Þanne wakede I of my wynkyng  & woo was wiþ-alle

Þat I ne hadde slepid sadder  & I-sye more

Ac er I hadde faren a forlong  aT feyntise me hente

Þat I ne myȝte ferþer a fote  for defaut of slepyng

And sate softli a-doun  & seyde my beleue

And so I babelede ofT my bedis  þei brouȝten me a-slepe

¶ And þanne sawȝ I myche more  þan I bifore tolde

For I saw þe feeld ful of folk  þat I bifore of seyde

And how resoun gan arayen hym  al þe rewme to preche

And aT crosse a-fore þe kyng  comsede þus to teche

He preueþT þat þise pestelences  was for pure synne

And þe souþwest wijnd  on saterday at euene

Was pertlich for pure pride  & for no poynt ellis

Piries & plumtrees  weren puffed to þe erthe

In ensaumple . ȝe segges  ȝe schulden do þe better

Beches & brode okes  weren blowen to þe grounde

TurnedenT vpward her tayles  in tokenyng of drede

Þat dedli synne er domes-day  schal fordo hem alle

Of þis mater I myȝte  mamele ful longe

Ac I schal seye as I saw  so me god helpe

How pertlich bifore þe peple  resoun gan to preche

¶ He Bade wastour . go wirche  what he best couþe

And wynnen his wastyng  wiþ summe manere craft .C

And preyede peronelle  hir purfile to lete

And kepe it in hir cofer  for catel at hir nede

Tomme stowe he tauȝte  to take two staues

And fecche felice hom  from þe wyuen pyne

AndT warnede watte  his wijf was to blame

Þat hir hed was worþ half mark  his hood not worþ a grote

And bade bette kutte  a bowȝ oþer tweyen

And bete betoun þer-wiþ  but if sche wolde wirche

And þanne he chargede chapmen  to chastisen her children

Latte no wynnyng hem forwenye  whyle þei be ȝonge

Ne for no pouste of pestilence  plese hem not out of resoun

My sire seyde so to me  & so dide my dame

Þat þe leuer child  þe more lore bihoueþ

And salomon seyde þe same  þat sapience made

Þe englisch of þis latyn  is . who-so wole it knoweT

Who-so spariþ þe spryng  spilliþ hise children

¶ And siþen he preyede prelatis  & preestis to-gyderes

Þat ȝe prechen to þe peple  preue it on ȝoure-seluen

And doþ it in dede  it schal drawe ȝow to goode

If ȝe lyuen as ȝe leren vs  we schul leue ȝow þe better

¶ And siþen he radde religioun  her reule to holde

Lest þe kyng & his counceyl  ȝoure comunes appeyre

And been stywardis of ȝoure stedis  til ȝe been rulid better

¶ And siþen he counceylede þe kyng  þe comunes to louye

It is þi tresore if tresoun ne were  & triacle at þi nede

¶ And siþen he preyede þe pope  haue pite on holi chirche

And er he gyue any grace  gouerne first hym-seluen

¶ And ȝe þat han lawes to kepe  latte truþe be ȝoure coueytise

More þan gold & oþerT gyftes  if heT wole god plese

For who-so contrarieþ truþe  he telliþ in þe gospel 

Þat god knowiþ hym not  ne no seynt of heueneT

And ȝe þat seken seynt iames  & seyntis of rome

Sekeþ seynt truþe  for he may saue ȝow alle

Qui cum patre & filio  þat faire hem befalle

Þat suen my sermoun  & þus seyde resoun . Amen .

¶ Þanne ran repentaunce Treherede / reher[c]edeT his teme

And gerte wille to wepe  water . wiþ hise yen

¶ Perenel proude-hert  platte hir to þe erþe

And lay longe er sche lokede  & lord mercy criede

And bihyȝte vn-toT hym  þat vs alle made

Sche schulde vnsewen hir serk  & sette þere an heyre

To affayten hir flesch  þat fers was to synne

Schal neuere hye hert me hente  but holde me lowe

And suffre to be mysseyd  & so dide I neuere

But now wil I meke me & mercy beseche

For al þis I haue  hatid in myn herte

¶ Þanne lecchour seyde allas  & on oure lady criede

To make mercy for hise mysdedis  bitwene god & his soule

Wiþ þat he schulde þe satirday  seuene ȝer þerafter 

Drynke but myd þe doke  & dyne but ones

¶ Envie wiþ heuy herte  askede after schrifte

And carfullich mea culpa  he comsede to schewe

He was as pale as a pelet  in palsie he semede

And cloþed in a caurymaury  I couþe it not discriue

In kirtil & courtebi  & a knyf bi his syde

Of a freris frokke  weren þe forsleues

And as a leek hadde I-ley  longe in þe sunne

So lokede he wiþ lereT chekis  lourynge foule

His body was to-bollen for wraþþe  þat he bote hise lippis

And wryngynge he ȝede wiþ hisT fist  to wreke hymself he þouȝte

Wiþ werkis or wiþ wordis  whanne he saw his tyme

Ich a word þat he warpe  was of an addres tunge

Of chydyngT of chalengyng  was his cheef lijflode

Wiþ bacbytyng & bismere  & beryng of falswytnesse / fals wytnesse

Þis was al his curteysie  where þat euere he schewede hym

I wolde be schryuen quod þis schrewe  & I for schame durste

I wolde be gladder bi god  þat gybbe hadde meschaunce

Þan þouȝ I hadde þis woke I-wonnenT  a weye of Esex chese

I haue a neiȝbore nyȝ me  I haue enuyed hym ofte

And lowen on hym to lordis  to do hym lese his syluer

And made hise frendis be hise foon  þoruȝ my fals tunge

His grace & hise goode happis  greuen me ful sore

Bitwene many & many  I make debate ofte

Þat boþe lijf & lym  is lost þoruȝ my speche

And whanne I mete hym in market  þat I moost hate

I haylse hym heendelich  as I his freend were

For he is douȝtier þan I  I dar do noon oþer

Ac hadde I maystrie & myȝt  god woot my wille

And whanne I come to þe kyrke  & schulde knele to-forT þe rode

And preye for þe peple  as þe preest techeþ

For pilgrymes & for palmers  for al þe peple after

Þanne I crye on my knees  þat crist ȝyue hem sorwe

Þat baren awey my bolle  & my broken schete

Awey fro þe auter  þanne turne I myne yen

And biholde how eleyn  haþ a newe cote

I wissche þanne . it were myn  & al þe web after

And of mennys leesyng I lawȝhe  þat myn herte akeþ

And for her wynnyng I wepe  & wayle þe tyme

And deme þat þei doon ille  þer I do wel wers

Who-so vndirnymeþ me her-of  I hate hym dedli after

AndT I wolde þat ich a wyȝt  were myn owneT knaue

For who-so haþ more þan I  þat angreþ me sore

And þus I lyue loueles  lijk a liþer dogge

Þat al my body bolneþ  for bittre of my galle

I myȝte not ete many ȝeris  as a man ouȝte

For enuye & yuele wille  is yuele to diffye

May no sugre ne swete þing  asswage my swellyng

Ne no diapendion  dryue it fro myn herte

Ne neiþer schrift ne schame  but who-so schrape my mawe

¶ {Þis}Ȝis rede IT quod repentaunce  & radde hym to þe beste

Sorwe of synnes  is sauacioun of soulis

I am sory quod þat segge  I am but selden oþer

And þat makiþ me þus megre  for I ne may me avenge

Amongys burgeycis haue I been  dwellynge at lundoun

And gerte bacbityng be a brokour  to blame mennys ware

Whanne he solde & I not  þanne was I redy

To lye & to loure on my neiȝbore  & lakke his chaffare

I wole amende þis if I may  bi myȝt of god almyȝti

Now awakiþ wraþþe  wiþ two whyte yen

And nyuelynge wiþ þe nose  & his necke hangynge

I am wraþþe quod he  I was sum-tyme a frere

AndT couentis gardener  for to graffen Impes

On lymytouris & legistrerisT  lesyngys I Impede

Til þei bere leues of lowe speche  lordis to plese

And siþen þei blosmedenT abrode  in boure to here schryftes

And now is fallen þerof a fruyt  þat folk han wel leuere

Schewen her schryftes to hem  þan schryue hem to her persouns

And now han persouns parceyued  þat freris parten wiþ hem

Þeise possessioners prechen  & deprauen freris .

And freris fynden hem in defaute  as folk beren witnesse

Þat whanne þei prechenT þe peple  in many places aboute

I wraþþe walke wiþ hem  & wisse hem of my bokis

Þus þei speken of spiritualte  þat eiþer dispiseþ oþer

Til þei been boþe beggers  & bi my spiritualte libben

Or ellis alle riche  and riden aboute

I wraþþe reste neuere  þat I ne muste folewe 

Þeise wickide folk  for swich is my grace

I haue an aunte to Nunne  &T abbesse boþe

Hir were leuere swowe or swelte  orT suffre any peyne

I haue been cook in hir kychen  & þe couent seruede

Many moneþis wiþ hem  & wiþ monkes boþe

I was þe prioresse potager  & oþere pore ladies

And made hem iowtes wiþ iangelyng  þat dame Ione was a bastard

And dame Clarice a knyȝtis douȝter  & a cokwold was hir sire

And dame peronel a preestis file  prioresse worþ sche neuere

For sche hadde child in chirie-tyme  al oure chapitre it wiste

Of wickide wordis I wraþþe  her wortes I-madeT

Til þou lixt & þou lixt  loupen out at ones

And eiþer hitte oþer  vndir þe cheke

HaddenT þei had knyues bi crist  eiþer hadde killed oþer

Seynt gregori was a good pope  & hadde a good forwit

Þat no prioresse were preest  for þat he ordeynede

Þei hadden þanne been infamis  þeiT kun so yuele holde counceyl

¶ Among munkes I myȝte be  ac many tyme I schonye

For þei been many felle frekis  my feres to aspye

Boþe priour & suppriour  & oure pater Abbas

And if I telle any tales  þei taken hem to-gyderes

And do me faste fridayes  to breed & to water

And am chalengid in þe chapitre hous  as I a child were

And baleysed on þe bare ers  & no breech bitweneT

I ete þere vnheende fisch  & feble ale drynke

Ac oþer-whyle whanne wiyn comeþ  & I drynke it at euene

I haue a flux of a foule mouþ  wel fyue dayes after

Al þe wickidnesse þat I woot  bi any of oure breþeren

I couþe it in oure cloyster  þat al þe couent woot it

Now repente þee quod repentaunce  & reherce þow neuere 

Counceyl þat þou knowist  bi contenaunce ne bi syȝtT

And drynke not ouer-delicatly  ne to depe neiþer

Þat þi wille be cause þerof  to wraþþ myȝte turneC

Esto sobrius . he seyde  & assoylede me after

And bade me wilne to wepe  my wickidnesse to amende

¶ And þanne cam coueytise  I can hym not discryue

So hungryli & holewe  sire heruy hym lokede

He was bitilbrowed  and babirlippid also

Wiþ two blered yen  as a blynde hagge

And as a leþeren purs  lolleden hise chekis

Wel sydder þan his chyn  þei {ryueleden}chyueledenT for eelde

And as a bonde-man of his bakoun  his beerd was bidrauelid

Wiþ an hood on his hed  a lousy hat a-boue

And in a tawney taberd  of twelue wynter ofT age

Al to-torn & baudy  & ful of lijs crepyngeT

But if þat a lous kouþe  haue lopen þe better

Sche schulde not haue walked þer-onT  so was it þreed-bare

I haue been coueytous quod þis caytyf  I beknowe it heer

For sum-tyme I seruede  symme at þe style

And was his prentice I-pliȝt  his profyt to wayte

First I lernede to lye  a leef oþer tweyen

Wickedlich to weye  was my first lessoun

To wye & to wynchestre  I wente to þe feyre

Wiþ many manere marchaundises  as my mayster me hyȝte

Ne hadde þe grace of gyle  goo among my chaffare

It hadde been vnsold þis seuene ȝer  so me god helpe

Þanne drowȝ I me among drapers  my donet to lerne

To drawe þe lesere a-long  þe lenger it semede

Among þe riche rayes  I rendride a lessoun

To broche hem wiþ a pacnedel  & playtede hem to-gyderes

And put hem in a presse  & pynnede hem þer-inne

Til ten ȝerdis or twelue  hadde toldT out þrittene

My wijf was a webbe  & wollen cloþ made

Sche spake to spynsters  to spynnen it oute

Ac þe pound sche payede bi  weyede a quartroun more

Þan myn owne aunser  who-so weyede truþe

I bouȝte hir barli malt  sche brewe it to selle

Peny ale & puddyng ale  sche pourede to-gyderes

For laboreris & lowe folk  þat lay bi hem-seluen

Þe best ale lay in my boure  or in my bed-chaumbre

And who-so bummyd þerof  he bouȝte it þer-after

A galoun for a grote  god woot no lesse

And ȝit it come in . cupmele  þis craft my wijf vsede

Rose þe regrater  was hir riȝt name

Sche haþ holden hukrie  al hir lijf-tyme

Ac I swere now . so the ik  þat synne wole I lete

And neuere wickydlich weye  ne wickide caffareLX vse

But wenden to walsyngham  & my wijf als

And bidde þe rode of bromholm  brynge me out of dette

Repentist þow euere quod repentaunce  or restitucioun madiste

Ȝis ones I was herborwid quod he  wiþ an heep of chapmen

I roos whanne þei weren a-rest  & riflede her malis

Þat was no restitucioun quod repentaunce  but a robbers þeft

Þow haddist been better worþi  to beT hangyd þerfore

Þan for al þat þow hast  heer now schewidT

I wende riflyng were restitucioun quod he  I lernede neuere on book

And I can no frensch in feiþ  but of þe ferþest eend of norþfolk

Vsedist þow euere vsurie quod repentaunce  in al þi lijf-tyme

Nay soþeli he seyde  saue in my ȝouþe

I lernede amongys lumbardis  & Iues a lessoun

To weye pens wiþ a peys  & pare þe heuyest

And lene it for loue of þe crosse  to legge a wed & lese it

Swiche dedis I dide write  if he his day brook

I haue mo maners þoruȝ rerages  þan þoruȝ miseretur & comodat

I haue lent lordis  & ladies my chaffare

And been her brokour after  & bouȝte it my-selue

Eschaunges & cheuysaunces  wiþ swich chaffare I dele

And lene folk þat lese wole  a lippe at euery noble

And wiþ lumbardis lettres  I ladde gold to Rome

And toke it bi tayle heer  & toldeT þere lesse

Lentist þou euere lordis  for loue of her mayntenaunce

Ȝhe . I haue lent lordis  þat loueden me neuere after

And haue maad many knyȝt  boþe mercer & draper

Þat payede neuere for his prentyshod  not a peyre gloues

Hast þou pite on pore men  þat moten nedis borwe

I haue als myche pite on hem  as pedler haþ of kattis

Þat wolde kille hem if he myȝte  for coueytises / coueytise of her skynnes

Art þou manlich a-mong þi neiȝbores  of mete & of drynk

I am holden as heend quod he  as hound is in kychyn

Among my neiȝbores namelich  swich a name ich haue

God lene neuere quod repentaunce  but þow repente þee / þe raþer

Þe grace on þis ground  þi good willeT to bisette

Ne þine eyres after þee  haue ioye of þat þou wynnest

Ne þine exsecutours bisette þiT syluer  þat þou hem leuest

And þat was wonnen wiþ wrong  wiþ wickide men be dispendid

For were I frere of þat hous  þere good feiþ & charite isC

I nolde cope vs wiþ þi catel  ne oure kirke amende

Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce of þin  bi my soule hele

For þe best book in oure hous  þouȝ brent gold were þe leues

And I wist witterli þou were  swich as þou tellist

Or ellis þat I koude knowe it  bi any skyns wiseT

Þou art an vnkynde creature  I can þee not assoyle

Til þou make restitucioun  & reckene wiþ hem alle

And siþen þat resoun rolle it  in þe registre of heuene

Þat þou hast maad ich man good  I may þee not assoyle

For alle þat han of þi good  haue god my truþe

Been holden at þe hye doom  to helpe þee to restitue

And who-so leueþ not þis be soþ  loke in þe sauter glose

In Miserere mei deus  wher I mene truþe

Schal neuere werkman in þis world  þryue . wiþ þat þou wynnestT

Cum sancto  sanctus eris & cetera construe me þat on englisch

Þanne wexe þat schrewe in wanhope  & wolde haue hangyd hymself

Ne hadde repentaunce þe raþer  recounfortede hym in þis manere

Haue mercy in þi mynde  & wiþ þi mouþ beseche it

For goddis mercy is more  þan alle hise oþere werkisT

And al wickednesse ofT þis world  þat man myȝte do or þenke

Nis no more to þe mercy of god  þan in þe sehe a glede

For-þi haue mercy in þi mynde  & merchaundise leue it

For þou hast no good ground  to gete þee wiþ a wastel

But if it were wiþ þi tunge  or ellis wiþ þi two handis

For þe good þat þou hast geten  bigan al wiþ falshed

And as longe as þou lyuest þer-wiþ  þou ȝeldist not but borwyst

And if þou wost neuere to whiche  ne whom to restitue

Bere it to þe bischop  & bidde hym of his grace

Bisette it hymself  as best is for þi soule

For he schal answere for þee  at þe hye doom

For þee & many moo  þat man schal ȝyue a reckenyng

What he lernede ȝow in lenten  leue ȝe noon oþer

And what he lente ȝow of his good  to wite ȝow fro synne

For he schulde helpe ȝow  of oure lordis goodT

¶ Now bigynneþ glotoun  for to goo to schryft .

And kaires hym to kyrkeward  his coupe to schewe

Ac Betoun þe breuster  bade hym . good morwe

And axede of hym wiþ þat  whyderward he wolde

To holi kirke quod he  for to here masse

And siþen I wole be schryuen  & synne no more

¶ I haue good ale gossip quod sche  glotoun wilt þou assay

Hast þou ouȝt in þi purs  any hote spices

I haue peper & pionyes quod sche  & a pound of garlyk

A ferþingworþ of fenel seed  for fastynge-dayes

Þanne gooþ glotoun in  & grete oþes after

Cesse þe souteresse  sate on þe benche

Watte þe warner  & his wijf afterT

Tymme þe tynker  & tweyen of hise prentices

Hicke þe hakeney-man  & hue þe nedeler

Clarice of cokkislane  & T clerk of þe chirche

Dawe þe diker  & a doseyn oþere

Sire peers of pride  & peronel of flaundris

A ribibour a ratouner  a raker of chepe

A roper a redyngkyng  & rose þe discher

Godfrey of garlikhyþe  & griffyn þe walsche

And vpholders an heep  erli bi þe morwe

Gyuen glotoun wiþ good chere  good ale to ansel

¶ Clement þe cobler  caste of his cloke

And at þe newe feyre  he nempnede it to selle

Hikke þe hakeney-man  hitte his hood after

And bade bette þe bocher  been on his syde

Þere weren chapmen chosen  þis chaffare to preyse

Who-so hadde þe hood . schulde  haue amendis of þe cloke

Two risen vp in rape  & rouneden to-gyderes

And preyseden þeise penyworþis  a-part bi hem-selue

Þei couþen not bi her concience  acorden in truþe

Til robyn þe roper  aroos bi þe souþe

And nempnede hym for a nounper  þat no debate nere

For to trye þis chaffare  bitwixen hem þreT

Hikke þe hostler  hadde þe cloke

In couenaunt þat clement schulde þe cuppe fille

And haue hikkis hood hostler  & holde hym serued

And who þat repentiþ raþer  schulde arise after

And grete wel sireT glotoun  wiþ a galoun ale

Þere was lawȝhyng & louryng  & latte goo þe cuppe

And so setenT til euensong  & sungen oþer-whyleT

Til glotoun hadde glubbed  a galoun & a gylle

Hise guttis bigune to {gurle}gotheliT  as two gredy sowes

He pissede a potel  in a pater-noster whyle

And blewe his rounde ruet  at his rigge-bonys ende

Þat alle þat herden þat horn  helden her nose after

And wischeden it hadde be waxed  wiþ a wispe of firses

He myȝte neiþer steppe ne stonde  er he his staf hadde

And þanne gan he to goo  lijke a glewmannys bicche

Sum tyme a-syde  & sum tyme a-rere

As who-so leiþ lynes  for to lacche foules

And whanne he drowȝ to þe dore  þanne dymmeden hise yen

He stumblede on þe þreschold  & þrewȝ to þe erþe

Clement þe cobler  cauȝte hym bi þe myddel

For to lifte hym a-lofte  & leyde hym on hise knees

Ac glotoun was a greet cherl  & grymme in þe liftyng

And cowȝhede vp a caudel  in clementis lappe

Is noon so hungry hound  in hertford-schire

Durste lape of þat {leuynges}leuenyngesT  so vnlouelich þei smauȝtenT

Wiþ al þe woo of þis world  his wijf & his wenche

Baren hym hoom to his bed  & brouȝten hym þer-inne

And after al þis accesse  he hadde an accidie

Þat he slepe saterday & sunday  til sunne wente to rest

Þanne wakede he of his wynkyng  & wipede hise yen

TFirst word þat he warpe was  where is þe bolle

His witt gan edwite hym þoo  how wickidlich he lyuede

And repentaunce riȝt þoo  soT rebukede hym þat tyme

As þou wiþ wordis & werkis  hast wrouȝt ille in þi lyue

Schryue þee & be a-schamed þerof  & schewe it wiþ mouþe

I glotoun quod þe goom  gylti me ȝelde

Þat I haue trespassed wiþ my tunge  I can not telle how ofte

Sworen goddis soule  & so god me helpe & halidam

Þere no nede ne was  nyne hundrid tymes

And ouersey me atT soper  & sum-tyme at nones

Þat I glotoun gyrd vp  er I hadde goon a myle

And spilte þat myȝte be spared  & spendid on sum hungry

Ouer-delicatli on fastynge-dayes  dronken & eten boþe

And sate sum-tyme so longe þere  þat I slepte & ete at ones

For loue of tales in tauernes  to drynke þe more I dynede

And hyede to þe mete er noon  whanne fastynge-dayes werenT

Þis schewynge schrift quod repentaunce  schal be meryte to þee

And þanne gan glotoun grete  and greet deel made

For his liþer lijf  þat he lyued hadde

And vowede to faste  for hunger or for þrist

Schal neuere fisch on fryday  diffyen in my wombe

Til abstynence myn aunte  haue ȝyuen me leue

And ȝit haue I hated hir  al my lijf-tyme

¶ Þanne cam sleuþe al beslabred  wiþ two slymy yen

I muste sitte seyde þe segge  or ellis I schuldeT nappe

I may not stonde ne stoupe  ne wiþ-outen a stool knele

Were I brouȝt a-bedde  but if my tayl-eend it made

Scholde no ryngyng do me rise  or I were ripe to dyne

He bigan benedicite wiþ a bolk  & his brest knokkede

And roxede & rorede  & rutte at þe last

A-wake renk quod repentaunce  & rape þee to schrift

If I schulde dye bi þis day  me liste not to loke

I can not parfiȝtli my pater-noster  as þe preest syngeþ

But I can rymes of robyn hood  & randolf of chester

Ac neiþer of oure lord ne oure lady  þe leest þat is maad

I haue maad vowes fifty  & forȝeten hem on morwe

I parfornede neuere penaunce  as þe preest me hyȝte

Ne riȝt sori for my synnes  ȝit was I neuere

And if I bidde any bedes  but if it be in wraþþe

Þat I telle wiþ my tunge  is two myle fro myn herte

I am occupied ich day  halyday and oþer

Wiþ ydel talis at þe ale  & oþer-whyle in chirches

Goddis peyne & his passioun  ful seldenT þenke I onT

I visitede neuere feble men  ne fetered folk in pittis

I haue leuere here an harlotrie  or a somer game of souters

Or lesyngys to lawȝhe at  & bilye my neiȝboris

Þan al þat euere mark made  Matheu Ion & lucas

And vigilies & fastynge-dayes  alle þeise late I passe

And ligge a-bedde in lenten  & my lemman in myne armes

Til mateyns & messe be doon  & þanne goo to þe freris

Come I to Ite missa est  I holde me serued

I nam not schryuen sum-tyme  but seeknesse it make

Not twyes in two ȝer  & þanne vp gesse I schryue me

I haue been preest & persoun  passynge þritti ȝer

Ȝit can I neiþer solfe ne synge  ne seyntis lyues rede

But I can fynde in a feeld  or in a furlong an hareC

Better þan in Beatus vir  or in beati omnes

Construe o clause wel  & kenne it to my parischenes

I can holde loue-dayes  & here a reues rekkenyng

Ac in canoun neT decretalis  I can not rede a lyne

If I bigge & borwe it  but if it be tayled

I forȝete it as sooneT  & if men me it axe 

Sixe syþes or seuene  I forsake it wiþ oþes

And þus tene I trewe men  ten hundrid tymes

And my seruauntis sum-tyme  her salerie is bihynde

Reuþe is to here þe rekkenyng  whanne we schul rede acountis

So wiþ wickide wille & wraþþe  my werke-men I paye

If any man do me a benfeet  or helpe me at nede

I am vnhendeT aȝens his curtesye  & can not vnderstonde it

For I haue & haue had  sumdel haukes maneres

I namT not leredT wiþ loue  but if ouȝt lye vnder þe þumbeC

Þe kyndenesse þat myne euene-cristene  kyddenT me ferne-ȝer

Sixti siþes I sleuþe  haue forȝeten it siþþe

In speche & in sparyng  I spilte many tyme

Boþe flesch & fisch  butter mylk & chese

Boþe breed & ale  & many oþere vitaylis

Forsleuþede in my seruyse  til it myȝte serue no man

I ran aboute in ȝouþe  & ȝaf me not to lerne

And euere siþ haue I beenT begger  for my foule sleuþe

Repentist þou not quod repentaunce  & riȝt wiþ þat he swownede

Til vigilate þe veyl  fette water at hise yen

And flatte it on his face  & fast on hym criede

And seyde . war þee for wanhope  wolde þee bitraye

I am sori for my synnes  seye to þi-selue

And bete þi-self on þe brest  & bidde hym of grace

For is no gylt heer so greet  þat his goodnesse is more

Þanne satte sleuþe vp  & seynede hym swyþe

And made avow to-for god  for his foule sleuþe

Schal no sunday be þis seuene ȝer  but seeknesse it lette

Þat I ne schal do me er day  to þe dere chirche

And here mateyns & messe  as I a monke were

Schal noon ale after mete  holde me þennys

Til I haue euensong herd  I bihote to þe rode

And ȝit wole I ȝelde aȝeyn  if I so myche haue

Al þat I wickidlich wan  siþen I witt hadde

And þouȝ my lijflode lakke  leten I nylle

Þat ich man schal haue his  er I hennys wende

And wiþ T residue & þe remenaunt  bi þe rode of chestre

I schal seke truþe erst  er I se Rome

Robert þe robber  on reddite lokede

And for þer was not wher-of  he wepede swyþeT

Ac ȝit þe synful schrewe  seyde to hym-selue

Crist þat on þeT caluarie  vp-on þe crosse dyedist

Þoo dismas my broþer  bisouȝte ȝow of grace

And haddist mercy ofT þat man  for Memento sakeC

So rewe on þis robber  þat reddere ne haþ

Ne neuere wene to wynne  wiþ craft þat I owe

But for þi mykel mercy  mytigaciounT biseche

Ne dampne me not at domesday  for þat I dide T ille

What bifel of þis schreweT  I can not faire schewe

Wel I woot he wepte fast  water . wiþ boþe hise yen

And knowlechede his gylt to crist  ȝit efter-soonesT

Þat penytencia his pijk  he schulde polische newe

And lepe wiþ hym ouer lond  al his lijf-tyme

For he hadde leyn bi latro  lucifers aunte

And þanne hadde repentaunce ruþe  & radde hem alle to knele

For I schal beseche for alle synful  oure saueour of grace

To amende vs of oure mysdedis  & do mercy to vs alle

Now god quod he of þi goodnesse  þat gunne þe world make

And of nouȝt madest ouȝt . & man  moost lijk to þi-selue

And siþen suffrest for {to} synne  a seeknesse to vs alle

And al for þe best as I beleue  what-euere þe book telliþ

For þoruȝ þat synne þi sone  sent was to þis erþe

And bicam man of a mayde  mankynde to saue

And madest þi-self wiþ þi sone  & vs synful ylicheT

And siþ wiþ þi self sone  in oure sute deydist

On good fryday for mannys sake  at ful tyme of þe day

Þere þi-self ne þi sone  no sorwe in deþ feledist

But in oure secte was þe sorwe  & þi sone it ladde

Þe sunne for sorwe þerof  lees hys liȝt for a tyme

Aboute mydday whanne moost liȝt is  & meel-tyme of seyntis

Feddest wiþ þi fresch blood  oure forfadris in derkenesse

And þoruȝ þe liȝt þat leepe out of þee  lucifer was blent

And blewe alle þi blessede  in-to þe blis of paradice

Þe þridde day after T ȝedist in oure sute

And synful marie þee seyȝ  er seynt marie þi dame

AndT to solace synful  þou suffredist it so were

And al þat mark haþ I-maad  matheu jon & lucas

Of þi douȝti dedis  weren doon in oure armes

And bi so myche me semeþ  þe sikerer we mowe 

Bidde & biseche  if it be þi wille

Þat art oure fadir & oure broþer  be merciable til vs

And haue ruþe on þis ribawdis  þat repenten hem heer sore

Þat euere þei wraþþedenT þee in þis world  in word . þouȝt or dede

Þanne hente hope an horn  of deus tu conuersus viuificabis

And blewe it wiþ Beati quorum  remisse sunt iniquitates

Þat alle seyntis in heuene  sungen at ones

A þousande of men þoo  þrungen to-gyderes

Cryeden vpward to crist  & to his clene modir

To haue grace to go wiþ hem  truþe to seke

Ac þer was wyȝt noon so wijs  þe weye þidir couþe

But blustreden forþ as bestes  ouer bankes & hilles

Til late was & longe  þat þei a lede metten

Apparaylid as a paynym  in pilgrimys wise

He bare a burdoun ybounden  wiþ a brood liste

In a swiþe wyndesT wise  ywounden aboute

A bolle & a bagge  he bare bi his syde

An hundryd of ampulles  on his hat sete

Signes of synay  & schellis of galis

And many a crouche on his cloke  & keyes of rome

And þe vernycle bifore  for men schuldenT knowe 

And se bi hise signes  whom he souȝt hadde

Þeise folk freynedenT first  from whennys he come

Fro synay he seyde  & fro oure lordis sepulcre

In bedlem & in babiloyne  I haue been in boþe

Þat I haue walked ful wyde  in wete & in drye

And souȝte goode seyntis  for my soulis helþe

Knowist þou ouȝt a corseynt  þat men callen truþe

Koudist þou wissen vs þe weye  where þat he dwelliþ

Nay so me god helpe  seyde þe goom þanne

I seyȝ neuere palmer wiþ pijk  ne wiþ scrippe wendeT

Axen after hym  er now in þis place

Petre quod a plowman  & putte forþ his hed

I knowe hym as kyndeli  as clerk doþ his book

Concience & kynde witt  kennede me to his place

And dide me swere sikirli  to serue hym for euere

Boþe to sowe & to sette  þe whyle I swynke myȝte

I haue been his folewer  al þis fifti wynter

Boþe seweT his seed  & feddeT hise bestes

Wiþ-inne and wiþ-outen  waytede his profiȝt

I dyke & I delue  & do þat truþe hotiþ

Sum-tyme I sowe  & sum-tyme I þresche

In taylouris craft & tynkers craft  what truþe can deuyse

I weue & I wynde  & do what truþe hoteþ

For þouȝ I seye it my-self  I serue hym to pay

Ich haue myn hyre wel  and oþer-whyles more

He is þe prestest payer  þat pore men knowen

He wiþhalt non hewe his hyre  þat he ne haþ it at eue

He is as lowe as a loomb  & louelich of speche

And if ȝe wilneþ to wite  where þat he dwelliþ

I schal wisse ȝow wittirli  þe weye to his place

Ȝhe leue peers quod þeise pilgrimys  & profreden hym hyre

For to wende wiþ hem  to truþis dwellynge placeT

Nay bi my soule quod peers  & gan for to swere

I nolde fonge a ferþing  for seynt thomas schryne

Truþe wolde loue me þe lesse  longe tyme after

Ac if ȝe wilneþ to wende wel  þis is þe weye þidir .C

Þat I schal seye to ȝow  & sette ȝow in þe soþeT

Ȝe moten goo þoruȝ mekenesse  boþe men & wyues

Til ȝe come to concience  þat crist wite þe soþe

Þat ȝe loueT oure lord god  leuest of alle þingys

And þanne ȝoure neiȝboris next  in noon wise appeyre

Oþer-wise þan þou woldest  he wrouȝte to þe-selue / þ[i]-selue

And so boweþ forþ bi a brook  beþ buxum of speche

Til ȝe fynden a foorþe  ȝoure fadris ȝe honoure

Wadeþ inT water  & wasche ȝow wel þere

And ȝe schul lepe þe liȝtlier  al ȝoure lijf-tyme

And so schalt þouT swere not  but if it be for nede

And namelich in ydel  þe name of god almyȝti

Þanne schalt þou come bi a croft  but come not þer-Inne

Þat croft hatte coueyte not  mennys catel ne her wyues

Ne noon of her seruauntis  þat noyen hem myȝte

Loke ȝe breke no bowes þere  but if it be ȝoure owne

Two stokkis þer stonden  ac stynte ȝe not þere

Þei hatten stele not ne slehe not  strike forþ bifore

And leue hem on þi left half  & loke not þer-after

And holde wel þin haliday  hye til euene

Þanne schalt þou blenche at a beruȝT  bere no fals witnesse

He is fryþid in . wiþ floreyns  and oþere foos many

Loke þou plukke no plante þere  for perel of þi soule

Þanne schul ȝe se . seye soþ  so it be doT done

In no manere ellis not  for no mannys biddyng

Þanne schalt þou come to a court  as cleer as þe sunne

Þe moot isT mercy  þe manere aboute

Alle þe wallis been of witt  to holde wille oute

And kirneled wiþ cristendoom  mankynde to saue

Botraced wiþ beleue so  or þou beest not saued

TAlle þe housis been hiled  halles & chaumbres

Wiþ no leed but wiþ loue  & lowe speche as breþeren

Þe brigge is of bidde wel  þe bette may þou spede

Ich piler is of penaunce  of preyer to seyntis

Of almesdedis arn þe hokis  þe gates hangen onne

Grace hatte þe gateward  a goode man for-soþe

His man hatte amende ȝow  for many men hym knowen

Telleþ hym þis tokene  þat truþe wite þe soþe

I parfornede þe penaunce  þe preest me enioynede

And am ful sori for my synnes  & so I schal euere

Whanne I þenke þer-on  þouȝ I were a pope

Biddeþ . amende ȝow . meke hym  to his mayster ones

To wayue vp þe wiket  þat þe womman schette

Þoo adam & eue  eten appelis vnrosted

For he haþ þe keye & þe cliket  þouȝ þe kyng slepe

And if grace graunte þee  to goo in þis wise

Þou schalt se in þi-self  truþe sitte in þin herte

In a cheyne of charite  as þou a child were

To suffre hym & segge nouȝt  aȝeyn þi sires wille

Ac be war þanne of wraþþeT  þat is a wicked schrewe

He haþ enuye til hym  þat in þin herte sittiþ

And poukeþ forþ pride  to preyse þi-seluen

Þe boldenesse of þi beenfetis  makenT þee blynde þanne

AndT worþest þou dryuen out as dew  & þe dore closed

Keyed & cliketid  to kepe þee wiþ-outen

Happeli an hundrd / hundr[e]d wynter  er þou eft entre

Þus myȝtist þou lesen his loue  to lete wel bi þi-seluen

And neuere happeli eft entre  tilT grace þou haue

Ac þer been seuene sistren  þat seruen truþe euere

And been porters of þe posternes  þat to þe place longen

Þat oon hatte abstynence  & humylite an-oþer

Ccharite / Charite & chastite  been hise cheef maydenes

Pacience & pees  myche peple þei helpen

Largenesse þe lady  sche lete outT ful many

Sche haþ holpen a þousande  out of þe deuelis pynfold

And who-so is sibbe to þeise seuene  so me god helpe

He is wondirlich . welcome  & fayre vndirfongen

And but if ȝe be sibbe  to summe of þeise seuene

It is ful hard bi myn hed quod peers  for any of ȝow alle

To gete ingong at þe gate þere  but grace be þe more

¶ Now bi crist quod a cutpurs  I haue no kyn þere

Non / No[r] I quod an apeward  bi ouȝt þat I knowe

Wite god quod a waferer  wiste I þis for soþe

Schulde I neuere ferþer a fote  for no freris prechyng

Ȝis quod peers þe plowman  & poukede alleT to goode

Mercy is a mayden þere  haþ myȝt ouer alle

And sche is sibbe to alle synful  & hir sone also

And þoruȝ þe help of hem two  hope þou noon oþer

Þou myȝtistT gete grace þere  bi so þou go bi-tyme

Bi seynt poule quod a pardouner  parauenture I be not knowe þer[e].

I wole fecche my box wiþ my breuettis  & a bulle wiþ bischoppis le[ttres].....

Bi crist quod a comune womman  þi companye wole I folewe

Þow schalt seye I am þi sister  I ne woot where þei bicomenT