Passus tercius de visione ·
NOw{e} is mede the mayde · and nomo of hem alle
wyth Bedelles and wyth {..}baylyfs · brougth bifore the kynge
The kyng{e} callede a clerk{e} · ne can y nougth his name
To take mede the mayde · and make here at ese
I schall assaye here my-selfe and so{...}þli appose
what man vpon molde · that here were leueste
y wol forȝyue hyre this gylt{.} . so me god helpe
¶ Curteysly the clerk{e} thanne · as the kynge hyȝte
Tooke mede by the myddel · and brougth hire into chambre
And there was merthe and menstralsye P mede to plese
¶ They that wonen in westmynstre wurschipeden here alle
Gentylyche wyth ioye the iustyces somme ·
buskeden hem to the boure there the burde dwellede
To conforten hire kyndely · by clergyes leue
and seyden moorne thu nougth · ne make thu no sorowe
for we woll wysse the kynge · and thy weye schape
to be wedded at thy wylle · and where the leef lyketh ·
for all consciences caste · or crafte as y trowe
¶ Myldely mede thanne · me{...?...}rcyde hem alle
of here grete goodnesse · and gafe hem echone
coupes of clene gold{e} . and cuppes of seluer ·
rynges wyth rubies · and rycchesses manye ·
the leste man of here meyne · a motoun of golde ·
thanne laught they leue · these lordes at mede ·
¶ Wyth that comen clerkes · and conforteden {....}here þe same
and beden hire be blythe · for we beth thyn owne
forto wurche thy wylle · the while thy lyfeT lasteth
¶ Hendely sche thanne · byhigth hem the same
to louen hem lely · and lordes to make
and in the concystorye at court{e} . do callen her names
schall no lewednesse lette · the lede that y louye
that he ne wurth ferste auaunced · for y am by-knowen
there connynge clerkes · schull clokke byhynde
¶ Thanne come there a confessour{e} · coped as {....}a frere
to mede the mayden · he menedeT these woordes
and seyde full softly · in schryfte as {.......}it were
though lewed men and lered · hadden leye by the bothe
And fals hadde fowled the · all this fyfty wynter
y schall assoyle the my-self{e} . for a seem of whete
and be thy bedeman · and bere well thy message
amonge knyghtes and clerkes · conscience to turne
¶ Thanne mede for here mysdedes · to that man knelede
and schorfe / sch[ro]fe here of here schrewdnesse · schameles y trowe
tolde hym a tale · and toke hym a noble
forto ben here bedeman · and here brocour al{...}sse
¶ Thanne he soyled here sone · and seþþen he seyde
we haue a wyndow{e} in werchinge · woll sytten vs fulhiȝe / ful hiȝe
woldest þu glase that gable · and graue þerynne þyn name
ful syker schulde þy soule be · heuene to haue
¶ Wyste y that quod that womman · y wolde nougth spare
forto be ȝoure frende frere · and fayle ȝow{e} neuere
while ȝe loue lordes · that lecchery hauntyn
and lakken nougth ladyes · that louen wel the same
yt ys a frealte of flesch · ȝe fynden yt in bookes ·
A comyn cours of kynde · where-of we comyn alle
who may scapen that sclawndre · the scathe ys sone amended
yt ys a synne of the seuene · sonnest relessed
¶ God haue mercy quod mede · on men that yt hauntyn
and y schal couer ȝoure cherche · ȝoure cloyster make
and ȝoure wowes whyten · and wyndowes glasyn
do paynte and portraye · and paye for the makynge
that euery segge schal seye · y am suster of ȝoure hous ·
¶ {..}But god to alle good folk{e} · suche grauynge deffendith
to wryten in wyndowes · of here wel-dedys ·
yn aduenture pryde be peynted þere · and pompe of the worlde
for cryst{e} knoweth thi conscyence · and þy kynde wylle
and þy coste and thy couetyse · and who the catel {...?...}owghte ·
¶ For-þy y lere ȝow lordes · leueþ suche werkes
to wryten in wyndowes · of ȝoure wel-dedys ·
or to gredyn after goddes men · whan ȝe delen doles
yn aduenture ȝe haue ȝoure huyre here · and ȝoure heuene alsC
Nesciat sinistra manus quid faciat dextra ·
late nougth thy lefte halfe · late ne rathe ·
w{y}ete what thu werchest · wyth thy rygth syde ·
for thus byddeþ the gospel · good men do{ne} her{e} alm{....}esse ·
¶ Meyres and m{......}ercers · that menes ben bytwene
the kyng{e} and the comune · to kepe the lawes
to punysche on pyloryes · and pynynge stoles
brewesters and baksters · bochers and cokes
for þese arne men of this molde · that moste harme wurcheth
wyth that the poore peple · schulde putten in here wombe
for tooke they on treuly · they tymbred nougth so hye
ne bouhten no burgages · be ȝe full certayn
¶ Ac mede the mayde · the meyre haþ bysougth
of alle suche sullers · suluer to take
or presentes wyth-outen pans · or peces of seluer
rynges or other rycchesse · the regratours to ma{......}nteyne
¶ For my loue quod that lady · loue hem echone ·
and suffre hem to selle · somdel aȝen reson
¶ Salamon the sage a sarmoun he made
forto amende m{.}eyres · and men that kepen lawes
and tolde hem this teme · that y telle thenke
Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum · qui libenter accipiunt munera ·
¶ Amonge these lettred ledes · this latyn ys to mene
that fuyr schall falle · and brenne al to blo askes
the houses and homes · of hem that desyreth
ȝyftes or ȝeres-ȝyftys · by-caus{.}e of here offyces
¶ The kynge fro the conseyl came · and called after mede
and of-sente hire also blythe · wyth sergeauntes manye
that brougth here to boure · wyth blysse and {...}wiþ ioye
¶ Curteysly the kynge thanne · comsed to telle
vnwyttyly womman · wrougth haste thu ofte
ac wrouhtest thu neuere wurse · than whan thu fals tooke
but y furȝyue the that gylt{e} · and graunte m{.}y grace
hennys to thy deth-day · do so namore
¶ Y haue a knygth conscyence · came late from byȝonde
ȝif he wylneth the to wyue · wylt{.} thu hym haue
¶ Ȝe lord quod the lady · lord{e} furbede yt elles
but y be holly atte ȝoure heste · late hange me sone
¶ And thanne was conscyence called · to come and appere
byfore the kynge and his conseyl · as clerkes and othre
knelynge to the kynge · conscyence lowtede
to wyten what his wylle were · and what he do schulde
¶ Wolte wedde this womman quod the kynge · if sche woll assente
for sche is fayn of þy felauschipe · forto be thi make
¶ Quod conscyence to the kynge · cryste yt furbede
ere y wedde suche a wyf · wo me bytyde
for sche is frele of here {....}feyþ · and fykel of hure speche
and makeþ men mysdo · many score tyme
trust{e} of hure tresoure · trayeþ full manye
¶ Wyues and wydewes · wantownesse sche techeþ
and lereþ hem lechery · that louen here ȝiftes ·
ȝoure fader sche felde · thorough fals byheste
and haþ puysound popes · and appeyredT holy cherche
ys naugth a bettre bawde · by hym that me made
bytwene heuene and helle · in erthe thouh men sougth ·
for sche is tykel of here tayl . tale-wys of here tunge
As comune as carteway · to echeP knaue that walketh
to monkes to menstralles · to meselles in hegges
Sysours and somnours · suche men hure preyseth
Scherreues and schyres · were schent if sche ne were
for sche dooþ men lese here londe · and here lyf{e} bothe
sche lateth passe prysoners · and for hem ofte payeth
and ȝyueþ the gaylers golde · and grotes to-gydres
{...?...}& vnfetreþ fals · to flee where hym lyketh
and taketh þe trewe by the top · and tyeth hym faste
and hangeth hym for haterede · that harme dede neuere
¶ To be cursyd in concystorye · sche counteþ nougth a bene
for sche copeþ the commissarye · and coteth his clerkes
sche ys asoyled also sone · as here-selfe lyketh
and may almost also muche do · in a moneth ones
as ȝoure secrete seal · in syxe score dayes ·
for sche is pryue wyth the pope · prouysours yt knoweth
for syre symony and here-selfe · selen the bulles
¶ Sche blesseþ these buschopes · thouwh they seme lewed
prouendreth parsouns · and preestes manteyneth
to haue lemmans and lotobyes · all here lyfe-dayes ·
and bryngeth foorth barns · aȝen forbode lawes
there sche is wel wyth the kyng{e} · wo ys that rewme
for sche is fauourable to fals · and fouleþ trewthe ofte
¶ By ihesu wyth hure iewelles · ȝoure yustyces ofte sche schendeth
and lyeþ aȝen the lawe · and letteþ hym the gate
that feyth may nougth haue his foorþ · hure floreyns gone so þykke
sche ledeth the lawe as hure leste · and louedayes maketh ·
and dooth men lese for hure loueT · that lawe mygth wynne
the mase for a mene man · þouȝ{.} he mote hure euere
lawe ys so lordlyche · and loth to make ende
wyth-oute presentes or pans · sche pleseth wel fewe ·
¶ Barouns & burgeys · sche bryngeþ in sorowe
and al the comune in care · that lyue wolde in trewthe
for clergyse and couetyse · sche cowpleþ to-gydres
that is þe lyf{e} of þat lady · lorde · ȝyue hure sorowe
and alle that ma{......}ynteyne here men · schame hem bytyde
for poore men mowe haue · no power hem to pleyneT ·
tyl þey sore smerte · and lowe a-downe falle
suche a mayster is mede · a-monge men of goode
¶ Thanne mornyd mede · and menyd hure to the kynge
to haue space to speke · spede ȝif sȝe mygthe
¶ The kynge grauntyd hure grace · wyth a good wylle
excuse the ȝif þu canst{e} · y can namore segge
for conscyence acuseþ the · to congeye the for-euere
¶ Nay lorde quod that lady · leueþ hym the wurse
whan ȝe wyten wytterly · where þe wronge lyggeþ
there the myschef{e} is gret{e} mede may helpe
and thu knowest conscyence · y cam{e} nougth to chyde
ne to praue thy persone · wyth a proude herte
wel thu wost{e} wernard · but ȝif thu wolt{e} gabbe
thu hast{e} hangyd on myn hals · enleue tymes ·
and also gryped my gold{e} . ȝyue yt where the lyked
and why wratthest the now{e} . wondre me thynkeþ
ȝit y may as y mygthe · menske the wyth ȝiftes
and mant{....}eyne thy manhode · more than thu knowest
¶ Ac thu hast{e} defamed me foule · byfore the kyng{e} here
for kyllyd y neuere kyng{e} . ne counseyled therto
ne dude as thu now{e} demeste · y do yt on the kynge ·
¶ In normandy nas he nougth · noyhed for my sake
ac thu thy-self{e} soþly · schamedest hym ofte
crop{e} in a caban · for colde on thy nayles
wendeste that wynter · wolde haue laste euere ·
and dreddest to haue be ded{e} . for a dym clowde
and hyedest homward · for hungur of thyn wombe
¶ Wyþ-outyn pyte pylour · poore men thu robbe{....}dest
and b{or}ere here bras at thy bakke · to caleys to sylle
there y lafte wyth my lord{e} · his lyfe forto saue
y made his men murye · and mornynge lette
y batred hem on the bakke · and bolded here hertes
and dede hem hoppe for hope · to haue me atte wylle
hadde y ben mareschal of his men · by marye of heuene ·
y durste haue leyde my lyfe · and no lasse wedde
he schulde haue ben lorde of that londe · in lengþe and in brede
and also kyng{e} of that kyth · his kynrede to helpe
the leste brolle of his blood · a barouns pere
¶ Cowardly thu conscyence · conseyledest hym thennys
to leuyn his lordschipe · for a lytyl seluer ·
that ys the ryccheste rewme · that reyn ouerhoueth ·
¶ yt bycomyþ to a kynge · that kepeth a rewme
to ȝyue mede to men · that mekely hym serueth ·
to alyens and to alle men · to honoure hem wyth ȝyftes ·
mede maketh hym bylouyd · and for a man holdyn ·
for ȝyftes haue ȝonge men · to renne and to ryde
the pope and and / and alle his prelates · presentes vndyrfongyn
and meden men hem-selfe · to ma{......}yntene here lawe
sergeauntes for her seruyce · we seen wel the sothe
taken mede of here maystres · as they mowen acorde
beggers for here byddynge · asken men mede
menstralles for here merthes · mede they asken
the kynge hath mede of his men · to make pes in londe
men that techen chyldren · crauen of hem mede
prestes that prechen the peple · of god asken mede
and massepans and here mete · atte the mele-tyme
alkyn crafty men · crauen mede for here prentys
marchauntes and mede · mote nede go to-gydres
no wygth as y wene · wyth-oute mede may lybbe
¶ Quod the kyng{e} to conscyence · by cryste as me thynketh
mede is wel wurthy · the maystrye to haue
¶ Nay quod conscyence to the kyng{e} · and kneled · to the erthe ·
there are two manere of medes · my lorde wyth ȝowre leue
that on god of his grace · graunteth in his blys
to tho that wel werkyn · while that they ben here
the prophete precheth {...e}þerof · and putte yt in the sawter ·
Quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo · &cetera ·
¶ Lorde who schall wonye in thy wones · {...} wyth thyn holy seyntes
or resten in thyn holy hul · this asketh dauid ·
and dauid assoyleth it hym-selue · as the sauter telleth
Qui ingredit{o}urP sine macula & operatur iusticiam &cetera ·
¶ Tho that entren of one colour · and of one wylle
and haue wrougth werkes · wyth rygth and resoun ·
and he that vseth nougth · the lyfe of vsure
and enformeþ poore men · and pursueth trewthe ·
Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram & munera super innocentem non accepit ·
¶ And alle that helpen the innocent{e} · and holdyn wyth the rygthful
wyth-outen mede dooth hem good · and the trewthe helpeth ·
suche manere men my lord{e} · schull haue the ferste mede
of god atte here grete nede · whan they gon hennys ·
¶ There is an nothur mede mesurles · that maystres desyreth ·
to maynteyne mysdoers · mede they take ·
and there seyth the sawter · in a psalmes ende
In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt dextra eorum repleta est muneribus · &cetera
¶ And he that grypeth hure gold{e} · so me god helpe
schall abuyen yt b{.}yttre · or the booke lyeth ·
¶ prestes and parsouns · that plesynge desyreth
that take mede or moneye · for messes that they synge
take here mede here · as mathewe vs telleth ·
Amen amen {...?...?...}dico vobis receperunt mercedem suam ·
¶ That laborers and lewed folk{e} taken of here maystres
yt is no manere of mede · but a mesurable huyre
¶ In marchaundyse ys no mede · y may it wel a-vowe
yt is a permutacyoun apertly · a peny for an nother
ac reddest thu neuere · regum · thu recrayede mede
why the vengeaunce fel on saul · and on his chyldren
god sente to saul · by samuel the prophete
to agag of amalek{e} and al his peple aftyr ·
schulde deyen for a dede · that done hadde here eldres
¶ For-thy seyde samuel to saul · god hym-self{e} hoteth
the to be buxum at his byddyng{e} · his wyll to fulfulle
wende to Amalek wyth thyn ost{e} · and al that thu fyndest sle
burwes and bestes · brenne hem to dethe
wydewes and wyues · wommen and chyldren
mebles {...}& vnmebles · and al that thu mygth fynde
brenne yt bere yt nougth a-way · be yt neuere so ryche
for mede nor for moneye · loke thu destruye yt ·
spylle yt spare yt nougth · thu schalt spede the bettre
¶ And for he coueytede the catel · and the kyng{e} sparede
forbare hym and his bestes bothe · as the byble wytnesseth
oþerwyse than he was warnyd · of the prophete
god seyde to samuel · that saul · schulde dye ·
and alle his seed for that synne · schendfullyche endede
suche a myschef{e} mede made · saul the kynge to {....}haue
that god hated hym for euere · and alle his eyres after
¶ The culorum of this caas · kepe y nougth to telle
yn aduenture yt noyȝed men none ende woll y make
for so is this worlde wente · wyth hem that hauen powere ·
that who-so seye hym here sothes · ys sonnyste y-blamyd
¶ I conscyence knowe this · for kynde · wytte me yt taughte
that reson schal regne · and rewmes gouerne
and rygth as agag hadde · happe schulle summe ·
samuel schall sle hym · and saul schal be blamyd
and dauid schall be dyademyd · and dawntyn hem alle
and one crystene kynge · kepyn hem alle
Schal namore mede be mayster · as sche ys nouthe
ac loue and lownesse · and leauute to-gydre
these schulle be maystres · on molde · trewthe to saue
and who trespaceþ aȝen treuthe · or takeþ aȝen his wylle
leaute schal done hym lawe · and no lyfe elles ·
schall none sergeaunte for here seruyce · were a selken howue ·
ne no pelure in his clooth · for pledynge atte barre
mede of mysdoers · maketh manye lordes ·
and ouer lordes lawes · rewleþ the rewmes
¶ Ac kynde loue schal come ȝette · and conscyence to-gydres
and make of the lawe a laborer · suche loue schal aryse
and suche a pes amonge the peple · and a parfyte trewþe
that iewes schul wene in here wytte · and wexen glade
that moyses or messyas · be comen into this erthe
and haue wondre in here hertys · that men beth so trewe
¶ Alle that beren bazelard · brode swerd{e} or launce
axe other hachet · or eny wepne elles ·
schall be demyd to the deeth · but he do yt smythye
ynto sykel or sythe · to schare or to cultur ·
Conflabunt gladios suos · in vomeres · &cetera ·
¶ Eche man to pleye wyth a plouwh · pykoyse or spade
spynne or sprede donge · or spylle hym-selfe wyth slowthe
¶ Preestes and parsouns · wyth placebo to hunte ·
and dynge vpon dauid · eche daye tyl eue ·
Huntynge or haukynge · ȝif eny of hem yt vse
his boste of his benefys · woll be bynomyn hym aftyr
schall neuere kynge nor knygth · constable ne meyre
ouerlede the comune · ne the courte somne
ne putten hem in panel · to done hem plygth here trewthe
but after the dede that ys done · oo dome schall rewarde
mercy or no mercy · as trewthe woll accorde
¶ kynges court{e} and comune court{e} concystorye and chap{....}itle
al schall be but{te} oo court{e} · and oo baroun iustyce
than worth trewe tonge a tydy man · that tenyd me neuere
¶ batayles schull none ben · ne noman bere wepne
and what smy{...}th þat smythieth eny · be smyten ther-wyth to dethe
Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium · &cetera
¶ And ere this fortune falle · fynde men schal the wurste
by syxe sonnes and a schyppe · and halfe a schefe of Arwes
and the myddel of a moone · schall make the iewes to turne
and sarsyns for that sygth · schull synge gloria in excelsis
for makameet and mede · myshappe schull that tyme
For melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe · &cetera
¶ Als wroth as the wynde · wexe mede in a while
y kan no latyn quod sche · clerkes wytyn the sothe
see what salamon seyth · in sapyence bokes
they that ȝyuyn ȝiftes · the vyctory wynneth
and moste wurschipe haue þerwyth · as holy wrytte telleth
honorem adquiret qui dat munera & cetera ·
¶ I leue wel lady quod conscience · that thy latyn be trewe
ac thu art{e} a lady · that radde a lessoun ones
was omnia probate · and that plesyd here herte
¶ For that lyne was no lengour · atte the leues ende
hadde sche loked that othur half{e} and the leef turnyd
sche schulde haue founde fele woordes · folowynge aftyr ·
Quod bonum est tenete · trewthe that texte made
¶ And so ferde ȝe madame · ȝe couthe nomore fynde
tho ȝe loked on sapience · syttynge in ȝoure studye ·
this texte that ȝe haue told{e} · were good for lordes
Ac {...}ȝe faylede a kunnynge clerk{e} that couthe the lef{e} haue turnyde
and ȝif ȝe sechyn sapyence efte · fynde ȝe schall that foloweth
a fulteneful / ful teneful texte · to hem that taketh mede ·
That is animam autem aufert accipiencium · &cetera
that thow{e} we wynne wurschipe · and wyth mede haue victorye ·
the sowle that the soude taketh · by so muche ys bounde ·