The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 2: Trinity College, Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W) – Passus 12and Color Facsimile of Richard Rolle's <title>Form of Living – Passus 12William LanglandEdited by Thorlac Turville-Petre and Hoyt N. DugganAssociate Editors: M. Gail Duggan and Catherine A. Farley Graduate Research Assistants Michael Blum, Stephen C. Martin, and John Ivor Carlson. Computer Consultants and ProgrammersOludotun Akinola, Karen Dietz, Susan Gants, Kirk V. Hastings, Susan Munson, Beth Nowviskie, Daniel Pitti, John Price-Wilkin, Thornton Staples, and John Unsworth.University of Michigan Press Ann Arbor, Mich. ISBN: 0-472-00275-9

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copyright 2000, by SEENET

2000 Trinity College, Cambridge, MS B.15.17

late 14th or early 15th century Source copy consulted: Trinity College, Cambridge, MS B.15.17

Attribute Values brown ink anglicana bastarda italic Lombard Cap ornamented capital, N lines high rubricated touched in red textura underlined underlined in red green ink blue ink

LatinFrenchGerman2000 cataloger Jackie Shieh New header created Passus .vijus.septimus de visione vt supra TReuþe herde telle her-of . and to Piers he sente To maken his teme . and tilien þe erþe And purchaced hym a pardoun . a pena & a culpa For hym and for hise heires . for euere-moore after And bad hym holde hym at home . and erien hise leyes And alle þat holpen hym to erye . to sette or to sowe Or any ooþer mestier . þat myȝte Piers auaille Pardon wiþ Piers Plowman . truþe haþ ygraunted Kynges and knyȝtes . þat kepen holy chirche And riȝtfully in Remes . rulen þe peple Han pardon þoruȝ purgatorie . to passen ful liȝtly Wiþ Patriarkes and prophetes . in paradis to be felawe Bysshopes yblessed . if þei ben as þei sholde Legistres of boþe lawes . þe lewed þer-wiþ to preche And in as muche as þei mowe . amenden alle synfulle Arn peres wiþ þe Apostles . þis pardon Piers sheweþ And at þe day of dome . at þe heiȝe deys sitte Marchauntz in þe margyne . hadde manye yeres Ac noon A pena & a culpa . þe pope nolde hem graunte For þei holde noȝt hir halidayes . as holy chirche techeþ And for þei swere by hir soule . and so god moste hem helpe Ayein clene Conscience . hir catel to selle Ac vnder his secret seel . truþe sente hem a lettre That þei sholde buggen boldely . þat hem best liked And siþenes selle it ayein . and saue þe wynnyng And amende Mesondieux þer-myd . and myseise folk helpe And wikkede weyes . wightly amende And do boote to brugges . þat tobroke were Marien maydenes . or maken hem Nonnes Pouere peple and prisons . fynden hem hir foode And sette Scolers to scole . or to som oþere craftes Releue Religion . and renten hem bettre And I shal sende yow my-selue . Seint Michel myn Archangel That no deuel shal yow dere . ne fere yow in youre deying And witen yow fro wanhope . if ye wol þus werche And sende youre soules in saufte . to my Seintes in Ioye Thanne were Marchauntz murie . manye wepten for ioye And preiseden Piers þe Plowman . þat purchaced þis bulle Men of lawe leest pardon hadde . þat pleteden for Mede For þe Sauter saueþ hem noȝt . swiche as take ȝiftes And nameliche of Innocentz . þat noon yuel ne konneþ Super innocentem munera non accipies Pledours sholde peynen hem . to plede for swiche and helpe Princes and prelates . sholde paie for hire trauaille A Regibus & principibus erit merces eorum Ac many a Iustice and Iurour . wolde for Iohan do moore Than pro dei pietate . leue þow noon ooþer Ac he þat spendeþ his speche . and spekeþ for þe pouere           W.7.48:nota That is Innocent and nedy . and no man apeireþ           W.7.49: nota Conforteþ hym in þat caas . wiþ-outen coueitise of ȝiftes           W.7.50: nota And sheweþ lawe for oure lordes loue . as he it haþ ylerned           W.7.51: nota Shal no deuel at his deeþ-day . deren hym a myte That he ne worþ saaf and his soule . þe Sauter bereþ witnesse Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo Ac to bugge water ne wynd . ne wit ne fir þe ferþe Thise foure þe fader of heuene . made to þis foold in commune Thise ben truþes tresores . trewe folk to helpe That neuere shul wexe ne wanye . wiþ-outen god hym-selue Whan þei drawen on to deye . and Indulgences wolde haue Hir pardon is ful petit . at hir partyng hennes That any Mede of mene men . for hir motyng takeþ Ye legistres and lawieres . holdeþ þis for truþe That if þat I lye . Mathew is to blame For he bad me make yow þis . and þis prouerbe me tolde Quodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines . facite eis           W.7.65:nota Alle libbynge laborers . þat lyuen wiþ hir hondesW.7.66-69: A vertical pen mark appears at the end of this line and the three following lines, which we take to represent nota.           W.7.66:nota That treweliche taken . and treweliche wynnen           W.7.67: nota And lyuen in loue and in lawe . for hir lowe hertes           W.7.68: nota Haueþ þe same absolucion . þat sent was to Piers           W.7.69: nota Beggeres ne bidderes . ne beþ noȝt in þe bulle But if þe suggestion be sooþ . þat shapeþ hem to begge For he þat beggeþ or bit . but if he haue nede           W.7.72:nota He is fals wiþ þe feend . and defraudeþ þe nedy           W.7.73:nota And also he bigileþ þe gyuere . ageynes his wille For if he wiste he were noȝt nedy . he wolde ȝyue þat anoþer That were moore nedy þan he . so þe nedieste sholde be holpe Caton kenneþ me þus . and þe clerc of stories Cui des videto . is Catons techyng           W.7.78:nota And in þe stories he techeþ . to bistowe þyn almesse Sit elemosina tua in manu tua donec studes cui des           W.7.80: The nota appears inside the box to the right of the line. Ac Gregory was a good man . and bad vs gyuen alle           W.7.81:nota That askeþ for his loue . þat vs al leneþ           W.7.82:nota Non eligas cui miseriaris nefortene forte pretereas illum qui meretur accipereW.7.83: The end of the box is cropped in the right margin, though no text appears to have been lost. Quia incertum est pro quo deo magis placeas           W.7.84:nota For wite ye neuere who is worþi . ac god woot who haþ nede           W.7.85:nota In hym þat takeþ is þe trecherie . if any treson walke           W.7.86:nota For he þat yeueþ yeldeþ . and yarkeþ hym to reste And he þat biddeþ borweþ . and bryngeþ hym-self in dette For beggeres borwen euere-mo . and hir borgh is god almyȝty To yelden hem þat yeueþ hem . and yet vsure moore Quare non dedisti pecuniam meam ad mensam vt ego veniam cum vsuris exigere For-þi biddeþ noȝt ye beggeres . but if ye haue gret nede For who-so haþ to buggen hym breed . þe book bereþ witnesse He haþ ynouȝ þat haþ breed ynouȝ . þouȝ he haue noȝt ellis Satis diues est qui non indiget pane           W.7.95:nota Lat vsage be youre solas . of seintes lyues redyng The book banneþ beggerie . and blameþ hem in þis manere Iunior fui etenim senui & non vidi iustum derelictum nene[c]W.7.98: W alone reads ne. Other B manuscripts have nec. semen eius &c For ye lyue in no loue . ne no lawe holde Manye of yow ne wedde noȝt . þe womman þat ye wiþ deele But as wilde bestes with wehee . worþen vppe and werchen And bryngen forþ barnes . þat bastardes men calleþ Or þe bak or som boon . he brekeþ in his youþe And siþþe goon faiten with youre fauntes . for euere-moore after Ther is moore mysshapen peple . amonges þise beggeres           W.7.105:nota Than of alle manere men . þat on þis moolde walkeþ           W.7.106: nota And þei þat lyue þus hir lif . mowe loþe þe tyme           W.7.107:nota That euere þei were men wroȝt . whan þei shal hennes fare           W.7.108: nota Ac olde men and hore . þat helplees ben of strengþe And wommen wiþ childe . þat werche ne mowe Blynde and bedreden . and broken hire membres That taken þise myschiefs mekeliche . as Mesels and oþere Han as pleyn pardon . as þe Plowman hym-selue For loue of hir lowe hertes . oure lord haþ hem graunted Hir penaunce and hir Purgatorie . here on þis erþe Piers quod a preest þoo . þi pardon moste I rede For I wol construe ech clause . and kenne it þee on englissh And Piers at his preiere . þe pardon vnfoldeþ And I bihynde hem boþe . biheld al þe bulle And in two lynes it lay . and noȝt a leef moore And was writen riȝt þus . in witnesse of truþe Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam           W.7.122:nota Qui vero mala in ignem eternumW.7.123: To the right of this line is a smudged scribble.          W.7.123:nota Peter quod þe preest þoo . I kan no pardon fynde But dowel and haue wel . and god shal haue þi soule           W.7.125:nota And do yuel and haue yuel . hope þow noon ooþer           W.7.126:nota But after þi deeþ-day . þe deuel shal haue þi soule           W.7.127:nota And Piers for pure tene . pulled it atweyne And seide Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis           W.7.129:nota non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es I shal cessen of my sowyng quod Piers . & swynke noȝt so harde Ne aboute my bely ioye . so bisy be namoore Of preieres and of penaunce . my plouȝ shal ben her-after And wepen whan I sholde slepe . þouȝ whete breed me faille The prophete his payn eet . in penaunce and in sorwe By þat þe Sauter seith . so dide othere manye That loueþ god lelly . his liflode is ful esy Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte           W.7.137:nota And but if luc lye . he lereþ vs by foweles We sholde noȝt be to bisy . aboute þe worldes blisse Ne soliciti sitis  he seiþ in þe gospel And sheweþ vs by ensamples . vs-selue to wisse The foweles in þe feld . who fynt hem mete at wynter           W.7.142:nota Haue þei no gerner to go to . but god fynt hem alle           W.7.143:nota What quod þe preest to Perkyn . Peter as me þynkeþ Thow art lettred alitela litel . who lerned þee on boke Abstynence þe Abbesse quod Piers . myn / a / . b / . c . / me tauȝte And Conscience cam afterward . and kenned me muche moore Were þow a preest quod he . þou myȝtest preche where þou sholdest As diuinour in diuinite . wiþ Dixit insipiens to þi teme Lewed lorel quod Piers . litel lokestow on þe bible On Salomons sawes . selden þow biholdest Ecce derisores & iurgia cum eis ne crescant &c The preest and Perkyn . opposeden eiþer ooþer And I þoruȝ hir wordes awook . and waited aboute And seiȝ þe sonne in þe South . sitte þat tyme Metelees and moneilees . on Maluerne hulles Musynge on þis metels . and my wey ich yede MAny tyme þis metels . haþ maked me to studie Of þat I seiȝ slepynge . if it so be myȝte And also for Piers þe Plowman . ful pencif in herte And which a pardon Piers hadde . al þe peple to conforte And how þe preest inpugned it . wiþ two propre wordes Ac I haue no sauour in Songewarie . for I se it ofte faille Caton and Canonistres . counseillen vs to leue To sette sadnesse in Songewarie . for sompnia ne cures Ac for þe book bible . bereþ witnesse How Daniel diuined . þe dreem of a kyng That was Nabugodonosor . nempned of clerkes Daniel . seide sire kyng . þi dremels bitokneþ That vnkouþe knyȝtes shul come . þi kyngdom to cleyme Amonges lower lordes . þi lond shal be departed And as Daniel diuined . in dede it fel after The kyng lees his lordshipe . and lower men it hadde And Ioseph mette merueillously . how þe moone and þe sonne And þe elleuene sterres . hailsed hym alle Thanne Iacob iugged . Iosephes sweuene Beau fitz quod his fader . for defaute we shullen I my-self and my sones . seche þee for nede It bifel as his fader seide . in Pharaoes tyme That Ioseph was Iustice . Egipte to loke It bifel as his fader tolde . hise frendes þere hym souȝte And al þis makeþ me . on þis metels to þynke And how þe preest preued . no pardon to dowel And demed þat dowel . Indulgences passed Biennals and triennals . and Bisshopes lettres And how dowel at þe day of dome . is digneliche vnderfongen And passeþ al þe pardon . of Seint Petres cherche Now haþ þe pope power . pardon to graunte þe peple Wiþ-outen any penaunce . to passen in-to heuene This is oure bileue . as lettred men vs techeþ Quodcumque ligaueris super terram . erit ligatum & in celis &c And so I leue leelly . lordes forbode ellis That pardon and penaunce . and preieres doon saue Soules þat haue synned . seuen siþes dedly Ac to truste to þise triennals . trewely me þynkeþ Is noȝt so siker for þe soule . certes as is dowel For-þi I rede yow renkes . þat riche ben on þis erþe Vp-on trust of youre tresor . triennals to haue Be ye neuer þe bolder . to breke þe .x.ten hestes And namely ye maistres . Meires and Iugges That haue þe welþe of þis world . and for wise men ben holden To purchace yow pardon . and þe popes bulles At þe dredful dome . whan dede shulle rise And comen alle tofore crist . acountes to yelde How þow laddest þi lif here . and hise lawes keptest And how þow didest day by day . þe doom wole reherce A poke-ful of pardon þere . ne prouincials lettres Theiȝ ye be founde in þe fraternite . of alle þe foure ordres And haue Indulgences double-fold . but if dowel yow helpe I sette youre patentes and youre pardon . at one pies hele For-þi I counseille alle cristene . to crie god mercy . And Marie his moder . be oure meene bitwene That god gyue vs grace here . er we go hennes Swiche werkes to werche . while we ben here That after oure deeþ-day . dowel reherce At þe day of dome . we dide as he hiȝtePassus viijusoctauus de visione & primus de Dowel Thus yrobed in russet . I romed aboute Al a somer seson . for to seke dowel And frayned ful ofte . of folk þat I mette If any wiȝt wiste . wher dowel was at Inne And what man he myȝte be . of many man I asked Was neuere wiȝt as I wente . þat me wisse kouþe Where þis leode lenged . lasse ne moore Til it bifel on a Friday . two freres I mette Maistres of þe Menours . men of grete witte I hailsed hem hendely . as I hadde y-lerned And preide hem par charite . er þei passed ferþer If þei knewe any contree . or costes as þei wente Where þat dowel dwelleþ . dooþ me to witene For þei be men of þis moolde . þat moost wide walken And knowen contrees and courtes . and many kynnes places Boþe princes paleises . and pouere mennes cotes And dowel and doyuele . wher þei dwelle boþe Amonges vs quod þe Menours . þat man is dwellynge And euere haþ as I hope . and euere shal her-after Contra quod I as a clerc . and comsed to disputen And seide hem sooþly . Sepcies in die cadit Iustus           W.8.21:nota Seuene siþes seiþ þe book . synneþ þe rightfulle And who-so synneþ I seide . dooþ yuele as me þynkeþ And dowel and doyuele . mowe noȝt dwelle togideres Ergo he nys noȝt alwey . amonges yow freres He is ouþerwhile ellis-where . to wisse þe peple I shal seye þee my sone . seide þe frere þanne How seuen siþes þe sadde man . on a day synneþ By a forbisne quod þe frere . I shal þee faire shewe Lat brynge a man in a boot . amydde þe brode watre           W.8.30:nota The wynd and þe water . and þe boot waggyng           W.8.31:nota Makeþ þe man many a tyme . to falle and to stonde           W.8.32:nota For stonde he neuer so stif . he stumbleþ if he meue           W.8.33:nota Ac yet is he saaf and sound . and so hym bihoueþ           W.8.34:nota For if he ne arise þe raþer . and rauȝte to þe steere           W.8.35:nota The wynd wolde wiþ þe water . þe boot ouer-þrowe           W.8.36:nota And þanne were his lif lost . þoruȝ lachesse of hym-selue           W.8.37:nota And þus it falleþ quod þe frere . by folk here on erþe           W.8.38:nota The water is likned to þe world . þat wanyeþ and wexeþ           W.8.39:nota The goodes of þis grounde arn lik . to þe grete wawes           W.8.40:nota That as wyndes and wedres . walkeþ aboute           W.8.41:nota The boot is likned to oure body . þat brotel is of kynde           W.8.42:nota That þoruȝ þe fend and þe flessh . and þe frele worlde           W.8.43:nota Synneþ þe sadde man . a day seuen siþes           W.8.44:nota Ac dedly synne doþ he noȝt . for dowel hym kepeþ And þat is charite þe champion . chief help ayein synne For he strengþeþ menW.8.47: W alone reads men; other B manuscripts have man. to stonde . and steereþ mannes soule And þouȝ þe body bowe . as boot dooþ in þe watre           W.8.48:nota Ay is þi soule saaf . but if þow wole þi-selueW.8.49:W alone reads þow wole þi-selue; most other B manuscripts read thiself woll, although CrS have thou wylt thyselfe and M has þou þiseluen wole.           W.8.49:nota Do a deedly synne . and drenche so þi soule God wole suffre wel þi sleuþe . if þi-self likeþ For he yaf þee a yeresȝyue . to yeme wel þi-selue           W.8.52:nota And þat is wit and free wil . to euery wiȝt a porcion           W.8.53:nota To fleynge foweles . to fisshes and to beestes           W.8.54:nota Ac man haþ moost þer-of . and moost is to blame           W.8.55:nota But if he werche wel þer-wiþ . as dowel hym techeþ           W.8.56:nota I haue no kynde knowyng quod I . to conceyuen alle youre wordes Ac if I may lyue and loke . I shal go lerne bettre I bikenne þee crist quod he . þat on cros deyde And I seide þe same . saue yow fro myschaunce And ȝyue yow grace on þis grounde . goode men to worþe ANd þus I wente wide-wher . walkyng myn one By a wilde wildernesse . and by a wodes side Blisse of þe briddes . brouȝte me aslepe           W.8.64:nota And vnder a lynde vp-on a launde . lened I a stounde To lyþe þe layes . þo louely foweles made Murþe of hire mouþes . made me þer to slepleslepe           W.8.67:nota The merueillouseste metels . mette me þanne That euer dremed wiȝt . in world as I wene A muche man as me þouȝte . and lik to my-selue Cam and called me . by my kynde name What artow quod I þo . þat þow my name knowest That þow woost wel quod he . and no wiȝt bettre Woot I what þow art . þouȝt seide he þanne I haue sued þee þis seuen yeer . seye þow me no raþer Artow þouȝt quod I þoo . þow koudest me wisse Where þat dowel dwelleþ . and do me þat to knowe Dowel and dobet . and dobest þe þridde quod he           W.8.78:nota Arn þre faire vertues . and ben noȝt fer to fynde           W.8.79:nota Who-so is trewe of his tunge . and of his two handes           W.8.80:nota And þoruȝ his labour . or þoruȝ his land . his liflode wynneþ           W.8.81:nota And is trusty of his tailende . takeþ but his owene           W.8.82:nota And is noȝt dronkelewe ne dedeynous . dowel hym folweþ           W.8.83:nota Dobet dooþ riȝt þus . ac he dooþ muche moore He is as lowe as a lomb . and louelich of speche           W.8.85:nota And helpeþ alle men . after þat hem nedeþ The bagges and þe bigirdles . he haþ to-broke hem alle That þe Erl Auarous . heeld and hise heires And þus wiþ Mammonaes moneie . he haþ maad hym frendes And is ronne to Religion . and haþ rendred þe bible And precheþ to þe peple . Seint Poules wordes Libenter suffertis insipientes . cum sitis ipsi sapientes And suffreþ þe vnwise . wiþ yow for to libbe           W.8.93:nota And wiþ glad wille dooþ hem good . for so god yow hoteþ Dobest is aboue boþe . and bereþ a bisshopes crosse Is hoked on þat oon ende . to halie men fro helle A pik is on þat potente . to putte adown þe wikked That waiten any wikkednesse . dowel to tene And dowel and dobet . amonges hem han ordeyned To crowne oon to be kyng . to rulen hem boþe That if dowel or dobet . dide ayein dobest Thanne shal þe kyng come . and casten hem in Irens And but if dobest bede for hem . þei to be þer for euere Thus dowel and dobet . and dobest þe þridde Crouned oon to be kyng . to kepen hem alle And to rule þe Reme . by hire þre wittes And noon ooþer wise . but as þei þre assented I þonked þoȝt þo . þat he me þus tauȝte Ac yet sauoreþ me noȝt þi seying . I coueite to lerne How dowel . dobet . and dobest . doon among þe peple But wit konne wisse þee quod þoȝt . where þo þre dwelle Ellis woot I noon þat kan . þat now is alyue Thoȝt and I þus . þre daies we yeden Disputyng vp-on dowel . day after ooþer And er we were war . wiþ wit gonne we mete He was long and lene . lik to noon ooþer Was no pride on his apparaille . ne pouerte neiþer           W.8.117:nota Sad of his semblaunt . and of softe chere           W.8.118:nota I dorste meue no matere . to maken hym to Iangle But as I bad þoȝt þoo . be mene bitwene And pute forþ som purpos . to preuen hise wittes What was Dowel fro dobet . and dobest from hem boþe Thanne þoȝt in þat tyme . seide þise wordes Where dowel . dobet . and dobest ben in londe Here is wil wolde wite . if wit koude teche hym And wheiþer he be man or womman . þis man fayn wolde aspie And werchen as þei þre wolde . thus is his ententePassus .xijus.duodecimusW.12.0: The top of the leaf has been cropped with the loss of the tops of letters in this heading. I am ymaginatif quod he . ydel was I neuere Thouȝ I sitte by my-self . in siknesse norW.12.2: W alone reads nor; LMR read ne; F has or; other B manuscripts have and. in helþe I haue folwed þee in feiþ . þise fyue and fourty wynter And manye tymes haue meued þee . to þynke on þyn ende And how fele fernyeres are faren . and so fewe to come And of þi wilde wantownesse . þo þow yong were To amende it in þi myddel age . lest myȝt þe failled In þyn olde elde . þat yuele kan suffre Pouerte or penaunce . or preyeres to bidde Si non in prima vigilia nec in secunda &c Amende þee while þow myȝt . þow hast ben warned ofte           W.12.11:nota Wiþ poustees of pestilences . wiþ pouerte and with angres And wiþ þise bittre baleises . god beteþ his deere children Quem diligo castigo And Dauid in þe Sauter seiþ . of swiche þat loueþ Iesus Virga tua & baculus tuus ipsa me consolata sunt Al-þouȝ þow strike me wiþ þi staf . wiþ stikke or wiþ yerde           W.12.17:nota It is but murþe as for me . to amende my soule           W.12.18:nota And þow medlest þee wiþ makynges . and myȝtest go seye þi sauter And bidde for hem þat ȝyueþ þee breed . for þer are bokes yknoweW.12.20: W alone reads yknowe, "known"; most other B manuscripts have ynowe, "enough." To telle men what dowel is . dobet and dobest boþe And prechours to preuen what it is . of many a peire freres I seiȝ wel he seide me sooþ . and som-what me to excuse Seide Caton conforted me his sone . þat clerk þouȝ he were To solacen hym som-tyme . as I do whan I make Interpone tuis interdum gaudia curis And of holy men I herde quod I . how þei ouþer-while Pleyden þe parfiter . to ben in manye places Ac if þer were any wight . þat wolde me telle What were do-wel . and dobet . and do-best at þe laste Wolde I neuere do werk . but wende to holichirche And þere bidde my bedes . but whan ich ete or slepe Poul in his pistle quod he . preueþ what is dowel Fides / spes / caritas . et maior horum &c Feiþ / hope / and Charite . and alle ben goode And sauen men sondry tymes . ac noon so soone as Charite For he dooþ wel wiþ-outen doute . þat dooþ as lewte techeþ That is if þow be man maryed . þi make þow louye And lyue forþ as lawe wole . while ye lyuen boþe Riȝt so if þow be Religious . ren þow neuere ferþer To Rome ne to Rochemador . but as þi rule techeþ And hold þee vnder obedience . þat heigh wey is to heuene And if þow be maiden to marye . and myȝt wel continue Seke þow neuere Seint ferþer . for no soule helþe For what made lucifer . to lese þe heiȝe heuene Or Salomon his sapience . or Sampson his strengþe Iob þe Iew his ioye . ful deereW.12.47: W alone reads ful deere; other B manuscripts omit ful and follow dere with it, he, or both. abouȝte Aristotle and oþere mo . ypocras and virgile Alisaundre þat al wan . elengliche ended Catel and kynde wit . was combraunce to hem alle Felice hir fairnesse . fel hire al to sclaundre And Rosamounde riȝt so . reufulliche to bileue The beaute of hir body . in baddenesse she despended Of manye swiche I may rede . of men and of wommen           W.12.54:nota That wise wordes wolde shewe . and werche þe contrarie           W.12.55:nota Sunt homines nequam bene de virtute loquentes And riche renkes riȝt so . gaderen and sparen And þo men þat þei moost haten . mynistren it at þe laste And for þei suffren and see . so manye nedy folkes And loue hem noȝt as oure lord bit . þei lesen hir soules Date & dabitur vobis And Richesse riȝt so . but if þe roote be trewe Ac grace is a gras þer-of . þo greuaunces to abate Ac grace ne groweþ noȝt . but amonges lowe Pacience and pouerte . þe place hiȝteW.12.65: W alone reads hiȝte; other B manuscripts have is. þer it groweþ And in lele lyuynge men . and in lif-holy And þoruȝ þe gifte of þe holy goost . as þe gospel telleþ Spiritus vbi vult spirat Clergie and kynde wit . comeþ of siȝte and techyng As þe book bereþ witnesse . to burnes þat kan rede Quod scimus loquimur . quod vidimus testamur Of quod scimus comeþ Clergie . and konnynge of heuene And of quod vidimus comeþ kynde wit . of siȝte of diuerse peple Ac grace is a gifte of god . and of greet loue spryngeþ Knew neuere clerk how it comeþ forþ . ne kynde wit þe weyes Nescit aliquis vnde venit . aut quo vaditW.12.76: To the right of the box, the scribe has written a decorative nota abbreviation followed by &c. Manuscripts CrCBRF lack &c. &c Ac yet is Clergie to comende . and kynde wit boþe And namely Clergie for cristes loue . þat of Clergie is roote For Moyses witnesseþ þat god wroot . for to wisse þe peple In þe olde lawe as þe lettre telleþ . þat was þe lawe of Iewes That what womman were in auoutrye taken . where sheW.12.81: WF read where she; HmLM read were sche (were he in R); other B manuscripts omit. W's where is either a unique spelling of were or the contracted form of whether: "whether she (were)." riche or poore Wiþ stones men sholde hir strike . and stone hire to deþe A womman as I fyndeW.12.83: W alone reads I fynde; other B manuscripts have we fynden. . was gilty of þat dede Ac crist of his curteisie . þoruȝ clergie hir saued And þoruȝ caractes þat crist wroot . þe Iewes knewe hem-selue Giltier as afore god . and gretter in synne Than þe womman þat þere was . and wenten awey for shame The Clergie þat þere was . conforted þe womman Holy kirke knoweþ þis . þat cristes writyng saued hire So clergie is confort . to creatures þat repenten And to mansede men . meschief at hire ende For goddes body myȝte noȝt ben . of breed wiþ-outen clergie           W.12.92:nota The which body is boþe . boote to þe riȝtfulle           W.12.93:nota And deeþ and dampnacion . to hem þat deyeþ yuele           W.12.94:nota As cristes caracte confortede . and boþe coupable shewed The womman þat þe Iewes brouȝte . þat Iesus þouȝte to saue Nolite iudicare & non iudicabimini Riȝt so goddes body breþeren . but if it be worþili taken Dampneþ vs at þe day of dome . as þe caractes dide þe Iewes For-þi I counseille þee for cristes sake . clergie þat þow louye For kynde wit is of his kyn . and neiȝe Cosynes boþe To oure lord leue me . for-þi loue hem I rede For boþe ben as Mirours . to amenden oure defautes And lederes for lewed men . and for lettred boþe For-þi lakke þow neuere logik . lawe ne hise custumes Ne countreplede clerkes . I counseille þee for euere For as a man may noȝt see . þat mysseþ hise eiȝen           W.12.107:nota Namoore kan no Clerk . but if he cauȝte it first þoruȝ bokes           W.12.108:nota Al-þouȝ men made bokes . god was þe maister           W.12.109:nota And seint Spirit þe Samplarie . & seide what men sholde writeW.12.110: After this WHmCr omit the line And riȝt as syȝte serueth a man . to se þe heighe strete (as in L). Riȝt so ledeþ lettrure . lewed men to Reson           W.12.111:nota And as a blynd man in bataille . bereþ wepne to fiȝte           W.12.112:nota And haþ noon hap wiþ his ax . his enemy to hitte           W.12.113:nota Namoore kan a kynde witted man . but clerkes hym teche           W.12.114:nota Come for al his kynde wit . to cristendom and be saued           W.12.115:nota Which is þe cofre of cristes tresor . and clerkes kepe þe keyes To vnloken it at hir likyng . and to þe lewed peple Ȝyue mercy for hire mysdedes . if men it wole aske Buxomliche and benigneliche . and bidden it of grace Archa dei in þe olde lawe . leuytes it kepten Hadde neuere lewed man leue . to leggen hond on þat cheste But he were preest or preestes sone . Patriark or prophete For Clergie is kepere . vnder crist of heuene Was þer neuere no knyȝt . but clergie hym made Ac kynde wit comeþ . of alle kynnes siȝtes Of briddes and of beestes . of tastes of truþe and of deceites Lyueris toforn vs . vseden to marke For selkouþes þat þei seiȝen . hir sones for to teche And helden it an heiȝ science . hir wittes to knowe Ac þoruȝ hir scienceW.12.130: The scribe has written science in a darker ink, perhaps over an erasure. sooþly . was neuere no soule ysaued Ne broȝt by hir bokes . to blisse ne to ioye For alle hir kynde knowynges come . but of diuerse siȝtes Patriarkes and prophetes . repreueden hir science And seiden hir wordes and hir wisdomes . nas but a folye AndW.12.135: W alone reads And; other manuscripts have As. to þe clergie of crist . counted it but a trufle Sapiencia huius mundi stulticia est apud deum           W.12.136:nota For þe heiȝe holy goost . heuene shal to-cleue And loue shal lepen out after . in-to þeW.12.138: W alone reads þe; most other manuscripts have þis. lowe erþe And clennesse shal cacchen it . and clerkes shullen it fynde Pastores loquebantur adinuicemad inuicem He spekeþ þere of riche men riȝt noȝt . ne of riȝt witty Ne of lordes þat were lewed men . but of þe hyeste lettred oute Ibant magi ab oriente If any frere were founde þere . I ȝyue þee fyue shillynges Ne in none burgeisesW.12.145: W alone reads burgeises; other B manuscripts have beggers. cote . was þat barn born But in a Burgeises place . of Bethlem þe beste Set non erat ei locus in diuersorio . et pauper non habet diuersoriumW.12.147: The word-terminal suspension ordinarily represents <e>. We have expanded to supply the required sense and to match the readings of other manuscripts. To pastours and to poetes . appered þe Aungel And bad hem go to Bethlem . goddes burþe to honoure And songe a song of solas . Gloria in excelsis deo Clerkes knewen it wel . and comen wiþ hir presentz And diden homage honurably . to hym þat was almyȝty Why I haue told al þis . I took ful good hede How þow contrariedest clergie . wiþ crabbede wordes How þat lewed men liȝtloker . þan lettrede were saued Than clerkes or kynde witted men . of cristene peple And þow seidest sooþ of somme . ac se in what manere Tak two stronge men . and in Themese cast hem           W.12.158:nota And boþe naked as a nedle . hir noon sikerer þan ooþer           W.12.159:nota That oon haþ konnynge and kan . swymmen and dyuen           W.12.160:nota That ooþer is lewed of þat labour . þatW.12.161: W alone reads þat, omitted by other manuscripts. lerned neuere swymme           W.12.161:nota Which trowestow of þo two . þatW.12.162: W alone reads þat; other witnesses have in Themese. is in moost drede           W.12.162:nota He þat neuere ne dyued . ne noȝt kan of swymmyng           W.12.163:nota Or þe swymmere þat is saaf . by so hym-self like           W.12.164:nota Ther his felawe fleteþ forþ . as þe flood likeþ           W.12.165:nota And is in drede to drenche . þat neuere dide swymme           W.12.166:nota That swymme kan noȝt I seide . it semeþ to my wittes Right so quod þe renk . Reson it sheweþ That he þat knoweþ clergie . kan sonner arise           W.12.169:nota Out of synne and be saaf . þouȝ he synne ofte           W.12.170:nota If hym likeþ and lest . þan any lewed leelly           W.12.171:nota For if þe clerk be konnynge . he knoweþ what is synne           W.12.172:nota And how contricion wiþ-oute confession . conforteþ þe soule           W.12.173:nota As þow seest in þe Sauter . in Salmes oon or tweyne           W.12.174:nota How contricion is comended . for it cacheþ awey synne           W.12.175:nota Beati quorum remisse sunt iniquitates . & quorum tecta sunt &c And þis conforteþ ech a clerk . and couereþ hym fro wanhope In which flood þe fend . fondeþ a man hardest Ther þe lewed liþ stille . and lokeþ after lente And haþ no contricion er he come to shrifte . & þanne kan he litel telle But as his lores-man lereþ hym . bileueþ and troweþ And þat is after person or parissh preest . þe whiche benW.12.182: W alone reads þe whiche ben, omitted by F; other manuscripts have and. par-auenture Vnkonnynge to lere lewed men . as luc bereþ witnesse Dum cecus ducit cecum &c Wo was hym marked . þat wade moot wiþ þe lewed Wel may þe barn blesse þat manW.12.186: W alone reads þat man; omitted in other manuscripts. . þat hym to book sette           W.12.186:nota That lyuynge after lettrure . saueþ hym lif and soule           W.12.187:nota Dominus pars hereditatis mee . is a murye verset That haþ take fro Tybourne . twenty stronge þeues Ther lewed þeues ben lolled vp . loke how þei be saued The þef þat hadde grace of god . on goodfrydaygood fryday as þow spekest Was for he yald hym creaunt . to crist on þe cros . & knewliched hym gilty And grace asked of god . þat to graunten it is redyW.12.193: W alone reads þat to graunten it is redy; other B manuscripts have and he is euere redy. To hem þatW.12.194: W alone reads To hem þat; most other B manuscripts have That. buxomliche biddeþ it . and ben in wille to amenden hem Ac þouȝ þat þeef hadde heuene . he hadde noon heiȝ blisse As Seint Iohan and oþere Seintes . þat deserued hadde bettre Riȝt as som man yeue me mete . and amydde þe floor sette meW.12.197: W alone reads amydde þe floor sette me; most other B manuscripts have sette me amydde þe flore.           W.12.197:nota AndW.12.198: W alone reads And; other B manuscripts have I. hadde mete moore þan ynouȝ . ac noȝt so muche worshipe           W.12.198:nota As þo þat seten at þe syde-table . or wiþ þe souereynes of þe halle           W.12.199:nota But sete as a beggere bordlees . by my-self on þe grounde           W.12.200:nota So it fareþ by þat felon . þat a good friday was saued           W.12.201:nota He sit neiþer wiþ Seint Iohan . Symond ne Iude           W.12.202:nota Ne wiþ maydenes ne with martires . Confessours ne wydewes           W.12.203:nota But by hym-self as a soleyn . and serued on erþe           W.12.204:nota For he þat is ones a þef . is euere-moore in daunger           W.12.205:nota And as lawe likeþ . to lyue or to deye           W.12.206:nota De peccato propiciato . noli esse sine metu And for to seruen a seint . and swich a þef togideres It were neiþer reson ne riȝt . to rewarde hem boþe yliche And riȝt as Troianus þe trewe knyȝt . dwelte noȝt depe in helle That oure lord ne hadde hym liȝtly out . so leue I þe þef be in heuene For he is in þe loweste of heuene . if oure bileue be trewe And wel loselly he lolleþ þere . by þe lawe of holy chirche Qui reddit vnicuique iuxta opera sua &c And why þat oon þeef on þe cros . creaunt hym yald Raþer þan þat ooþer þeef . þouȝ þow woldest appose Alle þe clerkes vnder crist . ne kouþe þe skile assoille Quare placuit quia voluit And so I seye by þee . þat sekest after þe whyes And a-resonedest Reson . a rebukynge as it were And of þe floures in þe Fryth . and of hire faire hewes Wher-of þei cacche hir colours . so clere and so briȝte And willest of briddes & of beestes . and of hir bredyng to knowe Why some be alouȝ & some aloft . þi likyng it were And of þe stones and of þe sterres . þow studiest as I leue How euere beest ouþer brid . haþ so breme wittes Clergie ne kynde wit . ne knew neuere þe cause Ac kynde knoweþ þe cause hym-self . and no creature ellis He is þe pies patron . and putteþ it in hir ere ThereW.12.230: W alone reads There; other manuscripts have That þere. þe þorn is þikkest . to buylden and brede And kynde kenned þe pecok . to cauken in swich a kynde And kenned Adam .W.12.232: The punctus is small and obviously misplaced. to knowe hise pryue membres And tauȝte hym and Eue . to helien hem wiþ leues Lewed men many tymes . maistres þei apposen Why Adam ne hiled noȝt first . his mouþ þat eet þe Appul Raþer þan his likame alogh . lewed asken þus clerkes Kynde knoweþ whi he dide so . ac no clerk ellis Ac of briddes and of beestes . men by olde tyme Ensamples token and termes . as telleþ þe poetes And þat þe faireste fowel . foulest engendreþ And feblest fowel of fliȝt is . þat fleeþ or swymmeþ And þat þe pecok & þe Pehen . proude riche men bitokneþ           W.12.242:nota For þe Pecok and men pursue hym . may noȝt flee heiȝe           W.12.243:nota For þe trailynge of his tail . ouer-taken is he soone           W.12.244:nota And his flessh is foul flessh . and his feet boþe           W.12.245:nota And vnlouelich of ledene . and looþ for to here Right so þe riche . if he his richesse kepe           W.12.247:nota And deleþ it noȝt til his deeþ-day . þe tail of alle sorwe           W.12.248:nota Riȝt so as þe pennes of þe pecok . peyneþ hym in his fliȝt           W.12.249:nota So is possession peyne . of pens and of nobles           W.12.250:nota To alle hem þat it holdeþ . til hir tail be plukked           W.12.251:nota And þouȝ þe riche repente þanne . and birewe þe tyme That euere he gadered so grete . and gaf þer-of so litel Thouȝ he crye to crist þanne . wiþ kene wil I leue His ledene be in oure lordes ere . lik a pies chiteryng And whan his caroyne shal come . in caue to be buryed I leue it flawme ful foule . þe fold al aboute And alle þe oþere þer it lith . enuenymeþ þoruȝ his attre By þe po feet is vnderstande . as I haue lerned in Auynet Executours false frendes . þat fulfille noȝt his wille That was writen and þei witnesse . to werche riȝt as it wolde Thus þe Poete preueþ . þat þe pecok . for hise feþeres is reuerenced           W.12.262:nota Riȝt so is þe riche . by reson of hise goodes           W.12.263:nota The larke þat is a lasse fowel . is moore louelich of ledene           W.12.264:nota And wel a-wey of wynge . swifter þan þe Pecok           W.12.265:nota And of flessh by fele fold . fatter and swetter           W.12.266:nota To lowe libbynge men . þe larke is resembled           W.12.267:nota Aristotle þe grete clerk . swiche tales he telleþ Thus he likneþ in his logik . þe leeste fowel oute And wheiþer he be saaf or noȝt saaf . þe soþe woot no clergie Ne of Sortes ne of Salomon . no scripture kan telle Ac god is so good I hope . þat siþþe he gaf hem wittes To wissen vs weyes þer-wiþ . þat wissen vs to be saued And þe bettre for hir bokes . to bidden we ben holden That god for his grace . gyue hir soules reste For lettred men were lewed men yet . ne were loore of hir bokes Alle þise clerkes quod I þo . þat inW.12.277: W alone reads in; other B manuscripts have on. crist leuen Seyen in hir Sermons . þat neiþer Sarsens ne Iewes Ne no creature of cristes liknesse . with-outen cristendom worþ saued Contra quod ymaginatif þoo . and comsed for to loure And seide Saluabitur vix Iustus in die Iudicij Ergo saluabitur quod he . and seide namoore latyn Troianus was a trewe knyght . and took neuere cristendom And he is saaf so seiþ þe book . and his soule in heuene For þer is fullynge of Font . and fullynge in blood shedyng And þoruȝ fir is fullyng . and þat is ferme bileue Aduenit ignis diuinus non comburens set illuminans &c Ac truþe þat trespased neuere . ne trauersed ayeins his lawe But lyueþ as his lawe techeþ . and leueþ þer be no bettre And if þer were he wolde amende . and in swich wille deieþ Ne wolde neuere trewe god . but truþe were allowed And wheiþerW.12.292: W alone reads wheiþer; other B witnesses have wher or were. it be worþ or noȝt worþ . þe bileue is gret of truþe And an hope hangynge þer-Inne . to haue a mede for his truþe For Deus dicitur quasi dans vitam eternam . suis . hoc est fidelibus Et alibi . si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis The glose graunteþ vp-on þat vers . a greet mede to truþe And wit and wisdom quod þat wye . was som-tyme tresor To kepe wiþ a commune . no catel was holde bettre And muche murþe and manhod . and riȝt wiþ þat he vanysshed