The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 4: Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Laud Misc. 581 (S. C. 987) (L)William LanglandEdited by Hoyt N. Duggan and Ralph HannaAssociate Editors: Patricia R. Bart, M. Gail Duggan and Catherine A. FarleyTechnical Editors: Daniel V. Pitti and Jonathan Rodney Graduate Research Assistants Heather Blatt, Michael Blum, John Ivor Carlson, Nancy Renwick Clendenon, Carri Cregar, Paul Fyfe, Paul Gaffney, Matthew Gibson, Bethany Mabee, Stephen C. Martin, Chloe Smith, Timothy L. Stinson, and Keicy Tolbert. Computer Consultants and ProgrammersShayne Brandon, Nathaniel Garson, Matthew S. Gibson, Kirk V. Hastings, Janice McCoy, Susan Munson, David Seaman, and John Unsworth.Published for the Medieval Academy of America and The Society for Early English and Norse Electronic Texts (SEENET) by Boydell and Brewer Ltd. Cambridge ISBN: 184384026X

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2004

SEENET A.6

Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Laud misc. 581 (S. C. 987)

late 14th or early 15th century Source copy consulted: Oxford, Bodleian Library, MS Laud misc. 581 (S. C. 987)

Attribute Valuesbrown inkanglicana bastardaitalicLombard Capornamented capital, N lines highrubricatedtouched in redtexturaunderlinedunderlined in redgreen inkblue ink

LatinFrenchGerman2003 Editor Hoyt N. Duggan New header created and structure reorganized. Incipit liber de Petro Plowman InL.P.1: The twelve-line ornamental capital is written in blue on an elaborately flourished red ground with oak leaves. The flourishes run all the way down the left side of the page forming a demivinet. a somer seson  whan soft was the sonne

L.P.1: The old Laudian shelf mark E.64 is written in the right margin.

This front leaf is badly rubbed, and we have had in some instances to corroborate our guesses about the reading with Skeat's transcription. For instance, at the top of the leaf, on the very edge of the cropped leaf, Skeat found the following words in red ink: Incipit liber de Petro Plowman. Skeat records that the rubrication was readable in strong sunlight when he worked with the manuscript. However, it is no longer legible, even under ultra-violet light. We can make out Pe... Plow.an. Beneath that is written in a late sixteenth-century hand .... Robart Langeland borne by malbovrne (or perhaps malbourne?) . . lles.

The first ten lines are boxed with a fine red line.

 I shope me in shroudes  as i a shepe were In habite as an heremite  vnholy of workes Went wyde in þis world wondres to hereL.P.3-4: Some penmarks in a brown ink are written over these lines. The <v> of vnholy is partially obscured, and there appears to be no punctus elevatus on line 4. Ac on a May mornyng  on Maluerne hulles Me byfel a ferly  of fairy me thouȝte I was wery forwandred · and went me to reste Vnder a brode banke  bi a bornes side And as I lay and lened  and loked in þe wateres I slombred in a slepyng  it sweyued so merye Thanne gan I to meten  a merueilouse sweuene That I was in a wildernesse  wist I neuer where As I bihelde in-to þe est  an hiegh to þe sonne I seigh a toure on a toft  trielich ymaked A depe dale binethe  a dongeon þere-Inne With depe dyches & derke  and dredful of sight A faire felde ful of folke  fonde I there bytwene Of alle maner of men  þe mene and þe riche Worchyng and wandryng  as þe worlde asketh Some put hem to þe plow  pleyed ful selde In settyng and in sowyng  swonken ful harde And wonnen that wastours  with glotonye destruyeth And some putten hem to pruyde  apparailed hem þere-after In contenaunce of clothyng comen disgised In prayers and in penance  putten hem manye Al for loue of owre lorde · lyueden ful streyte In hope forto haue · heueneriche blisse As ancres and heremites · that holden hem in here sellesL.P.28: An illegible erasure appears in the right margin. And coueiten nought in contre to kairen aboute For no likerous liflode · her lykam to plese And somme chosen chaffare · they cheuen the bettere As it semeth to owre syȝt · that suche men thryueth And somme murthes to make · as mynstralles conneth And geten gold with here glee · synneles I leue Ac iapers & iangelers · Iudas chylderen Feynen hem fantasies · and foles hem maketh And han here witte at wille · to worche ȝif þei sholde That Poule precheth of hem · I nel nought preue it here Qui turpiloquium loquitur · &cL.P.39: LCCr1HM omit the b-verse, which reads is luciferes hyne. Bidders and beggeres · fast aboute ȝedeL.P.40: The Laud librarian has added in the bottom margin the following inscription: Liber Guilielmi Laud Archiepiscopi Cantuarij : et Cancellarij Vniuersitatis Oxoniensis 1633. With her bely and her bagge · of bred ful ycrammed Fayteden for here fode · fouȝten atte ale In glotonye god it wote · gon hij to bedde And risen with ribaudye · tho roberdes knaues Slepe and sori sleuthe · seweth hem eure Pilgrymes and palmers · pliȝted hem togidere To seke seynt Iames · and seyntes in rome Thei went forth in here wey · with many wise tales And hadden leue to lye · al here lyf after I seigh somme that seiden · þei had ysouȝt seyntes To eche a tale þat þei tolde · here tonge was tempred to lye More þan to sey soth · it semed bi here speche Heremites on an heep · with hoked staues Wenten to walsyngham · and here wenches after Grete lobyes and longe · that loth were to swynke Clotheden hem in copis · to ben knowen fram othere And shopen hem heremites · here ese to haue I fonde þere Freris alle þe foure ordres Preched þe peple · for profit of hem-seluen Glosed þe gospel · as hem good lyked For coueitise of copis · construed it as þei wolde Many of þis maistres Freris mowe clothen hem at lykyng For here money and marchandise · marchen togideres For sith charite haþ be chapman · and chief to shryue lordes Many ferlis han fallen · in a fewe ȝeris But holychirche and hij · holde better togideres + The moste mychiefmy[s]chiefL.P.67: A <+> appears in the left margin at the head of this line, marking erroneous mychief. The correction was not made. The scribe also wrote mychief at L.3.178, but he corrected it there. on molde · is mountyng wel faste Þere preched a Pardonere · as he a prest were Brouȝte forth a bulle · with bishopes seles And seide þat hym-self myȝte · assoilen hem alle Of falshed of fastyng · of vowes ybroken Lewed men leued hym wel · and lyked his wordes Comen vp knelyng · to kissen his bulles He bonched hem with his breuet · & blered here eyes And rauȝte with his ragman · rynges and broches Thus þey geuen here golde · glotones to kepe And lenethL.P.77: The reading could as well be leueth. such loseles · þat lecherye haunten Were þe bischop yblissed · and worth bothe his eres His seel shulde nouȝt be sent · to deceyue þe peple Ac it is nauȝt by þe bischop · þat þe boy precheth For the parisch prest and þe pardonere · parten þe siluer That þe poraille of þe parisch · sholde haue ȝif þei nere Persones and parisch prestes · pleyned hem to þe bischop · Þat here parisshes were pore · sith þe pestilence tyme To haue a lycence and a leue · at London to dwelle And syngen þere for symonye · for siluer is swete Bischopes and bachelers · bothe maistres and doctours Þat han cure vnder criste · and crounyng in tokne And signe þat þei sholden · shryuen here paroschienes Prechen and prey for hem · and þe pore fede Liggen in London · in lenten an elles Somme seruen þe kyng · and his siluer tellen In cheker and in chancerye · chalengen his dettes Of wardes and wardmotes · weyues and streyues And some seruen as seruantz · lordes and ladyes And in stede of stuwardes · sytten and demen Here messe and here matynes · and many of here oures Arn don vndeuoutlych · drede is at þe laste Lest crist in constorie · acorse ful manye I parceyued of þe power · þat Peter had to kepe To bynde and to vnbynde · as þe boke telleth How he it left wiþ loue · as owre lorde hight Amonges foure vertues · þe best of alle vertues Þat cardinales ben called · & closyng ȝatis Þere crist is in kyngdome · to close and to shutte And to opne it to hem · and heuene blisse shewe Ac of þe cardinales atte Courte · þat cauȝt of þat name And power presumed in hem · a Pope to make To han þat power þat peter hadde · inpugnen I nelle For in loue and letterure · þe eleccioun bilongeth For-þi I can and can nauȝte · of courte speke more Þanne come þere a kyng · knyȝthod hym ladde Miȝt of þe comunes · made hym to regne And þanne cam kynde wytte · and clerkes he made For to conseille þe kyng · and þe comune saue The kyng and knyȝthode · and clergye bothe Casten þat þe comune shulde hem-self fynde Þe comune contreued · of kynde witte craftes And for profit of alle þe poeple · plowmen ordeygned To tilie and trauaile · as trewe lyf askeþ Þe kynge and þe comune · and kynde witte þe thridde Shope lawe & lewte · eche man to knowe his owne Þanne loked vp a lunatik · a lene þing with-alle And knelyng to þe kyng · clergealy he seyde Crist kepe þe sire kyng · and þi kyngriche And lene þe lede þi londe · so leute þe louye And for þi riȝtful rewlyng · be rewarded in heuene And sithen in þe eyre an hiegh · an angel of heuene Lowed to speke in latyn · for lewed men ne coude . Iangle ne iugge · þat iustifie hem shulde But suffren & seruen · for-thi seyde þe angel Sum Rex sum Princeps · neutrum fortasse deinceps O qui iura regis · cristi specialia regis Hoc quod agas melius · iustus es esto pius Nudum ius a te · vestiri vult pietate Qualia vis metere · talia grana sere Si ius nudatur · nudo de iure metatur · Si seritur pietas · de pietate metas · X L.P.139: A very light <X> appears in the left margin. Thanne greued hym a Goliardeys · a glotoun of wordes And to þe angel an heiȝ · answeresL.P.140: LR alone read answeres; all other B manuscripts have a preterite form here. after Dum rex a regere · dicatur nomen habere Nomen habet sine re · nisi studet iura tenere · And þanne gan alle þe comune · crye in vers of latin To þe kynges conseille · construe ho-so wolde Precepta Regis · sunt nobis vincula legis · Nota Wiþ þat ran þere a route of ratones at ones And smale mys with hem mo þen a þousande And comen to a conseille · for here comune profit For a cat of a courte · cam whan hym lyked And ouerlepe hem lyȝtlich · and lauȝte hem at his wille And pleyde wiþ hem perilouslych · and possed aboute For doute of dyuerse dredes · we dar nouȝte wel loke And ȝif we grucche of his gamen · he wil greue vs alle Cracche vs or clowe vs · and in his cloches holde That vs lotheth þe lyf · or he lete vs passe Myȝte we wiþ any witte · his wille withstonde We myȝte be lordes aloft · and lyuen at owre ese A raton of renon most renable of tonge Seide for a souereygne · help to hym-selue I haue ysein segges quod he · in þe cite of london Beren biȝes ful briȝte · abouten here nekkes And someL.P.162: The correction here--the supralinear addition of some--is probably entered by the original scribe. colers of crafty werk vncoupled þei wenden + L.P.163: The corrector's <+> appears in the left margin, probably intended to note the error in the preceding line. Boþe in wareine & in waste · where hem leue lyketh And otherwhile þei aren elles-where · as I here telle Were þere a belle on here beiȝ · bi Ihesu as me thynketh Men myȝte wite where þei went · and awei renne L.P.167: An illegible mark appears in the left margin. And riȝt so quod þat ratoun · reson me sheweth To bugge a belle of brasse · or of briȝte syluer And knitten on a colere · for owre comune profit And hangen it vp-on þe cattes hals · þanne here we mowen Where he ritt or rest · or renneth to playe And ȝif him list for to laike · þenne loke we mowen And peren in his presence · þer-while hym plaie liketh And ȝif him wrattheth be ywar · and his weye shonye Alle þis route of ratones · to þis reson þei assented Ac þo þe belle was ybouȝt · and on þe beiȝe hanged Þere ne was ratoun in alle þe route · for alle þe rewme of Fraunce Þat dorst haue ybounden þe belle · aboute þe cattis nekke Ne hangen aboute þe cattes hals · al Engelonde to wynne And helden hem vnhardy · and here conseille feble And leten here laboure lost · & alle here longe studye A mous þat moche good · couthe as me thouȝte Stroke forth sternly · and stode biforn hem alle And to þe route of ratones · reherced þese wordes Thouȝ we culled þe catte · ȝut sholde þer come an-other To cracchy vs and al owre kynde · þouȝ we croupeL.P.186: LMR alone read cro(u)pe; most other B manuscripts have cropen or crepe. vnder benches For-þi I conseille alle þe comune · to lat þe catte worthe And be we neuer so bolde · þe belle hym to shewe For I herde my sire seyn · is seuene ȝere ypassed Þere þe catte is a kitoun · þe courte is ful elyng Þat witnisseth holiwrite · who-so wil it rede Ve terre vbi puer rex est &cL.P.192: A scribe has written a pointing hand in the left margin and drawn a line over and under the Latin text. For may no renke þere rest haue · for ratones bi nyȝte Þe while he caccheþ conynges · he coueiteth nouȝt owre caroyne But fet hym al with venesoun · defame we hym neuere For better is a litel losse · þan a longe sorwe Þe mase amonge vs alle · þouȝ we mysse a schrewe For many mannusL.P.198: This abbreviation occurs only once in the manuscript as a marker for the genitive singular. See III.3.2.2 in the Linguistic Description above. malt · we mys wolde destruye And also ȝe route of ratones · rende mennes clothes Nere þat cat of þat courte · þat can ȝow ouerlepe For had ȝe rattes ȝowre wille · ȝe couthe nouȝt reule ȝowre-selue I sey for me quod þe mous · I se so mykel after Shal neuer þe cat ne þe kitoun · bi my conseille be greued Ne carpyng of þis coler · þat costed me neure And þouȝ it had coste me catel · biknowen it I nolde But suffre as hym-self wolde · to do as hym liketh Coupled & vncoupled · to cacche what thei mowe For-þi vche a wise wiȝte I warne · wite wel his owne What þis meteles biemeneth · ȝe men þat be merye Deuine ȝe for I ne dar · bi dere god in heuene Ȝit houed þere an hondreth · in houues of selke Seriauntz it semed · þat serueden atte barre Plededen for penyes · and poundes þe lawe And nouȝt for loue of owre lorde · vnleseL.P.214: LR alone read vnlese; most other B manuscripts have vnlose. here lippes onis Þow myȝtest better mete þe myste · on maluerne hulles Þan gete a momme of here mouthe · but monoy were shewed Barones an burgeis · and bonde-men als I seiȝ in þis assemble · as ȝe shul here after Baxsteres & brewesteres · and bocheres manye WollewebsteresL.P.220: L alone reads wollewebsteres as one word, though alpha has wolle websteres. All other B manuscripts have wollen webbesters. · and weueres of lynnen Taillours and tynkeres · & tolleres in marketes Masons and mynours · and many other craftes Of alkin libbyng laboreres · lopen forth somme As dykers & delueres · þat doth here dedes ille And dryuen forth þe dereL.P.225: L alone among B witnesses reads dere. Most other manuscripts read longe. day · with dieu vous saue dame Emme · Cokes and here knaues · crieden hote pies hote Gode gris aL.P.227: a, "and." L alone reads a. All other manuscripts of B have and. gees · gowego we dyne gowego we Tauerners vn-til hem · tolde þe same White wyn of Oseye · and red wyn of Gascoigne Of þe Ryne and of þe Rochel · þe roste to defye Al þis seiȝ I slepyng · and seuene sythes more Passus Primus de Visione...?...?...Passus primus de visioneL.P.000: The passus heading is written over an erasure. WhatL.1.1: The five-line ornamental capital is in blue on red fill. this montaigne bymeneth · and þe merke dale And þe felde ful of folke · I shal ȝow faire schewe A loueli ladi of lere · in lynnen yclothed + Come down fram a castel · andL.1.4: The corrector marked an for correction with a <+> in the right margin. It has been partially erased. called me faire And seide sone slepestow · sestow þis poeple How bisi þei ben · abouten þe mase Þe moste partie of þis poeple · þat passeth on þis erthe Haue þei worschip in þis worlde · þei wilne no better Of other heuene þan here · holde þei no tale I was aferd of her face · þeiȝ she faire were And seide mercy Madame · what is þis to mene Þe toure vp þe toft quod she · treuthe is þere-Inne And wolde þat ȝe wrouȝte · as his worde techeth For he is fader of feith · fourmed ȝow alle Bothe with fel and with face · and ȝaf ȝow fyue wittis Forto worschip hym þer-with · þe while þat ȝe ben here And þerfore he hyȝte þe erthe · to help ȝow vchone Of wollen of lynnen · of lyflode at nede In mesurable manere · to make ȝow at ese And comaunded of his curteisye in comune þree þinges Arne none nedful but þo · and nempne hem I thinke the iij þinges requisite And rekne hem bi resoun · reherce þow hem after That one is vesture · from chele þe to saue And mete atteL.1.24: LCMR alone read atte or at þe. Other B manuscripts omit þe. mele · for myseise of þi-selue And drynke whan þow dryest · ac do nouȝt out of resoun That þow worth þe werse · whan þow worche shuldest For loth in his lifdayes · for likyng of drynke Dede bi his douȝtres · þat þe deuel lyked Delited hym in drynke · as þe deuel wolde And lecherye hym lauȝt · and lay bi hem boþe And al he witt it wyn · þat wikked dede Inebriamus eum vino · dormiamus-que cum eo Vt seruare possimus de patre nostro semen · wyne and wemen Thorw wyn and þorw · women · þere was loth acombredL.1.34: A hand of s. xvi med. has written in the right margin wyne and wemen. And þere gat in glotonye · gerlis þat were cherlis For-þi drede delitable drynke · and þow shalt do þe bettere mesure ys medicyne Mesure is medcyne · þouȝ þow moche ȝerneL.1.37: A hand of s. xvi med. has written in the right margin mesure ys medicyne. It is nauȝt al gode to þe goste · þat þe gutte axeþ Ne liflode to þi likam · for a lyer him techethL.1.39: LCHmW alone divide the line as here; most other B manuscripts read as follows: Ne liflode to þi likame þat leef is to þi soule Lef nauȝt þi likame for a liere hym techeþ. That is þe wrecched worlde · wolde þe bitraye For þe fende and þi flesch · folweth þe to-gidere This and þat seest þi soule · and seith it in þin herte And for þow sholdest ben ywar · I wisse þe þe beste Madame mercy quod I · me liketh wel ȝowre wordes Ac þe moneye of þis molde · þat men so faste holdeth Telle me to whom Madame · þat tresore appendeth Go to þe gospel quod she · þat god seide hym-seluen Tho þe poeple hym apposed · wiþ a peny in þe temple Whether þei shulde þer-with · worschip þe kyng Sesar And god axed of hem · of whome spake þe lettre And þe ymage ilyke þat þere-inne stondeth Cesaris þei seide we sen hym wel vchone Reddite cesari quod god · þat ces.ari bifalleth Et que sunt dei deo · or elles ȝe done ille For riȝtful reson · shulde rewle ȝow alle And kynde witte be wardeyne · ȝowre welthe to kepe And tutour of ȝoure tresore · and take it ȝow at nede For housbonderye & hij · holden togideres Þanne I frained hir faire · for hym þat hir made That dongeoun in þe dale þat dredful is of siȝte What may it be to mene · ma-dame I ȝow biseche the meninge of the Dongeon L.1.62: A hand of the s. xvi med. has written the meninge of the Dongeon in the left margin. Þat is þe castel of care · who-so cometh þerinne May banne þat he borne was · to body or to soule Þerinne wonieth a wiȝte · þat wronge is yhote Fader of falshed · and founded it hym-selue Adam and Eue · he egged to ille Conseilled caym · to kullen his brother tempted Iudas he iaped · with iuwen siluerL.1.68: A hand of the s. xvi med. has written in the right margin tempted as a gloss on iaped. The same hand is responsible for the underlining. And sithen on an eller honged hym after He is letter of loue · and lyeth hem alle That trusten on his tresor · bitrayeth he sonnest Thanne had I wonder in my witt · what womman it were Þat such wise wordes · of holywrit shewed And asked hir on þe hieȝe name · ar heoL.1.74: LMR alone retain original heo, meaning "she"; all other manuscripts have a form of she. þennes ȝeode What she were witterli · þat wissed me so faire Holicherche I am quod she · þow ouȝtest me to knowe I vnderfonge þe firste · and þe feyth tauȝte And brouȝtest me borwes · my biddyng to fulfille And to loue me lelly · þe while þi lyf dureth Thanne I courbed on my knees · and cryed hir of grace And preyed hir pitousely · prey for my synnes + And also kendeken[n]eL.1.82: A corrector marked the line with a <+> in the left margin, but the correction of kende to ken[n]e was not made. me kyndeli · on criste to bileue That I miȝte worchen his wille · þat wrouȝte me to man Teche me to no tresore · but telle me þis ilke How I may saue my soule · þat seynt art yholden Whan alle tresores aren tried quod she · trewthe is þe best I do it on deus caritas · to deme þe soþe It is as derworth a drewery · as dere god hym-seluen Who-so is trewe of his tonge · & telleth none other And doth þe werkis þer-with · and wilneth no man ille He is a god bi þe gospel · agrounde and aloft And ylike to owre lorde · bi seynte lukes wordes Þe clerkes þat knoweþ þis · shulde kenne it aboute For cristene and vncristne · clameþ it vchone Kynges & kniȝtes · shulde kepe it bi resoun Riden and rappe down · in reumes aboute And taken trangressorestran[s]gressores · and tyen hem faste Til treuthe had ytermyned · her trespas to þe ende And þat is þe professioun appertly · þat appendeth forL.1.99: LCR alone read for; all other B manuscripts have to. knyȝtes And nouȝt to fasten a fryday · in fyue score wynter But holden wiþ him & with hir · þat wolden al treuthe And neuer leue hem for loue · ne for lacchyng of syluer For dauid in his dayes · dubbed kniȝtes And did hem swere on here swerde · to serue trewthe euere apostata And who-so passed þat poynte · was apostata in þe ordreL.1.105: A later hand (s. xvi) has written apostata in the right margin. But criste kingene kynge · kniȝted ten Cherubyn and seraphin · suche seuene and an othre And ȝaf hem myȝte in his maieste · þe murger hem þouȝte And ouer his mene meyne · made hem archangeles Tauȝte hem bi þe Trinitee · treuthe to knowe obedient To be buxome at his biddyng · he bad hem nouȝte ellesL.1.111: A s. xvi hand has underlined buxome and glossed it in the right margin as obedient. Lucifer wiþ legiounes · lerned it in heuene But for he brake buxumnesse · his blisse gan he tyne And fel fro þat felawship · in a fendes liknes In-to a depe derke helle · to dwelle þere for eure And mo þowsandes wiþ him · þan man couthe noumbre Lopen out wiþ Lucifer · in lothelich forme For þei leueden vpon hym · þat lyed in þis manere Ponam pedem in aquilone · et similis ero altissimo · And alle þat hoped it miȝte be so · none heuene miȝte hem holde But fellen out in fendes liknesse · nyne dayes togideres Til god of his goodnesse · gan stable and stynte And garte þe heuene to stekye · and stonden in quiete Whan thise wikked went out · wonderwise þei fellen Somme in eyre somme in erthe · & somme in helle depe Ac lucifer lowest lith of hem alle · For pryde þat he pultL.1.127: The west midlands form pult appears only in Cr and L, but R has the same word spelled pelt. MED, s.v. pilten v.3.(b) glosses the phrase pult out as "exhibit (pride), display." Note that LR read pulte/pelte against most other B witnesses in L.8.97 and L.15.67. In the latter, pulte out means "thrust out, expelled." out · his peyne hath none ende And alle þat worche with wronge · wenden hij shulle After her deth-day · and dwelle wiþ þat shrewe Ac þo þat worche wel · as holiwritt telleth + And enden as I ere seide · in treuthe þat is þe bestL.1.131: The <e> of best is possibly altered from <i> in response to the corrector's marginal <+>. Mowe be siker þat her soule · shal wende to heuene Þer treuthe is in Trinitee · and troneth hem alle For-þi I sey as I seide ere · bi siȝte of þise textis Whan alle tresores arne ytried · treuthe is þe beste Lereth it þis lewde men · for lettred men it knowen Þat treuthe is tresore · þe triest on erþe Ȝet haue I no kynde knowing quod I · ȝet mote ȝe kenne me better By what craft in my corps · it comseth and where Þow doted daffe quod she · dulle arne þi wittes To litel latyn þow lernedest · lede in þi ȝouthe Heu michi quia sterilem duxi vitam iuuenilem diliges dominum super omnia It is a kynde knowyng quod heL.1.143: LCCrM (M before alteration) read he, meaning "she"; all other B manuscripts have a form of she. · þat kenneth in þine herteL.1.143: A s. xvi scribe has written diliges dominum super omnia in the left margin. For to louye þi lorde · leuer þan þi-selue No dedly synne to do · dey þouȝ þow sholdest This I trowe be treuthe · who can teche þe better Loke þow suffre hym to sey · and sithen lere it after For thus witnesseth his worde · worchethL.1.148: L uniquely has the -eth inflection for the imperative plural here. þow þere-after For trewthe telleþ þat loue · is triacle of heuene May no synne be on him sene · þat vseth þat spise And alle his werkes he wrouȝte · with loue as him liste And lered it Moises for þe leuest þing and moste like to heuene And also þe plente of pees · moste precious of vertues For heuene myȝte nouȝte holden it · it was so heuy of hym-self Tyl it hadde of þe erthe · yetenL.1.155: LG alone read yeten. Other manuscripts have variously eten (C2HmMOWY), yoten (Cr), yheten al (F), and heten (C). his fylle And whan it haued of þis folde flessh & blode taken Was neuere leef vpon lynde · liȝter þer-after And portatyf and persant · as þe poynt of a nedle That myȝte non armure it lette · ne none heiȝ walles For-þi is loue leder of þe lordes folke of heuene And a mene as þe Maire is · bitwene þe kyng and þe comune Riȝt so is loue a ledere · and þe lawe shapeth Vpon man for his mysdedes · þe merciment he taxeth And for to knowe it kyndely · it comseth bi myght And in þe herte þere is þe heuede · and þe heiȝ welle For in kynde knowynge in herte · þere a myȝte bigynneth And þat falleth to þe fader · þat formed vs alle Loked on vs with loue · and lete his sone deye Mekely for owre mysdedes · to amende vs alle And ȝet wolde he hem no woo · þat wrouȝte hym þat peyne But mekelich with mouthe · mercy he bisouȝte christ iesus To haue pite of þat poeple · þat peyned hym to deth Here myȝtow see ensamples · in hym-selue one That he was miȝtful & meke · and mercy gan graunte To hem þat heongen him an heiȝ · and his herte þirled For-thi I rede ȝow riche · haueth reuthe of þe pouere Thouȝ ȝe be myȝtful to mote · beth meke in ȝowre werkes in qua mensura metioritis For þe same mesures þat ȝe mete · amys other ellesL.1.178: A s. xvi hand has written in qua mensura metioritis in the right margin over a bracket written by the earlier scribe we have called "hand16b." Ȝe shullen ben weyen þer-wyth · whan ȝe wende hennes Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis · remecietur vobis · For þouȝ ȝe be trewe of ȝowre tonge · and trewliche wynne + And asL.1.182: A partially erased <+> appears in the left margin, reflecting the scribe's correction of a to as. The same error was marked and corrected in L.4.138. chaste as a childe · þat in cherche wepeth But if ȝe louen lelliche · and lene þe poure Such goed as god ȝow sent godelich parteth Ȝe ne haue na more meryte · in masse ne in houres Þan Malkyn of hire maydenhode · þat no man desireth Iacobus For Iames þe gentil · iugged in his bokesL.1.187: A s. xvi hand has written Iacobus in the right margin. That faith with-oute þe faite · is riȝte no-þinge worthi And as ded as a dore-tre · but ȝif þe dedes folwe Fides sine operibus mortua est &c nihill prodest castitas sine charitate. For-thi chastite with-oute charite · worth cheyned in helleL.1.191: A s. xvi hand has written in the right margin nihill prodest castitas sine charitate. It is as lewed as a laumpe · þat no liȝte is Inne Many chapeleynes arne chaste · ac charite is awey Aren no men auarousere þan hij · whan þei ben auaunced Vnkynde to her kyn · and to alle cristene Chewen here charite · and chiden after more Such chastite wiþ-outen charite · worth cheyned in helle Many curatoures kepen hem · clene of here bodies Thei ben acombred wiþ coueitise · þei konne nouȝt don it fram hem So harde hath auarice · yhasped hem togideres And þat is no treuthe of þe trinite · but treccherye of helle And lernyng to lewde men · þe latter for to dele For-þi þis wordes ben · wryten in þe gospel Date & dabitur vobis · for I dele ȝow alle And þat is þe lokke of loue · and lateth oute my grace To conforte þe careful · acombred wiþ synne Loue is leche of lyf · and nexte owre lorde selue And also þe graith gate · þat goth in-to heuene For-þi I sey as I seide · ere by þe textis Whan alle tresores ben ytryed · treuthe is þe beste Now haue I tolde þe what treuthe is · þat no tresore is bettere I may no lenger lenge þe with · now loke þe owre lorde passus secundus de visione vt supra.Passus secundus de visione vt supra ȜetL.2.1: The six-line ornamental Lombard capital is written in blue with red flourishings and two marginal leaf sprays. I courbed on my knees · and cryed hir of grace And seide mercy Madame · for Marie loue of heuene That bar þat blisful barne · þat bouȝte vs on þe Rode Kenne me bi somme crafte · to knowe þe fals Loke vppon þi left half · and lo where he standeth Bothe fals and fauel · and here feres manye I loked on my left half · as þe lady me taughte And was war of a womman · wortheli yclothed Purfiled with pelure · þe fynest vpon erthe Ycrounede with a corone · þe kyng hath non better Fetislich hir fyngres · were fretted with golde wyre And þere-on red rubyes · as red as any glede And diamantz of derrest pris · and double manere safferes Orientales and ewages · enuenymes to destroye Hire robe was ful riche · of red scarlet engreyned With ribanes of red golde · and of riche stones Hire arraye me rauysshed · suche ricchesse saw I neuere I had wondre what she was · and whas wyf she were What is þis womman · quod I so worthily atired That is Mede þe Mayde quod she · hath noyed me ful oft And ylakked my lemman · þat lewte is hoten And bilowen hire to lordes · þat lawes han to kepe In þe popis paleys · she is pryue as my-self But sothenesse wolde nouȝt so · for she is a bastarde For fals was hire fader · þat hath a fykel tonge And neuere sothe seide · sithen he come to erthe And Mede is manered after hym · riȝte as kynde axeth Qualis pater talis filius · bonusL.2.28: WLM alone read bonus, although F has Iterum bonus. The remaining B witnesses read bona. arbor · bonum fructum facit I auȝte ben herre þan she · I cam of a better Mi fader þe grete god is · and grounde of alle graces O god with-oute gynnynge · & I his gode douȝter And hath ȝoue me mercy · to marye with my-self And what man be merciful · and lelly me loue Shal be my lorde and I his leef · in þe heiȝe heuene And what man taketh Mede · myne hed dar I legge That he shal lese for hir loue · a lappe of caritatis how construeth dauid þe kynge · of men þat taketh Mede And men of þis molde · þat meynteneth treuthe + And how ȝe shal saue ȝow-self · þeL.2.39: The original scribe inserted the <e> of þe after initial copying, no doubt in response to the corrector's <+> in the right margin, which has since been partially erased. Sauter bereth witnesseL.2.39: A blurred red line under the final <e> of witnesse and a blue dot at the end of the line are offset from the initial on the facing leaf. Domine quis habitabit in tabernaclotabernac[u]lo tuo &c And now worth þis Mede ymaried · al to a mansed schrewe To one fals fikel tonge · a fendes biȝete Fauel þorw his faire speche · hath þis folke enchaunted And al is lyeres ledyng · þat she is þus ywedded To-morwe worth ymade · þe maydenes bruydale And þere miȝte þow wite · if þow wolt · which þei ben alle That longeth to þat lordeship · þe lasse and þe more Knowe hem þere if þow canst · and kepe þiL.2.48: LCR alone have þi. Most other B manuscripts have þow þi or wel þi. tonge And lakke hem nouȝt · but lat hem worth · til lewte be iustice And haue powere to punyschen hem · þanne put forth þi resoun Now I bikenne þe criste quod she · and his clene moder And lat no conscience acombre þe · for coueitise of Mede Thus left me þat lady · liggyng aslepe And how Mede was ymaried · in meteles me þouȝte Þat alle þe riche retenauns · þat regneth with þe false Were boden to þe bridale · on bothe two sydes Of alle maner of men · þe mene and þe riche To marie þis maydene · was many man assembled As of kniȝtes and of clerkis · and other comune poeple As sysours and sompnours · Shireues and here clerkes Bedelles and Bailliues · and brokoures of chaffre Forgoeres and vitaillers · and vokates of þe arches I can nouȝt rekene þe route · þat ran aboute mede Ac symonye and cyuile · and sisoures of courtes Were moste pryue with Mede · of any men me þouȝte Ac fauel was þe first · þat fette hire out of boure And as a brokour brouȝte hir to be with fals enioigned Whan symonye and cyuile · seiȝ here beireL.2.68: LC alone have beire, the genitive form of bo, "both"; most other B manuscripts have synonymous boþer. wille + L.2.69: The corrector has marked this line with a <+> in the left margin. Thei assented for siluer · to seiL.2.69: L's cancellation of <i> is odd. Nearly all other B manuscripts have seye. as bothe wolde Simoni and siuilyeL.2.70: A s. xvi hand has inserted in the left margin Simoni and siuilye. Thanne lepe lyer forth · and seide lo here a chartre That gyle with his gret othes · gaf hem togidere And preide cyuile to se · and symonye to rede it Thanne symonye and cyuile · stonden forth bothe And vnfoldeth þe feffement · þat fals hath ymaked And þus bigynneth þes gomes · to greden ful heiȝ Sciant presentes & futuri &c · Witeth and witnesseth · þat wonieth vpon þis ertheL.2.77: Each of the first three lines of the group is clearly marked with a punctus in brown ink in the left margin. Below and extending through L.2.94 in the left margin is a bracket in very light black ink. Þat Mede is ymaried · more for here goodis Þan for ani vertue or fairenesse · or any free kyndeL.2.79-92: A non-continuous bracket in pale ink runs from L.2.79-92. Falsenesse is faine of hire · for he wote hire riche And fauel with his fikel speche · feffeth bi þis chartre To be prynces in pryde · and pouerte to dispise To bakbite · and to bosten · and bere fals witnesse To scorne and to scolde · and sclaundere to make Vnboxome and bolde · to breke þe ten hestes And þe Erldome of enuye · and wratthe togideres With þe chastelet of chest · and chateryng oute of resoun Þe counte of coueitise · and alle þe costes aboute That is vsure and auarice · alle I hem graunte In bargaines and in brokages · with al þe borgtheborg[h]e of theft And al þe lordeship of lecherye · in lenthe and in brede As in werkes and in wordes · and waitynges with eies And in wedes and in wisshynges · and with ydel thouȝtes + There as wille ne wolde · and wermanshipwer[k]manship faillethL.2.94: The word ne was inserted after original copying by the text scribe; only LCY among B witnesses have the negative. The word and has been subpuncted at the beginning of the b-verse. A small <+> in the left margin may mark either of these for correction, or may refer to the scribe's wermanship for werkmanship. Glotonye he gaf hem eke · and grete othes togydere And alday to drynke · at dyuerse tauernes And there to iangle and to iape · and iugge here euene-cristene And in fastyngdayes to frete · ar ful tyme were nota And þanne to sitten and soupen · til slepe hem assaille And bredun as burgh-swyn · and bedden hem esily Tyl sleuth and slepe · slyken his sides And þanne wanhope to awake hym so · with no wille to amende For he leueth be lost · þis is here last ende And þei to haue and to holde · and here ieyres after A dwellyng with þe deuel · and dampned be for eure Wiþ al þe purtenauncesL.2.106: LRF alone read purtenaunces. Other B witnesses vary between appurtinaunces and purtynaunce. of purgatorie · in-to þe pyne of helle Ȝeldyng for þis þinge · at one ȝeres ende Here soules to sathan · to suffre with hym peynes And with him to wonye with wo · whil god is in heuene In witnesse of which þing · wronge was þe first And Pieres þe pardonereL.2.111: The <a> and the <o> have been overwritten in a later ink. · of paulynes doctrine Bette þe bedel · of Bokyngham-shire Rainalde þe Reue · of Rotland sokene Munde þe Mellere · and many moo other In þe date of þe deuel þis dede I assele Bi siȝte of sire symonye · and cyuyles leue Theologie to mede civile Þenne tened hym theologye · whan he þis tale herdeL.2.117: A marginal hand, not represented elsewhere in the manuscript, wrote in the right margin Theologie to mede, then lined through mede and added civile. Three heavy black points, arranged vertically, also appear in the right margin. And seide to cyuile · now sorwe mot þow haue + Such wendyngeswe[d]dyngesL.2.119: A <+> in the left margin marks the text for correction. The scribe, however, failed to correct wendynges to weddynges, the reading of most B witnesses. LC alone have such wendynges. to worche to wratthe with treuthe And ar þis weddyng be wrouȝte · wo þe bityde For Mede is moylere · of amendes engendrethL.2.121: LCYR alone have the form engendreth; all other B manuscripts have the past participle. The form spelled engendrit in some A manuscripts perhaps accounts for the error. And god graunteth to gyf · Mede to treuthe And þow hast gyuen hire to a gyloure · now god gyf þe sorwe Thi tixt telleth þe nouȝt so · treuthe wote þe sothe For dignus est operarius · his hyre to haue And þow hast fest hire to fals · fy on þi lawe For al by lesynges þow lyuest · and lecherouse werkes Symonye and þi-self · schenden holicherche Þe notaries and ȝee · noyeth þe peple Ȝe shul abiggen it bothe · bi god þat me made Wel ȝe witen wernardes · but if ȝowre witte faille That fals is faithlees · and fikel in his werkes And was a bastarde ybore · of belsabubbes kynne And Mede is moylere · a mayden of gode And myȝte kisse þe kynge · for cosyn an she wolde For-þi worcheth bi wisdome · and bi witt also And ledeth hire to londoun · þere lawe is yshewed If any lawe wil loke · þei ligge togederes And þouȝ Iustices iugge hir · to be ioigned with fals Ȝet beth war of weddyng · for witty is truthe ·L.2.140: This line is supplied in an early fifteenth-century hand in the blank space above the top line. And conscience is of his conseille · and knoweth ȝow vchone And if he fynde ȝow in defaute · and with þe fals holde It shal bisitte ȝowre soules · ful soure atte laste Here-to assenteth cyuile · ac symonye nie wolde Tyl he had siluer for his seruise · and also þe notaries Thanne fette fauel forth · floreynes ynowe And bad gyle to gyue · golde al aboute And namelich to þe notaries · þat hem none ne faille And feffe falsewitnesfalse witnes · with floreines ynowe For heL.2.150: Most B manuscripts have a form of þei. may mede amaistrye · and maken at my wille Tho þis golde was gyue · grete was þe þonkynge To fals and to fauel · for her faire ȝiftes And comen to conforte fram care þe fals And seiden certis sire · cesse shal we neuere Til Mede be þi wedded wyf · þorw wittis of vs alle For we haue Mede amaistried · with owre mery speche That she graunteth to gon with a gode wille To Londoun to loke · ȝif þat þe lawe wolde Iugge ȝow ioyntly · in ioye for euere Thanne was falsenesse fayne · and fauel as blithe And leten sompne alle segges · in schires aboute And bad hem alle be bown · beggeres and othere To wenden wyth hem to westmynstre · to witnesse þis dede Ac þanne cared þei for caplus · to kairenL.2.164: LMR alone read kairen; most other B manuscripts have carien. hem þider And fauel fette forth þanne · folus ynowe And sette Mede vpon a schyreue · shodde al newe And fals sat on a sisoure · þat softlich trotted And fauel on a flatereL.2.168: Only LF have flatere, from OF flateor, flatour. Other B manuscripts read flaterere. · fetislich atired Tho haued notaries none · annoyed þei were For symonye and cyuile · shulde on hire fete gange Ac þanne swore symonye · and cyuile bothe That sompnoures shulde be sadled and serue hem vchone And lat apparaille þis prouisoures · in palfreis wyse Sire symonye hym-seluen · shal sitte vpon here bakkes nota Denes and suddenes · drawe ȝow togideresL.2.175: A scribe has put the symbol for a musical note to indicate nota both next to this line and again in the bottom left margin. Erchdekenes and officiales · and alle ȝowre Regystreres Lat sadel hem with siluer · owre synne to suffre As auoutrie and deuoses · As auoutrie and deuoses · and derne vsurye To bere bischopes aboute · abrode in visytynge Paulynes pryues · for pleyntes in þe consistorie Shul serue my-self · þat cyuile is nempned And cartesadel þe comissarie · owre carte shal he lede And fecchen vs vytailles · at fornicatores And maketh of lyer a longe carte · to lede alle þese othere As Freres and faitours · þat on here fete rennen And thus fals and fauel · fareth forth togideres And Mede in þe myddes · and alle þise men after I haue no tome to telle þe taille þat hem folweth Of many maner man · þat on þis molde libbeth Ac gyle was forgoer · and gyed hem alle Sothenesse seiȝ hym wel · and seide but a litel And priked his palfrey · and passed hem alle And come to þe kynges courte · and conscience it tolde And conscience to þe kynge · carped it after Now by cryst quod þe kynge · and I cacche myȝte Fals or fauel · or any of his feres I wolde be wroke of þo wrecches · þat worcheth so ille And don hem hange by þe hals · and alle þat hem meynteneth Shal neure man of molde · meynprise þe leste But riȝte as þe lawe wil loke · late falle on hem alle And comanded a constable · þat come atte furst To attache þo tyrauntz · for eny thynge I hote And fettereth fast falsenesse · for enykynnes ȝiftes And gurdeth of gyles hed · and lat hym go no furthere And ȝif ȝe lacche lyer · late hym nouȝt ascapen Er he be put on þe pilorye · for eny preyere · I hote And bryngeth Mede to me · maugre hem alle Drede atte dore stode · and þe dome herde And how þe kynge comaunded · constables and seriantz Falsenesse and his felawschip · to fettren an to bynden Þanne drede went wiȝtliche · and warned þe fals And bad hym flee for fere · and his felawes alle notaL.2.213: The symbol for a musical note to represent nota appears in the left margin. Another is written at the far right margin. nota Falsenesse for fere þanne · fleiȝ to þe freres And gyle doþ hym to go · agast for to dye Ac marchantz mette with hym · and made hym abide And bishetten hym in here shope · to shewen here ware And apparailled hym as a prentice · þe poeple to serue Liȝtlich lyer · lepe awey þanne Lorkynge thorw lanes · to-lugged of manye He was nawhere welcome · for his manye tales Ouer al yhowted · and yhote trusse Tyl pardoneres haued pite · and pulled hym in-to house They wesshen hym and wyped hym · and wonden hym in cloutes And sente hym with seles · on sondayes to cherches And gaf pardoun for pens · poundmel aboute Thanne loured leches · and lettres þei sent Þat he sholde wonye with hem · wateres to loke Spiceres spoke with hym · to spien here ware For he couth of here craft · and knewe many gommes + Ac mynstallesmynst[r]allesL.2.230: A <+> appears in the left margin, although no correction was made to erroneous mynstalles. The same error occurs at L.3.134, where it was also marked for correction and the correction not made. and messageres · mette with hym ones And helden hym an halfȝere · and elleuene dayes Freres with faire speche · fetten hym þennes And for knowyng of comeres · coped hym as a frere Ac he hath leue to lepe out · as oft as hym liketh And is welcome whan he wil · and woneth wyth hem oft Alle fledden for fere · and flowen in-to hernes Saue Mede þe Mayde · na mo durst abide Ac trewli to telle · she trembled for drede And ek wept and wronge · whan she was attached passus tercius de vi.....L.3.000: The rest of the word has been lost in the gutter. vt supraPassus iijustercius N NowL.3.1: The five-line ornamental capital is in blue with red flourishes and with two red marginal sprays. A small guide letter <N> appears in the left margin. is Mede þe Maide · and namo of hem alle With bedellus & wiþ bayllyues · brouȝt bifor þe kyng The kyng called a clerke · can I nouȝt his name To take Mede þe mayde · and make hire at ese I shal assaye hir my-self · and sothelich appose What man of þis molde · þat hire were leueste And if she worche bi my witte · and my wille folwe I wil forgyue hir þis gilte · so me god help Curteysliche þe clerke þanne as þe Kyng hight Toke Mede bi þe Middel · and brouȝte hir in-to chaumbre And þere was myrthe and mynstralcye · Mede to plese L.3.12: The scribe put a cc paraph indicator here, but the rubricating scribe did not draw the paraph as usual. He may have missed it because he was looking for skipped lines between line groups, not applicable here because the line group begins the page. ¶ They þat wonyeth in westmynstre · worschiped hir alle Gentelliche wiþ ioye · þe Iustices somme Busked hem to þe boure · þere þe birde dwelled To conforte hire kyndely · by clergise leue And seiden mourne nought Mede · ne make þow no sorwe For we wisse þe kynge · and þi wey shape To be wedded at þi wille · and where þe leue liketh For al conscience caste · or craft as I trowe Mildeliche Mede þanne · mercyed hem alle Of þeire gret goodnesse · and gaf hem vchone Coupes of clene golde · and coppis of siluer Rynges with rubies · and ricchesses manye The leste man of here meyne · a motoun of golde Thanne lauȝte þei leue · þis lordes at Mede With that comen clerkis · to conforte hir þe same And beden hire be blithe · for we beth þine owneL.3.27: Illegible scribbles appear in the right margin. Forto worche þi wille · þe while þow myȝte laste L.3.29: The scribe skipped a line as for a strophe break, but there is no <cc> to indicate further his intention. Hendeliche heo þanne · bihight hem þe same To loue ȝowL.3.30: LR alone read ȝow; most other B manuscripts have hem. lelli · and lordes to make And in þe consistorie atte courte · do calle ȝowre names Shal no lewdnesse lette · þe leode þat I louye That he ne worth first auanced · for I am biknowen Þere konnyng clerkes · shul clokke bihynde Þanne come þere a confessoure · coped as a Frere To Mede þe mayde · he mellud þis wordes And seide ful softly · in shrifte as it were Theiȝ lewed men · and lered men · had leyne by þe bothe And falsenesse haued yfolwed þe al þis fyfty wyntre I shal assoille þe my-selue · for a seme of whete And also be þi bedeman · and bere wel þi message Amonges kniȝtes and clerkis · conscience to torne Thanne Mede for here mysdedes · to þat man kneled And shroue hire of hire shrewednesse · shamelees I trowe Tolde hym a tale · and toke hym a noble Forto ben hire bedeman · and hire brokour als Thanne he assoilled hir sone · and sithen he seyde We han a wyndowe a-wirchyng wil sitten vs welL.3.48: L alone reads wel; most other B manuscripts have ful. heigh Woldestow glase þat gable · and graue þere-inne þi name Siker sholde þi soule be · heuene to haue Wist I that quod þat womman · I wolde nouȝt spare For to be ȝowre frende frere · and faille ȝow neure Whil ȝe loue lordes · þat lechery haunteþ And lakkeþ nouȝt ladis · þat loueþ wel þe same It is a frelete of of flesche · ȝe fynde it in bokes And a course of kynde · wher-of we komen alle Who may scape þe sklaundre · þe skaþe is sone amended It is synne of seuene · sonnest relessed Haue mercy quod Mede · of men þat it haunte And I shal keure ȝowre kirke · ȝowre cloystre do maken Wowes do whitten · and wyndowes glasen Do peynten and purtraye · and paye for þe makynge That eury segge shal seyn · I am sustre of ȝowre hous Ac god to alle good folke · suche grauynge defendeth To writen in wyndowes · of here wel-dedes On auenture pruyde be peynted þere · and pompe of þe worlde For crist knoweþ þi conscience · and þi kynde wille And þi coste and þi coueitise · and who þe catel ouȝte For-þi I lere ȝow lordes · leueþ suche werkes To writen in wyndowes · of ȝowre wel-dedes Or to greden after goddis men · whan ȝe delen doles An auenture ȝe han ȝowre hire here · and ȝoure heuene als Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra · Lat nouȝte þi left half · late no rathe Wyte what þow worchest · with þi riȝt syde For þus bit þe gospel · gode men do here almesse Meires and maceres · that menes ben bitwene Þe kynge and þe comune to kepe þe lawes To punyschen on pillories · and pynynge stoles Brewesteres and bakesteres · bocheres and cokes For þise aren men on þis molde · þat moste harme worcheth To þe pore peple þat parcel-mele buggen For they ...?...poysoun þe peple · priueliche and oft Thei rychen þorw regraterye · and rentes hem buggen With þat þe pore people shulde put in here wombe For toke þei on trewly · þei tymbred nouȝt so heiȝe Ne bouȝte non burgages · be ȝe ful certeyne Ac Mede þe Mayde þe Maire hath bisouȝte Of alle suche sellers · syluer to take Or presentz withoute pens · as peces of siluer Ringes or other ricchesse · þe regrateres to maynetene For my loue quod that lady loue hem vchone And soffre hem to selle · somdele aȝeins resoun Salamon þe sage · a sarmoun he made For to amende Maires · and men þat kepen lawes And tolde hem þis teme · þat I telle thynke nota Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera &cL.3.97: A s. xvi hand has written nota in the right margin. Amonge þis lettered ledes · þis latyn is to mene That fyre shal falle and berne · al to blo askes + The houses and þe homes · of hemhem [þat]L.3.100: A <+> appears in the left margin marking the omission of þat after hem. desireth Ȝiftes or ȝeresȝyues · bi-cause of here offices The kynge fro conseille cam · and called after Mede And ofsent hir alswythe · with seriauntes manye That brouȝten hir to bowre · with blisse and with ioye Curteisliche þe kynge þanne · comsed to telle To Mede þe mayde · melleth þise wordes Vnwittily womman · wrouȝte hastow oft Ac worse wrouȝtestow neure · þan þo þow fals toke But I forgyueL.3.109: LCot alone omit þee after forgyue. þat gilte · and graunte þe my grace Hennes to þi deth-day · do so namore I haue a knyȝte conscience · cam late fro biȝunde + Ȝif he wilneth þe to wyf · wyltow hym ....haueL.3.112: The word haue is a later addition over an erasure, which may also have partially obliterated a <+> in the right margin. Ȝe lorde quod þat lady · lorde forbede elles But I be holely at ȝowre heste · lat hange me sone And þanne was conscience calde · to come and appiere Bifor þe Kynge and his conseille · as clerkes and othere Knelynge conscience · to þe kynge louted To wite what his wille were · and what he do shulde Woltow wedde þis womman quod þe kynge · ȝif I wil assente For she is fayne of þi felawship · for to be þi make Quod conscience to þe kynge · cryst it me forbede Ar I wedde suche a wyf · wo me bityde For she is frele of hir feith · fykel of here speche And maketh men · mysdo · many score tymes Truste of hire tresore · treieth ful manye Wyues and widewes · wantounes she techeth And lereth hem leccherye · that loueth hire ȝiftes Ȝowre fadre she felled · þorw fals biheste And hath apoysounde popis · peired holicherche Is nauȝt a better baude · bi hym þat me made Bitwene heuene and helle · in erthe þough men souȝte For she is tikil of hire taile · talwis of hir tonge As comune as a cartwey · to eche a knaue þat walketh + To monkes to mynstallesmynst[r]allesL.3.134: A <+> in the left margin appears to have been partly erased, but the error mynstalles for mynstralles was not corrected. The scribe made the same error at L.2.230 where it was also marked for correction, but the correction was not made. · to meseles in hegges Sisoures and sompnoures · suche men hir preiseth Shireues of shires · were shent ȝif she nere For she doþ men lese here londe · and here lyf bothe She leteth passe prisoneres · and payeth for hem ofte And gyueth þe gailers golde · and grotes togideres To vnfettre þe fals fle where hym lyketh And ...?...takeþ þe trewe bi þe toppe · and tieth hym faste And hangeth hym for hatred · þat harme dede neure To be cursed in consistorie · she counteth nouȝte a russhe For she copeth þe comissarie · and coteth his clerkis She is assoilled as sone · as hir-self liketh And may neiȝe as moche do · in a moneth one As ȝowre secret seel · in syx score dayes For she is priue with þe pope · prouisoures it knoweth For sire symonye and hir-selue · seleth hire bulles She blesseth þise bisshopes · þeiȝ.e þey be lewed Prouendreth persones · a..nd prestes meynteneth To haue lemmannes and lotebies · alle here lif-dayes And bringen forth barnes · aȝein forbode l..awes There ...she is wel with þe kynge · wo is þe rewme For she is fauorable to þe fals · and fouleth trewthe ofte Bi ihesus with here ieweles · ȝowre iustices she shendeth And lith aȝein þe lawe · and letteth hym þe gate That feith may nouȝte haue his forth · here floreines go so þikke She ledeth þe lawe as hire list · and louedayes maketh And doth men lese þorw hire loue · þat lawe myȝte wynne Þe mase for a mene man · þouȝ he mote hir eure Lawe is so lordeliche · and loth to make ende With-oute presentz or pens · she pleseth wel fewe Barounes and burgeys · she bryngeth in sorwe And alle þe comune in kare · þat coueyten lyue in trewthe For clergye and coueitise · she coupleth togideres Þis is þe lyf of that lady · now lorde ȝif hir sorwe And alle that meynteneth here men · meschaunce hem bityde For pore men mowe haue no powere · to pleyne hem þouȝ þei smerte Suche a maistre is Mede · amonge men of gode Thanne morned Mede · and mened hire to the kynge To haue space to speke · spede if she myȝte The kynge graunted hir grace with a gode wille Excuse þe ȝif þow canst · I can namore seggen For conscience acuseth þe · to congey þe for euere Nay lorde quod þat lady · leueth hym þe worse Whan ȝe wyten witterly · where þe wronge liggeth There þat myschief is grete · Mede may helpe And þow knowest conscience · I cam nouȝt to chide Ne depraue þi persone · with a proude herte Wel þow wost wernard · but ȝif þow wolt gabbe Þow hast hanged on myne half · elleuene tymes And also griped my golde · gyue it where þe liked And whi þow wratthest þe now · wonder me thynketh Ȝit I may as I myȝte · menske þe with ȝiftes And mayntene þi manhode · more þan þow knoweste Ac þow hast famed me foule · bifor þe Kynge here For kulled I neuere no kynge · ne conseilled þer-after Ne dede as þow demest · I doL.3.189: LCM alone omit it after do. on þe kynge In normandye was he nouȝte · noyed for my sake Ac þow þi-self sothely · shamedest hym ofte Crope in-to a kaban · for colde of þi nailles Wendest þat wyntre · wolde haue lasted euere And draddest to be ded · for a dym cloude And hiedest homeward · for hunger of þi wombe Wiþ-out ....pite piloure · pore men þow robbedest And bere here bras at þi bakke · to caleys to selle There I lafte with my lorde · his lyf for to saue I made his men meri · and mornyng lette I batered hem on þe bakke · and bolded here hertis And dede hem hoppe for hope · to haue me at wille Had I ben Marschal of his men · bi Marie of heuene I durst haue leyde my lyf · and no lasse wedde He shulde haue be lorde of þat londe · a lengthe and a brede And also Kyng of þat kitthe · his kynne for to helpe Þe leste brolle of his blode · a barounes pere Cowardliche þow conscience · conseiledest hym þennes To leuen his lordeship · for a litel siluer That is þe richest rewme · þat reyne ouer-houeth It bicometh to a kynge · þat kepeth a rewme To ȝiue Mede to men · þat mekelich hym serueth To alienes and to alle men to honoure hem with ȝiftes Mede maketh hym biloued · and for a man holden Emperoures and Erlis · and al manere lordes for ȝiftes han ȝonge men · to renne and to ride The pope and alle prelatis · presentz vnderfongen And medeth men hem-seluen · to meyntene here lawes Seruauntz for her seruise · we seth wel þe sothe Taken Mede of here maistre · as þei mowe acorde Beggeres for here biddynge · bidden men Mede Mynstralles for here murthe · mede þei aske Þe kynge hath mede of his men · to make pees in londe Men þat teche chyldren · craue of hem mede Prestis þat precheth þe poeple · to gode asken mede And masse-pans and here mete · at þe mele-tymes Alkynnes crafty men · crauen Mede for here prentis Marchauntz and Mede · mote nede go togideres No wiȝte as I wene · with-oute Mede may libbe + Quatȝ þe kynge to conscience · bi criste as me thy..nkethL.3.229: The letters <nk> are written over an erasure. A <+> in the left margin may have prompted the correction. Mede is wel worthi · þe maistrye to haue Nay quod conscience to þe Kynge · and kneled to þe erthe There aren two manere of Medes · my lorde with ȝowre leue Þat one god of his grace · graunteth in his blisse To þo þat wel worchen · whil þei ben here The prophete precheth þer-of · and put it in þe sautere Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo Lorde who shal wonye in þi wones · and with þine holi seyntes Or resten onL.3.238: LMRF alone read on; all other B manuscripts have in. þi holy hilles · þis asketh dauid And dauyd assoileth it hym-self as þe sauter telleth Qui ingreditur sine macula · & operatur iusticiam Tho þat entren of o colour · and of on wille And han wrouȝte werkis · with riȝte and with reson And he þat ne vseth nauȝte · þe lyf of vsurye And enfourmeth pore men · and pursueth treuthe Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram & munera super innocentem &c · And alle þat helpeth þe innocent · and halt with þe riȝtful Withoute mede doth hem gode · and þe trewthe helpeth Suche manere men my lorde · shal haue þis furst Mede Of god at a grete nede · whan þei gone hennes There is an other Mede mesurelees · þat maistres desireth To meyntene mysdoers · Mede þei take And þere-of seith þe sauter · in a salmes ende In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt dextera eorum repleta est muneribus And he þat gripeth her golde · so me god helpe Shal abie it bittere · or þe boke lyeth Prestes and parsones · þat plesynge desireth That taketh Mede and mone · for messes þat þei syngeth Taketh here mede here · as Mathew vs techeth Amen amen recipiebant mercedem suam · That laboreres and lowe folke · taketh of her maistres It is no manere Mede · but a mesurable hire In marchandise is no mede · I may it wel avowe It is a permutacioun apertly · a penyworth for an othre Ac reddestow neuere Regum · þow recrayed Mede Whi þe veniaunce fel · on saul and on his children God sent to saul · bi samuel þe prophete Þat agag of amaleke · and al his peple aftre Shulde deye for a dede · þat done had here ealdres For-þi seid samuel to saul · god hym-self hoteth The · be boxome at his biddynge · his wille to fulfille Wende to amalec with þyn oste · and what þow fyndest þere slee it Biernes and bestes · brenne hem to ded Wydwes and wyues · wommen and children Moebles and vnmoebles · and al þat þow myȝte fynde Brenne it bere it nouȝte awey · be it neuere so riche For mede ne for mone · loke þow destruye it Spille it and spare it nouȝte · þow shalt spede þe bettere And for he coueyted her catel · and þe kynge spared Forbare hym and his bestes bothe · as þe bible witnesseth Otherwyse þan he was · warned of þe prophete God seide to samuel þat saul shulde deye And al his sede for þat synne · shenfullich ende Such a myschief Mede made saul þe kynge to haue That god hated hym for euere · and alle his eyres after L.3.285: The rubricating scribe failed to note the original scribe's paraph indicator in the left margin, probably because the original scribe did not skip a line. The culorum of þis cas · kepe I nouȝte to shewe An auenture it noyed men · none ende wil I make For so is þis worlde went · wiþ hem þat han powere That who-so seyth hem sothes · is sonnest yblamed kynde wytt techeth consyenceL.3.289: A s. xvi hand entered the gloss in the left margin. I conscience knowe þis · for kynde witt me it tauȝte Þat resoun shal regne · and rewmes gouerne And riȝte as agag hadde · happe shul somme Samuel shal sleen hym · and saul shal be blamed And dauid shal be diademed · and daunten hem alle + And one cristene Kynge · kepen hem alleL.3.294: A <+> in the right margin prompted the original scribe to insert hem before alle. Shal namore Mede · be maistre as she is nouthe Ac loue and lowenesse · and lewte togederes Þise shul be maistres on molde · treuthe to saue L.3.298-303: This verse paragraph is bracketed in the left margin, though it is not possible to determine whether the s. xvi hand appearing elsewhere on this leaf is responsible. And who-so trespasseth ayein treuthe · or taketh aȝein his wille Leute shal don hym lawe · and no lyf elles Shal no seriaunt for here seruyse · were a silke howue Ne no pelure in his cloke · for pledyng atte barre Mede of mys-doeres · maketh many lordes And ouer lordes lawes · reuleth þe rewmes Ac kynde loue shal come ȝit · and conscience togideres And make of lawe a laborere · suche loue shal arise And such a pees amonge þe peple · and a parfit trewthe Þat iiewes shal wene in here witte · and waxen wonder glade + ÞatL.3.308: The original scribe changed Þa to Þat in response to a <+> appearing in the left margin. The same spelling has been marked but not corrected at L.11.308 and L.15.19. Moises or Messie · be come in-to þis erthe And haue wonder in here hertis · þat men beth so trewe Alle þat bereth baslardeL.3.310: The scribe inserted the final <e> over an erasure, taking the space reserved for the punctus. brode swerde or launce Axe orther[o]ther hachet · or eny wepne ellis Shal be demed to þe deth · but if he do it smythye In-to sikul or to sithe · to schare or to kulter Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres &c Eche man to pleye with a plow · pykoys or spade Spynne or sprede donge · or spille hym-self with sleuthe presbiteri fundent precesL.3.317: A s. xvi scribe entered the gloss in the left margin. Prestes and parsones · with placebo to hunte And dyngen vpon dauid · eche a day til eue Huntynge or haukynge · if any of hem vse His boste of his benefys · worth bynome hym after Shal neither kynge ne knyȝte constable ne Meire Ouer-lede þe comune · ne to þe courte sompne Ne put hem in panel · to don hem pliȝte here treuthe But after þe dede þat is don · one dome shal rewarde Mercy or no mercy · as treuthe wil acorde Kynges courte and comune courte · consistorie and chapitele Al shal be but one courte · and one baroun be iustice Thanne worth trewe tonge a tidy man · þat tened me neuere Batailles shal non be · ne no man bere wepne And what smyth · þat ony smyteth · be smyte þer-with to dethe Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium &c · And er þis fortune falle fynde men shal þe worste By syx sonnes and a schippe · and half a shef of arwes And þe myddel of a mone · shal make þe iewes to torneL.3.334: A scribe, identified by Skeat as the original scribe, put a pointing hand in the right margin. And saracenes for þat siȝte · shulle synge gloria in excelsis &c For Makomet & Mede · myshappe shal þat tyme For melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe Also wroth as þe wynde · wex Mede in a while I can no latyn quod she · clerkis wote þe sothe Se what salamon seith in sapience bokes That hij þat ȝiueth ȝiftes · þe victorie wynneth & moche worschip had þer-with · as holiwryt telleth Honorem adquiret qui dat munera &c I leue wel lady quod conscience · þat þi latyne be trewe Ac þow art like a lady · þat redde a lessoun ones Was omnia probate · and þat plesed here herte For þat lyne was no lenger atte leues ende Had ȝeL.3.348: LB alone read ȝe; all other B manuscripts have she. loked þat other half · and þe lef torned ȜeL.3.349: LB alone read Ȝe; most other B manuscripts have She. shulde haue founden fele wordis · folwyng þer-after Quod bonum est tenete · treuthe þat texte made And so ferde ȝe madame · ȝe couthe namore fynde Tho ȝe loked on sapience · sittynge in ȝoure studie Þis tixte þat ȝe han tolde · were gode for lordes Ac ȝow failled a cunnyng clerke · þat couthe þe lef haue torned And if ȝe seche sapience eft · fynde shal ȝe þat folweth A ful teneful tixte · to hem þat taketh Mede And þat is animam autem aufert accipientium · &c · And þat is þe taille of þe tixte · of þat þat ȝe schewed ...?...?...Þat þeiȝe we wynne worschip · and wiþ mede haue victorie Þe soule þat þe soude taketh · bi so moche is bounde passus iiijus de visione vt supraPassus iiijusQuartus CessethL.4.1: The ornamental capital is five lines high, written in blue with red flourishes with two sprays. seith þe kynge · I suffre ȝow no lengere Ȝe shal sauȝtne for-sothe · and serue me bothe kisse hir quod þe kynge · conscience I hote Nay bi criste quod conscience · congeye me for euere But resoun rede me þer-to · rather wil I deye And I comaunde þe quod þe Kynge · to conscience þanne Rape þe to ride · and resoun þow fecche Comaunde hym þat he come · my conseille to here For he shal reule my rewme · and rede me þe beste And acounte with þe conscience · so me cryst helpe How þow lernest þe peple · þe lered and þe lewede I am fayne of þat forwarde · seyde þe freke þanne And ritte riȝte to resoun · and rowneth in his ere And seide as þe kynge badde · and sithen toke his leue I shal arraye me to ride quod resoun reste þe a while And called cat..oun his knaue · curteise of speche And also tomme trewe tonge · telle me no tales Ne lesyng to lawȝe of · for I loued hem neuere And sette my sadel vppon suffre · til I se my tyme And lete warrok it wel · with witty wordes gerthes And hange on hym þe heuy brydel · to holde his hed lowe For he wil make wehe · tweyeL.4.22: LMR alone read tweye; most other B manuscripts have twies. er he be there Thanne conscience vppon his caple · kaireth forth faste And resoun with hym ritte · rownynge togideres Whiche maistries Mede · maketh on þis erthe One waryn wisdom · and witty his fere + Folwed hem faste · hauedL.4.27: The corrector's <+> in the left margin notes the omission of for þei from the beginning of the b-verse. R also lacks these words. to done In þe cheker and atL.4.28: LCr2,3R have at, whereas most other B manuscripts read in. þe chauncerie · to be discharged of þinges And riden fast for resoun shulde rede hem þe beste For to saue hem for siluer · fro shame and fram harmes And conscience knewe hem wel · þei loued coueitise And bad resoun ride faste · and recche of her noither Þere aren wiles in here wordes · and with Mede þei dwelleth There as wratthe and wranglyngL.4.34: An otiose curl appears above the first <g>. is · þere wynne þei siluer Ac þere is loue and lewte · þei wil nouȝte come þere Contricio & infelicitas in vijs eorum &c Þei ne gyueth nouȝte of god · one go.se wynge Non est timor dei ante oculos eorum For wot god þei wolde do more · for a dozeine chickenes Or as many capones · or for a seem of otes Þan for loue of owre lorde · or alle hise leue seyntes For-þi resoun lete hem ride · þo riche bi hem-seluen For conscience knoweth hem nouȝte · ne cryst as I trowe And þanne resoun rode faste  þe riȝte heiȝe gate As conscience hym kenned · til þei come to þe Kynge Curteisliche þe kynge þanne · come aȝein resoun And bitwene hym-self and his sone · sette hym on benche And wordeden wel wyseli · a gret while togideres And þanne come pees in-to parlement · and put forth a bille How wronge aȝeines his wille · had his wyf taken And how he rauisshed Rose · Reginoldes loue And Margarete of hir maydenhode · maugre here chekis Bothe my gees & my grys · his gadelynges feccheth I dar nouȝte for fere of hym · fyȝte ne chyde He borwed of me bayard · he brouȝte hym home neure + Ne no ferthyngeL.4.56: The <r> in ferthynge was added after initial copying, perhaps in response to the corrector's marginal <+>. þer-fore · for nauȝteL.4.56: L is joined by MRF in reading nauȝte; other B manuscripts have ouȝt. I couthe plede He meyneteneth his men · to morther myne hewen Forstalleth my feyres · and fiȝteth in my chepynge And breketh vp my bernesL.4.59: LHmWR read bernes, the reading of most C manuscripts. All other B manuscripts have berne. dore · and bereth aweye my whete And taketh me but a taile · for ten quarteres of otes And ȝet he bet me þer-to · and lyth bi my Mayde I namL.4.62: LCM alone have nam. The other B witnesses read am. nouȝte hardy for hym · vneth to loke · The kynge knewe he seide sothe · for conscience hym tolde Þat wronge was a wikked luft · and wrouȝte moche sorwe Wronge was afered þanne · and wisdome he souȝte To make pees with his pens · and profered hym manye And seide had I loue of my lorde þe kynge · litel wolde I recche Theiȝe pees and his powere · pleyned hym eure + Þo wanL.4.69: The corrector's marginal <+> may mark wan, a reading shared by R; most other B manuscripts have a form of wente. Not infrequently the evidence suggests that the corrector worked from a manuscript more corrupt than L's exemplar. wisdome · and sire waryn þe witty For þat wronge had ywrouȝte · so wikked a dede And warned wronge þo · with suche a wyse tale Who-so worcheth bi wille · wratthe maketh ofte I seye it bi þi-self · þow shalt it wel fynde But if Mede it make · þi myschief is vppe For bothe þi lyf and þi londe · lyth in his grace Thanne wowed wronge · wisdome ful ȝerne To make his pees with his pens · handi-dandi payed Wisdome and witte þanne wenten togideres And toke Mede myd hem mercy to winne Pees put forþ his hed · and his panne blody Wyth-outen gilte god it wote · gat I þis skaþe Conscience and þe comune · knowen þe sothe Ac wisdom and witte · were about faste To ouercome þe kynge · with catel ȝif þei myȝte Þe kynge swore bi crist · and bi his crowne bothe Þat wronge for his werkis · sholde wo þolye And comaunded a constable · to casten hym in yrens And late hym nouȝte þis seuene ȝere · seen his feet ones God wot quod wysdom · þat were nauȝte þe beste And he amendes mowe make · late meynprise hym haue And be borwgh for his bale · and biggen hym bote And so amende þat is mysdo · and euermore þe bettere Witt acorded þer-with · and seide þe same Bettere is þat bote · bale adoun brynge Þan bale be ybette · & bote neuere þe bettere And þanne gan Mede to mengen here · and mercy she bisought And profred pees a present · al of pure golde Haue þis man of me quod she · to amende þi skaþe For I wil wage for wronge · he wil do so namore Pitously pees þanne · prayed to þe kynge To haue mercy on þat man · þat mys-did hym so ofte For he hath waged me wel · as wisdome hym tauȝte And I forgyue hym þat gilte · with a goode wille So þat þe kynge assent · I can seye no bettere For Mede hath made me amendes · I may namore axe Nay quod þe Kynge þo · so me cryst helpe Wronge wendeth nouȝte so awaye · arst wil I wite more For loupe he so liȝtly · laughen he wolde And efte þe balder be · to bete myne hewen But resoun haue reuthe on hym · he shal rest in my stokkes And þat as longe as he lyueth · but lowenesse hym borwe Somme men redde Resoun þo · to haue reuthe on þat schrewe And for to conseille þe Kynge · and conscience after That Mede moste be meynpernour · resoun þei bisouȝte Rede me nouȝte quod resoun · no reuthe to haue Til lordes and ladies · louien alle treuthe And haten ..al harlotrye · to heren it · or to mouthen it Tyl pernelles purfil · be put in here hucche And childryn cherissyng · be chastyng with ȝerdes And harlotes holynesse · be holden for an hyne X Til clerken coueitise be · to clothe þe pore and to fedeL.4.121: The marginal <X> is larger than typical and occupies the space of this line and the line below. The reason for it is not clear, unless it is intended to suggest that recordare should be boxed in red. And religious romares · recordare in here cloistres · As seynt Benet hem bad · Bernarde and Fraunceys · And til prechoures prechyng · be preued on hem-seluen Tyl þe kynges conseille · be þe comune profyte Tyl bisschopes baiardes · ben beggeres chambres · Here haukes and her houndes · helpe to pore Religious · And til seynt Iames be souȝte · þere I shal assigne That no man go to Galis · but if he go for euere And alle Rome-renneres · for robberes of byȝende Bere no siluer ouer see · þat signe of kynge sheweþ · Noyther graue ne vngraue · golde noither siluer Vppon forfeture of þat fee · who-so fynt hym at Douere But if it be marchaunt or his man · or messagere with lettres Prouysoure or prest · or penaunt for his synnes · And ȝet quod resoun bi þe Rode · I shal no reuthe haue While Mede hath þe maistrye  in þis moot halle + Ac I may shewe ensaumples · asL.4.138: The <s> in as was added in interword space later in response to the marginal <+>. The same error was marked and corrected in L.1.182. I se other-while I sey it bi my-self quod he · and it so were That I were kynge with crowne · to kepen a Rewme Shulde neuere wronge in þis worlde · þat I wite myȝte Ben vnpunisshed in my powere · for peril of my soule Ne gete my grace for giftes · so me god saue Ne for no Mede haue mercy · but mekenesse it make L.4.145: A pointing hand is sketched in the left margin in slightly darker ink and with a finer pen point, probably a later addition. The hand is placed lower than the line group with the finger pointing upward to the paraph. For nullum malum þe man · mette with inpunitum And badde nullum bonum · be irremuneratum · Late ȝowre confessoure sire Kynge · construe þis vnglosed · And ȝif ȝe worken it in werke · I wedde myne eres · + That lawe shal ben a laborere · and lede a-felde dongeL.4.149: A corrector's <+> appears in the left margin, but no error is apparent. And loue shal lede þi londe · as þe lief lyketh Clerkes þat were confessoures · coupled hem togideres Alle to construe þis clause · and for þe kynges profit Ac nouȝte for conforte of þe comune · ne for þe kynges soule + For I seiȝe n...medeL.4.154: The third minim of <m> and the <de> in mede are overwritten in darker ink, probably in response to the marginal <+>. The original word is not recoverable. in þe moot halle · on men of lawe wynke And þei lawghyng lope to hire · and lafte resoun manye Waryn wisdome · wynked vppon Mede And seide Madame I am ȝowre man · what-so my mouth iangleth I falle in floreines quod þat freke · an faile speche ofte Alle riȝtful recorded · þat resoun treuthe tolde And witt acorded þer-with · and comended his wordes And þe moste peple in þe halle · and manye of þe grete And leten mekenesse a maistre · and Mede a mansed schrewe Loue lete of hir liȝte · and lewte ȝit lasse And seide it so heiȝe þat al þe halle it herde Who-so wilneth hir to wyf · for welth of her godis But he be knowe for a kokewolde · kut of my nose Mede mourned þo · and made heuy chere For þe moste comune of þat courte called hire an hore Ac a sysoure and aL.4.169: The words and a have been badly rubbed, particularly the <d> and the article. The same rubbing affected the penultimate letters of comone in the preceding line. sompnoure · sued hir faste And a schireues clerke · byschrewed al þe route For ofte haue I quod he · holpe ȝow atte barre And ȝit ȝeue ȝe me neuere · þe worthe of a russhe The kynge called conscience · and afterwardes resoun And recorded þat resoun had riȝtfullich schewed And mowdilich vppon Mede · with myȝte þe Kynge loked And gan wax wrothe with lawe · for Mede almoste had shent it And seide þorw ȝowre lawe as I leue · I lese many chetes Mede ouer-maistrieth lawe · and moche treuthe letteth Ac resoun shal rekene with ȝow · ȝif I regne any while And deme ȝow bi þis day · as ȝe han deserued Mede shal nouȝte meynprise ȝow · bi þe Marie of heuene I wil haue leute in lawe · and lete be al ȝowre ianglyng And as moste folke witnesseth wel · wronge shal be demed Quod conscience to þe kynge · but þe comune wil assent It is ful hard bi myn hed · here-to to brynge it Alle ȝowre lige leodes · to lede þus euene By hym þat rauȝte on þe rode · quod resoun to þe kynge But if I reule þus ȝowre rewme · rende out my guttes Ȝif ȝe bidden boxomnesse Ȝif ȝe bidden buxomnes · be of myne assente And I assent seith þe kynge · by seynte Marie my lady Be my conseille comen of clerkis · and of erlis Ac redili resoun þow shalt nouȝte ride fro me For as longe as I lyue · lete þe I nelle I am aredy quod resoun · to reste with ȝow euere So conscience be of owre conseille · I kepe no bettere And I graunt quod the kynge · goddesforbodegoddes forbode it faile Als longe as owre lyf lasteth · lyue we togideres passus v de visione vt supraL.5.000: The supra can almost be made out, but it is largely illegible.Passus quintus de visione TheL.5.1: The ornamental capital is five lines high, written in blue ink with red flourishes. kyng and his knightes · to the kirke wente To here matynes of þe day · and þe masse after Þanne waked I of my wynkynge and wo was with-alle Þat I ne hadde sleped sadder · and yseiȝen more Ac er I hadde faren a fourlonge · feyntise me hente That I ne myȝte ferther a foot · for defaute of slepynge And sat softly adown · and seide my bileue And so I babeled on my bedes · þei brouȝte me a-slepe And þanne saw I moche more · þan I bifore tolde For I say þe felde ful of folke · þat I bifore of seyde And how resoun gan arrayen hym · alle þe reume to preche And with a crosse afor þe kynge · comsed þus to techen He preued þat þise pestilences · was for pure synne And þe southwest wynde · on saterday at euene Was pertliche for pure pryde · and for no poynt elles Piries and plomtrees · were puffed to þe erthe In ensample ȝe segges · ȝe shulden do þe bettere Beches and brode okes · were blowen to þe grounde Torned vpward her tailles · in tokenynge of drede Þat dedly synne ar domesday · shal fordon hem alle Of þis matere I myȝte · mamely ful longe Ac I shal seye as I saw · so me god helpe How pertly afor þe poeple · resoun gan to preche He bad wastoure go worche · what he best couthe And wynnen his wastyng · with somme manere crafte And preyed peronelle · her purfyle to lete And kepe it in hir cofre · for catel at hire nede Thomme stowue he tauȝte · to take two staues And fecche filice home · fro þe wyuen pyne He warned watt · his wyf was to blame Þat hire hed was worth halue a marke · his hode nouȝte worth a grote And bad bette kut · a bow other tweyne And bete betoun þer-with · but if she wolde worche And þanne he charged chapmen · to chasten her childeren Late no wynnynge hem forweny · whil þei be ȝonge Ne for no pouste of pestilence · plese hem nouȝte out of resoun My syre seyde so to me · and so did my dame Þat þe leuere childe · þe more lore bihoueth And Salamon seide þe same · þat sapience made Qui parcit virge odit filium Þe Englich of þis latyn is · who-so wil it knowe Who-so spareth þe sprynge · spilleth his children L.5.43: A pointing hand appears in the left margin, the work of a later scribe. This hand is in darker ink than the text and written with a finer penstroke; it is placed low in relation to the line group so that the finger points to the paraph. Compare to the hand on fol. 16r. And sithen he preyed prelatz · and prestes togideres Þat ȝe prechen to þe peple · preue · it on ȝowre-seluen And doth it in dede · it shal drawe ȝow to good If ȝe lyuen as ȝe leren vs we shal leue ȝow þe bettere And sithen he radde Religioun · here reule to holde Leste þe kynge and his conseille · ȝowre comunes appayre And ben stuwardes of ȝowre stedes · til ȝe be ruled bettre And sithen he conseilled þe kynge · þe comune to louye It is þi tresore if tresoun ne were · and triacle at þi nede And sithen he prayed þe pope · haue pite on holicherche And er he gyue any grace · gouerne firste hym-selue And ȝe that han lawes to kepe · late treuthe be ȝowre coueytise More þan golde or other gyftes · if ȝe wil god plese For who-so contrarieth treuthe · he telleth in þe gospel That god knoweth hym nouȝte · ne no seynte of heuene Amen dico vobis nescio vos · And ȝe þat seke seynte Iames · and seintes of Rome Seketh seynt treuthe · for he may saue ȝow alle Qui cum patre & filio · þat feire hem bifalle Þat suweth my sermon · and þus seyde resoun L.5.63: The original scribe put a paraph indicator in the left margin but did not skip a line, and the rubricator did not draw the paraph. ¶ Thanne ran repentance · and reherced his teme And gert wille to wepe · water with his eyen Peronelle proude-herte · platte hir to þe erthe And lay longe ar she loked · and lorde mercy cryed Superbia · And byhiȝte to hym · þat vs alle made She shulde vnsowen hir serke · and sette þere an heyre To affaiten hire flessh · þat fierce was to synne Shal neuere heiȝe herte · me hente · but holde me lowe And suffre to be myssayde · and so did I neuere But now wil I meke me · and mercy biseche For al þis I haue · hated in myne herte Þanne lecchoure seyde allas · and on owre lady he cryed Luxuria · To make mercy for his mis-dedes · bitwene god and his soule With þat he shulde þe saterday · seuene ȝere þere-after Drynke but myd þe doke · and dyne but ones Inuidia Enuye with heuy herte · asked after scrifte And carefullich mea culpa · he comsed to shewe He was as pale as a pelet · in þe palsye he semed And clothed in a caurimaury · I couthe it nouȝte discreue In kirtel and kour..teby · and a knyf bi his syde Of a freres frokke · were forsleuesL.5.83: A word-long erased space occurs after were. It has been thoroughly scraped. Examination under ultra-violet light suggests that the scribe wrote forsleues, and only found the repetition in correcting the page. þe forsleues And as a leke hadde yleye · longe in þe sonne So loked he with lene chekes · lourynge foule His body was to-bolle for wratthe · þat he bote his lippes · And wryngynge he ȝede with þe fiste · to wreke hym-self he þouȝte With werkes or with wordes · whan he seighe his tyme Eche a worde þat he warpe · was of an addres tonge Of chydynge and of chalangynge · was his chief lyflode With bakbitynge and bismer · and beryng of fals witnesse Þis was al his curteisye · where þat euere he shewed hym I wolde ben yshryue quod þis schrewe · and I for shame durst I wolde be gladder bi god · þat gybbe had meschaunce Than þouȝe I had þis woke ywonne · a weye of essex chese I haue a neighbore neyȝe me · I haue ennuyed hym ofte And lowen on hym to lordes · to don hym lese his siluer And made his frendes ben his foon · thorw my false tonge His grace and his good happes · greueth me ful sore Bitwene many · and many · I make debate ofte Þat bothe lyf and lyme · is lost þorw my speche L.5.102: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it. ¶ And whan I mete him in market · þat I moste hate I hailse hym hendeliche · as I his frende were For he is douȝtier þan I · I dar do non other Ac hadde I maystrye and myȝte · god wote my wille And whan I come to þe kirke · and sholde knele to þe Rode And preye for þe pople · as þe prest techeth For pilgrimes and for palmers · for alle þe poeple after Þanne I crye on my knees · þat cryste ȝif hem sorwe Þat bar awey my bolle · and my broke schete Awey fro þe auter þanne · turne I myn eyghen And biholde how Eleyne · hath a newe cote I wisshe þanne it were myne · and al þe webbe after And of mennes lesynge I laughe · þat liketh myn herte And for her wynnynge I wepe · and waille þe tyme And deme þat hij don ille · þere I do wel worse Who-so vndernymeth me here-of · I hate hym dedly after I wolde þat vche a wyght · were my knaue For who-so hath more þan I · þat angreth me sore And þus I lyue louelees · lyke a luther dogge That al my body bolneth · for bitter of my galle I myȝte nouȝte eet many ȝeres · as a man ouȝte For enuye and yuel wille · is yuel to defye May no sugre ne swete þinge · asswage my swellynge Ne no diapenidion · dryue it fro myne herte Ne noyther schrifte ne shame · but ho-so schrape my mawe Ȝus redili quod repentaunce · and radde hym to þe beste Sorwe of synnes · is sauacioun of soules I am sori quod þat segge · I am but selde other And þat maketh me þus megre · for I ne may me venge Amonges Burgeyses haue I be · dwellynge at Londoun And gert bakbitinge be a brocoure · to blame mennes ware Whan he solde and I nouȝte · þanne was I redy To lye and to loure on my neighbore · and to lakke his chaffare I wil amende þis ȝif I may · þorw myȝte of god almyȝty Ira ·L.5.136: The scribe has put 3 dots arranged in a triangle in the left margin inside a red box with the gloss. Now awaketh wratthe · with two whyte eyen And nyuelynge with þe nose · and his nekkeL.5.137: The word nekke is added later by the original scribe in a blank he left, one not entirely filled. hangyngeL.5.137-138: Water damage has affected the left side of this line group and the final line on the page. I am wrath quod he · I was sum-tyme a frere And þe couentes Gardyner · for to graffe ympes nota On limitoures and listres · lesynges I ymped Tyl þei bere leues of low speche · lordes to plese And sithen þei blosmed obrode · in boure to here shriftes And now is fallen þer-of a frute · þat folke han wel leuere Schewen her schriftes to hem · þan shryue hem to her persones And now personesL.5.145: LM alone omit han, which appears before or after persones in other B manuscripts. parceyued · þat Freres parte with hem Þise possessioneres preche · and depraue freres And freres fyndeth hem in defaute · as folke bereth witnes That whan þei preche þe poeple · in many placeL.5.148: LBCMY read singular place against the plural of all other manuscripts. aboute I wrath walke with hem · and wisse hem of my bokes Þus þei speken of spiritualte · þat eyther despiseth other Til þei be bothe beggers · and by my spiritualte libben Or elles alle riche and riden aboute I wrath rest neuere · þat I ne moste folwe This wykked folke · for suche is my grace I haue an aunte to nonne · and an abbesse bothe Hir were leuere swowe or swelte · þan soeffre any peyne I haue be cook in hir kichyne · and þe couent serued Many monthes with hem · and with monkes bothe I was þe priouresses potagere · and other poure ladyes And made hem ioutes of iangelynge · þat dame Iohanne was a bastard And dame Clarice a kniȝtes douȝter · ac a kokewolde was hire syre And dame Peronelle a prestes file · Priouresse worth she neuere For she had childe in chirityme · al owre chapitere it wiste Of wykked wordes I wrath · here wortes I-madeL.5.164: The metrically required prefix is supplied for I-made (< OE gemacian) only in LROC2. Til þow lixte and þow lixte · lopen oute at ones And eyther hitte other · vnder þe cheke Hadde þei had knyues bi cryst · herL.5.167: LMWR read her or hir. All other B manuscripts omit it. eyther had killed other Seynt Gregorie was a gode pope · and had a gode forwit Þat no Priouresse were prest · for þat he ordeigned Þei had þanne ben infamis þe firste day · þei can so yuel hele conseille Amonge monkes I miȝte be · ac many tyme I shonye For þere ben many felle frekis · my feres to aspye Bothe Prioure an supprioure · and owre pater abbas And if I telle any tales · þei taken hem togyderes And do me faste frydayes · to bred and to water And am chalanged in þe chapitelhous · as I a childe were And baleised on þe bare ers · and no breche bitwene For-þi haue I no lykyng · with þo leodes to wonye I ete there vnthende fisshe · and fieble ale drynke Ac otherwhile whan wyn cometh · whanL.5.180: This word appears only in manuscripts LGMR. Most other beta witnesses have and. I drynke wyn at eue I haue a fluxe of a foule mouthe · wel fyue dayes after Al þe wikkednesse þat I wote · bi any of owre bretheren I couth it in owre cloistre · þat al owre couent wote it Now repent þe quod Repentaunce · and reherce þow neure Conseille þat þow cnowest · bi contenaunce ne bi riȝte And drynke nouȝte ouer-delicatly · ne to depe noyther Þat þi wille bi cause þer-of to wrath myȝte torne Esto sobrius he seyde · and assoilled me after And bad me wilne to wepe · my wikkednesse to amende Auaricia ·L.5.190: The scribe has put 3 dots arranged in a triangle to the left of Auaricia. And þanne cam coueytise · can I hym nouȝte descryue So hungriliche and holwe · sire henriL.5.191: LCGR alone read henri; most other B manuscripts have heruy. hym loked He was bitelbrowed · and baberlipped also With two blered eyghen · as a blynde hagge And as a letheren purs · lolled his chekes Wel sydder þan his chyn · þei chiueled for elde And as a bondman of his bacoun · his berde was bidraueled With an hode on his hed · a lousi hatte aboue And in a tauny tabarde · of twelue wynter age Al totorne and baudy · and ful of lys crepynge But if þat a lous couthe · haue lopen þe bettre She sholde nouȝte haue walked on þat welcheL.5.201: LR alone read on þat welche; other manuscripts have several different variants: Cr1MW read on þat welþe, and most other B manuscripts have there or theron. "Welche" is Welsh flannel. · so was it thredebare I haue ben coueytouse quod þis caityue · I biknowe it here For some-tyme I serued · symme atte stile And was his prentis ypliȝte · his profit to wayte First I lerned to lye · a leef other tweyne Wikkedlich to weye · was my furst lessoun To wy and to wynchestre · I went to þe faire With many manere marchandise · as my Maistre me hiȝte Ne had þe grace of gyle ygo · amonge my wareL.5.209: L is joined by MRF in reading ware. Other B manuscripts have chaffare. It had be vnsolde þis seuene ȝere · so me god helpe L.5.211: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it. ¶ Thanne drowe I me amonges draperes · my donet to lerne To drawe þe lyser alonge þe lenger it semed Amonge þe riche rayes · I rendred a lessoun To broche hem with a bat-nedleL.5.214: L and RF have the nonce-word bat-nedle, meaning "basting needle"; other B witnesses read pak-nedle. · and plaited hem togyderes And put hem in a presse · and pynedL.5.215: L is joined by alpha manuscripts RF in reading pyned; most other B manuscripts have pynned. hem þerinne Tyl ten ȝerdes or twelue · tolledL.5.216: LM are joined by alpha manuscripts RF in reading tolled; other B witnesses have hadde(n) tolled. out threttene My wyf was a webbe · and wollen cloth made She spak to spynnesteres · to spynnen it oute Ac þe pounde þat she payed by · poised a quarteroun more Than myne owne auncere · who-so weyȝed treuthe I bouȝte hir barly malte · she brewe it to selle Peny ale and podyng ale · she poured togideres For laboreres and for low folke · þat lay by hym-selue The best ale lay in my boure · or in my bedchambre And who-so bummed þer-of · bouȝte it þer-after A galoun for a grote · god wote na lesse And ȝit it cam in cupmel · þis crafte my wyf vsed Rose þe regratere · was hir riȝte name She hath holden hokkerye · al hire lyf-tyme Ac I swere now so the ik · þat synne wil I lete And neuere wikkedliche weye · ne wikke chaffare vse But wenden to walsyngham · and my wyf als · And bidde þe Rode of bromeholme · brynge me oute of dette Repentestow þe euere quod repentance · neL.5.234: LMR alone read ne; other B manuscripts have or. restitucioun madest Ȝus ones I was herberwed quod he · with an hep of chapmenL.5.235: This is the first appearance of a mark which looks here like a single character, a barred <g>, but which will sometimes be extended to form a bracket. It is used here more like nota than as a bracket. The ink differs from text ink. I roos whan þei were arest · and yrifledL.5.236: LR alone have unmetrical yrifled. Other B manuscripts have riflede. here males That was no restitucioun quod repentance · but a robberes thefte Þow haddest betterL.5.238: LR alone lack be before better. worthy · be hanged þerfore Þan for al þat · þat þow hast here shewed · I wende ryflynge were restitucioun quod he · for I lerned neuere rede on boke And I can no frenche in feith · but of þe ferthest ende of norfolke Vsedestow euere vsurie quod repentaunce · in alle þi lyf-tyme Nay sothly he seyde · saue in my ȝouthe I lerned amonge lumbardes · and iewes a lessoun To wey pens with a peys · and pare þe heuyest And lene it for loue of þe crosse · to legge a wedde and lese it Suche dedes I did wryte · ȝif he his day breke I haue mo maneres þorw rerages · þan þorw miseretur & comodat I haue lent lordes · and ladyes my chaffare And ben her brocour after · and bouȝte it my-self Eschaunges and cheuesances · with suche chaffare I dele And lene folke þat lese wol · a lyppe at euery noble And with lumbardes lettres · I ladde golde to Rome And toke it by taille here · and tolde hem þere lasse L.5.255-258: A bracket, supplied by a later hand, extends from this line through the following three lines in the left margin. Lenestow euere lordes · for loue of her mayntenaunce Ȝe I haue lent lordes · loued me neuere after And haue ymade many a knyȝte · bothe mercere & drapere Þat payed neuere for his prentishode · nouȝte a peire gloues Hastow pite on pore men · þat mote nedes borwe I haue as moche pite of pore men · as pedlere hath of cattes Þat wolde kille hem yf he cacche hem myȝte · for coueitise of here skynnes Artow manlyche amonge þi neiȝbores · of þi mete and drynke I am holden quod he as hende · as hounde is in kychyne Amonges my neighbores namelich · such a name ich haue Now god lene neure quod repentance · but þow repent þe rather Þe grace on þis grounde · þi good wel to bisette + Ne þine ysueL.5.267: L and R alone have ysue, meaning "issue, progeny." Most other B manuscripts have heires. The original scribe first wrote vsue and then in response to the corrector's <+> corrected the first character to <y>. after þe · haue ioye of þat þow wynnest Ne þi excecutours wel bisett · þe siluer þat þow hem leuest And þat was wonne with wronge · with wikked men be despended For were I frere of þat hous · þere gode faith and charite is I nolde cope vs with þi catel · ne owre kyrke amende Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce · of þyne bi my soule hele For þe best boke in owre hous · þeiȝe brent golde were þe leues + And I wyst wytterly · þow were suche as þow tellethL.5.274: L uniquely has telleth here; the other B manuscripts read tellest. This probably motivated the corrector's <+> in the left margin. Seruus es alterius · cum fercula pinguia queris Pane tuo pocius · vescere liber eris · Thow art an vnkynde creature · I can þe nouȝte assoille Til þow make restitucioun · and rekne with hem alle And sithen þat resoun rolle it · in þe regystre of heuene That þow hast made vche man good · I may þe nouȝte assoille Non dimittitur peccatum · donec restituatur ablatum &c For alle þat hathL.5.282: LMR alone read hath; C2HmOW have han and CCrGYF read haue. of þi good · haue god my trouthe IsL.5.283: LMR alone have Is; other B witnesses have Ben. holden at þe heighe dome · to helpe þe to restitue And who-so leueth nouȝte þis be soth · loke in þe sauter glose In miserere mei deus · where I mene treuthe Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti &c Shal neuere werkman in þis worlde · þryue wyth þat þow wynnest Cum sancto sanctus eris · construe me þat on englische Thanne wex þat shrewe in wanhope · and walde haue hanged himself Ne hadde repentaunce þe rather · reconforted hym in þis manere Haue mercye in þi mynde · and with þi mouth biseche it For goddes mercye is more · þan alle hise other werkes Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius &c · And al þe wikkednesse in þis worlde · þat man myȝte worche or thynke Ne is no more to þe mercye of god · þan in þe see a glede Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei · estL.5.296: L alone omits quasi after est. sintilla in medio maris For-þi haue mercy in þi mynde · and marchandise leue it For þow hast no good grounde · to gete þe with a wastel But if it were with thi tonge · or ellis with þi two hondes For þe good þat þow hast geten · bigan al with falsehede And as longe as þow lyuest þer-with · þow ȝeldest nouȝte but borwest And if þow wite neuere to whiche · ne whom to restitue Bere it to þe bisschop · and bidde hym of his grace Bisette it hym-selue · as best is for þi soule For he shal answere for þe · at þe heygh dome For þe and for many mo · þat man shal ȝif a rekenynge What he lerned ȝow in lente · leue þow none other And what he lent ȝow of owre lordes good · to lette ȝow fro synne Gula · Now bigynneth glotoun · for to go to schrifte And kaires hym to kirke-ward · his coupe to schewe Ac Beton þe brewestere · bad hym good morwe And axed of hym with þat · whiderward he wolde To holicherche quod he · forto here masse And sithen I wil be shryuen · and synne namoreL.5.314-318: A later hand has added in the right margin a bracket extending to include the next four lines. gluons fisik I haue gode ale gossib quod she · glotown wiltow assayeL.5.315: In the right margin are the words gluons (for glu[t]ons) fisik. Hastow auȝte in þi purs · any hote spices I haue peper and piones quod heL.5.317: The form he for "she" is a relict from Bx, and it appears in LBCCrY and the first version of M. · and a pounde of garlike A ferthyngworth of fenel-seed · for fastyngdayes Þanne goth glotoun in · and grete othes after Cesse þe souteresse · sat on þe benche Watte þe warner · and his wyf bothe Tymme þe tynkere · and tweyne of his prentis Hikke þe hakeneyman · and hugh þe nedeler Clarice of cokkeslane · and þe clerke of þe cherche Dawe þe dykere and a dozeine other Sire Piers of Pridie · and Peronelle of Flaundres A ribibour a ratonere · a rakyer of chepe A ropere a redyngkyng · and Rose þe dissheres Godfrey of garlekehithe · and gryfin þe walsh And vpholderes an hepe · erly bi þe morwe Geuen glotoun with glad chere · good ale to hansel Clement þe cobelere · cast of his cloke And atte newfairenew faire · he nempned it to selle Hikke þe hakeneyman · hitte his hood after And badde bette þe bochere · ben on his side Þere were chapmen ychose · þis chaffare to preise Who-so hauethL.5.337: LGMR read haueth. Other B manuscripts favor hadde, though hath and haue occur in some instances. þe hood · shuld haue amendes of þe cloke Two risen vp in rape · and rouned togideres And preised þese penyworthes · apart bi hem-selue Þei couth nouȝte bi her conscience · acorden in treuthe Tyl Robyn þe ropere · arose bi þe southe And nempned hym for a noumpere · þat no debate nere Hikke þe ....hostellere · hadde þe cloke In couenaunte þat Clement shulde þe cuppe fille And haue hikkes hode hostellere · and holde hym yserued And who-so repented rathest · shulde arise after And grete sire glotoun with a galoun ale Þere was laughyng and louryng · and let go þe cuppe And seten so til euensonge · and songen vmwhile Tyl glotoun had yglobbed · a galoun an a Iille + His guttis gunne to godlyL.5.351: LMR alone read godly. The corrector's marginal <+> suggests that he thought this required correction, perhaps to god[e]l[e] as in L.13.95: And þanne shullen his guttis godele. See MED s.v. gothelen v. · as two gredy sowes He pissed a potel · in a pater noster while And blew his rounde ruwet · at his rigge-bonL.5.353: LC alone have the s-less genitive. ende That alle þat herde þat horne · held her nose after And wissheden it had be wexed · with a wispe of firses He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde · er he his staffe hadde And þanne gan he go · liche a glewmannes bicche Somme-tyme aside · and somme-tyme arrere As who-so leyth lynes · forto lacche foules And whan he drowgh to þe dore · þanne dymmed his eighen + He trembledL.5.361: L alone reads trembled, though R has tremled and F tripplid. Most other B witnesses have some form of stombled. A corrector's <+> appears in the margin, though that possibly marks the scribe's spelling an for "and" later in the line. on þe thresshewolde · an threwe to þe erthe Clement þe cobelere · cauȝte hym bi þe myddel For to lifte hym alofte · and leyde him on his knowes Ac glotoun was a gret cherle · and a grym in þe liftynge And coughed vp a caudel · in clementis lappe Is non so hungri hounde · in Hertford-schire Durst lape of þeL.5.367: LGMR alone read þe. Most other B manuscripts have þat. Kane-Donaldson mistakenly read M as þo. leuynges · so vnlouely þei smauȝte With al þe wo of þis worlde · his wyf and his wenche Baren hym home to his bedde · and brouȝte hym þer-inne And after al þis excesse · he had an accidie Þat he slepe saterday and sonday · til sonne ȝede to reste Þanne waked he of his wynkyng · and wiped his eyghen Þe fyrste worde þat he warpe · was where is þe bolle His witte gan edwite hym þo · how wikkedlich he lyued And repentance riȝte so · rebuked hym þat tyme As þow with wordes and werkes · hast wrouȝte yuel in þi lyue Shryue þe and be shamed þer-of · and shewe it with þi mouth I glotoun quod þe gome · gylti me ȝelde Þat I haue trespassed with my tonge · I can nouȝte telle how ofte Sworen goddes soule · and so god me help and halidom Þere no nede ne was · nyne hundreth tymes And ouer-seye me at my sopere · and some-tyme at nones Þat I glotoun girt it vp · er I hadde gone a myle And yspilte þat myȝte be spared · and spended on somme hungrie Ouerdelicatly on fastyng-dayes · drunken and eten bothe And sat some-tyme so longe þere · þat I slepe and ete at ones For loue of tales in tauernes · to drynke þe more I dyned And hyed to þe mete er none · whan fastyng-dayes were This shewyng shrifte quod repentance · shal be meryte to þe And þanne gan glotoun grete · and gret doel to make For his lither lyf · þat he lyued hadde And avowed fastL.5.392: LGR and the first copy of M omit to before fast. · for hunger or for thurst Shal neuere fisshe on þeL.5.393: LBoCotR alone have þe. It is omitted by most other B witnesses. fryday · defien in my wombe Tyl abstinence myn aunte · haue ȝiue me leue And ȝit haue I hated hir · al my lyf-tyme Accidia Þanne come sleuthe al bislabered · with two slymy eiȝen I most sitte seyde þe segge · or elles shulde I nappe I may nouȝte stonde ne stoupe · ne with-oute a stole knele Were I brouȝte abedde · but if my taille-ende it made Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse · ar I were rype to dyne He bygan benedicite with a bolke · and his brest knocked And roxed and rored · and rutte atte laste What awake renke quod repentance · and rape þe to shrifte If I shulde deye bi þis day · me liste nouȝte to loke I can nouȝte parfitly my pater noster · as þe prest it syngeth But I can rymes of Robyn hood · and Randolf erle of Chestre Ac neither of owre lorde ne of owre lady · þe leste þat euere was made I haue made vowes fourty · and forȝete hem on þe morne I parfourned neure penaunce · as þe prest me hiȝte Ne ryȝte sori for my synnes · ȝet was I neuere And ȝif I bidde any bedes · but if it be in wrath Þat I telle with my tonge · is two myle fro myne herte I am occupied eche day · haliday and other With ydel tales atte ale · and otherwhile in cherches Goddes peyne and his passioun · ful selde þynke I þere-on I visited neuere fieble men · ne fettered folke in puttes I haue leuere here an harlotrie · or a somer game of souteres Or lesynges to laughe at · and belye my neighboreL.5.418: LMR alone read neighbore; most other B manuscripts have the plural. Þan al þat euere Marke made · Mathew Iohan & lucas And vigilies and fastyng-dayes · alle þise late I passe And ligge abedde in lenten · an my lemman in myn armes Tyl matynes and masse be do · and þanne go to þe freres Come I to ite missa est · I holde me yserued I nam nouȝte shryuen some-tyme · but if sekenesse it make Nouȝt tweies in two ȝere · and þanne vp gesse I shcryue me I haue be prest and parsoun · passynge thretti wynter Ȝete can I neither solfe ne synge · ne seyntes lyues rede But I can fynde in a felde · or in a fourlonge an hare Better þan in beatus vir · or in beati omnes Construe oon clause wel · and kenne it to my parochienesL.5.430: The words oon and wel have been written by a contemporary hand in blank spaces. The <c> of clause and the medial raised point has been retouched by the same hand. I can holde louedayes · and here a Reues rekenynge Ac in canoun ne in þeL.5.432: Manuscripts LGMR alone supply þe. Most other manuscripts omit it. decretales · I can nouȝte rede a lyne + Ȝif I bigge andL.5.433: The <d> is a later addition in the blank space between the two words. The corrector's <+> appears faintly in the left margin, further out than most such marks. Though the ink is darker than that of the text hand, the correction may well have been made by the original scribe. borwe it · but ȝif it be ytailled I forȝete it as ȝerne · and ȝifL.5.434: LHmR read alliterating ȝif; most other B manuscripts read if. men me it axe Sixe sithes or seuene · I forsake it with othes And þus tene I trewe men · ten hundreth tymes And my seruauntz some-tyme · her salarye is bihynde Reuthe is to hereL.5.438: Where LMRF have here alone, most other B manuscripts have here þe. rekenynge · whan we shal rede acomptes So with wikked wille and wraththe · my werkmen I paye Ȝif any man doth me a benfait · or helpeth me at nede I am vnkynde aȝein his curteisye · and can nouȝte vnderstonde it For I haue and haue hadde · some-dele haukes maneres I namL.5.443: LMO read nam. All other B witnesses have am. nouȝte lured with loue · but þere ligge auȝte vnder þe thombe The kyndenesse þat myne euene-cristene · kidde me farnere Sixty sythes I sleuthe · haue foȝetefo[r]ȝete it sith In speche and in sparynge of speche · yspilte many a tyme Bothe flesche & fissche · and many other vitailles Bothe bred and ale · butter melke and chese Forsleuthed in my seruyse · til it myȝte serue noman I ran aboute in ȝouthe · and ȝaf me nouȝte to lerne + And euere sith beL.5.451: LR alone read be; other B manuscripts read haue be, haue I be, or I haue be. True to form, the corrector has noted the reading with a marginal <+>. beggere · for my foule sleuthe Heu michi quia sterilem vitam duxi Iuuenilem Repentestow þe nauȝte · quod repentance · and riȝte with þat he swowned Til vigilate þe veille · fette water at his eyȝen And flatte it on his face · and faste on hym criede And seide ware þe fram wanhope · wolde þe bitraye I am sori for my synnes · sey soL.5.457: LMR alone have so; other B witnesses omit it. to þi-selue And bete þi-selue on þe breste · and bidde hym of grace For is no gult here so grete · þat his goodnesse nysL.5.459: LMW alone have nys. All other B manuscripts read is. more Þanne sat sleuthe vp · and seyned hym swithe And made avowe to-fore god · for his foule sleuthe Shal no sondaye be þis seuene ȝere · but sykenesse it lette Þat I ne shal do me er day · to þe dere cherche And heren matines and masse · as I a monke were Shal none ale after mete · holde me þennes Tyl I haue euensonge herde · I behote to þe Rode And ȝete wil I ȝelde aȝein · if I so moche haue Al þat I wikkedly wan · sithen I wytte hadde And þough my liflode lakke · leten I nelle Þat eche man ne shal haue his · ar I hennes wende And with þe residue · and þe remenaunt · bi þe Rode of chestre I shal seke treuthe arst · ar I se Rome Robert þe robbere · on reddite lokede And for þer was nouȝte · where-of he wepeL.5.474: The strong preterite form wepe appears in alpha and M as well. Most beta witnesses have wepte. swithe sore Ac ȝet þe synful shrewe · seyde to hym-selue Cryst þat on caluarye · vppon þe crosse deydest Tho dismas my brother · bisouȝte ȝow of grace And haddest mercy on þat man · for memento sake So rewe on þis robbere · þat reddere ne haue debeo Ne neuere wene to wynne · with crafte þat I oweL.5.480: The gloss debeo appears over the last word of this line. But for þi mykel mercy · mitigacioun I biseche Ne dampne me nouȝte at domesday · for þat I did so ille What bifel of þis feloun · I can nouȝte faire schewe Wel I wote he wepte faste · water with boþe his eyen And knowleched his gult · to cryst ȝete eftsones Þat penitencia his pyke · he shulde polsche newe And lepe with hym ouer londe · al his lyf-tyme For he had leyne bi latro · luciferes aunte And þanne had repentaunce reuthe · and redde hem alle to knele For I shal biseche for al synful · owre saueoure of grace To amende vs of owre mysdedes · and do mercy to vs alle Now god quod he · þat of þi goodnesse · gonne þe worlde make And of nauȝte madest auȝte · and man moste liche to þi-selue And sithen suffredest for to synne · a sikenesse to vs alle And al for þe best as I bileue · what-euere þe boke telleth O felix culpa o necessarium peccatum ade &c For þourgh þat synne þi sone · sent was to þis erthe And bicam man of a mayde · mankynde to saue And madest þi-self with þi sone · and vs synful yliche Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et similitudinem nostram Et alibi qui manet in caritate · in deo manet & deus in eo And sith with þi self sone · in owre sute deydest On godefrydaygode fryday for mannes sake · at ful tyme of þe daye Þere þi-self ne þi sone · no sorwe in deth feledest But in owre secte was þe sorwe · and þi sone it ladde Captiuam duxit captiuitatem Þe sonne for sorwe þer-of · les syȝte for a tyme Aboute mydday whan moste liȝte is · and mele-tyme of seintes Feddest with þi fresche blode · owre forfadres in derknesse Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris · vidit lucem magnam And thorw þe liȝte þat lepe oute of þe · lucifer was blent And blewe alle þi blissed · in-to þe blisse of paradise Þe thrydde daye after · þow ȝedest in owre sute A synful Marie þe seighe · ar seynte Marie þi dame And 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 and lucas Of þyne douȝtiestL.5.518: LMRF agree in reading douȝtiest; other B witnesses have douȝty. dedes · were don in owre armes Verbum caro factum est et habitauit in nobis And bi so moche me semeth · þe sikerere we mowe Bydde and biseche · if it be þi wille Þat art owre fader and owre brother be merciable to vs And haue reuthe on þise Ribaudes · þat repente hem here sore Þat euere þei wratthed þe in þis worlde · in worde þouȝte or dedes Þanne hent hope an horne · of deus tu conuersus viuificabis And blew it with · Beati quorum · remisse sunt iniquitates Þat alle seyntes in heuene · songen at ones Homines & iumenta saluabis quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus &c · A thousand of men þo · thrungen togyderes Criede vpward to cryst · and to his clene moder To haue grace to go with hem treuthe to seke Ac þere was wyȝte non so wys · þe wey þider couthe But blustreden forth as bestes · ouer bankes and hilles Til late was and longe · þat þei a lede mette Apparailled as a paynym · in pylgrymes wyse He bare a burdoun ybounde · with a brode liste In a withewyndes wise · ywounden aboute A bolle and a bagge · he bare by his syde An hundreth of ampulles · on his hatt seten Signes of synaiy and shelles of galice And many a cruche on his cloke · and keyes of Rome And þe vernicle bifore · for men shulde knowe And se bi his signes · whom he souȝte hadde Þis folke frayned hym firste · fro whennes he come Fram synay he seyde · and fram owre lordes sepulcre In bethleem and in babiloyne · I haue ben in bothe InL.5.547: The <n> is in red ink and was inserted in the space reserved for the capitals, not as a regular item of text. ermonye in alisaundre · in many other places Ȝe may se bi my signes · þat sitten on myn hatte Þat I haue walked ful wyde · in wete and in drye And souȝte gode seyntes · for my soules helth Knowestow ouȝte a corseint · þat men calle treuthe Coudestow auȝte wissen vs þe weye · where þat wy dwelleth Nay so me god helpe · seide þe gome þanne I seygh neuere palmere · with pike ne with scrippe Axen after hym · er til now in þis place L.5.556: A square about an inch in size appears in the left margin. It is drawn with very fine penstrokes in pale brown ink, and each side of it is scored by three small strokes evenly spaced. In the middle is a tiny circle. The strokes do not radiate from the circle. Peter quod a plowman · and put forth his hed I knowe hym as kyndely · as clerke doþ his bokes Conscience and kynde witte · kenned me to his place And deden me suren hym sikerly · to serue hym for euere Bothe to sowe and to sette þe while I swynke myghte I haue ben his folwar · al þis fourtyL.5.561: LMRF read fourty; other B witnesses have fifty. wyntre Bothe ysowen his sede · and sued his bestes With-Inne and with-outen · wayted his profyt I dyke and I delue · I do þat treuthe hoteth Some-tyme I sowe · and some-tyme I thresche In tailoures crafte and tynkares crafte · what treuthe can deuyse I weue an I wynde · and do what treuthe hoteth For þouȝe I seye it my-self · I serue hym to paye Ich haue mymynL.5.569: A contemporary hand subpuncted and struck through my and added myn in the left margin. huire wel · and otherwhiles more He is þe prestest payer · þat pore men knoweth He ne with-halt non hewe his hyre · þat he ne hath it at euen He is as low as a lombe · and loueliche of speche And ȝif ȝe wilneth to wite · where þat he dwelleth I shal wisse ȝow witterly · þe weye to his place Ȝe leue Pieres quod þis pilgrymes · and profered hym huire For to wende with hem · to treuthes dwellyng-place Nay bi my soules helth quod pieres · and gan forto swere I nolde fange a ferthynge · for seynt Thomas shryne Treuthe wolde loue me þe lasse · a longe tyme þere-afterL.5.579: LHmWR supply the necessary syllable þer for the medial dip. Most other B witnesses omit it. Ac if ȝe wilneth to wende wel · þis is þe weye thider nota Ȝe mote go þourgh mekenesse · bothe men and wyues Tyl ȝe come in-to conscience þat cryst wite þe sothe Þat ȝe louen owre lorde god · leuest of alle þinges And þanne ȝowre neighbores nexte · in non wise apeyre Otherwyse þan þow woldest · he wrouȝte to þi-selue And so boweth forth bi a broke · beth buxum of speche Tyl ȝe fynden a forth · ȝowre fadres honoureth Honora patrem & matrem &c · Wadeþ in þat water and wascheth ȝow wel þere And ȝe shul lepe þe liȝtloker · al ȝowre lyf-tyme decem preceptaL.5.591: The gloss is in a sixteenth-century hand. And so shaltow se swere nouȝte · but if it be for nede And namelich an ydel · þe name of god almyȝti Þanne shaltow come by a crofte · but come þow nouȝte þere-Inne That crofte hat coueyte nouȝte · mennes catel ne her wyues Ne none of here seruantz The end of seruantz is illegible except under ultra-violet light at the gutter edge. The image can also be sharpened to make them visible. Ne none of her seruauntes · þat noyen hem myȝte Loke ȝe breke no bowes þere · but if it be ȝowre owne Two stokkes þere stondeth · ac stynte ȝe nouȝte þere They hat stele nouȝte ne slee nouȝte stryke forth by bothe And leue hem on þi left halfe · and loke nouȝte þere-after And holde wel þyne haliday heighe · til euen Thanne shaltow blenche at a bergh · bere no false witnesse He is frithed in with floreines · and other foes many Loke þow plukke no plante þere · for peril of þi soule Þanne shal ȝe se sey soth · so it be to done In no manere ellis nauȝte · for no mannes biddyng Þanne shaltow come to a courte · as cle..re as þe sonne Þe mote is of mercy · þe manere · aboute And alle þe wallis ben of witte · to holden wille oute And kerneled with crystendome · man-kynde to saue Boterased with bileue so · or þow beest nouȝte ysauedL.5.610: Most other B witnesses omit the unmetrical prefix to saued. This form appears only in LMYR. And alle þe houses ben hiled · halles and chambres + WitL.5.612:The corrector's <+> in the margin presumably notes the scribe's rendering of Wit for Wiþ here. The same error is marked at L.20.118. It was not corrected either place. no lede but with loue · and lowe speche as bretheren Þe brugge is of bidde wel · þe bette may þow spede Eche piler is of penaunce · of preyeres to seyntes Of almes-dedes ar þe hokes · þat þe gates hangen on Grace hatte þe gateward · a gode man for-sothe Hys man hatte amende ȝow · for many manyL.5.617: An erasure of at least one letter space appears after <n>. Under ultra-violet light, it very dimly appears that the scribe had written many many.L.5.617: LMRF agree in reading man; other B witnesses have men. him knoweth Telleth hym þis tokene · þat treuthe wite þe sothe I parfourned þe penaunce · þe preest me enioyned And am ful sori for my synnes · and so I shal euere Whan I þinke þere-on · þeighe I were a pope Biddeth amende ȝow meke him · til his maistre ones To wayue vp þe wiket · þat þe womman shette Tho Adam and Eue · eten apples vnrosted Per euam cuntis clausa est · & per mariam virginem patefacta est For he hath þe keye and þe clikat · þouȝ þe kynge slepe And if grace graunte þe · to go in inL.5.627: LM alone have in in; other B witnesses have in. þis wise Þow shalt see in þi-selue · treuthe sitte in þine herte + In a cheyne of charyte · as þow a clildec[h]ildeL.5.629: The form is ambiguous. What we have transcribed as clilde was transcribed by Kane and Donaldson as chlde. The <+> in the right margin marks the error for correction. were To suffre hym and segge nouȝte · aȝein þi sires wille Ac bewar þanne of wrath þeL.5.631: LGHmWR have þe; other B witnesses omit it. · þat is a wikked shrewe He hath enuye to hym · þat in þine herte sitteth And pukketh ....forþL.5.633: Forþ and the <h> of pukketh have been corrected over an erasure in darker brown ink by a later hand. The <h> was converted from an <l>. pruyde to prayse þi-seluen Þe boldnesse of þi bienfetes · maketh þe blynde þanne And þanne worstow dryuen oute as dew · and þe dore closed Kayed andL.5.636: The <d> has been inserted in the same darker brown ink used by a later corrector above. clikated · to kepe þe with-outen Happily an hundreth wyntre · ar þow eft entre Þus myght þow lesen his loue · to late wel by þi-selue And neuere happilchehappil[i]che efte entre · but grace þow haue Ac þere ar seuene sustren · þat seruen treuthe euere And aren ...porteresL.5.641: The first three letters of porteres are written over an erasure in the same darker ink used above plus some overwriting in <t>. of þe posternes · that to þe place longeth vij sisters Þat one hatL.5.642: The <h> is written over in the darker ink of the later correcting scribe. abstenence · and humilite an-other Charite and chastite · ben his chief may..denes Pacience andL.5.644: The <d> is a later insert in red ink. pees · moche poeple þei helpeth Largenesse þe lady · heoL.5.645: L alone reads heo, though R has he. Most B manuscripts have she. let in ful manye HeoL.5.646: LR have the relict form Heo; other witnesses have she or sho. hath hulpe a þousande oute · of þe deueles ponfolde And who is sibbe to þis seueneL.5.647: The final <e> is in the darker ink of a later correcting scribe. · so me god helpe He is wonderliche welcome · and faire vnderfongen And but if ȝe be syb · to summe of þise seuene It is ful harde bi myne heued quod Peres · for any of ȝow alle To geten ingonge at any gate þere  but grace be þe more Now bi cryst quod a cutpurs · I haue no kynne þere NeL.5.653: LMRF agree in reading Ne; most other B witnesses have Nor. I quod an apewarde · bi auȝte þat I knowe Wite god quod a wafrestre · wist I þis for sothe Shulde I neuere ferthere a fote · for no freres prechyng Ȝus quod Pieres þe plowman · and pukked hem alle to gode Mercy is a maydene þere · hath myȝte ouer hemL.5.657: LCrMRF read hem; other B manuscripts omit it. alle And she is syb to alle synful · and her sone also And þoruȝe þe helpe of hem two · hope þow none otherL.5.659: Some text has been scraped in the right margin. Þow myȝte gete grace þere · bi so þow go bityme By seynt Poule quod a pardonere · parauenture I be nouȝte knowe þere I wil go fecche my box with my breuettes · and a bulle with bisshopes lettres By cryst quod a comune womman · þi companye wil I folwe Þow shalt sey I am þi sustre · I ne wot where þei bicome passus vjus de visione vt supraPassus vjusSextus t L.6.1: Three dots in brown ink arranged in a triangle appear in the left margin. ThisL.6.1: The ornamental character is six lines high and in blue with red flourishes and three sprays. A small guide letter <t> appears in the left margin amidst the flourishes. were a wikked way · but who-so hadde a gyde That wolde folwen vs eche a fote · þus þis folke hem mened Quatȝ Perkyn þe plouman · bi seynt Peter of Rome I haue an half acre to erye · bi þe ...heigh way Hadde I eried þis half acre · and sowen it after I wilL.6.6: LCYR read wil while other B witnesses have wolde. wende with ȝow · and þe way teche Þis were a longe lettiynge · quod a lady in a sklayre What sholde we wommen · worche þere-whilesL.6.8: The lection þere appears only in LMRF; most other B witnesses have þe. Somme shal sowe sakkeL.6.9: Sowe sakke appears only in L; most other B witnesses have sowe þe sak. quod Piers · for shedyng of þe whete And ȝe louely ladyes · with ȝoure longe fyngres Þat ȝe han silke and sendal · to sowe whan tyme is Chesibles for chapelleynes · cherches to honoure Wyues and wydwes · wolle & flex spynneth Maketh cloth I conseille ȝow · and kenneth so ȝowre douȝtres Þe nedy and þe naked · nymmeth hede how hijL.6.15: LM alone have the hij form at this point; most other B manuscripts have some form of þei. liggeth And casteth hem clothes · for so comaundeth treuthe For I shal lene hem lyflode · but ȝif þe londe faille Flesshe and bred bothe · to riche and to poreL.6.18: A large area in the right margin has been scraped. What was there is not legible. As longe as I lyue · for þe lordes loue of heuene And alle manere of men · þat þorw mete and drynke lybbeth Helpith hym to worche wiȝtliche · þat wynneth ȝowre fode Bi crist quod a knyȝte þo · he kenneth vs þe bestL.6.22: A large area in the right margin has been scraped. What was there is not legible. Ac on þe teme trewly · tauȝte was I neuere Ac kenne me quod þe knyȝte · and bi cryst I wil assaye Bi seynt Poule quod Perkyn · ȝe profre ȝow so faire Þat I shal swynke and swete · and sowe for vs bothe And oþer laboures do for þi loue · al my lyf-tyme In couenaunt þat þow kepe · holikirke and my-selue Fro wastoures and fro wykked men · þat þis worlde struyeth And go hunte hardiliche to hares and to foxes To bores and to brockes · þat breketh adown myne hegges And go affaite þe faucones · wilde foules to kille For suche cometh to my croft · and croppeth my whete Curteislich þe knyȝte þanne · comsed þise wordes By my power Pieres quod he · I pliȝte þe my treuthe To fulfille þis forward · þowȝ I fiȝte sholde Als longe as I lyue · I shal þe mayntene Ȝe and ȝit a poynt quod Pieres · I preye ȝow of more Loke ȝe tene no tenaunt · but treuthe wil assent And þowgh ȝe mowe amercy hem · late mercy be taxoure to landlordes And mekenesse þi mayster · maugre medes chekes And þowgh pore men profre ȝow · presentis and ȝiftis Nym it nauȝte an auenture · ȝe mowe it nauȝte deserue For þow shalt ȝelde it aȝein · at one ȝeres ende In a ful perillous place · purgatorie it hatte And mysbede nouȝte þi bonde-men · þe better may þow spede Þowgh he be þyn vnderlynge here · wel may happe in heuene Þat he worth worthier sette · and with more blisse Amice ascende superius For in charnel atteL.6.50: LHmM read atte, "at the," against all other B manuscripts' at. Since Hm routinely writes atte for at, only the agreement of LM is significant. chirche · cherles ben yuel to knowe Or a kniȝte fram a knaue þere · knowe þis in þin herte And þat þow be trewe of þi tonge · and tales þat þow hatie But if þei ben of wisdome or of witt · þi werkmen to chaste Holde with none harlotes · ne here nouȝte her tales And nameliche atte mete · suche men eschue For it ben þe deueles disoures · I do þe to vnderstande I assente bi seynt Iame · seyde þe kniȝte þanne Forto worche bi þi wordes · þe while my lyf dureth And I shal apparaille me quod Perkyn · in pilgrimes wise And wende with ȝow I wil · til we fynde treuthe And cast on meL.6.61: LR alone read me; other B manuscripts omit it. my clothes · yclouted and hole My cokeres and my coffes · for colde of my nailles And hange myn hoper at myn hals · in stede of a scrippe A busshel of bredcorne · brynge me þerinne For I wil sowe it my-self · and sitthenes wil I wende To pylgrymage as palmers don · pardoun forto haue Ac who-so helpeth me to erie · or sowen here ar I wende Shal haue leue bi owre lorde · to lese here in heruest And make hem mery þere-mydde · maugre who-so bigruccheth it And alkyn crafty men · þat konne lyuen in treuthe I shal fynden hem fode · þat feithfulliche libbeth Saue Iakke þe iogeloure · and Ionet of þe stues And danyel þe dys playere · and denote þe baude And frere þe faytoure and folke of his ordre And Robyn þe Rybaudoure · for his rusty wordes Treuthe tolde me ones · and bad me tellenL.6.76: The lection tellen appears only in LR; other B witnesses have telle, permitting elision of the final <e> and a metrical half-line. it after Deleantur de libro viuencium I shulde nouȝte dele with hem For holicherche is hote of hem · no tythe to take Quia cum iustis non scribantur They ben ascaped good auenture · nowL.6.80: The lection now appears only in LMRF; most other B witnesses omit it. god hem amende Dame worche whan tyme is · Pieres wyf hiȝte His douȝter hiȝte do riȝte so · or þi dame shal þe bete His sone hiȝte suffre þi souereynes · to hauen her wille Deme hem nouȝte for if þow doste · þow shalt it dere abugge Late god yworth with al · for so his worde techeth For now I am olde and hore · and haue of myn owen To penaunce and to pilgrimage · I wil passe with þise other For-þi I wil or I wende · do wryte my biqueste piers testament In dei nomine amen · I make it my-seluenL.6.89: A sixteenth-century scribe has written piers testament in the right margin. The end of testament has been cropped, perhaps removing -um. He shal haue my soule · þat best hath yserued it And fro þe fende it defende · for so I bileue Til I come to his acountes · as my credo me telleth To haue a relees and a remissioun · on þat rental I leue Þe kirke shal haue my caroigne · and kepe my bones For of my corne and catel · he craued þe tythe I payed it hym prestly · for peril of my soule For-thy is he holden I hope · to haue me in his masse And mengen in his memorye · amonge alle crystene My wyf shal haue of þat I wan · with treuthe and nomore And dele amonge my douȝtres · and my dere children For þowgh I deye to-daye · my dettes ar quitte I bare home þat I borwed · ar I to bedde ȝede And with þe residue and þe remenaunte · bi þe Rode of Lukes I wil worschip þer-with · treuthe bi my lyue And ben his pilgryme atte plow · for pore mennes sake My plow-fote shal be my pyk-staf · and picche atwo þe rotes And helpe my culter to kerue · and clense þe forwes Now is perkyn and his pilgrymes · to þe plowe faren To erie þis halue acre · holpyn hym manye Dikeres & delueres · digged vp þe balkes Þere-with was perkyn apayed · and preysed hem faste Other werkemen þere were · þat wrouȝten ful ȝerne Eche man in his manere · made hym-self to done And some to plese perkyn · piked vp þe wedes At heighe pryme peres · lete þe plowe stonde To ouersen hem hym-self · and who-so best wrouȝte He shulde be huyred þer-after · whan heruest tyme come And þanne seten somme · and songen atte nale And hulpen erie his half acre · with how trolli lolli Now bi þe peril of my soule quod Pieres · al in pure tene But ȝe arise þe rather · and rape ȝow to worche Shal no greyne þat groweth · glade ȝow at nede And þough ȝe deye for dole · þe deuel haue þat reccheth Tho were faitoures aferde · and feyned hem blynde Somme leyde here legges aliri as suche loseles conneth And made her mone to pieres · and preyde hym of grace For we haue no lymes to laboure with · lorde ygraced be ȝe Ac we preye for ȝow pieres · and for ȝowre plow bothe Þat god of his grace · ȝowre grayne multiplye And ȝelde ȝow of ȝowre almesse · þat ȝe ȝiue vs here For we may nouȝte swynke ne swete · suche sikenesse vs eyleth If it be soth quod pieres þat ȝe seyne · I shal it sone asspye Ȝe ben wastoures I wote wel · and treuthe wote þe sothe And I am his olde hyne · and hiȝte hym to warne Which þei were in þis worlde · his werkemen appeyred Ȝe wasten þat men wynnen · with trauaille and with tene Ac treuthe shal teche ȝow · his teme to dryue Or ȝe shal ete barly bred · and of þe broke drynke But if he be blynde andL.6.139: L uniquely has and. Other B witnesses have or. broke-legged · or bolted with yrnes He shal ete whete bred · and drynke with my-selue Tyl god of his goodnesse · amendement hym sende Ac ȝe myȝte trauaille as treuthe wolde · and take mete & huyre To kepe kyne in þe felde · þe corne fro þe bestes Diken or deluen or dyngen vppon sheues Or helpe make morter · or bere mukke afelde In lecherye andL.6.146: The <d> is inserted in red ink. in losengerye · ȝe lyuen and in sleuthe And al is þorw suffrance · þat venIaunce ȝow ne taketh Ac ancres and heremytes · þat eten but at nones And namore er morwe · myne almesse shul þei haue And of myL.6.150: LMRF alone have And of my; other B manuscripts have either And alone or And of. catel to cope hem with · þat han cloistres and cherches Ac robert renneaboute · shal nouȝte haue of myne Ne posteles but þey preche conne · and haue powere of þe bisschop They shal haue payne and potage · and make hem-self at ese For it is an vnresonable Religioun · þat hath riȝte nouȝte of certeyne And þanne gan a wastoure to wrath hym · and wolde haue yfouȝte And to Pieres þe plowman · he profered his gloue A Brytonere a braggere · abosteda bostedL.6.157: he, "he." pieres als And bad hym go pissen with his plow · for-pyned schrewe Wiltow or neltow · we wil haue owre wille Of þi flowre and of þi flessche · fecche whan vs liketh And make vs myrie þer-myde · maugre þi chekes Thanne Pieres þe plowman · pleyned hym to þe knyȝte To kepe hym as couenaunte was · fram cursed shrewes And fro þis wastoures wolueskynnes · þat maketh þe worlde dere For þo waste and wynnen nouȝte · and þat ilke while Worth neuere plente amonge þe poeple · þerL.6.166: LCM have þer. Most other B witnesses read þe. while my plow liggeth Curteisly þe knyȝte þanne · as his kynde wolde Warned wastoure · and wissed hym bettere Or þow shalt abugge by þe lawe · by þe ordre þat I bere I was nouȝt wont to worche quod wastour · and now wil I nouȝt bigynne And lete liȝte of þe lawe : and lasse of þe knyȝte And sette Pieres at a pees · and his plow bothe And manaced pieres and his men · ȝif þei mette eft-sone Now by þe peril of my soule quod Pieres · I shal apeyre ȝow alle And houped after hunger · þat herd hym atte firste Awreke me of þise wastoures quod he · þat þis worlde schendeth Hunger in haste þo · hent wastour bi þe mawe And wronge hym so bi þe wombe · þat bothe his eyen wattered He buffeted þe Britoner aboute þe chekes Þat he loked like a lanterne · al his lyf after He bette hem so bothe · he barste nere here guttes Ne hadde Pieres with a pese lof · preyed hunger to cesse They hadde ben doluen bothe · ne deme þow non other Suffre hem lyue he seyde · and lete hem ete with hogges Or elles benes and bren · ybaken togideres Or elles melke and mene ale · þus preyed pieres for hem Faitoures for fere her-of · flowen in-to bernes And flapten on with flayles · fram morwe til euen That hunger was nouȝt so hardy · on hem forto loke For a potful of peses · þat peres hadde ymaked An heep of heremites · henten hem spades And ketten here copes · and courtpies hem made And wenten as werkemen · with spades and with schoueles And doluen and dykeden · to dryue aweye hunger + Blynde and bedreden · were botened a þousande Þat seten to seten to[seten to]L.6.196: This line has a <+> in the left margin, but the dittographic error was never corrected. begge syluer · sone were þei heled For þat was bake for bayarde · was bote for many hungry And many a beggere for benes · buxome was to swynke And eche a pore man wel apayed · to haue pesen for his huyre And what pieres preyed hem to do · as prest as a sperhauke And þere-of was peres proude · and put hem to werke And ȝaf hem mete as he myȝte aforth · and mesurable huyre Þanne hadde peres pite · and preyed hunger to wende Home in-to his owne erdL.6.204: LR alone have erd, though HmMW have the related spelling yerd. Other B witnesses have erthe (BCC2OY). · and holden hym þere For I am wel awroke now · of wastoures þorw þi myȝte Ac I preye þe ar þow passe · quod Pieres to hunger Of beggeres and of bidderes · what best beL.6.207: L uniquely has be, omitting to, though the other B manuscripts vary between be to and is to. done For I wote wel be þow went · þei wil worche ful ille For myschief it maketh · þei beth so meke nouthe And for defaute of her fode · þis folke is at my wille Þey are my blody bretheren quod pieres · for god bouȝte vs alle Treuthe tauȝte me ones · to louye hem vchone And to helpen hem of alle þinge · ay as hem nedeth And now wolde I witen of þe · what were þe best + AnL.6.215: The corrector's <+> marks the scribe's An for And. how I myȝte amaistrien hem · and make hem to worche Here now quod hunger · and holde it for a wisdome Bolde beggeres and bigge · þat mowe her bred biswynke With houndes bred and hors-bred · holde vp her hertis Abate hem with benes · for bollyng of her wombe And ȝif þe gomes grucche · bidde hem go swynke And he shal soupe swettere · whan he it hath deseruid And if þow fynde any freke · þat fortune hath appeyred Or any maner fals men · fonde þow suche to cnowe Conforte hym with þi catel · for crystes loue of heuene Loue hem and lene hem · so lawe of god techeth Alter alterius onera portate And alle maner of men · þat þow myȝte asspye That nedy ben and nauȝty · helpe hem with þi godis Loue hem and lakke hem nouȝte · late god take þe venIaunce Theigh þei done yuel · late þowL.6.230: LR alone read þow; other B manuscripts omit it. god awortheL.6.230: LMR alone have aworthe. Other B witnesses have yworþe, worthe, or worche. Michi vindictam & ego retribuam · And if þow wilL.6.232: L uniquely has wil; other B manuscripts have wilt. be graciouse to god · do as þe gospel techeth + And bilowL.6.233: LMR alone have bilow; most other B manuscripts have biloue. The corrector has noted this difference with a marginal <+>. þe amonges low men · so shaltow lacche grace Facite vobis amicos de mamona iniquitatis I wolde nouȝt greue god quod piers · for al þe good on grounde Miȝte I synnelees do as þow seist · seyde pieres þanne Ȝe I bihote þe quod hunger · or ellis þe bible lieth Go to Genesis þe gyaunt · þe engendroure of vs alle In sudore and swynke · þow shalt þi mete tilye And laboure for þi lyflode · and so owre lorde hyȝte And sapience seyth þe same · I seigh it in þe bible Piger pro frigore · no felde nolde tilye And þerfore he shal begge and bidde · and no man bete his hunger Mathew with mannes face · mouthed þise wordis a besaunt Þat seruus nequam had a nam · L.6.245: The scribe added a besaunt (besaunt, "coin" or "talent") above the line to gloss nam or mnam, "a Biblical coin." He was, perhaps, drawing attention to the source of the tale, the parable of the talents in Matthew 25. A similar gloss appears in HmMW. and for he wolde nouȝte chaffare He had maugre of his maistre · for euermore after And binam hisL.6.247: L uniquely omits hym before his. Mnam · for he ne wolde worch.e And ȝaf þat Mnam to hym · þat ten Mnames hadde And with þat he seyde · þat holicherche it herde He þat hath shal haue · and helpe þere it nedeth And he þat nouȝt hath shal nouȝt haue · and no man hym helpe And þat he weneth wel to haue · I wil it hym bireue Kynde witt wolde · þat eche a wyght wrouȝte Or in dykynge or in deluynge · or trauaillynge in preyeres Contemplatyf lyf or actyf lyf · cryst wolde men wrouȝteL.6.255: LMRY alone read men wrouȝte; most other B witnesses have þei wroȝte. Þe sauter seyth in þe psalme · of beati omnes Þe freke þat fedeth hym-self · with his feythful laboure He is blessed by þe boke · in body and in soule Labores manuum tuarum &c · Ȝet I prey ȝow quod pieres · par charite and ȝe kunne Eny leef of lechecraft · lere it me my dere For somme of my seruauntz · and my-self bothe Of al a wyke worche nouȝt · so owre wombe aketh I wote wel quod hunger · what sykenesse ȝow eyleth Ȝe han maunged ouer-moche · and þat maketh ȝow grone X Ac I hote þe quod hunger · as þow þyne hele wilnest L.6.266: A corrector's <X> appears in the right margin which is atypically large and oddly placed, extending two lines in height. Þat þow drynke no day · ar þow dyne somwhat Ete nouȝte I hote þe · ar hunger þe take And sende þe of his sauce · to sauoure with þi lippes And kepe some tyl soper tyme · and sitte nouȝt to longe AriseL.6.271: LMR alone have Arise; most other B manuscripts have And rys. vp ar appetit · haue eten his fulle Lat nouȝt sire surfait sitten at þi borde Leue him nouȝt for he is lecherous · and likerous of tonge And after many manere metes · his maw is afyngred And ȝif þow diete þe þus · I dar legge myne eres Þat phisik shal his furred hodes · for his fode selle And his cloke of calabre · with alle þe knappes of golde And be fayne bi my feith · his phisik to lete And lerne to laboure with londe · for lyflode is swete For morthereres aren mony leches · lorde hem amende Þei do men deye þorw here drynkes · ar destine it wolde By seynt Poule quod pieres · þise aren profitable wordis Wende now hunger whan þow wolt · þat wel be þow euere For þis is a louely lessoun · lorde it þe forȝelde By-hote god quod hunger · hennes ne wil I wende Til I haue dyned bi þis day · and ydronke bothe I haue no peny quod peres · poletes · forto bigge Ne neyther gees ne grys · but two grene cheses A fewe cruddes and creem · and an hauer cake And two loues of benes and bran · ybake for my fauntis And ȝet I sey by my soule · I haue no salt bacoun Ne no kokeney bi cryst coloppes forto maken Ac I haue percil and porettes · and many kole plantes And eke a cow · and a kalf · and a cart mare To drawe afelde my donge · þe while þe drought lasteth And bi þis lyflode we mot lyue · til lammasse tyme And bi þat I hope to haue · heruest in my croft And þanne may I diȝte þi dyner · as me dere liketh Alle þe pore peple þo · pesecoddes fetten Benes and baken apples · þei brouȝte in her lappes Chibolles and cheruelles · and ripe chiries manye And profred peres þis present · to plese with hunger Al hunger eet in hast · and axed after more Þanne pore folke for fere · fedde hunger ȝerne With grene poret and pesen · to poysoun hunger þei þouȝte By þat it neighed nere heruest · newe corne cam to chepynge Þanne was folke fayne · and fedde hunger with þe best With good ale as glotoun tauȝte · and gerte hunger go slepe And þo wolde wastour ..nouȝt werche · but wandren aboute Ne no begger ete bred · þat benes Inne were But of coket or clerematyn · or elles · of clene whete Ne none halpeny ale · in none wise drynke But of þe best and of þe brounest · þat in borgh is to selle L.6.314: The scribe's paraph indicator in the left margin was not executed by the rubricating scribe, probably because the original scribe failed to skip a line. ¶ Laboreres þat haue no lande · to lyue on but her handes Deyned nouȝt to dyne a-day · nyȝt-olde wortes May no peny-ale hem paye · ne no pece of bakoun · But if it be fresch flesch other fische · fryed other bake And þat chaude or plus chaud · for chillyng of here mawe And but if he be hieghlich huyred · ellis wil he chyde And þat he was werkman wrouȝt · waille þe tyme Aȝeines catones conseille · comseth he to iangle Paupertatis onus pacienter ferre memento He greueth hym aȝeines god · and gruccheth aȝeines resoun And þanne curseth he þe kynge · and al his conseille after Suche lawes to loke · laboreres to greue Ac whiles hunger was her maister · þere wolde none of hem chyde Ne stryue aȝeines his statut · so sterneliche he lokedL.6.327: A later hand put a bracket in the right margin which extends to include the next line. The ink is darker than the text. Ac I warne ȝow werkemen · wynneth while ȝe moweL.6.328: A later hand has bracketed this verse paragraph and added a nota in the form of a pointing hand. The bracket includes all but the first and last lines of the line group. The ink is lighter than text ink and of a finer pen stroke with three cross hatches and a final loop. For hunger hideward · hasteth hym faste He shal awake with water · wastoures to chaste Ar fyue be fulfilled · suche famyn shal aryse Thorwgh flodes and þourgh foule wederes · frutes shul faille And so sayde saturne · and sent ȝow to warne Whan ȝe se þe sonne amys · and two monkes hedes And a Mayde haue þe maistrie · and multipliedL.6.335: LMRF alone have the preterite form. All other B manuscripts have multiplie. bi eight Þanne shal deth withdrawe · and derthe be iustice And dawe þe dyker · deye for hunger But if god of his goodnesse · graunt vs a trewe passus vijus de visione vt supraPassus vijusseptimus t TreutheL.7.1: The ornamental capital is five lines high in blue ink on red with two sprays. A small guide letter <t> appears in the left margin. herde telle her-of · and to peres he sent To taken his teme and tulyen þe erthe And purchaced hym a pardoun · a pena & a culpa For hym and for his heires · for euermore after And bad hym holde hym at home · and eryen his leyes And alle þat halpe hym to erie · to sette or to sowe Or any other myster · þat myȝte pieres auaille · Pardoun with pieres plowman · treuthe hath ygraunted L.7.9: The rubricating scribe may have overlooked the paragraph indicator in the left margin because the original scribe failed to skip a line. ¶ Kynges and knyȝtes · þat kepen holycherche And ryȝtfullych in reumes · reulen þe peple Han pardoun thourgh purgatorie · to passe ful lyȝtly With patriarkes and prophetes · in paradise to be felawes Bisshopes yblessed · ȝif þei ben as þei shulden Legistres of bothe þe lawes · þe lewed þere-with to preche And in as moche as þei mowe · amende alle synful L.7.16: There is perhaps the remainder of a scraped gloss in the left margin. Aren peres with þe apostles · þusL.7.16: LMRF read þus; most other beta witnesses have þis. pardoun Piers sheweth And at þe day of dome · atte heigh deyse to sytte Marchauntz in þe margyne · hadden many ȝeres Ac none a pena & a culpa · þe Pope nolde hem graunte For þei holde nouȝt her halidayes · as holicherche techeth And for þei swere by her soule · and so god moste hem helpe Aȝein clene conscience · her catel to selle L.7.23-27: A bracket in the left margin extends five lines and is scored twice horizontally. Ac vnder his secret seel · treuthe sent hem a lettre That þey shulde bugge boldely · þat hem best liked And sithenes selle it aȝein · and saue þe wynnygewynny[n]ge And amende mesondieux þere-myde · and myseyse folke helpe And wikked wayes · wiȝtlich hem amende And do bote to brugges þat to-broke were Marien maydenes · or maken hem nonnes Pore peple and prisounes · fynden hem here fode And sette scoleres to scole · or to somme other craftes Releue Religioun · and renten hem bettere And I shal sende ȝow my-selue · seynt Michel myn archangel Þat no deuel shal ȝow dere · ne fere ȝow in ȝowre deying And witen ȝow fro wanhope · if ȝe wil þus worche And sende ȝowre sowles in safte · to my seyntes in ioye Þanne were Marchauntz mery · many wepten for ioye And preyseden Pieres þe plowman · þat purchaced þis bulle L.7.39: Though the scribe left a blank line, usually indicative of a strophe division, there is no parasign. Men of lawe lest pardoun hadde þat pleteden for Mede For þe sauter saueth hem nouȝte · such as taketh ȝiftes And namelich of innocentz þat none yuel ne kunneth Super innocentem munera non accipies Pledoures shulde peynen hem · to plede for such an helpe Prynces and prelates · shulde paye for her trauaille A regibus & pryncipibus erit merces eorum Ac many a iustice an iuroure · wolde for Iohan do more Þan pro dei pietate · leue þow none other Ac he þat spendeth his speche and spekeþ for þe pore Þat is Innocent and nedy · and no man appeireth Conforteth hym in þat cas · with-oute coueytise of ȝiftes And scheweth lawe for owre lordes loue · as he it hath lerned Shal no deuel at his ded-dayL.7.52: LCGR alone read ded-; most other B manuscripts have deeþ. The same variants appear in L.7.127. · deren hym a myte Þat he ne worth sauf and his sowle · þe sauter bereth witnesse Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo &c · Ac to bugge water ne wynde · ne witte ne fyre þe fierthe Þise foure þe fader of heuene · made to þis folde in comune Þise ben treuthes tresores · trewe folke to helpe Þat neuere shal wax ne wanye · with-oute god hym-selue Whan þei drawen on to deyeL.7.59: LW alone read to deye; most other B manuscripts have to þe deþ. The confusion of <þ> and <y> in both L and W is probably coincidental, since both were copied well outside the regions in which the graphs are confused. See Michael Benskin, "The letters <þ> and <y> in later Middle English, and some related matters," Journal of the Society of Archivists 7 (1982-1985): 13-30. · and Indulgences wolde haue Her pardoun is ful petit · at her partyng hennes Þat any Mede of mene men for her motyng taketh Ȝe legistres and lawyeres · holdeth þis for treuthe Þat ȝif þat I lye · Mathew is to blame For he bad me make ȝow þis · and þis prou....erbe me tolde Quodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines · facite eis Alle lybbyng laboreres · þat lyuen with her hondes Þat trewlich taken · and trewlich wynnen And lyuen in loue and in lawe · for her lowe hertis Haueth þe same absolucioun · þat sent was to peres Beggeres ne bidderes · ne beth nouȝte in þe bulle But if þe suggestioun be soth · þat shapeth hem to begge For he þat beggeth or bit · but if he haue nede He is fals with þe fende · and defraudeth þe nedy And also he bigileth þe gyuer ageines his wil For if he wist he were nouȝte nedy · he wolde ȝiue þat an other Þat were more nedy þan he · so þe nediest shuld be hulpe Catoun kenneth men þus · and þe clerke of þeL.7.77: LMRF alone have þe before stories; all other B manuscripts omit it. stories Cui des videto · is catounes techyng And in þe stories he techeth · to bistowe þyn almes X Sit elemosinaL.7.80: An added <X> in the left margin is partially scraped. The omitted tua after elemosina was never added; note that it is absent from alpha and M as well. in manu tua donec studes cui des Ac Gregori was a gode man · and bad vs gyuen alle Þat asketh for his loue · þat vs alle leneth Non eligas cui miserearis · ne forte pretereas illum qui meretur accipere Quia incertum est pro quo deum magis placeas For wite ȝe neuere who is worthi · ac god wote who hath nede In hym þat taketh is þe treccherye · if any tresoun walkeL.7.86: Skeat and Kane-Donaldson read wawe, which is possible, but the upright character of the <l> suggests that walke is the intended reading. For he þat ȝiueth ȝeldeth · and ȝarketh hym to reste And he þat biddeth borweth · and bryngeth hym-self in dette For beggeres borwen euermo · and her borgh is god almyȝti To ȝelden hem þat ȝiueth hem · and ȝet vsure more X Quare non dedisti peccuniam meam ad mensam vt ego veniens cum vsuris exigerem ·L.7.91: LCr alone read exigerem; most B manuscripts have exigissem. This may be the reason for an unusually large <X> in the left margin here. For-þi biddeth nouȝt ȝe beggeres · but if ȝe haue gret nede For who-so hath to buggen hym bred · þe boke bereth witnesse He hath ynough þat hath bred ynough · þough he haue nouȝt elles Satis diues est qui non indiget pane Late vsage be ȝowreL.7.96: The characters <be ȝo> are obscured by a large drop mark left on the leaf. solace · of seyntes lyues redyng Þe boke banneth beggarie · and blameth hem in þis manere Iunior fui etenim senui · et non vidi iustum derelictum nec semen eius &c For ȝe lyue in no loue · ne no lawe holde Many of ȝow ne wedde nouȝt · þe wommen þat ȝe with delen But as wilde bestis with wehe · worthen vppe and worchen And bryngeth ...?...forth barnes · þat bastardes men calleth Or þe bakke or some bone · he breketh in his ȝouthe + AL.7.104: L alone reads A for "And." The corrector noted this with a <+> in the left margin both here and at L.8.53. sitthe gon faiten with ȝoure fauntes · for euermore after Þere is moo mysshape peple · amonge þise beggeres Þan of alle maner men · þat on þis molde walketh And þei þat lyue þus here lyf · mowe lothe þe tyme Þat euere he was man wrouȝt · whan he shal hennes fare Ac olde men & hore · þat helplees ben of strengthe L.7.110-126: A bracket in the left margin links the lines from here to the bottom of the leaf in gray ink. And women with childe · þat worche ne mowe Blynde and bedered · and broken her membres Þat taketh þis myschiefL.7.112: LMR alone have the singular þis myschief; most other B manuscripts read þise myschiefs. mekelych · as meseles and othere Han as pleyne pardoun as þe plowman hym-self For loue of her lowe hertis · owre lorde hath hem graunted Here penaunce and here purgatorie · here on þis erthe Pieres quod a prest þo · þi pardoun most I rede For I wil construe eche clause · and kenne it þe on englich And pieres at his preyere · þe pardoun vnfoldeth And I bihynde hem bothe · bihelde al þe bulle Al in two lynes it lay · and nouȝt a leef more And was writen riȝt þus · in witnesse of treuthe Indulgencia petri Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam Qui vero mala in ignem eternum · Peter quod þe prest þo · I can no pardoun fynde But dowel and haue wel · and god shal haue þi sowle And do yuel and haue yuel · hope þow non other X ÞatL.7.127: LMRF alone read Þat; most other B manuscripts have But. A drypoint <X> appears in the left margin. after þi ded-dayL.7.127: LCGY alone read ded-; most other B manuscripts have deeþ-. The same variants appear in L.7.52. · þe deuel shal haue þi sowle And pieres for pure tene · pulled it atweyne And seyde si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis · non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es I shal cessen of my sowyng quod pieres · and swynk nouȝt so harde Ne about my bely-ioye · so bisi be namore Of preyersL.7.132: The second <r> of preyers was inserted after initial copying, probably by a later hand. and of penaunce · my plow shal ben her-after And wepen whan I shulde slepe · þough whete bred me faille X Þe prophete his payn ete · in penaunce and in sorweL.7.134: A large <X> appears in the left margin; the reason is not apparent. By þat þe sauter seith · so dede other manye Þat loueth god lelly · his lyflode is ful esy Fuerunt michi lacrime mee · panes die ac nocte And but if Luke lye · he lereth vs bi foules We shulde nouȝt be to bisy · aboute þe worldes blisse Ne solliciti sitis · he seyth in þe gospel And sheweth vs bi ensamples · vs-selue to wisse Þe foules onL.7.142: LM alone read on; most other B manuscripts have in. þe felde · who fynt hem mete at wynter Haue þei no gernere · to go to  but god fynt hem alle What quod þe prest to perkyn · peter as me þinketh Þow art lettred a litel · who lerned þe on boke Abstinence þe abbesse quod pieres · myne abc · me tauȝte And conscience come afterward · and kenned me moche more Were þow a prest pieres quod he · þow miȝte preche where þow sholdest As deuynour in deuynyte · with dixit insipiens to þi teme Lewed lorel quod Pieres · litel lokestow on þe bible On salomones sawes · selden þow biholdest Ecce derisores et iurgia cum eis ne crescant &c Þe prest and perkyn · apposeden eyther other And I þorw here wordes awoke · and waited aboute And seighe þe sonne in þe south sitte þat tyme Metelees and monelees · on Maluerne hulles Musyng on þis meteles · and my waye ich ȝede Many tyme þis meteles · hath maked me to studye Of þat I seigh slepyng · if it so be myȝte And also for peres þe plowman · ful pensyf in herte And which a pardoun peres hadde · alle þe peple to conforte And how þe prest impugned it with two propre wordes Ac I haue no sauoure in songewarie · for I se it ofte faille Catoun and canonistres · conseilleth vs to leue To sette sadnesse in songewarie · for sompnia ne cures Ac for þe boke bible  bereth witnesse How danyel deuyned · þe dremes of a kynge Þat was nabugodonosor · nempned of clerkis Daniel seyde sire Kynge · þi dremeles bitokneth Þat vnkouth knyȝtes shul come · þi kyngdom to cleueL.7.170-171: A corrector's dry point cross appears in the left margin and perhaps reflects his exemplar's reading cleyme in place of LC2GMO's cleue. Amonges lowere lordes · þi londe shal be departed And as danyel deuyned in dede it felle after Þe kynge lese his lordship · and lower men it hadde And ioseph mette merueillously · how þe mone and þe sonne And þe elleuene sterres · hailsed hym alle Þanne Iacob iugged · iosephes sweuene Beau filtz quod his fader · for defaute we shullen I my-self and my sones · seche þe for nede It bifel as his fader seyde · in pharaoes tyme Þat ioseph was iustice · egipte to loken It bifel as his fader tolde · his frendes þere hym souȝte And al þis maketh me · on þis meteles to þynke And how þe prest preued · no pardoun to dowel And demed þat dowel · indulgences passed Dowell passith the pardon of petres churche Biennales and triennales · and bisschopes lettres And how dowel at þe day of dome · is dignelich vnderfongen And passeth al þe pardoun · of seynt petres cherche Now hath þe pope powere · pardoun to graunte þe peple With-outen eny penaunce · to passen in-to heuene Þis is owre bileue · as lettered men vs techeth Quodcumque ligaueris super terram · erit ligatum et in celis &c · And so I leue lelly · lordes forbode ellis Þat pardoun and penaunce · and preyeres don saue Soules þat haue synned · seuene sithes dedly Ac to trust to þise triennales · trewly me þinketh Is nouȝt so syker for þe soule · certis as is dowel X L.7.197: A dry point <X> appears in the left margin. For-þi I rede ȝow renkes · þat riche ben on þis erthe Vppon trust of ȝowre tresoure · triennales to haue Be ȝe neuere þe balder · to breke þe xten hestes And namelich ȝe maistres · mayres and iugges Þat han þe welthe of þis worlde · and for wyse men ben holden To purchace ȝow pardoun To purchace ȝow pardoun · and þe popis bulles At þe dredeful dome · whan ded shullen rise And comen alle bifor cryst · acountis to ȝelde How þow laddest þi lyf here · and his lawes keptest a poke full of pardon And how þow dedest day bi day · þe dome wil reherceL.7.206: The same hand as that in the margins of L.7.185 has written in the right margin: a poke full of pardon. A poke ful of pardoun þere · ne prouinciales lettres Theigh ȝe be founde in þe fraternete · of alle þe foure ordres And haue indulgences double-folde · but if dowel ȝow help I sette ȝowre patentes and ȝowre pardounzL.7.210: LCr alone read pardounz; other B manuscripts have pardon. at one pies hele For-þi I conseille alle cristene · to crye god mercy And Marie his moder · be owre mene bitwene Þat god gyue vs grace here · ar we gone hennes Suche werkes to werche · while we ben here Þat after owre deth-day · dowel reherce At þe day of dome · we dede as he hiȝte Passus viijus de visione & hic explicit & incipit inquisicio prima de Dowel .L.8.000: Note that the rubricating scribe did not follow the guide letters literally.Passus octauus de visione & primus de dowel t + ThusL.8.1: The ornamental capital is eight lines high and done in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide letter <t> is just visible in the ornamentation to the left of the capital. yrobed in russet · I rowmed abouteL.8.1: A corrector's <+> appears in the right margin, but no error is apparent. Al a somer sesoun · for to seke dowel And frayned ful oft · of folke þat I mette If ani wiȝte wiste · where dowel was at Inne And what man he miȝte be · of many man I axed Was neuere wiȝte as I went · þat me wisse couthe Where þis lede lenged · lasse ne more Tyl it bifel on a fryday · two freres I mette Maistres of þe Menoures · men of grete witte I hailsed hem hendely as I hadde lerned And preyed hem par charitee · ar þei passed forther + IfL.8.12: The second letter of If appears to have been added later, probably in response to the corrector's <+> appearing in the left margin. þei knewe any contre · or costes as þei went Where þat dowel dwelleth · doth me to wytene For þei ben men on þis molde · þat moste wyde walken And knowen contrees · and courtes · and many kynnes places Bothe prynces paleyses · and pore mennes cotes And dowel and doyuel · where þei dwelle bothe Amonges vs quod þe Menours · þat man is dwellyng And euere hath as I hope · and euere shal here-after Contra quod I as a clerke · and comsed to disputen And seide sothliL.8.21: LM alone among B manuscripts read And seide sothli. Most other B manuscripts insert hem after seide or eliminate the English introduction to the Latin quotation. However, LM's reading is matched by most C manuscripts. sepcies · in die cadit iustus Seuene sythes seith þe boke · synneth þe riȝtful . And who-so synneth I seyde · doth yuel as me þinketh And dowel and do yuel · mow nouȝt dwelle togideres Ergo he nys nauȝt alway · amonge ȝow freres He is otherwhile ellis-where · to wisse þe peple I shal sey þe my sone · seide þe frere þanne How seuene sithes þe sadmansad man · on þeL.8.28: LMR alone have þe. Most other B manuscripts have a. day synneth By a forbisene quod þe frere · I shal þe faire shewe Lat brynge a man in a bote · amydde aL.8.30: LR alone have a. Other B manuscripts have þe. brode water Þe wynde and þe water · and þe bote waggynge Maketh þe man many a tyme · to falle and to stonde For stonde he neuere so styf · he stombleth ȝif he moeue Ac ȝit is he sauf and sounde · and so hym bihoueth For ȝif he ne arise þe rather · and rauȝte to þe stiere Þe wynde wolde wyth þe water · þe bote ouerthrowe And þanne were his lyf loste · þourgh lacchesse of hym-self And þus it falleth quod þe frere · bi folke here on erthe Þe water is likned to þe worlde · þat wanyeth and wexeth Þe godis of þis grounde aren like · to þe grete wawes Þat as wyndes and wederes · walwethL.8.41: LM alone have walweth. Other B manuscripts have walkeþ. aboute Þe bote is likned to owre body · þat brutel is of kynde + Þat þorugh þe fende and þiL.8.43: LR alone have þi, which explains the corrector's <+> in the left margin. Most other B manuscripts have þe. flessh · and þe frele worlde Synneth þe sadman · a day seuene sythes Ac dedly synne doth he nouȝt · for dowel hym kepith And þat is charite þe champioun · chief help aȝein synne For he strengtheth man to stonde · and stereth mannes soule And þowgh þi body bow · as bote doth in þe water Ay is þi soule sauf · butL.8.49: LMR alone have but. Other B manuscripts have but if. þi-self wole Do a dedly synne · and drenche so þi soule God wole suffre wel þi sleuthe · ȝif þi-self lyketh For he ȝaf þe to ȝeresȝyue · to ȝeme wel þi-selue + And þat is witte aL.8.53: The corrector has noted the scribe's a for and with a <+> in the left margin both here and at L.7.104. The same form appears at this point in M as well. fre wille · to euery wyȝte a porcioun To fleghyng foules · to fissches & to bestes + Ac man hath moste þerof · and moste is to blameL.8.55: A corrector's <+> appears in the left margin. His exemplar may have had initial And as do CC2CrG; all other beta family manuscripts agree in reading Ac. But if he worche wel þer-with · as dowel hym techeth I haue no kynde knowyng quod I · to conceyue alle ȝowre wordes Ac if I may lyue and loke · I shal go lerne bettere I bikenne þe cryst · þat on þe crosse deyde And I seyde þe same · saue ȝow fro myschaunce And ȝiue ȝow grace on þis grounde · good men to worthe And þus I went wide-where walkyng myne one By a wilde wildernesse · and bi a wode-syde Blisse of þoL.8.64: LHmR alone read þo; other B manuscripts have þe. briddes · brouȝte me aslepe And vnder a lynde vppon a launde · lened I a stounde To lythe þe layes · þo louely foules made + Murthe of her mouthes · made meL.8.67: The supralinear addition of me is by a later hand. A <+> in the left margin notes the omission. þere to slepe Þe merueillousest meteles · mette me þanne + Þat euer dremed dremed[dremed]L.8.69: This line has a <+> in the left margin, but the dittographic error was never corrected. wyȝte · in worlde as I wene A moche man as me þouȝte · and lyke to my-selue Come and called me · by my kynde name What artow quod I þo · þat þow my name knowest Þat þow wost wel quod he · and no wyȝte bettere Wote I what þow art  þought · seyde he þanne I haue suwed þe þis seuene ȝere · sey þow me no rather Art þow thought quod I þo · þow couthest me wisse Where þat dowel dwelleth · and do me þat to knowe Dowel and dobet · and dobest þe thridde quod he Aren three faire vertues · and beth nauȝte fer to fynde Who-so is trewe of his tonge · and of his two handes And þorugh his laboure or þorugh his londe · his lyflode wynneth And is trusti of his tailende · taketh but his owne And is nouȝt dronkenlew ne dedeignous · dowel hym folweth Dobet doth ryȝt þus · ac he doth moche more He is as low as a lombe · and loueliche of speche And helpeth alle men · after þat hem nedeth Þe bagges and þe bigurdeles · he hath to-brokenL.8.87: LCr1MR alone read to-broken; most other B manuscripts have tobroke, uncovering the final <-e> and enabling the elision that makes the b-verse metrical. hem alle Þat þe Erl auarous · helde and his heires And þus with Mammonaes mone · he hath made hym frendes And is ronne in-toL.8.90: LMRF alone have in-to. Other B witnesses have to. Religioun · and hath rendred þe bible And precheth to þe poeple · seynt Poules wordes Libenter suffertis insipientes · cum sitis ipsi sapientes And suffreth þe vnwise · with ȝow forto libbe And with gladde wille doth hem gode · for so god ȝow hoteth Dobest is aboue bothe · and bereth a bisschopes crosse Is hoked on þat one ende · to halie men fro helle A pyke is on þat potente · to pulte adown þe wikked Þat wayten any wikkednesse · dowel to tene And dowel and dobet amonges hem ordeigned To croune one to be kynge to reuleL.8.100: LCr alone have reule. Other B manuscripts have rulen, covering the -e and thus assuring a metrically regular b-verse. hem bothe Þat ȝif dowel or dobet did aȝein dobest Þanne shal þe kynge come · and casten hem in yrens And but if dobest bede for hem · þei to be þere for euere Thus dowel and dobet · and dobest þe thridde Crouned one to be kynge · to kepin hem alle And to reule þe Reume · bi her thre wittes And none other wise · but as þei thre assented I thonked thouȝt þo · þat he me þus tauȝte Ac ȝete sauoureth me nouȝt þi seggyng · I coueite to lerne How dowel dobet and dobest · don amonges þe peple But witte conne wisse þe quod þouȝt · where þo thre dwelle Ellis wote I none þat can · þat now is alyue Þouȝte and I thus · thre days we ȝeden Disputyng vppon dowel · day after other And ar we were ywar · with witte gan we mete He was longe and lene · liche to none other Was no pruyde on his apparaille · ne pouerte noyther Sadde of his semblaunt · and of soft chiere I dorste meue no matere · to make hym to iangle But as I bad þouȝt þo · be mene bitwene And put forth somme purpos · to prouen his wittes What was dowel · fro dobet · and dobest fram hem bothe Þanne þouȝt in þat tyme seide þise wordes Where dowel dobetL.8.124: The initial <d> of dobet is re-inked. and dobest ben in londe Here is wille wolde ywyteL.8.125: LMR alone have ywyte. Other B manuscripts have wite. · ȝif witte couthe teche hym + And whether he be man · or manL.8.126: L alone reads man. Most other B witnesses have womman, though BCR have no man. The corrector's <+> in the left margin may be for a correction here, or may refer to a mistake subsequently corrected, since wolde later in this line is written over an erasure. · þis man fayne .....wolde aspye And worchen as þei thre wolde · þis is his entente · passus i . . de visione . . . . . . sr ......L.9.000: The guide for the rubricator is extemely faded and difficult to read, even with ultra-violet light.Passus nonus SireL.9.1: The ornamental capital of seven lines height is done in blue ink with red flourishes. dowel dwelleth quod witte · nouȝt a day hennes In a castel þat kynde made · of foure kynnes þinges Of erthe and eyre is it made · medled togideres With wynde and with water · witterly enioyned Kynde hath closed þere-Inne · craftily with-alle A lemman þat he loueth · like to hym-selue Anima she hatte · ac enuye hir hateth A proude pryker of Fraunce · prynceps huius mundi And wolde winne hir awey · with wyles and he myȝte Ac kynde knoweth þis wel · and kepeth hir þe bettere And hath do hir with sire dowel · is duke of þis marches Dobet is hir damoisele · sire doweles douȝter To serue þis lady lelly · bothe late and rathe Dobest is aboue bothe · a bisschopes pere Þat he bit mote be do · he reuleth hem alle Anima þat lady · is ladde bi his lerynge Ac þe constable of þat castel · þat kepeth al þe wacche Is a wys kniȝte with-al · sire Inwitte he hatte And hath fyue feyre sones · bi his first wyf Sire sewel and saywel · and herewel þe hende Sire worche wel wyth þine hande · a wiȝte man of strengthe And sire godfrey gowel · gret lordes for-sothe Þise fyue ben sette · to saue þis lady anima Tyl kynde come or sende to saue hir for euere What kynnes thyng is kynde quod I · canstow me telle Kynde quod witte is a creatour · of alle kynnes þinges Fader and fourmour · of al þat euere was maked And þat is þe gret god þat gynnynge had neuere Lorde of lyf and of lyȝte · of lysse and of peyne Angeles and al þing aren at his wille Ac man is hym moste lyke · of marke and of schafte For þorugh þe worde þat he spake · wexen forth bestes Dixit & facta sunt id est adam And made manL.9.34: The gloss id est adam appears above the line, inserted by a contemporary hand. The same gloss appears in M. likkest · to hym-self one And Eue of his ribbe-bon · with-outen eny mene For he was synguler hym-self · and seyde faciamus As who seith more mote here-to · þan my worde one My myȝte mote helpe · now with my speche Riȝte as a lorde sholde make lettres · and hym lakked parchemyn Þough he couth write neuere so wel · ȝif he had no penne Þe lettre for al þe lordship · I leue were neuere ymaked And so it semeth · bi hym  as þe bible telleth Þere he seyde dixit · & facta sunt He moste worche with his worde · and his witte shewe And in þis manere was man made · þorugh myȝte of god almiȝti With his worde and werkemanschip · and with lyf to laste And þus god gaf hym a goost · of þe godhed of heuene And of his grete grace graunted hym blisse And þat is lyf þat ay shal last · to al lynage after And þat is þe castel þat kynde made · caro it hatte And is as moche to mene · as man with a soule And þat he wrouȝt with werke · and with worde bothe Þorugh myȝte of þe maieste · man was ymaked Inwit and alle wittes closed ben þer-inne For loue of þe lady anima · þat lyf is ynempned Ouer-al in mannes body · heL.9.56: he, "she." walketh and wandreth Ac in þe herte is hir home · and hir moste reste Ac Inwitte is in þe hed · and to the herte he loketh What anima is lief or loth · he lat hir at his wille For after þe grace of god · þe grettest is Inwitte Moche wo worth þat man · þat mys-reuleth his Inwitte And þat be glotouns globbares · her god is her wombe Quorum deus venter est For þei seruen sathan · her souleL.9.64: LMR alone read soule; other B manuscripts have soules. shal he haue Þat liueth synful lyf here · her soule is liche þe deuel And alle þat lyuen good lyf · aren like godL.9.66: LR alone omit to before god. almiȝti Qui manet in caritate in deo manet &c Allas þat drynke shal for-do · þat god dere bouȝte And doth god forsaken hem · þat he shope to his liknesse Amen dico vobis nescio vos · & alibi et dimisi eos secundum desideria eorum X how bishops shoulen besten their gudes L.9.71-75: This line group is bracketed in the left margin with the following gloss written in a s. xvi hand: how bishops shoulen besten their gudes. A large <X> also appears to the left of the line group. Foles þat fauten Inwitte · I fynde þat holicherche X Shulde fynden hem þat hem fauted · and faderelees childrenL.9.72: An <X> marking two lines appears in the right margin. And wydwes þat han nouȝte wher-with · to wynnen hem her fode Madde men and maydenes · þat helplees were Alle þise lakken Inwitte · and lore bihoueth Of þis matere I myȝte · make a longe tale And fynde fele witnesses · amonges þe foure doctours And þat I lye nouȝt of þat I lere þe · luke bereth witnesse Godfader and godmoder · þat sen her godchildren At myseise and at mischief · and mowe hem amende Shal haue penaunce in purgatorie · but ȝif þei hem helpe For more bilongeth to þe litel barne · ar he þe lawe knowe Þan nempnyng of a name · and he neuere þe wiser Shulde no crystene creature · crien atte ȝate Ne faille payn ne potage · and prelates did as þei shulden A Iuwe wolde nouȝte se a Iuwe · go iangelyng for defaute For alle þe moebles on þis molde · and he amende it miȝte Allas þat a crestene creature · shal be vnkynde til an other Sitthen Iuwes þat we iugge · Iudas felawes Ayther of hem helpeth other · of þat þat hym nedeth Whi nel we cristene · of cristes good be as kynde As Iuwes þat ben owre lores-men · shame to vs alle Þe comune for her vnkyndenesse · I drede me shul abye Bisschopes shul be blamed · for beggeres sake He is worse þan Iudas · þat ȝiueth a iaper siluer And biddeth þe begger go · for his broke clothes Proditor est prelatus cum Iuda · qui patrimonium cristi minus distribuit // & alibi Perniciosus dispensator est · qui res pauperum cristi inutiliter consumit He doth nouȝt wel þat doth þus · ne drat nouȝt god almiȝty Ne loueth nouȝt salamones sawes · þat sapience tauȝte Inicium sapiencie timor domini · Þat dredeth god he doth wel · þat dredeth hym for loue And nouȝt for drede of veniaunce · doth þer-fore þe bettere He doth best þat with-draweth hym · by day and bi nyȝte To spille any speche or any space of tyme + Qui offendit in verboL.9.106: LR alone have verbo, which explains the corrector's marginal <+>. Most other B manuscripts have vno, and F has vno verbo. in omnibus est reus Lesyng of tyme · treuthe wote þe sothe Is moste yhated vpL.9.108: LCMR alone have vp. Most other B manuscripts have vpon, though on is a later addition in M. erthe · of hem þat beth in heuene And sitthe to spille speche · þat spyre is of grace And goddes gleman · and a game of heuene Wolde neuere þe faithful fader · his fithel were vntempred Ne his gleman a gedelyng · a goer to tauernes To alle trew tidy men · þat trauaille desyren Owre lorde loueth hem and lent · loude other stille Grace to go to hem · and agon her lyflode Inquirentes autem dominum non minuentur omni bono Trewe wedded libbing folk · in þis worlde is dowel For þei mote worche & wynne · and þe worlde susteyne For of her kynde þei come · þat confessoures ben nempned Kynges and kniȝtes · kayseres and cherles Maydenes and martires · out of o man come Þe wyf was made þe weye · for to help worche And þus was wedloke ywrouȝt · with a mene persone First bi þe faderes wille · and þe frendes conseille And sytthenes bi assent of hem-self · as þei two myȝte acorde And thus was wedloke ywrouȝte · and god hym-self it made In erthe þe heuene is · hym-self was þe witnesse Ac fals folke faithlees · theues and lieres Wastoures and wrecches · out of wedloke I trowe Conceyued ben in yuel tyme · as caym was on Eue Of such synful shrewes · þe sauter maketh mynde Concepit in dolore et peperit iniquitatem &c And alle þat come of þat caym come to yuel endeL.9.133: The last two words may possibly have been added by a later hand. For god sent to seem · and seyde bi an angel Þyne issue in þyne issue · I wil þat þei be wedded And nouȝt þi kynde with caymes · ycoupled ne yspoused Ȝet some aȝein þe sonde of owre saueoure of heuene Caymes kynde & his kynde · coupled togideres Tyl god wratthed for her werkis · and suche a worde seyde Þat I maked man · now it me athynketh Penitet me fecisse hominem And come to Noe anon · and bad hym nouȝt lette Swithe go shape a shippe · of shides and of bordes Þiself and þi sones three · and sithen ȝowre wyues Buske ȝow to þat bote · and bideth ȝe þer-inne Tyl fourty dayes be fulfilde · þat flode haue ywasshen Clene awey þe cursed blode · þat caym hath ymaked Bestes þat now ben · shulle banne þe tyme Þat euere þat cursed caym · come on þis erthe Alle shal deye for his dedes · bi dales and bi hulles And þe foules þat fleeghen · forfor[th]L.9.151: A corrector's <+> in the left margin notes L's omission of <þ> in forþ. with other bestes Excepte oneliche of eche kynde a couple Þat in þi shyngled shippe · shul ben ysaued Here abouȝt þe barne · þe belsyres gultes And alle for her forfadres · þei ferden þe worse Þe gospel is here-ageine · in o degre I fynde Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris & pater non portabit iniquitatem filij &c ·L.9.157: LHmW alone have &c after filij. Ac I fynde if þe fader be false and a shrewe Þat somdel þe sone · shal haue þe sires tacches Impe on an ellerne · and if þine apple be swete Mochel merueile me þynketh · & more of a schrewe Þat bryngeth forth any barne · but if he be þe same And haue a sauoure after þe sire · selde seestow other Numquam colligitur de spinis vuas · nec de tribulis fycus And þus þourw cursed caym · cam care vppon erthe And al for þei wrouȝt wedlokes · aȝein goddis wille For-þi haue þei maugre forL.9.167: LMR alone have for. Other B manuscripts have of. here mariages · þat marye so her childerenL.9.167-203: A bracket in the right margin extends the length of the page. For some as I se now · soth forto telle For coueitise of catel vnkyndeliche ben wedded As careful concepcioun cometh of suche mariages As bifel of þe folke · þat I bifore of tolde id est boni id est bonas For goodeL.9.172: An interlinear gloss appears above goode in a hand like that of the gloss on L.9.34: id est boni. shulde wedde goodeL.9.172: An interlinear gloss appears above goode in a hand like that of the previous gloss: id est bonas. · þough hij no good hadde I am via & veritas seith cryst · I may auaunce alle + It is an oncomelyL.9.174: The prefix on was added supralinearly after initial copying, perhaps in response to the corrector's <+> in the left margin. F also omitted the prefix. L uniquely has the spelling on; most other B manuscripts have vn. Kane-Donaldson take the interlinear addition to be in the main text hand, but we think the correction is added by a later hand. couple · bi cryst as me þinketh To ȝyuen a ȝonge wenche · to an olde feble Or wedden any widwe · for welth of hir goodis Þat neuere shal barne bere · but if it be in armes Many a peire sithen þe pestilence · han pliȝt homL.9.178: L alone reads hom, and this is the only instance of this form in the manuscript; all other B manuscripts have hem. togideres Þe fruit þat þei brynge forth · aren foule wordes In ialousye ioyeles · and ianglyng on bedde + Haue þei no children but cheste · anL.9.181: The corrector has noted the scribe's an for and with a <+> in the left margin. choppyng hem bitwene nota And þough þei don hem to donmowe · but if þe deuel help To folwen after þe flicche · fecche þei it neuere And but þei bothe be forsworne · þat bacoun þei tyne nota For-þi I conseille alle crystene · coueite nouȝt be wedded For coueitise of catel · ne of kynrede riche Ac maydenes and maydenes · macche ȝow togideres Widwes and widwers · worcheth þe same For no londes but for loue · loke ȝe be wedded And þanne gete ȝe þe grace of god · and good ynogh to lyue with nota And euery maner seculer þat may nouȝt continue Wysly go wedde · and war hym fro synne For leccherye in likyng · is lymeȝerde of helle Whiles þow art ȝonge · and þi wepne kene Wreke þe with wyuynge · ȝif þow wilL.9.195: L alone has wil; all other B witnesses read wolt. ben excused Dum sis vir fortis · ne des tua robora scortis Scribitur in portis · meretrix est ianua mortis Whan ȝe haue wyued bewar · and worcheth in tyme Nouȝt as Adam & Eue · whan caym was engendred For in vntyme trewli · bitwene man & womman Ne shulde no bourde on bedde be · but if þei bothe were clene Bothe of lyf & and of soule · and in parfyte charitee Þat ilke derne dede do · noman ne sholde And if þei leden þus her lyf · it likedL.9.204: LR alone have liked. Most other B manuscripts have likeþ. god almiȝti For he made wedloke firste · and him-self it seide Bonum est vt vnusquisque vxorem suam habeat propter fornicacionem And þei þat oþergatis ben geten · for gedelynges ben holden As false folke fondelynges · faitoures and lyars Vngracious to gete goode · or loue of þe poeple Wandren and wasten · what þei cacche mowe Aȝeines dowel þei don yuel · and þe deuel serue And after her deth-day · shulle dwelle with þe same But god gyue hem grace here · hem-self to amende Dowel my frende is · to don as lawe techeth To loue þi frende and þi foo · leue me þat is dobet To ȝiuen and to ȝemen · bothe ȝonge and olde To helen and to helpen · is dobest of alle nota And dowel is to drede god · and dobet to suffre And so cometh dobest of bothe · and bryngeth adoun þe mody And þat is wikked wille · þat many werke shendeth And dryueth away dowel · þorugh dedliche synnes Passus xus de visione & ijus dowelPassus Xusdecimus t nota ThanneL.10.1: The lombard capital <T> is five lines high in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide letter <t> appears in the left margin. hadde witte a wyf · was hote dame studye Þat lene was of lere · and of liche bothe She was wonderly wroth · þat witte me þus tauȝte And al starynge dame studye · sternelich seyde Wel artow wyse quod she to witte · any wysdomes to telle To flatereres or to folis · þat frantyk ben of wittes And blamed hym and banned hym · and badde hym be stylle With suche wise wordes · to wissen any sottes And seyde noli mittere man · margerye perlis Amanges hogges þat han · hawes at wille Þei don but dryuele þer-on draffe were hem leuere Þan al þe precious perre · þat in paradys wexeth I sey it bi suche quod she þat sheweth bi her werkes Þat hem were leuer londe · and lordship on erthe Or ricchesse or rentis · and reste at her wille Þan alle þe sothe sawes · þat salamon seyde euere nota Wisdome and witte now is nouȝt worth a carseL.10.17: LMR alone among B witnesses have the spelling carse in agreement with C. Other B manuscripts have kerse. Both spellings reflect dialectal variants of "cress" (<OE cressa, cærse). But if it be carded with coueytise · as clotheres kemben here wolle Who-so can contreue deceytes · an conspire wronges And lede forth a loue-day · to latte with treuthe He þat suche craftes can · to conseille is clepid Þei lede lordes with lesynges · and bilyeth treuthe Iob þe gentel in his geste.s witnesseth Þat wikked men þei welden · þe welthe of þis worlde And þat þei ben lordes of eche a londe · þat oute of lawe libbeth Quare impij viuunt bene est omnibus qui preuaricantur & inique agunt Þe sauter seyth þe same · bi suche þat don ille Ecce ipsiL.10.28: The suspension for ipsi is added by the rubricating scribe. peccatores habundantes in seculo optinuerunt diuicias Lo seith holy letterrure whiche lordes beth þis shrewes Þilke þat god moste gyueth · leste good þei deleth And moste vnkynde to þe comune · þat moste catel weldeth Que perfecisti destruxerunt · iustus autem &c · Harlotes for her harlotrye · may haue of her godis And iaperes and iogeloures · and iangelers of gestes Ac he þat hath holy writte · ay in his mouth · And can telle of Tobye · and of þe twelue apostles Or prechen of þe penaunce · þat pilat wrouȝt To Ihesu þe gentil · þat Iewes to-drowe Litel is he loued · þat suche a lessoun scheweth Or daunted or drawe forth · I do it on god hym-self But þo þat feynen hem folis · and with faityng libbeth Aȝein þe lawe of owre lorde · and lyen on hem-selue Spitten and spewen · and speke foule wordes Drynken and dryuelen · and do men for to gape Lickne men and lye on hem · þat leneth hem no ȝiftes Þei conne namore mynstralcye · ne musyke men to glade Than Munde þe mylnere · of multa fecit deus Ne were here vyle harlotrye · haue god my treuthe Shulde neuere Kyng ne kniȝt · ne chanoun of seynt Poules Ȝyue hem to her ȝeresȝiue · þe ȝifte of a grote Ac murthe and mynstralcye · amonges men is nouthe Leccherye losengerye · and loseles tales Glotonye and grete othes · þis murthe þei louieth nota Ac if þei carpen of cryst · þis clerkis and þis lewed Atte mete in her murthes · whan mynstralles ben stille L.10.56-57: A bracket appears in the left margin beside these two lines. Þanne telleth þei of þe trinite · a tale other tweyne And bringen forth a balled resoun · and taken Bernard to witnesse And putten forth a presumpsioun · to preue þe sothe L.10.59: A bracket in the left margin encloses this line. Þus þei dryuele at her deyse þe deite to knowe And gnawen god with þe gorge · whan her gutte isL.10.60: LYR alone read gutte is; most other B manuscripts have plural guttes, with or without some form of "be." fulle nota Ac þe careful may crye · and carpen atte ȝate Bothe afyngred and a-thurst · and for chele quake Is none to nymen hym nere · his noye to amende But heonL.10.64: heon, "halloo, shout out." See MED, s.v. heuen v.(3). on hym as an hounde · and hoten hym go þennes Litel loueth he þat lorde · þat lent hym al þat blisse Þat þus parteth with þe pore · a parcel whan hym nedeth Ne were mercy in mene men · more þan in riche Mendinantz meteles · miȝte go to bedde God is moche in þe gorge · of þise grete maystres Ac amonges mene men · his mercy and his werkis And so seith þe sauter · I haue yseyeL.10.71: LR alone read yseye; most other B manuscripts have seiȝen. it ofte Ecce audiuimus eam in effrata · inuenimus eam in campis silue Clerkes and other kynnes men · carpen of god faste And haueL.10.74: LHm alone omit hym after haue. moche in þe mouthe · ac mene men in herte nota Freres and faitoures · han founde suche questiouns To plese with proude men · sithen þe pestilence tyme And prechen at seint poules · for pure enuye of clerkis Þat folke is nouȝte fermed in þe feith · ne fre of her goodes Ne sori for her synnes · so is pryde waxen In religioun and in alle þe rewme · amonges riche & pore Þat preyeres haue no power · þe pestilence to lette And ȝette þe wrecches of þis worlde · is none ywar bi other Ne for drede of þe deth · withdrawe nouȝt her pryde Ne beth plentyuous to þe pore · as pure charite wolde But in gaynesse and in glotonye · for-glotten her goode hem-selue And breken nouȝte to þe beggar · as þe boke techeth Frange esurienti panem tuum &c · And þe more he wynneth and welt · welthes & ricchesse And lordeth in londes · þe lasse good he deleth Thobye telleth ȝow nouȝt so · take hede ȝe riche How þe boke bible · of hym bereth witnesse Si tibi sit copia habundanter tribue · si autem exiguum illud impertiri stude libenter Who-so hath moche spene manliche · so meneth Thobie And who-so litel weldeth · reule him þer-after For we haue no lettre of owre lyf · how longe it shal dure Suche lessounes lordes shulde · louie to here And how he myȝte moste meyne manliche fynde nota Nouȝt to fare as a fitheler or a frere · forto seke festes Homelich at other mennes houseL.10.99: LF alone read house; all other B manuscripts have houses. · and hatyen her owne Elyng is þe halle : vche daye in þe wyke Þere þe lorde ne þe lady liketh nouȝte to sytte Now hath vche riche a reule · to eten bi hym-selue In a pryue palourepa[r]loure · for pore mennes sake Or in a chambre with a chymneye · and leue þe chief halle Þat was made for meles · men to eten Inne And al to spare to spille · þat spende shal an other I haue yherde hiegh men etyng atte table Carpen as þei clerkes were · of cryste and of his miȝtes And leyden fautes vppon þe fader · þat fourmed vs alle And carpen aȝeine clerkes · crabbed wordes Whi wolde owre saueoure suffre suche a worme in his blisse Þat bigyled þe womman · and þe man after Þorw whiche wyles and wordes · þei went to helle And al her sede for here synne · þe same deth suffred Here lyeth ȝowre lore · þise lordes gynneth dispute Of þat ȝe clerkes vs kenneth · of cryst by þe gospel Filius non portabit iniquitatem patris &c · Whi shulde we þat now ben · for þe werkes of Adam Roten and to-rende · resoun wolde it neuere Vnusquisque portabit onus suum &c Suche motyues þei moeue · þis maistres in her glorie And maken men in mysbileue · þat muse moche on her wordes Ymaginatyf her-after-ward · shal answere to ȝowre purpos nota Augustyne to suche argueres · he telleth hemL.10.124: LHmMRF read hem which is omitted by other B witnesses. þis teme Non plus sapere quam oportet Wilneth neuere to wite · whi þat god wolde Suffre sathan his sede to bigyle Ac bileue lelly · in þe lore of holicherche And preye hym of pardoun · and penaunce in þi lyue And for his moche mercye · to amende ȝow here For alle þat wilneth to wyte · þe weyes of god almiȝty I wolde his eye were in his ers · and his fynger after Þat euere wilneth to wite · whi þat god wolde Suffre sathan · his sede to bigile Or iudas to þe iuwes · ihesu bytraye Al was as þow woldeL.10.136: LRF read wolde, though alpha's verb follows he; all other B manuscripts have woldest. · lorde yworschiped be þow And al worth as þow wolte · what-so we dispute And þo þat vseth þis hauelounes · to blende mennes wittes What is dowel fro dobet · now def mote he worthe Sitthe he wilneth to wyte · whiche þei ben bothe But if he lyue in þe lyf · þat longeth to dowel For I dar ben his bolde borgh · þat dobet wil he neuere Þeigh dobest drawe on hym day after other nota And whan þat witte was ywar what dame studye tolde He bicome so confus · he couth nouȝte loke And as doumbe aa[s] deth · and drowe hym arrere + L.10.147: A mark, not quite like the corrector's <+> appears in the left margin; no error is apparent. And for no carpyng I couth after · ne knelyng to þe grounde I myȝte gete no greyne · of his grete wittis But al laughyng he louted · and loked vppon studye In signe þat I shulde · biseche hir of grace And whan I was war of his wille · to his wyf gan I loute And seyde mercy madame ȝowre man shal I worthe As longe as I lyue · bothe late & rathe Forto worche ȝowre wille · þe while my lyf dureth With þat ȝe kenne me kyndely · to knowe what is dowel L.10.156: A mark, not quite identical to the corrector's usual cross appears in the left margin, and no error is apparent. For þi mekenesse man quod she · and for þi mylde speche I shal kenne þe to my cosyn · þat clergye is hoten He hath wedded a wyf · with-Inne þis syx monethes Is sybbe to þe seuene artz · scripture is hir name Þei two as I hope · after my techyng Shullen wissen þe to dowel · I dar it vndertake + Þanne was IL.10.162: I was added after initial copying, no doubt in response to the corrector's <+> in the left margin. also fayne · as foule of faire morwe And gladder þan þe gleman · þat golde hath to ȝifte And axed hir þe heighe weye · where þat clergye dwelte And telle me some token quod I · for tyme is þat I wende + L.10.166: A corrector's <+> appears in the left margin, but no error is apparent. Axe þe heighe waye quod she · hennes to suffre Bothe wel & wo · ȝif þat þow wolt lerne And ryde forth by ricchesse · ac rest þow nauȝt þerinne For if þow couplest þe þer-with · to clergye comestow neuere nota And also þe likerouse launde · þat leccherye hatte Leue hymL.10.171: LHmMR alone read hym; other B manuscripts have it. on þi left halue · a large myle or more Tyl þow come to a courte · kepe wel þi tonge Fro lesynges and lither speche · and likerouse drynkes Þanne shaltow se sobrete · and symplete of speche Þat eche wiȝte be in wille · his witte þe to shewe And þus shaltow come to clergye · þat can many þinges Saye hym þis signe · I sette hym to scole And þat I grette wel his wyf · for I wrote hir many bokes And sette hir to sapience · and to þe sauter glose Logyke I lerned hir · and many other lawes + And alle þe musouns in mukemu[si]keL.10.181: A corrector's <+> in the left margin notes L's muke for musike. · I made hir to knowe Plato þe poete · I put hym fyrste to boke Arestotle and other moo · to argue I tauȝte Grammer for gerles · I garte first wryte And bette hem with a baleis · but if þei wolde lerne Of alkinnes craftes · I contreued toles Of carpentrie of kerueres and compassed masouns And lerned hem leuel and lyne · þough I loke dymme nota Ac theologie hath tened me · ten score tymes The more I muse þereInne · þe mistier it semeth And þe depper I deuyne · þe derker me it þinketh It is no science for-sothe · forto sotyle Inne A ful lethy þinge it were · ȝif þat loue nere Ac for it let best by loue · I loue it þe bettre For þere þat loue is leder · ne lacked neuere grace Loke þow loue lelly · ȝif þe lyketh dowel For dobet and dobest · ben of loues kynne In other science it seyth · I saye it in catoun Qui similat verbis velL.10.199: LWR alone read vel; all other B manuscripts have nec. corde est fidus amicus Tu quoque fac simile · sic ars deluditur arte Who-so gloseth as gylours don · go me to þe same And so shaltow false folke and faythlees bigyle Þis is catounes kennyng · to clerkes þat he lereth Ac theologye techeth nouȝt so · who-so taketh ȝeme He kenneth vs þe contrarye aȝein catones wordes For he bit vs be as bretheren · and bidde for owre enemys And louen hem þat lyen on vs · and lene hem whan hem nedeth And do good aȝeines yuel · god hym-self it hoteth Dum tempus habemus operemur bonum ad omnes maxime autem ad domesticos fidei Poule preched þe peple þat parfitnesse loued To do good for goddes loue · and gyuen men þat asked And nameliche to suche · þat sueth owre bileue And alle þat lakketh vs or lyeth vs · owre lorde techeth vs to louye And nouȝt to greuen hem þat greueth vs · god hym-self for-badde it Michi vindictam & ego retribuam For-þi loke þow louye · as longe as þow durest For is no science vnder sonne · so souereyne for þe soule L.10.218: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it. ¶ Ac astronomye is an harde þynge · and yuel forto knowe Geometrie and geomesye is ginful of speche Who-so thenketh werche with þo two · thryueth ful late For sorcerye is þe souereyne boke · þat to þe science longeth Ȝet ar þere fybicches in forceres · of fele mennes makyng Experimentz of alkamye · þe poeple to deceyue If þow þinke to dowel · dele þer-with neuere Alle þise science I my-self · sotiled and ordeyned X And founded hem formest · folke to deceyueL.10.226: A drypoint <X> appears beside this line in the left margin. Telle clergye þise tokenes · and scripture after To conseille þe kyndely · to knowe what is dowel · I seide graunt mercy madame · and mekeliche hir grette And went wiȝtlich awey · with-oute more lettynge And til I come to clergye · I couthe neuere stynte And gret þe good man · as studye me tauȝte And afterwardes þe wyf · and worshiped hem bothe And tolde hem þe tokenes · þat me tauȝte were Was neuere gome vppon þis grounde · sith god made þe worlde Fairer vnder-fongen · ne frendeloker at ese Þan my-self sothly · sone so he wist Þat I was of wittis hous · and with his wyf dame studye I seyde to hem sothely · þat sent was I þider Dowel and dobet · and dobest to lerne It is a comune lyf quod clergye · on holycherche to bileue With alle þe artikles of þe feithe · þat falleth to be knowe And þat is to bileue lelly · bothe lered and lewed On þe grete god · þat gynnyng had neuere And on þe sothfaste sone · þat saued mankynde Fro þe dedly deth · and þe deueles power Þorwgh þe helpe of þe holy goste · þe whiche goste is of bothe Three persones · ac nouȝt in plurel noumbre For al is but on god · and eche is god hym-selue Deus pater deus filius · deus spiritus sanctus God þe fader god þe sone · god holigoste of bothe Maker of mankynde · and of bestes bothe Austyn þe olde · here-of heL.10.253: LRF alone read he; other beta manuscripts omit it. made bokes And hym-self ordeyned · to sadde vs in bileue Who was his autour · alle þe foure euangelistes And cryst clepid hym-self so · þe ewangelistes bereth witnesse Ego in patre & pater in me est & qui videt me · videt et patrem meum L.10.258: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it. ¶ Alle þe clerkes vnder cryst · ne couthe þis assoille But þus it bilongeth to bileue L.10.259-299: A bracket extends down the length of the page in the right margin. But þus it bilongeth to bileue · to lewed þat willen dowel For had neuere freke fyne wytte · þe feyth to dispute Ne man had no merite · myȝte it ben yproued Fides non habet meritum vbi humana racio prebet experimentum L.10.263: The rubricating scribe failed to note the original scribe's paraph indicator in the left margin, probably because the original scribe failed to skip a line. On the other hand, the paraph indicator may have been added later, since it is placed differently from others, farther into the left margin. ¶ Þanne is dobet to suffre · for þi soules helth Al þat þe boke bit · by holycherche techyng And þat is man bi þi miȝte · for mercies sake Loke þow worche it in werke · þat þi worde sheweth Suche as þow semest in syȝte · be in assay yfounde Appare quod es vel est esto quod apparesL.10.268: The word est was written in error before esto, then partially erased. There is evidence of a scraped gloss in the left margin, probably nota or a paraph marker. And lat no-body be · bi þi beryng bygyled But be suche in þi soule · as þow semest with-oute Þanne is dobest to be bolde · to blame þe gylty Sithenes þow seest þi-self · as in soule clene Ac blame þow neuere body · and þow be blame-worthy Si culpare velis · culpabilis esse cauebis Dogma tuum sordet · cum te tua culpa remordet God in þe gospel · grymly repreueth Alle þat lakken any lyf · and lakkes han hem-selue Quid consideras festucam in oculo fratris tui trabem in oculo tuo &c Why meuestow þi mode for a mote · in þi brotheres eye Sithen a beem in þine owne · ablyndeth þi-selue Eice primo trabem de oculo tuo &c Whiche letteth þe to loke · lasse other more I rede eche a blynde bosarde · do bote to hym-selue For abbotes and for prioures · and for alle manere prelates As parsones and parissh prestes · þat preche shulde and teche Alle manere men · to amenden · by here myȝte This tixte was tolde ȝow · to ben war ar ȝe tauȝte Þat ȝe were suche as ȝe seyde · to salue with othere For goddis worde wolde nouȝt be blosteL.10.289: R's reading is boste also. · for þat worcheth euere If it auailled nouȝt þe comune · it myȝte auaille ȝow-seluen · Ac it semeth now sothly · to þe worldes syght Þat goddes worde worcheth nauȝte · on lered ne on lewede But in suche a manere · as Marke meneth in þe gospel Dum cecus ducit cecum ambo in foueam cadunt Lewed men may likne ȝow þus · þat þe beem lithe in ȝowre eyghen And þe festu is fallen · for ȝowre defaute In alle manere men · þourgh mansed prestes Þe bible bereth witnesse þat alle þe folke of israel Byttere abouȝte þe gultes · of two badde prestes L.10.300-336: A bracket extends the entire left side of the page. Offyn and Fynes · for her coueytise Archa dei myshapped · and ely brake his nekke L.10.302-304: A corrector's dry point cross appears in the left margin, but it is not clear why it was written. For-þi ȝe corectoures claweth her-on · and corecteth fyrst ȝow-seluen And þanne mowe ȝe saufly seye · as dauid made þe sauter Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis · arguam te & statuam contra faciem tuam · And þanne shal borel clerkes ben abasched · to blame ȝow or to greue And carpen nouȝte as þei carpen now · and calle ȝow doumbe houndes Canes non valentes latrare And drede to wratthe ȝow in any worde · ȝowre werkemanship to lette And be prestiore at ȝowre prayere · þan for a pounde of nobles And al for ȝowre holynesse · haue ȝe þis in herte In scole þere is scorne · but if a clerke wil lerne And grete loue and lykynge · for eche of hem loueth other Ac now is religioun a ryder · a rowmer bi stretes A leder of louedayes · and a londe-bugger A priker on a palfray · fro manere to maner An heep of houndes at his ers · as he a lorde were And but if his knaue knele · þat shal his cuppe brynge He loureth on hym and axeth hym · who tauȝte hym curteisye Litel had lordes to donn · to ȝyue londe fram her heires To Religious þat haue no reuthe · þough it reyne on here auteres In many places þer hij persones ben · be hem-self at ese Of þe pore haue þei no pite · and þat is her charite Ac þei leten hem as lordes · her londe lith so brode a king shall com & Reforme religiounL.10.324: The gloss is added by a s. xvi1 hand. Ac þere shal come a kyng · and confesse ȝow religiouses And bete ȝow as þe bible telleth · for brekynge of ȝowre reule And amende monyales · monkes and chanouns And putten hem to her penaunce · ad pristinum statum ire And Barounes with Erles beten hem · þorugh beatus virres techynge Þat here barnes claymen · and blame ȝow foule Hij in curribusL.10.330: LM alone omit & before hij. hij in equis ipsi obligati sunt &c And þanne Freres in here freitoure shal fynden a keye Of costantynes coffres · in which is þe catel Þat Gregories god-children · han yuel dispended Abbot of Abindoun L.10.334: The gloss is in the same s. xvi1 hand as that at L.10.324. And þanne shal þe abbot of Abyndoun · and alle issu[his] issu for euere Haue a knokke of a kynge · and incurable þe wounde That þis worth soth seke ȝe · þat oft ouer-se þe bible Quomodo cessauit exactor · quieuit tributum · contriuit dominus baculum impiorum et virgam dominancium cedencium plaga insanabili &c Caym shall awake Ac ar þat kynge come · cayme shal awakeL.10.338: The following gloss is added by a s. xvi1 hand in the right margin: Caym shall awake. AcL.10.339: LHmMR alone read Ac; most other B manuscripts have And. dowel shal dyngen hym adoune · and destruyen his myȝte Þanne is dowel and dobet quod I · dominus and kniȝthode I nel nouȝt scorne quod scripture · but if scryueynes lye kynghod ne knyȝthod · by nauȝt I can awayte helpeth nouȝt to heueneward · one heres ende Ne ricchesse riȝt nouȝt · ne reaute of lordes Poule preueth it inpossible · riche men haue heuene Salamon seith also · þat syluer is worst to louye Nichil iniquius quam amare peccuniam And caton kenneth vs to coueiten it · nauȝt but as nede techeth Dilige denarium set parce dilige formam And patriarkes and prophetes · and poetes bothe Wryten to wissen vs · to wilne no ricchesse And preyseden pouerte with pacience · þe apostles bereth witnesse Þat þei han heritage in heuene · and bi trewe riȝte Þere riche men no riȝte may clayme · but of reuthe and grace Contra quod I bi cryste · þat can I repreue And preue it bi Peter · and bi poule bothe Þat is baptized beth sauf · be he riche or pore Þat is in extremis quod scripture · amonges saracenes and iewes Þei mowen be saued so · and þat is owre byleue Þat an vncristene in þat cas · may crysten an hethen And for his lele byleue · whan he þe lyf tyneth Haue þe heritage of heuene · as any man crystene Ac crysten men with-oute more · may nouȝt come to heuene For þat cryst for cristenmencristen men · deyde  and confermed þe lawe Þat who-so wolde and wylneth · with cryste to aryse Si cum cristo surrexistis &c · He shulde louye & leneL.10.367: The word leue may be intended here; the scribe's <n> and <u> are indistinguishable. · and þe lawe fulfille Þat is loue þi lorde god · leuest aboue alle And after alle crystene creatures · in comune eche man other And þus bilongeth to louye · þat leueth to be saued And but we do þus in dede · ar þe daye of dome + II[t]L.10.372: A corrector's <+> in the left margin notes erroneous I for "It." shal bisitten vs ful soure · þe siluer þat we kepen id est panni And owre bakkesL.10.373: The gloss id est panni is written above the line by the scribe. The gloss tells us that bakk- does not mean tergum, "back," but "clothes," "garments." þat moth-eten be · and sen beggers go naked Or delyte in wyn and wylde foule · and wote any in defaute For euery cristene creature shulde be kynde til other And sithen hethen to helpe · in hope of amendement God hoteth bothe heigh and lowe þat no man hurte other And seith slee nouȝt þat semblable is · to myne owen liknesse But if I sende þe sum tokne · and seith non necaberisL.10.379: The scribe originally wrote mecaberis and someone, possibly the original scribe, erased the first minim to make necaberis. Both readings are represented among B manuscripts. Is slee nouȝt but suffre · and al for þe beste For I shal punysshen hem in purgatorie · or in þe putte of helle Vche man for his mysdedes · but mercy it lette Þis is a longe lessoun quod I · and litel am I þe wyser Where dowel is or dobet · derkelich ȝe shewen Many tales ȝe tellen · þat theologye lerneth And þat I man made was · and my name yentred In þe legende of lyf · longe er I were Or elles vnwriten for somme wikkednesse as holywrit wytnesseth Nemo ascendit ad celum nisi qui de celo decendit I leue it wel quod I bi owre lorde and on no letterure bettere For salamon þe sage · þat sapience tauȝte God gaf hym grace of witte · and alle his godes after He demed wel & wysely as holy writte telleth Aristotle & he · who wissed men bettere Maistres þat of goddis mercy · techen men and prechen Of here wordes þei wissen vs · for wisest as in here tyme And al holicherche · holdeth hem bothe ydampned And if I shulde worke bi here werkes to wynne me heuene Þat for her werkes and witte · now wonyeth in pyne Þanne wrouȝte I vnwysely · what-so-euere ȝe preche Ac of fele witty in feith · litel ferly I haue Þough her goste be vngraciouse · god for to plese For many men on þis molde · more sette here hertis + In good þan in god · for-þi hem grace faillethL.10.404: The second letter of initial In appears to have been added after initial copying, probably in response to the corrector's <+> in the left margin. At here moste myschief · whan þei shal lyf lete As salamon dede and such other · þat shewed gret wittes Ac her werkes as holy wrytte seyth · was euere þe contrarye For-þi wyse witted men · and wel ylettred clerkes As þei seyen hem-self · selden done þer-after Super cathedra moysy &c · Ac I wene it worth of many · as was in Noes tyme Þo he shope þat shippe · of shides and bordes Was neuere wriȝte saued þat wrouȝt þer-on · ne oþer werkman elles But briddes and bestes · and þe blissed Noe And his wyf with his sones · and also here wyues Of wriȝtes þat it wrouȝte was none of hem ysaued God leneL.10.417: Either lene (Kane-Donaldson's reading) or leue (Skeat's reading) is possible here. it fare nouȝt so bi folke · þat þe feith techen Of holicherche þat heberwehe[r]berwe is · and goddes hous to saue And shelden vs fram shame þer-inne · as noes shippe did bestes And men þat maden it · amydde þe flode adreynten Þe culorum of þis clause · curatoures is to mene Þat ben carpenteres holykirke to make · for crystes owne bestes Homines & iumenta saluabis domine · &c · On gode fridaye I fynde · a feloun was ysaued Þat had lyued al his lyf with lesynges and with thefte + And for he biknewe on þe crosse · and to cryste scrofs[h]rofL.10.426: A corrector's <+> marks L's scrof for shrof. Although the spelling scrof is a possible Northern form, it is probably only error here. hym He was sonnere saued · þan seynt Iohan Baptiste And or Adam or ysaye · or eny of þe prophetes Þat hadde yleine with Lucyfer · many longe ȝeres A robbere was yraunceouned · rather þan þei alle With-outen any penaunce · of purgatorie  to perpetuel blisse Þanne Marye Magdaleyne · what womman dede worse Or who worse þan dauid · þat vries deth conspired Or Poule þe apostle · þat no pitee hadde Moche crystene kynde · to kylle to deth + And benL.10.436: LR lack now before ben, as attested in most B manuscripts. A corrector's <+> in the left margin notes the omission. þise as souereynes · wyth seyntes in heuene Þo þat wrouȝte wikkedlokest · in worlde þo þei were And þo þat wisely wordeden · and wryten many bokes Of witte and of wisdome · with dampned soules wonye Þat salamon seith I trowe be soth · and certeyne of vs alle Sine iusti atque sapientes · & opera eorum in manu dei sunt &c Þere aren witty and wel libbyng ac her werkes ben yhudde X L.10.443: An <X> two lines high appears in the left margin. In þe hondes of almiȝty god · and he wote þe sothe Wher for loue a man worth allowed þere · and his lele werkes Or elles for his yuel wille · or&L.10.445: L alone initially read or. A corrector's cross appears in the left margin and or is subpuncted. A small superlinear ampersand replaces it. It is barely visible, even with magnification. enuye of herte And be allowed as he lyued so · for bi lyther · men knoweth þe gode And wherby woteL.10.447: LR alone read wote; most other B manuscripts have a <wi-> form. men whiche is whyte · if alle þinge blake were And who were a gode man · but if þere were some shrewe For-þi lyue we forth with lither men · I leue fewe ben gode For qant oportet vyent en place · yl nyad que pati And he þat may al amende · haue mercy on vs alle For sothest worde þat euere god seyde · was þo he seyde nemo bonus L.10.453: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it. ¶ Clergye þo of crystes mouth · commended was it litel X For he seyde to seynt Peter · and to suche as he louedL.10.454: A large <X> in lead appears in the left margin beside this line group. There is no error apparent. Dum steteritis ante Reges et presides &c · Þough ȝe come bifor kynges · and clerkes of þe lawe Beth nouȝte abasched · for I shal be in ȝoure mouthes And ȝyue ȝow witte atL.10.458: LRF alone read at; all other B manuscripts have and. wille · and kunnynge to conclude Hem alle þat aȝeines ȝow · of crystenedome disputen Dauyd maketh mencioun · ...?...he spake amonges kynges And miȝte no kynge ouercome hym · as bi kunnyng of speche But witte ne wisdome · wan neuere þe maystrye Whan man was at myschief · with-oute þe more grace Þe doughtiest doctour · and deuynoure of þe triniteeL.10.464: The last two letters may have been re-inked or added later. Was augustyn þe olde · and heighest of þe foure Sayde þus in a sarmoun · I seigh it writen ones Ecce ipsi idioti rapiunt celum · vbi nos sapientes in inferno mergimur · And is to mene to englissh men · more ne lasse Aren none rather yrauysshed · fro þe riȝte byleue Þan ar þis cunnynge clerkes · þat conne many bokes Ne none sonner saued · ne sadder of bileue Þan plowmen and pastoures · & pore comune laboreres Souteres and sheperdes · sucheL.10.473: LCr1R lack and before suche, as attested in most other B manuscripts. lewed iottes Percen with a pater noster þe paleys of heuene And passen purgatorie penaunceles · at her hennes-partyng In-to þe blisse of paradys · for her pure byleue Þat inparfitly here · knewe and eke lyued ...?...Ȝee men knowe clerkes · þat han cursed þe tyme Þat euere þei couth or knewe more · þa.n credo in deum patrem And pryncipaly her pater noster · many a persone hath wisshed I se ensamples my-self · and so may many an other Þat seruauntes þat seruen lordes · selden falle in arrerage But þo þat kepen þe lordes catel · clerkes and reues Riȝt so lewed men · & of litel knowyng Selden falle þei so foule · and so fer in synne As clerkes of holikirke · þat kepen crystes tresore Þe which is mannes soule to saue · as god seith in þe gospel ite vos in vineam meamL.10.488: This line was actually written to the right of the previous one, probably because the scribe wanted to allow adequate space below for the ornamented initial capital of the next passus. passus xjusPassus xjusundecimus t ThanneL.11.1: The lombard capital <T> is five lines high in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide letter <t> appears in the left margin. scripture scorned me · and a skile tolde And lakked me in latyne · and liȝte by me she sette And seyde multi multa sciunt & seipsos nesciunt Þo wepte I for wo · and wratth of her speche And in a wynkyng wratth · wex I aslepe A merueillouse meteles · mette me þanne fortune Þat I was rauisshed riȝt þere · and fortune me fetteL.11.7: The word fortune is written in the right margin in a sixteenth-century hand. And in-to þe londe of longynge · allone she me brouȝte And in a myroure þat hiȝt mydlerd · she mad me to biholde Sitthen she sayde to me · here myȝtowL.11.10: An otiose tilde appears over this word. se wondres And knowe þat þow coueytest · and come þer-to par-aunter Þanne hadde fortune folwyng hir two faire damoyseles Concupiscencia carnis · men called þe elder mayde And coueytise of eyes · ycalled was þat oþer Pryde of parfyte lyuynge · pursued hem bothe And badde me for my contenaunce · acounte clergye liȝte Concupiscencia carnis · colled me aboute þe nekke And seyde þow art ȝonge and ȝepe · and hast ȝeres ynowe For to lyue longe · and ladyes to louye And in þis myroure þow myȝte se · myrthes ful manye Þat leden þe wil to lykynge · al þi lyf-tyme Þe secounde seide þe same · I shal suwe þi wille Til þow be a lorde and haue londe · leten þe I nelle Þat I ne shal folwe þi felawship · if fortune it lyke He shal fynde me his frende · quod fortune þer-after Þe freke þat folwed my wille · failled neuere blisse Thanne was þere one þat hiȝte elde þat heuy was of chere Man quod he if I mete with þe · bi Marie of heuene Þow shalt fynde fortune þe faille · at þi moste nede And concupiscencia carnis · clene þe forsake Bitterliche shaltow banne þanne · bothe dayes and niȝtes Coueytise of eyghe · þat euere þow hir knewe And pryde of parfyt lyuynge · to moche peril þe brynge Ȝee recche þe neuere quod recchelesnes · stode forth in ragged clothes Folwe forth þat fortune wole · þow hast wel · fer til elde A man may stoupe tymesL.11.36: LHmMR have tymes; most other B manuscripts read tyme. ynow · whan he shal tyne þe croune Homo proponit quod a poete · and plato he hyght And deus disponit quod he · lat god done his wille If trewthe wil witnesse it be wel do · fortune to folwe Concupiscencia carnis · ne coueityse of eyes Ne shal nouȝt greue þe gretly · ne bigyle þe but þow wolt L.11.42: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it. ¶ Ȝee farewel phippe quod fauntelte and forth gan me drawe Til concupiscencia carnis · acorded alle my werkes Allas eye quod elde · and holynesse bothe Þat witte shal torne to wrecchednesse · for wille to haue his lykyng Coueityse of eyghes · conforted me anon after And folwed me fourty wynter · and a fyfte more Þat of dowel ne dobet · no deyntee me neL.11.48: LM alone read ne; most other B witnesses omit it. þouȝte I had no lykynge leue me if þeL.11.49: LMW alone have þe, though Hm has thu and Cr1 ye. leste · of hem auȝte to knowe Coueytyse of eyes · cam ofter in mynde Þan dowel or dobet amonge my dedes alle Coueytise of eyes conforted me ofte And seyde haue no conscience how þow come to gode + Go confesseL.11.54: The <+> indicates that the corrector noted L's omission of þe after confesse. F also omits the pronoun. to sum frere · and shewe hym þi synnes For whiles fortune is þi frende · Freres wil þe louye And fecche þe to her fraternite · and for þe biseke To her priour prouyncial · a pardoun forto haue And preyen for þe pol bi pol · ȝif þow be peccuniosus Set pena pecuniareapecuniar[i]a non sufficit pro spiritualibus delictis By wissynge of þis wenche I wrouȝte · here wordes were so swete X L.11.61-64: A dry point <X> appears in the left margin.Tyl I forȝat ȝouthe · and ȝarn in-to elde And þanne was fortune my foo · for al hir faire biheste And pouerte pursued me · and put me lowe And þo fonde I þe Frere aferde · and flyttynge bothe Aȝeines owre firste forward · for I seyde I nolde Be buryed at her hous · but at my parissh cherche For I herde onys · how conscience it tolde Þat þere a man were crystened · by kynde he shulde be buryed Or where he were parisshene · riȝt þere he shulde be grauen And for I seyde þus to freres · a fool þei me helden And loued me þe lasse for my lele speche Ac ȝet I cryed on my confessoure þat helde hym-self so kunnyng By my feith frere quod I · ȝe faren lyke þise woweres Þat wedde none wydwes · but forto welde here godis Riȝte so by þe Rode · rouȝte ȝe neuere Where my body were buryed · bi so ȝe hadde my siluer Ich haue moche merueille of ȝow · and so hath many an other Why ȝowre couent coueyteth · to confesse and to burye Rather þan to baptise barnes · þat ben catekumelynges Baptizyng and burying · bothe ben ful nedeful Ac moche more merytorie · me þynkeL.11.81: L alone reads þynke; all other B manuscripts have þynkeþ. it is to baptize For a baptized man · may as maistres telleth Þorugh contricioun come · to þe heigh heuene Sola contricio &c ·L.11.84: LMWR read &c · Most B manuscripts end the Latin quotation delet peccatum. The scribe wrote this line to the right of the previous line, probably because he was at the end of the page and did not want the line separated from the rest of the line group. nota Ac a barne with-oute bapteme · may nouȝt so be saued Nisi quis renatus fuerit loke ȝe lettred men · whether I lye or do nouȝte And lewte loked on me · and I loured after Wherfore lourestow quod lewte · and loked on me harde Ȝif I durste quod I amonges men · þis meteles auowe Ȝe bi peter and bi poule quod he · and takeL.11.90: LGMR have the present tense take. All other B witnesses have the preterite took. hem bothe to witnesse Non oderis fratres secrete in corde tuo · set publice argue illos Þei wol alleggen also quod I · and by þe gospel preuen Nolite iudicare quemquam · And wher-of serueth lawe quod lewte · if no lyf vndertoke it Falsenesse ne faytrye · for sumwhat þe apostle seyde Non oderis fratrem · and in þe sauter also seithe dauid þe propheteL.11.96-98: The markup and display does not adequately represent the manuscript here. See the image. Existimasti inique quod ero tui similis &c It is licitum for lewed men · to segge þe sothe If hem lyketh and leste · eche a lawe it graunteth Excepte parsones and prestes · and prelates of holycherche It falleth nouȝte for þat folke · no tales to telle Þough þe tale were trewe · and it touched synne Þinge þat al þe worlde wote · wherfore shuldestow spare And reden it in Retoryke · to arate dedly synne Ac be neuere-more þe fyrste · þe defaute to blame Þouȝe þow se yuel sey it nouȝte fyrste · be sorye it nere amended No þinge þat is pryue · publice þow it neuere Neyther for loue laude it nouȝt · ne lakke it for enuye + Parum lauda vitupera paraciusL.11.109: A rubricated penstroke across the descender of <p> and a red dot beneath the <a> serve to correct pacius to parcius. The rubricator's <+> in the margin reveals the rubricating scribe serving as corrector here. He seith sothe quod scripture þo · and skipte an heigh & preched Ac þe matere þat she meued · if lewed men it knewe Þe lasse as I leue · louyen it þei wolde This was her teme and her tyxte · I toke ful gode hede Multi to a maungerye · and to þe mete were sompned And whan þe peple was plenere comen · þe porter vnpynned þe ȝate And plukked in pauci priueliche · and lete þe remenaunt go rowme Al for tene of her tyxte · trembled myn herte And in a were gan I waxe · and with my-self to dispute Whether I were chosen or nouȝt chosen · on holicherche I þouȝte Þat vnderfonge me atte fonte · for one of goddis chosne For cryste cleped vs alle · come if we wolde Sarasenes and scismatikes · and so he dyd þe iewes O vos omnes scicientes[si]cientes venite &c And badde hem souke for synne · saufly at his breste And drynke bote for bale · brouke it who-so myȝte Þanne may alle crystene come quod I · and cleyme þere entre By þe blode þat he bouȝte vs with · and þorugh baptesme after Qui crediderit & baptizatus fuerit &c For þough a crystene man coueyted · his crystenedome to reneye Riȝtfulliche to renye · no resoun it wolde For may no cherle chartre make · ne his catel selle With-outen leue of his lorde · no lawe wil it graunte Ac he may renne in arrerage · and .....rowme so fro home + And as a reneyed caityf recchele...sly gonL.11.134: The last three letters of recchelesly appear to have been written over an erasure, and gon was added after initial copying. A <+> appears in the left margin, presumably prompting one or both of these changes. A number of B manuscripts have this line as it stands without the addition, though some have rennen where the corrector here has supplied gon. aboute Ac Resoun shal rekne with hym · and casten hym in arrerage And puttenL.11.136: LCMY lack hym after putten, attested in most B manuscripts. after in a prisone · in purgatorie to brenne For his arrerages rewarden hym þere  to þe daye of dome + But if contricioun welL.11.138: LR alone have wel (instead of wol) which may explain the corrector's marginal <+>. come · and crye bi his lyue Mercy for his mysdedes · with mouth or with herte Þat is soth seyde scripture may no synne lette Mercy alle to amende · and mekenesse hir folwe For þey beth as owre bokes telleth · aboue goddes werkes Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius Ȝee baw for bokes quod one · was broken oute of helle trogianusL.11.145: The word trogianus is written in the left margin. The reading is unclear, but the scribe appears to have written first trooianus and then corrected the second <o> to <g>. Hiȝte troianus had ben a trewe knyȝte · toke witnesse at a pope How he was ded and dampned · to dwellen in pyne For an vncristene creature clerkis wyten þe sothe Þat al þe clergye vnder cryste · miȝte me cracche fro helle But onliche loue and leaute · and my lawful domes Gregorie wist þis wel · and wilned to my soule Sauacioun for sothenesse · þat he seigh in my werkes And after þat he wepte · and wilned me were graunted Grace wyth-outen any bede-byddynge · his bone was vnderfongeL.11.153: The remains of an erased red box can be seen around the last word. And I saued as ȝe may se · with-oute syngyng of masses By loue and by lernyng of my lyuyng in treuthe Brouȝte me fro bitter peyne · þere no biddyng myȝte Lo ȝe lordes what leute did · by an Emperoure of Rome Þat was an ...?...vncrystene creature · as clerkes fyndeth in bokes Nouȝt þorw preyere of a pope · but for his pure treuthe Was þat sarasene saued · as seynt Gregorie bereth witnesse Wel ouȝte ȝe lordes þat lawes kepe · þis lessoun to haue in mynde And on troianus treuth to thenke · and do treuthe to þe peple Lawe with-outen loue quod troianus leye þere a bene Or any science vnder sonne · þe seuene artz and alle X But ifL.11.165: The corrector's if does not appear in any other B manuscript. The dry point <X> in the left margin perhaps points to this lection. þei ben lerned for owre lordes loue · loste is alle þe tyme For no cause to cacche siluer þere-by · ne to be called a mayster But al for loue of owre lorde · and þe bet to loue þe peple For seynte Iohan seyde it · and soth aren his wordes Qui non diligit manet in morte Who-so loueth nouȝte leue me · he lyueth in deth-deyinge And þat alle manere men · enemys and frendes Louen her eyther other · and lene hem as her-selue Who-so leneth nouȝte · he loueth nouȝte · god wote þe sothe And comaundeth eche creature · to confourme hym to louye And souereynelyche pore poeple · and here ennemys after For hem þat hateth vs · is owre meryte to louye And pore peple to plese · here prayeres may vs helpe For owre ioye and owre hele · Ihesu cryst of heuene In a pore mannes apparaille · pursueth vs euere And loketh on vs in her liknesse · and þat withL.11.180:The abbreviation includes a punctus under the <t>; both the <t> and punctus may have been added after initial copying by a different hand. louely chere To knowen vs by owre kynde herte · and castyng of owre eyen WherþerWheþer we loue þe lordes here · byfor owre lorde of blisse And exciteth vs bi þe euangelye · þat when we maken festes We shulde nouȝte clepe owre kynne þer-to · ne none kynnes riche Cum facitis conuiuia nolite inuitare amicos Ac calleth þe careful þer-to þe croked and þe pore For ȝowre frendes wil feden ȝow · and fonde ȝow to quite Ȝowre festynge and ȝowre faire ȝifte · vche frende quyteth so other Ac for þe pore I shal paye · and pure wel quyte her trauaille Þat ȝiueth hem mete or moneye · and loueth hem for my sake For þe best ben somme riche · and somme beggers and pore For alle are we crystes creatures · and of his coffres riche And bretheren as of o blode · as wel beggares as erles · + For ofonL.11.194: The word of has been subpuncted and lined through and on supplied supralinearly in keeping with all other beta witnesses. A corrector's <+> in the left margin flagged the error. caluarye of crystes blode · crystenedome gan sprynge And blody bretheren we bycome þere · of o body ywonne As quasi modo geniti · and gentil men vche one No beggere ne boye amonges vs · but if it synne made Qui facit peccatum seruus est peccati &c In þe olde lawe · as holy lettre telleth Mennes sones · men called vs vchone Of adames issue and Eue · ay til god-man deyde And after his resurreccioun · Redemptor was his name And we his bretheren þourgh hym ybouȝt · bothe riche and pore For-þi loue we as leue bretheren shal · and vche man laughe vpL.11.204: LMR read vp and, although BCY have vpon, a majority of B witnesses record of. other And of þat eche man may forbere · amende þere it nedeth And euery man helpe other · for hennes shal we alle Alter alterius onera portate And be we nouȝte vnkynde of owre catel · ne of owre kunnynge neyther For noet no man how neighe it is · to be ynome fro bothe For-þi lakke no lyf other · þough he more latyne knowe Ne vnder-nym nouȝte foule · for is none with-oute faute For what-euere clerkis carpe of crystenedome or elles Cryst to a comune woman seyde · in comune at a feste Þat fides sua shulde sauen hir and saluen hir of alleL.11.214: LCrHmR alone read alle. Most other B manuscripts omit the word entirely or else provide hyr as their reading. synnes Þanne is byleue a lele helpe aboue logyke or lawe Of logyke ne of lawe in legenda sanctorum Is litel allowaunce made · but if bileue hem helpe For it is ouerlonge ar logyke · any lessoun assoille And lawe is loth to louye · but if he lacche syluer Bothe logyke and lawe · þat loueth nouȝte to lye I conseille alle crystene · cleue nouȝte þer-on to sore For sum wordes I fynde ywryten · were of faithes techyng Þat saued synful men · as seynt Iohan bereth wytnesse Eadem mensura qua mensi fueritis remecietur vobis For-þi lerne we þe lawe of loue · as owre lorde tauȝte And as seynte Gregory seide · for mannes soule helthe Melius est scrutari scelera nostra · quam naturas rerum Why I moue þis matere  is moste for þe pore For in her lyknesse owre lorde · ofte hath ben yknowe Witnesse in þe Paske-wyke · whan he ȝede to Emaus Cleophas ne knewe hym nauȝte · þat he cryste were For his pore parailleL.11.232: LR have the aphetic form paraille. All other B manuscripts read apparaill. · and pylgrymes wedes Tyl he blessed and brak · þe bred þat þei eten So bi his werkes þei wisten · þat he was Ihesus Ac by clothyng þei knewe hym nouȝte · ne bi carpynge of tonge And al was in ensample · to vs synful here Þat we shulde be low · and loueliche of speche And apparaille vs nouȝte ouer-proudly · for pylgrymes ar we alle And in þe apparaille of a pore man · and pilgrymes lyknesse Many tyme god hath ben mette · amonge nedy peple Þere neuere segge hym seigh · in secte of þe riche Seynt Iohan and other seyntes · were seyne in pore clothynge And as pore pilgrymes · preyed mennes godis Ihesu cryste on a iewes douȝter alyȝte · gentil woman þough she were Was a pure pore mayde · and to a pore man wedded Martha & Maudelen Martha on Marye magdeleyne · an huge pleynte she madeL.11.246: The words Martha & Maudelen are written in the right margin. And to owre saueour self · seyde þise wordes Domine non est tibi cure quod soror mea reliquit me solaL.11.248: LMF alone read sola; all other B witnesses have solam. ministrare &cL.11.248: LHmM have &c · after ministrare. And hastiliche god answered · and eytheres wille folwed Bothe Marthaes and Maries · as Mathew bereth witnesse Ac pouerte god put bifore · and preysed it þe bettre Maria optimam partem elegit · que non &cL.11.252: LCrMW alone end the line with non &c.; most other B manuscripts continue auferetur ab ea. parfite povertie L.11.253: A bracket drawn in the right margin extends from this line to the bottom of the page with the annotation parfite povertie. And alle þe wyse þat euere were · by auȝte I can aspye Preysen pouerte for best lyf · if pacience it folwe And bothe bettere and blisseder · by many folde þan ricchesse + AlthoughL.11.256: LMRF read Although; most other B manuscripts read and þouȝ. it be soure to suffre · þere cometh swete afterL.11.256: The last word was written after initial copying, perhaps in response to the corrector's marginal <+>. As on a walnot with-oute is a bitter barke And after þat bitter barke · be þe shelle aweye Is a kirnelle of conforte · kynde to restore So is after pouerte or penaunce · pacientlyche ytake For it maketh a man to haue mynde in gode · and a grete wille To wepe and to wel bydde · wher-of wexeth mercy Of which cryst is a kirnelle · to conforte þe soule And wel sykerer he slepyth · þe man þat is pore And lasse he dredeth deth · and in derke to be robbed Þan he þat is riȝte ryche · resoun bereth wytnesse Pauper ego ludo dum tu diues meditaris Alþough salamon seide · as folke seeth in þe bibleL.11.268: Illegible marks appear in the right margin. Diuicias nec paupertates &c Wyser þan salamon was · bereth witnesse and tauȝte Þat parfyte pouert was · no possessioun to haue And lyf moste lykynge to god · as luke bereth witnesse Si vis perfectus esse · vade & vende &c And is to mene to men · þat on þis molde lyuen Who-so wil be pure parfyt · mote possessioun forsake Or selle it as seith þe boke · and þe syluer dele To beggeres þat gone and begge · and bidden good for goddes loue For failled neuere man mete · þat myȝtful god serued As dauid seith in þe sauter · to suche þat ben in wille To serue god godeliche · ne greueth hym no penaunce Nichil inpossibile volenti Ne lakketh neuere lyflode · lynnen ne wollen Inquirentes autem dominum · non minuentur omni bono L.11.284-324: A bracket added by a sixteenth-century hand extends the length of the page in the left margin. If prestes weren parfyt · þei wolde no syluer take For masses ne for matynes · nouȝte her mete of vsureres Ne neither kirtel ne cote · þeigh þey for colde shulde deye And þei her deuor dede · as dauid seith in þe sauter Iudica me deus & discerne causam meam Spera in deo speketh of prestes · þat haue no spendyng syluer Þat ȝif þei trauaille trewlich · and trusten in god almiȝti Hem shulde lakke no lyflode · noyther wollen ne lynnen And þe title þat þei take ordres by · telleth ȝe ben auaunced Þanne nedeth nouȝte ȝow to take syluer · for masses þat ȝe syngen For he þat toke ȝow ȝowre tytle · shulde take ȝow ȝowre wages Or þe bisshop þat blesseth ȝow · if þat ȝe ben worthy X For made neuere no kyngeL.11.296: LHm alone add no before kynge. This addition may explain the large <X> in the left margin, four lines high, the top even with this line. no knyȝte · but he hadde catel to spende As bifel for a kniȝte · or fonde hym for his strengthe It is a careful knyȝte · and of a caytyue kynges makynge Þat hath no londe ne lynage riche · ne good loos of his handes Þe same I segge for sothe · by alle suche prestes Þat han noyther kunnynge ne kynne · but a croune one And a tytle a tale of nouȝte · to his lyflode at myschief He hath more bileue as I leue · to lacche þorw his croune Cure · þan for konnyng · or knowen for clene of berynge I haue wonder & why · and wher-fore þe bisshop Maketh suche prestes · þat lewed men bytrayen The title of Prestes &cL.11.284-324: A sixteenth-century annotator has written The title of Prestes &c to the left of this line group, bracketing all the text on the page. A chartre is chalengeable · byfor a chief iustice + If false latyne be in þaL.11.308: The corrector's marginal <+> notes the scribe's use of þa for þat, also marked by the corrector at L.3.308 (where it is corrected) and L.15.19 (where it is not). lettre · þe lawe it inpugneth Or peynted parenterlinarie · parceles ouer-skipped Þe gome þat gloseth so chartres · for a goky is holden So is it a goky by god · þat in his gospel failleth Or in masse or in matynes · maketh any defaute Qui offendit in vno in omnibus est reus &c And also in þe sauter · seyth dauyd to ouerskippers Psallite deo nostro psallite quoniam rex terre deus israel psallite sapienter Þe bisshop shal be blamed · bifor god as I leue Þat crouneth suche goddes kniȝtes · þat conneth nouȝt sapienter Synge ne psalmes rede · ne segge a messe of þe day Ac neuer neyther is blamelees · þe bisshop ne þe chapleyne For her eyther is endited · and þat of ignorancia Non excusat episcopos · nec idiotes prestes Þis lokynge on lewed prestes · haþ don me lepe fram pouerte Þe whiche I preyse þere pacyence is · more parfyt þan ricchesse notaL.11.324: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it. ¶ Ac moche more in metynge þus · with me gan one dispute And slepynge I seigh al þis · and sithen cam kynde And nempned me by my name · and bad me nymen hede And þorw þe wondres of þis worlde · wytte for to take And on a mountaigne þat mydelerd hyȝte · as me þo þouȝte I was fette forth · by ensaumples to knowe Þorugh eche a creature and kynde · my creatoure to louye I seigh þe sonne and þe see · and þe sonde after And where þat bryddes and bestes · by here make þei ȝeden Wylde wormes in wodes · and wonderful foules With flekked fetheres · and of fele coloures Man and his make · I myȝte bothe byholde Pouerte and plente · bothe pees and werre Blisse and bale · bothe I seigh at ones And how men token Mede · and mercy refused Resoune I seighe sothly suen alle bestes In etyng in drynk....ynge · and in engendrynge of kynde And after course of concepcioun · none toke kepe of other As whan þei hadde ryde in rotey-tyme · anon riȝte þer-after Males drowen hem to males · a-mornynges bi hem-self + And in euenynges also · ȝe[þ]eL.11.344: L's erroneous ȝe instead of þe is noted by the corrector's <+> in the margin. males fro femeles Þere ne was cow ne cowkynde · þat conceyued hadde Þat wolde belwe after boles · ne bore after sowe Bothe horse and houndes · and alle other bestes Medled nouȝte wyth here makes · þat with fole were Briddes I bihelde · þat in buskes made nestes Hadde neuere wye witte · to worche þe leest I hadde wonder at whom · and where þe pye lerned To legge þe stykkes · in whiche she leythe and bredeth Þere nys wriȝte as I wene · shulde worche hir neste to paye If any masoun made a molde þer-to · moche wonder it were And ȝet me merueilled more · how many other briddes Hudden and hileden · her egges ful derne In mareys and mores · for men sholde hem nouȝt fynde And hudden here egges · whan þei þere-fro wente For fere of other foules · and for wylde bestis And some troden her makes · and on trees bredden And brouȝten forth her bryddes so · al aboue þe grounde And some bryddes at þe bille · þorwgh brethynge conceyued And some kauked I toke kepe · how pekokes bredden Moche merueilled me · what maister þei hadde And who tauȝte hem on trees · to tymbre so heigh Þere noither buirn ne beste · may her briddes rechen And sythen I loked vponL.11.367: LHmWMR read vpon; most other B witnesses have on. þe see · and so forth vponL.11.367: LCrWMR have vpon. Most B witnesses read on. þe sterres Many selcouthes I seygh · ben nought to seye nouthe I seigh floures in þe fritthe · and her faire coloures And how amonge þe grene grasse · grewe so many hewes + L.11.371: Presumably referring to the omitted to in the following line, a <+> in the left margin has been erased.And somme soure and some swete · selcouthe me þouȝte Of her kynde and her coloure · to carpe it were to longe Ac þat moste moeued me · and my mode chaunged Þat resoun rewarded · and reuled alle bestes Saue man and his make · many tyme and ofte No resoun hem folwed · and þanne I rebuked Resoun · and riȝte til hym-seluen I seyde I haue wonder of þe quod I · þat witty art holden Why þow ne suwest man and his make · þat no mysfait hem folwe And resoun arated me · and seyde recche þe neuere Whi I suffre or nouȝt suffre · þi-self hast nouȝt to done Amende þow itL.11.382: LCrWR alone read þow it, although a correction in Hm places it before þow and F simply has it. The most common B reading is þow alone. if þow myȝte · for my tyme is to abyde Suffraunce is a souereygne vertue · and a swyfte veniaunce Who suffreth more þan god quod he · no gome as I leue L.11.385: A marginal gloss appears to have been erased in the left margin, but nothing is legible. He miȝte amende in a Minute-while · al þat mys-standeth Ac he suffreth for somme mannes good · and so is owre bettre Þe wyse and þe witty · wrote þus in þe bible de re que te non molestat noly certare For be a man faire or foule · it falleth nouȝte forto lakke Þe shappe ne þe shafte · þat god shope hym-selue For al þeL.11.391: The a-verse originally read For al þe did was wel ydo. The corrector who supplied þat he presumably intended it to replace þe, although þe was not deleted. þat he did was wel ydo · as holywrit witnesseth Et vidit deus cunta que fecerat et erant valde bona And badde euery creature · in his kynde encrees Al to murthe with man · þat most woo tholye In fondynge of þe flesshe · and of þe fende bothe For man was made of suche a matere · he may nouȝt wel astert Þat ne some-tymesL.11.397: LR alone read tymes; all other B manuscripts have tyme. Among C-texts, PEcVcAcScZKcGc also have tymes. hym bitit · to folwen his kynde Catoun acordeth þere-with · nemo sine crimine viuit Tho cauȝte I coloure anon · and comsed to ben aschamed And awaked þer-with · wo was me þanne Þat I in meteles ne myȝte · more haue yknowen And þanne seyde I to my-self · and chidde þat tyme Now I wote what dowel is quod I · by dere god as me þinketh And as I cast vp myn eyen And as I caste vp myn eyghen · one loked on me and axed Of me what þinge it were · ywisse sire I seide To se moche and suffre more · certes quod I is dowel Haddestow suffred he seyde · slepyng þo þow were Þow sholdest haue knowen þat clergye can · and conceiued more þorugh resoun For resoun wolde haue reherced þe · riȝte as clergye saide Ac for þine entermetyng · here artow forsake Philosophus esses si tacuisses Adam whhilesw[h]iles he spak nouȝt · had paradys at wille Ac whan he mameled aboute mete · and entermeted to knowe Þe wisdom and þe witte of god · he was put fram blisse And riȝt so ferde resoun bi the · þow with rude speche Lakkedest and losedest þinge · þat longed nouȝt to be done Þo hadde he no lykynge · forto lere þe more Pruide now and presumpcioun · par-auenture wole þe appele That clergye þi compaignye · ne kepeth nouȝt to sue Shal neuere chalangynge ne chydynge · chaste a man so sone As shal shame and shenden hym · and shape hym to amende For lat a dronken daffe · in a dyke falle Late hym ligge loke nouȝte on hym · til hym lest to ryse For þough resoun rebuked hym þanne · it were but pure synne Ac whan nede nymeth hym vp · for doute lest he sterue And shame shrapeth his clothes · & his shynes wassheth Þanne wote þe dronken daffe · wherfore he is to blame Ȝe seggen soth quod I · ich haue yseyne it ofte Þere smitte no þinge so smerte · ne smelleth so soure + As shame þere he sheweth hinmL.11.430: The corrector's <+> in the left margin probably refers to original hin, to which a minim has been added to correct to him. · for euery manL.11.430: Two apparently meaningless points appear above man. hym shonyeth Why ȝe wisse me þus quod I · was for I rebuked resoun Certes quod he þat is soth · and shope hym forto walken And I aros vp riȝt with þat · and folwed hym after And preyed hym of his curteisye · to telle me his name passus xijusPassus xijusDuodecimus i IL.12.1: The lombard capital <I> is ten lines high in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide letter <i> appears in the left margin. am ymagynatyf quod he · Idel was I neuere Þouȝe I sitte bi my-self · in sikenesse neL.12.2: LMR alone read ne; most other B manuscripts have and. in helthe I haue folwed þe in feithe · þis fyue and fourty wyntre And many tymes haue moeued þe · to þinke on þine ende And how fele fernȝeres are faren · and so fewe to come And of þi wylde wantounesse · þo þow ȝonge were To amende it in þi myddel age · lest miȝte þe faylled In þyne olde elde · þat yuel can suffre Pouerte or penaunce · or preyeres bidde Si non in prima vigilia · nec in secunda &c Amende þe while þow myȝte · þow hast ben warned ofte With poustees of pestilences with pouerte and with angres And with þise bitter baleyses · god beteth his dere childeren Quem diligo castigo And dauid in þe sauter seith · of suche þat loueth Ihesus Virga tua & baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt &c Al-þough þow stryke me with þi staffe · with stikke or with ȝerde It is but murth as for me to amende my soule And þow medlest þe with makynges · and myȝtest go sey þi sauter And bidde for hem þat ȝiueth þe bred · for þere ar bokes ynowe To telle men what dowel is · dobet and dobest bothe And prechoures to preue what it is · of many a peyre freres I seigh wel he sayde me soth · and somwhat me to excuse Seid catoun conforted his sone · þat clerke þough he were To solacen hym sum-tyme · as I do whan I make Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis · &c · And of holy men I herde quod I · how þei otherwhile Pleyden þe parfiter · to be in many places Ac if þere were any wight · þat wolde me telle What were / dowel / and / dobet / · and dobest / atte lasteL.12.30: The scribe has inserted rubricated virgules to complement the underlining. Wolde I neuere do werke · but wende to holicherche And þere bydde my bedes · but whan ich eet or slepe Poule in his pistle quod he · preueth what is dowel Fides spes caritas & maior horum &c Feith hope and charitee · and alle ben good And sauen men sundry tymes · ac none so sone as charite For he doth wel with-oute doute · þat doth as lewte techeth Þat is if þow be man maried · þi make þow louye And lyue forth as lawe wole · while ȝe lyuen bothe Riȝt so if þow be Religious · renne þow neuere ferther To Rome ne to Rochemadore · but as þi reule techeth And holde þe vnder obedyence · þat heigh wey is to heuene And if þow be mayden to marye · and miȝte wel contynue Seke þow neuere seynt forther · for no soule helthe For what made Lucyfer · to lese þe heigh heuene Or salamon his sapience · or sampson his strengthe Iob þe Iewe his ioye · dere he it abouȝte Arestotle and other mo · ypocras & virgyle Alisaundre þat al wan · elengelich ended Catel and kynde witte · was combraunce to hem alle Felyce hir fayrnesse · fel hir al to sklaundre And Rosamounde riȝt so reufully bysette Þe bewte of hir body · in badnesse she dispended Of many suche I may rede · of men and of wommen Þat wyse wordes wolde shewe · and worche þe contraye Sunt homines nequam bene de virtute loquentes And riche renkes riȝt so · gaderen and sparen And þo men þat þei moste haten · mynistren it atte laste And for þei suffren & se · so many nedy folkes And loue hem nouȝt as owre lorde bytte · lesen her soules Date & dabitur vobis &c · And ricchesse riȝt so · but if þe Rote be trewe Ac grace is a grasse þer-of · þo greuaunces to abate Ac grace ne groweth nouȝte · but amonges lowe Pacience and pouerte · þe place is þere it groweth + And in lele lyuynge men · and .in lyf-holyL.12.66: A partially erased <+> appears in the right margin. And þorugh þe gyfte of þe holygoste · as þe gospel telleth Spiritus vbi vult spirat &c Clergye and kynde witte · comth of siȝte and techynge As þe boke bereth witnesse · to buirnes þat can rede Quod scimus loquimur quod vidimus testamur Of quod scimus cometh clergye · and connynge of heuene + And of quod vidimus cometh kynde witte of siȝte of dyuesedyue[r]seL.12.73: The corrector's <+> in the margin notes the scribe's erroneous dyuese for dyuerse. peple Ac grace is a gyfte of god · and of gret loue spryngeth Knewe neuere clerke how it cometh forth · ne kynde witte þe weyes Nescit aliquis vnde venit · aut quo vadit &c Ac ȝit is clergye to comende · and kyndewittekynde witte bothe And namely clergye for crystes loue · þat of clergye is rote For Moyses witnesseth þat god wrote · for to wisse þe peple In þe olde lawe as þe lettre telleth · þat was þe lawe of iewes + Þat what woman were inL.12.81: The in was added in the left margin after initial copying, probably in response to the corrector's marginal <+>. auoutrie taken · were sheL.12.81: LHmMW and alpha have the feminine pronoun (he in R alone) which is omitted by the other beta witnesses. riche or pore With stones men shulde hir stryke · and stone hir to deth A womman as we fynden · was gulty of þat dede Ac cryste of his curteisye · þorw clergye hir saued For þorw carectus þat cryst wrot · þe iewes knewe hem-seluen Gultier as afor god · and gretter in synne Þan þe woman þat þere was · and wenten awey for schame Þe clergye þat þere was · conforted þe womman Holykirke knoweth þis · þat crystes writyng saued So clergye is conforte · to creatures þat repenten And to mansed men · myschief at her ende For goddes body myȝte nouȝte be of bred · with-outen clergye Þe which body is bothe · bote to þe riȝtful And deth and dampnacioun · to hem þat dyeth yuel As crystes carecte conforted and bothe coupable shewed Þe womman þat þe iewes brouȝte · þat Ihesus þouȝteL.12.96: An otiose tilde appears over þouȝte. to saue Nolite iudicare et non iudicabimini &c Riȝt so goddes body bretheren · but it be worthily taken Dampneth vs atte daye of dome · as þe carectes dede þe iewes For-þi I conseille þe for cristes sake · clergye þat þow louye For kynde witte is of his kyn · and neighe cosynes bothe To owre lorde leue me · for-þi loue hem I rede For bothe ben as miroures · to amenden owre defautes And lederes for lewed men · and for lettred bothe For-þi lakke þow neuere logyke · lawe ne his custumes Ne countreplede clerkes · I conseille þe for eure For as a man may nouȝt se · þat mysseth his eyghen Namore can no klerke · but if he cauȝt it first þorugh bokes Al-þough men made bokes · god was þe maistre And seynt spirit þe saumplarye · and seide what men sholde write And riȝt as syȝteL.12.111: An otiose tilde appears over syȝte. serueth a man · to se þe heighe strete Riȝt so ledeth letterure · lewed men to resoun And as a blynde man in bataille · bereth wepne to fiȝte And hath none happ with his axe · his enemye to hitte Namore kan a kynde-witted man · but clerkes hym teche Come for al his kynde witte · to crystendome and be saued Whiche is þe coffre of crystes tresore · and clerkes kepe þe keyes To vnlouken it at her lykynge · and to þe lewed peple L.12.119: There is evidence in the left margin of a scraped gloss and possibly of a bracket extending from here through the next line group. Ȝyue mercy for her mysdedes · if men it wole aske Buxomelich & benygneliche · and bidden it of grace Archa dei in þe olde lawe · leuites it kepten Hadde neuere lewed man leue · to leggen honde on þat chest + L.12.123: The corrector's <+> appears in the left margin. There is no error in the text at this point; however, since the alpha witnesses at this point have ten lines not attested in any beta manuscript, the corrector's mark here is tantalizing but opaque. The ten lines are KD.12.116-125α. For a similar instance, see the note to L.20.66. But he were preste or prestes sone · patriarke or prophete For clergye is kepere vnder cryst of heuene Was þere neuere no knyȝte · but clergye hym made Ac kynde witte cometh of alkynnes siȝtes Of bryddes and of bestes · of tastes of treuthe and of deceytes Lyueres to-forn vs · vseden to marke Þe selkouthes þat þei seighen · her sones for to teche And helden it an heighe science · her wittes to knowe Ac þorugh her science sothely · was neuere no soule ysaued Ne brouȝte by her bokes · to blisse ne to ioye For alle her kynde knowynges · come but of dyuerse sightes Patriarkes and prophetes · repreued her science And seiden her wordes ne her wisdomes · nas but a folye As to þe clergye of cryst · counted it but a trufle Sapiencia huius mundi · stulticia apud deum For þe heihe holigoste · heuene shal to-cleue And loue shal lepe out after · in-to þis lowe erthe And clennesse shal cacchen it · and clerkes shullen it fynde Pastores loquebantur ad inuicem He speketh þere of riche men riȝt nouȝt · ne of riȝt witty Ne of lordes þat were lewed men · but of þe hexte lettred oute Ibant magi ab oriente &c If any frere were founde þere · Ich ȝif þe fyue shillynges Ne in none beggares cote · was þat barne borne But in a burgeys place · of bethlem þe best Set non erat locus in diuersorio / & pauper non habet diuersorium To pastours and to poetes appiered þatL.12.149: LM alone have þat; most other beta manuscripts have þe. aungel And bad hem go to bethlem · goddis burth · to honoure And songe a songe of solas · gloria in excelsis deo Clerkes knewe it wel · and comen with here presentz And deden her homage honourablely · to hym þat was almyȝty Why I haue tolde al þis · I toke ful gode hede How þow contraryedest clergye · with crabbed wordes How þat lewed men liȝtloker · þan lettred were saued Þan clerkes or kynde-witted men · of crystene peple And þow seidest soth of somme · ac se in what manere Take two stronge men · and in themese caste hem And bothe naked as a nedle · her none sykerL.12.160: LMR read syker, although M has a second <er> added in a different ink to match the common B reading of sikerer. þan other Þat one hath connynge and can swymmen and dyuen Þat other is lewed of þat laboure · lerned neuere swymme Which trowestow of þo two · in themese is in moste drede He þat neuere ne dyued · ne nouȝt can of swymmynge Or þe swymmere þat is sauf · bi so hym-self lyke Þere his felaw flet forth · as þe flode lyketh And is in drede to drenche · þat neuere dede swymme Þat swymme can nouȝt I seide · it semeth to my wittes Riȝt so quod þe Renke resoun it sheweth Þat he þat knoweth clergye can sonner aryse Out of synne and be sauf · þough he synne ofte If hym lyketh and lest · þan any lewed lelly For if þe clerke be konnynge · he knoweth what is synne And how contricioun with-oute confessioun · conforteth þe soule As þow seest in þe sauter · in psalmeL.12.175: LRF alone have singular psalme; other B manuscripts have Salmes. one or tweyne How contricioun is commended · for it caccheth awey synne Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates & quorum tecta sunt &c · And þis conforteth vch a clerke · and keuereth hym fram wanhope In which flode þe fende · fondeth a man hardest Þere þe lewed lith stille · and lokethL.12.180: A red dot appears over loketh which may or may not be intentional. after lente And hath no contricioun ar he come to shryfte · & þanne can he litel telle And as his lores-man leres hym · bileueth & troweth And þat is after person or parisch prest · and parauenture Vnconnynge to lere lewed men · as luk bereth witnesse Dum cecus ducit cecum &c · Wo was hym marked · þat wade mote with þe lewed Wel may þe barne blisse · þat hym to boke sette Þat lyuynge after letterure saued hym lyf and soule Dominus pars hereditatis mee is a meri verset Þat has take fro tybourne · twenti stronge þeues Þere lewed theues ben lolled vp · loke how þei be saued Þe thef þat had grace of god · on gode fryday as þow speke Was for he ȝelte hym creaunt to cryst on þe crosse · & knewleched hym gulty And grace axed of god · and he is euer redy Þat boxomeliche biddeth it · and ben in wille to amenden hem Ac þough þat þef had heuene · he hadde none heigh blisse in domo meo multe sunt mansiones As seynt Iohan and other seyntes · þat asseruedL.12.197: LR alone read asserued; other B manuscripts have deserued. hadde bettere Riȝt as sum man ȝeue me mete · and sette me amydde þe flore Ich haue mete more þan ynough · ac nouȝt so moche worship As þo þat seten atte syde table · or with þe souereignes of þe halle But sitte as aL.12.201: A curved, apparently meaningless, mark in darker brown ink than the text appears above <a>. begger bordelees · bi my-self on þe grounde So it fareth bi þat feloun · þat a gode fryday was saued He sitte neither with Seynt Iohan · Symonde ne Iude Ne wyth maydenes ne with martires confessoures ne wydwes But by hym-self as a soleyne · and serued on þe erthe For he þat is ones a thef · is euermore in daungere And as lawe lyketh · to lyue or to deye De peccato propiciato noli esse sine metu And forto seruen a seynt · and such a thef togyderes It were noyther resoun ne riȝt · to rewarde hem bothe aliche And riȝt as troianus þe trewe knyȝt · tilde nouȝt depe in helle Þat owre lorde ne had hym liȝtlich oute · so leue I þe thef be in heuene For he is in þe lowest of heuene · if owre bileue be trewe And wel loselyche he lolleth þere · by þe lawe of holycherche Quia reddit vnicuique iuxta opera sua &c And why þat one thef on þe crosse · creaunt hym ȝelt Rather þan þat other thef · þough þow wolde appose Alle þe clerkes vnder cryst · ne couthe þe skil assoille Quare placuit quia voluit And so I sey by þe · þat sekest after þe whyes And aresonedest resoun · a rebukyng as it were And of þe floures in þe fryth · and of her feire ...hewes Where-of þei cacche her coloures · so clere and so briȝte And willest of briddes and of bestesL.12.224: L originally omitted of before bestes. It was supplied in a superlinear addition by a later hand. · and of hire bredyng to knowe Why somme be alowe and somme alofte · þi lykyng it were And of þe stones and of þe sterres · þow studyest as I leue How euere beste or brydde · hath so breme wittes Clergye ne kynde witte ne knewe neuere þe cause Ac kynde knoweth þe cause hym-selue · no creature elles He is þe pyes patroun · and putteth it in hire ere Þat þere þe þorne is thikkest · to buylden and brede And kynde kenned þe pecok · to cauken in swich a kynde And kenned Adam · to knowe his pryue membres And tauȝte hym and Eue · to hylien hem with leues Lewed men many tymes · maistres þei apposen Why Adam neL.12.236: LCrMWR read ne; all other B witnesses omit it. hiled nouȝt firste · his mouth þat eet þe apple Rather þan his lykam alow · lewed axen þus clerkes Kynde knoweth whi he dede so · ac no clerke elles Ac of briddes and of bestes · men by olde tyme + Ensamples token and terme.sL.12.240: The <s> of termes is written over an erasure, and a scraped <+> is just visible in the left margin, suggesting that the scribe made the correction in response to the mark and then attempted to erase the mark. · as telleth þis poetes And þat þe fairest foule · foulest engendreth And feblest foule of flyght is · þat fleegheth or swymmeth And þat is þe pekok & þe pohenne proude · riche men þei bitokneth For þe pekok and men pursue hym · may nouȝte fleighe heighe For þe traillyng of his taille · ouertaken is he sone And his flesshe is foule flesshe · and his feet bothe And vnlouelich of ledene · and laith for to here Riȝt so þe riche if he his ricchesse kepe And deleth it nouȝt tyl his deth-day · þe taille of al sorwe Riȝt as þe pennes of þe pecok · payned hym in his fliȝte So is possessioun payne · of pens · and of nobles To alle hem þat it holdeth · til her taille be plukked And þough þe riche repente þanne · and birewe þe tyme Þat euere he gadered so grete · and gaf þere-of so litel Þough he crye to cryst þanne · with kene wille I leue + His ledne be in owre lordes ere · lyke a pyesL.12.256: LBCC2GOYR all fail to complete this line with chiteryng or chatrynge. The corrector's <+> in the right margin may indicate his awareness of the reading. And whan his caroigne shal come · in caue to be buryed I leue it flaumbe ful foule · þe folde al aboute And alle þe other þer it lyth · enuenymedL.12.259: LCrR alone read enuenymed; other B manuscripts have enuenymeþ. þorgh his attere By þe p..rofeet[po feet]L.12.260: The fact that <ro> is written over an erasure suggests that the scribe may have originally written the correct po feet and then, not understanding this to mean "peacock's feet," hypercorrected the text to profeet. is vnderstonde · as I haue lerned in auynedt Excecutoures[Ex]ecutoures · fals frendes · þat fulfille nouȝt his wille Þat was writen and þei witnesse · to worche riȝt as it wolde Þus þe poete preues · þat þe pecok for his fetheres is reuerenced Riȝt so is þe riche · bi resoun of his godis Þe larke þat is a lasse foule · is more louelich of ledne And wel awey of wenge swifter þan þe pecok And of flesch by fele-folde · fatter and swetter To lowe-lybbyng men · þe larke is resembled · L.12.269: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it.Arestotle þe grete clerke suche tales he telleth Thus he lykneth in his logyk · þe leste foule oute And where he be sauf or nouȝt sauf · þe sothe wote no clergye Ne of sortes ne of salamon · no scripture can telle Ac god is so good I hope · þat sitth he gaf hem wittis To wissen vs weyes þere-with · þat wissen vs to be saued And þe better for her bokes · to bidden we ben holden Þat god for his grace gyue her soules reste For lettred men were lewed men ȝut · ne were lore of her bokes Alle þise clerkes quod I þo · þat on cryst leuen Seggen in her sarmones · þat noyther sarasenes ne iewes Ne no creature of cristes lyknesse · with-outen crystendome worth saued Contra quod ymagynatyfL.12.281: The second <y> may, perhaps, have been written over an erasure, or the vellum is simply flawed and uneven. In any case, it is not possible to see what may have lain under the <y>. þo · and comsed for to loure And seyde saluabitur vix iustus in die iudicij Ergo saluabitur quod he · and seyde namore latyne Troianus was a trewe knyȝte · and toke neuere cristendome + And he isL.12.285: The correction is in response to the corrector's <+> in the left margin. sauf so seith þe boke · and his soule in heuene For þere is fullyng of fonte · and fullyng in blode shedyng And þorugh fuire is fullyng · and þat is ferme bileue Aduenit ignis diuinus non comburens sed illuminans &c · Ac trewth þat trespassed neuere · ne transuersedL.12.289: LCrR alone read transuersed; most other B manuscripts have trauersed. aȝeines his lawe But lyueth as his lawe techeth · and leueth þere be no bettere And if þere were he wolde amende · and in suche wille deyeth Ne wolde neuere trewe god · but treuth were allowed And where it worth or worth nouȝt · þe bileue is grete of treuth And an hope hangyng þer-inne · to haue a Mede for his treuth For deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam · suis hoc est fidelibus et alibi si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis Þe glose graunteth vpon þat vers · a gret mede to treuthe And witt and wisdome quod þat wye · was somme-tyme tresore To kepe with a comune · no katel was holde bettere And moche murth and manhod · and riȝt with þat he vanesched passus xiijusPassus terciodecimus a AndL.13.1: The ornamental capital <A> is eight lines high in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide-letter <a> is obscured by the flourishes. I awaked þere-with · witles nerehande And as a freke þat fre were · forth gan I walke In manere of a mendynaunt · many a ȝere after And of þis metyng many tyme · moche þouȝt I hadde First how fortune me failled · at my moste nede And how þat elde manaced me · myȝt we euere meten And how þat freris folwed · folke þat was riche And folke þat was pore · at litel prys þei sette And no corps in her kirkeȝerde · ne in her kyrke was buryed But quikke he biquethe hem auȝte · or shulde helpe quyte her dettes And how þis coueitise ouercome · clerkes and prestes And how þat lewed men ben ladde · but owre lorde hem helpe Þorugh vnkonnyng curatoures · to incurable peynes And how þat ymagynatyf · in dremeles me tolde Of kynde and of his connyng · and how curteise he is to bestes And how louynge he is to bestes · on londe and on water Leneth he no lyf · lasse ne more Þe creatures þat crepen · of kynde ben engendred And sitthen how ymagynatif seyde vix iustus saluabitur And whan he had seyde so · how sodeynelich he passed I lay down longe in þis þouȝte · and atte laste I slepte And as cryste wolde þere come conscience · to conforte me þat tyme And bad me come to his courte · with clergye sholde I dyne And for conscience of clergye spake · I come wel þe rather And þere I say a maistre · what man he was I neste Þat lowe louted · and loueliche to scripture Conscience knewe hym wel · and welcomed hym faire Þei wesshen and wypeden · and wenten to þe dyner Ac pacience in þe paleis stode in pilgrymes clothes And preyde mete for charite · for a pore heremyte Conscience called hym in · and curteisliche seide Welcome wy..el ȝewyeL.13.32: The last two letters of wyel have been written over an erasure and ȝe after it supralinearly in the same hand. This is a mistake for correct, and probably original wye. go and wasshe · þow shalt sitte sone Þis maister was made sitte · as for þe moste worthy And þanne clergye and conscience · and pacience cam after Pacience and I were put to be macches And seten by owre-selue at a syde borde Conscience called after mete · and þanne cam scripture And serued hem þus sone · of sondry metes manye Of austyn of ambrose · of alle þe foure euangelistes Edentes & bibentes · que apud eos sunt Ac þis maister ne his man · no manere flessh eten Ac þei ete mete of more coste · mortrewes and potages Of þat men mys-wonne · þei made hem wel at ese Ac her sauce was ouer soure · & vnsauourely grounde In a morter post mortem · of many bitter peyne But if þei synge for þo soules · and wepe salt teres contra sacerdotes Vos qui peccata hominum comeditis nisi pro eis lacrimas & oraciones effunderitis · ea que in delicijs comeditis · in tormentis euometisL.13.47: The words contra sacerdotes appear in the right margin as well as a cross under con-. + Conscience forfulL.13.48: L alone reads for in place of the marginally supplied ful; other B manuscripts either omit it or have ful. The corrector had marked the line with his usual <+> and underlined for. He or another hand supplied ful in the left margin in a lighter ink than the text. Kane and Donaldson suggest tentatively that the word for may have been written over an erasure, but we see no evidence to support that suggestion. curteisly þo · comaunded scripture Bifor pacience bred to brynge · and me þat was his macche He sette a soure lof to-for vs · and seyde agite penitenciam And sith he drough vs drynke · dia perseuerans As longe quod I as I lyue · and lycame may dure Here is propre seruice quod pacience · þer fareth no prynce bettere And þanne he brouȝt vsL.13.54: LMWR alone read vs; all other B witnesses omit it. forth a mees of other mete  of MiserrereMise[r]ere mei deus And he brouȝte vs of Beati quorum of beatus virres makyng Et quorum tecta sunt peccata in a dissh Of derne shrifte dixi and confitebor tibi Brynge pacience some pitaunce · pryueliche quod conscience And þanne had pacience a pitaunce pro hac orabit ad te omnis sanctus in tempore oportuno And conscience conforted vs · and carped vs mery tales Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies Pacience was proude of þat propre seruice And made hym muirth with his mete · ac I morned euere For þis doctoure on þe heigh dese · dranke wyn so faste Ve vobis qui potentes estis ad bibendum vinum He eet many sondry metes · mortrewes and puddynges Wombe cloutes and wylde braune · & egges y-fryed with grece Þanne seide I to my-self so · pacience it herde It is nouȝt foure dayes · þat þis freke · bifor þe den of poules Preched of penaunces · þat poule þe apostle suffred In fame & frigore · and flappes of scourges Ter cesus sum & a iudeis quinquies quadragenas &c · Ac o worde þei ouerhuppen · at ech aL.13.73: LMWR read a; all other B manuscripts omit it. tyme þat þei preche Þat poule in his pistel · to al þe peple tolde Periculum est in falsis fratribus holywrit bit men be war · I wil nouȝt write it here On englisch an auenture · it sholde be reherced to ofte And greue þere-with þat good men benL.13.78: LRF alone read þat good men ben; other B manuscripts read either þat goode beene or just goode men. · ac gramarienes shul rede ...?...?...Vnusquisque a fratre se custodiat quia vt diciturL.13.79: The first half of the line has been erased and written over in black ink by a later hand, dating to s. xvii at the earliest. The addition accords with the readings of other B witnesses. periculum est in falsis fratribus Ac I wist neuere freke þat as a frere ȝede · bifor men on englissh Taken it for her teme · and telle it with-outen glosynge L.13.82: This line and the next are marked in the left margin with two distinct dots one under the other like a colon in text brown ink. A nota (or perhaps the corrector's <+>?) near them may have been scraped. Þei prechen þat penu(?)aunce is · profitable to þe soule And what myschief and malese · cryst for man tholed Ac þis goddes gloton quod I · with his gret chekes Hath no pyte on vs pore · he perforneth yuel Þat he precheth he preueth nouȝt · to pacience I tolde + And wisshed witterly · with wille forL.13.87: Although incorrect for before egre was not erased, the corrector who added ful in the right margin and scraped the corrector's <+> presumably intended replacement in keeping with other B witnesses. ful egre Þat disshes aL.13.88: L alone has written a, "and," in place of the full form and found in all other B witnesses. dobleres · bifor þis ilke doctour Were moltoun led in his maw · and Mahoun amyddes I shal iangle to þis Iurdan · with his iust wombe To telle me what penaunce is · of which he preched rather Pacience parceyued what I thouȝt · and wynked on me to be stille And seyde þow shaltL.13.93: A contemporary hand, perhaps the original scribe's though with a thinner nib than usual, has written the correction in the right margin. The ink is much more pale than the text. se þus sone · whan he may no more He shal haue a penaunce in his paunche · and puffe at ech a worde And þanne shullen his guttis godeleL.13.95: LR alone contain the spelling godele; the majority of other B manuscripts have goþele. Cf. L.5.351 above. · and he shal galpen after For now he hath dronken so depe · he wil deuyne sone And preuen it by her pocalips · and passioun of seynt Auereys Þat neither bacoun ne braune · blanmangere ne mortrewes Is noither fisshe noL.13.99: L alone reads no; most other B witnesses have ne. flesshe · but fode for a penaunte And þanne shal he testifye of a trinitee · and take his felawe to witnesse What he fonde in a freyel · after a freres lyuyng And but if þe fyrst lyne be lesyng · leue me neuere after And þanne is tyme to take · and to appose þis doctoure Of dowel and of dobet · and if dobetst be any penaunce And I sete stille as pacience seyde · and þus sone þis doctour As rody as a rose · rubbed his chekes Coughed and carped · and conscience hym herde And tolde hym of a trinite · and toward vs he loked What is dowel sire doctour quod I · is dowel any penaunce Dowel quod þis doctour · and toke þe cuppe and dranke Do non yuel to þine euenecrystene · nouȝt by þi powere By þis day sire doctour quod I þanne be ȝe nouȝt in dowel For ȝe han harmed vs two · in þat ȝe eten þe puddyng Mortrewes and other mete · and we no mussel hade And if ȝe fare so in ȝowre fermorie · ferly me þinketh But chest be þere charite shulde be · & ȝonge childern dorste pleyne I wolde permute my penaunce with ȝowre · for I am in poynte to dowel Þanne conscience curteisliche · a contenaunce he made And preynte vpon pacience · to preie me to be stille And seyde hym-self sire doctour · and it be ȝowre wille What is dowel and dobet · ȝe deuynours knoweth Dowel quod þis doctour · do as clerkes techeth doe well doe better doe best And dobet is he þat techeth · and trauailleth to teche otherL.13.123: A sixteenth-century secretary hand has written in the right margin the words doe well doe better doe best. They are written over an erasure of a fifteenth-century gloss, now mainly illegible; the word beste is all that can be seen through the erasure and overwriting. A bracket appears to have been erased as well. And dobest doth hym-self so · as he seith & precheth Qui facit et docuerit magnus vocabitur in regno celorum Now þow clergye quod conscience carpest what is dowel I haue seueneL.13.127: Like the original L scribe, R omits seuene. sones he seyde · seruen in a castel Þere þe lorde of lyf wonyeth · to leren hymL.13.128: LMR have hym; Other B witnesses either have hem or omit the word altogether. what is dowel Til I se þo seuene · and my-self acorden I am vnhardy quod he · to any wyȝt to preue it For one pieres þe ploughman hath inpugned vs alle And sette alle sciences at a soppe · saue loue one And no tixte ne taketh to meyntene his cause But dilige deum · and domine quis habitabit &c And seith þat dowel and dobet aren two infinites Whiche infinites with a feith fynden oute dobest Which shal saue mannes soule · þus seith piers þe ploughman I can nouȝt her-on quod conscience · ac I knowe wel pieres He wil nouȝt aȝein holy writ speken · I dar wel vndertake Þanne passe we ouer til piers come · and preue þis in dede Pacience hath be in many place · and par-auntre cnoweth Þat no clerke ne can · as cryst bereth witnesse Pacientes vincunt &c Ac ȝowre preyere quod pacyence þo · so no man displese hym disce / doce / et dilige Disce quod he doce · dilige inimicos Disce and dowel · / doce / & dobet Dilige / and dobest · þus tauȝte me ones A lemman þat I loued · loue was hir name With wordes and with werkes quod she · and wille of þyne herte Þow loue lelly þi soule al þi lyf-tyme And so þow lere þe to louye · for þe lordes loue of heuene Þine enemye in al wyse · euene-forth with þi-selue Cast coles on his hed · and al kynde speche Bothe with werkes and with wordes fonde his loue to wynne And lay on hym þus with loue · til he laghe on þe And but he bowe for þis betyng blynde mote he worthe Ac for to fare þus with þi frende · foly it were For he þat loueth þe lelly · lyteL.13.158: LR alone read lyte; other B manuscripts have litel. of þyne coueiteth Kynde loue coueiteth nouȝte · no catel but speche With half a laumpe lyne in latyne · ex vi transicionis I bere þere-inne aboute · fast ybounde dowelL.13.161-165: A box-style bracket in rubricator's red refers this whole line group to the gloss solucio. In a signe of þe saterday · þat sette firste þe kalendare solucio And al þe witte of þe wednesday · of þe nexte wyke after Þe myddel of þe mone is þe miȝte of bothe And here-with am I welcome · þere I haue it with me Vndo it late þis doctour sendeme · if dowel be þer-inne/ For bi hym þat me made · miȝte neuere pouerte Miseise ne myschief ne man with his tonge Colde ne care ne compaignye of theues Ne noither hete ne haille · ne non helle pouke Ne noither fuire ne flode · ne fere of þine enemy Tene þe eny tyme · and þow take it with þe Caritas nichil timet L.13.174: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it. ¶ It is but a dido quod þis doctour · a dysoures tale Al þe witt of þis worlde · and wiȝte mennes strengthe Can nouȝt confourmen a pees · bytwene þe pope and his enemys Ne bitwene two cristene kynges · can no wiȝte pees make Profitable to ayther peple · and put þe table fro hym And toke clergye and conscience · to conseille as it were Þat pacience þo moste passe · for pilgrimes kunne wel lye Ac conscience carped loude and curteislich seide Frendes fareth wel · and faire spake to clergye For I wil go with þis gome · if god wil ȝiue me grace And be pilgryme with pacience · til I haue proued more What quod clergye to conscience · ar ȝe coueitouse nouthe After ȝeresȝyues or ȝiftes · or ȝernen to rede redeles I shal brynge ȝow a bible · a boke of þe olde lawe And lere ȝow if ȝow lyke · þe leest poynte to knowe Þat pacience þe pilgryme · parfitly knewe neuere Nay bi cryste quod conscience to clergye god þe forȝelde For al þat pacience me profreth · proude am I litel Ac þe wille of þe wye · and þe wille folke hereL.13.192: This b-verse caused scribes some trouble. LBCR omit of, and it is added above the line in M. Hath moeued my mode · to mourne for my synnes Þe good wille of a wiȝte · was neure bouȝte to þe fulle For þere nysL.13.195: LWR alone read nys; all other B manuscripts have is. no tresore þerto · to a trewe wille Haued nouȝt Magdeleigne more · for a boxe of salue Þan zacheus for he seide · dimidium bonorum meorum do pauperibus And þe pore widwe for a peire of mytes Þan alle þo that offreden · in-to gazafilacium Þus curteislich conscience · congeyde fyrst þe Frere And sithen softliche he seyde · in clergyes ere Me were leuer by owre lorde · and I lyue shulde Haue pacience parfitlich · þan half þi pakke of bokes Clergye to conscience · no congeye wolde take But seide ful sobreliche · þow shalt se þe tyme Whan þow art wery for-walked · wilne me to consaille Þat is soth seyde conscience · so me god helpe If pacience be owre partyng felawe · and pryue with vs bothe There nys wo in þis worlde · þat we ne shulde amende And confourmen Kynges to pees · and al-kynnes londes · Sarasenes and surre · and so forth alle þe iewes · Turne in-to þe trewe feith · and in-til one byleue Þat is soth quod clergye · I se what þow menest I shal dwelle as I do · my deuore to shewen And confermen fauntekynes · and other folke ylered Tyl pacience haue preued þe · and parfite þe maked Conscience þo with pacience passed · pilgrymes as it were Þanne had pacience as pylgrymes han · in his poke vittailles Sobrete and symple speche · and sothfaste byleue To conforte hym and conscience · if þey come in place Þere vnkyndenesse and coueytise is · hungrye contrees bothe And as þei went by þe weye · of dowel þei carped Þei mette with a mynstral · as me þo þouȝte Pacience apposed hym fyrste · and preyed hymL.13.224: LMRF alone read hym; other B manuscripts omit it. he sholde hem telle To conscience what crafte he couthe · an to what contree he wolde I am a mynstral quod þat man · my name is actiua vita Alle ydel ich hatye · for of actyf is my name A wafrere wil ȝe wite · and serue many lordes And fewe robes I fonge · or furred gounes Couthe I lye to do men laughe · þanne lacchen I shulde Other mantel or money amonges lordes mynstralles Ac for I can noither tabre ne trompe · ne telle none gestes Farten ne fythelen at festes ne harpen Iape ne iogly · ne gentlych pype Ne noyther sailly ne saute · ne synge with þe gyterne I haue none gode gyftes · of þise grete lordes · For no bred þat I brynge forth · saue a beneson on þe sonday Whan þe prest preyeth þe peple · her pater noster to bidde For peres þe plowman · and þat hym profite wayten And þat am I actyf · þat ydelnesse hatye For alle trewe trauaillours · and tilieres of þe erthe Fro mychelmesse to mychelmesse · I fynde hem with wafres Beggeres and bidderes · of my bred crauen Faitoures and freres · and folke with brode crounes I fynde payne for þe pope · and prouendre for his palfrey And I hadde neuere of hym · haue god my treuthe Noither prouendre ne parsonage · ȝut of the popis ȝifte Saue a pardoun with a peys of led · and two pollis amydde Hadde iche a clerke þat couthe write · I wolde caste hym a bille Þat he sent me vnder his seel · a salue for þe pestilence And þat his blessyng & his bulles · bocches miȝte destroye In nomine meo demonia eiciunteicient & super egros manus imponent & bene habebunt And þanne wolde I be prest to peple · paste for to make And buxome and busy aboute bred and drynke For hym and for alle his · fonde I þat his pardoun Miȝte lechen a man · as I bileue it shulde For sith he hath þe powere · þat peter hym-self hadde He hath þe potte with þe salue · sothly as me þinketh Argentum & aurum non est michi quod autem habeo tibi do in nomine domini surge & ambula Ac if miȝte of miracle hym faille · it is for men ben nouȝt worthy To haue þe grace of god · & no gylte of þe pope For may no blyssyng done vs bote · but if we wil amende Ne mannes masse make pees · amonges cristene peple Tyl pruyde be purelich fordo · and þat þourgh payn defaute For ar I haue bred of mele · ofte mote I swete And ar þe comune haue corne ynough · many a colde mornyng So ar my wafres ben ywrouȝt · moche wo I tholye Alle Londoun I leue · liketh wel my wafres And lowren whan þei lakken it · it is nouȝt longe ypassed Þere was a carful comune · whan no carte come to toune With bred fro stretforth · þo gan beggeres wepe And werkmen were agaste a litel · þis wil be þouȝte longe In þe date of owre dryȝte · in a drye apprile A þousande and thre hondreth · tweis threttyL.13.274: LR alone read thretty; other B manuscripts have twenty. & ten nota My wafres þere were gesen · whan chichestre was Maire I toke gode kepe by cryst · and conscience bothe Of haukyn þe actyf man · and how he was yclothed He hadde a cote of crystendome · as holykirke bileueth Ac it was moled in many places · with many sondri plottes Of pruyde here a plotte · and þere a plotte of vnboxome speche Of scornyng and of scoffyng · and of vnskilful berynge As in aparaille and in porte · proude amonges þe peple Otherwyse þan he hath · with herte or syȝte shewynge Hym willynge þat alle men wende · he were þat he is nouȝte For-why he bosteth and braggeth · with many bolde othes And in-obedient to ben vndernome · of any lyf lyuyng And so syngulere by hym-self · as to syȝte of þe poepleL.13.287-88: L and alpha alone have two lines here. Other beta witnesses have variants of And noon so singuler by hym-self · ne so pope-holy. Was none suche as hym-self · ne none so pompe-holyL.13.288: LHmW alone read pompe holy; other B manuscripts have pope holy. Yhabited as an hermyte · an ordre by hym-selue Religioun sanz reule · and resonable obedience Lakkyng lettred men · and lewed men bothe In lykyng of lele lyf · and a lyer in soule With Inwit and with outwitt · ymagenen and studye As best for his body be · to haue ......a baddeL.13.294: All beta manuscripts read badde; alpha has bolde. This is of some interest in light of the fact that badde is written over an erasure here. The original is not legible. Manipulation of the image in Photoshop 6.0 shows the final letter was an <e>. name And entermeten hym ouer al · þer he hath nouȝt to done Wilnyng þat men wende · his witte were þe best + And if he gyueth ouȝte pore gomesL.13.297: LR omit to, attested in most B manuscripts, before pore gomes. The corrector's larger than usual <+> in the right margin was perhaps intended to call attention to both this line and the next. · telle what he deleth Pore of possessioun in purse · and in coffreL.13.298: LR alone omit boþe after coffre(s). The corrector has marked the omission with a marginal <+>. This is perhaps another instance in which the corrector and original scribe worked from different exemplars. And as a lyon on to loke · and lordeliche of speche Baldest of beggeres a bostour þat nouȝt hath In towne and in tauernes · tales to telle And segge þinge þat he neuere seigh · and for soth sweren it Of dedes þat he he neuere dyd · demen and bosten And of werkes þat he wel dyd · witnesse and seggen Lo if ȝe leue me nouȝt · or þat I lye wenen Axeth at hym or at hym · and he ȝow can telle What I suffred and seighe · and some-tymes hadde And what I couth and knewe · and what kynne I come of Al he wolde þat men wiste of werkes and of wordes Which myȝte plese þe peple · and praysen hym-seluen Si hominibus placerem cristi seruus non essem Et alibi nemo potest duobus dominis seruire Bi criste quod conscience þo · þi best cote haukyn Hath many moles and spottes · it moste ben ywassh Ȝe who-so toke hede quod haukyn · byhynde and bifore What on bakke and what on bodyhalf · & by þe two sydes Men sholde fynde many frounces · and many foule plottes L.13.318: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it. ¶ And he torned hym as tyte · and þanne toke I hede It was fouler by felefolde · þan it firste semed It was bidropped with wratthe · and wikked wille With enuye and yuel speche entysyng to fyȝte Lyinge and laughynge · and leue tonge to chyde Al þat he wist wykked · by any wiȝte tellen it And blame men bihynde her bakke · and bydden hem meschaunce And þat he wist bi wille · tellen it watte And þat watte wiste · wille wiste it after And made of frendes foes · þorugh a false tonge Or with myȝte of mouthe or þorugh mannes strengthe Auenge me fele tymes · other frete my-selue Wyth-inne as a shepster shere · I-shrewed men & cursed Cuius maledictione os plenum est & amaritudine sub lingua eius labor & dolor & alibi filij hominum dentes eorum arma & sagitte & lingua eorum gladius acutus Þere is no lyf þat I louye · lastyng any while For tales þat I telle · no man trusteth to me And whan I may nouȝt haue þe maistrye · with malencolye I takeL.13.335: The spelling is ambiguous. Kane and Donaldson interpret the form as a past participle, and Schmidt takes it to be a finite verb. Þat I cacche þe crompe · þe cardiacle some-tyme Or an ague in suche an angre · and some-tyme a feure Þat taketh me al a twelf-moneth · tyl þat I dispyse + Lechecrafte orL.13.339: LR alone read or, prompting the corrector's marginal <+>. Most other B manuscripts have of. owre lorde · and leue on a wicche And segge þat no clerke ne can · ne cryste as I leue To þe souter of southwerke · or of shordyche dame emme And segge þat no goddes worde · gaf me neuere bote But þorw a charme had I chaunce · & my chief hele I wayted wisloker · and þanne was it soiled With lykyng of lecherye · as by lokyng of his eye for eche a mayde þat he mette For vche a mayde þat he mette · he made hir a signe Semynge to synne-ward · and some-tyme he gan taste Aboute þe mouth or bynethe · bygynneth to grope Tyl eytheres wille waxeth kene · and to þe werke ȝeden As wel in fastyng-days & frydayes · and forboden nyȝtes And as wel in lente as oute of lente · alle tymes ylyche Suche werkes with hem · wasL.13.352: L alone reads was; most other B manuscripts have were. neuere oute of sesoun Tyl þei myȝte namore · and þanne had merye tales And how þat lechoures louyen · lauȝen an iapen And of her harlotrye and horedome · in her elde tellen Thanne pacience parceyued of poyntes hisL.13.356: LR alone read his; other B manuscripts have off hys or of þis. cote + Was colmy þorw coueityse · and vkyndev[n]kyndeL.13.357: The corrector's marginal <+> indicates that he caught the omission of the first <n> from vnkynde, which was nevertheless not corrected by the scribe. desyrynge More to good þan to god · þe gome his loue caste And ymagyned how · he it myȝte haue With false mesures and mette · and with false witnesse Lened for loue of þe wedde · and loth to do treuthe And awaited þorwgh which wey to bigile And menged his marchaundyse · and made a gode moustre Þe worste with-in was · a gret witte I lete hit And if my neighbore had any hyne · or any beste elles More profitable þan myne · many sleightes I made How I myȝte haue it · al my witte I caste And but I it hadL.13.368: LMW (and C manuscripts XYcJcUcDcVcAcScFcKc) read it had, while HmY (and C manuscripts P2PEcRcMcNc) have hadde it and F has yt. Most B manuscripts only record hadde. by other waye · atte laste I stale it Or pryuiliche his purse shoke · vnpiked his lokkes Or by nyȝt or by day · aboute was ich euere Þorwgh gyle to gadren þe good þat ich haue Ȝif I ȝede to þe plow · I pynched so narwe Þat a fote londe or a forwe · fecchen I wolde Of my nexte neighbore · nymen of his erthe + And ifif [I]L.13.375: A marginal corrector's <+> notes L's omission of I after if. rope ouer-reche · or ȝaf hem red þat ropen To seise to me with her sykel · þat I ne sewe neure And who-so borweth of me · abouteL.13.377: LCr3GR read aboute; most other B manuscripts have the more appropriate reading abouȝte. þe tyme With presentes priueliche · or payed somme certeyne So walde he or nouȝt wolde heL.13.379: LCr1HmM have nouȝt wolde he; most B witnesses have either noȝt wolde or he nolde. · wynnen I wolde And bothe to kyth and to kyn · vnkynde of þat ich hadde And who-so cheped my chaffare · chiden I wolde But he profred to paye · a peny or tweyne More þan it was worth · and ȝet wolde I swere Þat it coste me moche more · swore manye othes In halydayes at holicherche · whan ich herde masse + HaddeL.13.386: LR alone omit I after Hadde. The omission prompted the corrector's marginal <+>. neuere wille wot god · witterly to biseche Mercye for my mysdedes · þat I ne morned more For losse of gode leue me · þan for my lykames giltes As if I had dedly synne done · I dred nouȝt þat so sore As when I lened and leued it lost · or longe ar it were payed So if I kydde any kyndenesse · myn euen-cristene to helpe Vpon a cruel coueityse · myn herte gan hange And if I sent ouer-see · my seruauntz to Bruges Or in-to Pruslonde my prentys · my profit to wayten To marchaunden with monoye · and maken her eschaunges Miȝte neuere me conforte · in þe mene-tyme Noither messe ne matynes · ne none manere siȝtes Ne neuere penaunce perfourned · ne pater noster seyde Þat my mynde ne was more · on my gode in a doute Þan in þe grace of god · and his grete helpes Vbi thesaurus tuus · ibi & cor tuum Which ben þe braunches · þat bryngeth a man to sleuth His woman morneth nouȝte for his mysdedes · ne maketh no sorwe Ac penaunce þat þe prest enioigneth · perfourneth yuel Doth none almes-dede · dret hym of no synne Lyueth aȝein þe bileue · and no lawe holdeth Vch day is haliday with hym · or an heigh ferye And if he auȝte wole here · it is an harlotes tonge Whan men carpeth of cryst · or of clennesse of soule He wexeth wroth & wil nouȝte here · but wordes of myrthe Penaunce and pore men · and þe passioun of seyntes He hateth to here þere-of · and alle þat it telleth Þise ben þe braunches beth war · þat bryngeth a man to wanhope Ȝe lordes and ladyes · and legates of holicherche Þat fedeth foles sages · flatereres and lyeres And han likynge to lythen hem · to do ȝow to lawghe Ve vobis qui ridetis &c And ȝiueth hem mete and Mede · and pore men refuse In ȝowre deth-deyinge · I drede me ful sore Lest þo thre maner men · to moche sorwe ȝow brynge Consencientes & agentes pari pena punientur Patriarkes & prophetes · and prechoures of goddes wordes Sauen þorw her sarmoun · mannes soule fram helle + Riȝt so flateresL.13.424: A corrector's <+> appears in the left margin, perhaps objecting to the spelling flateres (from OF flateor, flatour), although he does not mark this spelling where it occurs elsewhere, as it does again on this page eight lines below. F also at this point reads flaterys, but most other B witnesses, including R, have flatereres. and foles · aren þe fendes disciples To entice men þorw her tales to synne and harlotrye Ac clerkes þat knowen holywryt · shulde kenne lordes What dauid seith of suche men · as þe sauter telleth Non habitabit in medio domus mee · qui facit superbiam & qui loquitur iniqua Shulde none harlote haue audience · in halle ne in chambres Þere wise men were · witnesseth goddes wordes Ne no mysproude man · amonges lordes ben allowed Ac flateres and foles þorw her foule wordes Leden þo þat louen hem · to luciferes feste With turpiloquio a lay of sorwe · and luciferes fithele Thus haukyn þe actyf man · hadde ysoiled his cote Til conscience acouped hym þere-of · in a curteise manere Whi he ne hadde wasshen it · or wyped it with a brusshe passus xiiijusPassus xiiijusquartus decimus I IL.14.1: The rubricated decoration of the blue ornamental capital, seven lines high, is badly smudged and colors some text and the page opposite. A small guide letter <I> appears in the left margin. Haue but one hatereL.14.1: LRF alone omit hool before hatere. quod haukyn · I am þe lasse to blame Þough it be soiled and selde clene · I slepe þere-inne on niȝtes And also I haue an houswyf · hewen and children Vxorem duxy & ideo non possum venire Þat wolen bymolen it many tyme · maugre my chekes It hath ben laued in lente · and oute of lente bothe With þe sope of sykenesse · þat seketh wonder depe And with þe losse of catel · loth forto agulte God or any gode man · bi auȝte þat I wiste And was shryuen of þe preste · þat gaue me for my synnes To penaunce pacyence · and pore men to fede Al for coueitise of my crystenedome · in clennesse to kepen it And couthe I neuere by cryste · kepen it clene an houre Þat I ne soiled it with syȝte · or sum ydel speche Or þorugh werke or þorugh worde · or wille of myn herte Þat I ne flober it foule · fro morwe tyl eue + And I shal kenne þe quod conscience · of contricioun to makeL.14.17: A corrector's <+> appears in the right margin but no error is apparent. Þat shal clawe þi cote · of alkynnes filthe Cordis contricio &c Dowel wasshen it and wryngen it · þorw a wys confessour Oris confessio &c Dobet shal beten it and bouken it · as briȝte as any scarlet And engreynen it with good wille · and goddes grace to amende þe And sithen sende þe to satisfaccioun · for to sowen it after Satisfaccio dobest Shal neuere myste bimolen it · ne moth after biten it Ne fende ne false man defoulen it in þi lyue Shal none heraude ne harpoure · haue a fairere garnement Þan haukyn þe actyf man · and þow do by my techyng Ne no mynstral be more worth · amonges pore & riche Þan Haukynnes wyf þe wafrere · with his actiua vita And I shal purueye þe paste quod pacyence · þough no plow erie And floure to fede folke with · as best be for þe soule Þough neuere greyne growed · ne grape vppon vyne Alle þat lyueth and loketh · lyflode wolde I fynde And þat ynough shal none faille · of þinge þat hem nedeth We shulde nouȝt be to busy · abouten owre lyflode Ne solliciti sitis &c volucres celi deus pascit &c pacientes vincunt &c Þanne laughed haukyn a litel · and liȝtly gan swerye Who-so leueth ȝow by owre lorde · I leue nouȝte he be blissed No quod pacyence paciently · and out of his poke hente Vitailles of grete vertues · for al manere bestes And seyde lo here lyflode ynough · if owre byleue be trewe For lente neuere was lyf · but lyflode were shapen Wher-of or wherfore · or where-by to lybbe of wylfull poverti Firste þe wylde worme · vnder weet erthe Fissch to lyue in þe flode · and in þe fyre þe crykat Þe corlue by kynde of þe eyre · moste clennest flesch of bryddes And bestes by grasse and by greyne · and by grene rotis In menynge þat alle men · myȝte þe same Lyue þorw lele byleue and loue · as god witnesseth Quodcumque pecieritis a patre in nomine meo &c & alibi Non in solo pane viuit homo set in omni verbo quod procedit de ore dei But I loked what lyflode it was · þat pacience so preysed And þanne was it a pece of þe pater noster · fiat voluntas tua · Haue haukyn quod pacyence · and ete þis whan þe hungreth Or whan þow clomsest for colde · or clyngest for drye Shal neuere gyues þe greue · ne grete lordes wrath Prisone ne peyne · for pacientes vincunt Bi so þat þow be sobre · of syȝte and of tonge In etynge and in handlyng · and in alle þi fyue wittis Darstow neuere care for corne · ne lynnen cloth ne wollen Ne for drynke ne deth drede · but deye as god lyketh Or þorw honger or þorw hete · at his wille be it + For if þow lyuest after his lore · þe shottersho[r]terL.14.65: The corrector's <+> notes the scribe's omission of <r> in shorter. lyf þe better Si quis amat cristum mundum non diligit istum For þorw his breth bestes wexen · and abrode ȝeden Dixit & facta sunt &c · Ergo þorw his breth mowen · men & bestes lyuen As holywrit witnesseth · whan men segge her graces Aperis tu manum tuam · & imples omne animal benediccione It is founden þat fourty wynter · folke lyued with-outen tulying And oute of þe flynte spronge þe flode · þat folke & bestes dronke And in Elyes tyme · heuene was yclosed Þat no reyne ne rone · þus rede men in bokes Þat many wyntres men lyueden · and no mete ne tulyeden Seuene slepe as seith þe boke · seuene hundreth wynter And lyueden with-oute lyflode · and atte laste þei woken And if men lyued as mesure wolde · shulde neuere-more be defaute Amonges cristene creatures · if crystes wordes ben trewe Ac vnkyndnesse carestia maketh · amonges crystene peple And ouer-plente maketh pruyde · amonges pore & riche Ac mesure is so moche worth · it may nouȝte be to dere For þe meschief and þe meschaunce · amonges men of sodome Wex þorw plente of payn · & of pure sleuthe Ociositas & habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutriuit For þei mesured nouȝt hem-self · of þat þei ete and dronke Diden dedly synne þat þe deuel lyked So vengeaunce fel vpon hem · for her vyle synnes Þei sonken in-to helle · þo citees · vchone For-þi mesure we vs wel · and make owre faithe owre scheltroun And þorw faith cometh contricioun · conscience wote wel Whiche dryueth awey dedly synne · and doth it to be venial And þough a man myȝte nouȝte speke · contricioun myȝte hym saue And brynge his soule to blisse · byL.14.95: LCrRF alone read by before so; other B manuscripts have for so or just so. so þat feith bere witnesse Þat whiles he lyued he bileued · in þe lore of holycherche Ergo contricioun feith and conscience · is kyndelich dowel And surgienes for dedly synnes · whan shrifte of mouth failleth Ac shrifte of mouth more worthy is · if man be iliche contrit For shrifte of mouth sleeth synne · be it neuere so dedly Per confessionem to a prest · peccata occiduntur Þere contricioun doth but dryueth it doun · in-to a venial synne As dauid seith in þe sauter · et quorum tecta sunt peccata Ac satisfaccioun seketh oute þe rote · and bothe sleeth and voideth And as it neuere had ybe · to nouȝt bryngeth dedly synne Þat it neuere eft is seen ne sore · but semeth a wounde yheled Where woneth charite quod haukyn · I wiste neuere in my lyue Man þat with hym spake · as wyde as I haue passed Þere parfit treuthe and pouere herte is · and pacience of tonge Þere is charitee þe chief chaumbrere for god hym-selue Whether paciente pouerte quod haukyn · be more plesaunte to owre driȝte Þan ricchesse riȝtfulliche ywonne · and resonablelich yspendedL.14.112: LMR have yspended; most other B witnesses read despended. Ȝe quis est ille quod pacience · quik laudabimus eum Þough men rede of richchesse · riȝt to þe worldes ende I wist neuere renke þat riche was · þat whan he rekne sholde Whan itL.14.116: LR alone read it; most other B manuscripts have he. drow to his deth-day · þat he ne dred hym sore And þat atterekenyngatte rekenyng in arrerage fel · rather þan oute of dette There þe pore dar plede · and preue by pure resoun To haue allowaunce of his lorde · by þe lawe he it cleymeth Ioye þat neuere ioye hadde · of riȝtful iugge he axeth And seith lo briddes and bestes · þat no blisse ne knoweth And wilde wormes in wodes · þorw wyntres þow hem greuest And makest hem welnyegh meke · and mylde for defaute And after þow sendest hem somer · þat is her souereigne Ioye And blisse to alle þat ben · bothe wilde and tame Þanne may beggeres as bestes · after bote waiten Þat al her lyf han lyued · in langour and in defaute But god sent hem some-tyme · some manere ioye Other here or elles-where · kynde wolde it neuere For to wrotherhele was he wrouȝte · þat neuere was ioye shaped Angeles þat in helle now ben · hadden ioye some-tyme And diues in deyntees lyued · and in douce vye Riȝte so resoun sheweth · þat þo men þat were riche And her makes also · lyued her lyf in murthe Ac god is of a wonder wille · by þat kynde witte sheweth To ȝiue many men his mercymonye · ar he it haue deserued Riȝt so fareth god by some riche · ...?...reuthe me it þinketh For þei han her hyre here · an heuene as it were And is gret lykyng to lyue · with-oute laboure of body And whan he deyeth ben disalowed · as dauid seith in þe sauter L.14.141-144: A possible erasure appears in the left margin? Dormierunt & nichil inuenerunt And in an other stede also · velud sompnum surgencium domine in ciuitate tua & ad nichilum rediges Allas þat ricchesse shal reue · and robbe mannes soule Fram þe loue of owre lorde · at his laste ende Hewen þat han her hyre afore · aren euermore nedy And selden deieth he out of dette · þat dyneth ar he deserue it L.14.147: A possible erasure appears in the left margin? And til he haue done his deuor · and his dayes iourne For whan a werkman hath wrouȝte · þanne may men se þe sothe What he were worthi for his werke · and what he hath deserued And nouȝt to fonge bifore · for drede of disalowynge So I segge by ȝow riche · it semeth nouȝt þat ȝe shulle Haue heuene in ȝowre here beyng · and heuene her-after Riȝt as a seruaunt taketh his salarye bifore · & sitth wolde clayme more As he þat none hadde · and hath huyre atte laste It may nouȝt be ȝe riche men · or matheu on god lyeth De delicijs ad delicias · deficile est transire Ac if þe riche haue reuthe · and rewarde wel þe pore And lyuen as lawe techeth · done leute to alleL.14.158: LR omit hem before alle, attested in most B manuscripts. Criste of his curteysie · shal conforte ȝow atte laste And rewarde alle dowble ricchesse · þat reuful hertes habbeth And as an hyne þat hadde · his hyre ar he bygonne And whan he hath done his deuor wel · men doth hym other bounte Ȝyueth hym a cote aboue his couenaunte · riȝte so cryst ȝiueth heuene Bothe to riche and to nouȝte riche · þat rewfullich lybbeth And alle þat done her deuor wel · han dowble hyre for her trauaille Here forȝyuenesse of her synnes · and heuene blisse after Ac it nys but selde yseyn · as by holy seyntes bokes Þat god rewarded double reste · to any riche wye For moche murthe is amonges riche · as in mete and clothyng And moche murthe in Maye is · amonges wilde bestes And so forth whil somer lasteth · her solace dureth Ac beggeres aboute Midsomer · bredlees þei soupe And ȝit is wynter for hem worse · for wete-shodde þei gange Afyrst sore and afyngred · and foule yrebuked And arated of riche men · þat reuthe is to here Now lorde sende hem somer · and some manere ioye Heuene after her hennes-goynge · þat here han suche defaute For alle myȝtest þow haue made · none mener þan other And yliche witty & wyse · if þi.....e wel ·L.14.179: The letters <e wel> and the second punctus are over an erasure. The scribe may have initially written þi wyll, the reading of manuscripts BCC2GOMF, or perhaps wolde. hadde lyked And haue reuthe on þise riche men · þat rewarde nouȝte þi prisoneres Of þe good þat þow hem gyuest · ingrati ben manye Ac god of þi goodnesse · gyue hem grace to amende + For may no derth ben hem dere · drouth ne weetL.14.183: A corrector's <+> appears in the right margin, perhaps indicating the corrector's dissatisfaction with drouth for droghte. This spelling occurs again in L.14.188, and the line is likewise marked for correction. Ne noyther hete ne haille · haue þei here hele Of þat þei wilne and wolde · wanteth hem nouȝt here Ac pore peple þi prisoneres · lorde in þe put of myschief Conforte þo creatures · þat moche care suffren + Þorw derth þorw drouth · alle her dayes hereL.14.188: As at L.14.183, the corrector's marginal <+> may mark drouth for correction. Wo in wynter tymes · for wantyng of clothes And in somer tyme selde · soupen to þe fulle + Conforte þi careful cryst in þi rycheL.14.191: A corrector's <+> appears in the right margin, but no error is apparent. Possibly this reflects the corrector's use of an inferior beta manuscript. CrHmMW (M by correction) have richesse in place of correct ryche. For how þow confortest · alle creatures  clerkes bereth witnesse Conuertimini ad me & salui eritis Þus in genere of his genitriceL.14.194: L alone reads of his genitrice, though R has the similar phrase alle his genitrice; most B manuscripts have of gentries. · Ihesu cryst seyde To robberes and to reueres · to riche and to pore Þow tauȝtest hem in þe Trinitee · to take baptesme + And be clene þorw þat crystennynge · of alle kynneskynnes [synnes]L.14.197: L alone omits synnes after kynnes, an error noted by the corrector's <+> but never corrected. And vs fel þorw folye · to falle in synne after + Confessioun and knelechyngkne[w]lechyngL.14.199: A corrector's <+> appears in the right margin; as Skeat observed, he was probably objecting to the scribe's knelechyng for knowlichyng. Kane and Donaldson do not include the error in their list of variants. For the spellings in L, see L.5.585, L12,193, and L.19.74, 186. & crauyng þi mercy Shulde amende vs as many sithes · as man wolde desire Ac if þe pope wolde plede here-aȝeine · and punyssh vs in conscience He shulde take þe acquitance as quik · and to þe qued schewe it Pateat &c per passionem domini And putten of so þe pouke · and preuen vs vnder borwe Ac þe perchemyn of þis patent · of pouerte be moste And of pure pacience · and parfit bileue Of pompe and of pruyde · þe parchemyn decorreth And principaliche of alle peple · but þei be pore of herte Ellis is al an ydel · al þat euere we writen Pater nostres and penaunce · and pilgrimage to Rome But owre spences and spendyng sprynge · of a trewe welle Elles is al owre laboure loste · lo how men writeth In fenestres atte freres · if fals be þe foundement For-þi crystene sholde ben in comune riche · none coueitouse for hym-selue For seuene synnes þat þere ben · assaillen vs euere Þe fende folweth hem alle · and fondeth hem to helpe Ac wiþ ricchesse þat Ribaude · rathest men bigyleth For þere þat richesse regneth · reuerence folweth And þat is plesaunte to pryde · in pore and in riche And þe riche is reuerenced · by resoun of his richchesse Þere þe pore is put bihynde and par-auenture can more Of witte and of wysdom · þat fer awey is better Þan ricchesse or reaute · and rather yherde in heuene For þe riche hath moche to rekene · and riȝte softe walketh Þe heigh waye to heuene-ward · oft ricchesse letteth Ita possibile diuiti &cL.14.226: The rubricator apparently failed to note this leaf. Þere þe pore preseth bifor þe riche · with a pakke at his rugge Opera enim illorum sequntur illosL.14.228: The rubricator apparently failed to note this leaf. Batauntliche as beggeres done · and baldeliche he craueth For his pouerte and his pacience · a perpetuel blisse Beati pauperes · quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorumL.14.231: The rubricator apparently failed to note this leaf. And pryde in ricchesse regneth · rather þan in pouerte Arst in þe Maister þan in þe man · some mansioun he hath Ac in pouerte þere pacyence is · pryde hath no myȝte Ne none of þe seuene synnes · sitten ne mowe þere longe Ne haue powere in pouerte · if pacyence it folwe For þe pore is ay prest · to plese þe riche And buxome at his byddyng · for his broke loues And buxomenesse and boste · aren euer-more at werre And ayther hateth other · in alle manere werkes If wratthe wrastel with þe pore · he hath þe worse ende For if þey bothe pleyne · þe pore is but fieble And if he chyde or chatre · hym chieueth þe worse And if coueitise woldeL.14.244: LRF alone read wolde before cacche. cacche þe pore · þei may nouȝt come togideres And by þe nekke namely · her none may hente other For men knoweth wel þat coueitise · is of a kene wille And hath hondes and armes · of a longe lengthe id est vmbilicus · And pouerte nis but a petit þinge · appereth nouȝt to his nauleL.14.248: In the right margin, possibly written by the original scribe, appears the gloss id est vmbilicus ·. And louely layke was it neuere · bitwene þe longe and þe shorte And þough auarice wolde angre þe pore · he hath but litel myȝteL.14.250: A bracket in the right margin extends from the first line to the bottom of the page. For pouerte hath but pokes · to putten in his godis Þere auarice hath almaries · and yren-bounde coffres And whether be liȝter to breke · lasse boste it maketh A beggeres bagge · þan an yren-bounde coffre Lecherye loueth hym nouȝt · for he ȝeueth but lytel syluer Ne doth hym nouȝte dyne delycatly · ne drynke wyn oft A strawe for þe stuwes · it stode nouȝt I trowe Had þei noneL.14.258: L alone reads none; most other B manuscripts have no þyng. but of pore men · her houses wereL.14.258: L alone reads were; most other B manuscripts have stoode. vntyled And þough sleuthe suwe pouerte · and serue nouȝt god to paye Mischief is his maister · and maketh hym to thynke Þat god is his grettest helpe · and no gome elles And his seruaunt as he seith · and of his sute bothe And whereL.14.263: LR alone read where, "whether"; all other B witnesses have wheiþer. Cf. L.12.293 above. he be or be nouȝte · he bereth þe signe of pouerte And in þat secte owre saueoure · saued al mankynde For-thi al pore þat paciente is · may claymen and asken After her endynge here · heuene-riche blisse Moche hardier may he axen · þat here myȝte haue his wille In londe and in lordship · and likynge of bodye + nota/ And for goddis loue leueth al · anL.14.269: The corrector's <+> apparently refers to the scribe's characteristic omission of <d> from and. lyueth as a beggereL.14.269: A nota/ (or note) appears in the right margin. In this later hand either form is possible. And as a mayde for mannes loue · her moder forsaketh Hir fader and alle her frendes · and folweth hir make Moche is suche a mayde to louie · of hym þat such one taketh More þan a mayden is · þat is maried þorw brokage As bi assent of sondry partyes · and syluer to bote More for coueitise of good · þan kynde loue of bothe So it fareth bi eche a persone · þat possessioun forsaketh And put hym to be pacient · and pouerte weddeth Þe which is sybbe to god hym-self · and so to his seyntes Haue god my trouthe quod Haukyn · ȝe preyse faste pouerte What is pouerte with pacience quod he · proprely to mene Paupertas quod pacience · est odibile bonum definitio pauper=tatis cum patientia Remocio curarum · possessio sine calumpnia · donum dei · sanitatis materL.14.282: The words definitio paupertatis cum patientia appear in the right margin. Absque solicitudine semita · sapiencie temperatrix · negocium sine dampno Incerta fortuna · absque solicitudine felicitas · I can nouȝt construe al þis quod haukyn · ȝe moste kenne þis on englisch In englisch quod pacyence it is wel harde · wel to expounen Ac somdel I shal seyne it  by so þow vnderstonde Pouerte is þe first poynte · þat pryde moste hateth Thanne is it good by good skil · al þat agasteth pryde Riȝte as contricioun is confortable þinge · conscience wote wel And a sorwe of hym-self · and a solace to þe sowle So pouerte propreliche penaunce and ioye Is to þe body pure spiritual helthe Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum And contricioun confort & cura animarum Selde sitte pouerte · þe sothe to declare Or as iustyce to iugge men · enioigned is no pore Ne to be a Maire aboue men · ne mynystre vnder kynges Selden is any pore yput · to punysshen any peple Remocio curarum Ergo pouerte and pore men · parfornen þe comaundement Nolite iudicare quemquam þe þridde Selde is any pore riche · but of riȝtful heritage Wynneth he nauȝt with weghtes fals · ne with vnseled mesures Ne borweth of his neghbores · but þat he may wel paye Possessio sine calumpnia · Þe fierthe is a fortune · þat florissheth þe soule Wyth sobrete fram al synne · and also ȝit more It affaiteth þe flesshe · fram folyes ful manye A collateral conforte · crystes owne ȝifte Donum dei Þe fyfte is moder of helthe a frende in alle fondynges And for þe land euere a leche · a lemman of al clennesse Sanitatis mater Þe sexte is a path of pees · ȝe þorw þe pas of altoun Pouerte myȝte passe · with-oute peril of robbyng For þere þat pouerte passeth · pees folweth after And euere þe lasse þat he bereth · þe hardyer he is of herte For-þi seith seneca · paupertas est absque solicitudine semita And an hardy man of herte · amonge an hepe of þeues Cantabit paupertas coram latrone viator Þe seueneth is welle of wisdome · and fewe wordes sheweth For lordes alloweth hym litel · or lysteneth to his reson He tempreth þe tonge to treuthe-ward · and no tresore coueiteth Sapiencie temperatrix The eigteth is a lele laborereL.14.326: LCrRF alone read laborere; other B manuscripts have labour. · and loth to take more Þan he may wel deserue · in somer or in wynter + And if chaffareth[he] chaffarethL.14.328: L's omission of he before chaffareth is noted by a corrector's <+> in the left margin. he chargeth no losse · mowe he charite wynne Negocium sine dampno The nyneth is swete to þe soule · no sugre is swettere For pacyence is payn · for pouerte hym-selue And sobrete swete drynke · and good leche in sykenesse Þus lered me a lettred man · for owre lordes loue Seynt austyn a blissed lyf · with-outen bysynesse For body and for soule · absque /L.14.335: The virgule is used here as a division of the box. solicitudine felicitas Now god þat al good gyueth · graunt his soule reste Þat þus fyrst wrote to wyssen men · what pouerte was to mene nota bene Allas quod haukyn þe actyf man þo · þat after my crystendomeL.14.338: The words nota bene appear in the right margin in black ink. I ne hadde ben ded and doluen · for doweles sake So harde it is quod haukyn · to lyue and to do synne Synne suweth vs euere quod he · and sori gan wexe And wepte water with his eyghen · and weyled þe tyme Þat euere he dede dede · þat dere god displesed Swowed and sobbed · and syked ful ofte Þat euere he hadde londe or lordship · lasse other more Or maystrye ouer any man · mo þan of hym-self I were nouȝt worthy wote god quod haukyn · to were any clothes Ne noyther sherte ne shone · saueL.14.348: An otiose curved mark in text brown ink appears above the <a> in saue. for shame one To keure my caroigne quod he · and cryde mercye faste And wepte and weyled · and þere-with I awaked Passus xvus finit dowel incipit dobetPassus xvusQuindecimus finit dowel & incipit dobet a AcL.15.1: The ornamental capital of eight lines is in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide letter <A> is partly obscured. after my wakyng · it was wonder longe Ar I couth kyndely · knowe what was dowel And so my witte wex and wanyed · til I a fole were And somme lakked my lyf · allowed it fewe And leten for a lorel · and loth to reuerencen Lordes or ladyes · or any lyf elles As persones in pellure · with pendauntes of syluer To seriauntz ne to suche · seyde nouȝte ones God loke ȝow lordes · ne louted faire Þat folke helden me a fole · and in þat folye I raued Tyl resoun hadde reuthe on me · and rokked me aslepe Tyl I seigh as it sorcerye were · a sotyl þinge with-al One with-outen tonge and teeth · tolde me whyder I shulde And wher-of I cam and of what kynde · I conIured hym atte laste If he were crystes creature · for crystes loue me to tellen I am crystes creature quod he · and crystene in many a place In crystes courte · I-knowe wel · and of his kynne a partye Is noyther peter þe porter · ne poule with his fauchoune + ÞaL.15.19: This form of the relative that appears here only in L. The corrector's <+> in the right margin calls attention to the scribe's use of þa for þat, also marked by the corrector at L.3.308 and L.11.308. wil defende me þe dore · dynge ich neure so late At mydnyȝt at mydday · my voice so is yknowe Þat eche a creature of his courte · welcometh me fayre What ar ȝe called quod I in þat courte · amonges crystes peple L.15.23: A bracket is drawn in the left margin from this line to the end of the line group, with the gloss the definition of the Sowle. Þe whiles I quykke þe corps quod he · called am I anima And whan I wilne and wolde · animus ich hatte And for þat I can and knowe · called am I mens And whan I make mone to god · memoria is my name And whan I deme domes · and do as treuthe techeth Þanne is racio my riȝt name · resoun an englissh And whan I fele þat folke telleth · my firste name is sensus And þat is wytte and wisdome · þe welle of alle craftes And whan I chalange or chalange nouȝte · chepe or refuse the definition of the SowleL.15.23-49: The gloss is to the entire line group. Þanne am I conscience ycalde · goddis clerke and his notarie And whan I loue lelly · owre lorde and alle other Þanne is lele loue my name · and in latyn amor And whan I flye fro þe flesshe · and forsake þe caroigne Þanne am I spirit specheles · andL.15.36: LRF alone read and; other B manuscripts omit it. spiritus þanne ich hatte Austyn and ysodorus ayther of hem bothe Nempned me þus to name · now þow myȝte chese How þow coueitest to calle me · now þow knowest alle my names Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur · dum viuificat corpus anima est · dum vult animus est · dum scit mens est · dum recolit memoria est · Dum iudicat racio est · dum sentit sensus est · dum amat amor est · dum negat vel consentit consciencia est · dum spirat spiritus est Bishops Ȝe ben as a bisshop quod I · al bourdynge þat tyme For bisshopes yblessed · þei bereth many names Presul and pontifex · and metropolitanus And other names an hepe episcopus & pastor Þat is soth seyde he · now I se þi wille Þow woldest knowe and kunne · þe cause of alle her names And of myne if þow myȝtest · me þinketh by þi speche Ȝe syre I seyde by so no man were greued Alle þe sciences vnder sonne · and alle þe sotyle craftes I wolde I knewe and couth · kyndely in myne herte Þanne artow inparfit quod he · and one of prydes knyȝtes For such a luste and lykynge · lucifer fel fram heuene Ponam pedem meum in aquilone & similis ero altissimo It were aȝeynes kynde quod he · and alkynnes resoun Þat any creature shulde kunne al · excepte cryste one Aȝein such salomon speketh · and dispiseth her wittes And seith sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum Sic qui scrutator est maiestatis opprimitur a gloria To englisch men þis is to mene · þat mowen speke & here Þe man þat moche hony eteth · his mawe it engleymeth And þe more þat a man · of good mater hereth But he do þerafter · it doth hym double scathe Beatus est seith seynt Bernard / · qui scripturas legit Et verba vertit in opera · fullich to his powere Coueytise to kunne and to knowe science PulteL.15.67: LMR alone read Pulte, "thrust"; most other B manuscripts have Putte. out of paradys · Adam and Eue Sciencie appetitus hominem inmortalitatis gloriam spoliauit And riȝte as hony is yuel to defye · and engleymeth þe mawe non plus sapere quam oportet Riȝt so þat þorw resoun wolde þe rote knoweL.15.70: The words non plus sapere qua[m] oportet appear in the right margin. Of god and of his grete myȝtes · his graces it letteth For in þe lykyng lith a pryde · and a lycames coueitise Aȝein crystes conseille · and alle clerkes techyng freris That is non plus sapere quam oportet sapereL.15.74: The word freris appears in the right margin. The glossator has drawn a bracket from this line to the bottom of the page. Freres and fele other maistres · þat to þe lewed men prechen Ȝe moeuen materes inmesurables · to tellen of þe Trinite Þat ofte tymes þe lewed peple · of her bileue douten Bettere byleue were mony · doctoures such techyng And tellen men of þe ten comaundementz · and touchen þe seuene synnes And of þe braunches þat burgeouneth of hem · and bryngeth men to helle And how þat folke in folyes · myspenden her fyue wittes As wel freres as other folke · folilich spenen In housyng in haterynge · and in-to hiegh clergye shewynge More for pompe þan for pure charite · þe poeple wote þe sothe Þat I lye nouȝt loo · for lordes ȝe plesen And reuerencen þe riche · þe rather for her syluer Confundantur omnes qui adorant scultiliascul[p]tilia · & alibi Vt quid diligitis vanitatem & queritis mendacium Go to þe glose of þe verse · ȝe grete clerkes If I lye on ȝow to my lewed witte · ledeth me to brennynge nota de fratribus For as it semeth ȝe forsaketh · no mannes almesse Of vsureres of hores · of auarous chapmen And louten to þis lordes · þat mowen lene ȝow nobles Aȝeine ȝowre reule and Religioun · I take recorde at Ihesus Þat seide to his disciples · ne sitis personarum acceptores Of þis matere I myȝte  make a longe bible Ac of curatoures of crystene peple · as clerkes bereth witnesse I shal tellen it for treuth sake · take hede who-so lyketh As holynesse and honesteteL.15.99: L alone reads honestete; all other B manuscripts have honeste. oute of holicherche spredeth Þorw lele libbyng men · þat goddes lawe techen Riȝt so out of holicherche · alle yueles spredeth There inpartfyt presthod is · prechoures and techeres And se it by ensample in somer tyme on trowes Þere somme bowes ben leued · and somme bereth none Þere is a myschief in þe more · of suche manere bowes Riȝt so parsones and prestes · and prechoures of holy cherche Þat aren rote of þe riȝte faith · to reule þe peple Ac þere þe rote is roten · reson wote þe sothe Shal neure floure ne frute · ne faire leef be grene For-þi wolde ȝe lettred leue · þe leccherye of clothynge And be kynde as bifel for clerkes · and curteise of crystes goodes Trewe of ȝowre tonge · and of ȝowre taille bothe And hatien to here harlotrye · and nouȝt to vnderfonge Tythes of vntrewe þinge · ytilied or chaffared · Lothe were lewed men · but þei ȝowre lore folwed And amenden hem þat mysdon · more for ȝowre ensamples Þan forto prechen & preue it nouȝt · ypocrysie it semeth For ypocrysie in latyn · is lykned to a dongehulL.15.118: Under and over lining in red ink has been erased, but the ink is still visible over lykned and at the end of the line. Þat were bysnewed with snowe · and snakes wyth-inne Or to a wal þat were whitlymed · and were foule wyth-inne Riȝt so many prestes · prechoures and prelates Ȝe aren enblaunched with bele paroles · and with clothes also Ac ȝowre werkes and ȝowre wordes þere-vnder · aren ful vnlouelich L.15.124-128: This line group has been bracketed in the left margin with the words Nota crisostomus written in a secretary hand. Iohannes crysostomus · of clerkes speketh and prestes Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur · sic de templo · omne malum procedit Nota crisostomus Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit · tota floret ecclesia · si autem coruptum fuerit · omnium fides marcida est /L.15.126: The virgule is very faint and may have been scraped? Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis · totus populus couertiturco[n]uertitur ad peccandum Sicut cum videris arborem pallidam & marcidam · inteligis quod vicium habet in radice Ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum · & irreligiosum sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum If lewed men wist · what þis latyn meneth And who was myn auctor · moche wonder me þinketh But if many a prest bere · for here baselardes and here broches A peyre bedes in her hande · and a boke vnder her arme Sire Iohan & sire Geffray · hath a gerdel of syluer A basellarde or a ballokknyf · with botones ouergylte + L.15.135: A <+> appears in the left margin which may indicate the corrector's dissatisfaction with portous for "porthors" or perhaps his opinion that the placebo should be boxed. Ac a portous þat shulde be his plow · placebo to segge Hadde he neure seruyse to saue syluer þer-to · seith it with yvelL.15.136: LRF read yvel; other B manuscripts have ydel. wille Allas ȝe lewed men · moche lese ȝe on prestes Ac þinge þat wykkedlich is wonne · and with false sleigthes Wolde neuere witte of witty god · but wikked men it hadde Þe which aren prestes inparfit · and prechoures after syluer Sectoures and sudenes · somnoures and her lemmannes Þis þat with gyle was geten · vngraciouslich is spended So harlotes and hores · ar hulpen with such goodis And goddes folke for defaute þer-of · forfaren and spillen Curatoures of holykirke · as clerkes þat ben auerouse Liȝtlich þat þey leuen · loselles it habbeth Or dyeth intestate · and þanne þe bisshop entreth And maketh murthe þere-with · and his men bothe And seggen he was a nygarde · þat no good myȝte asspare To frende ne to fremmed · þe fende haue his soule For a wrecched hous he helde · al his lyf-tyme And þat he spared and bispered · speneL.15.152: LMR have spene; the majority of other B witnesses have synonymous spende. we in murthe By lered by lewed · þat loth is to spende Þus gone her godes · be þe goste faren Ac for good men god wote · gret dole men maken And bymeneth good mete-ȝyueres · and in mynde haueth quid est caritas In prayers and in penaunces · and in parfyt charite What is charite quod I þo · a childissh þinge he seide Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli · non intrabitis in regnum celorum With-outen fauntelte or foly · a fre liberal wille Where shulde men fynde such a frende · with so fre an herte nota the name of thauctor I haue lyued in londe quod I · my name is longe willeL.15.162: The words nota the name of thauctor appear in the right margin. And fonde I neuere ful charite · bifore ne bihynde Men beth mercyable · to mendynantz & to pore And wolen lene þere þei leue · lelly to ben payed Ac charite þat poule preyseth best · and most plesaunte to owre saueoure As non inflatusinflatu[r] non ambiciosaL.15.167: L alone omits est before ambiciosa. It is added above the line in M. non querit que sua sunt I seigh neuere such a man · so me god helpe That he ne wolde aske after his · and otherwhile coueyte Þinge þat neded hym nouȝt · and nyme it if he myȝte Clerkis kenne me þat cryst · is in alle places Ac I seygh hym neuere sothly · but as my-self in a miroure ItIt[a]L.15.173: Although it is possible that L wrote Ic with an ill-formed <c> in error for the probably correct reading Hic (attested by alpha and M), it is more likely to be It in error for Ita (attested by BCC2GOY). in enigmate tunc facie ad faciem And so I trowe trewly · by þat men telleth of charite It is nouȝt championes fyȝte · ne chaffare as I trowe Charite quod he ne chaffareth nouȝte · ne chalengeth ne craueth As proude of a peny · as of a pounde of golde And is as gladde of a goune  of a graye russet As of a tunicle of tarse · or of trye scarlet + He is gladde with alle gladde · and good tyty[l]L.15.180: The scribe's ty for tyl is noted by the corrector's <+> in the right margin. alle wykked And leneth and loueth alle · þat owre lorde made Curseth he no creature · ne he can bere no wratthe Ne no lykynge hath to lye · ne laughe men to scorne Al þat men seith he let it soth · and in solace taketh And alle manere meschiefs · in myldenesse he suffreth Coueiteth he none erthly good · but heuene-riche blisse Hath he any rentes or ricchesse · or any riche frendes Of rentes ne of ricchesse · ne reccheth he neuere For a frende þat fyndeth hym · failled hym neuere at nede Fiat voluntas tua fynt hym euer-more And if he soupeth etteL.15.191: LR alone have the preterite here against eteþ in most other B witnesses. but a soppe of spera in deo He can purtreye wel þe pater noster · and peynte it with aues And other-while is hisL.15.193: LHmM read is his; most B manuscripts have he is. wone · to wende inL.15.193: LBM and C manuscripts XYcP2KUcDcPEcRcMcVcAcZFcGcNcN2 have in against on in most other B witnesses. pilgrymage Þere pore men and prisones liggeth · her pardoun to haue Þough he bere hem no bred · he bereth hem swetter lyflode Loueth hem as owre lorde biddeth · and loketh how þei fare And whan he is wery of þat werke · þanne wil he some-tyme Labory in aL.15.198: LR alone read a; most other B manuscripts omit it. lauendrye · wel þe lengthe of a myle And ȝerne in-to ȝouthe · and ȝepliche speke Pryde with al þe appurtenaunce · and pakken hem togyderes And bouken hem at his brest · and beten hem clene And leggen on longe · with laboraui in gemitu meo And with warme water at his eyghen · wasshen hem after And þanne he syngeth whan he doth so · & some-tyme seith wepyng Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies By cryst I wolde þat I knewe hym quod I · no creature leuere With-outen helpe of Piers plowman quod he · his persone seestow neuere Where clerkes knowen hym quod I · þat kepen holykirke Clerkes haue no knowyng quod he · but by werkes and bi wordes Ac piers þe plowman · parceyueth more depper + ÞatL.15.211: LRF alone read Þat; most other B witnesses have What, which may be the reason for the corrector's <+> in the left margin. is þe wille and wherfore · þat many wyȝte suffreth Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum For þere ar ful proude-herted men · paciente of tonge And boxome as of berynge · to burgeys and to lordes And to pore peple · han peper in þe nose And as a lyoun he loketh · þere men lakketh his werkes For þere ar beggeres and bidderes · bedmen as it were Loketh as lambren · and semen lyf-holy Ac it is more to haue her mete · with such an esy manere Þan for penaunce and parfitnesse · þe pouerte þat such taketh Þere-fore by coloure ne by clergye · knowe shaltow hym neuere Noyther þorw wordes ne werkes · but þorw wille one And þat knoweth no clerke · ne creature in erthe But piers þe plowman · petrus id est cristus For he ne is nouȝte in lolleres · ne in lande-leperes hermytes Ne at ancres þere a box hangeth · alle suche þei faiten Fy on faitoures · and in fautores suos For charyte is goddis champioun · and as a good chylde hende And þe meryest of mouth · at mete where he sitteth Þe loue þat lith in his herte · maketh hym lyȝte of speche And is compenable · and confortatyf · as cryst bit hym-selue Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes &c For I haue seyne hym in silke For I haue seyn hym in sylkeL.15.233: The letter <s> and the first stroke of <y> appear to have been re-inked by the original scribe in a blacker ink. · and somme-tyme in russet Bothe in grey and in grys · and in gulte herneys And as gladlich he it gaf · to gomes þat it neded Edmonde and Edwarde · eyther were kynges And seyntes ysette · tyl charite hem folwed I haue seyne charite also · syngen and reden Ryden and rennen · in ragged wedes Ac biddyng as beggeres · bihelde I hym neuere AcL.15.241: This form of the line initial <A> is uncharacteristic for this scribe. in riche robes rathest he walketh Ycalled and ycrimiled · and his crowne shaue And in a freres frokke · he was yfounde ones Ac it is ferre agoo · in seynt Fraunceys tyme In þat secte sitthe · to selde hath he be knowen Riche men he recomendeth · and of her robes taketh Þat with-outen wyles · leden her lyues Beatus est diues · qui &c In kynges courte he cometh ofte · þere þe conseille is trewe Ac if coueityse be of þe conseille · he wil nouȝt come þer-Inne In courte amonge iaperes · he cometh but selde For braulyng and bakbytyng · and beryng of fals witnesse In þe constorie bifor þe comissarie · he cometh nouȝt ful ofte For her lawe dureth ouer-longe · but if þei lacchen syluer And matrimoigne for monye · maken & vnmaken And þat conscience and cryst · hath yknitte faste Þei vndon it vnworthily · þo doctours of lawe Ac I ne lakke no lyf · but lorde amende vs alle And gyue vs grace good god · charite to folwe For who-so myȝte mete with hym · such maneres hym eyleth Noyther he blameth ne banneth · bosteth ne prayseth Lakketh ne loseth · ne loketh vp sterne Craueth ne coueiteth · ne crieth after more In pace in idipsum dormiam &c · Þe moste lyflode þat he lyueth by · is loue in goddis passioun Noyther he biddeth ne beggeth · ne borweth to ȝelde Misdoth he no man · ne with his mouth greueth nota bene Amonges cristene men · þis myldnesse shulde lasteL.15.268: A later scribe has written nota bene in the right margin. In alle manere angres · haue þis at herte Þat þough þei suffred al þis · god suffred for vs more In ensample we shulde do so · and take no veniaunce Of owre foes þat doth vs falsenesse · þat is owre fadres wille For wel may euery man wite if god hadde wolde hym-selue Sholde neuere Iudas ne iuwe · haue Ihesu don on Rode Ne han martired peter ne Poule · ne in prisoun holden Ac he suffred in ensample · þat we shulde suffre also And seide to suche þat suffre wolde · þat pacientes vincunt Verbi gratia quod he and verrey ensamples manye In legenda sanctorum · þe lyf of holy seyntes What penaunce and pouerte · and passioun þei suffredL.15.280: A partially erased <+> may appear in the right margin. In hunger in hete · in al manere angres Antony and Egidie · and other holi fadres Woneden in wildernesse · amonge wilde bestes Monkes and mendynauntz · men bi hem-selue In spekes an in spelonkes · selden speken togideres Ac noyther antony ne Egidy · ne hermite þat tyme Of liouns ne of leoperdes · no lyflode ne toke But of foules þat fleeth · þus fynt men in bokes Egidius Excepte þat Egydie · after an hynde cryede And þorw þe mylke · of þat mylde best · þe man was susteyned And day by day had he hir nouȝt · his hunger forto slake But selden and sondrie tymes · as seith þe boke and techeth antonye Antony adayes · aboute none-tyme Had a bridde þat brouȝte hym bred · þat he by lyued And þough þe gome hadde a geste · god fonde hem bothe Paulus primus heremita Poule primus heremita · had parroked hym-selue Þat no man miȝte hym se · for mosse and for leues Foules hym fedde · fele wynteres with-alle Til he founded freres · of austines ordre Poule after his prechyng · panyers he made And wan with his hondes · þat his wombe neded Peter andrew Peter fisched for his fode · and his felawe andrewe Some þei solde and some þei sothe · and so þei lyued bothe mari maudlin And also Marie Magdeleyne · by mores lyued and dewes Ac moste þorw deuocioun · and mynde of god almiȝty I shulde nouȝt þis seuene dayes · seggen hem alle Þat lyueden þus for owre lordes loue · manye longe ȝeres Ac þere ne was lyoun · ne leopart · þat on laundes wenten Noyther bere ne bor · ne other best wilde Þat ne fel to her feet · and fauned with þe tailles And if þei couth han ycarped · by cryst as I trowe Þei wolde haue fedde þat folke · bifor wilde foules Ac god sent hem fode bi foules · and by no fierse bestes In menynge þat meke þinge · mylde þinge shulde fede L.15.315-317: These lines are bracketed in the left margin. As who seith religious · ryȝtful men shulde fynde And lawful men to lyfholy men · lyflode brynge And þanne wolde lordes and ladyes be · loth to agulte And to take of her tenauntz · more þan treuth wolde Fonde þei þat Freres · wolde forsake her almesses And bidden hem bere it · þere it was yborwed For we ben goddes foules · and abiden alwey Tyl briddes brynge vs · þat we shulde lyue by For had ȝe potage and payn ynough · and peny-ale to drynke And a messe þere-mydde · of o manere kynde Ȝe had riȝt ynough · ȝe Religious · and so ȝowre reule me tolde Nunquam dicit Iob rugit onergeron[a]ger cum herbam habuerit · aut mugiet bos cum ante plenum presepe steterit · brutorum animalium natura te condempnat · quia cum eis pabulum comune sufficiat · ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua nota mortmayne If lewed men knewe þis latyn · þei wolde loke whom þei ȝeueL.15.327: The words nota mortmayne appear in the right margin in a sixteenth-century hand. And auyse hem bifore · a fyue dayes or sexe Or þei amortesed to monkes · or chanouns her rentes X Allas lordes and ladyes · lewed conseille haue ȝeL.15.331-333: A large dry point <X> appears in the right margin. To ȝyue fram ȝowre eyres · þat ȝowre ayeles ȝow lefte And ȝiueth to bidde for ȝow · to such þat ben riche And ben founded and feffed eke · to bidde for other Who perfourneth þis prophecye · of þe peple þat now lybbeth Dispersit dedit pauperibus &c If any peple perfourme þat texte · it ar þis pore freres For þat þei beggen abouten · in buildynge þei speneL.15.337: LMY read spene; Other B manuscripts favor some variation of spende it or it spende. And on hem-self sum · and such as ben her laboreres And of hem þat habbeth þei taken · and ȝyue hem þat ne habbeth Ac clerkes & knyȝtes · and comuneres þat ben riche Fele of ȝow fareth · as if I a forest hadde Þat were ful of faire trees · and I fonded and caste How I myȝte mo þer-inne · amonges hem sette Riȝt so ȝe riche · ȝe robeth þat ben riche And helpeth hem þat helpeth ȝow · and ȝiueth þere no nede is As who-so filled a tonne · of a fressh ryuer And went forth with þat water · to woke with themese Riȝt so ȝe riche · ȝe robeth and fedeth Hem þat han as ȝe han · hem ȝe make at ese Ac Religious þat riche ben · shulde rather feste beggeres Þan burgeys þat riche ben · as þe boke techeth nota Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauperibus dareL.15.352-356: To the right of this long Latin quotation is a bracket and nota in a sixteenth-century hand. Item peccatoribus dare · est demonibus immolare Item monache si indiges et accipis pocius das quam accipis Si autem non eges & accipis  rapis Porro non indiget Monachus · si habeat quod nature sufficit For-þi I conseille alle cristene · to confourmen hem to charite For charite with-oute chalengynge · vnchargeth þe soule And many a prisone fram purgatorie · þorw his preyeres he delyureth Ac þere is a defaute in þe folke · þat þe faith kepeth Wherfore folke is þe feblere · and nouȝt ferme of bilieue As in lussheborwes is a lyther alay · and ȝet loketh he lyke a sterlynge Þe merke of þat mone is good · ac þe metal is fieble And so it fareth by some folke now · þei han a faire speche Croune and crystendome · þe kynges merke of heuene Ac þe metal þat is mannes soule · with synne is foule alayed Bothe lettred and lewede · beth allayed now with synne That no lyf loueth other · ne owre lorde as it semeth For þorw werre and wykked werkes · and wederes vnresonable Wederwise shipmen · and witti clerkes also Han no bilieue to þe lifte · ne to þe lore of philosofres Astrymyanes alday · in her arte faillen Þat whilum warned bifore · what shulde falle after Shipmen and sheperdes · þat with shipp & shepe wenten Wisten by þe walkene · what shulde bityde As of wederes and wyndes · þei warned men ofte Tilieres þat tiled þe erthe · tolden her maistres By þe sede þat þei sewe · what þei selle miȝte And what to leue and to lyue by · þe londe was so trewe Now failleth þe folke of þe flode · and of þe londe bothe Sheperdes and shipmen · and so do þis tilieres Noither þei kunneth ne knoweth · one cours bi-for an other Astrymyanes also  aren at her wittes ende Of þat was calculed of þe element · þe contrarie þei fynde Gramer þe grounde of al · bigyleth now children For is none of þis newe clerkes · who-so nymeth hede Þat can versifye faire · ne formalich enditen Ne nouȝt on amonge an hundreth · þat an auctour can construe Ne rede a lettre in any langage · but in latyn or in englissh Go now to any degre · and but if gyle be mayster And flaterere his felawe · vnder hym to fourmen Moche wonder me thynketh · amonges vs alle Doctoures of decres · and of diuinite Maistres Þat shulde konne and knowe · alkynnes clergye And answere to argumentz · and also to a quodlibet I dar nouȝt seggen it for shame · if suche weren apposed Þei shulde faillen in her philosofye · and in phisyk bothe Wher-fore I am afered · of folke of holikirke Lest þei ouerhuppen as other don · in offices & in houres Ac if þei ouerhuppe as I hope nouȝte · owre byleue suffiseth As clerkes in corpus cristi feste · singen & reden Þat sola fides sufficit · to saue with lewed peple And so may sarasenes be saued · scribes and iewes Allas þanne but owre loresmen · lyuen as þei leren vs And for her lyuynge þat lewed men be · þe lother god agulten For sarasenes han somwhat · semynge to owre bileue For þei loue and bileue · in o parsone almiȝty L.15.403-410: This line group has been bracketed in the left margin with the words the begyning of Mahomet & the cause. And we lered and lewede · in on god bileueth the begyning of Mahomet & the cause AcL.15.409: LBR alone read Ac; most other B manuscripts have And. one Makometh · a man in mysbileue Brouȝte sarasenes of surre · and se in what manere Þis Makometh was a crystene manL.15.411: LRF have man, but it is omitted by all other beta manuscripts. A small horizontal mark appears in the left margin and may represent a second corrector's mark; however, such ticks appear with some frequency in this manuscript and otherwise appear to lack significance. For a complete list, see Horizontal Marginal Bars. · and for he moste nouȝte be a pope In-to surre he souȝte · and þorw his sotil wittes Daunted a dowue · and day and nyȝte hir fedde Þe corne þat she cropped · he caste it in his ere And if he amonge þe poeple preched · or in places come Þanne wolde þe coluer come · to þe clerkes ere Menynge as after meet · þus Makometh hir enchaunted AL.15.418: L alone reads A, "and"; most B witnesses have And. dide folke þanne falle on knees · for he swore in his prechynge Þat þe coluer þat come so · come fram god of heuene As messager to Makometh · men forto teche And þus þorw wyles of his witte and a whyte dowue Makometh in mysbileue · men and wommen brouȝte Þat lered þere and lewed ȝit · lyuenL.15.423: L alone reads lyuen; most other B manuscripts have leeuen. on his lawes And sitth owre saueoure suffred · þe sarasenes so bigiled Þorw a crystene clerke · acursed in his soule AcL.15.426: LR have Ac; most other B manuscripts read And. for drede of þe deth · I dar nouȝt telle treuthe How englissh clerkes a coluer feden · þat coueityse hatte And ben manered after Makometh · þat no man vseth treuth Ancres and hermytes · and monkes and freres Ancres hermites &c · Peren to apostles · þorw her parfit lyuyngeL.15.430: The words Ancres hermites &c ·, are written in a sixteenth-century hand in the right margin. Wolde neuere þe faithful fader · þat his ministres sholde Of tyrauntz þat teneth trewe men · taken any almesse But done as Antony did · dominik and Fraunceys Benet & Bernarde · þe which hem firste tauȝte To lyue bi litel & in lowe houses · by lele mennes almesse Grace sholde growe & be grene · þorw her good lyuynge And folkes sholde fynde · þat ben in dyuerse sykenesse Þe better for her byddynges · in body and in soule Her preyeres and her penaunces · to pees shulde brynge Alle þat ben at debate · and bedemen were trewe Petite & accipietis &c Salt saueth catel  seggen þis wyues Vos estis sal terre &c · Þe heuedes of holicherche · and þei holy were Cryst calleth hem salt · for crystene soules Et si sal euanuerit · in quo salietur Ac fressh flessh other fissh · whan it salt failleth It is vnsauory for soth · ysothe or ybake So is mannes soule sothly · þat seeth no good ensaumple Of hem of holycherche · þat þe heigh weye shulde teche And be gyde and go bifore · as a good baneoure And hardy hem þat bihynde ben · and ȝiue hem good euydence Elleuene holy men · al þe worlde torned In-to lele byleue · þe liȝtloker me thynketh Shulde al maner men · we han so manye Maistres Prestes and prechoures · and a pope aboue Þat goddes salt shulde be · to saue mannes soule Al was hethenesse some-tyme  Ingelond and wales Til Gregory gerte clerkes · to go here and preche Austyn at Caunterbury · crystened þe kynge And þorw myracles as men may rede · al þat marche he torned To cryst and to crystendome · and crosse to honoure And fulled folke faste · and þe faith tauȝte More þorw miracles · þan þorw moche prechynge As wel þorw his werkes · as with his holy wordes And seyde hem what fullynge · and faith was to mene Cloth þat cometh fro þe weuyng · is nouȝt comly to were Tyl it isL.15.468: LMR read is; the other B manuscripts have be. fulled vnder fote · or in fullyng stokkes Wasshen wel with water · and with taseles cracched Ytouked and ytented & vnder tailloures hande And so it fareth by a barne · þat borne is of wombe Til it be crystened in crystes name · and confermed of þe bisshop It is hethene as to heueneward · and helpelees to þe soule Hethene is to mene after heth · and vntiled erthe As in wilde wildernesse · wexeth wilde bestes Rude and vnresonable · rennenge with-out creperes Ȝe nymmenL.15.477: L alone reads nymmen; most other B manuscripts have menen or mynnen. wel how matheu seith · how a man made a feste He fedde hem with no venysoun · ne fesauntes ybake But with foules þat fram hym nolde · but folwed his whistellynge Ecce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt &c And wyth calues flesshe he fedde · þe folke þat he loued Þe calfe bytokeneth clennesse · in hem þat kepeth lawes For as þe cow þorw kynde mylke · þe calf norissheth til an oxe So loue & and[&] lewte · lele men susteyneth And maydenes and mylde men mercy desiren Riȝt as þe cow calf · coueyteth swete mylke So don riȝtful men · mercy & treuthe Ac who beth þat excuseth hem · þat aren persounes and prestes Þat heuedes of holycherche ben · þat han her wille here With-oute trauaille þe tithe del · þat trewementrewe men biswynkyn Þei wil be wroth for I write þus · ac to witnesse I take Bothe Mathew and Marke · and Memento domine dauid What Pope or prelate now · perfourneth þat cryst hiȝte Ite in vniuersum mundum & predicate & c · Allas þat men so longe · on Makometh shulde byleue So many prelates to preche · as þe Pope maketh Of Nazareth of Nynyue · of Neptalim and damaske Þat þei ne went as cryst wisseth · sithen þei wil aL.15.498: LR alone read a; most other B manuscripts have haue. name To be pastours and preche · þe passioun of Ihesus And as hym-self seyde · so to lyue and deye Bonus pastor animam suam ponit & c And seyde it in sauacioun · of sarasenes & other For crystene & vncristene · cryst seide to prechoures Ite vos in vineam meam · And sith þat þis sarasenes · scribes & Iuwes Han a lippe of owre byleue · þe liȝtloker me thynketh Þei shulde torne who-so trauaille wolde · to teche hem of þe Trinite Querite & inuenietis &c It is reuth to rede · how riȝtwis men lyued How þei defouled her flessh · forsoke her owne wille Fer fro kitth and fro kynne · yuel yclothed ȝeden Badly ybedded · no boke · but conscience Ne no richchesse but þe Rode · to reioyse hem Inne Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri &c · And þo was plente & pees · amonges pore & riche And now is routhe to rede · how þe red noble Is reuerenced or þe Rode · receyued for þe worthier Þan crystes crosse þat ouer-cam · deþ and dedly synne L.15.519: A bracket extends from this line to the bottom of the page in the right margin. There are two marginal glosses beside the bracket, one beside the second line group bracketed, written by the later, more spindly secretary hand we have called hand16a. The second gloss, which may have been written first, is in the thicker secretary script. And now is werre and wo · and who-so why axeth For coueityse after crosse · þe croune stant in golde Bothe riche and religious · þat Rode þei honoure Þat in grotes is ygraue · and in golde nobles For coueityse of þat crosse · men of holykirke Shul tourne as templeres did · þe tyme approcheth faste Wyte ȝe nouȝt wyse men · how þo men honoured the fall of the church throwgh covitusnes More tresore þan treuthe · I dar nouȝt telle þe sotheL.15.526: The words the fall of the church throwgh covitusnes appear in the right margin in a sixteenth-century hand. Resoun & riȝtful dome · þo Religious demed Riȝt so ȝe clerkes · for ȝowre coueityse ar longe id est resoun &c · Shal þei demen dos ecclesie · and ȝowre pryde depose Deposuit potentes de sede &c · Ȝif knyȝthod & kynde wytte · and comune conscience Bishops possessioun Togideres loue lelly · leueth it wel ȝe bisshopesL.15.532: Bishops possessioun appears in the right margin in a sixteenth-century hand. Þe lordeship of londes · for euere shal ȝe lese And lyuen as leuitici as owre lorde ȝow techeth Per primicias & decimas nota Whan costantyn of curteysye · holykirke dowed With londes and ledes · lordeshipes and rentes An Angel men herde · an heigh at Rome crye Dos ecclesie þis day · hath ydronke venym And þo þat han petres powere · arn apoysoned alle L.15.541: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it. ¶ A medecyne mote þer-to · þat may amende prelates L.15.542: A bracket in the left margin extends from this line to the bottom of this line group with the gloss a medycyne to emend prelates &c /. The bracket may be intended as an extension of the one on the previous page. Þat sholden preye for þe pees · possessioun hem letteth a medycyne to emend prelates &c / Take her landes ȝe lordes · and let hem lyue by dymes If possessioun be poysoun · & inparfit hem make Good were to dischargen hem · for holicherche sake And purgen hem of poysoun · or more perile falle + Ȝif presthod were parfit · þe peple soldes[h]olde amende Þat contrarien crystes lawe · and crystendome dispise For al paynymL.15.549: L alone reads paynym; all other B manuscripts have the plural paynymes. prayeth · and parfitly bileueth In þe holy grete god · and his grace þei asken And make her mone to makometh · her message to shewe Þus in a faith lyuethL.15.552: LCrRF alone have some form of lyue; all other B manuscripts have some form of leue. þat folke · and in a false mene And þat is routhe · for riȝtful men · þat in þe Rewme wonyen And a peril to þe pope · and prelatis þat he maketh Þat bere bisshopes names · of Bedleem & babiloigne Þat hippe aboute in Engelonde · to halwe mennes auteres And crepe amonges curatoures · confessen ageyne þe lawe Nolite mittere falcem in messem alienam &c Many man for crystes loue · was martired in RomanyeL.15.559: L alone has the spelling Romanye; most B witnesses read Romayne. Er ar any crystendome was knowe þere · or any crosse honoured Euery bisshop þat bereth crosse · by þat he is holden Thorw his prouynce to passe · and to his peple to shewe hym Tellen hem and techen hem · on þe Trinite to bileue And feden hem with gostly fode · and gyue þere it nedeth In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum et ideo nolite constituere me regem · ysaie 3L.15.565: LRF alone cite the source. Ozias seith for such · þat syke ben and fieble Inferte omnes decimas in oreum meum vt cibus in domo mea Ac we crystene creatures · þat on þe crosse byleuen Aren ferme as in þe faith · goddes forbode elles And han clerkes to kepen vs þer-Inne · and hem þat shal come after vs And iewes lyuen in lele lawe · owre lorde wrote it hym-selue In stone for it stydfast was · and stonde sholde eure Dilige deum & proximum · is parfit iewen lawe And toke it moyses to teche men · til Messye come And on þat lawe þei lyuen ȝit · and leten it þe beste And ȝit knewe þei cryst · þat crystendome tauȝte For a parfit prophete · þat moche peple saued Of selcouth sores · þei seyne it ofte Bothe of myracles & meruailles · and how he men fested + With two fisshes anL.15.580: A corrector's <+> in the left margin notes the scribe's an for and. fyve loues · fyue thousande peple And bi þat maungerye men miȝte wel se · þat Messye he semed And whan he luft vp lazar · þat layde was in graue And vnder stone ded & stanke · with styf voys hym called Lazare veni foras · Dede hym rise and rowme riȝt bifor þe iuwes Ac þei seiden and sworen · with sorcerye he wrouȝte And studyeden to stroyen hym · and stroyden hem-self And þorw his pacyence her powere · to pure nouȝt he brouȝte Pacientes vincunt Danyel of her vndoynge · deuyned and seyde Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat · cessabit vnxio vestra And ȝet wenen þo wrecches · þat he were pseudo-propheta And þat his lore be lesynges · and lakken it alle And hopen þat he be to come · þat shal hem releue Moyses eft or Messye · here maisteres ȝet deuyneth Ac pharesewes and sarasenes · Scribes & Grekis Aren folke of on faith · þe fader god þei honouren And sitthen þat þe sarasenes · and also þe iewes Konne þe firste clause of owre bileue · credo in deum patrem omnipotentem Prelates of crystene prouynces · shulde preue if þei myȝte Lere hem litlum & lytlum & in ihesum cristum filium Tyl þei couthe speke and spelle · et in spiritum sanctum And rendrenL.15.603: L alone has rendren; other B manuscripts have rede(n). it & recorden it · with remissionem peccatorum Carnis resurreccionem · et vitam eternam amen · passus xvjus & primus de dobetPassus xvjusSextus Decimus & primus de dobet n NowL.16.1: The ornamental capital <N> is six lines high in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide-letter <n> appears in the left margin. faire falle ȝow quod I þo · for ȝowre faire shewynge For haukynnes loue þe actyf man euere I shal ȝow louye Ac ȝet I am in a were · what charite is to mene It is a ful trye tree quod he · trewly to telle · Mercy is þe more þer-of · þe myddel stokke is reuthe charitas Þe leues ben lele wordes · þe lawe of holychercheL.16.6: A later scribe has written charitas in the right margin. Þe blosmes beth boxome speche · and benygne lokynge Pacience hatte þe pure tre · and poreL.16.8: LRF read pore against the majority of B manuscripts that have pure. symple of herte And so þorw god and þorwL.16.9: LMW have this þorw; most B witnesses omit it. good men · groweth þe frute charite I wolde trauaille quod I þis tree to se · twenty hundreth myle id est edulium And forto haue my fylle of þat frute · forsake al other soauleeL.16.11: The <a> is converted from <o> and the final <e> added. Cot and R both have soule here, L's original reading. Lorde quod I if any wiȝte wyte · whider oute it groweth It groweth in gardyneL.16.13: L alone omits a before gardyne. quod he · þat god made hym-seluen Amyddes mannes body · þe more is of þat stokke Herte hatte þe erber · þat it in groweth And liberum arbitrium · hath þe londe to ferme Vnder Piers þe plowman · to pyken it · and to weden it Piers þe plowman quod I þo · and al for pure ioye Þat I herde nempne his name · anone I swouned after And laye longe in a loue-dreme · and atte laste me þouȝte Þat Pieres þe plowman · al þe place me shewed And bad me toten on þe tree · on toppe and on rote With þre pyles was it vnder-piȝte · I perceyued it sone Pieres quod I · I preye þe · whi stonde þise piles here For wyndes wiltow wyte quod he · to witen it fram fallyng Cum ceciderit iustus non collidetur · quia dominus supponit manum suamL.16.26-27: These two lines are bracketed in the left margin. And in blowyng tyme abite þe floures · but if þis piles helpe Þe worlde is a wykked wynde · to hem þat woldenL.16.28: L alone reads wolden; most other B manuscripts have willen. treuthe Coueityse cometh of þat wynde · and crepeth amonge þe leues And forfret neigh þe frute · þorw many faire siȝtes Þanne with þe firste pyle · I palle hym down · þat is potencia dei patris Þe flesshe is a fel wynde · and in flourynge tyme Þorw lykyng and lustes · so loude he gynneth blowe Þat it norissheth nice siȝtes · and some-tyme wordes And wikked werkes þer-of · wormes of synne And forbiteth þe blosmes · riȝt to þe bare leues Þanne sette I to þe secounde pile · sapiencia dei patris Þat is þe passioun and þe power · of owre prynce Ihesu Þorw preyeres and þorw penaunces · and goddes passioun in mynde I saue it til I se it rypen · & somdel yfruited And þanne fondeth þe fende · my fruit to destruye With alle þe wyles þat he can · and waggeth þe rote And casteth vp to þe croppe · vnkynde neighbores L.16.44-46: These three lines are written in the space for two by the original scribe over an erasure; nothing shows under ultraviolet light. ...?...?...Bakbiteres breke-cheste · brawleres and chideres ...?...?...And leith a laddre þere-to · of lesynges aren þe ronges ...?...?...And feccheth away my floures sumtyme · afor bothe myn eyhen Ac liberum arbitrium · letteth hym some-tyme Þat is lieutenant to loken it wel · by leue of my-selue Videatis qui peccat in spiritum sanctum numquam remittetur &c Hoc est idem qui peccat per liberum arbitrium non repugnat · Ac whan þe fende and þe flesshe · forth with þe worlde Manasen byhynde me · my fruit for to fecche Þanne liberum arbitrium laccheth þe thriddeL.16.53: LRF (and most C manuscripts) read thridde; all other B witnesses have firste instead. plante And palleth adown þe pouke · purelich þorw grace And helpe of þe holy goste · and þus haue I þe maystrie Now faire falle ȝow Pieres quod I · so faire ȝe discryuen Þe powere of þis postes · and her propre myȝte Ac I haue þouȝtes a threve · of þis þre piles In what wode þei woxen · and where þat þei growed For alle ar þei aliche longe · none lasse þan other And to my mynde as me þinketh · on o More þei growed And of o gretnesse · and grene of greyne þei semen Þat is soth seideL.16.63: LRF alone read seide; other B manuscripts have quod. Pieres so it may bifalle I shal telle þe as tite · what þis tree hatte Þe grounde þere it groweth · goodnesse it hiȝte And I haue tolde þe what hiȝte þe tree · þe trinite it meneth And egrelich he loked on me · & þer-fore I spared To asken hym any more ther-of · and badde hym ful fayre To discreue þe fruit  þat so faire hangeth Here now bineth quod he þo · if I nede hadde Matrymonye I may nyme · a moiste fruit with-alle Þanne contenence is nerreL.16.72: L alone has the comparative form here. All other manuscripts have neer. þe croppe · as calwey bastarde Þanne bereth þe croppe kynde fruite · and clenneste of alle Maydenhode angeles peres · and rathest wole be ripe And swete with-oute swellyng · soure worth it neuere I prayed pieres to pulle adown · an apple and he wolde And suffre me to assaye · what sauoure it hadde And pieres caste to þe croppe · and þanne comsed it to crye And wagged wydwehode · and it wepte after And whan it meued Matrimoigne · it made a foule noyse Þat I had reuth whan Piers rogged · it gradde so reufulliche For euere as þei dropped adown · þe deuel was redy And gadred hem alle togideres · bothe grete and smale Adam & abraham · and ysay þe prophete Sampson and samuel · and seynt Iohan þe baptiste Bar hem forth boldely · no-body hym letted And made of holy men his horde · in lymbo inferni There is derkenesse and drede · and þe deuel Maister And Pieres for pure tene · þat o pile he lauȝte And hitte after hym · happe how .itL.16.90: One character has been erased before it, possibly an <l> or <b>. myȝte Filius bi þe fader wille · and frenesse of spiritus sancti To go robbe þat raggeman · and reue þe fruit fro hym And þanne spakke spiritus sanctus · in Gabrieles mouthe To a mayde þat hiȝte Marye · a meke þinge with-alle Þat one Ihesus a iustice sone · moste iouke in her chambre Tyl plenitudo temporis · fully comen were Þat Pieres fruit floured · and fel to be ripe And þanne shulde Ihesus iuste þere-fore · bi iuggement of armes Whether shulde fonde þe fruit · þe fende or hym-selue Þe mayde myldeliche þo · þe messager graunted And seyde hendelich to hym · lo me his hande-mayden For to worchen his wille · with-outen any synne Ecce ancilla domini fiat michi &c And in þe wombe of þat wenche · was he fourty wokes Tyl he wex a faunt þorw her flessh · and of fiȝtyng couthe To haue yfouȝte with þe fende · ar ful tyme come And Pieres þe plowman · parceyued plenere tyme And lered hym lechecrafte · his lyf for to saue Þat þowgh he were wounded · with his enemye L.16.109: The punctus elevatus is perhaps added after the initial writing. to warisshe hym-self And did hym assaye his surgerye · on hem þat syke were Til he was parfit practisoure · ofL.16.111: L alone reads of; all other B manuscripts have if. any peril fulle And souȝte oute þe syke · and synful bothe And salued syke and synful · bothe blynde & crokede And comune wommen conuerted · and to good torned Non est sanis opus medicus set in &c Bothe meseles & mute · and in þe menysoun blody Ofte he heled suche · he ne helde for no maistrye Saue þo he leched laza.r þat hadde yleye in graue Quatriduanus quelt · quykke did hym walke Ac as he made þe maistrye · mestus cepit esse And wepte water with his eyghen · þere seyen it manye Some þat þe siȝte seyne · saide þat tyme Þat he was leche of lyf · and lorde of heigh heuene Iewes iangeled þere-aȝeyne · and iugged lawes And seide he wrouȝte þorw wicchecrafte · & with þe deueles miȝte Demonium habes &c Þanne ar ȝe cherles quod ich · and ȝowre children bothe And sathan ȝowre saueoure · ȝow-selue now ȝe witnessen For I haue saued ȝow-self seith cryst · and ȝowre sones after Ȝowre bodyes ȝowre bestes · and blynde men holpen And fedde ȝow with fisshes · and with fyue loues And left baskettes ful of broke mete · bere awey who-so wolde And mysseide þe iewes manliche and manaced hem to bete And knokked on hem with a corde · and caste adown her stalles Þat in cherche chaffareden · or chaungeden any moneye And seyde it in siȝte of hem alle · so þat alle herden I shal ouertourne þis temple · and adown throwe And in thre dayes after · edifye it newe And make it as moche other more · in alle manere poyntes As euere it was and as wyde · wher-fore I hote ȝow Of preyeres and of parfitnesse · þis place þat ȝe callen Domus mea domus oracionis vocabitur Enuye and yuel wille · was in þe iewes Thei casten & contreueden · to kulle hym whan þei miȝte Vche daye after other · þeire tyme þei awaited Til it bifel on a fryday · alitela litel bifor Paske Þe þorsday byfore þere he made his maundee Sittyng atte sopere · he seide þise wordes I am solde þorw one of ȝow · he shal þe tyme rewe Þat euere he his saueoure solde · for syluer or elles Iudas iangeled þere-aȝein · ac Ihesus hym tolde It was hymhym[self]L.16.152: L alone omits alliterating self after hym, but it is added above the line in M. sothely · and seide tu dicis Þanne went forth þat wikked man · and with þe iewes mette And tolde hem a tokne how to knowe with ihesus And which tokne to þis day · to moche is yvsed Þat is kissyng and faire contenaunce · & vnkynde wille And so was with iudas þo · þat Ihesus bytrayed Aue raby quod þat ribaude · and riȝt to hym he ȝede And kiste hym to be cauȝt þere-by · and kulled of þe iewes Þanne Ihesus to Iudas · and to þe iewes seyde Falsenesse I fynde · in þi faire speche And gyle in þi gladde chere · and galle is in þi lawghyng Þow shalt be myroure to manye men to deceyue Ac þe wors and þi wikkednesse · shal worth vpon þi-selue Necesse est vt veniant scandala · ve homini illi per quem scandalum venit Þow I bi tresoun be ytake · at ȝowre owne wille Suffreth my postlesL.16.167: LR alone read postles; other B manuscripts have Apostles. in pays · & in pees gange On a thoresday in thesternesse · þus was he taken Þorw iudas and iewes · ihesus was his name Þat on þe fryday folwynge · for mankynde sake Iusted in ierusalem · a ioye to vs alle On crosse vpon caluarye · cryst toke þe bataille Aȝeines deth and þe deuel · destruyed her botheres myȝtes Deyde and deth fordid · and daye of nyȝte made And I awaked þere-with · & wyped myne eyghen And after piers þe plowman · pryed and stared Estwarde and westwarde · I awaytedL.16.177: L alone reads awayted; all other B manuscripts have waited. after faste And ȝede forth as an ydiote · in contre to aspye After Pieres þe plowman · many a place I souȝte And þanne mette I with a man · a mydlenten sondaye As hore as an hawethorne · and Abraham he hiȝte I frayned hym first · fram whennes he come And of whennes he were · and whider þat he þouȝte I am feith quod þat freke · it falleth nouȝte to lye And of Abrahames hous · an heraud of armes I seke after a segge · þat I seigh ones A ful bolde bacheler · I knewe hym by his blasen What bereth þat buirn quod I þo · so blisse þe bityde Þre leodesL.16.189: Someone writing in a much lighter ink erroneously subpuncted the first <e> and perhaps <o> and inserted what may have been intended to be an <r>, making lordes. in o lith · non lenger þan other Of one mochel & myȝte · in mesure and in lengthe Þat one dot.h alle doth · & eche doth by his one Þe firste hath miȝte and maiestee · maker of alle þinges Pater is his propre name · a persone by hym-selue Þe secounde of þat sire is · sothfastnesse filius Wardeyne of þat witte hath · was euere with-oute gynnyng Þe þridde hatte þe holygoost · a persone by hym-selue Þe liȝte of alle þat lyf hath · a londe & a watre Confortoure of creatures · of hym cometh al blisse So þre bilongeth for a lorde · þat lordeship claymeth Myȝte and a mene · to knowe his owne myȝte Of hym & of his seruaunt · and what þei suffre bothe So god þat gynnyng hadde neure · but þo hym good þouȝte Sent forth his sone as for seruaunt þat tyme To occupien hym here · til issue were spronge Þat is children of charite · & holicherche þe moder Patriarkes & prophetes · and aposteles were þe chyldren And cryst and crystenedome · and crystene holycherche In menynge þat man moste · on o god bileue And þere hym lyked & loued · in þre persones hym shewed And þat it may be so & soth · manhode it sheweth Wedloke and widwehode · with virgynyte ynempned In toknynge of þe Trinite · was taken oute of o man Adam owre aller fader · Eue was of hym-selue And þe issue þat þei hadde · it was of hem bothe And either is otheres ioye · in thre sondry persones And in heuene & here · one syngulere name + And þisL.16.217: L alone reads þis; most other B manuscripts (and all other beta manuscripts) have þus, which may explain the corrector's <+> in the left margin. is mankynde or manhede · of matrimoigne yspronge And bitokneth þe Trinite · and trewe bileue Miȝte is matrimoigne · þat multiplieth þe erthe And bitokneth trewly · telle if I dorste He þat firste fourmed al · þe fader of heuene Þe sone if I itL.16.222: LWR alone read it; other B manuscripts omit it. durst seye · resembleth wel þe wydwe Deus meus deus meus vt quid dereliquisti me Þat is creatour wex creature · to knowe what was bothe X As widwe with-oute wedloke · was neure ȝete yseye Na-more myȝte god be man · but if he moder hadde So wydwe with-oute wedloke · may nouȝte wel stande Ne matrimoigne withoute moillerye · is nouȝt moche to preyse Maledictus homo qui non reliquit semen in israel &c Þus in þre persones · is perfitliche manhede Þat is man & his make · & moillere herL.16.231: LRF alone read her; other B manuscripts omit it. children And is nouȝt but gendre of o generacioun · bifor Ihesu cryst in heuene So is þe fader forth with þe sone · and fre wille of bothe Spiritus procedens a patre & filio Which is þe holygoste of alle · and alle is but o god Þus in a somer I hym seigh · as I satte in my porche I ros vp and reuerenced hym · & riȝt faire hym grette Thre men to my syȝte · I made wel at ese Wesche her feet & wyped hem · and afterward þei eten Calues flesshe & cakebrede · and knewe what I thouȝte Ful trewe tokenes bitwene vs is · to telle whan me lyketh Firste he fonded me · if I loued bettere Hym or ysaak myn ayre · þe which he hiȝte me kulle He wiste my wille by hym · he wil me it allowe I am ful syker in soule þer-of · and my sone bothe I circumcised my sone · sitthen for his sake My-self and my meyne · and alle þat male were Bledden blode for þat lordes loue · and hope to blisse þe tymeL.16.248: The left margin has been scraped, but it is not possible to tell what, if anything, has been erased. Myn affiaunce & my faith · is ferme in þis bilieue For hym-self bihiȝte to me · and to myne issue bothe Londe and lordship · and lyf with-outen ende To me and to myn issue · more ȝete he me graunted . Mercy for owre mysdedes · as many tyme as we asken Quam olim abrahe promisisti & semini eius And sith he sent me to seye · I sholde do sacrifise And done hym worshipe with bred · and with wyn bothe And called me þe fote of his faith · his folke forto saue And defende hem fro þe fende · folke þat on me lenedenL.16.258: We have resolved the word as leneden, but neither paleography nor context provides secure evidence that would exclude leueden. Þus haue I ben his heraude · here and in helle And conforted many a careful · þat after his comynge wayten + And þus I seke hym he seide · for I seyne[herde] seyneL.16.261: The corrector's marginal <+> notes L's omission of herde before seyne. late Of a barne þat baptised hym · Iohan Baptiste was his name Þat to patriarkes and to prophetes · and to other peple in derknesse Seyde þat he seigh here · þat sholde saue vs alle Ecce agnus dei &c · I hadde wonder of his wordes · and of his wyde clothes For in his bosome he bar a thyng · þat he blissed euere And I loked on his lappe · a lazar lay þere-Inne Amonges patriarkes and profetes · pleyandeL.16.269: L alone has the -ande form of the participle here, though F reads pleyende; most B witnesses have pleyinge. R's pleyede quite possibly reflects a lost tilde rather than a preterite form. togyderes What awaytestow quod he · and what woldestow haue I wolde wyte quod I þo what is in ȝowre lappe Loo quod he and lete me se · lorde mercy I seide Þis is presentL.16.273: L alone omits a before present. of moche prys · what Prynce shal it haue It is a preciouse present quod he · ac þe pouke it hath attached And me þere-myde quod þat man · may no wedde vs quite Ne no buyrn be owre borwgh · ne bryng vs fram his daungere Oute of þe poukes pondfolde · no meynprise may vs fecche Tyl he come þat I carpe of · cryst is his name Þat shal delyure vs some daye · out of þe deueles powere And bettere wedde for vs legge · þan we ben alle worthy Þat is lyf for lyf · or ligge þus euere Lollynge in my lappe · tyl such a lorde vs fecche Allas I seyde þat synne · so longe shal lette Þe myȝte of goddes mercy · þat myȝt vs alle amende I wepte for his wordes · with þat sawe I an other Rapelich renne forth · þe riȝte waye ..he went I affrayned hym fyrste · fram whennes he come And what he hiȝte & whider he wolde · and wightlich he tolde passus xvijus & secundus de dobetPassus xvijusseptimus decimus I IL.17.1: The ornamental capital of seven lines is in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide letter <I> appears in the left margin. am spes quod he a spye · and spire after a knyȝte That toke me a maundement vpon þe mounte of synay To reule alle rewmes with · I bere þe writte here Is it asseled I seyde · may men se þi lettres Nay he sayde I seke hym · þat hath þe sele to kepe And þat is crosse and crystenedome · and cryst þere-on to hange And whan it is asseled so · I wote wel þe sothe Þat Lucyferes lordeship · laste shal no lenger Late se þi lettres quod I · we miȝte þe lawe knowe Þanne plokked he forth a patent · a p..ece of an harde roche Wher-on wasL.17.11: LRF alone read was; most other B manuscripts have were. writen two wordes · on þis wyse yglosed Dilige deum & proximum tuum &c Þis was þe tixte trewly · I toke ful gode ȝeme Þe glose was gloriousely writen · with a gilte penne In hijs duobus mandatis tota lex pendet & prophetiaL.17.15: L's prophetia for prophete is an error shared by HmWR. IsL.17.16: LRF alone read Is; all other B manuscripts have Ben. here alle þi lordes lawes quod I · ȝe leue me wel he seyde And who-so worcheth after þis writte · I wil vndertaken Shal neuere deuel hym dere · ne deth in soule greue For þough I seye it my-self · I haue saued with þis charme Of men & of wommen · many score þousandes He seith soth seyde þis heraud · I haue yfounde it ofte Lo here in my lappe · þat leued on þat charme Iosue and Iudith · and Iudas Macabeus Ȝe and sexty þousande bisyde-forth · þat ben nouȝt seyen here Ȝowre wordes aren wonderful quod I tho · which of ȝow is trewest And lelest to leue on · for lyf and for soule Abraham seith þat he seigh · holy þe Trinite Thre persones in parcelles · departable fro other And alle þre but o god · þus abraham me tauȝte And hath saued þat bileued so · and sory for her synnes He can nouȝte segge þe somme · and some aren in his lappe What neded it þanne · a newe lawe to bigynne Sith þe fyrst sufficeth · to sauacioun & to blisse And now cometh spes and speketh · þat hath aspied þe lawe And telleth nouȝte of þe Trinitee · þat toke hym his lettres To byleue and louye · in o lorde almyȝty And sitthe riȝt as my-self · so louye alle peple Þe gome þat goth with o staf · he semeth in gretter hele Þan he þat goth with two staues · to syȝte of vs alle And riȝte so by þe Rode · resoun me sheweth It is lyȝter to lewed men · a lessoun to knowe Þan for to techen hem two · and to harde to lerne þe leest It is ful harde for any man · on abraham byleue And welawey worse ȝit · for to loue a shrewe It is liȝtor to leue · in þre louely persones Þan for to louye and lene · as wel lorelles as lele Go þi gate quod I to spes · so me god helpe Þo þat lerneth þi lawe · wil litel while vsen it And as we went þus in þe weye And as we wenten þus in þe weye · wordyng togyderes Þanne seye we a samaritan · sittendeL.17.50: LRF have the -ende form of the present participle; most B manuscripts have sittynge. on a mule Rydynge ful rapely · þe riȝt weye we ȝeden Comynge fro a cuntre · þat men called Ierico To a iustes in iherusalem · he chaced awey faste id est cristus Bothe þe heraud and hope · and he mette at ones Where a man was wounded · and with þeues taken He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde · ne stere fote ne handes Ne helpe hym-self sothely · for semiuyf he semed And as naked as a nedle · and none helpe aboute hym Feith had first siȝte of hym · ac he flegh on syde And nolde nouȝt neighen hym · by nyne londes lengthe Hope cam hippyng after · þat hadde so ybosted How he with Moyses maundement · hadde many men yholpe Ac whan he hadde siȝte of þat segge · a-syde he gan hym drawe Dredfully by þis day as duk · doth fram þe faucoun Ac so sone so þe samaritan · hadde siȝte of þis lede He liȝte adown of lyard · and ladde hym in his hande And to þe wye he went · his woundes to biholde And parceyued bi his pous · he was in peril to deye And but if he hadde recourereL.17.69: recourere (<OF recouvrer), "recover." LR alone read recourere; most B witnesses record recouerer. Cf. L.19.245 for similar alpha and L agreement. · þe rather  þat rise shulde he neure Wyth wyn & with oyle · his woundes he wasshed Enbawmed hym and bonde his hed · & in his lappe hym layde And ladde hym so forth on lyard · to lex cristi a graunge Wel six myle or seuene · biside þe newe market Herberwed hym at an hostrye · and to þe hostellere called And sayde haue kepe þis man · til I come fro þe iustes And lo here syluer he seyde · for salue to his woundes And he toke hym two pans · to lyflode as it were And seide what he speneth more · I make þe good hereafter For I may nouȝt lette quod þat leode · & lyarde he bistrydeth And raped hym to iherusalem-ward · þe riȝte waye to ryde Faith folwethL.17.81: LR alone read folweth; other B manuscripts have folwede. after faste · and fonded to mete hym And spes spaklich hym spedde · spede if he myȝte To ouertake hym and talke to hym · ar þei to toun come And whan I seyȝ þis I soiourned nouȝte · but shope me to renne And suwed þat samaritan · þat was so ful of pite And graunted hym to ben his grome · gramercy he seyde Ac þi frende and þi felawe quod he · þow fyndest me at nede And I thanked hym þo · and sith I hym tolde How þat feith fleigh awey · and spes his felaw bothe For siȝte of þe sorweful man · þat robbed was with þeues Haue hem excused quod he · her help may litel auaille May no medcyn on molde · þe man to hele brynge Neither feith ne fyn hope · so festred ben his woundis With-out þe blode of a barn · borne of a mayde And be he bathed in þat blode · baptised as it were And þanne plastred with penaunce · and passioun of þat babi He shulde stonde and steppe · ac stalworth worth he neure Tyl he haue eten al þe barn · and his blode ydronke + For went neuere wy.....L.17.99: The s. xv addition may have been wyght originally. There is an erasure after wy. The error was marked by the corrector in the left margin with a <+>. in þis worlde þorw þat wildernesse Þat he ne was robbed or rifled · rode he þere or ȝede Saue faith & his felaw · spes and my-selue And þi-self now · and such as suwen owre werkis For outlawes in þe wode · and vnder banke lotyeth And mayL.17.104: LCrRF alone read may; other B manuscripts have some form of mowen. vch man se · and gode merke take Who is bihynde and who bifore · and who ben on hors For he halt hym hardyer on horse · þan he þat is a-foteL.17.106: LR alone read a-fote; the majority of B witnesses have on-fote. For he seigh me þat am samaritan · suwen feith & his felaw On my caple þat hatte caro · of mankynde I toke it He was vnhardy þat harlot · and hudde hym in inferno Ac ar þis day þre dayes · I dar vndertaken Þat he worth fettred þat feloune · fast with cheynes And neure eft greue grome · þat goth þis ilke gate And þanne shal feith be forester here · and in þis fritth walke And kennen out comune men · þat knoweth nouȝte þe contre Which is þe weye þat ich went · and wherforth to iherusalem And hope þe hostelleres man shal be · þere þe man lith an helynge And alle þat fieble and faynt be · þat faith may nouȝt teche Hope shal lede hem forth with loue · as his lettre telleth And hostel hem and hele · þorw holicherche bileue Tyl I haue salue for alle syke · and þanne shal I retourne And come aȝein bi þis contree · and confort alle syke Þat craueth it or coueiteth it · and cryeth þere-after For þe barne was born in bethleem · þat with his blode shal saue Alle þat lyueth in faith · and folweth his felawes techynge A swete syre I seyde þo · wher I shal byleue As feith and his felawe · enfourmed me bothe In þre persones departable · þat perpetuel were euere And alle þre but o god · þus abraham me tauȝte And hope afterwarde · he bad me to louye O god wyth al my good · and alle gomes after Louye hem lyke my-selue · ac owre lorde aboue alle After abraham quod he · þat heraud of armes Sette faste þi faith · and ferme bileue And as hope hiȝte þe · I hote þat þow louye Thyn euene-crystene euermore · euene-forth with þi-self And if conscience carpe þere-aȝein · or kynde witte oyther Or heretykes with argumentz · þin honde þow hym shewe For god is after an hande · yhere now and knowe it Þe fader was fyrst as a fyst · with o fynger foldynge Tyl hym loued and lest · to vnlosen his fynger And profre it forth as with a paume · to what place it sholde Þe paume is purely þe hande · and profreth forth þe fyngres To mynystre and to make · þat myȝte of hande knoweth And bitokneth trewly · telle who-so liketh Þe holygost of heuene · he is as þe paume Þe fyngres þat fre ben · to folde and to serue Bitokneth sothly þe sone · þat sent was til erthe Þat toched and tasted · atte techynge of þe paume Seynt Marie a Mayde · and mankynde lauȝte Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto &c Þe fader is þanne as a fust · with fynger to touche Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum &c Al þat þe paume parceyueth · profitable to fele Thus ar þei alle but one · as it an hande were And þre sondry siȝtes · in one shewynge Þe paume for he putteth forth fyngres and þe fust bothe Riȝt so redily · reson it sheweth How he þat is holygoste · sire & sone preueth And as þe hande halt harde · and al þynge faste Þorw foure fyngres and a thombe · forth with þe paume Riȝte so þe fader and þe sone · & seynt spirit þe þridde Halt al þe wyde worlde · with-in hem thre Bothe welkne and þe wynde · water and erthe Heuene & helle · and al þat þere is InneL.17.164: LRF alone read þere is Inne; other B manuscripts have therin is or is þerInne. Þus it is · nedeth no man · to trowe non other That thre þinges bilongeth · in owre lorde of heuene + And aren serelepes by hem-self · asondry were neureL.17.167: The corrector's <+> in the right margin may refer to L's omission of þei before neure, an omission shared with the alpha manuscripts. Namore þan myn hande may meue with-outen fyngeresL.17.168: LHmFR alone omit my before fyngeres. And as my fust is ful honde · yfolde togideres So is þe fader a ful god · formeour and shepper Tu fabricator omnium &c And al þe myȝte myd hym is in makyng of þynges The fyngres fourrmen a ful hande · to purtreye or peynten Keruynge and compassynge · as crafte of þe fyngres Riȝt so is þe sone · þe science of þe fader And ful god as is þe fader · no febler ne no better Þe paume is purelich þe hande · hath power bi hym-selue Otherwyse þan þe wrythen fuste or werkmanschip of fyngres For þe paume hath powere to put oute alle þe ioyntes And to vnfolde þe folden fuste atte þe fyngres wille So is þe holygoste god · nother gretter ne lasse Þan is þe sire and þe sone · & in þe same myȝte And alle ar þei but o god · as is myn hande & my fyngres Vnfolden or folden · my fuste & myn paume Al is but an hande · how-so I torne it Ac who is herte in þe hande · euene in þe myddes He may receyue riȝt nouȝte · resoun it sheweth For þe fyngres þat folde shulde · and þe fuste make For peyne of þe paume  powere hem failleth To clicche or to clawe · to clyppe or to holde Were þe myddel of myn honde · ymaymed or ypersshed I shulde receyue riȝte nouȝte · of þat I reche myȝte Ac þough my thombe & my fyngres bothe were to-shullen And þe myddel of myn hande · with-oute male-ese In many kynnes maneres · I myȝte my-self helpe Bothe meue and amende · þough alle my fyngres oke Bi þis skil me þynkeL.17.197: L alone reads þynke; other beta manuscripts have þynkeþ. · I se an euydence Þat who-so synneth in þe seynt spirit assoilled worth he neure Noither here ne elles-where · as I herde telle Qui peccat in spiritu sancto &c For he prikketh god as in þe paume · þat peccat in spiritu sancto For god þe fader is as a fuste þe sone is as a fynger The holy goste of heuene · is as it were þe pawme So who-so synneth in seynt spirit · it semeth þat he greueth God þat he grypeth with · and wolde his grace quenche And to a torche or a tapre · þe trinitee is lykned As wex and a weke · were twyned togideres And þanne a fyre flaumendeL.17.208: LR have the -ende form of the present participle; most B witnesses have flawmynge. See the Linguistic Description § III.3.5.1.3. · forth oute of bothe And as wex and weyke · and hote fyre togyderes Fostren forth a flaumbe · and a feyre leye So doth þe sire & þe sone · & also spiritus sanctus Fostren forth amonges folke · loue & bileue Þat alkyn crystene clenseth of synnes And as þow seest some-tyme sodeynliche a torche The blase þere-of yblowe out · ȝet brenneth þe weyke With-oute leye or liȝte · þat þe macche brenneth So is þe holygost god · & grace with-oute mercy To alle vnkynde creatures · þat coueite to destruye Lele loue other lyf · þat owre lorde shapte And as glowandeL.17.220: L alone has the -ende form of the present participle; all other B witnesses read glowynge. See the Linguistic Description § III.3.5.1.3. gledes · gladieth nouȝte þis werkmen Þat worchen & waken in wyntres niȝtes As doth a kex or a candel · þat cauȝte hath fyre & blaseth Namore doth sire ne sone · ne seynt spirit togyderes GrauntethL.17.224: L alone reads Graunteth; other B manuscripts have Graunte. no grace · ne forȝifnesse of synnes Til þe holi goste gynne · to glowe and to blase So þat þe holygoste · gloweth but as a glede Tyl þat lele loue · ligge on hym & blowe And þanne flaumbeth he as fyre on fader & on filius And melteth her myȝte in-to mercy · as men may se in wyntre Ysekeles in eueses þorw hete of þe sonne Melteth in a mynut-while · to myst & to watre So grace of þe holygoste · þe grete myȝte of þe trinite Melteth in-toL.17.233: L alone reads in-to; most other B manuscripts have to. mercy · to mercyable & to non other And as wex with-outen more · on a warme glede Wil brennen & blasen · be þei to-gyderes And solacen hem þat may se · þat sitten in derkenesse So wole þe fader forȝif folke of mylde hertes Þat reufulliche repenten · & restitucioun make In as moche as þei mowen · amenden & payen And if it suffice nouȝte for assetz · þat in suche a wille deyeth Mercy for his mekenesse · wil make good þe remenaunte And as þe weyke and fyre · wil make a warme flaumbe For to myrthe men with · þat in merke sitten So wil cryst of his curteisye · and men crye hym mercy Bothe forȝiue & forȝete · & ȝet bidde for vs To þe fader of heuene · forȝyuenesse to haue Ac hew fyre at a flynte · fowre hundreth wyntre Bot þow haue towe to take it with · tondre or broches Al þi laboure is loste · and al þi longe trauaille For may no fyre flaumbe make · faille it his kynde So is þe holy gost god · & grace with-outen mercy To alle vnkynde creatures · cryst hym-self witnesseth Amen dico vobis nescio vos &c · Be vnkynde to þin euene-cristene · and al þat þow canst bidden Delen & do penaunce · day & nyȝte euere And purchace al þe pardoun of Pampiloun & Rome And indulgences ynowe · & be ingratus to þi kynde Þe holy goste hereth þe nouȝt · ne helpe may þe by resoun For vnkyndenesse quencheth hym · þat he can nouȝte shyne Ne brenne ne blase clere · for blowynge of vnkyndenesse Poule þe apostle preueth wher I lye Si linguis hominum loquar &c X For-thy beth war ȝe wyse men · þat with þe woldewo[r]ldeL.17.263: The corrector's <X> in the margin notes the scribe's erroneous wolde for worlde. deleth That riche ben & resoun knoweth · reuleth wel ȝowre soule Beth nouȝte vnkynde I conseille ȝow · to ȝowre euene-crystene For many of ȝow riche men · bi my soule men telleth Ȝe brenne but ȝe blaseth nouȝte · þat is a blynde bekene Non omnis qui dicit domine domine intrabit &c · notaL.17.269: A musical note is drawn in the right margin here as a pun on nota. Diues deyed dampned · for his vnkyndenesse notaL.17.270: A musical nota is drawn in the left margin. Of his mete & hisL.17.270: LCM omit the of found in many B manuscripts before his. moneye to men that it neded Vch a riche I rede · rewarde at hym take And gyueth ȝowre good to þat god · þat grace of ariseth For þat ben vnkynde to his · hope I none other But þei dwelle þere diues is · dayes with-outen ende Þus is vnkyndenesse þe contrarie · þat quencheth as it were Þe grace of þe holy gooste · goddes owne kynde For þat kynde dothe vnkynde fordoth · as þese cursed theues Vnkynde cristene men · for coueityse & enuye Sleeth a man for his moebles · wyth mouth or wyth handes For þat þe holygoste hath to kepe · þo harlotes destroyeth Þe which is lyf & loue · þe leye of mannes bodye For euery manere good man · may be likned to a torche Or elles to a tapre · to reuerence þe Trinitee And who morthereth a good man · me thynketh by myn Inwyt He fordoth þe leuest lyȝte · þat owre lorde loueth notaL.17.286: A musical nota is drawn in the left margin. Ac ȝut in many mo maneres · men offenden þe holygoste Ac þis is þe worste wyse · þat any wiȝte myȝte Synnen aȝein þe seynt spirit · assenten to destruye For coueityse of any kynnes þinge · þat cryst dere bouȝte How myȝte he axe mercy · or any mercy hym helpe Þat wykkedlich & willefullich · wolde mercy anynte Innocence is nexte god · & nyȝte and day it crieth Veniaunce veniaunce · forȝiue be it neuere That shent vs & shadde owre blode · forshapte vs as it were Vindica sanguinem iustorum Thus veniaunce veniaunce verrey charite asketh And sith holicherche & charite chargeth þis so sore Leue I neure that owre lorde wil loue þat charite lakketh Ne haue pite for any preyere · þere þat he pleyneth nota peccato contra spiritus sancto I pose I hadde synned so · and shulde now deye And now am sory þatL.17.301: LR alone omit I after þat. so · þe seint spirit agulte Confesse me & crye his grace · god þat al made And myldliche his mercy axe · myȝte I nouȝte be saued notaL.17.304: A musical nota is drawn in the left margin. Ȝus seide þe Samaritan · so wel þow myȝte repente Þat riȝtwisnesse þorw repentance · to reuthe myȝte torne Ac it is but selden yseye · þere sothenesse bereth witnesse Any creature þat is coupable · afor a kynges iustice Be raunsoned for his repentaunce · þere alle resoun hym dampneth For þere þat partye pursueth · þe peleL.17.309: LRF alone read pele; most other B manuscripts have peple. is so huge Þat þe kynge may do no mercy · til bothe men acorde And eyther haue equite · as holywrit telleth Numquam dimittitur peccatum &c nota Þus it fareth bi suche folke · þat falsely al her lyuesL.17.313: A musical nota appears in the left margin. Euel lyuen & leten nouȝte · til lyf hem forsake Good hope þat helpe shulde · to wanhope torneth Nouȝt of þe nounpowere of god · þat he ne is myȝtful To amende al þat amys is · and his mercy grettere Þan alle owre wykked werkes · as holiwrit telleth Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius notaL.17.320: There is a musical nota drawn in the left margin and a second, similar nota in the right margin. nota Ac ar his riȝtwisnesse to reuthe tourne · some restitucioun bihoueth His sorwe is satisfaccioun for hym þat may nouȝte paye Fumus Mulier & stillicidia Expellunt hominem a domo proverbia...... Thre þinges þere ben · þat doth a man by strengthe Forto fleen his owne hous · as holy wryt sheweth Þat one is a wikked wyf · þat wil nouȝt be chasted Her fiere fleeth fro hyr · for fere of her tonge And if his hous be vnhiled · and reyne on his beddeL.17.326-327: This line and the next are bracketed in the right margin. He seketh and seketh · til he slepe drye And whan smoke & smolder smyt in his syȝte It doth hym worse þan his wyf · or wete to slepe For smoke & smolder · smyteth his eyen Til he be blere-nyedL.17.331: This form appears only in LR. Most other B manuscripts read blereighed. or blynde · and hors in þe throte Cougheth and curseth · þat cryst gyf hem sorwe Þat sholde brynge in better wode · or blowe it til it brende nota Þise thre þat I telle of · ben þus to vnderstondeL.17.334-339: This line group has been bracketed in the right margin and a nota added in the form of a musical note. Further to the right are three more marginal additions: near the top of the line group is the word vxor; near the middle is a small bracket, and in the space between this line group and the next is the word stillicida. vxor The wyf is owre wikked flesshe · þat wil nouȝt be chasted For kynde cleueth on hym euere · to contrarie þe soule And þowgh it falle it fynt skiles · þe frelete it made And þat is liȝtly forȝeuen · and forȝeten bothe stillicida To man þat mercy asketh · and amende þenketh nota The reyne þat reyneth · þere we reste sholdeL.17.340: This line group has been bracketed in the right margin with a nota added in the form of a musical note, as was the previous line group. As before, there is an additional smaller bracket to the right, this time between the mid-point and bottom edge of the line group. Ben sikenesses & sorwes · þat we suffren oft As Powle þe Apostle · to þe peple tauȝte Virtus in infirmitate perficitur &c · And þowgh þat men make  moche deol in her angre And inpacient in here penaunce · pure resoun knoweth Þat þei han cause to contrarie · by kynde of her sykenesse And liȝtlich owre lorde · at her lyues ende Hath mercy on suche men · þat so yuel may suffre Ac þe smoke and þe smolder þat smyt in owre eyghenL.17.349358: This line group is bracketed in the right margin with a nota musical pun added as in the previous two line groups. Again, there are more marginal additions further to the right: this time the word fumus near the top of the line group and a small bracket slightly below the mid-point. Þat is coueityse and vnkyndenesse · þat quencheth goddes mercy For vnkyndenesse is þe contrarie · of alkynnes resoun fumus For þere nys syke ne sori · ne non so moche wrecche Þat he ne may louye & hym lyke · and lene of his herte Goed wille & good worde  bothe wisshen and willen Alle manere men · mercy & forȝifnesse And louye hem liche hym-self · and his lyf amende I may no lenger lette quod he · and lyarde he pryked And went away as wynde · and þere-with I awaked passus xviijus & tercius de dobetPassus xviijusduodevicesimus w WollewardL.18.1: The ornamental capital of six lines is in blue ink with red flourishes. A small guide letter <w> is in the left margin. and wete-shoed · went I forth after As a reccheles renke · þat of no wo reccheth And ȝede forth lyke a lorel · al my lyf-tyme Tyl I w..ex wery of þe worlde · and wylned eft to slepe And lened me to a lenten · and longe tyme I slepte And of crystes passioun and penaunce · þe peple þat of-rauȝte RestedL.18.7: LR alone read Rested; most other manuscripts have Reste. me þere and rutte faste · tyl ramis palmarum Of gerlis & of gloria laus · gretly me dremed And how osanna by orgonye · olde folke songen One semblable to þe samaritan · & some-del to Piers þe plowman Barfote on an asse bakke · botelees cam pryke Wyth-oute spores other spere · spakliche he loked As is þe kynde of a knyȝte · þat cometh to be dubbed To geten hemL.18.14: L alone reads hem; other B manuscripts have hym. gylte spores · or galoches ycouped Þanne was faith in a fenestre · and cryde a fili dauid As doth an Heraude of armes · whan aunturos cometh to iustes Olde iuwes of ierusalem · for ioye þei songen Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini Þanne I frayned at faith · what al þat fare be-ment + And who sholde iousteL.18.20: The word iouste was added supralinearly after initial copying by the original scribe, no doubt in response to the corrector's <+>. in Iherusalem · Ihesus he seyde And fecche þat þe fende claymeth · Piers fruit þe plowman Is Piers in þis place quod I · & he preynte on me Þis Ihesus of his gentrice · wole iuste in piers armes In his helme & in his haberioun · humana natura Þat cryst be nouȝt biknowe here · for consumatus deus In Piers paltok þe plowman · þis priker shal ryde For no dynte shal hym dere · as in deitate patris Who shal iuste with Ihesus quod I iuwes or scribes Nay quod he þe foule fende · and fals dome & deth Deth seith he shal fordo · and adown brynge Al þat lyueth or loketh · in londe or in watere Lyf seyth þat he liktheL.18.32: LRF alone read likthe; most other B manuscripts have lieþ. · and leyth his lif to wedde Þat for al þat deth can do · with-in þre dayes To walke and fecche fro þe fende · piers fruite þe plowman And legge it þere hym lyketh · and lucifer bynde And forbete and adown brynge bale deth for euere O mors ero mors tua Þanne cam pilatus with moche peple · sedens pro tribunali To se how doughtilich deth sholde do · & deme her botheres riȝte Þe iuwes and þe iustice · aȝeine Ihesu þei were And al herL.18.41: LR alone read her; all other B manuscripts have þe. courte on hym cryde · crucifige sharpe Tho put hym forth a piloure · bifor pilat & seyde This ihesus of owre iewes temple · iaped & dispised To fordone it on o day · and in thre dayes after Edefye it eft newe · here he stant þat seyde it And ȝit maken it as moche · in al manere poyntes Bothe as longe and as large · bi loft & by grounde CrufigeCru[ci]fige quod a cacchepolle · I warante hym a wicche Tolle tolle quod an other · and toke oL.18.49: o, "of." kene þornes And bigan of kene thorne · a gerelande to make And sette it sore on his hed · and seyde in envye Aue rabby quod þat Ribaude · and þrew redes at hym Nailled hym with þre nailles · naked on þe Rode And poysoun on a pole · þei put vp to his lippes And bede hym drynke his deth yuel · his dayes were ydone And ȝif þat þow sotil be · help now þi-seluen If þow be cryst & kynges sone · come downe of þe Rode Þanne shul we leue þat lyf þe loueth · and wil nouȝt lete þe deye Consummatum est quod cryst · & comsed forto swowe Pitousliche and pale · as a prisoun þat deyeth Þe lorde of lyf & of liȝte · þo leyed his eyen togideres Þe daye for drede with-drowe · and derke bicam þe sonne Þe wal wagged and clef and al þe worlde quaued Ded men for that dyne · come out of depe graues And tolde whi þat tempest · so longe tyme dured For a bitter bataille · þe ded bodye sayde Lyf and deth in þis derknesse · her one fordoth her other Shal no wiȝte wite witterly who shal haue þe maystrye Er sondey aboute sonne rysynge · & sank with þat til erthe Some seyde þat he was goddessonegoddes sone · þat so faire deyde Vere filius dei erat iste · &c And somme saide he was a wicche · good is þat we assaye Where he be ded or nouȝte ded · doun er he be taken Two theues also · tholed deth þat tyme Vppon a crosse bisydes cryst · so was þe comune lawe A cacchepoleL.18.76: An otiose curl appears above the <o>. cam forth · and craked bothe her legges And her armes after · of eyther of þo theues Ac was no boy so bolde · goddes body to touche For he was knyȝte & kynges sone · kynde forȝaf þat tyme Þat non harlot were so hardy · to leyne hande vppon hym notaL.18.81-85: The musical pun nota in the right margin appears to apply to the entire line group. Ac þere cam forth a knyȝte · with a kene spere ygrounde Hiȝte longeus as þe lettre telleth · and longe had lore his siȝte Bifor pilat & other peple · in þe place he houed Maugre his many tethe · he was made þat tyme To take þe spere in his honde · & iusten with ihesus For alle þei were vnhardy · þat houed on hors or stode To touche hym or to taste hym · or take hym down of Rode But þis blynde bacheler þanne · bar hym þorugh þe herte Þe blode spronge down by þe spere · & vnspered þe kniȝtes eyen Þanne fel þe knyȝte vpon knees · and cryed hym mercy Aȝeyne my wille it was lorde · to wownde ȝow so sore He seighed & sayde · sore it me athynketh For þe dede þat I haue done · I do me in ȝowre grace Haue on me reuth riȝtful ihesu · & riȝt with þat he wept Thanne gan faith felly · þe fals iuwes dispise Called hem caytyues · acursed for euere For þis foule vyleynye · veniaunce to ȝow alle To do þe blynde bete hym ybounde · it was a boyes conseille Cursed caytyue · kniȝthod was it neuere To mysdo a ded body · by day or by nyȝte Þe gree ȝit hath he geten · for al his grete wounde For ȝowre champioun chiualer chief knyȝt of ȝow alle Ȝelt hym recreauntL.18.103: The scribe began an <er> loop after the <c> of recreaunt in error. rennyng · riȝt at ihesus wille For be þis derkenesse ydo · his deth worth avenged And ȝe lordeynes han ylost · for lyf shal haue þe maistrye And ȝowre Fraunchise þat fre was · fallen is in thraldome And ȝe cherles & ȝowre children · chieue shal ȝe neure Ne haue lordship in londe · ne no londe tylye But al bareyne be · & vsurye vsen Which is lyf þat owre lorde · in alle lawes acurseth Now ȝowre good dayes ar done · as Danyel prophecyed + Whan cryst cam · her kyngdom · þe croune shuldeshulde [cesse]L.18.112: Most beta witnesses read cesse after shulde, whereas alpha manuscripts have lese. The corrector's marginal <+> indicates he noticed the omission. Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum cessabit vnxio vestra What for fere of þis ferly · & of þe fals iuwes I drowe me in þat derkenesse · to decendit ad inferna And þere I sawe sothely · secundum scripturas Out of þe west coste · a wenche as me thouȝte Cam walkynge in þe wey · to helle-ward she loked Mercy hiȝt þat mayde · a meke þynge with-alle A ful benygne buirde · and boxome of speche Her suster as it semed · cam softly walkyng Euene out of þe est · and westward she loked A ful comely creature · treuth she hiȝte For þe vertue þat hir folwed · aferd was she neuere Whan þis maydenes mette · mercy and treuth Eyther axed other · of þis grete wonder Of þe dyne & of þe derknesse · and how þe daye rowed And which a liȝte and a leme · lay befor helle Ich haue ferly of þis fare · in feith seyde treuth And am wendyng to wyte · what þis wonder meneth Haue no merueille quod mercy · myrthe it bytokneth A mayden þat hatte marye · and moder with-out felyng Of any kynnes creature · conceyued þorw speche And grace of þe holygoste · wex grete with childe With-outen wem · in-to þis worlde she brouȝt hym And þat my tale be trewe · I take god to witnesse Sith þis barn was bore · ben xxxtithirti wynter passed Which deyde & deth þoled · þis day aboute mydday And þat is cause of þis clips · þat closeth now þe sonne In menynge þat man shal · fro merkenesse be drawe Þe while þis liȝte & þis leme · shal Lucyfer ablende For patriarkes & prophetes · han preched her-of often Þat man shal man saue · þorw a maydenes helpe And þat was tynt þorw tre · tree shal it wynne And þat deth doun brouȝte · deth shal releue Þat þow tellest quod treuth · is but a tale of waltrot For Adam & Eue · & abraham with other Patriarkes & prophetes · þat in peyne liggen Leue þow neuere þat ȝone liȝte · hem alofte brynge Ne haue hem out of helle · heldeL.18.150: L alone reads helde; all other B manuscripts have hold. þi tonge mercy It is but a trufle þat þow tellest · I treuth wote þe sothe For þat is ones in helle · out cometh it neuere Iob þe prophete patriarke · reproueth þi sawes Quia in inferno nulla est redempcio Þanne mercy ful myldly · mouthed þise wordes Thorw experience quod she · I hope þei shal be saued For venym fordoth venym · & þat I proue by resoun For of alle venymes · foulest is þe scorpioun May no medcyne helpe · þe place þere he styngeth Tyl he be ded & do þer-to · þe yuel he destroyeth Þe fyrst venymouste · þorw venym of hym-self So shal þis deth fordo · I dar my lyf legge Al þat deth dyd furste · þorw þe deuelles entysynge And riȝt as þorw gyle · man was bigyled So shal grace þat bigan · make a good sleighte Ars vt artem falleret Now suffre we seyde treuth · I se as me þinketh Out of þe nippe of þe north · nouȝt ful fer hennes Riȝtwisnesse come rennynge · reste we þe while For heL.18.167: he, "she." wote more þan we · heL.18.167: he, "she." was er we bothe That is soth seyde mercy · and I se here bi southe Where pees cometh playinge · in pacience yclothed Loue hath coueyted hir longe · leue I none other But he sent hir some lettre what þis liȝte bymeneth Þat ouer-houeth helle þus · she[he]L.18.175: The "correction" — if indeed this is what has occurred, since only crowding suggests that the <s> is added as an afterthought — is itself quite possibly an error. Alpha supplies the correctly alliterating pronoun he, indicating the accuracy of the scribe's exemplar. Stress and alliteration on vs would be unmetrical. vs shal telle Whan pees in pacience yclothed · approched nere hem tweyne Riȝtwisnesse hir reuerenced · for her riche clothyng And preyed pees to telle hir · to what place she wolde And in her gay garnementz · whom she grete þouȝte My wille is to wende quod she · and welcome hem alle Þat many day myȝte I nouȝte se · for merkenesse of synne Adam & Eue & other moo in helle · Moyses & many mo · mercy shal haue And I shal daunce þer-to · do þow so sustre For ihesus iusted wel · ioye bygynneth dawe Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus · & ad matutinum leticia · Loue þat is my lemman · suche lettres me sente That mercy my sustre & I · mankynde shulde saue And þat god hath forgyuen · & graunted me pees & mercy To be mannes meynpernoure · for euere-more after Lo here þe patent quod pees · in pace in idipsum And þat þis dede shal dure · dormiam & requiescam What rauestow quod riȝtwisnesse or þow art riȝt dronke Leuestow þat ȝonde liȝte · vnlouke myȝte helle And saue mannes soule · sustre wene it neure At þe bygynnynge god · gaf þe dome hym-selue Þat Adam & Eue · and alle þat hem suwed Shulde deye doune-riȝte · and dwelle in pyne after If þat þei touched a tre · and þe fruite eten Adam afterward · aȝeines his defence Frette of þat fruit · & forsoke as it were Þe loue of owre lorde · and his lore bothe And folwed þat þe fende tauȝte · & his felawes wille Aȝeines resoun IL.18.204: L alone reads I; other B manuscripts have and. riȝtwisnesse · recorde þus with treuth Þat her peyne be perpetuel · & no preyere hem helpe For-þi late hem chewe as þei chose · & chyde we nouȝt sustres For it is botelees bale · þe bite þat þei eten + And shalL.18.208: A corrector's marginal <+> notes the omission of I before shal; the omission is shared with only YR among B manuscripts. preue quod pees · her peyne mote haue ende And wo in-to wel · mowe wende atte laste For had þei wist of no wo · wel had þei nouȝte knowen For no wiȝte wote what wel is · þat neuere wo suffred Ne what is hote hunger · þat had neuere defaute If no nyȝte ne were · no man as I leue Shulde wite witterly · what day is to mene L.18.215: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it. ¶ Shulde neuere riȝte riche man · þat lyueth · in reste & ese Wyte what wo is · ne were þe deth of kynde So god þat bygan al · of his good wille Bycam man of a mayde · mankynde to saue And suffred to be solde · to see þe sorwe of deyinge The which vnknitteth al kare · & comsynge is of reste For til modicum mete with vs · I may it wel avowe Wote no wiȝte as I wene · what is ynough to mene For-þi god of his goodnesse · þe fyrste gome Adam Sette hym in solace · & in souereigne myrthe And sith he suffred hym synne · sorwe to fele To wite what wel was · kyndelich to knowe it And after god auntred hym-self · and toke Adames kynde To wyte what he hath suffred · in þre sondri places Bothe in heuene & in erthe · & now til helle he þynketh To wite what al wo is · þat wote of al ioye So it shal fare bi þis folke · her foly & her synne Shal lere hem what langour is · & lisse with-outen ende Wote no wighte what werre is · þere þat pees regneth Ne what is witterly wel · til weyllowey hym teche Thanne was þere a wiȝte · with two brode eyen Boke hiȝte þat beupere · a bolde man of speche By godesbodygodes body quod þis boke · I wil bere witnesse Þat þo þis barne was ybore · þere blased a sterre That alle þe wyse of þis worlde · in o witte acordedenL.18.239: LOR have the unmetrical form acordeden; most B manuscripts have acorden. That such a barne was borne · in bethleem Citee Þat mannes soule sholde saue · & synne destroye And alle þe elementz quod þe boke · her-of bereth witnesse Þat he was god þat al wrouȝte · þe walkene firste shewed Þo that weren in heuene · token stella comata And tendeden hir as a torche · to reuerence his birthe Þe lyȝte folwed þe lorde · in-to þe lowe erthe Þat water witnessed þat he was god · for he went on it Peter þe apostel · parceyued his gate And as he went on þe water · wel hym knewe & seyde Iube me venire ad te super aquas And lo how þe sonne gan louke · her liȝte in her-self id est mare"> Whan she seye hym suffre · þat sonne & seL.18.252: Above se is the supralinear gloss id est mare. The corrector may have supplied a <+> in the left margin, but only a horizontal bar remains. made The erthe for heuynesse · that he wolde suffre Quaked as quykke þinge · and al biquasht þe roche Lo helle miȝte nouȝte holde · but opened þo god þoled And lete oute symondes sones · to seen hym hange on Rode And now shal lucifer leue it thowgh hym loth þinke For gygas þe geaunt · with a gynne engyned To breke & to bete dounn · þat ben aȝeines ihesus And I boke wil be brent · but ihesus rise to lyue In alle myȝtes of man · & his moder gladye And conforte al his kynne · & out of care brynge And al þe iuwen ioye · vnioignen & vnlouken And but þei reuerencen his Rode · & his resurexioun And bileue on a newe lawe · be lost lyf & soule Suffre we seide treuth · I here & se bothe How a spirit speketh to helle · & bit vnspere þe ȝatis Attollite portas &c A voice loude in þat liȝte to lucifer cryeth Prynces of þis place · vnpynneth & vnlouketh For here cometh with croune · þat kynge is of glorie Thanne syked sathan · & seyde to hem alle Suche a lyȝte aȝeines owre leue · Lazar it fette Care & combraunce · is comen to vs alle If þis kynge come in · mankynde wil he fecche And lede it þer hym lyketh · & lyȝtlych me bynde Patriarkes & prophetes · han parled her-of londgeL.18.277: The original scribe erased the letter <d> and replaced it with <g>, changing loude (or londe) to longe. Bo also has loude or londe. Þat such a lorde & a lyȝte · shulde lede hem alle hennes Lysteneth quod Lucifer · for I þis lorde knowe Bothe þis lorde & þis liȝte · is longe ago I knewe hym May no deth hym dere · ne no deueles queyntise And where he wil is his waye · ac war hym of þe periles If he reue me my riȝte · he robbeth me by maistrye For by riȝt & bi resoun · þo renkes þat ben here Bodye & soule ben myne · bothe gode & ille For hym-self seyde þat sire is of heuene Ȝif Adam ete þe apple · alle shulde deye And dwelle with vs deueles · þis þretynge he made And he þat sothenesse is seyde þise wordes And sitthen I seised · seuene hundreth wyntre I leue þat lawe nil nauȝte · lete hym þe leest That is sothe seyde Sathan · but I me sore drede For þow gete hem with gyle · & his gardyne breke And in semblaunce of a serpent · sat on þe appeltre And eggedest hem to ete · Eue by hir-selue And toldest hir a tale · of tresoun were þe wordes And so þow haddest hem oute & hider atte laste It is nouȝte graythely geten · þere gyle is þe Rote For god ...?...wil nouȝt be bigiled · quod Gobelyn ne bi-iaped We haue no trewe title to hem · for þorwgh tresoun were þei dampned Certes I drede me quod þe deuel · leste treuth wil hem fecche Þis þretty wynter as I wene · hath he gone & preched I haue assailled hym with synne · & some-tyme yasked Where he were god or goddes sone · he gaf me shorte answere And þus hath he trolled forth · þis two & thretty wynter And whan I seighe it was so · slepyng I went To warne pilates wyf · what dones man was ihesus For iuwes hateden hym · and han done hym to deth I wolde haue lengthed his lyf · for I leued ȝif he deyede That his soule wolde suffre · no synne in his syȝte For þe body whil it on bones ȝede · aboute was euere To saue men fram synne · ȝif hem-self wolde And now I se where a soule · cometh hiderward · seyllynge With glorie & with grete liȝte · god it is I wote wel I rede we flee quod he · faste alle hennes For vs were better nouȝte be · þan biden his syȝte For þi lesynges Lucifer · loste is al owre praye Firste þorw þe we fellen · fro heuene so heigh For we leued þi lesynges · ylore we haue Adam And al owre lordeship I leue · alonde & a water Nunc princeps huius mundi eicietur foras Efte þe liȝte bad vnlouke · & Lucifer answered What lorde artow quod lucifer · quis est iste Rex glorie · þe liȝte sone seide And lorde of myȝte & of mayne · & al manere vertues · dominus virtutum Dukes of þis dym place · anon vndo þis ȝates That cryst may come in · þe kynges sone of heuene And with þat breth helle brake · with Beliales barres For any wye or warde · wide opene þe ȝatis Patriarkes & prophetes · populus in tenebris Songen seynt Iohanes songe · ecce agnus dei Lucyfer loke ne myȝte · so lyȝte hym ableynte And þo þat owreowre [lorde]L.18.333: L alone omits lorde after owre. Uncharacteristically, the corrector did not note it. loued · in-to his liȝte he lauȝte And seyde to sathan · lo here moy soule to amendes For alle synneful soules · to saue þo þat ben worthy Myne þei be & of me · I may þe bette hem clayme Al-þough resoun recorde & riȝt of my-self That if þei ete þe apple · alle shulde deye I bihyȝte hem nouȝt here · helle for euere For þe dede þat þei dede · þi deceyte it made With gyle þow hem gete · agayne al resoun For in my paleys paradys · in persone of an addre Falseliche þow fettest þere · þynge þat I loued Thus ylyke a lusarde · with a lady visage Theuelich þow me robbedest · þe olde lawe graunteth Þat gylours be bigiled · & þat is gode resoun Dentem pro dente & oculum pro oculo Ergo soule shal soule quyte · & synne to synne wende And al þat man hath mysdo · I man wyl amende Membre for membre · bi þe golde lawe was amendes And lyf for lyf also · & by þat lawe I clayme it Adam & al his issue · at my wille her-after And þat deth in hem fordid · my deth shal releue And bothe quykke & quyte · þat queynte was þorw synne And þat grace gyle destruye · good feith it asketh So leue itL.18.356: LRF alone read it; most other B manuscripts have I. nouȝte lucifer aȝeine þe lawe I fecche hem But bi riȝt & by resoun · raunceoun here my lyges Non veni soluere legem · sed adimplere Þow fettest myne in my place · aȝeines al resoun Falseliche & felounelich · gode faith me it tauȝte To recoure hem thorw raunceoun & bi no resoun elles So þat with gyle þow gete · þorw grace it is ywone Þow Lucyfer in lyknesse · of a luther addere Getest by gyle · þo that god loued And I in lyknesse of a leode · þat lorde am of heuene G.........raciouslichL.18.366: Though in the hand of the text scribe, this supplied word is more vertical in aspect than his usual style. þi gyle haue quytte · go gyle aȝeine gyle And as Adam & alle · þorw a tre deyden Adam & alle þorwe a tree · shal torne aȝeine to lyue And gyle is bigyled · & in his gyle fallen Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit Now bygynneth þi gyle · ageyne þe to tourne And my grace to growe · ay gretter & wyder Þe bitternesse þat þow hast browe · brouke it þi-seluen Þat art doctour of deth · drynke þat þow madest For I þat am lorde of lyf · loue is my drynke And for þat drynke to-day · I deyde vpon erthe I fauȝte so me þrestes ȝet · for mannes soule sake May no drynke me moiste · ne my thruste slake Tyl þe vendage falle · in þe vale of iosephath Þat I drynke riȝte ripe must · resureccio mortuorum And þanne shal I come as a kynge · crouned with angeles And han out of helle · alle mennes soules · Fendes and fendekynes · bifore me shulle stande And be at my biddynge · where-so-eure me lyketh And to be merciable to man · þanne my kynde it asketh For we beth bretheren of blode · but nouȝte in baptesme alle Ac alle þat beth myne hole bretheren · in blode & in baptesme Shal nouȝte be dampned to þe deth · þat is with-outen ende Tibi soli peccaui &c · It is nouȝt vsed in erthe · to hangen a feloun Ofter þan ones · þough he were a tretour And ȝif þe Kynge of þat kyngedome · come in þat tyme There þe feloun thole sholde · deth or otherwyse Lawe wolde he ȝeue hym lyf · if he loked on hym And I þat am kynge And I þat am kynge of kynges · shal come suche a tyme There dome to þe deth · dampneth al wikked And ȝif lawe wil I loke on hem · it lithe in my grace Whether þei deye or deye nouȝte · for þat þei deden ille Be it any þinge abouȝte · þe boldenesse of her synnes I mayL.18.400: LRF alone read may; other B manuscripts omit it. do mercy þorw riȝtwisnesse · & alle my wordes trewe And þough holiwrit wil þat I be wroke · of hem þat deden ille Nullum malum inpunitum &c Thei shul be clensed clereliche · & wasshen of her synnes In my prisoun purgatorie · til parce it hote And my mercy shal be shewed · to manye of my bretheren For blode may suffre blode · bothe hungry & akale L.18.407: The ink showing in the left margin may represent a corrector's <+>, but it is not clear.Ac blode may nouȝt se blode · blede but hym rewe Audiui archana verba que non licet homini loqui Ac my riȝtwisnesse & riȝt shal reulen al helle And mercy al mankynde · bifor me in heuene For I were an vnkynde Kynge · but I my kynde holpe And namelich at such a nede · þer nedes helpe bihoueth Non intres in iudicium cum seruo tuo Þus bi lawe quod owre lorde · lede I wil fro hennes Þo þat me loued · & leued in my comynge And for þi lesynge lucifer · þat þow lowe til Eue Thow shalt abye it bittre · & bonde hym with cheynes Astaroth and al þe route · hidden hem in hernes They dorste nouȝte loke on owre lorde · þe boldest of hem alle But leten hym lede forth what hym lyked · and lete what hym liste Many hundreth of angeles · harpeden & songen Culpat caro purgat caro · regnat deus dei caro Thanne piped pees · of poysye a note Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus · post inimicitias &c · After sharpe shoures quod pees · moste shene is þe sonne Is no weder warmer · þan after watery cloudes Ne no loue leuere · ne leuer frendes Þan after werre & wo · whan loue & pees be maistres Was neuere werre in þis worlde · ne wykkednesse so kene Þat ne loue & hym luste to laughynge ne brouȝte And pees þorw pacience · alle perilles stopped Trewes quod treuth · þow tellest vs soth bi ihesus Clippe we in couenaunt & vch of vs cusse other And lete no peple quod pees · perceyue þat we chydde For inpossible is no þyng · to hym þat is almyȝty Thow seist soth seydeL.18.436: LM read seyde; all other B witnesses have quod. A similar division between seyde and quod occurs in the C texts. ryȝtwisnesse · & reuerentlich hir kyste Pees & pees here · per secula seculorum Misericordia & veritas obuiauerunt sibi iusticia & pax osculate sunt Treuth tromped þo & songe · te deum laudamus And thanne luted loue · in a loude note Ecce quam bonum & quam iocundum · &c Tyl þe daye dawed · þis damaiseles daunced That men rongen to þe resurexioun · & riȝt with þat I waked And called kitte my wyf · and kalote my douȝter Ariseth & reuerenceth · goddes ressurrexioun And crepeth to þe theþe crosse on knees · & kisseth it for a iuwel For goddes blissed body · it bar for owre bote And it afereth þe fende · for suche is þe myȝte May no grysly gost · glyde þere it shadweth passus xixus & explicit dobet & incipit dobestPassus xixusVndevicesimus t ThusL.19.1: A small guide letter <t> appears in the left margin. I awaked & wrote · what I had dremed And diȝte me derely · & dede me to cherche To here holy þe masse · & to be houseled after In myddes of þe masse · þo men ȝede to offrynge I fel eftsones a-slepe · & sodeynly me mette That Pieres þe plowman · was paynted al blody And come in with a crosse · bifor þe comune peple And riȝte lyke in alle lymes · to owre lorde ihesu And þanne called I conscience · to kenne me þe sothe Is þis ihesus þe iuster quod I · þat iuwes did to deth Or it is Pieres þe plowman · who paynted hym so rede Quod conscience & kneled þo · þise aren Pieres armes His coloures & his cotearmure · ac he þat cometh so blody Is cryst with his crosse · conqueroure of crystene Why calle ȝe hym cryst quod I · sithenes iuwes calle hym ihesus Patriarkes & prophetes · prophecyed bifore Þat alkyn creatures · shulden knelen & bowen Anon as men nempned · þe name of god Ihesu Ergo is no name · to þe name of ihesus Ne none so nedeful to nempne · by nyȝte ne by daye For alle derke deuelles · aren adradde to heren it And synful aren solaced · & saued bi þat name And ȝe callen hym cryst · for what cause telleth me Is cryst more of myȝte · & more worthy name Þan ihesu or ihesus · þat al owre ioye come of Thow knowest wel quod conscience · and þow konne resoun That knyȝte kynge conqueroure · may be o persone To be called a kniȝte is faire · for men shal knele to hym To be called a Kynge is fairer · for he may knyȝtes make Ac to be conquerour called · þat cometh of special grace And of hardynesse of herte · & of hendenesse To make lordes of laddes · of londe þat he wynneth And fre men foule thralles · þat folweth nouȝt his lawes The iuwes þat were gentil men · ihesu þei dispised Bothe his lore & his lawe · now ar þei lowe cherlis As wyde as þe worlde is wonyeth · þere none But vnder tribut & taillage · as tykes & cherles And þo þat bicome crysten · by conseille of þe baptisteL.19.38: L alone reads baptiste; other B manuscripts have baptisme. Aren frankeleynes fre men · þorw fullyng þat þei toke And gentel men with ihesu · for Ihesus was yfolled And vppon caluarye on crosse · ycrouned kynge of iewes It bicometh to a Kynge · to kepe and to defende And conquerour of conquest · his lawes & his large And so ded Ihesus þe iewes · he iustified & tauȝte hem Þe lawe of lyf · that last shal euere And fended fram foule yueles · feueres & fluxes and fro fendes þat in hem wasL.19.47: LF alone read was; other B manuscripts have some form of were. & fals bileueL.19.47: This line is written in the right margin by the original scribe. A cross with a punctus in each quadrant appears in both margins as a signe de renvoie for the supplied line. Þo was he ihesus of iewes called · gentel prophete And kynge of her kyngdome · & croune bar of þornes And þo conquered he on crosse · as conquerour noble Myȝt no deth hym fordo · ne adown brynge That he ne aros & regned · and rauysshed helle And þo was he conquerour called · of quikke & of ded For he ȝaf Adam & Eue · and other mo blisse Þat longe hadde leyne bifore · as lucyferes cherles And sith he ȝaf largely · alle his lele lyges Places in paradys · at her partynge hennes He may wel be called conquerour · & þat is cryst to mene Ac þe cause þat he cometh þus · with crosse of his passioun Is to wissen vs þere-wyth · þat whan þat we ben tempted Þer-with to fyȝte & fenden vs · fro fallyng in-to synne And se bi his sorwe · þat who-so loueth ioye To penaunce & to pouerte he moste putten hym-seluen And moche wo in þis worlde · willen & suffren Ac to carpe more of cryst · and how he come to þat name Faithly forto speke · his firste name was ihesus Tho he was borne in bethleem as þe boke telleth And cam to take mankynde · kynges and aungeles Reuerenced hym faire · with richesse of erthe Angeles out of heuene · come knelyng & songe Gloria in excelsis deo &c Kynges come after · kneled & offred Mirre & moche golde · with-outen mercy askynge Or any kynnes catel · but knowlechyng hym soeuereigne Bothe of sonde sonne & see · & sithenes þei went In-to her kyngene kyth · by conseille of angeles And there was þat worde fulfilled · þe which þow of speke Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Ihesu For alle þe angeles of heuene · at hi.s burth kneled And al þe witte of þe worlde · was in þo þre kynges Resoun & riȝtfulnesseL.19.81: LBC alone read riȝtfulnesse; all other manuscripts have Rightwisnesse. · & reuth þei offred Wherfore & whi · wyse men þat tyme Maistres & lettred men · Magy hem called X That o kynge cam with resoun · keuered vnder senseL.19.84-86: A drypoint <X> appears in the left margin. Þe secounde kynge sitthe · sothliche offred Riȝtwisnesse vnder red golde resouns felawe Golde is likned to leute · þat last shal euere And resoun to riche golde · to riȝte & to treuthe The þridde kynge þo cam · knelyng to ihesu And presented hym with pitee · apierynge by myrre For mirre is mercy to mene · & mylde speche of tonge Thre yliche honest þinges · wasL.19.92: LF alone read was; other B manuscripts have some form of were. offred þus at ones Þorw þre kynne kynges · knelynge to ihesu Ac for alle þise preciouse presentz · owre lorde prynce ihesus Was neyther kynge ne conquerour · til he gan to wexe In þe manere of a man · & þat by moche sleight As it bicometh a conquerour · to konne many sleightes And many wyles & witte · þat wil ben a leder And so did ihesu in his dayes · who-so had tyme to telle it Sum-tyme he suffred · & sum-tyme he hydde hym And sum-tyme he fauȝte faste · & fleigh otherwhile And some-tyme he gaf good · & graunted hele bothe Lyf & lyme · as hym lyste he wrought As kynde is of a conquerour · so comsed ihesu Tyl he had alle hem · þat he fore bledde In his iuuente þis ihesus · atte iuwen feste Water in-to wyn tourned · as holy writ telleth And þere bigan god · of his grace to dowel For wyn is lykned to lawe · & lyf of holynesse And lawe lakked þo · for men loued nouȝt her enemys And cryst conseilleth þus · & comaundeth bothe Bothe to lered & to lewed · to louye owre enemys So atte feste firste as I bifore tolde Bygan god of his grace & goodnesse to dowel And þo was he cleped & called nouȝt holy cryst but Ihesu A fauntfyn ful of witte · filius marie For bifor his moder marie · made he þat wonder Þat she furste & formest · ferme shulde bilieue That he þorw grace was gete · & of no gome elles He wrouȝt þat bi no witte · but þorw worde one After þe kynde þat he come of · þere comsed he dowel And whan he was woxen more · in his moder absence He made lame to lepe · & ȝaue liȝte to blynde And fedde with two fisshes · & with fyue loues · Sore afyngred folke · mo þan fyue thousande Þus he conforted carful · & cauȝte a gretter name Þe whiche was dobet · where þat he went For defe þorw his doynges to here · & dombe speke he made And alle he heled & halpe · þat hym of grace asked And þo was he called in contre of þe comune peple For þe dedes þat he did · fili dauid ihesus For dauid was douȝtiest · of dedes in his tyme The berdes þo songe · Saul interfecit mille · et dauid decem milia · For-þi þe contre þere ihesu cam · called hym fili dauid And nempned hym of nazereth · & no man so worthi To be kaisere or kynge · of þe kyngedome of iuda Ne ouer iuwes iustice · as ihesus was hem þouȝte Where-of caiphas hadde enuye · & other of þe iewes And forto doun hym to deth · day & nyȝte þei casten Kulleden hym on crosse-wyse · at caluarie on fryday And sithen buryden his body · & beden þat men sholde Kepen it fro niȝt-comeres · with knyȝtes yarmed For no frendes shulde hym fecche · for prophetes hem tolde Þat þat blessed body · of burieles shulde rise And gone in-to galile · and gladen his apostles And his moder Marie · þus men bifore demed The knyȝtes þat kepten it · biknewe it hem-seluen Þat angeles & archangeles · ar þe day spronge Come knelynge to þe corps · & songen cristus resurgens Verrey man bifor hem alle · & forth with hem he ȝede The iewes preyed hem pees · & bisouȝte þe knyȝtes Telle þe comune þat þere cam · a compaignye of his aposteles And bywicched hem as þei woke · & awey stolen it Ac Marie Magdeleyne · mette hym bi þe wey Goynge toward galile · in godhed & manhed And lyues & lokynge · & she aloude cryde In eche a compaignye þere she cam · cristus resurgens Þus cam it out þat cryst ouer-cam · rekeuered & lyued Sic oportet cristum pati & intrare &c · For þat wommen witeth · may nouȝte wel be conseille Peter parceyued al þis · & pursued after Bothe iames & Iohan · Ihesu for to seke Tadde & ten mo · with Thomas of ynde And as alle þise wise wyes · weren togideres In an hous al bishette · & her dore ybarred Cryst cam in & al closed · bothe dore & ȝates To peter & to his aposteles · and seyde pax vobis And toke Thomas by þe hande · and tauȝte hym to grope And fele with his fyngres · his flesshelich herteL.19.169: The scribe appears to have failed to skip a line for the strophe break and scraped the text. Thomas touched it · & with his tonge seydeL.19.170: We have characterized this word as an addition, though it is clearly the original scribe's hand. The <d> is somewhat extravagantly flourished, and a word-initial long <s> is not common in his hand. Deus meus & dominus meus Thow art my lorde · I bileue · god lorde ihesu Þow deydest & deth þoledest · and deme shalt vs alle And now art lyuynge & lokynge · & laste shalt euere Crist carped þanne · and curteislich seyde Thomas for þow trowest þis · & trewliche bileuest it Blessed mote þow be · & be shalt for euere And blessed mote þei alle be · in body & in soule That neuere shal se me in siȝte · as þow doste nouthe And lellich bileuen al þis · I loue hem & blesse hem Beati qui non viderunt &c · And whan þis dede was done · dobest he tauȝte And ȝaf Pieres power · and pardoun he graunted To alle manere men · mercy & forȝyfnes Hym myȝte men to assoille · of alle manere synnes In couenant þat þei come · & knewleche to paye To pieres pardon þe plowman · redde quod debes Thus hath pieres powere · be his pardoun payed + To bynde & toL.19.189: LC2 alone read to. vnbynde · bothe here & ellesL.19.189: LF alone — R is absent here — read elles, which probably explains the corrector's <+> to the right of and slightly higher than this line. Other B manuscripts have ellis-where. It is equally possible that the corrector's mark was intended to call attention to the repeated to of the a-verse or to both differences from beta. And assoille men of alle synnes · saue of dette one Anone after an heigh · vp in-to heuene He went & wonyeth þere · & wil come atte laste And wilL.19.193: LG alone have wil. rewarde hym riȝte wel · þat reddit quod debet Payeth parfitly as pure trewthe wolde And what persone payeth it nouȝt · punysshen he þinketh And demen hem at domes-daye · bothe quikke & ded Þe gode to þe godhede · & to grete ioye And wikkeL.19.198: L alone reads wikke; all other B manuscripts have wikkede. to wonye · in wo with-outen ende Þus conscience of crist · & of þe crosse carped And conseilled me to knele þer-to · & þanne come me þouȝte One spiritus paraclitus · to Pieres & to his felawes In lyknesse of a liȝtnynge · he lyȝte on hem alle And made hem konne & knowe · alkyn langages L.19.204: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it. ¶ I wondred what þat was · & wagged conscience And was afered of the lyȝte · for in fyres lyknesseL.19.205: A few characters, no longer legible, are erased in the right margin. Spiritus paraclitus · ouer-spradde hem alle Quod concscience & kneled · þis is crystes messager And cometh fro þe grete god · & grace is his name Knele now quod conscience · & if þow canst synge Welcome hym & worshipe hym · with veni creator spiritus Thanne songe I þat songe · and so did many hundreth And cryden with conscience · help vs god of grace And þanne bigan grace · to go with piers plowman And conseilled hym & conscience · þe comune to sompne For I wil dele to-daye · & dyuyde grace To alkynnes creatures · þat kanL.19.216: LF alone read kan; most other B manuscripts have han. Note that R is not present here. her fyue wittes Tresore to lyue by · to her lyues ende And wepne to fyȝte with · þat wil neure faille For antecryst & his · al þe worlde shal greue And acombre þe conscience · but if cryst þe helpe And fals prophetes fele · flatereres & glosers Shullen come & be curatoures · ouer kynges & erlis And pryde shal be pope · prynce of holycherche Coueytyse & vnkyndenesse · cardinales hym to lede For-þi quod grace er I go · I wil gyue ȝow tresore And wepne to fiȝte with · whan antecryst ȝow assailleth And gaf eche man a grace · to gye with hym-seluen That ydelnesse encombre hym nouȝt · envye ne pryde Diuisiones graciarum sunt &c · Some he ȝaf wytte · with wordes to shewe Witte to wynne her lyflode with · as þe worlde asketh As prechoures & prestes & prentyce of lawe Þei lelly to lyue · by laboure of tonge And bi witte to wissen other · as grace hem wolde teche And some he kenned crafte · & kunnynge of syȝte With sellyng & buggynge · her bylyf to wynne And some he lered to laboure · a lele lyf & a trewe And somme he tauȝte to tilie · to dyche & to thecche To wynne with her lyflode · by lore of his techynge And some to dyuyne & diuide · noumbres to kenne And some to compas craftily · & coloures to make And some to se & to saye · what shulde bifalle Bothe of wel & of wo · telle it or it felle As Astronomyenes þorw astronomye · & philosophres wyse And some to ryde & to recoeureL.19.245: LF read recoeure; most other B manuscripts have recouere. Cf. L.17.69 for similar alpha and L agreement. For the spelling, see the Linguistic Description, § III.2.1.2.25. · þat vnriȝtfully was wonne He wissed hem wynne it aȝeyne · þorw wightnesse of handes And fecchen it fro fals men · with foluyles lawes And some he lered to lyue · in longynge to ben hennes In pouerte & in penaunce · to preye for alle crystene And alle he lered to be lele · & eche a crafte loue other And forbad hem alle debate · þat none were amonge hem Thowgh some be clenner þan somme · ȝe se wel quod grace + Þat he þat vseth þe fairest crafte · to þe foulest I couth haue put hymL.19.253: A corrector's <+> appears in the left margin, suggesting that the scribe initially omitted couth haue put hym. Those words appear in ink darker than the rest of the line. Þinketh alle quod grace · þat grace cometh of my ȝifte Loke þat none lakke other · but loueth alle as bretheren And who þat moste maistries can · be myldest of berynge And crouneth conscience kynge · & maketh crafte ȝowre stuward And after craftes conseille · clotheth ȝow & fede For I make Pieres þe plowman · my procuratour & my reve And Regystrere to receyue · redde quod debes My prowor & my plowman · Piers shal ben on erthe And for to tulye treuthe · a teme shal he haue Grace gaue Piers a teme · foure gret oxen Þat on was Luke a large beste · and a lowe-chered And marke & mathew þe þrydde · myghty bestes bothe And ioigned to hem one Iohan · most gentil of alle Þe prys nete of Piers plow · passyng alle other And grace gaue pieres · of his goodnesse foure stottis Al þat his oxen eryed · þey to harwe after On hyȝte Austyne · & ambrose an other Gregori þe grete clerke · & Ierome þe gode Þise foure þe feithe to teche · folweth pieres teme And harwed in an handwhile · al holy scripture Wyth two harwes þat þei hadde · an olde & a newe IdestId est vetus testamentum & nouum And grace gaue greynes · þe cardynales vertues And sewe it in mannes soule · & sithen he tolde her names Spiritus prudencie · þe firste seed hyȝte And who-so eet þat · ymagyne he shulde Ar he did any dede · deuyse wel þe ende And lerned men a ladel bugge · with a longe stele Þat cast for to kepe a crokke · to saue þe fatte abouen The secounde seed hiȝte spiritus temperancie He þat ete of þat seed · hadde suche a kynde Shulde neuere mete ne mochel drynke · make hym to swelle Ne sholde no scorner ne scolde · oute of skyl hym brynge Ne wynnynge ne welthe · of wordeliche ricchesse Waste worde of ydelnesse · ne wykked speche meue Shulde no curyous clothe · comen on hys rugge Ne no mete in his mouth · þat maister Iohan spiced The thridde seed þat Pieres sewe · was spiritus fortitudinis And who-so eet of þat seed hardy was eure To suffre al þat god sent · sykenesse & angres Myȝte no lesyngeL.19.294: L alone reads lesynge; other B manuscripts have lesynges. ne lyere · ne losse of worldely catel Maken hym for any mournynge · þat he nas merye in soule And bolde & abydynge · bismeres to suffre And playeth al with pacyence · & parce michi domine And couered hym vnder conseille · of catoun þe wyse Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique The fierthe seed þat pieres sewe · was spiritus iusticie And he þat eet of þat seed · shulde be euere trewe With god & nouȝt agast · but of gyle one For gyle goth so pryuely · þat good faith other-while May nouȝte ben aspyed · for spiritus iusticie Spiritus iusticie · spareth nouȝte to spille Hem þat ben gulty · & forto correcte Þe Kynge ȝif he falle · in gylte or in trespasse For counteth he no kynges wratthe · whan he in courte sitteth To demen as a domes-man · adradde was he neure Noither of duke ne of deth · þat he ne dede þeL.19.310: LF alone have þe; other B manuscripts omit it. Note that R is not present here. lawe For present or for preyere · or any prynces lettres He dede equite to alle · euene-forth his powere Thise foure sedes pieres sewe · and sitthe he did hem harwe Wyth olde lawe and newe lawe · þat loue myȝte wexe Amonge þe foure vertues · and vices destroye For comunelich in contrees · kammokes & wedes Fouleth þe fruite in þe felde · þere þei growe togyderes And so don vices · vertues worthy Quod Piers harweth alle þat kunneth kynde witte · bi conseille of þis doctours And tulyeth after her techynge · þe cardinale vertues Aȝeines þi greynes quod grace · bigynneth for to ripe Ordeigne þe an hous quodL.19.322: LCr1,2M have quod; all other B witnesses omit it. Piers · to herberwe in þi cornes By god grace quod Piers · ȝe moten gyue tymbre And ordeyne þat hous · ar ȝe hennes wende And grace gaue hym þe crosse · with þe croune of þornes That cryst vpon caluarye · for mankynde on pyned And of his baptesme & blode · þat he bledde on Rode He made a maner morter · & mercy it hiȝte And þere-with grace bigan · to make a good foundement And watteled it and walled it · with his peynes & his passioun And of al holywrit · he made a rofe after And called þat hous vnite · holicherche on englisshe And whan þis dede was done · grace deuised A carte hyȝte cristendome · to carye pieres sheues And gaf hym caples to his carte · contricioun & confessioun And made presthode haywarde · þe while hym-self went As wyde as þe worlde is · with pieres to tulye treuthe Now is Pieres to þe plow · & pruyde it aspyde And gadered hym a grete oest · to greuen he þinketh Conscience and al crystene · and cardinale vertues Blowe hem doune & breke hem · & bite atwo þe mores And sent forth surquydous · his seriaunt of armes And his spye spille-loue · one speke yuel byhynde Þise two come to conscience · and to crystene peple And tolde hem tydynges · þat tyne þei shulde þe sedes That Pieres þere hadde ysowen · þe cardynal vertues And Pieres berne worth broke · & þei þat ben in vnite Shulle come out · & conscience & ȝowre two caples Confessioun & contricioun · and ȝowre carte þe byleue Shal be coloured so queyntly · and keuered vnder owre sophistrie + Þat consciounconsci[ence]L.19.351: The corrector's <+> in the left margin notes the scribe's conscioun for conscience. shal nouȝte  knowe by contricioun Ne by confessioun  who is cristene or hethen Ne no maner marchaunt · þat with moneye deleth Where he wynne wyth riȝte · with wronge or with vsure With suche coloures & queyntise  cometh pryde yarmed With þe lorde þat lyueth after · þe luste of his body To wasten on welfare · and on wykked kepynge Al þe worlde in a while · þorw owre witte quod pruyde Quod conscience to alle crystene þo · my conseille is to wende Hastiliche in-to vnyte · & holde we vs þere And preye we þat a pees were · in Piers berne þe plowman For witterly I wote wel · we beth nouȝte of strengthe To gone agayne pryde · but grace were with vs And þanne cam kynde wytte · conscience to teche And cryde & comaunded · al crystene peple For to deluen a dyche · depe aboute vnite + That holycherche stode in vnite · as it a pylepyle [were]L.19.367: A corrector's <+> in the left margin notes L's omission of were after pyle, attested by all other B manuscripts. Conscience comaunded þo · al crystene to delue And make a muche mote · þat myȝte ben a strengthe To helpe holycherche · & hem þat it kepeth Thanne alkyn crystene · saue comune wommen Repenteden & refused synne · saue they one And fals men flateres · vsureres and theues Lyeres and questmongeres · þat were forsworen ofte Wytynge and willefully · with þe falseL.19.375: The <s> of false is unclear because of scuffing. helden And for syluer were forswore · sothely þei wist it Þere nas no crystene creature · þat kynde witte hadde Saue schrewes one · suche as I spak of That he ne halpe a quantite · holynesse to wexe Somme þorw bedes byddynge · and some þorw pylgrymage And other pryue penaunce · and some þorw penyes delynge And þanne welled water · for wikked werkes Egerlich ernynge · out of mennes eyen Clennesse of þe comune · & clerkes clene lyuynge Made vnite holicherche · in holynesse to stonde I care nouȝte quod conscience · þough pryde come nouthe Þe lorde of luste shal be letted · al þis lente I hope Comeþ quod conscience · ȝe cristene and dyneth Þat han laboured lelly · al þis lente tyme Here is bred yblessed · and goddes body þer-vnder Grace þorw goddes worde · gaue Pieres power Myȝtes to maken it · & men to ete it after In helpe of her hele · onys in a moneth Or as ofte as þey hadden nede · þo þat hadde ypayed To pieres pardoun þe plowman · redde quod debes How quod al þe comune · þow conseillest vs to ȝelde Al þat we owen any wyȝte · ar we go to housel That is my conseille quod conscience & cardynale vertues Þat vche man forȝyue other · and þat wyl þe pater noster Et dimitte nobis debita nostra · &c · And so to ben assoilled · & sithen ben houseled Ȝe bawe quod a brewere · I wil nouȝt be reuled Bi ihesu for al ȝowre ianglynge · with spiritus iusticie Ne after conscience by cryste · whil I can selle Bothe dregges & draffe · and drawe it at on hole Þikke ale and þinne ale · for þat is my kynde And nouȝte hakke after holynesse · holde þi tonge conscience Of spiritus iusticie · þow spekest moche an ydel Caytyue quod conscience · cursed wrecche Vnblessed artow brewere · but if þe god helpe But þow lyue by lore · of spiritus iusticie Þe chief seed þat Pieres sewe · ysaued worstow neure But conscience þe comune fede · and cardynale vertues Leue it wel þei ben loste · bothe lyf & soule Thanne is manyL.19.415: L alone omits a after many. man ylost quod a lewed vycory I am a curatour of holykyrke · and come neure in my tyme Man to me þat me couth telle · of cardinale vertues Or þat acounted conscience · at a cokkes fether or an hennes I knewe neure cardynal · þat he ne cam fro þe pope And we clerkes whan þey come · for her comunes payeth For her pelure and her palfreyes mete · & piloures þat hem folweth Þe comune clamat cotidie · eche a man to other Þe contre is þe curseder · þat cardynales come Inne And þere they ligge and lenge moste · lecherye þere regneth For-þi quod þis vicori · be verrey god I wolde That no cardynal come · amonge þe comune peple But in her holynesse · holden hem stille At Auynoun amonge þe iuwes · cum sancto sanctus eris &c Or in Rome as here rule wole · þe reliques to kepe And þow conscience in kynges courte · & shuldest neure come þennes And grace þat þow gredest so of : gyour of alle clerkes And Pieres with his newe plow · & eke with his olde Emperour of al þe worlde · þat alle men were cristene Inparfyt is þat pope · þat alL.19.434: LB alone omit þe before peple. peple shulde helpe And sendeth hem þat sleeth suche · as he shulde saue And wel worth piers þe plowman · þat pursuethL.19.436: L alone reads sueth; all other B manuscripts have pursueþ, the probably original reading here with <pur-> erased. god in doyng Qui pluit super iustos · & iniustos at ones And sent þe sonne to saue · a cursed mannes tilthe As bryȝte as to þe best man · & to þe beste woman Riȝte so Pieres þe plowman · peyneth hym to tulye As wel for a wastour · & wenches of þe stuwes As for hym-self & his seruauntz · saue he is firste yserued And trauailleth & tulyeth · for a tretour also sore As for a trewe tydy man · al tymes ylyke And worshiped be he þat wrouȝte al · bothe good & wykke And suffreth þat synful be · til some-tyme þat þei repente And god amende þe pope · þat pileth holykirke And cleymeth bifor þe kynge · to be keper ouer crystene And counteth nouȝt þough crystene ben · culled & robbed And fynt folke to fyȝte · and cristene blode to spille Aȝeyne þe olde lawe & newe lawe · as Luke þer-of witnesseth Non occides michi vindictam &c It semeth · by so  hym-self hadd his wille That he ne reccheth riȝte nouȝte · of al þe remenaunte And cryst of his curteisye · þe cardinales saue And tourne her witte to wisdome · & to wele of soule For þe comune quod þis curatour counten ful litel Þe conseille of conscience · or cardinale vertues But if þei soweL.19.459: L alone reads sowe; most other B manuscripts have some form of seiȝe. as by syȝte · somwhat to wynnynge Of gyle ne of gabbynge · gyue þei neuere tale For spiritus prudencie · amonge þe peple is gyle And alle þo faire vertues · as vyces þei semeth Eche man sotileth a sleight · synne forto hyde And coloureth it for a kunnynge · and a clene lyuynge Thanne loughe þere a lorde · & by þis liȝte sayde I halde it ryȝte & resoun · of my reue to take Al þat myne auditour or elles my stuwarde Conseilleth me by her acounte · & my clerkes wrytynge With spiritus intellectus · they seke þe reues rolles + And with spiritus fortitudinis · fecchefecche [it]L.19.470: The corrector's <+> in the right margin notes L's omission of it after fecche, attested by other B manuscripts. I wole And þanne come þere a kynge · & bi his croune seyde I am Kynge with croune · þe comune to reule And holykirke & clergye · fro cursed men to defende And if me lakketh to lyue by · þe lawe wil I take it Þere I may hastlokest it haue · for I am hed of lawe For ȝe ben but membres · & I aboue alle And sith I am ȝowre aller hed · I am ȝowre aller hele And holycherche chief help · & chiftaigne of þe comune And what I take of ȝow two · I take it atte techynge Of spiritus iusticie for I · iugge ȝow alle So I may baldely be houseled · for I borwe neuere Ne craue of my comune · but as my kynde asketh In condicioun quod conscience · þat þow konne defende And rule þi rewme in resoun · riȝt wel & in treuth Take þow may in resoun as þi lawe asketh Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum set non ad depre..dandum Þe vyker hadde fer home · & faire toke his leue And I awakned þere-with · & wrote as me mette passus xxus de visione & primus de dobestPassus xxusvicesimus & primus de dobest t ThanneL.20.1: A small guide letter <t> appears in the left margin. The ornamental capital is in a different style from the other passus beginnings. as I went by þe way · whan I was þus awaked Heuy-chered I ȝede · and elynge in herte I ne wiste where to ete · ne at what place And it neighed nyeghe þe none · & with nede I mette That afronted me foule · and faitour me called CoudestowL.20.6: LF alone read Coudestow; other B manuscripts have Kanstow. nouȝte excuse þe · as dede þe Kynge & other Þat þow toke to þi bylyf · to clothes and to sustenance AsL.20.8: LCrM read As; most B manuscripts have And. Among C manuscripts, PEcRcMcVcAcQScZNc also read As here. by techynge & by tellynge · of spiritus temperancie And þow nome namore · þan nede þe tauȝte And nede ne hath no lawe · ne neure shal falle in dette For þre thynges he taketh · his lyf forto saue That is mete whan men hym werneth · & he no moneye weldeth Ne wyght none wil ben his borwe · ne wedde hath none to legge And he cauȝte in þat cas · & come þere-to by sleighte He synneth nouȝte sothelich · þat so wynneth his fode And þough he come so to a clothe · and can no better cheuysaunce Nede anon-riȝte · nymeth hym vnder meynpryse And if hym lyst for to lape · þe lawe of kynde wolde That he dronke at eche diche · ar he for thurste deyde So nede at grete nede · may nymen as for his owne Wyth-oute conseille of conscience · or cardynale vertues So þat he suwe & saue · spiritus temperancie For is no vertue by fer to spiritus temperancie Neither spiritus iusticie · ne spiritus fortitudinis For spiritus fortitudinis · forfaiteth ful oft He shal do more þan mesure · many tyme & ofte And bete men ouer bitter · and somme of hem to litel And greue men gretter · þan goode faith it wolde And spiritus iusticie  shal iuggen wolhe nolhe After þe kynges conseille · & þe comune lyke And spiritus prudencie · in many a poynte shal faille Of þat he weneth wolde falle · if his wytte ne were Wenynge is no wysdome · ne wyse ymagynacioun Homo proponit & deus disponit · & gouerneth alle good vertues Ac nede is next hym · for anon he meketh And as low as a lombe · for lakkyng of þat hym nedeth Wyse men forsoke wele · for þey wolde be nedy And woneden in wildernesse · & wolde nouȝte be riche And god al his grete ioye · gostliche he left And cam & toke mankynde · and bycam nedy So nedy he was as seyth þe boke · in many sondry places Þat he seyde in his sorwe · on þe selue Rode Bothe fox & foule · may fleighe to hole & crepe And þe fisshe hath fyn · to flete with to reste + Þere nede hath ynome me · þat I mote nede abydeL.20.45: The letter <a> was squeezed into the space left as a word break by the original scribe in response to a partially erased corrector's <+> in the left margin. And suffre sorwes ful sowre · þat shal to ioye tourne For-þi be nouȝte abasshed · to byde and to be nedy Syth he þat wrouȝte al þe worlde · was wilfullich nedy Ne neuer none so nedy · ne pouerere deyde Whan nede had vndernome me þus · anon I felle aslepe And mette ful merueillously · þat in mannes forme Antecryst cam þanne · and al þe croppe of treuthe Torned it vp-so-doune · and ouertilte þe rote And fals sprynge & sprede · & spede mennes nedes In eche a contre þere he cam · he cutte awey treuthe And gert gyle growe þere · as he a god were L.20.57ff.: This leaf, the last of quire 11, and the first leaf of the final quire are quite faded, though entirely legible, probably reflecting some damage while the manuscript was unbound. Freres folwed þat fende · for he ȝaf hem copes And religiouse reuerenced hym · and rongen here belles And al þe couent forth cam · to welcome þat tyraunt And alle hise · as wel as hym · saue onlich folis Which folis were wel leuer to ...?...deye þan to lyue Lengore sith lenten  was so rebuked And a fals fende antecriste · ouer alle folke regned And þat were mylde men & holy · þat no myschief dredden Defyed al falsenesse · and folke þat it vsed + And what Kynge þat hem conforted · knowynge hem any whileL.20.66: A largely erased corrector's <+> appears to the left of the following line. There is no evidence of error or of a correction in that line, but it is possible that he any in this line is written over an erasure. Kane-Donaldson emend conjecturally to hir gile, based on the C variants and alpha's hem/hym gyle. Cf. the note to L.12.123. L.20.67: The corrector's mark is largely erased and somewhat easier to see in the manuscript than in the color image. See the note to the preceding line. They cursed and her conseille · were it clerke or lewed Antecriste hadde thus sone · hundredes at his banere And Pryde it bare · boldely aboute With a lorde þat lyueth · after lykynge of body That cam aȝein conscience · þat kepere was & gyoure Ouer kynde ...crystene · and cardynale vertues I conseille quod conscience þo · cometh with me ȝe foles In-to vnyte holy cherche · and holde we vs there And crye we to kynde · þat he come & defende vs Foles · fro þis fendes lymes · for Piers loue þe plowman And crye we to alle þe comune / þat þei come to vnite And þere abide and bikere · aȝein beliales children Kynd conscience þo herde · and cam out of þe planetes And sent forth his foreioures feures and fluxes Coughes and cardiacles · crampes and tothaches Rewmes & radegoundes · and roynouse scalles Byles and bocches · and brennyng agues Frenesyes & foule yueles · forageres of kynde Hadde yprykked and prayed polles of peple Þat largelich a legioun · leseL.20.86: L alone reads lese (R has lose); most other B manuscripts have loren or losten. her lyf sone There was harrow and help · here cometh kyndeL.20.87: In the right margin are some dark brown pen strokes and evidence of something scraped. With deth þat is dredful · to vndone vs alle The lorde that lyued after lust · tho alowde cryde After ....conforte a knyghte · to come and bere his banere Alarme alarme quod þat lorde eche lyf kepe his owne And þanne mette þis men · ar mynstralles myȝte pipe And ar heraudes of armes · hadden descreued lordes Elde þe hore · he was in þe vauntwarde And bare þe banere bifor deth · by riȝte he it claymed Kynde come after · with many kene sores As pokkes and pestilences · and moche poeple shente · L.20.98ff.: This page, though pale, looks like the original scribe's usual script. A streak of damage has affected the first words of the first three lines, but they are readable. So kynde þorw corupciouns · kulled ful manye Deth cam dryuendeL.20.99: LRF have the -ende form of the present participle; most other B witnesses read dryuynge. See the Linguistic Description § III.3.5.1.3. after · and al to doust passhed Kynges & Knyȝtes · kayseres and popes Lered ne lewed · he let no man stonde That he hitte euene · þat euere stired after Many a louely lady · and lemmanes of knyghtes Swouned and swelted · for sorwe of dethes dyntes Conscience of his curteisye · to kynde he bisouȝte To cesse & ..suffre · and see where þei wolde Leue pryde pryuely · and be parfite cristene And kynde cessed tho · to se þe peple amende Fortune gan flateren thenne · þo fewe þat were alyue And byhight hem longe lyf · and lecherye he sent Amonges al manere men · wedded & vnwedded And gadered a gret hoste · al agayne conscience This lecherye leyde on · with a laughyng chiere And with pryue speche · and peynted wordes And armed hym in ydelnesse · and in hiegh berynge He bare a bowe in his hande · and manye blody arwes Weren fethered with faire biheste · and many a false truthe + WitL.20.118: The corrector's <+> beside the following line probably refers to the scribe's rendering of Wit for Wiþ here. The corrector marked the same form at L.5.612. It was not corrected either place. his vntydy tales · he tened ful ofte Conscience and his compaignye · of holicherche þe techeres Thanne cam coueityse · and caste how he myȝte Ouercome conscience · and cardynal vertues And armed hym in auaryce · and hungriliche lyued His wepne was al wiles · to wynnen & to hyden With glosynges and with gabbynges · he gyled þe peple Symonye hym sent · to assaille conscience And preched to þe peple · and prelates þei hem maden To holden with antecryste · her temperaltes to saue And come to þe kynges conseille · as a kene baroun And kneled to conscience in courte afor hem alle And gart gode feith flee · and fals to abide And boldeliche bar adown · with many a briȝte noble Moche of þe witte and wisdome · of westmynster halle He iugged til a iustice · and iusted in his ere And ouertilte al his treuthe · with take þis vp amendement And to þe arches in haste · he ȝede anone after And torned Ciuile in-to symonye · and sitthe he toke þe official For a mentel of menyuere · he made lele matrimonye Departen ar deth cam · & deuos shupte Allas quod conscience & cried þo · wolde criste of his grace That Coueitise were cristeneL.20.139: The last three letters of the catchword have faded or been partially erased. That coueityse were cristene · þat is so kene a fiȝter And bolde and bidyng · while his bagge lasteth And þanne lowgh lyf · and leet dagge his clothes And armed hym in haste · in harlotes wordes And helde holynesse a iape · and hendenesse a wastour And lete leute a cherle · and lyer a fre man · Conscience and conseille · he counted it aL.20.146: LHmMW alone have a. folye · Thus relyed lyf · for a litel fortune And pryked forth with pryde preyseth he no vertue AL.20.149: A probably was written for "he." careth nouȝte how kynde slow · and shal come atte laste And culle alle erthely creatureL.20.150: LYR alone have the singular form creature; all other B manuscripts have the plural. · saue conscience one Lyf leep asyde · and lauȝte hym a lemman Heel & I quod he · and hieghnesse of herte Shal do þe nouȝte drede · noyther deth ne elde And to forȝete sorwe · and ȝyue nouȝte of synne This lyked lyf · and his lemman fortune And geten in her glorie · a gadelyng atte laste One þat moche wo wrouȝte · sleuthe was his name Sleuthe wex wonder ȝerne · and sone was of age And wedded one wanhope · a wenche of þe stuwes Her syre was a sysour · þat neure swore treuthe One Thomme two tonge · ateynte at vch a queste This sleuthe was war of werre · and a slynge made And threwe drede of dyspayre · a dozein myle aboute For care conscience þo · cryed vpon elde And bad hym fonde to fyȝte · and afere wanhope And elde hent good hope · and hastilich he shifte hym And wayued awey wanhope · and with lyf he fyȝteth And lyf fleigh for fere to fysyke after helpe And bisouȝte hym of socoure · and of his salue hadde And gaf hym golde good woon · þat gladded his herte And þei gyuen hym agayne a glasen houve Lyf leued þat lechecrafte · lette shulde elde And dryuen awey deth · with dyas and dragges And elde auntred hym on lyf · and atte laste he hitte A Fisicien with a forred hood · þat he fel in a palsye And þere deyed þat doctour · ar thre dayes after Now I see seyde lyf · þat surgerye ne Fisyke May nouȝte a myte auaille · to medle aȝein elde And in hope of his hele · gode herte he hente And rode so to reuel · a ryche place and a merye L.20.181ff.: This page is extremely faded. The companye of conforte · men cleped it sumtyme And elde anone after me · and ouer myne heed ȝede And made me balled bifore · and bare on þe croune So harde he ȝede ouer myn hed · it wil be seen eure Sire euel ytauȝte elde quod I · vnhende go with the Sith whanne was þe way · ouer menL.20.186: L alone reads men; all other B manuscripts have mennes. hedes Haddestow be hende quod I · þow woldest haue asked leue Ȝe leue lordeyne quod he · and leyde on me with age And hitte me vnder þe ere · vnethe may ich here He buffeted me aboute þe mouthe · & bett out my tethe And gyued me in goutes · I may nouȝte go at large And of þe wo þat I was in · my wyf had reuthe And wisshed ful witterly · þat I were in heuene For þe lyme þat she loued me fore · and leef was to fele On nyȝtes namely · whan we naked were I ne myght in no manere · maken it at hir wille So elde and she sothly · hadden it forbeten And as I seet in þis sorwe · I say how kynde passed And deth drowgh niegh me · for drede gan I quake And cried to kynde · out of care me brynge Loo elde þe hoore · hath me biseye Awreke me if ȝowre wille be · for I wolde ben hennes Ȝif þow wilt ben ywroken · wende in-to vnite And holde þe þere eure · tyl I sende for þe And loke þow conne somme crafte ar þow come þennes Conseille me kynde quod I · what crafte is best to lerne L.20.207: The scribe skipped a line as for a strophe break, but the rubricator failed to supply a paraph. A few other B manuscripts, including RW, supply a parasign at this point.Lerne to loue quod kynde · & leue of alle othre How shal I come to catel so · to clothe me and to fede And þow loue lelly quod he · lakke shal þe neure Mete ne wordly wede · whil þi lyf lasteth And þere by conseille of kynde · I comsed to rowme Thorw contricioun & confessioun · tyl I cam to vnite And þere was conscience constable · cristene to saue And biseged sothly · with seuene grete gyauntz Þat with Antecriste helden · hard aȝein conscience Sleuth with his slynge · an hard saut he made Proude prestes come with hym moo þan a thousand In paltokes & pyked shoes · & pisseres longe knyues Comen aȝein conscience · with coueityse þei helden L.20.220: The rubricating scribe failed to erase the <cc> guide from the left margin. By Marie quod a mansed preste · of þe marche of yrlonde I counte namore conscience · bi so I cacche syluer Than I do to drynke · a drauȝte of good ale And so seide sexty of þe same · contreye And shoten aȝein with shotte · many a shef of othes And brode hoked arwes · goddes herte & his nayles And hadden almost vnyte · and holynesse adowne Conscience cryed helpe · clergye or ellis I falle Thorw inparfit prestes · and prelates of holicherche Freres herden hym crye · and comen hym to helpe Ac for þei couth nouȝte wel her craft · conscience forsoke hem Nede neghed tho nere · and conscience he tolde That þei come for coueityse · to haue cure of soules And for þei arn poure par-auenture · for patrimoigne hem failleth + Thei wil flatre to fare wel · folke þat ben richeL.20.234: There is no evidence of correction within the line, but a corrector's <+> has been erased from the right margin. And sithen þei chosen chele · and cheytifteL.20.235: LWR read cheytifte; most B witnesses have chaytyf. pouerte Lat hem chewe as þei chese · and charge hem with no cure id est sepius For lomerL.20.237: The gloss id est sepius is written over lomer. he lyeth · þat lyflode mote begge Þan he þat laboureth for lyflode · & leneth it beggeres And sithen Freres forsoke · þe felicite of erthe Lat hem be as beggeres · or lyue by angeles fode Conscience of þis conseille þo · comsed for to laughe + And curteilichcurtei[s]lichL.20.242: A marginal corrector's <+> notes the scribe's omission of <s> from curteislich. conforted hem · and called in alle freres And seide sires sothly · welcome be ȝe alle To vnite and holicherche · ac on thyng I ȝow preye Holdeth ȝow in vnyte · and haueth none envye To lered ne to lewed · but lyueth after ȝowre rewle And I wil be ȝowre borghe · ȝe shal haue bred and clothes And other necessaries anowe · ȝow shal no thyng faille With þat ȝe leue logyk · and lerneth for to louye For loue laft þei lordship · bothe londe and scole Frere Fraunceys and Dominyk · for loue to ben holy And if ȝe coueyteth cure · kynde wil ȝow teche That in mesure god made · alle manere thynges And sette it at a certeyne · and at a syker noumbre And nempned names newe · and noumbred þe sterres Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum · & omnibus eis &c Kynges & knyghtes þat kepen and defenden Han officers vnder hem · and vch of hem certeyne And if þei wa..ge men to werre · þei write hem in noumbre Wil no tresorere hem paye · trauaille þei neure so sore Alle other in bataille · ben yholde bribours Pilours and pykehernois · in eche a place ycursed Monkes and monyals · and alle men of Religioun Her ordre and her reule wil · to han a certeyne noumbre Of lewed and of lered · þe lawe wol and axeth A certeyn for a certeyne · saue onelich of freres For-þi quod conscience by cryst · kynde witte me telleth It is wikked to wage ȝow · ȝe wexeth out of noumbre Heuene hath euene noumbre · and helle is with-out noumbre For-þi I wolde witterly · þat ȝe were in þe Registre And ȝowre noumbre vndre notarie sygne · & noyther mo ne lasse Enuye herd þis · and heet freres to go to scole And lerne logyk and lawe · and eke contemplacioun And preche men of plato · and preue it by seneca Þat alle þinges vnder heuene · ouȝte to ben in comune And ȝit he lyeth as I leue · þat to þe lewed so precheth For god made to men a lawe · and Moyses it tauȝte Non concupisces rem proximi tui And euele is þis yholde · in parisches of engelonde For parsones and parishprestesparish prestes þat shulde þe peple shryue Ben curatoures called · to knowe and to hele Alle þat ben her parisshiens · penaunce to enioigne And shulden be ashamed in her shrifte · ac shame maketh hem wende And fleen to þe freres · as fals folke to westmynstre That borweth and bereth it þider · and þanne biddeth frendes Ȝerne of forȝifnesse · or lenger ȝeres leueL.20.286: LR alone read leue (or perhaps lene); most other B manuscripts have loone. Ac whil he is in westmynstre · he wil be bifore And make hym merye with other mennes goodis And so it fareth with moche folke · þat to þe freres shryueth + As sysours and excecutours · þei wil þeue[ȝeue þe] freresL.20.290: The b-verse of most B manuscripts reads þei wol (or schul) ȝyue þe freres. The original scribe wrote þe before freres. A corrector's <+> appears in the left margin, and þe was later changed to þeue by a supralinear addition, although the corrector presumably meant yeue þe. The confusion of <y> and <þ> is not characteristic of this scribe. See the note to L.7.59. A parcel to preye for hem · & make hem-self myrye With þe residue and þe remenaunt · þat other men biswonke And suffre þe ded in dette · to þe day of dome Enuye herfore · hated conscience And freres to philosofye · he fonde hem to scole The while coueytise and vnkyndenesse · conscience assailled In vnite holycherche · conscience helde hym And made pees porter · to pynne þe ȝates Of alle taletellers · and tyterers in ydel Ypocrisye and he · an hard saut þei made Ypocrysie atte ȝate · hard gan fiȝte And wounded wel wykkedly · many wise techer Þat with conscience acorded · and cardinale vertues Conscience called a leche · þat coude wel shryue Go salue þo þat syke ben · þorw synne ywounded Shrifte shope sharpe salue · and made men do penaunce For her mysdedes þat þei wrouȝte hadden And þat piers were payed · redde quod debes Somme lyked nouȝte þis leche · and lettres þei sent Ȝif any surgien were þe seggeL.20.310: A later hand has lined through the second <g> of segge. The manuscripts differ considerably here. Alpha and Cr have in þe sege, but most beta witnesses have þe segge. At first glance the second <g> may appear to have been damaged by a worm hole. · þat softer couth plastre Sire lief to lyue in leccherye · lay þere and groned For fastyng of a fryday · he ferde as he wolde deye Ther is a surgiene in þis sege · þat soft can handle And more of phisyke bi fer · and fairer he plastreth nota One frere flaterere is phisiciene and surgiene Quod contricioun to conscience · do hym come to vnyte For here is many a man herte · þorw ypocrisie We han no nede quod conscience · I wote no better leche Than persoun or parissh prest · penytancere or bisshop · Saue Piers þe plowman · þat hath powere ouer hem alle And indulgence may do · but if dette lette it I may wel suffre seyde conscience · syn ȝe desiren That frere flaterer be fette · and phisike ȝow syke The Frere her-of herde · and hyed faste To a lorde for a lettre · leue to haue to curen As a curatour he were · and cam with his lettres Baldly to þe bisshop · & his brief hadde In contrees þere he come in · confessiouns to here And cam þere conscience was · and knokked atte ȝate Pees vnpynned it · was porter of vnyte And in haste asked · what his wille were In faith quod þis frere · for profit and for helthe Carpe I wolde with contricioun · & þerfore come I hider He is sike seide pees · and so ar many other Ypocrisie hath herte hem · ful harde is if þei keure I am a surgien seide þe segge · and salues can make Conscience knoweth me wel · and what I can do bothe I preye þe quod pees þo · ar þow passe ferther What hattestow I preye þe · hele nouȝte þi name Certes seyde his felow sire penetrans domos Ȝe go þi gate quod pees · bi god for al þi phisyk But þow conne somme crafte · þow comest nouȝt her-Inne I knewe such one ones · nouȝte eighte wynter passed Come in þus ycoped · at a courte þere I dwelt And was my lordes leche · & my ladyes bothe And at þe last þis limitour · þo my lorde was out He salued so owre wommen · til somme were with childe Hende speche het pees · opene þe ȝates Late in þe frere and his felawe · and make hem faire chere He may se and here · so it may bifalle That lyf þorw his lore shal leue coueityse And be adradde of deth · and with-drawe hymL.20.352: The ink above hym is offset from the following leaf. fram pryde And acorde with conscience · and kisse her either other Thus thorw hende speche entred þe frere And cam in to conscience · and curteisly hym grette Þow art welcome quod conscience canstow hele þe syke Here is contricioun quod conscience · my cosyn ywounded Conforte hym quod conscience and take kepe to his sores The plastres of þe persoun · and poudres biten to sore He lat hem ligge ouerlonge · and loth is to chaunge hem Fro lenten to lenten · he lat his plastres bite That is ouerlonge quod this limitour · I leue I shal amende it And goth and gropeth contricioun · and gaf hym a plastre Of a pryue payement · and I shal praye for ȝow For alle þat ȝe ben holde to · al my lyf-tyme And make ȝow my lady · in masse and in matynes As freres of owre fraternite · for a litel syluer Thus he goth and gadereth · and gloseth þere he shryueth Tyl contricioun hadde clene forȝeten · to crye & to wepe And wake for his wykked werkes · as he was wont to done For confort of his confessour · contricioun he lafte Þat is þe souereynest salue · for alkyn synnes Sleuth seigh þat · and so did pryde And come with a kene wille · conscience to assaille Conscience cryde eft · and bad clergye help hym And also contricioun · forto kepe þe ȝate He lith and dremeth · seyde pees · and so do many other The Frere with his phisik · þis folke hath enchaunted And plastred hem so esyly · þei drede no synne Bi cryste quod conscience þo · I wil bicome a pilgryme And walken as wyde · as al þe wordle lasteth To seke Piers þe plowman · þat pryde may destruye And þat freres hadde a fyndyng · þat for nede flateren And contrepleteth me conscience · now kynde me auenge And sende me happe and hele · til I haue piers þe plowman passus ijus de Dobest And sitthe he gradde after grace · til I gan awakeL.20.386: In the left margin below the final line of text the scribe has written passus ijus de Dobest as an (ignored) instruction for the rubricator. It has been cropped, lacking initial pass- or explicit pass-. Explicit hic dialogus petri plowman