Passus quintus de visione ·
The kynge and his knyȝtes · to the cherche wente
to here matyns of the day · and the masse after
thanne wakyd y of my wynkyng & wo was wyþ-alle
that y ne hadde slepte saddere · and y-seye moreT
ac er y hadde faren a furlong · feyntyse me hente
that y ne mygth ferþere a fote · for deffaute of slepyng
and y sat softly a-doun · and seyde my byleeue
and so y babled on my bedys · þey brouhten me aslepe
¶ And þanne sawȝ y moche more · than y bifore tolde
for y sawȝ a feld ful of folk · þat y before of seyde
and how resoun gan araye hym · all þe rewme to preche
and wyþ a cros byfore þe kyng · comsed þus to teche
¶ He preuyd that þise pestylences · weren for pure synne
and þe sowþwesterne wynd · on saturday at euyn ·
was pertlyche for pure pryde · and for no poynt elles ·
pyryes and plumtrees · weren puffed to þe erþe
yn ensaumple þat ȝe segges · schuldyn do the betre ·
beechis and brode okes · were blowe to the grounde
turned vpwarde here tayles · in tokenynge of drode / dr[e]de
that dedly synne or domesday · schall fordone hem alle
¶ On this matere y mygth · mamelen full longe
ac y schall seye as y saw{e} so me god helpe
how{e} pertly afore the peple · resoun bygan to preche ·
¶ He badd{e} wastour go wurche · what he best{e} co{...}wde
and wynnyn his wastynge · wyth sum manere crafte
and prayde pernele · here purfyl to lete ·
and kepe it in here coffre · for catel at here nede
¶ Tomme stowe he taught · to take two staues ·
and fecche Felyce home · fram the wyuen pyne
he warned watte · his wyf{e} was to blame
for here heed was wurth halfe mark{e} · and his {...?...}hood nat agrote / a grote
and badd{e} bette to cutte · a bowh other tweyne
and betyn betoun therwyth · but sche wolde wurche
¶ And thanne he charge{.h}d chapmen · to chastyse here children
lat{e} no wynnynge hem forwanye · while they ben ȝonge
ne for no pouste of pestylence · plese hem nougth out{e} of resoun
my syre seyde so to me and so dede my dame
that the leeuyr chyld{e} the more lore behoueth ·
and salamon seyde the same · that sapyence made
Qui parcit virge · odit filium · & cetera ·
¶ The englysch of this latyn · who-so woll yt knowe
who-so spareth the spryng{e} · spylleth his chylde
¶ And syþþen he prayed prelates · and preestes to-gydre
that ȝe preche to the peple · preue yt on ȝowe-sylue
and doth it in dede · yt schall drawe ȝow{e} to goode
yf ȝe lyuen as ȝe leren vs · we schull leeue ȝow{e} the bettre
¶ and sytthe he radde relygyoun · here reule to holde
lest{e} the kynge and his conseyl · ȝoure comunes appeyre
and be styward{e} of ȝoure stedes · tyl ȝe be rewled bettre
¶ And syþþen he counseyled the kyng{e} · his comunes to louye
yt is thy tresoure ȝif resoun ne were · and tryacle at thyn nede
¶ And sytthen he prayde the pope · haue pyte on holy cherche
and ere he ȝyue any grace · gouerne hym-sylue
¶ And ȝe that haue lawes to kepe · lat{e} trewthe be ȝoure couetyse
more than gold{e} or othyr ȝiftes · ȝif ȝe wyl{e} god plese
for who-so contraryeth trewthe · he telleth in the gospel ·
that he knoweth hym nougth · ne no seynte of heuene ·
Amen amen dico vobis nescio vos · & cetera ·
¶ And ȝe that seeken seynte Iame and seyntes atte Rome ·
seeketh seynte trewthe · for he may saue ȝow{e} alle
Qui cum patre & filio · that fayre hem befalle
{¶ T}that sueth my sarmoun · and thus seyde resoun ·
¶ {.}Thanne ran repentaunce · and reherced his teme
and made wyll to wepe · water wyth his yȝen ·
¶ Pernele proude-herte · platte here to the erthe
and laye longe or sche loked · and lord{e} mercy cryede
and behiȝte to hym · that vs alle made ·
sche schulde vnsowyn here scherte · and sette there an hayre ·
to affayten here Flesch · that feers was to synne
schall neuere hyȝe herte me hente · but holde me lowe
and suffre to be myssayd{e} · and so dede y neuere
but now{e} woll y meke me · and mercy beseche
for all this y haue · hated yn myn herte
¶ Thanne seyde lechour{e} alas and on oure lady cryede ·
to make mercy for his mysdedes · bytwene god and his soule .
wyth that he schulde the saturday · seuene ȝere there-aftyr
drynke but wyth the doke · and dyne but onys .
¶ Envye · wyth heuy herte · asked after schryfte ·
and carefully · mea culpa · C he comsed to schewe
and clothed yn a caurymawry · y couthe yt nougth descreue ·
yn kertel and curtepy · and a knyf{e} by his syde ·
of a freres frokke · were the fore-sleues ·
and as a leeke that hadde leye · longe yn the sonne
so loked he wyth lene chekes · lowrynge fowle ·
¶ his bely was alto bolne / al tobolne · for wratthe he bote his lyppes
and wryngynge he ȝede wyth the fust{e} · to wreke hym he thougthe
wyth werkes and wyth woordes · whan he sawh{e} his tyme
Echa / Ech a woord{e} that he warp{e} was of an addre tunge
of chydynge and of ianglynge · was his cheef{e} lyflode
wyth bagbytynge and bysemere · and berynge of fals wytnesse
this was all his curtasye · where-so he schewed hym ·
y woll be schryuen quod that schrewe · and y for schame durste
y wolde be gladdere by god · that gybbe hadde meschaunce
{¶ T}than þowh y hadde this wyke wonne · {.}a wa{y}ye of Esex chese
¶ y haue a neyȝbur nye me · y haue noyȝed hym ofte
and lowen on hym to lordes · to make hym lese syluer ·
and made his frend{e} his foo · thorow{e} my fals tonge ·
his grace and his good happes · greuen me fulsore / ful sore
¶ Bytwene man and man · y make debate ofte
that bothe lyf{e} and l{y}eme · ys lost{e} by my speche
and whan y mete hym in markat{e} · that y most{e} hate
y halse hym hendely · as y his frend{e} were
for he is douhtyer than y · y dar{e} done none othur
ac hadde y maystrye and mygth · god wote my wylle
¶ And whan y come to cherche · and schulde knele to the rode
and praye for the peple · as the preest{e} techeth
for pylgrymes and palmers · and for alle peple after
thanne y crye on my knees · that cryst{e} ȝyue hem sorowe
that bar{e} awey{e} my bolle · and my brokyn schete
¶ Awey{e} fram the auter thanne · turne y my face
and byholde how{e} {.}eleyne hath a newe cote
y wusched thanne yt were myn · and all the we{...?...}b after
¶ and of mennys lo{.}s y laughe · that lyketh myn herte
and for here wynnynge y wepe · and wayle þe tyme
and deme that they done ylle · there y do wel wurse
who-so vndyrnymeth me hereof · y hate dedely aftyr ·
y wolde that echa / ech a wygth · were my knaue ·
for who-so haþ more than y · that angreth me sore
and thus y lyue loueles · lyk{e} a lythur dogge ·
that al my body bolneth · for bytter of my galle
¶ y mygth nougth etyn many ȝeeres · as a man augthe
for envye and euyl wyl · ys euyl to deffye
may no sugor no swete thing{e} abate my swellynge
ne no dyapenydyon · dryue yt from myn herte
ne schryfte ne schame · but who-so schrape my mawe
¶ ȝus redyly quod repentaunce · and radde me the beste
sorowe for synnes ys saluacyoun · of soules
¶ y am sory quod the segge · y am but selde other
and þat maketh me thus megre þat y ne may me avenge
among{e} burgeys y haue ben · dwellynge atte londoun
and dude bakbytynge byLX a brocour · to blame mennys ware
whan he solde and y nougth · thanne was y redy ·
to lye and lowre on my neybour · and to lakke his chaffare
y woll amende þis ȝif y may · þorowh mygth of god almyghty ·
¶ Now{e} awaketh wratthe · wyth two whyte yȝen ·
and snevelynge wyth the nose · wyth his nekke hangynge ·
¶ y am Wratth quod he · y was sumtyme afrere / a frere
and the couentes gardynere · forto graffyn ympes ·
on lymytours and on lystres · lesynges y ympyd ·
tyl þey beeryn leues of lowe speche lordes to plese ·
and syþþen they blosmyd abrod{e} · in boure to here schryftes ·
and now{e} is fall þerof a fruyt{e} · that folk{e} haue wel leuere
schewen here schryfte to hem · that / tha[n] schryuen hem to here parsouns ·
¶ And now{e} parsouns haue parseyued · that freres partyn wyth hem
these po{...}ssessours preche · and dyspraue freres ·
and Freres fynde hem in deffaute · as folke bere wytnesse
that whan they preche the peple · yn many places aboute
y wratthe walke wyþ hem · and wysse hem on my bokes ·
thus þey spekyn of my spyrtualte · that eythur despyseth oþer ·
tyl they ben boþe beggers · and by spyrtualte lyuen
or elles alle ryche · and rydyn aboute
y wratthe reste neuere · that y ne muste folowe
these wykked folke · for suche is my grace
¶ I haue an Aunte to Nonne · and an abbesse bothe ·
here were leuere · swowe or swelte · þan suffre eny peyne
y haue ben kook{e} in here kechene · and þe couente seruede
many month{..}es · wyth hem · and wyþ monkes bothe
y was þe pryoresses · potager · and othur poore ladyes ·
and made iowtes of ianglynge · that dame Iohane was bastard ·
for sche hadde child{e} in chyrye-tyme · all oure chaptre yt wyste
of wykked woordes in wraþþe · y here wurtys made
tyl thu lixte and thu lixte · lopen oute atte ones ·
and eyþer redyly hytte oþer · vndyr the cheke
hadde þey had{e} knyues by cryst{e} · eyþer hadde kylled oþer
that no prioresse were preeste · for that he ordeynede
they can so euyl helye / he[yl]e conseyl · whan they ben agreued ·
¶ Among{e} monkes y mygth be · ac many tymes y schonye
for the{n}r ben many felle frekes · myne feres to aspye ·
boþe pryoure and suppryour · and oure pater abbas ·
and ȝif y telle any tales · they taken hem to-gydres ·
and done me faste Frydayes · to brede and water ·
and chalenged in the chaptre-hous am y · as yt were a childe
and balaysed on the bare ers · and no breeche bytwene ·
for-thy haue y no lykynge · wyth tho ledes to wonye
y ete there vnhende fysch · and feble ale drynke
ac otherwyle whan wyne · cometh · and y at eue yt drynke
y haue a flix of a foule mouthe · fyue dayes after
al the wykkydnesse that y wot{e} · by eny of oure breþern
y couthe yt in oure cloyster · that alle the couente yt wote
¶ Now{e} repente the quod repentaunce · and reherce thu neuere
conseyl that thu knowest{e} · by contynaunce ne rygth ·
and drynke nougth ouer-delycatly · ne to depe neythur ·
that wyll be cause ther-of · to wratthe mygth turne
Esto sobrius he seyde · and assoyled me after ·
and bad me wylne to wepe · my wykkydnesse to amende
¶ And thanne came couetyse · can y nougth {...}hym {....}discryue
so hugely and holowhe · syre heruy hym looked ·
he was bytturbrowed · and baburlyppyd also ·
wyth two blered {eyȝed} yȝen · as a blynd{e} hagge
and as a letherne purs · looked his cheekes ·
wel syddere than his chyn · they chyueled for elde
and as a bonde-man of his bacoun · his berd{e} was bawdy
wyth an hood{e} on his heed · a lousy hat{te} aboue
and yn a tanne tabarde · of twelue wynter age
and all to-torne and bawdy · and full of lees · crepynge
but{e} that a lous couthe · haue lopyn the bettre
sche schulde nougth haue walked there · so was yt thred-bare
¶ y haue be couetous quod this cayteef{e} y am a-knowe it here
for sumtyme y seruede · symme atte style
and was apprentys y-plygth · his profyte to wayte
¶ Furst{e} y lernyd to lye · a lef{e} other tweye
wykkydly to weye · was my furste lessoun ·
to wyy and to wynchestre · y wente to the f{....}eyre
wyth manye manere of marchaundyse · as my mayster me hygth
ne hadde the grace of gyle y-go{e} among{e} my chaffare
yt hadde ben vnsolde · seuene ȝere here-after
¶ Thanne drowh{e} y me among{e} drapers · my donet to lerne
to drawe the lyser along{e} · the lengre ytte semyd{e}
among{e} the ryche rayes · y rendred my lessoun
to broche hem wyth a paknedele · and plyte hem to-gydres ·
and putte hem in a presse · and pynnyde hem therynne
tyl ten ȝerdes other twelue · hadden tolde oute thryttene
¶ My wyf{e} was a webbe · and wullyn cloth made ·
sche spak{e} to spynsters · to spynnyn hit oute
ac the pound{e} that sche payde by · weyed a quartoun / quat[r]oun more
than myn owne aunser · who-so weyed trewthe
y brougth her barly malt · sche brew{e} yt to selle
peny-ale and puddynge-ale · sche pouryd to-gydres ·
for laborers and for lowe folke · that lay{e} by hym-syluyn ·
the beste ale lay yn my boure · or in my bedde-chambre
and who-so bummyd thereof · payde ther-after
a galoun for a grote · god yt wote no lasse
and ȝit yt cam{e} yn cuppe-mele · this craft{e} my wyfe vsed ·
¶ Rose the regratour · was here rygth name
sche hath holdyn hukstry · all here lyfe-tyme
ac y swere now{e} so theek{e} that synne wol y lete ·
and neuere wykkydly weye · ne wykkyd chaffare vse
but wende to walsyngham · and my wyf{e} als ·
and bydde the rode of bromholme · brynge me out of dette
¶ Repen{.}tedest the euere quod repentaunce · or restytucyoun madest
ȝus ones y was herberwed quod he · a-monge an heep of chapmen ·
and y aros whan they were yn reste · and ryflyd here males ·
¶ That was none restytucyoun quod repentaunce · but robbers thefte ·
thu hadde ben bettre wurthy · ben hangyd therfore
than for al that thu haste · herefoorth nowe schewyd ·
¶ I wende ryflynge were restytucyoun · for y lernyd neuere on book ·
and y can no frensch yn feyþ · but of the ferthest of northfolke
¶ vsedest thu euere any vsure quod repentaunce yn all thy lyfe-tyme
nay soothly he seyde · saue yn my ȝowthe
y lernyd amonge lumbardes · and iewes a lessoun
to weye pans wyth a peys · and pare the heuyeste
and lene yt for loue of the croys · to leye wed and lese yt
suche de{....}ttys y dede wryte · ȝif he is day breke
y haue more moneye of arerages · than by miseretur & comodat ·
¶ I haue lent{e} lordes and ladyes · my chaffare
and ben her brocour aftyr · and b{.....}ought it my-sylfe
eschaunges and chyuysaunces · wyth suche chaffare y dele
and lene folk{e} that lese woll · a lyppe at euery noble
and wyth lumbardes lettres · y hadde gold{e} to rome
and tok{e} yt by tayle here · and tolde hem there lasse
¶ lentyste thu euere to lordes · for loue of here mayntenaunce
ȝhe y haue lent{e} lordes · that louedyn me neuere aftyr
and haue maad many a knygth · bothe mercer and draper ·
that payde neuere for his prentyshode · a peyre of glouys
¶ haste thu pyte on poore men · that motyn nedys borwe
y haue as muche pyte on poor men · as peddere of kattes
for couetyse of here cotes · as his praye asketh ·
¶ Arte thu manlyche amonge þy neyȝbour / urs · of þy mete and drynke
y am holde also hende quod healso · as hounde is yn kechyne
among{e} my neyȝbours namly · suche aname / a name y haue
¶ Now{e} god lene þe neuere quod repentaunce · but thu repente þe the rather ·
grace on this grounde · thy good wyl to bysette ·
ne þyne eyres after · the · haue ioye of þat þu wynnyst{e}
ne þyne executours · wel bysette · þe moneye that thu hem leuest{e}
and þat was wonne quod wrong{e} wyþ wykkyd men be despendyd
for were y frere of that hous · þere good feyþ and ch{e}aryte is
y nolde cope vs wyth thy catel · ne oure kyrke amende
ne haue a peny to my pytaunce · so god my sowle helpe
for þe beste booke yn oure hous · þouȝ of brende gold{e} were þe {.....}leues ·
and y wyste wytturly þow were · suche as thu tellest{e}
Seruus es alterius · cum fercula pinguia · queris
Pane tuo pocius · vescere liber eris · & cetera
¶ Thu art an vnkynde creature · y can þe nougth assoyle
til þu make restitucioun · and rykene wyþ hem alle
and syþe þat resoun rollyd it · in þe regystre of heuene
þat þu hast maad eche aman / a man good · y may þe nougth assoyle
Non dimittitur peccatum · donec restituatur {.}ablatum · & cetera
¶ For alle þo þat han of þy good · haue god my trowþe
ben holdyn at þe hyȝe doom · to helpe to þy restitucioun
and he þat leeueþ nat þat þys be soiþ · loke yn þe sawter glose
In miserere mei deus · wheþer y mene trewþe
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti · & cetera
¶ Schall neuer werkman yn þys world · þryue wyþ þat þu wynnest
Cum sancto sanctus eris · construe me that yn englisch
¶ Thanne wax þat schrewe yn wanhope · & wolde haue hangyd hym-sylue
ne hadde repentaunce raþer · conforted hym yn þys manere
haue mercy yn þy mynde · and wyþ þy mowþ biseche
for goddys mercy is more · þan alle his oþer werkes
and alle þe wykkednesse in þis world · þat man may werk or þenke
nys nomore to þe mercy of god · þan in þe se a glede
Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei est · quasi sintilla in medio maris ·
¶ Forþy haue mercy in þy mynde · and marchaundyse leue
for þu hast no good ground · to gete þe wyþ a wastel ·
but ȝif it were wyþ þy tonge · or elles wyþ þy two handys
for þe good þat þu hast getyn · bygan all wyþ falshede
and as longe as thu lyuest þerwyþ · þu ȝeldest nought but borwest
and ȝif thu wete neuere to whiche · ne to whom restytewe ·
bere yt to the buschop · and bydde hym of his grace
{...}þat he bysette yt hym-sylf{e} · as best{e} be for þe sowle
for he schal answere for þe · at{te} the hye dome
for þe and for many mo{o .(?)} þat man schal ȝyue a ryknynge
what he lernyd ȝow{e} yn le{...}nte · lyeue ȝe none oþer
and what he lente ȝow{e} of oure lordes good · to lette ȝow{e} fro synne
¶ Now{e} bygynneþ glotonye · forto goo to cherche
and caryes hym to kyrward / kyr[ke]ward · his culpe to schewe
ac betoun þe brewstere · bad{de} hym good morowe
and axed of hym wyth that · whiderward he wolde
¶ To holy cherche quod he · forto here masse ·
and suþþyn y woll byLX schryue · and synne nomore
¶ I haue good ale gossyb quod sche · glotoun wolte thu assaye
haste thu augth yn thy purs · any hote spyces
y haue p{..}epur and pyonyes · and a pounde of garleek
a ferþynge wurþ of fenel-seed · for fastynge-dayes
¶ Thanne geth glotoun yn · and grete othes aftur
cysse the sowter · sate on the benche
watte the warner · and his wyf{e} bothe
symme the tynkere · and tweyne of his prentys
hykke the hakeny-man · and howe the nedlere
clarys of cokkeslane · and the clerk{e} of the cherche
dawe þe dykere · and a dozeyn othre ·
syre peers of prydye · and pernele of Flaundres ·
a rybybour a ratoner · a rakyere of chepe
a ropere a redyng{e}-kyng{e} · and rose the dyschere
godfrey of garleekhythe · and gryffyn the walsche
and vpholdesters an hepe · erly by the morowe
geuyn glotoun wyth glad chere · good ale to hancell
¶ clement{e} the cobelere · caste of his cloke
and atte the newe feyre · he nepnyd / ne[m]pned yt to sylle
hykke the hakeneyman · hytte his hood aftur
and bad{de} bette þe bocher · ben on his syde
there were chapmen y-chose · þis chaffare to preyse
who-so hadde the hood · schulde haue amendes of the cloke
¶ Two rysen vp yn rape · and rownyd to-gydres ·
and preysedyn these penywurþes · a-parte by hym-sylue
they cowde nougth by her conscyence · accordyn yn trewthe
tyl robyn the ropere · arose by þe southe
and nemphym / nemp hym for a nounpere · that no debate were ·
¶ Hykke the hostler · hadde the cloke ·
yn couenant{e} that clement{e} · schulde the cuppe fulle ·
and haue hykkes hood the ostlere · and holde hym seruyd
and who-so repente ratheste · schulde ryse after
and grete glotoun · wyth a galoun of ale ·
¶ there was lawhynge and lowrynge · and late go the cuppe ·
and setyn so stylle tyl euesonge · and songyn vmwhile ·
and blewhe his rounde ruet · atte his reggebonys ende · T
tyl glotoun hadde globred · a galoun and a gylle
his guttys gonne to gotholon · as two gredy sowes ·
he pyssyd a potel · yn a pater noster while ·
and blewe his ruet / [rounde] ruet · atte his ryggebonys ende ·
that alle þat herdyn that horne · heldyn her noses after ·
and wuschedyn yt hadde be wexed · wyth a wyspe of fyrsys
¶ He mygth neyther steppe ne stonde · ere he his staf{.e} hadde
and than gan he to go{o} lyke a gluemannys bycche
sumtyme all a-syde · and sumtyme arere ·
as who-so leyth lynes · forto cacche fowles ·
and whan he drowh{e} to þe doreward · thanne dymmyd his yiȝen
he stombled on the threschfolde · and threw{e} to the erthe
¶ clement{e} the cobelere · kaugth hym by the myddel ·
forto lyftyn hym on lofte · and leyde hym on his knowes ·
ac glotoun was a grete cherl{e} · and a grym yn lyftynge
and cowhed vp a galoun · yn clementys lappe
there nas none hungry hound{e} · yn hertfordschire
durste lape of tho leuynges · so vnlouely yt smakkyd
¶ Wyth all the wo of the world{e} · his wyf{e} and his wenche
{...?...}beryn hym hom to his bedd{e} · and brougthen hym therynne
and aftur al this accesse · he hadde an accydye
that he slep{e} saturday and sonynday · tyl the sonne ȝede to reste
thanne wakyd he of his wynkynge · and wypyde his yȝen ·
the furste woord{e} that he spak{e} · was where ys the bolle
¶ his wyt{te} gan edwyte hym tho · how{e} wykkydly he lyuede
and repentaunce rygth so · rebukyd hym that tyme
{......}As þow wyth woordes and werkes · {.....}hast wrougth euyl in thy lyue
schryue the and be a-schamyd þerof · and schewe yt wyþ þy mowthe
¶ I glotoun quod the grome · gulty y me ȝelde
that y haue trespassyd wyth my tonge · y can nougth telle how{e} ofte
sworn goddes sowle · and so god helpe me atte þe holy dome
there no nede was · nyne{..}P hundryd tymes ·
and ouerseyne me at my soper · and sumtyme atte nones
that y glotoun gyrte yt vp · or y hadde gone a myle
and so spylt{e} that mygth be sparyd and spendyd on sum hungry
ouerdelycatly on fastyngdayes · dronkyn and ete bothe
and sat{e} sumtyme so longe þere · þat y sleep and ete boþe at onys
for loue of tales yn tauernes · to drynke þe more y dynede
and hiȝed to the mete or none · whan fastynge-dayes were
¶ This schewynge schryfte quod repentaunce · schall be meryte to the ·
and þanne gan glotoun to grete · and gret{e} doel made ·
for his lyþer lyf{e} · that he lyued hadde
and avowed to faste · for hungor or for thurste ·
schal þere neuere fysch on frydayes · deffyen yn my wombe
tyl abstynence myn Aunte · haue ȝyuyn me leue ·
and ȝet{te} y hated here · all my lyf{e}-tyme
¶ Thanne cam{e} slewthe all beslabred · wyth two slymy eiȝen
y moste sytte quod the segge · or elles schulde y nappe
y may nougth stonde ne stowpe · ne wyth-oute stool knele ·
were y brougth a-bedde · but ȝif my taylende yt make
schulde no ryngynge do me ryse · er y were rype to dyne
he bygan benedicite wyth a bolke · and his breeste knokkyde
and roxid and roryde · and rutte atte the laste
¶ What awake renke quod repentaunce · and rape the to schryfte
¶ ȝif y schulde deye by this day · me luste nougth to loke
y can nougth partfully / par[fitly] my pater-noster · as the preest{e} yt syngeth
but y can rymes of robynhood · and randolf{e} erle of chestre ·
ac neythur of oure lord{e} ne of oure lady the leste that euere was maked ·
¶ y haue maad a-vowes fourty · and forȝete hem on the morowe
y performyd neuere penaunce · as the preest me hygthe
ne rygth {......}sory · for my synnys · ȝet was y neuere
and ȝif y bydde any bedes · butte ȝif yt be yn wratthe
{¶ T}that y telle wyth my tonge · ys two myle fro myn herte
¶ y am occupyd echa / ech a day · halyday and othre
wyþ ydel tales atte the nale · and otherwhile yn cherche ·
goddes peyne and his passyoun · full selde thenke y ther-onne
¶ I vysyted neuere feble men · ne fettred men yn pyttes ·
y haue leuer here an harlotrye · or a somer gamyn of sowters ·
or lesynges to laughe · at and bylyȝe my neyȝbours
than al that euere mark{e} made · math{.}ew Iohan and lucas ·
¶ and vygylyes and fastynges · alle these late y passe
and lygge a-bedde yn lentyn · and my lemman yn myn armys ·
tyl masse and matyns ben don · and thanne go to the freres ·
come y to ite missa est · y holde me y-seruyd ·
y am nougth schryuen sumtyme · but ȝif yt syknesse make
nougth twyes in two ȝere · and thanne vp gesse y me schryue
¶ I haue ben preest and parsoun · passynge xxxty / thyrty wynter
ȝet can y neythur solfe nor synge · ne seyntes lyues rede
but y can fynde yn a feeld{e} · or yn a furlonge an hare
bettre than in beatus vir · or yn beati omnes
construe oo clause wel · and kenne yt to my perschenes
y can holde louedayes · and here a reues ryknynge
ac yn canoun nor yn decretals · y can nougth rede alyne / a lyne
¶ If y bygge and borowe ougth · but ȝif yt be y-tayled ·
y forȝete yt also ȝerne · and ȝif men me yt aske
sixe sythes othur seuene · y forsake yt wyþ othes
and thus tene y trewe men · ten hundred tymes ·
and my seruauntes sumtyme · her salary ys byhynde
reuthe is to here the rykenynge · whan we schull ȝelde acountys
so wyth wykkyd wyl and wratthe · my werke-men y paye
¶ Ȝif eny man dooth me a byenfete · or helpeth me at nede ·
y am vnkynde aȝenste his curtesye · & can nougth vndurstonde yt
for y haue and haue had{e} sumdele haukes maners
{...?...?...}y am nat lured wiþ loue · but ougth lygge vndyr the thombe ·
¶ The kyndenesse that myne euyncrystyn · kydde me ferne{....}ȝere
sixe syþes y slewthe · haue forȝetyn ytte sythe
yn speche and yn sparynge of speche · y-spylt manye atyme / a tyme
bothe flesch and fysch · and many othre vytayles
bothe bred{e} and ale · buttre myl{l}k and chese ·
forsleuthid yn my seruyse · tyl yt mygth serue no man ·
y ran aboute yn ȝouthe · and ȝafe me nougth to lerne {...?...}C
and euere sytthe haue y ben beggere · for my fowle slowthe
heu quia sterilem · duxi vitam iuu{..}enilem ·
¶ Repentedest thu nougth quod repentaunce · and þerwyþ he swownyde
tyl vigilate the veyl · fette water at his yȝen ·
and flatte hit on his face · and faste on hym cryed
and seyde ware the fro wanhope · wolde the betraye
y am sory for my synnys · seye to thy-sylue
and bete thy-sylf{e} on the breste · and bydde hym of grace ·
for here is no gult{e} so grete · that his goodnesse is more
¶ Thanne sat{e} sleuthe vp · and seynyd hym swyþe ·
and made a vowe to-fore god · for his fowle slowþe ·
schall þer none sonenday be this seuyn ȝere · but ȝif syknesse it lette
that y schal done me er day · to the dere cherche
and here matyns and masse · as y a monke were
schal none ale aftur mete · holde me thennys
tyl y haue euesonge herd · y behote to the rode
and ȝet woll y ȝelde aȝen · yf y so muche haue
al that y wykkydly wan · sytthe y lyf{e} hadde
¶ And thow{e} my lyflode lakke · lettyn y nelle
that eche man schall haue his · ere y hennys wende
and wyth the residue · and the remenaunt · by þe rode of chestyr
y schal seeke trewthe · ere y see rome ·
¶ Rober{t}d{e} the robbere · on reddyte lookyd
and for ther was nougth · wherof · he wepte swythe sore
ac the synfull schrewe · ȝit seyde to hym-{.....}sylue
Cryst{e} that on caluarye · vppon the croys deiȝedyst ·
tho dysmas my brothur · besougth {...?...}the of grace
and haddest mercy on that man · for memento sake ·
so rewe on {..}me robbere · that reddere ne hau{.}e
ne neuere wen{.}e to wynne · wyth craft{e} that y vse ·
for þy muche mercy · mytygacyoun y byseche
ne dampne me nougth on domysday · for that y dude so ylle
¶ What byfel of this feloun · y can nougth fayre {......}schewe ·
wel y wot{e} he wepte · faste · water wyth bothe his eiȝen ·
and knowlechid his gult{e} to cryst{e} ȝet{.} eft{e}-sones
that penitencia · his pyk{e} · he schulde pulsche newe
and lepe wyth hym ouerlond{e} all his lyfe-tyme
for he hadde leyne by latro · lucyfers aunte ·
¶ and thanne hadde repentaunce rewthe · and radde hem alle to knele
for y schal beseche for all synful · oure sauyoure of grace
to amende vs of oure mysdedys · and do mercy to vs alle
¶ Now{e} god quod he þat of thy goodnesse · gon the world{e} make
and of nougth madest augth · and man most{e} lyche to thy-sylue
and syþþen suffredust to synne · a syknesse to vs alle
and al for the beste as y byleue · what-euere the book{e} telleth
O felix culpa o nessessarium peccatum ade · & cetera
¶ for þorow{ht} that synne thy sone · sent{e} was to this erthe
and bycam{e} man of a mayde · mankynde to saue
and madust{e} thy-sylf{e} wyth thy sone · {...?...?...}and vs synful yliche
Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem · & similitudinem nostram · & alibi
Qui manet in caritate · in deo manet & deus in eo · & cetera ·
and sutthen wyth thy-sylue sone · yn oure sute deydest
on goodfryday / good fryday for mannys sake · at ful tyme of the daye
There þy-sylue nor thy sone · no sorowe yn deeth feledest{e}
but yn oure secte was the sorowe · and þy sone yt ladde
Captiuam duxit captiuitatem & cetera
a-boute mydday whan most{e} lygth is · and meel-tyme of seyntis
feddest wyþ thy fresch blood · oure formefadres · yn derknes
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris · vidit lucem magnam · & cetera
¶ And þorough þat lygth þat leep out of the · lucyfer was blente
and blew{e} all þy blyssyde · ynto the blysse of paradys
¶ The þrydday / þryd day aftur · thu ȝedust yn oure suyte
a synful mary th{.}e sawh · {.}ar seynte mary th{.}i damme
and alto / al to solace þe synful · thu suffredyst þat yt so were
Non veni vocare iustos · sed peccatores ad penitenciam
¶ And all þat euere mark{e} haþ maad · Matheu Iohan & lucas
of thyn douhty dedys · were don yn oure armes
Verbum caro factum est · & habitauit in nobis & cetera
¶ And by so muche me semeth · þe sykerere we mowe
bydde and beseche · ȝif it be thy wylle ·
that arte oure fadur and oure brothur · be mercyable to vs
and haue reuthe on these rybaudes · þat repentyn hem here sore
{...?...?...}þat euer wraþþed þe in þis world · yn woord þougth or dede
and blewe yt wyth Beati quorum · remisse sunt iniquitates ·
that alle the seyntys yn heuene · songyn at onys
Homines &iumenta / & iumenta saluabis · quemadmodum multiplicasti · misericordiam tuam deus · & cetera
¶ A thousand of men tho · þrongoun to-gydres ·
{...?...}& cryden vpward{e} to cryst{e} · and to his clene moder ·
to haue grace {.........}to go wiþ hem · trewthe to seeke
tyl late was and longe · that they a lede mette
apparayled as a paynym · yn pylgrymes wyse
he bare a burdoun y-bounde · wyþ a brod{e} lyeste
yn a wythe-wyndes wyse · y-boundyn aboute
a bolle and a bagge · he bare by his syde
an hundred of ampulles · on his hatte seetyn ·
sygnes of synay · and schelles of galyce
and many a crouche on his cloke · and keyes of rome
and the vernycle byfore · for men schulde knowe
and see by his sygnes whom he sougth hadde
¶ This folk{e} fraynede hym furst{e} · whennes he come
fram synay he seyde · and fro oure lordes sepulcre
yn bedleme and yn babyloyne · y haue ben yn bothe
yn heremonye yn Alysaundre · yn manye othre places
ȝe may seen by my sygnes · that syttyn on myn hatte
that y haue walked ful wyde · yn wete and yn drye
and sougth good sentys · for my soule helþe
¶ knowest ougth a cors-seynt{e} that men callyn trewthe
{...?...}canst þu ougth wyssen vs the weye · where that wye dwelleþ
¶ Nay so me god helpe · seyde the gome thanne
y saw{e} neuere palmere · wyth pyke nor wyth scryppe
aske aftur hym ere · tyl now{e} yn this place ·
¶ Petur quod a plowman · and putte foorþ his hede
y knowe hym as kyndely · as clerk{e} dooth his bookes
conscyence and k{....}ynde wy{.}t · kennyd me to his place
and dude me suryn hym sykerly · to seruyn hym for euere
bothe to sowe and to sette · the while y swynke mygthe ·
y haue ben his folwere · all this fyfty wynter
boþe sowyn his seed · and suyd his bestes ·
wyþ-ynne and wyþ-outyn · waytoun his profyte
y dyke and y delue · y do that trewþe hoteth ·
Sumtyme y sowe · and sumtyme y thresche
yn taylours crafte and tynkers crafte · what trewthe can deuyse ·
¶ I weue and y wynde · and do what trewthe hoteth ·
for þow{e} y seye yt my-self{e} y serue hym to paye
y haue myn huyre wel · and othurwhiles more
he is the prestest payere · that poore men knoweth ·
he ne wyþ-halt{e} none h{...}yne his huyre · that he ne haþ it at euyn
he is also lowe as a lombe · and louely of speche
and ȝif ȝe wylneþ to wyte · where that he dwelleth ·
y schall wysse ȝow{e} wytturly · þe weye to his place
¶ Ȝee leue peers quod thes pylgrymes · and profred hym huyre
forto wende wyþ hem · to trewþes dwellynge place
¶ Nay by my soule helþe quod peers · & gan forto swere
y nolde fonge a ferþynge · for seynte Thomas schryne
trewþe wolde loue me the lasse · a longe tyme þeraftur
ac ȝif ȝe wylneþ to wende wel · this ys the weye þyder
¶ Ȝee motyn go þorow{e} mekenesse · boþe men and wyues
tyl ȝe comyn ynto conscyence · that cryst{e} wyte þe sothe ·
that ȝe louyn oure lord{e} god · leuest of alle thynges ·
and þanne ȝoure neybours next{e} · yn none wyse apeyre
oþerwyse þan þu woldest · he wrougth to thy-sylue
¶ And so boweth forby a brook{e} beth buxum of speche
tyl ȝe fynde a foorde ȝoure fadres honoureth ·
Honora patrem & matrem · & cetera ·
¶ Wadeþ yn {...?...}þat water · and wascheeþ ȝow{e} wel there
and ȝe schull lepe þe lyȝtloker · al ȝour lyf{e}-tyme
and so schalt{e} thu swere nougth · but ȝif it be for nede ·
and namly yn ydel · the name of god almyghty ·
¶ Than schalt þu come by a croft{e} · but come þu nougth þerynne
that croft{e} hatteth coueyte þu nougth · mennys catel nor here wyues
ne none of here seruauntys · that noyȝen hem mygthte
loke ȝe breke no bowe þere · but ȝif it be ȝoure owne
¶ Two stokkes þere stondeth · ac stynte ȝe nougth þere
þey hattyn stele nougth ne slee · stryke foorþ by boþe
and leue hem on thy lefthalf{e} / left half{e} · and loke nougth þer-after
and holde wel thyn halyday · hiȝe tyl it be euyn
¶ Than schalt{e} thu blenche at a bergh · bere no fals wytnesse
he is frythed yn wyþ floreyns · and oþir fees manye
loke þu plukke no plante þere · for pereyl of þy {.....}sowle
than schul ȝe seye sooþ · so it be to done ·
yn no manere elles nougth · for no mannys byddynge
¶ Than schalt{e} thu come to a court{e} · as cleer as the sonne
the moot is of mercy · the manere aboute
and alle þe walles ben of wyt{te} · to holdyn wyl {....}owte
and kyrneld{e} wyth crystyndom{e} mankynde to saue
botrased wyþ byleue so · or thu beste nougth besauyd / [y]sauyd ·
¶ And alle þe houses ben hyled · halles and chambres ·
wyþ no led but wyþ loue · and lowe speche as bryþerne
the brygge is of bydde wel · the bet may thu spede
eche pylar ys of penaunce · and prayers to seyntes
of almysdedys ar the hokes · that the gates hange on
¶ Grace hatteth the gateward · a good man forsothe ·
his man hatteþ amende ȝow{e} · for many men hem knoweþ
telleþ hym this tokne · that trewþe w{.}ete the sothe
y performed the penaunce · the preest me {........}enioyned
and am fulsory / ful sory for my synnys · and so schal y euere
¶ Byddeth amende ȝow{e} meke hym tyl his mayster onys ·
to wayue vp the wyket · that the womman schette ·
to Adam and Eue · etyn applys vnrostyd
Per euam cunctis clausa est · & cetera
Et per mariam virginem · patefacta est · & cetera ·
¶ For he haþ the keye and the clyket · thow{e} the kynge slepe
and ȝif grace graunte the · to goo yn this wyse
thu schalt{e} se yn thy soule · trewthe yn thyn herte
yn a cheyne of charyte · as thu a chylde were
to suffre hym and sugge nougth · aȝen þy syres wylle
¶ Ac bewaar than of wratthe the · that is a wykkyd schrewe
he hath enuye to hym · that yn thyn herte sytteth ·
and pookeþ foorþ pryde · to preyse thy-selue
the boldnesse of thy benfetys · makyth the blynde thanne
and than wurþest thu dryuen out as dewe · and the doore closyd ·
keyed and klykeded · to kepe the wyth-owtyn
happyly an hundred wynter · ere thu eft{e} entre
thus myghtest thu lesen his loue · to lete well by thy-seluyn
and neuere happyly eft{e} entre · but grace thu haue
¶ Ac þere are seuene sustren · that seruyn trewthe euere
and are porters of the posternes · that to the place longeth ·
that on hatte abstynence · and humylyte an nothur
charyte and chastyte · ben his cheef maydenys ·
pacyence and pes · muche peple they helpeth ·
largenesse the lady · schee leet yn ful manye ·
Sche haþ holpyn a thousand oute · of the deueles poustee
and wo-so is sybbe vnto this seuene · so me god helpe
he is wondurly welcome · and fayre vndurfongyn
and but if ȝe be sybbe · to summe of these seuene
yt is ful harde by myn heed quod peers · for eny of ȝowe alle
to getyn yngange at any gate there · but ȝif grace be the more
¶ Now{e} by cryst{e} quod a kuttepurs · y haue no kyn there
nor y quod an Apeward · by augth that y can knowe
w{.}ete god quod a wafrestere · wyste y this forsothe
schulde y neuere ferþer a fote · for no freris prechynge
¶ Ȝus quod peris the ploughman · and pokyd hem alle to goode
mercy is a mayden there · and hath mygth ouer alle
and sche is sybbe to alle synful · and hure sone also
and þorough þe helpe of hem two · hope thu none othre
thu mygth gete grace þere · by soo thu go bytyme
¶ By seynte Poule quod a pardener · paraduenture y be nougth knowe þere ·
y woll go fecche my boxe wyth my bryuettes · & a bulle wyþ buschops letres ·
¶ By cryste quod a comyn womman · thy company woll y folwe
thu schalt seye y am thy sustur · y ne wote where þey become
Superbia ·
Lu{r(?)}xuria
Inuidia
Ira
Cupido ·
Gula ·
Accidia