The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 5: London, British Library, MS Additional 35287 (M) – Passus 15William LanglandEdited by Eric Eliason, Hoyt N. Duggan, and Thorlac Turville-PetreAssociate Editors: Patricia Riles Bart and Gail DugganTechnical Editor: Daniel Pitti Graduate Research Assistants Michael Blum, John Ivor Carlson, Carrie Lindley, Janice McCoy, and Timothy L. Stinson. Computer Consultants and Programmers Shayne Brandon, Cynthia Girard, Kirk Hastings, Sue Munson, David Seaman, and John Unsworth.Society for Early English and Norse Texts ISBN (individual use) 1 84384 051 0 (institutional use) 1 84384 052 9

copyright 2005, by SEENET

2005 London, British Library, MS Additional 35287

 early 15th century Source copy consulted: London, British Library, MS Additional 35287

SEENET, A.7

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LatinFrenchGerman14 Dec 2004 editor Hoyt N. Duggan New header created, and SGML converted to XML. Minor revisions in TOC, mainly alphabatization of names.passus xvus de dowell & incipit dobetM.15.0: The guide for the rubricator in the right margin has been erased, but passus xvus de dowell & incipit dobet is still legible under ultra-violet light. It may be that a <j> has been erased after xv.passus xvquintodecimus.aAc aftur my wakynge . it was wonndur longeEr I koude kyndly . knowe what isM.15.2: M's is is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read was. dowel . And so my wit wexe and waynnyed . til I a foole wereAnd somme lakked my lif . allowed it butM.15.4: M's but is not shared by other B manuscripts. fewe . And leten meM.15.5: M's original reading without me was shared by HmGYOC2CL. for a lorel . and loth to reuerencen . Lordes or ladyes . or any lif ellesAs persouns in pellure . with pendauntz of siluer . To sergauntz ne to suche . saide IM.15.8: The addition of I puts M in agreement with WHmCr. nouȝt ones . God loke ȝyow lordus . ne louted faireThat folk helden me a fool . and in þat folye I rauedeTil reson hadde ruthe on me . and rokked me a-slepeTil I seighe as it sorcerie were . a sotil þing with-alleOon with-outen tonge or teeth . tolde me whider I sholdeAnd whereof I cam and of what kynde . I coniured hym atte lasteȜifIf he were crist.es creature . for crist.es loue me to tellenI am cristes creature . quod he . and cristen in many a placeIn crist.es Courte I knowe wel . and of his kyn a partie . Is neither Petreer .. — þe porter . ne Poule with his fauchoun . That wol deffende me þe dore . dynge I neuere so lateAt mydnyȝt at mydday . my vois so is y-knoweThat .eche a creature of his courte . welcometh me faireWhat ar ȝye called in þat Courte quod I . amonge cristes p.eple# discripcionem animeThe w....hiles I quyke þe corps . quod he . called am I Anima .And whan I wilne and wolde . Animus ich hatteAnd for þat I kan and knowe . called am I . mensAnd whan I make mone to god . memoria is my nameAnd whan I deme domes . and do as truthe techeth . Than is Racio . my riȝt name . resoun on ynglissh . And whan I feele þat folke telleth . my furste name is Sensus .corAnd þat is wit and wisdome . þe welle of alle craftus . And whan I chalange . or chalange nouȝt . chepe or refuseThan am I Connscience y-called . godes clerk and his NotarieAnd whan I loue lelly . oure lord and alle oþerThanne is lele loue my name . and in latyn Amor .And whan I fl..ee from þe flessh . and forsake þe caroigneThanne am I spirit specheles . spiritus þanne ich hatteAustyn and .ysodorus . either of hem bothe . Nempned me þus to name . now þow myȝt cheseHow þou coueitest to calle me . now þow knowest alle my namesAnima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur . dum viuificat corpus anima est . dum vult animus est . dum scit mens est . dum recolit memoria est . dum iudicat racio est . dum sentit sensus est . dum amat amor est . dum negat vel consentit consciencia est . dum spirat Spiritus est .ȜYe ben as a bisshop quod I . al bourdynge þat tymeFor bisshopus yblessud . bereth many names . Presul . and Pontifex . and Metropolitanus .And othere names an heep Episcopus and pastor . That is soth saide he . now I se þi willeThow woldest knowe and kunne . þe cause of alle hire namesAnd of myn ȝif þow miȝtest . me thynketh by þi speche . ȜYe sire I saide by so no man . were agreuedeAlle þe sciences vndur sonne . and alle þe sotil craftes . I wolde I knewe and couthe . kyndly in myn herte . Thanne art þow inparfit quod he . and oon of prides knyȝtesFor suche a luste and likynge . lucifer felle from heuene . Ponam pedem meum in aquilone & similis ero altissimo . It were aȝeins kynde quod he . and alle kynnes resoun . That eny creature shulde konne al . except Crist one . Aȝeins suche sal.omon speketh and despiseth hire wittus . And saith Sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum .Sic qui scrutator est magestatis opprimitur a gloria .To ynglissh men þis is to mene . þat mowen speke and here . passus xvusThe man þat muche hony eteth . his mawe it engleymethAnd þe more þat a man . of good matire herethBut he do theraftur it doth him double scatheBeatus est seith Bernard . qui scripturas legitEt verba vertit in opera . fulliche to his powereCoueitise to kuonne . and to knowe sciencePultteM.15.66: M's original pulte agreed with LR. OC2 have pullede. Other B manuscripts read putte. oute of paradis . Adam and EueSciencie appetitus hominem inmortalitatis gloriam spoliauitAnd riȝt as hony is .yuel to deffie . and englemeth þe maweRiȝt so þat þoruȝ reson . wolde þe rote knowe# non plus sapere quam oportetOf god and of hise grete miȝtes . his graces it lettethFor in þe likynge lith a pride . and a licames coueitiseAȝyeins Cristes conseille . and alle clerkes techingeThat is Non plus sapere quam oportet sapere .Freres and fele othere maistres . þat to þe lewed men prechenȜYe mouen matires in-mesurables . to tellen of þe TriniteThat ofte tymes þe lewed poeple . of hire bileue doutenBettre ...?...?...were many doctours . bileu..e suche techingeM.15.77: The line has been rewritten and then revised. The final version is unique but closest to W's Bettre it were to many doctours to leuen swich techyng. L has Bettre byleue were mony doctoures such techyng, and Y has Better to leue were many doctours swich techynge.And tellen men of þe ten comandementz . and techenM.15.78: M's techen is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read touchen. þe seuen synnesAnd of þe braunches þat burioneth of hem . and bringeth men to helleAnd how þat folk in hireM.15.80: M's hire is not shared by other B manuscripts. folies . myspenden here fyue wittesAs wel Freres as othere ....folk . folilich þei spenden . In housynge in hateringe . and in-to heiȝe clergie shewyngeMore for pompe þan for pure charite . þe poeple woot þe sothe . That I lye not loo . for lordus ȝye plesen . And reuerencen þe Riche . the rather for hire siluer . Confundantur omnes qui adorant sculptilia . Et alibi Vt quid diligitis vanitatem & queritis mendacium .Go to þe glose of þe vers . ȝye grete clerkes.nota de fratribus.Ȝ.If I lie on ȝyow to my lewde wit . ledeth me to b...rennyngeFor as it semeth ȝye forsaketh . no mann.es almesseOf vsurers of hores . of auerous chapmen . And louten to þese lordes . þat mowen lene ȝyow noblesAȝyein ȝyoure Rule and religioun . I take record atte IhesusThat saide to .his discipules . ne sitis personarum acceptoresOf þis matere I miȝte make a longe bibleCuratis loquiturAc of curatours of cristen p.eple . as clerkes bereth ...wytnesseI shal tellen it for truthes sake . take hede who-so like..ethAs holinesse and honestee . out of holy chuyrcheM.15.98: The alteration of <u> to <y> is slightly misplaced. ...?...spryngethM.15.98: M's revision spryngeth is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read spredeþ.Thoruȝ lele libbynge men . þat godes lawe techenRight so out of holy churche . alle .yueles spredethThere inparfit presthod is . prechours & techersAnd se it b.y ensample . in somer tyme on trowesThere somme bowes .beth leued . and somme bereth noneThere is a meschief in þe more . of suche manere bowes# de prelatis & CuratisRiȝt so persones and prestes . and menM.15.105: M's men is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read prechours. of holychurcheThat arn rote of þe riȝt feith . to rule þe p.epleAc þere þe rote is roten . reson wot þe sotheShal neuere flour ne fruyt . ne faire leef be greneFor-þi wolde ȝeye lettrud leue . the leccherie of clothingeAnd be kynde as bifel for clerkes . and curteis.ee of cristus goodus . Truwe of ȝyowre tonge . and of ȝyoure taille botheAnd haten to here harlotrie . and nouȝt to vndurfongeTithes of vntrewe thinge . ytilied or chaffared . Lothe were lewed men . but þei ȝyowre loore folwedeCurattisAnd amenden hem þat mysdoun . moore for ȝyoure ensamplesThanne — for to prechen and pre...uen it nouȝt . ..ypocrisie it semeth . For ypocrisie in latyn . is likned to a donghull . That were bisnewed with snow. . and snakes withinneOr to a wal þat were whitlymed ...?...withouten and were foul withinneM.15.119: M's revised line is unique. Most B manuscripts lack withouten; Cr23YOC2 have withouten but lack were in the b-verse.Ri...ght so many preestus . prechours and prelatusȜYe arn blaunchedM.15.121: M shares the reading blaunched with F; other B manuscripts have enblaunched. with bele paroles . and with clothes also . Ac ȝyoure werkes and ȝyowre wordes . þerevndur arn ful vnlouelicheIohannes Crisostomus of clerkus speketh and preestus . NBM.15.124: The same ornate abbreviation is found on fol. 73v.Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur . sic de templo omne malum procedit . Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit tota floret ecclesia Si autem coruptum fuerit omnium fides marcida est . Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis totus populus conuertitur ad peccandum . Sicut cum videris arborem pallidam & marcidam . intelligi.s quod vici-um habet in radice . Ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum & irreligiosum / sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum .ȜiIf lewed men wiste . what þat þis latyn meneth . And ..who was myn auctour . muche wondur me þinketh# prestis BaselardisBut ȝif many preest beere . for hire baselardus and hire broochesA peire of bedes in hire hand . and a book inM.15.128: M's in is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read vnder. hire armeSir Iohan and sire Geffray . hath a gerdel of siluer . passus xvusA baselard or a ballo..k knyf with botones ouergilteAc a porth..ors þat shuld —— sholde be his plow . placebo to seggeHadde he neuere seruice to saue siluer þer-to . seith it with idel willeAllas ȝye lewede men muche lese ȝye on preestusAc þing þat is wikkedlicheM.15.134: M's is wikkedliche is not shared by other B manuscripts, which reverse the order. y-wonnen . and with false sleightesWolde neuere wit of witty god . but wikked men it hadden . The w..hiche arn prestus inparfite . and prechours aftur siluer . .......ExecutoursM.15.137: M's revised form Executours agrees with WHmCr; other B manuscripts have sectours or something similar. and suddenes . somonours and hire lemmansThis þat with gile was geten . vngraciousliche is spendedSo harlotes and hoores . arn holpen with suche goodusAnd godes folk for defaute therof . forfaren and spillen . Curatours of holikyrke . as clerkes þat ben auerousecontra Curatos AuarosLigthliche þat þei leuen . loseles it habbethOr deiȝyeth intestate . and þanne þe bisshop entrethAnd maketh murthe þerewith . and hise men botheAnd seggen he was a Nygard . þat no godeod myȝte spare . To freend ne to fremmed . the fiende haue his souleFor a wrecched hous he held . al his lif-tymeAnd þat he spared and speredeM.15.148: M shares the reading sperede with F; other B manuscripts have bisperede. . spene we in murtheBye it lered . bybe it lewedeM.15.149: The revised a-verse agrees with Hm. The original reading is that of most B manuscripts, including WCr. . þat loth is to spendeThus goon hire goodus . be þe goost faren . Ac for goode men god woot . grete doel men maken . And bymeneþ goode mete ȝyeuers . and in mynde haueth . .quid est caritasIn preiers and in penaunces . and in parfite chariteWhat is charitee quod I thoo . a childissh þinge h.e saideNisi efficiamini sicut paruuli . non intrabitis in regnum celorum .With-outen fauntelte or folye . a fre liberal willeWhere shulde men fynde suche a freend . with so fre an herte . longe willI haue liued in londe quod I . my name is longe willeAnd fonde I neuere ful charite . bifore ne by-h.yndeMen ben merciable . to mendinauntz and to poreAnd wolen lenen þere þei leue . lelly to be paiede . Ac charite þat Poule preiseth best . and moost plesaunt to oure Saueour..IsM.15.163: M's altered reading of Is agrees with WHmCr. YOC2LRF read As. . non inflatu.r non estM.15.163: It is likely that the original reading was that of L, which has inflatus and omits est. ambiciosa . non querit que sua sunt .I seigh neuere suche a man . so me god helpe . That he ne wolde aske aftur his . and otherwhile coueiteThing þat neded hym nouȝt . and nyme it ȝif he myghteClerkes kennen me . þat Crist is . in alle placesAc I seigh him neuere soþely . but as my-sel.f in a .....MirourHicM.15.169: M's Hic agrees with RF; other B manuscripts read Ita, It, or omit. in enigmate tunc facie ad faciem .And so I trowe truly by þat men telleth of chariteIt is nouȝt champions fiȝte . ne chaffare as I troweCharite quod he ne chaffareth nouȝt . ne chalangeth ne crauethquomodo laudatur caritasAs proude of a peny . as of a pounde of goldeAnd is as glad of a gowne . of a gray russetAs of a tunicle of Tarse . or of trye scarleteHe is glad with alle glade . and goode til al wikked . And leneth and loueth . al þat oure lord madeCurseth he no creature . ne he kan bere no wratheNe no likynge hath to lye . ne laughe men to scorneAl þat men saien he leet it soth . and in solace takethAnd alle manere myschi...efs . in myldenesse he suffrethCoueiteth he noon ....erþeliM.15.182: The form underlying erþeli was probably erly, as in F. good . but heuene-riche blisse . questio de CaritateHath he any rentes or richessesM.15.183: M's richesses is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read richesse. For other examples see M.10.15 and M.15.184. . or any riche freendes . Of rentes ne of richessesM.15.184: M's original richesse agreed with all other B manuscripts. For other examples see M.10.15, M.15.183. ne reccheth he neuereFor a frende þat fyndeth hym . failled hym neuere at nedeFiat voluntas tua . fynt hym euere-moore . And ȝif he soupe eteth . but a sop . of Spera in deo .He kan purtreie wel þe Pater-noster . and peinte ...?...it with auesAnd otherwhile is his wone . to wenden in pilgrimageThere pouere men and prisones liggeth . hire pardon to haue . Though he bere hem no bred . he bereth swetter liflidelifl[o]de . Loueth hem as oure lord biddeth . and loketh how þei fare . And whan he is wery of þat werk . þan wol he somme-tymeLabouren in lauendrie . wel þe lengthe of a myle . And ȝyerne in-to ȝyouthe and ȝyepliche speke . Pride with alle þappurtenaunces . and pakken hem to-gedreAnd bouken hem at his brest . and beten hem cleneAnd leggen on longe . with laboraui in gemitu meoAnd with warme watur at his eighen . whasshen hem afturAnd þanne he syngeth whanne he doth so . and somme-tyme saith wepyngepassus xvusCor contritum & humiliatum deus non despici..asM.15.201: M's revised despicias is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read despicies.By Crist I wolde þat I knew hym quod I . no creature leuereWith-outeM.15.203: The scribe wrote the first letter of this line immediately below the preceding line. He then realized he needed to leave space for a new verse paragraph and erased the <W>. helpe of piers þeM.15.203: M shares the reading þe with R; all other B manuscripts omit it. plowman quod he . his persone seest þow neuereWher clerkes knowen hym quod hI . þat kepen holy kyrkeClerkes haue no knowynge quod he . but by werkes and by wordesAc Piers þe plowman parceyueth moore depper.WhatM.15.207: M's original reading is not legible here. LRF read Þat. is þe wille . and wherefore . þat many wiȝt suffreth . Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorumFor þere arn ful proude-herted men . pacient of tongeAnd buxome as of berynge . to burgeys and to lordesAnd to pouere poeple han peper in þe noseAnd as a lyon he loketh . þere men lakken his werkesFor þere arn beggers and bidders . bedmen as it wereLoken as lambren . and semen lif-holyAc it is more to haue hire mete . with such an esy manereThanne — for penaunce and parfitenesse . þe pouerte þat suche takethTherfore by colour ne by clergie . know shalt þow hym neuereNeither þoruȝ wordus ne werkes . but þoruȝ wille ooneAnd þat knoweth no clerk . ne creature in ertheBut piers þe plowman . Petrus id est CristusCaritas omnia libenter suffertFor he ne is not in lollers . ne in londlepers hermytesNe at ancres þere a box hangeth . alle suche þei faitenFy on faitours and in fautores suos .For charite is godes champioun . and as a good child hendeAnd þe merieste of mouthe . at mete where he sittethÞe loue þat lith in his herte . maketh hym light of specheAnd is companable and confortatif . as crist bit hym-seluen . Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes . & ceteraFor I haue sein hym in silk . and some-tyme in russetBothe in grey and in grys . and in gilt herneys . And as gladliche he it gaf . to gomes þat it neded . Edmond and Edward either were kyngesAnd beM.15.233: M's addition of be is attested in F. seintes y-set . ...forM.15.233: M's revised for is the reading of WCr, and of Hm by correction. The erased reading looks as though it was til, as in all other B manuscripts except RF which have so. charite hem folwedI haue seiȝen charite also . syngen and reden. /M.15.235: Along the top and the left margin there is written, in light, large, pencil: Cruke Cruke Iohanes Iohanes Iohanes Cruke.Riden and rennen in ragged wedesnota de mendicantibusAc biddynge as a beggerseM.15.236: M's original beggers agreed with all other B manuscripts except BF, which have the singular. . biheld I hym neuereAc in riche Robes . rathest he walkethY-called and y-crymylled . and his croune shaueAnd inM.15.239: The scribe has avoided a 2 cm slit in the parchment. No text has been lost. a Freres frokke . he was founden oonesaudi fraterAc it is ferre a-goo . in seint Fraunceys tymeIn þat secte sithe to selde . hath he ben knoweRiche men he recomendeth . and of hire robes takethThat with-outen wyles . ledeth hire lyuesBeatus est diues qui & cetera#In kynges courte he cometh ofte . þere þe counseille is treweAc ȝif coueitise be of þe conseill . he wil not come þere-inne . In courte amonges Iapers . cometh heM.15.247: M's cometh he is not shared by other B manuscripts, which reverse the order. but selden . For braulynge and bakbytynge and beryng of fals wittnesseIn þe Consistorie bifore þe Commissarie . he cometh not ful oftecontra legum doctoresFor hire lawe dureth ouere-longe . but ȝif þei lacchen siluer . And matrimoigne for moneye . þeiM.15.251: M's þei is not shared by other B manuscripts. maken and vnmaken . And þat conscience and crist . hath y-kny...t — fasteThei vndoon it vnworth.ily þo doctours of lawe . Ac I lakkeM.15.254: M shares the reading lakke with F; other B manuscripts have ne lakke. no lif . but lord amende vs alleAnd gif vs grace goode god . charite to folwe . For whoso miȝte mete with hym . swyche maners hym eilethNeither he blameþ . ne heM.15.257: M's he is not shared by other B manuscripts. banneþ . boosteth ne preisethLakketh noe loseth . ne loketh vp sterneCraueth ne coueiteth . ne crieth aftur mooreIn pace in idipsum dormiam & ceteraThe mooste liflode he lyueth by . is loue in godes passion . Neither he biddeth ne beggeth . ne borweth to ȝyeldeMisdoth he no man . ne with his mouthe greueth . Amonges cristen men þis myldenesse shulde laste# quanta erat humilitas CristiIn alle manere angres . haue þis at herteThat þouȝgh þei suffre al þis . god suffrethM.15.266: Both verbs in the line are in the past tense in all other B manuscripts, except F, which has suffre in the a-verse. for vs moreIn ensample we shulde do so . and take no vengeaunce . Of oure foes þat doth vs falsenesse . þat is oure fadres wille . For wel may euery manixcorpassus xvusFor wel may euery man wite  ȝif god hadde wolde hym-seluenShulde neuere Iudas ne iewe . haue Ihesu doon on rode Ne han martired petreer ne poule . neM.15.271: M's original reading without ne agreed with G. in prisoun holden . Ac he suffrede in ensample  þat we shulde suffre also . And saide to suche þat suffre wolden . þat Pacientes vincunt . Verbi gracia quod he . and ..verrey ensamples manyeIn legenda sanctorum . the lif of holy seintes . What penaunce and pouerte . and passion þei suffredede paupertate & pacienciaIn hunger in hete in alle manere angres . Antonye and Egidie . and other holy fadres . Woneden in wildernesse  amonges wilde beestesMonȝkeskes and mendinauntz  men by hem-seluen . In spekes and spelonkes . selden speken to-g.ydre . Ac neither Antonye ne Egidie . ne heremite that tyme . Of lyons ne of lypardes . no liflode ne tokeBut of fowles þat fleeth . þus fyndeth men in bokes . Excepte þat Egidie . aftur andanM.15.285: An error for an as in all other B manuscripts, perhaps through confusion with the form an for and as at M.6.98, M.7.2, M.7.185, etc. hynde criedeAnd þoruȝ þe mylke of þat mylde beeste . the man was susteigned . And day by day hadde he hire nouȝt . his hunger for to slakeBut selden and sundr.y tymes . as saithe the book and techeth . Antony a dayes . aboute nonesM.15.289: For M's nones other B manuscript read noon or none. tymeHadde a bridde that brouȝte hym bred . that he by lyuede . And þouȝ þe gome hadde a geste . god fonde hem bothePoule primisprim[u]s heremita . hadde parrokede hym-seluen . That no man miȝte hym se . for mosse and ......for leuesFowles hym fedde fele wyntres / with-alle . quid coquerisTil he founded Freres . of Austyns ordre . Poule after his prechinge . panyers he made . And w..an with his hon...des . þat his wombe neded . /Petreer fisshed for his fode . and his felawe Andrew . Some þei solde . and somme thei sothe . and so þei liued botheAnd also Marie Maudeleyne . by amores leiuedM.15.300: The notion that Mary Magdalene lived on love-affairs and dews, though delightful, has no support from the other manuscripts. The reading amores has been corrected to mores, i.e. "roots," the reading of all other B manuscripts. and dewes . Ac moost þoruȝ deuocioun . and mynde of god almiȝty . I shulden not þise seuene dayes . seggen hem alleThat lyueden þus for oure lordes loue . many longe ȝyeresAc þere ne was lyo.n ne lyparde . þat on laundes wenten . Neither beere ne boor . ne other beeste wildeThat ne felle to hire feet . and fawned with þe taillesAnd ȝif þei couthe han y-carped . by crist as I troweThey wolde haue y-fed þat folke . byfore wylde fowles .cor Ac god sente hem fode by fowles . and by no fierse beestes .M.15.309-312: The first four lines are bracketed in right margin. There is a large NB ornament in the left margin.In menynge þat meke þinge . mylde þinge shulde fede . As whosoM.15.311: M shares the reading whoso with F; other B manuscripts read who. seith Religious . riȝtful men sholde fyndecontra rapacitatem dominorum super tenentibusAnd laweful men to lif-holy men . liflode bringe . And þanne wolde lordes and ladyes . be loth to agylteAnd to take of hire tenauntz . more þanne truthe wolde# FraterFounde þei þat Freres . wolden forsake hire almes . And bidden hem bere it . þere it was y-borwedeFor we ben godes Fowles . and abiden alweyTil briddes bringe vs . þat we shulde lyue by . For hadde ȝye potage and payn y-nough . and penyale to drynkeAnd a messes þere-myde . of on manere kyndeȜYe hadden riȝt y-nough ȝye religious . and so ȝyoure reule me tolde . Numquam dicit Iob rugit onager cum herbam habuerit  aut mugiet bos . cum ante plenum presepe steterit  brutorum animalium natura te condempnat quia cum eis pabulum comune sufficiat . ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua .ȜifIf lewed men knewe þis latyn . þei wolde loke whom þei ȝyeue contra mort MainAnd auyse hem byfore . a fyue dayes or sexeEr þei amortisede to muonkes . or Chanouns hire rentes . Allas lordes and ladys . lewede conseille haue ȝye . To ȝyeue from ȝyoure heires . þat ȝyoure aieles ȝyow lefte . And ȝyeueth to bidde for ȝyow . to suche as ben riche . And ben founded and feffed eke . to bidde for othereWho parfourneth þis prophecie . of þe p.eple þat now libbeth . Optime dicit & verumDispersit dedit pauperibus & cetera .Ȝ.If any poeple parfourne þat texte . it aren þise pouere freres . For þat þei beggen aboute . in buyldynge þei speneAnd on hem-selue somme . and suche as ben hire laborers . And of hem þat habbeth þei taken . and ȝyeueth hem þat ne habbeth . Ac clerkes and knyȝtes . and Comuners þat ben riche . Fele of ȝyow fareth . as ȝif I hadde a ForesteM.15.337: M's syntax hadde a Forest is not attested in other B manuscripts, which read a Forest hadde.That were ful of faire trees . and I fonded and casteHow I miȝte mo þere-inne . amonges hem sette . Right so ȝye riche ȝye robrobethM.15.340: M's original reading was probably robbeth, agreeing with the majority of B manuscripts. WYCL have M's revised reading robeth. . þat ben riche . And helpeth hem þat helpeth ȝyow . and ȝyeueth þere no need is . As whoso fillede a tonne . of a fressh ryuerAnd wente forth with þat water to woke with ThemeseRight so ȝye riche . ȝye rob.ethethM.15.344: M's original reading was probably robbeth, agreeing with the majority of B manuscripts. WL alone have M's revised reading robeth. . and fedeth . passus xvusHem þat han as ȝye han . hem ȝye make at eseAc Religious þat riche ben . sholde rather feeste beggersThan burgeys þat riche ben . as þe book techethQuia sacrilegium est . res pauperum non pauperibus dare .M.15.348: This long Latin quotation is boxed in two separate boxes: one containing the first three lines, the other the final two./nota/Item peccatoribus dare  est demonibus immolare Item monache si indiges & accipis . pocius das quam accipis Si autem non eges & accipis  rapis .Porro non indiget monachus  si habeat quod nature sufficit .nota beneM.15.353-364: This and the next eleven lines are bracketed in the left margin.# quia super omnia CaritasFor-þi I counseille alle cristene . to confourmen hem to chariteFor charite withouten chalangynge  vnchargeth þe soule . And many a prisonerM.15.355: For the abbreviation see M.14.187,
prisoners. The majority of B manuscripts read prison, but CrGC2CotF read prisoner(s). The rather ambiguous abbreviation in M explains the variation. from purgatorie  þorȝwgh his praiers he deliuerethAc þere is a defaute in þe folk . þat þe feith kepeth . Wherfore folk is þe febler . and nouȝt ferme of bileueAs in lussheburwes is a lether alay . and ȝyet loketh he lik a sterlingelussheborewesÞe merke of þat monee is good . ac þe metal is feble . And so it fareth by somme folke nowe . þei han a faire specheCroune and cristendome . þe kynges merke of heuene . Ac þe metal þat is mann.es soule  with synne is foule alayedeBothe lettred and lewede beth now alayed with synne . That no lif loueth other . ne oure lord as it semeth . For þoruȝ werre and wykked werkes and wederes vnresonableWeder-wise shippmen . and witty clerkes also . Han no bileue to ..þeM.15.367: The alteration is made in a hand in which <þ> is indistinguishable from <y>. lifte . ne to þe loore of philosophres# Facultas AstrologorumAstron....omiensM.15.368: While M's original reading is not legible, the word is variously spelled in the manuscripts. aldayal day . in hir arte faillen . That whilom warned bifore . what. shulde falle after . Shippmen and sheperdes . þat with shipp . and sheep wenten . Wisten by the walkene . what sholde bytyde . Fallacia signorum preteritorum & FuturorumM.15.372: This note is written over a drypoint <X>.As of wederes and wyndes . þei warned men ofte . Tiliers þat tileden þe erthe . tolden hire maistres . By þe seede þat þei s...ewe what þei selle mighteAnd what to leue . and to leiuebyleiue by . þe lond was so trewe . Now failleth þe folk of þe flood . and of þe londe botheSheperdes and shippmen . and so do þise tiliersNeither þei kuonneth ne knoweth . oon cours byfore another . M.15.379-383: This line and the next four are bracketed in the left margin.Astronomiens also aren at hire wittus ende . # New GramerOf þat was calkulede of þe element . þe contrarie þei fyndeGramer þe grounde of al . bigileth now children . For is noon of þise newe clerkes . whoso nymeth hedeThat kan versifien faire . ne fourmeliche enditen . ijNe nouȝt oon amonge an hundered . þat an Auctour kan construeNe rede a lettre in any langage . but in latyn or in englissh . contra Gyle & FlatereGo now to any degre . and but ȝif gile be maistreerAnd flaterer his felawe . vnder hym to fourmen . Muche wonder me thynketh . amonges vs alle . Doctours of decres . and of diuynite maistresThat shulden kuonne . and knowe . alle kynnes clergye# Responsum ad quodlibetAnd answere to argumentz . and also to a QuodlibetI dar nouȝt seggen it for shame . ȝif swiche weren apposed . ThatM.15.393: M's That is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read Thei. shulde faille in hire philosophie . and in hire Phisike botheWherfore I am aferde . of folk of holy kyrkeLest þei ouerehuppen as other doon  in office and in houres . Ac ȝif þei ouerehuppe as I hope nouȝt . oure bileue suffiseth . # festum Corporis CristiAs Clerkes in Corpus Cristi feeste . syngen and reden . That sola fides sufficit . to saue with lewede poepleNotaAnd so may Sarasines ben saued . scribes and Iewes . Allas þanne but oure loresmen . lyuen as þei leren vsAnd for hire lyuynge þat lewede men . ben þe lother god agulten . For Sarasines han sumwhat . semynge to oure bileueFor þei loue and bileue . in oon persone almiȝtyAnd we lered and lewede . in oon god bileuethMachamitAnd on Makometh . a man . in mysbileueBrouȝte Sarasines of Surr.ie and se in what manereThis Makometh was a Cristen . and for he moste not be popeIn-to surrye he souȝte . and þorugh his sotile wittesDawunted a doweue . and day and niȝte hire fedde . The corn þat she kroppud . he kast it in his ereAnd if he amonge þe p.eple preched . or in places comexM.15.412: The <x> is written in drypoint.Þanne wolde þe coluere . come to þe clerkes ereMenynge as after mete . thus makometh hire enchauntedeAnd dede folke þanne falle on knees . for he swoor in his prechyngeThat þe coluere þat com so . c..oom from god of heueneAs messager to Makometh . men for to techen . And þus þoruȝ ..wyles of his wit . and a whit dowue# disceptionem MachamitisMakometh in mysbileue . men and wymmen brouȝteThat ....lyued þo þere and l....yuen ȝyetM.15.419: M's original reading in the a-verse was perhaps that of L, which has þat lered þere and lewed ȝit. Most B manuscripts have similar readings. The alterations bring M into agreement with WCr. . lieuen on hise lawesAnd sith oure saueour suffred . þoM.15.420: M's þo is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read þe. sarasines so bigiledThoruȝ a cristene clerk . ...acursed in his souleAnd for drede of þe dethe . I dar nouȝt telle þe truthepassus xvus# Englissh Clerkis Fede CouetiseHow englissh clerkes a coluere feden . þat coueitise hatteAnd ben manered after Makometh . þat no man vseth truthe . Ankres and hermytes . monkes and Freres . Peren to apostoles . þoruȝ hire parfit lyuyngeWolde neuere þe faitheful fader . þat hise Mynystres shulden# ¶ quod de rebus male adquisitis non debet dari elemosinaOf tirauntes þat teneth trwe men . taken any almesseBut doon as Antony dide . Domynyk and FraunceysBenet and Bernard . þe w...hiche hem furste tauȝteTo lyue bi litel and in lowe houses . by lele mennues almesseGrace shulde growe and be grene . þoruȝ hire goode lyuyngeAnd folkes shulde fynde . þat ben in diuerse sekenesseThe bettre for hire biddynges . in body and in soule . Hire praiers andM.15.435: M alone among B manuscripts lacks the word hir here. penaunces . to pees shulde bringe . Alle þat ben at debate . and bedemen were truwePetite & accipietis & cetera .Salte saueth catel seggen þise wyues . Vos estis sal terre & ceteraThe heuedes of holychurche . and þei holy wereCrist calleth hem salte . for cristene soules . Et si sal euanuerit  in quo salieturAc Fressh flessh or fisshe . whan it salt faillethIt is vnsauori for sothe . y-so...de or y-baakeNotate qui Curam habetisSo is mann.es soule sothly . þat seeth noon good ensampleOf hem of holychurche . þat þe heiȝe weye shuolde techeAnd be gyde . and go bifore . as a good baneourAnd hardien hem þat byhinde ben . and ȝyeuen hem gode euidenceElleuene holy men . alle þe world turnedIn-to lele bileue . the liȝtloker me thinkethShulde alle manere of men . we han so many maistresPreestus and prechours . and a pope a-boueThat goddus salt shulde be . to saue mann.es soule . Al was hethenM.15.454: M's hethen is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read hethynesse. suomtyme . Inglond and walesTil Gregorie gerte clerkes . to go h......ere and preche . Austyn at Canturbury . cristened þe kyngeAnd þoruȝ miracles as menM.15.457: M alone among B manuscripts lacks mow here. rede . al þat marche he turnedeTo crist and to cristendome . and cros to honoure . And fulled folk faste . and þe feithe tauȝteMore þoruȝ miracles . þanne — þoruȝ muche prechinge . As wel þoruȝ hise werkes . as þoruȝ his holy wordusAnd seiden hem what fullynge . and feithe was to meneNota beneCloth þat cometh from þe weuynge . is nouȝt comely to wereTil it is fulled vnder foot . or in fullynge stokkesFullyngWasshen wel with watresM.15.465: In place of watres, all other B manuscripts read watre. The <s> is oddly formed and possibly an addition. . and with taseles cracchedeY-touked and y-teynted . and vndur taillours handeAnd so it fareth by a barn . þat born is of a wombeTil it be cristened in cristes name . and confermed of þe bisshopIt is hethen as to heueneward . and helpeles to þe souleHethene it is to mene after heth . and vntiled ertheAs in wilde wildernesse . wexeth wilde beestesRude and vnresonable . rennynge withoute cropersdeficitM.15.473: Kane and Donaldson argue that the sidenote indicates that "a corrector of M knew of a manuscript which possessed XV 472-85, missing from the larger group" (p. 51n7). This seems unlikely, since the note is placed ten lines too early, and furthermore Kane and Donaldson themselves admit that "there is no evidence that M was corrected to (RF)." The note may simply refer to the fact that M alone among B manuscripts lacks how before a man.HYe mynnen wel how Mathewe saith . a man made a feesteHe fedde hem with no venysoun . ne fesauntz y-bake . But with fowles þat from hym nolde . but folwed his whistylingeEcce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt & ceteraAnd with calues flessh he fedde .M.15.477: M alone among B manuscripts lacks þe here. folke þat he louedThe calf bitokeneth clennesse . in hem þat kepeth lawesFor as þe kow þoruȝ kynde mylke . þe calf norissheth til an oxeSo loue and leaute lele men susteignethAnd maydens an mylde men . mercy desiren . Right as þe cow calf coueiteth swete mylkeSo doon riȝtful men . mercy and trewtheAc who be thoM.15.484: M's be tho is unparalleled. Other B manuscripts read beþ, which could have given rise to M's reading. þat excusen hem . þat arn persones and preestusThat hedes of holy churche ben . that han hire wille hereWith-outen trauaille . þe tithe deel . þat trwe men biswynkenThei wole be wroth for I write thus . ac to witytnesse i takeBothe Mathew and Mark . and Memento domine dauid .What pope or prelate now . parfourneth þat Crist highteIte in vniuersum mundum & predicate & cetera .Alas þat men so longe on . Makoemeth . shulde bileueSo many prelates to preche . as þe pope makethOf Nazareth . of Nynyue / of Neptalim and DamaskeThat þei ne wente as crist wisseth . sith þei wil haue nameTo be pastours and preche . þe passion of Ihesuspassus xvusAnd as hym-seluen saide / so to lyue and deye Bonus pastor animam suam ponit & cetera . And saide it in sauacion . of Sarasynes and otherFor cristene and vn-cristen . crist saide to prechoursIte vos in vineam meam & ceteraAnd sith þat þise Sarasyenes . scribes and IuwesHan a lippe of oure ... — bileue . the liȝtloker me thinkethThei shulde tourne ...who-so trauaille.hdM.15.503: M's altered form trauailled, apparently over trauailleth, agrees with WHmCr23. Most other B manuscripts read trauaile wolde. . to teche hem of þe ...TriniteQuerite & inuenietis & ceteraIt is ruthe to rede . how riȝtwise men lyuedeHow þei defouled hire fflessh . forsoke hire owne willeFer from kith andM.15.507: M alone among B manuscripts lacks fro here. kynne . yeuele clothed ȝyeden . Badly y-bedded . no book but conscienceNe no richesse . but þe Rode . to reioise hem Inne Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri & ceteraAnd þo was plente and pees . amonges pouere and riche# the Red nobleAnd now is routhe to rede how þe rede nobleIs reuerenced er þe Rode . resceyued for þe worthierThan cristes cros that ouercam . deth and dedly synneAnd now is werre and wo . and whoso wh.....y — axethFor couetise after cros . the crowne stant in goldeBothe riche and Religious . that rode þei honoureThat in grotes is y-grauen . and in golde noblesFor coueitise of þat cros . men of holy kyrkeShul tourne as Templers deden . the tyme approcheth fasteWyte ȝye nouȝt wyse men  how þo men honouredeMore tresour þanne — truthe . I dar not seyM.15.522: M's sey is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read telle. the sotheReson and riȝtful doome . tho Religious demedRightsoRight so ȝye clerkes for ȝyoure coueitise . ...er longeShal thei demen doos ecclesie . and ȝyoure pride deposeDeposuit potentes de sede . & ceteracontra possessiones ecclesieȜ..If kniȝthode and kynde wit . and comune byM.15.527: M's addition of by, not present in most B manuscripts, brings it into agreement with WCr. conscienceTo-geders loue lelly . leueth it wel ȝye bisshopes . The lordshipe of londes . for euere shul ȝye lese . And lyuen as Leuitici . as oure lord ȝyow techethPer primicias & decimas & cetera .Whanne Costantyn of curteisie . holykyrke dowedWith londes and ledes . lordshippes and rentesquere veritatem.id est. luciferM.15.534: The identification by a later hand of the angel with Lucifer is curiously inappropriate.An angel men herden . an heiȝygh at Rome cryeDos ecclesie þis day . hath y-dronken venymeAnd þo þat han petres power . arn enpoisened allenota bene ...?... Malicia procedens ex cupiditate absque caritateM.15.537: The sidenote is written in an italic hand over a partially erased note in one or two fifteenth-century hands.A medecyne mot þere-to . that may amende prelatesThat shulden praien for þe pees . possession hem lettethTaketh hire landes ȝye lordes . and leteth hem lyue by dymesȜefIf possession be poisoun . and imparfite hem makeGood were to deschargen hem . for holy churches sakeAnd purgen hem of poysoun . er moore perille falle . ȜefIf presthode were parfit . the peple shulde amendeThat contrarien cristes lawe . and cristendome despiseFor alle paynymes praieth . and parfitliche bileuethIn þe holy grete god . and his grace þei axen . And make hire moone to Makometh . hire message to sheweThus in a feithe leue þat folk . and in a false mene . And þat is routhe for riȝtful men . þat in þe Reume wonyen . And a pererilperil to þe pope . and prelates þat he makethThat bere bisshopus names . of Bedleem and BabiloyneThat huppe aboute in Englonde . to halwe mennus autiers . And crepe amonges Curatours . confessen a-geyn the laweNota beneNolite mittere falsem in messem alienam . & ceteraMany man for cristus loue . was martired in RomaigneEr any cristendome was knowe there . or any crosse honouredEuery bisshop þat bereth Cros . by þat he is holden . Thoruȝ his prouince to passe . and to his poeple to shewe hym . Tellen hem and techen hem . on þe Trinite to bileue . And feden hem with goostly foode . and gyue þere it nedeth . In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentumEt ideo nolite constituere me Regem .Ozias saith for swiche . þat seke ben and fiebleInferte omnes decimas in orreum meum vt cibus in domo mea . & ceteraM.15.564: Kane and Donaldson fail to record this & cetera, which appears outside the red box, but which is itself written in red ink. HmR also attest this & cetera.Ac we cristene creatures . þat on þe crosse bileuenAren ferme as in þe feithe . godusM.15.566: This alteration places M in agreement with HmCr23G, though HmG read forbode as forbede. The confusion seems to arise from interference between two set phrases God's forbode and God forbid. forbode ellusAnd han clerkus to kepen vs þere-inne . and hem þat shul come after vs . And Iewes lyuen in lele lawe . oure lord wroot it hym-seluenpassus xvusIn stoon for it stuydfaste was . and stonde shulde euere . Dilige deum & proximumM.15.570: The <p> has an otiose abbreviation loop. . is parfit Iuwen laweAnd tooke it Moises to teche men . til Messye comeAnd on þat lawe þei leuen ȝyit and leten it þe besteAndM.15.573: M alone among B manuscripts lacks ȝit here. knewe þ..ey Crist . þat Cristendome tauȝteFor a parfite prophete . þat muche p.eple sauedOf selcouthe sores . þei seien it ofteBothe of miracles and meruailles . and how he men festedWith two fisshes and fyue loues . fyue thousand peple . And by þat mangerye men miȝte wel se . þat messye he semedeAnd whan he lifte vp lazare . þat layde was in graueAnd vnder stoon ded and stank . with styf voys hym calledeLazare veni foras Dide hym rise and rome . riȝt byfore þe IuwesAc þei saiden and sworen . with sorcerye he wrouȝteAnd studyeden to ......struyen hym . and stroyden hem-seluenAnd þoruȝ his pacience . hire power . to pure nouȝt he brouȝte . Pacientes vincunt .Danyel of hire doynge . dyuyned and saide . Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat . cessabit vnxio vestraAnd ȝyet wenen þo wrecches . þat he were pseudo propheta .And þat his loore be lesynges . and lakken it alleAnd hopen þat he be to come . þat shal hem relieueMoyses efte or Messye . hire maistres ȝyet dyuyneth# quod prelat in de necligencia prelatorum in articulis FideiAc pharesees and Sarasenes . Scribes and GrekesAren folk of oon feith . þe fader god þei honouren . And sithen þat þe Sarasenes . and also þe IewesKonne þe furste clause of oure bileue . Credo in deum patrem omnipotentemPrelates of cristen prouinces . sholde preue ȝif þei miȝteToM.15.598: The addition of To brings M into agreement with WCrB. Leren hem litlum and litlum . et in Ihesum Cristum filium .Til þei kouthe speke and spelle . et in spiritum sanctum .And reden it and recorden it . wiþ remissionem peccatorum .Carnis resureccionem & vitam eternam . ameNpassus xvjus & primus de dobetM.15.601: The guide for the rubricator to indicate the beginning of passus 16 in the right margin is erased, but under ultra-violet light, passus xvjus & primus de dobet is visible.cor