Passus vus / quintus · & vltimus de do-bet · Hic incipit passus Ius / primus · de do-best ·
Thus y awakyd and wrot · what y had dremyd
and dygth me derely · and dide me to cherche
yn myddys of þe masse · {....}whan men ȝeode to offrynge ·
I fel eftsonys a-slepe · and sodeynly me mette
that peris þe ploughman · was peyntyd all blody
and {...?...}com in with a cros · byfore þe comyn peple ·
and rygth lyk yn alle lymys · to our lord ihesu ·
¶ and þan callyd y conscyence · to kenne me the soþe ·
ys þis ihesus þe Iuster quod y · þat iewys dudyn to {....}deþe
or it is peris the ploughman · who peynted hym so reed
¶ Quod conscyence and kneled tho · these are peris armys
his coloures and his cote armure · ac he þat comeþ so bloody
is cryst wyþ his cros · conquerour of crystene
¶ Whi calle ȝe hym cryst quod y · syþþe iewes called hym ihesus
patriarkes and prophetys · prophecyedyn byfore
that alkyn creatures · schull knele and bowe
anoon as men nempnyd · þe name of god ihesus
ergo is no name · to þe name tof / of ihesus
ne noon so nedfull to nempne · by nygth ne by daye ·
for alle derke deueles · arn a-drad to heren it
and synfull ar solaced · and sauyd by þat name ·
and ȝe callen hym cryst · for what cause telleþ me ·
ys cryst more of mygth · and more wurþy name ·
than ihesu or ihesus · that all owr ioyȝe com of{.}fe
¶ Thu knowest well quod conscyence · and thu konne resoun ·
þat knygth kyng conquerour · may be oo persone
to be callyd a knygth is fayr · for men schulde knele to hym
to be callyd a kynge · is fayrer · for he may knyghtes make ·
ac to be a conquerour clepyd · þat comeþ of special grace ·
and of hardynesse of herte · and of hendynesse
to maken lordes and ladyes · of lond that he wynneþ
and free men fowle þralles · that folwyn nougth his lawes
¶ The iewes that were gentyl men · ihesus þey dyspised ·
boþe his lore and his lawe · now are þey lowe cherlys
as wyde as this world is · wonyeþ þer noon ·
but vnder tribute or tayllage · as tykes and cherles
and þo þat bycome crystene · þurgh fullynge þat þey tookeT
and vppon caluarye o{..}n a cros · y-crownyd kyng of iewes
¶ It bycomeþ to a kyng · to kepe and deffende
and conquerour of conquest · hi{.}s lawes and his large
and so dude ihesus þe iew{..}ys · he iustyfied and taugth hem
the lawe of lyf · that laste schall euere ·
and deffendyd hem fro fowle euelys · feuers and flixes
and fro fendes that yn hem were · and fals byleeue ·
tho was he ihesus called · of iewys · gentyl propheet
and kyng of her kyngdom · and corowne bar of þornys
¶ And þoo conqueryd he on cros · as conquerour noble ·
mygth no deþ hym fordo · ne a-doun brynge ·
that he ne ros and regnyd · and rauasched helle
and tho was he conquerour called · of {..y.e}queke and of dede
for he ȝaf adam and eue · and othere mo blysse
¶ And syþþe he ȝaf · largely · alle his lele lyges
places yn paradys · at her partyng hennys
he may well be called conquerour · and þat is cryst to mene
¶ Ac the cause that he comeþ thus · wyþ cros of passyoun ·
is to wyssen vs þerwyþ · þat whan þat we be tempted ·
þerwyþ to fygthe · and to deffende vs · fro fallyng ynto synne ·
and see by his sorowe · þat who-so loueþ ioyȝe ·
to penaunce and to pouerte · he must putte hym-sylue
and muche woo yn þys world · wyllyn and suffryn ·
¶ Ac to carpe more of cryst · and how he com to þat name
feyþly forto speke · his ferst name was ihesus
tho he was born yn bethleem · as þe book telleþ
and cam to take mankynde · kynges and aungels
reuerencyd hym fayre · wyth rycchesse of erþe ·
aungels owt of heuene come · knelynge and songyn ·
Gloria in excelsis deo Et in terra pax hominibus · & cetera
¶ kynges comyn after · kneled and offred ·
myrre and moche gold · wyþ-owtyn mercy askyng
or eny kynnys katel · but knowlechyng hym souereyn
boþe of lond sonne and see · and syþnes they wente ·
ynto her kyngene kyth · by counseyl of aungels
and there was þat {....}word fulfuld{e} · the whiche þu of speke
Omnia celestia & terrestria · flectantur in hoc nomine ihesu · & cetera
¶ For alle þe aungels of heuene · at his byrþe kneled ·
and al þe wytt of þe world · was yn þoo þre kynges
resoun and ryȝtwysnesse · and reuthe þey offryd
wherfore and whi · wyse men that tyme ·
maystres and lettred men · magi hem called
¶ That oo kyng cam wyþ resoun · keuered vndyr sence
¶ The secounde syþen · soiþlyche offred
ryȝtwysnesse vnder rede gold · resounes felawe ·
gold is lyknyd to leaute · that laste schal euere
and resoun to ryche gold · to rygth and to trewþe ·
¶ The þrydde kyng {..}tho cam · knelynge to ihesu
and presentyd hym wyþ pyte · apperynge by myrre ·
for myrre is mercy to mene · and mylde speche of tonge ·
Three ylyche honest þynges · were offryd þus at ones
thrugh þree kynne {.}kynges · knelynge to ihesu ·
¶ Ac for alle þese preciouse presentys · our lord prynce ihesus
was neyþer kyng ne conquerour · tyl he gan to wexe
yn þe maner of a man · and þat by mochel sleyȝte
as it bycomeþ a conquerour · to conne many sleyȝtes
and many wyles and wytt · that woll ben a ledere ·
and so dude ihesu in his dayes · who-so hadde tyme to telle it
sumtyme he suffred · and sumtyme he hidde hym ·
and sumtyme he fauht faste · and fle{..}dde oþerwhile
and sumtyme he gaf good · and grauntyd hele boþe
lyf and lyme as hym luste · so he wrougth
as kynde is of a conquerour · so comsed ihesusT
tyll he hadde alle hem · that he fore bledde ·
¶ In his innocence this ihesus · at iewene feste
water ynto wyn turnyd · as ho{l}oly wrytt telleþ
and þere bygan god of his grace · to dowel
for wyn is lyknyd to lawe and lyf of holynesse
and lawe lacked tho · for {...?...?...}men louyde nat here enemyes ·
and cryst counseyleþ thus · and comaundeþ boþe ·
to lered and to lewyd · to loue her enemys
so at þat feste ferst · as y bifore tolde ·
bygan god of his grace · and goodnesse to dowel ·
and þanne was he clepid and called · nougth holy cryst but ihesu
a faunt fyn full of wytt · filius marie
for bifore his moder marye · made he þat wond{..}ur ·
that sche ferst and formest · ferme schulde byleeue
that he þurgh grace was gete · and of no gome elles
he wrouht þat by no wytt · but þurgh woord one
aftyr þe kynde he cam of · þere comsid he dowel
¶ And whan he woxen was more · yn his modres absent
he made lame men to lepe · and ȝaf lygth to blynde
and fedde wyþ two fisches · and wyþ fyue loues ·
sore anhun{d..}gryd folke · moo þan fyue thowsand
þus he conforted carfull · and caugth a gretter name
the whiche was dobet · where that he wente
and alle he heled and halp · þat hym of grace asked
and þoo was he called yn contre · of þe comen peple
for þe dedys þat he dude · fili dauid {Ihesus} / [Ihesus]T
for dauid was douȝtyest of dedys · yn his tyme
the buyrdes t{..}ho songyn · Saul interfecit mille · Et dauid decem milia
forþy þe contre þer ihesu cam · callyd hym fili dauid
and nempnyd hym of nazareþ · and no man so wurþy
to be cayser or kyng · of þe kyngdom of iuda
ne ouer þe iewes iustyse · a{o}s ihesus was hem þougthe
¶ Wherof cayphas hadde enuye · and oþere of þe iewys
forto don hym to deþe · day and nygth þey casten ·
kylleden hym on cros wyse · at caluarye on a fryday ·
an suþþen buryeden his body · and bedyn þat men schulde
kepyn it fro nygth-comers · wyþ knyhtes y-armed ·
for no frendys schuldyn hym fecche · for prophetys hem tolde
how þat blyssid body · of buryell · ryse schulde
and gon ynto galyle · and gladyn · his apostles ·
and his moder m{o}a{...}rie thus men byfore demyd ·
that aungels and archangels · er þe day spronge
comen knelynge to þe {....}corps · and songyn christus resurgens
¶ The iewes prayeden h{y}em pees · and bisoughten þe knyghtes
to telle þe comune þat þer cam · a compaigne of his apostlys
and bywycched hem as þey wokyn · and awey stolen hym ·
¶ Ac marye magdaleyn · mette hym by þe weye ·
goynge toward galylee · yn godhed and manhed
and lyues and lokynge · and sche alowd cryede
yn eche a compaigne þere sche cam · christus resurgens
thus cam it owt þat cryst ouercam · recoueryd and lyuede
Sic oportet christum pati · & intrare · & cetera
For þat þat wommen wyten · may nougth well be counseyl
¶ Peter parceyued all þis · and pursewyd after
boþe iames and iohan · ihesu forto seke ·
thaddee and ten moo · wyþ thomas of ynde
and as alle þyse wyse wyes · weren to-gydrys
yn an hous all by-schett · and her dore ybarred ·
cryst cam yn and all closed · boþe dore and ȝatys
to peter and to þese apostlys · and seyde pax vobis
and took thomas by þe hond · and taugth hym to grope ·
and fele wyþP his fyngrys · his fleschlych herte ·
¶ Thu art my lord y beleeue · god lord ihesu ·
thu deyedest and deeþ þolyedest · and deme schalt vs alle
and now art lyuynge and lokynge · and last schalt euere
¶ Cryst carpid þanne · and curteysly seyde
thomas for thu trowest þis · and trewly beleeuyst it
blessyd mot thu be · and be schalt for euere
and blessid moot þey alle be · yn body and yn sowle
that neuer seye me yn sygth · as thu doist nowþe
and lelelyche beleeuyn all þys · y loue hem and bl{y}esse hem ·
Beati qui non viderunt & crediderunt · & cetera
¶ And whan þys dede was doon · dobest he tauȝte
and ȝaf peris power · and pardoun he graunted
to alle maner men · mercy and forȝiuenesse
he mygth men assoyle · of alle maner synne
yn couenaunt þat þey come · and knowlechid to paye
to peris pardoun þe ploughman · redde quod debes ·
¶ Thus haþ peris power · be his pardoun payed
to bynde and vnbynde · boþe here and elles-where
and assoyle men of alle synnys · saue of dette one
¶ An-non after an hyȝe · vp ynto heuene
he wente and wonyeþ þere · and {...}wyl come at þe laste
and rewardyn {n}hym rygth well · þat reddit quod debet
payeþ partfytlyparfytly · as pure trewþe wolde ·
¶ And what persone payeþ yt nougth · punyschen he þenkeþ
and demen hem {..}at domesday · boþe quyke and dede
the good to þe godhede · and to gret ioyȝe
and wycked to wonye · yn woo wyþ-owtyn ende
¶ Thus conscyence of cryst · and of þe cros carped
{...?...?...}and counseyled me to knele þerto · & þanne cam to me þougth ·
oon spiritus paracclitus to peris · and to his felawes
yn lyknesse of a lyȝtnynge · he lyght on hem alle
and made hem conne and knowe · alle kyn langages
¶ I wondrid what þat was · and wagedLX conscyence
and was aferd of þe lygth · for yn fyres lyknesse ·
spiritus paracclitus · ouer-spradde hem alle
¶ Quod conscyence and kneled · þis is crystys messager
and comeþ fro þe grete god · and grace ys his name
knele now quod conscyence · and ȝif þu canst synge
welcome hym and wurschipe hym · wyþ veni creator spiritus
¶ Thanne song y þat song · so dede many hundryd ·
and crieden wyth conscyence · helpe vs god of grace
¶ And þanne bygan grace · to go wyþ peris ploughman
and counseyle{.}d hym and conscyence · þe comune to sompne
for y woll dele to-day · and ȝyue dyuyne grace
to alkyn creatures · that han her fyue wyttys
tresor to lyue by · to her lyues ende ·
and wepne to fygth wyþ · þat wy{...?...}ll neuer fayle ·
for anticryst and hise · all þe world schull greue ·
and encombre þe conscyence · but ȝif cryst þe helpe ·
¶ And false prophetes fele · flaterers and gloseres
schull come and be {...?...}curatores · ouer kyngys and erlys ·
and pryde schall be pope · prynce of holy cherche
coueytyse and vnkyndenesse · cardynales hym to lede
¶ Forþy quod grace er y go · y woll gyue ȝow tresor
and wepne to fygth wyþ · whan anticryst ȝow assayleþ
and gaf eche man a grace · to gye wyþ hym-sylue
þat ydelnesse encombre hym nougth · enuye ne pryde
Diuisiones graciarum sunt · & cetera
¶ Summe he ȝaf wytt · wyth woordys to schewe ·
wytt to wynne her lyflode wyþ · as þe world askeþ
þey lely to lyue · by labour of tounge
and by wytt to wyssen oþere · as grace hem wolde teche
and summe by kynde crafte · and connyng of sygth
wyþ syllynge and byggynge · her {...?...}lyflode to wynne ·
and somme he lered to laboure · a lele lyf and a trewe ·
and somme he taugth to tulye · to dyke and to þecche
to wynne wyþ her lyflode · by lore of his techynge ·
¶ And somme to dyuyne · and dyuyded noumbres to kenne
and somme to compase craftyly · and colours to make ·
and somme to see and to seye · what schulde byfalle ·
boþe of wele and of woo · telle it or it felle ·
as astronomyens þurgh astronomye · & philosophres wyse ·
¶ Somme to ryde and summe to recouere þat ryȝtfully was wonne
he wyssid hem wynne it aȝen · þurgh wytnesse of handys ·
and fecchen it fro false men · wyþ foluyles lawes
¶ And somme he lernyd to lyue · yn longynge to ben hennys
yn pouerte and yn pacyence · to prayȝe for alle crystne ·
and alle he lered to be lele · and eche a craft loue oþer
and forbad hem alle debat · þat noon were among hem ·
thowȝ somme be clenner þan somme · ȝe see wel quod grace
þat he þat vseþ þe fayrest craft · to þe fowlest y cowde haue put hym
þenkeþ alle quod grace · that grace comeþ of my ȝyfte
lokeþ þat non lacke oþer · but loueþ alle as breþerne ·
¶ And who þat most{e} maystryes can · be myldest of berynge
and crowneþ conscyence kyng · and makeþ craft ȝowr styward
and after craftys counseyl · cloþe ȝow and fede ·
for y make peris þe ploughman · my procuratour and my reue
and registrer to resceyue · redde quod debes
my prowour and my ploughman · peris schall be on erþe
and forto tylye trewþe · a teme schall he haue
¶ Grace gaf peris a teme · fowr grete oxen ·
þat on was luke a large beest · and alowe / a lowe chered
mark and matheu þe þrydde · myghty bestys boþe
and ioyned to hem on iohan · most gentyl of alle
þe prys nete of peris plough · passynge alle oþere ·
¶ And grace gaf peris · of his goodnesse fowr stottes
all þat his oxen eryed · þey to harwyn after
on higth austyn · and ambrose an noþer ·
gregory þe grete clerke · and ieromye þe goode
þese foure þe feyþ to teche · folwen peres teme
and harwed yn an hand-while · all holy scrypture
wyþ two harwes þa{.}t þey hadde an old and an newe
Id est vetus testamentum · & nouum · & cetera
¶ And grace gaf greynes · the cardynal vertues
and sew hem yn mannys sowle · and syþþe tolde her namys
¶ Spiritus prudencie · the ferst sede higthe
and who-so eet þat · ymagene he schulde
er he dude any dede · deuyse well þe ende ·
and leredT men a ladul bygge · wyþ a long stele
and caste forto kepe a crocke · to saue þe fatte aboue
¶ The secound sed{e} higthe spiritus temperancie
he þat eteþ of þat sede · had such a kynde ·
ne schulde neuer mete ne moche drynke · make hym to swelle
ne no scornere ne scolde · owt of skyle hym brynge
ne wynnynge ne welþe · of worldly rycchesse
wast word of ydelnesse · ne wycked speche meue ·
schulde no coryous cloiþ · comyn on his rygge ·
ne no mete yn his mowþ · þat mayster iohan spiced
¶ The þrydde sed{e} þat peris sew{e} was spiritus fortitudinis ·
and who-so eet of þat seed · hardy · was he euere ·
to suffre all þat god sente · syknesse and angres
mygth no lesynges ne lyers · ne losse of worldly catel ·
makyn hym for eny mornynge · þat he nas mery yn sowle ·
and bold and a-bydynge · bysmeres to suffre ·
and pleyeþ all wyþ pacyence · and parce michi domine
and couered hym vnder counseyl · of catoun þe wyse
Esto forti animo · cum sis dampnatus inique · & cetera ·
¶ The fierþe sed{e} that peris sew{e} · was spiritus iusticie · iusticie · & cetera
and he þat eet of þat sed{e} · schuld be euer trewe
wyþ god and nougth a-gast · but of gyle one ·
for gyle goiþ so pryuely · þat good feiþ oþer-while ·
may nougth ben a-spyed · for spiritus iusticie
¶ Spiritus iusticie · spareth nougth to spille ·
hem þat ben gylty · and forto correcte
the kyng ȝif he falle · in gylt or in trespasse
for acounteþ he no kynges wraþþe · whan he yn court sytteþ
to demyn as a domes man · adrad was he neuere ·
neyþer of duke nor of deþ · þat he ne dude lawe ·
for present or for prayer · or eny princes lettres
he dede equyte to alle · euenforþ his power
¶ These fowre sedys peres sewe · and seþþe he dude hem harwe
wyþ olde lawe and newe lawe · þat loue mygth wexe ·
among þo fowre vertues · and vyses distroyȝe ·
for comonly yn contrees · cammokes and wedys
fowleþ þe fruyt yn þe felde · þere þey growe to-gydres
and so doon vices · vertues wurthi ·
¶ Quod peris harweþ alle that conneþ kynde wyttT
by rede and by counseyl · of þese fowr doctours
and tylyeþ after her techynge · þe cardynal vertues
¶ Aȝeins þe greynes quod grace · bygynneþ forto rype ·
ordeyne þe an hous peris · to herbergh ynne þy cornes
¶ By god grace quod peris · ȝe motyn gyue tymber
and ordeyne þat hous · er ȝe henneT wende ·
¶ And grace gaf hym þe cros · wyþ þe crowne of thornys
þat cryst vppon caluarye · for mankynde on pynyd ·
and of his baptyme and blood · þat he bledde on rode ·
he made a maner morter · and mercy it higthe ·
and þerwyþ grace bigan · to make a good fundement
and watled it and wallid it · wyþ his peynes & passiounT ·
and of al holy wrytt · he made a roof after ·
and called þat hous vnyte · holycherche on englisch ·
and whan þis dede was don · grace dyuysid ·
a cart higth crystendoom · to carye peris scheuys
and gaf hym caples to his carte · contrissioun and confessioun
and made preesthod heyward · þerwhile hym-sylf wente
als wyde as þe world is · wyþ peris to tylye trewþe ·
¶ Now is peris to þe plough · and pryde it aspyed ·
and gadred hym a gret oost · for greuyn he þynkeþ
conscience and alle crystene · and cardynall vertues
blowe hem doun and breke hem · and byte a-two þe mores ·
and sente forþ surquydous · his sergeaunt of armes ·
and his spye spille loue · speke euyll behynde ·
¶ Thise two comen to conscyence · and to crystyn peple ·
and toldyn hem tydynges · þat tyne þey schuld þe sedys ·
þat peris þere hadde sowyn · þe cardynall vertues
and peris bierne worþ ybroke · and þey þat ben yn vnyte
schull come owt and conscyence · and ȝowr two caples ·
confessioun and contricioun · and ȝowr cart þe byleeue
schall be colowryd so queyntly · & keuered vnder owr sophestrye ·
þat conscyence schall nougth · knowe by contricioun
ne by confessioun · who is crystyn or hethen
ne no maner marchaunt · þat wyþ money deleþ ·
wheþer he wynne wyþ rygth · wyþ wrong or wyþ vsure ·
¶ wyþ such colours and queyntise · comeþ pryde y-armed ·
wyþ þe lord þat lyueþ after · the lust of his body
to wastyn on welfare · and on wycked kepynge
all þe world yn a while · þurgh owr wytt quod pryde ·
¶ Quod conscyence to alle crystne tho · my counseyl is to wende ·
hastyly into vnyte · and holde we vs there ·
and prayȝe we þat a pes were · yn peris bierne þe plough-man ·
for wytterly y wot well · we beþ nougth of strengþe ·
to gon a-geyn pryde · but grace were wyþ vs ·
¶ And þanne cam kynde wytt · conscyence to teche ·
and cryed and comaunded · alle crystene peple ·
forto delue and dyke · depe abowte vnyte ·
þat holycherche stood yn vnyte · as it a pyle were
¶ Conscyence commaunded þoo · alle crystne to delue ·
and makyn a moche moot · þat mygth ben a strengþe ·
to helpyn holy cherche · and hem þat it kepeþ ·
¶ Thanne alkyn crystne · saue comyn wommen ·
repentyden and refusidyn synne · saue þey one
and false men flaterers · vsurers and thieuys ·
lyeres and questmongers · that were forsworn ofte
wetynge and wylfully · wyþ þe fals heldyn ·
and for syluer were forsworn · soiþly þey wysten yt
¶ Ther nas no crystene creature · þat kynde wytt hadde ·
saue schrewes one · suche as y spak of ·
that he ne halpe a quantyte · holynesse to wexe ·
somme þurgh bedys byddynge · and somme þurgh pylgrymage ·
and oþer pryue penaunce · and somme þurgh penyes delyng
¶ And þanne wellyd water · for wycked werkes
egrelyche ȝernyngeT owt · of mennys eiȝen ·
clennesse owt of comune · and clerkes clene lyuynge
madyn vnyte holy cherche yn holynesse to {..}stonde
¶ I care nougth quod conscyence · þowh pryde come nowþe
the lord of lust schall be lettyd · all þys leynte y hope ·
comeþ quod conscyence · ȝe crystene and dyneþ ·
þat han labowred lely · all þys leynte tyme ·
here is brede y-blessid · and goddys body þere-vnder
grace þurgh goddys woord · gaf peris power
and myghtes to makyn yt · and men to etyn it after ·
yn helpe of her hele · onys yn amoneþ / a moneþ
or as ofte as þey hadde {o} nede · þo þat hadde y-payed ·
to peris pardoun þe ploughman · redde quod debes ·
all þat we owen eny wygth · or we go to howsel ·
¶ That is my counceyl · quod conscyence and cardynal vertues
þat eche a man forȝyue oþer · and þat woll þe pater noster
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra · & cetera ·
And so to ben assoyled · and seþþyn ben housled ·
¶ Ȝhe baw quod a brewere · y woll nougth be rewlyd ·
by ihesu for alle ȝowr ianglynge · wyþ spiritus iusticie
ne after conscyence by cryst · while y can sylle ·
boþe dregges and draf · and drawe it an hole ·
thikke ale and þynne ale · for þat ys my kynde
and nougth hacke after holynesse · hold þy tounge conscyence
of spiritus iusticie thu spekest moche yn ydel ·
¶ Cayteef quod conscyence · cursyde wrecche ·
vnblyssed art thu brewere · but ȝif þe god helpe ·
but þu lyue by lore · of spiritus iusticie ·
the chief sede that peris sew{e} · y-sauyd worst thu neuere
but conscyence þe comyn fede and cardynal vertues
leeue yt well þey ben lost · boþe lyf and sowle
¶ Thanne is manye a man y-lost · quod a lewed vicory ·
y am a curatour of holy kyrke and cam neuere yn my tyme ·
man to me þat me cowd telle · of cardynal vertues
or þat acountyd conscyence · at a cokkes feþer or an hennys
y knew{e} neuer cardynall · þat he ne cam fro þe pope
and we clerkes whan þey come · for her comunes payeþ
for her pelure and her palfreyes mete · & pilours þat hem folweþ
the comune clamant quotidie · eche a man tyl oþer
the contre is þe cursedere · þat cardynals comen ynne
and þere þey lygge and lenge most · lecchery þer regneþ
¶ Forþy quod this vicory · by verry god y wolde ·
þat no cardynall come · {....} among þe comyn peple
but yn her holynesse · holdyn hem stylle ·
at auyoun among þe iewes · cum sancto sanctus eris
or yn rome as her rewle wolde · þe relykes to kepe ·
and thu conscyence yn kynges court · & schuldest neuere come þenne
and grace that thu gredest so of · gyour of alle clerkes
and peris wyþ his newe plough · and eke wyþ his olde ·
emperour of all þe world · that alle men {...?...}were cristene ·
¶ Inparfit is þat pope · that all þe peple schuld helpe ·
and sendeþ hem þat sleeþ such · as he schulde saue ·
and well wurþ peris þe plough-man · þat pursueþ god yn doynge
Qui pluit super iustos & iniustos · at onys ·
¶ And sente þe sonne to saue · a cursid mannys tylþe
¶ Rygth so peris þe ploughman · peyneþ hym to tyllye ·
as well for a wastour · and wenches of þe stywes
as for hym-sylf and his seruauntes · saue he is ferst serued ·
and trauayleþ and tylyeþ · for a tretour also sore ·
as for a trewe tydy man · alle tymes y-lyke
and wurschipid be he þat wrougth all · boþe {...?...}goode & wikke
and suffreþ þat synfull be · tyl sumtyme þat þey repente
and god amende þe pope · þat pilyeþ holy cherche ·
and cleymeþ bifore þe kyng · to be kepere ouercrystene / ouer crystene
and counteþ nougth þouwȝ crystene ben · kyllyd and robbed ·
and fynt folk to figth · and crysten blood to spille ·
aȝen þe olde lawe · and newe lawe · as luk þerof wytnesseþ
Non occides · michi vindictam · & cetera
¶ It semeþ by so hym-sylf · hadde his wylle ·
þat he reccheþ rygth nougth · of all þe remenant
and cryst of his curtasye · the cardynals saue
and turne her wytt to wysdom · and to wele of sowle ·
for þe comune quod þis curatour · countyn full lytell
the counseyl of conscyence · or cardynall vertues
but ȝif þey seyȝe as by sygth · sumwhat to wynnynge
of gyle ne of gabbynge · gyue þey neuere tale
for spiritus prudencie · amonge þe peple is gyle ·
and alle þo fayre vertues · as vices þey semed ·
eche a man subtyleþ a sleyȝte · synne forto hide ·
and colowreþ it for a kunnynge · and a clene lyuynge
¶ Thanne lowȝ þer a lord · and by þis lygth seyde · T
y am kynge wyþ corowne · þe comune to rewle ·
and holy kyrk and clergye · fro cursid men to fonde ·
and ȝif me lackeþ to lyue by · þe lawe woll y take it
þer y may it hastylokest haue · for y am hede of lawe
for ȝe ben but membrys · and y a-boue ȝow alle
and holy cherches chief helpe · and chyuentayn of þe comune ·
and what y take of ȝow two · y take it at þe techynge
of spiritus iusticie · for · y iuge ȝow alle ·
so y may boldly · be houslyd · for y borowe neuere ·
ne craue of my comune · but as my kynde askeþ
¶ In condicioun quod conscience · þat thu conne deffende ·
and rewle þy rewme by resoun · yn rygth · and yn trewþe ·
take thu mygth yn resoun · as thy lawe askeþ
Omnia tua sunt ad deffend{......}endum · sed · non ad deprehen{.....}dendum · T
¶C The vyker hadde fer hom · and fayr took his leue ·
and y awakyd þer-wyþ · and wrot as me mette ·