<author>William Langland</author><editor role="editor">Edited by Hoyt N. Duggan</editor><editor role="editor">Associate Editors: M. Gail Duggan and Patricia R. Bart</editor><editor role="editor">Technical Editor: Daniel Pitti</editor><respStmt><resp> <hi rend="bold">Graduate Research Assistant</hi></resp><name>John Ivor Carlson, Paul Gaffney, Keicey ?, Britta Rowe, Christine Schott, and Timothy Stinson.</name></respStmt><respStmt><resp> <hi rend="bold">Computer Consultants and Programmers</hi></resp><name>Robert Bingler, Kirk V. Hastings, Chris Jessee, Daniel Pitti, and John Unsworth.</name></respStmt></titleStmt><publicationStmt><publisher>Medieval Academy of America</publisher><pubPlace>Cambridge, MA</pubPlace><idno type="ETC">ISBN: 0-472-002???</idno><availability status="unknown"><p>Commercially available: </p><p>copyright 200?, by SEENET</p></availability><date>200? </date></publicationStmt><sourceDesc default="NO"><biblFull default="NO"><titleStmt><title>Cambridge, University Library, MS Dd.1.17 (C)Combined facsimile & documentary edition.Identification of handsES = Elizabeth Solopova1 computer optical disk : col. ; 4 3/4 in.The Medieval Academy of America and SEENETCambridge, MA Source copy consulted: Cambridge, Univesity Library, MS Dd1.17 (C)

Attribute Values brown ink italic Lombard Cap ornamented capital, N lines high rubricated touched in red textura Formal hand of passus headings and some Latin text underlined underlined in red green ink blue ink

 Latin French German 6 August 2002 create header and adapt to new DTD Hoyt N. Duggan New header created INC.P.1: A blue capital with red flourishes and leaves decorated with red pen strokes begins the prologue. Decorative flourishing extends across the top and bottom of the page in red ink and down the left margin, where it alternates between red and blue ink after each new paraph. asomera somer seson · whan softe was the sonne I schope me in schroudes · as I aschepea schepe were In habit as an heremyt · vnholy of werkes Went wide in this world · wondres to here And on a may mornyng · on Maluerne hylles Me bifel a ferli · of fairefairy me thoughte · I was weri for-wandred · and went me to reste vnder a brade bank · bi a bornes syde And as I lay an lened · anC.P.9: An, "and." This spelling reflects the northern dialect, and it is in free variation with <and>. loked inon the wateres I slombred ininto a sleping · it sweyued????C.P.10n: sweyued: This is probably the beta reading, supported by LCO, and probably original M, where swei....(three or four letters erased) has been altered to sweyed, in line with beta2 and GF. See MED sweiven, "whirl, sweep", a rare verb cited elsewhere only from Patience and Cleanness. But the noun sweuene in the next line might have given rise to the reading. The variant sweyed is MED sweien v. (1), "sound", or the commoner v.(2), "move along (of water)." There is the same variation in Ax. so meri Than gan I to meten · a meruellous sweyuene That I was in a wildernesse · wist I neuere whare Andom. I bihelde in-to þe est · an heighe to þe sonne I seigh a tour on a toft · rielichetrielichC.P.14: [t]rielich: So LWG and original M. A scribes also have trouble with the adverb (from adj. trie), and Cx rewrites. ymaked A depe dale binethe · a dongeon ther-Inne · With depe dickisdyches an derke · and dredful of sight A fair felde ful of folk · fand I there bitwene Of alle manere of men · the mene and the riche Wirkyng and wȝandryng · as the world asketh Som put himC.P.20: him, "them." This is a Northern spelling, not distinguishing plural and singular forms. See Duggan and Turville-Petre, eds. The Wars of Alexander, pp. xxxix-xl. to the plowth · plaiden ful seldenC.P.20: C and F alone have this spelling. All other B witnesses have selde. The difference is not substantive. In settyng an inand sowyng swynkenswonken ful harde An wonnen that wastours · with glotonye distroys An som putten hem to pride · apparailed hem ther-after In countenance of clothing · comen disgised In praiers an in penaunce · putten hem manye AlC.P.26: The initial A is malformed. for loue of oure lord · lyueden ful strayitte In hope for to haue · heuenriche blisse As ankirs and hermytes · that holden hem in hir selles And coueyten nouȝt in contre · to walkenkairen aboute For no likerous liflade · hir likam to plese An som chesen chaffare · thay cheuen the better As it semys to oure sight · that swilke men thryueth An som Murthes to make · as Mynstralles knauethconneth An geten gold with hir glee · synneles I leue As Iapers and Iangelers · Iudas children FeynFeynen hem fantasies · and foles thaym maketh An han hir wit at wille · to wircke if thay schulde That paule prechys of hem · I nyl nouȝt pruue it here Qui turpiloquium loquitur et cetera : This is the first example of a punctuation mark consisting of three dots, the highest of which has a tick like the uppermost dot on a punctus elevatus. Hereafter these marks are represented as a simple colon Bidders and beggers · faste aboute yede With hir bely an hir bagges · of bred ful ycramnedycrammed FattedenFa[i]teden Fayteden for hir fode · foughten atte ale In glotonye god it wot · gaytgon they to bedde And risen with ribaldri · þo Roberdes knaues Slepe an sory sleuthe shewethseweth thaym euere Pilgrymes and palmers · gedirpli?ted hem togider To seek seint Iames and seintes in Rome Thay went forth inhirin hir way · with many wise tales And hadden leue to lee · al hir lif after I seigh som that saiden · thai had ysouȝt seyntes ThoC.P.51: Tho, "to." hilk a tale þat thay tolde · thayr tonge was tempred to lee Mare than to say soth · It semed by thair speche Heremytes on an hepe · with hokid staues WentWenten to walsyngham and thair wenches affter Grete lobies an longe · that lathe were to swynke Clathed thaym in capes · to ben knowen fram other And schopen hem heremytes · hir ese to haue I fande ther freres · alle þe foure ordres Preched the pepile · for profit of hem-seluen Glosed the gospel · as thaym gode liked For couetise of capes · construde it as they wolde Many of thyse maistresmaistre frers · mowe clothen hem at likyng For hir moneie an manchandisesma[r]chandisesmarchandise · Marchen togiders For sythinsith charite hath ben chapman · an chife to schriue lordesC.P.64: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "lordes" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.P.65. Many farllesferlis han fallen · In a few yeres Bout holi chirche an hijC.P.66: hij, "they," reflecting the northern scribe's adherence to his more southerly exemplar when alliteration requires the <h-> form. · holde bettre togidires Þe maste meschief on molde · is mounctyng wel faste Ther prechid a pardoner · as he a prest ware Brouȝt forth a bulle · with bisschopes seles An saiede that hym-self · Myȝte a-soyle thaym alle Of falshede of fastynge · and of vowes ybroken Lewed men leued him wel · and liked hise wordes ComeComen vp knelyng · to kissen hise bulles He bonched hem with his breuet · an blered hir eyen And rauhte with his ragman · Rynges and broches Thus thay geuen hir gold · glotones to kepe And lenys swilke losels · that liccherie haunctys Were the bisschop yblissed · and worth bothe hise eres His seel schulde nouth be sent · to deceyue the peple AndAc it is nauth by the bisschop · that the both preches For the parisshe prest and the pardoner · parten þe siluer That the poraillepouere poraille of the parisshe · schulde haue if þey nere Persones an parisse prestes · pleyned hem to þe bischope That hir parisseparisshes ware pore · sithsith þe pestilence tyme ThoC.P.51: Tho, "to." haue a license an a leuea leue · atte London to dwelle And syngen ther for symonye · for siluir is swete Bisschopes and bachelers bothe maisters and docturs That han cure vnder crist · and crowngcrown[yn]gcrounyng in tokene And signe þat þei schulde schryuen · hir parochiens Prechen and prey for hem · and the pore fede LiggandLiggen inat london In lenten and elles. Som seruen the king and his siluer telles In Cheker and in chauncerie · chalenge hise dettes Of wardes and wardemotesC.P.94: Kane-Donaldson, p.232, mistakenly record this as wardenmotes. weyues and streyues And som seruen as seruantz · Lordes an ladies And in stede of stiwardes · sitten and demen. Thayr messe and hir matyns · an many of hir houres Aren done vndewoutliche · drede is at the laste Lest crist in consistorie · a-curse ful manye I persayued of the power · that petir had to kepe To bynde and toand vnbynde · as the book telles How he it left with loue · as oure lord hightC.P.102: C omits the following line: Amonges foure vertues · þe best of alle vertues That Cardinales ben called · and closyng yates ther crist is in kyngdom · to close and to schutte And to open it to hem · and heuene blisse schewe AndAc of þe cardinals atte Court · þat cauȝt of þat name And power presumed in hem · a pope to make To haue that power þat petir hadde · Inpugnen I nylle For in loue and lectrure · the eleccion bilonges For-thy I kan and kan nauth · of Court speke more Thane come ther a kyng knyghthode hym ladde Muyght of the comunes made hym to regne And than come kynde wit · and clerkes he made For to counsel the kyng . and the comune saue The kyng and knygthode · and clergie bothe Casten that the comune · schulde hem-self fynde The comune controued · of kynde wit craftes And for profit of alle the pepile · plowmanplowmen ordeyned To tilie andand to trauaille · as trew lif askys The kyng an the comune · kyndeand kynde wit the thridde Schope lawe an leaute · hilk man to knowe his owne Thanne loked vp a lunatik a lene thyng with-alle Pers And knelyng to the kyng . clergealy he sayde Crist kepe the sire kyng . and thy kyngriche And leue þe lede thy londe · so leute the louye And for thy rightful rewlyng · be rewarded in heuene And sithen in the aer an heigh · an angel of heuene Lowed to speke in latyn · for lewed men ne koude Iangle ne Iugge · that Iustifie hem schulde But suffren an seruen · for-þy seide þe angel versus. Sum rex sum princeps neutrum fortasse deinceps O quiiuraqui iura regis christi specialia Regis Hoc quod agas melius · iustus es esto pius Nudum ius a te vestiri vult pietate Qualia vis metere talia grana sere SiiusSi ius nudatur nudo de iure metatur Si seritur pietas de pietate metas Than greued hym a goliardeys · a gloton of wordes And to þe angel an heigh · answered after versus CumDum rex a regere dicatur nomen habere Nomen habet sine re nisi studet iura tenere And thaneThanne gan alle the comune · crye in vers of latyn ThoC.P.143: Tho, "to." þe kynges counsel · construe wo-so wolde Precepta Regis sunt nobis vincula legis. With that rane there a route · of ratones atonesat ones An smale mys with hem · Mo than a thousand And come to a conseil · for hir comune profit For a cat of a Court · cam wan hym liked. An ouer-lepe hem lightliche · an lauȝte hem at his wille And playde with hem perilousliche · and possed hem aboute For doute of diuerse dredes · we dare nouthenouȝte wel loke An if we gruche of hise gamen · He wile greue vs alle Cracche vs or clow vs · an in his cluches holde That vs lothes the lif · or he lete vs passe Myght we with any wit · his witwille with-stonde We myghte be lordes a-loft · and leuenC.P.156: leuen, "live." C C2 and H spell with <e>. See {xref} Ling intrro****{xref} at oure ese. A Raton of renoun · Most renable of tonge Saide for a souereyne · helpe to hym-selue I haue seyn segthisseg[g]essegges quod he · In the Cite of londoun WerenBeren belies ful bright · aboute hir nekkes And som colers of crafti werk · vncoupled thay wenden. Bothe in wareyne and in waste · ware hem leue liketh And other-while thay aren elles-where · as I here telle Were ther a belle on hir bighesbeiȝ · by Iesu as me thynkethynketh Men myghte wite where thay went · and awey renne & righte so quod that raton · reson me schewes ThoC.P.167: Tho, "to." bigge a belle of bras · or of brighte siluer And knytten on a coler · for oure comune profit. And hangen it vp-on the cattes hals · than here we mowen Wher he ryt or rest · or renneth to playe And if hym list for to laike · þanne loke we mowen. And peer in his presence · ther while hym playe likeþ. And if hym wrattheth be ywarwar · and his way schonye Alle this route of ratons · to this reson thayreson assented. AndAc thoC.P.175: tho, "then." the belle was yboughte · and on þe beiȝe hanged ther ne was raton in al the route · for al the reem of Fraunce that dorste haue ybondenbounden the belle · aboute þe cattes nekke Ne hangen it aboute þe cattes hals · al Englond to wynne And helden hem vnhardy · an hir consel fieble. And leten hir labour lost · and al hir longe studye A Mous that muche good · couthe as me thoghte Stroke forth sternely · and stood biforn hem alle And to þe route of ratons · reherced this wordes Though we kulled the catte · yet schulde ther come another To cracchy vs an al oure kynde · thowe we crepe vnder benches For-thi I conselle al the comune · to late þe catte worthe And be we neuere so bolde · the belle hym to scheweC.P.187: C omits the following line: Þe mase amonge vs alle · þouȝ we mysse a schrewe. For I herde my sire say · hisC.P.188: his, "is." seuene ȝher I-passed ther the catte is a kyton · the Court is ful elynge That witnessewitnisseth holy writ · who-so wile it rede Ve terre vbi puer Rex est & cetera For may no renke ther reste haue · for ratons by nyghte the wile he catches conynges · he couettes nought oure caroyne But fedes hym al with veneson · defame we hym neuere For better is a litil losse · than a longe sorwe For many mannes malt we mys · wolde destroye And also the route of ratonesat ones · rende mennes clothes Ner thatth[e] þe catte of that court · that kan yow ouer-lepe For hadde ye rattes yowre wille · ye kouþe nouȝt reule youre-selue I say for me quod þe mous · I se so mykel after Shal neuere þe catte ne þe kytton · by my conseil be greued Ne carpyng of this coler · þat cost me neuere And thouge it had cost me catel · be-knowe it I nolde But suffren as hym-self wolde · to do as hym likeþ Coupled and vncoupled · to catche wat þey mowe For-thi ilke a wise wighte I warne · wite wel his owne What this metels bymeneth · þeye men þat beþ merie Deuyne ye for I ne dare · by dere gode in heuene Yet houed ther an hondred in howues of silke Sergans as itit semed · þat seruede atte barre Pleteden for penyes · and poundes þe lawe And nought for loue of oure lord · vnlouse hir lippes ones Thow myghtemyȝtest bettere · Mete the myste on Maluerne hylles Than gete a Momme of hir mouthe · but moneye werebe schewed Barons an burgeis and bondemen als I seigh in this assemble · as ye schal here after Baxsters an brewesters · an bochers manye WolnewebstersWolne websters · an weuers of lynen Taillours an tynkers · an tollers in Markettes Masons and Mynours · and Many other craftes Of alkyn libyng laboreslabor[er]eslaboreres · lopen forth some As dikers and deluers · that does hir dedes ille And dryuedryuen forth the longe day with deu vous saue dame EmmeC.P.223: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "Emme" in a red box to the right of C.P.224. Cokes and hir knaues · crieden hote pies hote Goode gris an geesgees and grys · gowego we dyne gowego we Thauerners vntil hem · tolde the same White wyne of Oseie · an rede wyn of Gascoigne Of þe Ryne an of the Pochel[R]ochelRochel · the rost to diffye Al this sawe I slepyng · and seuene sithes more Passus primus de visione : UhatC.1.1: A three-line ornamental capital begins the first passus. It is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes extending to the page's bottom on the left. this mountaigne bymenes · & the merke dale And þe felde ful of folk · I schal yow faire schewe A louely lady of lyre · in lynnen yclothed Come doun from a castel · and called me faire An saide sone slepestow · sestow this peeple How besy thay ben a-boutenaboute the mase nota The moste partie of þis pepile · þat passes on this erthe Haue thay worchip in this world · thay wilnen no bettre Of othyr heuene than here · holde thay no tale I was a-fered of hir face · theiȝ scho faire were And saide mercy madame · what is this to mene The thour v?p þe toft quod she · treuthe is ther-Inne Plowman And wolde that ye wrowȝte · as his word thecheth For he is fader of fayth · formed yow alle Bothe with felle an wthw[i]th face · an gaf yow fyue wyttes For to worschip hym ther-with · the while þat ye ben here And ther-fore he highte þe erþe · to help yow vchoon Of wollen of lynnen · oC.1.18: o, "of." lifode atte nede In mesurable manere · to make yow atte ese An comanded of his curteisie · In comune thre thynges Aren noon nedful but thyo · And nempne hem I thynke And rekene hem by reson · Reherce thow hem after that oon is vesture · from chelde the to saue And meet atte the Mele · for mysese of þy-selue And drynk whan thow driest · and do nought out of resonC.1.25: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "son" in a red box to the right of C.1.26. that thow worþ þe worse · wan thow worche sholdest For Loth in his lif-dayes · for likyng of drynke Dide by hise dougtres · that þe deuel woldeKD.1.29 is omitted. And leccherie hym lauȝte · an lay by hem boþe And al he witte it þe wyn · that wikked dede. Inebriemus eum vino dormiamusque cum eo ut seruare possimus de patre nostro semenC.1.31: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nostro semen" in a red box to the right of C.1.32. Thorugh wyn and thoruȝ wymmen · ther was loth acombred And ther gatte in glotonye · barnes that were karles For-thy drede delitable drynke · and thou schalt do þe better Mesur is medicyne · thouȝ thow mikile ȝerne It is nowht al good to þe goost · that guttis askys Ne liflode to thy likam · for a lyer hym techys That is the wrecched world · wolde þe bitraye For þe fende an thy flesche · folowes the togidire This and þat sees þy soule · and setth it in thy herte An for thou schuldest ben ware · I wisse the beste Madame mercy quod I · Me likes wel youre wordes And the moneie of this molde · that men so faste holdes Thel me to whom madame · that tresour appendes Go to þe gospel quod she · that god saide hym-seluen When þe pepyl hym apposed · with a peny in þe temple Whether thay schuld þer-with · worschip þe kyng Cesare And god asked of hem · of wham spak the lettre And þe ymage ylike · that þer-Inne stondes Cesar thay sayde · we see hym wel Ilkone Reddite cesari quod god · that cesar bifalles Et que sunt dei deo : or elles ye do ille For rightful reson · schulde rewle oyow alle And kynde with be wardeyn · youre wele to kype And tutour of ȝoure tresour · and take it yow at nede For housbondrie an hij · holden to-gideres Than I frayned hir fayre · for hym that hir made That dongeoun in þe dale · that dredful is of sighte What may it be to mene · madame I yow be biseche That is the castel of care who-so cometh ther-Inne. May banne that he borne was · to body or to soule Ther-Inne wonnyes a wight · that wronge is yhote Fader of falsed · and founded it hym-seluen Adam and eue · he egged to ille Counseilled Caym to kyllen his brother Iudas he Iaped · with Iuwen siluir And sithen on Eller · hanged hym after He is letter of loue · and lieth hem alle That trusten on his tresoure · by-trayes he sonnest Than had I wonder in my wit · what womman it were That swilke wise wordes · of holy writ me scheued And asked hir in þe heigh name · ers scho þennes yede What she were witterly · þat wissed me so faire Holycherche I am quod schoe · thowe oughtest me to knowe I vnderfonge the firste · and the fayth taughte And brougtest me borwes · Mi biddyng to fulfille And to loue lelly · the whille thy life dureth Thanne I coureed on my knees · and criede hir of grace And prayed hir pitously · praye for my synnes And also kenne me kyndely · on criste to bileue That I myghte worchen his wille · that wrouȝte me to man Theche me to no tresour · but telle me this ilke How I may saue my saule · þat seynt art yholden Whan alle tresoures aren tried · treuthe is the beste I do it on deus caritas to deme the sothe It is as derworth a drewerie · as dere god hym-seluen Who-so is trewe of his tonge · and telleth non other And dothy þe werkes therwith · an willeneth no man ille He is a god by the gospel · a-grounde and a-loft And ylike to oure lord · by seynt lukes wordes The clerkes that knoweth this · schulde kenne it aboute For cristen an vncristen · clameth it echone Kynges an knygtes · schulde kepe it by reson Riden and rapendounrapen doun · in reaumes aboute And taken transgressores and thyen hem faste Thil treuthe had ytermined · hir trespas to the ende And that is the professioun aperlyaper[t]ly · þat appendyth for knyghtes And nought to fasten a friday in fyue score wynter But holden with hym and with hir · that wolden al treuthe And neuer leue hem for loue · ne for lacchyng of siluir For dauid in hise dayes · dubbed knyghtes And dide hem swere on hir swerd · to serue trouthe euere And who-so passed that poynt · was apostata in þe order But crist kyngen kyng · knyghted ten Cherubyn and seraphyn · swiche seuen and another And gaf hem myghte in his magiste · the muryer hem thought And ouer his mene meynnge · made hem archangels Thauȝte hem by the · Trinite treught to knowe Tho1.109: Tho, "to." be bouxom at his biddyng · he bad hem nought elles Lucifer with legiones · lerned it in heuenKD.1.112 is omitted But for he brake buxomnese · his blisse gan he tyne And fel fro that felawschip · in a fendes liknes In-to a depe derk helle · to dwelle ther for euere And mo thousandes with hym · than man kouthe novmber Loupen out with lucifer · in lotheliche formeKD.1.118 is omitted Ponam pedem in aquilone et similis ero altissimo. An alle that hoped it myghte be so · no heuen myghte hem holdeC.1.117: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "holde" in a red box to the right of C.1.118. But fellen out in fendes liknesse · nyne dayes togidres Til god of his goodnese · gane stable and stynte And garte the heuene to steke · and stonden in quiete Whan thise wikked went out · wonderwise thay fellen Som in þe eire some in þe erthe · and som in helle depe And lucifer lawest · lyes of hem alle For pride that he put out · his payn hath non ende And alle worcheth with wrong · wenden hij shulle After hir deth-day · and dwelle with that schrewe And thoC.1.127: tho, "those." that worches wel · as holy writ telleth And enden as I er saide · In trouthe þat is þe beste Mowe be siker that hir soule · schal wende to heuene Ther treuhte is in Trinite and troneth hem alle For-thy I sey as I saide ere · by sighte of þis texte Wan alle tresoures aren ytried · treuthe is the beste Lereth it this lewed men · for lettred men ne knowen That treuthe is tresoure · the triest on erthe yhet haue I no kynde knowyng quod I · yhet mote ye kene me bettreC.1.135: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "me bettre" in a red box to the right of C.1.136. By what craft in my corps · it comseth and where Thow doted daffe quod she · dulle aren þy wittes ThoC.1.138: Tho, "too." lityl latyn thou lernedest · lede in thy thougthe heu e Heu michi quia sterilem duxi vitam Iuuenilem : It is a kynde knowyng quod heC.1.140: he, "she." þat kenneth in thyne herte For to loue thy lorde · leuere than thy-seluen No dedly syne to do · dey þouȝ þou sholdest This I trowe by treuthe · who kan teche þe better Loke thow suffyre hym to saye · and sithen here it after For thus witnesseþ his word · worche yow þer-after For treuthe telleþ þat loue · is triacle of heuene May no synne be on hym sene · that vses þat spyce And alle this werkes he wrought · with loue as hym liste And lered it moyses for þe leuest þing · an most like to heuene selfC.1.149: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "self" in a red box to the right of C.1.150. And also plentee of pees · Most preciouse of vertues For heuen myȝte nouȝt holden it · it was so heuy of hym-selfC.1.151: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "self" in a red box to the right of C.1.152. Thil it had of the erthe · heten his fille And whan it had of þis folde · flessh and blood taken Was neuer leef vp-on lynde · liȝter ther-after And portatif and persaunt · as the poynt of a nedele That myght non armurer it lete · ne non heigh. walles For-thy is loue leder · of þe lordes folk of heuene And a mene as þe Mair is · bitwene þe kyng ande þe comune Right so is loue a leder · and þe lawe schapeth Vp-on a man for his mysdedes · þe mercyment he taxeth And for to knowe it kyndely · it comseth by nyght[m]yght And in þe/herteþe herte þer is þe heuede · an þe heiȝ welle For in kynde knowyng in herte · þer a miȝte bygynneth And that falles to þe fader · þat formed vs alle Loked on vs with loue · and lete his sone deye Mekel for oure mysdedes · to amende vs alle And yhet wolde he hem no wo · þat wrought hym þat peyne But MikelyM[e]kely with mouþe · Mercy he bisoughte ThoC.1.169: Tho, "to." haue pitee of þat pepyle · that peyned hym to dethe Here myghtestow see ensaumpyle · In hym-selue oone That he was myghtful and meke · and mercy gan grawnte ThoC.1.172: Tho, "to." hem þat hongen hym an heigh · and his herte thirlede For-thy I rede yow riche · haue reuthe of the pore Thought ye be myghtful to mote · beth meke in youre werkesC.1.174: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "werkes" in a red box to the right of C.1.175. For þe same mesures þat ye mete · amys outher elles ye schullen be weyen ther-with · whan ye wende hennes Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis : For though ye be trewe of youre tonge · & treweliche wynne And as chaste as a childe · that in kerke wepes But if ye louen lelliche · and lene the pore Swilk good as god ȝow sent · goodliche parteth Ye ne haue no merite · in masse ne in houres Than Malkyng of hir maydenhode · þat no man desires For Iames þe gentil · Iuggede in hise bookes That feiþ with-oute þe facte · is ryght no-thyng worthy And as dede a dore-tre · but if thy dedes folwe Fides sine operibus mortua est & cetera For-thy chastite with-oute charite · worth cheyned in helle nota It is as lewed as a lampe · that no light is Inne Many chapeleyns aren chaste · and charite is awey Aren no man auerouser than hij · whan þey ben auaunced vnkynde to hir kynne · and to alle cristene Chewen hir charite · and chiden after more Swilk chastite with-oute charite · worth cheyned in helle Many curatours kepen hem · clene of hir bodyes Thay ben acombred with coueitise · þey kanne nouȝt do it fram hemC.1.196: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "hem" in a red box to the right of C.1.197. So hard hath auarice · yhasped hem togiders And that is no treuthe of þe Trinite . bot tricherie of helle And lernyng to lewed men · the latter for to dele For-thy thise wordes · ben writen In the gospel Date & dabitur vobis · for I dele yow alle And that is the lokke of loue · and leteth oute my grace ThoC.1.203: Tho, "to." confort the carful · a-combyred with synne Loue is leche of lif · and nexit oure lord selue And also the graythe gate · that goth in-to heuene For-thi I say as I sayde er · by þe textis Whan alle tresores ben ytried · treuthe is the beste Now haue I tolde the what treuhte is · þat no tresore is bettere I may no lenger lenge the with · now loke the oure lorde ?? ** passus ij de visione Passus secundus de visione vt supra : y YetC.2.1: Initial three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes. I courred on my knees · and cried hir of grace And sayde mercy madame · for marie loue of heuene that bar þat blisful barne · that bought vs on þe rode Kenne me by some craft · to knowe the fals Loke vp-on thy left half · and lo where he standeth Bothe fals and fauel and hir feres manye I loked on my left half · as the lady me thaughte And whas war of a womman · worthely I-clothed Purfiled with pelure · the fynest vp-on erthe Ycrouned with a croune · the kyng haes non bettere Fetisliche hir fyngers were fettred · with gol wire And ther-on rede rubies · as rede as any glede And diamauntes of derrest pris · and doubyle manere saphyrs Orientales and ewages · enwenymes to destroye Hir Robe was ful riche · of rede skarlet engreynde With ribanes of red golde · and of riche stones Hir arraye me rauisshed · sylke rychesse sawe I neuere I had wonder what scho was · and whos wif sche were What is this womman quod I · so worthily atired That is mede þe maide quod she · hathes noyed me ful ofte And I lakked my lemman · that leaut is hoten. And by-lowen hir to lordes · that lawes hathes to kepe In þe popes paleys · scho is pryue as my-selfe Bot sothnesse wolde nought so · for scho is a bastarde For fals was hir fader · that hath a fikel tonge And neuere soth saide · sithen he com to erþe And mede is manered after hym · ryght as kynde askes Qualis pater talis filius · bona arbor bonum fructum facit : I aughte ben herre þan she · I cam of better My fader the grete god is · and grounde of alle grace O god with-outen gynnyng · and I good doughter And hath geue me mercie · to marye with my-self And what man be merciful · and lelly me loue Schal be my lord and I is lief · in þe heigh heuene And what man taketh mede · Myn hed dar I legge That he schal lese for hir loue · a lappe of caritatis How construeth dauid þe kyng · of men þat takes mede And men of this molde · that maynte..neth treuthe And how ye sal saue yowre self þe sauter beres witnesse Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo & cetera And now worth þis Mede · ymaried al to a maysed schrewe ThoC.2.42: Tho, "to." on fals fikil tonge · and fendes biȝete Plowman Fauel thourth hir faire speche · hayth this folke enchaunted And al is lyers ledyng · that she is þus ywedded Tho-morwen worth ymade · the maydesnesse bridale And ther myght thou wite if thou wolt · which þei ben alleC.2.46: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "alle" in a red box to the right of C.2.47. That longeth to þat lordchip · þe lasse an þe more Know hem þer if thou kanste · an kep thy tonge An lakke hem nought · but lat hem worth til leaut be IusticeC.2.49: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "Iustice" in a red box to the right of C.2.50. And haue power to punysse hem · þat put forth þy reson Now I be-kenne þe crist quod she · an his clene moder And lat no conscience acombre þe · for couetise of Mede Thus left me þat lady · lyggyng a-slepe And how mede was ymaryed · In metels me thoughte That al þe riche retenauntz · þat regneth with þe fals Were boden to þe bridale · on bothe two sides Of alle manere of men · the men and þe riche ThoC.2.58: Tho, "to." marrie this maiden · was many man assembled As of knygtes an of clerkes · and other comune pepyle As sisours and sompnours . schirreues and hir clerkes Bedelles and bayllifs and brocours of chaffare Forgoers and vitaillers · and vokates of þe arches I kan nought rekene þe route · that ran aboute Mede And simonye and Ciuile · and sisours of courtes Were most priue with Mede of any men me thoughte And fauel was the first · that fette hir out ofC.2.66: An otiose curl appears on the this <o>. boure And as a brocour broughte hir · to be with fals enioyned Whan simonye and ciuile seiȝ hir beire wille thay assentid for siluir · to seay as bothe wolde than lepe lyer forth · and saide lo hire a chartire That gile with his grete othes · gaf hem togidire And praide ciuile to se · and simonye to rede it Thanne simonye an ciuile . stonden forth bothe And vnfoldes the feoffament · that fals hath ymakede And thus bigynnes thise gromes · to greden ful heiȝ Sciant presentes & futuri & cetera : Witeth an witnesse · þat wonyeth vp-on this erthe That mede is maried · more for hir goodes Than for any vertus of farnesse · or any fre kyne Falsnesse is fayn of hir · for he woot hir riche And Fauel with is fikel speche · feffyth be this chartire ThoC.2.82: Tho, "to." be princes in pride · and pouerte to despise ThoC.2.83: Tho, "to." bakbite and to bosten · and beren fals witnese ThoC.2.84: Tho, "to." scorne and to scolde · and sclaundre to make Vnbuxom and bolde · to breke the ten hestes And the erldome of enuvyeC.2.86: The change from <u> to <v> is not characteristic of the original scribe who never elsewhere wrote with a <v> against some 17 instances with <u>. · and wrathe togidires With þe chastelet of clestec[h]este · an chateryng out of resoun the Countee of coueitise · and alle þe costes aboute that is vsure and auarice · alle I hem graunte In bargaynes and in brokages · with alle þe borghe of theft And alle the lordschip of liccherie · In lenthe and in brede As in werkes and in wordes · and wattynges with eyes And in wedes an in wissbynges · and with ydel thoughtes ther as wille ne wolde · werkmanschip failleth Glotonye he gaf hem ek · and grete othes togiders And alday to drynk · at diuers tauernes And þer to Iangle and to Iape · and Iugge hir euene-cristene And in fastyngdayes to frete · er ful tyme were An than to sitten and soupen · til slepe hem assaille And breden as burgh swyn · and bedden hem esily Thil sleuthe and slepe · sliken hise sides And thanne wanhope to a-wake hym so with no wille it ameamendeC.2.102: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "amende" in a red box to the right of C.2.103. For he leueth be lost · this is hir laste ende And thay to haue and to holde · and hire heyres after A dwellyng with þe deuel · and dampned be for euere With al the purtenance of purgatorie · In-to þe pyne of helle yeldyng Loop on <g>. for this thyng · at one yeres ende Hire soules to sathan · to suffre with hym paynes And with hym to wonye in wo · while god is in heuene In witnesse of whilch thyng · wrong þe firste And Pieres þe pardoner of paulynes doctrine Bette þe beddell of Bokyngham shire Reynald þe Reue of Rutlande sokne Maude þe Meller and Many mo other nota In þe date of þe deuel · this dede is yseled By sight of sire simonye and ciuiles leue thanne torned hym theologie · whan he this tale harde And saide to Cyuile now sorwe mote thou haue Swilke wendynges to worche · to wratthe with trouthe And er this weddyng be wrouhte · wo þe bitide For Mede is Moilere of amendes engendreth Barred h And god graunted · to gif Mede to treuthe And thow hast gyuen hir to a giloure · now god gif þe sorwe thy text telles þe nought · so treuthe wote þe sothe For dignus est estest operarius> . his hir to haue And thow haste feste hir to fals · fy on thy lawe For al by lesynges thou leuest · and lecherouse werkes Simonye and thi-self · scheden holy-chirche the notaries and ye · noythis þe pepyle Ye schal a-biggen it bothe · by god that me made Wel ye witen wirnardes · but if yowre faille wit faille That fals is faytles and fikel in his werkes And was a bastarde yborne · of belsabubbes kyne And Mede is moilere · a maiden of goode And myghte kisse þe kyng · for Cosyn and she wolde For-thy worches by wisdom · and by wit also And ledeth hir to londoun · ther lawe is ychewed If any lawe wol loke · thoay ligge togideres And þouȝ Iustices iugge · hir to be ioigned with fals Yet beth ware of weddyng · for witty is treuthe And conscience is of his conseil · and knoweth yow echone And if he fynde yow in defaute · and with the fals holde It schal bisitte youre soules · ful soure at laste Her-to assentes Ciuile and simonye newoldene wolde Thil he had siluir for his seruise · and also þe notaries Thanne fette Fauel forth · floreyns ynowe And bad gile to gyue · gold al aboute And nameliche to þe notaries · þat hem noon ne faille And feffe fals witnesse · with floreyns ynowe For thei may Mede a maistrye · and maken at my wille þo þis gold was gyue · grete was the thonkynge ThoC.2.152: Tho, "to." fals&fals & to Fauel for hir faire ȝgyftesC.2.152: The change reflects the scribe's Northern dialect. And comen to conforte · fram care þe fals And saiden certes sire · cesse schal we neuere Til Mede be þi wedded wif · thoruȝ wittes of vs alle For we haue Mede amaystred · with oure mery speche that sho graunteþ to gon · with a good wille To london to loke · if þat þe lawe wolde Iugge yow Ioyntly · In Ioie for euere Thanne was falsnesse fayne an fauel as blithe And leten sompne alle segges · in schires aboute And bad hem alle be bown · beggers and othere To wende with hem to Westmynstre . to witnesse þis dede And than cared thay for capyls · to carien hem thyder Piers And Fauel Fete forth · than foolis ynowe And sette Mede vp-on a shireue schodde al newe And fals sat on a Sisour that softliche trotted And fauel on a Flaterer fetislich atired ThoC.2.167: Tho, "then." had notaries non · anoyed they were For Simonye and Ciuile scholde on hir fete gange And thanne swore simonye and ciuile bothe That sompnours schold be sadled · and serue hem echone And lat apperaille this prouisours · in palfreys wise Sir simonye hym-seluen · schal sitte vp-on hire bakkes Dens and subdeanes draw yow togidres Ercedekens and officials and youre Registrers Lat sadel hem with siluir · oure synne to suffre As auoutrie and deuorses · and derne vsurie To bere bisschopes a-boute · abrode in visitynge Paulynes priues · for pleyntes in consistorie Schul serue my-self · þat Ciuil is nempned And cartesadel the comissarie · oure carte shal he lede And fecchen vs vitailes · at fornicatores And make of lyer a longe carte to lede alle thise other As frers and faitours · þat on hir fete rennen An thus fals and fauel fareth forth to-gidires An mede in þe myddes and alle þise other after I haue no tome to telle · þe taylle þat hem folweth Of many manere man · þat on þis molde libbeth An gyle was forgoer · and gyed hem alle Sothnesse seiȝ hym wel · and saide but a litel And priked his palfrey and passed hem alle An com to þe kynges courte · and conscience it tolde And conscience to þe kyng · carped it after Now by crist quod þe kyng an I catche myghte Fals or fauel · or any of hise feres I wolde be wroke of þe wrecches · þat wyrketh so ille And don hem hange by þe hals · and alle þat hem maynteneþ Schal neuer man of molde · Maynprise the leste But right as þe lawe wol loke · lat falle on hem alle And comanded a conestable · that come at firste To attache tho tirauntes · for any-thyng I hote And fettereyth faste falsnesse · for any kynnes gyftes And gyrdeth of giles hed · and lat hym go no ferthere And if thou lacche lyer · lat hym nought aschapen Er he be put on pilorie · for any praier I hote And brynght Mede to me maugre hem alleKD.2.204-05 omitted. Drede at þe dore stode · and þe dome herde And how þe kyng comeanded · constables and sergeantz Falsnesse and his felawschip · to fettren and to bynden thanne drede went wigtliche · and warned the fals And bad hym flee for fere · and his felawes alle FalnesseFal[s]nesse for fere · thanne fleis to þe freres An gile doth hym to go · a-gaste for to dye And marchantes mette with hym · and made hym abide And bishetten hym in hir schope · to schewen hir ware And apperailed hym as a prentice · the pepyle to serue Lyghtliche lyer lepe a-wey thanne Lorkyng Loop on <g>. thorugh lanes · to-lugged of manye He was naught where welcome · for hise many tales Ouer-al yhowted · and I hote trusse Til pardoners haued pite · and pulled hym in-to house. They wesschen hym and wiped hym · and woundein See transcription. in cloutes And sente hym with seles · on sondayes to kyrkees And gaf pardon for pens · poundemele aboute Thanne loured leches and lettres thay sente That he schuld wonye wyth hem watres to loke Spicers spake with hym · to spyren hir ware For he kouthe of hir craft · and knewe manye gommes And mynstralles and messengers · mette with hym ones And helden hym an half yer · and elleuene dayes Freres with hir fair speche · fetten hym theynnes And for knowyng of comers · koped hym as a frere And he has leue to lepe out · as oft as hym liketh And is welcome whan he wille · and wonyth with hem oft Alle fledden for fere · and flowen in-to hyrnes Saue mede the maide · nama durst abide And trewely to telle · scho trembled for drede And ek wepte and wrong · whan sho whas attached Passus tercius de visione : NOwC.3.1: The three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes is Mede the maide · and nama of hem alle With bedelles and with baillifs · brought bifore þe kynge Nota the kyng called a clerc · kan I nauȝt his name To take mede þe maide · and make hir at ese I schal assaie hir my-self · and sotheliche appose What man of molde · that hir were leuest And if sho worche by my wit · and my wille folwe I wole for-gyue hir this gilte · so me god help Curteisliche the clerc · as þe kyng Looped <g>. hight Toke mede by þe Midel · and brought hir in-to chambre And thare was mirthe and mynstralcye · Mede to plese Thay that wonyeth in westmynstre worschiped hir alle Gentiliche with Ioie · þe Iustices soinme Busked hem to þe boure · ther þe birde dwelled To conforte hir kyndly · by clergies leue And saiden mourne nouhte Mede · ne make thow no sorwe For we wisse the kyng and thy way schape To be wedded at þy wille · and wher þe leue liketh For al conscience caste or craft as I trowe Mildeliche Mede thanne · Mercied hem alle Of thayr grete goodnesse · and gaf hem echone Coupes of clene gold · and coppis of siluer Rynges with rubies · and riches manye The leste man of hir meynge · a moton of golde Thanne lauȝte þey leue · þise lordes at mede With þat comen clerkes to conforte hir the same And biden hir be blithe · for we beth thyn owene For to wirche thy wille · the while thow myght laste Hendeliche sho thanne · bihuyghte hem the same To loue hem Lealy · and lordes to make And in the consistorie atte Courte · do calle youre names Schal no lewednesse · lette þe leode þat I louye That he ne worth first auanced · for I am biknowen ther konnyng clerkes · schul clokke bihynde come Thane come ther a confessour caped as a frere C.3.35: The scribe has written both a supralinear come and again in the right margin. To mede the maide · he melled this wordes And saide ful softly · In schrifte as it were TheweC.3.38: thewe, "though." lewed men and lered men · had layn by the bothe And falsnesse haued yfolwed þe · al this fifty wynter I shal assoile þe my-self · for a seme of whete And also be thy bedman · and ber wel thy message Amonges knyghtes and clerkes · conscience to torne Thanne Mede For hir mysdedes · to þat man kneled And schroue hir of hir schrewednesse · schameles I trowe Plowman Tholde hym a tale · and toke hym a nobyle For to ben hir bedeman · and hir brocour als Thanne he assoilled hir sone · and sithen he saide We haue a wyndow a-worchyng · wole sitten vs ful heigh Barred <h>. Woldestow glase þat gable · and graue þer-Inne thy name Siker scholde thy soule be · heuen to haue Nota bene Wist I that quod þat womman I wolde nought spare For to be youre frende frere · and faille yow neuere While ye loue lordes · that leccherie hauntes And lakkes nouȝt ladis t Otiose curl on <t>.hat loues wel the same It is a frelete of flessche · ye fynde it in bokes And a cours of kynde wher of we comen alle Who may scape þe sclaundre · the scathe is sone amended It is synne of seuene · sonnest for-gyuene Haue mercy quod Mede of men þat it hauntes And I schal kouere youre kikeki[r]ke · youre cloistre do maken Wowes do whiten · and wyndowes glasien do paynten and purtraie · and paie for þe makynge That euery segge schal seye · I am suster of youre hous And god to alle good folk · swich grauyng defendes To writen in wyndowes · of hir weldedeswel dedes And auenture pride be peynted ther · and pompe of þe worlde For crist knoweþ thy conscience · and þy kynde wille And thy coste and thy coueitise · and who the catell Barred auȝte For-thy I lere yow lordes · leue.htleueþ swiche werkes To writen in wyndowes · of yowre weldedes Or to greden after goddes men · whan ye delen doles On auenture ye han youre hire here · and youre heuene als Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra Late nouȝt thy left half · late ne raþe Wite what thow worchest · with thy right side For thus bit þe gospel · good men do · hir almesse Moaires and maceres · that menes ben bitwene The kyng and þe comune · to kepe the lawes To punisshen on pilories · and pynyng stoles Brewesters and baxters bowchers and cookes For thyse aren men of this molde þat most harm worches To the pore pepyle · that parcel-mele buggen For thay poison the pepyle · priueliche and oft Þey richen thurgh regraterie · and rentes hem buggen With þat þe pore pepyle · shulde put in hir wombe For tooke thay on trewely · thay tymbred nouȝt so heiȝ Ne bouȝte non burgages · be ye ful certeyne And Med the Maide · the Mair hath bisoughte Of alle swiche sellers · siluer to take Or presentz with-oute pens · as peces of siluir Rynges or other richesse · þo regraters to mayntene For my loue quod þat lady · loue hem vchone And suffre hem to selle somdel ayeins resoun Salamon the sage · a sermon he made For to amende Maires · and men þat kepen lawes And tolde hem þis teme · þat I telle thenke Nota bene Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera &ceteraC.3.97: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nera &cetera" in a red box to the right of C.3.98. Among þise lettered leodes · þis latyn is to mene That fir schal falle and brenne al to blo askes Þe houses and þe homes · of hem þat desireth Gyftes or yeresyiftes · bi cause of hir offices The kyng Loop on <g>. fro counseil cam · and called after mede And of-sente hir as swithe · with sergeantes manye That broughten hir to bour with blis and wiþ Ioye Curteisliche þe kyng þan comsed to telle Tho mede þe maide · melleþ þise wordes Vnwittily womman · wroughte hastow oft And worse wrougtestow neuere · þan þo þow fals took But I forgyue þo þat gilte · and graunte þe my grace Hennes to thy deth-day · do so namore Nota I haue a knyȝt conscience cam late fra biyonde If he wilneth þe to wif · wiltow hym haue Þhe[Y]he lord quod þat lady · lor forbede elles But I be holy at youre heste · lat honge me sone And thanne was conscience called · to com and apiere Bifore þe kyng and his counseil · as clerkes and othere Knelyng Loop on <g>. conscience to þe kyng lowted Tho wite what his wille were · and what he do schulde Wiltow wedde þis womman quod þe kyng if I wole assente For scho is fayne of þy felawschip · for to be þy make Quod conscience to þe kyng crist it me forbede Er I wedde swiche a wif · wo me bitide For sche is frele of hir fayth · fikel of hir speche And makeþ men mysdo · many score tyme Trust of hir tresore · treayeth ful manye Wyuees and widewes · wantonnesse she teches And lereth hem lecherie · þat loueþ hire gyftes yowre fader she felled thurgh fals biheste And haþ apoisunde popes peired holicherche Is nauȝt a betetre baude · by hym þat me made Bitwen heuen and helle · in erthe þouȝ men souȝte For she is tikel of hir tail · talwis of hir tonge As comune as a cartwey · to eche a knaue þat walketh Tho monkes to mynstralles · to messels in hegges Sisours and sompnours swiche men hir preiseþ Shireues of schires · were schent if she nere For she doth men lese · hir lond and hir lif boþe Sche lates passe prisoners · and paieth for hem ofte And gyues þe gailers gold · and grotes togidires Tho vnfettre þe fals · flee where hem liket And takeþ þe trewe by þe toppe · and tyeth hym faste And hanges hym for hatered þat harme dide neuere To be cursed in consistorie she counteþ nouȝt a resshe For sche coped þe Comissarie and cetes hise clerkes Sche is assoilled as sone · as hir-self likeþ And may nee as muche do · in a monthe one As your secret seel · in sixe score daies For sche is priue with þe pope prouisours it knoweth For sire Simonye and hir-self · seleþ hir bulles Scho blisses þise bisschopes · thyo="though" DECIDE WHAT TO DO þey be lewed Prouendres persons and prestes mainteneþ To haue lemannes and lotebies al hir lyues dayes And bryngen forth barnes · ayein forbode lawes Ther sche is wel with þe kyng wo is þe reame For sche is fauorable to þe fals · and folweþ trouhte oft By Iesu wiþ hir Iewels · youre Iustices she shendeþ And lith ayein þe lawe and letteþ hym þe gate Þat fayth may nouȝt haue his forth · hir floreyns go so þikke Scho ledes þe lawe as hir list · and loue-daies makes And does men lese thurugh hir loue · þat lawe myght wynne the mase for a mene man · þouȝ he mote hir euere Lawe is so lordlich and loþ to make ende With-oute presentz or pens · sche pleiseþ wel fewe Barons and burgeis she brynges in sorwe And al þe comune in care · þat couetten lyue in trouthe For clergie and couetise · sche coupleþ togideres Peers Thys is the lif of þat lady · now lorde gyue hir sorwe And alle þat menteneth hir men meschaunce hem bitide For pore men mowe haue no power · to pleyne hem þouȝ þei smerteC.3.169: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "þei smerte" in a red box to the right of C.3.170. Nota Swilke a maister is Mede among men of goode Thayne morned Mede and meNed hir to þe kyng Tho haue space to speke spede if she myȝte þe kyng graunted hir grace · with a good wille Excuse þe if thow canst · I can namore seggen For conscience acuseþ þe · to congey þe for euere Nay lord quod þat lady · leues hym þe worse Whan ye witen witerly · wher þe wronge liggeþ Þer þat meschief is grete · Mede may spede helpe And þow knowest conscience · I cam nouȝt to chide Ne depraue þy persone with a proude herte Wel þow wost wyrnard · but if þou wilt gabbe Thow hast hanged on my half Note on meaning seems necessary. · elleuen tymes And also griped my gold · gyue it wher þe liked And why thow wratthest þe now · wonder me thynket yet I may as I myȝte · menske þe with yiftes And mayntene þy manhode · more þan þow knowest Accent mark above <t>? And þou hast famed me foule · bifore þe kyng here For kylled I neuere no kyng · ne conseild þer-after Ne dede as þow demest I do on þe kynge In normandye was he nouȝt · noyede for my sake And þow þy-self sothly · schamedest hym ofte Crope in-to a caban for colde of þy nailles Wendest þat wyntre wolde haue lasted euere And draddest to be dede · for a dym cloude And hidest homward · for hongre of þy wombe With-oute pite pilour · pore men þow robbedest And bare hir bras at þy bakke · to caleys to selle Þer I laft with my lord his lif for to saue I mad hise men mery · and mournyng lette I batered hem on þe bake · and bolded hir hertes And did hem hoppe for hope · to haue me at wille Had I ben marchal of hise men · by marie of heuene I dorste haue laide my lif · and no lasse wedde He scholde haue be lord of þat lond · a lenthe and a brede And also kyng of þat kitthe · his kynne for to helpe Þe leste brolle of his kynne · a barones piere Cowardliche þow conscience conseilled hym þennes To leuen his lordschip · for a litel siluer That is þe richest reame · þat reyne ouer houeþ It becommeth to a kyng þat kepeþ þe reame To geue mede to men · þat mekeliche hym serueth To aliens and to alle men · to honoure hem with gyftes Mede makeþ hym be-loued · and for a man holden Emperours and erlis and alle maner lordes For yiftes han yong men · to rennen and to ride The pope and alle prelates · presentz vnderfongen And medeþ men hem-seluen · to meyntene hir lawes Seruantz for hir seruice · we se wel þe sothe Taken mede of hir maistres as þey mowe acorde Beggers for hir biddyng · bidden men mede Mynstralles for hir murthe · mede þey aske Þe kyng haþ mede of hise men · to make pees in londe Men þat techeþ children · craue of hem mede nota Prestes þat preches þe pepyle to goode · asken mede And masse pens and hire mete · at þe mele-tymes Alkynnes crafty men crauen Mede · for hir prentys Marchantz and Mede moot nede go togidres No wight as I wene with-oute Mede may libbe NOta Quod þe kyng to conscience by crist as me thynkeþ Mede is wele worthy · the maistrie to haue Nay quod conscience to þe kyng · and kneled to þe erthe Ther aren two maner of medes · my lorde with youre leue Þat oon god of his grace · graunteþ in his blisse To þo þat wol worchen · while þey ben here The prophete preches þer-of · and put it in þe psaltre Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo : Lord who schal whonye in þy wones · and with þyn holy seintes Or resten in þyne holy hilles · þis askeþ dauid And dauid assoilleþ it hym-self as the sauter telleth Qui in gredieturingredietur sine maculo & operatur Iusticia : þo þat entren of on colour · and of one wille And han wrouȝte werkes with right and with resoun And he þat ne vseþ nauȝt · þe lif of vsurie And enformeþ pore men · and purseueth treuthe Qui peccuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram & munera super Innocentum And al þat helpeþ þe Innocent · and hold with þe rigtful With-oute mede doþ hem goode · and þe treuþe helpeþ Swich manere men my lord · schal haue þis first mede Of god at a grete nede · whan þey gon hennes Ther is and otherC.3.250: And is a northern spelling for the indefinite article. Compare an, and" in this manuscript. Mede mesurelees þat maistres desireþ To meyntene mysdoers · Mede þey take And þer-of sayes þe sauter in a salmes ende In quorum manibus iniquitates dextra eorum repleta est muneribus And he þat gripeth hir gold · so me god helpe Schal abye it bittre · or þe book lees Prestes and persons þat plesyng desireth Þat takes Mede and moneie · for messe þat þey syngeþ Takes hir mede here · as mathew vs techeþ Amen amen recipiebant mercedem suam : That laborers and lowfolklow folk · takeþ of hir maistres It is no manere mede · but a resonabile hire In marchandise s is no mede I may it wel a-wowe It is a permutacion apertly · a peny-worth for anoþer Nota And reddestow neuere Regum þow recraied mede Why þe vengeaunce fel on saul and on his children God sent to saul by samuel þe prophete Þat agag of amalek and alle hise pepyle after Shulde deye for a dede · þat don had hir eldres For-þy saide samuel to saul god hym-self hoteþ Þe be buxome at is biddyng · His wil to ful-fille Wende to Amalec with þyn ost and what þou fyndest þer sle it Bernes and bestes · brynne hem to dede Widewes and wyues · wommen and children Mobles and vnmobles · and al þat þow myȝte fynde Brenne it bere it nouȝt awey · be it neuere so riche For mede nor for moneie · loke þow destruye it Spille it and spare it nouȝt · thow schalt spede þe bettre And for he coueited hir catel · and þe kyng spared Forbare hym and his bestes · bothe as þe bibile witnesseþ Oþer-wise þan he was warned of þe prophete God saide to samuel þat saul scholde deye And al his sede for þat synne schenfuliche ende nota Swiche a myschefe Mede made · Saul þe kyng to haue Þat god hated hym for euere · and alle hise heires after The culorum of þis cas · kepe I nouȝt to schewe An auenture it noyed men · none ende wol I make For so is þis worlde went · with hem þat han power Þat who-so sayeth hem sothes is sonnest I-blamed Plowman I conscience knowe þis · for kynde wit me it tauȝte That reson schal rengere[gn]e · an reames gouerne And riȝt as agag hadde · happe schulle somme Samuel schal sleen hym · and saul schal be blamed And dauid schal be diademede · and daunten hem alle And oon cristene kyng kepen hem alle Schal namore Mede be Maistre as scho is nouþe And loue and lewednese and leaute togideres Þise schul be Maistres of molde trouthe to saue And who-so trespasseþ ayein treuþe · or takeþ ayein his wille Leaute schal don hym lawe · and no lief elles Schal no sergeant for hir seruice · were a silk howue Ne no pelure in his cloke · for pledyng atte barre Mede of mysdoers · makeþ many lordes And ouer lordes lawes · reules þe reames Nota And kynde loue shal come yet · and conscience togidires And make of lawe a laborer · swich loue schal arise And swich a pees among þe pepyle · and a parfit treuþe Þat Iues schal wene in hir wit · and waxen wonder glade Þat Moises or Messie be come into þis erthe And haue wonder in hir hertes · þat men beþ so trewe Alle þat bereþ baselard · brode-swerd or launce Axe ouþer hachet · or any wepene elles Schal ben demed to þe deth · but if he do it smythe In-to sykel or to siþe · to share or to culter Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres & cetera Eche man to playe with a plowe pikeys or spade Spynne or sprede donge · or spille hym-self with sleuþe Nota Prestes and persons · with placebo to hunte And dyngen vp-on dauid ech a day til eue Hunttyng or haukyng · if any of hem vse His boste of his benefice · worþ bynome hym after Schal neiþer kyng ne knyȝt · Conestable ne Meire Ouerlede þe comune · ne to þe Court sompne Ne put hem in panel · to don hem pliȝte hir trouþe But after þe dede þat is don · oon dome schale reward Mercy or no mercy · as trouþe wol acorde Kynges Court and comune Court Consistorie and chapitle Al shal be but onon Court and on be Iustice Thanne worth trewe tonge a tidy man þat tened me neuereC.3.328: The scribe continues this line on the next, completing neuere in a red box to the right of C.3.329. Batailles schal non be · ne no man bere wepene And what smyth þat any smyteth · be smyte þerwith to deþe Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium & cetera : And er þis fortune falle · fynde men schal þe worste Bi sex sonnes and a shippe · and half a schef of arwes And þe mydel of a mone schal make þe Iewes to torne And saracenes for þat siȝte shul synge Gloria in excelsis & cetera And Makometh an Mede myshappe schal þat tyme For melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe The word "multe" is formed strangely, especially the <u>. Also wroth as þe wynde · wex Mede in a while I kane no latyn quod she clerkes wote þe soþe Se what salamon seiþ in sapience bokes Þat hij þat yeueþ giftes · þe victorie wynneþ And muche worschip hadde þerwith · as holy writ telleþ Honorem adquiret qui dat munera & cetera I leue wel lady quod conscience þat þy latyn be trewe Nota An thow art like a lady · þat radde a lesson ones Was omnia probate and þat plesed hir herte For that lyne was no langer · atte leues ende Had she loked þat other half and þe leef torned Sche schulde haue founden · fele wordes folwyng þer-after Quod bonum est tenete · Treuthe that texte made And so ferde ye madame ye koude namore fynde Þo ye loked on sapience sittyng in youre studie this texte þat ye han tolde · were good for lordes And yow failled a konnynge clerc · þat kouþe þe leef haue tornedC.3.354: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "torned" in a red box to the right of C.3.355. And if ye seke sapience eft fynde schal ye þat folweth A ful teneful tixte to hem þat takeþ Mede And þat is · animam autem aufert accipientium & cetera : And þat is þe taille of þe tixte · of þat ye schewede Þat þeiȝ we wynne worschip · and with mede haue victorie Þe soule þat þe soude takeþ · bi so muche is bounde Passus quartus de visione : CEssesC.4.1: A three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes. sayis þe kyng I suffyre yow no lenger ye schal saughtyne for-sothe · an serue me bothe kysse hir quod þe kyng conscience I hote Nay by criste quod conscience congeye me rather But reson red me þer-to · rather wil I deye And I comaunde þe quod þe kyng · to conscience þanne Rape þe to ride and reson þow fecche Comaunde hym þat he come · my counsel to here For he schal reule my reaume · and rede me the beste And acounte with þe conscience so me crist helpe How þow lernest þe pepyle · þe lered and þe lewede I am fayne of þat forward · saide þe freke thanne And rit right to reson · and rowneþ in his ere And saide as þe kyng badde · and siþen took his leue I schal araie me to ride quod reson reste þe a while And called caton his knaue curteise of speche And also Thomme trewe tong tel me no tales Ne lesyng to laughe of · for I loued hem neuere And sette my sadel vppon suffre · til I se my tyme nota And lete warrok it wele · with witty wordes gerthes And hange on hym þe heuy bridel · to holde his hede lowe For he wil make wehe · twyees er he be therdethe[r]e Thanne conscience vp-on his caple · kaireþ forþ faste And reson with hym rydes rownyng to-giders Which maistries Mede · makeþ on þis erþe On waryn wisdom and witty his fere nota Folwed hem faste · for hij hadde to doone In þe cheker and in þe chauncerie · to be discharged of thynges And riden faste for reson · schulde rede hem þe beste For to saue hem for siluer fro schame and fram harmes And conscience knewe hem wel · þei loued couettise KD.4.33 omitted. ther aren wyles in hir wordes and with Mede þey dwelleth Þer-as wrath and wranglyng is · þer wynne þey siluer And þer is loue and leaute · þei wol nouȝt come þer Contricio & infelicitas in vijs eorum & cetera thay ne gyueth nouȝt of god · one gose wenge Non est timor domini ante oculos eorum : For wote god þey wolde · do more for a dozeyn chickenes Or as many capons · or for a seme of otes than for loue of oure lorde · or alle his leue seyntes For-þy reson lete hem ride · þo riche by hem-seluen For conscience knoweþ hem nouȝt · ne crist as I trowe And þan reson rade faste · þe righte faste heiȝe gate As conscience hym kenned · til þey come to þe kyng Curteisliche þe kyng · þanne · come ayein resoun And bitwen hym-self and his sone sette hym on benche And wordeden wel wisely · at grete while togideres Piers And thane com pees in to parlement · and put forþ a bille How wrong ayeins his wille · hadde his wif taken And how he rauisshed Rose Reynoldes loue And Margarete of hir maidenhode maugre hir chekes Boþe my gees and my gris hise gadelynges fecches I dar nouȝt for fere of hym fighte no chide He borwed of me bayard he brouȝte hym hom neuereKD.4.54 is omitted. He meynteneth his men · to morther myn hewen Forstalles my Fairs · and fiȝtes in my chepyng KD.4.57 is omitted. And takes me a taille for a ten quarters of otes And yet he bet me þer-to · and lith by my maide I nam nouȝt hardy for hym · vneesC.4.59: vnees, "hardly, with difficulty." For the form, see the note to C.20.187. to loke þe kyng knewe he saide soth · for conscience hym tolde that wrong was a wikked lyft · and wrouȝt moche sorwe Wronge was a-fered þanne · and wisdome he souȝte To make pees with his pens · and profered hym manye And sayde had I loue of my lord þe kyng · litel wolde I recche Þeiȝe pees and his power pleyned hym euere þo whan wisdome and sire waryn þe witty For þat wronge had ywrouȝte · so wikked a dede And warned wrong þo · with swiche a wise tale Who-so worches my wille · wratthe maketh ofte I sey it biy my-self · þow shalt it wel fynde But if mede it make · þy myschief is vp For boþe þy life and þy londe · liþ in his grace thanne wowed wrong · wisdome ful yerne To make is pees with is pens · handy dandy paied Wisdom and witty þan wenten togidyres And took Mede with hem · mercy to wynne Pees put forþ his hede · and his panne blody With-outen gilte god it wote · gat I þis skaþe Conscience and þe comune knowen þe sothe And wisdome and wit were aboute faste To ouercome þe kyng wiþ catel if þey myȝte the kyng swore by crist · and by his crowne boþe Þat wronge for hise werkes scholde wo þolye And comaunded a conestable · to cast hym in Irens And leet hym nouȝt þis seuene yer seen hise feet ones God wot quod wisdome þat were nouȝt þe beste And he amendes mowe make · lat mainprise hym haue And be borgh for his bale · and biggen hem bote And so amenden þat is mysdo · and euere more þe better Wit a-corded þer-with · and saide þe same Better is þat bote · bale adoun brynge than bale be ybette · and bote neuere þe better And thanne gan Mede to mengen hir · and mercy bisouȝt And profred pees a present al of pure golde Haue þis man of me quod she to amende þy skaþe For I wole wage for wronge · he wol do so namare Nota PitoulyPitou[s]ly pees þanne · prayed to þe kyng To haue mercy on þat man · þat mysdid hym so ofte For he has waged me wel · as wisdome hym tauȝte And I forgyue hym þat gilt · with a god wille So þat þe kyng assent · I kan say no better For Mede has made me amendes · I may namare axe Nay quod þe kyng þo · so me crist help Wronge wendes nouȝt so away · erst wille I more For loupe he so liȝtly · laughen he wolde And eft þe balder be · to bete myn hewen But reson haue routhe on hym · he schal reste in my stokkes And þat as longe as he l Barred.eues · bot lawnesse hym borwe Somme men redde reson þo · to haue reuthe on þat schrewe And for to conseille þe kyng · and conscience after Þat mede most be mainpernour · reson þey bisouȝte Rede me nouȝt quod reson no reuthe to haue Nota Til lordes and ladies louyen al trouthe And haten al harlotrie · to heren it or to mouthen it Til peronelle purfile · be put in hir hucche And children cherisyng · be chastyng with yerdes And harlotes holynesse be holden for an hyne Til clerken couettise be · to cloþe þe pore and to fede And religious romares recordare in hir? cloistres As seynt Benet hem badde · Bernard and Fraunceys Til prechours prechyng be preued on hem-seluen Til þe kynges conseil be þe comune profit Til bischopes bayardes ben beggers chambres Hir haukes an hir houndes · help þe pore religious And til saynt Iames be souȝt · ther I schal assigne That no man go to Calis but if he go for euere And alle rome renners for robbers of biȝonde Bere no siluer ouer see · þat signe of kyng schewes NettherNe[i]ther graue ne vngraue · gold neiþer siluer vp-on forfeture of þat fee · who-so fynt hym at Douere But if he be mearchaunt or his man · or messagere with lettres Prouisour or preste · or penaunt for his synnes And yet quod reson by þe rode · I schal no reuthe haue Whil Mede haes þe maistrie in þis moot halle And I may schewe ensamples · I se other while I say it by my-self quod he · and it so were Þat I were kyng with crowne · to kepe a reame Schulde neuer wrong in þis worlde · þat I wite myȝte Ben vnpunyssehed in my power · for peril of my saule Ne gete my grace for giftes · so me god saue Ne for no med haue mercy · but mekenesse it make For nullum malum the man · mette with Inpunitum And badde nullum bonum be Irremuneratum: Lat youre confessoure sir kyng construe þis vnglosed And if ye wyrken it in werke · I wedde myn eres that lawe shal ben a laboror · and lede a felde donge And loue shal lede thy lond · as þe lief likes Nota Clerkes þat were confessours coupled hem togiders Alle to construe þis clause · and for þe kynges profit And nought for confort of þe comune · ne for þe kynges soule For I seiȝ Mede in þe moot halle · on men of lawe wynke And thay laughyng lepe to hir · and laft reson manye waryn wisdome wynked vp-on Mede And saide madame I I am yowre mane · what-so my mouþe iangleth I falle in floreyns quod þat freke · and faille speche oft Alle rigtful recorded · þat reson trouþe tolde And wit a-corded þer-with · and comended hise wordes And þe moste pepile in þe halle · and many of þe grete And leten meknesse a maistre · and mede a mased schrewe Loue lete of hir liȝte · and leaute yet lasse And saide it so heiȝ · þat alle þe halle it herde Who-so wilneþ hir to wif · for welþe of hir goodes But he be knowe for a cokwolde · kut of my nose Mede mourned þo · and made heuy chere For þe most comune of þat Court called hir an hore And a sisour and a sompnour suyd hir faste And a schireues clerc bischrewed al þe route For oft haue I quod he · holp yow at þe barre And yet gaue ye me neuere · þe worþ of a resshe Plo The kyng called conscience and afterward resone And recorded þat reson hadde reufulliche shewed And modiliche vp-on Mede wiþ miȝte þe kyng loked And gand wax wroth with lawe · for Mede almost had schent And saide thorugh youre lawe as I leue I lese many chetes Mede oure Maistrieth lawe · And muche treuthe lettees An reson shal rekken wiþ yow if I rengne any while And deme yow by þis day · as ye han deserued Med shal nouȝt mainprise yow · by þe marie of heuene I wol haue leaut in lawe · and late be al youre iangelyng And as most folk witnesse wel · wronge shal be demed Quod conscience to þe kyng but comune wol assent It is ful hard by my hed · her-to to brynge it Alle youre lige leodes · to lede þus euene By hym þat rauȝte on þe rode · quod reson to þe kyng But if I reule þus youre reame · Rende out my guttes If ye bidden buxomnesse · be of myn assente And I assent saye þe kyng by seinte marie my ladyKD.4.189 is omitted. And redily reson · þow shalt noat ride fro me For as longe as I lyue · lete þe I nelle I am al redy quod reson to reste wiþ yow euere So conscience be of oure conseil · I kepe no bettre And I graunte quod þe kyng goddesforbodegoddes forbode it faille X Als longe as oure lif lasteþ · lyue we togidires Passus quintus De visione: t TheC.5.1: A three-line capital drawn in blue ink with red flourishes. kyng an hise knyȝtes · to þe kyrke wente Tho here matynes of þe day · and þe masse after Thanne waked I of my wynkyng · and wo wiþ-alC.5.3: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "al" in a red box to the right of C.5.4. Þat I ne hadde sleped sadder · and I-seiȝen more And er I hadde faren a forlong · feyntise me hente that I ne miȝte ferþer a foot · for defaute of slepynge And sat softly adoun · and saide my bileue And so I babeled on my bedes · þey brouȝte me a-slepe And þanne saue I mykile more · þanne I bifore tolde For I sey þe felde ful of folk · þat I bifore of saide And how reson gan arraien hym · al þe reame to preche And with a cros bifore þe kyng comsed thus to techen He preued þat þise pestilence · was for pure synne · Nota · And þe Southwest wynde · on Satirday at eue Was partiliche for pure pride · and for no poynt elles Pyries and plumtrees · were puffed to þe erthe In ensample ye segges · ye sholden do þe better Bechys and brode okes · were blowen to þe grounde Torned vpward hir tailles in toknyng of drede that dedly synne er domesday · shal fordone hem alle Of þis matere I myȝte · mamelye ful longe And I shal say as I saw · so me god helpe How pertly a-for þe pepyle · reson gandgan to preche He bad wastour go worche · what he best kouþe And wynnen his wastyng · wiþ som manere craft And praide peronele · hir purfile to lete And kepe it in coffre · for catel at hir nede · Nota bene · Tomme stowue he tauȝte · to take twa staues And fecche Felice hom · fro þe wyuen pyne He warned whtteC.5.30: The spelling wlitte is also possible. his wif was to blame Þat hir hed was worþ half a mark · his hed nouȝt worþ a grote And bad bette kut a bowghe or twayne And bete beton þer-wiþ · but she wolde worche And þanne he charged chapmen · to chasten hir children Late no wynnynge hem forweny · whil þey be yonge Ne for no pouste of pestilence plese hem nouȝt out of reson My sire saide so to me · and so dide my dame that þe leuere childe · þe more lore bihoues And salamon saide þe same · þat sapience made Qui parcit virge odit filium : the englissh of þis latyn is · who-so wol it knoweCHECK L.ȝ Who-so spares þe sprynge · spilles hise children · Nota · bene · And sithen he prayed prelates · and prestes togidres Þat ye prechen to þe pepyle preue it on youre-seluen And do it in dede · it shal drawe yow to goode If ye leuen as ye leren vs · we shal leue yow þe better And siþen he radde religioun · hir reule to holde List þe kyng and his conseil · youre comunes appaire And ben stiwardes of youre stedes · til ye be reulid better And siþen he conseilled þe kyng þe comune to louye It is þy tresore if treson ne were · and triacle at þy nede And siþen he prayed þe pope · haue pite of holichirche And er he gyue any grace · gouerne firste hym-seluen And ye þat han lawes to kepe · lat treuþe be youre coueitise More þan gold or oþer gyftes · if ye wole god plese For who-so contrarieth trouþe · he telles in the gospel That god knowes hym nouȝt · ne no seint of heuen amen amen dico vobis nescio vos The punctus elevatus has three dots: note in the introduction. And ye þat sekes seynt · Iames and seyntes of Rome Sekees saynt trouthe · for he may saue yow alle Qui cum patre & filio þat faire hem bifalle that suwes my sermon · and thus saide resone Thane ran repentaunce · and reherced his tyme And gerte wille to wepe · water with hise eyen Peronelle proude herte · platte hir to þe erþe Superbia And lay longe er she loked · and lord mercy cryed And bisouȝte to hym · that vs alle made Scho scholde vnsewen hir serk · and sette þer an heyre To affaten hir flesshe · þat feerse was to synne Shal neuere heiȝe herte me hente · but holde me lowe And suffre to be mysseid · and so dide I neuere But now wol I meke me · and mercy biseche For al this I haue · hated in myn herte Luxuria Thanne lecchour saide allas · an on oure lady he cried To make mercy for hise mysdedes · bitwene god and his soule With þat he sholde þe satirday · seuen yere after drynk but with þe doke · and dyne bot ones Inuidia Enuye with heuy herte · asked after shrifte And carfulliche mea culpa he comsed to schewe He was as pale as a pelet · in the palacye he semed And clothed in a Caury maury · I kouþe it nauȝt discryue In kirtel and courteby · and a knyf by his side Of a freres frokke · were the forsleues And as a leke hedde · yleyen longe in þe sonne So loked he with lene chekes · louryng foule · Nota · His body was to-bollen · for wrathe þat he bote hise lippes And wryngyng he yede with þe fiste · to wreke hym-self he thouȝteC.5.87: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "thouȝte" in a red box to the right of C.5.88. With werkes or wiþ wordes · whan he seighe his tyme Ech a word þat he warpe · was of an addres tonge Of chidyng and of chalangyng was his chief liflode With bakbityng and bismer · and beryng of fals witnesse Þis was al his curteisie · where þat he shewed hym I wolde ben I-shryue quod þis shrewe · And I for sham durst I wolde be gladder by god · þat gibbe had meschaunce · Nota · thanne þouȝ I hadde þis woke ywonneC.5.95: The words ywonne and a are separated by a virgule that may indicate caesura as well as a space between the words. a wey of Essex chese Peers I haue a neiȝ-bore neiȝ me · I haue enuyed hem ofteKD.5.94-95 omitted. And lowen on hym to lordes · to don hym lese his siluere And made hise frendes ben his foon thoruȝ my fals tonge His grace and his good happes greues me ful sore Bitwene many and many · I make debate ofte that bothe lif and lyme is loste · thorugh my speche And whan I mete hym in market · þat I moste hate I hailse hym hendeliche · as I is frende were For he is douȝtyer þan I · ydary dar do non other And hadde I maistre and miȝte · good woot my wille And whan I come to þe kirke · and shulde knele to þe rode And pray for þe pepyl · as þe prest teches For pilgrymes and for palmers · for al þe pepile after than I crye on my knees · þat crist gyf hem sorwe that bare awey my bolle and my broke shete Away fro þe auter þanne torne I myn eighen And biholde how Elyne · has a new cote I wisshe þanne it were myn · and alle webbe after And of mennes lesyng I laughe · þat wrerkes myn herte And for hir wynnyng I wepe · and waille þe tyme And deme þat hij done ille · ther I do wel worse Who-so vndernymes me her-of · I hate hym dedly after I wolde þat Ilk a wight · were my knaue For who-so has more þan I · þat angrees me sore And þus I loue loueles · like a lyther dogge Þat al my body bolnes · for bitter of my galle I myghte nouȝt ete many yeres · as a man ouȝte For enuye and yuel wille · is yuel to diffye May no sugure ne swete thyng Looped <g>. · asswage my swellyng Ne no diapendioun · dryue it fro myn herte Ne nouþer schrifte ne schame · but who-so schrape my mawe þis ȝis redily quod repentaunce has radde hym to þe beste Sorwe of synnes · is saluacion of soules I am sory quod þat segge · I am but selde oþer And þat makes me thus megre . Punctuation unclear. for I ne may me venge Amonges burgeis haue I be · dwellyng at londoun And grete bakbitynge be a brocour to blame mennes ware Whan he so?lde an I nouȝt · þanne was I redy To lee and to loure on my neghbour · and lakke his chaffare I wolde amend þis if I may · by my of god almyghty Ira Now awakes wrathe with two white eyen And s?neuelyng with his nose and his nekke hyngyng · nota · I am wrathe quod he I was some tyme a frere And þe couentes gardyner · for to graffen Impes On lymitours and listers · lesynges I Imped Til þey bere leues of low speche · lordes to plese And siþen þey blesmed abrode · in boure to hire schriftes And now is fallen þer-of a fruyt · þat folk han leuere Schewen hir schriftes to hem · þan shryuen to hir persons And now han parsones parceyued · þat freres parte with hem thise possessioners preche · and dempne freres And freres fynden hem in defaute · as folk berth witnesse Þat whan þey preche þe pepyle · in many place aboute I wratthe walkeswalke walke with hem · and wisse hem of my bokes Thus thay speke of spiritualte · þat aiþer dispises other Til þey be boþe beggers · and by my spiritualte libben Or elles alle riche · and riden a-boute I wratthe rest neuere · þat I ne most folowe This wikked folk · for swich is my grace I haue an Aunte to Nonne and an Abbasse bothe Hir were leuere swowen or swelte · þan suffre any peyne I haue be cook in hir kichyne · and þe couent serued Many monthes wiþ hem · and wiþ monkes bothe I was þe prioresse potager · and oþer pouere ladyes I made hir wortes with Iangelyng · þat dame Iohan was a bastard An dame Clarice a knyȝtes douȝter · and a cokwold was hir sire And dame Peronelle a prestes file · prioresse worþ she neuere For she hadde childe in chirityme · al oure chapiter it wiste Of wikked wordes I wrathe hir wortes made Til þow lixte and thow lixte · lopen oute atonesat onesRemove orig/reg tags on "atonesat ones" in FWLMOR etc. And aither hit other · vnder þe cheke Ha Hadde Need sic/cor tag? thay hadde knyues by crist · eiþer had kulled oþer Saynt Gregori was a good pope · and had a good forwit Þat no prioresse were preste · for þat he ordeigned Thay hadde þanne be infamis þe firste day · þei kan ille holde conseil Among Monkes I miȝte be · and many tyme I shonye For þey bemanybe many felle frekes · my freres to aspye Bothe Priour and suppriour and oure pater Abbas And if I telle any tales · þey take hem togiders And do me faste fridaies · to brede and to water And am chalenged in þe chapiter hous as I a childe were And baileised on þe bare ers · and no breche bitwene For-thy Ihaue I no likyng · with þo leodes to wonye I ete þer vnthende fisshe · and fiebyle ale drynke And oþer-while whan wyne come · and I drynke it at euene I haue a fluxe of a ful mouþe · wel fyue daies after Al þe wikkednesse þat I wote by any of oure brether I kouþe it in oure cloistere · þat al þe Couent woot it Now repent þe quod repentance and reherce þow neuere Conseil þat þou knoweste · by contenance ne by righte And drynke nouȝt ouer delicatly · ne to depe nowþer Þat þi wille be-cause þer-of · to wrathe miȝte torne Esto sobrius he saide · and assoilled me after And bad me wilne to wepe · my wikkednesse to amende AuaritiaThe word is divided over two lines. Discuss in the introduction. And þanne cam Couettise kan I nouȝt hym discryue So hungerly and holowe · sire henry hym loked He was bitelbrowed · and baburlipped boþe With two blered eighen · as a blynde hagge And as a letheren purs · lolled hise chekes Wel sidder þan his chynne · þei chiueled for elde And as a bonde-man of his bacon · his berd was bidraueled With an hood on his hed · a lousy hat abouen And in a tawny taberd · of twelf wynter age Al to-torne an baudy · and ful of lis crepyng But if þat a louse couþe · haue lopen þe better Scho shuld nouȝt haue walked there so was it thredebare I haue ben couettise quod þis caytif · I biknowe it here For some tyme I serued synne atte stile And was his prentice I-pliȝt · his prophete to wayte First I lerned to lye · a leef outher tweyne Wikkedliche to weye · was my first lessoun To wye and to wynchestre · I wente to þe faire With many manere marchandises · as my maister me hiȝte Ne had þe grace of gile · go among my chaffare It had ben vnsolde þis seuene yer · so me god helpe Than drowe I me among drapers my donet to lerne To drawe þe liser a-long · þe lenger it semed Among þe riche rayes · I rendered a lesson To broche hem with a paknedel · and plyghted hem togiders And putte hem in a presse · and pynned · hem þer-Inne Til ten yerdes or twelue · had tolled out thrittene My wif was a webbe · and wollen clothe made Sho spak to spynnesters · to spynnen it oute And þe pounde she paied biweyed a quaterone more than my owne aunser · who-so weyed trouþe I bouȝt hir barly malt · scho brewe it to selle Peny-ale and puddyng ale · she poured togiders For laborers and lowe folk · þat lay by hem-selue the beste ale lay in my bour · or in beddes chambre And who-so bommed þer-of · he bouȝt it þer-after A galoun for a groot · god woot no lesse And yet come in copmele þis craft my wif vsed Rose þe regrater · was hir riȝt name She has holden hokkerie · al hir lif-tyme And I swere now so thehi thee ik C.5.230: See KD on the variants of this reading. · þat synne wole I lete And neuere wikkedlich wey · ne wikked chaffare vse But wenden to walsyngham and my wif als And bid þe rode of Bromholm brynge me out dette Repentestow euere quod repentaunce or restitucioun madest yis ons I was herberd quod he · with an hep of chapmen I ros whan þei were arest · and riflede hir males þat was no restitucioun quod repentaunce but a robbers thefte Þow haddest be better worthy · be hanged þerfore thanne for al þat thow haste · here now yshewed I wende riflyng were restitucioun quod he · I lerned neuere on book And I kan no frensche in faythe · bot of ferrest ende of Northfolk Vsedestow euere vsurie quod repentaunce in al þy lif-tyme Nay sothely he saide · saue in my youthe I lerned among lumbardes and Iewes a lesson To wey pens wiþ a pays · and pare þe heuyeste And lene it for loue of þe crosse · to legge a wedde and lese it Swich dedes I deide write · if he his day breke I haue mo maners þurȝ rerages · þan þurȝ Miseretur & comodat I haue lente lordes · and ladyes my chaffare An ben hir brocour after · and bouȝt it my-selue Eschaunges and chiuysances · with swich chaffare I dele And lene folk þat lese wol a lippe · at euery noble And with lumbardes lettres · I ladde gold to Rome And took it by taille here · and tolde hem þer lasse Lendestow euere lordes · for loue of hir maintenaunce ye I haue lente lordes · loued me neuere after And haue maad many knyȝt · boþe mercer and draper Þat paied neuere for hir prentishode · nat a paire of gloues hastow pitee on p?ouere men · that moot nedes borwe · Nota · I haue as mikile pitee of hem · as pedlere has of cattes Þat wolde kylle hem if he miȝte · for to haue hir schynnes Artow manliche amang þy neiȝboures · of met and of drynke I am holden as heende quod he · as hounde is in kitchynne Among my neiȝboures nameliche · swich a name I haue Now god lene quod repentaunce bot thow repente þe rather The grace on this go?rounde thy goode wel to bisette Check in left margin - significant? Ne þyn heires after þe · haue Ioie of þat þow wynnest Ne thyn executours bisette þe siluer · þat þou hem leueste And þat was wonne with wronge · with wikked men be Odd shaping of letters in "be." dispended · Nota · For were I frere of þat hous · þer good faith an charite is I nolde cope vs with thy catel · ne oure kirke amende Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce · of thyn by my saule For þe best book in houre hous · þeiȝ brent gold were þe leues And I wiste witerly thow were swich as þow tellest Or elles þat I kouþe knowe it · by any kynnes wise · Verus · Does this require a sic/cor tag for "versus"? Seruus es alterius cum fercula pinguia queris. Pane tuo pocius vescere liber eris. Thow art an vnkynde creature · I can nouȝt þe assoille Til þow make restitucion · and rekne wiþ hem alle And sithen þat reson rolle þe · in þe Registre of heuene Þat þow hast made ech man goode · I may þe nouȝt assoile Non dimittitur peccatum donec restituatur oblatum & cetera · nota · For al þat haue of þy goode · haue god my trouþe Ben holden at þe hiȝe dome · to helpe þe to restitue And who-so leues this be nouȝt soþ · loke in þe sauter glose In miserere mei deus . wheir I mene trouþe Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti & cetera. Shal neuere werkman in þis world · thryue with þat þou wynneste Cum sancto sanctus eris & cetera Thanne wex þat schrewe in wanhope · and wolde han hanged him-selfC.5.290: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "self" in a red box to the right of C.5.291. Ne hadde repentaunce þe rather · reconforted in þis manere Haue mercy in þy mynde · and wiþ þy mouthe biseche it For goddes mercy is mare · than alle his other werkes And al þe wikkednesse in world · þat man miȝt do or thynke Nis namore to þe mercy of god · than in þe see a glede Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei est quasi sin-tillaScribal hyphen between n and t. in medio maris For-thy haue mercy in þy mynde · and marchandise leue it For thow hast no good ground · togetto get þe with a wastell Barred. Beot if it were with þy tonge · or elles with þy twa handes For þe good þat þou hast geten · bigan al with falsede And as long as þou lyuest þerwith · þou yeldest nouȝt bot borwest And if þou wost neuere to wich · ne whom to restitue Bere it to þe bisschop · and bid hym of his grace Bisete it hym-self · as best is for þy soule For he shal answere for þe · at þe heiȝ dome For þe and many mo · that man shal gyue a reknynge What he lerned yow in lenten · leue yow noon oþer And what he lente yow of · his goode · to wite yow fro synne For he sholde helpe yow · of oure lordes goode Now bigynnes · gloton for to go to shrift · Gula · And caires hym to kirkeward · his coupe to schewe An Beton þe brewester · bad hym goode morwe And axed of hym with þat · whiderward he wolde To holy chirche quod he · to here masse And siþen I wole be schryuen and synne namore I haue good ale gossib quod she · glotoun wiltow assaye Hastow ouȝt in þy purs · any hote spices I haue peper and pionus quod he · and a pounde of garlek A ferthyngworþ of fenel soeed for fastyng-dayes thanne goth gloton Inne · and gret othes after Cesse þe souteresse . satte on þe benche Watte þe warner and is wif bothe Symme þe tynker and tweyne of hise prentices Hik þe hakenay man and hugh þe nedeler Clarice of Cokkeslane and clerc of þe chirche Dawe þe diker and a dozein oþer Sire piers of pride and peronelle of flaundres A Ribibour a Ratoner a Raker of chepe A roper a Rydyngkyng and rose þe dissheres Godfray of garlekhiþe and griffyn þe walsshe And vpholders an hepe · erly by þe morwe Gyuen gloton with good chere · good al alealle Note strange spelling? But also see Bm's "alle." to hanselle Clement þe Cobler caste of his clooke And at þe newe faire he nempned it to selle Hikke þe hakenayman hitte his hoode after And bad bette þe bocher ben on his syde There were chapmen chosen · this chaffare to praise Who-so haue þe hoode · shul haue amendes of thorn;e cloke Two risen vp in rape and rowned togideres And praised þise peny-worthes · a-parte by hem-selueKD.5.327 is omitted. thay kouþe nat by hir conscience · acorden in trouthe Til Robyn þe Roper aroos by þe souþe And nempned hym for a nounpier · þat no debate nere For to trie þis chaffare bitwixen hem thre Hikke þe hostiler hadde þe clook In couenaunt þat Clement sholde þe cuppe fille And haue hikkes hode hostiler · and holden hym serued And who þat repentes rather · shul a-rise after An grete wele glotoun wiþ a galon ale Ther was laughynge and lourynge · and lat go þe cuppeKD.5.337 is omitted. And so setyn þey til euenesonge · and songen vmwhile Til gloton hadde globed · a galon and a gille Hise guttes bigonne to gothely · as two gredy sowes He pissed a potel in a pater noster while And blew his rounde rewett · at his rigges boun ende Þat al þat herde þat horn · held hir nose after And wisshedyn it had be waxed · with a wispe of firses He miȝte neiþer steppe no stonde · er he his staf hadde And þanne gan he go · lik a glew-mannesbicycheglew-mannes byche Som-tyme a-side · and som-tyme arere As who-so layeþ lynes for to lacches fowles And whan he drouȝ to þe dore · þan dymmed his eighen He stombled on þe threswold · and throwe to þe erthe Clement þe cobeler cauȝte hym by þe myddel For to lifte a-loft and leide hym on hise knewes And gloton was a grete cherle · and a grymme in þe liftynge And coughed vp a caudale in Clementes lappe Is no?on so hongry hounde in hertford schire durst lappe of þat leuynges so vnlouely þey smaughte Wiþ al þe wo of this world · his wif and his wenche Bar hym hom to his bed · and brouȝt hym þer-Inne And after al þis excesse · he had an Accidie Þat he slepe Satirday and sonneday til sonne took reste Þanne waked he of his wynkyng · and wiped hise eighen First word þat he warpe · was wheir is þe bolle His wit gan edwite hym þo · how wikkedliche he lyued And repentance riȝt so rebuked hym þat tyme As þou with wordis and werkes · hast wrouȝt ille in þy lyue Schriue þe and be schamed þer-of · and shew it with mouthe I gloton quod þe goome gilty me yelde Þat I haue trespassed with my tonge · I kan nat telle how ofte Sworen god soule and and so god me helpe an holy-dome Þere no nede ne was nyne hundred tymes And ouerseye me atte soper · and som-tyme at nones That I gloton girt vp er I hadde goon a myle And spilt þat miȝt be spared · and spendid on som hungerye Ouer-delicatly on fastyngdaies · dronken and eten bothe And satte som-tyme so longe þer · þat I sleped and ete atonesat onesC.5.388: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nes" in a red box to the right of C.5.389.Scribal hyphen between o and n. For loue of tales in tauernes · to drynke þe more I dyned And hied to þe mete er non · whan fastyng daies were This shewyng schrifte quod repentaunce shal be mercy to theC.5.391: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "the" in a red box to the right of C.5.392. And gan gloton grete · and gret dole to make For his lither lif · þat he lyued hadde And auowed to fast · for hungre or for thruste Shal neuere fisshe on Friday · diffien in my wombe Til abstinence myn Aunte · haue gyue me leue And yet haue I hated hir · al my lif-tyme · Accidia · Thane cam sleuthe al bislabired · with two slymy eighen I most sit saide þe segge · or elles · or elles sholde I nappe I may nat stonde ne stoupe · ne with-oute a stole knele Were I brouȝt a-bedde · but if my taillende it made Sholde no ryngyng do me rise · er I were ripe to dyne He bigan benedicite with a bolk · and isC.5.403: Note the h-less spelling for his. brest knokked And roxed and rored · and ritte atte laste A-wake renke quod repentance and rape þe to shrifte If I shold dye be thys day · me list nouȝt to loke I kan nouȝt perfitly my pater noster as þe preste syngeþ But I kan rymes of robyn hoode · an randolf erle of cestre And nouþer of oure lorde ne ourdour lady · þe lest þat is made I haue made vowes fifty · and foryete hem al at morwe I perfourned neuere penaunce · as þe prest me highte Ne riȝt sory for my synne · yet was I neuere And if I bedde any bedes · bot if it be in wratthe Þat I telle with my tonge is two myle fro myn herte I am occupied ech day · haliday anC.5.415: an, "and." oþer With ydel tales at þe ale · and oþer-while in cherches Goddes peyne and his passioun ful selde thynke I on I visited neuere fieble men · ne fettred folk in pittes I haue leuere here an harlotrie or somer game of souters or lesynges to laughe at · and bilye my neȝebores than al þat euer marke made · matheu Iohan and lucas And vigiles and fastyngdayes · al þise lat I passe And ligge abedde in lenten · and my lemman in my armes Til matyns an masse be do · þan go to þe freres Come I to Ite missa est · I holde me serued I nam nat shryuen som-tyme · but siknes it make Nouȝt twies in two yer · and þanne vp gesse I schryue I haue ben preste and persone · passyng thritty yere Yet kan I neiþer solfe ne synge · ne seyntes lyues rede But I kan fynde in a fel or in a furlonge an hare · nota Beter þan in Beatus vir or in beati omnes Construe on clause wel an kenne it to my parisshennes I kan holde louedayes · an here a reues reknyngKD.5.421 is omitted. If I bygge an borw it but if it be tailled I forgete it as yerne · and if men me it axe Sixe sithes or seuene · I for-sake it with othes And thus tene I trew men · ten hundreth tymes And my seruantz som-tyme · hir salarie is bihynde Reuthe is to here þe reknyng · whan we schul rede acountes So with wikked wille and wrathe · my werke-men I paye If any man do me a bien fait · or helpe me at nede I am vnkynde to his curteise · and kan nouȝt vnderstonde it For I haue and haue had somdele haukes maners I am nouȝt leired with loue · but auȝt be vnder þe þombe þe kyndenesse þat my euene cristen · kydde me fernyere Sixti siþesIsiþes I sleuþe · haue foryet it sithe In speche and in sparyng of speches · I-spilt many tymes Boþe flesshe and fisshe · butter mylk an chesse Boþe brede an ale and many other vitailles Forsleuyed in my seruice · til it miȝt serue no man · I ran aboute in youþe · an gaf me nouȝt to lerne And euere siþe haue be begger for my foule sleuþe Heu michi quia sterilem vitam duxi Iuuenilem Repentestow nauȝt quod repentaunce & riȝt with þat he swowned Til vigilate þe veille · fette water at his eighen And flatte it on his face · and faste on hym cried And sayde war þe fro wanhope · wolde þe bitraye I am sory for my synnes · say to thy-selue And bette þy-self on þi breste an bid hym of grace For is no gilt here so grete · þat isC.5.460: Note again the h-less spelling for his goodnesse is more Thanne satte sleuþe vp and sayned hym swithe And made awowe to-for god · for his foule sleuþe Shal no sonday be þis seuene yer · but siknesse it lette Þat I ne schal do me er day · to þe dere chirche And here matyns and messe · as I a monke were Shal noon ale after mete · holde me þennes Til I haue euensonge herde · I behote to þe rode And yet wol I yelde ayein · if I so muche haue Alle þat I wikkidly wanne · syth I wit hadde And þouȝ my liflod lakke · leten I nelle Þat eche man ne shal haue his · er I hennes wende And with residue and þe remainant · by rode of chestre I shal seke treuthe eft erst · er I se Rome Roberd þe robber on reddite looked And for þer was nouȝt wher-of · he weped swithe sore And yet þe synful shrewe · saide to hym-selue Criste þat on Caluary vp-on þe croice deidest Þo dismas my broþer bisouȝte yow of grace And haddest merci of þat man for memento sake So rew on this robber · þat reddere ne haue · Ne neuere wen to wynne · with craft þat I owe But þy mykel mercy · mytigacioun I biseche Ne dampne me nouȝt at domesday for þat I dide so ille What bifel of þis felon I kan nouȝt faire schewe Wel I woot he wepte faste water · wiþ boþ hise eighen And knowlichid his gilt to crist · yet eft sones That penitencia his pik · he sholde polissh newe And lep wiþ hym ouer londe · al his tyme For he hadde leyn by latro lucifers aunte And þanne had repentaunce reuthe · and red hem alle to knele For I shal biseche for al synful · oure saueour of grace To amende vs of oure mysdedes · and do mercy to vs alle Now god quod he of þy goodnesse · þat gonne þe worlde make And of naught madest aught · and man most like to þy-selueC.5.494: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "selue" in a red box to the right of C.5.495. And siþen suffrest for to synne · a sekenesse to vs alle And al for þe best as I bileue · what euere þe book telle O felix culpa o necessarium peccatum ade & cetera For thorugh þat synne þy sone · sente was to þsþ[i]s erþe And bicam man of a maide · mankynde to saue And madest þy-self wiþ þy sone · and vs synful ylicheKD.5.487-89 are omitted. But in oure secte was þe sorwe · and þy son it ladde Captiuam duxi captiuitatem & cetera Þe sonne for sorwe þer-of · lese sight for a tyme Aboute mydday whan most light is · and mele-tyme of sayntesC.5.504: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "tes" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.5.505. Feddest with þy fresshe blode · oure forefaders in derkenesse Populus qui ambulat in tenebris vidit lucem magnam And thorwh þe light þat lepe out of þe · lucifer was blent And blew al þy blissed · in-to þy blisse of paradis the thyrde day after þow yedest in oure suyte And synful marie þow seiȝ · er seinte Marie þy dame Al to solace synful · þow suffredest it so were Non veni vocare Iustos set peccatores ad penitenciam And al þat Marke hath ymade Mathew Iohan ada[n]d lucas Of thyn douȝty dedes were doon in oure armes verbum caro factum est & habitauit in nobis And by so muche me semes · þe sikerer we mowe Bidde an biseche it · if it be þy wille Þat art our fader and our broþer · be merciable til vs And haue rewth on þise ribaudes · þat repenten hem here sore Þat euere þei wrathe þe in þis worlde · in word þouȝt or dede Than hent ?hope an horn · of deus tu conuersus viuificabis And blew it wiþ beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates Til alle seyntes in heuene sogenso[n]gen atonesat ones Homines & Iumenta saluabis quem admodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus & ceteraC.5.524: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "tuam deus & cetera" in a red box to the right of C.5.525. A thousand of men þo thrungen to-giders Cried vpward to crist · and to his clene moder To haue grace to go wiþ hem · treuþe to sekeKD.5.513 is omitted. But blustrenden for as bestes · ouer bankes and hilles Til late was and longe til þey a leode mette Apparailled as a paynym in pilgrymes wise He bar a burdon ybounde with a brode liste In a swithe wyndes wise · ywounden aboute A bolle and a bagge he bar by his side An hundreth of ampulles · on his hatte seten Signes of synay · and shelles of galice And many crouche on his cloke · and keyes of Rome An þe vernycle bifore · for men shuld knowe And se by hise signes · whom he souȝt hadde thys folk freyned hym firste · fro whennes he come Fro Synay he saide · an fro oure lordes sepulcre In bedlem and in babilon I haue ben in bothe In Ermonye in Alisaundre in many oþer places Ye may se by my signes · þat sitte on myn hatte that I haue walked ful wide in wete an in drye And soughte goode seyntes · for my soules helthe · nota · kno?westow ought a corseynt · þat men calle treuthe koudestow wissen vs þe wey · wher þat he dwelles Nay so me god helpe saide þe gome þanne I seiȝ neuere palmere with pike ne with scrippe Axen after hym er now · in þis place Peter quod a plowman an putte forth his hede I knowe hym as kyndely · as clerc doþ his booke Conscience and kynde wit · kennede me to his place And dide me swere sikerly · to serue hym for euere Boþe to sowe and to sette · þe while I swynke myȝte I haue ben his folower · al this fifty wynter Boþe sowen his sede · and fedde hise bestes. Wiþ-Inne and with-outen · waited his profit I dike and delue · I do þat treuthe hotes Some-tyme I sowe · an some-tyme I thresshe In taillours craft and tynkers craft · what treuþe kan deuise I weue and I wynde · and I do what treuþe hotes For þouȝ I sey it my-self · I serue hym to paie Ich haue myn hire wel · and oþer-whiles more He is þe prestest paier · þat poure men knoweþ He with-halt no hew his hyir · þat he ne has it at eue He as lowe as a lombe · and loueliche of speche And if ye wilnes to wite · where þat he dwelles I shal wisse yow witerly þe way to his place Ye leue piers quod þis pilgrymes · and profered hym hire For to wende with hem · to treuthe dwellyng place Nay by my soule quod piers and gan for to swere I nolde fange a ferþyng · for saynt Thomas shryne Treuthe wolde loue me þe lesse · longe tyme after And if ye wilneþ to weende wel · þis is þe way þider Þat I shal say to yow · and sette yow in þe soþe Ye moot go þurgh mekenesse · boþe men and wyues Til ye come to conscience · þat criste wite þe soþe Þat ye louen oure lord · god leuest of alle thinges And þan youre neiȝbores next · in noon wise appeire Oþer-wise þan þou woldest · he wrouȝte to þy-selue And so bowe forþ by a brook · bees buxom of speche Til ye fynden a forde · youre fadres honoureth Honora patrem & matrem & cetera. Wades in þat water ; and wasshe yow wel there And ye shal lepe lighter alle youre lif-tyme And so shaltowe se · swere nouȝt but if it be for nede And namliche an ydel · the name of god almighti thane shaltow come by a crofte · but com nat þer-Inne Þat crofte hatte coueite nouȝt · men catel ne hir wyues Ne non of hir seruantz · þat noyen hem miy or þght Loke ye breke no bowes þer · but if it be youre owne Two stokkes þer stonde · and stynt þe nouȝt þer They hatte stele nouȝt ne slee nouȝt · strik forþ bifore And leue hem on þy left half · and loke nouȝt þer-after And holde wel þyn haliday · hieighe til euene than shaltow blenche at a bergh · bere no fals witnes He is frithed inne with floreyns · and oþer fees manye loke þow plukke no plaunte þer · for peril of þy soule Thane shul þye see say soth · so it be to doone In no manere elles nouȝt · for no mannes biddyng Thane shaltow come to a court as clere as þe sonne the moote is of mercy · the manere aboute Alle þe walles ben of wit · to holden wille oute And kirneled wiþ cristendome · mankynde to saue · Nota Bitrased with bileue so · or þou best nouȝt saued And alle þe houses be hiled · halles and chambere Wit no leode but with loue · and lowe speche as brethren The brygge is of bid wel · þe better may þou spede Ilke piler is of penuancepen[a]unce · of proayer to sayntes Of alma?esdedeC.5.611: CY alone have the singular form dede. are þe hokes · þe ·gates hangen on Grace hatte þe gateward · a good man for sothe His man hatte amende yow · for many men hym knowes Telles hym this taken · þat treuthe wite þe sothe I perfourned þe penance · þe preste me enioyned And am ful sory for my synnes · and so I shal euere Whan I thynke þer-on · thouþ I were a pape Biddes amende yow mek hym til is maister ones Tho wayue vp þe wiket · þat þe womman shette Þo adam and eue eten appels vnrostes Per euam cunctis clausa est & per mariam virginem patifacta est & ceteraC.5.621: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "& cetera" in a red box to the right of C.5.622. For scho has þe key an þe cliket · þouȝ þe kyng slepe And if grace graunte the · to go in this wise thow shalt se in þy-selue · treuthe sitte in þyn herte In a cheyne of charite · as þow a childe were To suffre hym and saye nouȝt ayein thy eires wille And be war þan of wratthe þat is a wikked shrewe He has enuye til hym · that in þyn herte sittes And pukkes for pride · to preise þy-seluen the boldnesse of thy bienfaittes · make þe blyne þanne And þan worstow dryues out as a dew · and þe dore closed Keyed and cliketed to kepe þe wiþ-outen Haply an hundreth wynter · er þow eft entre thus miȝt þow lesen his loue · to leate wel by þy-selue And neuere hapiliche eft entre · but grace þou haue And þer be seuene systers · þat seruen treuthe euere And be portes of þe posternes · that to place longes Þat oon hat abstinence · and humilite an-oþer Charite and chastite · ben hise chief maidenes pacience and pees muche pepyle · þey helpe Largenesse þe lady sho late in ful many Sho has holpe a thousand out of þe deueles pounfolde And who-so is sibbe to þise seuene · so me god helpe He is wonderliche welcome · and faire vnderfongen And bot if ye be sibbe · to somme of þis seuene It is ful hard by myn hed quod piers · for any of yowe alleC.5.646: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "alle" in a red box to the right of C.5.647. To geten Ingange at þe gate þer · but grace be þe moare Now by criste quod a kutpurs I haue no kynne þer Nor I quod an apward · by aught þat I knowe Wite god quod a wayfrester · wist I þis for soþe shul I neuere ferþer a foot for no freres prechynge Yis quod Piers þe plowman and pute the alle to gode Mercy is as maiden þer · has miȝt ouer alle And she is sibbe to alle synful · and hire sone also And þurȝ þe help of hem two hope þou non oþer Thow miȝt gete grace þer-by · so þou go by-tyme By saynt paul quod a pardoner per-auenture I be nouȝt knowe þerC.5.657: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "know þer" in a red box to the right of C.5.658. I wol focche my box with my breuetz · & a bulle with bisshope lettres By crist quod a commune womman þy compaignye wol I folwe thow shal say I am þy syster · I ne woot where þey bicome Passus sextus de visione & cetera t ThisC.6.1: The three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes. were a wikked way bot who-so hadde a gyde Þat wolde folwe vs eche a foot · thus þis folk hem menedC.6.2: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing mened in a red box to the right of C.6.3.KD.6.3 is omitted. I haue an ahalf acre to erye · by þe heigh way Had I eried þis half acre · and sowen it after I wyl wende with yow · and þe wey teche This were a long Loop on <g>. lettyng · quod a lady in a slaireKD.6.8 is omitted. some shul sowe þe sakke quod piers for shedyn?g of whete And ye louely ladies with youre longe fyngers That ye haue silk an sandel · to sewe whan tyme is Chesibiles for chapeleyns · cherches to honoure Wyues and widewes · wole and flexe spynnes Make clathe I consaille yow · and kennes youre douȝtres Þe nedy and þe naked · t?akes hede how þey ligge And castes hem cloþes for so comaunde treuþe For I shal lene hem liflode · but if þe lande faille Flesshe and brede bathe · to riche and to pouere As longe as I lyue · for þe lordes loue of heuene And alle manere of men · þat thorwet þoruȝ meet & drynk lyues Helpes hym to wyrche wiȝthly · þat wynnes youre foode By crist quod a knyght þo · he kennes vs þe beste And on þe teme treuly · caught was I neuere And ken me quod þe knyȝt · and I wole assaie By saynt poul quod perkyn ye profre yow so faire Þat I shal swynke an swete · and saw for vs baþe And oþer labours do for þy loue · al my lif-tyme In couenaunt þat þow kepe · holy kirke and þy-selue Fro wastours and wikked men · þat þis world struthes And go hunte hardiliche · to hares and to foxes To bores an to brokkes · þat breke a-down my hegges And go a-faite þy faucons · wilde foules to kille For swilce comes to my croft · and croppes my whete Curteisliche þe knyȝt þanne · comsed þise wordes By my power Piers quod he · I pliȝte þe my trouthe To fulfille þis forwarde · þough I fighte shulde As lange as I lyue · I shal þe mayntene Ye and yet point quod Piers I pray yow of more loke ye tene no tenaunt · bot trouthe wole assente And þough ye mowe a-mercie · lat mercy be taxour And mekenesse þe maister · maugre medes chekes And þouȝ pouere men profre yow · presentes and gyftes Nymme it nat an auenture · ye mowe it nouȝt deserue For þow shalt yelde it ayein · at one yeres ende In a ful perilouse place · purgatorie it hatte Misbede nat þy bondemen · þe better m Unusual formation.ay þou spede Thouȝ he be þy vnderlyng here · wel may happe in heuen Þat he worthier sit · and with more blisse Amice ascende superius Þan þow bot þou do bette · And lyue as þow shulde For in charnel and in cherche · churles ben yuele to knowe Or a knyȝt fram a knaue · knowe þis in þyn herte And be trew of þyn tonge · ?and loke þow tales hatye But if it be wisdome or wit · þy werkmen to chastie Holde wiþ none harlotes · ne here nouȝt hir tales And namelich at þe mete · swich men eschue For it ben þe defuels disours · I do þe to vnderstone I assent by seint Iame · þe knyȝt sayde þanne For to worche by thy wordes · þe while my lif dureth I shal apperaille me quod perkyn in pilgrymes wise And wend with yow I wol til we fynde treuþe And caste on my clathes · I-clouted and hole My cokers and my cuffes · for calde of my nailes And hange myn hoper at myn hals · in stode of a scrippe A busshel of bred corn · brynge me þer-Inne For I wyl saw it my-self · and siþen wyl I wende To pilgrymage as palmers don · pardon for to haue And who-so helpes me to erie · or sowe er I wende Shal haue leue by oure lord · to lacche her in herueste And make myry þer-with maugre who-so grucches And alkyn crafty men · þat konne lyue in trouthe I shal fynde hem food · þat faiþfulliche lyuees Saue Iakke þe Iogelour · and Ionette of þe stewes And danyel þe doees player and Enote þe baude And frere þe faitour and folk of his ordere And Robyn þe rebaudour · for his rusty wordes Treuþe tolde me ones · and bad me telle it after Deleantur de libro viuencium. For holy chirche is hote · of hem no tithe to take Quia cum iustis non scribantur They be escaped good auenture · god hem amende Dame werche whan tyme is Piers wif hiȝte His dosterdouȝter hiȝt do riȝt so · or þy dam shal þe bete his sone hiȝt suffre þy suffereignes · to haue hir wille dem hem nouȝt for if þou do · þow shalt isi[t] dere a-byggeKD.6.82 is omitted. For now I am olde and hoor · and haue of myn owene To penaunce and pilgrymage · I wol passe with þis other Forþy I wol er I wende · do write my biqueste In dei nomine amen I make it my-selue He shal haue my soule · þat best haþ I-serued it And fro þe fende it defende · for so I bileue Til I come to hise acountes as my credo me telles To haue a relese and a remissioun · on þat rental I bileue The kirke shal haue my cariogne · and kepe my bones For of my corn and catel · he craued þe tithe I payed it hym prestly · for peril of my saule For-þy is he holden I hope · to haue me in his masse And mengen in his memorie · among al cristene My wif shal haue of þat I wanne · with trouthe and namore And dele among my douȝters · and my dere childerne For þouȝ I dye to-day · my dettes er quitte I bar hom þat I borwed er I to bedde yede And with þe residue of þe remenant by þe rode of lukes I wol worshippe þer-wiþ · treuthe by my lyue And ben his pilgryme at plow · for pouer men sake My plow-foot shal be my pikstaf · and picche a-two þe rotes And helpe my cultour to kerue · an clense þe forwes Now is perkyn and hise pilgrymes · to þe plow faren To erie þis half acre helpen hym manye Dikers and deluers · digges vp þe balkes Ther-wiþ was perkyn appaied · and praised hem faste Other werkmen þer were · þat wrouȝt ful faste Elke man in his manere · made hym-self to doone And somme to plese Perkyn · piked vp þe wedes At heighe prime piers lete þe plow stonde To ouersen hem hymself · and who-so best wroughte He sholde be hired þer-after · whan heruest-tyme come And þanne seten som · and sogenso[n]gen atte nale An holpen herie his half acre · with how trolly lolly Now by the peril of my saule quod piers al in pure tene But ye arise þe rather · and rape yow to worche Schal no gretwo minimsyn þat groweþ · glade yow at neede And þouȝ ye dye for dole · þe deuel haue þat recches Two were Faituours aferd · and feynd hem blynde Somme layde hir legges a-lyr?ye · as swiche losels knoues And made hire moone to piers · and prayed hym of grace For we haue no lymes to labour with · lord ygraced be ye And praye for yow piers · and for youre plow baþe Þat god of his grace · youre grayn multiplie And yeld yow of youre almese · þat ye gyue vs here For we may nouȝt swynk ne swete · swilke seknesse vs If þis be sooth quod piers I shal it soone aspie Ye be wastours I wate wel · and treuþe woot þe sothe And I am his olde hyne · and hiȝte hym to warne · Which þey were in þis world · hise werkmen appeired Ye wasten þat men wynnen · with trauaille and tene And treuþe shal teche yow his teme to driue Or ye shal ete barly bred · and of þe brook drynke But if he be blynde or broke legged · or bolted wiþ Irenes He shal ete whete bred · and drynke with my-selue Til god of his goodnesse · amendement hym sende · And ye myȝt trauaille as treuthe wolde · and take mete & hir To kepe kyene in þe felde · þe corn fro þe bestes dyken or deluen · or dyngen vp-on sheues Or help make morter · or bere mukke a-felde In leccherie and losengerie · ye lyuen and in sleuþe And al is thurgh suffrance · þat vengeaunce yow ne takes As ancres and heremytes þat ete nat but at nones And namore er morwe · myn almyesse shal thay haue And catel to cope hem wiþ · þat han cloisters and cherches And Roberd renne aboute · shal nouȝt haue of myn Ne postles but þey preche konne · and haue power of þe bissope Þey shul haue payn and potage · and make hem at ese For it is an vnresonable religioun · þat has no-thyng incertayn in certayn thane gan a wastour wratthe hym · and wolde han fought And to piers þe plowman · he profred his gloue A Britoner a bragger aC.6.155: a, "he." bosted piers als And bad hym go pisse with his plow · forpyned shrewe Wiltow or neltow we · wol haue oure wille Of þy flour and of þy flesshe · facche whan vs likes And make vs mery þer-with · maugre þy chekes Thanne Piers þe plowman pleyned hym to þe knyȝt To kepe hym as couenaunt was · fro cursed shrewes And fro þise wastours wolf skynnes · þat make þe world dere For þo wasten and wynne nouȝt · and þat ilke while · Piers · Worþ neuere plente among Looped. þe peple þer · while my plow leggesC.6.164: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "legges" in a red box to the right of C.6.165. Curteisly þe knyȝt þanne his kynde walde Warned wastour and wissed hym better Or thow shalt abygge by þe lawe · by þe ordire þat I bere I was not wonte to worche quod wastour · and now I nyl bigyne And lete light of þe lawe · and lasse of þe knyȝt An sette Piers at a pese · and his plowht baþe And manaced piers and his men · if þey mette eft-sone Now by þe peril of my saule quod Piers I shal appeire yow alleC.6.172: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "yow alle" in a red box to the right of C.6.173. And houped after hunger · þat herd hym atte firste A-wreke me of þise wastours quod he · þat þis world shendes Hunger In haste þo hente wastour by þe mawe And wronge hym so by þe wombe · þat baþe hise eighen wattred He buffeted þe britoner a-boute þe chekes Þat he loked like a lanterne · al his lif after He bette hem so boþe he brast nere hir guttes Ne had Piers wiþ a pese lafe · prayed hunger to cesse Þey had be doluen baþe na deme þou non other Suffre hem lyue he sayde · and lat hem ete wiþ hogges Or elles benes an bran ybaken togidires Or elles mylk and meynye ale · þus prayed pers for hem Faitours for fere þer-of flowen in-to bernes And flapped on wiþ flailes · fra morwe til eue?ne Þat hunger was nouȝt so hardy on hem for to look For a potful of pese · þat piers had ymaked And hepe of heremytes henten hem spades And kutten hir capes and curtbyes hem made And wenten as werkmen · with spades and schouelles And doluen and dikeden to dryue awey hunger Blynde and bedreden · were botoned a thousande And seten to begge siluer · sone were þey heled For þat was bake for bayard · was bote for many hungry And many begger for bens · buxom was to swynke And elke a pouere mane wel payed · to haue pesen for his hireC.6.197: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "hire" in a red box to the right of C.6.198. And what Piers preaide hem to do as prest as a sperhauk And þer-of was Piers proude · and putte hem to werke And gaf hem mete as he miȝte a-forþe · and mesurable hire thanne had Piers pitte · and praied hunger to wenden Hame in-to his owne erþe · and holden hym þer For I am wel a-wroke now · of wastours þuȝrȝ þy miȝt And I praye þe or thow passe quod pers to hunger Of beggers and bidders · what best be to doone For I wot wel be thow went · þey wol worche ful ille For meschief it makes · þey be so meke nowe And for defaute of htwo minimsyr foode · þise folk is at my wille Thay er my blody brether quod piers · for god buouȝt vs alle Treuþe tauȝte me ones to loue hem echone And to helpe hem of al þyng · ay as hem nedes And now wolde I wite of þe what were þe beste And how I miȝt maister hem · and make hem to worche · Nota · Here now quod hungre and holde it for a wisdom Bolde beggers and bigge · þat mowe hir bred biswynke Wiþ houndes bredde and horsbrede · hold vp hir hertes Abate hem wiþ benes · for bolnyng of hir wombe And if þey grucche þanne · bidde hem go swynke And he shal soupe swetter · whan he it haþ deserued And if þow fynde any freek · þat fortune has appairedKD.6.219-20 are omitted. Loue hym and lene hym · for so þe lawe teches Alter alterius onera portate. And al manere of men · þow miȝt aspye Þat nedy ben and noughty help hem wiþ þy goodesKD.6.224 is omitted. Loue hem and lakke hem nouȝt · lat god take þe vengeaunce Theigh þey don yuel · lat god worthe Michi vindictam & ego retribuam And if þou wilt be gracious to god · do as þe gospel teches And biloue þeamongesþe amonges unusual e. low men · so shaltow lacche grace Facite vobis amicos de mammona iniquitatis I walde nouȝt greue god quod peres · for al þe good on grounde Miȝte I synles do as þow saiste · saide pers þanne Ye I bihote þe quod hunger · or elles þe bibile lies Go to Genesis þe geaint þe engendrour of vs alle In sudore an swynke þow shalt þy mete tilye And labour for þy liflod · and so oure lorde hiȝte And sapience seiþ þe same · I se it in þe bibile Piger per frigore no felde nolde tilie And þerfore shal he begge and bidde · and no man bete his hungreC.6.239: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "hungre" in a red box to the right of C.6.240. Mathew wiþ mannes face · mouthe þise wordes · Nota · That seruus nequam had a Mnam and for he nolde nat chaffareC.6.241: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "fare" in a red box to the right of C.6.242. He had maugre of his maister · eueremore after And bynam hym his Mnam for he wolde werche And gaf þat Mnam to hym þat ten Mnammes hadde And with þat he saide þat holichirch it herde He þat has shal haue · and helpe þer it nedes And he hath nouȝt shal nouȝt haue · and no man hym help And þat he wenes wel to haue · I wole it hym bireue Kynde wit wolde · þat elkeC.6.249: The first e of elke is ill-formed. a wight wroughte Or in dikyng or deluyng or trauaillyng in prayers Contemplatif lif · or actif crist wolde þey wroughte the sauter saies in the salme of Beati omnes Þe freke þat fedes hym-self · wiþ faytful labour he is blissed by þe booke in body an in soule Labores manuum tuarum & cetera Yet I praye yow quod pers per charite and ye konne Any leef of lechecrafte · lere it me my dere. For somme of my seruantz · and my-self bothe Of al a wike werche nat · so oure wombe akeþ I woot wel quod hunger · what sekenesse yow aylees Ye haue manged to muche · and þat makes yow to grone And I hotte þe quod hunger · as þou þyn hele wilnest Þat þow drynke no day · er þow dyne somwhat Ete nouȝt I hotte þe · er hunger þe take And sende þe of his sauce · to sauour with þy lippes And kepe som for soper tyme · and sitte nat to longe And rise vp er appetit · haue eten his fille Lat nouȝt sir surfaite · sitten at þy borde Leue hym nat for he is likerous · and lecherous of his tonge And after many maners metes · his mawe is a-fyngerd And if þou dyete thus · I dar legge myn eres Þat fisik shal his furred hoodes · for his foode selle And his cloke of calabre · with alle þe knoppes of golde And be fayn by my faiþ · his phisik to leete And lere to labour with lande · for liflode is swete For mortherers er many leches · lord hem amende Þey do men dye thorugh hir drynkes er destyne wolde By saynt poule quod perkyn þise aren profitable wordes Wende now hunger whan þou wolt þat wel be þou euere For þis is a louely lessoun · lord þe foryelde Bihote god quod hunger hennes wol I nat wende Til I haue dyned by þis day · and I-dronke bothe I haue no peny quod piers · polettes for to biggeKD.6.281 omitted Plowman A fewe cruddes and creme · and an hauer cake And twa laues of benes and branne · I take for my fauntes And yet I say by my soule I haue no salte bacoun · Ne no cokeney by crist · colops for to make And I haue percelle and porettz · and many cale plantes And ek a kow and a calf · and a carte mare To drawe a-felde my donge · þe while weder is drye And by þis liflod we moot lyue · to heruest tyme And by þat I hope · to haue heruest in my crofte And þan may I dight þe dyner · as me dere likes Alle þe pouere pypile þo · pesecoddes fettenKD.6.293 is omitted. Benes chibolles and cherueles · and many oþer herbes To make Piers a present · to plese with his hunger An hunger ete in haste · and asked after more thanne pouere folk for fere · fedde hunger yerne With grene porrettes and pesen · hunger þey thoughte By þat neighed heruest · corn cam to chepyng thanne was folk fayn and fedde hem of þe besteKD.6.301 is omitted. And þo wolde nouȝt werche · but wandred aboute Ne no begger ete brede · þat benes Inne were But of coket or clene whete · and drynk of þe beste aleKD.6.305-09 are omitted. But fresshe flessh oþer fisshe · fried oþer bake And þat chaude or plus chaude · for chillyng Looped. of hir mawe And but he be heighliche hired elles wol he chideKD.6.313 is omitted. Ayeins caton conseil · comseth he to Iangle Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento He greues hym ayeins god · and grucches ayeins resoun And he corses þe kyng and al his conseil after Swilk lawes to look · laborers to greue And whiles hunger was hir maister · wolde þey nat chide Ne stryue ayeins his statute · so strernlichesternliche he loked And I warne yow werkmen · wynnes while ye mowe For hunger hiderward · hastes hym faste He shal a-wake wiþ water · wastours to chastie Er fyue be fulfilled · famyn shal arise thourgh flodes and foule wedres · fruytes shal faille And sa saide Saturne · and sente yow to warne Whanne ye se þe sonne amys · and two monkes hedes And a maide haue þe maistrie · and multiplie by eighte Þanne shal deth wiþdrawe and derthe be Iustice And dawe þe diker deye for hunger But if god of his goodnesse graunte vs a trewe Passus septimus de visione vt supra : SReuthe[T]ReutheC.7.1: The three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes. herde telle here-of · and to piers he sente To taken his teme · and tilien þe erthe And purchaced hym a pardon · a pena & a culpa . For hym and for his heires · for euere-more after And bad hym holde hym at hom · and erien his leyes And al þat halpe hym to erie · to sete or sawe Or any oþer meister · þat miȝt piers auaille Pardon with pers plowman treuþe has ygraunted kynges and knyȝtes · þat kepen holy chirche · And riȝtfulliche in reames · reulen þe pepyle · Han pardon thurgh purgatorie · to passen ful lighte With Patriarkes and prophetes · in paradis to be felawe Bisshopes I-blessed if þey ben · as þey shulden Legistres of boþe þe lawes · þe lewede þerwith to preche And in as muche as þey mowe amende alle synful Aren peres wiþ þe apostles · þis pardoun piers shewes And at þe day of dome · at þe highe dey?s to sitte Marchantz in þe margyne had many yeres And non a pena & a culpa þe pape nolde hem graunte For thay held nouȝt hir halidayes · as holy chirche teches And for þey swere by hir saule · and so god moste hem helpe Ayeins clen conscience · hir catel to selle And vndir his secrete seel · treuthe sente hem a lettre · Þat þey shulde bugge · boldely þat hem beste liked And siþen selle it ayein · and saue þe wynnyng And amende mesondeux þer-with · and myseise folk helpeKD.7.27 is omitted. And do bote do brtwo minimsygges þat to-broken were Marien maidens · or make hem nonnes Pouer pepile and prisones · fynden hem hir liflode And sette scolers to scole · or to some oþer craftes Releue religion · and renten hem bette And I shal sende yow my-self · saynt Michel myn Archangel Þat no deuel shal yow dere · ne fere yow in youre doyng And witen yow fro wanhope · if ye wol þus werche And sente youre soules in sauete to my seyntes in Ioie Thanne were marchantz mury · many wepten for Ioie And praised Piers þe plowman · þat purchaced þis bulle Men of lawe leest pardon hadde · þat pleteden for mede For þe sauter saues hem nouȝt swich as takes gyftes And nameliche of Innocens · þat non yuel konnes Super Innocentem munera non accipies · Pledours sholde pyne hem to plede · for swiche and helpe Prynces and prelates · shul paie for hir trauaille A Regibus & principibus erit merces eorum. And many Iustices and Iurour · wolde for Iohan do more Þan per dei pietate · leue thow non other And he þat spendes his speche · and spekes for þe pouere Þat is Innocent and nedy · and nomanno man appayers Confortes hym in þat cas · with-outen coueitise of gyftes And schewes lawe for oure lordes loue · as he it has lerned Shal no deuel at his dede-day deren hym a myte Þat he ne worth sauf and his soule · þe sauter bereth witnesseC.7.52: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nesse" in a red box preceded by a blue paraph to the right of C.7.53.Scribal hyphen between t and n. Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo. And to bugge water ne wynde · ne wit ne fir þe ferre This foure þe fader of heuene made to his fold in commune Þis ben trewest tresores · trewe folke to helpe Þat neuere schal wex ne wany with-outen god hymself Whan þer drawe vn-to þe day and indulgences wolde haueC.7.58: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "haue" in a red box preceded by a blue paraph to the right of C.7.59. His pardon is ful petit · at hir partyng hennes Þat any mede of mene men for his motyng takes the legisters and lawiers · holdes þis for trouthe That if þat I lye · mathew is to blame For he bad me make yow þis · and þis prouerbe me tolde Quodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines · facite eis Alle libbynge laborers · þat lyuen with hir hondes That trewlich taken · and trewlich wynnen And lyuen in loue and in lawe · for hir lawe hertes Has þe same absolucion · þat sent was to piers · Beggers ne bidders ne beth nouȝt in þe bulle But if þe suggestioun be soþ · þat shapes hem to begge For he þat begges or bid · but if he haue nede He is fals with þe fende · and defraudes þe nedy And also he bigiles þe gifer · ayeins his wille For if he wist he were nouȝt nedy · he wolde it gif another That were more nedy þan he · so þe nediest sholde be holpe Catoun kennes men thus · and þe clerc of stories · Cui des videto is catouns techyng And in þe stories he teches · to bistow thyn almesse Sit elemosina tua in manu tua donec studes cui des And gregori was a good man · and bad vs gyuen alle Þat askes for his loue þat vs alle lenes Non eligas cui miseriaris ne forte pretereas illum qui meretur Accipere quia incertum est pro quo deum magis placeas For ye woot neuere who is worthy · and god woot wha has nedeC.7.84: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nede" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.7.85. In hym þat takes is þe trecherie · if treson walke For he þat gyues yeldes · and yarkes hym to reste And he þat bides borwes · and brynges hym-self in dette For beggers borwen euere-more · and hir borugh is god almyghtyC.7.88: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "myghty" in a red box to the right of C.7.89.Scribal hyphen between l and m. To yelden hem þat gyuen hem · and yet vsure moore Quare non dedisti peccuniam meam ad mensam vt ego veniens cum vsuris exigissem & cetera · Nota · For-thy biddes nouȝt ye beggers · but if ye haue nede For who-so may by hym breed · þe book beres witnesse He has ynough þat has bred ynough if he haue nouȝt elles Satis diues est qui non indiget pane Lat vsage be youre solace · of sayntes lyues redyng Þe book bannes beggerie · and blames in þis manere Iunior fui etenim senui & non vidi iustum derelictum nec se-menScribal hyphen between e and m. eius querens panem For ye lyue nouȝt in no loue · ne no law holden Many of yow ne wedde nouȝt · þe womman ye with delen Bot as wilde bestes with wehe · worth vp and worchen And brynges forth barnes · þat bastardes men calles Or þe bak or some boon he breke in his youthe And syth goon faiten with youre fauntes · for euere more afterC.7.105: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "after" in a black box to the right of C.7.106. ther is mo myshap pepyle · among þise beggers Than of al manere men · þat on þis molde walkes And thay þat lyue þus hir ly.f mow loþ þe tyme Þan euere he was man wrought · whan he shal hennes And olde men and hoor · þat helples ben of strengthe And wemmen with child þat worche ne mow Blynd and bedred · and broken hir membres Þat taken þise myschifs mekliche · as mesels and oþer han as pleyn pardon as þe plowman hym-seluen For loue of hir lowe hertes oure lord has hem graunted Hir penaunce an hir purgatorie · here on þis erthe Piers quod a prest þo · þy pardon most I rede For I wol construe ech clause and kenne it þe on englissh Barred. And piers at his prayer · þe pardon vnfoldeth And I bihynd hem boþe · biholde al þe bille Al in two lynes it lay · and nouȝt a leef more And was writen riȝt thus · in witnesse of trouthe Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam Qui vero mala in ignem eternum. Petir quod þe prest þo I kan no pardon fynde But do wel and haue wel · and god shal haue þy soule And do yuel and haue yuel · hope þou non other But after þy dede-day · þe deuel shal haue þy soule And piers for pure tene · pulled it a-twayne And saide · si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis Non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es · nota · I shal cessen of my sowyng quod piers and swynke nat so harde Ne be aboute my bely Ioie so bisily namore Of praiers and penaunce · my plow shal ben here-after An wepen whan I shuld slepe · þough whete bred me faille The prophete is payne ete in penaunce an in sorwe By þat þe sauter sayes · so did many other Þat loues god leally · his liflode is ful esy Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte And but if luk lye he lereth vs by fowles We shul nauȝt be to besy · a-boute þe worldes blisse Ne soliciti sitis he says in the gospel And shewes vs by ensamples vs-selue to wisse The fowles in þe feld · who fyndes hem met at wynterKD.7.134 is omitted. Haue þey no gerner to go to · bot god fyndes hem alle What quod prest þe to perkyn · peter as me þynke Thow art lettred a litel who lerned þe on book Abstinence þe abbesse quod piers · myn a b c · me tauȝte And conscience come afterward · and kenned me muche more Were þou a prest Piers quod he · thow miȝt preche where þow sholdestC.7.150: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "dest" in a red box to the right of C.7.151.Scribal hyphen between l and d. As diuinour in diuinite · with dixit insipiens to þi teme LewLew[ed] Lewed lorell quod Piers litel lokestow on þe bibyle On salamon sawes · selden thow beholdest Ecce derisores & Iurgia cum eis ne crescant &cetera. The preest and Perkyn opposed either other And I thurgh hir wordes · a-wook · and waited aboute And seigh þe sonne in þe south satte þat tyme Nota Meteles and Moneiles · on maluerne hylles Musyng on þise metels and my way I yede Many tyme þise metels · has maked me to studye Of þat I seigh slepyng · if it so be miȝte And al-so for Peiers þe plowman ful penlifpen[s]if in herte And wich a perdoun piers hadde al þe pepyle to conforte And how þe preest inpugned it · with twa propyre wordes And I haue no sauour in songwarie · for I se it oft faille Caton and canonistires counseillen vs to leue To set sadnesse in songewarie · for Sompnia ne cures And for þe ?book of þe bibile bereth witnesse How danyel deuynde þe dremes of a kyng that was nabigodonosor nempned of clerkes Danyel saide sir kyng þy dremees bitoknes Þat vnkouth knyȝtes shuld come · þy kyngdome to clayme Amonges lower lordes · þy la?nde shal be departide And as danyel deuynde in dede · it felle after The kyng lese his lordschip · and lawer men it hadde And Ioseph mete merueillously how þe moon an þe sonne · Nota · And þe elleuene steres hailesed hem alle Þan Iacob Iugged Ioseps sweuene Beau fitz quod his fadir · for defaute we shullen I my-self and my sones · seche þe for nede It bifel as his fader saide in pharaeos tyme that Ioseph was Iustices · Egipte to loken It bifel as his fader tolde · his frendes þer hym souȝt And al þis makes me · on þis metels to þynke And how þe preest proued · no pardon to do-wel And demed þat dowel · Indulgence passed Byennales and triennals and bissopes lettres And how do-wel at þe day of dome · is dignelich vnderfongen And passes al þe pardon of seint peter cherche. Now has þe pope power · pardon to graunte þe pypile nota · With-outen pennaunce · to passen in-to heuene This is oure bileue · as lettred men vs teches Quodcumque ligaueris super terram erit ligatum & in celis &cetera And so I leue lely · lordes forbode elles That pardon and penaunce · and prayers don þe same Saules þat haue synned · seuene sythes dedly And to truste to þise triennals· trewely me thynke Is nouȝt so siker for þe saules · certes as is dowel For-thy I rede yow renkes · þat riche ben on þis erthe Plowman · Vp-aon tryste of youre tresore triennals to haue Be ye neuere þe bolder · to breke þe ten hestes And namliche ye maysters . This punctus has a virgule through it. Maires and Iugges that haue þe welþe of þis worlde · and wise men be holden To purchace yow pardon · and þe papes bulles At þe dredful dome · whan dede shal arise And comen al bifore crist · acowntes to yelde How þou laddest þy lif here · and his lawes keptest And how þou didest day by day · þe dome wol reherce A pook-ful of pardon þer ne prouincials lettres þeigh ye be founde in þe fraternite · of alle þe foure orders And haue indulgence doubile-folde · bot if do wel yow help I sete yowre patentz and youre pardon · at one pese hule For-thy I counseille alle cristen to crye god mercye An marie his moder · be oure mene bitwene that god gyue vs grace here · er we gon hennes Swich werkes to werche · whil we ben here that after oure dede-day dowel reherce At þe day of dome · we dide as he highte Passus octauus de visione vt supra t ThusC.8.1: The three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes. yrobed in russet · I romed aboute Al a somer seson for to seke do-wel · And asked ful oft of folk þat I mette If any wiȝt wist wher · dowel was at Inne And what man he miȝte be of many man I Ink blot. axed Was neuere wiȝt as I wente · þat me wisse kouthe Wher þis lede lenged lasse ne more · Nota · Til it bifel on a friday · two freres I mette Maisters of þe menours men of gret wit I hailsed hem hendlich · as I hadde lerned And praied hem for charite er þey passed ferther If thay k?newe antwo minimsy countre · or costes as þey wente Wo or ehere þat dowel dwelles · does me to witen For þey beth men of þis molde · þat most wilde wide walken And knowen contrees and courtes · and many kennes places Boþe prynces paleys · and pouere mennes cootes And do-wel and do-yuel · wher þey dwelle boþe Amonges vs quod þe Menours þat man is dwellyng And euer hase as I hope · and euere shal here-after Contra quod I as a clerc · and by-gane to disputen And saide hem sothely · Sepcies in die cadit iustus SeuensithesSeuen sithes saiþ þe book · Synnes þe riȝtful And who-so synnes he saide · does yuel as me thynke And do-yuel and do-wel · mowe nouȝt dwelle togiders · nota · Ergo he is nouȝt alwey amonges yow freres He oþer-while elles-wher · to wisse þe pepyle I shal say þe my sone · saide þe frere thanne How seuene siþes þe sadman · on a day synnes Bi a forbisen quod þe frere · I shal ye faire schew Lat bryng a man in a boote · amydes þe brood water Þe wynde and þe water · and þe boote waggynge Makes þe man many a tyme · to falle an to stonde For stande he neuere sa stif · he stombles if he moeue And yet is he sauf and sounde · and so hym bihoues For if he ne arise þe raþer · and raughte to þe stere The wynde wolde with þe water · þe bote ouer-throwe And thane were his lif lost · thurgh lacchesse of hym-self And þus it falles quod þat frere · by folke here on erthe The water is likned to þe world · þat wanes and waxes The goodes of þis grounde · aren like to þe grete wawes Þat as wyndes as wedres · wawes aboute the bote is likned to oure bodyes · þat brotel is of kynde Þat thourth þe fende and þe flessh Barred h. · and þe freel worlde Synnes þe sadman a day seuen sithes And dedly synne does he nouȝt · for dowel hym kepes And þat is charite þe champioun · chife helpe ayeins synne For he strengheth man to stonde · an steres mannes saule And þouȝ þy body bowe · as bote dos in water Ay is þy soule saef · but if þy-selue wolKD.8.49 is omitted. do a dedly synne and drenche þy saule God wol suffre wel þy slouþe · if þy-selue likes For he gaf þe to yeresgyfte · to yeme wel þy-selue And þat is wit and free wille · to euery wiȝt a porcioun. To fleyng foules to fisshes · and also to bestes And man has most þer-of · and moost is to blame But if he wyrche wel þerwiþ · as do-wel hym teches I haue no kynde knowyng quod I · to conceyue alle youre wordes And if I may lyoue and loke I shal go lerne bettere I bikenne þe crist · þat on þe cros dyed And I saide þe same · saue yow fra myschaunce And gyfue yow grace on þis grounde · good men to worthe · Nota · And thus I wente wide-where · walkyng myn onon By a wilde wildernesse · and by a wodes syde Blisse of þe briddes · brouȝte me a slepe And vnder a lynde vp-on a launde · lened I a stounde To lythe þe layes · the louely fowles made Myrthe of hir mouthes made me þer to slepe The merueillousest metels · mette me þanne Þat euere dremed wight · In worlde as I wene A mykil man as me thoughte · and like to my-selue Come and called me · by my kynde name What artow quod I þo · þat þow my name knawest Þat þow woost wel quod he · and no wight better · thouȝt · Woot I what þow art · thouȝt saide he þanne I haue sued þe þis seuene yer · sawe þow me no rather Artow thought quod I þo · thow kannes me wisse Where þat dowel dwelles · and do me that to knawe Dowel and dobet and dobest the thridde quo?d he Aren thre faire vertues · and be nouȝt fer to fynde Who-so is trewe of his tonge · and of hise twa handesKD.8.81 is omitted. And þurȝ isC.8.81: Note the h-less spelling for his. labour or his londes · his liflode wynnesKD.8.83 is omitted. And is nouȝt dronklewe · ne deygnous dowel hym folwes Do-bet does right thus · and he dos muche more He is as law as a lomb · and louelich of speche And helpes alle men · after þat hem nedes The bagges and þe bigirdils he has to brook hem alle that þe Erle auarous helde · and hise heires And þus with Mamondes moneie · he has made hym frendesC.8.88: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "des" in a red box to the right of C.8.89.Scribal hyphen between n and d. And is ronne to religion · and has renderd þe bibile And preched to þe pepile · saynt paules wordes Libenter suffertis insipientes cum sitis ipsi sapientes And to þe vnwise ye do goode · for so god yow beddis dobest Dobest is a-boue bathe · and beres a bisshopes crosse Is hoked on þat oon ende · to halye men fro helle A pike is on þe potente to pute adoun þe wikked Þat wayten any wikkednesse · do-wel to tene And dowel and dobet · amonges hem ordeygned To crowne oon to be kyng to reulen hem bathe Þat if dowel or dobet · dide ayein dobestKD.8.103 is omitted. thanne shal þe kyng come · and casten hem in IernesKD.8.105 is omitted. Piers And but if do-best did for hym · thay to be þer for euere Thus dowel and dobet and best þe thridde Crowned oon to be kyng to kepen hem alle And to reule þe reame · by hir thre wittes And non oþer-wise · but as thay thre assentes I thanked þouȝt þo · þat he me thus tauȝte · Nota · And yet sauoures me nouȝt thy sayeng · I couette to lerne How do-wel · do-bet · and do-best · don among þe pepyle Bot wit konne wisse þe þouȝt · wher þo thre dwelles Elles woot I non þat konne · þat now is a-lyue Thought an I thus thre dayes yeden Disputyng vp-on do-wel · day after other And er we were ywar · with wit gonne we mete He was longe and lene liche to non other Was no pride on his apparaille · ne pouerte neiþer Sadde of his semblant · and of softe chere I dorste meue no mater · to make hym to Iangle But as I bad thouȝt þo · be mene bitwene And putte forth somme purpos · to prouen hise wittes What was do-wel fra do-bette and do-best fram hem boþe · Nota · thanne thouth in that tyme · sayde þis wordes Wher do-wel do-bett · and dobest was in londe Here is wille wolde wite · if wit kouthe teche hym And whether he be man or no man · þis man wolde aspye And werchen as þey thre wolde · this is his entente Passus Nonus de visione vt supra : s SIreC.9.1: This three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes. dowel dwelles quod wit · nouȝt a day hennes In a castel þat kynde made · of foure kynnes þynges Of erthe and eire is it made · medled togidires With wynde and with water · witerly enioygned Kynde hath closed þer-Inne · craftily with-alle A lemman þat he loues · like to hym-selue · Anima scho hatte · and enuye hir hates A proude priker of fraunce · princeps huius mundi And walde wynne hir away · with wiles and he miȝte And kynde knowes this wyel · and kepes hir þe better As does hir with sire do-wel · Is duc of þise marches Dobet is hir damisele · sir dowel douȝter To serue þis lady lealy · boþ late and rathe Dobest is a-boue bothe · a bisshope piere Þat he bidis moot be do · he reule hem alle Anima þat lady · eis lad by byby his lerynge An þe conestable of þat castel · þat kepes al þe wache Is a wise knyȝt wit-al · sir Inwit he hatte And has fyue faire sones · by his firste wife Sire se wel · and say wel · and here wel þe hende And worche wel with þyn honde · a wiȝt man of strenghte And sir godfray go wel · grete lordes for-sothe this fyue be sette to saue this lady · Anima Til kynde come or sende · to sauen hir for euere What þyng is kynde quod I · kanstow me telle Paraph tick in left margin - note break in alterating pattern kynde quod wit is a creature · of alkynge thynges Fader and fourmour of al þat euere was maked And þat is þe grete god · þat gynnyng hadde neuere Lord of lif and of light · of lisse and of peyne Angels and al þyng aren at his wille And man is hym most like · of marke and of schape For thourȝ þe word þat he spak · woxen forþ bestesKD.9.33 is omitted. Dixit & facta sunt & cetera And made man likest · to hym-self oon And Eue of his ribbe-boon · with-outen anny mene For he was singuler hym-self · and saide faciamus As who say more moot her-to · thanne my worde oon My miȝt moot helpe now · with my speche Ryght as lord schuld make lettres · and hym lakked perchemyn though he kouþe write neuere so wel · if he had a penne Þe lettre for al þe lordchip · I leue were neuere ymaked And so it semes by hym as þe book telles Ther it sayes · Dixit & facta sunt He most werche with his worde · and his wit schewe And in þis manere was man made · thurȝ miȝt of god almyghty With his word and werkmanschip · and with lif to laste And thus god gaf hym a goost · of þe godhed of heuene And of his grete grace · graunted hym blisse And þat is lif that ay schal laste · to alle lynages after And þat is þe castill Barred "ll." þat kynde made · Caro it hatte And is as muche to mene · as man with a soule And þat he wrouȝte wiþ werk · and wiþ word boþe Thurȝ miȝt of þe maieste · man was ymaked Inwit and alle wittes · closed be þer-Inne For loue of þe lady Anima þat lif is ynempnedKD.9.56 is omitted. And in þe herte is his hom · and his most reste And inwit is in þe hed · and to þe herte he lokes What Anima is lief or loþe · he let hir at his wille For after þe grace of god · þe gretest is Inwit Mikyl wo worþe þat man · þat mysreules his Inwit And þat be glotons globbers · hir god is hir wombe Quorum deus venter est For thay seruen · Sathan hir saules schal he haue that lyues synful lif here · hir soules is like þe deuel And al þat lyuen good lif · aren like to god almyȝty Qui manet in caritate in deo manet & cetera. Allas þat drynke shal fordo · þat god dere abouȝte And dothes god forsaken hem þat he schope to his liknesse Amen dico vobis nescio vos et alibi & dimisi eos secundum desideria &cetera Fooles that fawtes Inwit · I fynde þat halicherche Schuld fynden hem þat hem fautes · and faderlese childrenKD.9.71 is omitted. Madde men and maydens · þat helpelese were Al þis lakken Inwit · and lore bihoues Of þis mater I miȝt make a lange tale And fynd feel witnesse · among þe foure doctours And þat I lye nouȝt of þat I lere þe · luc beres witnesse Godfader and godmoder · þat seen hir godchildren At myseise and myschief · an mowe hem amende Shul haue penaunce in purgatorie but if þey hem helpe For more bilonges to þe litel barn · er he þe lawe knowe Þan nempnyng of a name · and neuere þe wiser Shuld no cristene creature · crien at þe yate Ne faille payn ne potage · and preloates did as þey shuld A Iewe walde nouȝt seen a Iewe go Iangelyng for defaute For al þe moebules on þis molde · and he amende it myghte Allas þat a cristene creature · shal be vnkynde to an other Siþen Iewes þat we Iugge Iudas felawes Eiþer of hem helpes oþer of þat that hym nedes Why nyl we cristene · of cristes good be as kynde As Iewes þat be oure / loresmen · schame to vs alle Þe comune for hir wikkednesse · I drede me shal abye Bisschopes shal be blamed · for beggers sake He is wars þan Iudas · þat gyues Iapers siluir And biddes þe begger go for his broke clothes · Plowman · Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda qui patrimonium christi minus distri-buit  Et alibi perniciosus dispensator est qui res pauperum inutiliter consumit he dos nought wel þat dos thus · ne dratd nouȝt god almiȝti Ne loues nouȝt · salamons sawes · þat sapience tauȝte Initium sapiencie timor domini Dred god for loue & tilde over ampersand. þou doste wel · but nouȝt for vengeaunce and þou dost betC.9.99: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "and þou dost bet" in a red box to the right of C.9.100. thow dost best if þow withdrawe by day and by nyght Possible erasure. To spille any speche · or any space of tyme Qui offendit in vno est in omnibus reus Lesyng of tyme treuthe woot þe sothe Is most flourish. I-hated vp erþe of hem þat ben in heuene And sithe to spille speche · þat spire is of grace And goddes gleman a gedelyng · a goer to tauernesKD.9.105-106 are omitted. To alle trewe tidymentidy men · þat trauaille desiren. Oure lord loues hem and lent · londe other stille Grace to go to hem · and agon hire liflode Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono Trew wedded libbyng folk · in this world is dowel For thay mote werche and wyue · and þe world susteyne For of hir kynde þey come · þat confessours be nempned kynges and knyȝtes kaisers and cherles Maidenes and martirs out of a man come Þe wif was made þe wey · for to helpe werche And thus was wedlok I-wrouȝt · with a mene persone First by þe faders wille · and þe frendes conseil And sithen by assent of hem-self Flourish. · as þey twa miȝte acorde And thus was wedlok ywrouȝt · and god hym-self it made In erþe þe heuene is · hym-self beres witnesse And fals folk feithles · theues and liers Wastours and wrecches · oute of wedlok Flourish. I trowe Conceyued be in Iuel tyme · as Caym was on EueKD.9.124 is omitted. Of swich synful shrewes · þe sauter makes mynde Concepit in dolore & peperit iniquitatem &cetera. And alle þat com of þat Caym · come to yuel ende For god sent to semandsem and · saide by þe angel thyn issue in þyn issue · I wol þat þey be wedded And nouȝt þy kynde with Caymes · ycoupled ne spoused Yet somme ayein þe sonde of oure lorde of heuen Caymes kynde and his kynde · coupled togidires Til god saide for wrathe · þat I maked man me a-thynkes Penitet me fecisse hominem And somme to Noe anon and bad hym noutȝt lette Swith go shape a shippe · of shides and bordes thy-self and þy thre sones · and siþen youre wyues Buske yow to þat bote · and bides ye þer-Inne Til fourty dayes be fulfilled · þat flode haue ywasshen Clene away þe cursed blood · þat caym has ymaked Bestes þat now ben shul banne þe tyme Þat euere þat cursed Caym come in þis erþe Alle shul dye for hise dedes by dales and by hylles And þe foules þat fleen · forth with other bestes Except oonliche · of ech kynde a coupule Þat in thy shyngled schippe · shul ben ysaued Here abouȝte þe barne · þe belsire giltes Alid alle for hir forfaders · þey ferden þe werse the gospel is here ayein · in o degre I fynde Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris & pater non & cetera And I fynde if þe fader · be fals and a shrewe Þat som-dele þe sone shal haue þe sire tacches Impe in an Ellerne and See decorative flourish ?? duck illustration? if thyn appul be swete Muche merueille me thynk · and more of a shrewe that brynges forth any barne · but if he be þe same And haue a sauour after þe sire · selde sestow other Nunquam colligimus de spinis vuas nec de tribulis ficus And thus þurȝ cursed Caym cam care vp-on erþe And al for þey wrouȝte wedlok · ayeins goddes wille For-thy haue thay maugre · þat so marien hir childerne For somme as I se now · sothe for to telle For coueitise of catel · vnkyndliche be wedded And careful concepcioun · comes of swich mariages As byfel of þe folk þat I before of tolde For good sholde wedde good · þough hij no good hadde For I am via & veritas sayes crist · I may auaunce alle It is an vnkouþe couple by crist · as me thynke To gyfue a yonge wenche to an olde fiebyle Or wedden any widowe · for welþe of hir goodes that neuere schal barne bere · but if it be in armes Many a payer syne þo pestilence · han pliȝte hem togiders the fruyt þat thay brynge forth aren foule wordes In Ialousie Ioieles · and Ianglyng abedde Haue thay no children but chydes · and choppyng hem bitwene And þouȝ þey do hem to dunmowe bot if þe deuel helpe To folowe after þe flycche · fecche þey it neuere And but þey baþe be forsworne · þat bacon þey tyne For-thy I conseille al cristene · coueite nouȝt be wedded For coueitise of catel · ne of kynrede riche And maidens and maidens · macche yow togiders Widewes and widowers · werchys þe same For no landes bot for loue loke ye be wedded And þanne gete ye þe grace of god · and goode ynough to lyue withC.9.183: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "with" in a red box to the right of C.9.184. And euery manere seculer · þat may nouȝt continue Wisely go wedde and war hym fra synne For liccherie in lokyng is lym-yerd of helle Whiles þow art yonge and þy wepne kene Wreke þe with wyuyng · if þow wolt ben excused Cum sis vir fortis · ne des tua robora scortis · Scribitur in portis meretrix est Ianua mortis Whan ye haue wyued bees war and worches in tyme Nouȝt as Adam and Eue whan Caym was engendirde For vnite trewly · bitwene man and womman Ne shulde no bourde on bedde be · but if þey were clene Boþe of luyf and of soule · and in perfit charite that ilke derne dede · do no man ne scholde But if þey leden þus hir lif · it likes god amyȝty For he made wedlok fisrst · and hym-self it saide · Bonum est vt vnusquisque vxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionem And thay þat other-gates be geten · for gedelynges ben holden As fals folk fondelynges · faitours and lyeres vngracious to gete good · or loue of þe pepyle Wandren and waste · what þe cacche mowe Ayeins do-wel thay do yuel · and þe deuel serue And after hir dede-day · soule dwelles with þe same But god gyf hym grace here · hem-seluen to amende dowel my frend is don · as þe lawe techees To loue þy frend and þy foo · leue me þat is do-bet To gynnen and to yemen boþe yonge and olde To helen and to helpen · is do-best of alle And dowel Check for virgule. is to drede god · and do-bet is to suffre And so comes do-best of bothe · and brynges adown þþ[e] mody And þat is wikked wille · þat many werke shendeth · Piers · And dryue a-way dowel with dedliche syne Passus decimus vt supra <ThanneC.10.1: The three-line capital is drawn in blue ink with red flourishes. had wit a wif was hote dame studie That lene was of lire · and of liche boþe Sho was wonderlich wrathe · þat wit me þus tauȝte And al staryng dame studie stierneliche saide Wel artow wise quod she to wit · any wisdomes to telle To flatterers or to fooles · þat frentik ben of wittes And blamed hym and banned hym and bad hym be stille With swilce wise wordes · to wisse any sottes And saide noli mittere margerie eerles Amonges hogges þat haue · hawes at wille thay don but dryuel þer-on · draf were hem leuere than al prescious perre · þat in paradis vexes I say it by swich quod sho · þat shewes by hire werkes That hem were leuere londe · and lordiship on erthe Or richesse or rentes · and rest ara[t] hir wille than alle sothe sawes · þat salamon saide euere Wisdom and wit now · is nowt worthe a kerse But if it be carded with coueitise · as clothers kemben wolle Who-so kan troue contreue desaytiseC.10.19: kan troue desaytise: "know how to devise schemes." · and conspire wronges And lede forth a loueday · to lete wit trouthe He þat swich craftes kan to conseil is cleped thay lede lordynges with lesynges · and bileis trouthe Iob þe gentil in his gestes · gretely witmesseþwit[n]esseþ Þat wikked men welden · þe welþe of þis world And þat þey beth lordes of ech londe · þat out of libbeþ Quare impij viuunt bene est hominibus qui preuaricantur & Inique aguntC.10.26: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "Inique agunt" in a red box to the right of C.10.27. the sauter sayes þe same by swich þat don ille Ecce ipsi peccatores habundantes in seculo optinuerunt diuicias Loo saith holy lettrure whiche lordes beth þis shrewes Thilk þat god most greueth · lest good · thay deleth And most vnkynde to þe comune · þat most catel weldeth Que perfecisti destruxerunt iustus autem & cetera harlotes for hir harlotrie may haue of hir goodes And Iapers and Iogelers · and Ianglers of gestes And he þat has haly writ · ay in his mouthe And kane telle of Thobie · and of þe twelue apostels Or prechen of penaunce · þat pilat wrouȝte To Ihesu þe gentil · þat Iewes to-droweC.10.38: KD.10.36 is omitted. Litil is he loued · þat swich a lessoun sheweth Or daunted or drawe forth · I do it on god hym-selue But þo þat feynenCHECK Images to correct damage tag if necessary. ??? hem fooles · and with faityng lyues Ayein þe law of oureoure [lord] · and lyen on hym-selue Spitten and spewen · and speke foule wordes Drynken and dryuelen · and do men for to gape Lykene men and lyen on hem · þat leneþ hem no gestes Thay konne namor mynstralcie · ne musik men to glade Thanne Munde þe melner of multa fecit deus Ne were hir vile harlotrie Squiggle over "o." · haue god my trouthe Shul neuer kyng ne knyȝt · ne chanoun of seint poules Gyue hem to hir yeresgyfte · þe gyft of a groot And murthe and mynstralcie · amonges men is quouthe Leccherie and losengerie · and losels tales Glotonye and grete othes · þis murthe þey louyeth And if þey harpen of crist thisse clerkes and þisCheck plurals in "thisse" and "þis." lewed At met in murthes whan mynstralles ben stille thanne telle thay of þe trinite a tale other twayne And bryngen forth a balled resoun · and take Bernard to witnesseC.10.57: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nesse" in a red box below this line. And putten forth a presumpcioun · to proue þe sothe Thus thay dryuele at hir deys · the deite to knowe And gnawen god with þe goerge · whan hir guttis is fulle And þe carful May crie · and carpen at þe yate Boþe a-fyngerd and a-thruystFurther research, possibly on-site, is needed to determine direction of change. · and for chelde quake Is noon to nymen hym ner his noye to amende Bvot heonn on hym as an hounde · and hoten hym go thennesC.10.64: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nes" in a red box to the right of C.10.65.Scribal hyphen between the two n's. Litil loues he þat lord · þat lente hym alle þat blisse that thus partes with þe pouere · a parcelle whan hym nedes · Nota · Ne were mercye in mene men · more þan in riche Mendinantz meteles · miȝte go to bedde God is muche in þe goerge · of þis grete maisters And amonges mene men · his mercye and his werkes And so sayes þe sauter I haue seen it ofte Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata & inuenimus eam in campis silueC.10.72: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "silue" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.10.73.Scribal hyphen after "campis." Clerkes and other kynnes men carpen of god faste And haue hym muche in þe mouthe · and mene men in herteC.10.74: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "in herte" in a red box to the right of C.10.75. Freres and faitours han founde swich questiouns · Nota · To plese with proude men · siþen pestilence tyme And prechen at seynt poules for pure enuye of clerkes that folk is nouȝt fermed in þe fayit · ne fre of hir goodes Ne sory for hir synnes · sa is pride vaxen In religioun and in þe reame · amonges riche and pouere that prayers haue no power · þe pestilence to letteC.10.81: KD.10.79-80 are omitted. And yet þe wrycches of þis world · is non ywar by other Ne for drede of þe deth · with-drawe nouȝt hir pride Ne bees plenteuouse to þe pouere · as pure charite walde But in gaynesse and glotonu?ye · forglutten hir good hem-selue And breken nouȝt to þe begger · as þe book teches Frange esurienti panem tuum & cetera And þe more he wynneþ and welt · welthes and riches And lordes in londes · þe lasse good he deleth Thobie telles yow nowth sa · take he þe riche How þe book of þe bibile of hem bereth witnesse Si tibi copia sit · habundanter tribue · si autem exiguum impertiri stude libenter Who-so has muche spene · muche so meneth Thobie And who-so litel weldeth reule hym ther-after For we haue no lettre of oure lif · how longe it shal dure Swich lessons lordes shuld · loue to here And how he miȝte mooste · meyn manliche fynde And nouȝt to fare as a fedhler · or a frere for to seek festes Homliche at other mennes houses and hatien hir owne Elenge is þe halle · ech day in þe weke Ther þe lord and Check manuscript. þe lady · likes nouȝt to sitte Now has elk riche a reule · to eten by hem-selue In a pryue parloure for pouere mennes sake Or in a chamber with a chymeneye · and leue þe chief halle Þat was made for meels · men to eten Inne And al to spare and to spille · þat spende shal another I haue herd heigh men · etyng at the table Carpen as thay clerkes were · of criste and of his myghtes And layden fautes on þe fader · þat formed vs alle And carpen ayein clerkes · crabbed wordes Why wolde oure saueour suffre · swich a worme in his blisse that bigiled þe womman and the man after Thurgh which wiles and wordes · thay wenten to helle And al hir seed for hir synne · þe same deeth suffred Here liyeþ youre lore · þise lordes gynnes dispute Of þat þe clerkes vs kennen of crist by þe gospel Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris & cetera Why sholde · Plowman · Why sholde we þat now ben · for þe werkes of Adam Roten and rend reson walde it neuere vnusquisque portabit onus suum & cetera. Swich motyues þey moeue · þise maisters in hir glorie And make men in mysbileue · þat muse muche on hir wordesC.10.122: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "des" in a red box to the right of C.10.123.Scribal hyphen between r and d. ymaginatif here-after · shal answere to youre purpose Austyn to swich arguers · telles this teme Non plus sapere quam oportet & cetera. Wilnes neuere to wite · why þat god wolde Suffre sathan his seed to bigile And bileues lealy · in þe lore of holy cherche And praye hem of pardon · and penaunce in þy lyue And for his muche mercy · to amende yow here For al þat wilnes to wite · why þat god woldeC.10.131: KD.10.128-129a are omitted. Suffre Sathan his seed to bigile Or Iudas to þe Iewes · Ihesum bitraye Al was as þou woldest lord worshiped be þou And worþ as þou wolt · what-so we dispute And þo þat vse þise hauylounes · to blynde mennes wittes What is do-wel fro dobet · now deef moot he worthe Sith he wilnes to wite · wich þey ben boþe But if he lyue in the lyue · þat longeth to do-wel For I dar ben his Overwrite? bolde borgh · þat do bet wol he neuere They do-best draw on hym day after other And whan þat wit was I-war what dame studye tolde He be-come so confuse · he kouþe nouȝt looke And as doumbe as deth · and drowe arere And for no carpyng I kouthe after · ne knelyng to þe gro groundeC.10.145: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "grounde" in a red box to the right of C.10.146. I miȝte gette noCheck ms for erasure? greyn of hise grete wittes But al laughyng he louted · and loked vp-on studie In signe þat I shulde · biseche hir of grace And whan I was war of his wille · to his · to histo his wif gan I louteC.10.149: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "loute" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.10.150. And saide mercy ma-dame · youre man shal I be As longe as I lyue bothe late and rathe For to worch youre wille · the w?hille my lif lastes With þat ye kenne me kyndely · to knowe what is dowel For þy mekenesse man quod she · and for þy mylde speche I shal kenne þe to my cosyn · þat clergie is hoten He has wedded a wif with-Inne þise sex monethes Is sibbe to þe seuene artes · scripture is hir name thay two as I hope · after my techyng Shal wissen þe to dowel · I dar it vndirtake Thanne was I also fayn · as fowle of faire morwe And gladder thanne þe gleman · þat gold has to gyfte And axed hir þe heiȝ way wher þat clergie dwelte And telle me som token quod I · for tyme is þat I wende Axe þe heigh way quod studye · hennes to suffre Beþ wel an wo · if þat þou wylt lerne And ride forth by richesse · and reste nouȝt þer-Inne For if þou couplest þe þer-with · to clergie comestow neuere And also þe likerous launde · þat leccherie hattes Leue it on þy left half · a large myle and more Til yow come to a court · kepe wel þy tonge For lesynges and lither speche · and likerouse drynkes Thanne shaltow se sobere · and symplete of speche Þat ech wiȝt be in wille · his wit þe to shewe And thus shaltow come to clergie · þat kan many thynges Say hym this taken · I sette hym to scole And þat I grete wel his wif · for I wroot hir many bokes And sette hir to sapience · and to þe Sauter glose Logik I lerned hir · and many other lawes And al þe musons in musik · ymadey made hir to knowe Plato þe poet I putte hym first to book Aristotle and other ma · to argue I taughte Gramer fofo[r] gcildire I garte firste write And bete hem with a wande · but if þey walde lerne Of alkynes craftes · I controued tooles Of capentrieca[r]pentrie of keruers · and compassed masons And lerned hem leuel and lyne · thouȝ I loke dymme Theologie has tenetene[d] tened me · ten score tymes The more I muse þer-Inne · þe mistier it semeth And þe depper I deuyne · þe derker me it thynkes It no sentens for-sothe · for to subtile Inne A ful lyght thyng it were · if þat loue nere And for it let best by loue · I loue it beter For þer þat loue is leder · ne lakkes no grace loke þou loue lely · if þe likes do wel For do-bet and do-best · ben of loues kynne In other science it seiþ · I seigh it in caton. Qui simulat verbis nec corde est fidus amicus Tu quoque fac simile sic ars deluditur arte Who-so gloses as gilours done · do hem þe same And so shaltow fals folk · and feith-les bigile This catons kennyng to clerkes þat he lereth And theologie teches nouȝt so · who-so takes yeme And kenneth vs þe contrarie · ayeins Catons wordes For he bid vs be as brethren · and bid for oure enemys And louen hem þat lyen on vs · and lene hem whan hem nedes And also do good ayeins yuel · god hym-self it biddes dum tempus habemus operemur bonum ad omnes maxime autem ad domesticos fideiC.10.207: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "cos fidei" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.10.208. Poule preched þe pepile þat perfitnesse loued To dto goode for goddeslouegoddes loue · and gifen men þat asked And nameliche to swich þat sweth oure bileue And al þat lakkes vs and lies vs · god teches vs to loue And nouȝt to greue hem þat greue vs · god þat forbedes Michi vindictam & ego retribuam & cetera. For-þy loke þou loue · as longe as þow durest For is no conscience vndir sonne · so souereigne for þe soule And astronomye is and harde thyng · and yuel for to G Geometrie .andC.10.217: What we have called an erasure might with equal probability have been called smudging. Geomesie is gynful of speche Check whether the smudge is an erasure and the marginal G is intended as a correction. Who-so thynkes werche with þo two · thryues ful late For sorcerie is þe souereigne book · þat to þe science langes yet ar þer fibiche in forcers · of fel men makynge Experimentz of alkenamye · the pepile to deceyueC.10.221: KD.10.218 is omitted. If þow thynk to do wel · del þer-with neuere Alle þise sciens · I my-self · sotiled and ordeigned And founded hem formest · folk to deceyue Telle clergie þis tokens · and scripture after I conseille þe kyndely · to knowe what is do-wel I saied graunt mercy madame and mekelich hir grete And went wightly a-way · with-oute more lettyng And til I come to clergie · I kouþe neuere stynte And grette þe goodman wel · as studye me taughte And afterwardes þe wif · and worschiped hem bathe And tolde hem þe toknes · þat me taughte were Was neuere mane vp-on þis grounde · syn god made þe worldeC.10.233: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "worlde" in a red box to the right of C.10.234. Fairer vnder-fongen · ne frendloker at esse Þanne my-self sothly · soone so he wiste Þat I was of wittes hous · and wiþ his dame studieC.10.236: KD.10.234-235 are omitted. I saide to hym sothly · þat sent was I thider do-wel and do-bet · and do-best to lerne It is a comune lif quod clergie · on haly chirche to bileue Piers With alle þe articles of þe faith · þat falleth to be knowe And þat his to bileue lely · bothe lered and lewed On þe grete god · þat gynnyng had neuere OAnd{CHECK MS} on þe sothfast sone · that saued man-kynde Fro the dedly deth · and the deuels power Thurȝ þe help of þe haly gast · þe which goost is of bothe Thre persones · and nought in plurel noumbre. For al is hbot oon god · and elkon is god hym-selue Deus pater deus filius deus spiritus sanctus God þe fader god þe sone · god holy gast of bathe Makers of mankynde · and of bestes bothe Austyn the olde · here-of made bookes And hym-self ordeigned it · to sadde vs in bileue vijCheck Benson and Blanchfield. Who was his auctour · alle þe foure euaungelistes And crist cleped hym-self so þe euaungelist ?bereth witnesse Ego in patre & pater in me est · & qui videt me videt & patrem meumC.10.255: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing meum in a red box to the right of C.10.256. · Nota · Alle þe clerkes vndir criste · ne kouþe þis assoille But þus bilongeth to bileue · to men þat wol dowel For had neuere freek fyn wit · the faith to despute Ne man had no merite · myȝte it ben yproued Fides non habet meritum vbi humana racio prebet experimentum than is do-bet to suffre · for þy soule sake Al that þe book bides · by haly cherche techyng And that is man by þi miȝt · for mercies sake Look þou werche it in werke · þat thy werke shewes Swich as þou semest in sight · be in assay yfounde Appare quod es vel esto quod appares And lat nobody be · by þy lernynge bigiled But swich in þy soule · as thou semest with-oute thanne is do-best to be bolde · to blame þe gilty Sithen thow seste thy-self · as in soule clene And blame þou neuere body · and thow be blame-worthy Si culpare velis culpabilis esse cauebis Dogma tuum sordet cum te tua culpa remordet God in þe gospel grymly reproueth Alle þat lakkeþ any lif · and lakkes han hem-selue Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui trabem in &cetera Why mouestow thy moode · for a moote in thy brothers eye Sithen a beme in þyn owne · a-blyndeth þy-selue Eice primo trabem de oculo tuo & cetera Which lettes þe to look lasse oþer more I rede eche a blynde bosard · do boote to hym-selue For abbotes and priours · and al manere of prelates And persons and parisshe prestes · þat preche shulde and teche Al manere of men · to amenden be hir miȝte This text was tolde yow · to be ware er ye taughte Þat ye were swich as ye saide · to salue with other For goddes word wolde nouȝt be loste · for þat werches euere If it auailled nouȝt þe comune · it miȝte auaille yow And it semes now sothly · to þe worldes sight Þat goddes word worches nouȝt · ond lerd ne lewed But in swich manere · as marc menes in þe gospel Dum cecus ducit cecum · ambo in foueam cadunt lewed men may liken yow · þat þe beme lith in youre eighenC.10.293: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "eighen" in a red box to the right of C.10.294. And þe festu is fallen · for yowre defaute In alle manere men · thurȝ mased preestes Þe bibile bers witnesse · þat al þe folke of Israel Bittere bouȝte þe giltes · of two badde prestes · Nota · Offyn and fynees for hir couetise · Archa dei myshapped and Ely brak his nekke For-thi correctours clawes her-on · and corectes first youre-seluenC.10.300: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "seluen" in a red box to the right of C.10.301. And thanne mowe ye safly saye · as duidd[a]uid made þe sauter Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis arguam te & statuam contra faciem tuamC.10.302: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "tuam" in a red box to the right of C.10.303. Than shal borel clerkes be abasshed · to blame yow or to greue And carpen nouȝt as thay do now · and calle yow doumbe houndes Canes non valentes latrare And dred to wrathe yow in any word · youre werkmanship to lette And be prestier at youre preier · than a pounde of nobles And al for youre holynesse · haue ye this in herteC.10.308: KD.10.296-308 are omitted. In scole ther is a scorne · but if a clerke wol lerne And grete loue and likyng · for ech of hem loues other Nota · And now is religioun a rider a Romer by stretes A leder of louedayes · and a londe bygger A priker on a palfrey · fro maner to manoir And heep of houndes at his ers · as he a lorde were And bot if his knaue knele · þat shal hym coppe brynge He loures on hym and axet who tauȝt hym curteisie Litel hadde lordes to doon · to gyue londe froam hir eires To religious þat haue no ryghte · thouȝ it rayne on hir autires In many place ther thay persons beth · be hem-self at ese Of þe pouere haue þei no pitee · and þat is his charite And þey leten hem as lordes · hir lande liþ sa braede And thar shal come a kyng and confesse yow religiouses And bete yow as bibile telles · for brekyng of youre reule And amende monial Monkes and chanouns And putte hem to hir penaunce · ad pristinum statum ire And barons and erles beten hem · þurȝ Beatus vir techyng Þat hire barnes claymen and blame yow foule Hijs in curribus & hij in equis ipsi obligati sunt & cetera . And thanne freeres in hir fraitour · shul fynden a keye Of constantyns tresore · in wiche is þe catel Þat Gregories god-children · haue yuel despended Thabbott of Abingdonwritten on two lines with break after "of." nota · And þan shal þe Abbot of Abyngton and al hise issu for euere Haue a knokke of a kyng and in-curable þe wounde Þat þis worþ soth · seke ye þat ofte ouersee þe bibile Quomodo cessauit exactor quieuit tributum contriuit dominus baculum impiorum & virgam dominancium credencium plaga insabiliinsa[na]bili An er þat kyng come · Caym shal awake And dowel shal dygen hym a-doun · and destruye his miȝt thanne is dowel and do bet quod I dominus and knyȝthode I nel nouȝt scorne quod scripture but if scryueyns lye kynghode aC.10.340: a for and. knyȝthode · by nouȝt I kan awayte Helpes nouȝt to heuenwarde · one heres ende Ne riches riȝt nouȝt · ne reaute of lordes Poule proues it impossibile · riche men haue heuene Salamon sayes also · þat siluer is worst to louye Nichil iniquius quam amare pecuniam. And caton kennes vs to coueiten nouȝt · but as it nedes Dilige denarium set parce dilige formam And patriarkes and prophetes and poetes boþe Writen to wissen vs to wille no richesse And praised pouerte with pacience · þe apostles beres witnesse · nota · that thay haue heritage in heuene · and by true riȝte Þer riche men no riȝt clayme · bot of reuthe and grace Contra quod I by crist · þat kan I reherce And proue it by peter · and by poule bothC.10.354: KD.10.351 is omitted. Þat is in extremis quod scripture among sarasyns an Iewes Þay mow be saued so · and þat is oure bileue Þat an vncristene in þis cas · may cristen an haythen And for is lele bileue · whahan he þe lif tynes Haue þe heritage of bheuene · as any man cristene And cristen men with-outen more · may nouȝt com to heuene · Plowman · For þat criste for cristen men dede · and confermed þe lawe Þat who-so wolde and wilnes · with criste to arise Si cum Christo resurexistis & cetera He sholde louye and leneC.10.364: This word could be read either as lene or leue. · and þe lawe fulfille Þat is loue þy lord god · leuest of alle thynges. And after alle cristyne creatures in comune ech man other And þus bilonges to loue · þat leues to be saued And but we do þus indede · or þe day of dome It shal bisitten vs ful soure · þe siluer þat we kepen And oure bakkes cloþes þat mothe-eten ben · and seen beggers ga naked Or delite vs in wyn and wilfoule · and wote any in defaute nota · For euery cristen creature · schulde be kynde til otherC.10.372: KD.10.369 is omitted in manuscripts C and B. God bedes boþe heiȝ and lowe · þat no man hurte other And saide sle nouȝt þat is sembland · to my owen liknesse But if I sende þe somme tokene · and sayde non mecaberis I slee nouȝt but suffre · and alle for þe besteC.10.376: KD.10.374 is omitted. For I shal punisshe hem in purgatorie · but mercy it lette This is a longe lesson quod I · and litel am I þe wiser Wher do-wel is or do-bet · derklich ye shewen Many tales ye tellen · þat theologie lerneth And þat I man made was · and my name yentred In þe legende of lif · longe er I were Or elles vnwriten for wikkednesse · as holy witnesse Nemo ascendit ad celum nisi qui de celo descendit & cetera . I leue it wel by oure lord quod I · and on no lettrure better For salamon the sage þat sapience taughte God gaf hym grace of wit · and al hise goodes afterC.10.387: KD.10.386 is omitted. He demed wel and wisly · as haly writ telles Aristotle and he who wissed men better Maistires þat of goddes mercy · techen men and prechen Of hir wordes þey thay wissen vs · for visest as in hir tyme And as holy cherche · hold hem boþe ydampned Nota · And if I sholde werke by his wekes · to wynne me heuene that for hir werkes and wit · now wones in pyne Than wrouȝte I vnwisly · what-so-euere þe preche And of fele witty in faiþ litil ferly I haue Þough hir goost be vngracious god for to plese For many men on þis molde · more sette hir hertes In good þan in god · forthy hem grace failleth And þe most meschif · whan þey schul lif lete As salamon dide and swich oþer · þat shewed grete wittes And hir wordes as holy writ seiþ · was euere þe contrarie For-þy wise witted men · and wel ylettred clerkes As þey sayen hem-self senden don þer-after Super cathedra moisy & cetera. · Nota · And I wene it worth of many · as was in Noes tyme tho he shope þat shippe · of shides and bordes Was neuere wriȝt saued þat wrouȝt þer-on · ne other werkman ellesC.10.408: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "man elles" in a red box to the right of C.10.409. But briddes and bestes · and þe blissed Noe And his wif with his sones and also hir wyuesC.10.410: KD.10.410 is omitted. God leneNeed lexical note that this could be lene or leue? it far nouȝt so · by folk · þat þe faith techen Of holy kyrce þat herberwe is · and goddes hous to saue And shilde vs fro shame þer-Inne · as Noe ship dide bestes And men þat maiden it · amidde þe flode adrugendadreyntenC.10.414: Adrugend: It is difficult to determine what the scribe intended. One might suspect derivation from OE adrugan, but the sense "become dry" is hardly appropriate. The culorum of þis clause · curatours is to mene That be carpenters holy cherche · to make for cristes owen bestes Homines & Iumenta saluabis domine &ceteraC.10.417: KD.10.417-419 are omitted. On good friday I fynde · a felon was I-saued that had lyued al his lif · wiþ lesynges and with thefte And for he biknowe on þe crosse · and to criste schroue hym He was sonner saued þan · Seint Iohan þe baptiste And er Adam or I-sey · or any of þe prophetes Þat had yleyen with lucifer · many lange yeres A Robber was raunceoned · rather than thay alle Withouten any penaunce of purgatorie to perpetuel blisse And marie magdaleyne what womman dide worse Or who wors than dauyd that vries deth conspired Or poule the apostle · þat no pitte hadde Muche cristen kynde to kulle to deeth And now be þise as souereignes · and seintes in heuene tho þat wrouȝt wikkedest in world · þeþ[o] þey were And þo þat wisely wordeden · and writen many bookes Of wit and of wisdom · with dampned soules wonnes That Salamon saiþ I trowe be soth · and certein of vs alle Siue Iusti atque sapientes & opera eorum in manu dei sunt &cetera Theay er willy and wel libbyng · and hir werkes ben yhudde In þe hondes of almiȝty · god and he woot þe sothe Wharfore loue a man worþ alowed þer and hise lele werkes Or elles for his euyl wille · and enuye of herte And be allowed as he lyued · so lither men knowes good And wher-by wite men which is whit · if al þyng blake were And who were a good man · but if þer were som shrewe hij For-thy lyue we forth with lither men · thay ben few goode For qant oportet cometh in place il nad que pati And he þat may · alle amende · haue mercy of vs alle · Nota · For sothest word þat euere god saide · þo he saide Nemo bonusC.10.466: KD.10.448 is omitted. *** Clergie þo of cristes mouthe · comended was litel For he saide to saynt peter · and to swich as he loued dum steterites ante Reges & presides &cetera . Though ye come bifore kynges · and clerkes of þe lawe Bees nouȝt abassed · for I shal be in youre mouthes And gyfue yow wit and wille · and konnyng to conclude hem alle þat ayeins yow of cristendom disputen Dauid makes mencion he spake amonges kynges And miȝte no kyng ouer-come hym and be konyng of specheC.10.455: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "speche" in a red box to the right of C.10.456. But wit ne wisdom · ne wan neuere þe maistre Whan man was at meschief · with-oute þe more grace The douȝtiest doctour and diuinour of þe trinite Was austyn þe olde · and heieste of þe foure Saide þus in a sermon · I seigh it writen ones EecceEcce ipsi ydiote rapiunt celum vbi nos sapientes in in-ferno And is to mene on Englissh{Barred} · to more and to losse Aren non oþer raþer rauysshed · fro þe riȝt bileue Thanne ar þis konnyng clerkes · þat konne many bookes Ne non soner saued · ne sadder of bileue thanne plowmen and pastours · and other comune laborers Souters and shipherdes · and swich lewed Iottes Percen with a pater noster þe paleys of heuene And passen purgatorie penaunles at hir hennes partynge In-to the blisse of paradis for hir pure bileue That in-parfitly here knewe · and ek lyued ye men knowe clerkes · þat han cursed þe tyme · nota · Þat euere þey kouþe on þe book · more than · Credo in deum &cetera And principaly hir pater noster many persone has wisshed I see ensamples my-self · and so may many other that seruantz þat seruen lordes · selde falle in arrerage But þo þat kepes þe lordes catel · clerkes and reues Riȝt so lewed men · and of litel knowyng Selde falle thay so foule · and so fer in synne As clerkes of haly kirke · þat kepen cristes tresoure the which is mannes saule to saue · as god saies in þe gospel.C.10.481: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "gospel." in a red box to the right of C.10.482. Ite vos in vineam meam &cetera · Piers Passus vndecimus & Possible damage. supra t THanneC.11.1: Three-line ornamental capital in blue ink with red flourishes. · scripture s.eruedCheck for an illegible word written above this one? "qustus"? me · and a skille told And lakked me in latyn · and light by me sette And seide · Multi multa sciunt & seipsos nesciunt tho wepte I for wo · and wratbhe of hir speche And in a wyndynge wratthe wex I a-sleep A merueillous sweuene mette me þanne that I was rauisshed riȝt þer · and fortune me fette And to þe lond of longyng · allone she me brouȝte And in a Mirour þat hiȝte mydlerd · sho made me biholde Sithen she saide to me · here miȝtow se wondres And knowe þat þow coueitest · and com þer-to paraunter Than had fortune folwyng hir · two faire damesels Concupiscencia carnis men called þe elder maide And couetise of eighes · called was þat other Pride of parfit lyuyng pursued hem both And bad me for my contenaunce · acounte clergie lighte Concupiscencia carnis · colled me aboute þe nekke And saide þou art yowng and yepe · and hast yeres Inow For to lyue longe · and ladyes to louye And in þis Mirour þow miȝte se mirthes ful manye Þat lede þe wyl to lykyng al þy lyf-tyme the seconde saide þþ[e] same · I shal swes[e]we þy wille Til þow be a lord and haue londe · lete þe I nylle Þat I ne shal folowe þy felawship · if fortune it like He shal fynd me his frende quod fortune þer-after Þe freek þat folweþ my wille · failled neuere blisse Than was ther oon that highte · Elde þat heuy was Man quod he if I mete wiþ þe · by marie of heuene thow shalt fynde fortune þe faille · at þy moste nede And concupiscencia carnis clene þe forsake Bitterlich shaltow banne þann · bothe þe dayes and nyghtesC.11.31 The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nyghtes" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.11.32. Coueitise of heigh · þat euere þou it knewe And pride of parfit libbyng · to muche peril þe brouȝt ye recche þe neuere quod recchelesnesse · stoed forþ in ragged cloþesC.11.34: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "ged cloþes" in a red box to the right of C.11.35.Scribal hyphen between the two g's. Fo?lowe forþ þat fortune wole · þow hast wel fare to elde A man may stoupe tyme ynough · whan he shal tyne þe crowne Homo proponit quod a poete and plato he hiȝte And deus disponit quod he · lat god don his wille If treuth wol witnesse it be wel do · fortune to folowe Concupiscencia carnis ne coueitise of eighes Ne shal nat greue þe gretly · ne bigile þe but þou wolt ye fare wel phippe quod faunteltee · and forþ gan me draweC.11.42: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "drawe" in a red box to the right of C.11.43. Til concupiscencia carnis acorded al my werkes Allas eyghe quod Elde and holynesse bothe That wit shal torne to wrecchednesse · for wille to haue his likyngC.11.45: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "his likyng" in a red box to the right of C.11.46. Coueitise of eighes · conforted me sone after. And folow me fourty wynter · or fifty and more Þat of dowel ne do-bet · no deynte me thynke I had no lykyng ne no luste · of hem ouȝt to knowe Coueitise of eighes · cam ofter in mynde And do-wel or do-bet · among my dedes alleKD.11.52 is omitted. And saide haue no conscience how þou come to good Go confesse þe to some frere · and shewe hym þy synnesC.11.53: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nes" in a red box to the right of C.11.54.Scribal hyphen between two n's. For whiles fortune his þy frende · freres wol þe louye And fecche þe to hir fraternite · and for þe biseke To hir priour prouincial · a pardon for to haue And pray for þe pol by pol · if þwþ[o]w be pecuniosus Set pena pecuniaria non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis By wissyng of þis wenche I wrouȝte · hir wordes were so sweteC.11.59: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "so swete" in a red box to the right of C.11.60. Til I forgate youthe · and yarne in-to elde And than was fortune my fo · for al hir faire biheste And pouerte pursued me · and putte me lowe And þo fonde I þe frere · aferd and flettyng bathe Ayeins oure first forward · for I saide I nolde Be buried at hir hous · but at my parissh Barred. chirche For I herde ons how conscience it tolde that þer a man were cristynde · by kynde he schulde be buried Or wher he were parisshen · riȝt þer he sholde be grauen · nota · And for I saide thus to freres · a fool they me helden And loued me the lasse · for my leale speche And yet I cried on my confessour · that held hym-self so konyng By my faith frere quod I · ye faren like this wowers That wedde no widowes · but for to welde hir goodes Right so by the rode · roughte þe neuere Where my body were buried · by so ye hadde the siluer I haue muche merueill of yow · and so hath many other Why youre couent coueiteth · to confesse and to burie Rather than to baptize barnes · that beth catekonnelyns Baptisyng and buriyng hath be ful nedful And muche more meritorie · me thyngket is to baptize For a baptized man · may as Possible conversion. maistires telles Thurgh contricioun come to the highe heuene Sola contrico delet peccatum And a barne with-outen bapteme · may nought be saued Nisi quis renatus fuerit ex aqua &cetera . Lok ye lettred men · wheher I lye or nouȝt And leaute lok on me . and I loured after Wherfore lourestow quod leaute · and loked on me harde If I dorst quod I amonges men · this metels auowe Bi petir and by paule quod he · and took bothe to witnese Non oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo set publice argue illos They wol allegge also quod I · and by þe gospel prouen Nolite iudicare quemquam And where-of serueth law quod leaute · if no lif vndirtoook it Falsnesse and faytrie · for somwhat the gospel saide · Non oderis fratrem and in the sauter · saith · Dauid the prophete Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis &cetera It is licitum for lewed men · to segge the sothe If hem liketh and lest · ech lawe it graunteth Excepte persones and prestes · and prelates of haly cherche It falleth nought for that folk · no tales to telle Though the tale were trewe · and it touched synne Thyng that al þe worlde woot · wherfore schuldestow spare And reden it in rethorik to arate dedly synne And be neuere the first · the defaute to blame Though thow see yuel say it nought · first be sory it nere amended And thyng thas is priue · publice thow it neuer Nether for loue laude it nouȝt  ne lakke it for enuye Parum lauda vitupera parcius He sayes sothe quod scripture · and skipte an heigh and preched And the matere that he moued · if lewed men it knewe The lasse as I leue · louyen it thay woldeKD.11.110 is omitted. This was hir teme and hir tixt · I tok ful god hede Multi to a mangerie · and to the mete were sompned And whan the pepile was plener comen · the vnpynned the gate And plukked in pauci priueliche · and lete the remenaunt go roome Al for tene of hir texte · trembled myn herte And in were gan I wax · and with my-self dispute Whetther I were chosen or nowth · on holy chirche I thoughte That vnderfange me at the fount · for oon of goddes chosen · Plowman · For crist cleped vs alle · come if we walde Sarazenes and scismatikes · and sa he dide the Iewes O vos omnes scicientes · venite & cetera And bad hem souk for synne · saufly at is breste And drynk boote for bale · broke it who-so myghte Than may al cristen come quod I · and claym ther entree By the blood that he boughte vs with · and thurgh baptisme afterC.11.127: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "after" in a red box to the right of C.11.128. Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit & cetera For though a cristen man coueited · his cristedom to forsake Rightfulliche to reuþe · no reson it wolde For may no cherche chartre make · ne his catel selle With-outen leue of his lord · no lawe wol it graunte And he may renne in arrerage · and rowme so fro home And as a renyed caytif · recchesly aboute And reson shal reken with hym · and caste hym in arrarege And puten after in prison Otiose curl on p. · in purgatorie to brenne For his arrerage rewarde hym ther · to the day of dome But if contricioun wol come · and crye by hiiys lyue Mercy for hise mysdedes · with mouthe or with herte That is sothe quod scripture may no synne lette Mercy alle to amende · and meknesse hir folowe For thay bee as houre bookes telles · a-boue goddes werkes Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius · nota · Ye bawe for bookes quod oon · was broken out of helle Hight Troianus had ben a trewe knyght · took witnesse at þe popeC.11.145: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "pope" in a red box to the right of C.11.146. How he was ded and dampned · to dwellen in peyne For an vncristen creature · clerkes witen the sothe That al clergie vndir crist · myghte cracche fro helle But onliche loue and leaute and my lawful domes Gregory wist this wel · and wilneth to my saule Saluacion for sothnesse · that he seigh my werkes And after that he wepte · and wilned me graunted were Grace with-outen any bede biddyng · his boone was vndirf?ange And I saued as ye may se · with-outen syngen of masses By loue and by lernyng · of my lyuyng in trouthe Broughte me fra bytter peyne · there no biddyng myghte · Nota · Lo ye lordes what leaut dide · by an Emperour of Rome That was an vncristen creature · as clerkes fynde in bokes Nought thorugh prayer of a pape · but for his pure treuthe Was that sarasen saued as saynt Gregorie bereth witnesse Wel aughte þe lordes that lawes kepe thys lesson haue in myndeC.11.161: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "mynde" in a red box to the right of C.11.162. And on Troianus trouthe to thenk · and do treuthe to the pypileKD.11.160-170 are omitted. Nota Law with-outen loue quod Troianus lay ther a beene Or any science vndir sonne ; the seuene artz and alle But thay be lerned for oure lordes loue ; lost is alle the tyme For no cause to cacche siluer ther-by · ne to be called a maister But al for loue of oure lorde · and the better to loue the pepile For saynt Iohan sayde it ; and soth aren his wordes Qui non diligit manet in morte Who-so loueth nouȝt leue me · he leueth in deth deynge And that alle manere men enemys and frendes Louen hir aither other · and lene hym as hir-seluen. Who-so leneth nouȝt he loues nouȝt · god woot the sothe And comande Ilk creature · to confourme hym to louye And souereigneliche pore pepile · and hir enemys after For hem that haten vs · is oure merite to loue And pouere pepile to plese hir prayers may vs helpe For oure Ioie and oure hele Ihesu crist of heuene In a pouere mannes apperaille · pursueth vs euere And lokes on vs in hir liknesse · and þat with louely chere To knowe vs by oure kynde herte ; and castyng of oure eighe Wheither we loue the lordes here · bifore oure lorde of blisse And excited vs by the euaungelie · that whan we maken festes We shal nat cale oure kyne þer-to · ne noon kynnes riche Cum facitis conuiuia nolite inuitare amicos And calles the carful ther-to · the croked and the pore For oure frendes wol fenden yow · and fonde yow to quyte youre festynge and youre faire giftes · Ilke frende quiteth so otherKD.11.195 is omitted. That gyues hym met or monei · and loues hem for my sakeKD.11.197 is omitted. For the beste ben som riche · and som beggers and pore For alle are we cristes creatures · and of coffres riche And brethren as of blood ; as wel beggers as erles For on caluarie of cristes blood · cristendom gan sprynge And blody brethren we bicom ther · of a body ywonne As quasi modo geniti and gentil men ech oon No begger ne boye amang vs · but if it synne made Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccati In the alde lawe · as holy letter telles Mennes sonnes men called vs echone Of Adames issue and Eue ay til god mandman deyed And after his resurreccion Redemptor was his name And we his bretheren thurgh hym bought · bath riche and pouere For-thy loue we as leue bretheren shal · and Ilk man laughe vp onotherC.11.203: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "onother" in a red box to the right of C.11.204. And if that Ilk man may for-bere · amende ther it nedes And euery man help other · for hennes shal we alle Alter alterius onera portate & cetera . And be we nouȝt vnkynde of oure catel · ne of oure konnyng nouther For not no man Small curl-like hyphen connects the o and m. how it is · to be by nome fra bathe For-thy lak no lif other · though he more latyn knowe Ne vndirnym nouȝt foule · is non with-outen faute For what-euere clerkes carpe · of cristendome or elles Crist to a commune womman · Saide in comune at the feste That fides sua shuld sauen hir · and saluen of hir synnes Thanne is bileue a lele helpe · a-boue logik or lawe Of logik ne of lawe · in legenda sanctorum Is litel alowance made · but if bileue hem helpe For it is ouerlonge · or logik any lesson assoille And lawe is loth to loue · but if he take siluer Bath logik and lawe · that loues nought to lye I conseille alle cristen men · cleue nought ther-on to sore For some wordes I fynde writen · were of feithes techyng That saued synful men · as saynt Iohan bereth witnesse Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis For-thy lerne we the lawe of loue · as oure lorde taughte And as saynt Gregorie seaide for mannes saule helthe Melius est scrutari scelera nostra quam naturas rerum Why I moeue this matere · is moost the pouere Nota For in his liknesse oure lorde · oft has ben knawen Witnesse in the Passe weke · whan he yede to Emaus Clephas knewe hym nought · that he criste were For his pouere apparalle · and pilgrymes wedes Til he blissed and brake · the brede that thay eten So by hise werkes thay wisten · that he was Ihesu And by clothyng thay knewe hym nouȝt · ne by carpyng of tongeC.11.234: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "tonge" in a red box to the right of C.11.235. And al was in ensampile · to vs synful here That we shulde be lawe · and louelich of speche · Nota · And apparaille vs nouȝt to proudly · for pilgrymes er we alle And in apparaille of a pouere man · and pilgrymes liknesse Many tyme god has · ben mette · among nedy pepile There neuere segge mane hym sawe · in secte of the riche Saynt Iohan and other sayntes · ware seyn pouere clothyng And as poure pilgrymes prayden mennes goddes · Piers · · nota. · Ihesu criste on a Iewes dowghter aligt · gentil womman though she wereC.11.243: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "though she were" in a red box to above C.11.243. Was a pure pouere maide · and to a pouere man wedded Martha on marie magdaleyne · and huge playnte sho madeC.11.245: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "made" in a red box to the right of C.11.246. And to oure sauour self · sayde this wordes. Domine non est tibi cura quod soror mea reliquit me solam &cetera And hastiliche god answerd · and aytheres wil folowed Both in marthas and in Maries as mathew beres witnesseC.11.249: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nesse" in a red box to the right of C.11.250. And pouerte god pute be-fore and praysedC.11.250: There is an otiose expansion mark on the p. it þe better Maria optimam partem elegit que non auferetur ab ea And alle wise that eure were · by aught I kan aspie Praisen pouerte for beste lif · if pacience it folowe And bathe better and blisseder · by many folde than ricchesseC.11.254: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "chesse" in a red box to the right of C.11.253. And though it be soure to soffre · ther comes swete after As on a walnot with-outen · is a bittre barke And after that bitter barke · be the shelle aweye Is a kernel of confort · kynde to restore So after pouerte or penaunce · pacientlich ytake For it maketh man to haue mynde in god and a grete willeC.11.260: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "wille" in a red box to the right of C.11.261. To wepe and to wele bidde wher-of wexeth mercye Of wich crist is a kernell Barred. · to conforte the soule And wel sikerer he slepes · the man that is pouere And lasse he dredes deth · and in derke to be robbed Than he that is right riche · reson beres witnesse Pauper ego ludo dum tu diues meditaris Al-though salamon saide · as folk sees in þe bibile Diuicias nec paupertates & cetera. Wiser than salamon was · bereth witnesse and taughte That parfit pouerte · was · was no posessioun to haue And lif most likyng to god ; and luk beres witnesse Si vis perfectus esse vade & vende & cetera And is to many to men · that on this molde lyuen Who-so wol be pouere parfit · moot possession forsake Or selle it as sayes the book · and the siluer dele To beggers that gaen and begge · and bidde good for goddeslouegoddes loueC.11.276: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "desloue" in a red box to the right of C.11.275.Scribal hyphen between d's. For failled neuere man mete · that mygtful god serued As dauid saies in the sauter · to swich that ben in wille To seruen god goodlich · ne greues hym no penaunce Nichil inpossibile volenti Ne lakketh neuere lynnen ne wollen Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono · Nota · If preestes were parfit · thay walde no siluer take For masses ne for matyns · nouȝt hir meet of vsurers Ne nouther kirtil ne cote · theygh thay for calde sholde deyeC.11.285: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "deye" in a red box to the right of C.11.286. And thay hir deuoir dide as dauid says in þe sauter Iudica me deus & discerne causam meam &cetera · spera in deo &cetera Spekes of prestes that haue no spendyng siluer That if thay trauaille trewly and trist in god almyghty thaym shal lakke no liflode · nouther wollen ne lynnen And the title thay take ordersbyorders by · til ye ben auaunced Than nedes naught yow take siluer for masses þat ye synge For he that took yow youre titile · Shal take yow youre wagesC.11.293: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "ges" in a red box to the right of C.11.294. Of the bisshop that blisses yow · if þat ye ben worthy. For made neuer kyng no knyght · but he had catel to spende As bifel for a knyght · or fande hym for his strenthe It is a carful knyght · and of caytif kynges makynges That has no land ne lynage riche · negoodne good loos of hise handesC.11.298: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "handes" in a red box preceded by a red paraph to the right of C.11.299. The same I say for sothe · by alle swiche preestes That haue nouther konnyng ne kynne · bot a crown oon And a titile a taile of nouȝt · to his liflod at meschief He has more bileue as I leue · to cacche thurgh his crownn Cure than for konnyng or knowyng · for clene of berynge I haue wonder and why · and wherfore the bisshop Makes swich prestes · that lewed men bitrayen A charter is chalengeable · bi-for a chife Iustice If false latyn be in that letter · the lawe it impugnes Or peynted parentrelynarie · parcells ouer-kippedouer-[s]kipped The gome that gloses so charters · for a gooky is holden So is it a goky by god · that in his gospel failleth Or in masse or matynes · makes any defaute Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus & cetera. And also in the sauter sayes dauid to ouerkippers Psallite deo nostro psallite quoniam rex terre deus Israhael psallite sapienter The bisshop shal be blamed bifor god a I leue That crowned swich goddes knyȝtes · þat konnes nouȝt sapienter Synge ne psalmes rede · ne saye a masse of the daye And neuere nouther is blameles · the bisshop ne chapeleyn For here either is endited and that of Iignorancia Non excusat Episcopos nec ydiotes prestes This lokyng on lewed prestes · has done me lepe fra pouertee Which I praise there pacience · is more parfit than richesse And muche more in metyng thus with me gan oon dispute And slepyng I seigh alle this · and sithen cam kynde And called me by name · and bad me nymen hede And thurgh the wondires of this worlde · wit for to take And on a mountaigne that myddelerd · highte as me than thoughteC.11.327: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "thoughte" in a red box to the right of C.11.328. I was fet forth · by ensampel to knowe Thorugh Ilk a creature and kynde · my creatour to louye. I seigh the sonne and the see · and the sande after And where that briddes and bestes · by hir make thay yeden Wilde wormes in wodes · and wonderful foules With flekked fetheres · and of fele coloures Man and his make · I · myghte both biholde Pouertee and plentee · bathe pees and werre Blisse and bale · bathe I seigh atonesat ones And how men token mede · and mercy refused Reson I seigh sothely · suwen alle bestes In etynge in drynkynge · and in engendrynge of kynde And after cours of concepcioun · noon took kepe of other And whan thay had riiyde in Roteye-tyme anon right ther-after Males drowen hem to males · a morwenges by hem-selue And in euenynges also · the males fro femeles Ther was cowe ne cowkynde · that conceyued hadde That walde belwe after buolles · ne boor after sow Bathe hors and houndes · and alle other bestes Medled nouȝt with hir makes · that with fole were Briddes I bihelde · that in buskes made nestes Had neuere wye wit · to worche the leste I had wonder at whom · and where the pye lerned To laye the stikkes · in wich he layes and bredes Ther nys wright as I wene · sholde worche hir neste to paye If any mason made a molde ther-to · muche wonder it were And yet me merueilled more · how many other briddes Huydden and heleden · hir egghes ful derne In marreys and mores · for men shuld hem nouȝt fynde And hydden hire egges · whan thay there fro wente For fere of other foules · and for wilde bestes And some traden hir makes · and on trees bredden And brouȝte forth hir briddes so · alle aboue the groundeKD.11.358 is omitted. And some kackeled I took kepe · how pacokkes bredden Muche merueilled me what maister thay hadde And who taughte hem on trees · to tymbre sa heighe Ther nouther barne ne beste may hir briddes reche · Plowman · And sithen I loked on the see · and so on the sterres Many selcouthes I seigh · be nought to say nowe I seigh floures in the frith · and hir faire coloures And how among the grene gras · grewe so many hewes And som sour and som swete · selcouthe me thoughte Of hir kynde and hir colour · to carpe it ware to lange · Nota · And that moost moeued me · and my mode chaunged That reson rewarded · and reuled al bestesKD.22.371 is omitted. Ne reson hem folwed · and than I rebuked Reson and right · til hym-seluen saide I haue wondire of the quod I · that witty art holden Why thow ne suwest man and his make þat na mysfaut hem folweC.11.376: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "folwe" in a red box to the right of C.11.377. And reson arated me · and saied recche the neuere Why I suffyre or nouȝt suffire · thy-self hast nouȝt to donne Amende þow if þou myȝt · for my tyme is nouȝt to abide Suffraunce is souereigne vertue · and a swifte vengeaunce id est gome Who suffres more than god quod he · na man as I leue id est mynute He myȝte amende in a litel whileC.11.382: The intention seems to be to amend the reading litel while to mynute while, which is the reading in almost all the other mss. al that mystandes And he suffres for some mannes goode · and so is oure betterKD.11.383-393 are omitted. The wise and witty · wroot thus in the bible · Nota · de re que te non molestat noli certare For be a man fair or foule · it falles nouȝt for to lakke The schap ne the schaft · that god shope hym-selue For alle that he dide was wel ydoo · as haly writ witnesse Et vidit deus cuncta que fecerat & erant valde bona And bad euery creature · in his kynde encresce Al to murthe with man · that maest wa tholde In foundynge of the flesshe · and of the fende bothe For man was made of swich a matere · he may nouȝt wel asterteC.11.393: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "asterte" in a red box to the right of C.11.394. That ne som-tyme · hym bitid to folwe his kynde Caton acordes ther-with · Nemo sine crimine viuit Tho caughte I colour anoon · and comsed to be aschamde And a-waked ther-with · wo was me thanne That I in metels ne myght · more haue I-knawen Thanne saide I to my-self · and chidde that tyme Now I woot what do wel is quod I · by god as me thyngkes And as I caste vp myne eyen · oon loked on me and axed Of me what thyng it were · I-wis sir I saide To se muche and suffre more certes quod I is dowel haddestow suffred he saide · slepyng tho thow were Thow shuldest haue yknowe þat clergie kan and conceyued more thurȝ resoneC.11.405: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "thurȝ resone" in a red box to the right of C.11.406. For reson walde haue reherced the right as clergie saide And for thyn entermetyng here · artow forsake Philosophus esses si tacuisses Adam whiles he spak nouȝt · had paradiiys at wille And whan he mameled aboute meet · and entermet hym to knowe The wisdome of the wit of god · he pute fra blisse And right sa ferde reson by the · thow with thy rude speche Lakkedest and losest thyng that longed nought to be doute Tho had he no likyng · for to lere the more Pride now and presumpcioun · par-auenture wyl the appele That clergie thy compaignye · ne kepes nought to suwe Shal neuere chalangynge ne chidynge · chastie a man so soone As shal schame and schenden hym · and shape hym to amende For lat a dronken daffe in a dike falle lat hym ligge look nouȝt on hym · til hym liste to risse For though reson rebuked hym thanne · it were but pure synne And whan nede takes hym vp · for doute lest he sterue And shame shcrapet hise clathes · and hise schynnes wasshede Than woot the droken daffe · · where-fore he is to blame ye saye sothe quod I · Ich haue yseyn it ofte Ther smytes no thyng so smerte · ne smelles sa soure As shame ther he shewes hym · for euery man hym shonyes Why ye wisse me thus quod I · was for I rebuked reson. Certes quod he that is sothe · and shope hym for to walken And I aros vp right with that · and folwed hym after And praide hym of his curteise · to telle me his name Passus Duodecimus  IC.12.1: A three-line capital in blue ink with red flourishes. Am ymaginatif quod he · ydel was I neuere Though I sitte by my-self in siknesse and in helthe I haue folewed the in faith · this fyue and fourty wynter And many tymes haued moued the to thenk on thyn ende And how fel fernyers · ana[r] faren · and so fewe to comen And of thy wilde wantonnesse · tho thow yonge were To amende it in thy mydel age · lest myght the faille In thyn olde elde · that so yuel kan suffre Pouerte or penaunce  or prayers bidde Si non in prima vigilia nec in secunda & cetera. Amende the while thow myghte · thow haste be warned ofte With poustees and pestilence · with pouert and with angres And wit this bittire baleises · god betes hise dere childerne Quem diligo castigo. And dauid in the sauter saith · of swich that loue Ihesus Virga tua & baculus tuus ipse me consolata sunt &cetera Al-though thow strike me with thy staf · with stikke other yerde It is bot murthe as for me · to amende my soule And thow medlest the with maistries · and miȝtest go sey thy sauter And bidde for hem that geues tho bred · for ther ar bookes ynowe To telle men what do wel · do-bet and do-best bothe And prechours to proue what it is · of many paire freres I seigh wel he sayde me soth · and somwhat me to excuse Saide caton to conforte his sone · that clerc though he were To solacen hym som-tyme · as I do whan I make Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis & cetera. And of haly men I hard quod I · how thay other-while Plaiden the parfiter to ben · in many places And if ther were any wight · that walde me telle What were ?do-wel and do-bet · and do-best at the laste Walde I neuere wyrke · bot wende to haly chirche And ther bid my bedes · but whan I ete or slepe Poule in his pistile quod he · proues what is dowel Fides spes caritas & maior horum & cetera. Faith hope and charite · and alle ben goode And sauen men sondry tymes · and noon so soon as charite For he does wel with-outen doute · that doth as leaute teches That is if he be man maried · thy make thow louye And lyue forth as lawe wol · while ye lyuen here Right so if thow be religious · renne thow neuer ferther To rome ne to Rochemadour · bot as thy reule teches And halde the vndir obedience that heigh way is to heuene And if þou be maiden to marie · and might wel continue Seke thow neuere saynt · ferther for thy saule helthe For what mad lucifer · to lese the heigh heuene Or salamon his sapience · or sampson his strengtheKD.12.42 is omitted. nota bene · Aristotle and other mo · ypocras and virgile Alexander that al wltnne wan · elengelich endid Catel and kynde wit was · combraunce to hem alle Felice hir fairnesse · fel hir al to sclaundire · Piers · And rosomond right · so reufully bisette The bewte of hir body · In badnesse she dispendide Of many swiche I miȝte rede · of men and of wommen That wise wordes can say · and werche the contrarie Sunt homines nequam de virtute bene loquentes And riche renkes right so · gadderand and sparyng And to men that thay moost haten · ministren it at the leste And for thay suffren and see · so many nedy folkes And louen hem noutght as god bit · lesen hir soules Date & dabitur vobis & ceteraKD.12.55-57α are omitted. And riche right so · bot if the rote be trewe And grace is a gras ther-of · the greuance to abate And grace ne groweth nought · bot amoanges lawe Pacience and pouertee the place is · ther it growees And in lele lyuyng place men · and in lif-holye And thorugh the gyfte of the holy gost · as the gospel tellesC.12.66: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "telles" in a red box to the right of C.12.67. Spiritus vbi vult spirat &cetera. Clergie and kynde wit · comes of sighte and techyng And the book beres witnesse · to barnes that konne rede Quod scimus loquimur quod vidimus testamur · nota · Of quod scimus cometh clergie · and konnyng of heuen And quod vidimus comes kynde wit of sight of diuerse pepileC.12.72: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "pile" in a red box to the right of C.12.73.Scribal hyphen between e and p. And grace is a gyfte of god · and of gret loue sprynges know neuere clerc how it comes forth · ne kynde wit þe waies Nescit aliquis vnde venit aut quo vadit And yet is clergie to comende · and kynde wit bothe And namly clergie for cristes loue · that of clergie is rote · nota · For Moises witnesse þat god wroot · for to wisse the pepile In þe olde lawe as þe letter telles · that was the lawe of Iewes That what womman were in auoutrie · taken riche other pouere With staues men schulde hir strike · and stonye hir to dethe A womman as we fynden was gilty of that dede And crist of his curteisie · thorugh clergie hir saued For thorugh carrectis þat crist wrouȝte · the Iewes knewe hem-selueC.12.84: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "selue" in a red box to the right of C.12.85. Giltyer as a-fore god · and gretter in synne Than the womman that ther was · and wente away for shame The clergie that ther was · conforted the womman Haly kirke knoweth this · that cristes writyng saued So clergie is conforth to creatures · that repenten And to mased men · myschef at hir ende For goddes body miȝte nouȝt be · of breed with-outen clergie The which body is · bathe boote to the rightful And deth and dampnacioun · to hem that dyen yuel As criestes carrectes conforted · and bothe coupile shewed The womman that the Iewes brouȝte that Ihesu thouȝt to saueC.12.95: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "saue" in a red box to the right of C.12.96. Nolite iudicare & non iudicabimini & cetera Right so goddes body brethren · but it be worthily taken dampneth vs at þe day of dome · as the carrectes dide þe Iewes For-thy I conseille the for cristes sake clergie to louye For kynde wit is of his kynne · and neigh cosyns bothe To oure lord leue me · for-thy loue hym I rede For bothe ben as myrours · to amende oure defautes And leders for lewed men · and for lettred bothe For-thy lakke thow neuere logik lawe ne hise customes · nota · Ne conterplede clerkes · I conseil the for euere For as a man may nought see · that mysses hise eighen Na more kan no clerc · bot he kaughte it first thurgh bookes Al-thoug men made bokes · god was the maistre And saynt spirit his samplarie · and saide what men shulde write And right as sight serues a man · to se the heigh strete Righte sa ledeth clergie · lewed men to reson As asAs a blynde man in bataille · bere?s wepen to fighte And has na hape with axe · his enmy to hitte Namore kan a kynde witted man · but clergie hym teche Come for al his kynde wit · to cristendome and be saued Wich is the cofire of cristes tresore · and clerkes kepe the keyes To vnloken it at hir likyng · and to the lewed pipile Gyfe mercy for hir mysdes · if men it wol aske Buxomlich and beniglich · and biden it of grace Arcaha dei in the olde lawe · leuites it kepten Had neuer lewed mean leue · to lygge hande on the kyste Bot he were prest or prestes sone · patriarke or propheteKD.12.116-125α are omitted. For clergie is keper · vndir criste of heuene Was there neuere no knyȝt · bot clergie hym made A kynde wit comes · of alkynnes sightes Of briddes and of bestes · of treuthe and of deceytes lyuyers to-forn vs · vseden to marke The selcouthe that thay seighen · hir soons for to teche And helde it and heigh science · hir wittes to knowe And thorugh hir science sothly · was neuer saule saued Ne brought by hir bookes · to blisse ne to Ioie For al hir kynde knowyng · come but of diuerse sightes Patriarkes and prophetes reproued hir sightes And sayden hir wordes ne hir wisdomes · nas but a folye As to the clergie of crist · counted but a trufele Sapiencia huius mundi stulticia est apud deum For the heigh holy goost  heuen shal to-cleue And loue schal lepe out after · in-to this lawe erthe And clennes shal catchen it · and clerkes schal it fynde Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem &cetera he spekes ther of riche men nouȝt · ne of right witty Ne of lordes that were lewedemenlewede men · bot of þe heighest lettirde outeC.12.142 The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "oute" in a red box to the right of C.12.143. Ibant magi ab oriente & cetera. If any frere were founde ther · I gyfe þe fyue shillynges Ne in noon beggers cote was that barne borne But in a burgeis place · of Bethelem the beste Set non erat in diuersorio & pauper non habit diuersorium To pastours and to poyetes · apiered the aungel And bad hem go to bethelem · goddes burthe to honour And sange a songe of salace · Gloria in excelsis deoKD.12.151-152 are omitted. Clerkes knew it wel · and comen with hir presentes And dyde hir homage honurably · to hym that was almuyghti And goddes sone that sittes in heuene and shal saue vs alleC.12.153: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "alle" in a red box to the right of C.12.154. Why I haue tolde þe al this · I took ful good hede How thow contrariest clergie · with crabbed wordes How that lewedmen lewed men lightloker : than lettred were saued Than clerkes or kynde wittedmenwitted men of cristen pepile And thow saidest soth of some · and se yit in what manere Tak two twotwo strange men · and in Themise caste hem And both naked as a nedile · er noon sikerer than other That oon has konnyng · and kan swymmen an dyuen That other is lewed of that labour · lernede neuer to swymme Which trewestow of hem two · in themise is moostC.12.163: There is a small space between m and oost. drede He that neuere ne dyuedC.12.164: There is an otiose expansion mark above the e. · ne nouȝt kan of swymmyng Or the swymer that is sauf · by so hym-self like Ther his felaw flette forth · as the flood likes And is in dred to drench that neuere did swymme That swymme kan nouȝt I saide · it semes to wittes Ryght so quod that renk · reson it shewes That he that knowes clergie · kan sonner arise Plowman · Out of synne and be saf · though he synne ofte If hym likes and list · than any lewed lely For if the clerc be konnyng · he knowe what w is synne And how contricioun with-oute confession · confortes the saule And thow seest in thy sauter · in psalmes oon or twayne How contricioun is comended · for it cacches away synne Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates & quorum tecta &cetera. And this conforteth ech a clerc · and keuereth hym fra wanhopeC.12.178: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "hope" in a red box to the right of C.12.179.Scribal hyphen between n and h. In which flood the fende · fondes a man hardest Ther the lewed lith stille · and loketh after leaut And has no contricioun er her he come to schrifte & þan kan And as is loresman leres hym · bileueth and troweth And that is after parson or parisshe prest and parauenture vnkonnyng to lere lewed men as luc beres witnesse Dum cecus ducit cecum & cetera Wo was hym marked that wade moet with þe lewed Wel may the barne blisse · that hym to book sette That lyuyng after lettrure · saued hym lyf and soule Dominis pars hereditatis mee & cetera is a myrie versete That has taken fra tiburne twenti strange theues Ther lewed theues ben lolled vp · loke how thaIS THA = They POSSIBLE HERE***??? be saued The thief þat had grace of god on good fradayfr[i]day as thow spake Was for he yelde hym creaunt to crist on the cros · and know hym giltyC.12.193: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "gilty" in a red box to the right of C.12.194. And grace axed of god · and he is euere redy That buxomly bid it · and be in wille to amende hem And though that heuen · he had no heigh blisse As saynt Iohan and other seyntes · that deserued had better Ryght as som men gyf me meet · and sette me amiddes þe floreC.12.198: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "flore" in a red box to the right of C.12.196. I haue meet more than ynough · and nouȝt so muche worship As tho that sitten at the table · or with souereignes of the halle But sit as beggers bordles · by my-self on the grounde So it fares by that feloun · that on good friday was saued He sit neither by saynt Iohan / Simond ne Iude Ne with maidens ne martirs · confessours ne widewes By hym-self as a solayn · and serued on the erthe For he that is ones a thif · is euere more in daunger And as law likes · to lyue or to dye. de peccato proiciato noli esse sine metu And to seruen a seynt · and swich a thef togiders It war nouther reson ne right · rewarde hem bothe yliche And right as Troianus the trewe knyȝt tild nouȝt depe in helle That oure lord ne had hym lightlich oute · so leue I þe thef be in heuen For he is in the lowest heuene · if oure bileue be trewe And wel lowselich he lolles ther · by the law of haly chirche Quia reddit vnicuique iuxta opera sua. And why that oon thef on the cros · creaunt hym gylty · nota · Rather than that other thef · though thow walde appose Alle the clerkes vndir crist · ne kouthe the skile assoille Quare placuit quia voluit And so I say by the · that sikest after the whaies And resonedest reson · a rebukyng as it were And of þe floures in the frithe · and of faire hewes Wherof thay caughte hir colours · so clere and so bright And willest of briddes and beestes · and of hir bredyng knowe Whi som so lowe and some aloft · thy likyng it were And of the stones and of the sterres · þou studiest as I leue Howeuer best or bridd · has sa breme wittes Clergie ne kynde wit · ne knewe neuere the cause And kynde knoweth the cause and no creature elles he hisC.12.230: Note the unusual spelling of is. þe pyes patrone · and puttes in hir ere That the thorn is thikkest · to byggen and to brede And kynde kenneth the pakok · to kauken in swich a kynde And kenned adam to knowe · his priue membres. And tauȝte hym and Eue to helyen hem with leues Lewede men many tymes · maisters apposen Why Adam hilled nouȝt first · his mouthe that ete the appel Rather than his likham a-low · lewlew[ed] axen thus clerkes Kynd knowes why he dide so · and no clerk elles And of briddes and of bestes · men by olde tyme Ensampiles token · and termes · as telles thise poetes And that the fairest foule · foulest engenders And fieblest foule of flight is · that flieth or swymmes · Nota · And that is the pacok and þe pohenne · riche men thay bitoknee For the pacok andC.12.244: Note the spelling for an ("if"). men pursue hym · may nouȝt flee heighe For the traillyng of his tail · ouer-taken is he sone And his flesshe is foule flessch · and is feet bothe And vnloueliche of cryeng · and loth for the here Right sa the riche · if he is richesse kepe And deles it nouȝt til his deth-day · the tail of al sorwe Right so the pennes of þe pacok · peyned hym in his flighte So is possessioun peyne · of pens or of nobles To alle hem that it holdeth · til hir tail be plukked And though the riche repent thanne · and birewe the tyme That euere he gadered so grete · and gaf ther-of so litel Though he crye to crist þanne · with clen wille I leue His leden is in oure lordes ere · lyke a pyes And whan is caroyne schal come · in graue to be buried I leue it flambe ful foule · the folde al a-boute Alle the other ther it lieth · enuenymes thurgh his atter Nota · By the poo feet is vndirstonde · as I lerned in auynette Executours false frendes · to worche as it wolde Thus the poet proues þat the pecok · for hise fetheres is reuerenced Right so is the riche · by reson of hise goodes. The larke that is a lesse foule · is more louelich of leden And wel a-way of wynge swifter · than the pecok And of flessh by fele folde · fatter and swetter To lawe libbynge men · the larke is resembled Aristole the grete clerc swich tales telles nota · Thus he liknes in his logik the lest foule of oute And where he be saue or nouȝt · the sothe woot no clergie Noe of sortes ne salamon na scripture kan telle And good is so good · I hope þat sith he gaue hem wittes To wissen vs wayes ther-with · that wissen vs to be saued And þe better for hir bookes · to bidden we be holden That god for his grace · gyue hir soules reste For lettred men wer lewed yit · nere lore of hir bokes Al this clerkes quod I tho · that on crist leuen Sayand in hir sermons · that no sarazyns ne Iewes Ne no creature of cristes liknesse · with-outen cristendom worþ saued Contra quod ymagynatif tho · and bygane for to loure And saide · saluabitur vix iustus in die Iudicij. Ergo saluabitur quod he · and saide na more latyn Troianus was a trewe knyght · and took neuer cristendom And he is sauf as saies the book · and his saule in heuene For ther is fullyng of founte · and fullyng in blood shedyng And thurgh fire is fullyng · and that is ferme bileue Aduenit ignis diuinus non comburens set illuminans & cetera . And treuthe that trespassed neuere · ne trauersed ayeins his lawe Bot lyues as his lawe teches · and leues ther be no better And if ther were he walde amende · and in swich wille deyes · Piers · Ne wolde neuer trewe god · but treuthe were alowed And were it worth or nouȝt · the bileue is gret of treuthe And an hope hangyng ther-Inne · to haue mede for his treuthe Quia deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam suis hoc est fidelibus Et alibi si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis & cetera. The glose grauntes vp-on that vers · a greet mede to treuthe And wit and wisdom quod that wye · was som tym tresore To kepe with a comune · no catel was holden better And muche myrthe and manhed · and riȝt with þat he vanysshed Passus terciodecimus · a ANdC.13.1: This three-line capital in blue ink also has red flourishes. I awaked ther-with · witles nerehande And as freke that fre were · forth gan I walke In maner of a mendynant · many yere after And of this metyng many tyme · muche thought I hadde First how fortune me failled · at my moost nede And how that elde manaced me · we miȝte neuere mete And how that freres folweden · folk that was riche And folk that was pouer · at litel prise thay sette And no cors in hir kirke yerd · ne in kirke was byr?yed Buot quik biquethe hem ouȝt · or sholde helpe quite hir dettes And how couetise ouer-come · clerkes and prestes And how that lewed men be ladde · but oure lorde hem helpe Thorugh vnkonnyng curatours · to incurable peyne And how that ymaginatif · in deremes me tolde Of kynd and of konnyng · and how curteise he is to bestees And how louyng he hisC.13.16: Note spelling of is. to bestes on londe and on water Leneth he no lif · lasse ne more. The creatures that crepen of kynde ben engendred And how ymaginatif saide vix iustus saluabitur And whan he hadde saide so · how sodeynliche he passed I lay longe in this thought · and at the laste I slepte And as criste wolde ther come · conscience to conforte me þat tyme And bad me come to his courte · with clergie shul I dyne And for conscience of clergie spake · I com wel the rather And ther I seigh a maister · what man he was I neste. That lowe louted · and louelich to scripture. ConscienConscien[ce] knew hym wel · and welcomed hym faire Thay wesshenden and wipeden · and went to dyner And paciens in the paleys · stode in pilgrymes clothes And prayde meet for charite · for a pouere hermyte Consciens called hym Inne · and curteislich saide Welcome wy go and wasshe · thow shalt sitte sone This maister was made sitte · and for the moost worthy Than clergie and consciencie · and paciens cam after Pacience and I were putte · to be macches And sitten by oure-selue · at a side borde Conscience called after meet · and than cam scripture And serued hem thus sone · of sondry metes manye Of Austyn of Ambrose of alle the foure Euaungelistes Edentes & bibentes que apud eos sunt. And this maister ne his man · no maner flessh eten And thay et meet of more cost · mortreux and potages Of that men myswonne · thay made hem at ese · Nota · And hir sauce was euere sour · and vnsauourly ygrounde In a morter post mortem · of many bitter peyne But if thay synge for the saules · and wepe salt teres vos qui peccata hominum comeditis nisi pro eis lacrimis & orationes effuderitis ea que in delicijs comeditis in tormentis euometis Conscience curteisly tho · comaunded scripture By-for pacience breed to brynge · and me that was his make He sete a sour lafe to-for vs · and saide agite penitenciam And sithen he drow vs drynk · dya perseueransC.13.51: The expansion mark for per is not properly realized. Als lange quod I as I leue · and likham may dure Here propire seruice quod pacience · ther fares na prince better And than he broyuteCheck ms for direction of change. forthe other meet · of miserere mei deus And of Beati quorum of Beatus vir makyng Et quorum tecta sunt peccata ·C.13.56: There is a red slash through the raised point. in a disshe Of derne schrift · dixi and confitebor tibi And brynge pacience som · priuelich quod conscience And thanne come to pacience · a pitaunce ybroughte Of pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno And consciens conforted vs · and carped vs mery tales Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies Pacience was proude of that proper seruice · And made hym murthe with his meet · and I mournede euere For this doctour on the heigh deys · drank wyn so faste Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum. He ete many son?drie metes · mortreux and puddynges Wombe cloutes and wilde brawne · and egges fried with grece Than saide I to my-self · so pacience it herde It nouȝt foure dayes · þat this freek bi-fore the dene of poules Preched of penaunce that poule the apostle suffred In fame and frigore and flappes of scourges Ter cesus sum & a Iudeis quinquies quadragenas &cetera · · Nota · And a word thay ouerhippen · at ech tyme that they prechen That poule in histhis his pistile · to al þe pepile tolde Periculum est in falsis fratribus Haly writ bides men be war · I wol nouȝt writte it here On englissh{barred} an auenture it schodscho[l]d · be reherced to ofte And greue ther-with that good ben · an gramariens shulde rede vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat quia vt dicitur periculum est in falsis fratribus And I wist neuere freek that as a frere yede bifore men on Englissh{barred} Tak it for hir teme · and telle it with-outen glosynge Thay prechen that penaunce is · profitabile to the soule And what myschief or mal-esse · crist for man tholde And this goddes gloton quod I with his grete chekes hath no pitte on vs pouere men · he parfourneth yuele That he preches he prouetes nouȝt · to paciens I tolde And wissed witterly · with wille ful egre That dissches and doublers · bifor this ilke doctour Were molten lededleed leed in his mawe · and Mahoun amyddes I shal Iangle to this Iurdan · with his Iuste wombe To telle me wat penaunce is · of wich he preched rather Pacience perceyued what I thought · and wynked on me to be stille And saide thow salt see thus sone · whan he may namare He shal haue penaunce in his paunche · and puf at ech worde — And than shal his guttes gothele · and he shal galpen after For now he hase dronke so depe · he wile deuyne sonne Nota And proue it by-for hir pocalipps · and passioun of saynt Auereys That nouther bacon ne brawn · blank-mangere ne mortreux Is neither fisse ne flessh · but foode for a penaunce And shal he testifie of a trinite  and take hise felawes to witnesse What he fande in a frayel · after freres lynyge And but if the first lif be lesyng · leue me neuere after And thanne is tyme to take · and apposse this doctour Of dowel and of do-bet · and if do-best be any penaunce And I sette stille an pacience saide · and thus soene this doctour As rody as a rose · rubbed hise chykes · Coughed and carped · and conscience hym herde And tolde hym of a trinite and toward vs al he loked · Plowman · What his dowel sire doctour quod I is do-wel any penaunce dowel quod this doctour and took the coppe and dranke do no yuel to thyn euen-cristen · nouȝ by thy power By this day sir doctour quod I be ye nouȝt in do-wel For ye han harmed vs two · In þat ye eten the puddyng Mortreux and other meet · and we na morsel hadd And if ye fare so in youre fermerie · ferly me thynketh But chest be ther charite shol be · and childerne dorst pleyne I walde permute my pennaunce with youreC.13.118: youre = "yours". · for I am in poynt to do-welC.13.118: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "wel" in a red box to the right of C.13.119. Than conscience curteisliche · a contenaunce made And preynte vp-on pacience · to preye me be stille And saide hymself sir doctour · and it be youre wille What is dowel and do-bet · ye diuynours knoweth Do-wel quod this doctour do as clerkes teches And do-bet is he that techeth · and trauailles to teche other · Nota · And do-best doo hym-self so · as he saies and preches Qui facit & docuerit magnus vocabitur in regno celorum Now thow clergie quod conscience · capestca[r]pest what is dowel I haue seuene sonnes he saide · seruen at a castel Ther the lord of lif woneth · to lerne hem what is dowel Til I se tho seuene · and my-self acorden I am vnhardy quod he to any wight to proue it For oon piers the plowman  hat impugned vs alle And sette alle sciences at a soppe · saue loue oon And no tixte ne takees · to mayntene his cause But dilige deum and domine quid habitabit &cetera · And seigh that dowel and do-bet · aren twa infinites Wich infinites with a faith · fynden out do-beste Wich shal saue mannes soule · thus saith piers plowman I kan nought here-on quod conscience · and I knowe piers He wol nouȝt ayein haly writ · speken I vndertake Thane passe we ouer til piers come · and proue this in dide Pacience hase ben in many places · and parauenture knowes That no clerc ne kan · as crist beres witnesse. Pacientes vincunt & cetera At youre prayer quod pacience tho · so no man displesse hym disce quod he doce and dilige inimicos disce · and do-wel · doce and do-bet dilige an do-best · thus taughte me ones A lemman that I loued · loue was hir name With wordes and werkes quod she · and wille of thyn herte Thow loue lely thy soule · al thy lif-tyme And so thow lere þe to louye · for þe lordes loue of heuene Thyn enemy in al wise · euene-forth with thy-selue Cast coles on his hed · and al kynde speche Bothe with werke and word · fonde his loue to wynne And lye on hym thus with loue · til he laughe on the And bot he bowe for this betyng · blynde mote he worthe And for to fare thus with thy frend · folye it were For he that loueth the lely · litel of thyn coueites Kynde loue coueites neouȝt · no catel but speche · nota · With half a laumpe lyne in latyn · Ex vi transicionis I bere there-Inne a beaut · fast ybounde doweel In a signe of the saterday · that sette firste the kalender And al the wit of wednesday · of the next wike after The mydel of the Moone · is the nyght myght of bothe And here-with am I welcome · ther I haue it with me vn-do it lat þis doctour dem · if do wel be ther-Inne For by hym þat me made · myghte neuere pouerte Miseise ne myschief · ne man with his tonge Colde ne care · ne compaignye of theues Ne nouther hete ne haile · ne noon helle pouke Ne neither fire ne flood · ne fere ofe thyn enemy Tene the any tyme · and thow take it with the Caritas nichil timetC.13.174 KD.13.164-171α are omitted. It is bot as dido quod this doctour · a disours tale Alle þe wit of this world · and wight mennes strenghe kan nouȝt confourmen a pees · bitwene the pope and his enemye Ne bitwene twa cristen kynges · kan na wight pees make Profitable to either pepil · and putte the table fra hym And took clergie and conscience · to consail as it were That pacien tho moost passe · for pilgrymes kanne well And conscience carped loude · and curteisliche said Frendes fareth wel · and faire spake to clergie For I wil go with this gome · if god wol gyue the grace And be pilgryme with pacience · til I haue proued mare What quod clergie to conscience · er ye coueitouse nouthe After yeresyeues an gyftes · or yernen ye to rede rideles I shal bryng yow a bibile · a book of the olde lawe And lere yow if yow like · the best point to knowe That pacience the pilgryme · parfitly knew neuere Nay by crist quod conscience · god the foryelde For al that pacience me proferes · proude am I but litile And the wille of that wye · and ye wille folk here Has moued my moed · to mourne for my synnes The good wille of a wight · was neuere bouȝt to the ful For ther is no tresor ther-to · to a trew wille Had nouȝt magdaleyne more · for a box of salue Nota · Than zacheus for he saide · dimidium bonorum meorum da pauperibus And the pouere widowe · for a peire of mytes Than al tho that offreden · in-to Gazaphilacium Thus curteisly conscience congeyed first þe frere And sithen sothliche he saide · in clergies ere Me were leuere by oure lord · and I lyue sholde Haue pacience parfitly · than half this pakke of bookes Clergie to conscience · no congie wolde take But saide ful soberly · thow shalt se the tyme · Whan thow art wery forwalked · wilne me to conseile That is soth quod conscience · so me god helpe If pacience be oure partyng felawe · and priue with vs bothe Ther is no wo in this worlde · þat we ne sholde amende And confermen kynges to pees · and alkynnes londes Sarrasens and surry and so forþ al the Iewes Torne in-to the trewe faith · and in til oon bileue That is soth quod clergie · I se what thow menest I shal dwelle as I do · my deuoir to shewen And confermen fauntekynnes · and other folk ylered Til pacience haue preued the · and parfit the maked Conscience tho with pacience · passed pilgrymes as it were Than had pacience as pilgrymes han · in his poke vitailles Sobrete and symple speche · and sothfast bileue To conforth hym and conscience · if thay come in place Ther vnkyndenesse and coueitise · is hungry contrees bothe And as thay went by the way · of dowel thay carped Thay mette with a mynstral · as me tho thoughte Paciens apposed hym first · and praide he sholde hem telle To conscience what craft he kouthe · and to what contre he wolde I am a mynstral quod that man · my name is · actiua vita Al ydel I hatye · for of actif is my name A wafrer wol ye wite · and serue many lordes I fewe robes I fonge  or furrud gownes Couthe I lee to do men laughe · thane lacche I sholde Piers Outher mantel or monei · amanges lordes mynstralles And for I kan nouther taborne ne trompe · ne telle noon gestesC.13.233: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "tes" in a red box to the right of C.13.234.Scribal hyphen between s and t. Farten ne fethelen · at festes ne harpen · Ne neither sailly ne sautre · ne synge · with the giterneC.13.235: KD.13.233 is omitted. I haue nea goode giftes · of this grete lordes For na brede that I bryng forth · saue a benysoun on the sonday Whan the preest precbhes the pepile · hir pater noster to bidde For pier the plowman · and that hym profet wayten And that I am actif · that ydelnesse hatye · Fol al trewe trauaillours · and tillers of erthe Fro Mighelmesse to Mighelmes · I fynde hem with wafres Beggers and bidders · of my breed crauen Faitours and freres · and folk with brode crowens I fynde payn for the pope · and prouendire for his palfray And I had neuere of hym · haue god my trouthe Nouther prouendre ne personage · yet of the popes gyfte Saue a pardoun with a payes of leed · and two polles amydde Had ech a clerk that couthe write · I walde caste hym a bille That he sent me vnder his seel · a salue for the pestelence And that his blissyng & hise bulles · botches myght destroye - In nomine meo demonia eicient & super egros manus imponent & bene habebunt & cetera And thanne wolde I be prest to þe pepile paste · for to make And buxom and bisy · aboute breed and drynke For hym and for alle hisse · fonde I that his pardoun Might lechen a man · as I beleue it sholde For sith he has the power · þat petir hym-self hadde he hase the pot with þe salue · sothly as me thynketh{barred} Argentum & aurum non est michi · quod autem habeo tibi do In nomine domini surge & ambula.C.13.259: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "& ambula" in a red box to the right of C.13.258. And if myght of miracle hym faille · it is for men be nat worthy To haue the grace of god · and no gilt of the pope For may no blissyng dos vs bote · but if we wil amende Ne mannes masse make pees · amonges cristen pepile Til pride be purliche for-doo · and that thurgh payn defaute For er I haue breed of meel · erst moot I swete. And er the comune haue corn ynough · many calde mornyng So er my wafres ben wrought · muche wa I tholye Al londoun I leue · likes wel my wafresC.13.268: KD.13.264 is omitted. Ther was a carful comune · whan no cart come to touwnn With bred fra stratford · tho gonnen begers wepe And werkmen were agast a litil · this wol be thought lange In the date of oure drighte · in a dry aprill{barred} | A thousand and thre hondreth · twies twenty anndC.13.273: Note the overwriting of an n in and and its replacement with an expansion. ten Mi wafres wer gesen whan Chichestre was Mair I took good kepe by crist · and conscience bothe Of haukyn the actif man · and how he was clothed He had a Cite of cristendome · as haly chirche bileues = And it was moled in many places · with many sondrye plottes Of pride hire a plot and þer a plot · of vnbuxom speche Of scornuyng and of scoffyng · and of vnskilful beryng As in apperaille and in port · proude amonges the pepile - Other-wise than he has with herte or eye shewyng hym willyng that alle men wende · he were þat he is nouȝt For why he bosted and bragged · with many bolde othes And inobedient to be vndirnome · of any lif lyuyng And so singuler by hym-self · ne noon so poppe holy yhabited as an heremyte · and ordire by hym-self Religion sanz reule · and resonable obedience Lakkyng lettred men · and lewed men bothe In likyng of lele lif · and a lyere in soule With Inwit and with-oute wit · ymagynen and studye As best for his bodi be · to haue a bad name And entermeten hym ouer al · ther he has nouȝ to doone Willyng that men wende · his wit war the besteC.13.294: KD.13.292-298 are omitted. And if he gyfues ouȝt the pouere gomes · til telle what he deletC.13.295: Note the spelling -t for usual -th. Pouere of possessioun in purs · and in coffres bothe And as an lyon on to look · and lordlich of speche Boldest of beggers a boster that nouȝt hath In town and in tauernes · tales to telle And saies thyng that he neuere er sawe · & for sothe sweren itC.13.300: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "it" in a red box to the right of C.13.301. Of dedes that he neuere dide · demen and bosten And of werkes that he wel dide · witnes and seggen Lo if thow leue me nought · or that I lye wenen Axeth at hym or at hym · and he yow kan telle Whan I suffred and seigh · and som tym hadde · And what I kouthe and knowe · and what kynne I come of Al he wolde that men wist of werkes and of wordes Wiche miȝte plesse the pypil · and preisen hem-seluen Si hominibus placerem christi seruus non essem · Et alibi . Nemo potest duobus dominis seruire &cetera Bi crist quod consciens tho · thy best cote haukynn Has many moles and spottes · it moest ben ywasshen Ye who-so took hede quod haukynC.13.313: There is an otiose expanion mark on the n. bihynd and bifore What on bak what on bodye · and by the two sides Men shulde fynd many frounces · and many foule plottes And he torned hym as tit · and thanne took I hede It was fouler by fele fold · than it first semed It was bidropped with wrathe · and wikked wille With enuy and yuel speche · entisyng to fighte Lyinge and laughyng · and leue tonge to chide Al the Al that he wist wikked · by any wight tellen it And blame men bihynde hir bak · and bid hem myschaunce And that he wist by wille · tellen it watte And that watte wist · wille wist it after And made of frendes foos · thorught a fals tonge Or with myght of mouthe · or thorugh mannes strenghe Auenge me fele tymes · other frete my-selue With-Inne as a shepster shere · ysherewed men and cursed Cuius maledictione os plenum est & amaritudine sub lingua eius & cetera Et alibi filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte & lingua eorum gladius acutusC.13.330: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "gladius acutus" in a red box to the right of C.13.331. Ther is no lif that I loue · lastyng any while For tals that I telle no man · trusteth to me And whan I may nouȝt haue the maistrie · with malencolye I take That I cacche the crompe · the cardiacle som-tyme Or an ague in swich an angre · and som-tyme a feuere That taketh me al a twelue monthe · til þat I dispise lechecraft of oure lord · and leue on a wiche And segge that no clerc ne kan · ne crist as I leue To the souter of southwerk · or of shordich{barred} dame Emme And saye that no gooddes word  gaf me neuere boot But thorugh a charme hadde I chaunce · and my chief hele I waited bisiloker · and that it soilled With lidkyng of liccherie · and by lokyng of his eighe For ech a mayde þat he met · he made hir a signe Semyng to synward · and som-tyme he gan taste Aboute the mouthe or byneth · bigynnes to grope Til either wille wexeth keen · and to þe werke yeden As wel in fastyngdaies as fridayes · and forboden nyghtes And as wel in lenten as oute of lenten · alle tymes yliche Swich werkes with hym were · neuere oute of sesoun Til thay miȝte namore · and than · had merye tales And how þat leccherous louyen · laughen and Iapeng · Plowman · And of hir harlotrie and hordom · in hir eld tellen Than pacience parceyued · of poyntes of his cote Was colomy thurgh couettise · and vnkynde desiryng More to good than to god · the gome his loue caste And ymagyned how he · it myȝte haue With false mesures and met · and with false witnesse Leued for loue of the wed · and lathe to do treuthe And a-waited thurgh which way to bigile And menged hise marchaundise · and made a good moustre The warst with-Inne was · a gret wit I lete it And my neghbour had any hyne · or any best elles More proofitable than myn · many sleigtes I made How I myght haue it al my wit I caste And bot I had by other way · at þe lest I stale it Or priuelich his purs shook · vnpiked hise lokkes Or by nyght or by day · aboute was ich euere Thurgh gile to gaderen · the good þat ich haue If I yede to the plough · I picched sa narowe That a foot lande or a forowe · fecchen I walde Of my next neghbore · nymen of his erthe And if I rope ouer-reche · or gaf hem red that ropen And seise to me with my sikel · that I ne sewe neuere And who-so borweth of me · abouȝt the tyme With present priueliche or payed som certein So wolde he or he nolde · wynne I wolde And bothe to kytthe and to kynne · vnkynde of þat ich hadde And who-sa cheped my chaffare chiden I walde But he profred me to paye · a peny or tweyne More than it was worth · and yet walde I swere That it coste me muche more · swore many othes In halidayes and holy cherche · whan I herde masse Had I neuere wille woot god witterly to biseche Mercy for my mysdedes · that I ne morned more For losse of good leue me · than for my likhames gilte And if I had dedly synne doun · I drede nouȝt þat so sore As whan I lened leued it lost · or lang er it were paied So if I kid any kyndenesse · myn euen-cristen to helpe vp-on a cruel coueitise myn herte gan hange And if I sent oure see · my seruantz to brugges Or in-to sprucelande my prentice my profit to waiten To marchaunden with moneie · and make hir eschaunges Mighte neuere me confort · in the mene tyme Nouther masse ne matyns · ne no maner sightes Ne neuere penaunce parfourned · ne pater noster saide ThaC.13.397: Tha, "that." my mynd ne was more · on my good in a doute Than in the grace of god · and hise grete helpes Vbi thesaurus tuus ibi & cor tuum.C.13.399: KD.13.399-408 are omitted. · nota · Wich ben the braunches · that brynges a man to sleuthe His womman mourneth nouȝt for hise mysdedes · ne makes no sorwe And penaunce that the preste enyoigneuyd · parfourned yuel doos noon almesdede · drede hym uof na synne Lyues ayein the bileue · and na lawe haldes Ilce day or Ilc haliday with hym · or an heigh ferie And if he auȝt wil here · it is an harlotes tonge Whan men carpen of criste · or clennesse of saule He waxes wrath and wil nought here · but wordes of myrthe Pennance and pouere men · and the possessioun of sayntes He hates to here ther-of · and al that it telles Thise be the braunches be ware · that brynges a man to wanhope ye lordes and ladys · and legates of haly kirce ThaC.12.413: Tha, "that." fedes foles sages · flaterers and leers And hase likyng to listemliste[n] hem · to do yow to laughe Ve vobis qui ridetis &cetera And guyues hym meet and mede · and pouere men refuse In youre deth deynge · I dreed me ful soore Leste þe thre manere of men to muche to mykil sorwe yow brynge Consencientes & agentes pari pena punientur Patriarkes and prophetes · and prechours of goddes wordes Sauen thurgh hir sermoun · manne saule fram helle Right sa flaterers and fooles · and the fendis discipils To eten entice men thurgh hir tales · to synne and harlotrie And clerkes that knowen haly writ · sholde kenne lordes What dauid sayes of swilc men · as the sauter telles · nota · bene · Non habitabit in medio domus mee qui facit superbiam & qui loquitur iniquaC.13.426: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "iniqua" in a red box to the right of C.13.427. sholde nan harlotes haue audience · in halle ne in chambires Ther wise men were · witnesse goddes wordes Ne no mysproude man · amang lordes ben allowed And flaterers and foles · thurgh hir foule wordes Leden tho þat louen hem · to luciferes feste With turpiloquio alaya lay of sorwe · and lucifere fithel Thus haukyn the actif man · had ysoilled his cote Til conscience acouped hym ther-of · In a curteys manere Why he ne had wasshen it · or wipid it with a brusshe Passus quartodecimus de visione vt supra I haue bot oon hool hatre quod haukyn · I am the lasse to blame Though it be suyled and foule · I slepe ther-Inne on nyghtes And also I haue a wif · hewen and childiren vxorem duxi & ideo non possum venire · That walden bifoule it many tyme · maugre my chekes It has ben laued in lenten · and out of lente bothe With the sop of siknesse · that sekest wonder depe And with the losse of catel · bathe for to a-gylte God or any good man  by aught that I wiste And was shryuen of þe preest · that gaf me for my synnes To penaunce · paciens and pouere men to feede Al for cuueitise of my cristendome  in clennes to kepe it And kouthe I neuere by crist · kepen it clene an houre That I ne fouled it with sight  or som ydel speche Or thurgh werk or word · or wille of myn herte But I ne floboure it foule · fra morwe til eue And shal kenne þe quod conscience · of contricioun to make That shal thy cote · of alle kynnes filthe Cordis contricio & cetera · Do wel wasshen it and wryngen it  thurgh a wyes confessour Oris confessio & cetera · Do bet shal beten it and bouke it  as bright as any scarlet And engrayuen with good wille  and goddes grace to amende the And sithen send the satisfaccioun · for to sowen it after Satisfactio & cetera - Do best shal neuere myst bynolnen bymolen it · ne mought after biten it Ne fende ne falss man · defoulen it in thy lyue · Shal no heravde ne harpour · haue a fairer garnement Than haukyn the actif man  and thow do my techyng Ne no mynstral be more worthe · amanges pore and riche Than haukyns wif the wafrer with his actiua vita And I shal purueye the paste · quod paciens ; thouȝ no ploughe erye And flour to fede folk with  as best be for thy saule Though neuere greyn growed · ne grape vp-on vyne Al that lyues and lokes · liflode wol I fynde And that I nought shal non faille · of thyng þat hem nedes Piers We shold nouȝt be to bisie · a-boute oure liflode Ne soliciti sitis & cetera volucres celi deus pascit & cetera Pacientes vincunt & ceteraC.14.38: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "vinciunt & cetera" in a red box to the right of C.14.37. Than laughed · haukyn a litel · and lightly gan swere Who-so leueth yow by our lord I leue nouȝt he be blissed No quod pacience paciently ˜ and out of his pok hente vitailles of gret virtues · for al manere bestes And saide lo here liflod ynough · if oure bileue be trewe For lent neuere was lif · but liflod were schapen Wher-of · or wherfore · or wherby to libbe First the wilde worm · vndir wete erthe Fisshe to lyue in þe flood · and in the fir þe crikat The curlowe by kynde of þe eire · moost clennest flessh of briddesC.14.48: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "des" in a red box to the right of C.14.49.Scribal hyphen between two d's. And bestes by gras and greyn · and by grene rotes In menyng that alle men · myȝt se same · Lyue thurgh lele bileue · and loue as god witnesseth Quodcumque pecieritis a patre in nomine meo & cetera et alibi non in solo pa-neScribal hyphen between a and n. viuit homo set in omni verbo quod procedit & cetera Bot I loked what liflode it was · that paciens sa praised And than was it a pece of the pater noster · fiat voluntas tua haue haukyn quod pacience  and ete this whan the hungres14.55: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "res" in a red box to teh right of C.14.56. Or whan thow clomsest for colde · or clyngest for drye Shul neuere gyues the greue · ne gret lordes wrathe Prison ne peyne for pacientes vincunt By so þat þou be sobire · of sight and of tonge In etyng and in handelyng ˜ and al thy fyue wittes Thardestow neuere care for corun · ne lennen cloth ne wollen Ne for drynk ne deth dred · but deye as god likes Or thurȝ hunger or þurȝ hete · at his wille be it For if thow lyuest after his lore · þe shorter lif þe better Si quis amat christum mundum non diligit istum nota · For thurȝ his breth bestes · wexen and abrood yeden dixi & facta sunt & cetera · Ergo thurȝ his brethe · mowen men and bestes lyuen As holy vrit witnesse ˜ whan men sayes hir graces apperis tu manum tuam & imples omne animal benediccione · nota bene · It is founden þat fourty wynter · folk lyued withoute tilynge And out of the flynt spronge the flood · þat folk & bestes dronke And in helyes tyme ˜ heuen was yclosed That no rayn ne raynde · thus rede men in bokes That many wyntires men lyueden · and no mete ne tylied Nota · Seuene slepe as sayes the book · Seuene hundre wynter And lyueden with-outen liflode · and þe laste þey woken And if men lyued as mesure wolde · schulde neuere be defaute Amanges cristen creatures · if cristes wordes be trew ˜ And vnkyndenesse caristia makes amange cristen pepile And ouer plente makes · amange pouere and riche And mesure is so muche worth · it may nouȝt be to dere nota For the myschief and the myschaunce ; amonges men of sodome Wex thurȝ plente of payn · and of pure sleuthe Ociositas & habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutriuit For thay mesured nouȝt hem-self · of þat thay ete & dranke didden dedly synne · that þe deuel liked So vengeaunce felle vp-on hem · for hir ville synnes thay sonken in-to helle ˜ the Cittes Ilcone For-thy mesure we vs wel ˜ and make oure faith our shyltrounC.14.90: The scribe continues this line above, writing "shyltroun" in a red box to the right of 14.89. And thorugh faith cometh contricioun · conscience woot wel Which dryues aweay dedly synne · and does it to be venialC.14.92: KD.14.85 is omitted. And brynge his saule to blisse · so that faith bere witnesse That whiles he lyued he bileued · the lore or holy chirche Ergo contricioun · faith · and conscience ; is kyndely do wel And surgiens for dedly synnes ˜ whan schrift of mouthe faillesC.14.96: The scribe continues this line below, writing "failles" in a red box to the right, on a line of its own. And schrift of mouthe more worthy ˜ if man yliche contrite For schrift of mouthe slees synnes · be it neuere so dedly Per confessione to a preest · peccata occiduntur Ther contricioun does but dryues it · in-to a venial synne And dauid sayes in the sauter · et quorum tecta sunt peccata And satisfaccioun sekest out þe rote · and bathe sleeth and woides And as it neuere had I-be to nouȝt · brynges dedly synne That it is neuere eft seen sore · but semees a wounde heled Whare wonnes charite quod haukyn · I wist neuere in my lyueC.14.105: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "lyue" in a red box to the right of 14.106. Man that with hym spak · as wide as I haue passed Ther parfit treuthe and pouere herte is · and pacience of tonge Ther is charite the chife chamber · for god hym-selue Wheither pacience pouerte quod haukyn · be more pleasaunt to oure sightC.14.109: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "sight" in a red box to the right of 14.110. Than richesse riȝtfulliche wonne and resonablich spende ye quis est ille quod pacience ˜ quik laudabimus eum Thouȝt men rede of richesse · riȝt to the worldes ende · Nota · I wist neuere renk that riche was ˜ þat whan he rekene scholde Whan he droue to his deth day ˜ þat he ne dred hym sore And that at þe reknyng in arrerage · fel rather than oute of detteC.14.115: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "dette" in a red box to the right of 14.116. Ther the pouere dar plede · and preue by pure resoun To haue alowaunce of his lorde · by the lawe he it cleymes Ioie that neuere Ioie hadde ˜ of riȝtful Iugge he axeth And sayes lo briddes and bestes · that no blisse ne couthe And wilde wormes in wodes · thurȝ wynters þou hem greuest And makest hem wel neiȝ meke · and mylde for defaute And after þou sendest hym somer · that is hir souerayne Ioie And blisse to alle that ben · bothe wilde and tame˜ Than may beggers and bestes · after bothe wayten · That al hir lif han lyued · in langour and in defaute But god sent hym som-tyme · som manere Ioie Other hyere or elles-where ˜ kynde wolde it neuere For to wo other wel was he wrouȝte · þat neuere was Ioie schapied Aungels that in helle now ben ˜ hadden Ioie som-tyme And diues in deyteesdey[n]tees deyntees C.14.130: The spelling deutis in Cr1 perhaps suggests some relationship between C and Cr1's exemplar? lyued ˜ and in douce vie · Right so reson sheweth · þat þo men þat were riche And hir makes also · lyued hir lif in myrthe And god is of a woundire wille · by þat kynde wit schewees Nota · To gyue many men his mercymonie · er he it haue deserued Riȝt so fares god by som riche ˜ reuthe me it thynkes For thay haue hir hire here · and heuen as it were And is gret likyng to lyue  · with-oute labour of body And whan he deyes be disalowed · as dauid sayes in the sauter dormierunt & nichil inuenerunt . And in an other stede also ˜ velut sompnium surgencium domine in Ciuitate tua & ad nichilum rediges Allas that richesse schal reue · and robbe mannes saule Fram the loue of oure lord ˜ at his laste ende Hewen þat han hir hire · after aren euermore nedy + And selden dyeth he oute of dette · þat dyneth er he deserue it And til he haue don his deuoir · and his iourne˜ For whan a werkman hath wrouȝte ˜ þan may men se þe sothe What he were worthy for his werk · and what he has deserued And nouȝt to fange bifore · for drede of disalowynge So I saye by yow riche ˜ it semes nouȝt þat ye shull haue heuene in youre hee beryng ˜ and heuen here-after Riȝt as a seruant takes his hire ˜ bifore and after walde clayme moreC.14.152: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "clayme more" in a red box to the right of 14.153. As he þat non hadde · and has hire atte laste It may nouȝt be ye riche men ˜ or mathew on yow lyes De delicijs ad delicias difficile est transire And if ye riche haue reuthe ˜ and reward wel the pouere And lyuen as þe lawe teches ˜ don leaute to hem alle · Plowman · Criste of his curteisye · schal confort yow atte laste And reward alle doubile richesse · þat reufulle hertes hases And as an hyne þat had his hire · er he bigonne And whan he has don his deuoir wel · men does hym oþer bounteC.14.161: The scribe continues this line above, writing "te" in a black box to the right of 14.160.Scribal hyphen between un and t. Gyfe hym a Cite aboue his couenant · riȝt sa crist gyues heuen Bot to riche and to nouȝt riche · þat reutfullich lyues And alle þat does hir connande wel · han double hire for hir trauailleC.14.164: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "trauaille" in a red box to the right of 14.165. Forgyuenesse of hire synnes · and heuen blisse after And it nys but selde so seyn · as by haly sayntes bookes That god rewarded doubile reste to any riche wye For muche myrthe is amange riche ˜ as in met and clothyng And mykyl myrthe in may ˜ is amang wilde bestes And sa forth while somer lastes · hir solace dures And beggers aboute myssomer · bredles thay soupe And yet is wynter for hem wors · for weet shoed they gange Afirst sore and affyngerd · and fouliche rebuked And arated of riche men · that reuth is to here Now lord sende hem somer · and som manere Ioie Heuene after hir hennes goyng ˜ that here han swich defauteC.14.176: The scribe continues this line above, writing "faute" to the right of 17.175.Scribal hyphen between e and f. For alle myghtestow haue made · non mener than other And ylich witty and wise · if thy wille had liked And haue reuthe of thise riche men · þat reward nouȝt thy prisoners Of the goode þat thow hem gyuest · Ingrati ben many And god of thy goodnesse ˜ gif hem grace to amende For may no derthe ben hem dere · drouȝte ne wete · Ne neither hete nor haille ˜ haue thay hir hele Of þat thay wilne and wolde ˜ wantes hem nouȝt here And pouer pepyle thy prisoners · lord in the pyte of myschief Conforte tho creatures ˜ that muche care suffren Thorugh derthe and droughte · alle hir dayes here Wo in wynter tymes for wantyng of clathes And in somer tyme · selden soupen to the fulle Conforte thy careful · crist in thy riche For how thow confortest alle creatures · clerkes beres witnesse · Nota · Conuertimini ad me & salui eritis Thus in genere of gentrise · Ihesu crist saide To robbers and to reuers · to rich and to pouerC.14.194: KD.14.183 is omitted. Thow taughtest hem in þe Trinite to take baptyme And be clene thurgh þat cristennyng · of al kynnes synnes And vs fel thorugh folie · to falle in som after Confessioun and knowlechyng ˜ and crauyng þy mercye Shuld amende vs as many sithes · as man walde desire And if the pope walde plede here ayein · & punishe vs in conscience He sholde take the aquitaunce as quik · & to þe queed shewe itC.14.201: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "it" in a red box to the right of 14.202. Pateat & cetera per passionem domini & cetera . And putten of the pouke · and preuen vs vnder borowe And the parchemyn of this patente · of pouerte be mooste And of pouere pacience ˜ and parfite bileue Of pompe and of pride · the parchemyn decorreth And principalich of alle pepile ˜ but thay be pouere of herte Elles is al on ydel · al þat euere we written Pater noster · and penaunce · and pylgrymage to Rome Bot oure spence and spendyng · sprynge of a trewe wylle Elles is al our labour loost ˜ lo how men writees In fenestres at the freres · if fals be the foundement For-thy cristen shuld be in comune riche non coueite for hymselueC.14.213: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "selue" in a red box with a red paraph sign to the right of 14.214. For seuene synnes ther be · assaillen vs euere The fende folowes hem alle ˜ and fondes hem to helpe And with richesse þat ribalde · rathest men bigiles For ther þat richesse regnes · reuerence folwes And that is plesant to pride · in pouerte and in riche And the riche is yreuerenced ; by reson of his richesse That þe pouere is put bihynde · and parauenture kan more Of wit and of wisdome · that fere away is better Than richesse or reaute ˜ and rather herde in heuene For the riche has muche to rekne · and ryght softe walkes The heigh way to heuenward · ofte richesse lettes Ita possibile diuiti & cetera · Ther the pouer preses bifore the riche · with a pak at his ryggeC.14.226: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "rygge" in a red box to the right of 14.227. Opera enim illorum sequntur illos Batanlich as beggers doon · and boldelich he craues For his pouerte and pacience · a perpetuel blisse Beati pauperes quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum And pride in richesse regnes · rather than in pouerte Arst in the maistre than in the man · som mansioun he has And in pouerte ther pacience is · pride has na myghte Ne noon of the seuene synnes · sitten ne mow ther longe Ne haue power in pouerte · if pacience it folowe For the pouer is ay prest · to plese the riche And buxom at his biddyng · for his broke loues And buxomnesse and boost · arn euere at werre And ayther hates other · in al manere werkes If wrath wrystel with the pouere · he has the wors ende For if thay bath pleyne · the pouere is bot fibile And if he chide or chater · hym cheues the warseC.14.242: KD.14.228-238 are omitted. And if coueitise cacche the pouere · thay may nouȝt com togidersC.14.243: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "giders" to the right of 14.244.Scribal hyphen between o and g. And by the nekke namly hir noon may hent other For men knowen wel þat coueitise is of a kene wille And hase handes and armes · of a lang lengthe And pouerte nys but a petit thyng · apeers nouȝt to his nauele And louely laike was neuer bitwene þe lange and the short And þough auarice walde þe pouere · he has bot litil miȝte For pouerte has bot pokes · to puten Inne hise soddes Ther auarice hath almarys · and Iren bounde coffres And whether be lighter to breke · lasse boost it makes A begger bagge than an Iren bounden coffires leccherie loues hym nouȝt · for he gyues bot litel siluer Ne doos hym nouȝt dyne delicatly · ne drynk wyn ofte A strawe for the stewes · it stood nouȝt I trowe Had thay no thyng but of pouere men · hire houses stood vntiled And though sleuthe swe pouert · and serue nouȝt to paye Myschief is his maistre · and makes hym to thynke id est gome That god is his grettest helpe · and no man elles And is seruaunt as he sayes · and of his suyte bothe And wheither he be or nouȝt · he beres the signe of pouerte And in that secte oure saueour · saued al man-kynde For-thy al pouerte þat paciens is · may claymen and asken After hir endyng here · heuene-riche blisse Mykyle hardyer may he axen · that here miȝt haue his wille In londe and in lordschip · and likyng obo[f] body And for goddes loue leueth al · and lyues as a begger And as a mayde for mannes loue · hir moder forsakes hir fader and al hir frendes · and folowes hir make Muche is swich a maide to loue of hym · þat swich oon takes More than a maiden is · that maried thurȝ brocage And by assent of sondry parties · and siluer to bote More for coueitise of good · than kynde loue of bothe So it fares by ech a persoun · thaC.14.275: tha, "that." Cf. possession forsakes And puttes hym to be pacient · and pouertee weddes The which is sibbe to god hym-self · and so to hise sayntes · Piers · haue god my trouthe quod haukyn · ye praise faste pouerte What is pouerte with paciens · quod he propirly to mene Paupertas quod paciens · est odibile bonum Remocio curarum pos-sessioScribal hyphen between s's. sine calumpnia domum dei · sanitas ˜ mater absque solicitudi-neScribal hyphen between in and n. semita sapiencie temperatrix · negocium sine dampno · Incer-taScribal hyphen between r and t. fortuna absque solicitudine felicitas · I kan nouȝt construe þis quod haukyn ye moost sayn on Englissh In englissh{Barred} quod paciens it is wel hard · wel to expounen And somdel I shal saye it · by so ye vndirstonde Pouerte is the first poynt · þat pride moost hates Than is good by good skille · al þat agastes pride Riȝt as contricioun is confortabile thyng · conscience woot wel And a sorwe of hym-self · and solace to þe saule So pouerte propirliche penaunce and Ioie Is to þe body · pure spritual helthe Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum And contricon confort · and cura animarum the secunde secounde Selde sitte pouerte the sothe to declare Or as Iustice to Iugge men · enioyned is no pouere Ne to be a mair abouen men · ne mynister vndir kynges Selde is any pouere putte · to punisshen any pepile Remocio curarum Ergo pouerte and pouere men · parfournes the comaundement Nolite iudicare quemquam · the thridde Selde is any pouere riche · bot of rightful heretage Wynnes he nouȝt with weightes fals ne vnseled mesures Ne borwes of hise neigboures · but þat he may wel paye Possessio sine calumpnia The ferde is a fortune · þat florisshes the saule With sobrete fram al synne · and also yet more It affaiteth the flessh · fram folies ful manye A collateral confort · cristes owne gyfte Donum dei The fifte is moder of helthe · a frend in al fondynges And for the lawde euere a lech · a lemman of al clennesse · Sanitas mater The sexte is a pathe of pees ye thurȝ þe pas of Aultoue Pouerte miȝte passe · with-oute peril of robbyng For ther þat pouerte passes · pees folowes eafter And euere þe lasse þat he beres · the harder he is of herte For-thy sayes senica paupertas est absque solicitudine semita And an hardy man of herte · amang an heepe of theues Cantabit paupertas coram latrone viator The seuenthe is wille of wisdome · and fewe wordes schewes For lordes allowes hym litel · or listnes to his resoun He temperees þe tonge to treuthward · and no tresoure coueites Sapiencie temperatrix The eighte is a lele labour ˜ and lathe to take ? more Than he may wel deserue ˜ in somer or in wynter And if he chaffare he charges no losse · mow he charite wynne Negocium sine dampno The nynthe is swete to the saule · no sugre swetter For paciens is payn for pouerte hym-selue And sobrete swete drynk · and good leche in siknese Thus lered me a lettred man · for oure lordes loue Saynt Austyn blissed lif · with-outen bissynesse For body and saule · absque solicitudine felicitas Now god þat al good gyues · graunte his saule reste That thus first wroot to wissen men · what pouerte was to mene Allas quod haukyn the actif man tho · that after my cristendomeC.14.334: The scribe continues this line below, writing "dome" in a red box to the right on a line by itself. I ne had ben dede · and deluen for dowel sake So hard it is quod haukyn to lyue · and to do synne Synne sweth vs euere quod he · an sary gan wexe And wepte water with his eighen · and wailed þe thyme That euere he dide dede · þat dere god displesed Swonde and sobbed · and siked ful ofte That euere he had lande or lordschip · lasse other more Or maistre ouer any man · mo than of hym-selue I were nouȝt worthy quod haukyn to werie any clathes Ne nouther scherte ne schone · saue for shame oon To couere my cariogne quod he · and cried fast mercye And wepte and wayled · and ther-with I waked Passus xvus · Explicit de do wel . & Incipit primis de do bet a AN after my wakyng it was lange Er I koude kyndely knawe · what was dowel And sa my wit wexed and wanyed · til I a fool were And som lakked my lif · allowed it fewe And leten for a lorell · and loth to reuerence Lordes or ladies · or any lif elles As persons in pelleur · and with pendantz of siluer To sergeantz ne to swich · saide nouȝt ones God loke yow lordes · ne louted faire That folke helde a fole · and in þat folie I raued Til reson had reuth on me ˜ and rokked me a-slepe Til I seigh as it sorcerie were · a sotil thyng with-al Oon with-outen tonge and teeth · tolde me whider I scholde And where-of I cam and what kynde · I coniured hym atte laste If he were cristes creature ˜ for cristes loue me to telle I am criste creature quod he · and cristne in many a place In crist court I-knowe wel · and of kynne a partie Is nouther petir the porter ne poule · with his faucheon That wol defende me the dore · dynge I neuere so late At mydnyȝt at mydday · my voice sa is yknawen That Ilke a creature of his court · welcomes me faireC.15.21: There is an otiose curl on the r. What er ye called in þat court quod I · amonges cristes pepile The whiles I quik was in þe body quod he · called am I anima And whandwhan I wilne and wolde · animus ich hatte And for that I kan and knowe · called am I Mens And whan I make moon to god · Memoria is my name And whan I deme domes · and do as treuthe teches Thanne is racio my riȝt name · Reson on Englissh{Barred} And whan I fele þat folk telles · my nam is sensus And þat is wit and wisdome · the wel of alle craftes And whan I chalange or chalange nouȝ · chepe or refuse Than am I called · goddes clerk and his notarie And whan I loue lely our lord · and alle other Than is lele loue my name · in latyn amor And whan I flye fra the flessh{Barred} · and forsake the caroigne Than am I spirit specheles · spiritus than ich hatte Austyn and Isodorus either of hem bothe Nempned me thus to name · now thow myȝte chese How thow coueitest to calle me · now knawestow al my names Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur · dum vi-uificatScribal hyphen between i and u. corpus anima est · dum vult animus est · dum scit mens est · dum recolit memoria est · dum Iudicat racio est · dum sentitScribal hyphen after t. sensus est · dum amat amor est · dum negat vel consentit con-scientiaScribal hyphen between n and s. est · dum spirat spiritus est ye ben a bisschop quod I al burdyng þat tyme For bisshopes yblissed beren many names Presul and pontifex and Metropolitanus AnC.15.44: an, "and." other names an hepe · Episcopus and pastor That is soth sayed he · now I se thy wille Thow woldest knowe and konne · the cause of alle hir names And of myn if thow myghtest · me thynkes by thy speche ye sir I saide by so no man were greued Nota · Al the sciens vndir sonne · and alle the sotil craftes I wolde I knowe and kouthe · kyndely in myn herte Than artow vnparfit quod he · and on of pride knyghtes For swich a lust and likyng · lucifer fel fram heuene Ponam pedem meum in aquilone & similis ero altissimo It were ayeins kynd quod he · and alkynnes reson · That any creature schulde konne al · except crist oon · Ayeins swich Salamon spekes · & dispisses hir wittes And sith · Sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum˜ Nota · Sic qui scrutator est magestatis opprimitur a gloria To englissh{Barred} men this is to men · that mowen speke and here The man þat muche hony eteis · his maw it englames And the more þat a man ˜ of good matere heres But he do þer-after it does hym double scathe Beatus est saies saynt bernard qui scriptura legit Et verba vertit in opera · fullich to his powerC.15.64: KD.15.62-63 are omitted. Sciencie appetitus hominem in-mortalitatis gloriam spoliauit And riȝt as hony is yuel to defien · and englaymes the mawe Ryght so that thurȝ reson · wolde the rote knowe Of god and hise myghtes ˜ his grace it lettes For in the likyng lyges a pride and in a likames coueitise Ayeins cristes counseil · and alle clerkes techyng That is Non plus sapere quam oportet sapere Freres and fele other maistires · þat to þe lewed men prechen Mouen maters in mesurables · to tellen of the trinite That ofte tymes the lewed pepile · of hir bileue douten Better to leue wer many doctours swich techyng Nota To telle men of ten comandementes · and touche þe seuene synnesC.15.76: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nes" in a red box to the right of 15.77.C.15.76: KD.15.75 is omitted. In the spelling of L, it reads: And of þe braunches þat burgeouneth of hem · and bryngeth men to helle. And how þat folk in folies · myspenden hir fyue wittes As wel frers as other folk · folilich spenen In housyng in hateryng · and heigh clergie shewyng More for pompe than for pure charite · the pepile woot þe sothe That I lye nouȝt lo · for lordes ye plesen And reuerrencen the riche · the rather for hir siluer Confundantur omnes qui adorant sculptilia & cetera . et alibi vt quid diligitis vanitatem & queritis mendacium Go to the glose of the vers · ye grete clerkes If I lye on yow to my lewed wit ˜ ledes me to brynnyng For as it semes · ye forsake na mannes almness Of vsurers of hores · of auerouse chapmen And louten to thise lordes · that mowe lene yow nobles Ayein youre reule and religioun · I take recorde of Ihesus That saide to his disciples ˜ ne sitis personarum acceptores Of this matere I miȝt make make a longe bibile And of curatours of cristen pepile ˜ as clerkes berres witnesse I shal tellen it for truthes sake · tak he who-so lokes nota · As holynesse and honeste · out of holy cherche spredes Thurȝ lele libbyng men · that goddes lawe techen Riȝt so out of haly cherche · al yueles spredes Ther inparfit presthod is · prechours and techers And se it by ensample ˜ in somer tyme on trowes Ther some bowes be leued · and som beres noon Ther is a myschief in þe more · of swich manere bowes Riȝt so persones and prestoesprestes preestes · and prechours of haly cherche that aren rote of the riȝt faith · to reule þe peple And ther þe rote is roten ˜ reson woot þe sothe Schal neuere flour ne fruyt · ne faire leef be grene For-thy wolde ye lettred leue · the leccherie of clothyng And be kynde as bifel for clerkes · and curtesie of cristoes goodes Trewe of youre tonge · and of youre tail bothe And hauen to here harlotrie · ytilied and nouȝt to vndirfonge Tethes of vntrewe thyng · ytilied or chaffard Lathe were lewed men · bot thaye youre lore folowed And amenden hem þat mysdoon · more for youre ensamples Than for to prechen and proue it nouȝt · ypocrisie it semes · Nota · For ypocrisie in latyn · likned is to a donghill That war bisnewed with snaw · and snakes with-InneC.15.114: KD.15.113 is omitted. Right sa many prestees · prechours and prelates faier wordes. Er enblaunchid wit bele paroles · and with clothes also And youre werkes and wordes · þat vnder aren ful vnloueliche Iohannes crisostomus of clerkes · spekes and prestes Sicut de templo omne bonum egreditur sic de templo omne malum procedit Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit tota floret ecclesia · Si autem coruptum fuerit omni fides marcida est si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis totus populus conuertitur ad peccandum sicut si vi-deris arborem marcidam & palidam intelligis quod vicium habet in radice · Ita cum videris populum in disciplinatum & irreligiosum sine dubio sacerdotium eius non est sanum If lewed men wiste · what this latyn mene.s And who was myn auctor · muche wonder me thyngkes But if many a preest bere for hir · baselardes and hir broches A peir bedes in hir hande · and a book vnder hir arm Sir Iohan and sir Geffray · hase a girdel of siluer A baselard and a ballok knyf · with botons ouergilte And a porthous þat shulde be his plow · placebo to saye Hade he neuere seruice to saue siluer þer-to · sayes it with ydel wille Allas ye lewed men · muche lese ye on prestees And thyng that wikkedliche is wonne · and with false sleightes Walde neuere of witty god ye wit · but wikked men it hadde The which aren prestes inparfit · and prechours after siluer Sectours and suddenes sumnours and hir lemmannes This þat with gile was geten · vngraciouslich is spended So harlotes and hores aren holpen · with swiche goodes And godes folk for defaute ther-of · for-faren and spillen Curatours of haly chirche · as clerkes þat ben auarous lightliche þat thay leuen · losels it hase Or dyes intestat · and þan þe bischope entres And makes myrthe þer-with · and hise men bothe nyȝtC.15.140: The scribe appears to have offered marginal nyȝt to hypercorrect the alliteration. And saye he was a nygard · þat no good myȝt aspare To frend ne to fremde · þe fende haue his saule For a wrecched vs hous · he held al his lif tyme And þat he spared and bispared · spende in murth By lered by lewed · þat lothe is to spende Thus goon hir goodes by þe gost faren And for good men god woot grete doel men maken . And bymeneþ goode mete gyuers · and mynde haues In prayers and in penaunce · and in parfit charite What is charite quod I þo a childissh thyng he saiede Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli non in-trabitis in regnum celorum With-outen faunteltee or folie · a fre liberal wille Wher schold men swich a frend · with sa fre an herte I haue in lond quod I · my name is lange wille And fand I neuer ful charite · bifore ne byhynde Men beth merciable to mendynantz and to pouere And wol lene ther thay loue lely to be payede Petrus · And charite þat poule prayses best · and moost pleses our saueourC.15.157: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "saueour" in a red box to the right of 15.158. Non in-flatur non est ambiciosa non querit que sua sunt I seigh neuere swich a man ˜ so me god helpe That he ne wolde aske aftir his ˜ and other while coueite Thyng þat nedeth hym nouȝt · and take it if thay miȝte Clerkes kenne me that crist · is in alle places And I seigh hym neuer sothly · but as my-self in a Mirour Ita in enigmate tunc facie ad faciem · And so I trowe trewely by þat men tellen of charite Itt is nouȝt champions fiȝt ne chaffar as I trowe Charite quod he ne chaffers nouȝt · ne chalanges ne crauesC.15.168: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "ues" in a red box with a red hyphen to the right of 15.168.Scribal hyphen between a and u. As proude as a peny ˜ as of a pounde of golde And is as glad of a gowne · of a gray russet As of a tunicle of Carse · or of tried scarlet he is glad with alle glad · and good til alle wikked And lenes and loues alle · þat oure lorde made Cursees he no creature · ne · nene he kan bere no wratthe Ne no likyng has to lye · ne laughe men to scorne Al þat men sayn he let it soth · and in solace takes And alle manere myschiefs · in Mildenesse he suffres Coueites he non erthly goode · but heuene-riche blisse Has he any rentes or richesse · or any riche frendes Of rentes ne of riches · recches he neuere For a frend þat fyndes hym · failles hym neuere at nede Fiat voluntas tua · fyndes hym euere more And if he soupe he ete bot a soppe of spera in deo He kan purtrey wel the pater noster · and peynte it with And other while he is wonte · to wend pilgrymages Ther pouer men and prisoners · lygges hir pardon to haue Thouȝ he bere hym na breed · he beres hem swetter liflod Loues hem as oure lord biddes · and lokes how thay fare And whan he is wery of þat werk · than wol he som tyme Labouren in lauendrie wel · the lengthe of a mile And yerne in-to youthe · yepeliche speke Pride with al the appurtenantz · and pakken hem togiders And bouken hem at his brest · and beten hem clene And lyggen on longe with laboraui in gemitu meo And with warm water at hise eighen · wasshen hem after And than he synges whan he doos so · and som tyme sayes wepyngC.15.195: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "wepyng" in a red box with a red paraph to the right of 15.196. Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies By crist I wolde þat I knewe hym · no creature leuere Piers · With-outen help of piers plowman quod he · his persone sestow neuereC.15.198: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "neuere" in a red box to the right of 15.199. Where clergie knew hym quod I · þat kepen holy chirche Clerkes haue no knowyng quod he · bot by werkes & wordesC.15.200: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "des" in a red box to the right of 15.201.Scribal hyphen between r and d. An piers þe plowman parceyued more depper Wher is þe welle and wher-fore · þat many wight suffres Et vidis deus cogitaciones eorum · nota · For ther er ful proude herted men · pacient of tonge And buxom as of beryng · to burgeys and to lordes And to pouere pepile · han pepir in þe nose And as aliona lion he lokes · þer men lakkes hise werkes For þer er beggers and bidders ˜ bedmen as it were Loken as lambern · and semen lif holy And it is more to haue hir meet · in swich esy manere Than for penaunce or parfitnesse · þe pouerte þat swich takeþ Ther-fore by colour ne by clergie knowe shaltow hem neuere Neiþer thurȝ wordes ne werkes · but þurȝ wille oon And þat knowes no clerc ˜ in creature in erthe piers · But piers þe plowman · petrus id est cristus For he is nouȝt in lollers · ne in lande lepers heremytes Ne at ancres þer a boxe hanges · alle swich þey faiten Fy on faitours · and on fautores suos For charite is godes champion · and as a good childe hende And þe meriest of mouthe · at met where he sittes the loue þat liþ in his .herte · makes hym liȝt of speche And is companable and confortif · as crist bit hym-selue Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes &cetera · For I haue seyn hym in silk · and som tyme in russet Bothe in grey and in gris · and in gilte hernes And as gladlich he it gaue · to gomes þat it nededs Edmond and · Edward ayther were kynges And sayntes yset · til charite hem folowed I haue seyn charite also · syngen and redand Riden and rynnen · in ragged wedes And biddyng as beggers · biholde hym neuere And in riche robes · rathest he walkes ycalled and crymailed · and his corowne shaue And clenliche yclothed in cipyrs · and in tarterine And in a freres frokke he was yfounde oones And it is fer ago in saynt Fraunceys tyme And in þat secte siþ · to selde has he ben knowen Riche men he recomaundeth · and of hir robes takes That with-outen wiles · ledes hir lyues Beatus est diues qui & cetera · In kynges court he comes ofte · ther the counseil is trewe And if coueitise be of þe counseil · he wol come ther-Inne In Court amanges Iapers · he comes nouȝt be selde For braulyng and bakbityng · and berynge of fals witnesse In the consistorie bifore the comissarie · he comes nouȝt ful ofte · nota · For hir law dures ouer longe · but if thay lacchen siluer And matrimoigne for moneie · maken and vnmaken And þat conscience and crist · hase knyt faste Þat vndone it vnworthily · the doctours of lawe C.15.249: KD.15.244-249 are omitted. And gyue vs grace good · charite to folowe For who-so myȝte mete with hym · swich maneres hym Nouther he bannes ne blamed · bostes ne praises Craues ne coueites · ne cries after more Lakkes ne losees · ne lokes vp stierne In pace in ipsum dormiam & cetera · þe moost liflode he lyuees · by · is loue in goddes passioun Neither he biddes ne he begges · ne borwes to yelde Misdoþ he no man · ne with his mouthe greues Amonges cristen men · this myldenesse schuld laste In al manere angres · haue this at herte That thouȝ þei suffred al this · god suffred for vs more In ensample we schul doo so · and take no vengeaunce Of oure foos þat doos vs falsnesse · þat is our fadires wille · nota · For wel may euery man wite · if god had walde hym-selue Shul neuer Iudas ne Iewe C.15.265: Note the use of the three-point punctus elevatus to mark the caesura. haue Ihesu doon on rode Ne han martired petir ne poule · ne in prison holden And he suffred in ensample · that we suffre also And sayed to swich þat suffre wolde · þat pacientes vincunt verbi gracia quod he and verray ensamples many In legenda sanctorum the lif of holy sayntes What penaunce and pouerte · and passioun thay suffred In hunger and in hete · in alle maneres angres Antonye and Egidie and other holy farders Wonden in wildernesse · amonge wilde bestes˜ Monkes and mendinantz · men by hem-selue In spekes and spekelonkes · selden speken togidires · Plowman · And nouther Antonye ne Egidie ne heremyte þat tyme Of lyons ne of leopardes · no lislodeli[f]lode ne toke But of foloughes þat fleigh · thus fyndes men in bookes · Nota · Except þat · Egide after anhyndean hynde cried And thurȝ the milk of þat mylde best · þe man was sustened And day by day had he hir nouȝt · his hunger for to slake But selde and sondry tymes · as sayes þe book and teches Antonye a dayes aboute noon tyme Had a brid þat brouȝt hym bred · þat he by lyued And thouȝgh þe gome had a gest god fonde hem bathe Poule primus heremita and parroke hym-selue That no man myght hym se for mosse ·Mismarked caesura and for leues Foules hym Fedde fele wynters with alle Til he founded freres of austynes order Poule after his prechyng · panyers he made And wan with handes þat his wombe neded Peter fisshed for his fode · and his felawe andrew Some thay shalde · and som thei sethed · and so þei leued botheC.15.294: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "bothe" in a red box to the right of 15.295. And also Marie Magdaleyne by mores · lyued and dewes And moost thurȝ deuocioun · and mynde of god almyghty I shol nouȝt thise seuene dayes tellen hem alle That lyueden thus for oure lordes loue · many longe yeres And ther ne was lyon ne lyberde · þat on laundes wenten Nouther bere ne boor · ne oþer best wilde That ne fel to hir feet · and fauned with the tailes And if thay couthe han ycarped · by crist as I trowe Thay wolde han yfed þat folk · bifore wilde fowlesC.15.303: KD.15.303-304 are omitted. And god sent hem foode by fowle · and by no fierse bestes · Nota · In menyng þat meke þyng · mylde þyng schul fede As who sayes Religious · riȝtful men schol fynde And lawful men to lifholy men · liflode brynge And þan walde lordes · and ladies · be loth to agilte And to take of hir tenantz · more than truthe wolde Founde þey þat freres wolde · forsake hir almesse And bidden hem bere it ther it was yborwed Nota · For we be goddes fowles · and abiden alwey Til briddes brynge vs meet · þat we schulde lyue by For hadde ye potage and payn ynouȝ · and peny ale to drynke. And a messe ther-with · of any maner kynde ye had right ynough ye religious · and so youre reule me toldeC.15.316: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "tolde" in a red box to the right of 15.317. Nuncquam dicit Iob rugit onager cum herbam habuerit aut mugiet bos cum ante plenum presepe steterit brutorum ani-maliumScribal hyphen between i and m. natura te condempnat · quia cum eis pabulum comune sufficiat · ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua If lewed men knewe this latyn · thay wolde lok whom the gyfueC.15.318: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "the gyfue" to the right of 15.319. And auise hem bifore · a fyue dayes or sexe Ar thay amortiseden to monkes · or chanoignes hir rentes Allas lordes and ladies lewd counseil haue ye To yeue from youre heires · þat ailes hadde And yeueth to bid for yow · to swich þat ben rich And ben founded and feffed ek to bidde for other Who perfourneth the prophecie of the peple · þat now libbeth Dispersit dedit pauperibus · If any pepil perfourne this text · it er þe pouere freres For þat they beggen aboute · in byldyng they spend it And on hem-self some · and swich as ben hir laborers And of þat habbeth thay taken · and gyfes hem þat na hase And clerkes and knyghtes · and communers that ben riche Fele of yow fareth as if I a forest hadde That were ful of faire trees and I foonddand caste how I myght mo ther-Inne · amonges hem sette Right so ye riche · ye robet þat ben riche And helpes hem þat helpes yow · and yeueþ þer no nede is As who-so filled a tonne · of a fressh ryuere . And went forth with þat water · to woke with Themise Riȝt so ye riche · ye robeth and fedeth hem þat han as ye han · hem ye make at ese And religious þat riche ben · shuld rather feste beggers Than burgeis þat riche ben · as the book teches Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauperibus dare · Item pec-catoribusScribal hyphen between pec and c. dare est demonibus immolare · Item monache si in-digesScribal hyphen between n and d. & accipis potius das quam accipis · Si autem non eges & accipis rapis · Porro non indiget monachus si habeat quod nature sufficit · For-thy I counseil al cristen · to confourme hem to charite For charite with-outen chalangyng · vncharges þe soule And many a prisson fram purgatorie · thorugh his prayere deliueresC.15.346: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "deliueres" in a red box to the right of 15.347. And þer is a defaute in þe folk · þat þe faiþ kepes Wher-fore folk is the fibler · and nouȝt ferme of bileue And in lussheburwes is a lither alay ; and yet lokes he like a sterlyng The merke of þat moneie is good · and þe metal is fieble And so it fares by som folk · now thay han a faire spech Crowne and cristendome · the kynges merke of heuene And þat metal þat is man soule · with synne is foule allaiedC.15.353: KD.15.354 is omitted. That no life loues other · ne oure lorde as it semes For thorugh werre and wikked werkes · and wederes vnresonableC.15.355: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "nable" in a red box to the right of 15.356. Whedir-wise shipmen · and witty clerkes also Han no bileue to þe lifte · ne to þe lore of philophers Philosofres Astronomyens alday in hir art faillen That whilom warned by-fore · what shuld falle after Chapmen and shiperdes · þat with ship and shipmen wenten Wisten by the wolken · what schuld bitide As of weders and wyndes · they warned men ofte Tilyers þat tilied the erthe tolden hir maistres By þe seed þat thay sewe · what thay sell myght And what to lene and what to lyue by · the land was so trewe Now failles the folk of the flood · and of þe lond bothe Schipherdes and schipmen · and so doo this tiliers Neither thay koanne ne knawes · oon cours bifore an other astronomyens also · aren at hir wittes ende Of þat was calculed of þe elementz · the contrarie þay fynde Grammer the grounde of al bigles now childern For in non of þis now clerkes who-so takes hede That kan versifie faire · ne formelich enditen Ne nouȝt oon amanges an hundreth · that an auctour kan construe Ne red a lettre in any langage · but latyn and Englissh Go now to any degree · and but if gile me maistre And flaterer his felawe · vnder hym to fourmen Muche wonder me thynke · amonges vs alle doctours of decrees ˜ and of diuinite Maistres That sholde konne and know · alle kynnes clergie And answere to argumentz ˜ and also to a quodlibet I dar nouȝt say it for schame · if swich weren apposed They shold faille of hir philophie Philosophie Note spelling of "philophers" at 15.357. · and in phisik bothe Where-for I am aferd · of folk of haly chirche Lest thay ouerhyppen as other doon ˜ in offices and in houres And if thay ouerhyppe as I hoppe nouȝt ˜ oure bileue suffise As clerkes in corpus christi feste · syngynge and redynge That sola fides sufficit · to saue with lewed pepile And so may sarazenes be saued scribes and Iuwes Allas than but oure loresmen · leuen as thay leren vs And for hir lyuyng þat lewed men · beth the lother god agylte · Piers · For sarasyns han somwhat · semyng to oure bileue For thay loue and bileue in o person almygty. And we lered and lewed in oon godd bileuesC.15.394: KD.15.396 is omitted. An oon makometh a man in mysbileue Broute sarasenes of surry · and se in what manere nota · This makomet was cristend · and for he moost nouȝt be a popeC.15.397: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "pope" in a red box to the right of 15.398. In-to surry he soughte · and thurȝ hise subtile wittes Daunted a dowue · and day and nyȝt hir fedde The corn þat she cropped · he caste it in his here And if he among the pepil preched · or in place come Than wolde coluer come · to þe clerkes ere Menyng as after meet · thus Makomet hir enchaunted And dide folk þan falle on knees · for he swore in his prechyng That the coluer þat come so · come fro god of heuene As messager to makometh · men for to teche And thus thurȝ willes of his wit ; and a white dowue Makomet in mysbileue · men and wommen brouȝte That lered and lewed yet · leuen on hise lawes And sithen oure saueour suffred · the saracenes so bigiled Thorugh a cristen clerk · a-coursed in his saule And for drede of the deth · I dar nouȝt telle treuthe How englisse clerks a coluer feden ˜ that couetisse hatte · And ben manered after Makomete · þat no man vsed treuþe ankyrs and hermites and monkes and freres Peren to apostles · thurȝ hir parfit lyuynge Wolde neuere the faith-ful fader · that hise mynistres sholde Of tirauntz þat tenees trewe men · taken any almusse But doon as Antonye dide · dominik and fraunceys Benet and bernard · the wich hem first taughte To lyue by litle and in lowe houses · by lele mennes almesse Grace shold growe and be grene · thurȝ hir good lyuyng And folke sholde fynde · þat ben in diuerse siknesse The better for hir biddynges ˜ in bodi and in soule Hir prayers and hir penaunces to pees shulde brynge Alle þat be at debate ˜ and bedemen were trewe Petite & accipietis & cetera Salt saues catell · saynge this wyues vos estis sal terre & cetera The heuedes of holy chirche ˜ and thay holy were Crist calles hem salt · for cristynes saules Et si sal euanuerit in quo salietur And fresshe flessh other fisshe · whan it salt failles It is vnsauory forsothe · ysoothe or ybake So is mannes soule sothly · þat sayes no good ensample Of hem of haly chirche þat the heigh way sholde teche baneour And be gide and go b..ifore ˜ as a good banner And hardye hem þat bihynde ben · and gyf hem good euidence Elleuene holy men al the worlde torned In-to lele bileue · the lyght-loker me thynke Scholde al manere men · we haue so many maisters Prestes and prechours · and a pope abouen That goddes salt shulde be · to saue mannes saule · Nota · Al was hethenesse som tyme · Engeland and wales Til gregorie gerte clerkes · to goo and to preche Austyn at canterbery · crystned the kyng And thurȝ miracles as men mowe rede · al that marche he tornedC.15.447: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "ned" in a red box to the right of 15.448.Scribal hyphen between r and n. To crist and to cristendome · and cros to honoure And fulled folk faste · and the faith taughte More thurȝ miracles þan thurȝ muche prechyng · As wel thurȝ hisse werkes · as with hise holy wordes And saide hem · what fullyng · and faith was to mene Cloth þat comes fro þþ[e]FFIND OTHER INSANCES OF THIS ERROR IN C. ***??? weuyng · is nought comly to were Til it be foulled vndir foot · or in fullyng stokkes Wasshen wel with water · and with taselles cracched y-walked and ytendted · and vndir taillours hande And sa it fares by a barne ˜ that born is of wombe Til it be cristned in cristes name · and confermed of the bisschop It is hethen as to heuenward · and helples to þe soule Hethen is to meene after heth · and vntilied erthe As in wilde wildernesse · wexes wilde bestes Rude and vnresonabile rennyng with-out croperes ye take wel how mathew sayith · how a man made a feste He fedde hyem with no venyson ˜ ne fessauntz ybake But with fouls þat from hyem nolde · but folowen his whistlynge Ecce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt & cetera · And with calues flessh he fedde þe folk þat he loued The calf bitoknes clennesse in hem þat kepys lawes For as the cow thurȝ kynde mylk · the calf norisshe til an oxe So loue and leau..te lele men sustened And maidynes and mylde men · mercye desiren Right as the cow calf · coueites swete mylk So doon riȝtful men · mercy and treutheC.15.473: KD.15.472-485 are omitted. And who ben þat excusen hem · þat aren persouns and prestes That hedes of holy chirche ben · þat han hir wille hire With-outen trauaille the tithe del · þat trewe men biswynken nota · Thay wyl be wrath for I write þus · and witnesse I take Bothe mathew and mark · and memento domine dauidC.15.478: KD.15.490α is omitted. What pope or prelet now · perfournes that crist highte Ite in vniuersum mundum & predicate &cetera · Alas that men so longe on Makometh schuld bileue So many prelates to preche · as the pope makes Of nazareth of Nynyue or Neptalyn · and damaske That thay ne went as crist vissed wissed · siþ þey wol haue nameC.15.484: the scribe continues this line on the next, writing "name" in a red box to the right of 15.485. To be pastours and preche · the passioun of Ihesus And as hym-self saide · so to lyue and dye Bonus pastor animam suam ponit & cetera And saide it in saluacion of sarazenes and other For cristen and vncristen · crist saide to prechours Ite vos in vineam meam & cetera . And syth that thise sarazenes · scribes and Iewes hand a lippe of oure bileue · the lightlyer me thynke Thay schold torne who-so trauaille wold · to teche hem of the triniteC.15.493: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "the trinite" in a red box to the right of 15.494. Querite & Inuenietis & cetera It is reuthe to red how rightwismenrightwis men lyueden How thay defouled hir flessh · forsook hir owen wille Fer fro kith and fro kyn · yuel yclothed yeden Badly ybedded no book but conscience Ne no richesse but the rode to reioise hem Inne Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri & cetera And þo was plente and pees · a-monge pouer and riche · nota · And now is reuth to red · how the reed noble Is reuerenced er þe rode · receyued for the worthier Than cristes cros þat ouer-cam · deth an dedly syne And now is werre and wo · and who-so why axeth For coueitise after cros · the crowne standes in golde Bothe riche and religious · that rode thay honoure That in grotes is ygraue · and gold nobiles For couetisse of þat cros · men of holy kirke Schul torne as templers dide · þe tyme approches fast Wite ye nouȝt wismenwis men · how tho men honoured · Plowman · More tresore thane treuthe · I dare nouȝt telle þe sothe Reson and riȝtful doom · tho religiouse demed Riȝt so ye clerkes for youre couetise er longe Shal thay demen dos ecclesie and youre pride depose deposuit potentes de sede & cetera If knyȝthod and kynde wit ˜ and comune conscience Togideres loue lely · leue · leue it wel ye bisshopes The lordshipes of londes · for euere ye shul lese And leuen as Leuatic Leuitici as oure lorde yow teches Per primicias & diuicias & cetera Whan constantyn of curtesie · holy cherche dowed With londes and ledes · lordchipes and rentes · An aungel men herden · an heiȝ at Rome crye Nota dos ecclesie this day · has ydronke venyme And tho þat han petres power · aren aposoned al A medicyne mot ther-to · that may a-mende prelates That schul pray for þe pees · possessioun hem lettes Take hir londes ye lordes · and leteth hym lyue by dismes If possessioun be poyson · and inparfit hem make Good were to dischargen hem · for holy chirche sake And purgen hem of poyson · er more peril falle If prestedpreste[s] preesthode were parfit the pepil schul amende That contrarien cristes lawe · and cristendom dispise For alle paynymes preieþ · and profitly bileues In the holy gret god · and his grace thay ak asken And make hir Mone to makomet · hir message to shewe Thus in a faith leue þat folk ˜ and in a fals mene And þat is routhe for riȝtful men ˜ þat in the reem wonyen And in a peril to þe pope · and prelates þat he makes That bere bisshopes names · of a bethlem and of babilonC.15.541: KD.15.511-528 are omitted. That hippe a-boute in Engelond · to halwen mennes avtersC.15.542: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "ters" in a red box to the right of 15.543. And crepe amonges curatours · confessen ayeins þe lawe Nolite mittere falcem in messem alienam & cetera . · Nota · Many man for cristes loue · was martired in Romaigne Er ar any ErArEr anyEr þat enyEr þan any cristendome was know ther · or any cros honourd Euery bisshop þat beres cros ; by that he is holden Thurgh his prouynce to passe · and to his pepil schew hym Thellen hem and thechen hem · On þe Trinite to bileue And feden hem with gostly foode · and gyue þer it nedes In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum & ideo nolite constituere me in RegemC.15.551: The scribe continues this line on the next two, writing "tuere me in Re" to the right of 15.552 and "gem" to the right of 15.553, all enclosed in a red box.Scribal hyphen between i and t, and between e and g. Orias Oȝias seith for swich · that sike ben and fiebile Inferte omnes decimas in oreum meum vt cibus in domo & cetera And we cristyne creatures ˜ þat on þe cros bileuen Aren ferme as in the faith · goddes forbode helles And han clerkes to kepepen kepenkepe vs ther-Inne & hem þat shal come afterC.15.556: The scribe continued this line above, writing "after" in a red box to the right of 15.555. · nota · And Iewes lyuen in lele lawe · oure lord wrote hym-selue In stoon for it stedfast is · and stonde schuld euere Diligite deum & proximum is parfit Iuwen lawe And he took it moises to teche men til messie come And on þat lawe þey leuen yet · and leten it þe beste And yet knaw thay crist · that cristendom taughte For a parfit prophete that muche pepil saued Of selcouthe sors · thaConfirm whether "tha" is an accepted spelling of "they" for this scribe (throughout ms).***??? seyn it ofte Both of miruaille and miracles · and howe he men fested With two fisshes and fyue leues · fyue thousand pepile And by þat mangerie men myghte wel se · þat messie he semedC.15.567: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "med" in a red box to the right of 15.568. And whan he lifte vp lazar · that laid was in graue And vndir stoon dede and stanke · with stif vois he called Lazare veni foras . Dide hym rise and RomeC.15.571: Note taht the scribe took the verb "rome" to be the city. riȝt bifore the Iewes And thay sayden and sworen · with sorcerie he wroughte And stoded to stroien and stroiden hem-selue And thorugh his pacience hir power · to pure nouȝt he broughteC.15.575: The scribe continues this line on the next, writing "broughte" in a red box to the right of 15.575. Pacientes vincunt & cetera · Danyel of hir vndoyng deuynd and saied Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat cessabit vnctio vestra And yet wenen the wrecches · þat he were pseudo prophetaC.15.578: KD.15.602 is omitted. And hopen þat he be to come · þat shal hem releue Moises eft or messie · hire maistres yet deueynes And sarazens · and pharasees scribes and grekes Aren folk of on feiþ the fader god they honouren And sithen þat þe sarazens · and also þe Iewes konne þe first clause of oure bileue · Credo in deum patrem Prelates of cristyne prouinces ˜ sholde preue if thay miȝte Lere hem litlum and litlum · & in Ihesum christum filium eius & cetera Til thay couthe speke and spelle · et in spiritum sanctum & cetera And reden it and recorden it ˜ with remissionem peccatorum Carnis resurrecconem et vitam eternam amen Passus sextodecimus & cetera NOW faire falle yow quod I tho · for youre faire shewyng For haukyns loue the actif man · euere I schal yow louye And yet I am in a were · wha charite is to mene It is a ful trie tree quod he trewli to telle Merci is the more ther-of · the mydel stokke is rycther[u]the ruþe The leues ben lele wordes the lawe of holy chirche The blosmes ben buxom speche · and benigne lokyng Paciens hatte the pure tree ˜ and pouere simple of herte And so thorugh god and good men groweth the fruyte charite I walde trauaille quod I this tree to se twenty hudrethhu[n]dreth hundred myle · Nota · And to haue my fille of þat fruyt · forsake al other saulee Lord quod I if any wight · wite whider out it growes It groweth in a gardyn quod he · þat god made hym-selue Amyddes mannes bodye · the more is of that stokke herte hatte þe herber ˜ þa it Inne growes And liberum arbitrium · hase the londe to ferme vndir piers the plowman · to piken it and weden it Piers þe plowman quod I tho · and al for pure Ioie That I herde nempne his nam · anon I swowned after And lay longe in a loue derne dreem · and at þe laste me thought That pieres the plowman · al the place me shewed And bad me to toten on þe tree ˜ on toppe and on rote With thre piles was it vndir-piȝt · I parceyued it sone Piers quod I I pray the why stonde this pikes here For windes wiltow wite quod he · to witen it fram fallyng Cum ceciderit iustus non collidetur quia dominus supponit manum suam And in blowyng tyme abite þe flours · bot if thise floures helpe The worlde is a wykked wynde · to hym þat willen treuthe Coueitis comes of þat wynde ˜ and crepes among the leues And so frete neiȝ þe fruyt · thurȝ many faire sightes That with þe first pile I pulle hym down þat is potencia dei patris The flessh is a felle wynde · and andand and in flouryng tyme Thurȝ libyng and lustes ˜ so loude he gynnes blowe That it norisshes nyce sightes ˜ and som tyme wordes And wikked werkes þer-of · wormes of synne And forbetes þe blossoms · riȝt to þe bare leues Than sete I to þe secounde pile sapiencia dei patris That is the passioun · and the power of oure prince Ihesus Thurȝ prayers and penaunces · and goddes passioun in mynde I saue it til I se it ripen · and som-del yfruyted And than fondes the fynde · my fruyt to destroye With alle the wiles þat he kan · and wagged þe rote And castes vp to þe crope · vnkynde neighbores Bakbiters breke chestes · brawlers and chiders And layes a ledder ther-to · of lesynges ar þe ronges And fecche a-way my flours · som-tyme by-fore bothe myn eighen And liberum arbitrium lacches hym som tyme That is lieutenant to loken it wel · bileue of my selue videatis qui peccat in spiritum sanctum numquam remittetur & cetera hoc est idem qui peccat perliberumper liberum arbitrium non repugnat And whan the fende and the flessh · forthwith þe worlde Manasse behynde me · my fruyt for to fecche Than liberum arbitrium · takes þe first plante And palleþ a-doun the pouk · purelich thurȝ grace And helpe of þe holy gost ˜ and thus haue I þe maistrie Now faire falle yow Piers quod I so faire ye discryue The power of thise postles · and hir propire myghte And I haue thoughtes a threve · of this thre piles That oon Ihesus a Iustice sone ˜ moost Iouke in hir Chambre Til plenitudo temporis fully comen were That piers fruyt fruyt floured · and fel to be ripe And þan schul Ihesus iuste ther-fore ˜ by Iuggement of armes Whether shuld fonde þe fruyt · the fynde or hym-selue The maide myldelich tho the messager graunted And saide hendeliche to hym · lo me his hande-maiden For to wirke is wille · with-outen anny synne Ecce ancilla domini fiat michi & cetera And in the wombe of that wench · was he fourty wookes Til he wex a faunt thurgh hir flessh · and of fightyng kouthe To haue foughte withe the fend · er ful tyme come And piers the plowman · parceyued plener tyme And lered hym alechecrafta lechecraft · his lif for to saue That though he were wounded · with enemy to warisshe hymselue And dide hym assay his surgerie · on hem þat seke were Til he was parfit practisour · if any peril felle And sought out of the sike and synful bothe And salued sike and synful · both blynde and croked And comune wommen conuerted · and to good torned Non est sanis opus medicus set in & cetera Bothe mesels and dome · and in the menysoun blody Of he heled swilke · he nowth helde for no maistrie Saue than he leched lazar · þat had ylay in graue Quatriduanus · quelt · quik dide hym walke And as he made the maistrie · mestus cepit esse And wepte water with hise eighen ˜ ther seen it many And som þat the sighte seyen · sayed þat tyme That he was leche of lif · and lord of heigh heuene Iewes iangled ther ayeins · and Iugged lawes And sayed he wrouȝt with wichecraft · & with þe deueles myghte Demonium habes & cetera Than ar ye cherles quod ich · and youre children bothe And sathan youre saueour · youre-self now ye witnessen For I haue saued youre-self sayes crist · and youre sones after youre bodies youre bestes · and blynde men holpen And fedde yow with fisshes · and fyne loues And lefte baskettz ful of broken brede · bere away who-so wolde And myssaied the Iewes manliche · and manaced hem to bete And knokked on hem · with a corde · and caste adoun hir stalles And in chirche chaffareden · or changeden any moneye And saied it in sight of hem alle · so that alle herden I shal ouer-torne þis temple · and a-doun thraweC.16.100: KD.16.132 is omitted. And make it as muche other more in alle manere poyntes As euere it was and as wide · wherfore I hote yowe Of prayers and of parfitnesse · the place þat ye callen Domus mea domus orationis vocabitur & cetera. Enuye and yuel · wille was In the Iewes Thay casten and contreueden · to kylle him whan thay myght Ech day after other · thair tyme thay wacced Til bifel on a friday · a litil bifore the paske The thoresday bifore · ther he made his maunde Sittyng at þe soper · he sayde this wordes nota I am salde thorugh oon of yow · he shal the tyme rewe That euere he his saueour salde · for siluer or elles Iudas Iangled ther agayens ˜ and Ihesus hym tolde It was hym-self sothily · and saide · tu dicis Than went forth that wikked man ˜ and with Iewes mete And tolde hym a taken how to with Ihesus And which tokne to this day to muche is I-vsed That is kissyng and faire countenaunce · and vnkynde wille And was with Iudas · tho he Ihesus bitraied Aue rabi quod þat ribalde · and riȝt to hym he yede And kist hym to be caught ther-by · and kulled of the Iewes Thanne Ihesus to Iudas and to þe Iewes saide Falsenesse I fynde in thy faire speche And gile in thy gladde chere ˜ and galle is in thy laughynge Thow schalt be Mirour to many men to deceyue And the wors and thy wikkednesse · shal worth vp-on thy-selue Necesse est vt veniat scandala ve homini illi per quem & cetera Though I by treson be taken · at youre owne wille Suffyres myn apostyles in pees · and in pees gange On a thoresday in Mirkenesse · thus was he taken Thurgh Iudas and Iewes · Ihesus was his name That on the friday folowyng · for mankynde sake Iusted in Ierusalem · a Ioie to vs alle On a cros vp-on caluarie · crist took the bataille Ayeins deth and the deuel · distroied hir bother myghtes deied and deth fordide · and day of nyght made And I awaked þer-with · and wiped myn eighen And after piers plowman pried and stared Estward and westward · and waited after faste And yede forth as an ydiot · in contree to aspie After piers the plowman · many a place I soughte And than mette I with a man · a mydlenten sonday As hore as any hawe-thorne · and abraham he highte I frain hym first · fram whennes he come And of whennes he were · and whider þat he thoughte I am faith quod þis freek · it falles nouȝt to lye And of abrahame hous · and herald of armes I seek after a man that I seigh ones A ful bolde bacheler I knawe hym by his blasen What beres þat barne quod I tho tho · so blisse the bitide Thre leodes on oo lithe noon lenger than other Of oon mychel and oon myȝt · and mageste in mesure and lenghte That oon doos al doos · and ech doos by his oone The first has myȝt and mageste · maker of alle thyngis Pater is his name · a persone by hym-selue The seconde is of þat sire · sted-fastenesse filius Wardeyn of þat wit hath · was euer with-oute gynnyng The thridde has the haly goost · a persone by hym-selue The light of hal þat lif has · a lande and on watre Confortour of creatures · of hym comes alle blisse So ther bilongeth for a lord · þat lordchip laymes Miȝt and mene · to knowe his owne miȝte Of hym and of his seruant · and what þey suffyre bothe So go þat gynnyng had neuer · but þo hym goode thouȝte Sent forth his sone ˜ as for seruant þat tyme To occupien hym here · til issue were spronge That is children of charite · and haly chirche þe moder Patriarkes and prophetes · and apostles were the children And crist and cristendome · and cristne holy chirche In menyng þat man · moost on o god bileue And ther hym liked and loued · in theree persones hym schewed And that it may be so and soth manhode it schewes Wedlok and widwehode · with virginite ynempned In toknyng of þe trinite was taken oute of a man Adam oure aller fader · Eue was of hym-selue And the issue þat he hadde · it was of hem bothe And either is otheres Ioie in thre sondry persones And in heuene and here · on singulere name And thus is mankynde or manhode · of matrimoigneC.16.179: KD.16.210 is omitted. Might is matrimoigne · þat multiplies the erthe And bitoknes trewli · telle it if I dorste He þat first fourmed al · the fader of heuene The sone is if I dorste saye ˜ resemblaunt to widowe Deus meus deus meus vt quid dereliquisti me That is creatour wex creature · to knawe what was bothe Nota As widowe with-oute wedloke · was neuere yet I seye Na more miȝte gode be mane · but if he moder hadde So widdowe with wedloke · may nouȝt wel stande Ne matrimoigne with-oute moilliere · is nouȝt muche to preise Maledictus homo qui non reliquet semen in Israel Thus in thre persones · is parfitlich manhode That is a man and his make · and moilliere children And is nat but genderd of a generacion · bifore Ihesu crist in heuene So is the fader forth with þe sone · and free wille of bothe Spiritus procedens a patre & filio Which is the holy goost of alle · and alle is bot oo god Thus in a somer I hym seigh as I satte in my porche I raas vp and reuerenced hym ˜ and right faire hym grette Thre men to my sight · I made wel at ese Wesshe hir feet and wiped hem · and afterward thay eten Calues flessh and cake bredde · and knew what I thouȝt Ful trewe toknes bitwene vs · is to telle whan me likes First he fonded me · if I loued better Hym or Isaac myn heir · the which he hiȝt me kylle He wist my wille by hym · he wol me it alowe I am ful siker in soule ther-of · and my sone bothe I circumcised my sone · sythen for his sake My-selfe and my meyne ; and alle þat male were Bledden blode for þat lordes loue · and hope to blisse þe tyme Myn affiaunce and my faith · is ferme in his bileue For hym-self bihiȝte to me · and to myn issue bothe Lond and lordschip · and lif with-outen ende To me and to myn issue · more yet he me graunted More for oure mysdedes · as many tyme as we axen Quam olim abrahe promisisti & semini eius And sith he sent me to saye I shold do sacrifice And doon hym worship with breed · and with wyn bothe And called me stot of his faith ˜ his folke for to saue And defende hym fra þe fende folk þat on me leueden Thus haue I ben his heraude here and in helle And conforted many careful · þat after his comyng waiten And thus I seke hym he saide · for I herde sayn late Of a barne þat baptized hym Iohan Baptist was his name That to patriarkes and prophetes and other pepile in derknes Saide that he seiȝ hir · þat shul saue vs alle Ecce agnus dei & cetera I hadde wondir of hise wordes · and of his wid clothes For in his bosome he bare a thyng · that he blissed euere And I loked on his lappe · a lazare ay ther-InneC.16.229: KD.16.256 is omitted. What awaitestow quod he · and what waldestow haue I walde wit quod I tho ˜ what is in youre lappe Lo quod he and lete me se · lorde mercye I saiede This is a present of muche pris · what prince shal it haue It is a preciouse present quod he · and the pouke it has atached And me ther-with quod that man · May no wedde us quyte Ne no barne ben our bourgh · ne brynge vs fram his daunger Out of the poukes ponfold · ne no maunprise may vs fecche Til he com þat I carpe of · crist is his name That shal deliuere vs somday · out of the deueles power And better wedde for vs legge · than we ben alle worthy That is lif for lif · or lygge thus euere Lollyng in my lappe · til swich a lord vs fecche Allas I saied þat synne so longe shal lette The miȝt of goddes mercy þat miȝt vs alle amende I wepte for his wordes · with þat saugh I another Rapelich renne forth · the riȝt way he wente I affrayned hym first · fram whennes he come And what he hiȝte and whider he walde · and wightliche he tolde Passus septimus decimus : I am spes quod he a spye · and spir after a knyght That took me a maundement vp-on the mount of synay To reule al reemes with · I bere þe writ here Is it asseled I saide · may men se the lettres Nay he saied I seke hym · þat has þeal to kepe And that is cros and cristendome · and crist þeron to hange And whan it is asseled so · I woot wel the sothe That luciferes lordship · last shal no langerC.17.8: KD.17.9 is omitted. Lat se thy lettres quod I we miȝte the lawe knawe Than plukked he forth a patente · a piece of an hard roche Where-on were writen two wordes · on this wise yglosed Dilige deum & proximum tuum & c This was the text trewely · I took ful goode yeme The glose was gloriously writen · with a gilte penne In hijs duobus mandatis tota lex pendet & prophete Ben here al thy lordes lawes quod I · ye leue me wille he saiede Who-so wirches after þis write · I wyl vndirtaken Shal neuer deuel hym dere · ne dette in saule greue For thorugh I sey it my-selue · I haue saued with þis charme Of men and wommen · may score thousandes He sayes soth sayed þe heraud · I haue founded it ofte Lo here in my lappe · that leued on þat charme Iosue and Iudith · and Iudas Machabeus ye and sexti þousand biside forth ˜ þat be nouȝt seyn here youre wordes be wondirful quod I · whiche of yow is trewest And lelest to leue on · for life and for soule Abraham sayes that he seighe holy the trinite Thre persones in parcelle · departable fro other And alle thre bot o god · thus abraham me taughte And hath saued þat I bileued so · and sori for hir synne He kan nouȝt saye þe somme ˜ and som aren in his lappe What nedes it thanne · a newe lawe to bigynne Sith the first suffise to saluacion and to blisse And now bicometh spes and spekes þat hase aspied the lawe And telles nowght of þe Trinite · that took hym hise lettres To bileue and louye in o lord almyghty And sithen right as my-self · so louye alle pepile The mane that gaes with a staf · he semes in getter hel Than he that gos with two staues · to sight of vs alle And right so by the rode · reson me shewes It is lighter to lewed men · a lesson to knowe Than for to techen hem two · and to hard to lere the leste It is ful hard for any man ˜ on abraham bileue And waylawey wors yit ˜ for to loue a shrewe It is lighter to leue ˜ in thre louely persones Than for to loue and leue as wel lorelles as leles Ga thy gate quod I spes so me god helpe Tha thatC.17.49: Tha that, "Those who." The northern scribe also writes tha for the relative pronoun "that." lernes thy lawe · wil litil while vsen it And as we went thus in the waye · wordyng togidires Than seigh we a samaritane sittyng on a Mule Ridyng ful rapely · the riȝt way we yeden Com fram a contre that men called Ierico To a Iustes in IslmIherusalem ˜ he chaced a-way faste Bothe heraud and hope · and he met atonesat ones Where a man was wounded · and with theues take He myghte neither steppe ne stonde · ne stire foot ne handes Ne helpe hym-self sotly · for semiuyf he semed And as naked as a nedle · and non helpe aboute hym Faith had first sight of hym · and he fled on side And walde nouȝt neighe hym · by nyne landes lengthe Hope cam hippyng after · that had so ybosted How he with moises mandement · had many men I-holpe And whan he had sighte of that grome · asyde he gan hym drawe dredfuly by this day · as doke doos fram the faukon And so sone so the samaritane · had sight of this lede He lighte adoun of liard · and hym in his hande And to the wye he wente · hise woundes to biholde And parceyued by his pouse · he was in peril to dye And but if he had socur the rather · þat rise shulde he neuereC.17.69: KD.17.71 is omitted. With wyne and with oyle ˜ hise woundes he wasshed Enbaumed hym and bonde his hed · and in his lappe he layde And lad hym so forth on liard · to lex christi a graunge Wel sex myle or seuene ˜ biside the new market Herberwed hym at on ostrie · and to the ostiler called And saide haue · kepe this man ˜ til I come fro the Iustes And lo here siluer he saide · for salue to hise woundes And he took hym two pens ˜ to liflode as it were And saide what he spendes more · I make the good here after For I may nouȝ lette quod that leode · and lyard he bistroode And raped hym to Ierusalem warde · the right wey to ryde Faith folwed after faste · and fonded to mete hym And spes spaklich hym spedde ˜ spede if he myghte To ouer-take hym and talke til hym · er thay to towne come And whan I seigh this · I soiournd nouȝt ˜ bot shope me renne And suwed that samaritan that was so ful of piete And graunted hym to be his grome · graunt mercy he saide And thy frend and thy felawe he saide · þou fyndest me at nede And I thanked hym tho · and sith I hym tolde How that faith fleed away · and spes his felawe bothe For sight of the sorwful man · þat robbed was with theues haue hem excused quod he · hir helpe may litel auaille May no medicyne on molde · the man to hele brynge Neither faith ne fyne hope · so festred ben his woundes With-outen þe blood of a barne ˜ born of a Maide And he be bathed in the blood · baptized as it were And þan plastred with penaunce · and passioun of þat baby He scholde stonde and steppe · and stalworþ worth he neuer Til he haue eten al þe barne · and his blood ydronken For wente neuere wye in this world · þurȝ þat wildernesse Thad he was ne was robbed or riflid · rade he ther or yede saue faith and his felawe · spes and my-selue And thy-self now · and swich as swen oure werkes For outlawes in the wode · and vndir bank lowted And mowe eche man see · and good marke take Who is bihynde and who bifore · and who ben on hors For he haldes hym hardier on hors · than he that is at foote For he seigh me that am Samaritan sewen faith and his felawe On my capile that hatte Caro of mankynde I took it He was vnhardy that harlot · and hid hym in inferno And er thise dayes thre dayes · I dar vndir-take That he worth fettred that felon · faste with cheynes And neuer eft greue grome · þat goth this ilke gateC.17.112: KD.17.114α is omitted. And than schal faith be forster here · and in this fryth And kenne comune men þat knowen nouȝt the contree Wiche is the wey that ich wente ˜ and wherforth to Ierusalem And hope the hostilers man shal be ther the man lith to helynge And al that fieble and feynte be · that faith may nouȝt teche hope shal lede hym forth with loue · as his lettre hem telles And herber hem and hel hem · thorugh holy chirche bileue Til I haue salue for alle sike · and than shal I retorne And come ayein by this contre · and conforte alle sike That craues it or coueites it · and cries ther-after For the barne was in Bethelem of a clen Maide That schal with his blood saue · al that lyuen in faith And foloweth the techyng of hope that is felawe A swete sire I saied tho · were shal I beleue As faith and his felawe enformen bothe me In thre persones departable · that perpetuel were euere And al this bot o god · thus abraham me taughte And hope afterward · he bad me to loue O god with al my goode · and alle gomes after Louye hem lik my-self · and oure lord abouen alle After abraham quod he ˜ that heraud of armes Sette fast thy faith · and ferme bileue And as hope highte the I hote þat thow louye Thyn euene cristyne euermore · euene forth with thy selue And if conscience carpe ther ayein · or kynde wit either Or heretikes with argumentz · thyn honde thow hym shewe For god is after an hande · yhere now and knowe it The fader was first a fist · with a fynger foldyng Til hym loued and liste · to vnlosen his fynger And profre it forth as with a paume · to what place it sholde The paume is purly the honde · and profer forth the fyngers To ministre and to make · þat myght of hand knowes And bitoknes trewli · telle who-so it liked The holy gost of heuen · he is as the paumeC.17.146: KD.17.148-150 are omitted. Saynte Marie a Maide and mankynde laughte Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto natus & c The fader is þanne a a fyst ˜ with fynger to touche Qui omnia traham ad meipsumme ipsum & c Alle that the paume parceyues ˜ profitable to fele Thus aren thay alle but oon · as it an hand were And thre sondry sightes · in oon shewynge The paume The paume for he puttes forth fyngres · and the fist bothe Right so ridily reson it shewes How he þat is holy gost · sire and sone preueth And as the hande haldes harde ˜ and al thyng faste Thorugh foure fyngres and a thombe · forth with þe palme Right so the fader and the sone ˜ and saynt spirit the thride Haldes al the wide worlde · with-Inn hem thre Both welken and the wynde · water and erthe Heuene and helle · and al that ther-Inne is Thus it nedes no man trow non other That thre thynges bilonges · in oure lord of heuene And aren sereples by hem-self · a sondry were thay neuere Na more than myn hande may moue withoute my fyngers And as my neef if fulhande · yfold to-giders So is the fader a ful god · fourmeour and schipper Tu fabricator omni & c Al the myghte with hym is · in makyng of alle thynges The fyngres formen a ful hande · to purtrey or to paynten Keruing and compassyng · as crist of the fyngres Right so is the sone the science of the fader And ful god as is the fader · no fiebler ne no better The pavme is purlich the hande · has power by hym-selue Other-wise thanne he writhes þe fyst · or werkmanship of fyngres For the pavme hase power · to put out al the ioyntes And to vnfold the folden Neue · as the fyngers wille To is the holy goost god · nouther gretter ne lasse Than is the sire and the sone · and in the same myghte And alle aren thay but o god · as is myn hande and fynggers vnfolden or folden · my fyst and my pavme Al is bot on hande · euene in the myddesC.17.183: KD.17.188 is omitted. For the fyngers that folde shulde · ande the Neeue make For peyne of the loofe · power hem failles To clenche or to clawe · or clippe or to holde Were the mydel of myn hande · ymayheymed or yperissed I scholde receyue right nouȝt · and of þat I reche myghte As though my thombe and my fyngers bothe were to-schirnerd And the mydel of myn honde · with-oute male-ese In many kynnes maners I myghte my-selue helpe Bothe moeue and amende · though alle my fyngers oke By this kyl skyl my-thynketh · I se auidence That who-so synnes in saynt spirit ˜ assoilled worth he neuere Neither here ne elleswhere · as I herde telle Qui peccat in spiritu sancto & c For he prikes god as is as a fyst · the sone is as the fynger The holy gost of heuene is as it were the pavme So who-so synnes in the seynt spirit · it semeth þat he greues God þat he gripes with · and wolde his grace quenche And to a torche or to a tapere the Trinite is ylikned As wax and a weke · were twyned to-gidires And thanne a fire flaumyng · forthe oute of bothe And as wax and weke · and hote fir togiders Fostren forth a flaumbe · and a fair loweC.17.205: KD.17.211 is omitted. So doos the sire and the sone ˜ and also spiritus sanctus Brynges forth amonges folk · loue and bileue That alkynne cristen · clensees of synnes And as thow seest some tyme · sodeynliche a torche The blase ther-of yblow out · yet bernnes the weke With-oute lowe or lighte · þat þe macche brennes So is the holy goost god · and grace with-owten mercye To alle vnkynde creatures · that coueite to destruye Lele loue other lif · that oure lord shapte And as a glowyng glede · ne gladeth nauȝt thise werkmen That werchen and waken · in wynters nyghtes As doos a kex or a candel · þat caught has fire and blaseth namore doth sire ne sone · ne saynt spirit togiders Graunte no grace ne forgyfnees of synnes Til the holy gost gynne to glowe and to blase So that the holy goost glowes bot as a glede Til that lele loue ligge on hym and blowe And than flaumes he as fir on fader and on filius And meltees hir myghte o mercye · as men may se in wynter Iseyokels in euesynges · thurȝ het of sonne Melteth in a minute while ˜ to myst and to water So grace of the holy goost · the grete myghte of the trinite Meltes to mercye to merciable and to non other And as wax with-outen more · on a warme glede Wol brennen and blasen · be thay to-geddires And solacen hem þat mow se þat sitten in dirknes So wol the fader foryeue folk of mylde hertes That reufullich repenten · and restitucon make In as muche as thay mowen amenden and payen And if it suffizes nout for asseith · that in swich wille deyeth Merci for his meknesse · wol make good the remenaunt And as the weke and fire · wol make a warme flaumde For to myrthe men with · that in merke sitten So wol crist of his curteisie · and men crie hem mercye Bothe for-gyue and foryete · and yet bidde for vs To the fader of heuen foryeuenesse to haue And hewe fire at a flynt · forure hundreth wynter But thow haue towe to take it with tondure or broches Al thy labour is lost · and al thy longe trauaille For may no fir flaumbe make ˜ faille it is kynde So is the holy goost god · and grace with-outen mercye To alle vnkynde creatures · criste hym-self witnesseth Amen dico vobis nescio vos~ Be vnkynde to thyn euene cristen · and al þat þou kanst bidden Delen or do penaunce · day & night euere And purchace al the pardon · of Pampilon and Rome And indulgences ynowe · and be ingratis to þy kynde The holy gost heres þe nouȝt · ne helpe may the by reson For vnkyndenes quenches hym · þat he kan nouȝt shyne Ne brenne ne blase clere · for blowyng of vnkyndenesse Poule the apostel proueth where I lye Si linguis hominum loquare & c For-thy ware ye wise men that with the worlde deleth That riche ben and reson knoweth · reule wel youre saule Beth naught vnkynde I counseil yow to youre euene cristne For many of yow riche men · by my soule men telles ye brenne but ye blasen nouȝt · þat is an vnkynde beken Non omnis qui dicit domine domine & cC.17.263: KD.17.267 is omitted. Diues deyed dampned · for his vnkyndenesse Of his mete and his monei · to men þat it nedes Ech a riche I rede reward at hym take And geueth youre good to þat god · þat grace of ariseth For thay þat ben vnkynde to hise · hope I non other But thay schul dwel ther diues is · dayes with-outen ende Thus is vnkyndenesse the contrarie · that quencheth as it were The grace of the holy gost · goddis owne kynde For þat kynde doos vnkynde for-doth ˜ as thise cursed theues vnkynde cristyne men · for coueitise and enuye Sleth a man for hise moebles · with mouthe or with hondes For þat þe haly gaest hase to kepe · tho harlotes destroieth The whiche is þe lif and loue · the leye of mannes body For euery maner good man · may be likned to a torche Or elles to a taper · to reuerence the Trinite Nota And who-so morthreth a good man · ne thynket by myn Inwit He fordoos the leuest light · that oure lord louees And yet in many mo maners ; men offende the holy goost And this is the worst wisse that anny wight myghte Synnen ayein seint spirit · assenten to destruye For coueitise of any thyng · that criste dere boughteC.17.284: KD.17.289 is omitted. That wikkedlich · and wilfulliche wolde mercy aniente Innocens is nex god · and nyght and day it cryeth. vengeance vengeaunce ˜ forgyuen be it neuere That schent vs and shad oure blood · forshapte vs as it were vindicta sanguinem iustorum & c Thus vengeaunce vengeaunce verray charite askes And sit holy chirche and charite · charges this so sore Leue I neuere that oure lord · wol loue that charite hattes Ne haue pite for any prayer · ther that he pleynes I pose I had synned so · and shulde nouȝt deye And now am sory that I so · the seint spirit agylte Confesse me and crye his grace god that al made And myldlich his mercy axe · myȝt I nought be saued nota Thus saied the samaritan so wel thow myghte repente That rightwisnesse thorugh repentaunce ; to reuthe myghte torne And it is bot seldom seyen · the sothnesse bereth witnesse Any creature that is coupabile · a-fore a kynges Iustices Be raunceoned for his repentaunce · ther al reson hym dampnees For ther þat partie pursuees · the pepile his so huge That the kynge may do no mercye · til bothe men acorde And neither haue equite · as holy writ telles *** Nuncquam dimittitur peccatum & c *** Thus it farees by swich folk · that falsly al hir lyues yuel lyuen and leten nought · til lif hem forsakeC.17.308: KD.17.313-314 are omitted. Gode hope sholde · to wanhopope turneth Nouȝt of the non power of god · that he ne is myghtful To amende al that amys is · and his mercy gretter Than alle oure wikked werkes · as holy writ telles Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius ~ *** And er his rightfulnesse to reuthe torne · som restitucoun biho His sorwe is satisfaccion for hym ˜ that may nought paie T *** Thre thynges that ben that doon a man by strengthe For to fleen his owen hous · as holy writ sheweth That oon is a wikked wif · that wol nouȝt be chastied hir feer flieth fro hir · for fere of hir tonge And if hous be vnhilled · and rayne in hise bedde He seketh al aboute · til he ligge drye And whan smoke or smolder smyt in his sighte It doth hym wors than his wif · or wete to slepe For smoke and smolder · smytes his eighen Til he be blereighed or blynde · and hoos in the throte Coughees and curseth · that crist yeue hym sorwe That schul brynge Inne better wode · or blow it til it brende *** This thre that I telle of · be thus vndirstonde The wiffe is oure wikked flessh · þat wol nouȝ be chastied For kynde cleueth on hym euere to contrarie þe soule And though it falle it fynt skylles · that frelite is maad And that is lightly foryeuen ˜ and foryeten bothe To man that mercy asketh · and amende thynketh *** The rayne that rayneth · there we reste sholde Ben siknesse and sorwes · that we suffren ofte As poule the apostel to the pepile taughte Virtus In infirmitate & c And though that men make muche dole in angre And in-pacient in hir penaunce · pure resone knoweth That thay han cause to contrarie · by kynde of hir sikenesse And lightlich oure lord · at hir lyues ende Haue mercy on swich men · that yuel may suffree And the smoke and the smolder · that smyt in oure eighen Is coueitise and vnkyndenesse · that quenches goddes mercy For vnkyndenesse is the contrarie ˜ of alkynns resoun For ther nys sik ne sory · ne non so muche werche That he ne may louye and hym like · and leue of his herte Good wille and good word · bothe wisshen and willen Alle manere men mercy ˜ and forgyfnesse And louye hem liche hym-self · and his lif amende I may no langer lette quod he · and harde priked And wente away as wynde · and ther-with I awaked Passus decimus octauus : UOlleward and wete schoed · went I forth after And as a reccheles renke þ(a)t of no recches And yede forth like a lorel · al my lif tyme Til I wex wery of the worlde · and wilnes eft to slepe. And lened me to a lenten · and lang tyme I slepte And of cristes passiou(n) and penaunce · þe peple þ(a)t of taughte Reste me ther and rutte faste ˜ til ramis palmar(um) Of gerles and of gloria laus gretely me dremed And how ozanna by organye olde folkes so(n)gen Oon semblable to the samaritan · and somdel to piers plowma(n) Barfoot and oon an asse bake · boteles gan prike With-outen spores other spere · spaklich he loked As is the kynde of a knyght · that comes to dubbed To getten hym gilte spores · and galoches ycouped Than was faith in a fenestre · and crie a fili dauid As doos an heraud of armes · whan aunterous comes to Iustes Olde Iewes of Ier(usa)l(e)m · for Ioie thay songen~ Benedictus qui venit in no(m)i(n)e d(omi)ni & c(etera) That I frayned at faith · what al that fare bymente And who shulde Iuste In Ierusalem · Ih(es)us he saide And fecche that the fende claymeth · Piers fruyt the plowma(n) Is piers in this place quod · and he preynt on me This Ih(es)us of his gentries · wol Iuste in piers armes In his helme and hise haubergeon · humana natura That crist be nouȝt yknowe here · for consumatus est In piers paltok the plowman · this priker shal ride For no dynte shal hym dere · as in deitate p(at)ris Who schal Iuste with Ih(es)us quod I · Iewes or scribes Nay quod he the foule fend ˜ and fals dom and deth Deth sayes he shal for do · and a-doun brynge Al that lyues or lokes in londe or in watre Lif saith that lieth · and layes his lif to wedde That for al that deth kan doo with-Inne thre dayes To walke and fecche fro þe fend Piers fruyt þe plowman And legge it ther hym liketh · and lucifer bynde And for to bete and a-doun bryng · bale det for euere O mors ero mors tua & c(etera) Than com pilatus with pepil Sedens p(ro) tribunali To se how dowtilich deth schol do · and deme hir brotheres right The Iewes and the Iustices · ayeins Ih(es)u thay were And al the court on hym cried ˜ Crucifige sharpe Tho putte hym forth a pilo(ur) · bifore pilat and saide This Ih(es)us of oure Iewes peple Iaped and dispised To fordon it on a day · and in thre dayes after Edifie it eft newe · here he standes that saide it And yet maken it as muche in al manere poyntes Bothe as longe and as large · by loft and by grounde Crucifige quod a cacchepol · I warant hym a wecche Tolle tolle quod another · and took of kenne thornes And bi-gan of kene thorn a garland to make And set it sore on is hed · and saide in Enuye Aue rabi quod that ribaud ˜ and threw rides at hym Nayled hym with thre nayiles · naked on the rode And poiso(n) on a pole ˜ they putte vp to hisse lippes And bede hym drynke his deth yuel · hise dayes were doon And if thow suttel be · helpe now thy-seluen. If þ(o)u be crist and kynges sone · com doun of the rode Than shul we leue that lif the loueth · and wol nouȝt lete the deye Consumatu(m) est quod crist · and comsed for to swowen Pitousliche and pale · as a prison that deyeth The lorde of lif an of light tho leyde hise eighen togideres The day for dred · with-drouȝ · and derk becam the sonne The wal wagged and clef · and al the word quaued Dede men for þ(a)t dyne · com out of depe graues And tolde why þ(a)t tempeste · so longe tyme dured For a bitter bataille · the dede body saide Lif and deth in this derknesse · hir oon fordoth hir other Schal no wight wit wit(er)ly · who shal haue the maistrie Er sonday aboute sonne risyng · and sank w(i)t(h) þ(a)t til erthe Som saide that he was goddes sone · that so faire deyed vere filius dei erat iste & c(etera) And some saide he was a wicche ˜ good is þ(a)t we assaye Were he be dede or nought ded · doun er he be taken Two theues also tholed deth þ(a)t tyme vp-on a cros biside crist · so was the co(mun)e lawe A cacchepolle cam forth · and craked bothe hir legges And hir armes after · of either of the theues And was no boy so bolde · goddes body to touche For he was knyght and kynges sone ˜ kynde foryaf þ(a)t tyme That non harlot were so hardi to lay hand vp-on hym And ther cam forth a knyght with a kene spere ygrounde Highte longeus as the l(ett)re telleth and longe had lore his sighte Bifore pilat and other peple · in the place he houed Maugre hise many tethe · he was made þ(a)t tyme To take the spere in his hande and Iusten with Ih(es)us For al thay were vnhardy · þ(a)t houed on hors & stoode To touchen hem or tasten hym · or take(n) hy(m) doun on rode Bot this bly(n)de bachiler · þane bare hy(m) thurȝ the herte The blode spronge doun by þe sper · and vnspered hise eighe(n) Than fel the knyȝt vp-on knes · and cried hym mercye Ayein my wille it was lord to wounde yow so sore How he seighed and saide sore it me a-thenketh For þe dede þ(a)t I haue don I do me in youre grace Haue on me reuthe rigful Ih(es)u · and right w(i)t(h) þ(a)t he wepte Than gan faith felli the fals Iewes despise Called hem caytyues acorsed for euere For this foule vilanie · vengeaunce to yow alle To do the blynde bete hym ybounde it was a boys co(n)nseil Cursed caytif knyghthode was it neuere To misdo a dede body · by day or by nyght The grythe ye hase he geten · for al his grete wounde For youre champeou(n) chiveler chief knyght of yow alle yelde hym recreaunt rennyng · right at Ih(es)us wille For be derkenesse ydo · his deth worth a-venged And lordeyns · han ylost ˜ for lif shal haue the maistre And yore fraunchise that free was · fallen is in thraldom And ye clerkes and youre children · chieue shul ye neu(er)e Ne haue lordschip in honde · ne no londe tilye But al bareyne be · and vsurie vsen Which is lif þ(a)t oure lord · in alle lawes a-corseth Now youre good dayes aren don · as daniel p(ro)phecied Whan crist cam hir kyngdome · and crowne shuld iesse Cum veniat s(an)c(t)us s(an)c(t)or(um) cessabit vnxio v(est)ra~ What for fere of this ferly · And of the false Iewes I drew me in þat derknesse · to descendit ad in-ferna And ther I saugh sothely · s(e)c(un)d(u)m sc(ri)pturas Out of the west coste · a wenche as me thoughte Com walkyng in the way · to helleward scho loked Mercy highte that maide ˜ a meke thyng with alle A ful benigne birde · and buxom of speche Hir syster as it semed · com softily walkyng Euene out of the Est and westward she loked A ful many creatur treuthe she highte For þe virtue that hir folwed · a-ferde was sche neuer Whan thise maidens mette mercy and trouthe Either asked other · of þis gret wondire Of the dyn and the derkenesse · and how þe day rowed And wich a light and a leme · lay bifore helle Ich haue ferly of this fare · in faith saide treuthe And am wendyng to wite what this wondire meneth haue no m(er)ueill quod m(er)cy ˜ murthe it bitokne A Maiden þ(a)t hatte marie · and moder w(i)t(h)-outen felyng Of any kynnes creature · conceyued thurgh spech And g(ra)ce of the holy gost wex grete with childe With-outein · wem in-to this world ˜ she brouȝt hym And that my tale be trew I take god to witnesse Sit this barn was born · ben thretty wynter passed Wich deyed and tholed this day aboute mydday And that is cause of this clipse · þat closes now the sonne In menyng that man shal · fro merkenesse be drawe The while this light and this lem shal lucifer ablonde For patriarkes and p(ro)phetes · hand p(re)ched her-of often That man shal man saue · thurgh a maidens helpe And that was tynt thurȝ tree · tree schal it wynne And that dethe dooun broughte · deth schal releue That thow tellest quod · it is but a tale of tale of For adam and Eue · and abrah(a)m with other Pat(ri)arkes and p(ro)phetes · that in payne liggen Leue thow neuer that yon light ˜ a-loft schal brynge Ne haue hem oute of helle ˜ holde thy tonge mercye It is bot a tryfule that thow tellest · I trought woot þe soth For þ(a)t is ones in helle · out comes it neuere Iob the p(ro)phete patriarke · reproues thi sawes Quia in inferno nulla est redempc(i)o Than mercy ful myldly ˜ mouthed thise wordes Thurgh exp(er)ience quod she · I hope thay shul be saued For venym fordoos venym ˜ and that I proue by resou(n)C.18.157: KD.18.153 is omitted. For of all venym foulest is the Scorpiou(n) May no medicyne helpe the place · ther he styngeth Til he be ded and do ther-to · þe yuel he destroyeth The first venymouste · thurgh venym of hym-selue So shal this deth fordo · I dar my lif legge Al þ(a)t deth dide first · thorugh the deueles entisyng And right as thurgh gile man was bigiled So shal g(ra)ce that bigan · make a good sighte ars vt artem falleret Now suffere we saide treuthe · I se as me thynketh. Out of the nyppe of þe North · nouȝt ful fer he(n)nes Rightwisnesse cam rennyng reste we the wille For he woot more than we · he was or we bothe That is soth saiede mercy · and I se here bisouthebi southe Were pees cometh pleyng · in pacience yclothed Loue hase coueited hir longe · leue I non other But he sent hir som l(ett)re · what this light by-meneth That ouer houeth helle thus · she vs schal telle Whan pees in pacience yclothed · approched neiȝ hem twayne Rightwisnesse hem reu(er)enced · for hir riche clothynge And prayed pees to telle hir to what place she wolde And in hir gay garnementz ˜ whom she grete thoughte Mi wille his to wende quo she · and welcom hem alle That many day miȝt I nouȝte se · for merknesse of synne Adam an Eue · and other mo in helle Moises and many mo mercy schul haue I shal daunce þer-to · do thow so suster For Ih(es)us Iusted wel · Ioie bigynnes dawe ad vesp(er)um demorabitur fletus & ad matutinu(m) liticia Loue þat is my lemman · swiche l(ett)res me sente That mercy my syster and I · mankynde schude saue And that god hase forgyuen · and gunted me pees and mercye To be mannes meynp(er)o(ur) · for euer more after Lo here the patent q(uod) pees · in pace in idip(su)m And that this dede shal dure Dormiam & requiescam What rauestow quod rightwisnesse · or thow art right dronke Leuestow that yond light · vnloke mighte helle And saue mannes soule · syster wene it neuere Atte bigynnyng god yaf · the dome hym-selue That adam and Eue · and alle that hem sulked Shul deye doun-right · and dwelle in peyne after If þ(a)t þey touched a tre · and þe fruyt eten Adam afterward ayeins his defense Freet of þ(a)t fruyt · and forsoke as it were The loue or oure lord · and his lore bothe And folowed þ(a)t the fende tauȝt · and hise felawes wille Ayeins reson and rightwisnesse · record þus w(i)t(h) treuthe That hir peyne be p(er)petuel · and no prayer hem helpe For-thy lat hem chewe as þei chose · and chide we nouȝt syster For it is boteles bale · the bite þ(a)t they eten And I schal proue q(uod) pees ˜ hir peyne mote haue an ende And wo in-to wel · mowe wende at þe laste For had thay wist of no wo · wel had þey nouȝt knowen For no wight woot what wel is · þ(a)t neuere wo suffred Ne what is hote hunger þ(a)t had neuere defaute If no nyght ne were no man is as I leue Shulde wite witterly what day is to mene Shuld neuer riȝt riche man · that lyueth in reste and ese Wite what wo is ne wel · ne were þe deth of kynde So god that bigan al · of his good wille Bicam man of a mayde(n) mankynde to saue And suffred to be sold · to se the sorwe of deyinge The which vnknyttes al care · and comsyng is of reste For til modicu(m) met with vs · I may it wel auowe Woot no wight as I wene · what is ynough to mene For-thi god of his goodnesse · the first gome Adam Sette hym in solace · and in sou(er)eigne myrthe And syne he suffred hym synne · sorwe to fele To wite what wel was ˜ kyndelich to knowen And after god graunted hym-self · and toke adamse kynde To wite what he hase suffred · in the sondry places Bothe in heuene and in erthe · and now til helle he thynketh To wite what ial wo is · that woot of al Ioie So it shal fare by this folk ˜ hir folie and hir synne Shal lere hem what lango(ur) is · and lisse with-outen ende Woot no wight what werre is · þer þ(a)t pees regnees Ne what is wit(er)ly wele · til weylawey hym teche Than was ther a wight ˜ with twa brad eighen Book highte that beaupere · a bold man of speche By goddes body quod this book · I wol bere witnesse That tho this barne was ybore · ther blased a sterre That alle the wise of this world · in oo wit acorden That swich a barne was born · in bedlem Citee That mannes saule schuld saue · and synne distruyeC.18.241: KD.18.237 is omitted. That he was god that al wrouȝte · the welkne firste schewed Tho þat weren in heuene · token stella comata And tenteden hir as a torche · to reu(er)encen his byrthe The light folowed þe lord · in-to þe low erthe That water witnesse þ(a)t he was god · for he wente on it Peter þe apostle p(ar)ceyued his gate And he wente on the wate · wel hym knewe and saide Iube me venire ad te sup(er) aquas And lo how the sonne gan louke hir light in hir-selue Whan she seigh hym suffre · that sonne and se made The erthe for buxomnesse · þ(a)t he wolde suffre Quaked as quik thyng · and al biquasshed þe roche Lo helle myghte nought holde but opned þo god tholed And leet out simondes sones to seen hym hange on rode And now schal lucifer leue it · þouȝ hym loth thynke For gigas the giaunt · with a gynne engyned To breke and to bete adoun · þat ben ayeins Ih(es)usC.18.258: KD.18.254 is omitted. And I book wol be brente · but Ih(es)us rise to lyue In alle myghtes of man ˜ and his moder gladye And conforth al hys kynne · and oute of care bynge And al þe Iewen Ioie vnioignen and vnlouken And bot thay reu(er)ence his rode · and his resurreccion And leuen on a newe lawe · be lost lif and soule Al this I book witnesse · and yet muche more Suffire we saide trouthe · I here and see bothe How a spirit spekees to helle ˜ and biddes vnsper(e) the yates Attolite portas & c(etera) A voice loude in that light · to lucifer cried Princes of this place vnpynneth and vnlouken For hire comes with crowne · that kyng is of glorie Than siked sathan and saide to hem alle Swich a lighte ayeins oure leue lazar it fette Care and combraunce · is come to vs alle If this kynge come Inne · mankynde wol he fecche And lede it ther hym liket · and lightilich me bynde Patriarkes and p(ro)phetes han p(ar)led here of lange That swich a lorde and a light · shol ledde hem alle hennes Listnes q(uod) lucifer · for I this lord knowe Bothe this lord and this light · is longe ago I knewe hym May no deth hym dere · ne no deueles queyntise And where he wol is his way · and ware hym of the p(er)iles If he reuees my right · he robbees me by maistrie For by ryght and reson the renkes þ(a)t ben here Body and soule ben myn ˜ bothe good and illeC.18.285: KD.18.279 is omitted. If adam ete the appul · al scholde deye And dwelle with vs deuels · this thretyng he made And he þ(a)t sothnesse is · saied thise wordes And sitthen he seised{CHECK MS} · seuen hundereth wynter I leeue that lawe nyl nouȝt · lete hym the leste No(ta) That is soth saide sathan ˜ but I me sore drede For thow gate hym with gile · and his gardyng brake And in liknees of a Nedder · sat on þe appultre And eggest hem to ete eue ˜ by hir-selue And toldest hir a tale · of treson were þe wordes And so þ(o)u haddest hem out and hider atte laste no(ta) It is nouȝt graithly geten ; ther gile is the rote For god wol nouȝt be nouȝt bigiled ˜ quod Gobelyn ne biIaped Whe haue no trewe title to hem ˜ for þurȝ treson were þey da(m)pned Certes I drede me quod þe deuel · lest treuthe wyl hem fecche Oute of oure poustee · and leden hem hennes Thise thritty wynter al I wene · hase he gane & p(re)ched I haue assoilled hym with synne · and som tyme I asked Where he were god or goodes sone · he gaf me schort answer And thus hase he trolled forth · thise twa and thritty wynter And whan I seigh it was so ˜ slepyng I wente To wrne pilates wif · what doon man was Ih(es)us For Iewes hated hym ˜ and han doon hym to deth I wolde haue lenged his lif · for I leued if he deyed That his soule walde suffre no synne in his sighte For the body while it on bones yede · a-boute was euere To saue men fro synne ˜ if hem-self wolde~ And nowe I se where a soule comees · hiderward seillyng With Ioie and with grete light · god it is I woot wel I rede we fle quod he · faste alle hennes For vs were bettre nouȝt be · than biden his sighte For thy lesynges lucifer · lost is alle our praye Fyrst thorugh the we fellen fra heuene so heigh For we leued thy lesynges ˜ yloste we haue adam And alle oure lordschp · I leue ˜ a lond and a water Nu(n)c princeps hui(us) mu(n)di eicietur foras Efte þe lighte bad vnlouke · and lucifer answerd What lord artow quod lucifer · quis est iste Rex glorie · the lighte soon saide And lord of myght and of mayn · and alle man(er)e v(er)tues; d(omi)n(u)s v(er)tutum dukes of thys dym place ˜ anoon vndo thise yates That crist may come Inne · the kynges sone of heuene And with that breth helle brake · with belial barres For any wy or warde · wide open the yates Patriarkes and p(ro)phetes populus in tenebris Songen saynt Ioh(a)nes song Ecce agnus dei Lucifer loke ne myȝte · so light hym a blyndyde And tho that oure lord loued · in-to his lighte he tooke And saied to sathan · lo here my soule to amendes For alle synful soules to saue þo þat ben worthy Myn thay be and of me · I may the bett(er) hem clayme Alle þouȝ reson record ; and riȝt of my-selfe That if thay ete þe appul · alle sholde deye I bihighte hem nouȝt here · helle for euere For the dyede þ(a)t thay dide · thy deceite it made With gile thou hem gate · ayein al reson For in my palace p(ar)adis ˜ in p(er)sone of an adder Falslich þ(o)u fettest þer · thyng þ(a)t I loued Thus ylike a lusarde with a lady visage Theflich thow me robbedest · þe olde lawe g(ra)untteth That gilours be bigiled ˜ and þ(a)t is good reson Dentem p(ro) dente & oculum p(ro) oculo Ergo soule schal saule quite · and synne wende And al that man hase mysdon ˜ I man wyl amende no(ta) Membre for Membere by þe olde lawe · was amendes And lif for lif also · and by that lawe I clame it Adam and al his issue ; at my wille here-after And þ(a)t deth in hem fordide · my deth shal releue And bothe quykee and quyte ; that queynche was thorugh synne And that g(ra)ce gile distroyed ˜ good faith it askes So leue I nouȝt lucifer ˜ ayein the lawe I fecche thaym Bot by right and by reson · raunsou(n) here my lieges Non veni soluere legem set adimpler(e) Thow foched myn in my place ayeins al resou(n) Falslich and felou(n)lich ˜ good faith me it taughte To recou(er)e thaym thurgh raunson · and by no reson elles So þ(a)t thurgh gile thow gate · thurgh g(ra)ce it is it wo(n)ne Thow lucifer in liknesse · of a lyther adder Gatest by gile tho ˜ that god louede And in liknesse of leod that lord am of heuene Graciuslich thy gile haue quyt · go gile ayin gile And as Adam and alle other · thurgh a tree deyden Adam and alle thurgh a tre · schal torne ayein to lyue And gile is bigilde and in his gile fallen Et cecidit in foueam qua(m) fecit Now bigynnes thy gile ayein the torne And my grace to growe · ay gretter and widder The bitternesse þ(a)t thow browe · brouke it thy-seluen That art doctur of deth · drynke þ(a)t thow madest For I that am lord of lif · loue is my drynke And for that drynke to-day ˜ I deyed vp-on erthe I faughte so me thryste yet ˜ for mannes soule sake May no drynke me moiste · ne my thryst slake Til the vendage falle ˜ in þe vale of Iosaphat That I drynke right ripe muste resureccio mortuor(um) And thanne shal I come as a kyng crowned with aungelles And haue out of helle ˜ alle manere saules Fendes and fyndekynes · bifore me shul stande And be at my biddyng wher-so-euer me likees And to be merciable to man · thanne my kynde it askese For we ben brethren of blode · bot nouȝt in baptym alle And alle þ(a)t ben myn hole brethren in blode and in baptisme Schal nouȝ be dampned to þe deth · þ(a)t is with-outen ende Tibi soli peccaui & c(etera) It is nouȝt vsed in erth to hangen a felon Ofter than ones ˜ though he were a traitur And if the kyng of of that kyndome · come in that tyme Ther the felon thole scholde · deth or other-wise Lawe wolde he geue hym lyue · if he loked on hym And I that am kyng of kynges · schal come swich a tyme Wher doom to the deth · dampnes al wikked And if lawe wol I loke on hem ˜ it lyth in my g(ra)ce Wheither thay deye or deye nouȝt · for þ(a)t thay diden illeC.18.398: KD.18.388-390 are omitted. Nullum malum impunitum & c(etera) Thay shul be clensed clerelich · and wasshen of hire synnes In my prisou(n) purgatorie · til parce it hote And my mercy schal be shewed ˜ to many of my brethren For blood may suffre blood · both hungre and a calde And blood may nouȝt se blood · blede bot it rewe Audiui archana verba que non licet homini loqui And my rightwisnesse · and right · schal reule all helle And mercy al mankynde · biformebi forme in heuene For I ware an vnkynde kyng · bot I my kynde helpe And mandlich at silke a nede ˜ ther nedes helpe bhouees Non intres in iudiciu(m) cum seruo tuo Thus by lawe quod oure lord · lede I wol fro hennes Tho that me loued · and leuyd in my comynge And for thy lesyng lucifer · that þow leighe til Eue Thow shalt abye it bitter · and bonde hym with cheynes Astoroth · and al the route ˜ hidden thaym in hyrnes Thay dorst nouȝt look on oure lord the boldest of he(m) alle But lete hym lede forth with hym · who hym liked & lefte what hy(m) liste Many hundreth of aungels ˜ harpeden and songen Culpat caro purgat caro regnat deus dei caro v(er)sus Than pipide pees of poesie a noote Clarior est solito post maxi(m)a nebula phebus Post inimicicia clarior est & amor After sharpe shoures quod pees ˜ moost schyne is the sonne Is no weder warmer than aft(er) watrie cloudes Ne no loueleuerloue leuer · ne leuer frendes Than after werre and wo · whan loue & pees ben mais Was neuer werre in this world · ne wikkenesse so kene That loue and hym liste ˜ to laughynge ne broughte And pees thurgh pacience al p(er)iles stopped Trewes quod treuth · thow telles vs soth by Ih(es)us Clippe we in couenaunt ˜ and ech of vs · kisse other And lete no pepile quod pees p(ar)ceyue þ(a)t we chide For inpossible is no thyng · to hym þat is almyȝty Thow saist soth quod rightwisnesse · and reu(er)entlich hir kiste Pees and pees here p(er) secula seculor(um) Misericordia & v(er)itas obuiauerunt sibi Iusticia & pax osculate su(n)t & c(etera) Treuthe tromped þo ˜ & songe te deum laudamus & c(etera) And thanne luted loue in a lowe note Ecce q(ua)m bonu(m) & q(ua)m iocundum & c(etera) Til the day dawed ˜ thise damiselles daunced That men range to the resureccion · and right w(i)t(h) þ(a)t I waked And called kytte my wif ˜ and calote my doughter Arises and reu(er)ens ˜ goddes resurecciou(n) And crepeth to the crosse on knees ˜ and kisses it for a Iewel For goddes blissed body ˜ it bare for oure bote And it aferees the fende ˜ for swich is the myghte May no grisely goost ˜ glide ther it schadwes Passus decimus nonus : Thus I awaked and wroot · what I hadde Idremed And dighte me derelich · and dide me to chirche To here · holy the masse · þo men yede to offryngC.19.3: KD.19.5 is omitted. That piers the plowman was paynted al blody And come Inne with a cros · bifore the comune pepile And right like in alle lymes to oure lorde Ihesu~ Thanne called I conscience ; to kenne me the sothe Is this Ihesus the Iuster quod I · that Iewes dide to deth Or it is piers the plowman · who peynted hym so rede Quod conscience and kneled þo · thise aren piers armes Hise colours and his cote armure · and he þat comes so blodye Is criste with his crosse · conquerour of cristene Why calle ye hym crist quod I · sith Iewes called hym Ihesus patriarkes and prophetes · proficied bifore That alkyn creatures sholde knelen and bowen Anoon as men nepned ˜ the name of god Ihesu Ergo is noo name to þe name Ihesus Ne non so nedful to nempne ˜ by nyght ne by day For alle derke deuels ˜ aren adrad to her it ~ And synful aren solaced · and saued by that name And thay callen hym crist ; for what cause telles me Is crist more of myghte · and more worthi name Than Ihesu or Ihesus ˜ that al oure Ioie come of Thow knowest wel quod conscience · & þou konne resoun Nota That knyght kyng conquerour · may be o persone To be called a knyght is faire ; for men shal knele to hym To be called a kyng is fairer · for he may knyghtes make And to be conquerour called ˜ that comes of special grace And of hardiness of herte · and of hendenesse bothe To make lordes of laddes · of londe þat he wynnes And free men foule thralles · þat folowen nouȝt hise lawes The Iewes that were gentil men · Ihesu thay despised Both hise lore and his lawe · now er thay lowe cherles As wide as the world is · wonyeth ther noon Bot vndir tribut and talliage as tikes and cherles And tho that bicome cristyne · by conseil of the baptisme Aren fraunkeleyns free men · thurgh fullyng þat thay toke And gentil men with Ihesu · for Ihesus was yfulled And vp-on caluarie on cros ˜ ycrowned kyng of Iewes It bicomes to a kyng to kepe and to defende And a conquerour of conquest · his lawes and his large And so dide Ihesus the Iewes ˜ he Iustified and taughte hem The lawe of lif ˜ that last schal euere And fendoied fram foule yueles · fyueres and fluxes And fro fendes þat in hem were · and fals bileue Tho was he Ihesus of Iewes called gentil prophete And kyng of hir kyngdome · and crowne bare of thornes And tho conquered he on crosse ˜ as conquerour nobile Might no deth hym for-do ˜ ne a-doun brynge That he aros and regned · and rauisshed helle And tho was he conquerour calle · of quyk and of dede For he gaf Adam and Eue ˜ and other mo blisse That lenge had leyne bifore ˜ as lucifers cherlesC.19.53: KD.19.56-59 are omitted. And sith he gaf largely ˜ alle his lele lieges Places in paradise ˜ at hir partyng hennes He may wel be called conquerour · and þat is crist to mene And the cause þat comes thus · with cros of passioun Is to wissen vs ther-with · þat whan þat we be tempted Ther-with to fyghte and fende vs ˜ fra fallyng in-to And se by his sorwe · that who loues Ioie To penaunce and to pouerte · he most putte hym-selue And muche wo in this world · willen and suffren As to carpe more of crist · and how he come to that Faithly for to speke · his first nam was Ihesus tho he was born in bedlem ˜ as the book telles And come to take mankynde · kynges and aungels Reuerenced hym faire · with richesse of erthe Aungels out of heuene ˜ come knelyng and songe Gloria in excelsis deo & cetera Kynges cam after kneled and offred Mirre and mylkyle gold · with-outen mercy askyng Or any kynnes catel bot knowlichyng hym souereigne Bothe of sonde and of sonne and se · and sithen thay wente In-to hir kyngenelich by counseil of a aungeles And ther was that word fulfilled · the which thow of speke Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Ihesu nota For alle the aungels of heuene · at his byrthe kneled And al the wit of þe world · was in tho thre kynges Reson and rightfulnesse · and reuthe thay offired Wher-fore and why · wise men that tyme Maistres and lettred men · Magi hem called That o kyng cam with reson · couered vndir sense The secunde kyng ek sothly offred Rightwisnesse vndir red gold ˜ resones felawe Gold is likned to leaute ˜ that laste shal euere And reson to riche gold · to right and to treuthe The thridde kyng cam knelyng to Ihesu And presente hym with pite ˜ apieryng to Mirre For mire is mercye to mene ˜ and mylde speche of tonge Thre yliche honeste thynges ˜ knelyng to Ihesu And for alle thise preciouse presentz ˜ oure lord prince Ihesus Was nouther kyng ne conquerour · til he gan to wexe In the maner of a man · and that by muche sleighte As it bicomees a conquerour · to kinne many sleightes And many wiles and wit ˜ that wil ben a leder And sa did Ihesu in hise dayes · who-so hadde tym to telle it Som tym he suffred ˜ and som tyme he hidde hym And som tyme he fauȝte faste · and fledd other while And som tyme he gaf god and graunted hele bothe Lif and lyme as hym liste · he wroughte As kynde is of a conquerour · so comsed Ihesu Til he badde al hem · þat he fore blede In his Innocence þis Ihesus · at Iewne feste Water in-to wyne torned · as holy write telles And ther bygan god of his grace dowel For wyne is likned to lawe · and lif of holynesse And lawe lakked þo · for men loued nouȝt hir enemys And crist counselde vs and comaunde bothe Bathe to lered and to lewed to louee oure enymys So at þe feste firste as I bifore tolde Bi-gan god of his grace · and goodnesse to do wel And þo was he cleped and called nouȝt holy chirche bot Ihesu A faunt fyn ful of wit Filius marie For bifore his moder marie · made he þat wondire That sche first and formest and formest ˜ ferme scholde bileue That he thorugh grace was gete · and ne gome elles He wrouȝt þat by no wit · but thorugh word oon After thy kynde þat he come of · ther bygan he do wel And whan he was waxen more in his modor absence He made lame to lepe · and gaf light to blynde And fedde with twa fisshes · and with fyue loues Sore ahungerd folk ma than a thousand Thus he conforted carful · and caught a gretter name The wich was do bet · where þat he wente For deef thurgh hise doynges to here · and dombe speke made And alle he heled and halpe · that hym of grace asked And tho was he called in contree of þe commune pepile For the dedes þat he dide · Ihesu fili dauid For dauid was doughtiest · of dedes in his tyme The byrdes that songe · Sal interfecit mille & dauid decem milia For-thy þe contre þer Ihesu come ˜ called hym fili dauid And nempned hym of nazareth · and no man so worthy To be caiser or kyng · of þe kyngdom of Iude Ne ouer Iewes Iustices · as Ihesus was hem thoughte Wher-of Caiphas had enuye · and other of þe Iewes And for to doon hym to deth · day and nyght þei casten kylled hym on crosse wise ˜ at Caluarie on friday And sithen byried his body · and beden þat men sholde kepen it fro nyght comers · with knyghtes yarmed For no frendes sholde hym fecche · for prophetes hem tolde That þat blisful body of byryeles sholde rise And goon in-to galilee · and gladen hise apostels And his moder Marie · thus men bifore demed The knyghtes þat kepten hym · biknewe it hym-selue That angels and archangels · er the day sprange Com knelyng to þe corees ; and sangen christus resurgens verray man bifore hem alle · and forth with hem he ȝede The Iewes preyed hem pees · and bisoughte þe knyghtes Telle the comune that þer cam ˜ a compaygnye of his apostles And biwicched hem as thay woke · and away stalen it And marie madgaleyne mette hym by the way Goyng toward Galile in godhed and manhede And lymes and lokyng and so a-loude criede In elke a compaignye ther she com · and so a-loude criede In ech a compaignye ther she com · christus resurgens Thus com it out þat crist ouercam · recouered and lyuede Sic oportet christum & in-trare & cetera For that þat wommen witethes may nouȝt wel be counseil Petur parceyues al this and pursued after Bothe Iames and Iohan Ihesu for to seeke Tadde and ten mo · with thomas of Inde And as alle thise wise wyes · weren to-gidideres In an hous alle biset · and hir dore ysperrede Cristi cam Inne alle closed · bathe dore and ȝates To petir · and to hise apostels · and saide pax vobis And took Thomas by the hande · and taughte hym to grappe And fele withe his fyngers · his flesshlich herte Thomas touched it · and with his tonge saide Deus meus & dominus meus . Thow art my lord I bileue · god lord Ihesu Thow deydest and deth tholedest · and deme schalt vs alle And now art lyuyng and lokyng · and last schalt euere Crist carped thanne · and curteliche saide Thomas for thow trowest this · and trewelich bileuest it Blissed mote thow be ˜ and be schalt for euere And blissed mote thay alle be · in body and in soule That neuere shul se me in sight · as thow doost nowe And lelich bileue al this · I loue hem and blisse hem Beati qui non viderunt & crediderunt & cetera And whan this ded was doon · do best he taughte And gaf Piers power and pardon he graunted To alle manere of men mercie and forgyuenesse Hym myghte men to assoille of alle maner synnes In couenaunt that thay come · and knowliche to paye To piers pardon the plowman · Redde quod debes Thus hase piers power · be hise pardon paied To bynde and vnbynde · bothe here and elles where And soilled men of synnes · saue of dette oone Anon after an heigh · vp to the heuene He wente and wonyes ther · and wil com at laste And rewarde hym right wel · that reddit quod debet Payeth parfitly ˜ as pure treuthe walde And what persone paies it nouȝt · punisshem he thyngkes And demen hym a domesday both quike and dede The good to þe godhede ˜ and to grette Ioye And wikked to wonye in wo · with-outen ende Thus conscience of crist · and of the crosse carped And counseiled me to knele ther to ˜ and thanne com me thouȝte Oon spiritus paraclitus to piers and to hise felawes In liknesse of a lightnynge · he light on hem alle And madde hem konne and knowe · alkynne langages I wondred what that was · and wagged conscience And was a-fered of þat light · for in fires liknesse Spiritus paraclitus ouer-sprade hem alle Quod consciencie and kneled this is cristes messager And comes fro þe grete god · and grace his his name knele now quod conscience · And if thow kanst synge Welcom hym and worship hym · with veni creator spiritus Thane songe I that songe ˜ and so dide many hundreth And criden with conscience helpe vs god of grace And than bigan grace to go with Piers plowman And conseilled hym and conscience ˜ the comune to sompne For I wile dele to-day ˜ and diuide grace~ To alkynne creatures that haue hir fyue wittes alle{***CHECK MS} Tresore to lyue by · to hir lyues ende And wepen to fiȝte with · whan any cristyne yow assailleesC.19.216: KD.19.219-225 are omitted. And gaf ech man a grace · to go with hym-selue That ydelnesse encombyre hym nouȝt enuye ne pride Diuisiones graciarum sunt & cetera Som he gaf wit with wordes to shewe Wit to wynne hir liflode with · as the worlde askes As prechours and prestes · and prentices of lawe They lely to leue by labour of tonge And by wit to wissen other ˜ as grace hem wolde teche And som he kenned craftes · and konnyng of sighte With sellynge and byggynge · hir bilyue to wynne And some he lered to labour a lele lif and trewe And some he taughte to tilye · to diche and to hegge To wynne with hir liflod · by lore of his techynge And som to diuine and diuide · membres to kenne And som to compas craftly · and colours to make And som to se and som to saye · what sholde bifalle Bothe of wel and of wo · telle it er it felle As astronomyens thurȝ astronomye · and philosophres wise And som to ride and som to recouere · þat vnrightfully was wonne He wissed hem wynne it ayein · thurȝ witnesse of handes And fecchen it fro fals men · with foluiles lawes And som he lered to lyue · in longynge to ben hennes In pouerte and in penaunce · to praye fol cristyne And alle he lered to be lelle · and ech a craft loue other And forbadde hem alle debat ˜ þat non were among hem Thouȝ som be clenner þan som · ye se wel quod grace That he þat vseth þe fairest craft to þe foulest I kouthe haue putte hym Loke that non lakke other · bot loue alle as brethren And who þat moost maistries konne · be myldest of beryng And crowned conscience kyng · and maked craft youre stiwardC.19.246: KD.19.257 is omitted. For I make piers the plowman · my procuratour and my reue And registerer to receyue Redde quod debes Mi plowght and my plowman · Piers shal be on erthe And for to tilie trouþe · a teme schal he haue Grace gaf Piers a teme ˜ foure grette oxen. That oon was luk a large beste · and a lowe chered And Marke and Mathew the thridde · myȝty bestes bothe And Ioyned to hem oon Iohan the most gentille of alle The pris neet of piers plough ˜ passyng alle other And grace gaf Piers of his goodenesse · foure grete stottes Alle þat his oxen eried · thay to harowe after Oon hight Austyn and Ambrose an other Gregory the grete clerc · and Ierome þe goode Thise foure þe faith to teche · folowes Piers tyeme And harowed in a handwihile al holy scripture With two harwes þat thay hadde · and olde and a newe vetus testamentum & nouum And grace gaf greynes · the cardinales vertues And swee it in mannes soule · and sithen tolde hir names Spiritus prudencie the first sede highte And who-so ete þat · ymagyne he scholde Er he dide any dede · deuise wel the ende And lerned men a ladel bygge · with a long stelle That caste for to kepe a crokke · to saue the fatte abouen The seconde sede highte Spiritus temperancie He that ete of þat sede · hadde swich a kynde Schulde neuere mete ne muchel drynke · make hym to swelle Ne schulde no scorner ne scolde · out of skile hym bryngeC.19.274: KD.19.285 is omitted. Wast word of ydelnesse · ne no wikked speche moeue Schulde no curious cloth · comen on his rygge Ne no mete in his mouthe · þat maister Iohan spiced The thridde seed þat piers sewe · was spiritus fortitudinis And who-so ete of þat seed · hardy was euere To suffre al þat god sente · siknesse and angres Might no lesynges no ber · ne losse of wordly catel Maken hym for any mornynge · þat he nas myrie in saule And bolde and abidyng · bismeres to suffyre And pleyeth alle with pacience · and parce michi domine And coueren hym vndir counseil of caton the wisse Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique The fierthe seed that piers sewe · was spiritus Iusticie And he þat ete of þat seed · sholde be euere trewe With god and nouȝt agast · bot of gile oon For gyle goos so pryuely þat good faith other while May nouȝ ben aspied for spiritus Iusticie Spiritus Iusticie ˜ sparees nouȝt to spille Hem þat ben gilti and for to correct The kyng if he falle in gilt or in trespas For counteth he no kynges wratthe · whan he in court sittes To demen as a domes man · adrad was he neuere Neither of duc ne of deth · þat he ne dide lawe For present or for prayer · or any princes lettres He dide equite to alle · euene forth his power This foure seedes piers sewe · and sith he dide hem harwe With olde lawe and new lawe · þat loue myȝt waxe Among the foure vertues · and vices distroie For comuneliche in contrees · cam-mokes and wedes Fouleth þe fruyt in þe felde · ther thay growe togiders And so doon vices · vertues worthy Quod piers harweth al þat konne kyndly wit · by conseil of þis doctours And telles after his techyng · the cardinal vertues Ayeins thy greynes quod grace · to Piers by-gynnes for to ripe Ordeyne ye an hous · to herberwe Inne þy corne Bi god grace quod piers · ye most geue tymbir And ordeyne þat hous · er ye hennes wende And grace gaf hym the crosse · with þe crowne of thornes That crist vp-on caluarie · for man-kynde on pyned And of his baptisme and blood · þat he bledde on rode He made a manere morter · and mercy it highte And ther-wit grace bigan · to make a good fundement And watled it and walled it · with hise paynes and his passion And of al holy writ · he made a rof after And called þat hous vnite · holy chirche on Englissh And whan this dide was doon · grace diuised A carte highte cristendom · to carie piers sheues And gaf hym caples to his carte · contricoun and confessioun And made presthod hayward · the while hym-selue wente As wide as the worlde is · with piers to tilye treutheC.19.324: KD.19.334 is omitted. Now is piers to the plough · and pride it aspied And gadered hym a gret oost ˜ to greuen he thyngkesC.19.326: KD.19.337 is omitted. Blew hem doun · and breke hem · and bite atwo the mores And sent forth surquidous his sergeaunt of armes And his spye spille loue · oon spek yuel bihynde This two come to conscience · and to cristen pypile And tolde hym tiynges · þat tyne þey shulde the seedes That piers ther had ysowen ˜ the cardinal vertues And piers berne with brake · and thay þat ben in vnite Schul come oute and conscience · and youre two capiles Confession and contricion and youre carte the bileue Shal be colourd so queyntly and couered vndir oure sophistrie That conscience shal nouȝt knowe by contricion Ne by confession · who is cristne or hethen Ne no manere Marchaunt · þat with monoie deleth Where he wynne with right with wronge or with vsure With swiche colours of and queyntise comes pride armed With the lord þat lyues after · the luste of his bodye To wasten on welfare · and on wikked kepyng Al the world in a while thurȝ oure wit quod pride Quod conscience to alle cristen tho · my conseil is to wende Hastilich in-to vnite · and holde we vs there And praye we that pees were · in piers berne þe plowman For witterly I woot wel · we ben nouȝt of strengthe To goon a-gayn pride · bot grace were with vs Than come kynde wit · conscience to teche And cried and comaunded · alle cristen pepile For to deluen and diche · depe aboute vnite That holy chirche stode in vnite · as it a pile were Conscience comaunded tho · al cristen to delue And make a muche moote · that myȝte ben a strengthe To helpe holy chirche ˜ and he þat it kepes Thanne alkynne cristne · saue comune wommen Repenteden and refuseden synne · saue thay oon And fals men flaterers · vsurers and theues Lyers and questmangers ˜ þat were forswore ofte Wittyng and wilfully · with þe fals helden And for siluer were forswore · sothly thay wist it Ther nas no cristyne creature · þat kynde wit had Saue schrewes oon · swich as I spake of That he ne halpe a quantite holynesse to wexe Som thurgh bedes byddynge · and som thurgh pilgrimage And other preue penaunce · and som thurgh penys delyng And than welled water · with wikked werkes Egrelich ernyng · out of mennes eighen~ Clennesse of the comune · and clerkes clene lyuynge Made vnite holy chirche · in holynesse to stoonde I care nouȝt quod conscience · though pride come nouthe The lord of lust shal be letted · al this lente I hoppe Comes quod conscience · ye cristene and dyneth That han laboured lely · al this lente tyme hiree is breed yblessed · and goddes body ther vndir Grace thorugh goddes word · gaf piers power Mighte to maken it · and men to ete it after In helpe of hir hele · ones in a monethe Or as ofte as thay had nede ˜ þo þat had ypaied To piers pardon the plowman · Redde quod debes How quod al the comune · thow conseillest vs to yelde Al þat we owen any wight · er we go to housel That is my counseil ˜ and cardinale vertues That Ilce man forgyue other · and þat wol the pater noster Et dimitte nobis debita nostra & cetera And so to ben assoilled · and sithen to ben houselde ye how quod a bruere · I wol nouȝt be reuled By Ihesu for youre Ianglyng · with spiritus Iusticie Ne after conscience by crist · whille I kan selle Both dregges and draf · and draw it at hole Thilke ale and thynne ale · for þat is my kynde And nouȝt hakke after holynesse · holde thy tonge conscience Of spiritus Iusticie · thow spekest an ydel Caytif quod conscience cursed wrecche vnblessed artow brewer · bot if þe god helpe But thow lyue by lore ˜ of spiritus Iusticie The chife seed þat piers sewe ˜ ysaued worstow neuere But conscience the comune fede · and cardinale vertues leue it wel thay be lost ˜ both lif and soule Than is many a man lost · quod a lewed viccorie 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 counted conscience · at a cokkes fether or an hennes I knewe neuere cardinale · þat he ne cam fro þe pope And we clerkes whan h thay come · for hir comunes payed For hir peleure and hir palfreys mete · and pilours þat hem folowed The comune clamat cotidie eche a man to other The contree is the curseder · that cardinals come Inne And ther thay ligge and lenge · most leccerie ther regnes For-thy quod the viccorie · by verray god I wolde That no cardinale come a-monge the comune pepile Bot in hire holynesse · helden hem steille At avion among the Iewes cum sancto sanctus eris & cetera Or in Rome as hir reule wol the relikes to kepe And þou conscience in kynges court · and scholdest neuere com thennes And grace that thow gredest so of guyour of alle clerkes And piers with is newe plough · and als with his olde Emperour of al þe world · that alle men were cristyne Inparfit is þe pope · þat al þe pepile scholde helpe And sendeth hem that sleeth swich · as he schulde saue And wel worth piers the plowman · þat pursuyeth god in doynge Qui pluit super Iustos & in-iustos atonesat ones And sent the sonne to saue · acorsed mannes tilthe As bright as to þe best man · and to þe best womman Right so piers þe plowman · peynes hym to tilie As wel for a wastour · and wenches of the stewes As for hym-seluen and his seruantz · saue he first seruedeC.19.428: KD.19.437 is omitted. And trauailles and tulies · for a traitour also sore As for a trewe lyuengman · alle tymes ylike And worsheped be he þat wrouȝt al · bothe goode and wikked And suffres þat synful be · til som tyme þat thay repente And god amende þe pope þat pilies haly chirche And cleymes bifore þe kyng · to be keper our cristene And countes nouȝt thouȝ cristyne · be kylled and robbed And fyndes folk to fight · and cristyne blood to spille Ayein þe olde lawe & new lawe · as luk þer-of witnesse Non occides michi vindictam & cetera It semes by so · hym fe seluen had his wille That he ne recches right nouȝt · of al þe remenaunt And crist of his curteisie the cardinales saue And torne hir wit to wisdome · and to wel of soule For the comen quod þis curatour · counten ful litel The counseil of conscience · or cardinal vertues But if thay seigh as by sight · som what to wynnynge Of gile ne of gabbyng · gif thay neuer tale For spiritus prudencie · amonge the pepile is gile And ale the faire vertues · as vices thay semed Iche mane suttelde a sleight · synne for to hud And colourd it with a konnyng · and clene lyuyng Than lough ther a lord · and by light saide I holde it right and reson · of my reue to take Al þat myn auditour or elles my stiward Counseilleth me by hir acounte ˜ and my clerkes writyng With spiritus intellectus · to seke the reues rolles And with spiritus fortitudinis fecche it I wole And than cam ther a kyng and by is crowne saide I am kynge with crowne · the comune to reule And holy chirche and clergie · fro cursed men to defende And if me lakkes to lyue by · the lawe wol I take it Ther I may hastlyest it haue · for I am hede of lawe For ye ben bot membres · and I aboue alle And sith I am youre aller hed · I am youre aller hele And holy chirche chife helpe · and chiftayn of þe comune And what I take of yow two · I take it at the techynge Of spiritus Iusticie for I Iugge yow alle So I may boldely be houseled for I borow neuere Ne craue of my comen · but as my kynde askes In condicion quod conscience · þat thow konne defende And reule thy reeme and reson · riȝt wel and in treuþe Take þow may in reson · as thy lawe askes Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum · set non ad deprecandum The viker had fer hom · and faire tok is leue And I awakned ther-with · and wroot as me mette Passus xxus et primus de do best : Thanne has I went by þe way · whan I was þusThis tag may well be wrong. I guessed at what Eric's homerolled tag meant and may have guessed wrong. REMOVE THIS NOTE. awaked heuy chere I yede · and helenge in herte I ne wiste where to ete ne at what place And it neighed nere þe none · and with nede I mette ThaC.20.5: Tha, "who." afrounted me wel foule · and faitour me called kanstow nouȝt excuse ye as dide þe kyng and other That þou took to thy bileue · to cloþes and to sustenaunce And by techyng and tellyng of spiritus temperancie And thow take namore · than nede the taughte And nede ne has no lawe · ne neuere shal falle in dette For thre thynges he takes · his lif for to saue That is mete whan men hym warnes · and he no moneie weldes Ne wiȝt non wald be his Borwe · ne wede has non to legge And he cauȝt in þat caas · and com þer-to by sleighte He synnes nouȝt sothlich · þat so wynnes his fode And thouȝ he com so to a cloth ˜ and kanne ne better che Nede anon riȝt takes hym ˜ vndir mainprise And if hym liste to lape · the lawe of kynde wolde That he dronke at eche diche · er he for thirst deyed So nede at grete nede · may nymen as for his owen With-outen conseil of conscience or cardinal vertues So that he sewe and saue · Spiritus temperancie For is no vertue by fer · to spiritus temperancie Neither spiritus Iusticie ne spiritus fortitudinis For spiritus fortitudinis forfetes ful ofteC.20.25: KD.20.26 is omitted. And bette men ouer bitter · and som of hem to litile And greue men gretter than good faith wolde And spiritus Iusticie shal Iugge wol wyl he nel he After þe kynges counseil · and the comune like And spiritus prudencie in many poynt shal faille Of that he weneth wolde falle · if his wit ne were Wenyng is no wisdome · ne wise ymagynacioun Homo proponit & deus disponit and gouerneth alle goode vertues Ac nede is next hym · for anon he meketh And as lowe as a lombe · for lakkyng of that hym nedeesC.20.35: KD.20.37 is omitted. Wise men forsook wel · for they wolde be nedy Wise men forsook wel · for thay wolde be nedy And woneden in wildernesse and wolde nouȝt be riche And god alle his grete Ioie · gostly he lefte And cam and took mankynde · and bicam nedy So nedy he was as seith the book · in many sondrie places That he saide in his sorowe · on the selue rode Both fox and foughel ˜ may flee to hole and crepe And the fisshe hath fynne it fleet with to reste Ther nede hase ynome me · that I mote nede abide And suffire sorwes ful soure · þat schul to Ioie torne For-thy be nouȝt abasshed to bidde and to be nedy Sith he þat wrouȝt al the world · was wilfullich nedy Ne neuere non so nedy ne pouerer deyede Whan nede had vndirnome me thus · anon I fel aslepe And mette ful merueilouslich · tat in mannes forme Antecrist cam thanne · and al croppe of trouthe Torned vp so down · and ouer tilte þe rote And fals sprynge and sprede · and spedde mennes nedes In ech a Court ther he cam · he kutt away treuthe And gert gile grow ther · as he a god were Freres folowed that feend · for he gaf hem copes And religiouse reuerenced hym · and ragen hir belles And al þe couent forth cam · to welcom that tiraunt And al hise as wel as hym · saue onliche fooles Wiche foles were wel leuere · to dye and than to lyuye lenger sith lenten was so rebuked And a fals feend antecrist ouer al folk regned And þat were mylde men and holy · þat no mischef dredden diffied al falnesse · and folk þat it vsed And what kyng þat hym conforted · knowyng hem any while Thay cursed and hir counseil · were it clerke or lewed Antecrist had thus sone hundrethes at his baner And pride it bare boldly aboute With a lord that lyueth · after likyng of body That cam ayein conscience · þat leper was and gwiour Ouere kynde cristyne · and cardinal vertues I counseil quod conscience tho · comes with me ye foles In-to vnite holy chirche · and holde we vs there And crie we to kynde · that he come and defende vs Foles fro thise feend lymes · for piers loue the plowman And crie we to alle the comen · þat thay come to vnite And ther abide and biker ayein beliales children kynde conscience þo herde · and cam out of the planetes And sent forth hise for forreiours · feueres and fluxes Coughes and cardiacles · crampes and toth aches Rewmes and radegoundes · and ronyouse scalles Biles and bocches · and brennyng angwes Frenesies and foule yueles · forragers of kynde had ypriked and preyed · polles of the pepile That largely a legioun · loren hir lif soone Ther was harrow and helpe · here comes kynde With deth þat is dredful · to vndon vs alle The lord þat lyued after lust · tho alowde criede After confort a knyght · to come and bere his banere Alarme alarm quod þat lord · ech lif kepe his owne And than mette thise men ˜ er mynstralles myghte pipe And er heraudes of armes · had descryued lordesC.20.93: KD.20.95-96 are omitted. kynde com after with many kene sores As pokkes and pestilences · and muche pepile schente So kynde thorugh corupciouns ˜ killed ful many deþ cam dryuynge after and al to dust passhed kynges and knghtes kaisers and popes Lered ne lewed · he leet no man stonde That he hitte euene · þat stirred neuer after Many a louely lady · and lemmannes of knyghtes Swowned and swelted · for sorwe of dethe dyntes Conscience of his curtesie · to kynde he bisoughte To se and to suffre · and see where thay wolde Leue pride priuely · and be parfit cristene And kynde cessed tho · to se the pepile amende Fortune gan flateren thanne · þo fewe þat were alyue And by-hight hem lange lif · and lechherie he sent Amonges alle manere men · wedded and vnwedded And gadderde a grette hoost · al a-gayn conscience This leccherie leide on · with a laughyng chere And with priue speche · and peynted wordes And armed hym in Idelnesse ˜ and in heigh berynge He bare a bow in bis hande · and many blody arwes Were fethered with faire bihest ˜ and many a fals treuthe With hise vntidy tales · he tened ful ofte Conscience and hise compaynye · of holy chirche the techers Thanne cam couetise · and ceste how he myghte Ouercom conscience · and cardinal vertues And armed hym in auarice · and vngreliche lyued his wepned was al wiles · to wynnen and to hiden With glosynges and gabbynges · he giled the pepile Symonye hym sente to assaille conscience And preched to the pepile · and prelates hem maden To holden with antecrist · hire temperaltees to saue And come to the kynges counseil · as a kene baroun And kneled to conscience in Court bifore hem alle And garte good faith flee · and fals to a-bide And boldlich bar adoun · with many briȝt noble Muche of the wit and wisdome of westmynster halle H Iugged til a Iustice · and iusted in his Ere And ouertilt alle his treuthe · with take þis vp amendement And to þe arches in haste · he yede anon after And torned Ciuile in-to symonye · and syth he took þe official For a mantel of Menyuere · he mad a lele Matrimonye departen or deþ cam · and diuorce shapte Allas quod conscience and cried þo · walde crist of his grace That coueitise were cristen · þat is so kene a fighter And bolde and bydyng · while hise bake lasteth And thanne lough lif · and late dagge his clothes And armed hym in haste in harlotes wordes And helde holynesse a Iape · and hendenesse a wastour And lete leaute a cherle · and lyer a freman Conscience and consel · he counted it folye Thus relied life · for a litel fortune And priked forth with pride · prayses he no vertue He careth nought howe kynde slawe · & shal come at laste And kylle alle erthely creatures · saue conscience oon Lif lep a-side · and laughte hym a lemman Hele and I quod he · and heighnesse of herte Shal do þe nouȝt · drede neither deth ne elde And to forget sorwe · and gyf nouȝt of synne This liked lif · and his lemman fortune And geten in hir glorie · a gadelyng at the laste Oon þat muche wo wroughte · slewthe was his name Sleuthe wex wonder yerne · and sone was of age And wedded oon wanhope · a wenche of the stewes Hir sire was a sisour · þat neuer swore treuthe Oon thome two tonge · atteint at eche a queste This sleuth wex war of werre · and a slynge made And threwe dred of despair · a dozeyn Mile aboute For care conscience tho · cried vp-on Elde And bad hym fonde to fighte · and afere whanhope And Elde hente good hope · and hastilich he shifte hym And wayued away wanhope ˜ and with lif he fighted And lif flee for fere · to phisik after helpe And bisouȝte hym of socour · and of his salue hadde And gaf hym gold good woon ˜ þat gladed his herte And thay gyue hym ayein a glasen howue lif leued þat lechecraft · lette shulde elde And dryue away deth · with dias and dragges And elde auntred hym on lif · and at the laste he hitte A phisicien with a furred hode · þat he felle in the palsie And ther deyed þat doctour · er thre dayes after Now I se saide lif · þat surgiens ne phisik May nouȝte a myte auaille to medele ayein Elde And in hope of his hele · good herte he hente And rode so to reuel · a riche place and a myrie The companye of court men · cleped it som tyme And Elde anoon after me · and ouer mynd hed yede And made me balled bifore · and bare on þe crowne So hard he yed ouer myn hede · it wol be seen euere Sire yuel ytauȝt Elde quod I vnhende go with the Sith whanne whas the waye ouer mennes hedes Haddestow ben hende quod I thow waldest haue asked leue ye leef lordyng quod he · and laide on me with age And hitte me vndir the ere · vnneesC.20.187: vnnees, "hardly, with difficulty." MED notes this form is"chiefly Northern." See C.4.59. may I here He buffeted me a-boute þe mouthe · and bette me on the theth And gyued me in goutes · I may nouȝt go at large And of the wo that I was Inne · my wif had reuthe And wisshed ful witterly þat I were in heuene For the lyme þat she loued me fore · and leef was to fele On nyghtes namely · whan we naked were I ne myghte in no manere · maken it at hir wille So elde and so sothly · hadden it forbeten And as I sat in this sorwe I seigh how kynd passed And deth droughe neigh me · for drede gan I quake And cried to kynde · out of care me brynge Lo Elde the hore hase me biseye A-wreke me if youre will be · for I wolde ben hennes If thow wolt be ywrokene · vende in-to vnitee And holde þe ther euer · til I sende for the And loke thow konne som craft · or thow com thennes Counsel me kynde quod I · what craft is best to lerne Lerne to loue quod kynde · and lief of al other How shal I come to catel so · to clothe me and to feede And thow loue lely quod he · lakke shal the neuere Mete ne wordly wede · while thy lif lastes And ther-by counseil of kynde · I comsed to Rome Thurgh contricion and confessioun · til I cam to vnite And ther was conscience constable · cristyne to saue And biseged sothly with seuen grete geauntes That with antecrist helden hard ayein conscience Sleuthe with hise slenge and hard assawt made Proude prestes come with hym · mo than a thousande In paltokes and piked shoes · and pissers longe knyues Comen ayeins conscience · with coueitise thay helden By marie quod a mased preest · of þe marche of Irlande I counte namore conscience · by so I cacche siluer Nota Than I do to drynke a drauȝt of good ale And so saiden sexti · of þe same contree And shoten ayein hym with shott · with many schef of othes And brode hoked arwes goddes herte and his nayles And hadden almost vnite · and holynesse adoun Conscience cried helpe clergie · or elles I falle Thurgh Inparfite prestes · and prelates of holy chirche Freres herden hym crie · and comen hym to helpe And for þei koude nouȝt wel hir craft · conscience forsoke hem Nede neighed to nere · and conscience he tolde That thay come for coueitise to haue cure of saules And for thay aren pouere per-auenture for patrimoigne hem failles Thay wol flatre to fare wel · folk þat ben riche And seyn they chosen chele · and cheitif pouerte Lat hem chewe as thay chosen · and charge hem with no cure For lomer he lyeth · þat liflod mote begge Than he thaC.20.236: tha, "who, that." laboures for liflode · and leuees it beggers And sithen freres forsoke þe felicite of herte erthe Lat hem be as beggers · or lyue by angelise fode Conscience of this conseil · tho comsed for to laughe And curteislich conforted hem · and called Inne alle freres And sayde sires sothly · welcom be ye alle To vnite and to holy chirche · and oon thyng I yow praie Holdes yow in vnite · and haues non enuye To lered ne to lewed · but lyues after youre reule And I wol be youre borwe · ye schal haue brede & clathes And other necessaries I-now · yow shal no thyng faille With þat ye leue logik · and lernees for to louye For loue last ther lordschip · boþe londe and scole Freres fraunceys and dominik for loue to ben holy And if ye coueites cure kynde wol yow teche That in mesure god made · al maner thynghes And sette it at a certein · and at siker nombire And nempned names newe · and nombred the prestes CHECK THE MS. INTENDED pOINTING HAND???*** Qui numerat multitudines stellarum & omnibus eis nomina & cetera kynges and knyghtes · þat kepen and defenden Han officers vndir hem · and ech of hem certeyn And if thay wage men to werre · þay write hem in nombire Wol no tresore hem paye · trayuaille thay neuereC.20.258: KD.20.261 is omitted. Alle other in baitalle · ben yholde briburs Pilours and pikherneyis · in ech place a-corsed Monkes and moniales · and al men of Religion Hire ordire and hir reule · wole to han a certein nombire Of lewed and of lered · the lawe wole and axeth A certein for a certein · saue onliche of Frers For-thy quod conscience by crist · kynde wit me telles It is wikked to wage yow · ye wexes oute of nombire Heuene hase euene nombre · and helle is with-oute nombire For-thy I wolde witterly · þat ye were in the Registre And youre nombire vndir noetaries20.269: The spelling nortaries is possibly intended? signes · and neither mo ne lasse Enuye hard this · and heet freres to go to scole And lerne logik and lawe · and ek contemplacioun And prech men of plato and preue it by seneca That thynges vndir heuene · aughten to ben in comune And yet he lyeth as I leue · þat to the lewed so prechees X For god made to men a lawe · and moises it taioghteta[u]ghte taughte C.20.275: An <X> in the right margin identifies the need for correction. Non concupisses rem proximi tui & cetera And yuel is this yholde in parisshes of Engelond For parsouns and pararissheparissheparish prestes · þat shuld the pepil schriue Ben curatours called · to knowe and to hele Alle þat ben hir parisshens · penaunce and enioigne And shuld be ashamed in hir shrifte · and schame makes To fleen to þe freres · as fals folk · to westmynster hem wende That borwes and beres þeder · and þanne biddes frendes yerne of forgyuenesse · or lenger yeres loone And while he is in westmynster · he wol be bifore And maken hym myry · with other mennes goodes And so it farees with muche folke · þat to þe freres shryues As sisours and executours · thay wol geue þe frers A parcell to praye for hem · and make hem-selue myrie With þe residue and þe remenaunt · þat other men biswonke And suffre þe dede in dette ˜ to the day of dome Enuye here-fore hated conscience And freres to philosophires · he fand hem to scole The while couetisse and vnkyndenesse conscience assailled In vnite holy chirche · conscience helde hym And made pees porter · to pynne þe yates Of alle tale tellers · and tutelers in ydel ypocrisie and he an hard assaute thay made ypocrisie at the yate · hard gan fighte And wounded wel wikkedly · many wise techer That wit conscience acorded and cardinal vertues Conscience called a leche · þat wel kouthe shryue To salue þo þat sike ben · thurgh synne ywounded Shrifte shope sharpe salue · And mad men do penaunce For hir myssdedes · þat they wroughte hadden And þat piers þe were payed · Redde quod debes Som liked nout this leche · and lettres they senten If any surgien were þe segge · þat softer kouthe plaster Sire leef to lyue in leccherie · lay ther and groned For fastyng of a friday · he ferde as he wolde deye Ther is a surgien in this sege · þat softe kan handile And more of phisik by fer · and fairer he plastreth Oon frere flaterer is phisicien and surgien Quod contricion to conscience · do hym com to vnite For hire is many a man · hurte thurgh ypocrisie We han no nede quod conscience · I woot no better leche Than parson or parissh preste · penitauncer or bisshope Saue piers the plowman · þat hase power ouer hem alle And Indulgence may do · bot if dette lette it I may wel suffre saide conscience sith ye desiren That frere flaterer be fette · and phisik yow sike The frere here-of herde · and hyed faste To a lord for a letter · leue to haue curen And as a Curatour he were · and cam with lis letters Boldely to þe bissohop · and hise brief hadde In contrees ther he cam Inne · confessiouns to here And cam ther conscience was and knokked at the yate Pees vnpynned it was porter of vnitee And in haste asked · what his wille were In faith quod this frere · for profit and for helthe Carpe I wolde with contricion · and ther-fore cam I hider He is sike saide pees · and so er many other ypocrisie hase hurte hem · ful hard is if þey keuere I am a surgien saide þe segge · and salues kan make Conscience knawes me wel · and what I kan do bothe I praye þe quod pees þo · er þou passe ferther What hattestowe I pray ye · hele nouȝt thy name Certes saide he felawe · Sire penetrans domos ye go thy gate quod piers · by god for al thy phisik Bot thow konne som craft · thow comest nouȝt ther-Inne I knew swich oon ones · nouȝt eighte wynter passed Come Inne thus Icoped · at a Court ther I dwelte And was my ladyes leche · and my lordes bothe. And at the last this limitour · tho my lord was oute He salued so oure wommen · til some were with childe Hende speche heet pees ˜ open the yates Lat Inne the frere and his felawe · and make hem faire chere He may see and here · so it may bifalle That lif thurgh his lore · schal leue coueitise And be adrad of deth · and with-drawe hym fram pride And acorde with conscience · and kisse hir either other Thus thurgh hende speche · entred þe frere And cam in-to conscience ˜ and curteisliclichcurteislich curteisly hym grete Thow art welcome quod conscience kanstow hele the sike Here is contricion quod conscience · my cosyn ywounded Confort hym quod conscience and take kepe to hise sores The plastres of þe parsone · and pouders bitten to sore He leet hym ligge ouerlonge · and loth is to chaunge hem Fro lenten to lenten · he lat hise plastres bite This is ouer-longe quod this limitour I leue I shal amende it And goos and gropes contricion · an gaf hym a plastre Of a priue paiement · and I shal pray for yow And for alle þat ye be holde to · al my lif tyme And make yow my lady in masse and in matynes As freres of oure fraternite · for a litel siluer Thus he goos and gadderes · and gloses ther he shryues Til contricion had clene forgeten · to crie and to wepe And awake for his wikked werkes · as he was wont to done For comfort of his confessour · contricion he lafte That is þe souereignest salue · for alkynne synnes Sleuthe see þat and so dide pride And cam with a kene wille conscience to assaille Conscience cried efte · and badde clergie helpe And also contricion · for to kepe the yate he lith and dremees saide pees · and so do many other The frere with his phisik · this folk has enchaunted And plastred hem so esily · the drede no synne Bi crist quod conscience tho I wil bicome a pilgryme And walken as wide · as al the world lasteth To seek piers þe plowman · þat pride may distroye And þat freres had a fyndyng · þat for nede flateren And conterpledes me conscience · now kynde me a-venge And sende me happe and hele · til I haue piers the plowman And sith he gradde after grace · til I gane awake Explicit hic dialagus Petri plowman :