Passus xviijus / decimus octauus
Wolleward and weteshod . wente I forþ after
As a recheles renk þat of no wo reccheþ
And {ȝ}yede forþ lik a lorell . al my lif-tyme
Til I wex wery of þe world / and wylned efte to slepe
And lened me to a lent{o}en . and longe tyme I slepte
And of cristes passioun and penaunce . þe poeple þat of rauȝte
Reste me þere and rutte faste . til Ramis palmarum
Of gerl{.}is and of Gloria laus gretly me dremed .
And how Osanna be orgonye . olde folk songen
Oon semblable to þe samaritan . and somdel to piers þe plowman
Barfoot on an asse bak . boteles cam prikye
With-outen spores or spere . spaklich he loked
As is þe kynde of a kniȝt . þat comeþ to be dubbed
To geten hym gilte spores . or galo{...}ches y-couped
Thanne was feith in a Fenestre . and cried a . fili dauid
As doþ an heraud of armes . whan auntur{..}ous comeþ to Iustes
Olde Iewes of Ierusalem . for ioy þei songen
Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini .
Thanne I frayned at Faith . what al þat fare bymente
And who shulde iuste In Ierusalem . Ihesus he seide
And fec{che}h þat þe feend claymeþ piers fruyt þe plowman
Is piers in þis place quod I . and he prente on me
This Ihesus of his gentris . wol iuste in piers armes
In his helme and his haubergeon humana natura
That crist be not knowen here / for Consummatus deus
In piers paltok þe plowman / þis priker shal ride
For no dynt{e} shal hym deere / as in deitate patris
Who shal Iuste with Ihesus quod I . Iewes or scribes
Nay quod he þe foule fend . and fals dome and deþ
Deþ saiþ he shal fordo . and a-down bringe
Al þat lyueþ or lokeþ in lond or in watre .
That for al þat deþ kan do . withinne þre daies
To walke and fecche from þe fend . Piers fruyt þe plouwman
And legge it þere hym likeþ / and Lucifer bynde
And forbete and doun bringe bale deþ for euere
O mors ero mors tua .
Than cam pilatus with muche poeple Sedens pro tribunali
To se how doug{..}htyliche . deþ shulde do . and deme hire boþes riȝte
The Iuwes and Iustice . aȝein Ihesu þei were
Tho putte hym forth a pilour . byfore Pilat and saide
This Ihesus of oure Iewes temple iaped and {...?...}dispised
To fordoon it in oon day . and in þree days after
And {ȝ}yit maken it as muche . in alle manere poyntes
Boþe as longe and as large . by lofte and by grounde
Crucifige quod a c{h.}achepoll{e} . I warante hym a wicche
Tolle tolle quod anoþer / and took of kene þornes
And bigan of kene þorn . a garlond forT to make
And sette it soore on his hed . and seide in enuye
Aue raby . quod þat ribaude . and þrewe redes at hym
Nayled hym with þre nailes . naked on þe roode
And poisoun on a pole . þei putte vp to his lippes
And beden hym drynken his deþ{e}yuel / deþ{e} yuel . his dayes were y-done
And {ȝ}if þat þow sotil be . help now þi-seluen
If þow be crist and kynges sone . com doun ofT Rode
Thanne shul we leue þat lif þe loueþ / and wol nouȝt lete þe d{...}eye
Consummatum est quod crist . and comsed for to swowe
Pitouslich and pale / as a prisoun doþT þat deieþ
Þe lord of lif and of light / þo leyde hise eiȝen to-gedres
The day for drede with-drowe . and derk{e} bicam þe sonne
The wal wagged and clef . and al þe world quaued
Dede men for þat dyne . come out of depe graues
And tolde why þat tempest . so longe tyme dured
For a bittur bataille . þe ded body saide
Lif and deþ in þis derknesse . hire oon fordoþ hire oþur
Shal no wight wite witurly . who shal haue þe maistrye
Er sonday aboute s{u}onne rysynge . and sank with þat til erþe .
Somme saide þat he was godes sone . þat so faire deied .
Vere filius dei erat iste & cetera
And somme saide he was a wicche . good is þat we assaien
Wher he be ded or nouȝt ded / doun er he be taken
Bi-sides crist vpon a crosseT . so was þe comune lawe
A cacchepol com forth . and kraked boþe here legges
And hire armes after of eþther / e[y]ther of þo þeues
Ac was no boy so bold / godes body to touche
For he was kniȝt and kynges sone . kynde forȝaf þat time
Þat noon harlot were so hardy . to lay{..}n hond vp-on hym
Ac þere com{e} forþ a kniȝt . with a kene spere ygrounde
Hiȝte Longeus as þe lettre telleþ . and longe hadde lore his siȝte
Bifore pilat and oþer poeple / in þe place he houed
Maugre{y}e his many teeth . he was mad þat tyme
To taken þe spere in his hond / and Iusten with Ihesus .
For alle þai were vnhardy . þat houed on hors or stoode
To touchen hym or tasten hym . or taken doun of Rode
But þis blynde bacheler . bar him þoruȝ þe herte
The blood sprang{e} doun by þe speere . and vnspered þe knyȝtes eiȝen
Thanne fel þe kniȝt vpon knees . and criede hym mercy
Aȝein my wille it was lord . to wounde ȝow so soore
He seiȝhed and seide . soore it me a-thynkeþ
For þe dede þat I haue doon . I do me in {ȝ}youre grace
Haue on me ruthe riȝtful Ihesu . and riȝt with þat he wepte
Thanne gan feyþ felly . þe false Iewes despise
Called hem caitifs . accursed for euere
For þis foule vil{.}einye . vengeaunce to {ȝ}yow alle
To do þe blynde bete hym y-bounde . it was a boyes conseill
To misdo a ded body . by day / neT by niȝte
The gree {ȝ}yet haþ he geten / for al his grete wounde
For {ȝ}youre champion chiualer / chief knyȝt of {ȝ}yow alle
{Ȝ...}Yelt hym recreaunt rennyng . riȝt at Ihesus wille
And {ȝ}ye lurdeyns han y-lost . for lif shal haue þe maistrye
And {ȝ}ye ch{.}erles and {ȝ}youre children / chieue shullen {ȝe}ye neuere .
Ne haue lordshipe in londe . ne no lond{e} tilye
But {.......}al bareyne be . and vsurie vsen
What for feere of þis ferly . and of þe false Iewes
I drouȝ{we} — me in þat derkenesse to descendit ad inferna .
And þere I sauȝ{e} soþly . secundum scripturas
Out of þe west{e} coste . a wenche as me thouȝte
Kam walkynge in þe wey . to helleward she loked
Mercy hiȝte þat mayde . a meke þinge with-alle
A ful benigne burde . and buxom of speche
Hire sustre as it seme{.}d . cam soþly walkynge
Euene out of þe Est . and westward she loked
A ful comely creature . truþe she hiȝte .
For þe vertue þat hire folwede . aferd was she neuere
Whanne þise maydens mette . mercy and truþe
Of þe dyne and of þe derkenesse . and how þe day rowed
And w{.}hich{e} a liȝt and a leme . lay bifore helle
Ich haue ferly {i ...}of þis fare . in faiþ{e} saide truþe
And am wendynge to wyte . what þis won{...r}der meneþ
Haue no merueille quod mercy . murthe it bitokeneþ
A mayden þat hatte marie . and modur withoute felynge
Of any k{e}ynnes creature . conceiued þoruȝ speche
And grace of þe holy goost . wex gret{e} with childe
Withouten wem . in-to þis world she brouȝt hym .
And þat my tale be truwe . I take god to w{it}ytnesse
Siþ þis barn was born{e} . ben .xxxti / þretty wyntur passed{e}
W{.}hich{e} deied and deþ þoled . þis day a-boute midday
And þat is cause of þis clips . þat closeþ now þe s{u}onne
In menynge þat man shal . from merkenesse be drawen
The w{.}hich{e} þis liȝt . and þis leem . shal lucifer a-bleende
For patriakes and prophetes . han preched here-of often .
Þat man shal man saue . þoruȝ a mai{...}dens helpe .
And þat was tynt þoruȝ tree . tree shal it wynne
And þat deþ doun brouȝte . deþ shal releue
That þou tellest quod truþe . is but a tale of waltrot
For Adam and Eue . Abraham and oþer
Patriarkes and prophetes þat in peyne liggen .
Leue þow neuere þat {ȝ}yon liȝt . hem a-lofte brynge .
Ne haue hem out{e} of helle . holde þi tonge mercy
It is but a trifle þat þou tellest . I truþe wot {.}þe soþe
For þat is ones in helle . out comeþ itC neuere .
Quia in inferno nulla est redemp cioC
Thanne mercy ful myldly . mouþed þise wordus
Thoruȝ experience quod she . I hope þei shul be saued .
For venymC fordoþ venym . and þat I proue by resoun
For of alle venymes . foulest is þe scorpioun
May no medicyne helpe . þe place þere he styngeþ
Til he be ded and do þerto . þe {.}yuel he destr{..}uyeth
The furste venymoustee . þoruȝ venym of hym-selue
Al þat deþ did furste . þoruȝ þe deueles entysynge
And riȝt as þoruȝ gile / man was bigiled
So shal grace þat bigan . make a good{e} sleighte
Ars vt artem falleret
Now suffre we saide truþe . I se as me þinkeþ
Out of þe nyppe of þe North . nouȝt ful fer hennes
Riȝtwysnesse come rennynge . reste we þe while
For he woot more þan we . he was er we boþe
That is soþ saide mercy . and I se heere by southe
Where pees comeþ playnge . in pacience cloþ{inge}ed
Loue haþ coueited hire longe . leue I non other
But he sente hire som{me} lettre . what þis liȝt bymeneþ
That ouer-houeþ helle þus . she vs shal telle .
Whanne pees in pacience y-cloþud . approched neer hem tweyne
Riȝtwisnesse hire reuerenced . for hire riche cloþinge
And praide pees to telle hire / to what place she wolde
An{...}d in hire gay garnementz whom she grete þouȝte .
¶ My wille is to wende quod she . and welcome hem alle
That many day miȝte nouȝt se . for merkenesse of synnne / synne
Adam and Eue . and oþer mo in helle
Moises and many mo . mercy shul haue
And I shal daunce þerto . do {.}þow so sust{..}er
For Ihesus iusted wel . ioye bygynneþ dawe .
Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus & ad matutinum leticia
Loue þat is my lemman . suche lettres me sente
That mercy my sust{..}er and I . mankynde shulde saue
And þat god haþ forȝeuen . and graunted me pees and mercy
To be mann{.}es mainpernour . for euere-more after
And þat dede shal dure Dormiam & requiescam .
What rauestow quod riȝtwisnesse . or þou art riȝt dron{...}ke
Leuest{e} þow þat {ȝ}yond liȝt . vnlouke miȝte helle .
And saue mann{.}es soule . suster wene it neuere
At þe bygynnynge . god {ȝ}yaf þe doom{e} hym-selue{.} .
That Adam and Eue . and alle þat hem suwed
Shulde deiȝe doun-riȝt . and dwelle in pyne after
If þat þei touched a tree . and þe fruyt eten
Adam aftur-ward . aȝeins his defence
Freet of þat fruyt . and forsook{e} as it were
The loue of oure lord . and his loore boþe
And folwed þat þe feend tauȝte . and his felawes wille
Aȝeins reson and riȝtwisnesse . recorde þus with truþe
That hire payne be perpetuele . and no praiere hem helpe
For-þi lat{e} hem chewe as þei chese . and chide we nouȝt sustres .
For it is booteles bale / þe bite þat þei eten
And I shal preue quod pees . hire payne moo{.}t haue ende
For hadde þei wist{e} of no wo . / wele hadde þei not knowen
For no wiȝt woot what wele is . þat neuere wo suffred .
Ne what is hoot hungur . þat neuere hadde defaute
If no niȝt nere . no man as I leue
Shulde wite witturly . what day is to mene
Shulde neuere riȝt riche man . þat lyueþ in reste and ese
W{.}yte what wo is . ne were þe deþ of kynde
So god þat bigan al . of his goode wille
By-cam man of a mayde . mankynde to saue
And suffred to be sold{e} . toT þe sorwe of deynge
The w{....}hich vnknitteþ alle care . and comsynge is of reste
For til Modicum mete with vs . I may it wel auowe
W{h...}oot no wiȝt as I wene . what is yno{..}wgh to mene
For-þi god of his goodnesse . þe furste gome Adam
Sette hym in solace and in soueraigne murtheP
And sith he suffred hym synne . sorwe to fele
To wyte what wele was . kyndlich to knowe it{.}
And aftur god {..}auent{.}ured hym-self . and took Adames kynde
To wyte what he haþ suffred . in þre sundry places
Boþe in heuene and in erthe . and now to helle he þinkeþ
To wite what alle wo is . þat woot of al ioye
So it shal fare by þis folk . hire foly . and hire synne
Shal lere hem what langour is . and l{.}isse withouten ende
Woot no wiȝt what werre is . þere þat pees regne{.}þ
Ne what is witturly wele . til w{....}eylaway hym teche
Thanne was þere a wiȝt . with two broode eiȝen
Book highte þat beupere . a bold man of speche
By godes body quod þis book . I wol bere w{it}ytnesse
That þo þis barn was y-born . þere blased a sterre
That alle þe wise of þis world . in on wit a-corden
That suche a barn was y-born . in Bethleem Citee .
That mann{.}es soule shuld saue . and synne destroye
And alle þe elementes quod þe book . here-of bereþ w{it}ytnesse
Þat he was god þat al wrouȝte . þe walkene furst shewede
And tendeden hire as a torche . to reuerencen his burþe
The liȝt folwed þe lord in-to þe lowe erþe
That water w{it}ytnessed . þat he was god . for he wente on it
Petur þapostoille / parceiued his gate
And as he wente on þe water . wel hym knew{e} and saide
Iube me venire ad te super aquas
And lo how þe s{u}onne gan louke . hire liȝt in hire-selue
Whanne she seigh hym suffre . þat s{u}onne & see made
The erthe for heuynesse . þat he wolde suffre
Quaked as quik þing . and al by-quasshet þe roche
Loo helle miȝte nouȝt holde . but opened þo god þolede
And leet out symondes sones . to seen hym hange on rode
And now shal lucifer leue it . þouȝ hym loth þinke
For gigas þe geaunt . wiþ a gyn{ne} engyned
To breke and {b}to bete a-doun . þat ben aȝeins Ihesus
And I book wol be brent . but Ihesus rise to lyue
In alle miȝtes of man . and his modur gladye .
And conforten al his kyn . and out of care bringe
And alle þe Iewen ioye / vnioynen and vnlouken
And bileue on a newe lawe . be lost lif and soule .
Suffre we saide truþe . I here and se boþe
How a spirit spekeþ to helle and bit vnspere þe {ȝ}yates .
Attollite portas & cetera
A vois loude in þat liȝt . to lucifer cryeth
Princes of þis place . vnpynneþ and vnlouketh
For here comeþ with croune . þat kynge is of glorie
Than siked Sathan . and saide to hem alle
Such{e} a liȝt aȝeins oure leue . lazar it fette
Care and combraunce . is comen to vs alle
If þis kyng come In . mankynde wol he fecche
And lede it þere hym likeþ . and liȝthliche me bynde
Patriarkes and prophetes . han parled here-of longe
Þat suche a lord and a liȝt . shulde lede hem alle henn{.}es
Lusteneþ quod Lucifer . for I this lord knowe
Boþe þis lord and þis liȝt . is longe a-go I knew{e} hym .
And where he wol is his way . ac war hym of þe perilles
If he reue me my riȝt . he robbeþ me be maistrie
For by riȝt and by resoun . þo renkes þat ben here
Body and soule ben myne . boþe gode and ille .
For him-self sayde . þat sire is of heuene
If Adam ete þe . appul al sholde deiȝe
And dwelle with vs deueles . þis þretynge he made
And he þat sothnesse is . saide þise word{.}es
And sithen I seised . seuen hundre wynt{.}er
I leue þat lawe nil nouȝt . leuenT hym þe leeste .
That is soth saide Sathan . but I me soore drede
And in semblaunce of a serpent sat vp-on þe appultree
And toldest hire a tale . of tresoun were þe wordes .
And so þow haddest hem out . and hider at þe laste
It is nouȝt graythely geten . þere gile is þe Roote
For god wol not be bygiled . quod goblyn ne be-iaped .
We haue no truwe title to hem . for þoruȝ treson weren þei dampned
Certes I drede me quod þe deuel . lest truþe wol hem fecche
This þritty wynter as I wene . he hath goonT and preched
I haue assailled hym with synne . and som{me}-tyme {.}y-asked
And þus haþ he trolled forth . þise two and þretty wynter
To warne pilatus wif . what done man was Ihesus
For Iewes hateden hym . and han don hym to deþe .
I wolde haue lengthed his lif . for I leued {ȝi}yf he deiȝed
That his soule wolde suffre . no synne in his sighte .
For þe body whil it on bones {ȝ}yede . aboute was euere .
To saue men from synne . if hem-selue wolde .
And now I se where a soule . comeþ hiderward seillynge
With glorie and with grete liȝt . god it is I woot wel
I rede we flee quod he . faste / alle hennus .
For vs were bettre nouȝt be . þan{ne} — byden his siȝte .
For þi lesynges lucifer . lost is al oure praye
Furste þoruȝ þe . we fellen from heuene so heiȝ{ghe}e
For we leued þi lesynges . y{lo}-lore we haue Adam .
And al oure lordshipe I leue . a lond and on watre .
Nunc princeps huius mundi eicietur foras .
Efte þe liȝt bad vnlouke . and lucifer answerede
What lord art þou . quod lucifer quis est iste
Rex glorie þe liȝt soone saide
And lord of miȝt and of mayn . and alle manere vertues
Dominu{.}s virtutum .
And with þat breþ / helle brak{e} with beliales barres
For any wye or warde / wyde opene þe {ȝ}yates
Patriakes and prophetes . Populus in tenebris
Songen seint Iohannes song{e} Ecce agnus dei
Lucifer loke ne miȝte . so liȝt hym ablente
And þo þat oure lord loued . in-to his liȝt he lauȝte
And saide to sathan . lo here my soule to amendes
For alle synneful soules . to saue þat ben worthy
Myne þay be and of me . I may þe bet{..} hem clayme
Al-þouȝ reson recorde . and riȝt of my-sel{..}ue
That if þei ete þe appul . alle / shulde de{ȝ}ye .
I bihiȝte hem nouȝt here . helle for euere
For þe dede þat þei d{.}ide þi desceyte it made
With gile þou hem gete . a{ȝ}yein alle resoun .
For in my paleis paradys . in persone of an eddre
Falsliche þou fecchedest þere . þing þat I louede
Thefliche þou me robbedest . þe olde lawe graunteth
That gilours be bigiled . and þat is good resoun
Dentem pro dente . & oculum pro oculo .
Ergo soule shal soule quyte . and synne to synne wende
And al þat man haþ misdo . I man wol amende
Membre for membre . be þolde lawe was amendes
And lif for lif also . and by þat lawe I clayme it
Adam and alle his issue . at my wille her{.}-aftur
And þat deþ in hem fordede . my deth shal releue
And boþe quykene and quyte . þat queynt was þoruȝ synne .
And þat grace gile destruye . good feiþ it askeþ
Non veni soluere legem sed ad implere
Þow fettest myne . in my place . a{ȝ}yeins alle resoun
Falsliche and felounliche . good faith me it tauȝte
So þat þoruȝ gile þou gete . þoruȝ grace it is y-wonnen
Thow lucifer in likkenesse . of a luther addre
Gettest{e} by gile . þo þat god louede
And I in likkenesse of a leode . þat lord am of heuene
Graciousliche þi gile haue quyt . go gile a{ȝ}yein gile
And as Adam and alle þoruȝ a tre de{ȝ}yeden
Adam & alle þoruȝ a tree . shul tourne a{ȝ}yein to lyue
And gile is bigiled . and in his gile fallen .
Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit .
Now bigynneþ þi gile . agein þe to torne
The bitternesse þat þow hast browe . brouke it þi-seluen
That art doctour of deeþ . drynk{e} þat þou madest{e}
For I þat am lord of lif . loue is my drynke
And for þat drynke to-day . I de{iȝ}yed vpon erþe
I fauȝt so me þresteþ {ȝ}yit . for mann{.}es soule sake
May no drynke me moiste . ne my þurst{e} slake
Til þe vendage falle . in þe vale of Ios{o}aphat .
That I drynke riȝt ripe {m}Must{e} . Resurectio mortuorum .
And þanne shal I come as a kyng{e} . crowned with angeles
And haue out of helle . alle menn{u}es soules
Fendes {.}and fendkyns . bifore me shul stande
And be at my biddinge . where-so-euere me likeþ
And to be merciable to man . þanne my kynde it askeþ
For we been breþeren of blood . but nouȝt ofT baptesme alle
Ac alle þat ben myn hole breþeren . in blood and in baptesme
Shul nouȝt be dampned to þe deþ . þat is with-outen ende
Tibi soli peccaui & cetera
It is not vsed in erþe . to hangen a feloun
Ofter þan ones . þouȝ he were a tretour
And {ȝ}if þe kyng{e} of þat kyngedome come in þat tyme
Lawe wolde he {ȝ}yaf hym lif / if he loked on hym
And I þat am kyng of kynges . shal come such a tyme
Þere doom to þe deþ / dampneth alle w{e}ikkede
And if lawe wol I loke on hem . it lieþ in my grace
Whether þei de{iȝ}ye or de{iȝ}ye nouȝt . for þat þei d{.}iden ille
Be it any þing{e} abouteT . þe boldnesse of hire synnes
I do mercy þoruȝ riȝtwisnesse . and alle my word{.}es trewe
And þouȝ holy writ{t} wil þat I be wroke . of hem þat d{.}iden ille
Nullum malum impunitum & cetera
Thei shul be clensed clerliche and {wh}wasshen of hire synnes
In my prison purgatorie . til {...?... h...?...}parce it hote
And my mercy shal be shewed . to many of my breþeren .
For blood may suffre blood . boþe hungry and a-cale
Ac blood may not se blood . blede but hym rewe
Audiui archana verba que non licet homini loqui
Ac my riȝtwisnesse and riȝt shul reulen all{e} helle
And mercy al mankynde . bifore me in heuene .
For I were an vnkynde kyng . but I my kynde helpe
And nameliche at suche a nede . þere nedes help{e} bihoueþ
Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo .
Tho þat me louede and leued in my comynge
And for þi lesynge lucifer . þat þou leigh{e} til Eue
Thow shalt abye it bittre . and bond hym wiþ cheynes
Astarooth and al þe route . hidden hem in hernes
Thei dorste not loke on oure lord . þe boldest of hem alle .
But leten hym lede forþ what hym liked . & lete what hym leste .
Many hundred of angeles . harpeden and songen
Culpat caro p{....}urgat caro . regnat deus dei caro .
Than piped pees . of poesye a note
Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus post inimcicias / inim[i]cicias & cetera
After sharpe shour{..}es quod pees . moost shene is þe s{u}onne
Is no weder warmer . þan after wattri cloudes .
Ne no loue leuer . ne leuere frendes
Than{ne} — after werre and wo . whan loue & pees ben maistres
Was neuere werre in þis wo{...}rld . ne wikkednesse so kene .
Trewes quod truþe . þow tellest vs sooth by Ihesus
Clippe we in couenaunt . and ich of vs kisse other
And lete no poeple quod pees parceyue þat we chide
Pees and pees here Per secula seculorum
Misericordia & veritas obuiauerunt sibi . iusticia & pax osculate sunt
Truþe trompede þo . and song Te deum laudamus
Ecce quam bonum & quam iocundum & cetera .
Til þe day dawed þise damoisells daunced
That men rongen to þe resurexion . and riȝt with þat I waked
And called kitte my wif . and kalot my douȝter
And krepeþ to þe crosse on knees . and kisseþ it for a Iuwel
For goddes blessed body . it bar for oure boote
And it afereþ þe feend . for such{e} is þe miȝte
May no grisly goost . glyde þere it shadeweþ. .
X
Nota bene
nota bene
# deceptionem demonis in Forma lizard
# Iusticia & pax Osculati sunt
xviijus & iijeC
de passione Cristi
passus xviijus de passu
passus xviijus
¶ The wuche vnknytteþ al
cor
cor
xius
passus xviijus
# de Iuramento Boke
M j
passus xviijus
passus xviijus de passione
nota lucifer
# quia Iusticia in misericordiam vertetur