytthe.
& in sparynge of speche / y have spilt fele þyngys.
Boþe fleshȝ & fysshȝ / & fele oþere vytaylis.
As breed & beef & botere / & bake metys manyȝe.
I have for-slewthid in my seruyse / so longe y haue kept yt.
¶ I ran a-bowhte in ȝowthe / & ȝaf me not to lerne.
Heu michi quodT sterilem vitam duxi Iuuenilem.
¶ Ȝee Repentest þe nowht quod Repentance / & ryght with þat he swonyde
Tyl vigilate & orate / fette watur at hise eyȝen.
& flappede on his face / & faste on hym cryȝede.
& seyde war þe now fram wanhope / he wole þe be-trayȝe.
I am sory for my synes / seyȝ now so þy-selue.
& beete þy-selue on þy brest / & bidde god of grace.
For þere is no gilte here so gret / þat goddis goodnesse is more.
¶ Þanne sat slewte vp / & sygned hym on þe forhed.
Þat y shal do me euery day / to þe derne / de[er]e chirche.
Tyl y have euynsong herd / y hote now to þe roode.
Of al þat y so wykkidly wan / sytthe y wit hadde.
& þeyhȝ my lyflode / lakke / lettyn þerfore y nylle.
Þat ech man shal have hys / er y hens wende.
& with þe oþir remnaunt / by þe Roode of chestre.
¶ A-noon Robert þe Robbere / on reddite lokede.
For he hadde nowht wher-of / he weep wondir sore.
But þat synful shrewe / seyde þus to hym-selue.
Whan þat cryst on Caluarie / vpon þe cros dyȝede.
Þan dismas my brothir / by-sowhte crist of grace.
& he hadde mercy on þat man / for memeto / meme[n]to-is sake.
So rewe on me Robbere / þat reddere wil / [n]il knowe.
& leep with hym ouer londe / al his lyf-tyme.
& be-fore he lay with latro / luciferys Awnte.
& be-sechen for alle synful / oure saviour of grace.
& þat we a-mende vs of oure mys / & do mercy on vs alle.
& seide god of þyn goodnesse / þou gunne þis world to make.
& of nawht / madist awht / & man most lyk þy-selue.
& sytthe þou suffredist hym synne / a sekirnesse / seknesse to mankynde.
& al for þe beste as y beleve / what-euere bookys euere telle / telle
O Felix culpa ¶ O necessarium peccatum Ade.
For þorghȝ synne þy sone / was sent doun in-to erthe.
& by-cam man of a Maide / Mankyȝnde / to save.
& madyst þy-selue with þyn sone / & vs synful y-lyche.
Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem & similitudinem nostram . Et alibi.
Qui manet in caritate in deo manet & deus in eo.
& sytthe with þyn selue sone / in oure sewht þou dyedist
On good fryday / for mannis sake / at ful tyme of þe day.
Neyþir þy-selue ne þy sone / no sorwe in dyȝeng feledist.
Captiuam duxit captiuitatem.
Þe sunne for sorwe þerof / he lees syghte for a tyme.
A-bowhtyn Mydday / whan most lyȝt ys / & meel-tyme of seyntis.
Þo feddyst þou with þy fresche blood / oure fadrys in derknesse.
Populus qui ambulat / ambula[ba]t in tenebris . uidit lucem magnam.
& þorwh þat lyght þat leep fram the / lucyfer blente.
For it blew alle þyne blessede þens / boldely in-to paradyȝs.
& þe þrydde day after ȝit / þou ȝeedyst forþ in oure sewte.
Fyrst a synful Marie þe see / er dede þy moodir dere.T
It was to solace synful / þou suffredist it so falle.
Non veni uocare iustos . sed peccatores ad penitenciam.
& al of the / [þat] / Mark haþ maad / & Mattheu / Iohan & Lucas.
Of þyne dowhtyeste dedis / where don in oure armes.
Quod uerbum caro factum est . & habitabit / habita[v]it in nobis.
We byddyn þe / & by-sechyn / If so / it be þy wille.
As þou fadir & brothir art / be mercyable on þyn peple.
¶ Þanne hente Hope an horn / was deus tu conuersus uiuificabis nos.
& blew it with beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates.
& alle þe seyntis in heuene / a-non / þus þey sungyn a tonys / at onys.
Homines & iumenta saluabis domine quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus.C
/ / [¶] Wel a þowsende men þo / þrungyn alle to-gydres.
& criȝeden vp-warde to crist / & to hys clene Modir.
To graunte swich grace / trewthe to seken.
But þere was non so wyȝs / þe weyȝe to hym cowthe.
But blustreden furþ as beestis / ouer balkys & hillis.
Tyl it was late & longe / þat þey a leede mettyn.
I-paraylid as a palmere / in pylgrimes wedys.
He bar a burdoun y-bownde / with a brood lyste.
In a whythyes / wyth[wynd]es wyse / ywownde al a-bowte.
& a bulleLX in a bagge / he bar by his syȝde.
& an hundred of ampullis / vpon his hat setyn.
& fele sygnes of seyntys / & shellis also of Galis.
& þe vernicle was by-fore / for folk sholde hym knowe.
& seen by hise syghnes / whom he sowht hadde.
¶ Thanne þis folk freynede hym / whens þat he keme.
I have been boþe in Bedleem / & in Babylonye also.
In Armonye in Alysaundre / & manye oþire places.
Ȝee may seen by myn syghnes / þat syttyn on my cloke.
Þat y have walkid wyȝde / in weet & in dreyȝe.
& holy seyntis sowht / for my sowle helthe.
/ / [¶] Ȝee knowist þou nowht a corseynt / þat men calle trewþe.
& canst þou wisshe vs þe wey / where þat weyȝ dwelliþ.
¶ Þanne seyde þe goome / nay so god me helpe.
I seyȝ neuere þat palmere / with pyk ne with scrippe.
Ne man þat askyd after hym / tyl now in þis place.
¶ Peter quod Pers Plowhman / & pitte furþ his face.
I knowe hym as kyȝndely / as ony clerk hise bookis.
Consiense & kyȝnde wit / kende me to his place.
& y haue ensured hem sewrly / to seruyn hym / for euere.
Boþe to sowe & to sette / whil y swynke myghte.
I have ben his foot folwere / al þis fourty wynter
Boþe y-sowed hise seedis / & sewyd a-bowtyn hise beestis.
& with-Inne boþe & / & with-outyn / waytid his profyȝte.
For þeyh y sey it my-selue / y serue hym to payȝe.
& y haue myn here of hym / & oþir-whilis moore.
He is þe presteste payȝere / þat poore men knowen.
& he is as lowhly as a lomb / & lovely of speche.
& if ȝe wilneþ to wete / where þat he dwellyþ.
I shal wysse ȝow witterly / þe weyȝe to his place.
/ / [¶] Ȝee leve Pers quod þo pilgrimes / & proferedyn hym hyȝre.
For to wendyn with hem / þere trewþe gan dwelle.
¶ Nay by my sowle quod pers / & gan swere faste.
Þan trewþe wolde love me þe lasse / a long tyme after.
But if ȝee wilneþ wel to walke / þis is þe wey þidirward.
/ / [¶] Ȝee mote goon / be Meeknesse / boþe men & wyvis.
Tyl ȝee come to consience / cryst whot þe soþe.
& þat ȝee loven oure lord god / levest of alle þynge.
& þanne ȝoure neyhebore neest / & in no wyse a-peyre hym.
Oþirwyse / þan þou woldist / he wroghte to þy-selue.
Tyl ȝee fyȝnde a forthe . ȝoure fadres ȝee honoure.
Honora patrem & matrem . ut sis longeuus super terram.T
Wadiþ in-to þat water / & wasshe ȝow wel þer-Inne.
& ȝee shulle lepe þe lythlokere / al ȝoure lyf-tyme.
& sone shalt þou see swere nowht / but it be for nede.
Ne nempne not in ydelnesse / þe name of god almyghty.
& þanne shalt þou come be a croft / but com þou nowt þere-Inne.
Þe name ys coueyte þou nowht / neyþir maydins ne wyvis.
Two stokkis þere stondyn / but stynte ȝee not þere.
Þat is stele not ne sle not / ȝee strike furþ by boþe.
& leve hem on þy left hond / & loke not on hem after.
Þat is / holde wel þyn halyday / with holy prayeris.
Þan shalt þou blenche at a beech / þou bere no fals witnesse
It ys frytthid with floreynys / & oþire fees manye.
¶ Thanne shalt þou come to a court / as cleer as þe sunne.
Þe Moot is of mercy / with Maryȝs al a-bowte.
& alle þe wallis ben of wit / to holde wille owte.
& y-kerneled with cristendom / mankynde to save.
I-boterased with good by-leve / or þou best not savid.
& alle þe howsis ben y-helid / hyȝe halles & chambres
With no leed / but with love / & with lowhȝ speche also.
Þe bregge is . bydde wel / þe betre may þou spede.
Þe pilerys hatte Penaunce / & prayeris to seyntys.
Þe hokys ben almese dede / þe gate god hym-selue.
& grace hatte þe gateward / a good man for-soþe.
/ / [¶] Telle ȝee hym þis tokne / trewþe knoweth þe sothe.
Þat y parformede þe penaunce / þe prest me en-Ioynede.
& byddeþ / a-mende ȝow / mekely / to his mayster praye.
To weyve vp þe wyket / þat þe womman shette.
After þat adam & Eve / eetyn þe appil vnrostyd.
Per evam cuntis / cun[c]tis clausa est . & per mariam virginem iterum &c.T
For she haþ þe keyȝe & kleket / þeyhȝ þe kyng slepe.T
Þan shalt þou see þy-selue / where þat trewþe syttyþ.
In a chambre of charite / as he a child were.
To suffre ony seyȝeng / & do þy syrys wille.
¶ But be war of wratthe / he is a wikkid shrewe.
He haþ Envie to hym / þat in þyn herte syttyþ.
& þe boldenesse of þyn benefetys / make þe blynd þanne.
& worþ þou dryve owt / & þe dore y-closed.
& keyȝed & klekedid / to kepyn þe with-outyn.
Happyly an hundryd wynter / er þou eft in entre.
Þus myght þou lesen his love / to lete wel by þi-selue.
& neuere happely eft entre / but his grace þou have.
/ / [¶] But þere are seuene seruauntys / þat seruyn Trewþe euere.
Þey ben porterys at þe ȝatys / þat to his place longiþ.
Þe firste ys abstynense / & humilite ys a-noþir.
& Charite & Chastite / þese been hise chef chyldryn.
& Pacience & pees / mychil peple þey helpen.
She haþ delyueryd a þowsende / owt of þe deuelys ponfolde.
& she is neyȝh-by sibbe þe / [to] þe sevene / so me god helpe.
& she wille worchepely wolkome ȝow / & wel ȝow vndirfonge.
& but ȝee ben sybbe / quod pers / to summe of þese sevene.
It ys hard / by myn heed / for ony of ȝow alle.
To getyn in passage . at ony gate / but grace be þe moore.
¶ A by cryȝst quod a Cuttepurs / y have no ken þere.
/ / [¶] Ne y / quod an Apeward / by awht þat y knowe.
¶ A wolde god quod a Messager / þat y wiste þe sothe.
Sholde y neuere a fote ferthere / for no frerys prechynge.
/ / [¶] Ȝys . ȝis quod pers plowhman / & pokede hem to goode.
Þere a / [is] a Mayde þere / Mercy / she haþ myght ouer hem alle.
She ys sybbe to synful / & so ys hire sone also.
& þorghȝ þe helpe of hem two / hope þou non oþir.
Þou myght getyn grace þere / by so þou goo by-tymes.
I wille go fecchyn my boox / with þe Bisshopis lettris.
/ / [¶] By crist quod a comoun womman / In þyn Cumpany wil y wende.
Þat wolde folwe vs euery foote / þat no folk vs noyȝe.
¶ Quod pers plowhman þo / by seynt peter of Rome.
I have an half acre to eryȝe / by þe hyȝe-weyȝe.
Hadde y heryd þat half acre / & y-sowe it after.
I wolde weende with ȝow / & þe weyȝ ȝow techen.
/ / [¶] Þys were a long lettynge / quod a Lady with a skleyȝre.
What shulle we wommen / wyrchen þer whylys.
¶ Summe shulle sowe þe sak / quod Pers / for shedyng of whete.
& ȝee lovely Ladijs / with ȝoure longe fyngrys.
Loke ȝee have sylk & syndel / to sowe / whan it ys tyme.
To make Chesyplis for Chapeleins / chirchis to honoure.
& ȝee wyvis & wydewis / wulle / & flex ȝee spynne.
/ / [¶]& Makeþ cloþ y conseyle ȝow / & kenneþ so ȝoure dowhtris.
Þe nedy & þe nakede / nemeþ hede how þey lyggyn.
& casteþ on hem cloþis / & so comaundiþ ȝow trewþe.
For y shal lene hem lyflode / but if myn londe fayle.
Boþe fleshȝ & breed / to ryche & to poore.
As longe as y lyve / for þe lordis love in hevene.
& alle manere of men / þat with mete & drynk lybbyn
Shulle helpe to wirche wyghtly / to wynne with ȝoure fode.
¶ Be crist quod a knyght þo / he kenneþ vs þe beste.
But trewly on þe teem / tawht was y neuere.
But kenne me it quod þe knyght / & by crist y wille a-sayȝe
/ / [¶] By seynt Poul quod Perkyn / ȝee profere ȝou sire so fayre.
Þat y wille swynke & swetyn / & sowe for vs boþe.
& oþere laboreris shulle for þyn love / al here lyf-tyȝme.
¶ In connaunt / þat holy chirche / þou kepe / as þy-selue.
Fram wastoures & wikkyd men / þat þis world stroyȝeþ.
& goo þou hunte hardely / to hares / & to foxes.
& go a-fayte þy fakonys / whilde foul to kelle.
For þei come in-to my croft / & cropyþ my whete.
/ / [¶] Þanne þe knyght curteysly / comsede þese wordys.
By my powher Pers quod he y plyghte þe my trewþe.
To fulfylle þis forward / þeyhȝ y fyghte sholde.
& as longe as / as [y] lyve in londe / y shal þe Meyntene.
¶ But .o. poynt quod Pers / y praye þe of more.
Loke þou tene no tenaunt / but trewþe wille a-sente.
& þeyȝh þou mayst angre men / let Mercy be taxour.
& Meeknesse þy Mayster / Mawgre Meedis chekys.
& þeyhȝ poore men profere þe / presentys & ȝiftys.
For þou shalt ȝeelde yt a-ȝeen / at o ȝerys ende.
Al in a parlyous place / purgatorye men name it.
Þeyhȝ he be here . þyn vndirlyng / wel may happe in heuene.
Þat he worþ worthiere set / þan þou / & in wel more blysse.
Amice ascende superius
So is a knyght þere fram a knave / knowe þis in þyn herte.
& by wysdom & by wit / þy werkmen þou chastyze.
& namely at þy mete bord / swiche men ecchewe.
For þey ben þe deuelis dissoures / y do þe to vndirstonde.
¶ I a-sente by seynt Ieme / seyde þe knyght þanne.
To werche al after þy word / whylis my lyf dureþ.
/ / [¶] & y shal a-parayle me quod Pers / in pylgrymes wyse.
& y wylle wende with ȝow / tyl þat we fyȝnde trewþe
I wil castyn on myn cloþis / y-clowtyd at þe fulle.
Myn kokerys & myn coffys / for cold of myn naylys.
& y wille hangyn myn hoper / at myn hals / as i hadde a scrippe.
& a busshel of bred-corn / y wil bere þere-Inne.
For y wille soowe it my-selue / & sytthe with ȝow wende.
On pilgrimagis as palmeris doon / pardoun to have.
But who þat helpiþ me to heryȝe / or sowe er y wende.
He shal have leve by oure lord / to large his heruest heere.
& make hym meryȝe þer-myde / mawgre who grucche.
¶ & alle kynne crafty men / þat kunne lyve in trewþe.
I shal fyȝnde hem foode / for feythfully þey lybbe.
& Danyel þe dyȝs pleyȝere / & denote þe bawhde.
& also frere faytour / & mo folk of his ordre.
& Robyn Rybawdour / for hise rusty wordis.
For trewþe tolde me onys / & bad me telle after.
Deleantur de libro viuencium / I sholde not with hem deyle.
For holy chirche / is holde / of hem no tyþe to take.
Þey ben skapid good awnter / now god hem a-mende.
¶ Dame wirche wel / wan tyme is / Persis wyf hyȝte.
& his dowhter do ryght so / er þy dame wil þe beete.
& his sone hyȝte wel / [suffre] wel / þyn soverynes have here wille.
& deme hem nowht / if þou doost / þou shalt it dere a-begge.
To pylgrimage / for penaunce / y wil passe with oþere.
But y wille er y wende / do wrytyn myn enqweste .
Þat best ys worthy / & weyvid fram yt þe fendis.
& þe kyrke-ȝeerd shal kepe / myn kareyne & myn boonys.
For of myn corn & catel / þe kirke crauede þe tythe.
& / & [y] peyȝede it trewly to þe preest / for pereil of my soule.
For-þy he is holde as y hope / to have me in his messe.
& menge me in his Memento / a-mongys alle cristene.
/ / [¶] & my wif shal have of þat y wan / with trewþe & no moore.
& dele it among hire dowhtris / & myn dere childryn.
For truly þey dyȝede / [y] dyȝede to-day / myn dettys ben alle qwitte.
I bar hoom þat y borwede / er y to bedde wente.
¶ & with þe resydue of þe remenaunt / be þe Roode of lukys.
I wille worchepe þerwith / trewþe by my lyve.
& been his pylgryȝm / at þe plowhȝ / for poore mennys sake.
My plowhȝ-pote ys my pyȝk-staf / þat pittyþ a-wey þe rootys.
& helpiþ my cultre to kerue / & to klense þe furwis.
¶ Now ys Pers & þe pilgrymes / to þe plowhȝ y-faren.
To heryȝen his half acre / þere hulpene hym manye.
Boþe dykerys & deluerys / dyggedyn vp þe balkys.
& with hem was Pers wel payed / & preyȝsede hem faste.
/ / [¶] Oþere werkmen þere weryn / þat wroghtyn ful ȝeerne.
Ech man / on his manere / made hym-selue to doone.
& summe poore to plese Pers / þey pulliden vp þe rootys.
¶ Þanne at heyȝ prime pers / leet his plowhȝ stoonde.
& wente to seen hise werk-men / how þat þey wroghte.
He wolde heren hem / þere-after / wan hervest tyme keme.
Þanne fond he summe syttyn / & synge at þe alehous.
& hulpen hym so to heryȝe / with hoy trolly / lolly.
/ / [¶] Now be myn sowlis pereyl quod Pers / in pure gret tene.
But ȝee a-ryse þe rathere / & rape ȝow to wyrche.
Shal no greyn þat groweth / glade ȝow / at ȝoure neede.
& þeyȝ ȝee dyȝen for dool / þe devil have hym þat recche.
Þo wheryn Faytoures a-ferd / & feynede hem blyȝnde
¶ Summe leyȝde here leggys swolle / as sum loselys vsen.
& maden here moone to Pers / & prayede hym of grace.
& seyde / we have no lymes to laboure / oure Lord do vus boote.
But we praye for ȝow Pers / & for ȝoure plowhȝ-men boþe.
Þat god of his grete grace / ȝoure greyn multyplyȝe.
& ȝeelde ȝow / ȝoure almesse-dede / þat ȝee ȝeve vus heere.
For we mowe not swynke / swich syknesse vs holdeþ
/ / [¶] If it be soþ quod Pers / þat ȝee seyn / y shal it sone a-spyȝe.
Þat ȝee ben wastoures y whot wel / & trewþe whot þe soþe.
& y am his olde hyȝne / & by-hyȝhte hym to warne.
Whiche þey wheryn in þis world / his werk wolde a-peyre.
For ȝee wasten þat men wynnyn / with trauayle & with teene.
But trewþe shal teche ȝow / his teeme to dryve.
Or ȝee shulle etyn barly breed / & of þe brook drynke.
¶ But he þat is blynd / or broke-leggyd / or boltyd with yrenys.
He shal etyn whyȝt breed / & drynke wyȝn or ale.
Tyl god of his goodnesse / a-mendement hym seende.
/ / [¶] But ȝee myghte trauayle trewly / & take meete & hyȝre.
To kepen keen in þe fyld / or corn fram þe beestys.
Or dyken or deluyn / or dyggyn vp rootys.
Or helpyn makyn morter / or leedyn muk on filde.
& nowht to lyve in Leccheryȝe / ne in Losengryȝe & slowþe.
It is suffraunce of god / þat vengaunnce ȝow / ȝow [ne] takeþ.
/ / [¶] But Ancres & hermyȝtis / þat etyn but at noonys.
& no more til on morwe / myn almesse þey shulle have.
& of myn catel to kouere hem with / þat kepyn cloystre & chirche.
¶ But Daunn Robert renne a-bowhte / shal nout rewle my goodis.
Ne preest . but he preche kunne / & have powher of þe bisshop.
Þey shulle have payn & potage / with a pytawnce by-syde.
/ / [¶] Þan gan a wastowr wexe wrothȝ / & wolde fayn a fowhte.
& to Pers Plowhman / he proferede / his glove.
& seyde wilt þou . pers / o / o[r] nyltou / we wille have oure wille.
& þy flour & þyn fleshȝ / we fecche whan vs lykeþ.
& make vs meryȝe þer-myde / mawgre / þyn chekys.
¶ Þanne Pers wente konyngly / & to þe knyght pleyȝnede.
For þey wastyn / & wynne nowht / & wete wel for-soþe.
Worþ neuere plente a-mong þe peple / while my plowhȝ lyggyþ.
/ / [¶] Curteysly þe knyght þo / as his kende wolde.
Warnede wastour / & wysshede to þe betre.
Or þou shalt a-bygge be þe Lawe he seide / be þe ordre y bere.
¶ I was not wont quod he / to wirche / ne y wil not now by-gynne.
& leet lyghtly of þe lawe / & lasse of his speche.
& sette also pers at a pese / & his plowhȝ boþe.
& þrette Pers & hise men / yf þey mettyn eft-sone.
& a-wreke me of þese wastoures / þat þis world shende
Sone hungir in haste þo / hente wastour by þe maw
& wrong hym so by þe wombe / þat boþe hise eyȝes watrede
& he buffetid so þe braggere / a-bowhtyn boþe hise chekis.
Þat he loked lyȝk a lanterne horn / al his lyve after.
He beet hem so boþe / he brast neer here guttys.
Þey hadde be douyn / do[l]uyn boþe / deme no man oþir.
Suffre hem lyve seyde Pers / & let hem etyn with hoggys.
Or ellis benys & bren / y-bakyn boþe to-gydre.
& drynke melk / or meyhne ale / to meyntene here lyvis
/ / [¶] Þanne Faytoures for feer / flown in-to beernes.
& flappyd on with fleylis / fram morwe to þe eve.
Þat hungir was notT hardy / on hem onys to looke.
For a poot-ful of peesys / þat Pers dide hem make.
¶ Anon an heep of hermyȝtis / in handis hentyn spades.
& kyttyn here copis / & coortepijs hem made.
& wentyn as werkmen / to swynkyn a-bowtyn.
& deluedyn & dykedyn / to dryve a-wey hungir.
¶ Þanne blynde men & beddredide / where butned a þowsande
Þat setyn to begge syluer / sone weryn they helyde.
For þat was bakyn for bayard / was boote þe / [to] þe hungry.
& many a beggere for benys / ful bown was to swynke.
& ech pore man wel payd / to have pesys to heere.
& what Pers prayede hem doo as preest . as a sparhawk.
& þerfore wex Pers prowd / & pitte hem to werke.
& gaf hem as he myghte mete / & mesurable hyȝre.
¶ Þanne hadde Pers pite / & prayede hungir to wende.
Hoom to his owne hold / & holde hym stylle þere.
For y am wel a-wreke now / on wastoures þis tyȝme.
But y praye þe er þou passe / quod Pers þo to hungir.
Of beggerys & of bydderys / what is best to doone.
For y whoot wel . be þou went / þey wille wirche ful ille.
For myscheef it makeþ / þey been so meeke nowthe.
& for de-fawhte of foode / þys folk ys at my wille.
Þey are my bretheryn of blood quod Pers / for crist bowhte vs alle.
Trewþe tawhte me onys / to love hem ecchone.
& to helpe hem of alle þynge / ay as hem neediþ.
& nowh wolde y wete of þe / what were þe beste.
How y myghte a-maystrie hem / & maken hem to wirche.
¶ Now here wel me quod Hungir / & holde it for a wisdom.
Þat bolde beggeris & bygge / þat for here breed mowe swynke.
With howndis breed & horse-breed / hold vp here hertys.
& a-bate hem with beenys / for bolnynge of here whombis.
& if þo goomes grucche / bidde hym goo & swynke.T
Or ony manere of false men / fonde þou swiche to knowe.
With þy catel knowe þou hem / for cristis love in hevene.
Love hem / & leene hem / for goddis lawe so techiþ.
Alter alterius / honera portate
& alle oþere manere of men / þat þou myght a-spyȝe.
Þat needy ben / & nowhty / help hem / with þyn goodis.
Love hem / & lakke hem nowht / lete god take vengaunce.
& if þey don evil a-geyn þe / lete god / with hem worthe.
Michi vindictam / et ego retribuam
& if þou wilt gete grace of god / do as þe gospel techeþ.
Þou loowe þe / to lowe men / & so shalt þou lacche grace.
Facite vobis amicos de Mammona iniquitatis
I wolde not greve god quod Pers / for al þe good on grownde.
Myghte y synneles don as þou seyst / so me god helpe.
¶ I hoote to god / quod hunger / ȝis or ellis þe byble lyȝeþ.
Goo to Genesis / þe Geaunt / engendrowr of vs alle.
He seyþ in swoot & in swynk / þou shalt þy foode wynne.
& Laboure for þi lyf-loode / & so oure lord þe hyghte.
¶ & sapiense book seyþ þe same / soþly to telle.
Þat Piger pro frigore / no fildis wolde tylye.
& þerfore he shal beggyn / & no man beetyn his hungir
¶ Seynt Matthew / with mannys face / mowthiþ þese wordis.
& he mawgre of his mayster / for euere-moore after.
& he by-nam hym his napm / for he wolde not wirche.
& ȝaf it to a-noþir man / þat ten napmes hadde.
& with þat dede he seyȝde / þat alle men it herde.
¶ He þat haþ / shal have / to helpe hym / at his neede.
& he þat nowht haþ / nowht shal have / & no man hym helpe
¶ For kende wolde / þat euery wyght wroghte
In dykynge or in deluynge / or doynge in prayeris.
Eiþir Contemplatif lyf or actif / crist coueytyde we wroughte.
Þe freeke þat feediþ hym-selue / with his feyȝþful labour.
He ys blessid be þe book / in body & in sowle.
Labores manuum tuarum quia manducabis . batus / b[e]atus es &c..
¶ Ȝit y praye þe quod Pers / pur charite & þou cunne.
Of ony leef of leche-craft / leere it me y praye.
For summe of myn seruauntis / & my-selue boþe.
Of alle þe wyke / wirke nowht / so oure whombe akeþ.
¶ A y whot wel quod hungir / what syȝknesse ȝow eyȝleþ.
Ȝee have Mawngid ouer-myche / & þat makþ ȝow grone.
But y hote þe quod hungir / if þou þyn hele disyryst.
Þat þou drynke no day / er þou dyghne a mussel.
Ne ete nowht y hoote þe / er hungir þe take.
& brynge þe of his saws / to savoure þyn lyppis.
& keep sum / tyl soper / but sitte þou nowht longe.
But a-ryse vp er apetyȝt / have loost al his strengþe.
But lete not sire surfet / syttyn at þyn table.
Leeve hym / for he is leccherows / & lykerous of tunge.
& after manye meetys / his Mawe ys / a-lustyd.
¶ & ȝif þou dyete þe þus / y dar leyȝe myn erys.
Þat Fysyk shal his furryd hood / ȝee / [for his] fode selle.
& his kloke of Calabre / with knoppis of gold þerone.
& be fayn by myn feyȝþ / his fysyȝk to leetyn.
& leerne to laboure on þe lond / for lyf-loode ys sweete.
þey doon men dyȝe / þoru here drynkys / er destenyȝe it wolde.
¶ By seynt Peter a-postle quod Pers / þese are profytable woordis.
Wende nowh hungir . whan þou wilt / & wel þe be-tyȝde.
For þis ys a lovely lessoun / oure lord it þe for-ȝeelde.
¶ I hote god quod hunger / hens wil y not wende.
Tyl y have dyghne / dyghne[d] þys day / & þerto drunke bothe.
¶ Peter / y have no peny quod Pers / peyȝnemens þe to begge.
Ne neyþir gryȝs ne gees / but y have two grene chesis.
& a fewe cruddis & creem / & þerto an haver kake.
& two lovis of beene breed / y bokT yt for my barnys.
& ȝit y swere by my sowle / y have no salt bakoun.
Ne be crist no kokeney / kolopys the to make.
& eek a kow & a Calf / & eek a Carte mare.
To drawe dunk on felde / whyle þe drowht lasteþ.
& by þis lyfloode y muste lyve / tyl lammesse tyme.
For y hope by þat to have / hervest in my crofte.
& þanne may y dyghte þy dyghner / as þe deere lykeþ.
¶ & alle þe pore peple þo / pese-koddis feccheden.
& beenys / & bake applis / þey browhte in here lappis.
Chybollis / & chirne mylk / & rype chiryes manye.
& proferedyn Pers þat present / to plese with hungir.
& alle þo / hungir eet in haste / & askede after moore.
Þanne pore folk for feer / feddyn hungir faste.
With grene porettis & pesis / to poysoyne hym þey þowhten.
¶ But by þat . it neyhede neer hervest / & newe corn a-perede.
& with good ale / as glotoun tawhte / þan gan he goo to slepe.
Ne no beggere eete no breed / þat beenys Inne weryn.
But of koket or cler-matyn / or ellis of klene whete.
Ne no man halpeny ale / in no wyse drynke.
But of þe beste & brunneste / in borghȝ was to selle.
¶ & laboreris þat have no lond / but lyven with here hondis
Ne no peny ale hem peyȝe / ne no pece of bakoun.
& but he be hyȝly hyȝryd / ellis wille he chyde.
& þat he cam / swich werk to wirke / he wille weyȝle þe tyme.
A-geyn Catonys conseyl / comseþ he to Iangle.
Paupertatis onus / pacienter ferre mementoC
¶ He grevyþ grevously god / for he grucchyþ a-geyn resoun.
& þus he curseþ þe kyng / & alle hise conseyl after.
Swiche Lawis to looke / Laboreris to greve.
But whilis hunger was here maystir / þanne wolde none chide.
Ne stryve a-geyn þe stateut / so sternely hungir lokede.
& he wille a-wake sumwhat / wastoures dede.
Er fyve ȝeer / be ful-fyld / swych famyȝn shal a-ryse.
Þorhȝ fowle wederys & floodis / þat frutys shulle fayle.
Whan þe sunne ȝee seen a-mys / with two Munkys heedis.
& a Mayde þorghȝ maystriȝe / be multyplyed on heyȝghte.
Þan shal deeþ drawe to deyȝs / & derthe be Iustise.
& þanne dawe þe dykere / dyȝe for hungir.
But god of his goodnesse / grawnte vs a trewe.
¶ Þanne Trewþe herde telle er-of / & to Pers he sente.
& bad hym take his teeme / & goo tylyȝe þe grownde.
& purchased hym a pardoun / A pena & a culpa.
For hym & for hise eyȝrys / for euere-more after.
& bad hym to holde hym at hom / & heryȝe hise leyȝes.
& alle þat hulpe hym to heryȝe / or to settyn or sowe.
Er ony oþir myster / þat myghte Pers a-vayle.
He haþ pardoun with Pers / Trewþe haþ it grawntid.
¶ Boþe kyngis & knyghtis / þat kepyn holy chirche.
Þat ryghtfully in þe rewhme / weel rewle þe peple.
Have pardoun / þorhȝ purgatorie / to passe þorhȝ lyghtly
& with Patriarkis in paradyȝs / to ben here felowis.
& blessede Bisshopis / þat been as þey sholde.
Þey are perys with a-postlys / þus pardoun Pers graunteþ.
& at þe day of dome / on heyȝe deyȝs to sytte.
/ / [¶] Þan Marchawntis in þe Margyne / hadde manye ȝeeris.
A-geyn klene consiense / he / he[re] catel to selle.
¶ But trewþe vndir his secrete seel / he sente hem a lettre.
Þat þey sholde byggyn boldely / þat hem beest lykeþ.
& a-mende meselis þerwith / & myssese folk also.
& also wykkede weyȝes / whyȝhtly hem a-mende.
& do boote to bryggis / þat broke a-bowte were.
& also marie Maydenis / or helpe hem make nunnys.
& þe Poore / & prisonerys / fyȝnden hem here foode.
Or to rewlyn religioun / or to rentyn hem þe betre.
/ / [¶] & y shal sende seyde trewþe / seynt Myhel þe angyl.
Þat no devil shal ȝow dere / ne feere ȝow in ȝoure dyȝeng.
& whysshe ȝow fram wanhope / if ȝee wille þus wirche.
& sende ȝoure sowlys in safte / a-mong seyntis in Ioyȝe.
& preysedyn Pers apertly / þat purchasede þis bulle.
For þey for meede pletyn moore / þan mychil for goddis helpe.
Pletoures sholde peyȝne hem / to plete for swiche & helpe.
& Pryncys / & Prelatis / sholde peyȝe for here trauayle.
AC Regibus / & principibus / erit merces eorum.
/ / [¶] But many a Iustise & Iurrour / wolde for Iakke do more.
Than pro dei pietate / beleve þou non othir.
But he þat spendiþ his speche / & spekeþ for þe poore.
Þat ys Innocent & needy / & no man can a-peyȝre.
& sheweth lawhe for oure lordis love / as he haþ it leerned.
Shal no deuyl at his deþ-day / dere hym worþ a myte.
Þat he worþ / [ne] worþ saf & his sowle / þe sawhter beryþ wittnesse
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo &c. ut . supra.T
But no man sholde bygge watur / ne wyȝnd / ne fyȝr ne wit neyþir.
For þese fowre þe fadir of hevene / formede hem comoun on erthe.
For þo ben Trewþis tresoreris / trewe folk to helpyn.
Þat neuere shulle wexe / ne wanyȝe / with-outyn god hym-selue.
Whan men drawe to þe deþ / & indulgensis dysire.
Here pardoun ys ful petyȝt / at here departynge henne.
For ony meede of mene men / þat for here motynge toke.
Þe legistris & lawyeris / holde it a gret trewþe.
Qvodcumque uultis ut faciant uobis homines facite eis.
& also as laboreris / þat lyvyn by here hondis.
Þat trewly wirkyn / as þey trewly wynnen.
Þey have same / [þe] same absolucioun / þat was to Pers grauntid.
¶ But beggeris / ne bidderis / ben not in þe bulle.
For he þat beggiþ / or bit / but if he have neede.
He is fals as þe fend / & defrawhdiþ þe nedy.
& by-gyliþ þe gyvere / a-geyn his goode wille.
For if he wiste . he were not nedy / he wolde gyve it anoþir.
Cui des videto.T
/ / [¶] Þe Mayster of stories techiþ the / how þou shalt be-take þy almesse.
Sit elemosina in manu tua . donec studes cui des.
But Gregorie þat goode man / he bad vs gyvyn alle.
Þat asken for oure lordis love / þat leeneþ vs alle þynge.
Non eligas cui cui / cui miserearis . ne forte preteras illumT
Qvia incertum est pro quo deum magis placeas.
If ȝee wete not who is worthy / but god whot who haþ nede.
& þe takere borweth yt / & bryngiþ his sowle in dette.
Qvare non dedisti pecuniam meam ad mensam . vt ueniens cum vsuris & exegissem vtique illam.
For-þy beggiþ nowht as beggeres / but ȝe have neede.
For who þat haþ with / to bygge hym bred / þe book beriþ witnesse.
He haþ y-nowh þat haþ but bred / þeyhȝ he haþ not ellis.
Satis diues est . qui pane non indiget.
Lete vsage by ȝoure solace / of seyntys lyvis redyngge.
Þe sawhter blameþ beggeris / & byddis on þis manere.
Ivnior fui / & etenim senui & non / non [vidi] iustum derelictum
nec semen eius querens panem.
For beggeres lyve in no love / ne no lawe holde.
Many man weddiþ nowht / þat womman / þat he wyth delyþ.
But as a wyȝlde beeste with we . he he worthiþ vp & werchiþ.
& of hem come barnes / þat bastardis men callyn.
& so goo þey fayȝten with here fawntys / ful longe after.
For þere is moo mys-shape peple / a-mongis a fewe beggeres.
Þan of alle manere of men / þat on þe moolde wandreþ.
For þo þat leede þus here lyf / euere-mowe þey loþe þe tyme.
Þat euere was he man wroght / whan he shal hens fare.
¶ But olde men & hoore / þat helpeles ben of strengþe.
Haven a pleyn pardoun / as pers haþ hym-selue.
For love of here lowe hertys / oure lord haþ hem grauntyd.
For here penaunce / & purgatorye / here is open on erthe.
¶ Peers quod a preest þo / þy pardoun muste y rede.
¶ & sone peers at his prayere / his pardoun vn-foldede.
& y stood / by-hyȝnde hem boþe / & be-hild al ouer þe bulle.
& al in two lyȝnes þe strengþe lay / & nout a leef moore.
& was y-wryte ryght þus / witnesse of trewþe.
Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam.
Qvi vero mala in ignem eternum.
¶ Peeter . quod þe Preest þo / y can no pardoun fyȝnde.
But dowel . & hauewel / & god shal have þyn sowle.
& doevel / & haue evel / & hope þou after a-nothir.
Þat after þy deþ-day / þe devil shal have þy sowhle.
¶ & a-non Peers for pure teene / pullid þe bulle in tweyne.
& seyde þus Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis.
Non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es domine.T
¶ I wil sese now of myn sowynge / & swynke not so harde.
Ne a-bowhtyn my bely Ioyȝe / so bisy ben no more.
¶ I fyȝnde þe prophete payn eet / in Penance & in sorwe.
& after þat þe sawhter seyþ / so diden oþere manye.
He þat loveþ god leelly / his lyfloode is ful redy.
Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte
We sholde not ben to bysy / a-bowhtyn worldis blysse.
He seyþ þus in his gospel / Ne solliciti scitis.
& be swiche ensamplis he sheweth vs / oure-seluyn to wissen.
Þe fowlis in þe fylde / who fyndes hem mete in wyntyr.
Þey have no gerner to go to / but god fynt hem alle.
¶ What quod þe Preest to Peers / be Peeter as me þynkiþ.
Þou art lettred a lytyl / who leernede þe on booke.
& Consience com afterwarde / & kennyd me wil / w[e]l more.
¶ Pers quod he / & þou were a preest / þou myghtist preche abowte.
¶ A þou lewid lorel quod Peers / lytyl lokest þou / on þe byble.
Þere Salomonys sawis been / ful seelde þou hem be-holdist.
Eice derisorem & exibit cum eo iurgium / cessabitque cause & contumelie.T
¶ & þus þe Preest & Pers / ech a-posede oþir.
& þorghȝ here woordis y a-wook / & waytede al abowhte.
& y seyȝ þe sunne in þe sowþ / where it sat þat tyme.
But ȝit y mewsede on þis Metelis / as y my way wente.
& many a tyme meteles / It haþ maad me studyȝe.
Of þat y seyȝ slepynge / if it soþ / be myghte.
& also for Pers Plowhman / ful pensyf in herte.
& what Pardoun Pers hadde / þe peple to conforte.
& how þe Preest Impugned it / with tweye propre woordis.
¶ But for boldely þe byble book / beriþ bettre witnesse.
How Danyel dyvynede / of a kyngys dremes.
He was Nabugodonosor / y-nempned of clerkys.
Sire kyng seyde Danyel / þy dremes by-tokneþ.
& a-mong lowere lordis / þy lond shal be departid.
¶ & as Danyel dyvynede / þe dede fel after.
Þe kyng lees his lordchepe / & lowhere lordis it hadde.
¶ & Ioseph mette mervyously / of þe Moone & sonne.
& of þe elevene sterrys / how þey heylid hym alle.
¶ Anon Iacob Iuggede / Iosepys swevenys.
Bewh fyȝs quod his fadir / for defawhte after.
My-selue & my sones / shulle seeke þe for neede.
¶ It fel as his fadir seyde / in pharao-is tyme.
Þat Ioseph was Iustyse / of Egypt to looke.
& as his fadir tolde / hise fawntys sowtyn þere.
& al this matere makiþ me / on my metelis þynke.
¶ & how þe Preest prevede / no Pardoun to Dowel.
& demede þat Dowel / alle Indulgenses passede.
Or quinquenalis / or tryennales / or þe Bisshopis lettris.
& how Dowel at þe day of dome / is deyntely take.
& passeþ al þe pardoun / of seynt Petris chirche.
¶ Þe Pope haþ gret powher / pardoun to grawnte.
A sowle with-outyn penaunce / to passyn in-to hevene.
& y be-leve leelly / oure lord for-bede ellys.
Þat Pardoun / & prayeris / & Penaunce saven sowlys.
But to tristne on tryanales / truly me þynkiþ.
It ys nowht so sykir to þe sowle / soþly as is Dowel.
/ / [¶] Þerefore y rede ȝow / alle / þat ryche men been heere.
Vpon trist on ȝowre tresor / tryenalis to purchase.
Be ȝee neuere þe boldere / to breke þe ten hestys.
& namely ȝee Maystris / boþe Meyȝhres & althermen.
Þat have þe welthe of þis world / & wyse men ben holde.
To purchase ȝow pardoun / with þe popis bullis.
& how ȝee ladden ȝoure lyf / & ȝoure lawis kepyn.
A Poke-ful of pardoun / þere / ne provyncialis lettrys.
Be not fownde in no fraternite / of þe foure ordrys.
¶ Þerfore y conseyle alle cristene / to criȝe crist mercy.
& Marie his Moodir be oure mene at neede.
Þat he gyve vs grace / er þat we goon henne.
Swiche wirkis to wirche / þeT whyle we ben here.
Þat after oure deþ-day / Dowel it reerse.
At þe day of dome we dide þat we hym hyȝhte.
C Explicit Passus
Quintus.