fol. 13vfol. 13v
Passus quintus de visione petri plowman . vt supra .
The kyng and his knyȝtes  to þe kerke wente  .
To here matynes of þe day  and þe masse after
Þanne awaked I of my wynkyng  and wo was with-alle .
Þat I ne hadde sleped saddere  and I-seyȝen more .
Ac er I hadde faren a furȝlonge  feyntise me hente .
Þat I ne miȝte forthere a foot  for defaut of slepynge .
And sat softly adoune  and sayde my beleue .
AndT babeled vppon my bedes  þei brouȝt me a-slepe .
{}[] And þanne saw I muche more  þan I befor tolde .
For I say þe felde ful of folke  þat I be-fore of seyde
And how resoun gan arayen hym  alle þe rewme to preche .
And with a crosse by-for þe kyng  cumsede þus to techen .
He preued þat þis pestilensez  was for pure synne  .
And þe south-west wynde  on saterday at eue .
Was perteliche for pruydeT  and for no poynt elles  .
Pyries and plumtres  were puffedde to þe erthe  .
AndT in ensaumple ȝee segges  ȝee schulden do þe bettere .
Beches and brode okes  were blowe to þe grounde .
AndT turned vpward here taileT to kenynge / tokenynge of drede .
Þat dedly synne ar domesday  schal for-don hem alle .
{}[] Of þis matere I miȝt  mamely ful longe .
Ac I schal seye as I sawe  so me god helpe .
How perteliche be-for þe poeple  reson gan to preche .
He bad wastour toT werche  what he best coude .
And wynnen his wastinge  with som manere crastys / cra[f]tys .T
{}[] And preied pernele  hire purfile to lete .
And kepe it in hire coffre  for catel at hire nede .
fol. 14rfol. 14r
{}[] Thomme stouue he tauȝte  to take to stones .T
And fecche felice home  fram wyuene pyne .
He warned watte  his wif was to blame .
Þat hire hed was worth half marke  his hode nauȝt a groteT .
{}[] AndT bet cutte  a bow other tweye .
And bete betoun þere-with  but ȝif heo wolde werche .
And þanne he charged chapmen  to chasteT hire childerne .
Late no wynnynge for-wanyen  þeT while þei ben ȝonge .
Ne for no pouste of pestilence  plese hem nauȝt oute of resoun .
{}[] My sire seyde so to me  and so dede my dame .
Þat þe leuer childe  þe more lore byhoueth .
And salomon seyde þe same  þat sapience made .
Qui parcit virge odit filium  .
Þe englisch of þis latyn is  ho-so wil it knowe .
Ho-so spareth þe sprynge  he spillethT his childern .
And sitthen he prouedT prelatz  and prestes to-gyderes .
Þat ȝee prechen to þe poeple  proue it on ȝow-selue .
And doth it in dede  it schal drawe ȝow to gode .
If ȝe lyuen as ȝe lerne vs  we schal leue ȝow þe bettere .
{}[] And sitthe he radde religioun  here rewle to holde .
Lest þe kyng and his conseyle  ȝoure comunes appeyre .
And ben stwardes of ȝoure stedes  til ȝe be rewled bettere .
And siþþen he conseyled þe kynge  þe commune to louye .
It is þi tresor if treson were / treson [n]ereT  and triacle at þi nede .
{}[] And siþþen he preyed þe popeT  haue pite on holy cherche .
And er he gyue any grace  gouerne furst hym-selue .
And ȝe þat haue lawes to kepe  lat trewthe be ȝoure coueytise .
fol. 14vfol. 14v
More þanne gold or other giftes  if ȝe wil god plese  .
For ho-so contrarieth trewthe  he telth in þe gospel .
Þat god knoweth hem nouȝt  ne no seint of heuene .
Amen dico vobis nescio vos  .
{}[] And ȝe þat seke seint Iames  and seintes of rome .
Seketh seint trewthe  for he may saue ȝow alle .
Qui cum patre & filio   þat faire hem befalle .
Þat sueth my sarmoun  and þus seyde resoun .
Þanne ran repentaunce  and reherced his teme .
And gerte wille to wepe  water with his eyȝes .
{}[] Pernele proude-herte  platte hire to þe erthe .
And lay longe ar heLX loked  and lord mercy he criedeT .
And by-hiȝte to hym  þat vs alle made .
HeLX sclulde / sc[h]ulde vnsowen hire serke  and setten þere an haire .
To affaiten hire flesche  þat fers was to synne .
Schal neuere heyȝ herte me hente  but holde me lowe .
And suffre to be myssayde  and so dede I neuere .
But now wil I meke me  and mercy byseche .
For þisT I haue  I-hated in myn herte .
Þanne lecchour seyde allas  and on oure lady he cried
To make mercy for his misdedes  bitwene god and his soule .
With þat he schulde on þe dayT  seuen ȝer þere-after .
Drinke but with þe doke  and dyne but ones .
{}[] Enuye with heuy herte  askede after schrifte .
And carfulliche mea culpa  he cumsed to schrewe / schre[u]e .T
He was as pale as a pelete  in þe palsey he semed .
And clutedT in a tauri-mauri / [c]auri-mauriT  I coude nauȝt itT descriue  .
In a kertel and curteby  and a knyf be his side .
Of a frereT frokke  were hisT fore-sleues .
And as a leek hadde I-leye  longe in þe sonne .
fol. 15rfol. 15r
So loked he with lene chekes  louring foule .
{}[] His body was to-bolle for wrathe  þat he bot his lyppes .
And wryngyed withT þe fist  to wreke hym-self he thouȝte .
With werkes or with wordes  whan he seyȝ his time .
Eche word þat he warp  was of an addreT tonge  .
Of chydynge and of chalengynge  was his chief lyflode
With bagbityng and withT bysmere  and berynge of fals wytnesse .
Þis was alle his curteysye  where þat euere he schewed hym  .
I wolde be Ischryue quod þis schrewe  and I for schame durste .
I wolde be gladdere by god  þat gybbe hadde mischaunce .
Þan þouȝ I hadde þis woke I-wonne  a weye of essex chese .
{}[] I haue a neyȝbore neyȝ me  I haue enuyed hym ofte .
And lowen on hym to lordes  to don hym lese his siluer .
And al-soT his frendes ben his fon  þoruȝ my fals tonge .
His grace and his good happes  greueth me ful sore .
By-twene mayne and mayneT  I make debate ofte .
Þat both lyf and lyme  is lost þoruȝ my speche .
And whan I mete hym in markete  þat I most hatye  .
I hayls hym hendelich  as I his frende were .
For he is douȝtier þan I  I dar do non other .
Ac hadde I maystrie and miȝt  god wote my wille .
{}[] And whan I come to þecherche / þe chercheT  and schulde knele to þe rode .
And preye for þe poeple  as þe prest techeth .
For pylgrimes and for palmeres  for alle þe poeple after
Þanne I crie on my knes  þat crist ȝif hem sorwe .
Þat bare away my bolle  and my broke schete .
Awey fro þe auter  þanne turne I myn eyȝes .
And beholde how heleyne  hath onT a newe cote
I wysche þenne it were myn  and alle þe web after .C
{}[] And of hisT lesynge I lawhe  þat lyketh myn herte .
fol. 15vfol. 15v
Ac for his wynnyge / wynny[n]geT I wepe  and wayle þe tyme .
And deme menT þat hij don ylle  þere I do wel worse .
Who-so vndernymeth me hereoffe  Ich hate hym dedly after .
I wolde þat vch a wyȝt  were my knaue .
For ho-so hath more þanne I  þat angreth me sore .
{}[] And þus I lyue loue-lees  lyche a lyther dogge .
Þat alle my body bolneth  for bytter inT my galle .
I myȝte nauȝt ete many ȝeres  as a man ouȝte  .
For enuye and euel wille  is yuel to defye .
May no sucre ne swete thynge  aswage my swelynge .
Ne no diapenidion  driue it fro myn herte .
Ne noyther schrifte no schame  but ho-so schrape my mawe .
{}[] Ȝis redily quod repentaunce  and radde hym to þe beste .
Sorwe of synnes  is sauacioun of soules .
I am euereT sory quod þat segge  I am but selde other .
And þat maketh me þus megre  for I ne may me venge .
Amonges burgeys haue I be  dwellynge atte londoun .
And gert bagbytyng be a brokoure  to blame mennes ware .
Whan he solde and I nauȝt  þanne was I aredyT .
To lye and to loure on my neyȝbore  and to lakken his wareT .
I wil amende þis if I may  þorȝ miȝt of god al-miȝti .
{}[] Now waketh wrotheT  with to white eyȝes .
And nyuelyng with þe nose  and his nekke hangynge .
I am wrotheT quatz he  I was sumtyme a frere .
And þe couentT gardinere  for to graffe ympes .
On lymitoures and listres  lesynges I ymped .
Til þei bere leues  of lowe speche  lordes to plese  .
And sitthe þei blosmedT  in boure to here schriftes .
And now is falle þere-offe a fruyt  þat folk haue wel leuere .
fol. 16rfol. 16r
Schewen here schriftes til hem  þan schriuen hem tilT here persones .
And now haue persones aperceyued  þat freres parte with hem .
Þes possessioneres prechen  and deprauen freres .
And fyndenT hem in defaute  as folke bereth witnesse .
Þat whanne þei preche þe poeple  in many places aboute .
I wrathe walke with hymT  and wisse hem of my bokes .
Þus þei speken of my spiritualte  þat eyther despi{.}seth other .
Til þei be bothe beggeres  and by spiritualteT libben .C
Or elles alle riche  and riden aboute
I wrathe reste neuere  þat Ine / I ne mot folwe .
Þis wikked folke  for swich is my grace .
{}[] I haue anaunte / an aunte to nonne  and an abbesseT .
Hire were leuere swowe or swelte  þan suffre any peyne .
I haue be cook in hire kychyne  and þe couent serued .
Many monthes with hem  and with monkes alse .T
I was þe prioresses potagere  and other pouer ladyes .
And made hem ioutes of iangelyng  þat dame ione was a bastard .
And dame claris a kniȝtes douȝter  ac a cokewolde was hire sire .
And dame peronel a prestes fyle  prioresse worthe heo neuere .
For heo hadde childe in chirityme  al oure chapitere it wiste .
Of wikked wordes I wrathe  here wortes I-madeT .
Til þow lixt and þow lixte  lopen oute at ones .
And eyther hitte other  vnder þe cheke .
Hadde þei had knyues by crist  here eyther hadde kulled othere .
{}[] Seynt gregorie was a goed pope  and hadde a goed forwitteC
Þat no prioresse were prest  for þat he ordeyned .
Þei hadden þanne be infamis þe firste day  þei cunne so euel hele conseyle .
Amonges monkes I miȝt be  and many tyme I schonie .
For þere ben many felle frekes  my feres to aspie .
Bothe priour and suppriour  and oure pater abbas .
And ȝif I telle any tales  þei taken hem to-gyderes .
fol. 16vfol. 16v
And do me faste fridayes  to brede and to water .
And ȝeet amT chalenged  in þe chapitelhous .
As I achild / a child wereT 
And baleysed on þe bare {hers} bakT  and no breche by-twene .
For-thi haue I no likyng  with þo ledes to wonye .
I ete þere vnthende fissh  and febleC ale drinke .
Ac other-while whan wyn cometh  whan I drynke welT at euen .
I haue a flix of a foul mouth  wel fyue dayes after .
Alle þe wikkednesse þat I wote  by any of oure bretheren  .
I couthe it in oure cloystre  þat alleT couent wot it .
{}[] Now repente þe quod repentance  and reherce þow neuere .
Conseille þat þow knoweste  by contenance ne by specheT .
And drink nauȝt ouerdelicatly  ne to depe neyther  .
Þat þi wille be cause þere-offe  to wrathe miȝt turne .
Esto sobrius  he seyde  and so heT assoyled me after .
And badde me wilne to wepe  my wikkedenesse to amende .
And þanne come coueytyse  I can hym nauȝt descriue .
So hungrilyche and holewe  sire henry hym lokede .
He was bittel-browed  and baber-lipped alse .
With to blered eyȝes  as a blynde hagge .
And as a letheren purce  lolled his chekes .
Wel sydder þanne his chyn  þei chyueld for elde .
And as a bonde-man of his bakun  his berd was bydraueled .
With hisT hode on his hed  a lousy hatt aboue .
And in a tawne tabbarde  of twelue wynter age .
Al to-torne and baudy  and ful of lys crepynge .
But if a lous coude  lepe þe bettere .T
He ne schulde nouȝt walkeT on þat welsch  so was it thredebare .
{}[] I haue be coueytouse quod þis caytyf  I be-knowe it here .
For sum-tyme I seruede  symme at þe style .
And was his prentis I-pliȝt  his profit to wayte .C
First I lerned to lye  a leef or tweyne .
fol. 17rfol. 17r
Wikkedliche to weye  was my furst lessoun  .
To wy and to wynchestre  I wente to þe feyre .
With many maner marchandise  as my mayster me hiȝte  .
Ne hadde þe grace of gyle  I-go amonge my ware .T
It hadde be vnsold þis seuen ȝere  so me god helpe .
Þanne drow I me amonges draperes  my donet to lerne .
To drawe þe lyser a-longe  þe lenger it semed .
Amonge þe riche rayeresT  I rendred a lessoun .
To brochen hem with a batnedelT  and playted hem to-gyderes .
And putte hem in a presse  and pyned hem þere-Inne .
Til ten ȝerdes or twelue  tolled oute threttene .
{}[] My wif was a webbe  and wolene cloth made .
Heo spak to a spinnesterT  to spynnen it oute .
Ac þe pound þat heo payed by  peysed a quarterT more .
Þan myn owenauncer / owen auncer  ho-so weyȝed trewthe .
I bouȝte hire barlyT  heo brewe it to selle .
Peny-ale and puddynge-ale  heo poured to-gyderes  .
For laboreres and for low folke  þat lay bi hym-selue .
{}[] Þe best of alleT lay in my boure  or in my bedde-chaumbre  .
And ho-so bummethT þere-offe  he bouȝte it þere-after .
A galoun for a grote  god wote no lesse .
And ȝet it com in coppe-mele  þis crafte my wif vseth .T
Rose þe regrater  isT hire riȝte name  .
Heo hath I-holdeT hokkarie  alle hire lif-tyme .
Ac I swere now so theich / the ich  þat synne wil I lete .
And neuere wikkedlich weye  ne wikked chaffare vse .
But wenden to walsyngham  and my wif alse  .
And bidde þe rode of bromeholme  brynge me oute of dette  .
{}[] Repentedest þow euere quod repentaunce  neT restitucion madest .
Ȝus ones I was herberwed quod he  with an hepe of chapmen .
fol. 17vfol. 17v
I ros whan þei were a-reste  and I-rifledT here males .
Þat was no restitucioun quod repentance  but a robberes thefte .
Þow haddest bettereT worthi  be hanged þere-fore .
Þan for alle þat  þat þow hast here schewed .
{}[] I wende riflynge were restitucioun quod heo  for I lerned neuere rede on boke .
And Ican / I can no french in feyth  but of þe ferþest ende of norfolke .
Vsedestow euere vsurie quod repentance  in alle þi lif-tyme .
{}[] Nay sothly heo seyde  saue in my ȝouthe .
I lerned amonges lumbardes  a lessoun and of iewesT .
To weye pans with a peys  and pare þe heuiest .
And lene it for loue of þe cros  to legge a wedde and lese it .
Swiche dedes I dede write  if he his day broke .
Ich haue mo maneres þorȝ regagesT  þan þorȝ miseretur & comodat  .
I haue I-lente lordes  and ladies my chaffare .
And ben here brokour after  and brouȝtT it my-selue .
Exchaunges and cheuysaunces  with suche chaffaresT I dele .
And lenefolke / lene folke þat lese wole  a lippe at eueri noble .
And with lumbardes lettres  I ladde golde to rome .
And toke it be taille þereT  and tolde hem there lasse .
{}[] Lenedest þow euere lordes  for loue of here mayntenance .C
Ȝe I haue lent lordes quod heo  louedT me neuere after  .
And haue I-mad many kniȝt  bothe mercer and draper .
Þat payed neuere for his prentishode  nauȝt a peyre gloues .
{}[] Hastow pyte on pore men  þat mote nedes borwe .
I haue as muche pyte of pore men  as þeT pedlere hath of cattes .
Þat wolde kulle hem andLX he cacche hem miȝte  for coueytise of here skynnes .C
fol. 18rfol. 18r
Art þow manliche amonge þi neyȝbores  of þi mete and drinke  .
{}[] I am holden quod he as hende  as hound in hisT kychyne  .
Amonges my neyȝbores nameliche  suche a name Ich haue  .
Now god lene neuere quod repentaunce  but þow repent þe rather .
Þe grace on þis grounde  þi good wel to bi-sette .
Ne þin vssueT after þe  haue ioye of þat þow wynneste .
Ne þi seketouresLX wel bi-sette  þe seluer þat þow hem leuest
And þat was wonne with wronge  with wykked men be despended
For were I frere of þat hows  þere good faith and charite is .
I wolde nouȝt cope vs with þi catel  ne oure chercheT amende
Ne haue a peny to my pitance of þine  be my soule hele  .
For þe beste boke in oure hows  þouȝ brend gold were þe leues .
And I wiste witterly  þow were swiche as þow telleste .
Seruus es alterius cum fercula pinguia queris .
Pane tuo pocius  vescere liber eris  .
Þow art an vnkende creature  I kan þe nauȝt assoile .
Til þow make restitucion quod repentanceT  and rekene with hem alle .
And sitthen þat resoun rolle it  in þe registre of heuene .
Þat þow hast made vch man goed  I may þe nauȝt saue .T
Non dimittitur peccatum nisiT restituatur ablatum .
{}[] For alle þat hath of þi good  haue god my trewthe .
Is haldyngeT at þe heyȝ dome  to helpe þe restitueT  .
And ho-so leueth nauȝt þis be soth  loke in aT sauter glose .
In miserere mei deus  where I mene trewthe .
Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti &cetera  .
Þere is no laborere wolde leue with hem  þat knoweth peres þe plowman .T
ForT schal neuere werkman in þis worlde  thriue with þat þow wynnest .
Cum sancto sanctus eris  construe me þat on englische .
{}[] Þanne wex þe schrewe in wanhope  and walde haue hanged hym-selue .
Ne hadde repentance þe rathere  confortedT hym in þis manere .
fol. 18vfol. 18v
{}[] Haue mercy in þi mende  and with þi mouthe byseche it .
For godes mercy is more  þan alle his other werkes .
Misericordia dominiT super omnia opera eius . &cetera .
And alle þe wikkednesse in þis world  þat man miȝt worche or þenke
Ne is namore to þe mercy of god  þan in þe see a glede
Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei  est quasi sintilla in medio maris .
{}[] For-thi haue mercy in thi mynde  and marchandise leue it .
For þow hast no goed grounde  to gete þe with a wastel  .
But if it were with þi tonge  or elles with þi to handes .
For þe goed þat þow haste gete  bygan alle with falshede  .
And as longe as þow lyuest þere-with  þow ȝeldest nouȝt but borwest .
And if þow wite neuere to whiche  ne wham to restitute .
Bere it to þe bischoppe  and bydde hym of his grace .
By-sette it hym-selue  as best is for thi soule .
For he schal answere for þe  at þe heyȝ dome .
For þe and for many mo  þat man schal ȝiue a rekenynge  .
What he lerned ȝow in lente  leue þow non other .
And what he lente ȝow of oure lordes goed  to lette ȝow fro synne .
{}[] Now bygynneth glotoun  for to go to schrifte
And cayres hym to cherchewardeT  his coupe to schewe  .
Ac betoun þe brewestere  bad hym goed morewe .
And asked of hym with þat  whyderward he wolde .
{}[] To holy cherche quod he  for to here masse .
And sitthen I wil be schriue  and synne namore .
I haue goed ale gossib quod sche  glotoun wiltow assaye .
{}[] Hastow auȝt in þi purce  any hote spices .C
I haue peper and pioyneT quod sche  and a pound of garleke  .
A ferthyngworth of fenel seed  for fastynge-dayes .
fol. 19rfol. 19r
Þanne goth glotoun Inne  and grete othes after  .
Sesse þe souteres  sate on þe benche .
Watte þe warner  and his wif bothe .
SymmeT þe tynkere  and tweyne of his prentys .
Hikke þe hakeney-man  and howe þe nedelere .
Clares of cokkeslane  and þe clerke of þe cherche .
AndT sire peres of pridie  and peronele of flaundres
Dawe þe dykere  and a doseyne other .
A ribyboure a ratonere  a rakyer of chepe .
A roper a redyng-kynge  and rose þe dissheres douȝter .T
Godefrey of garlek-hethe  and grifythT þe walshe .
And vpholders an hepe  herly by þe morwe .
Geue glotoun with gladde chere  goed ale to hansalle .
{}[] Clement þe coblere  cast of his cloke .
And toT þe newfeyre / new feyre  nempnedT it to selle .
Hikke þe hakeneyman  hit his hood after .
And badde bette þe bocheretoT ben on his side .
ÞereT chapmen Ichose  þis chaffare to preyse .
Ho-so haueth þe hood  schul haue amendes of þe cloke .
ÞoT risen inT rape  and rowned to-gyderes .
And preysed þeT penyworthes  a-part by hym-selue .
Þei coude nauȝt by here consience  acorden in trewthe .
Til robyn þe ropere  arise þe southe .T
And nempned hym for a noumper  þat no debate wereT .
{}[] Hikke þe hostelere  hadde þe cloke .C
In couenaunt þat clement  schulde þe cuppe fille .
And haue hikkes hood hostelere  and holde hym I-serued .
And ho-so repented rathest  schuld arise after .
And grete sire glotoun  with a galoun ale  .
Þere was lawhynge and lowrynge  and late go þe cuppe .
And sitten so til euesonge  and syngenT vmb-while .
Til glotoun haued I-globbed  a galoun and a gille .
fol. 19vfol. 19v
His guttes gonne to godlyT  as to gnedy / g[r]edy sowes .
He pyssed a potel  in a pater noster while .
HeT blew his round rowet  at his rigges bonesLG ende .
Þat alle þat / alle [þat herde] þatT horne  held here nose after .
And wischedun it hadde be wexed  with a wips of firses  .
He miȝte neyther steppe ne stonde  ere he his staf hadde .
And þanne gan he go  liche a glwemannes bicche .
Sum-tyme a-syde  and sum-tyme arere .
As ho-so leith lynes  for to lacche foules .
{}[] AcT whan he drouȝ to þe dore  þanne dymmed hys eyȝes .
He tremledT on þe threswolde  and threw to þe erthe .
Clement þe cobblere  cauȝt hym by þe myddel .
For to lifte hym a-lofte  and leyde hym on his knowes .
Ac glotoun was a grete cherle  and a grym in þe liftyng .
And cowede vppe a caudel  in clementes lappe .
Is non so hungri hound  in hertforde-schire .
Durst lape of þe leuyngT  so vnlouely it smauȝte .
With alle þe wo of þis world  his wif and his wenche .
Baren hym toT his bed  and brouȝte hym þere-inne .
And after alle þis excesse  he hadde an accidie .
Þat he slepe seterday and soneday  til sonne ȝede to rest .
{}[] Þanne waked he of his wynkyng  and wiped his eyȝes .
Þe furst word þat he warppe  was where is þe bolle .
His witt gan edewyte hym þo  how wikkedliche he leuede  .
And repentance riȝt so  rebuked hym þat tyme .
As þow with wordes and werkes  hast wrouȝt euele in þi lyue  .
Schriue þe and be aschamed þere-offe  and schewe it with þi mouthe .
{}[] I glotoun quod þe gome  gulty me ȝelde .
Of þatT I haue trespased with my tonge  I can nauȝt telle how ofte .
Sworen godes soule and his sydesT  and so help me god & holy-domeT .
fol. 20rfol. 20r
Þere no nede ne was  nyne hundreth tymes .
And ouer-seye me at my soper  and sum-tymesT at nones .
Þat I glotoun gurt it vppe  ar I hadde gon a myle .
And I-spilt þat myȝt be spared  and spendT on sum hungry .
{}[] Ouer delicatlyC on fastyng-dayes  dronken and eten bothe .
And sat sum-tyme so longe þereand slepT and eet at ones .
For loue of tales in tauernes  to eteT þe more I dyned .
And hied to þe mete er none  when fastyng-dayes were .
Þis schewyng schrifte  quod repentance  schal be merite to þe .
{}[] And þanne gan glotoun to grete  and mucheT doel to make  .
For his lither lif  þat he leued hadde .
And auowedT faste  for hunger or for thurst .
Schal neuere fische on þe friday  defien in my wombe .
Til abstinence myn aunte  hathT Iȝeue me leue .
And ȝet haue I hated hire  al my lif-tyme .
Þanne come sleuthe al by-slobred  with to slymedT eyȝes .
I most sitte seyde þe segeLX  or elles schulde I nappeP .
I may nouȝt stonde ne stoupe  ne with-oute stole knele .
Were I brouȝt a-bedde  but if my taylende it made .
Schulde no ryngyng do me rise  ere I were ripe to dyne  .
{}[] He bygan benedicite with a bolke  and his brest knokked .
And roxede and rored  and rutte atte laste .
What awake renk quod repentance  and rape þe to schrifte .
{}[] If I schulde deye bi þis daye  quod heT  me lest nouȝt to loke .
I can nouȝt parfitlyche my paternoster  as þe prest it syngeth .
But I kan rymes of robyn hood  and randolf erl of chestre
Ac noþer of oure lorLX ne of oure lady  þe leste þat euere was maked .C
I haue mad vowes fourti  and forȝete hem or morweT .
fol. 20vfol. 20v
I parforned neuere penance  as þe prest me hiȝte .
Ne riȝt sori for my synnes  ȝet was I neuere  .
And ȝif I bedde any bedes  but if it be in wrathe  .
Þat I telle with my tonge  is to myle fro my herte .
I am ocuped vche a day  halyday and other .
With Idel tales at þe ale  and other-while in cherche .
Godes peyne and his passioun  ful selde thenke I þere-on .C
I visitede neuere sekeT men  ne fetered folke in puttes .
I haddeT leuere here an herlotrie  or a somer game of souteres .
Or lesynges to lawhe ofT  and bilye my neyȝbore .
T Al þat euere marke made  mathew Iohan and lucas  .
And vigilies and fastyngdayes  alle þis I lateT passe .
And ligge a-bedde in lente  and my lemman in myn armes .
Til matynes and masse be do  and þan go to þe freres .
Kome I to Ite missa est  I hold me I-serued .
I am nauȝt schriue sumtime  but ȝif sekenesse it make .
Nouȝt twyes in to ȝere  and þanne vpe gesse I schriue me .
{}[] I haue be prest and persone  passyng thretty wynter .
Ȝet can I neyther solue ne synge  ne seyntes lyues rede .
But I can fynde in a felde  or in a furlonge an hare .
Better þan in beatus vir  or in beati omnes  .
Construe it clausemelT  and kenne it to my parochiens .
I can holde louedayes  orT here a reues rekkenynge .
Ac in canon ne in þe decretales  I can nouȝt rede a lyne .
Ȝif I begge and borwe it  but if it be I-tayled .
I for-ȝete it as ȝerne  and ȝif men me it aske .
Sixe sithes or seuene  I forsake it witLX othes .
And þus I teneT trewe men  te / te[n] hundreth tymes .
{}[] And my seruantes sum-tyme  here salarie is byhynde .
Reuthe is to here rekkenynge  when we schul rede acountes .
So with wikked wille and wrathe  my werk-men I paye .C
Ȝif anyman / any man doth me a benfeet  or helpeth me at nede .
fol. 21rfol. 21r
I am vnkende aȝeyn his curteysie  and can nauȝt vnderstande it .
For I haue and haue hadde  sumdel haukes maneres .
I am nauȝt lured with loue  but þere ligge auȝt vnder thoumbeT .
Þe kendenesse þat myn euencristene  kudde me ferneȝere .
Sixty sitheT I slewthe  haue foreȝete it setthe .
In speche and in sparinge of speche  I-spelt many a tyme .
{}[] Bothe flesche and fische  and mynT other vitailes
Bothe brede and ale  buttere melke and chese  .
For-sleuthed in my seruise  til it miȝte serue noman .
I ran aboute in ȝouthe  and ȝaf me nouȝt to lerne  .
And euere sitthe be beggere  for my foule sleuthe .
Heu michi quodT sterilem  vitam duxi iuuenilem .
{}[] Repentest þe nouȝt quod repentance  and riȝte with þat he swhounede .
Til vigilate þe veile  fette water at his eyȝes .
And flatte it on his face  and onT hym cried .
And seyde war þe fram wanhope  wolde þe bytraye .
Ich am sori for my synnes  sey soT to þi-selue .
And bete þi-selue on þe breste  and bidde hym of grace .
For is no gult here so grete  þat his goednesse is more  .
{}[] Þanne sate sleuthe vppe  and seyned hym swythe .
And made a vow to-for god  for his foule sleuthe .
Schal no soneday be þis seuen ȝere  but ȝif sekenesse meT lette .
Þat I ne schal do me er daye  to þe dere cherche .
And heren matynes and masse  as I a monke were .
Schal non ale after mete  halde me thennes .
Til I haue euensonge herde  I be-hote to þe rode .
What I namT ȝelde aȝen  if I so muche haue  .
Alle þat I wikkedliche wan  sitthen I witt hadde .
And þouȝ meT lyflode lakke  leten I nelle .
fol. 21vfol. 21v
Þat vch man schal haue his  ar I hennes wende .
And with þe residue and þe remenant  by þe rode of chestre  .
I schal seke treuthe  arst er I se rome .
Roberd þe robbere  on reddite lokede .
And for þere was nauȝt where-of  he wepe swythe sore .
Ac ȝet þe synful schrewe  seyde to hym-selue .
Crist þat on caluare  vppon þe croys deyedeste .
Þo bymas / [d]y[s]masT my brother  by-souȝte ȝow of grace .
And haddest mercy on þat man  for memento sake .
So rewe on þis robbere  þat reddere ne haue .
Ne neuere wene to wynne  with craft þat I knowe .T
But for thi michel mercy  mitigacion I be-seche .
Ne dampne me nauȝt at domes-day  for þat I dede so ille .
{}[] What be-fel of þis feloun  I can nauȝt fareLX schewe .
Wel I wote he wepte faste  water with bothe his eyȝes  .T
Þat penitencia his pik  he scholde polsche newe .
And lepe with hym ouer londe  al his lif-tyme .
For he hathT leyne be latro  luciferes aunte .
And þanne hadde repentance reuthe  and redde hem alle to knele .
For I schal by-seche for alle synful  oure saueoure of grace .
To amende vs of oure mysdedes  and do mercy to vs alle .
{}[]C Now god quodT þat of þi goednesse  gonne þe worlde make .
And of nauȝt madest auȝte  and man most liche to þi-selue
And sitthen suffredest hymT to synne  a sekenesse to vs alle  .
And alle for þe best as I be-leue  what-euere þe boke telleth .
O felix culpa . O nessarium / ne[ce]ssariumT peccatum ade .
For thorȝ þat synne þi sone  sent was to þis erthe .
And bi-cam man of a mayde  man-kende to saue .
And madest þi-selue with þi sone  and vs synful I-liche .
Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem & similitudinem nostram .
Et alibi  qui manet in caritate in deo manet & deus in eo .
fol. 22rfol. 22r
And sitthe with þeT selue sone  in oure seute dyedest .
On godefriday for mannes sake  at fulle tyme of day .T
Þere þi-selue andT þi sone  no sorewe in deth feledest .
But in oure secte was þatT sorewe  and þi sone it ladde .
Captiuam duxit captiuitatem .
{}[] Þe sonne for sorewe þere-offe  les siȝte for a tyme .
Aboute myddaye  whan most liȝt is  and mel-tyme of seyntes .
Feddest þoT with þi fresch blode  oure forfadres in derkenesse .
Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam  .
And thorȝ þe liȝt þat lepe oute of þe  lucifer itT blent .
And blew alle þin blissed þennesT  in-to þe blisse of paradys .
{}[] Þe thridde day after  þow ȝedest in oure seute .
A synful marie þe seiȝ  er seynte marie þi dame .
And alle to solace synful  þow suffredest it so were .P
Non veni vocare iustos  sed peccatores ad penitenciam .
And alle þat mark hath I-mad  matheu Iohan and lucas .
Of þin douȝtyest dedes  were don in oure armes .
Verbum caro factum est . & habitauit in nobis .
{}[] And by so m{.}yche itT semeth  þe sykerlokerT we mowe .
Byde and bi-seche  if it be þi wille .
Þat art oure fader and oure brothere  be mercyable to vs .
And haue mercyT on þes ribaudes  þat repenten hem sore
Þat euere þei wrathed þeT  in worde thouȝt or dedes .
Þanne hent hope an horn  of deus tu conuersus viuificabis nos .
And heT blew it with beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates  .
Þat alle seyntes in heuene  songen at ones .
Homines & iumenta saluabis quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus .
{}[] A thousend of men þo  throngen to-gyderes .
Cride vppward to crist  and to his clene moder .
fol. 22vfol. 22v
Grace to godT with hem  trewthe to seke .
Ac þere was wiȝt non so wis  þe weye þider coude .
But blostereden forth as bestes  ouer bankes and hilles  .
Til late was and longe  þat þei a lede mette .
Apparayled as a paynym  in pilgrimes wise .
He bare a bordoun I-bounde  with a brode liste .
In a wythewyndes wyse  I-wonden aboute .
A bulleT and a bagge  he bare by hys syde .
An hundred of ampulles  on his hat seten .
Sygnes of a-siseT  and schelles of gales .
And many cruche on his cloke  and þeT cayes of rome .
And þe vernicle before  for men schulde I-knowe .
And se by his seynesLX  wham he souȝt hadde .
Þis folke frayned hym furst : fro whennes he come .
{}[] Fram synay he seyde  and fram oure lordes sepulcre .
In bethlem and in babiloyne  I haue ben in bothe .
In ermony and inT alisaundre  in many other places .
Ȝe may se be my sygnes  þat sitten on myn hatte .
Þat I haue walked ful wyde  in wete and in drye .
And souȝte gode seyntes  for my soule helth .
Knowest þow auȝt a corseint  þat men calleth treuthe .
Koudest þow auȝt wissen vs þe wey  þereT þat wyȝteT dwelleth .
{}[] Nay so me god helpe  seyde þe gome þanne .
I seyȝ neuere palmere  with pik ne with scrippe .
Axen after hym ere  til now in þis place  .
Peter quod a plowman  and put forth his hed .
I knowe hym as kendely  as clerk doth his bokes .
Consience and kende witt  kenned me to his place .
And deden me suren hemT sikerly  to serue hym for euere .
Bothe to sowe and to sette  þe while I swynke miȝte  .
I haue ben his folwar  al þis fourty wynter .
fol. 23rfol. 23r
Bothe I-sowe his sede  and sued his bestes .
With-Inne and with-oute  I-wayted his profite  .
I dike and I delue  I do þat heT hoteth .
Sum-tyme I sowe  and sum-tyme I thresche .P
In tayloures crafte inT tynkeres crafte  what treuthe can deuise .
I weue and I wynde  and do what treuthe hoteth .
For þouȝ I seye it my-selue  I serue hy / hy[m] to paye .
Ich haue my huyre of hymT wel  and otherwhiles more .
He is þe presteste payer  þat pore men knoweth .
He with-halt no menT here huyre  þat þei ne haue it anone .T
He is as lowe as a lombe  and louelich of speche .
And if ȝe wilneth to wite  where þat he dwelleth .
I schal wise ȝow witterly  þe weye to his place .
{}[] Ȝe leue peres quod þes pilgrymes  and profered hym huyre .
For to wende with hem  to treuthes dwellynge place .
Nay by my soule perelT quod peres  and gan for to swerie .
I nolde fonge a ferthyng  for seint Thomas schrine
Treuthe wolde loue me þe lesse  a longe tyme þere-after .
Ac if ȝe wilneth to wende wel  þis is þe weye thider
{}[] Ȝe mote go thorȝ mekenesse  bothe men and wyues .
Til ȝe come in-to consience  þat crist wite þe sothe .
Þat ȝe louen oure lorde god  leuest of alle thynges  .
And þanne ȝoure neyȝbores nexst  in none wise appaire
Otherwise þan þow woldest  he wrouȝte to þi-selue .C
And so bouh forth by a broke  be buxum of þiT speche .
Til ȝe fynden a forthe  ȝoure faderes honoureth .
Honora patrem et matremT  
Wadeth in þat water  and wascheth ȝow wel þere .
And ȝe schul lepe þe lyȝtlokere  alle ȝoure lif-tyme .
{}[] And so schalt þow se swere nauȝt  but if it be for nede .
fol. 23vfol. 23v
And namliche an Idel  þe name of god almiȝti .
{}[] Þanne schaltow come bi a crofte  but come þow nauȝt þereInne .
Þe crofte hate coueyte nauȝt  menT ne here wyues .
Ne none of her seruantes  þat nuyen hem miȝte .
Loke þow breke no bowes þere  but if it be onT ȝoure owen .
To stokkes þere stondeth  ac stynte ȝe nauȝt þere .
Þei hatte stele nauȝt ne slee nauȝt  strike forthe by bothe .
And leue hem on þi left halfe  and loke nauȝt þere-after
And hold wel þin haliday  heye til euene .
Þan schalt þow blenche at a beruh  bere no fals wittnesse  .
T Is frythed in with floreynes  and other fees manye .
Loke ȝe plukke no plante þere  for perel of ȝoure soulesT .
{}[] Þanne schal ȝe sei sothe  so it be to done .
In none manere elles nauȝt  for no mannes byddynge .
Þanne schaltow come to a courte  as clere as þe sonne .
Þe mote is of mercy  þe manere aboute .
And alle þe walles ben of witt  to halden wille oute .
And Icarneled with cristendome  þat kendeT to saue  .
I-buterased with by-leue so  or þow best nauȝt I-saued .
{}[] And alle þe houses ben I-hyled  halles and chaumbres .
With no lede but with loue  and lowe speche as bretheren  .
Þe brugge is of bidde wel  þe bette may þow spede .
Iche pyler is of penaunce  of preyeres to seyntes .
Of almesdedes aren þe hokes  þat þe gates hangen on .
Grace hatte þe gatewarde  a goed man for-sothe .
His man hatte amende ȝow  many manT hym knoweth .
{}[] Telleth hym þis tokene  þat truthe wyte þe sothe .
I parfourmed þe penaunce  þe prest me enioyned .
And am ful sori ofT my synnes  and so I schal euere .
fol. 24rfol. 24r
Whan I thenke þere-on  þei I were a pope .
Byddeth amende ȝow meken hym  to his meister ones .
To wayue vppe þe wykat  þat þe womman schette .
Þo adam and eue  eten appeles vn-rosted .
Per euam cunctis clausa est  & per mariam virginem iterum &ceteraT .
{}[] For he hath þe keye and þe clikat  þowe þe kynge slepe .
And if grace graunt þe  to go in þis wise .
Þow schalt se in þi-selue  treuthe sitte in þin herte .
In a cheyne of charite  as þow a childe were .
To suffre hym and toT seggeT  aȝeynes þi sires wille  .
Ac be war þanne of wrathe þe  þat is a wikked schrewe .
He hath enuye to hym  þat in þin herte sitteth .
And puckethT pruyde  to preyse þi-selue .
Þe boldenesse of þi benefetes  maketh þe blynd þanne .
And þanne worstou driuen out as deuh  and þe dore I-closed .
I-cayed and I-clycated  to kepe þe with-outen .
Happely an hundreth wynter  ar þow efte entre .
Þus miȝtow lesen his loue  to lete wel by þi-selue .
And neuere happeliche efte entre  but grace þow haue .
{}[] Ac þere aren seuen ȝiftesT  þat seruen treuthe euere .
And aren porteres ouerT þe posternes  þat to þe place longeth .
Þat on hatte abstinence  and vmbleteT an-other .
Charite and chastite  ben his chief maydenes .
Pacience and pees  miche poeple þei helpeth .
Largenesse þe lady  heLXT lete in ful manye .
Heo hath hulpe a thousend oute  of þe deueles pondfolde .
And hoLX is sib to þis seuene  so me god helpe  .
Heo is wonderlich welcome  and faire vnderfongen .
And but if þatT ȝe be sib  to summe of þis seuene .
It is ful hard be my hed quod peres  for eny of ȝow alle .
To geten Ingonge at any gate þere  but grace be þe more .
fol. 24vfol. 24v
Now be crist quod a cuttpurs  I haue no kynne þere  .
Ne I quod an apewarde  by auȝt þat I knowe .
Wite god quod a wafrestere  wiste I þis sothe .T
Schulde I neuer forthere a foot  for no frereT prechynge .
Ȝus quod peres þe plowman  and poked hem alle to goed .
Mercy is a maydeT þere  hath miȝt ouer hem alle .
And sche is sib to alle synful  and hire sone alse .
And thorȝ þe helpe of hem to  hope þow non other .
Þow miȝt gete grace þere  be so þow go by-tyme .P
By seint poule quod a pardonere  par-aunter I be nauȝt welcome .T
I wil go feche my box  with my breuettes  & a bulle with bisshopes lettres .
By crist quod a comune woman  þi company wil I folwe .
Þow schalt sey I am þi suster  Ine / I ne wote where þei by-come .
sus
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descripcio avaritie
Gregorius
wikedlyche to weye .C
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