The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 4: Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Laud Misc. 581 (S. C. 987) (L) – Passus 15William 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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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. Passus xvus finit dowel incipit dobetPassus xvusQuindecimus finit dowel & incipit dobeta 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 refusethe 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 estBishops 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 mawenon 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 techyngfreris 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 brennyngenota 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 proceditNota 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 hauethquid 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 hertenota 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 &cFor 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 greuethnota 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 bokesEgidius 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 techethantonye 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 bothePaulus 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 nededPeterandrew Peter fisched for his fode · and his felawe andrewe Some þei solde and some þei sothe · and so þei lyued bothemari 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 tuanota 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 rentesX 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 techethnota 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 bileueththe 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 freresAncres 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 honouredthe 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 longeid est resoun &c · Shal þei demen dos ecclesie · and ȝowre pryde depose Deposuit potentes de sede &c · Ȝif knyȝthod & kynde wytte · and comune conscienceBishops 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 & decimasnota 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 lettetha 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 ·