Passus sextus de visione ·
This were awykkyd / a wykkyd wey{e} . but who-so hadde a guyde
that wolde folowyn vs ylke a fote · þus this folke hem menyd ·
Quod perkyn the ploughman · by seynt peter of rome
y haue an halfe acre to erye · by the hye weye
hadde y eryed this half{e} acre · and sowyn yt aftur
y wolde wendyn wyth ȝow{e} · and the weye teche
¶C This were a longe lettynge · quod a lady yn a sclayre
what schulde we wommen · werche the whiles ·
¶ Summe schull sowe the sakke quod peers · for schedynge of the whete
and ȝee louely ladyes · wyth ȝoure longe fym{b}gerrys / fy[n]gerrys
that ȝe haue sylke and sendal · to sowe whan tyme is
chysybles for chaplaynes · cherches to honoure
¶ wyues and wydewes · wolle and flax spynneth ·
maketh cloth y conseyl ȝow{e} and kenneth so ȝoure douhtres
the nedy and the nakyd · nymeth hede how{e} þey lygge{.}n
and casteeth hem cloþes · for so comaundeth treuthe
For y schall lenyn hem lyflode · but ȝif the londe fayle
flesch and brede bothe · to ryche and to pouere
als longe as y leue · for the lordys loue of heuene
and al manere of men · that by mete and drynke lybbeth
helpeth hym to wurche wygthly · and wynnyth ȝoure food
¶ By cryst{e} quod a knygth tho · he kennyth vs the beste
ac on the teme trewly · taugth was y neuere
ac kenne me quod the knygth · and by cryste y wol assaye
¶ By seynt poule quod perkyn · ȝe profre ȝow{e} so fayre
that y schal swynke and swete · and sowe for vs bothe
{..}as oþ{..}er laborers do for thy loue al my lyfe-tyme
yn couenaunt that thu kepe · holy cherche and my-sylue
fro wastours and fro wykkyd men · that þis world{e} stroye{.}n
and go hunte hardylyche · to harys and to foxes
to bores and to brokkes · that breken adown myn hegges
and goo affayte thy faucouns · wylde fowlys to kulle
for suche comyn to my croft{e} · and croppeth my whete
¶ curteysly this knygth thanne · comsyd these woordes
by my power peers quod he · y plygth the my trewthe
to fulfulle þys forwarde · þow{e} y fygth schulde ·
as longe as y lyue · y schall the ma{.....}ynteyne
¶ ȝe and ȝit a poynte quod peers · y praye ȝow{e} of more
loke ȝe tene no tenaunt · but trewthe woll assente
and þo{....he}wh ȝe mowe amercyen hem · late mercy be taxour
and mekenesse thy mayster · mawgre medes chekes ·
and þow{.}h poore men profre ȝow{e} presentes and ȝiftes
nyme it nougth yn aduenture · ȝe mowe it nougth deserue
for {...}ȝe schal{te} ȝelde it aȝen · atte one ȝeres ende
¶ And mysbede nougth thy bonde-m{en}an · the bettre may the speede
thow{e} he be thyn vndurlynge here · wel may happe yn heuene
that he wurthier sytte · and wyth more blysse
Amice ascende superius · & cetera ·
and that thu be trewe of thy tonge · and tales that thu hatye
but ȝif they ben of wysdome or of wytte · thy werkmen to chaste
hold{e} wyth none harlottes · ne here nougth here tales
and namly at the mete · suche men eschue
for it ben the deueles dysours · y do the to vndurstonde
¶ I assente by seynte iame · {.}seyde the knygth thanne ·
forto wurche by thy woordes · the while my lyf{e} dureth
¶ And y schal apparayle me quod perkyn · yn pylgrymes wyse
and wende wyth ȝow{e} y woll · tyl we fynde trewthe
and caste on my clothes · y-clowtyd and hole
my kokeres and my {...?...}cuffes · for colde of my n{.}ayles ·
and hange myn hoper · at myn hals · yn stede of a scryppe
a buschel of bredcorn · brynke {...?...?...}wiþ me ther-ynne
for y wolde sowe it my-sylf{e} · and sutthyn woll y wende
to pylgrymage as palmers doon · pardon forto haue
¶ Ac who-so helpeth me to erye · or sowyn here or y wende
schall haue leue by oure lord{e} · to lese h{.....}eere yn heruest
and make hem merye therwyth · magre who-so gruccheth {..}
and alkyn crafty men · that kunnyn lyue yn trewthe
y schal fynde hem food · that feythfully lybbeth ·
¶ Saue iakke the iogolour · and ionet of the stywes
and danyel the d{...}yes pleyere · and denote the bawde
and frere the faytour · and folke of his ordre
and robyn the rybaudour · for his rusty woordesT
Deleantur de libro viuencium · y schulde nougth dele wyth hem ·
for holycherche is hote of hem no tythe to take
Quia cum iustis non scribantur · & cetera
They ben a-scapid good aduenture · god hem amende
¶ Dame wurche whan tyme is peers wyf{e} higthe
his doughter higth do rygth so · or thi dame schall þe bete
his sone higth suffre thy souereynes · to haue her wylle
deme hem nougth for ȝif thu doost · thu schalt it dere abugge
lat god y-wurthe wyth all · for so his woord techeth ·
for now{e} y am olde and hore · and haue of myn owne
to penaunce and to pylgrymage · y woll passe wyth othre
for-thy y woll or y wende · do wryte my byqueste
¶ In dei nomine amen · y make it my-sylue
he schal haue my sowle · that best{e} hath deseruyd it ·
and fro the f{.}end{e} it deffende · for so y byleue
tyl y come to his accountes · as my crede me telleth
to haue a reles and aremyssyoun / a remyssyoun · on that rental y leue
¶ The kurkeLG schal haue my careyne · and kepe my bonys
for of my corn and catel · he crauyd the tythe
y payde it hym prestyly · for peryl of my soule
forþy is holdyn y hope · to haue me in his masse
and myngyn yn his memorye · amonge alle crystene
¶ My wyf{e} schal haue of that y wan · wyth trewthe and nomore
and dele among{e} my doughtres · and my dere children ·
for þow{e} y deye to-day · my dettys are quytte
y bar home þat y borwyd · er y to bedde ȝede
¶ And wyth the residue and the remenaunt · by the rode of lukes
y woll wurschip ther-wyth · trewthe by my lyue ·
and ben his pylgrym{e} at the {.....}plough for poore mennys sake
and helpe my cultur to kerue · and clense the furwys
¶ Now{e} is perkyn and his pylgrymes · to the plough faren
to erye this half{e} acre · helpyn hym manye
dykers and deluers · dykyd vp the balkes
ther-wyþ was perkyn a-payde · and preysydyn hym faste
oþer werkmen ther were · that wrouhten ful ȝerne
echeman / eche man yn his manere · made hym-sylfe to done
and summe to plese perkyn · pykyd vp the wedes
¶ Atte hie prime perys · leet the plough stande ·
to ouerseen hem hym-sylf{e} · and who-so best{e} wrougthe
he schulde be huyred theraftur · whan heruest-tyme come ·
¶ {...?...}Thanne setyn & songyn · summe atte the nale ·
and holpyn erye his halfacre · wyth how{e} trolly-lolly
¶ Now{e} by the perel of my soule quod peers · al yn pure tene
but ȝe aryse the rathur · and rape ȝow{e} to wurche
schall no greyne that groweth · glade ȝow{e} at nede
and thow{e} ȝe deye for doel · the deuyl · hym haue that recche
¶ Tho were faytours afferd{e} · and feyned hem blynde
summe leydyn here legges a-lyry · as suche losell kunnyth
and madyn here mone to peers · and prayde hym of grace
for we haue no lymes to labour wyth · lorde of grace bydde we the
ac we praye for ȝow{e} peers · and for ȝoure plow{e} bothe
that god of his grace · ȝoure grayn multyplye
and ȝelde ȝow{e} for ȝoure almesse · that ȝe ȝyuyn vs here ·
for we may nougth swynke nor swete · suche syknesse vs eyleth ·
¶ ȝif it be sooþ quod peris · that ȝe seyn · y schall it sone aspye ·
ȝe ben wastours y wote wel · and treuthe wote the sothe
and y am his olde hyne · and hygth hym to warne
whuche they were yn this world{e} · his werkemen appeyryd ·
¶ ȝe wastyn that me{.}n wynnyn · wyþ trauayle and wyþ tene
ac trewthe schall teche ȝow{e} · his teme to dryue ·
for ȝe schull ete barlybrode · and of the brooke drynke ·
but ȝif he be blynde or brokelegged · or bolted wyth yrens ·
he schall ete whetebred{e} · and drynke wyth my-sylue
tyl god of his goodnesse · amendement{.} hym sende
to kepen kyen yn the feelde · the corn from the bestys ·
dyken or deluyn · or dyngyn vpon scheuys
or helpe make morter · or bere mukke afelde
{..}yn lecherye and yn losengerye · ȝee lyuen and yn slauthe
and all is thorow{e} suffraunce · that vengeaunce ȝow{e} ne taketh ·
¶ Ac ancres and heremytes · that etyn nougth but at nonys ·
and namore tyl on the morowe · myn almus schul they haue
and of catel to kepe hem wyth · that han cloystres and cherches ·
¶ Ac robard rennaboute · schall nougth haue of myne
ne postles but they preche kunne · and haue power of the buschop ·
they schull haue payn and potage · and make hem-sylf{e} at ese
for it is an vnresonable relygyoun · that hath rygth nougth at certayn ·
¶ And thanne gan a wastour to wratthe hym · and wolde haue fougthe ·
and to peris the ploughman · he profryd his gloue
a brytoneer a bragger · abostyd peris als ·
And badde hym go pissyn wyth his plough · for-pynyd schrewe
wylte thu or nylte thu · we wyln haue oure wylle
of thy flour and of thy flesch · fecche whan vs lyketh
and makyn vs mery ther-wyth · maugre thy chekes
¶ Thanne peris the ploughman · playned hym to the knygth ·
to kepyn hym as couenaunt was · fro cursyd schrewes ·
and fro wastourus wolueskynnys · þat maketh þe world{e} dere
for þo wastyn and wynnyn nougth · and that ylke while
wurth neuer plente among{e} the peple · þe while my plough lyggeth
¶ Curteysly the knygth thanne · as his k{....e}ynde wolde
warnyd wastour · and wyssyde hym bettre
or thu schalt{e} a-bugge by the lawe · {and} by the ordre that y bere
¶ I was nougth wont{e} to wurche quod wastour · & now{e} wol y nat bygynne
and l{...}eet lygthly of the lawe · and lasse of the knygth ·
and sette peris at a pese · and his plough bothe
and manaced peers and his men · ȝif þey mette {.} eft{e}-sone
¶ Now{e} by the pereyl of my sowle quod peers · y schal appeyre ȝow{e} alle
and houpyd aftur hongour · that herde hym at{te} the furste
a-wreke me on these wastours quod he · that the {.} world{e} schendeth
¶ hungor yn haste tho · hente wastour by the mawe
and wrong{e} hym so by the wombe · that bothe his yȝen watryd ·
he buffetyd the brytoneer · aboute the cheekys
that he loked lyke a lanterne · all his ly{.e}f{e} aftur
he b{...}eet hem so bothe · he barst{e} nere her guttys
ne hadde peris wyth a pese-lof{e} prayde hungor to cese
they hadde be doluyn · ne deme thu none othre
¶ Suffre hem lyue he seyde · and late hem {...}ete wyth hogges ·
or elles benys and bren · y-bakyn to-gydres
or elles mylke and mene ale · þus prayde peers for hem ·
¶ Faytours for fere herof · flowyn ynto bernys
and flattyn on wyth flayles · fro morowe tyl euyn ·
that hungor was nougth so hardy · on hem forto loke
for a potfull of pesyn · that peers hadde y-makyd ·
¶ An hep{e} of heremytys · hentyn hem spades
and wentyn as werkmen · wyþ spades and wyth schoueles ·
and doluyn and dyggedyn · to dryue awey{e} honger
¶ blynde and bedrede · were botenyd a thousande
that setyn to begge syluer · sone were they helyd
for that was bake for bayard · was bote for many hongry ·
and many a begger for benys · buxum was to swynke
and eche poore man wel apayd{e} to haue pesyn for his huyre
and what peers prayde hem to do · as preste as a sperhauk
and þerof was peris proude · and put hem to werke
and ȝaf hem mete as he mygth aforthe · and mesurable huyre
¶ Thanne hadde peers pyte · and prayde hungor to wende
home yn-tyl his owne ȝerde · and holdyn hym there
for y am wel a-wroke of wastours · thorow thy mygth
ac y praye the or thu passe · quod peers to hungour
of beggers and of bydders · what beste ben to done
for y wote wel be thu went{e} · they wyln don full ylle
for myscheef it maketh · they beth so meke nowthe
and for defaute of her food · this folk{e} is at my wylle
they are my blody bretherne · quod peers for god b{..}owgth vs alle
treuthe taugth me ones to louen hem echone
and to helpen hem of alle thyng{s} · ay as hem nedyd ·
and now{e} wolde y wyten of the · what were the beste
and how{e} {he}y mygth amaystryen hem · and make hem to werche
¶ Here now{e} quod hongour · and hold{.} it for a wysdome
bolde beggers and bygge · that mowyn her breed byswynke
wyth houndys brede · and hors brede · holde vp her hertys
abayte hem wyth benys · for bolnynge of her herte
and ȝif the gomes grucche · bydde hem go swynke
and he schal sowpe swettere · whan he it haþ deseruyd ·
¶ And ȝif thu fynde any frek{e} that fortune hath apeyryd
or eny maner febul man · fonde thu suche to knowe
conforte hym wyth thy catel · for crystes loue of heuene
loue hem and lene hem · so lawe of god techeth ·
Alter alterius onera portate · & cetera
¶ and al manere of men · that thu mygth aspye
that nedy ben and nougthty · helpe hem wyth thy goodes
loue hem and lakke hem nougth · and lat{e} god take the vengeaunce
thouȝ they done euele · lat god y-wurthe
Michi vindictam & ego retribuam · & cetera
¶ And ȝif thu wolt{e} be gracyous to god · do as the gospel techeth ·
and byloue th{.}e among{e} lewyd m{.}en · so schalt thu lacche grace
Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis · & cetera
¶ y wolde nougth greue god quod peris · for all the good on grounde
mygth y synneles do as thu seyst{e} · seyde peris thanne
¶ Ȝee y behote the quod hungor · or ellys the byble lyeth ·
go to genesis the gyaunte · the engendrour of {...}vs alle
In sudore {....}& in swynk{e} thu schalt{e} thi mete tylye
and labour for thi lyflode · and so oure lord{e} higthe
and sapience seith the same · y say it yn the byble
pyger pro frigore · no felde wold{.}e tylye in wynter
and therfore he schall · begge {...?...}in somer · and no man bete his hunger
¶ Matheu wyth mannys face · mowthed these woordes
that seruus nequam · hadde a Mnam · id est · besaunt & for he nolde nougth chaffare
he hadde mawgre of his mayster · euermore after
and bynam hym his mnan · for he ne wolde werche
and ȝaf that mnam · to hym · that ten mnames hadde
and wyth that he seide · that holy cherche it herde
he þat hath schall · haue · and helpe there it nedeth
and he that nougth hath nougth schal haue · and no man hym helpe
and that he weneth wel to haue · y wol hym byreue
¶ {.....}kynde wyt wolde that eche wygth · wel wrougth
or yn dykynge or yn deluynge · or yn trauayle of prayers
contemplatyf lyf · cryst{e} wolde they wrougthe
the sauter seith yn the psalme · of beati omnes
the freke that fedeth hym-sylf{e ·} wyth his feythfull labour
he is blyssed by the book · yn body and in sowle ·
Labores manuum tuarum · & cetera
¶ ȝit y praye ȝow{e} quod peris · pur charite and ȝe kunne
ony leef of lechecrafte · lerne it me my dere
for summe of my seruauntes · and my-sylf{e} bothe
of al a wyke werke nougth · lord so our wombe aketh ·
¶ I wot{e} wel quod hunger · what syknesse ȝow{e} eyleth ·
ȝe haue manged ouermuche · and that maketh ȝow{e} grone
ac y hote the quod hunger · as thu thyn hele wylneste
þat þu drynke no day · er thu dyne sumwhat ·
ete nougth y hote the · er hungour the take
and sende the of his sauce · to sauour wyth ȝoure lyppes
and kepe sum tyl soper tyme · and sytte nougth to longe
and ryse vp or appetyt · haue eten his fulle
lat nougth sire surfayt · syttyn at thi boord ·
leue hym nougth for he is leccherous · and lykerous of tonge
and aftur many maner of metys · is mawe is affyngryd
and ȝif thu diete the thus · y dare legge myn eres
that Fysyk schal his furrud hoodes · for his food selle
and his cloke of calabre · wyth alle the knoppes of golde
and be fayn by my feyth · his fysyke to sulle
and lerne to labour wyth londe · forlyflode / for lyflode is swete
for murtheres are many leches · lorde hem amende
they don men deye wyþ here drynkes · ar destyne it wolde
¶ By seynt poule quod peers · these are profetable woordes
wend{e} now{e} hunger whan thu wolt{e} · þat wel be þe euere
for this is a louely lessoun · lord it the furȝelde
¶ Byhote god quod hunger · hennes ne woll y wende
tyl y haue dynyd by this day · and y-dronke bothe
¶ I haue no peny quod peers · pullettes to bugge
noþer gees ne gris · but two grene cheses ·
a fewe cruddes and crem{e} · and an hauerkake
and two loues of benys and bran · y-bake for my fawntys
and ȝit y seie by my soule · y haue no salt bacoun ·
ne none kokeneys by cryst{e} coloppis of to makyn
ac y haue percyle and porrettes · and many cole plontys
and eke a cowe and a calf{e} · and a carte mare
to drawe a-felde my dong{e} the while the drougth lasteth
and by this lyflode we mot lyue · tyl lammasse tyme
and by that y hope to haue · heruest yn my crofte
and þanne may y dygth þy dyner · as me dere lyketh
¶ Alle the poore peple tho · pescoddes fette
benys and bakyn apples · they broughtyn yn her lappes
chibolles and cheruell · and rype chiries manye
and profryd peers this present · to plese wyth hunger
¶ Al hunger eet yn haste · and askyd aftur more
thanne poor folke for fere · feddyn hunger ȝerne
wyth grene porret and pesyn · to poysoun hym they thougth
by that it neyȝhed neer heruest · newe corn cam to chepynge
thanne was folk{e} fayn · and feddyn hunger wyth the beste
wyþ good ale as glotoun taugth · and gart hunger to slepe
¶ And tho wolde wastour nougth wurche · but wandred aboute
ne no beggere ete bred{e} that benys ynne were
but of koket or clermatyn or elles of clene whete
ne none halpenyale / halpeny ale · yn none wyse drynke
but of the beste and of the brownyste · that yn the burgh is to sulle
¶ Laborers that han no londe to lyuen on · but her handes
deynen nougth to dyne a-day · nygth-olde wortys
may no peny-ale hem paye · ne no pece of bacoun
but ȝif it be fresch flesch othur fysch · fryed othur bake ·
and that chaw{.de}d and plus cha{.. ·}wd for chyllynge of her mawes
and but he be hielyche huyred · elles woll he chide
and that he was werkman wrougth · wayle the tyme
aȝenst catouns counseyl · comseth he to iangle
Paupertatis {o}onus · pacienter ferre memento · & cetera ·
¶ He greueth hym aȝenst{e} god · and gruccheth aȝenst{e} resoun ·
and curseth {..}also the kyng{e} and his counseyl aftur
suche lawes to loke · laborers to greue
ac whiles hungour was her mayster · ther wolde none of hem chide
ne stryue aȝenst{e} his statut · so sternlyche he lokede
¶ Ac y warne ȝow werkmen · wynnyth while ȝe mowe
for hunger hiderward · hyeth hym faste
he schall a-wake wyth water · wastours to chaste
er fyue ȝere be fulfuld · suche famyn schall aryse
thorowȝ flodes and thorowh fowle wedres · frutes schul fayle
and so seyde saturne · and sente ȝow{e} to warne
whan ȝe see the sonne amys · and two monkes hedes
and amayde / a mayde haue the maystrye · and multyply by eiȝht
¶ Than schal deeþ wyþ-drawe · and derthe be iustyse
and dawe the dykere · deye schal for hunger
but ȝif god of his goodnesse grawnte vs a trewe