The kyng{e} and his knyȝtes . to þe kirke wente
To here matines of þe day . and þe messe aft{.}er
Þanne wakede I of myn wynkynge and wo was withalle
Þat I nadde slept{e} saddere . and yseiȝen more
Ac er I hadde faren a fourlonge . faintise me hente
Þat I ne miȝte ferthere a fo{..}ot . for defaute of slepinge
And sat softely dounT . & saide my bileue .
And so I bablede on my bed{.}es þei brouȝte me a-slepe
For I sawȝgh þe field{e} ful of folk . þat I bifore of seide
And how resoun gan araien{e} hym . alle þe reume to preche
And with a crosse a-fore þe kyng{e} . coms{.}ed þus to techen
He preued þat þise pestilences . was alT for pure synne .
And þe southwest wynd{e} . on a Saturday atte euen{e}
Was pertliche for pure pride . and for no point elles
Piries and plumptrees . were puffud to þe erþe .
In ensample {ȝ}ye segges {ȝ}ye shulden do þe bett{..}re
Beches and brode ok{.}es . weren {.}blowen to þe grounde .
Þat dedly synnne / synne er Domusday . shal fordo{.}on hem alle
Of þis matere I miȝte . mamely ful longe
Ac I shal saie as I saw{e} . so me god helpe
How pertly afore {.}þe p{.}eple . resoun gan {...?...}to preche
He bad wastour go worche . what he best{e} couthe .
And wynnyn his wastynge . with s{..me}om — manere crafte .
And praide pernelle . hire purfil{e} to lete .
And kepe it in hire cofre . for catel at hire nede .
Thomme stowue he tauȝte . to take two staues
And fecchen felice hom . from þe wyuen pyne
He warned watte his wif was to blame
And {...?...}bad Bette kutte a bowe oþer tweyne
And bete {.}Betun þer{e}-with but {ȝ}if she wolde worche
And þanne he charged chap{....}men to chastisen hire children
Late no wynnynge hem for-weny . w{...}hil þei ben {ȝ}yonge
Ne for no pouste of pestilence . plese hem nouȝt out of resoun
My sire saide so to me . and so dud my dame
Þat þe leuere child{e} . þe more lore byhoueth
And sal{.}omon saide þe same . þat sapience made
Qui parcit virge odit filium suumT .
Þe englissh of þis latin is . who-so wol it knowe
Who-so spareth þe spring{e} . spilleþ his children
And sitthen he praide Prelates . & preest{.}es to-gedres
Þat {ȝ}ye prechen to þe {..}peple proue it on {ȝ}yowre-seluen
And doth{e} it in dede it shal drawe {ȝ}yow to goode .
And sithen he radde Religioun {...}hire rule to holde
Lest{e} þe kyng{e} and his conseil {.}yowre comunes appaire
And be styward{.}es of {ȝ}yowre stedes . til {.}ye be ruled{e} bett{..}re
And sithen he conseilled þe kyng{e} . þe comune to louye
It is þi tresour {ȝ}if tresoun ne were . and triacle at þi nede
And sithen he praiede þe pope . haue pite on holychurche
And {.}ye þat han lawes to kepe lat{e} truthe be {ȝ}yowre coue{....}itise
More þan{ne} — gold or gift{.}es . {...}if ye wil god plese .
For whoso contrarieþ treuthe . he telleþ in þe gospell
Þat god knoweþ him nouȝt{e} . ne no{ne} — saint{e} of heuene
Amen dico vobis nescio vos. & cetera
And {.}ye þat seke seint Iames . and seintes of Rome
Sekeþ seint truthe for he may saue {ȝ}yow alle ~
Qui cum patre & filio . þat faire hem bifalle
Þat suweth my sermon . and þus saide resoun
Þanne ran{ne} repentaunce . & rehercede his teme
And garte wille to wepe . water with his eyen
{.....}Pernelle proude-herte . platte here to þe erthe
And lay longe er she lok{.}ed . and lord mercy cried
And bihiȝte vn-to hym . þat vs alle made
She shulde vnsowen hire serke . and sette þere an heire
To affaiten hire flessh . þat fiers was to synne
Shal neuere heiȝe herte me hente . but holde me lowe
But now wille I meke me . and mercy biseche
For all{e} þis I haue . hated{e} in myn herte .
Þanne lecchour{e} saide allas . and on owre lady he criede
To make mercy for his my{.}sdedes . by-twene god and his soule
With þat he shulde þe saturday . seuene {ȝ}yere þer{e}-aft{.r}er
Drinke but myd þe doke . and dyne but ones .
Enuie with heuy herte . axede aftur shrifte .
And carefuliche mea culpa he comsed to shewe
He was as pale as a pelete in þe pals{..}ye he semed
And clothed in a {.}kaurimaury . I couthe it nouȝt{e} discreue
In kurtul and courte{.}py and a knyf by his side
Of a freres frokke . were þe forsleues
And as a leke hadde yleye . longe in þe sonne
So lok{.}ed he with lene chek{.}es . lourynge foule .
His body was to-bolle for wrathe . þat he bo{..}ot his lippus
And wryngynge he {ȝ}yede with þe fist{e} . to wreke hym-self he þouȝte
With werkus or with wordus . whanne he seighe his tyme .
Ecche a word{e} þat he warp{e} was of an addres tonge
Of chidinge and chalaungynge . was his chief liflode .
With bakbytynge and bismer and berynge of false wittnesse
Þis was al his curtesie . where þat euere he shewede hym .
I wolde byT shriuen quod þis shrewe and I for shame durste
I wolde be gladd{..}er by god . þat gibbe hadde meschaunce
Þan{ne} — þouȝ{e} I hadde þis woke y-wonne . a weye of essex chese
His grace and his gode happus . greueth me ful sore .
Bytwene many and many . I make debate ofte .
Þat bothe lif and lyme . is lost þour{..}gh my speche
And whanne I mete hym in markete þat I moste hate
I hailse hym {..}hendliche . as I his frend{e} were .
For he his douȝtier þan I I dar do non othur
Ac hadde I maistrie and miȝt{e} . god wot my wille .
And whanne I come to þe kirke and shulde knele to þe Rode
And praie for þe p{.}eple as þe preest techeth .
For pilgrymes and palmeres for alle þe {...}peple aftur .
Þanne I crie on my knees þat crist{e} {ȝ}yeue hem sorwe .
Þat bar away{e} my bolle and my broke shete .
Away from þautiere þannne / þanne turne I myn eiȝen
I wisshe þanne it were myn and alle þe webbe aftur
And for hire wynnyngesT I wepe and waille þe tyme
And deme þat hij don ille þere I do wel worse
I wolde þat {.}eche a wiȝt . were my{n} knaue .
For who-so haþ more þan{ne} — I þat angreth me sore .
And þus I lyue loueles . lik{e} a luther dogge .
Þat all{e} my body bolneþ . for bitter of my galle
I miȝte nouȝt{e} ete many {ȝ}yeres . as a man ouȝte
For enuye and {.}yuel wille is {.}yuel to diffien
May no sugre ne swete þin{ke}g . asswage my{n} swellynge
Ne no Diapenidion dryue it from myn herte
Ne nowther shrifte ne shame . but ho-so shrape my mawe
{Ȝ}Yus redily quod repentaunce and radde hym to þe beste
Sorwe of synnes is sauacioun of soules
I am sory quod þat segge I am but selde oth{.}er .
Amonges Burgeises haue I be . dwellinge at londoun
And garte bakbytinge be a brocoure . to blame mennus ware
Whanne he solde and I nouȝt þan was I redy
I wil amende þis {ȝ}if I may þorw miȝt{e} of god almiȝty
Now awaketh wratthe . with {...?...?...}two white eyen
And neuelinge with þe nose . and þeT nekke hangynge
I am wratthe quod he I was sumtyme a Frere .
A{.}nd þe Couentus gardiner . for to graffe ympus
On limitours and list{...}res . lesinges I ympud
Til þei bare leues of lowe speche lordus to plese
And now is fallen þereof a fruite . þat folk{e} han wel leuere
Þis possessioneres preche . and depraue Freres .
And Freres findeþ hem in defaute . as folke bereth wittnesse
That whanne {whanne}— — þei preche þe p{.}eple . in many place aboute
I wratthe walke with hem . and wisse hem of my bokus
Til þei be bothe beggers . and by my spiritualte libben
Or ellus alle riche . and riden aboute
I wrathe reste neuere þat I ne moste folwe
This wikkud folk . for such{e} is my grace .
Hire were leuere swowe or swelte . þan suffre any peyne
I haue ben cook in here {..}kychen . and þe couent serued
Many monthes with hem . and with monkes bothe
I was þe priouresses potagier{e} . and oþur pore ladyes
And made hem ioutes of iangelinge . þat dame Ione was a bastard
And dame Clarice a kniȝtus douȝtur ac a kokewald{e} was hire sire
And dame Pernelle a prestus file priouresse worth she neuere
For she hadde child{e} in chirityme . al owre chapitre it wiste
Of wikked wordus I wrathe . made here wortusT
Til þow lixt{e} . and þow lixt{e} . lopen oute at ones
And either h{.}ytte oþur . vndur þe cheke
Hadde þai hadde knyues by crist . here eithur hadde kullud oþur
Seint Gregorie was a gode Pope . and hadde a gode forwit{te}
Þat no priouresse were preest . for þat he ordeinede
Þay hadde þanne ben infamis . þai can so euele hele conseille
Amonge {monk.} —— monkes I miȝte be ac many tyme y shonye
For þere ben many fel{..}le Frekes . my feres to aspien
Bothe priour and {...}subpriour and oure Pater Abbas
And {ȝ}if I telle any tales . þei taken hem to-g{.}idres
And don me fasten Frydais . to bred and to watur
And am chalanged in þe Chapitelhous . as I a Child{e} were .
And baleised on þe bare ers . & no breche bitwene .
For{ I }-þi haue I no lykynge . with þo leodes to wonye
I ete þere vnthende Fissh . and fieble ale drinke .
Ac othurwhile whanne wyn cometh . whanne I drinke wyn at eue
I haue a flux{e} of a foul{e} mouth{e} wel fyue daies aftur .
Alle þe wikkudnesse þat I wot{e} by any of oure breþeren
I couthe it in oure cloistre þat alle oure Couent wote it .
Now repente þe quod Repentaunce and reherce itT neuere
Conseill{e} þat þou {........}knowest by conte{.}naunce ne bi riȝt
And drinke not to delicatly . ne toT depe nowther{e}
Þat þi wille b{.}y cause þereof to wratthe miȝte tourne
And þanne com{e} Cou{...?...}eitise . can I him nouȝt discriue
He was baberlippud . and bitelbrowedT also
With to blerede eien as a blynd{e} hagge
And as a letheren Purs . lollud his chekus
Wel siddere þan{ne} his chin . they cheueled for elde
And as a bondman of his bacon his berde was bidraueled{e}
With an hode on his hed{e} . a lousie hatte abouen
Al to-torn{e} and baudy and ful of lis crepynge
She shulde nouȝt haue walkud on þat welthe so was it thredbare .
For so{..}m-tyme I serued symme at þe stile
And was his prentys y-pliȝt{e} . his profit{.} to waite
Furst I lerned to lie . a lief or tweyne
Wikkudliche to weie . was my furst lessoun
To wy and to wynchestre . I went to þe faire
With many manere Marchyndise . as my maistre me hiȝte
Nad þe grace of gil{.}e gon among{e} my ware
I{..}t hadde ben vnsold{e} þis seuen {ȝ}yer so me god helpe
Þanne drowe I me among{e} drapers my donet to lurne
To drawe þe lisor along{e} þe lengere it semede
Among{e} þe riche Rays . I rendrede a lessoun
And putte hem in a presse and pynned hem þereinne
Til ten {ȝ}yerdus or twelue tollud out threttene
My wif was a webbe and wollen cloþ{e} made
Þan{ne} myn owne auncer{e} who-so weied truthe
I bouȝte hire barly malt{e} she b{...?...?...}rew it to selle
Penyale / Peny ale and poding Ale she pourede to-g{.}idres
For laborers and lowefolk / lowe folk þat lay by hem-selue
The beste ale lay in my boure . or in my bed chambre
And whoso bummud þereof . bouȝte it þere-aftur
And {ȝ}yit it cam in {.........}cuppemele þis craft{e} my {.......}wif vsed
Rose þe regratere . was hire riȝte name .
She haþ holden hukrie al hire lyf-tyme .
Ac I swere now so theik . þat synne wil I lete .
And neuere wikkudlich weie ne wikke chaffare vse
But wenden to walsingham . and my wif also .
And bidde þe Rode of Bromholme . bringe me out of dette .
Repentestow þe euere quod Repentaunce ne restitucioun madest{e} .
{Ȝ}Yus ones I was herberwed quod he . with an hepe of chapmen
I roos whanne þei were areste and rifled hire males .
That was no restitucioun quod repentaunce . but a robers thefte
Þow haddest beT bettur worthy . ben hanged þerfore
Þan for alle þat / þat þow hast here y-shewed{e}
And I can no{ne} — Frensh in feith{e} . but of þe furthest ende of Northfolke .
Vsudestow euere vsurie quod Repentaunce . in alle þi lif-tyme
Nay sothly he saide . saue in my {ȝ}yowthe
I lerned amonges lombardus . and iewes a lessoun
And lene it for loue of þe crosse . to legge a wed{e} and lese it .
I haue mo maneres þorw rerages . þan {......}thurgh miseretur & comodat
I haue lent{e} lordus and ladies my chaffare
And ben hire brocour aftur . and bouȝte it my-seluen
Eschaunges and cheuisaunces . with such{e} chaffare I dele .
And lene folk þat lese wol . a lippe at euery noble .
And w{..}ith . lombardus lettres . I ladde gold to Rome
L{........}entestow euere lordus for loue of hire mainteinaunce
{Ȝ}Ye I haue lent lordus loued me neuere aftur
Þat paiede neuere for his prentishode . nouȝt{e} a paire gloues .
Hastow pite on poremen / pore men . þat moten {..}nedes borwe .
I haue as moche pite on pore men . as pedlere haþ of cattus
Þat wolde kylle hem ȝif he cacche hem miȝte for coueitise of hire skynn{..}es
Artow manlich among{e} þi neiȝborwes of þi mete {.}& drinke .
I am holden quod he as hende as hound{e} is in k{u}ych{...}ene
Among{e} my neiȝbores nameliche such{e} a name I haue
Ne þin executours wel bisette . þe siluer þat þou hem leuest
And þat was wonnen with wrong{e} . with wikkud men be despendud .
For were I Frere of þat hous þere go{..}od faith and charite is
I nolde cope vs with þi catel . ne oure kirke amende
Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce of þin by my soule hele
And I wiste witturly þou were . such{e} as þou tellest
Seruus es alterius cum fercula pinguia queris
Pane tuo pocius vescere liber eris
Thou art an vnkynde creature I can þe nouȝt assoille
Til þow make restitucioun and rekene with hem alle
And s{it}ythen þat resoun rolle it in þe Registre of heuene
Þat þou {..} — hast made eche man gode I may þe nouȝt{e} assoille
Non dimittur / dimitt[it]ur peccatum . donec restituatur ablatum. & cetera
For alle þat hath of þi good{e} . haue god my trouthe
Is holden at þe heiȝe dome . to helpe þe to restitue
In miserere mei deus . where I mene truthe
Ecce {v...?...}enim veritatem dilexisti & cetera
Shal neuere werkeman in þis world . þryue with þat þow wynnest
Cum sauncto saunctus eris . construe me þis on {y}englissh{e}
Þanne wex þat shrewe in wanhope . and wolde haue hanged{e} himself
N{....}adde repentaunce þe rather recounforted hym in þis manere
Haue mercy in þi mynde . and with þi mouth{e} biseche it .
For godes mercy is more . þan{ne} — alle hise othere werkes
Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius & cetera .
And all{e} þe wikkednesse in þis wor{...}ld . þat man miȝte worche or thinke
Ne is no more to þe mercie of god þan{ne} — in þe see a glede .
Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei est quasiT sintilla in medio maris
For-þi haue mercy in þ{ine}y mynde . and marchaundise leue it
For þow hast no good{e} ground{e} . to gete þe with a wastell .
For þe good{e} þat þow hast geten . bigan al with falsenesseT
And as longe as þow lyuest{e} þere-with . þow {ȝ}yeldest not but borwest
Bere it to þe bisshop{pe} . and bidde hym of his grace .
Bysette it hym-selue . as best is for þi soule
For he shal answere for þe at þe heiȝe dome
N{..}ow biginneth glotoun for to go to shrifte
And kaires him to kirkewarde his coupe to shewe
Ac betoun þe brewestere . bad him gode morwe
To holichurche quod he for to here messe
And siþþe I wil be shriuen and synn{..n}en nomore / no more .
I haue gode ale gossib quod she glotoun wiltow assaie
Hastow ouȝt{þ} in þ{in}y Purs any {....}hote spices
A ferthing{e} worth{e} of fenel sied{e} . for fastinge-daies .
Watte þe warner{e} . and his wif boþe .
H{...e}ikke þe hakene{i....}yman . and hugh þe neldere
Clarice of cokkeslane and þe Clerk{e} of þe churche .
Sire pieres of pridie and pernelle of Flaundres
A Ribebour a Ratoner{e} a Rakere of Chepe .
A Ropere a reding{..}kyng{e} and Rose þe disshers
Godfray of garlekhide and grifin þe walssh
And vpholders an hep{e} . erly by þe morwe
Geuen glotoun with glad{e} chiere go{..}od ale to hanselle
Clement þe Cobelere caste of his cloke
And at þe newe faire he nempned it to selle
H{.}ykke þe hakene{im..}yman h{..}yt his ho{de}od after
And bad bette þe bochere . ben on his side .
Þere were chappemen y-chosen . þis chaffare to praise
Whoso haueþ þe ho{..}od shal haue amendes of the cloke
Þei couthen nouȝt by here conscience accorden in truthe
And nempnede hym for a nounpere þat no{n} debate nere
Hikke þostelere hadde þe cloke
In couenant þat Clement shulde þe cuppe {....}fille
And haue hikkes hood{e} þe hostiler{e} and holde him yseru{.}ed
And whoso repentud raþe{...}st shulde a-rise aft{.}er
And grete sire glotoun . with a galoun ale
Þere was lawynge and louringe and let{e} go þe cuppe
And seten so til euensong{e} and songen vmwhile .
His guttes g{u}onne to godly as two gredy sowes
He pissud a potel in a pat{.}ernost{..}er-while
And blewe his rounde ruwet at his rugge bon{.....}es ende
And wissheden it hadde ben wexud with a wispe of Furses
He miȝte neither steppe ne ston{...}de er he his staff hadde
And þanne gan he go lich{e} a gle{w}e-mann{..}es bicche
Som{me}—-tyme aside and s{....}om—-tyme ariere
And whanne he drow to þe dore þanne dymmeden his eiȝen
Clement þe cobeleri / cobeler cauȝte him by þe myd{...}del
For to l{u}yfte hym a-lofte and laide him on his knowes
And {.....}coghed vp a caudel . in Clementus lappe
Is non so hungry hound{e} in herteforde shire
Durst lapen of þeT leuynges so vnlouely it smauȝte
With alle þe wo of þe wo{...}rld his wif and his wenche
Baren hym hom to his bed and brouȝten hym þere-inne
And aftur al þis excesse he hadde an accidie
Þat he slep{e} saturday and {..}sonday til s{.}onne {ȝ}yede to reste
Þanne wakenede he of his wyn{.}kkynge and wipud his eiȝen
Þe furste word{e} þat he warp{e} was . where is þe bolle
And repentaunce riȝt{e} so rebukede hym þat tyme
As þow with wordus and werkes hast wrouȝte euel in þ{in}y liue
Shriue þe and be shamed þereof & shewe it with þ{ine}y mouthe
Þat I haue trespassud with my tonge I can nouȝt telle how ofte
Sworn{e} godsoule and selpe me godT and halydome
Þere no{ne} — nede ne was nyne hundr{..}ed tymes
And ouer{e}-seien me at my soper{e} and som{me}—tyme at nones .
Þat I glotoun gurte vp er I hadde goon{e} a myle
And spilte þat miȝte han ben spared and spendud on s{u}omme hon{....}grie
Ouerdelicately on fastinge-daies drunken and eten bothe
For loue of tales in tauernes to drinke þe more I dineT
And h{...}yed to þe mete e{.....}r noon whanne fastinge-daies were
This shewinge shrifte quod repentaunce shal be merite to þe
For his l{.....}uther lif þat he liued{e} hadde .
Shal neuere fi{..}ssh on Friday defien in my wombe
Til abstinen{..}ce myn aunte haue {ȝ}youen me leue
And {...}yet haue I hatud hire al my liftyme
Þanne com{e} slewthe al bislabred{e} with two slym{.}y eiȝen
I mo{..}ste sitte saide þe segge or ell{.}es shulde I nappe
I may not stonde ne stoupe ne with-oute a sto{le}ol knele .
Were I brouȝt{e} on bedde but {ȝ}if my tail{..}—ende it made
He bigan benedicite with a bolk and his brest{e} knockede
What awake renc quod Repentaunce and rape þe to shrifte .
If I shulde deie by þis day me lust{e} nouȝt to loke
I can nouȝt parfitely my Pat{.}er-nost{..}er as þe preest it singeþ
But I can rimes of Robin hode & Randolf {þ} — erl{e} of chestre
Ac nowther of oure lord{e} ne oure lady þe leeste þat euere was ma{de}ked
I parfourmede neuere penaunce as þe preest me hiȝte
Ne riȝt{e} sor{ie}y for my s{u}ynn{..}es {ȝ}yet was I neuere .
Þat I telle with my tonge is two myle from myn herte
I am ocupied{e} eche day halyday and othur
With ydel tales atte ale and otherw{...}hile in churches .
I visitede neuere fieble men ne fettrud men in puttus
I haue leuere here herlotrie or a somer{e} gamen of souteres
AndT lesinges to lauȝgwen at and bilye myn neiȝeburgh
Þan all{e} þat euere mark{e} made Mathew{e} Ion and lucas
TVigilies and fastinge-daies alle þese late I passe .
And ligge abedde in lent{o}en and my lemman in myn {h}armes
Til matynes and Masse be do & þan go I to þe freres .
Come I to Ite missa est I holde me y-serued{e} .
I nam nouȝt shryuen s{u}om{e}-tyme but sekenesse it make
Nouȝt twies in two {ȝ}ye{..}er and þanne vp gesse I shriue me .
Contricio et infelicitas in vijs eorum & ceteraT
I haue be prest and person{..} — passinge þretty wynt{..}er
{Ȝ}Yet can I neither solfe ne synge ne saintus liu{..}es reden .
But I can fynde in a field{e} or in a fourlong{e} an hare
Bett{..}re þan{ne} — in Beatus vir or in Beati omnes .
Construe oon clause wel and kenn{..}e it to my paris{.....}shens
I can holde louedaies and h{.}ere a Reues Rekenynge
Ac in Canoun ne in þe Decretales I can nouȝt rede a lyne .
{...}If I bigge and borwe it but {ȝi}if it be tailled
Six sithes or seuene I forsake it with othes
And þus tene I trwe men ten hundred tymes .
And my seruauntz som{e}-tyme {.} hir salarie is bih{i.}ynde
So with wikk{u}ede wille & wrath my werkemen I paie .
{...}If any man doþ me a bienfaite or helpeþ me at nede
I am vnkynde aȝeinz his curteisie and can nouȝt vndurstonde it
For I haue and haue had{de} {...?...} somdeel — haukes maners
I nam nouȝt{e} lured with loue but þer{e} ligge auȝt vndur þe thombe
Þe kyndnesse þat my euene-cristene kydde me f{...?...}ernyere
Sixty sithes I slewthe haue forȝete it siþþe
In speche and in sparinge of speche y-spilt{e} many a tyme
Bothe Flessh and Fissh{e} and many othur vitailles
For-sle{.....}uthed in my seruice til it miȝte seruen no man
I ran a-boute in {ȝ}yowthe and {ȝ}yaf me nouȝt to l{.}erne
And euere sitth haueT ben beggere for my foule slewthe .
Heu michi quia sterilem duxi vitam iuuenilem .
Repentestow þe nauȝte quod repentaunce . and riȝt with þat he swonede
Til vigilate þe veille fette watur at his eiȝen .
And saide war þe from wanhope wolde þe bitraie
I am sor{.}y for my{n} synn{.}es saie so to þ{e}i-selue
And bete þi-selue on þi breste and bidde hym of grace
Þann{.e}e sat sleuthe vp and sainede him swythe
And made avowe to-fore god for his foule sleuthe
Shal no s{u}onday be þis seuene {ȝ}yere but {ȝ}if sekenesse it lette
Þat I ne shal do me er day to þe dere churche
And heren matines and messe as I a monke were
Til I haue euensonge herd{e} . I bihote to þe Rode .
And {ȝ}yet{e} wol I {ȝ}yelde aȝein {ȝ}if I so muche haue
All{e} þat I wikkudly wan syth I wit{te} hadde .
And þouȝ my liflode lakke l{.}eten I nelle .
Þat eche man ne shal haue his {..}er I henn{.}es wende
And with þe Re{..}sydue and þe rem{.}enaunt by þe rode of Chestre
I shal seke truthe {...}erst ar {..}I se Rome
Robert{e} þe Robbe{..}re on reddite loked
Ac {ȝ}yet þe {.u}synneful shrewe saide to him-seluen
Þo dismas my broþur bisouȝte {ȝ}yow of grace .
And haddest merci{e} on þat man for memento sake
Ne neuere wene to wynne with craft{e} þat I owe
But for þi mikel mercy mitigacioun I biseche
Ne dampne me nouȝt{e} at domesday for þat I d{.}ide so ille .
What bifel of þis feloun I can nouȝt{e} faire shewe
Wel I wo{..}ot he wepte faste watur with boþe his eiȝen
And knowlechede his gult{e} to Crist . {ȝ}yet eftesones .
Þat penitencia his pik{e} he shulde Polisshe newe
And lepe with him ouerland{e} all{e} his liftyme
For he hadde l{..}eyn{e} bi latro luciferes aunte
And þanne hadde repentaunce reuthe and redde hem alle to knele
For I shal biseche for alle sinneful oure saueoure of grace
To amende vs of oure misdedes and do mercie to vs alle .
Now god quod he þat of þ{ine}y goodnesse gunne þe world{e} make
And of nauȝt{e} madest ou{...}ght . and man mooste liche þi-selu{..}en
And siþþe suffredest for to synne . a sekenesse to vs alle .
And all{e} for þe beste as I bileue . what euere þe boke telleþ
O felix culpa . o necessarium . ade peccatum . & cetera .
For þor{..}gh þat synn{..}e þi sone sent was to þe erthe
And bicam man of a maide . mankynde to saue
And madest þiself with þ{..}y — sone . and vs synneful y-liche
Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem & simlitudinem / sim[i]litudinem nostram
Et alibi qui manet in caritate . in deo manet & deus in eo .
And suth with þ{in}y — selue sone . in oure sute deiedest{e}
On godefriday for mann{.}es sake . at ful tyme of þe day
Þere þi-selue ne þ{ine}y — sone no{n} sorwe in deth feledest
But in oure secte was þe sorwe and þ{ine}y sone it ladde
Captiuam duxit captiuitatem
Aboute midday whanne moost{e} liȝt{e} is and mele-tyme of seint{..}es
Feddest{e} with þi Fressh blod{e} owre forfadres in derkenesse .
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam & cetera
And blewe alle þine blessud in-to þe blisse of Paradys
Þe þridde da{ie}y aftur þow {.}yedest in oure sute
And {...?...?...}synful Marie þe seiȝ . er seinte Marie þi dame
And al to solace sinneful . þou suffredest it so were
Non veni vocare iustos . set peccatores ad penitenciam
And al þat mar{.}k haþ y-made Mathew Ion and lucas .
Of þine douȝtieste dedes . weren don in oure armes
Verbum caro factum est & habitauit in nobis
And by so muche me semeþ . þe sekerer we mowe
Þat art oure fadur and oure brothur . be merciable to vs .
And haue reuthe on þes Ribaudes . þat repente hem soT sore
Þat euere þei wratthed þe in þis world . in word{e} . þouȝt{e} . or dede
Þanne hente hope an{d} horn{e} of deus tu conuersus viuificabis
And blewe it with Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates
Þat alle seint{.}es in heuene songen at ones .
Homines & iumenta saluabis . quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus & cetera
A thousand of men þo throngen to-{......}gydres
Criede vp to crist-wardeT . and to his clene modur
To haue grace to go with hem treuthe to seke
Ac þere was wiȝt{e} non so wis þe{i} we{.}y þ{u}ydur couthe
But blustrede {...}forþ as best{.}es ouer bankes and hull{.}es .
Til late was and longe þat þei a l{....}eede mette
Apparailled as a payni{n}m in pilgrimes wise
He bar a burdoun y-bo{n}unden with a brode liste
In a withwyndes wise y-wo{n}unden aboute
A Bolle and a bagge he bare bi his side
And anT hundred of ampulles on his hat seten
Signes of sinay and shelles of galice
And þe vernicle bifore for men shulde {.....}knowe
And se bi his sign{.}es whom he souȝt{e} had{..}de
Þis folk frainede him furst from w{...?...?...}hennes he coome
From sinay he saide and from oure lordes sepulcre .
In Bedlem and in Babiloine I haue ben in boþe
In Ermonie in alisaundre in many othur places
{Ȝ}Ye may se by my signes þat sitt{.}en on myn hatte
Þat I haue walkud{e} ful wide in wete and in drie .
And souȝt{e} gode seintus for my soule helþe .
Knowestow ouȝt{e} a corseint{e} þat men callen treuthe
Nay so me god helpe saide þe gome þanne
I se{.}ygh neuere Palmere with pik{e} ne with skrippe
Axen aftur hym tilT now in þis Place .
Petur quod a plowman and putte forth his hede
I knowe him as kyndeliche as clerk{e} doþ his bokus
Conscience and kende wit{te} kende me to his place
And deden me seuren hym sikerly to seruen him for euere
Bothe to sowe and to sette whil I swyn{.}ke miȝte .
I haue ben his folware al þis fourty wyntur{e}
Bothe sowen his sede and suede his bestus .
With-{in}Inne and with-outen waited his profit
I dike and I delue . I do þat treuthe hoteth
Somme-time I sowe and s{....}om—-tyme I thresshe
In taillours craft{e} and tynkers what treuthe can diuise
I weue and I w{.}inde and do what treuthe hoteth
For {..}þoȝ I seie it my-selue I serue him to paie
I haue myn hire wel and othurwhiles more
He is þe presteste paiere þat pore manT knoweth
He is as lowe as a lomb{e} and loueliche of speche .
And if {ȝ}ye wilneth to witen where þat he dwelleþ
I shal wisse {ȝ}yow witturly þe we{ie}y to his place
{Ȝ}Ye leue piers quod þis pilgrimes . and proferede hym h{....}yre
For to wenden with him to truthes dwelling{e}-place
Nay by my soules helthe quod piers and gan for to sweren
I nolde fange a ferthing{e} for seinte Thomas shrine
Treuthe wolde loue me þe lasse a longe tyme aftur .
Ac {ȝ}if {ȝ}ye wilneth to wende wel þis is þe we{ie}y þ{u}yder .
{Ȝ}Ye moten go þor{...h}gh me{.}kenesse . bothe men and wyues
And þanne {ȝ}youre neiȝgbores next{e} . in nonwise / non wise appairen
Othere-wise þan{ne} — þow woldest . he wrouȝte to þ{ine}y—-seluen
And so boweþ {...}forþ by abroke / a broke . beth bux{u}om of speche
Til {ȝ}ye fynde a for{th}d {ȝ}youre fadres honoureth
Honora patrem & matrem & cetera .
{.....}And ye shullen lepe þe liȝtloker . al {ȝ}yowre lif-tyme
An nameliche an ydel . þe name of god almiȝty
Þanne shalt þou come by a croft{e} . but come þow nouȝt þer{e}inne
Þat Croft{e} hat coueite nouȝt{e} . menn{.}es catel ne hire wyues
Ne none of here seruauntz . þat noien hem miȝte
Loke {ȝ}ye breke none bowes þere but {ȝ}if it be {ȝ}youre owne
And holde wel þin{e} halyday{e} heiȝe til euene .
Þanne shaltow blenche at a burgh . bere no false w{it}ytnesse
He is {is} — frithed in{ne} — with Flo{..}rynes . and oþere foes many
In no manere elles nouȝt . for no mann{.}es bidding{e}
Þanne shaltow come to a court . as clier{e} as þe s{u}onne
Þe mote is of mercy þe manere aboute .
And alle þe walles ben of wit{..} . to holde wil{le} oute
And kernelled with Cristendome m{.}ankynde to saue
Boterasud with bileue so or þow beest nouȝt y-saued{e}
And alle þe houses ben heled . halles and chambres
With no led . but with loue and lowe speche as Breþeren
Þe brugge is of bidde wel . þe bet may þou spede
Of almesdedus arn{e} þe hokes . þat þe gatus hangen on .
Grace hat þe gatewarde . a gode man for sothe
His man {....}hatte amende {ȝ}yow for many man him knoweth
Telleþ him þis tok{...}ene . þat truthe wite þe sothe
I parfournede þe penaunce þe prest me enioinede
And am ful sori for my synus and so I shal euere
Whanne I thenke þere-on thei{..}gh I were a pope .
Biddeth amende {ȝ}yow meke him to his maist{..}er ones
To wayue vp þe wikat þat þe womman shette
Tho Adam and Eue et{.}en ap{...?...e}ples vnrostud .
Per evam cunctis clausa est . & per mariam virginem patefacta est .
For he hath þe keie and þe klikat . þouȝ þe kyng{e} slepe
Þow shalt{e} seen in þ{ine}y—-seluen treuthe sitte in þin{e} herte .
To suffren him and segge nouȝt{e} aȝein þi sires wille
Ac be war þanne of wratthe þat is a wikk{.}ed{e} shrewe
He hath enuye to him þat in þine herte sitteth
And pokeþ forth pr{u}yde to praisen þi-seluen
{...?...}Þe boldnesse of {...}thy bienfaitz . makeþ þe blynd{e} þanne .
And þanne worthestow driuen out as dew{e} and þe dore closud{e}
Kaied and kli{.....}ketted to kepe þe with-oute
Happ{u}yly an hu{....}ndred wynt{....}er er þou eft{e} entre
{.}Thus miȝt{e} þou lesen his loue to late wel by þi-seluen
And neuere aftur happilicheT entre but grace þow haue
Ac þere arn{e} seuene sustren þat seruen truthe euere
Charite an chastite ben his chief mayden{..}es
Pacience {.} & pees moche p{.}eple þei helpuþ .
Largenesse þe lady {...?...}sheT leteþ in ful manye
And who is sib{be} — to þis seuene so me god helpe
He is wondurliche welcome and faire vndurfongen .
And but {ȝ}ye be sibbe to somme of þes seuene
It is ful hard{e} by myn{e} he{..}ed . quod Piers for any of {ȝ}yow alle
To geten ingonge at any gate þere . but grace be þe more
Now by Crist quod a cuttepurs . I haue no kyn{ne} — þere
Ne I quod {....}an apeward{e} by auȝt{e} þat I knowe .
Shulde I neuere ferther{e} a fote for no Frerus prechinge .
Mercy is a mayden þere hath miȝt{e} ouere hem alle
And she is sibbe to alle synneful and here sone also
And {...?...}thurgh the help{e} of hem two hope þow non{e} other{e}
Þow miȝt{e} gete grace þere so þow go bytyme
I wil go fecche my box with my breuetes and a bulle with bisshopus lettres
By Crist quod a comune womman þi companie wil I folwe .
Þow shalt{e} seie I am þi sust{..}er I not {...}where þei b{.}ycome .
Qt
# quia peccatum est Causa vindicti
# quomodo predicabat Racio
# Finem sermonis
#
Superbia
Luxuria
Inuidia
#
# the Freris Fore-slevis
Ira
C nota#
#
# the Cause off grugge betwen Curatis & Freris
#
{...?...}C
#
#
+
#
#
#
# questiones Repentencie
nota
#
X
#
x
mirabile dictum
# quod misericordia eius super omnia opera
x
#
#
# de presbiteris venatoribus
the prayer of Repentance
nota bene
de necessitate peccati
nota bene
optime dictum
x
#
questio vbi veritas moratur
nota bene
nota
# quia dicit Petrus ploughman optime cognoscere veritatem
# quomodo docet viam viam / viam ad veritatem
X
#
nota
#
nota
# appyllis vnrosted
{...?...?...esse}C
Septem sorores que seruiunt ad veritatem
vus
# þat wattis wyff was to blame
notate predicatores
Nota beneP
nota. nota.
# bene dicit
# quomodo laudatur veritas
nota
vus passus
# discripcionem invidie
cor
vus passus
# the Flix off the Foule mowth
Auaricia .
# optima descriptio Auaricie
/
X
nota
vus passus
Gula
cor
take hede good gossip
vus passus
Accidia
.. Ȝif any man doþ me
.iij.
cor
vus passus
# quod misericordia superest omnem iniquitatem
# de Robert the robber
nota
#
vus passus
# Sinffull Mare
notaC
# de hope
vus passus
primum mandatum
+
# Cutpurse
# quia misericordia super omnia
vus passus