fol. 14rI
PassusB 4
Cessethe seyythe the kyng I suvffer ye no lenger
ye shall saghtell forthefor the sothe & seruve me bothe
kysse hyr quod the kyng to conscyence I hoote
G.5.4KD.4.4
nay by cryste quod conscyence congey me rather
but reason rede me there-to rather wole I dye
I commauvnde G.5.6: The <n> of "command" has in fact three minims, the result of characteristic carelessness in this matter on the part of the original scribe. the quod þe kyng to conscyence then
rape the to ryde & reason þou fecche
G.5.8KD.4.8
commavnde hym þat he come my couvnseyle to here
for he shall reuvle my realme & reyde me þe best
and accouvnte wyth the conscyence so me cryste helpe
how þou lernest the poeple þe lered & the lewde
G.5.12KD.4.13
I am fayne off that forward sayde the freyke then
& rydyth ryght to reason & rowneth In hys yere
and seyde as the kyng bad & sythen toke hys leyuve
I shall arrey me to ryde rest the a whyle
G.5.16KD.4.17
and called caton hys knauve couvrtes off speche
and also thome trew tong tell me no tales
no leysynges to laghe off for I louved theym neuer
and sett my sadle vp-on suffer / tyll I see my tyme
G.5.20KD.4.21
and lett warrock hym well wyth wyttye wordes garthes
and hang on hym the heyuvy brydle to hold hys heyde lowe
for he wyll make wehe twyes er he come there
then conscyence onG.5.23: All A manuscripts share the G H reading on, which is adopted by Kane and Donaldson. Remaining B manuscripts read vppon. hys caple caryeth forthe faste
G.5.24KD.4.25
and reason wyth hym rytt rounyng to-gedders
wyche mastryes mede makethe on thys yerthe
oon warryn wyssdome & wytty hys fere
folowyd hym fast for they had to done
G.5.28KD.4.29
In þe checker & þe chancerye to be dyscharged off thynges
and ryden fast for reason shuolde reyde theym the best
for to sauve them for syluver from shame & from harmes
and conscyence knew theym well þei louved couvetyse
G.5.32KD.4.33
and bad reason ryde fast & reycche off them neyther
they are wyles In þer wordes & wyth mede they dwellen
there as wrotheG.5.34: The G spelling wrothe might conceivably reflect rounding after w plus r, but if so it would be an exceptionally early example; see Dobson, English Pronunciation, section 53 and note 7. It seems more likely that what we have here is a nominal use of the adjective, see OED wroth, n.1. & wrastylyng ys þer wynne þei syluver
but there ys louve & loyalte they wole not come there
G.5.36KD.4.36α
contricio et Infelicitas In viis eorum et cetera
they ne gyuve not off god a goose wynge
non est timor dei ante oculos eorum et cetera
for woote god they wold do more for a dozene chyckens
G.5.40KD.4.38.1
or as many capones or for a seyme off otes
then for the louve off ouvr lord & all hys leuve seyntes
forthy reyson lett them ryde / the ryche by them-seluven
fol. 14vI
for conscyence knoythe theym noght no cryst as I trowe
G.5.44KD.4.42
and þen reason rode fast the ryght hygh gate
and conscyence hym kenned tyll he cam to þe kyng
couvrteyslyche þe kyng then came ageynst reason
betwene hym-selfe & hys sonne sett hym on benche
G.5.48KD.4.46
and wordeden well wysely a greyte whyle to-gedders
and then came peas In-to parlement & puvt forthe a byll
how wrong agaynst hys wyll had hys wyffe taken
and how he rauvysshed rose reynaldes louve
G.5.52KD.4.50
and margarett off hyr meydenhode mauvgre theyre chekes
both my gees & my gryses hys gadelynges fecchen
I dare not for fere off theym fyght ne chyde
he borowed oft my bayard he broght hym whom neuer
G.5.56KD.4.54
ne no ferthyng therfore for ought that I cowld pleyde
he menteynyth hys men to morther my hewen
Forstalleth my Fayrs & fyghtethe In my cheypyng
and breykyth vp my barne dores & beyrythe a-way my weyte
G.5.60KD.4.58
and taketh hym by but a taylle off ten quarters ootes
yet he bett me there & lyeth by my meyde
I am not hardye for hym vnnethe to looke
the kyng knewe he sayd sothe for conscyence hym tolde
G.5.64KD.4.62
that wrong was a wyked luvst & wroght moche sorowe
wrong was afeyrde then & wyssdome he soght
to make peasce wyth hys pence & profered hym manye
and seyde had I louve off my lord lytle wold I recche
G.5.68KD.4.66
thogh peasce & hys power pleyned theym euver
tho went wyssdome & syr warryn the wyttye
for þat wrong had wroght so wyked a dede
& warned wrong tho wyth suoyche a wyse tale
G.5.72KD.4.70
wo-so worchethe by wyll wrathe maketh offt
I say ytt by my-selffe þou shalt ytt well fynd
but yff mede ytt make þi myscheffe ys vppe
for both þi lyfe & þi land lyeth bothe In hyr grace
G.5.76KD.4.74
then wowed wrong wyssdome fuvll yerne
to make hys peasce wyth hys pence In hand payed
wyssdome & wytt þen wenten to-gedders
& tooke mede wythe theym marcy to wynneG.5.79: There is a smudge in the right margin, but this comes from the following page. See note to G.5.118.
G.5.80KD.4.78
peasce put forthe hys heyde & hys panne blodye
wyth-owte gylt god yt woote gettG.5.82: Though preterites of "get" in <a> do occur in G (see, e.g., G.2.35), it seems likely that the form gett is also intended as a preterite, cf. the preterite in <e> at G.19.292. The G reading here is therefore probably not a substantive variant, even though most remaining B manuscripts read gat. I thys skathe
conscyence & the commuvne knowen the sothe
fol. 15rI
but wyssdome & wytt where a-bowte fast
G.5.84KD.4.82
to ouver-come the kyng wyth catell yff they myght
the kyng sware by cryst & by hys crone bothe
that wrong for hys workes shuold wo thole
and commauvnded a constable to casten hym In yrenns
G.5.88KD.4.86
and lett hym not thys seyuven yere seene hys fete onesce
god woote quod wyssdome that were nat the best
and he amendes mow make lett meymprysseG.5.90: For meymprysse with medial <m>, see note to G.3.198. hym hauve
and be borowe for hys bale & byggen hym boote
G.5.92KD.4.90
and so amend that ys myssdo & euer-more the better
wytt accorded therwyth and seyde the same
better ys þatG.5.94: The <þ> of þat has been altered in black ink, enlarging the head. boote bale a-downe bryng
then baale be ybett / & boote neuer the better
G.5.96KD.4.94
and then ganne mede meuve hyr & mercy besoght
and profered peasce a present all off puvre gold
hauve þis man quod she to amend thy scathe
for I wole wage for wrong he wole do so no more
G.5.100KD.4.98
pytyouvsly peasce then preyd to the kyng
to hauve marcy off þat man þat myssdyd hym offtG.5.101: In the case of M, the shared G M reading offt involves erasure and correction, and the original M reading may well have been so ofte (the reading of remaining B manuscripts). All A manuscripts except J share the G M reading, which is adopted by Kane and Donaldson.
For he hath waged me well as wyssdome hym taght
and I forgyuve hym þat gylt wyth a good wyll
G.5.104KD.4.102
so that þe kyng assente I can sey no better
nay quod the kyngFor mede hatheG.5.105: The form of the letters -ede in mede differs from that normally used by hand1 in the body of the text, but resembles that used in the more formal rubricated sections. See Introduction I.7. me amendys made I may no more aske
nay quod the kyng tho so me c.ryst G.5.106:Possibly the second letter of cryst was originally a 2-shaped rather than a long <r>. helpe
wrong wendeth not so a-way or y wytt more
G.5.108KD.4.106
For loope he so lyghlyeG.5.108: For "lightly" without medial <t>, see note to G.1.150. he laghen he wold
and ofterG.5.109: The majority of A manuscripts read "oft" rather than ofter (as G) or efte (as remaining B manuscripts), and this is the reading adopted by Kane and Donaldson. bolder be to beyte my men
but reason hauve ruvweth off hym he shall rest In þe stockes
als long as he lyuvythe but lownes hym borowe
G.5.112KD.4.110
some men redde reason tho to hauve rewthe off þe sheweG.5.112: An attempt has been made to correct shewe to shrewe before deletion and rewriting. shrewe
& for to counseyle þe kyng & conscyence after
that mede myght be meympernouvre reason þei besoght
rede me not quod reason rewthe for to hauve
G.5.116KD.4.114
tyll lordes & ladyes louven all trewthe
and haten all harlotrye to here or to mowthe ytt
a profycy The word profycy looks at first sight as if it may have been crossed out, but it is simply smudged.
tyll pernelles puvrfyll be puvtt In huvr huvcche
& chyldren charysshyng by chastysyng wyth yerdes
G.5.120KD.4.118
& harlottes holynes be holden for an hyne
fol. 15vI
and clerkes couvetyse be to ch clothe þe poere & fede
and relygyouvs romers recordare In theyr cloysters
as seynt benett theym badde bernarde & frauvnceys
G.5.124KD.4.122
and to preychers plreychyng be proued off theym-seluven
tyll the kynges couvnceyle be the commuvne proffett
tyll bysshopps byardes be beggers chambers
theyre hauvkes & theyre houvndes help to pore rylygyouvse
G.5.128KD.4.126
and tyll seynt Iame be soght there I shall assynge
that no man go to gales but yff he go for euer
and all rome renners for robbers byȝonde
beyre no syluver ouer sheyG.5.131:The use of <sh> for <s> (in G shey, cf. most manuscripts see) probably reflects earlier Northern or East Midlands influence. See Introduction III.4.1 and Dobson, English Pronunciation, section 373 and notes. þat sygne off kyng shewythe
G.5.132KD.4.130
nether grauve ne vngrauve gold nether syluver
on forfatuvre off that fee whoG.5.133: A high proportion of A manuscripts share the G F reading who, which is adopted by Kane and Donaldson. Remaining B manuscripts read who-so. fynd hym att douer
but yff he be marchant or hys man or meysenger wyth letters
prouvysour or preeste or penauvnte for hys synnes
G.5.136KD.4.134
and yet quod reason by the rode I shall no rewthe hauve
wyle mede hath the mastrye In thys mote halle
but I may shewe Insamples as I see other-whyles
I sey ytt by my-selffe & yffG.5.139: Perhaps because the use of "and"="if" is confusing for him, the G scribe does sometimes have "and if" for B "and," as here. See also G.14.121 and G.15.29. At G.3.194, G.10.9 and G.18.243, G has "if" for "and." Occasionally these readings correspond to the readings of F or H (in this particular case, F shares G's original reading), but this is not always the case and such agreement therefore cannot be used as evidence of a relationship. ytt so were
G.5.140KD.4.138
that I were kyng wyth crowne to kepe þe realme
shuold neuer wrong In thys worlde that I wytt myght
bynne vnpuvnnyshed In my power for perell off my souvle
ne gett my grace for gyftes so me god helpe
G.5.144KD.4.142
ne for no mede hauve marcy buvt mekenes ytt make
for nullum malum the man mett wyth Impunitum .
and badde nullum bonum bene irremuneratum
lett youvr confessor syr kyng constrew you thys vnglosed
G.5.148KD.4.146
and yff youG.5.148: The vast majority of A manuscripts read "thou," which is the reading adopted by Kane and Donaldson and which may have given rise to the G reading you (with misreading of the thorn as a <y>). However, most B manuscripts read ȝe and it is worth remembering that the G scribe does employ "you" for the nominative plural elsewhere; see note to G.2.180. worchen that worke I wedde my heyrs
that law shalbeshal be a laborer & leyde a-felde donge
& louve shall leyde thy land as the leefe lykethe
clerkes þat were confessouvrs couvpled theym to-gedders
G.5.152KD.4.150
all to constrew thys clauvse for þe kynges profytt
but noght for comforte off þe comen ne for þe kynges souvle
for I sygh mede In þe mote halle on men off lawe wynke
and they laghyng loope to hyr & left reason many
G.5.156KD.4.154
warren wyssdome wynked vpon mede
& sayd madame I am your owen wat so my mouvthe tellythe
I fall In florenzys quod þat freyke & fayle speche offte
all ryghfullG.5.159:This spelling of "rightful" (without medial <t>) is recorded by the MED. For a similar spelling of "lightly," see G.1.150 and note. recorded that reason trewthe told
G.5.160KD.4.158
and wytt accorded therwythe & commendyd hys wordes
fol. 16rI
& þe most poeple In the hall & many off þe greyte
and letten mekenes a maystrye & mede a mansed sre shrewe
louve lete off hyr lyght & loyalte yet lasse
G.5.164KD.4.162
and sayd ytt so hye that all the halle ytt herd
who-so wylnethe hyr to welthe wyffe / for welthe off hyr goodes
but he beknowebe knowe for a cokewold kuvtt off my nose
mede mouvrned tho & made heyuvy chere
G.5.168KD.4.166
For the most comen off þat couvrte called hyr a hoore
buvt a sysouvr & somnouvr suvede hyr fast
and a shreyuvys clerke beshrewyd all the rouvte
Full ofte hauve I quod he holpen you att the barre
G.5.172KD.4.170
and yet gauve ye me neuer the worth off a rysshe
the kyng called conscyence & after-ward reason
and recorded that reason had ryghtfullyche shewed
and modelyche vp-on mede wyth myght þe kyng loked
G.5.176KD.4.174
and gan wexe wrothe wyth lawe for mede had nyghe shente ytt
and seyde thruvghe your lawe I leuve I leese many cheytes
mede ouermasterethe lawe & moche trewthe lettythe
but reason shall reyken wyth you yff I reygne any wyle
G.5.180KD.4.178
and deme you by þis day as ye hauve deseruved
mede shal not meympryce you by mary off heyuen
I wole hauve loyalte yn lawe & lett be youvr Ianglyng
and as most folke wyttnessyth wrong shalbeshal be demed
G.5.184KD.4.182
quod conscyence to þe kyng but þe commen assente
ytt ys full herd by my heyd here-to / to bryng ytt
all youvr leyge leedes to leyde thuvs euver
by hym that raght on the rode quod reason to þe kyng
G.5.188KD.4.186
but yff I reuvle thysG.5.188: For the G scribe's use of "this" for most manuscripts "thus," see note to G.4.76. youvr realme rende ovte my guvttes
yff ye byden boexomenes be off myne assente
and I assente quod þe kyng by seynt marye my ladye
by my couvnseyle comen off clerkes & off erles
G.5.192KD.4.190
butt reydylye reason þou shalt not ryde me fro
For as long as I lyuve leyuve þe I nyll
I am all reydy quod reason to rest wyth you euver
so conscyence be off couvnseyle I kepe no better
G.5.196KD.4.194
and I grauvnt quod the kyng godG.5.196: Bm originally shared the majority B reading goddes but the inflexion was later erased, bringing Bm's reading into line with the G M Cr23 F H reading god. forbyd ytt fayle
as long as our lyffe lastethe lyuve we to-gedders
explicit quintus passus de visione G.5.197: The cross at the bottom right hand corner of the page is in modern pencil.
MED