fol. 91v (cont.)I
cor
Passus xixusdecimus nonus
t
Thus I walkedM.19.1: M's walked agrees with Cr12; other B manuscripts have some form of (a)waked. and wroot . what I hadde dremed .
And diȝte me derelyche . and dide me to churche
To here holly þe masse . and to ben houseled after
M.19.4KD.19.4
In myddes of þe masse . þo men wente to þeM.19.4: M's þe is not shared by other B manuscripts. offrynge
I felle efte-soones a-slepe . and sodeinly me mette
That piers þe plowman . was painted al blody
And come Inne with a cros . bifore þe comune p.eple
M.19.8KD.19.8
And riȝt like in alle lymes . to oure lord Ihesu .
fol. 92rI
passus xixus
Than called I conscience . to kenne me þe soþe
Is þis Ihesus þe Iuster quod I . þat Iewes d.id to dethe
Or it is piers þe ploweman . who painted hym so rede
nota
M.19.12KD.19.12
Quod connscience and kneled þo . þise arn piers armes
His colours and his cote armure . ac he þat comeþ so blody
Is crist with his crosse . conquerour of cristene
# quare Cristus magis quam Ihesus
X
Why calle ȝye hym crist quod I . sith Iewes callen ...?...hym Ihesus
M.19.16KD.19.16
Patriarkes and prophetes prophecied bifore
That alle kynne creatures . shulden knelen and bowen .
A-noon as men nompned . þe heiȝe name ofM.19.18: M's reading heiȝe name of is shared with Cr. Most other B manuscripts have name of god. Ihesu .
Ergo is no name . to þe name of Ihesus
M.19.20KD.19.20
Ne noon so nedful to noempne . by nyȝt andM.19.20: M's and is not shared by other B manuscripts, most of which read ne. by day.e
For alle derke deueles . arn a-dredde — to here it
And synneful arn solaced . and saued by þeatM.19.22: M's original reading þe is not shared with other B manuscripts. name .
And ȝye callen hym crist . for what cause telleþ me .
M.19.24KD.19.24
Is crist more of miȝt . and more worthy name
Þanne — Ihesu or Ihesus . þat al oure ioye come of
Thow knowest wel quod connscience . and þow kuonne resoun
That kniȝth kyng conquerour . may be opersoneo persone
M.19.28KD.19.28
To ben called a knyght is fair . for men shul knele to hym
To be called a kyng is fairer . for he may knyghtes make
Ac to be Conquerour called . þat comeþ of speciale grace
And of hardinesse of herte . and of hiendenesse
M.19.32KD.19.32
To make lord.es of ladd..es . of lond þat he wynneþ
And free men foule þralles . þat folwen not his lawes
The Iewes þat were gentil men . Ihesu þei despised
Boþe his loore and his lawe . now ar þei lowe cherles
M.19.36KD.19.36
As wyde as þe world is . woneth þere noon ...?...ther-InneM.19.36: This addition brings M into agreement with Cr.
But vndur tribute and t.aillage . as tikes and cherles
And þo þat bicome cristene by conseille of þe bapteme
Arn Fraunkeleins free men . þoruȝ fullynge þat þei toke .
M.19.40KD.19.40
And gentil men with Ihesu . for Ihesus was y-fulled
And vpon caluery on cros . y-crouned kynge of Iewes .
It bicomeþ to a kepe and to deffendekyng . to kepe and to deffende
And Conquerour of conqueste his lawes and his large
M.19.44KD.19.44
And so duide Ihesus þe Iewes . he iustified and tauȝte hem .
The lawe of lif . þat laste shal euere .
iiij
fol. 92vI
And fended from foule yueles . feueres and fluxes
And from feendes þat in hem were . and false bileue
M.19.48KD.19.48
Tho was he Ihesus of Iewes called . gentileeM.19.48: The erasure of the <e> and its replacement suggest confusion on the corrector's part whether the word was gentil or gentile. prophete
And kyng of kyngdome . and croune bare of þornes
And þo conquered he on crosse . as conquerour noble
Miȝte no deþ hym for-do . ne a-doun bringe
M.19.52KD.19.52
That he naroos and regned . and rauysshed helle
And þo was he Conquerour called . of quik and of dede
For he ȝyaf Adam and Eue . and oþur mo blisse
Þat longe hadden leyn biforn . as luciferes cherles
M.19.56KD.19.60
And sith he ȝ..eyaf largely . alle his lele liges
Places in paradys . at hire partynge henn.es
He may wel be called conquerour . and þat is crist .to mene
Ac þe cause þat he comeþ þus with cros of þeM.19.59: M's reading þe is shared with Cr1; other B manuscripts read his or omit. passioun
M.19.60KD.19.64
Is to wissen vs þere-with . þat whanne þat we ben tempted
Þere-with to fiȝte and fenden vs from fallynge in-to synne
And se by his sorwe . þat whoso loueth ioye
# quia necesse est penitenciam agere
To penaunce and to poue.rte he moste pute hym-seluen
M.19.64KD.19.68
And muche wo in þis world . willen and suffren
Ac forM.19.65: M's reading for is shared with Cr; other B manuscripts omit the word. to car.pe moore of crist . and how he come . to þat name
Faithly for to speke . his furste name was Ihesus
Þo he was born in Bedleem . as þe book ......telleþ .
M.19.68KD.19.72
And cam to take mankynde . kynges and angeles
Reuerenced hym faire . with richesse of ...this ertheM.19.69: M's alteration to this agrees with Cr. Other B manuscripts do not have the word.
Angeles out of heuene comen . knelynge and songe
Gloria in excelsis deo . & cetera .
M.19.72KD.19.75
Kynges comen ......after . kneled and offred
Mirre an muche gold . withouten ..... goldmede —M.19.73: The erased words appear to be muche gold, repeated from the a-verse. M's alteration to mede agrees with Cr. Most B manuscripts read mercy. askynge
Or any kynnes catel . but knowelicheM.19.74: M's reading knoweliche is shared with Cr1; other B manuscripts have the present participle or the past tense. ..hym soueraigne
Boþe of sonde / suonne and see . and sithenes þei wenten
M.19.76KD.19.79
In-to hire kengene kithe . by conseill of angeles .
And þere was þat word fulfuylled . the w..hehich þow of speke
Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Ihesu .
For alle þe angeles of heuene / at his burþe kneled
M.19.80KD.19.82
And al þe wit of þe world . was in þo þre kynges
Reson and riȝtwisnesse . and ruthe þei offred
Wherfore and whi . wise men þat tyme
fol. 93rI
passus xixus
Maistres and lettred men . Magi hem called
bene loquitur
M.19.84KD.19.86
That oon kyng come with resoun . couered vndur sence
The secounde kyng soþely sitthenM.19.85: M's soþely sitthen agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts reverse the order. offredehe offredeM.19.85: The alteration of offrede to he offrede brings M into agreement with CrBF.
Riȝtwisnesse vndur reedM.19.86: the second letter is unclear, and the word might as easily be transcribed roed. goold . resones felawe
# discripcionem trium Munerum
Gold is likkened to leaute . þat laste shal euere
M.19.88KD.19.90
And reson to riche gold . to riȝt and to truþe
The þridde kyn.g þo come . knelynge to Ihesu
And presented hym with pitee . appieringe to myrre
For myrre is mercy to mene . and mylde speche of tonge .
M.19.92KD.19.94
Thre yliche honeste þinges . were offred þus at ones
Thoruȝ þre kynne kynges . knelynge to Ihesus
Ac for alle þise preciouse presentes . oure lord Prince Ihesus
Was neither kyng ne Conquerour til he gan to wexe
M.19.96KD.19.98
In þe manere of a man . and þat by muche sleighte
As it bycomeþ a Conquerour . to kunne many sleightes
And many wiles and wit . þat wol ben a leder .
And so dide Ihesus in his dayes . whoso hadde tyme to telle it
M.19.100KD.19.102
Somme-tyme he suffred . and somme-tyme he hidde hym
And somme-tyme he fauȝte faste . and fleighe oþere-while
And somme-tyme he gaf godeod and graunted hele boþe
Lif and lyme . as hym luste he wrouȝte .
M.19.104KD.19.106
As kynde is of a Conquerour . so comsed Ihesu
Til he hadde alle hem . þat he fore bledde
In his Iuuente þis Ihesus . at Iewene feeste
Water in-to wyn tourned . as holy writte telleþ .
M.19.108KD.19.110
And þere bigan god . of his grace to dowel
For wyn is likkened to lawe . and lif of holynesse
And lawe lakked þo . for men loueden not hire enemys .
And crist conseilleth þus . and comaundeth boþe
M.19.112KD.19.114
Boþe to leered and to lewed . to louye oure enemys
So at þe feste furste . as I bifore saideM.19.113: M's saide agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have tolde.
Bigan god of his grace . and goodnesse to dowell
And þo was he clepud and called . nouȝt / ...oonlyM.19.115: M's altered reading agrees with CrF and is also a C text reading. Most B manuscripts read holy. crist but Ihesu
# bene
M.19.116KD.19.118
A faunt fyn ful of wit . filius marie .
BiforeM.19.117: M's Bifore agrees with Cr; most B manuscripts have For bifore. his modur Marie . made he þat wondur
That she furste and formeste . ferme sholde bileue
That he þo..ruȝ grace was gete . and of no gomme elles .
dixit & facta sunt
M.19.120KD.19.122
He wrouȝte þat by no wit . but byM.19.120: M's by agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts except have þoruȝ. word one .
fol. 93vI
After þe kynde þat he ca..m of . þer comsed ...?...he to dowelM.19.121: B manuscripts other than CrC2 omit to, and M has rewritten the phrase perhaps to include it.
And whan he was waxen more . in his modur absence
He made lame to lepe . and ȝaf liȝt to blynde
M.19.124KD.19.126
And fedde with two Fisshes . and with fyue loues
Sore afyngred folk mo þan fyue þousand .
Thus he conforted carefull . and cauȝte a gretter name
The w....hich was do-bet . w...here þat he wente
M.19.128KD.19.130
For deue þoruȝ his doynges to here . and dombe to speke he made
And alle he heled and halpe . þat hym of grace asked
And þo was he called in cuontre of þe comune p.eple
For þe dedes þat he d.ide . Fili dauid Ihesus
M.19.132KD.19.134
For dauyd was douȝtiest . of dedes in his tyme .
The burdes þo songen . Saul interfecit mille . & Dauid decem milia
For-þi þe cuontree þer Ihesu cam . called hym Fili dauid .
And nempned hym of Nazareth . and no man so worthy
M.19.136KD.19.138
To be kaiser or kynge . of þe kyngedome of Iuda
Ne ouere Iewes Iustice . as Ihesus was hem þouȝte
Whereof Cayphas hadde ..enuye . and oþ...ere of þe Iewes
And for to doon hym to deþ . day and niȝt þei kasten
M.19.140KD.19.142
Kulleden him on cros-wyse . at Caluarie on Fryday
And sithen burieden his body . and beden þat men sholde
Kepen it from nyȝtcomers . with knyȝtes y-armed .
For no freendes shulde hym fecche . for prophetes hem too..lde
M.19.144KD.19.146
Þat þat blessud body . of burieles shulde arise .
And goon into Galilee . and gladen his appostoles
And his moder Marie . þus men bifore demed .
The knyȝtes þat kepten it . byknewe h.itM.19.147: The scribe perhaps began by omitting it as in F and C manuscripts. hem-seluen
M.19.148KD.19.150
Þat angeles and archangeles . er þe day spronge
Comen knelynge to þe corps . and songen Cristus resurgens .
Verray man bifore hem alle . and forth with hem he ȝyede
The Iewes prayden pees . and bisouȝten þe kniȝtes
M.19.152KD.19.155
Telle þe comune þat þere cam . a compaignye of hise appostoeles
And biwiccheden hem as þei wook . and away stolen it .
Ac Marie Magdaleyne . mette hym by þe weye
Goynge toward Galilee . in godhede and manhede
M.19.156KD.19.159
And lyues & lokynge . and she a-loude cryede
In .eche a companye þere she cam . Cristus resurgens
Thus cam it out . þat crist ouere-cam . recouered and lyuede
fol. 94rI
passus xixus
Sic oportet Cristum pati . & intrare & cetera .
# women kepe no Cowncell
M.19.160KD.19.162
For þat þat wymmen witeth . may not wel be conseille
Peter parceyued þisM.19.161: M's þis agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have al þis. . and pursuwed after
Boþe Iames and Iohan . Ihesu for to seche
Thaddee and ten mo . with Thomas of Inde
M.19.164KD.19.166
And as alle þise wyse wyes . weren to-gedres
In an hous al bishette . and hire dore y-barred
Crist cam in and al closed . boþe dore & ȝayates
To petur and to hise appostoles . and seide Pax vobis .
M.19.168KD.19.170
And took Thomas by þe hand . and tauȝte hym to grope
And fele with hise fyngres . his flesshliche herte
Thomas touched it . and with hise tonge seyde
Deus meus & dominus meus .
M.19.172KD.19.173
Thow art my lord I byleue . god lord Ihesu
Þow deiedest and deþ þol...edest . and deme shalt vs alle
And now arte lyuynge and lokynge . and laste shalte euere .
Crist carpede þanne . and curteisliche saide .
M.19.176KD.19.177
Thomas for þow trowest þis . and truwliche bileueste it
Blessud moote þow be . and be shalt for euere .
And blessed mote þei alle be . in body and in soule
Þat neuere shul se me in sighte . as þow doost nowþe
M.19.180KD.19.181
And lelliche beleuen al þis . I loue hem and blesse hem . allM.19.180: The addition of all in a late hand is unattested in other B manuscripts.
Beati qui non viderunt & cetera .
And whan þis dede was I-doon . dobest he tauȝte .
And ȝyaf piers power . and pardon he graunted
M.19.184KD.19.185
To alle manere men . mercy and forȝiyifnesse
...Hym myȝt men —M.19.185: Most B manuscripts here read men. The deletion of the word brings M into agreement with WCrOF. to assoillen . of alle manere synnes
In couenant þat þei come . and kneweliche to paie
To piers pardoun þe ploweman . redde quod debes
M.19.188KD.19.188
Th.us haþ piers power . ..beM.19.188: M's altered reading be agrees with HmCrGYOCBmL. WC2BoCot read by; F reads for. his pardon y-paiede
To bynde and vnbynde . boþe here & elles-where
And assoille men of alle . synnes saue of dette oone
Anon after an heȝyghe . vp in-to heuene
M.19.192KD.19.192
He wente and woneþ þere . and wol come atte laste
And rewarde hym riȝt wel . þat reddeditit — quod debestM.19.193: M's original reading of debes agreed with F. .
fol. 94vI
Paieth parfitliche as . pure trwthe wolde
And what persone paiþ it nouȝt . punysshen he þinkeþ
M.19.196KD.19.196
And demen hem at domes-day . boþe quyke and dede
The goode to þe godhed . and to grete ioye
And w.ikked to wonye . in wo with-outen ende
Thus conscience of crist . and of þe cros carped
M.19.200KD.19.200
And conseilled me to knele þerto . and þanne cam me þouȝte
Oon Spiritus paraclitus . to piers and to hise felawes
In likknesse of a liȝtnynge . he liȝte on hem alle
And made hem kuonne and knowe . alle kynne lan.gages
M.19.204KD.19.204
I won. —dred what þat was . and wagged conscience
And was a-ferd of þe liȝt . for in fires likkenesse
Spiritus paraclitus . ouerspradde hem halle
Quod conscience and kneled . þis is cristes messager
M.19.208KD.19.208
And comeþ from þe grete god . and grace is his name
Knele now quod conscience . and if þou kanst synge
Welcome hym and worshipe hym . with Veni creator spiritus
Thanne songe I þat songe . and so deideM.19.211: This is a very clear instance of how the corrector has both changed the main vowel and added a final <-e>. many hundred
M.19.212KD.19.212
And cryeden with conscience . helpe vs god of grace
And þanne bigan grace . to go with Piers plowman
And counseilled hym and conscience . þe comune to sompne
For I wol dele to-day . and diuyde grace .
M.19.216KD.19.216
To alle kynne creatures . þat han hire f.yue wittes
Tresour to l.yue by . to hire lyues ende
And w...apynM.19.218: The altered spelling wapyn is not a London but a northern form; see Jordan, para. 49, remark 2. Compare the spelling wepne at M.19.226. There are no variants at this point. to fiȝte with . þat wol neuere faille
For antecrist and hise . al þe world shul greue
M.19.220KD.19.220
And acombre þe conscience . but if crist helpeM.19.220: M's helpe agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have þee helpe.
And false ...?...prophetes fele . flatereres and gloseres
Shullun come and be curatours . ouere kynges and Erles
And pride shal be pope . prince of holy churche
M.19.224KD.19.224
Couetyse and vnkyndenesse . cardynales hym to lede
For-þi quod grace er I go . I wol .yeueM.19.225: The rewritten <y> of yeue probably conceals a <ȝ>, though other B manuscripts have alliterating gyue. ȝyow tresour
And wepne to fiȝte withe . whan antecrist ȝyow assaileth
And ...yaf ..ech man a grace . to guye with heym-seluen
M.19.228KD.19.228
Þat idelnesse encombre hym nouȝt . enuye ne pride
# Gyftis off grace
Diuisiones graciarum sunt & cetera .
SomeM.19.230: The <S> of Some is unusually ornate. he ȝyaf wit . with word.es to shewe 
fol. 95rI
passus xixus
Wit to wynne hire liflode with . as þe world askeþ .
M.19.232KD.19.231
As prechours and pre.....estus and prentices of lawe
They lelly to l.yue . by labour of tonge .
And by witte to wissen oþ...ere . as ....grace hem wolde teche .
And somme he kenned crafte . and konnynge of siȝte
M.19.236KD.19.235
With sellynge and biggynge . hire liflode to wynne
And somme he lered to laboure . a lele lif and a trwe
And somme he tauȝte to tilye . to diche and to þecche .
To wynne with hire liflode . by loore of his techynge
M.19.240KD.19.240
SommeM.19.240: M's Somme agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have And some. to dyuyne .and toM.19.240: M's to is not shared by other B manuscripts. dyuyde . nombres to kenne
And somme to compa..sse craf..tily . and colours to make
And somme to see and to seie . what sholde bifalle
Boþe of wele and of wo . telle it er it felle .
M.19.244KD.19.244
As astronomyens þoruȝthorgh astronomye . and philosophres wise
And somme to ride and to recoueren . þat vnriȝtfuly was wonnen .
He wissed hem wynnen it aȝein . þoruȝ w..yȝtnesse of handes .
# Folviles lawes
And fecchen it withfromM.19.247: Here and in the following line the scribe anticipates the b-verse. false men . with folviles lawes .
M.19.248KD.19.248
And somme he lered in longyngto lyue . in longynge to ben henn.es
In pouerte and in penaunce . to praye for alle cristene
And alle he lered to be lele . and .eche a crafte loue oþure
And forbad hem alle debat . þat noon were amonge hem .
M.19.252KD.19.252
Thouȝ somme be clenner þanne — somme . ȝye se wel quod grace
That he þat vseth þe fairest crafte . to þe fouleste I kouþe haue put hym
Þenkeþ alle quod grace . þat grace comeþ of my ȝyifte .
Looke þat noon laklelak[k]e oþur . but loueþ alle as breþeren .
M.19.256KD.19.255
And who þat moost maistries kan . be myldest of berynge
And crouneþ conscience kyng . and makeþ cr...eaft ȝyowre styward
And after craftes conseille . clotheþ ȝyow and fede
For I make Piers þe plowman . my procuratour and my reue
M.19.260KD.19.259
And Registrour to resceiue . Redde quod debes
My prowor and my plowman . piers shal ben on erþe
And for to tilie truþe . a teme shal he haue .
A New plouh
Grace gaf piers a teme . foure grete oxen
X
M.19.264KD.19.263
Tha.t oon was Luc . a large beeste . and a lowe chered
And Mark and Mathewe þe þridde . myghty beestes boþe
And ioigned to hem oon . Ion . moste gentile of alle
The pris neet of piers plowe . passynge alle oþ.ere
M.19.268KD.19.267
And grace ȝgaf piers ....alsoM.19.268: M's altered reading also is not attested in other manuscripts of B or C, which read of his. The correcting hand is unfamiliar. . goode.....M.19.268: M's goode is not shared by other manuscripts of B or C, which read goodnesse, which is presumably M's original reading. foure stottes .
fol. 95vI
Al þat his oxen eryed . þei to harwe it after
Oon hiȝte Austyn . and Ambrose a-noþer
Gregori þe grete clerk . and Ierome þe goode
M.19.272KD.19.271
Thise foure þe faithe to teche . folweth piers teme
And harwed in an hande-whyle . alle hollyy scripture
With two harwes þat þei hadde . an nolde and a newe
virtutes Cardinales
Id est vetus testamentum & nouum
M.19.276KD.19.274
And gr.ace gaf greynes . þe cardynales vertues
And suwen it in mannues soule . and siþen he toolde hire names .
Spiritus prudencie . þe furste seed hiȝte
And whoso eteþM.19.279: M's eteþ agrees with Cr. Other B manuscripts have ete. þat . ymagynen he sh.olde
M.19.280KD.19.278
Er he .....dide any dede . dyuyse wel þe ende .
And .....lernedM.19.281: For M's altered lerned HmG have lered and C2 has lerneth. men a ladel bigge . with a longe stele
That caste for to kepe a crokke . to saue þe fatte a-bouen
The secunde seed hiȝte . Spiritus temperancie
M.19.284KD.19.282
He þat ete of þat seed . had suche a kynde
Shulde neuere mete ne muchel drynke . make hym to swelle .
Ne shulde no scorner ne scolde . out of skyle hym bringe
Ne wynnynge ne welthe . of w.....orldly richesse
M.19.288KD.19.286
Waste aM.19.288: M's added a is not shared by other B manuscripts. worde of ydelnesse . ne wikked speche moeue
Shuld no curyous cloth . comen on his rugge
Master Iohan spisyd
Ne no mete in his mouthe . þat maistre Iohan spiced
The thridde seed þat piers sewe . was Spiritus fortitudinis .
M.19.292KD.19.290
And whoso ete of þat seed . hardy was euere
To suffre al þat god sente . sekenesse orM.19.293: M's or agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have and. angres
Miȝte no lesynges ne liere . ne losse of worldly catel
Maken hym for any mournynge . þat he nas murie in soule
M.19.296KD.19.294
And bold and abydynge . bismers to suffre
And pleieþ al wiþ pacience . and Parce michi domine .
And couered hym vndur . counseill . of catoun þe wyse
Esto forti animo . cum sis dampnatus inique
M.19.300KD.19.297
The ferþe seed þat piers sewe . was Spiritus iusticie
And he þat ete of þat seed . shulde be euere trwe
With god and nouȝt agast . but of gile oone
For gile goþ so priuely . þat gode faith oþur-while
M.19.304KD.19.301
May not ben aspied . for spiritus Iusticie 
Spiritus Iusticie . spareþ nouȝt to spille 
fol. 96rI
passus xixus
¶ Hem þat ben gulty . and for to correcte .
The kynge if he falle . in gulte or in trespas
M.19.308KD.19.304
For counteþ he no kynges wrathe . whan he in courte sitteþ
To demen as a doomes man . a-dred was he neuere .
Neither of Duc ne of deth . þat he ne deide lawe
For present or for praiersM.19.311: M's praiers agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have the singular. . or any princes lettres
M.19.312KD.19.308
He dide equite to alle . euene-forth his power
Thise foure sedes piers s.ewe . and sith he d.ide hem harwe
With olde lawe and newe lawe . þat loue miȝte wexe
A-monge þe vertuesfoure vertues . and vices destroye
M.19.316KD.19.312
For comunlich in contrees . cammokes and wedes .
Fouleþ þe fruyt in þe feelde . þere þei growe to-geydres .
And so doon vices . vertues worthy .
Quod piers harweþ alle þat kuonneþM.19.319: The word originally read kuuereþ. The <u> was converted to an <o>. There is an erased er abbrevation curl above the <u> which is converted to a macron. kynde wit . by counseill of þise doctours .
M.19.320KD.19.316
And tylieþ after hire techynge . þe cardinale vertues
Aȝyeins þi greynes quod grace . gynneþ for to ripe
Ordeigne þe an hous quod piers . to herberwe Inne þi cornes
By god grace quod piers . ȝye moten ȝyeue tymbreer
M.19.324KD.19.320
And ordeigne þat hous . er ȝye henn.es weende .
And grace ȝyaf hym þe cros . with þe crownne of þornes
That crist vpon caluarye . for mankynde on pyned
And of his baptesme and blood . þat he he — bledde on Rode
M.19.328KD.19.324
He made a manere Morter . and mercy hit hiȝte
And þere-with grace bigan . to make a good foundement
And walled it and wattledeM.19.330: M's wallede ... wattlede agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts reverse the order. it . with his paynes and hisM.19.330: M's original reading without this word agreed with Hm. passioun
And of al holy wryt . he made a roof after
M.19.332KD.19.328
And called þat hous Vnite . holychurche on yenglissh
And whan þis dede was doone . grace dyuysed
peers sheves
A carte hiȝte cristendome . to carien piers sheues
And gaf hym caples to his carte . contricioun and confessioun
M.19.336KD.19.332
And made preesthode hayward . whil hym-sel..f wente
As wyde as þe world is . with piers to tylie truþe .
Now is piers to þe plow . and pryde it aspiede
And gadred hym a grete oost . to greuen ..þink.þhe thinketh
M.19.340KD.19.337
Conscience and alle cristene . and cardynale vertues
Blowe hem doun and breke hem . and bite a-two þe mores
fol. 96vI
¶ And sente forth surquydous . his sergeaunt of armes
And his spye spille-loue . oon speke .yuel byhynde
M.19.344KD.19.341
Thise two comen to conscience . and to cristen p.eple
And toolden hym tydynges . þat tyne þei shulde þe seedes
That piers þere hadde y-sowen . þe Cardynale vertues
And piers berne worth y-broke . and þei þat ben in vnitee
M.19.348KD.19.345
Shul come out and conscience . and ȝyowre two caples
Confessioun and contricioun . and ȝyoure carte þe bileue
Shal be coloured so queyntly . and couered vnder oure sophistrye
/nota/
That conscience shal not . knowe by contricion
M.19.352KD.19.348
Ne by confessioun . who is cristen neM.19.352: M's ne agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have or. hethen
Ne no manere Marchaund . þat with money deleeth
Wher he wynne with riȝt . with wronge or with vsure
With suche colours and coueityseM.19.355: M's reading coueityse is shared with Cr1; most other B manuscripts read queyntise. : comeþ pride y-armed
M.19.356KD.19.352
With þe lord þat liueþ : aftur þe luste of his body .
To wasten on welfare . and on wikked kepynge
Al þe world in a while . þoruȝ oure wit quod pride .
Quod conscience to alle cristen þo . my counseill is to wende
M.19.360KD.19.356
Hastlych in-to vnite . and holde we vs þere .
And pray we þat a pees were . in piers berne þe plowman
For witturly I woot wel . we beth not of streng....the
To goon aȝyein pride . but grace were with vs .
M.19.364KD.19.360
And þanne cam kynde wit . conscience to teche
And cryde and comaunded . alle cristen p.eple
For to deluen a dyche . / depe a-boute vnite
That holychurche stood in vnitee . as it a p...ile were
M.19.368KD.19.364
Conscience comaunded þo . alle cristene to delue
And make a muche moot . þat miȝte ben a strengh..the
To helpe holichurche . and hem þat it kepeþ
Thanne alkynne cristene . saue comune wymmen
M.19.372KD.19.368
Repenteden and refuseden synne . saue þei oone
And false men flaterers . vsurers and þeues
Lyers and questmongers . þat weren forsworne ofte
Wytynge and willfully . with þe false helden .
M.19.376KD.19.371
And for siluer were forswore . soþely þei wiste it .
Ther nas no cristene creature . þat kynde wit hadde
saue sherewes one . such
fol. 97rI
passus xixus
¶ Saue sherewes one . suche as I spake of .
That he ne halpe a quantite . holynesse to wexe
M.19.380KD.19.375
Somme þoruȝ bedes biddynge . and somme þoruȝ pilgrymage
And oþer pryue peinesM.19.381: M's peines agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts except have penaunce(s). . and somme þoruȝ penyes delynge .
And þanne welled water . for wikked werkes
Egrelyche ernynge . out of menn.es eighen
M.19.384KD.19.379
Clennesse of þe comune . and clerkes clene lyuynge
Made vnite holychurche . in holynesse to ston.de
I care nouȝt quod conscience . þouȝ pryde come nouþe
The lord of luste shal be letted . al þis lente I hope
M.19.388KD.19.383
Comeþ quod conscience : ȝye cristene ȝe cristene —— and dyneþ
That han laboured lelly . al þis lenten tyme .
Here is bred y-blessud . and goddes body þere-vndur
Grace þoruȝ godes word . gaf piers power
M.19.392KD.19.387
Mightes to maken it . and men to eten itM.19.392: M's original reading without it agreed with Y. aftur
In helpe of hire hele . oones in a monthe
Or as ofte as þei hadden nede . þo þat hadden y-payed .
To piers pardon þe plowman . Redde quod debes
M.19.396KD.19.391
How quod al þe comune . þou conseillest vs to ȝyelde
Al þat we owen any wight . er we go to housel .
That is my conseille quod conscience . and cardynalesM.19.398: M's cardynales is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read cardinale. See M.19.413, 417. At M.19.276, however, most B manuscripts share this form, which is a French plural. vertues
That .eche aM.19.399: M's altered reading ech a is shared with Hm. Other B manuscripts have ech. man forȝyeue oþur . and þat wol þe pater-noster
M.19.400KD.19.394α
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra & cetera .
And so to ben assoilled . and sithenM.19.401: M's sithen agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have sithen (to) ben. y-houseled
M.19.402: A later hand has drawn a line between the verse paragraphs.ȜYe bawe quod a brewer . I wil nouȝt be ruled
By Ihesu for al ȝyoure iangelynge . wiþ Spiritus iusticie
M.19.404KD.19.398
Ne after conscience by crist . whil I can selle
Boþe dregges and draf . and drawe it at oon hole
Þikke ale and þinne ale . for þat is my kynde
And nouȝt hakke aftur holynesse . holde þi tonge conscience
M.19.408KD.19.402
Of Spiritus iusticie þow spekest muche on ydel
Caytif quod conscience . cursede wrecche
Vnblessed artow . Brewer . but ifM.19.410: M alone among B manuscripts lacks the object pronoun þe in this b-verse. Most B manuscripts attest it after if, F after god. god helpe .
fol. 97vI
But þow l..iue by lore . of spiritus iusticie
M.19.412KD.19.406
The chief seed þat piers sewe . y-saued worstow neuer
But conscience þe comune fede . and cardynalesM.19.413: M's cardynales is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read cardinale See M.19.398, 417. vertues
Leue it wel þei ben lost . boþe lif and soule .
# lewed vicare
Thanne is many a man y-lost . quod a lewed vicory
M.19.416KD.19.410
AndI —M.19.416: M's original And was not attested in other B manuscripts, most of which read I. Cr reads That. am a c.uratour of holykyrke . and cam neuere in my tyme
Man to me þat me coude telle . of cardynalesM.19.417: M's cardynales is not shared by other B manuscripts, which read cardinale. See M.19.398, 413. vertues
Or þat acounted conscience . at a kokkes fether or an hennes .
I knewe neuer cardynal . þat he ne cam from þe pope
M.19.420KD.19.414
And we clerkes whanne þei comen . for hire comunes paieth .
For hire peluresM.19.421: M's pelures agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts have the singular. and hire palfrayesmetepalfrayes mete . and pilours þat hem folweþ .
The comune clamat cotidie . iech a man to other
The con. —tre is þe curseder . þat Cardynales come Inne
M.19.424KD.19.418
And þere þei ligge and lenge . moost. leccherye þere regneth
For-þi quod þis vicory . by verray god I wolde
Þat no cardynal come . amonge þe comune p.eple
But in hire holynesse . holden hem stille
M.19.428KD.19.422
At Auynoun amonge þe Iewes . Cum sancto sanctus eris & cetera
Or in Rome as hire Rule wole . þe relikes to kepe
And þou conscience in kynges courte . & shuldest neuere come þennes
And grace þat þou gredest so of . gyour of alle clerkes
M.19.432KD.19.426
And piers with h..is newe plow . and eke with his olde
Emperour of al þe world . þat alle men were cristene
Inparfit is þat pope . þat al þe p.eple shulde helpe
And seendeth hem þat sleeth suche . as he shulde saue
M.19.436KD.19.430
And wel worth piers þe plowman . þat pursueþ god in doynge
Qui pluit super iustos & iniustos attonesatt ones .
And sent þe sonne to saue . a cursed mannus tilþe .
As briȝte as to þe beste man . and to þe beste womman .
M.19.440KD.19.434
Right so Piers þe plowman . peyneþ hym to til...ye
As wel for a wastour . and wenches of þe stwes
As for hym-self and his seruauntz . saue he is furste y-serued .
And trauailleþ and tilieþ . for a tretour al so soore .
M.19.444KD.19.439
As for a trwe tydye man . alle tymes y-like .
And worsheped be he þat wrouȝte al . boþe goode and wykke
And suffreþ þat synneful be . til somme-tyme þat þei repente
# contra talem papam
And god amende þe pope . þat pileþ holy kyrke .
fol. 98rI
passus xixus
M.19.448KD.19.443
And cleymeþ byfore þe kynge . to be kepere ouere cristene
And counteþ nouȝt þouȝ cristen ben . kulled and robbede
And fynte folke to fiȝte . and cristen blood to spille
Aȝyein þolde lawe and newe lawe . as Luc þere-of w.ytnesseþ
M.19.452KD.19.446α
Non occides michi vindictam & cetera .
It semeþ by so . hym-self hadde his wille .
Þat he ne reccheþ riȝt nouȝt . of al þe rem...?...enaunte
And crist of his curtesye . þe Cardinales saue .
M.19.456KD.19.450
And tourne hire witte to wysdome . and to wele of soule
For þe Comune quod þis curatour . counten ful litel .
The counseille of conscience . or ofM.19.458: M's original reading of cardinale vertues agreed with F. Other B manuscripts read or cardinale vertues. cardinale vertues
But if þei seie as by sighte . suomwhat to wynnynge
M.19.460KD.19.454
Of gyle ne of gabbynge . gif þey neuere tale
For Spiritus prudencie . amonge þe p.eple is gyle
And alle þo f....oule vices . as vertuesM.19.462: M's altered form of foule vices as vertues agrees with Cr. Other B manuscripts read faire vertues as vices, but M's original reading seems to have been faire vices as vertues. þai semede
Eche man sotileþ a sleighte . s.ynnnes.ynne for to hide
M.19.464KD.19.458
And coloureþ it for a konynge . and a clene lyuynge
Thanne lough þere a lord . and by þis liȝt . saide
I holde it riȝt and reson . of my reue to take
Al þat myn Auditour . or ellus my styward
M.19.468KD.19.462
Counseilleth me by hire acounte . and my clerkes wrytynge
With Spiritus intellectus . þei seke þe reues Rolles
And with spiritus fortitudinis . fecche it I wole
nota
And þanne come þere a kynge . and by his crowne sayde .
M.19.472KD.19.466
I am a kynge with croune . þe Comune to rule
And holy kyrke and clergy . from cursed men to defende
And if me lakkeþ to lyue by . þe lawe wil I take it .
There I may hastlokest it haue . for I am hed of lawe
M.19.476KD.19.470
For ȝye ben but membres . and I abouen alle
And sith I am ȝyoure aller hed . I am ȝyoure aller hele .
And holy church.es chief helpe . and chieftayn of þe comune
And what I take of ȝyow two . I take it ofM.19.479: M's of agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts read at. þe techinge
M.19.480KD.19.474
Of Spiritus iusticie . for I iugge ȝyowe alle
So may IM.19.481: M's may I agrees with Cr; other B manuscripts reverse the order. boldlich ben houseled . for I borwe neuere .
Ne craue of my Comune . but as my kynde askeþ 
N .ij.
fol. 98vI
In condicion quod conscience . þat þow kuonne deffende
M.19.484KD.19.478
.. & rule þy reaume andbyM.19.484: M's altered reading by agrees with HmCrO. Most B manuscripts read in. reson . riȝt wel and in truþe
Take þou may in resoun . as þi lawe askeþ .
Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum  set non ad depredandum .
The viker hadde fer hoom . .. & faire took his leue
M.19.488KD.19.481
And I awaked þere-with . and wroot as me thouȝtemette .M.19.488: M's original thouȝte is not attested in other B manuscripts, though it is in three C manuscripts.
MED