Passus xixus / decimus nonus
Thus I walkedT and wroot . what I hadde dremed .
And diȝte me derelyche . and dide me to churche
To here holly þe masse . and to ben houseled after
In myddes of þe masse . þo men wente to þeT offrynge
I fell{e} eft{e}-soones a-slepe . and sodeinly me mette
That piers þe plowman . was painted al blody
And com{e} In{ne} with a cros . bifore þe comune p{.}eple
And riȝt lik{e} in alle lymes . to oure lord Ihesu .
Than called I conscience . to kenne me þe soþe
Is þis Ihesus þe Iuster quod I . þat Iewes d{.}id to dethe
Or it is piers þe ploweman . who painted hym so rede
Quod co{n}nscience and kneled þo . þise arn piers armes
His colours and his cote armure . ac he þat comeþ so blody
Is crist with his crosse . conquerour of cristene
Why calle {ȝ}ye hym crist quod I . sith Iewes callen {...?...}hym Ihesus
Patriarkes and prophetes prophecied bifore
That alle kynne creatures . shulden knelen and bowen .
Ergo is no name . to þe name of Ihesus
For alle derke deueles . arn a-dred{de} — to here it
And {ȝ}ye callen hym crist . for what cause telleþ me .
Is crist more of miȝt . and more worthy name
Þan{ne} — Ihesu or Ihesus . þat al oure ioye com{e} of
Thow knowest wel quod co{n}nscience . and þow k{u}onne resoun
That kniȝth kyng conquerour . may be opersone / o persone
To ben called a knyght is fair . for men shul knele to hym
To be called a kyng is fairer . for he may knyghtes make
Ac to be Conquerour called . þat comeþ of speciale grace
And of hardinesse of herte . and of hiendenesse
To make lord{.}es of ladd{..}es . of lond þat he wynneþ
And free men foule þralles . þat folwen not his lawes
The Iewes þat were gentil men . Ihesu þei despised
Boþe his loore and his lawe . now ar þei lowe cherles
But vndur tribute and t{.}aillage . as tikes and cherles
And þo þat bicome cristene by conseille of þe bapteme
Arn Fraunkeleins free men . þoruȝ fullynge þat þei toke .
And gentil men with Ihesu . for Ihesus was y-fulled
And vpon caluery on cros . y-crouned kyng{e} of Iewes .
It bicomeþ to a {kepe and to deffende}kyng . to kepe and to deffende
And Conquerour of conqueste his lawes and his large
And so d{u}ide Ihesus þe Iewes . he iustified and tauȝte hem .
The lawe of lif . þat laste shal euere .
And fended from foule yueles . feueres and fluxes
And from feendes þat in hem were . and false bileue
And kyng of kyngdome . and croune bar{e} of þornes
And þo conquered he on crosse . as conquerour noble
Miȝte no deþ hym for-do . ne a-doun bringe
That he naroos and regned . and rauysshed helle
And þo was he Conquerour called . of quik and of dede
For he {ȝ}yaf Adam and Eue . and oþur mo blisse
Þat longe hadden leyn biforn . as luciferes cherles
And sith he {ȝ..e}yaf largely . alle his lele liges
Places in paradys . at hire partynge henn{.}es
He may wel be called conquerour . and þat is crist {.}to mene
Ac þe cause þat he comeþ þus with cros of þeT passioun
Is to wissen vs þere-with . þat whanne þat we ben tempted
Þere-with to fiȝte and fenden vs from fallynge in-to synne
And se by his sorwe . þat whoso loueth ioye
To penaunce and to poue{.}rte he moste pute hym-seluen
And muche wo in þis world . willen and suffren
Faithly for to speke . his furste name was Ihesus
Þo he was born in Bedleem . as þe book {......}telleþ .
And cam to take mankynde . kynges and angeles
Angeles out of heuene comen . knelynge and songe
Gloria in excelsis deo . & cetera .
Kynges comen {......}after . kneled and offred
Boþe of sond{e} / s{u}onne and see . and sithenes þei wenten
In-to hire kengene kith{e} . by conseill of angeles .
And þere was þat word fulf{u}ylled . the w{..he}hich þow of speke
Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Ihesu .
For alle þe angeles of heuene / at his burþe kneled
And al þe wit of þe world . was in þo þre kynges
Reson and riȝtwisnesse . and ruthe þei offred
Wherfore and whi . wise men þat tyme
Maistres and lettred men . Magi hem called
That oon kyng come with resoun . couered vndur sence
Riȝtwisnesse vndur reedP goold . resones felawe
Gold is likkened to leaute . þat laste shal euere
And reson to riche gold . to riȝt and to truþe
The þridde kyn{.}g þo com{e} . knelynge to Ihesu
And presented hym with pitee . appieringe to myrre
For myrre is mercy to mene . and mylde speche of tonge .
Thre yliche honeste þinges . were offred þus at ones
Thoruȝ þre kynne kynges . knelynge to Ihesus
Ac for alle þise preciouse presentes . oure lord Prince Ihesus
Was neither kyng ne Conquerour til he gan to wexe
In þe manere of a man . and þat by muche sleighte
As it bycomeþ a Conquerour . to kunne many sleightes
And many wiles and wit . þat wol ben a leder .
And so dide Ihesus in his dayes . whoso hadde tyme to telle it
Som{me}-tyme he suffred . and som{me}-tyme he hidde hym
And som{me}-tyme he fauȝt{e} faste . and fleigh{e} oþere-while
And som{me}-tyme he gaf go{de}od and graunted hele boþe
Lif and lyme . as hym luste he wrouȝte .
As kynde is of a Conquerour . so comsed Ihesu
Til he hadde alle hem . þat he fore bledde
In his Iuuente þis Ihesus . at Iewene feeste
Water in-to wyn tourned . as holy writ{te} telleþ .
And þere bigan god . of his grace to dowel
For wyn is likkened to lawe . and lif of holynesse
And lawe lakked þo . for men loueden not hire enemys .
And crist conseilleth þus . and comaundeth boþe
Boþe to leered and to lewed . to louye oure enemys
So at þe feste furst{e} . as I bifore saideT
Bigan god of his grace . and goodnesse to dowell
A faunt fyn ful of wit . filius marie .
BiforeT his modur Marie . made he þat wondur
That she furst{e} and formest{e} . ferme sholde bileue
That he þo{..}ruȝ grace was gete . and of no gom{m}e elles .
He wrouȝte þat by no wit . but byT word one .
And whan he was waxen more . in his modur absence
He made lame to lepe . and ȝaf liȝt to blynde
And fedde with two Fisshes . and with fyue loues
Sore afyngred folk mo þan fyue þousand .
Thus he conforted carefull . and cauȝte a gretter name
The w{....}hich was do-bet . w{...}here þat he wente
For deue þoruȝ his doynges to here . and dombe to speke he made
And alle he heled and halp{e} . þat hym of grace asked
And þo was he called in c{u}ontre of þe comune p{.}eple
For þe dedes þat he d{.}ide . Fili dauid Ihesus
For dauyd was douȝtiest . of dedes in his tyme .
The burdes þo songen . Saul interfecit mille . & Dauid decem milia
For-þi þe c{u}ontree þer Ihesu cam . called hym Fili dauid .
And nempned hym of Nazareth . and no man so worthy
To be kaiser or kyng{e} . of þe kyngedom{e} of Iuda
Ne ouere Iewes Iustice . as Ihesus was hem þouȝte
Whereof Cayphas hadde {..}enuye . and oþ{...}ere of þe Iewes
And for to doon hym to deþ . day and niȝt þei kasten
Kulleden him on cros-wyse . at Caluarie on Fryday
And sithen burieden his body . and beden þat men sholde
Kepen it from nyȝtcomers . with knyȝtes y-armed .
For no freendes shulde hym fecche . for prophetes hem too{..}lde
Þat þat blessud body . of burieles shulde arise .
And goon into Galilee . and gladen his appostoles
And his moder Marie . þus men bifore demed .
Þat angeles and archangeles . er þe day spronge
Comen knelynge to þe corps . and songen Cristus resurgens .
Verray man bifore hem alle . and forth with hem he {ȝ}yede
The Iewes prayden pees . and bisouȝten þe kniȝtes
Telle þe comune þat þere cam . a compaignye of hise appost{o}eles
And biwiccheden hem as þei wook . and away stolen it .
Ac Marie Magdaleyne . mette hym by þe weye
Goynge toward Galilee . in godhede and manhede
And lyues & lokynge . and she a-loud{e} cryede
In {.}eche a companye þer{e} she cam . Cristus resurgens
Thus cam it out . þat crist ouer{e}-cam . recouered and lyuede
Sic oportet Cristum pati . & intrare & cetera .
For þat þat wymmen witeth . may not wel be conseille
Peter parceyued þisT . and pursuwed after
Boþe Iames and Iohan . Ihesu for to seche
Thaddee and ten mo . with Thomas of Inde
And as alle þise wyse wyes . weren to-gedres
In an hous al bishette . and hire dore y-barred
Crist cam in and al closed . boþe dore & {ȝa}yates
To petur and to hise appostoles . and seide Pax vobis .
And took Thomas by þe hand . and tauȝte hym to grope
And fele with hise fyngres . his flesshliche herte
Thomas touched it . and with hise tonge seyde
Deus meus & dominus meus .
Thow art my lord I byleue . god lord Ihesu
Þow deiedest and deþ þol{...}edest . and deme shalt vs alle
And now art{e} lyuynge and lokynge . and laste shalt{e} euere .
Crist carpede þanne . and curteisliche saide .
Thomas for þow trowest þis . and truwliche bileueste it
Blessud moote þow be . and be shalt for euere .
And blessed mote þei alle be . in body and in soule
Þat neuere shul se me in sighte . as þow doost nowþe
And lelliche beleuen al þis . I loue hem and blesse hem . allT
Beati qui non viderunt & cetera .
And whan þis dede was I-doon . dobest he tauȝte .
And {ȝ}yaf piers power . and pardon he graunted
To alle manere men . mercy and for{ȝi}yifnesse
In couenant þat þei come . and kneweliche to paie
To piers pardoun þe ploweman . redde quod debes
To bynde and vnbynde . boþe here & elles-where
And assoille men of alle . synnes saue of dette oone
Anon after an he{ȝ}ygh{e} . vp in-to heuene
He wente and woneþ þere . and wol come atte laste
And rewarde hym riȝt wel . þat redd{edit}it — quod debe{s}tT .
Paieth parfitliche as . pure trwthe wolde
And what persone paiþ it nouȝt . punysshen he þinkeþ
And demen hem at domes-day . boþe quyke and dede
The goode to þe godhed . and to gret{e} ioye
And w{.}ikked to wonye . in wo with-outen ende
Thus conscience of crist . and of þe cros carped
And conseilled me to knele þerto . and þanne cam me þouȝte
Oon Spiritus paraclitus . to piers and to hise felawes
In likknesse of a liȝtnynge . he liȝte on hem alle
And made hem k{u}onne and knowe . alle kynne lan{.}gages
I won{.} —dred what þat was . and wagged conscience
And was a-ferd of þe liȝt . for in fires likkenesse
Spiritus paraclitus . ouerspradde hem {h}alle
Quod conscience and kneled . þis is cristes messager
And comeþ from þe grete god . and grace is his name
Knele now quod conscience . and if þou kanst synge
Welcome hym and worshipe hym . with Veni creator spiritus
And cryeden with conscience . helpe vs god of grace
And þanne bigan grace . to go with Piers plowman
And counseilled hym and conscience . þe comune to sompne
For I wol dele to-day . and diuyde grace .
To alle kynne creatures . þat han hire f{.}yue wittes
Tresour to l{.}yue by . to hire lyues ende
For antecrist and hise . al þe world shul greue
And acombre þe conscience . but if crist helpeT
And false {...?...}prophetes fele . flatereres and gloseres
Shullun come and be curatours . ouer{e} kynges and Erles
And pride shal be pope . prince of holy churche
Couetyse and vnkyndenesse . cardynales hym to lede
And wepne to fiȝte with{e} . whan antecrist {ȝ}yow assaileth
And {...}yaf {..}ech man a grace . to guye with h{e}ym-seluen
Þat idelnesse encombre hym nouȝt . enuye ne pride
Diuisiones graciarum sunt & cetera .
Wit to wynne hire liflode with . as þe world askeþ .
As prechours and pre{.....}estus and prentices of lawe
They lelly to l{.}yue . by labour of tonge .
And by wit{te} to wissen oþ{...}ere . as {....}grace hem wolde teche .
And somme he kenned craft{e} . and konnynge of siȝte
With sellynge and biggynge . hire liflode to wynne
And somme he lered to laboure . a lele lif and a trwe
And somme he tauȝte to tilye . to diche and to þecche .
To wynne with hire liflode . by loore of his techynge
And somme to compa{..}sse craf{..}tily . and colours to make
And somme to see and to seie . what sholde bifalle
Boþe of wele and of wo . telle it er it felle .
As astronomyens {þoruȝ}thorgh astronomye . and philosophres wise
And somme to ride and to recoueren . þat vnriȝtfuly was wonnen .
He wissed hem wynnen it aȝein . þoruȝ w{..}yȝtnesse of handes .
And somme he lered {in longyng}to lyue . in longynge to ben henn{.}es
In pouerte and in penaunce . to praye for alle cristene
And alle he lered to be lele . and {.}ech{e} a craft{e} loue oþur{e}
And forbad hem alle debat . þat noon were among{e} hem .
Thouȝ somme be clenner þan{ne} — somme . {ȝ}ye se wel quod grace
That he þat vseth þe fairest craft{e} . to þe fouleste I kouþe haue put hym
Þenkeþ alle quod grace . þat grace comeþ of my {ȝ}yifte .
Looke þat noon lakle / lak[k]e oþur . but loueþ alle as breþeren .
And who þat moost maistries kan . be myldest of berynge
And crouneþ conscience kyng . and makeþ cr{...e}aft {ȝ}yowre styward
And after craftes conseille . clotheþ {ȝ}yow and fede
For I make Piers þe plowman . my procuratour and my reue
And Registrour to resceiue . Redde quod debes
My prowor and my plowman . piers shal ben on erþe
And for to tilie truþe . a teme shal he haue .
Grace gaf piers a teme . foure grete oxen
Tha{.}t oon was Luc . a large beest{e} . and a lowe chered
And Mark and Mathew{e} þe þridde . myghty beestes boþe
And ioigned to hem oon . Ion . most{e} gentil{e} of alle
The pris neet of piers plowe . passynge alle oþ{.}ere
Al þat his oxen eryed . þei to harwe it after
Oon hiȝte Austyn . and Ambrose a-noþer
Gregori þe grete clerk . and Ierome þe goode
Thise foure þe faithe to teche . folweth piers teme
And harwed in an hand{e}-whyle . all{e} hol{ly}y scripture
With two harwes þat þei hadde . an {n}old{e} and a newe
Id est vetus testamentum & nouum
And gr{.}ace gaf greynes . þe cardynales vertues
And suwen it in mann{u}es soule . and siþen he toolde hire names .
Spiritus prudencie . þe furste seed hiȝte
Er he {.....}dide any dede . dyuyse wel þe ende .
That caste for to kepe a crokke . to saue þe fatte a-bouen
The secunde seed hiȝte . Spiritus temperancie
He þat ete of þat seed . had such{e} a kynde
Shulde neuere mete ne muchel drynke . make hym to swelle .
Ne shulde no scorner ne scolde . out of skyle hym bringe
Ne wynnynge ne welthe . of w{.....}orldly richesse
Shuld no curyous cloth . comen on his rugge
Ne no mete in his mouth{e} . þat maistre Iohan spiced
The thridde seed þat piers sewe . was Spiritus fortitudinis .
And whoso ete of þat seed . hardy was euere
To suffre al þat god sente . sekenesse orT angres
Miȝte no lesynges ne liere . ne losse of worldly catel
Maken hym for any mournynge . þat he nas murie in soule
And bold and abydynge . bismers to suffre
And pleieþ al wiþ pacience . and Parce michi domine .
And couered hym vndur . counseill . of catoun þe wyse
Esto forti animo . cum sis dampnatus inique
The ferþe seed þat piers sewe . was Spiritus iusticie
And he þat ete of þat seed . shulde be euere trwe
With god and nouȝt agast . but of gile oone
For gile goþ so priuely . þat gode faith oþur-while
May not ben aspied . for spiritus Iusticie
Spiritus Iusticie . spareþ nouȝt to spille
¶ Hem þat ben gulty . and for to correcte .
The kyng{e} if he falle . in gult{e} or in trespas
For counteþ he no kynges wrathe . whan he in courte sitteþ
To demen as a doomes man . a-dred was he neuere .
Neither of Duc ne of deth . þat he ne d{e}ide lawe
For present or for praiersT . or any princes lettres
He dide equite to alle . euene-forth his power
Thise foure sedes piers s{.}ew{e} . and sith he d{.}ide hem harwe
With olde lawe and newe lawe . þat loue miȝte wexe
A-mong{e} þe {vertues}foure vertues . and vices destroye
For comunlich in contrees . cammokes and wedes .
Fouleþ þe fruyt in þe feeld{e} . þere þei growe to-g{e}ydres .
And so doon vices . vertues worthy .
And tylieþ after hire techynge . þe cardinale vertues
A{ȝ}yeins þi greynes quod grace . gynneþ for to ripe
Ordeigne þe an hous quod piers . to herberwe Inne þi cornes
By god grace quod piers . {ȝ}ye moten {ȝ}yeue tymb{re}er
And ordeigne þat hous . er {ȝ}ye henn{.}es weende .
And grace {ȝ}yaf hym þe cros . with þe crownne of þornes
That crist vpon caluarye . for mankynde on pyned
And of his baptesme and blood . þat he {he} — bledde on Rode
He made a manere Morter . and mercy hit hiȝte
And þere-with grace bigan . to make a good foundement
And of al holy wryt . he made a roof after
And called þat hous Vnite . holychurche on {y}englissh
And whan þis dede was doon{e} . grace dyuysed
A carte hiȝte cristendom{e} . to carien piers sheues
And gaf hym caples to his carte . contricioun and confessioun
And made preesthode hayward . whil hym-sel{..}f wente
As wyde as þe world is . with piers to tylie truþe .
Now is piers to þe plow . and pryde it aspiede
And gadred hym a grete oost . to greuen {..þink.þ}he thinketh
Conscience and alle cristene . and cardynale vertues
Blowe hem doun and breke hem . and bite a-two þe mores
¶ And sente forth surquydous . his sergeaunt of armes
And his spye spille-loue . oon speke {.}yuel byhynde
Thise two comen to conscience . and to cristen p{.}eple
And toolden hym tydynges . þat tyne þei shulde þe seedes
That piers þere hadde y-sowen . þe Cardynale vertues
And piers bern{e} worth y-broke . and þei þat ben in vnitee
Shul come out and conscience . and {ȝ}yowre two caples
Confessioun and contricioun . and {ȝ}youre carte þe bileue
Shal be coloured so queyntly . and couered vnder oure sophistrye
That conscience shal not . knowe by contricion
Ne by confessioun . who is cristen neT hethen
Ne no manere Marchaund . þat with money deleeth
Wher he wynne with riȝt . with wrong{e} or with vsure
With þe lord þat liueþ : aftur þe luste of his body .
To wasten on welfare . and on wikked kepyng{e}
Al þe world in a while . þoruȝ oure wit quod pride .
Quod conscience to alle cristen þo . my counseill is to wende
Hastlych in-to vnite . and holde we vs þere .
And pray we þat a pees were . in piers berne þe plowman
For witturly I woot wel . we beth not of streng{....}the
To goon a{ȝ}yein pride . but grace were with vs .
And þanne cam kynde wit . conscience to teche
And cryde and comaunded . alle cristen p{.}eple
For to deluen a dych{e} . / depe a-boute vnite
That holychurche stood in vnitee . as it a p{...}ile were
Conscience comaunded þo . alle cristene to delue
And make a muche moot . þat miȝte ben a streng{h..}the
To helpe holichurche . and hem þat it kepeþ
Thanne alkynne cristene . saue comune wymmen
Repenteden and refuseden synne . saue þei oone
And false men flaterers . vsurers and þeues
Lyers and questmongers . þat weren forsworne ofte
Wytynge and willfully . with þe false helden .
And for siluer were forswore . soþely þei wiste it .
Ther nas no cristene creature . þat kynde wit hadde
¶ Saue sherewes one . suche as I spake of .
That he ne halp{e} a quantite . holynesse to wexe
Somme þoruȝ bedes biddynge . and somme þoruȝ pilgrymage
And oþer pryue peinesT . and somme þoruȝ penyes delynge .
And þanne welled water . for wikked werkes
Egrelyche ernynge . out of menn{.}es eighen
Clennesse of þe comune . and clerkes clene lyuynge
Made vnite holychurche . in holynesse to ston{.}de
I care nouȝt quod conscience . þouȝ pryde come nouþe
The lord of lust{e} shal be letted . al þis lente I hope
Comeþ quod conscience : {ȝ}ye cristene {ȝe cristene} —— and dyneþ
That han laboured lelly . al þis lenten tyme .
Here is bred y-blessud . and goddes body þer{e}-vndur
Grace þoruȝ godes word . gaf piers power
Mightes to maken it . and men to eten itT aftur
In help{e} of hire hele . oones in a monthe
Or as ofte as þei hadden nede . þo þat hadden y-payed .
To piers pardon þe plowman . Redde quod debes
How quod al þe comune . þou conseillest vs to {ȝ}yelde
Al þat we owen any wight . er we go to housel .
That is my conseill{e} quod conscience . and cardynalesT vertues
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra & cetera .
And so to ben assoilled . and sithenT y-houseled
By Ihesu for al {ȝ}youre iangelynge . wiþ Spiritus iusticie
Ne after conscience by crist . whil I can selle
Boþe dregges and draf . and drawe it at oon hole
Þikke ale and þinne ale . for þat is my kynde
And nouȝt hakke aftur holynesse . holde þi tonge conscience
Of Spiritus iusticie þow spekest muche on ydel
Caytif quod conscience . cursede wrecche
Vnblessed artow . Brewer . but ifT god helpe .
But þow l{..}iue by lore . of spiritus iusticie
The chief seed þat piers sew{e} . y-saued worstow neuer
But conscience þe comune fede . and cardynalesT vertues
Leue it wel þei ben lost . boþe lif and soule .
Thanne is many a man y-lost . quod a lewed vicory
Man to me þat me coude telle . of cardynalesT vertues
Or þat acounted conscience . at a kokkes fether or an hennes .
I knewe neuer cardynal . þat he ne cam from þe pope
And we clerkes whanne þei comen . for hire comunes paieth .
The comune clamat cotidie . {i}ech a man to other
The con{.} —tre is þe curseder . þat Cardynales come Inne
And þere þei ligge and lenge . moost{.} leccherye þer{e} regneth
For-þi quod þis vicory . by verray god I wolde
Þat no cardynal come . among{e} þe comune p{.}eple
But in hire holynesse . holden hem stille
At Auynoun amonge þe Iewes . Cum sancto sanctus eris & cetera
Or in Rome as hire Rule wole . þe relikes to kepe
And þou conscience in kynges courte . & shuldest neuere come þennes
And grace þat þou gredest so of . gyour of alle clerkes
And piers with h{..}is newe plow . and eke with his olde
Emperour of al þe world . þat alle men were cristene
Inparfit is þat pope . þat al þe p{.}eple shulde helpe
And seendeth hem þat sleeth suche . as he shulde saue
And wel worth piers þe plowman . þat pursueþ god in doynge
Qui pluit super iustos & iniustos attones / att ones .
And sent þe sonne to saue . a cursed mannus tilþe .
As briȝte as to þe beste man . and to þe beste womman .
Right so Piers þe plowman . peyneþ hym to til{...}ye
As wel for a wastour . and wenches of þe stwes
As for hym-self and his seruauntz . saue he is furst{e} y-serued .
And trauailleþ and tilieþ . for a tretour al so soore .
As for a trwe tydy{e} man . alle tymes y-like .
And worsheped be he þat wrouȝte al . boþe goode and wykke
And suffreþ þat synneful be . til som{me}-tyme þat þei repente
And god amende þe pope . þat pileþ holy kyrke .
And cleymeþ byfore þe kyng{e} . to be kepere ouer{e} cristene
And counteþ nouȝt þouȝ cristen ben . kulled and robbed{e}
And fynt{e} folk{e} to fiȝte . and cristen blood to spille
A{ȝ}yein þolde lawe and newe lawe . as Luc þer{e}-of w{.}ytnesseþ
Non occides michi vindictam & cetera .
It semeþ by so . hym-self hadde his wille .
Þat he ne reccheþ riȝt nouȝt . of al þe rem{...?...}enaunte
And crist of his curtesye . þe Cardinales saue .
And tourne hire wit{te} to wysdom{e} . and to wele of soule
For þe Comune quod þis curatour . counten ful litel .
But if þei seie as by sighte . s{u}omwhat to wynnynge
Of gyle ne of gabbynge . gif þey neuere tale
For Spiritus prudencie . among{e} þe p{.}eple is gyle
Ech{e} man sotileþ a sleighte . s{.}ynnne / s{.}ynne for to hide
And coloureþ it for a konynge . and a clene lyuynge
Thanne lough þere a lord . and by þis liȝt . saide
I holde it riȝt and reson . of my reue to take
Al þat myn Auditour . or ellus my styward
Counseilleth me by hire acounte . and my clerkes wrytynge
With Spiritus intellectus . þei seke þe reues Rolles
And with spiritus fortitudinis . fecche it I wole
And þanne com{e} þere a kyng{e} . and by his crowne sayde .
I am a kyng{e} with croune . þe Comune to rule
And holy kyrke and clergy . from cursed men to defende
And if me lakkeþ to lyue by . þe lawe wil I take it .
There I may hastlokest it haue . for I am hed of lawe
For {ȝ}ye ben but membres . and I abouen alle
And sith I am {ȝ}youre aller hed . I am {ȝ}youre aller hele .
And holy church{.}es chief help{e} . and chieftayn of þe comune
Of Spiritus iusticie . for I iugge {ȝ}yow{e} alle
So may IT boldlich ben houseled . for I borwe neuere .
Ne craue of my Comune . but as my kynde askeþ
In condicion quod conscience . þat þow k{u}onne deffende
Take þou may in resoun . as þi lawe askeþ .
Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum set non ad depredandum .
The viker hadde fer hoom . {..} & faire took his leue
cor
# quia necesse est penitenciam agere
# Gyftis off grace
virtutes Cardinales
Master Iohan spisyd
/nota/
# lewed vicare
# contra talem papam
passus xixus
nota
# quare Cristus magis quam Ihesus
X
iiij
passus xixus
bene loquitur
# discripcionem trium Munerum
# bene
dixit & facta sunt
passus xixus
# women kepe no Cowncell
passus xixus
# Folviles lawes
A New plouh
X
passus xixus
peers sheves
saue sherewes one . such
passus xixus
passus xixus
nota
N .ij.