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WILLIAM LANGLAND

PIERS THE PLOUGHMAN

PASSUS V
[fol.15r]

Incipit Passus Quintus.

♫ F wynkynge y waked þo / & wo was y with-alle.
Þat y ne hadde slepe saddere / & y-seyn moore.
But er y hadde faren a forlong / a feyntyȝse me hente.
Þat y ne myghte a foote furthere / for defawte of slepe.
Þan sat y softly adoun / & seyde myn beleve.
& y bablede so on my bedis / þey browhte me on sleepe.              [15v]
& þanne y seyȝ mychil moore / þan y be-fore-hond tolde.
For y seyȝ þe feld ful of folk / þat y be-fore of seyde.
& how Resoun a-rayed hym / al þe Rewme to preche.
& at þe cros by-fore þe kyng / he comsed a teeme.
He prechede þat þe pestylencys / wheryn for pure synne.
& þat þe Sowþ-west wyȝnd / on a Saturday ateveat eve.
Was a-pertly for pryȝde / & for no poynt ellys.
Boþe pyryes & plumtrees / wheryn puffyd to þe erthe.
& broode okes & beechis / where blowe to þe grownde.
& turnede vpwarde here tayl / knowlechynge drede.
Þat dedly synne er domes-day / sholde for-don vs alle.
& al þese was ensample / þat we sholde doon þe bettre.
But of þis Matere yy [myȝt] / mamele ful longe.
But y shal seyȝn ȝow / as y seyȝ / so me god helpe.
How propirly by-fore þe peple / prechen gan resoun.
He bad wastour goo wyrche / what he beest cowhde.
& wynnyn his wastynge / with sum manere of werkys.
He prayede Peronylle / hire purfyle to leete.
& kepe þe coyn in hire cofre / to conforte hire at neede.
& Thomme of Stowe he tawhte / to take two stavis.
& Fecche Felice his wif hom / fram wyfene pyȝne.
Also he warnede watte / how hys wif was to blame.
Þat hire heed was worþ half Mark / & his hood not worþ a groote.
He bad his knave a bowhȝ kytte / komely to honde.
To beetyn þerwith Betoun / but yf she wille wyrche.
& namely he chargede Chapmen / to chastyse here childryn.
& leete no wynnynge / for-wayne hem / whilys þey ben ȝonge.
Ne for no pyte of Pestilence / ne pleese hem out of Resoun.
My sire seyde onys to me / & also seyde my damme.
How þat þe leevere chyld / þe more Loore be-hoveþ.
& Salomon seide þe same / þat sapience book maade.
Qvi parcit virge  odit filium.
Þe englyȝs of þis Latyn ys / who þat wille yt knowe.
Who þat spareþ þe ȝonge spryng / he spillyþ hyse barnes.
Þanne parled he to parsones / & to preestis to-gydres.
Looke ȝee preche þe peple / & preve it on ȝoure-selue.
& doþ it sadly in dede / & ȝee shulle drawe to goode.
& ellis wille þe peple parle / in ȝoure parshȝ a-bowhte.
If ȝee lyve / as ȝee leerne vs / we leve ȝow þe bettre.
Þanne after he radde Relygious / here rewhlys to holde.
Lest þe kyng by his conseyl / ȝoure comonys a-peyre.
& been Stywarde of ȝoure Stedis / tyl ȝee been in bettre rewle.     [16r]
& sytthen he conseylyde þe kyng / to love þe comoun peple.
For þat is tresor / yf tresoun nere / & triacle at neede.
& sytthe he prayede þe Pope / to have rewþe on holy chirche
& er he grawnte ony grace / to governe fyrst hym-selue.
& ȝee þat have Lawis to kepe / let Coueytyse be with trewþe.
More þan gold / or oþire gyftys / if ȝee wille god plese.
For who þat contraryeþ trewþe / as telliþ þe trewe gospel.
Þat god knoweth hym nowht / ne non coorseynt of hevene.
Amen dico vobis . nescio vos.
& ȝee þat seekyn seynt Iemes / or ony seynt of Rome.
Seke first seynt trewþe / for he may save ȝow alle.
Qvi cum patre & filio / alle fayre hem be-falle.
Þat sewyn myn sermoun / & þus seyde sire Resoun.
Nou ran Repentaunce / & reersede his teeme
& made wille to wepe / water with his eyȝen.
& Peronylle prowd-herte / platte hire on þe erthe.
& þere she lay longe / & oure lord / mercy cryȝede.
& by-hyghte to hym an hees / þat vs alle formede
Þat she wolde vn-sowe hyhy[r] sirke / & settyn þere an hayre.
To a-flasshen hire fleshȝ / þat feers was to synne.
Shal y neuere have heyȝ herte / but holde me euere lowe.
& suffre toto [be] mys-seyȝd / & so ȝit dide y neuere.
But now wille y meeke me / & Mercy be-seche.
For þat y have hated / in myn herte longe.
Þe Lecc[h]our seyde ofte allas / & to oure Lady he criȝede.
To have mercy for hise mys-dedis / þat mychil he offendid.
Be so / he sholde euery day / þis sevene ȝeer after.
Drynke with þe dunkele doke / & dyghnen but ones.
Þanne Envie with heuy herte / askyde after shryfte.
& carefully with mea culpa he comsede to shryve.
He was as pale / as a pelote / & in þe palesy he semede.
He was cloþid in cawry-mawry / I cowhde it not discryȝe.
He hadde on kyrtyl & coorteby / & a long knyf by his syȝde.
& of a Frerys frokke / weryn hise fory-slevis.
He lookede with lene chekys / & lowrynge brewys.
As a leek hadde y-leyn / longe a-geyn þe sunne.
His body was foule y-bolned / & faste he boot hise lyppis.
& hise hondis he wrong / to ben a-wreke he þowhte.
With werkys / or with wordis / whan he seyȝ his tyȝme.
& euery word þat he warp / was lyk an addir tunge.
Of chydynge & Ianglynge / was his cheef lyflode.
With bakbytynge & bysmere / & berynge fals witnesse.        [16v]
[S]wiche manerys he made / to ech man he medled with.
Þanne seyde þat shrewe y wolde be shryve / if y for shame durste.
But ȝit y wolde be gladdere / yf Gybbe hadde mys-chaunce.
I have a neyȝhebore neyȝ me / y haue noyȝed hym ofte.
& lowhe on hym ful lowhde / & mad hym loost[lese] his syluer.
& mad hise frendis . hise foon / þorwh my false tunge.
For his grace & goode happis / greve me ful sore.
By-twixe hym & manye men / y make debate ofte.
Þat boþe here lyvis & here lymes / be loost . þoru my speche.
& whan y mete hym in Market / þat y moost hate.
I heyȝle hym ful hendely / as y his frend were.
For hehe [is] dowhtyere þan y / y dar doon non oþir.
But hadde y Maystrie ouer hym / god wot my wille.
& whan y come to chirche / & knele to-for þe roode.
& sholde praye for þe peple / as þe parshȝ prest techeþ.
For pylgrymes for palmeres / & penauntys also.
Þanne y criȝe for cristian / þat crist gyve hire sorwe
Þat bar a-wey myn bolle / & my broke sheete.
¶  A-weyȝ fram þe awhter / þan turne y myn eyȝen.
& be-held how hervy / hadde on a newe cote.
Þerfore y brende betterly / þat myn brest-boon gan krake.
& wisshede ofte / it were myn / & al þe weeb after.
& for mennys leesynge y lawhe / for it lykeþ wel myn herte.
But for his wynnyngge y wepe / & ofte weyle þe tyme.
I deme hem / þat doon Ille / & y do my-selue wel werse.
& who þat vndir-nemeþ me þerof / I hate hym euere after.
I wolde þat euery whyȝt man / were be-come myn knave.
& who þat haþ more þan y / ȝee  þat angriþ me sore.
& þus y lyve loveles / lych a lythir dogge.
Þat al my body bolneþ / so bytter ys my galle.
I myghte not etyn manye ȝeris / as a man awhte.
For Envye & euel wyl / ys evyl to defyȝe.
Þere may no sewgre / ne swete þyng / a-swage my wombe.
Ne non dyapendyon / dryve it fram myn herte.
Ne neythir shryfte ne shame / but he wil shrape myn mawe
Ȝys  quod Repentawnce redely / & radde hym to þe beste.
Strong sorwe for synne / is saluacioun to þe sowle.
¶ Peter y am euere sory quod he  y am but seelden oþir.
& þat makþ me þus meegre / for y ne me may a-venge.
I was a-mong burgeys / þere men bowhte & solde.
I made bakbytere be brokour / to lakke mennys ware.             [17r]
& whan he solde & y nowht / þan was y ful redy.
To lyȝe & to lowre on hym / & to lakkyn his ware.
I wille a-mende me if y may / þorgh cristis myght in heuenne.
THanne wratthe gan awake / with two white eyȝes.
Al revelynge[n]evelynge with his nose / & his nekke hangynge.
I am wrothȝ he seyde þo / for sumtyme y was a frere.
& þe Couentys Gardyner / for to graffe yȝmpis.
& on Lemetour & on lyȝstre / lesynges y yȝmpede.
Tyl þey bere Levis of lowh speche / lordis to plese.
& sytthyn þey blomed in bowres / for to heeryn shryftis.
& now ys fallyn swich frut þerof / þat folk have wel levere.
To shewyn here shryfte to hem / & for-sake here parsoun.
& now have parsones y-parceyvid / þat here parsshenys love freris.
& so possessioneris prechyn / & de-prauen Freris.
& fyȝnde hem in defawhte / as folk bere witnesse.
Þat whan þey preche þe peple / in fele placys a-bowte.
I wratthe walke with hem / & wisshe hem of my bookys.
& make hem so speke of spiritualte / tyl ech dyspyse oþir.
Tyl þey ben boþe beggeris / & by almesse lybben.
Or ellis boþe be ryche / & ryally ryde a-bowte.
& y wratthe reste neuere / but renne after & folwe.
Alle swiche wykkide folk / for swich is my grace.
I have an awnte to a Nunne / & eek an Abbesse.
Þey weryn leuere to sweltre / þan to suffre a whyle.
I was Cook in here kychene / & þe conuent seruede.
Fele Moneþis of þe ȝeer / & Mawgre was my knave.
I was þe Prioresse potager / & oþire poore Ladijs.
& Made hem Iowtys of Ianglynge / þat dame Ione was bastard.
& dame Claris a knyghtis dowter / bubu[t] she knew not hire fadir.
& dame Peronel a prestys syster ./ Prioresse worþ she neuere.
For she childid in Chirye-tyme / al þe chapetre it wyste.
I hakkede here wortis ech day / with wordys & with spyes.
Tyl þou lyxt  & þou lyxt / lopen owt a tonysat onys.
& ech cracchid oþir / & hire kyrtlys rentyn.
Hadde þey had knyvis by crist / ech hadde kyllid oþir.
Seynt Gregory was a good pope / & hadde good resoun.
Þat no Prioresse sholde be prest / þat lawe he ordeynede
Þey weryn infamys at þe firste / so cun þei conseil close.
A-mongis Munkis y myghte be / but ofte þanne y wonde.
Boþe of Pryour & supprior / & of pater Abbas.                               [17v]
For if itellei telle onye talis / þey take hem to-gydres.
& don me faste frydayes / boþe breed & watur.
& y am chastysed in Chapetre / as y a child were.
& baleysed on my bare bak / þat my bely beendiþ.
For-þy  y have no lykynge / with þo leedis to dwelle.
For þere y eet vnthende fyssh / & drank feble ale.
& oþirwhile whan wyȝn comeþ / y drynke wel a teveat eve
Þat y have a flyx & a foul mowth / wel fyve dayes after.
& al þe wykkidnesse þat y woot / be onye of my bretheryn.
I cowthe it in þe Cloystre / til al þe Couent knoweth yt.
A Repente quod Repentaunce / & reerse þou yt neuere.
Of conseyl þat þou knowist / be contynance ne be speche.
& drynk not ouer-delycatly / ne to depe neythir.
Þat þy wille be cause þerof / to wratthe it þe turne.
Esto sobrius he seyde / & assoyled me sone þere-after.
& bad me wylne to wepe / my wykkidnesse to amende.
AFter hym cam Coueytyse / y can not hym discriue.
So hugerlyhu[n]gerly / & holwe / sire Hervy lokede.
He was brytyl-brewidbytyl-brewid / & babirlyppid alse.
With two blerede eyȝen / as a blynd hagge.
& as a ledrene purs / lolleden hise chekys.
Wel syddere þan his chyn / þey shynedeshyu[er]ede for elde.
& as a bonde-man et bakoun / so was his berd dravelyd.
His hood he hadde on his hed / an heyȝ hat þer vppe.
He hadde on a tany tabbard / of ten ȝeer of age.
Al to-tore & bawhdy / & lappe syȝd / it semede.
Þat but if a lows were lyght / & cowhde lepe þe bettre.
He sholde nono[t] walke on þat web / but his staf were pyked.
I have be Coueytous quod þis caytyf / y be-knowe it here.
For sumtyme y servede / Symme at þe style.
& was his prentiȝs a-plyght / his profyte to wayte.
Fyrst y leernede to lyȝe / wel a leef or moore.
& skarsly to weyȝe þyngis / was my fyrste lessoun.
To wykumbe & to wynchestre / y wente to feyres.
With many maner of Marchaundise / as my Maister me hyghte.
Ne hadde þe grace of gyle be / þat gan gon a-mong my ware.
It hadde be vnsold þis seuyn ȝeer / so me god helpe.
Þanne drow y me a-mong draperis / my donet to leerne.
For to drawe þe lyȝste a-long / þe cloþ þe lengere semede.
A-mong þe ryche rayes / y rendred my lessoun
To broche hem with a batte nedle / & plytid hem þan to-gydre.
& pitte hem in a presse / & pyned hem þer-Inne.                    [18r]
Tyl teen ȝerdis or twelue / tollyd out thrittene.
My wif was a webbe / & wollene she made.
She spak to a spynstere / to spynne it fair & klene.
But þe pound þat she payed by / peysed a quarter more.
Þan myn owne awncel / who þat weyȝede trewþe.
Þan bowhte y here barly malt / she brewh it to selle.
Peny ale & puddyng ale / she porede to-gydre.
For laboreris & lowe folk / she leide it be þe-selue.
& þe beste ale lay in my bowr / or in my bed-chambre.
& who þat bummede þer-of / he bowhte it þer-after.
A galoun for a groote / god woot no lesse.
& ȝit it com in / cuppe-mel / swich craft she vseþ
Rose regrater / ys hire ryght name.
She haþ y-holde huksterye / al hire lyf-tyȝme.
I swere now so þeech / þat synne wil y leete.
& neuere wrongly weyȝe / ne wikkid chaffare vse.
But y wenden to walsyngham / & my wif with me.
& bidde þe roode of Bromholm / brynge me fram dette.
Repentist þe euere / quod repentaunce / & restitucioun þou madist.
Ȝee  quod he onys y was herborwhed / with an hep of Chapmen.
& whan þei weryn in reste / y roos / & ryflede here malis.
Þat was no repentaunce quod he / but a robberis dede.
Þou haddist been bettre þerfore / ben hongyd be þe nekke.
Þan for al þe oþir þyng / þat þou hast here shewyd.
I wende ryfflyng where restitucioun / so kan y rede on boke.
Ne y can no Frenchȝ in feyþ / but of Norþfolk langage.
Vsedist þou euere vserye quod repentaunce / in al þy lyf-tyme.
Nay soþly seyde he  save sumtyme in ȝowthe.
I lernede a-mongys lumbardis / a lessoun be herte.
To weyȝe pens with a peyȝs / & þan to pare þe heuyest
& to leene for love of þe cros / & if þey leyȝde a wed / lese it.
& doble dette y dide wryte / if he his day brooke.
I have mo Maneris þoruh regages / þan þoruh miseretur & comedat.
I have lent lordis longe / my lovely chaffare.
& be a brokour after / bowht yt a-geyn my-selue.
& with changis & chevesaunces / with chaffare y dele.
& y leene folk þat leese wille / a shelyng in þe noble.
& with lumbardis lettris / y ladde gold to Rome.
& took it here be tale / & tolde it þere lasse.
Lentyst þou euere Lordis quod he for love of Meyntenaunce.        [18v]
Ȝee  y have lent Lordis quod he þat lovede me neuere after.
& y have maad many a knyght / boþe Mercyr & drapeer.
Þat peyȝede neuere for his prentyȝshod / not a peyȝre clovis[g]lovis.
Hast þou pyte on poore men / þat muste for nede borwe.
I have as myche pyte on þe pore / as þe peddere on Cattis.
Þat wolde kyllyn hem alle / for coveytyse of here skynnys.
Art þou Manly to þyn Neyȝhebour / of Metis & drynkys.
I am holde / as hende quod he / as hownd ys in þe kycchene.
A-mong my Neygheboures namely / swich a name i have.
Now god gyve grace quod repentaunce / but þou repente / þe rathere.
Grawnte þe grace on þis grownde / þy good so þou be-sette.
Þat þyn houswif after the / have Ioye of þat þou wynnyst.
& þyne seketoures weel be-sette / þe siluer þat þou levist
For as it ys / wonne with wrong / it worþ with wastoures spendid.
For where y Frere of an hows / þere feyþ is fownde þere-Inne.
I wolde not Cope vs with þyn Catel / ne oure chirche a-mende.
Ne have a peny to petaunce / so mote pyȝghne in helle.
For þe beste book in oure hous / þeyȝ brend gold where þe levis.
& y wyste wittirly / þou were swych as þou tellyst.
Seruus es alterius cum fercula pinguia queris.
Pane tuo pocius vescere liber eris.
Þou art an vn-kyȝnde creature / y can þe nowht asoyle.
Tyl þou Make restitucioun / & rekne with hem alle.
& þerto / þat Resoun rolle it / in þe regystre of hevene.
For til þou hast maad / ech man good / y may þe noht a-soyle.
Non dimittitur peccatum  nisi restituatur ablatum.
For alle þo þat have þyn good / as god have my trewþe
He is holde to ȝeelde it here / if he may it qwyte
Or praye þe of for-gyfnesse / or to doon yt for þy sowle.
& ellis he shal have evil hap / but he heendely wirche.
His catel shal fallyn hym froo / or ellis hise freendis goode.
Or ellis his soule shal drynke sour / at o dayes tyme.
Or seyȝ Miserere mei deus wich ysw[her y] mene trewthe.
Þer ys no Laborer þat wil leve þe / þat longiþ to pers plowhman.
For shal neuere werkman in þis world / þryve . with þat þou wynnyst.
Cum sancto sanctus eris / construe now wel þis resoun.
Þanne wex þe shrewe in wanhope / & wolde an hongid hym-selue.
Ne hadde Repentaunce þe rathere / reersyd þese wordis.
Have mercy in þy Myȝnde man / & with þyn Mowþ god be-seche.
For goddis mercy ys more / þanne manye of hise oþir werkys.
& al þe wykkidnesse / þat ony man / may eyþir wirche or þynke.
Is no moore to goddis mercy / þan in þe see a gleede
Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei  est quasi sintilla ¶ in medio maris.
For-þy have in þy mynde mercy / & Marchaundise þou leve.                    [19r]
For þou hast no good grownde / to gete þerfore a wastel.
But it be with þy tunge / or ellis with þyn hondis.
For al þe good þatþat [þou] hast geete / þe grownde be-gan with falsnesse.
& as longe þou[as] þou lyvest þerwith / þou ȝeeldest not but borwist.
& if þou wete neuere to wyche / ne yt[ȝ]it to whom restore.
Bere it to þyn Bysshop / & bydde hym of his grace.
By-sette yt hym-selue / as beest is for þyn sowle.
For he shal answere for þe / at þe day of doome.
For the / & for manye moo / þat man shal ȝeve reknyng.
& what he lerned ȝow in lentene / be-leve þou non oþir.
HErly gan Glotoun / for to goo to shryfte.
& wendis hym to kirkeward / his coupe to shewe.
A-non Betoun þe Brewstere / bad hym good Morwe.
& freyned hym . whens he cam / & whidir þat he wolde.
To holy chirche quod he  to heren a-morwe Messe.
& sytthe y wille be shryve / & synne no moore.
Ȝee  y have good ale gossip quod she  glotoun wilt þou a-saye.
Hast þou in þyn purs quod he  ony spyces fyȝne.
I have peper & pyenys / quod she  & a pound of gilloffris.
& a ferthyng-worþ of fenel seed / for fastynge-dayes.
A-non gooþ Glotoun in with hire / & grete oþis after.
& fond Symme sowteres wif / syttynge on þe benche.
& Watte Waryner also / & his wif bothe.
& Tomme þe tynkere / & tweyn of hise prentyȝs.
& hikke þe hakeney man / & howe þe nedlere.
& Clarys of cokkyslane / with þe clerk of þe chirche.
& sire pers of prydye / & peronelle of Flaundres.
& Dawe þe dykere / & wel a doseyn oþere.
A rybybour / a ratoner / & a rakyere of chepe.
A Ropere & a Redyng-kyng / & Rose dissheres dowhter.
& Godefrey / of Garlyngheþe / & Geffrey wasshere.
& vp-holderys a gret heep / herly be þe Morwe.
Þey geve Glotoun with glad chere / a galoun ale in honde.
Sone Clement þe Cobelere / of-caste his cloke.
& in þe newe feyȝre / he nempnyd it to selle.
A-non hikke þe hakeney man / hytte his hood after.
& bad Bette þe bocher / to been on his syȝde.
Þere weryn chapmen y-chose / þat chaffare to preyȝse.
Which of hem sholde have þe hood / or who sholde haue þe boþe.
Þan ryse þey ful rathely / & rowneden to-gydres.
& preyseden þe peny-worthis / ech part by hym-selue.
But þei cowde not be here consience / a-corde þat tyȝme.
Tyl Robyn þe Ropere / was reysed fram his sete.                                    [19v]
& nempned for a nounpere / þat no debate þere fylle.
Þanne hikke hosteler / hadde þe cloke.
In connawnt þat Clement / sholdesholde [þe] cuppe fylle.
& have hikkis hod hosteler / & holde hym a-payed.
& who þat repentyd rathest / sholde ryse sone.
& gretyn wel sire Glotoun / with a galoun ale.
Þere was lawhyng / & lowryng / & let go þe cuppe.
& setyn þere tyl evynsong / & sunge merye songis.
Tyl Glotoun hadde y-glubbyd / a galoun & more.
Þat hise guttys gunne to gowle / as a gredy sowe.
I trowe he pissed a potel / in a pater noster whyle.
& blewh his rownde rewet / at his regbonys ende.
Þat al þe folk in þe hows / helden here nose after.
& wysshed it were wypid / with a wips of fyrsen.
He myghte not steppe ne stonde / er he a staf hadde.
& þanne gan he goo lych / a glewh-mannys bycche.
Sum-tyme he ȝeede o-syde / & hidirward & þydirward.
As who þat leyþ lyȝnes / larkys to cacche.
& whan he drowh to þe dore / þan dymmed hise eyȝen.
& tripplidtrippid on þe threshold / & ouer-threwh to grownde.
A-non Clement coblere / kawht hym in hise armes.
For to lifte hym on loft / & leyȝde hym on hise knowis.
But Glotoun was a gret cherl / & grim for to lyfte.
& cowhed a potel cawhdel / in Clementis lappe.
Þer is non so hungri hound / in al hertforde-shyre.
Þat leste lape a lyte þerof / so loþly it smellide
Þan with al þe wo in þe world / his wif & his wenche.
Þey beren hym to his bed / & browhte hym þere-Inne.
& after al þat exces / he hadde swich an accydie.
Þat he sleep al Saturday / & Sunday tyl eve.
& þanne a-waked he wroþly / & wypide hise eyȝen.
& þe fyrste word þat he warp / was where is þe bolle.
& wit gan edwyte hym / how wykkidly he wrouhte.
& ryght so dede Repentance / he rebukyd hym þat tyme.
Þou hast þoruhȝ word & werk / wrowht euele in þy lyve.
I rede þou shryve þe & be a-shamed / & shewe it with þy mowþe.
Þan seyde þat gome Glotoun / y have gyltyd god ofte.
& swore goddis sowle & side / & so help me god & holy-dom.
Þere þat no nede was / nyhȝne hundryd tyȝmes.                                      [20r]
I have ouer-seyn me at soper / & sum-tyme at noon melis.
Þat y gert vp a-geyn / er y gan goon a myle.
& ofte y-speld . þat myghte be spared / & spend it on nedy.
& ouer-delycatly on fastynge-dayes / y-drunke & etyn boþe.
& sum-tyme sat so longe þere-at / y sleep & eet a tonesat ones.
To heryn talis in tauernys / to drynke þe sunnere y wente.
& ofte hyȝede to mete er noon / whan fastynge-dayes felle.
Now þis shewynge shryfte / quod Repentaunce / shal be meryȝt to þe.
& a-non gan Glotoun gretyn / & greet dool he maade.
For his loþ lyþir lyf / þat he so lyvid hadde.
& a-vowede to faste / for hungir & þryst boþe
& seyde / shal neuere fyshȝ on fryday / defyen in my wombe.
Tyl Abstynence myn awnte / haþ ȝove me good leve.
& ȝit have y hated hire / In al my lyf-tyme.
Hanne[T]hanne com Slewthe be-slotered / with two slymed eyȝes.
I muste sytte seyde þe segge / or y shal ellis nappe.
I may nowht stonde / ne stowpe / with-oute[ne] with-oute stool knele
But where y browht in bedde / but my bely it made.
Sholde no rynggynge do me ryse / er y were rype to dyghne.
He gan Benedicite on a book / & his brest he knokkyde.
& rorede with a raskeng / & Rutte at þe laste.
What a-wake quod Repentaunce / & rape þe to shryfte.
A-þeyh y sholde dyȝe quod he  y may not now looke.
I can not my pater noster / as þe preest me tawhte.
But yy [can] Romaunces of Robynn hod / & of Randolf þe Reve.
But non of oure lord ne oure lady / þe leeste þat is makyd.
I have maad fourty a-vowes a teveat eve / & for-getyn hem on morwe.
Ne y parformed neuere my penaunce / þat þe preest me Ioynede.
Ne be sory for my synnys / ȝit soþly was y neuere.
& if y bydde ony bedys / but it be in wratthe.
Þat y telle with my tunge / it is two myle fram myn herte.
I am ocupied eueryday / boþe halyday & oþere.
With ydyl talis at þe ale / & oþire-whilis in chirche.
On goddis peynys ne on his passioun / ful seelde y þynke.
I vysityd seelde syke men / or feteryd folk in prisoun.
I hadde levere here harlotriȝe / or seen a somer game.
Er lesyngis to lawhe of / or be-lyȝe myn evyncristene.
& al þat euere seynt Mark made / or Mattheu . Iohan . or lucas.
& vigilijs & fastyng-dayes / alle y leet hem passe.
I lay in bedde in Lentene / & my lemman in myn armes.
Tyl Matinis & Masses / be do / & y muste to þe freris                     [20v]
But come y to Ite Missa est. I holde me wel y-seruyd.
I am nowht shryve but selden / but seknesse it make.
Nowht twyes in þe ȝeer / & þanne me þynkþ to sone.
I have be preest & Parsoun / passynge fourty wynter.
& ȝit can y neyþir solue ne synge / ne seyntys lyvis rede.
But y can fyȝnde in a fyȝld / of a furlong an hare.
Bettre þan in Beatus vir / or in Beati omnes.
To construe it clause-meel / & kenne it my parshenys.
I can holde wel Lovedayes / or heryn a Revis rekenyng.
But in Canon ne in decretalis / y can not rede a lyȝne.
& if y bygge or borwe / but it be wel y-taylid.
I for-ȝeete it as ȝeerne / & if men me yt aske.
Sixe sythis or sevene / y for-swere me with oþis.
& þerwith y tene / trewe men / ten hundred tymys.
& myne seruauntys sum-tyme / here sallarye is be-hyȝnde.
It is hard to heere rekenynge / whan we rede a-cowntys.
& so with wikkid wille & wratthe / my werkmen y peyȝe.
If ony doþ me a benefet / or helpiþ me at neede.
A-geyn hym / y am vnkyȝnde / & kan not it knowe.
For y have / & have had / summe of hawkys Manerys.
For y am nowht lured with love / but sumwhat lygge vndir þumbe.
Myn kosyȝnes gret kyȝndenesse / kyddyn to me fernere.
Sixty syþis for slewhthe / y have for-gete it sytthe.
& in sparynge of speche / y have spilt fele þyngys.
Boþe fleshȝ & fysshȝ / & fele oþere vytaylis.
As breed & beef & botere / & bake metys manyȝe.
I have for-slewthid in my seruyse / so longe y haue kept yt.
I ran a-bowhte in ȝowthe / & ȝaf me not to lerne.
Þat y am euereeuere sytthe i am þe lewedere / þorghȝ myn grete slowþe.
Heu michi quod sterilem vitam duxi Iuuenilem.
Ȝee Repentest þe nowht quod Repentance / & ryght with þat he swonyde
Tyl vigilate & orate / fette watur at hise eyȝen.
& flappede on his face / & faste on hym cryȝede.
& seyde war þe now fram wanhope / he wole þe be-trayȝe.
I am sory for my synes / seyȝ now so þy-selue.
& beete þy-selue on þy brest / & bidde god of grace.
For þere is no gilte here so gret / þat goddis goodnesse is more.
Þanne sat slewte vp / & sygned hym on þe forhed.
& made a-vow vn-to god / for his foule slewthe.
Þat y shal do me euery day / to þe dernede[er]e chirche.
& þere here Matinys & messe / as y a Munk where.
Tyl y have euynsong herd / y hote now to þe roode.                                      [21r]
& what y have take . to ȝelde a-geyn / yf y so mychil welde.
Of al þat y so wykkidly wan / sytthe y wit hadde.
& þeyhȝ my lyflode / lakke / lettyn þerfore y nylle.
Þat ech man shal have hys / er y hens wende.
& with þe oþir remnaunt / by þe Roode of chestre.
I shal seken trewþe / tryst[fyr]st / er y seke Rome.
A-noon Robert þe Robbere / on reddite lokede.
For he hadde nowht wher-of / he weep wondir sore.
But þat synful shrewe / seyde þus to hym-selue.
Whan þat cryst on Caluarie / vpon þe cros dyȝede.
Þan dismas my brothir / by-sowhte crist of grace.
& he hadde mercy on þat man / for memetomeme[n]to-is sake.
So rewe on me Robbere / þat reddere wil[n]il knowe.
Ne neuere weneþ to wynne / with craf þat y knowe.
But for mychil mercy / sum Mitigacioun me seende.
What be-fel of þis feloun / y can not faire shewe.
But wel y whot he wepte faste / water with hyse eyȝen.
Þat Penitencia-ys pyk / sholde pulshe hym newe.
& leep with hym ouer londe / al his lyf-tyme.
& be-fore he lay with latro / luciferys Awnte.
Thanne Repentaunce hadde rewþe / & radde hem alle to knele.
& be-sechen for alle synful / oure saviour of grace.
& þat we a-mende vs of oure mys / & do mercy on vs alle.
& seide god of þyn goodnesse / þou gunne þis world to make.
& of nawht / madist awht / & man most lyk þy-selue.
& sytthe þou suffredist hym synne / a sekirnesse seknesse to mankynde.
& al for þe beste as y beleve / what-euere bookys euere telletelle
O Felix culpa ¶ O necessarium peccatum Ade.
For þorghȝ synne þy sone / was sent doun in-to erthe.
& by-cam man of a Maide / Mankyȝnde / to save.
& madyst þy-selue with þyn sone / & vs synful y-lyche.
Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem & similitudinem nostram . Et alibi.
Qui manet in caritate in deo manet & deus in eo.
& sytthe with þyn selue sone / in oure sewht þou dyedist
On good fryday / for mannis sake / at ful tyme of þe day.
Neyþir þy-selue ne þy sone / no sorwe in dyȝeng feledist.
But in oure-selue . was þat sorwe / & þyn sone yt ladde.
Captiuam duxit captiuitatem.
Þe sunne for sorwe þerof / he lees syghte for a tyme.
A-bowhtyn Mydday / whan most lyȝt ys / & meel-tyme of seyntis.
Þo feddyst þou with þy fresche blood / oure fadrys in derknesse.
Populus qui ambulatambula[ba]t in tenebris . uidit lucem magnam.
& þorwh þat lyght þat leep fram the / lucyfer blente.                                       [21v]
For it blew alle þyne blessede þens / boldely in-to paradyȝs.
& þe þrydde day after ȝit / þou ȝeedyst forþ in oure sewte.
Fyrst a synful Marie þe see / er dede þy moodir dere.
It was to solace synful / þou suffredist it so falle.
Non veni uocare iustos . sed peccatores ad penitenciam.
& al of the[þat] / Mark haþ maad / & Mattheu / Iohan & Lucas.
Of þyne dowhtyeste dedis / where don in oure armes.
Quod uerbum caro factum est . & habitabithabita[v]it in nobis.
& by so myche / it semeþ / þe sykeresyk[er]ere to styȝe to hevene.
We byddyn þe / & by-sechyn / If so / it be þy wille.
As þou fadir & brothir art / be mercyable on þyn peple.
& have mercy on þese rybawdys / þat repenten hem sore.
Þat euere ȝit þey wratthid þe / In word / þowht / or dede.
Þanne hente Hope an horn / was deus tu conuersus uiuificabis nos.
& blew it with beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates.
& alle þe seyntis in heuene / a-non / þus þey sungyn a tonysat onys.
Homines & iumenta saluabis domine  quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus.
Wel a þowsende men þo / þrungyn alle to-gydres.
& criȝeden vp-warde to crist / & to hys clene Modir.
To graunte swich grace / trewthe to seken.
But þere was non so wyȝs / þe weyȝe to hym cowthe.
But blustreden furþ as beestis / ouer balkys & hillis.
Tyl it was late & longe / þat þey a leede mettyn.
I-paraylid as a palmere / in pylgrimes wedys.
He bar a burdoun y-bownde / with a brood lyste.
In a whythyeswyth[wynd]es wyse / ywownde al a-bowte.
& a bulle in a bagge / he bar by his syȝde.
& an hundred of ampullis / vpon his hat setyn.
& fele sygnes of seyntys / & shellis also of Galis.
& many a crowch on his cloke / with þe keyȝes of Rome.
& þe vernicle was by-fore / for folk sholde hym knowe.
& seen by hise syghnes / whom he sowht hadde.
Thanne þis folk freynede hym / whens þat he keme.
Fram þe sepulcre he seyde / & fram synay hyȝe hillis.
I have been boþe in Bedleem / & in Babylonye also.
In Armonye in Alysaundre / & manye oþire places.
Ȝee may seen by myn syghnes / þat syttyn on my cloke.
Þat y have walkid wyȝde / in weet & in dreyȝe.
& holy seyntis sowht / for my sowle helthe.
Ȝee  knowist þou nowht a corseynt / þat men calle trewþe.
& canst þou wisshe vs þe wey / where þat weyȝ dwelliþ.
Þanne seyde þe goome / nay so god me helpe.
I seyȝ neuere þat palmere / with pyk ne with scrippe.
Ne man þat askyd after hym / tyl now in þis place.                                    [22r]
Peter quod Pers Plowhman / & pitte furþ his face.
I knowe hym as kyȝndely / as ony clerk hise bookis.
Consiense & kyȝnde wit / kende me to his place.
& y haue ensured hem sewrly / to seruyn hym / for euere.
Boþe to sowe & to sette / whil y swynke myghte.
I have ben his foot folwere / al þis fourty wynter
Boþe y-sowed hise seedis / & sewyd a-bowtyn hise beestis.
& with-Inne boþe && with-outyn / waytid his profyȝte.
& boþe diggid & deluyd / & dyde þat he me comaundide.
For þeyh y sey it my-selue / y serue hym to payȝe.
& y haue myn here of hym / & oþir-whilis moore.
He is þe presteste payȝere / þat poore men knowen.
He withhalt no man his hyȝre / þat þey haue it soone.
& he is as lowhly as a lomb / & lovely of speche.
& if ȝe wilneþ to wete / where þat he dwellyþ.
I shal wysse ȝow witterly / þe weyȝe to his place.
Ȝee leve Pers quod þo pilgrimes / & proferedyn hym hyȝre.
For to wendyn with hem / þere trewþe gan dwelle.
Nay by my sowle quod pers / & gan swere faste.
I nolde fongyn a ferthyng / for fyfty florenys tolde.
Þan trewþe wolde love me þe lasse / a long tyme after.
But if ȝee wilneþ wel to walke / þis is þe wey þidirward.
Ȝee mote goon / be Meeknesse / boþe men & wyvis.
Tyl ȝee come to consience / cryst whot þe soþe.
& þat ȝee loven oure lord god / levest of alle þynge.
& þanne ȝoure neyhebore neest / & in no wyse a-peyre hym.
Oþirwyse / þan þou woldist / he wroghte to þy-selue.
& beende forþ be a brook / be buxum of þyn speche.
Tyl ȝee fyȝnde a forthe . ȝoure fadres ȝee honoure.
Honora patrem & matrem . ut sis longeuus super terram.
Wadiþ in-to þat water / & wasshe ȝow wel þer-Inne.
& ȝee shulle lepe þe lythlokere / al ȝoure lyf-tyme.
& sone shalt þou see swere nowht / but it be for nede.
Ne nempne not in ydelnesse / þe name of god almyghty.
& þanne shalt þou come be a croft / but com þou nowt þere-Inne.
Þe name ys coueyte þou nowht / neyþir maydins ne wyvis.
Ne non of here seruauntys / ne no þyng to hym longiþ.
Ne noyȝhe not hise bestis / neyþir bollokys ne oþere.
Two stokkis þere stondyn / but stynte ȝee not þere.
Þat is stele not ne sle not / ȝee strike furþ by boþe.
& leve hem on þy left hond / & loke not on hem after.                                       [22v]
Þat is / holde wel þyn halyday / with holy prayeris.
Þan shalt þou blenche at a beech / þou bere no fals witnesse
By-syde is a faire fyld / fals flaterynge ys þe name.
It ys frytthid with floreynys / & oþire fees manye.
Loke ȝee plukke no plante þerof / for pereyl of þe heyward.
Thanne shalt þou come to a court / as cleer as þe sunne.
Þe Moot is of mercy / with Maryȝs al a-bowte.
& alle þe wallis ben of wit / to holde wille owte.
& y-kerneled with cristendom / mankynde to save.
I-boterased with good by-leve / or þou best not savid.
& alle þe howsis ben y-helid / hyȝe halles & chambres
With no leed / but with love / & with lowhȝ speche also.
Þe bregge is . bydde wel / þe betre may þou spede.
Þe pilerys hatte Penaunce / & prayeris to seyntys.
Þe hokys ben almese dede / þe gate god hym-selue.
& grace hatte þe gateward / a good man for-soþe.
& his man hatte / a-mende ȝow / many man hym knoweth.
Telle ȝee hym þis tokne / trewþe knoweth þe sothe.
Þat y parformede þe penaunce / þe prest me en-Ioynede.
& am sory of myn synnys / & so y shal ben euere.
& byddeþ / a-mende ȝow / mekely / to his mayster praye.
To weyve vp þe wyket / þat þe womman shette.
After þat adam & Eve / eetyn þe appil vnrostyd.
Per evam cuntiscun[c]tis clausa est . & per mariam virginem iterum &c.
For she haþ þe keyȝe & kleket / þeyhȝ þe kyng slepe.
Þan shalt þou see þy-selue / where þat trewþe syttyþ.
In a chambre of charite / as he a child were.
To suffre ony seyȝeng / & do þy syrys wille.
But be war of wratthe / he is a wikkid shrewe.
He haþ Envie to hym / þat in þyn herte syttyþ.
& pokeþ pride priuyly / to preyse wel þy-selue.
& þe boldenesse of þyn benefetys / make þe blynd þanne.
& worþ þou dryve owt / & þe dore y-closed.
& keyȝed & klekedid / to kepyn þe with-outyn.
Happyly an hundryd wynter / er þou eft in entre.
Þus myght þou lesen his love / to lete wel by þi-selue.
& neuere happely eft entre / but his grace þou have.
But þere are seuene seruauntys / þat seruyn Trewþe euere.
Þey ben porterys at þe ȝatys / þat to his place longiþ.
Þe firste ys abstynense / & humilite ys a-noþir.
& Charite & Chastite / þese been hise chef chyldryn.
& Pacience & pees / mychil peple þey helpen.
& largenesse þat lady / she leteþ out ful Manyȝe.                                     [23r]
She haþ delyueryd a þowsende / owt of þe deuelys ponfolde.
& she is neyȝh-by sibbe þe[to] þe sevene / so me god helpe.
& she wille worchepely wolkome ȝow / & wel ȝow vndirfonge.
& but ȝee ben sybbe / quod pers / to summe of þese sevene.
It ys hard / by myn heed / for ony of ȝow alle.
To getyn in passage . at ony gate / but grace be þe moore.
A by cryȝst quod a Cuttepurs / y have no ken þere.
Ne y / quod an Apeward / by awht þat y knowe.
A  wolde god quod a Messager / þat y wiste þe sothe.
Sholde y neuere a fote ferthere / for no frerys prechynge.
Ȝys . ȝis  quod pers plowhman / & pokede hem to goode.
Þere a[is] a Mayde þere / Mercy / she haþ myght ouer hem alle.
She ys sybbe to synful / & so ys hire sone also.
& þorghȝ þe helpe of hem two / hope þou non oþir.
Þou myght getyn grace þere / by so þou goo by-tymes.
By seynt Poul quod a pardoner / parawnter y be not wolkome.
I wille go fecchyn my boox / with þe Bisshopis lettris.
By crist quod a comoun womman / In þyn Cumpany wil y wende.
& seyȝ y am þyn syster / in Cytes þere we wende.
Þis where a wikkide wey / but we hadde a gyde.
Þat wolde folwe vs euery foote / þat no folk vs noyȝe.
Quod pers plowhman þo / by seynt peter of Rome.
I have an half acre to eryȝe / by þe hyȝe-weyȝe.
Hadde y heryd þat half acre / & y-sowe it after.
I wolde weende with ȝow / & þe weyȝ ȝow techen.
Þys were a long lettynge / quod a Lady with a skleyȝre.
What shulle we wommen / wyrchen þer whylys.
Summe shulle sowe þe sak / quod Pers / for shedyng of whete.
& ȝee lovely Ladijs / with ȝoure longe fyngrys.
Loke ȝee have sylk & syndel / to sowe / whan it ys tyme.
To make Chesyplis for Chapeleins / chirchis to honoure.
& ȝee wyvis & wydewis / wulle / & flex ȝee spynne.
& Makeþ cloþ y conseyle ȝow / & kenneþ so ȝoure dowhtris.
Þe nedy & þe nakede / nemeþ hede how þey lyggyn.
& casteþ on hem cloþis / & so comaundiþ ȝow trewþe.
For y shal lene hem lyflode / but if myn londe fayle.
Boþe fleshȝ & breed / to ryche & to poore.
As longe as y lyve / for þe lordis love in hevene.
& alle manere of men / þat with mete & drynk lybbyn
Shulle helpe to wirche wyghtly / to wynne with ȝoure fode.
Be crist quod a knyght þo / he kenneþ vs þe beste.                                    [23v]
But trewly on þe teem / tawht was y neuere.
But kenne me it quod þe knyght / & by crist y wille a-sayȝe
By seynt Poul quod Perkyn / ȝee profere ȝou sire so fayre.
Þat y wille swynke & swetyn / & sowe for vs boþe.
& oþere laboreris shulle for þyn love / al here lyf-tyȝme.
In connaunt / þat holy chirche / þou kepe / as þy-selue.
Fram wastoures & wikkyd men / þat þis world stroyȝeþ.
& goo þou hunte hardely / to hares / & to foxes.
& to bawsynes & boores / but breke þou none heggys.
& go a-fayte þy fakonys / whilde foul to kelle.
For þei come in-to my croft / & cropyþ my whete.
Þanne þe knyght curteysly / comsede þese wordys.
By my powher Pers quod he y plyghte þe my trewþe.
To fulfylle þis forward / þeyhȝ y fyghte sholde.
& as longe asas [y] lyve in londe / y shal þe Meyntene.
But .o. poynt quod Pers / y praye þe of more.
Loke þou tene no tenaunt / but trewþe wille a-sente.
& þeyȝh þou mayst angre men / let Mercy be taxour.
& Meeknesse þy Mayster / Mawgre Meedis chekys.
& þeyhȝ poore men profere þe / presentys & ȝiftys.
Nyme hem nawht in awnter / þou maist not yt disserue.
For þou shalt ȝeelde yt a-ȝeen / at o ȝerys ende.
Al in a parlyous place / purgatorye men name it.
Ne mys-bede not þy bonde-man / þe bettre shalt þou spede.
Þeyhȝ he be here . þyn vndirlyng / wel may happe in heuene.
Þat he worþ worthiere set / þan þou / & in wel more blysse.
Amice  ascende superius
For in a chapel or in a chirche / a clerk is evel to knowe.
So is a knyght þere fram a knave / knowe þis in þyn herte.
But loke þou be trewe of tunge / & talis þat þou hate.
& by wysdom & by wit / þy werkmen þou chastyze.
& holde not with none harlotis / ne heere not here talis.
& namely at þy mete bord / swiche men ecchewe.
For þey ben þe deuelis dissoures / y do þe to vndirstonde.
I a-sente by seynt Ieme / seyde þe knyght þanne.
To werche al after þy word / whylis my lyf dureþ.
& y shal a-parayle me quod Pers / in pylgrymes wyse.
& y wylle wende with ȝow / tyl þat we fyȝnde trewþe
I wil castyn on myn cloþis / y-clowtyd at þe fulle.
Myn kokerys & myn coffys / for cold of myn naylys.
& y wille hangyn myn hoper / at myn hals / as i hadde a scrippe.          [24r]
& a busshel of bred-corn / y wil bere þere-Inne.
For y wille soowe it my-selue / & sytthe with ȝow wende.
On pilgrimagis as palmeris doon / pardoun to have.
But who þat helpiþ me to heryȝe / or sowe er y wende.
He shal have leve by oure lord / to large his heruest heere.
& make hym meryȝe þer-myde / mawgre who grucche.
& alle kynne crafty men / þat kunne lyve in trewþe.
I shal fyȝnde hem foode / for feythfully þey lybbe.
Save Iakke Iogelour / & Ionete at þe styvis.
& Danyel þe dyȝs pleyȝere / & denote þe bawhde.
& also frere faytour / & mo folk of his ordre.
& Robyn Rybawdour / for hise rusty wordis.
For trewþe tolde me onys / & bad me telle after.
Deleantur de libro viuencium / I sholde not with hem deyle.
For holy chirche / is holde / of hem no tyþe to take.
Quia cum iustis non scribantur / in þe registre in hevene.
Þey ben skapid good awnter / now god hem a-mende.
Dame wirche wel / wan tyme is / Persis wyf hyȝte.
& his dowhter do ryght so / er þy dame wil þe beete.
& his sone hyȝte wel[suffre] wel / þyn soverynes have here wille.
& deme hem nowht / if þou doost / þou shalt it dere a-begge.
But lete god worche / with it al / for so his word þe techiþ.
For now y am hoold / & hoor / & have good of myn howne.
To pylgrimage / for penaunce / y wil passe with oþere.
But y wille er y wende / do wrytyn myn enqweste .
In dei nomine amen / god shal have myn soule.
Þat best ys worthy / & weyvid fram yt þe fendis.
Tyl y come to hise a-cowntys / as my crede spelliþ.
& þe kyrke-ȝeerd shal kepe / myn kareyne & myn boonys.
For of myn corn & catel / þe kirke crauede þe tythe.
& [y] peyȝede it trewly to þe preest / for pereil of my soule.
For-þy he is holde as y hope / to have me in his messe.
& menge me in his Memento / a-mongys alle cristene.
& my wif shal have of þat y wan / with trewþe & no moore.
& dele it among hire dowhtris / & myn dere childryn.
For truly þey dyȝede[y] dyȝede to-day / myn dettys ben alle qwitte.
I bar hoom þat y borwede / er y to bedde wente.
& with þe resydue of þe remenaunt / be þe Roode of lukys.
I wille worchepe þerwith / trewþe by my lyve.
& been his pylgryȝm / at þe plowhȝ / for poore mennys sake.            
My plowhȝ-pote ys my pyȝk-staf / þat pittyþ a-wey þe rootys.                  [24v]
& helpiþ my cultre to kerue / & to klense þe furwis.
Now ys Pers & þe pilgrymes / to þe plowhȝ y-faren.
To heryȝen his half acre / þere hulpene hym manye.
Boþe dykerys & deluerys / dyggedyn vp þe balkys.
& with hem was Pers wel payed / & preyȝsede hem faste.
Oþere werkmen þere weryn / þat wroghtyn ful ȝeerne.
Ech man / on his manere / made hym-selue to doone.
& summe poore to plese Pers / þey pulliden vp þe rootys.
Þanne at heyȝ prime pers / leet his plowhȝ stoonde.
& wente to seen hise werk-men / how þat þey wroghte.
He wolde heren hem / þere-after / wan hervest tyme keme.
Þanne fond he summe syttyn / & synge at þe alehous.
& hulpen hym so to heryȝe / with hoy  trolly / lolly.
Þat þey fillyn flat on þe floor / so feyþfully þey swonke.
Now be myn sowlis pereyl quod Pers / in pure gret tene.
But ȝee a-ryse þe rathere / & rape ȝow to wyrche.
Shal no greyn þat groweth / glade ȝow / at ȝoure neede.
& þeyȝ ȝee dyȝen for dool / þe devil have hym þat recche.
Þo wheryn Faytoures a-ferd / & feynede hem blyȝnde
Summe leyȝde here leggys swolle / as sum loselys vsen.
& maden here moone to Pers / & prayede hym of grace.
& seyde / we have no lymes to laboure / oure Lord do vus boote.
But we praye for ȝow Pers / & for ȝoure plowhȝ-men boþe.
Þat god of his grete grace / ȝoure greyn multyplyȝe.
& ȝeelde ȝow / ȝoure almesse-dede / þat ȝee ȝeve vus heere.
For we mowe not swynke / swich syknesse vs holdeþ
If it be soþ quod Pers / þat ȝee seyn / y shal it sone a-spyȝe.
Þat ȝee ben wastoures y whot wel / & trewþe whot þe soþe.
& y am his olde hyȝne / & by-hyȝhte hym to warne.
Whiche þey wheryn in þis world / his werk wolde a-peyre.
For ȝee wasten þat men wynnyn / with trauayle & with teene.
But trewþe shal teche ȝow / his teeme to dryve.
Or ȝee shulle etyn barly breed / & of þe brook drynke.
But he þat is blynd / or broke-leggyd / or boltyd with yrenys.
He shal etyn whyȝt breed / & drynke wyȝn or ale.
Tyl god of his goodnesse / a-mendement hym seende.
But ȝee myghte trauayle trewly / & take meete & hyȝre.
To kepen keen in þe fyld / or corn fram þe beestys.
Or dyken or deluyn / or dyggyn vp rootys.
Or helpyn makyn morter / or leedyn muk on filde.
& nowht to lyve in Leccheryȝe / ne in Losengryȝe & slowþe.                    
It is suffraunce of god / þat vengaunnce ȝowȝow [ne] takeþ.         [25r]                  
But Ancres & hermyȝtis / þat etyn but at noonys.
& no more til on morwe / myn almesse þey shulle have.
& of myn catel to kouere hem with / þat kepyn cloystre & chirche.
But Daunn Robert renne a-bowhte / shal nout rewle my goodis.
Ne preest . but he preche kunne / & have powher of þe bisshop.
Þey shulle have payn & potage / with a pytawnce by-syde.
For it is an vn-resonable religioun hous / þat haþ rentys none.
Þan gan a wastowr wexe wrothȝ / & wolde fayn a fowhte.
& to Pers Plowhman / he proferede / his glove.
& with hym cam a braggere / & a boostide Pers also.
& bad hym goo pisse on his plowh / for-pynede shrewe.
& seyde  wilt þou . pers / oo[r] nyltou / we wille have oure wille.
& þy flour & þyn fleshȝ / we fecche whan vs lykeþ.
& make vs meryȝe þer-myde / mawgre / þyn chekys.
Þanne Pers wente konyngly / & to þe knyght pleyȝnede.
To kepen hym as cunnaunt was / fram cursede shrewys.
For þey wastyn / & wynne nowht / & wete wel for-soþe.
Worþ neuere plente a-mong þe peple / while my plowhȝ lyggyþ.
Curteysly þe knyght þo / as his kende wolde.
Warnede wastour / & wysshede to þe betre.
Or þou shalt a-bygge be þe Lawe he seide / be þe ordre y bere.
I was not wont quod he / to wirche / ne y wil not now by-gynne.
& leet lyghtly of þe lawe / & lasse of his speche.
& sette also pers at a pese / & his plowhȝ boþe.
& þrette Pers & hise men / yf þey mettyn eft-sone.
Quod pers / be þe pereyl of myn sowle / y shal a-peyȝre ȝou alle
& a-wreke me of þese wastoures / þat þis world shende
Sone hungir in haste þo / hente wastour by þe maw
& wrong hym so by þe wombe / þat boþe hise eyȝes watrede
& he buffetid so þe braggere / a-bowhtyn boþe hise chekis.
Þat he loked lyȝk a lanterne horn / al his lyve after.
He beet hem so boþe / he brast neer here guttys.
Ne hadde pers . with a pese loof / prayed hungir sese.
Þey hadde be douyndo[l]uyn boþe / deme no man oþir.
Suffre hem lyve seyde Pers / & let hem etyn with hoggys.
Or ellis benys & bren / y-bakyn boþe to-gydre.
& drynke melk / or meyhne ale / to meyntene here lyvis
Þanne Faytoures for feer / flown in-to beernes.
& flappyd on with fleylis / fram morwe to þe eve.
Þat hungir was not hardy / on hem onys to looke.
For a poot-ful of peesys / þat Pers dide hem make.                  [25v]
Anon an heep of hermyȝtis / in handis hentyn spades.
& kyttyn here copis / & coortepijs hem made.
& wentyn as werkmen / to swynkyn a-bowtyn.
& deluedyn & dykedyn / to dryve a-wey hungir.
Þanne blynde men & beddredide / where butned a þowsande
Þat setyn to begge syluer / sone weryn they helyde.
For þat was bakyn for bayard / was boote þe[to] þe hungry.
& many a beggere for benys / ful bown was to swynke.
& ech pore man wel payd / to have pesys to heere.
& what Pers prayede hem doo  as preest . as a sparhawk.
& þerfore wex Pers prowd / & pitte hem to werke.
& gaf hem as he myghte mete / & mesurable hyȝre.
Þanne hadde Pers pite / & prayede hungir to wende.
Hoom to his owne hold / & holde hym stylle þere.
For y am wel a-wreke now / on wastoures þis tyȝme.
But y praye þe er þou passe / quod Pers þo to hungir.
Of beggerys & of bydderys / what is best to doone.
For y whoot wel . be þou went / þey wille wirche ful ille.
For myscheef it makeþ / þey been so meeke nowthe.
& for de-fawhte of foode / þys folk ys at my wille.
Þey are my bretheryn of blood quod Pers / for crist bowhte vs alle.
Trewþe tawhte me onys / to love hem ecchone.
& to helpe hem of alle þynge / ay as hem neediþ.
& nowh wolde y wete of þe / what were þe beste.
How y myghte a-maystrie hem / & maken hem to wirche.
Now here wel me quod Hungir / & holde it for a wisdom.
Þat bolde beggeris & bygge / þat for here breed mowe swynke.
With howndis breed & horse-breed / hold vp here hertys.
& a-bate hem with beenys / for bolnynge of here whombis.
& if þo goomes grucche / bidde hym goo & swynke.
& if þou fyȝnde ony freek / þat False haþ a-sayȝed.
Or ony manere of false men / fonde þou swiche to knowe.
With þy catel knowe þou hem / for cristis love in hevene.
Love hem / & leene hem / for goddis lawe so techiþ.
Alter alterius / honera portate
& alle oþere manere of men / þat þou myght a-spyȝe.
Þat needy ben / & nowhty / help hem / with þyn goodis.
Love hem / & lakke hem nowht / lete god take vengaunce.
& if þey don evil a-geyn þe / lete god / with hem worthe.
Michi vindictam / et ego retribuam
& if þou wilt gete grace of god / do as þe gospel techeþ.                 [26r]
Þou loowe þe / to lowe men / & so shalt þou lacche grace.
Facite vobis amicos de Mammona iniquitatis
I wolde not greve god quod Pers / for al þe good on grownde.
Myghte y synneles don as þou seyst / so me god helpe.
I hoote to god / quod hunger / ȝis  or ellis þe byble lyȝeþ.
Goo to Genesis / þe Geaunt / engendrowr of vs alle.
He seyþ in swoot & in swynk / þou shalt þy foode wynne.
& Laboure for þi lyf-loode / & so oure lord þe hyghte.
& sapiense book seyþ þe same / soþly to telle.
Þat Piger pro frigore / no fildis wolde tylye.
& þerfore he shal beggyn / & no man beetyn his hungir
Seynt Matthew / with mannys face / mowthiþ þese wordis.
Þat seruus nequam hadde a man / þat wolde nout chaffare.
& he mawgre of his mayster / for euere-moore after.
& he by-nam hym his napm / for he wolde not wirche.
& ȝaf it to a-noþir man / þat ten napmes hadde.
& with þat dede he seyȝde / þat alle men it herde.
He þat haþ / shal have / to helpe hym / at his neede.
& he þat nowht haþ / nowht shal have / & no man hym helpe
& þat he hopeþ for to have / men shulle yt hym bereve.
For kende wolde / þat euery wyght wroghte
In dykynge or in deluynge / or doynge in prayeris.
Eiþir Contemplatif lyf or actif / crist coueytyde we wroughte.
Þe Sawhter seyþ in a spalm / In beati omnes.
Þe freeke þat feediþ hym-selue / with his feyȝþful labour.
He ys blessid be þe book / in body & in sowle.
Labores manuum tuarum quia manducabis . batusb[e]atus es &c..
Ȝit y praye þe quod Pers / pur charite & þou cunne.
Of ony leef of leche-craft / leere it me y praye.
For summe of myn seruauntis / & my-selue boþe.
Of alle þe wyke / wirke nowht / so oure whombe akeþ.
A y whot wel quod hungir / what syȝknesse ȝow eyȝleþ.
Ȝee have Mawngid ouer-myche / & þat makþ ȝow grone.
But y hote þe quod hungir / if þou þyn hele disyryst.
Þat þou drynke no day / er þou dyghne a mussel.
Ne ete nowht y hoote þe / er hungir þe take.
& brynge þe of his saws / to savoure þyn lyppis.
& keep sum / tyl soper / but sitte þou nowht longe.
But a-ryse vp er apetyȝt / have loost al his strengþe.
But lete not sire surfet / syttyn at þyn table.
Leeve hym / for he is leccherows / & lykerous of tunge.                     [26v]
& after manye meetys / his Mawe ys / a-lustyd.
& ȝif þou dyete þe þus / y dar leyȝe myn erys.
Þat Fysyk shal his furryd hood / ȝee[for his] fode selle.
& his kloke of Calabre / with knoppis of gold þerone.
& be fayn by myn feyȝþ / his fysyȝk to leetyn.
& leerne to laboure on þe lond / for lyf-loode ys sweete.
Now are mo moraynerys þan lechis / oure lord hem amende.
þey doon men dyȝe / þoru here drynkys / er destenyȝe it wolde.
By seynt Peter a-postle quod Pers / þese are profytable woordis.
Wende nowh hungir . whan þou wilt / & wel þe be-tyȝde.
For þis ys a lovely lessoun / oure lord it þe for-ȝeelde.
I hote god quod hunger / hens wil y not wende.
Tyl y have dyghnedyghne[d] þys day / & þerto drunke bothe.
Peter / y have no peny quod Pers / peyȝnemens þe to begge.
Ne neyþir gryȝs ne gees / but y have two grene chesis.
& a fewe cruddis & creem / & þerto an haver kake.
& two lovis of beene breed / y bok yt for my barnys.
& ȝit y swere by my sowle / y have no salt bakoun.
Ne be crist no kokeney / kolopys the to make.
But y have Persyȝle & porrettis / & fele propre herbys.
& eek a kow & a Calf / & eek a Carte mare.
To drawe dunk on felde / whyle þe drowht lasteþ.
& by þis lyfloode y muste lyve / tyl lammesse tyme.
For y hope by þat to have / hervest in my crofte.
& þanne may y dyghte þy dyghner / as þe deere lykeþ.
& alle þe pore peple þo / pese-koddis feccheden.
& beenys / & bake applis / þey browhte in here lappis.
Chybollis / & chirne mylk / & rype chiryes manye.
& proferedyn Pers þat present / to plese with hungir.
& alle þo / hungir eet in haste / & askede after moore.
Þanne pore folk for feer / feddyn hungir faste.
With grene porettis & pesis / to poysoyne hym þey þowhten.
But by þat . it neyhede neer hervest / & newe corn a-perede.
& þerof were folk fayn / & fedde hem with þe beeste.
& with good ale / as glotoun tawhte / þan gan he goo to slepe.
But þan wolde no wastour wyrche / but wandredid a-bowhte.
Ne no beggere eete no breed / þat beenys Inne weryn.
But of koket or cler-matyn / or ellis of klene whete.
Ne no man halpeny ale / in no wyse drynke.                                               [27r]
But of þe beste & brunneste / in borghȝ was to selle.
& laboreris þat have no lond / but lyven with here hondis
Þey endeyȝhne to dyghne / or suppe olde wortes.
Ne no peny ale hem peyȝe / ne no pece of bakoun.
But it be hoot flesh & freshȝ / for flasshyng of here mawe.
& but he be hyȝly hyȝryd / ellis wille he chyde.
& þat he cam / swich werk to wirke / he wille weyȝle þe tyme.
A-geyn Catonys conseyl / comseþ he to Iangle.
Paupertatis onus / pacienter ferre memento
He grevyþ grevously god / for he grucchyþ a-geyn resoun.
& þus he curseþ þe kyng / & alle hise conseyl after.
Swiche Lawis to looke / Laboreris to greve.
But whilis hunger was here maystir / þanne wolde none chide.
Ne stryve a-geyn þe stateut / so sternely hungir lokede.
But y warne ȝow wirkmen / wynneþ whil ȝee mowe.
For hunger hyȝeþ hidirward / & hasteþ hym ful faste.
& he wille a-wake sumwhat / wastoures dede.
Er fyve ȝeer / be ful-fyld / swych famyȝn shal a-ryse.
Þorhȝ fowle wederys & floodis / þat frutys shulle fayle.
Þanne shal Saturne sende to ȝow / swich warnyngge serteyn.
Whan þe sunne ȝee seen a-mys / with two Munkys heedis.
& a Mayde þorghȝ maystriȝe / be multyplyed on heyȝghte.
Þan shal deeþ drawe to deyȝs / & derthe be Iustise.
& þanne dawe þe dykere / dyȝe for hungir.
But god of his goodnesse / grawnte vs a trewe.
Þanne Trewþe herde telle er-of / & to Pers he sente.
& bad hym take his teeme / & goo tylyȝe þe grownde.
& purchased hym a pardoun / A pena & a culpa.
For hym & for hise eyȝrys / for euere-more after.
& bad hym to holde hym at hom / & heryȝe hise leyȝes.
& alle þat hulpe hym to heryȝe / or to settyn or sowe.
Er ony oþir myster / þat myghte Pers a-vayle.
He haþ pardoun with Pers / Trewþe haþ it grawntid.
Boþe kyngis & knyghtis / þat kepyn holy chirche.
Þat ryghtfully in þe rewhme / weel rewle þe peple.
Have pardoun / þorhȝ purgatorie / to passe þorhȝ lyghtly
& with Patriarkis in paradyȝs / to ben here felowis.
& blessede Bisshopis / þat been as þey sholde.
& legistris of boþe Lawis / þer-with / þe lewide to preche.
Þey are perys with a-postlys / þus pardoun Pers graunteþ.                  [27v]
& at þe day of dome / on heyȝe deyȝs to sytte.
Þan Marchawntis in þe Margyne / hadde manye ȝeeris.
But no pena & a culpa / þe Pope wille not graunte.
For þey holden non holyday / as holy chirche techyþ.
& for þey sweryn oftyn / so grete god hem helpe.
A-geyn klene consiense / hehe[re] catel to selle.
But trewþe vndir his secrete seel / he sente hem a lettre.
Þat þey sholde byggyn boldely / þat hem beest lykeþ.
& sytthe to sellyn it a-geyn / & savyn þe wynnynggys.
& a-mende meselis þerwith / & myssese folk also.
& also wykkede weyȝes / whyȝhtly hem a-mende.
& do boote to bryggis / þat broke a-bowte were.
& also marie Maydenis / or helpe hem make nunnys.
& þe Poore / & prisonerys / fyȝnden hem here foode.
& settyn skoleris to skole / or ellis to oþire craftys.
Or to rewlyn religioun / or to rentyn hem þe betre.
& y shal sende seyde trewþe / seynt Myhel þe angyl.
Þat no devil shal ȝow dere / ne feere ȝow in ȝoure dyȝeng.
& whysshe ȝow fram wanhope / if ȝee wille þus wirche.
& sende ȝoure sowlys in safte / a-mong seyntis in Ioyȝe.
Þanne where þere manye Marchauntis / þat wopyn for Ioyȝe.
& preysedyn Pers apertly / þat purchasede þis bulle.
But men of Lawe of pardoun / þe leeste part þey haddyn.
For þey for meede pletyn moore / þan mychil for goddis helpe.
Wher-fore þe sawhter savoureþ hem nowht / swiche as takyn ȝiftis.
& namely of Innocentys / þat no evil ne knoweth.
Pletoures sholde peyȝne hem / to plete for swiche & helpe.
& Pryncys / & Prelatis / sholde peyȝe for here trauayle.
A Regibus / & principibus / erit merces eorum.
But many a Iustise & Iurrour / wolde for Iakke do more.
Than pro dei pietate / beleve þou non othir.
But he þat spendiþ his speche / & spekeþ for þe poore.
Þat ys Innocent & needy / & no man can a-peyȝre.
& conforteþ hym in ony caas / with-outyn coueytouse ȝiftis.
& sheweth lawhe for oure lordis love / as he haþ it leerned.
Shal no deuyl at his deþ-day / dere hym worþ a myte.
Þat he worþ[ne] worþ saf & his sowle / þe sawhter beryþ wittnesse
Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo  &c. ut . supra.
But no man sholde bygge watur / ne wyȝnd / ne fyȝr ne wit neyþir.
For þese fowre þe fadir of hevene / formede hem comoun on erthe.
For þo ben Trewþis tresoreris / trewe folk to helpyn.
Þat neuere shulle wexe / ne wanyȝe / with-outyn god hym-selue.
Whan men drawe to þe deþ / & indulgensis dysire.                                          [28r]
Here pardoun ys ful petyȝt / at here departynge henne.
For ony meede of mene men / þat for here motynge toke.
Þe legistris & lawyeris / holde it a gret trewþe.
& yf þat y lyȝe now / seynt Matthew is to blame.
Qvodcumque uultis ut faciant uobis homines  facite eis.
& also as laboreris / þat lyvyn by here hondis.
Þat trewly wirkyn / as þey trewly wynnen.
& lyven in love & in lawe / with lowhe trewe herte.
Þey have same[þe] same absolucioun / þat was to Pers grauntid.
¶ But beggeris / ne bidderis / ben not in þe bulle.
But if þe suggestioun be soþ / þat shapman hemshap[eþ] hem [to] bigge.
For he þat beggiþ / or bit / but if he have neede.
He is fals as þe fend / & defrawhdiþ þe nedy.
& by-gyliþ þe gyvere / a-geyn his goode wille.
For if he wiste . he were not nedy / he wolde gyve it anoþir.
Þat were more nedyere þan he / & so þe nedyere helpe.
Catoun kenneþ men so / & þe Mayster of þe Stories .
Cui des videto.
Þe Mayster of stories techiþ the / how þou shalt be-take þy almesse.
Sit elemosina in manu tua . donec studes cui des.
God seyþ hym in his gospel / nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra.
But Gregorie þat goode man / he bad vs gyvyn alle.
Þat asken for oure lordis love / þat leeneþ vs alle þynge.
Non eligas cui cuicui miserearis . ne forte preteras illum
Qvia incertum est pro quo deum magis placeas.
If ȝee wete not who is worthy / but god whot who haþ nede.
For in þe takere ys treccherye / if ony tresoun walkeþ.
For þe man þat ȝifte ȝeviþ / he ȝarkiþ his sowle reste.
& þe takere borweth yt / & bryngiþ his sowle in dette.
For-þy beggeres borwe euere / & here borwhȝ is god al-myghty.
To ȝelden hem . þat ȝeviþ hem / for here goode wille.
Qvare non dedisti pecuniam meam ad mensam . vt ueniens cum vsuris & exegissem vtique illam.
For-þy  beggiþ nowht as beggeres / but ȝe have neede.
For who þat haþ with / to bygge hym bred / þe book beriþ witnesse.
He haþ y-nowh þat haþ but bred / þeyhȝ he haþ not ellis.
Satis diues est . qui pane non indiget.
Lete vsage by ȝoure solace / of seyntys lyvis redyngge.
Þe sawhter blameþ beggeris / & byddis on þis manere.
Ivnior fui / & etenim senui & nonnon [vidi] iustum derelictum
nec semen eius querens panem.
For beggeres lyve in no love / ne no lawe holde.
Many man weddiþ nowht / þat womman / þat he wyth delyþ.                                 [28v]
But as a wyȝlde beeste with we . he  he worthiþ vp & werchiþ.
& of hem come barnes / þat bastardis men callyn.
& here baak / or sum boon / þey breke in here birthe.
& so goo þey fayȝten with here fawntys / ful longe after.
For þere is moo mys-shape peple / a-mongis a fewe beggeres.
Þan of alle manere of men / þat on þe moolde wandreþ.
For þo þat leede þus here lyf / euere-mowe þey loþe þe tyme.
Þat euere was he man wroght / whan he shal hens fare.
But olde men & hoore / þat helpeles ben of strengþe.
& wommen with childe / þat wirche ne mowe.
& Meselis here myssese / meekly it take.
Haven a pleyn pardoun / as pers haþ hym-selue.
For love of here lowe hertys / oure lord haþ hem grauntyd.
For here penaunce / & purgatorye / here is open on erthe.
Peers  quod a preest þo / þy pardoun muste y rede.
& y shal construe euery clawse / & kenne it þe on englyshȝ.
¶  & sone peers at his prayere / his pardoun vn-foldede.
& y stood / by-hyȝnde hem boþe / & be-hild al ouer þe bulle.
& al in two lyȝnes þe strengþe lay / & nout a leef moore.
& was y-wryte ryght þus / witnesse of trewþe.
Et qui bona egerunt  ibunt in vitam eternam.
 Qvi vero mala  in ignem eternum.
Peeter . quod þe Preest þo / y can no pardoun fyȝnde.
But dowel . & hauewel / & god shal have þyn sowle.
& doevel / & haue evel / & hope þou after a-nothir.
Þat after þy deþ-day / þe devil shal have þy sowhle.
& a-non Peers for pure teene / pullid þe bulle in tweyne.
& seyde þus Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis.
Non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es domine.
I wil sese now of myn sowynge / & swynke not so harde.
Ne a-bowhtyn my bely Ioyȝe / so bisy ben no more.
But of prayeris & of penaunces / my plowh shal be after.
& wepyn whan y sholde slepe / þeyhȝ whete bred y-fayle.
I fyȝnde þe prophete payn eet / in Penance & in sorwe.
& after þat þe sawhter seyþ / so diden oþere manye.
He þat loveþ god leelly / his lyfloode is ful redy.
Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte
& but if seynt Luk lyȝeþ / or lerneþ vs be foolys.
We sholde not ben to bysy / a-bowhtyn worldis blysse.
He seyþ þus in his gospel / Ne solliciti scitis.
& be swiche ensamplis he sheweth vs / oure-seluyn to wissen.
Þe fowlis in þe fylde / who fyndes hem mete in wyntyr.
Þey have no gerner to go to / but god fynt hem alle.
What quod þe Preest to Peers / be Peeter as me þynkiþ.                                 [29r]
Þou art lettred a lytyl / who leernede þe on booke.
¶  Mayster Abstynence quod Pers / myn a. b. c. me tawhte.
& Consience com afterwarde / & kennyd me wilw[e]l more.
¶  Pers  quod he / & þou were a preest / þou myghtist preche abowte.
As a Doctour of dyuynyte / with
¶  A  þou lewid lorel quod Peers / lytyl lokest þou / on þe byble.
Þere Salomonys sawis been / ful seelde þou hem be-holdist.
Eice derisorem & exibit cum eo iurgium / cessabitque cause & contumelie.
¶  & þus þe Preest & Pers / ech a-posede oþir.
& þorghȝ here woordis y a-wook / & waytede al abowhte.
& y seyȝ þe sunne in þe sowþ / where it sat þat tyme.
I was Moneles & Meteles / my Mawe gan groone.
But ȝit y mewsede on þis Metelis / as y my way wente.
& many a tyme meteles / It haþ maad me studyȝe.
Of þat y seyȝ slepynge / if it soþ / be myghte.
& also for Pers Plowhman / ful pensyf in herte.
& what Pardoun Pers hadde / þe peple to conforte.
& how þe Preest Impugned it / with tweye propre woordis.
But y have no savour in Sompnuarye / to seyn nout þerafter.
For Catoun conseyliþ Ca[n]onistris / comounly it faylyþ.
To settyn no soþnesse / in no Sompnewaryȝe.
But for boldely þe byble book / beriþ bettre witnesse.
How Danyel dyvynede / of a kyngys dremes.
He was Nabugodonosor / y-nempned of clerkys.
Sire kyng seyde Danyel / þy dremes by-tokneþ.
Þat vnkouþe knyghtis shulle come / þyn coroun þe reve.
& a-mong lowere lordis / þy lond shal be departid.
¶  & as Danyel dyvynede / þe dede fel after.
Þe kyng lees his lordchepe / & lowhere lordis it hadde.
¶  & Ioseph mette mervyously / of þe Moone & sonne.
& of þe elevene sterrys / how þey heylid hym alle.
Anon Iacob Iuggede / Iosepys swevenys.
Bewh fyȝs quod his fadir / for defawhte after.
My-selue & my sones / shulle seeke þe for neede.
It fel as his fadir seyde / in pharao-is tyme.
Þat Ioseph was Iustyse / of Egypt to looke.
& as his fadir tolde / hise fawntys sowtyn þere.
& al this matere makiþ me / on my metelis þynke.
& how þe Preest prevede / no Pardoun to Dowel.                                     [ 29v]
& demede þat Dowel / alle Indulgenses passede.
Or quinquenalis / or tryennales / or þe Bisshopis lettris.
& how Dowel at þe day of dome / is deyntely take.
& passeþ al þe pardoun / of seynt Petris chirche.
Þe Pope haþ gret powher / pardoun to grawnte.
A sowle with-outyn penaunce / to passyn in-to hevene.
Þis ys oure be-leve / þe gospel leyþ þe same.
& y be-leve leelly / oure lord for-bede ellys.
Þat Pardoun / & prayeris / & Penaunce saven sowlys.
Þat þe bodijs have synnyd / sevene syþis dedly.
But to tristne on tryanales / truly me þynkiþ.
It ys nowht so sykir to þe sowle / soþly as is Dowel.
Þerefore y rede ȝow / alle / þat ryche men been heere.
Vpon trist on ȝowre tresor / tryenalis to purchase.
Be ȝee neuere þe boldere / to breke þe ten hestys.
& namely ȝee Maystris / boþe Meyȝhres & althermen.
Þat have þe welthe of þis world / & wyse men ben holde.
To purchase ȝow pardoun / with þe popis bullis.
For at þe dred-ful dome / whan dede men shulle ryse.
& comen alle by-fore crist / & ȝoure a-cowntys ȝeelde.
& how ȝee ladden ȝoure lyf / & ȝoure lawis kepyn.
& how ȝee don day be day / þe dome wille reerce.
A Poke-ful of pardoun / þere / ne provyncialis lettrys.
Be not fownde in no fraternite / of þe foure ordrys.
Ne Indulgencis doblefold / but Dowel ȝow helpe.
Þerfore y conseyle alle cristene / to criȝe crist mercy.
& Marie his Moodir be oure mene at neede.
Þat he gyve vs grace / er þat we goon henne.
Swiche wirkis to wirche / þe whyle we ben here.
Þat after oure deþ-day / Dowel it reerse.
At þe day of dome we dide þat we hym hyȝhte.

Explicit Passus Quintus.


GO TO PASSUS VI

Much of this research is based on my 1974 Berkeley doctoral dissertation, which went into three editions as a published book, The Pilgrim and the Book: A Study of Dante, Langland and Chaucer, https://isbnsearch.org/isbn/0820420905, Bern:Peter Lang, 1992; its Dante sections also published in an Italian edition in De strata francigena XX/1, 2012.

 

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