Passus quintus de visione
TheC kyng and his knightes · to the kirke wente
To here matynes of þe day · and þe masse after
Þanne waked I of my wynkynge and wo was with-alle
Þat I ne hadde sleped sadder · and yseiȝen more
Ac er I hadde faren a fourlonge · feyntise me hente
That I ne myȝte ferther a foot · for defaute of slepynge
And sat softly adown · and seide my bileue
And so I babeled on my bedes · þei brouȝte me a-slepe
¶ And þanne saw I moche more · þan I bifore tolde
For I say þe felde ful of folke · þat I bifore of seyde
And how resoun gan arrayen hym · alle þe reume to preche
And with a crosse afor þe kynge · comsed þus to techen
¶ He preued þat þise pestilences · was for pure synne
And þe southwest wynde · on saterday at euene
Was pertliche for pure pryde · and for no poynt elles
Piries and plomtrees · were puffed to þe erthe
In ensample ȝe segges · ȝe shulden do þe bettere
Beches and brode okes · were blowen to þe grounde
Torned vpward her tailles · in tokenynge of drede
Þat dedly synne ar domesday · shal fordon hem alle
¶ Of þis matere I myȝte · mamely ful longe
Ac I shal seye as I saw · so me god helpe
How pertly afor þe poeple · resoun gan to preche
¶ He bad wastoure go worche · what he best couthe
And wynnen his wastyng · with somme manere crafte
¶ And preyed peronelle · her purfyle to lete
And kepe it in hir cofre · for catel at hire nede
¶ Thomme stowue he tauȝte · to take two staues
And fecche filice home · fro þe wyuen pyne
¶ He warned watt · his wyf was to blame
Þat hire hed was worth halue a marke · his hode nouȝte worth a grote
And bad bette kut · a bow other tweyne
And bete betoun þer-with · but if she wolde worche
And þanne he charged chapmen · to chasten her childeren
Late no wynnynge hem forweny · whil þei be ȝonge
Ne for no pouste of pestilence · plese hem nouȝte out of resoun
¶ My syre seyde so to me · and so did my dame
Þat þe leuere childe · þe more lore bihoueth
And Salamon seide þe same · þat sapience made
Qui parcit virge odit filium
Þe Englich of þis latyn is · who-so wil it knowe
Who-so spareth þe sprynge · spilleth his children
Þat ȝe prechen to þe peple · preue · it on ȝowre-seluen
And doth it in dede · it shal drawe ȝow to good
If ȝe lyuen as ȝe leren vs we shal leue ȝow þe bettere
¶ And sithen he radde Religioun · here reule to holde
Leste þe kynge and his conseille · ȝowre comunes appayre
And ben stuwardes of ȝowre stedes · til ȝe be ruled bettre
¶ And sithen he conseilled þe kynge · þe comune to louye
It is þi tresore if tresoun ne were · and triacle at þi nede
And sithen he prayed þe pope · haue pite on holicherche
And er he gyue any grace · gouerne firste hym-selue
¶ And ȝe that han lawes to kepe · late treuthe be ȝowre coueytise
More þan golde or other gyftes · if ȝe wil god plese
For who-so contrarieth treuthe · he telleth in þe gospel
That god knoweth hym nouȝte · ne no seynte of heuene
Amen dico vobis nescio vos ·
¶ And ȝe þat seke seynte Iames · and seintes of Rome
Seketh seynt treuthe · for he may saue ȝow alle
Qui cum patre & filio · þat feire hem bifalle
Þat suweth my sermon · and þus seyde resoun
C ¶ Thanne ran repentance · and reherced his teme
And gert wille to wepe · water with his eyen
¶ Peronelle proude-herte · platte hir to þe erthe
And lay longe ar she loked · and lorde mercy cryed
And byhiȝte to hym · þat vs alle made
She shulde vnsowen hir serke · and sette þere an heyre
To affaiten hire flessh · þat fierce was to synne
Shal neuere heiȝe herte · me hente · but holde me lowe
And suffre to be myssayde · and so did I neuere
But now wil I meke me · and mercy biseche
For al þis I haue · hated in myne herte
¶ Þanne lecchoure seyde allas · and on owre lady he cryed
To make mercy for his mis-dedes · bitwene god and his soule
With þat he shulde þe saterday · seuene ȝere þere-after
Drynke but myd þe doke · and dyne but ones
¶ Enuye with heuy herte · asked after scrifte
And carefullich mea culpa · he comsed to shewe
He was as pale as a pelet · in þe palsye he semed
And clothed in a caurimaury · I couthe it nouȝte discreue
In kirtel and kour{..}teby · and a knyf bi his syde
Of a freres frokke · were {forsleues}T þe forsleues
And as a leke hadde yleye · longe in þe sonne
So loked he with lene chekes · lourynge foule
¶ His body was to-bolle for wratthe · þat he bote his lippes ·
And wryngynge he ȝede with þe fiste · to wreke hym-self he þouȝte
With werkes or with wordes · whan he seighe his tyme
Eche a worde þat he warpe · was of an addres tonge
Of chydynge and of chalangynge · was his chief lyflode
With bakbitynge and bismer · and beryng of fals witnesse
Þis was al his curteisye · where þat euere he shewed hym
¶ I wolde ben yshryue quod þis schrewe · and I for shame durst
I wolde be gladder bi god · þat gybbe had meschaunce
Than þouȝe I had þis woke ywonne · a weye of essex chese
¶ I haue a neighbore neyȝe me · I haue ennuyed hym ofte
And lowen on hym to lordes · to don hym lese his siluer
And made his frendes ben his foon · thorw my false tonge
His grace and his good happes · greueth me ful sore
Bitwene many · and many · I make debate ofte
Þat bothe lyf and lyme · is lost þorw my speche
C ¶ And whan I mete him in market · þat I moste hate
I hailse hym hendeliche · as I his frende were
For he is douȝtier þan I · I dar do non other
Ac hadde I maystrye and myȝte · god wote my wille
¶ And whan I come to þe kirke · and sholde knele to þe Rode
And preye for þe pople · as þe prest techeth
For pilgrimes and for palmers · for alle þe poeple after
Þanne I crye on my knees · þat cryste ȝif hem sorwe
Þat bar awey my bolle · and my broke schete
¶ Awey fro þe auter þanne · turne I myn eyghen
And biholde how Eleyne · hath a newe cote
I wisshe þanne it were myne · and al þe webbe after
¶ And of mennes lesynge I laughe · þat liketh myn herte
And for her wynnynge I wepe · and waille þe tyme
¶ And deme þat hij don ille · þere I do wel worse
Who-so vndernymeth me here-of · I hate hym dedly after
I wolde þat vche a wyght · were my knaue
For who-so hath more þan I · þat angreth me sore
And þus I lyue louelees · lyke a luther dogge
That al my body bolneth · for bitter of my galle
¶ I myȝte nouȝte eet many ȝeres · as a man ouȝte
For enuye and yuel wille · is yuel to defye
May no sugre ne swete þinge · asswage my swellynge
Ne no diapenidion · dryue it fro myne herte
Ne noyther schrifte ne shame · but ho-so schrape my mawe
¶ Ȝus redili quod repentaunce · and radde hym to þe beste
Sorwe of synnes · is sauacioun of soules
¶ I am sori quod þat segge · I am but selde other
And þat maketh me þus megre · for I ne may me venge
Amonges Burgeyses haue I be · dwellynge at Londoun
And gert bakbitinge be a brocoure · to blame mennes ware
Whan he solde and I nouȝte · þanne was I redy
To lye and to loure on my neighbore · and to lakke his chaffare
I wil amende þis ȝif I may · þorw myȝte of god almyȝty
¶ I am wrath quod he · I was sum-tyme a frere
And þe couentes Gardyner · for to graffe ympes
On limitoures and listres · lesynges I ymped
Tyl þei bere leues of low speche · lordes to plese
And sithen þei blosmed obrode · in boure to here shriftes
And now is fallen þer-of a frute · þat folke han wel leuere
Schewen her schriftes to hem · þan shryue hem to her persones
¶ And now personesT parceyued · þat Freres parte with hem
Þise possessioneres preche · and depraue freres
And freres fyndeth hem in defaute · as folke bereth witnes
That whan þei preche þe poeple · in many placeT aboute
I wrath walke with hem · and wisse hem of my bokes
Þus þei speken of spiritualte · þat eyther despiseth other
Til þei be bothe beggers · and by my spiritualte libben
Or elles alle riche and riden aboute
I wrath rest neuere · þat I ne moste folwe
This wykked folke · for suche is my grace
¶ I haue an aunte to nonne · and an abbesse bothe
Hir were leuere swowe or swelte · þan soeffre any peyne
I haue be cook in hir kichyne · and þe couent serued
Many monthes with hem · and with monkes bothe
I was þe priouresses potagere · and other poure ladyes
And made hem ioutes of iangelynge · þat dame Iohanne was a bastard
And dame Clarice a kniȝtes douȝter · ac a kokewolde was hire syre
And dame Peronelle a prestes file · Priouresse worth she neuere
For she had childe in chirityme · al owre chapitere it wiste
Til þow lixte and þow lixte · lopen oute at ones
And eyther hitte other · vnder þe cheke
Hadde þei had knyues bi cryst · herT eyther had killed other
¶ Seynt Gregorie was a gode pope · and had a gode forwit
Þat no Priouresse were prest · for þat he ordeigned
Þei had þanne ben infamis þe firste day · þei can so yuel hele conseille
¶ Amonge monkes I miȝte be · ac many tyme I shonye
For þere ben many felle frekis · my feres to aspye
Bothe Prioure an supprioure · and owre pater abbas
And if I telle any tales · þei taken hem togyderes
And do me faste frydayes · to bred and to water
And am chalanged in þe chapitelhous · as I a childe were
And baleised on þe bare ers · and no breche bitwene
For-þi haue I no lykyng · with þo leodes to wonye
I ete there vnthende fisshe · and fieble ale drynke
Ac otherwhile whan wyn cometh · whanT I drynke wyn at eue
I haue a fluxe of a foule mouthe · wel fyue dayes after
Al þe wikkednesse þat I wote · bi any of owre bretheren
I couth it in owre cloistre · þat al owre couent wote it
¶ Now repent þe quod Repentaunce · and reherce þow neure
Conseille þat þow cnowest · bi contenaunce ne bi riȝte
And drynke nouȝte ouer-delicatly · ne to depe noyther
Þat þi wille bi cause þer-of to wrath myȝte torne
Esto sobrius he seyde · and assoilled me after
And bad me wilne to wepe · my wikkednesse to amende
¶ And þanne cam coueytise · can I hym nouȝte descryue
So hungriliche and holwe · sire henriT hym loked
He was bitelbrowed · and baberlipped also
With two blered eyghen · as a blynde hagge
And as a letheren purs · lolled his chekes
Wel sydder þan his chyn · þei chiueled for elde
And as a bondman of his bacoun · his berde was bidraueled
With an hode on his hed · a lousi hatte aboue
And in a tauny tabarde · of twelue wynter age
Al totorne and baudy · and ful of lys crepynge
But if þat a lous couthe · haue lopen þe bettre
She sholde nouȝte haue walked on þat welcheT · so was it thredebare
¶ I haue ben coueytouse quod þis caityue · I biknowe it here
For some-tyme I serued · symme atte stile
And was his prentis ypliȝte · his profit to wayte
First I lerned to lye · a leef other tweyne
Wikkedlich to weye · was my furst lessoun
To wy and to wynchestre · I went to þe faire
With many manere marchandise · as my Maistre me hiȝte
Ne had þe grace of gyle ygo · amonge my wareT
It had be vnsolde þis seuene ȝere · so me god helpe
C ¶ Thanne drowe I me amonges draperes · my donet to lerne
To drawe þe lyser alonge þe lenger it semed
Amonge þe riche rayes · I rendred a lessoun
To broche hem with a bat-nedleT · and plaited hem togyderes
And put hem in a presse · and pynedT hem þerinne
Tyl ten ȝerdes or twelue · tolledT out threttene
¶ My wyf was a webbe · and wollen cloth made
She spak to spynnesteres · to spynnen it oute
Ac þe pounde þat she payed by · poised a quarteroun more
Than myne owne auncere · who-so weyȝed treuthe
¶ I bouȝte hir barly malte · she brewe it to selle
Peny ale and podyng ale · she poured togideres
For laboreres and for low folke · þat lay by hym-selue
¶ The best ale lay in my boure · or in my bedchambre
And who-so bummed þer-of · bouȝte it þer-after
A galoun for a grote · god wote na lesse
And ȝit it cam in cupmel · þis crafte my wyf vsed
Rose þe regratere · was hir riȝte name
She hath holden hokkerye · al hire lyf-tyme
¶ Ac I swere now so the ik · þat synne wil I lete
And neuere wikkedliche weye · ne wikke chaffare vse
But wenden to walsyngham · and my wyf als ·
And bidde þe Rode of bromeholme · brynge me oute of dette
¶ Ȝus ones I was herberwed quod he · with an hep of chapmenC
I roos whan þei were arest · and yrifledT here males
¶ That was no restitucioun quod repentance · but a robberes thefte
Þow haddest betterT worthy · be hanged þerfore
Þan for al þat · þat þow hast here shewed ·
¶ I wende ryflynge were restitucioun quod he · for I lerned neuere rede on boke
And I can no frenche in feith · but of þe ferthest ende of norfolke
¶ Vsedestow euere vsurie quod repentaunce · in alle þi lyf-tyme
¶ Nay sothly he seyde · saue in my ȝouthe
I lerned amonge lumbardes · and iewes a lessoun
To wey pens with a peys · and pare þe heuyest
And lene it for loue of þe crosse · to legge a wedde and lese it
Suche dedes I did wryte · ȝif he his day breke
I haue mo maneres þorw rerages · þan þorw miseretur & comodat
¶ I haue lent lordes · and ladyes my chaffare
And ben her brocour after · and bouȝte it my-self
Eschaunges and cheuesances · with suche chaffare I dele
And lene folke þat lese wol · a lyppe at euery noble
And with lumbardes lettres · I ladde golde to Rome
And toke it by taille here · and tolde hem þere lasse
C Lenestow euere lordes · for loue of her mayntenaunce
¶ Ȝe I haue lent lordes · loued me neuere after
And haue ymade many a knyȝte · bothe mercere & drapere
Þat payed neuere for his prentishode · nouȝte a peire gloues
¶ Hastow pite on pore men · þat mote nedes borwe
¶ I haue as moche pite of pore men · as pedlere hath of cattes
Þat wolde kille hem yf he cacche hem myȝte · for coueitise of here skynnes
¶ Artow manlyche amonge þi neiȝbores · of þi mete and drynke
¶ I am holden quod he as hende · as hounde is in kychyne
Amonges my neighbores namelich · such a name ich haue
¶ Now god lene neure quod repentance · but þow repent þe rather
Þe grace on þis grounde · þi good wel to bisette
Ne þine ysueT after þe · haue ioye of þat þow wynnest
Ne þi excecutours wel bisett · þe siluer þat þow hem leuest
And þat was wonne with wronge · with wikked men be despended
For were I frere of þat hous · þere gode faith and charite is
I nolde cope vs with þi catel · ne owre kyrke amende
Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce · of þyne bi my soule hele
For þe best boke in owre hous · þeiȝe brent golde were þe leues
And I wyst wytterly · þow were suche as þow tellethT
Seruus es alterius · cum fercula pinguia queris
Pane tuo pocius · vescere liber eris ·
¶ Thow art an vnkynde creature · I can þe nouȝte assoille
Til þow make restitucioun · and rekne with hem alle
And sithen þat resoun rolle it · in þe regystre of heuene
That þow hast made vche man good · I may þe nouȝte assoille
Non dimittitur peccatum · donec restituatur ablatum &c
¶ For alle þat hathT of þi good · haue god my trouthe
IsT holden at þe heighe dome · to helpe þe to restitue
And who-so leueth nouȝte þis be soth · loke in þe sauter glose
In miserere mei deus · where I mene treuthe
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti &c
¶ Shal neuere werkman in þis worlde · þryue wyth þat þow wynnest
Cum sancto sanctus eris · construe me þat on englische
¶ Thanne wex þat shrewe in wanhope · and walde haue hanged himself
Ne hadde repentaunce þe rather · reconforted hym in þis manere
Haue mercye in þi mynde · and with þi mouth biseche it
For goddes mercye is more · þan alle hise other werkes
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius &c ·
¶ And al þe wikkednesse in þis worlde · þat man myȝte worche or thynke
Ne is no more to þe mercye of god · þan in þe see a glede
Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei · estT sintilla in medio maris
¶ For-þi haue mercy in þi mynde · and marchandise leue it
For þow hast no good grounde · to gete þe with a wastel
But if it were with thi tonge · or ellis with þi two hondes
For þe good þat þow hast geten · bigan al with falsehede
And as longe as þow lyuest þer-with · þow ȝeldest nouȝte but borwest
¶ And if þow wite neuere to whiche · ne whom to restitue
Bere it to þe bisschop · and bidde hym of his grace
Bisette it hym-selue · as best is for þi soule
For he shal answere for þe · at þe heygh dome
For þe and for many mo · þat man shal ȝif a rekenynge
What he lerned ȝow in lente · leue þow none other
And what he lent ȝow of owre lordes good · to lette ȝow fro synne
¶ Now bigynneth glotoun · for to go to schrifte
And kaires hym to kirke-ward · his coupe to schewe
¶ Ac Beton þe brewestere · bad hym good morwe
And axed of hym with þat · whiderward he wolde
¶ To holicherche quod he · forto here masse
And sithen I wil be shryuen · and synne namoreC
Hastow auȝte in þi purs · any hote spices
A ferthyngworth of fenel-seed · for fastyngdayes
¶ Þanne goth glotoun in · and grete othes after
Cesse þe souteresse · sat on þe benche
Watte þe warner · and his wyf bothe
Tymme þe tynkere · and tweyne of his prentis
Hikke þe hakeneyman · and hugh þe nedeler
Clarice of cokkeslane · and þe clerke of þe cherche
Dawe þe dykere and a dozeine other
Sire Piers of Pridie · and Peronelle of Flaundres
A ribibour a ratonere · a rakyer of chepe
A ropere a redyngkyng · and Rose þe dissheres
Godfrey of garlekehithe · and gryfin þe walsh
And vpholderes an hepe · erly bi þe morwe
Geuen glotoun with glad chere · good ale to hansel
¶ Clement þe cobelere · cast of his cloke
And atte newfaire / new faire · he nempned it to selle
Hikke þe hakeneyman · hitte his hood after
And badde bette þe bochere · ben on his side
Þere were chapmen ychose · þis chaffare to preise
Who-so hauethT þe hood · shuld haue amendes of þe cloke
¶ Two risen vp in rape · and rouned togideres
And preised þese penyworthes · apart bi hem-selue
Þei couth nouȝte bi her conscience · acorden in treuthe
Tyl Robyn þe ropere · arose bi þe southe
And nempned hym for a noumpere · þat no debate nere
¶ Hikke þe {....}hostellere · hadde þe cloke
In couenaunte þat Clement shulde þe cuppe fille
And haue hikkes hode hostellere · and holde hym yserued
And who-so repented rathest · shulde arise after
And grete sire glotoun with a galoun ale
¶ Þere was laughyng and louryng · and let go þe cuppe
And seten so til euensonge · and songen vmwhile
Tyl glotoun had yglobbed · a galoun an a Iille
His guttis gunne to godlyT · as two gredy sowes
He pissed a potel · in a pater noster while
And blew his rounde ruwet · at his rigge-bonT ende
That alle þat herde þat horne · held her nose after
And wissheden it had be wexed · with a wispe of firses
¶ He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde · er he his staffe hadde
And þanne gan he go · liche a glewmannes bicche
Somme-tyme aside · and somme-tyme arrere
As who-so leyth lynes · forto lacche foules
¶ And whan he drowgh to þe dore · þanne dymmed his eighen
He trembledT on þe thresshewolde · an threwe to þe erthe
Clement þe cobelere · cauȝte hym bi þe myddel
For to lifte hym alofte · and leyde him on his knowes
Ac glotoun was a gret cherle · and a grym in þe liftynge
And coughed vp a caudel · in clementis lappe
Is non so hungri hounde · in Hertford-schire
Durst lape of þeT leuynges · so vnlouely þei smauȝte
¶ With al þe wo of þis worlde · his wyf and his wenche
Baren hym home to his bedde · and brouȝte hym þer-inne
And after al þis excesse · he had an accidie
Þat he slepe saterday and sonday · til sonne ȝede to reste
Þanne waked he of his wynkyng · and wiped his eyghen
Þe fyrste worde þat he warpe · was where is þe bolle
His witte gan edwite hym þo · how wikkedlich he lyued
And repentance riȝte so · rebuked hym þat tyme
¶ As þow with wordes and werkes · hast wrouȝte yuel in þi lyue
Shryue þe and be shamed þer-of · and shewe it with þi mouth
¶ I glotoun quod þe gome · gylti me ȝelde
Þat I haue trespassed with my tonge · I can nouȝte telle how ofte
Sworen goddes soule · and so god me help and halidom
Þere no nede ne was · nyne hundreth tymes
¶ And ouer-seye me at my sopere · and some-tyme at nones
Þat I glotoun girt it vp · er I hadde gone a myle
And yspilte þat myȝte be spared · and spended on somme hungrie
Ouerdelicatly on fastyng-dayes · drunken and eten bothe
And sat some-tyme so longe þere · þat I slepe and ete at ones
For loue of tales in tauernes · to drynke þe more I dyned
And hyed to þe mete er none · whan fastyng-dayes were
¶ This shewyng shrifte quod repentance · shal be meryte to þe
¶ And þanne gan glotoun grete · and gret doel to make
For his lither lyf · þat he lyued hadde
And avowed fastT · for hunger or for thurst
Shal neuere fisshe on þeT fryday · defien in my wombe
Tyl abstinence myn aunte · haue ȝiue me leue
And ȝit haue I hated hir · al my lyf-tyme
¶ Þanne come sleuthe al bislabered · with two slymy eiȝen
I most sitte seyde þe segge · or elles shulde I nappe
I may nouȝte stonde ne stoupe · ne with-oute a stole knele
Were I brouȝte abedde · but if my taille-ende it made
Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse · ar I were rype to dyne
He bygan benedicite with a bolke · and his brest knocked
And roxed and rored · and rutte atte laste
What awake renke quod repentance · and rape þe to shrifte
¶ If I shulde deye bi þis day · me liste nouȝte to loke
I can nouȝte parfitly my pater noster · as þe prest it syngeth
But I can rymes of Robyn hood · and Randolf erle of Chestre
Ac neither of owre lorde ne of owre lady · þe leste þat euere was made
¶ I haue made vowes fourty · and forȝete hem on þe morne
I parfourned neure penaunce · as þe prest me hiȝte
Ne ryȝte sori for my synnes · ȝet was I neuere
And ȝif I bidde any bedes · but if it be in wrath
Þat I telle with my tonge · is two myle fro myne herte
I am occupied eche day · haliday and other
With ydel tales atte ale · and otherwhile in cherches
Goddes peyne and his passioun · ful selde þynke I þere-on
¶ I visited neuere fieble men · ne fettered folke in puttes
I haue leuere here an harlotrie · or a somer game of souteres
Or lesynges to laughe at · and belye my neighboreT
Þan al þat euere Marke made · Mathew Iohan & lucas
And vigilies and fastyng-dayes · alle þise late I passe
And ligge abedde in lenten · an my lemman in myn armes
Tyl matynes and masse be do · and þanne go to þe freres
Come I to ite missa est · I holde me yserued
I nam nouȝte shryuen some-tyme · but if sekenesse it make
Nouȝt tweies in two ȝere · and þanne vp gesse I shcryue me
¶ I haue be prest and parsoun · passynge thretti wynter
Ȝete can I neither solfe ne synge · ne seyntes lyues rede
But I can fynde in a felde · or in a fourlonge an hare
Better þan in beatus vir · or in beati omnes
I can holde louedayes · and here a Reues rekenynge
Ac in canoun ne in þeT decretales · I can nouȝte rede a lyne
I forȝete it as ȝerne · and ȝifT men me it axe
Sixe sithes or seuene · I forsake it with othes
And þus tene I trewe men · ten hundreth tymes
¶ And my seruauntz some-tyme · her salarye is bihynde
Reuthe is to hereT rekenynge · whan we shal rede acomptes
So with wikked wille and wraththe · my werkmen I paye
¶ Ȝif any man doth me a benfait · or helpeth me at nede
I am vnkynde aȝein his curteisye · and can nouȝte vnderstonde it
For I haue and haue hadde · some-dele haukes maneres
I namT nouȝte lured with loue · but þere ligge auȝte vnder þe thombe
¶ The kyndenesse þat myne euene-cristene · kidde me farnere
Sixty sythes I sleuthe · haue foȝete / fo[r]ȝete it sith
In speche and in sparynge of speche · yspilte many a tyme
Bothe flesche & fissche · and many other vitailles
Bothe bred and ale · butter melke and chese
Forsleuthed in my seruyse · til it myȝte serue noman
¶ I ran aboute in ȝouthe · and ȝaf me nouȝte to lerne
And euere sith beT beggere · for my foule sleuthe
Heu michi quia sterilem vitam duxi Iuuenilem
¶ Repentestow þe nauȝte · quod repentance · and riȝte with þat he swowned
Til vigilate þe veille · fette water at his eyȝen
And flatte it on his face · and faste on hym criede
And seide ware þe fram wanhope · wolde þe bitraye
I am sori for my synnes · sey soT to þi-selue
And bete þi-selue on þe breste · and bidde hym of grace
For is no gult here so grete · þat his goodnesse nysT more
¶ Þanne sat sleuthe vp · and seyned hym swithe
And made avowe to-fore god · for his foule sleuthe
Shal no sondaye be þis seuene ȝere · but sykenesse it lette
Þat I ne shal do me er day · to þe dere cherche
And heren matines and masse · as I a monke were
Shal none ale after mete · holde me þennes
Tyl I haue euensonge herde · I behote to þe Rode
And ȝete wil I ȝelde aȝein · if I so moche haue
Al þat I wikkedly wan · sithen I wytte hadde
¶ And þough my liflode lakke · leten I nelle
Þat eche man ne shal haue his · ar I hennes wende
And with þe residue · and þe remenaunt · bi þe Rode of chestre
I shal seke treuthe arst · ar I se Rome
¶ Robert þe robbere · on reddite lokede
Ac ȝet þe synful shrewe · seyde to hym-selue
Cryst þat on caluarye · vppon þe crosse deydest
Tho dismas my brother · bisouȝte ȝow of grace
And haddest mercy on þat man · for memento sake
So rewe on þis robbere · þat reddere ne haue
Ne neuere wene to wynne · with crafte þat I oweC
But for þi mykel mercy · mitigacioun I biseche
Ne dampne me nouȝte at domesday · for þat I did so ille
¶ What bifel of þis feloun · I can nouȝte faire schewe
Wel I wote he wepte faste · water with boþe his eyen
And knowleched his gult · to cryst ȝete eftsones
Þat penitencia his pyke · he shulde polsche newe
And lepe with hym ouer londe · al his lyf-tyme
For he had leyne bi latro · luciferes aunte
¶ And þanne had repentaunce reuthe · and redde hem alle to knele
For I shal biseche for al synful · owre saueoure of grace
To amende vs of owre mysdedes · and do mercy to vs alle
¶ Now god quod he · þat of þi goodnesse · gonne þe worlde make
And of nauȝte madest auȝte · and man moste liche to þi-selue
And sithen suffredest for to synne · a sikenesse to vs alle
And al for þe best as I bileue · what-euere þe boke telleth
O felix culpa o necessarium peccatum ade &c
For þourgh þat synne þi sone · sent was to þis erthe
And bicam man of a mayde · mankynde to saue
And madest þi-self with þi sone · and vs synful yliche
Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et similitudinem nostram
Et alibi qui manet in caritate · in deo manet & deus in eo
¶ And sith with þi self sone · in owre sute deydest
On godefryday / gode fryday for mannes sake · at ful tyme of þe daye
Þere þi-self ne þi sone · no sorwe in deth feledest
But in owre secte was þe sorwe · and þi sone it ladde
Captiuam duxit captiuitatem
¶ Þe sonne for sorwe þer-of · les syȝte for a tyme
Aboute mydday whan moste liȝte is · and mele-tyme of seintes
Feddest with þi fresche blode · owre forfadres in derknesse
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris · vidit lucem magnam
And thorw þe liȝte þat lepe oute of þe · lucifer was blent
And blewe alle þi blissed · in-to þe blisse of paradise
¶ Þe thrydde daye after · þow ȝedest in owre sute
A synful Marie þe seighe · ar seynte Marie þi dame
And al to solace synful · þow suffredest it so were
Non veni vocare iustos · set peccatores ad penitenciam
¶ And al þat Marke hath ymade mathew Iohan and lucas
Of þyne douȝtiestT dedes · were don in owre armes
Verbum caro factum est et habitauit in nobis
And bi so moche me semeth · þe sikerere we mowe
Bydde and biseche · if it be þi wille
Þat art owre fader and owre brother be merciable to vs
And haue reuthe on þise Ribaudes · þat repente hem here sore
Þat euere þei wratthed þe in þis worlde · in worde þouȝte or dedes
¶ Þanne hent hope an horne · of deus tu conuersus viuificabis
And blew it with · Beati quorum · remisse sunt iniquitates
Þat alle seyntes in heuene · songen at ones
Homines & iumenta saluabis quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus &c ·
¶ A thousand of men þo · thrungen togyderes
Criede vpward to cryst · and to his clene moder
To haue grace to go with hem treuthe to seke
¶ Ac þere was wyȝte non so wys · þe wey þider couthe
But blustreden forth as bestes · ouer bankes and hilles
Til late was and longe · þat þei a lede mette
Apparailled as a paynym · in pylgrymes wyse
He bare a burdoun ybounde · with a brode liste
In a withewyndes wise · ywounden aboute
A bolle and a bagge · he bare by his syde
An hundreth of ampulles · on his hatt seten
Signes of syna{i}y and shelles of galice
And many a cruche on his cloke · and keyes of Rome
And þe vernicle bifore · for men shulde knowe
And se bi his signes · whom he souȝte hadde
¶ Þis folke frayned hym firste · fro whennes he come
¶ Fram synay he seyde · and fram owre lordes sepulcre
In bethleem and in babiloyne · I haue ben in bothe
Ȝe may se bi my signes · þat sitten on myn hatte
Þat I haue walked ful wyde · in wete and in drye
And souȝte gode seyntes · for my soules helth
¶ Knowestow ouȝte a corseint · þat men calle treuthe
Coudestow auȝte wissen vs þe weye · where þat wy dwelleth
¶ Nay so me god helpe · seide þe gome þanne
I seygh neuere palmere · with pike ne with scrippe
Axen after hym · er til now in þis place
C Peter quod a plowman · and put forth his hed
I knowe hym as kyndely · as clerke doþ his bokes
Conscience and kynde witte · kenned me to his place
And deden me suren hym sikerly · to serue hym for euere
Bothe to sowe and to sette þe while I swynke myghte
I haue ben his folwar · al þis fourtyT wyntre
Bothe ysowen his sede · and sued his bestes
With-Inne and with-outen · wayted his profyt
I dyke and I delue · I do þat treuthe hoteth
Some-tyme I sowe · and some-tyme I thresche
In tailoures crafte and tynkares crafte · what treuthe can deuyse
I weue an I wynde · and do what treuthe hoteth
¶ For þouȝe I seye it my-self · I serue hym to paye
He is þe prestest payer · þat pore men knoweth
He ne with-halt non hewe his hyre · þat he ne hath it at euen
He is as low as a lombe · and loueliche of speche
And ȝif ȝe wilneth to wite · where þat he dwelleth
I shal wisse ȝow witterly · þe weye to his place
¶ Ȝe leue Pieres quod þis pilgrymes · and profered hym huire
For to wende with hem · to treuthes dwellyng-place
¶ Nay bi my soules helth quod pieres · and gan forto swere
I nolde fange a ferthynge · for seynt Thomas shryne
Ac if ȝe wilneth to wende wel · þis is þe weye thider
¶ Ȝe mote go þourgh mekenesse · bothe men and wyues
Tyl ȝe come in-to conscience þat cryst wite þe sothe
Þat ȝe louen owre lorde god · leuest of alle þinges
And þanne ȝowre neighbores nexte · in non wise apeyre
Otherwyse þan þow woldest · he wrouȝte to þi-selue
¶ And so boweth forth bi a broke · beth buxum of speche
Tyl ȝe fynden a forth · ȝowre fadres honoureth
Honora patrem & matrem &c ·
Wadeþ in þat water and wascheth ȝow wel þere
And ȝe shul lepe þe liȝtloker · al ȝowre lyf-tyme
And so shaltow se swere nouȝte · but if it be for nede
And namelich an ydel · þe name of god almyȝti
¶ Þanne shaltow come by a crofte · but come þow nouȝte þere-Inne
That crofte hat coueyte nouȝte · mennes catel ne her wyues
Ne none of her seruauntes · þat noyen hem myȝte
Loke ȝe breke no bowes þere · but if it be ȝowre owne
¶ Two stokkes þere stondeth · ac stynte ȝe nouȝte þere
They hat stele nouȝte ne slee nouȝte stryke forth by bothe
And leue hem on þi left halfe · and loke nouȝte þere-after
And holde wel þyne haliday heighe · til euen
Thanne shaltow blenche at a bergh · bere no false witnesse
He is frithed in with floreines · and other foes many
Loke þow plukke no plante þere · for peril of þi soule
¶ Þanne shal ȝe se sey soth · so it be to done
In no manere ellis nauȝte · for no mannes biddyng
¶ Þanne shaltow come to a courte · as cle{..}re as þe sonne
Þe mote is of mercy · þe manere · aboute
And alle þe wallis ben of witte · to holden wille oute
And kerneled with crystendome · man-kynde to saue
Boterased with bileue so · or þow beest nouȝte ysauedT
¶ And alle þe houses ben hiled · halles and chambres
WitT no lede but with loue · and lowe speche as bretheren
Þe brugge is of bidde wel · þe bette may þow spede
Eche piler is of penaunce · of preyeres to seyntes
Of almes-dedes ar þe hokes · þat þe gates hangen on
¶ Grace hatte þe gateward · a gode man for-sothe
Telleth hym þis tokene · þat treuthe wite þe sothe
I parfourned þe penaunce · þe preest me enioyned
And am ful sori for my synnes · and so I shal euere
Whan I þinke þere-on · þeighe I were a pope
¶ Biddeth amende ȝow meke him · til his maistre ones
To wayue vp þe wiket · þat þe womman shette
Tho Adam and Eue · eten apples vnrosted
Per euam cuntis clausa est · & per mariam virginem patefacta est
¶ For he hath þe keye and þe clikat · þouȝ þe kynge slepe
And if grace graunte þe · to go in inT þis wise
Þow shalt see in þi-selue · treuthe sitte in þine herte
To suffre hym and segge nouȝte · aȝein þi sires wille
¶ Ac bewar þanne of wrath þeT · þat is a wikked shrewe
He hath enuye to hym · þat in þine herte sitteth
Þe boldnesse of þi bienfetes · maketh þe blynde þanne
And þanne worstow dryuen oute as dew · and þe dore closed
Happily an hundreth wyntre · ar þow eft entre
Þus myght þow lesen his loue · to late wel by þi-selue
And neuere happilche / happil[i]che efte entre · but grace þow haue
¶ Ac þere ar seuene sustren · þat seruen treuthe euere
Charite and chastite · ben his chief may{..}denes
Pacience andT pees · moche poeple þei helpeth
Largenesse þe lady · heoT let in ful manye
HeoT hath hulpe a þousande oute · of þe deueles ponfolde
He is wonderliche welcome · and faire vnderfongen
And but if ȝe be syb · to summe of þise seuene
It is ful harde bi myne heued quod Peres · for any of ȝow alle
To geten ingonge at any gate þere but grace be þe more
¶ Now bi cryst quod a cutpurs · I haue no kynne þere
NeT I quod an apewarde · bi auȝte þat I knowe
¶ Wite god quod a wafrestre · wist I þis for sothe
Shulde I neuere ferthere a fote · for no freres prechyng
¶ Ȝus quod Pieres þe plowman · and pukked hem alle to gode
Mercy is a maydene þere · hath myȝte ouer hemT alle
And she is syb to alle synful · and her sone also
And þoruȝe þe helpe of hem two · hope þow none otherC
Þow myȝte gete grace þere · bi so þow go bityme
¶ By seynt Poule quod a pardonere · parauenture I be nouȝte knowe þere
I wil go fecche my box with my breuettes · and a bulle with bisshopes lettres
By cryst quod a comune womman · þi companye wil I folwe
Þow shalt sey I am þi sustre · I ne wot where þei bicome
passus v de visione vt [supra]T
Superbia ·
Luxuria ·
Inuidia
Gula ·
gluons fisik
Accidia
+
Ne none of here seruantzC
+
debeo