G.5 – PPEA

G.5.4KD.4.4 G.5.8KD.4.8 G.5.12KD.4.13 G.5.16KD.4.17 G.5.20KD.4.21 G.5.24KD.4.25 G.5.28KD.4.29 G.5.32KD.4.33 G.5.36KD.4.36α G.5.40KD.4.38.1 G.5.44KD.4.42 G.5.48KD.4.46 G.5.52KD.4.50 G.5.56KD.4.54 G.5.60KD.4.58 G.5.64KD.4.62 G.5.68KD.4.66 G.5.72KD.4.70 G.5.76KD.4.74 G.5.80KD.4.78 G.5.84KD.4.82 G.5.88KD.4.86 G.5.92KD.4.90 G.5.96KD.4.94 G.5.100KD.4.98 G.5.104KD.4.102 G.5.108KD.4.106 G.5.112KD.4.110 G.5.116KD.4.114 G.5.120KD.4.118 G.5.124KD.4.122 G.5.128KD.4.126 G.5.132KD.4.130 G.5.136KD.4.134 G.5.140KD.4.138 G.5.144KD.4.142 G.5.148KD.4.146 G.5.152KD.4.150 G.5.156KD.4.154 G.5.160KD.4.158 G.5.164KD.4.162 G.5.168KD.4.166 G.5.172KD.4.170 G.5.176KD.4.174 G.5.180KD.4.178 G.5.184KD.4.182 G.5.188KD.4.186 G.5.192KD.4.190 G.5.196KD.4.194

fol. 14r

PassusB 4

essethe seyythe the kyng I s{u}vffer ye no lenger

ye shall saghtell forthe / for the sothe & ser{u}ve me bothe

kysse hyr quod the kyng to conscyence I hoote

nay by cryste quod conscyence congey me rather

but reason rede me there-to rather wole I dye

I comma{u}vnde P the quod þe kyng to conscyence then

rape the to ryde & reason þou fecche

commavnde hym þat he come my co{u}vnseyle to here

for he shall re{u}vle my realme & reyde me þe best

and acco{u}vnte wyth the conscyence so me cryste helpe

how þou lernest the poeple þe lered & the lewde

I am fayne off that forward sayde the freyke then

& rydyth ryght to reason & rowneth In hys yere

and seyde as the kyng bad & sythen toke hys ley{u}ve

I shall arrey me to ryde rest the a whyle

and called caton hys kna{u}ve co{u}vrtes off speche

and also thome trew tong tell me no tales

no leysynges to laghe off for I lo{u}ved theym neuer

and sett my sadle vp-on suffer / tyll I see my tyme

and lett warrock hym well wyth wyttye wordes garthes

and hang on hym the hey{u}vy brydle to hold hys heyde lowe

for he wyll make wehe twyes er he come there

then conscyence onT hys caple caryeth forthe faste

and reason wyth hym rytt rounyng to-gedders

wyche mastryes mede makethe on thys yerthe

oon warryn wyssdome & wytty hys fere

folowyd hym fast for they had to done

In þe checker & þe chancerye to be dyscharged off thynges

and ryden fast for reason sh{u}olde reyde theym the best

for to sa{u}ve them for syl{u}ver from shame & from harmes

and conscyence knew theym well þei lo{u}ved co{u}vetyse

and bad reason ryde fast & reycche off them neyther

they are wyles In þer wordes & wyth mede they dwellen

there as wrotheLG & wrastylyng ys þer wynne þei syl{u}ver

but there ys lo{u}ve & loyalte they wole not come there

contricio et Infelicitas In viis eorum et cetera

they ne gy{u}ve not off god a goose wynge

non est timor dei ante oculos eorum et cetera

for woote god they wold do more for a dozene chyckens

or as many capones or for a seyme off otes

then for the lo{u}ve off o{u}vr lord & all hys le{u}ve seyntes

forthy reyson lett them ryde / the ryche by them-sel{u}ven

fol. 14v

for conscyence knoythe theym noght no cryst as I trowe

and þen reason rode fast the ryght hygh gate

and conscyence hym kenned tyll he cam to þe kyng

co{u}vrteyslyche þe kyng then came ageynst reason

betwene hym-selfe & hys sonne sett hym on benche

and wordeden well wysely a greyte whyle to-gedders

and then came peas In-to parlement & p{u}vt forthe a byll

how wrong agaynst hys wyll had hys wyffe taken

and how he ra{u}vysshed rose reynaldes lo{u}ve

and margarett off hyr meydenhode ma{u}vgre theyre chekes

both my gees & my gryses hys gadelynges fecchen

I dare not for fere off theym fyght ne chyde

he borowed oft my bayard he broght hym whom neuer

ne no ferthyng therfore for ought that I cowld pleyde

he menteynyth hys men to morther my hewen

Forstalleth my Fayrs & fyghtethe In my cheypyng

and breykyth vp my barne dores & beyrythe a-way my weyte

and taketh hym {by} but a taylle off ten quarters ootes

yet he bett me there & lyeth by my meyde

I am not hardye for hym vnnethe to looke

the kyng knewe he sayd sothe for conscyence hym tolde

that wrong was a wyked l{u}vst & wroght moche sorowe

wrong was afeyrde then & wyssdome he soght

to make pea{s}ce wyth hys pence & profered hym manye

and seyde had I lo{u}ve off my lord lytle wold I recche

thogh pea{s}ce & hys power pleyned theym e{u}ver

tho went wyssdome & syr warryn the wyttye

for þat wrong had wroght so wyked a dede

& warned wrong tho wyth s{u}oyche a wyse tale

wo-so worchethe by wyll wrathe maketh offt

I say ytt by my-selffe þou shalt ytt well fynd

but yff mede ytt make þi myscheffe ys vppe

for both þi lyfe & þi land lyeth bothe In hyr grace

then wowed wrong wyssdome f{u}vll yerne

to make hys pea{s}ce wyth hys pence In hand payed

wyssdome & wytt þen wenten to-gedders

& tooke mede wythe theym marcy to wynneC

pea{s}ce put forthe hys heyde & hys panne blodye

wyth-owte gylt god yt woote gettLG I thys skathe

conscyence & the comm{u}vne knowen the sothe

fol. 15r

but wyssdome & wytt where a-bowte fast

to o{u}ver-come the kyng wyth catell yff they myght

the kyng sware by cryst & by hys crone bothe

that wrong for hys workes sh{u}old wo thole

and comma{u}vnded a constable to casten hym In yrenns

and lett hym not thys sey{u}ven yere seene hys fete one{s}ce

god woote quod wyssdome that were nat the best

and he amendes mow make lett meymprysseP hym ha{u}ve

and be borowe for hys bale & byggen hym boote

and so amend that ys myssdo & euer-more the better

wytt accorded therwyth and seyde the same

better ys þatP boote bale a-downe bryng

then baale be ybett / & boote neuer the better

and then ganne mede me{u}ve hyr & mercy besoght

and profered pea{s}ce a present all off p{u}vre gold

ha{u}ve þis man quod she to amend thy scathe

for I wole wage for wrong he wole do so no more

pytyo{u}vsly pea{s}ce then preyd to the kyng

to ha{u}ve marcy off þat man þat myssdyd hym offtT

For he hath waged me well as wyssdome hym taght

and I forgy{u}ve hym þat gylt wyth a good wyll

so that þe kyng assente I can sey no better

{nay quod the kyng}For mede hatheP me amendys made I may no more aske

nay quod the kyng tho so me c{.}ryst P helpe

wrong wendeth not so a-way or y wytt more

For loope he so lyghlyeLX {he} laghen he wold

and ofterT bolder be to beyte my men

but reason ha{u}ve r{u}v{w}eth off hym he shall rest In þe stockes

als long as he ly{u}vythe but lownes hym borowe

some men redde reason tho to ha{u}ve rewthe off þe {shewe}P shrewe

& for to counseyle þe kyng & conscyence after

that mede myght be meymperno{u}vre reason þei besoght

rede me not quod reason rewthe for to ha{u}ve

tyll lordes & ladyes lo{u}ven all trewthe

and haten all harlotrye to here or to mowthe ytt

tyll pernelles p{u}vrfyll be p{u}vtt In h{u}vr h{u}vcche

& chyldren charysshyng by chastysyng wyth yerdes

& harlottes holynes be holden for an hyne

fol. 15v

and clerkes co{u}vetyse be to {ch} clothe þe poere & fede

and relygyo{u}vs romers recordare In theyr cloysters

as seynt benett theym badde bernarde & fra{u}vnceys

and to preychers p{l}reychyng be proued off theym-sel{u}ven

tyll the kynges co{u}vnceyle be the comm{u}vne proffett

tyll bysshopps byardes be beggers chambers

theyre ha{u}vkes & theyre ho{u}vndes help to pore rylygyo{u}vse

and tyll seynt Iame be soght there I shall assynge

that no man go to gales but yff he go for euer

and all rome renners for robbers byȝonde

beyre no syl{u}ver ouer sheyLG þat sygne off kyng shewythe

nether gra{u}ve ne vngra{u}ve gold nether syl{u}ver

on forfat{u}vre off that fee whoT fynd hym att douer

but yff he be marchant or hys man or meysenger wyth letters

pro{u}vysour or preeste or pena{u}vnte for hys synnes

and yet quod reason by the rode I shall no rewthe ha{u}ve

wyle mede hath the mastrye In thys mote halle

but I may shewe Insamples as I see other-whyles

I sey ytt by my-selffe & yffT ytt so were

that I were kyng wyth crowne to kepe þe realme

sh{u}old neuer wrong In thys worlde that I wytt myght

bynne vnp{u}vnnyshed In my power for perell off my so{u}vle

ne gett my grace for gyftes so me god helpe

ne for no mede ha{u}ve marcy b{u}vt mekenes ytt make

for nullum malum the man mett wyth Impunitum .

and badde nullum bonum bene irremuneratum

lett yo{u}vr confessor syr kyng constrew you thys vnglosed

and yff youT worchen that worke I wedde my heyrs

that law shalbe / shal be a laborer & leyde a-felde donge

& lo{u}ve shall leyde thy land as the leefe lykethe

clerkes þat were confesso{u}vrs co{u}vpled theym to-gedders

all to constrew thys cla{u}vse for þe kynges profytt

but noght for comforte off þe comen ne for þe kynges so{u}vle

for I sygh mede In þe mote halle on men off lawe wynke

and they laghyng loope to hyr & left reason many

warren wyssdome wynked vpon mede

& sayd madame I am your owen wat so my mo{u}vthe tellythe

I fall In florenzys quod þat freyke & fayle speche offte

all ryghfullLG recorded that reason trewthe told

and wytt accorded therwythe & commendyd hys wordes

fol. 16r

& þe most poeple In the hall & many off þe greyte

and letten mekenes a maystrye & mede a mansed {sre} shrewe

lo{u}ve lete off hyr lyght & loyalte yet lasse

and sayd ytt so hye that all the halle ytt herd

who-so wylnethe hyr to {welthe} wyffe / for welthe off hyr goodes

but he beknowe / be knowe for a cokewold k{u}vtt off my nose

mede mo{u}vrned tho & made hey{u}vy chere

For the most comen off þat co{u}vrte called hyr a hoore

b{u}vt a syso{u}vr & somno{u}vr s{u}vede hyr fast

and a shrey{u}vys clerke beshrewyd all the ro{u}vte

Full ofte ha{u}ve I quod he holpen you att the barre

and yet ga{u}ve ye me neuer the worth off a rysshe

the kyng called conscyence & after-ward reason

and recorded that reason had ryghtfullyche shewed

and modelyche vp-on mede wyth myght þe kyng loked

and gan wexe wrothe wyth lawe for mede had nyghe shente ytt

and seyde thr{u}vghe your lawe I le{u}ve I leese many cheytes

mede ouermasterethe lawe & moche trewthe lettythe

but reason shall reyken wyth you yff I reygne any wyle

and deme you by þis day as ye ha{u}ve deser{u}ved

mede shal not meympryce you by mary off heyuen

I wole ha{u}ve loyalte yn lawe & lett be yo{u}vr Ianglyng

and as most folke wyttnessyth wrong shalbe / shal be demed

quod conscyence to þe kyng but þe commen assente

ytt ys full herd by my heyd here-to / to bryng ytt

all yo{u}vr leyge leedes to leyde th{u}vs e{u}ver

by hym that raght on the rode quod reason to þe kyng

but yff I re{u}vle thysLG yo{u}vr realme rende ovte my g{u}vttes

yff ye byden boexomenes be off myne assente

and I assente quod þe kyng by seynt marye my ladye

by my co{u}vnseyle comen off clerkes & off erles

butt reydylye reason þou shalt not ryde me fro

For as long as I ly{u}ve ley{u}ve þe I nyll

I am all reydy quod reason to rest wyth you e{u}ver

so conscyence be off co{u}vnseyle I kepe no better

and I gra{u}vnt quod the kyng godT forbyd ytt fayle

as long as our lyffe lastethe ly{u}ve we to-gedders

explicit quintus passus de visione C

◂

a profycy P

G.5.6: The <n> of "command" has in fact three minims, the result of characteristic carelessness in this matter on the part of the original scribe.↩

G.5.23: All A manuscripts share the G H reading on, which is adopted by Kane and Donaldson. Remaining B manuscripts read vppon.↩

G.5.34: The G spelling wrothe might conceivably reflect rounding after w plus r, but if so it would be an exceptionally early example; see Dobson, English Pronunciation, section 53 and note 7. It seems more likely that what we have here is a nominal use of the adjective, see OED wroth, n.1.↩

G.5.79: There is a smudge in the right margin, but this comes from the following page. See note to G.5.118.↩

G.5.82: Though preterites of "get" in <a> do occur in G (see, e.g., G.2.35), it seems likely that the form gett is also intended as a preterite, cf. the preterite in <e> at G.19.292. The G reading here is therefore probably not a substantive variant, even though most remaining B manuscripts read gat.↩

G.5.90: For meymprysse with medial <m>, see note to G.3.198.↩

G.5.94: The <þ> of þat has been altered in black ink, enlarging the head. ↩

G.5.101: In the case of M, the shared G M reading offt involves erasure and correction, and the original M reading may well have been so ofte (the reading of remaining B manuscripts). All A manuscripts except J share the G M reading, which is adopted by Kane and Donaldson.↩

G.5.105: The form of the letters -ede in mede differs from that normally used by hand1 in the body of the text, but resembles that used in the more formal rubricated sections. See Introduction I.7.↩

G.5.106:Possibly the second letter of cryst was originally a 2-shaped rather than a long <r>.↩

G.5.108: For "lightly" without medial <t>, see note to G.1.150.↩

G.5.109: The majority of A manuscripts read "oft" rather than ofter (as G) or efte (as remaining B manuscripts), and this is the reading adopted by Kane and Donaldson.↩

G.5.112: An attempt has been made to correct shewe to shrewe before deletion and rewriting.↩

The word profycy looks at first sight as if it may have been crossed out, but it is simply smudged. ↩

G.5.131:The use of <sh> for <s> (in G shey, cf. most manuscripts see) probably reflects earlier Northern or East Midlands influence. See Introduction III.4.1 and Dobson, English Pronunciation, section 373 and notes. ↩

G.5.133: A high proportion of A manuscripts share the G F reading who, which is adopted by Kane and Donaldson. Remaining B manuscripts read who-so.↩

G.5.139: Perhaps because the use of "and"="if" is confusing for him, the G scribe does sometimes have "and if" for B "and," as here. See also G.14.121 and G.15.29. At G.3.194, G.10.9 and G.18.243, G has "if" for "and." Occasionally these readings correspond to the readings of F or H (in this particular case, F shares G's original reading), but this is not always the case and such agreement therefore cannot be used as evidence of a relationship.↩

G.5.148: The vast majority of A manuscripts read "thou," which is the reading adopted by Kane and Donaldson and which may have given rise to the G reading you (with misreading of the thorn as a <y>). However, most B manuscripts read ȝe and it is worth remembering that the G scribe does employ "you" for the nominative plural elsewhere; see note to G.2.180. ↩

G.5.159:This spelling of "rightful" (without medial <t>) is recorded by the MED. For a similar spelling of "lightly," see G.1.150 and note. ↩

G.5.188: For the G scribe's use of "this" for most manuscripts "thus," see note to G.4.76.↩

G.5.196: Bm originally shared the majority B reading goddes but the inflexion was later erased, bringing Bm's reading into line with the G M Cr23 F H reading god.↩

G.5.197: The cross at the bottom right hand corner of the page is in modern pencil.↩