The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 4: Oxford, Bodleian Library MS Laud Misc. 581 (S. C. 987) (L) – Passus 5William 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 v de visione vt supraL.5.000: The supra can almost be made out, but it is largely illegible.Passus quintus de visione TheL.5.1: The ornamental capital is five lines high, written in blue ink with red flourishes. kyng and his knightes · to the kirke wente To here matynes of þe day · and þe masse after Þanne waked I of my wynkynge and wo was with-alle Þat I ne hadde sleped sadder · and yseiȝen more Ac er I hadde faren a fourlonge · feyntise me hente That I ne myȝte ferther a foot · for defaute of slepynge And sat softly adown · and seide my bileue And so I babeled on my bedes · þei brouȝte me a-slepe And þanne saw I moche more · þan I bifore tolde For I say þe felde ful of folke · þat I bifore of seyde And how resoun gan arrayen hym · alle þe reume to preche And with a crosse afor þe kynge · comsed þus to techen He preued þat þise pestilences · was for pure synne And þe southwest wynde · on saterday at euene Was pertliche for pure pryde · and for no poynt elles Piries and plomtrees · were puffed to þe erthe In ensample ȝe segges · ȝe shulden do þe bettere Beches and brode okes · were blowen to þe grounde Torned vpward her tailles · in tokenynge of drede Þat dedly synne ar domesday · shal fordon hem alle Of þis matere I myȝte · mamely ful longe Ac I shal seye as I saw · so me god helpe How pertly afor þe poeple · resoun gan to preche He bad wastoure go worche · what he best couthe And wynnen his wastyng · with somme manere crafte And preyed peronelle · her purfyle to lete And kepe it in hir cofre · for catel at hire nede Thomme stowue he tauȝte · to take two staues And fecche filice home · fro þe wyuen pyne He warned watt · his wyf was to blame Þat hire hed was worth halue a marke · his hode nouȝte worth a grote And bad bette kut · a bow other tweyne And bete betoun þer-with · but if she wolde worche And þanne he charged chapmen · to chasten her childeren Late no wynnynge hem forweny · whil þei be ȝonge Ne for no pouste of pestilence · plese hem nouȝte out of resoun My syre seyde so to me · and so did my dame Þat þe leuere childe · þe more lore bihoueth And Salamon seide þe same · þat sapience made Qui parcit virge odit filium Þe Englich of þis latyn is · who-so wil it knowe Who-so spareth þe sprynge · spilleth his children L.5.43: A pointing hand appears in the left margin, the work of a later scribe. This hand is in darker ink than the text and written with a finer penstroke; it is placed low in relation to the line group so that the finger points to the paraph. Compare to the hand on fol. 16r. And sithen he preyed prelatz · and prestes togideres Þat ȝe prechen to þe peple · preue · it on ȝowre-seluen And doth it in dede · it shal drawe ȝow to good If ȝe lyuen as ȝe leren vs we shal leue ȝow þe bettere And sithen he radde Religioun · here reule to holde Leste þe kynge and his conseille · ȝowre comunes appayre And ben stuwardes of ȝowre stedes · til ȝe be ruled bettre And sithen he conseilled þe kynge · þe comune to louye It is þi tresore if tresoun ne were · and triacle at þi nede And sithen he prayed þe pope · haue pite on holicherche And er he gyue any grace · gouerne firste hym-selue And ȝe that han lawes to kepe · late treuthe be ȝowre coueytise More þan golde or other gyftes · if ȝe wil god plese For who-so contrarieth treuthe · he telleth in þe gospel That god knoweth hym nouȝte · ne no seynte of heuene Amen dico vobis nescio vos · And ȝe þat seke seynte Iames · and seintes of Rome Seketh seynt treuthe · for he may saue ȝow alle Qui cum patre & filio · þat feire hem bifalle Þat suweth my sermon · and þus seyde resoun L.5.63: The original scribe put a paraph indicator in the left margin but did not skip a line, and the rubricator did not draw the paraph. ¶ Thanne ran repentance · and reherced his teme And gert wille to wepe · water with his eyen Peronelle proude-herte · platte hir to þe erthe And lay longe ar she loked · and lorde mercy cryedSuperbia · And byhiȝte to hym · þat vs alle made She shulde vnsowen hir serke · and sette þere an heyre To affaiten hire flessh · þat fierce was to synne Shal neuere heiȝe herte · me hente · but holde me lowe And suffre to be myssayde · and so did I neuere But now wil I meke me · and mercy biseche For al þis I haue · hated in myne herte Þanne lecchoure seyde allas · and on owre lady he cryedLuxuria · To make mercy for his mis-dedes · bitwene god and his soule With þat he shulde þe saterday · seuene ȝere þere-after Drynke but myd þe doke · and dyne but onesInuidia Enuye with heuy herte · asked after scrifte And carefullich mea culpa · he comsed to shewe He was as pale as a pelet · in þe palsye he semed And clothed in a caurimaury · I couthe it nouȝte discreue In kirtel and kour..teby · and a knyf bi his syde Of a freres frokke · were forsleuesL.5.83: A word-long erased space occurs after were. It has been thoroughly scraped. Examination under ultra-violet light suggests that the scribe wrote forsleues, and only found the repetition in correcting the page. þe forsleues And as a leke hadde yleye · longe in þe sonne So loked he with lene chekes · lourynge foule His body was to-bolle for wratthe · þat he bote his lippes · And wryngynge he ȝede with þe fiste · to wreke hym-self he þouȝte With werkes or with wordes · whan he seighe his tyme Eche a worde þat he warpe · was of an addres tonge Of chydynge and of chalangynge · was his chief lyflode With bakbitynge and bismer · and beryng of fals witnesse Þis was al his curteisye · where þat euere he shewed hym I wolde ben yshryue quod þis schrewe · and I for shame durst I wolde be gladder bi god · þat gybbe had meschaunce Than þouȝe I had þis woke ywonne · a weye of essex chese I haue a neighbore neyȝe me · I haue ennuyed hym ofte And lowen on hym to lordes · to don hym lese his siluer And made his frendes ben his foon · thorw my false tonge His grace and his good happes · greueth me ful sore Bitwene many · and many · I make debate ofte Þat bothe lyf and lyme · is lost þorw my speche L.5.102: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it. ¶ And whan I mete him in market · þat I moste hate I hailse hym hendeliche · as I his frende were For he is douȝtier þan I · I dar do non other Ac hadde I maystrye and myȝte · god wote my wille And whan I come to þe kirke · and sholde knele to þe Rode And preye for þe pople · as þe prest techeth For pilgrimes and for palmers · for alle þe poeple after Þanne I crye on my knees · þat cryste ȝif hem sorwe Þat bar awey my bolle · and my broke schete Awey fro þe auter þanne · turne I myn eyghen And biholde how Eleyne · hath a newe cote I wisshe þanne it were myne · and al þe webbe after And of mennes lesynge I laughe · þat liketh myn herte And for her wynnynge I wepe · and waille þe tyme And deme þat hij don ille · þere I do wel worse Who-so vndernymeth me here-of · I hate hym dedly after I wolde þat vche a wyght · were my knaue For who-so hath more þan I · þat angreth me sore And þus I lyue louelees · lyke a luther dogge That al my body bolneth · for bitter of my galle I myȝte nouȝte eet many ȝeres · as a man ouȝte For enuye and yuel wille · is yuel to defye May no sugre ne swete þinge · asswage my swellynge Ne no diapenidion · dryue it fro myne herte Ne noyther schrifte ne shame · but ho-so schrape my mawe Ȝus redili quod repentaunce · and radde hym to þe beste Sorwe of synnes · is sauacioun of soules I am sori quod þat segge · I am but selde other And þat maketh me þus megre · for I ne may me venge Amonges Burgeyses haue I be · dwellynge at Londoun And gert bakbitinge be a brocoure · to blame mennes ware Whan he solde and I nouȝte · þanne was I redy To lye and to loure on my neighbore · and to lakke his chaffare I wil amende þis ȝif I may · þorw myȝte of god almyȝtyIra ·L.5.136: The scribe has put 3 dots arranged in a triangle in the left margin inside a red box with the gloss. Now awaketh wratthe · with two whyte eyen And nyuelynge with þe nose · and his nekkeL.5.137: The word nekke is added later by the original scribe in a blank he left, one not entirely filled. hangyngeL.5.137-138: Water damage has affected the left side of this line group and the final line on the page. I am wrath quod he · I was sum-tyme a frere And þe couentes Gardyner · for to graffe ympesnota On limitoures and listres · lesynges I ymped Tyl þei bere leues of low speche · lordes to plese And sithen þei blosmed obrode · in boure to here shriftes And now is fallen þer-of a frute · þat folke han wel leuere Schewen her schriftes to hem · þan shryue hem to her persones And now personesL.5.145: LM alone omit han, which appears before or after persones in other B manuscripts. parceyued · þat Freres parte with hem Þise possessioneres preche · and depraue freres And freres fyndeth hem in defaute · as folke bereth witnes That whan þei preche þe poeple · in many placeL.5.148: LBCMY read singular place against the plural of all other manuscripts. aboute I wrath walke with hem · and wisse hem of my bokes Þus þei speken of spiritualte · þat eyther despiseth other Til þei be bothe beggers · and by my spiritualte libben Or elles alle riche and riden aboute I wrath rest neuere · þat I ne moste folwe This wykked folke · for suche is my grace I haue an aunte to nonne · and an abbesse bothe Hir were leuere swowe or swelte · þan soeffre any peyne I haue be cook in hir kichyne · and þe couent serued Many monthes with hem · and with monkes bothe I was þe priouresses potagere · and other poure ladyes And made hem ioutes of iangelynge · þat dame Iohanne was a bastard And dame Clarice a kniȝtes douȝter · ac a kokewolde was hire syre And dame Peronelle a prestes file · Priouresse worth she neuere For she had childe in chirityme · al owre chapitere it wiste Of wykked wordes I wrath · here wortes I-madeL.5.164: The metrically required prefix is supplied for I-made (< OE gemacian) only in LROC2. Til þow lixte and þow lixte · lopen oute at ones And eyther hitte other · vnder þe cheke Hadde þei had knyues bi cryst · herL.5.167: LMWR read her or hir. All other B manuscripts omit it. eyther had killed other Seynt Gregorie was a gode pope · and had a gode forwit Þat no Priouresse were prest · for þat he ordeigned Þei had þanne ben infamis þe firste day · þei can so yuel hele conseille Amonge monkes I miȝte be · ac many tyme I shonye For þere ben many felle frekis · my feres to aspye Bothe Prioure an supprioure · and owre pater abbas And if I telle any tales · þei taken hem togyderes And do me faste frydayes · to bred and to water And am chalanged in þe chapitelhous · as I a childe were And baleised on þe bare ers · and no breche bitwene For-þi haue I no lykyng · with þo leodes to wonye I ete there vnthende fisshe · and fieble ale drynke Ac otherwhile whan wyn cometh · whanL.5.180: This word appears only in manuscripts LGMR. Most other beta witnesses have and. I drynke wyn at eue I haue a fluxe of a foule mouthe · wel fyue dayes after Al þe wikkednesse þat I wote · bi any of owre bretheren I couth it in owre cloistre · þat al owre couent wote it Now repent þe quod Repentaunce · and reherce þow neure Conseille þat þow cnowest · bi contenaunce ne bi riȝte And drynke nouȝte ouer-delicatly · ne to depe noyther Þat þi wille bi cause þer-of to wrath myȝte torne Esto sobrius he seyde · and assoilled me after And bad me wilne to wepe · my wikkednesse to amendeAuaricia ·L.5.190: The scribe has put 3 dots arranged in a triangle to the left of Auaricia. And þanne cam coueytise · can I hym nouȝte descryue So hungriliche and holwe · sire henriL.5.191: LCGR alone read henri; most other B manuscripts have heruy. hym loked He was bitelbrowed · and baberlipped also With two blered eyghen · as a blynde hagge And as a letheren purs · lolled his chekes Wel sydder þan his chyn · þei chiueled for elde And as a bondman of his bacoun · his berde was bidraueled With an hode on his hed · a lousi hatte aboue And in a tauny tabarde · of twelue wynter age Al totorne and baudy · and ful of lys crepynge But if þat a lous couthe · haue lopen þe bettre She sholde nouȝte haue walked on þat welcheL.5.201: LR alone read on þat welche; other manuscripts have several different variants: Cr1MW read on þat welþe, and most other B manuscripts have there or theron. "Welche" is Welsh flannel. · so was it thredebare I haue ben coueytouse quod þis caityue · I biknowe it here For some-tyme I serued · symme atte stile And was his prentis ypliȝte · his profit to wayte First I lerned to lye · a leef other tweyne Wikkedlich to weye · was my furst lessoun To wy and to wynchestre · I went to þe faire With many manere marchandise · as my Maistre me hiȝte Ne had þe grace of gyle ygo · amonge my wareL.5.209: L is joined by MRF in reading ware. Other B manuscripts have chaffare. It had be vnsolde þis seuene ȝere · so me god helpe L.5.211: An unrubricated paraph marker appears in the left margin. Since the scribe failed to skip a line, the rubricating scribe may have failed to notice it. ¶ Thanne drowe I me amonges draperes · my donet to lerne To drawe þe lyser alonge þe lenger it semed Amonge þe riche rayes · I rendred a lessoun To broche hem with a bat-nedleL.5.214: L and RF have the nonce-word bat-nedle, meaning "basting needle"; other B witnesses read pak-nedle. · and plaited hem togyderes And put hem in a presse · and pynedL.5.215: L is joined by alpha manuscripts RF in reading pyned; most other B manuscripts have pynned. hem þerinne Tyl ten ȝerdes or twelue · tolledL.5.216: LM are joined by alpha manuscripts RF in reading tolled; other B witnesses have hadde(n) tolled. out threttene My wyf was a webbe · and wollen cloth made She spak to spynnesteres · to spynnen it oute Ac þe pounde þat she payed by · poised a quarteroun more Than myne owne auncere · who-so weyȝed treuthe I bouȝte hir barly malte · she brewe it to selle Peny ale and podyng ale · she poured togideres For laboreres and for low folke · þat lay by hym-selue The best ale lay in my boure · or in my bedchambre And who-so bummed þer-of · bouȝte it þer-after A galoun for a grote · god wote na lesse And ȝit it cam in cupmel · þis crafte my wyf vsed Rose þe regratere · was hir riȝte name She hath holden hokkerye · al hire lyf-tyme Ac I swere now so the ik · þat synne wil I lete And neuere wikkedliche weye · ne wikke chaffare vse But wenden to walsyngham · and my wyf als · And bidde þe Rode of bromeholme · brynge me oute of dette Repentestow þe euere quod repentance · neL.5.234: LMR alone read ne; other B manuscripts have or. restitucioun madest Ȝus ones I was herberwed quod he · with an hep of chapmenL.5.235: This is the first appearance of a mark which looks here like a single character, a barred <g>, but which will sometimes be extended to form a bracket. It is used here more like nota than as a bracket. The ink differs from text ink. I roos whan þei were arest · and yrifledL.5.236: LR alone have unmetrical yrifled. Other B manuscripts have riflede. here males That was no restitucioun quod repentance · but a robberes thefte Þow haddest betterL.5.238: LR alone lack be before better. worthy · be hanged þerfore Þan for al þat · þat þow hast here shewed · I wende ryflynge were restitucioun quod he · for I lerned neuere rede on boke And I can no frenche in feith · but of þe ferthest ende of norfolke Vsedestow euere vsurie quod repentaunce · in alle þi lyf-tyme Nay sothly he seyde · saue in my ȝouthe I lerned amonge lumbardes · and iewes a lessoun To wey pens with a peys · and pare þe heuyest And lene it for loue of þe crosse · to legge a wedde and lese it Suche dedes I did wryte · ȝif he his day breke I haue mo maneres þorw rerages · þan þorw miseretur & comodat I haue lent lordes · and ladyes my chaffare And ben her brocour after · and bouȝte it my-self Eschaunges and cheuesances · with suche chaffare I dele And lene folke þat lese wol · a lyppe at euery noble And with lumbardes lettres · I ladde golde to Rome And toke it by taille here · and tolde hem þere lasse L.5.255-258: A bracket, supplied by a later hand, extends from this line through the following three lines in the left margin. Lenestow euere lordes · for loue of her mayntenaunce Ȝe I haue lent lordes · loued me neuere after And haue ymade many a knyȝte · bothe mercere & drapere Þat payed neuere for his prentishode · nouȝte a peire gloues Hastow pite on pore men · þat mote nedes borwe I haue as moche pite of pore men · as pedlere hath of cattes Þat wolde kille hem yf he cacche hem myȝte · for coueitise of here skynnes Artow manlyche amonge þi neiȝbores · of þi mete and drynke I am holden quod he as hende · as hounde is in kychyne Amonges my neighbores namelich · such a name ich haue Now god lene neure quod repentance · but þow repent þe rather Þe grace on þis grounde · þi good wel to bisette+ Ne þine ysueL.5.267: L and R alone have ysue, meaning "issue, progeny." Most other B manuscripts have heires. The original scribe first wrote vsue and then in response to the corrector's <+> corrected the first character to <y>. after þe · haue ioye of þat þow wynnest Ne þi excecutours wel bisett · þe siluer þat þow hem leuest And þat was wonne with wronge · with wikked men be despended For were I frere of þat hous · þere gode faith and charite is I nolde cope vs with þi catel · ne owre kyrke amende Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce · of þyne bi my soule hele For þe best boke in owre hous · þeiȝe brent golde were þe leues+ And I wyst wytterly · þow were suche as þow tellethL.5.274: L uniquely has telleth here; the other B manuscripts read tellest. This probably motivated the corrector's <+> in the left margin. Seruus es alterius · cum fercula pinguia queris Pane tuo pocius · vescere liber eris · Thow art an vnkynde creature · I can þe nouȝte assoille Til þow make restitucioun · and rekne with hem alle And sithen þat resoun rolle it · in þe regystre of heuene That þow hast made vche man good · I may þe nouȝte assoille Non dimittitur peccatum · donec restituatur ablatum &c For alle þat hathL.5.282: LMR alone read hath; C2HmOW have han and CCrGYF read haue. of þi good · haue god my trouthe IsL.5.283: LMR alone have Is; other B witnesses have Ben. holden at þe heighe dome · to helpe þe to restitue And who-so leueth nouȝte þis be soth · loke in þe sauter glose In miserere mei deus · where I mene treuthe Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti &c Shal neuere werkman in þis worlde · þryue wyth þat þow wynnest Cum sancto sanctus eris · construe me þat on englische Thanne wex þat shrewe in wanhope · and walde haue hanged himself Ne hadde repentaunce þe rather · reconforted hym in þis manere Haue mercye in þi mynde · and with þi mouth biseche it For goddes mercye is more · þan alle hise other werkes Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius &c · And al þe wikkednesse in þis worlde · þat man myȝte worche or thynke Ne is no more to þe mercye of god · þan in þe see a glede Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei · estL.5.296: L alone omits quasi after est. sintilla in medio maris For-þi haue mercy in þi mynde · and marchandise leue it For þow hast no good grounde · to gete þe with a wastel But if it were with thi tonge · or ellis with þi two hondes For þe good þat þow hast geten · bigan al with falsehede And as longe as þow lyuest þer-with · þow ȝeldest nouȝte but borwest And if þow wite neuere to whiche · ne whom to restitue Bere it to þe bisschop · and bidde hym of his grace Bisette it hym-selue · as best is for þi soule For he shal answere for þe · at þe heygh dome For þe and for many mo · þat man shal ȝif a rekenynge What he lerned ȝow in lente · leue þow none other And what he lent ȝow of owre lordes good · to lette ȝow fro synneGula · Now bigynneth glotoun · for to go to schrifte And kaires hym to kirke-ward · his coupe to schewe Ac Beton þe brewestere · bad hym good morwe And axed of hym with þat · whiderward he wolde To holicherche quod he · forto here masse And sithen I wil be shryuen · and synne namoreL.5.314-318: A later hand has added in the right margin a bracket extending to include the next four lines.gluons fisik I haue gode ale gossib quod she · glotown wiltow assayeL.5.315: In the right margin are the words gluons (for glu[t]ons) fisik. Hastow auȝte in þi purs · any hote spices I haue peper and piones quod heL.5.317: The form he for "she" is a relict from Bx, and it appears in LBCCrY and the first version of M. · and a pounde of garlike A ferthyngworth of fenel-seed · for fastyngdayes Þanne goth glotoun in · and grete othes after Cesse þe souteresse · sat on þe benche Watte þe warner · and his wyf bothe Tymme þe tynkere · and tweyne of his prentis Hikke þe hakeneyman · and hugh þe nedeler Clarice of cokkeslane · and þe clerke of þe cherche Dawe þe dykere and a dozeine other Sire Piers of Pridie · and Peronelle of Flaundres A ribibour a ratonere · a rakyer of chepe A ropere a redyngkyng · and Rose þe dissheres Godfrey of garlekehithe · and gryfin þe walsh And vpholderes an hepe · erly bi þe morwe Geuen glotoun with glad chere · good ale to hansel Clement þe cobelere · cast of his cloke And atte newfairenew faire · he nempned it to selle Hikke þe hakeneyman · hitte his hood after And badde bette þe bochere · ben on his side Þere were chapmen ychose · þis chaffare to preise Who-so hauethL.5.337: LGMR read haueth. Other B manuscripts favor hadde, though hath and haue occur in some instances. þe hood · shuld haue amendes of þe cloke Two risen vp in rape · and rouned togideres And preised þese penyworthes · apart bi hem-selue Þei couth nouȝte bi her conscience · acorden in treuthe Tyl Robyn þe ropere · arose bi þe southe And nempned hym for a noumpere · þat no debate nere Hikke þe ....hostellere · hadde þe cloke In couenaunte þat Clement shulde þe cuppe fille And haue hikkes hode hostellere · and holde hym yserued And who-so repented rathest · shulde arise after And grete sire glotoun with a galoun ale Þere was laughyng and louryng · and let go þe cuppe And seten so til euensonge · and songen vmwhile Tyl glotoun had yglobbed · a galoun an a Iille+ His guttis gunne to godlyL.5.351: LMR alone read godly. The corrector's marginal <+> suggests that he thought this required correction, perhaps to god[e]l[e] as in L.13.95: And þanne shullen his guttis godele. See MED s.v. gothelen v. · as two gredy sowes He pissed a potel · in a pater noster while And blew his rounde ruwet · at his rigge-bonL.5.353: LC alone have the s-less genitive. ende That alle þat herde þat horne · held her nose after And wissheden it had be wexed · with a wispe of firses He myȝte neither steppe ne stonde · er he his staffe hadde And þanne gan he go · liche a glewmannes bicche Somme-tyme aside · and somme-tyme arrere As who-so leyth lynes · forto lacche foules And whan he drowgh to þe dore · þanne dymmed his eighen+ He trembledL.5.361: L alone reads trembled, though R has tremled and F tripplid. Most other B witnesses have some form of stombled. A corrector's <+> appears in the margin, though that possibly marks the scribe's spelling an for "and" later in the line. on þe thresshewolde · an threwe to þe erthe Clement þe cobelere · cauȝte hym bi þe myddel For to lifte hym alofte · and leyde him on his knowes Ac glotoun was a gret cherle · and a grym in þe liftynge And coughed vp a caudel · in clementis lappe Is non so hungri hounde · in Hertford-schire Durst lape of þeL.5.367: LGMR alone read þe. Most other B manuscripts have þat. Kane-Donaldson mistakenly read M as þo. leuynges · so vnlouely þei smauȝte With al þe wo of þis worlde · his wyf and his wenche Baren hym home to his bedde · and brouȝte hym þer-inne And after al þis excesse · he had an accidie Þat he slepe saterday and sonday · til sonne ȝede to reste Þanne waked he of his wynkyng · and wiped his eyghen Þe fyrste worde þat he warpe · was where is þe bolle His witte gan edwite hym þo · how wikkedlich he lyued And repentance riȝte so · rebuked hym þat tyme As þow with wordes and werkes · hast wrouȝte yuel in þi lyue Shryue þe and be shamed þer-of · and shewe it with þi mouth I glotoun quod þe gome · gylti me ȝelde Þat I haue trespassed with my tonge · I can nouȝte telle how ofte Sworen goddes soule · and so god me help and halidom Þere no nede ne was · nyne hundreth tymes And ouer-seye me at my sopere · and some-tyme at nones Þat I glotoun girt it vp · er I hadde gone a myle And yspilte þat myȝte be spared · and spended on somme hungrie Ouerdelicatly on fastyng-dayes · drunken and eten bothe And sat some-tyme so longe þere · þat I slepe and ete at ones For loue of tales in tauernes · to drynke þe more I dyned And hyed to þe mete er none · whan fastyng-dayes were This shewyng shrifte quod repentance · shal be meryte to þe And þanne gan glotoun grete · and gret doel to make For his lither lyf · þat he lyued hadde And avowed fastL.5.392: LGR and the first copy of M omit to before fast. · for hunger or for thurst Shal neuere fisshe on þeL.5.393: LBoCotR alone have þe. It is omitted by most other B witnesses. fryday · defien in my wombe Tyl abstinence myn aunte · haue ȝiue me leue And ȝit haue I hated hir · al my lyf-tymeAccidia Þanne come sleuthe al bislabered · with two slymy eiȝen I most sitte seyde þe segge · or elles shulde I nappe I may nouȝte stonde ne stoupe · ne with-oute a stole knele Were I brouȝte abedde · but if my taille-ende it made Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse · ar I were rype to dyne He bygan benedicite with a bolke · and his brest knocked And roxed and rored · and rutte atte laste What awake renke quod repentance · and rape þe to shrifte If I shulde deye bi þis day · me liste nouȝte to loke I can nouȝte parfitly my pater noster · as þe prest it syngeth But I can rymes of Robyn hood · and Randolf erle of Chestre Ac neither of owre lorde ne of owre lady · þe leste þat euere was made I haue made vowes fourty · and forȝete hem on þe morne I parfourned neure penaunce · as þe prest me hiȝte Ne ryȝte sori for my synnes · ȝet was I neuere And ȝif I bidde any bedes · but if it be in wrath Þat I telle with my tonge · is two myle fro myne herte I am occupied eche day · haliday and other With ydel tales atte ale · and otherwhile in cherches Goddes peyne and his passioun · ful selde þynke I þere-on I visited neuere fieble men · ne fettered folke in puttes I haue leuere here an harlotrie · or a somer game of souteres Or lesynges to laughe at · and belye my neighboreL.5.418: LMR alone read neighbore; most other B manuscripts have the plural. Þan al þat euere Marke made · Mathew Iohan & lucas And vigilies and fastyng-dayes · alle þise late I passe And ligge abedde in lenten · an my lemman in myn armes Tyl matynes and masse be do · and þanne go to þe freres Come I to ite missa est · I holde me yserued I nam nouȝte shryuen some-tyme · but if sekenesse it make Nouȝt tweies in two ȝere · and þanne vp gesse I shcryue me I haue be prest and parsoun · passynge thretti wynter Ȝete can I neither solfe ne synge · ne seyntes lyues rede But I can fynde in a felde · or in a fourlonge an hare Better þan in beatus vir · or in beati omnes Construe oon clause wel · and kenne it to my parochienesL.5.430: The words oon and wel have been written by a contemporary hand in blank spaces. The <c> of clause and the medial raised point has been retouched by the same hand. I can holde louedayes · and here a Reues rekenynge Ac in canoun ne in þeL.5.432: Manuscripts LGMR alone supply þe. Most other manuscripts omit it. decretales · I can nouȝte rede a lyne+ Ȝif I bigge andL.5.433: The <d> is a later addition in the blank space between the two words. The corrector's <+> appears faintly in the left margin, further out than most such marks. Though the ink is darker than that of the text hand, the correction may well have been made by the original scribe. borwe it · but ȝif it be ytailled I forȝete it as ȝerne · and ȝifL.5.434: LHmR read alliterating ȝif; most other B manuscripts read if. men me it axe Sixe sithes or seuene · I forsake it with othes And þus tene I trewe men · ten hundreth tymes And my seruauntz some-tyme · her salarye is bihynde Reuthe is to hereL.5.438: Where LMRF have here alone, most other B manuscripts have here þe. rekenynge · whan we shal rede acomptes So with wikked wille and wraththe · my werkmen I paye Ȝif any man doth me a benfait · or helpeth me at nede I am vnkynde aȝein his curteisye · and can nouȝte vnderstonde it For I haue and haue hadde · some-dele haukes maneres I namL.5.443: LMO read nam. All other B witnesses have am. nouȝte lured with loue · but þere ligge auȝte vnder þe thombe The kyndenesse þat myne euene-cristene · kidde me farnere Sixty sythes I sleuthe · haue foȝetefo[r]ȝete it sith In speche and in sparynge of speche · yspilte many a tyme Bothe flesche & fissche · and many other vitailles Bothe bred and ale · butter melke and chese Forsleuthed in my seruyse · til it myȝte serue noman I ran aboute in ȝouthe · and ȝaf me nouȝte to lerne+ And euere sith beL.5.451: LR alone read be; other B manuscripts read haue be, haue I be, or I haue be. True to form, the corrector has noted the reading with a marginal <+>. beggere · for my foule sleuthe Heu michi quia sterilem vitam duxi Iuuenilem Repentestow þe nauȝte · quod repentance · and riȝte with þat he swowned Til vigilate þe veille · fette water at his eyȝen And flatte it on his face · and faste on hym criede And seide ware þe fram wanhope · wolde þe bitraye I am sori for my synnes · sey soL.5.457: LMR alone have so; other B witnesses omit it. to þi-selue And bete þi-selue on þe breste · and bidde hym of grace For is no gult here so grete · þat his goodnesse nysL.5.459: LMW alone have nys. All other B manuscripts read is. more Þanne sat sleuthe vp · and seyned hym swithe And made avowe to-fore god · for his foule sleuthe Shal no sondaye be þis seuene ȝere · but sykenesse it lette Þat I ne shal do me er day · to þe dere cherche And heren matines and masse · as I a monke were Shal none ale after mete · holde me þennes Tyl I haue euensonge herde · I behote to þe Rode And ȝete wil I ȝelde aȝein · if I so moche haue Al þat I wikkedly wan · sithen I wytte hadde And þough my liflode lakke · leten I nelle Þat eche man ne shal haue his · ar I hennes wende And with þe residue · and þe remenaunt · bi þe Rode of chestre I shal seke treuthe arst · ar I se Rome Robert þe robbere · on reddite lokede And for þer was nouȝte · where-of he wepeL.5.474: The strong preterite form wepe appears in alpha and M as well. Most beta witnesses have wepte. swithe sore Ac ȝet þe synful shrewe · seyde to hym-selue Cryst þat on caluarye · vppon þe crosse deydest Tho dismas my brother · bisouȝte ȝow of grace And haddest mercy on þat man · for memento sake So rewe on þis robbere · þat reddere ne hauedebeo Ne neuere wene to wynne · with crafte þat I oweL.5.480: The gloss debeo appears over the last word of this line. But for þi mykel mercy · mitigacioun I biseche Ne dampne me nouȝte at domesday · for þat I did so ille What bifel of þis feloun · I can nouȝte faire schewe Wel I wote he wepte faste · water with boþe his eyen And knowleched his gult · to cryst ȝete eftsones Þat penitencia his pyke · he shulde polsche newe And lepe with hym ouer londe · al his lyf-tyme For he had leyne bi latro · luciferes aunte And þanne had repentaunce reuthe · and redde hem alle to knele For I shal biseche for al synful · owre saueoure of grace To amende vs of owre mysdedes · and do mercy to vs alle Now god quod he · þat of þi goodnesse · gonne þe worlde make And of nauȝte madest auȝte · and man moste liche to þi-selue And sithen suffredest for to synne · a sikenesse to vs alle And al for þe best as I bileue · what-euere þe boke telleth O felix culpa o necessarium peccatum ade &c For þourgh þat synne þi sone · sent was to þis erthe And bicam man of a mayde · mankynde to saue And madest þi-self with þi sone · and vs synful yliche Faciamus hominem ad ymaginem et similitudinem nostram Et alibi qui manet in caritate · in deo manet & deus in eo And sith with þi self sone · in owre sute deydest On godefrydaygode fryday for mannes sake · at ful tyme of þe daye Þere þi-self ne þi sone · no sorwe in deth feledest But in owre secte was þe sorwe · and þi sone it ladde Captiuam duxit captiuitatem Þe sonne for sorwe þer-of · les syȝte for a tyme Aboute mydday whan moste liȝte is · and mele-tyme of seintes Feddest with þi fresche blode · owre forfadres in derknesse Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris · vidit lucem magnam And thorw þe liȝte þat lepe oute of þe · lucifer was blent And blewe alle þi blissed · in-to þe blisse of paradise Þe thrydde daye after · þow ȝedest in owre sute A synful Marie þe seighe · ar seynte Marie þi dame And al to solace synful · þow suffredest it so were Non veni vocare iustos · set peccatores ad penitenciam And al þat Marke hath ymade mathew Iohan and lucas Of þyne douȝtiestL.5.518: LMRF agree in reading douȝtiest; other B witnesses have douȝty. dedes · were don in owre armes Verbum caro factum est et habitauit in nobis And bi so moche me semeth · þe sikerere we mowe Bydde and biseche · if it be þi wille Þat art owre fader and owre brother be merciable to vs And haue reuthe on þise Ribaudes · þat repente hem here sore Þat euere þei wratthed þe in þis worlde · in worde þouȝte or dedes Þanne hent hope an horne · of deus tu conuersus viuificabis And blew it with · Beati quorum · remisse sunt iniquitates Þat alle seyntes in heuene · songen at ones Homines & iumenta saluabis quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus &c · A thousand of men þo · thrungen togyderes Criede vpward to cryst · and to his clene moder To haue grace to go with hem treuthe to seke Ac þere was wyȝte non so wys · þe wey þider couthe But blustreden forth as bestes · ouer bankes and hilles Til late was and longe · þat þei a lede mette Apparailled as a paynym · in pylgrymes wyse He bare a burdoun ybounde · with a brode liste In a withewyndes wise · ywounden aboute A bolle and a bagge · he bare by his syde An hundreth of ampulles · on his hatt seten Signes of synaiy and shelles of galice And many a cruche on his cloke · and keyes of Rome And þe vernicle bifore · for men shulde knowe And se bi his signes · whom he souȝte hadde Þis folke frayned hym firste · fro whennes he come Fram synay he seyde · and fram owre lordes sepulcre In bethleem and in babiloyne · I haue ben in bothe InL.5.547: The <n> is in red ink and was inserted in the space reserved for the capitals, not as a regular item of text. ermonye in alisaundre · in many other places Ȝe may se bi my signes · þat sitten on myn hatte Þat I haue walked ful wyde · in wete and in drye And souȝte gode seyntes · for my soules helth Knowestow ouȝte a corseint · þat men calle treuthe Coudestow auȝte wissen vs þe weye · where þat wy dwelleth Nay so me god helpe · seide þe gome þanne I seygh neuere palmere · with pike ne with scrippe Axen after hym · er til now in þis place L.5.556: A square about an inch in size appears in the left margin. It is drawn with very fine penstrokes in pale brown ink, and each side of it is scored by three small strokes evenly spaced. In the middle is a tiny circle. The strokes do not radiate from the circle. Peter quod a plowman · and put forth his hed I knowe hym as kyndely · as clerke doþ his bokes Conscience and kynde witte · kenned me to his place And deden me suren hym sikerly · to serue hym for euere Bothe to sowe and to sette þe while I swynke myghte I haue ben his folwar · al þis fourtyL.5.561: LMRF read fourty; other B witnesses have fifty. wyntre Bothe ysowen his sede · and sued his bestes With-Inne and with-outen · wayted his profyt I dyke and I delue · I do þat treuthe hoteth Some-tyme I sowe · and some-tyme I thresche In tailoures crafte and tynkares crafte · what treuthe can deuyse I weue an I wynde · and do what treuthe hoteth For þouȝe I seye it my-self · I serue hym to paye Ich haue mymynL.5.569: A contemporary hand subpuncted and struck through my and added myn in the left margin. huire wel · and otherwhiles more He is þe prestest payer · þat pore men knoweth He ne with-halt non hewe his hyre · þat he ne hath it at euen He is as low as a lombe · and loueliche of speche And ȝif ȝe wilneth to wite · where þat he dwelleth I shal wisse ȝow witterly · þe weye to his place Ȝe leue Pieres quod þis pilgrymes · and profered hym huire For to wende with hem · to treuthes dwellyng-place Nay bi my soules helth quod pieres · and gan forto swere I nolde fange a ferthynge · for seynt Thomas shryne Treuthe wolde loue me þe lasse · a longe tyme þere-afterL.5.579: LHmWR supply the necessary syllable þer for the medial dip. Most other B witnesses omit it. Ac if ȝe wilneth to wende wel · þis is þe weye thidernota Ȝe mote go þourgh mekenesse · bothe men and wyues Tyl ȝe come in-to conscience þat cryst wite þe sothe Þat ȝe louen owre lorde god · leuest of alle þinges And þanne ȝowre neighbores nexte · in non wise apeyre Otherwyse þan þow woldest · he wrouȝte to þi-selue And so boweth forth bi a broke · beth buxum of speche Tyl ȝe fynden a forth · ȝowre fadres honoureth Honora patrem & matrem &c · Wadeþ in þat water and wascheth ȝow wel þere And ȝe shul lepe þe liȝtloker · al ȝowre lyf-tymedecem preceptaL.5.591: The gloss is in a sixteenth-century hand. And so shaltow se swere nouȝte · but if it be for nede And namelich an ydel · þe name of god almyȝti Þanne shaltow come by a crofte · but come þow nouȝte þere-Inne That crofte hat coueyte nouȝte · mennes catel ne her wyuesNe none of here seruantz The end of seruantz is illegible except under ultra-violet light at the gutter edge. The image can also be sharpened to make them visible. Ne none of her seruauntes · þat noyen hem myȝte Loke ȝe breke no bowes þere · but if it be ȝowre owne Two stokkes þere stondeth · ac stynte ȝe nouȝte þere They hat stele nouȝte ne slee nouȝte stryke forth by bothe And leue hem on þi left halfe · and loke nouȝte þere-after And holde wel þyne haliday heighe · til euen Thanne shaltow blenche at a bergh · bere no false witnesse He is frithed in with floreines · and other foes many Loke þow plukke no plante þere · for peril of þi soule Þanne shal ȝe se sey soth · so it be to done In no manere ellis nauȝte · for no mannes biddyng Þanne shaltow come to a courte · as cle..re as þe sonne Þe mote is of mercy · þe manere · aboute And alle þe wallis ben of witte · to holden wille oute And kerneled with crystendome · man-kynde to saue Boterased with bileue so · or þow beest nouȝte ysauedL.5.610: Most other B witnesses omit the unmetrical prefix to saued. This form appears only in LMYR. And alle þe houses ben hiled · halles and chambres+ WitL.5.612:The corrector's <+> in the margin presumably notes the scribe's rendering of Wit for Wiþ here. The same error is marked at L.20.118. It was not corrected either place. no lede but with loue · and lowe speche as bretheren Þe brugge is of bidde wel · þe bette may þow spede Eche piler is of penaunce · of preyeres to seyntes Of almes-dedes ar þe hokes · þat þe gates hangen on Grace hatte þe gateward · a gode man for-sothe Hys man hatte amende ȝow · for many manyL.5.617: An erasure of at least one letter space appears after <n>. Under ultra-violet light, it very dimly appears that the scribe had written many many.L.5.617: LMRF agree in reading man; other B witnesses have men. him knoweth Telleth hym þis tokene · þat treuthe wite þe sothe I parfourned þe penaunce · þe preest me enioyned And am ful sori for my synnes · and so I shal euere Whan I þinke þere-on · þeighe I were a pope Biddeth amende ȝow meke him · til his maistre ones To wayue vp þe wiket · þat þe womman shette Tho Adam and Eue · eten apples vnrosted Per euam cuntis clausa est · & per mariam virginem patefacta est For he hath þe keye and þe clikat · þouȝ þe kynge slepe And if grace graunte þe · to go in inL.5.627: LM alone have in in; other B witnesses have in. þis wise Þow shalt see in þi-selue · treuthe sitte in þine herte+ In a cheyne of charyte · as þow a clildec[h]ildeL.5.629: The form is ambiguous. What we have transcribed as clilde was transcribed by Kane and Donaldson as chlde. The <+> in the right margin marks the error for correction. were To suffre hym and segge nouȝte · aȝein þi sires wille Ac bewar þanne of wrath þeL.5.631: LGHmWR have þe; other B witnesses omit it. · þat is a wikked shrewe He hath enuye to hym · þat in þine herte sitteth And pukketh ....forþL.5.633: Forþ and the <h> of pukketh have been corrected over an erasure in darker brown ink by a later hand. The <h> was converted from an <l>. pruyde to prayse þi-seluen Þe boldnesse of þi bienfetes · maketh þe blynde þanne And þanne worstow dryuen oute as dew · and þe dore closed Kayed andL.5.636: The <d> has been inserted in the same darker brown ink used by a later corrector above. clikated · to kepe þe with-outen Happily an hundreth wyntre · ar þow eft entre Þus myght þow lesen his loue · to late wel by þi-selue And neuere happilchehappil[i]che efte entre · but grace þow haue Ac þere ar seuene sustren · þat seruen treuthe euere And aren ...porteresL.5.641: The first three letters of porteres are written over an erasure in the same darker ink used above plus some overwriting in <t>. of þe posternes · that to þe place longethvij sisters Þat one hatL.5.642: The <h> is written over in the darker ink of the later correcting scribe. abstenence · and humilite an-other Charite and chastite · ben his chief may..denes Pacience andL.5.644: The <d> is a later insert in red ink. pees · moche poeple þei helpeth Largenesse þe lady · heoL.5.645: L alone reads heo, though R has he. Most B manuscripts have she. let in ful manye HeoL.5.646: LR have the relict form Heo; other witnesses have she or sho. hath hulpe a þousande oute · of þe deueles ponfolde And who is sibbe to þis seueneL.5.647: The final <e> is in the darker ink of a later correcting scribe. · so me god helpe He is wonderliche welcome · and faire vnderfongen And but if ȝe be syb · to summe of þise seuene It is ful harde bi myne heued quod Peres · for any of ȝow alle To geten ingonge at any gate þere  but grace be þe more Now bi cryst quod a cutpurs · I haue no kynne þere NeL.5.653: LMRF agree in reading Ne; most other B witnesses have Nor. I quod an apewarde · bi auȝte þat I knowe Wite god quod a wafrestre · wist I þis for sothe Shulde I neuere ferthere a fote · for no freres prechyng Ȝus quod Pieres þe plowman · and pukked hem alle to gode Mercy is a maydene þere · hath myȝte ouer hemL.5.657: LCrMRF read hem; other B manuscripts omit it. alle And she is syb to alle synful · and her sone also And þoruȝe þe helpe of hem two · hope þow none otherL.5.659: Some text has been scraped in the right margin. Þow myȝte gete grace þere · bi so þow go bityme By seynt Poule quod a pardonere · parauenture I be nouȝte knowe þere I wil go fecche my box with my breuettes · and a bulle with bisshopes lettres By cryst quod a comune womman · þi companye wil I folwe Þow shalt sey I am þi sustre · I ne wot where þei bicome