Passus xixus / vndevicesimus / et explicit dobet / et incipit dobest
Thus I awaked and wroot . what I hadde ydremed
And dighte me derely . and dide me to chirche
To here holly þe masse . and to be housled after
In myddes of þe masse . þo men yede to offryng
I fel eft-soones aslepe . and sodeynly me mette
That Piers þe Plowman . was peynted al blody
And com in wiþ a cros . bifore þe comune peple
And riȝt lik in alle þyngesT . to oure lord Iesus
¶ And þanne called I Conscience . to kenne me þe soþe
Is þis Iesus þe Iustere quod I . þat Iewes dide to deþe
Or it is Piers þe Plowman . who peynted hym so rede
¶ Quod Conscience and kneled þo . þise arn Piers armes
Hise colours and his cote Armure . ac he þat comeþ so blody
Is crist wiþ his cros . conquerour of cristene
Patriarkes and prophetes . prophecied bifore
That alle kynne creatures . sholden knelen and bowen
Anoon as men nempned . þe name of god Iesu
Ergo is no name . to þe name of Iesus
Ne noon so nedeful to nempne . by nyȝte ne by daye
For alle derke deueles . arn adrad to heren it
And synfulle aren solaced . and saued by þat name
And ye callen hym crist . for what cause telleþ me
Is crist moore of myȝt . and moore worþi name
Than Iesu or Iesus . þat al oure Ioye com of
¶ Thow knowest wel quod Conscience . and þow konne reson
That knyght . kyng . conquerour . may be o persone
To be called a knyght is fair . for men shul knele to hym
To be called a kyng is fairer . for he may knyghtes make
Ac to be conquerour called . þat comeþ of special grace
And of hardynesse of herte . and of hendenesse
To make lordes of laddes . of lond þat he wynneþ
And fre men foule þralles . þat folwen noȝt hise lawes
¶ The Iewes þat were gentil men . Iesus þei despised
Boþe his loore and his lawe . now are þei lowe cherles
As wide as þe world is . noon of hem þer wonyeþT
But vnder tribut and taillage . as tikes and cherles
And þo þat bicome cristene . bi counseil of þe baptisme
Aren frankeleyns . free men . þoruȝ fullynge þat þei toke
And gentil men wiþ Iesu . for Iesu was yfulled
And vp-on Caluarie on cros . ycrouned kyng of Iewes
¶ It bicomeþ to a kyng . to kepe and to defende
And conquerour of conquest . hise lawes and his large
And so dide Iesus þe Iewes . he Iustified and tauȝte hem
The lawe of lif . þat laste shal euere
And defended from foule yueles . feueres and Fluxes
And from fendes þat in hem were . and false bileue
Tho was he Iesus of Iewes called . gentile prophete
And kyng of hir kyngdom . and croune bar of þornes
¶ And þo conquered he on cros . as conquerour noble
Mighte no deeþ hym fordo . ne adoun brynge
That he naroos and regnede . and rauysshed helle
And þo was he conquerour called . of quyke and of dede
For he yaf Adam and Eue . and oþere mo blisse
That longe hadde yleyen bifore . as Luciferis cherles
¶ And siþ he yaf largely . alle hise lele liges
Places in Paradis . at hir partynge hennes
He may wel be called conquerour . and þat is crist to mene
¶ Ac þe cause þat he comeþ þus . wiþ cros of his passion
And se bi his sorwe . þat who-so loueþ ioye
To penaunce and to pouerte . he moste puten hym-seluen
And muche wo in þis world . toT willen and suffren
¶ Ac to carpe moore of crist . and how he com to þat name
Faithly for to speke . his firste name was Iesus
Tho he was born in Bethleem . as þe book telleþ
And cam to take mankynde . kynges and Aungeles
Reuerenced hym faire . wiþ richessesT of erþe
Aungeles out of heuene . come knelynge and songe
Gloria in excelsis deo &cC
¶ Kynges þatT come after . knelede . and offrede
Mirre and muche gold . wiþ-outen mercy askynge
Or any kynnes catel . but knowelichynge hym souereyn
Boþe of lond . sonne and see . and siþenes þei wente
In-to hir kyngene kiþ . by counseil of Aungeles
And þere was þat word fulfilled . þe which þow of speke
Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Iesu
¶ For alle þe Aungeles of heuene . at his burþe knelede
And al þe wit of þe world . was in þo þre kynges
Reson and Rightwisnesse . and Ruþe þei offrede
Wher-fore and why . wise men þat tyme
Maistres and lettred men . Magi . hem callede
¶ That o kyng cam wiþ Reson . couered vnder sense
¶ The seconde kyng siþþe . sooþliche offrede
Rightwisnesse vnder reed gold . Resones felawe
¶ The þridde kyng þo kam . knelynge to Iesu
And presented hym wiþ pitee . apperynge by Mirre
For Mirre is mercy to mene . and mylde speche of tonge
¶ Thre yliche honeste þynges . were offred þus atones / at ones
Thoruȝ þre kynne kynges . knelynge to Iesu
Was neiþer kyng ne conquerour . til he gan to wexe
In þe manere of a man . and þat by muchel sleighte
As it bicomeþ a conquerour . to konne manye sleightes
And manye wiles and wit . þat wole ben a ledere
And so dide Iesu in hise dayes . who-so hadde tyme to telle it
¶ Som-tyme he suffrede . and som-tyme he hidde hym
And som-tyme he fauȝt faste . and fleiȝ ouþer while
And som-tyme he gaf good . and grauntede heele boþe
Lif and lyme . as hym liste he wroȝte
As kynde is of a Conquerour . so comsede Iesu
Til he hadde alle hem . þat he for bledde
¶ In his Iuuentee þis Iesus . at Iewene feeste
Water in-to wyn turnede . as holy writ telleþ
And þere bigan god . of his grace to do wel
For wyn is likned to lawe . and lifholynesseT
And lawe lakkede þo . for men louede noȝt hir enemys
And crist counseileþ þus . and comaundeþ boþe
To lered and to lewede . to louyen oure enemys
So at þat feeste first . as I bifore tolde
Bigan god of his grace . and goodnesse to dowel
And þanne was he called . noȝt holy crist but Iesu
A faunt fyn ful of wit . filius Marie
For bifore his moder Marie . made he þat wonder
That she first and formest . ferme sholde bileue
That he þoruȝ grace was gete . and of no gome ellis
He wroȝte þat by no wit . but þoruȝ word one
After þe kynde þat he cam of . þere comsede he dowel
¶ And whan he woxen was moore . in his moder absence
He made lame to lepe . and yaf light to blynde
And fedde wiþ two fisshes . and with fyue loues
Sore afyngred folk . mo þan fyue þousand
¶ Thus he confortede carefulle . and caughte a gretter name
The which was dobet . where þat he wente
For deue þoruȝ hise doynges to here . and dombe speke he made
And alle he heeled and halp . þat hym of grace askede
And þo was he called in contre . of þe comune peple
For þe dedes þat he dide . Fili dauid Iesus
For dauid was doghtiest . of dedes in his tyme
The burdes þo songe . Saul interfecit mille et dauid decem milia
¶ For-þi þe contree þer Iesu cam called hym fili dauid
And nempned hym of Nazareth . and no man so worþi
To be kaiser or kyng . of þe kyngdom of Iuda
Ne ouer Iewes Iustice . as Iesus was hem þouȝte
¶ Wher-of Cayphas hadde enuye . and oþere of þe Iewes
And for to doon hym to deþe . day and nyȝt þei casten
Killeden hym on cros-wise . at Caluarie on Friday
And siþen buriede his body . and beden þat men sholde
Kepen it fro nyght-comeris . wiþ knyghtes y-armed
For no frendes sholde hym fecche . for prophetes hem tolde
That þat blissede body . of burieles risen sholde
And goon in-to Galilee . and gladen hise Apostles
And his moder Marie . þus men bifore demede
¶ The knyghtes þat kepten it . biknewe it hem-seluen
That Aungeles and Archaungeles . er þe day spronge
Come knelynge to þe corps . and songen Christus resurgens
Verray menT bifore hem alle . and forþ wiþ hem he yede
¶ The Iewes preide hem beT pees . and bisouȝte þe knyghtes
Telle þe comune þat þer cam . a compaignie of hise Apostles
And biwicched hem as þei woke . and awey stolen it
¶ Ac Marie Maudeleyne . mette hym by þe weye
Goynge toward Galilee . in godhede and manhede
And lyues and lokynge . and she aloud cride
¶ Thus cam it out þat crist ouercoom . recouerede and lyuede
Sic oportet Christum pati & intrare &c
For þat . þat wommen witeþ . may noȝt wel be counseille
¶ Peter parceyued al þis . and pursued after
Boþe Iames and Iohan . Iesu for to seke
Thaddee and ten mo . wiþ Thomas of Inde
And as alle þise wise wyes . weren togideres
In an hous al bishet . and hir dore ybarred
Crist cam In and al closed . boþe dore and yates
¶ To Peter and to þise Apostles . and seide pax vobis
And took Thomas by þe hand . and tauȝte hym to grope
And feele wiþ hise fyngres . his flesshliche herte
¶ Thomas touched it . and wiþ his tonge seide
Deus meus & dominus meus
Thow art my lord I bileue . my god lordT Iesu
Thow deidest and deeþ þoledest . and deme shalt vs alle
And now art lyuynge and lokynge . and laste shalt euere
¶ Crist carpede þanne . and curteisliche seide
Thomas for þow trowest þis . and treweliche bileuest it
Blessed mote þow be . and be shalt for euere
And blessed mote þei alle be . in body and in soule
That neuere shul se me in sighte . as þow doost nowþe
And lelliche bileue al þis . I loue hem and blesse hem
Beati qui non viderunt &c
¶ And whan þis dede was doon . dobest he tauȝte
And yaf Piers power . and pardon he grauntede
To alle maner men . mercy and forȝifnesse
Hym myght to assoille . of alle manere synne
In couenaunt þat þei come . and kneweliched to paie
To Piers pardon þe Plowman . redde quod debes
¶ Thus haþ Piers power . by his pardon paied
To bynde and vnbynde . boþe here and ellis-where
And assoille men of alle synnes . saue of dette one
¶ Anoon after anheigh / an heigh . vp in-to heuene
He wente and wonyeþ þere . and wol come at þe laste
And rewarde hym right wel . þat reddit quod debet
Paieþ parfitly . as pure truþe wolde
And what persone paieþ it nouȝt . punysshen he þenkeþ
And demen hem at domes-day . boþe quyke and dede
The goode to þe godhede . and to greet Ioye
And wikkede to wonye . in wo wiþ-outen ende
¶ Thus Conscience of crist . and of þe cros carpede
And counseiled me to knele þer-to . and þanne cam me þouȝte
Oon Spiritus paraclitus . to Piers and to hise felawes
In liknesse of a lightnynge . he lighte on hem alle
And made hem konne and knowe . alle kynne langages
I wondred what þat was . and waggede Conscience
And was a-fered of þe light . for in fires lightnesseT
Spiritus paraclitus . ouer-spradde hem alle
¶ Quod Conscience and knelede . þis is cristes messager
And comeþ fro þe grete god . and grace is his name
Knele now quod Conscience . and if þow kanst synge
Welcome hym and worshipe hym . wiþ Veni creator Spiritus
¶ Thanne song I þat song . so dide manye hundred
And cride wiþ Conscience . help vs god of grace
¶ And þanne bigan grace . to go wiþ Piers Plowman
And counseillede hym and Conscience . þe comune to sompne
For I wole dele to-day . and ȝyue diuine grace
To alle kynne creatures . þat han hir fyue wittes
Tresour to lyue by . to hir lyues ende
And wepne to fighte wiþ . þat wole neuere faille
For Antecrist and hise . al þe world shul greue
And acombre þee Conscience . but if crist þee helpe
¶ And false prophetes fele . flatereris and gloseris
Shullen come and be curatours . ouer kynges and Erles
And Pride shal be Pope . Prynce of holy chirche
Coueitise and vnkyndenesse . Cardinals hym to lede
For-þi quod grace er I go . I wol gyue yow tresor
And wepne to fighte wiþ . whan Antecrist yow assailleþ
And gaf ech man a grace . to gide wiþ hym-seluen
That ydelnesse encombre hym noȝt . enuye ne pride
Diuisiones graciarum sunt &c
¶ Some he yaf wit . with wordes to shewe
Wit to wynne hir liflode wiþ . as þe world askeþ
As prechours and preestes . and Prentices of lawe
They lelly to lyue . by labour of tonge
And by wit to wissen oþere . as grace hem wolde teche
¶ And some he kennede craft . and konnynge of sighte
Wiþ sellynge and buggynge . hir bilyue to wynne
¶ And some he lered to laboure . a lele lif and a trewe
And some he tauȝte to tilie . to dyche and to thecche
To wynne wiþ hir liflode . bi loore of his techynge
¶ And some to deuyne and diuide . noumbres to kenne
And some to compace craftily . and colours to make
And some to se and to seye . what sholde bifalle
Boþe of wele and of wo . telle it er it felle
As Astronomyens þoruȝ Astronomye . and Philosofres wise
He wissed hem to wynne it ayein . þoruȝ wightnesse of handes
And fecchen it fro false men . wiþ Foluyles lawes
¶ And some he lered to lyue . in longynge to ben hennes
In pouerte and in penaunce . to preie for alle cristene
And alle he lered to be lele . and ech a craft loue ooþer
And forbad hem alle debat . þat noon were among hem
Thouȝ some be clenner þan some . ye se wel quod Grace
That he þat vseþ þe faireste craft . to þe fouleste I kouþe haue put hym
Thynkeþ alle quod Grace . þat grace comeþ of my ȝifte
Lokeþ þat no manT lakke ooþer . but loueþ alle as breþeren
¶ And who þat moost maistries kan . be myldest of berynge
And crouneþ Conscience kyng . and makeþ craft youre Stiward
And after craftes conseil . cloþeþ yow and fede
For I make Piers þe Plowman . my procuratour and my reue
And Registrer to receyue . redde quod debes
My prowor and my Plowman . Piers shal ben on erþe
And for to tilie truþe . a teeme shal he haue
¶ Grace gaf Piers a teeme . ofT foure grete Oxen
That oon was Luk a large beest . and a lowe-chered
And Mark and Mathew þe þridde . myghty beestes boþe
And Ioyned to hem oon Iohan . moost gentil of alle
The pris neet of Piers plow . passynge alle oþere
¶ And Grace gaf Piers . of his goodnesse foure stottes
Al þat hise oxen eriede . þei to harewen after
Oon highte Austyn . and Ambrose anoþer
Gregori þe grete clerk . and Ierom þe goode
Thise foure þe feiþ to teche . folweþ Piers teme
And harewede in an hand-while . al holy Scripture
Wiþ two harewes þat þei hadde . an oold and a newe
Id est vetus testamentum & nouum
¶ And Grace gaf greynes . þe Cardynal vertues
And sew hem in mannes soule . and siþen he tolde hir names
Spiritus prudencie . þe firste seed highte
And who-so ete þat . ymagynen he sholde
Er he deide any deeþT . deuyse wel þe ende
And lerned men a ladel bugge . wiþ a long stele
And caste for to kepe a crokke . to saue þe fatte aboue
He þat ete of þat seed . hadde swich a kynde
Sholde neuere mete ne muchel drynke . make hym to swelle
Ne no scornere ne scolde . out of skile hym brynge
Ne wynnynge ne wele . of worldliche richesse
Waste word of ydelnesse . ne wikked speche moeue
Sholde no curious clooþ . comen on his rugge
Ne no mete in his mouþ . þat maister Iohan Spicede
¶ The þridde seed þat Piers sew . was Spiritus fortitudinis
And who eteT þat seed . hardy was he euere
To suffren al þat god sente . siknesse and Angres
Mighte no lesynges ne lyere . ne los of worldly catel
Maken hym for any mournynge . þat he nas murie in soule
And bold and abidynge . bismares to suffre
And pleieþ al wiþ pacience . and Parce michi domine
And couered hym vnder conseille . of Caton þe wise
Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique
¶ The ferþe seed þat Piers sew . was Spiritus Iusticie
And he þat ete of þat seed . sholde be euere trewe
Wiþ god . and nauȝt agast . but of gile one
For gile gooþ so pryuely . þat good feiþ ouþer-while
May nouȝt ben espied . for Spiritus Iusticie
¶ Spiritus Iusticie . spareþ noȝt to spille
Hem þat ben gilty . and for to correcte
The kyng if he falle . in gilt or in trespas
For counteþ he no kynges wraþe . whan he in Court sitteþ
To demen as a domes-man . adrad was he neuere
Neiþer of duc ne of deeþ . þat he ne dide lawe
For present or for preiere . or any Prynces lettres
He dide equyte to alle . euene-forþ his power
¶ Thise foure sedes Piers sew . and siþþe he dide hem harewe
Wiþ olde lawe and newe lawe . þat loue myȝte wexe
Among þo foure vertues . and vices destruye
For comunliche in contrees . cammokes and wedes
Foulen þe fruyt in þe feld . þer þei growen togideres
And so doon vices . vertues worþi
And tilieþ after hir techynge . þe Cardynale vertues
¶ Ayeins þi greynes quod Grace . bigynneþ for to ripe
Ordeigne þee an hous Piers . to herberwe Inne þi cornes
¶ By god Grace quod Piers . ye moten gyue tymber
And ordeyne þat hous . er ye hennes wende
¶ And Grace gaf hym þe cros . wiþ þe croune of þornes
That crist vp-on Caluarie . for mankynde on pyned
And of his baptisme and blood . þat he bledde on roode
He made a manere morter . and mercy it highte
And þer-wiþ Grace bigan . to make a good foundement
And watlede it and walled it . wiþ his peyneT and his passion
And of al holy writ . he made a roof after
And called þat hous vnitee . holy chirche on englissh
¶ And whan þis dede was doon . Grace deuysede
A cart highte cristendom . to carie Piers sheues
And gaf hym caples to his carte . contricion and confession
And made preesthod hayward . þe while hym-self wente
As wide as þe world is . wiþ Piers to tilie truþe
¶ Now is Piers to þe plow . and pride it aspide
And gadered hym a greet Oost . for toT greuen he þynkeþ
Conscience and alle cristene . and Cardinale vertues
¶ Blowe hem doun and breke hem . and bite a-two þe mores
And sente forþ Surquidous . his sergeaunt of Armes
And his Spye Spille loue . oon Spek yuel bihynde
¶ Thise two coome to Conscience . and to cristen peple
And tolde hem tidynges . þat tyne þei sholde þe sedes
That Piers þere hadde ysowen . þe Cardynale vertues
And Piers bern worþ ybroke . and þei þat ben in vnitee
Shulle come out . and Conscience . and youre two caples
Confession and Contricion . and youre carte þe bileeue
Shal be coloured so queyntely . and couered vnder Sophistrie
That Conscience shal noȝt . knowe by contricion
Ne by Confession . who is cristene or heþene
Ne no manere marchaunt . þat wiþ moneye deleþ
Wheiþer he wynne wiþ right . wiþ wrong or wiþ vsure
¶ Wiþ swiche colours and queyntise . comeþ pride yarmed
Wiþ þe lord þat lyueþ after . þe lust of his body
Al þe world in a while . þoruȝ oure wit quod Pryde
¶ Quod Conscience to alle cristene þo . my counseil is to wende
Hastiliche in-to vnitee . and holde we vs þere
And praye we þat a pees weere . in Piers berne þe Plowman
For witterly I woot wel . we beþ noȝt of strengþe
To goon agayn Pride . but Grace weere wiþ vs
¶ And þanne kam Kynde wit . Conscience to teche
And cryde and comaundede . alle cristene peple
For to deluen a dych . depe aboute vnitee
That holy chirche stode in vnitee . as it a Pyl weere
¶ Conscience comaundede þo . alle cristene to delue
And make a muche moot . þat myghte ben a strengþe
To helpe holy chirche . and hem þat it kepeþ
¶ Thanne alle kynne cristene . saue comune wommen
Repenteden and refused synne . saue þei one
And false men flatereris . vsurers and þeues
Lyeris and questemongeres . þat were forsworen ofte
Witynge and wilfully . wiþ þe false helden
And for siluer were forswore . sooþly þei wiste it
¶ Ther nas no cristene creature . þat kynde wit hadde .
Saue sherewes one . swiche as I spak of
That he ne halp a quantite . holynesse to wexe
Some þoruȝ bedes biddynge . and some þoruȝ pilgrymagesT
¶ And þanne wellede water . for wikkede werkes
Egreliche ernynge . out of mennes eighen
Clennesse out of comune . and clerkes clene lyuynge
Made vnitee holy chirche . in holynesse to stonde
¶ I care noȝt quod Conscience . þouȝ pride come nouþe
The lord of lust shal be letted . al þis lente I hope
Comeþ quod Conscience . ye cristene and dyneþ
That han laboured lelly . al þis lenten tyme
Here is breed y-blessed . and goddes body þer-vnder
Grace þoruȝ goddes word . yaf Piers power
And myȝtes to maken it . and men to ete it after
In help of hir heele . ones in a Monþe
Or as ofte as þei hadde nede . þo þat hadde y-paied
To Piers pardon þe Plowman . redde quod debes
¶ How quod al þe comune . þow conseillest vs to yelde
Al þat we owen any wight . er we go to housel
¶ That is my conseil quod Conscience . and Cardinale vertues
That ech man forȝyue ooþer . and þat wole þe Pater noster
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra &c
And so to ben assoilled . and siþþen ben houseled
¶ Ye baw quod a Brewere . I wol noȝt be ruled
By Iesu for al youre Ianglynge . wiþ Spiritus Iusticie
Ne after Conscience by crist . while I kan selle
Boþe dregges and draf . and drawe it out at oon hole
Thikke ale and þynne ale . for þat is my kynde
And noȝt hakke after holynesse . hold þi tonge Conscience
Of Spiritus Iusticie . þow spekest muche on ydel
¶ Caytif quod Conscience . cursede wrecche
Vnblessed artow Brewere . but if þee god helpe
But þow lyue by loore . of Spiritus Iusticie
The chief seed þat Piers sew . ysaued worstow neuere
But Conscience þe comune fede . and Cardinale vertues
Leue it wel þei ben lost . boþe lif and soule
¶ Thanne is many a man lost . quod a lewed vicory
I am a Curatour of holy kirke . and cam neuere in my tyme
Man to me / þat me kouþe telle . of Cardinale vertues
Or þat acountede Conscience . at a cokkes feþere or an hennes
I knew neuere Cardynal . þat he ne cam fro þe pope
And we clerkes whan þei come . for hir comunes paieþ
For hir pelure and hir palfreyes mete . and pilours þat hem folweþ
¶ The comune clamat cotidie . ech a man til ooþer
The contree is þe corseder . þat Cardinals come Inne
And þer þei ligge and lenge moost . lecherie þere regneþ
¶ For-þi quod þis vicory . by verray god I wolde
That no Cardynal coome . among þe comune peple
¶ But in hir holynesse . helden hem stille
At Auynoun among þe Iewes . Cum Sancto Sanctus eris &c
Or in Rome as hir rule wole . þe relikes to kepe
And þow Conscience in kynges court . and sholdest neuere come þennes
And Grace þat þow graddestT so of . gyour of alle clerkes
And Piers wiþ his newe plow . and ek wiþ his olde
Emperour of al þe world . þat alle men were cristene
¶ Inparfit is þat pope . þat al þe world sholde helpe
And sendeþ swiche þat sleeþ hem . þatT he sholde saue
¶ And wel worþe Piers þe plowman . þat pursueþ god in doynge
Qui pluit super Iustos & iniustos . atones / at ones
And sent þe sonne to saue . a cursed mannes tilþe
As brighte as to þe beste man . or to þe beste womman
¶ Right so Piers þe Plowman . peyneþ hym to tilye
As wel for a wastour . and wenches of þe stewes
As for hym-self and hise seruauntz . saue he is first yserued
And trauailleþ and tilieþ . for a tretour also soore
As for a trewe tidy man . alle tymes ylike
And worshiped be he þat wroȝte al . boþe good and wikke
And god amende þe pope . þat pileþ holy kirke
And cleymeþ bifore þe kyng . to be kepere ouer cristene
And counteþ noȝt þouȝ cristene ben . killed and robbed
And fynt folk to fiȝte . and cristen blood to spille
Ayein þe olde lawe and newe lawe . as Luc þer-of witnesseþ
Non occides . michi vindictam &c
¶ It semeþ bi so . hym-self hadde his wille
That he reccheþ . riȝt noȝt of al þe remenaunt
And crist of his curteisie . þe Cardinals saue
And torne hir wit to wisdom . and to welþe of soule
For þe comune quod þis Curatour . counten ful litel
The counseil of Conscience . or Cardinale vertues
But if þei seiȝe as by sighte . som-what to wynnyng
Of gile ne of gabbyng . gyue þei neuere tale
For spiritus prudencie . among þe peple is gyle
And alle þo faire vertues . as vices þei semeþ
Ech man subtileþ a sleiȝte . synne for to hide
And coloureþ it for a konnynge . and a clene lyuynge
¶ Thanne louȝ þer a lord . and by þis light seide
I holde it riȝt and reson . of my Reue to take
Al þat myn Auditour . or ellis my Styward
Counseilleþ me bi hir acounte . and my clerkes writynge
Wiþ Spiritus Intellectus . þei seke þe reues rolles
And wiþ Spiritus fortitudinis . fecche it I wole afterT
¶ And þanne cam þer a kyng . and by his croune seide
I am kyng wiþ croune . þe comune to rule
And holy kirke and clergie . fro cursed men to fendeT
And if me lakkeþ to lyue by . þe lawe wole I take it
Ther I may hastilokest it haue . for I am heed of lawe
And yeT ben but membres . and I aboue alle
And siþ I am youre aller heed . I am youre aller heele
And holy chirches chief help . and Chieftayn of þe comune
And what I take of yow two . I take it at þe techynge
Of Spiritus Iusticie . for I Iugge yow alle
So I may boldely be housled . for I borwe neuere
Ne craue of my comune . but as my kynde askeþ
¶ In condicion quod Conscience . þat þow konne defende
And rule þi reaume in reson . right wel and in truþe
Take þow mayst in reson . as þi lawe askeþ
Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum . set non ad deprehendendum
The viker hadde fer hoom . and faire took his leeue
And I awakned þer-wiþ . and wroot as me mette
Thise foure sedes