The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 2: Trinity College, Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W) – Passus 17and Color Facsimile of Richard Rolle's <title>Form of Living – Passus 17William 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 xvijusseptimus decimus &c et .ijus.secundus de Dobet I am Spes quod he AspieA spie . and spire after a Knyght That took me a maundement . vp-on þe mount of Synay To rule alle Reames wiþ . I bere þe writ here Is it enseled I seide . may men see þi lettres Nay he seide sekeW.17.5: W alone omits I before seke. hym . þat haþ þe seel to kepe And þat is cros and cristendom . and crist þer-on to honge And whan it is enseled so . I woot wel þe soþe That Luciferis lordshipe . laste shal no lenger Lat se þi lettres quod I . we myghte þe lawe knowe Thanne plukkede he forþ a patente . a pece of an hard roche Wher-on were writen two wordes . on þis wise yglosed Dilige deum & proximum tuum This was þe tixte trewely . I took ful good yeme The glose was gloriously writen . wiþ a gilt penne In hijs duobus mandatis . tota lex pendet & prophetia Ben here alle þi lordes lawes quod I . ye leue me wel he seide And who-so wercheþ after þis writ . I wol vndertaken Shal neuere deuel hym dere . ne deeþ in soule greue For þouȝ I seye it my-self . I haue saued with þis charme Of men and of wommen . many score þousandW.17.20: W alone reads þousand; all other B manuscripts have thowsandys. Ye seien sooþ seide þis heraud . I haue yfounde it ofte Lo here in my lappe . þat leeued on þat charme Iosue and Iudith . and Iudas Macabeus Ye and sixti þousand biside forþ . þat ben noȝt seyen here Youre wordes arn wonderfulle quod I þo . which of yow is trewestW.17.25: The leaf is cropped after trewest, and an <e> may have been lost. And lelest to leue so . for lif and for soule Abraham seiþ . þat he seiȝ hoolly þe Trinite Thre persones in parcelles . departable fro ooþer And alle þre but o god . þus Abraham me tauȝte And haþ saued þat bileued so . and sory for hir synnes He kan noȝt siggen þe somme . and some arn in his lappe What neded it þanne . a newe lawe to bigynne Siþ þe firste suffiseþ . to sauacion and to blisse And now comeþ Spes and spekeþ . þat aspied þe lawe And telleþ noȝt of þe Trinite . þat took hym hise lettres To bileeue and louye . in o lord al-myghty And siþþe riȝt as my-self . so louye alle peple The gome þat gooþ wiþ o staf . he semeþ in gretter heele Than he þat gooþ wiþ two staues . to sighte of vs alle And riȝt so bi þe roode . Reson me sheweþ ThatW.17.41: W alone reads That; all other B manuscripts omit it. it is lighter to lewed men . o lesson to knowe Than for to techen hem two . and to hard to lerne þe leeste It is ful hard for any man . on Abraham bileue And wel awey worse ȝit . for to loue a sherewe It is lighter to leeue . in þre louely persones Than for to louye and leneW.17.46: The reading could as well be leue, as in Cr. . as wel lorels as lele Go þi gate quod I to Spes . so me god helpe Tho þat lernen þi lawe . wol litel while vsen it And as we wenten þus in þe wey . wordynge togideres Thanne seiȝe we a Samaritan . sittynge on a Mule Ridynge ful rapely . þe righte wey we yeden Comynge from a contree . þat men called Ierico To a Iustes in Ierusalem . he chaced awey faste Boþe þe heraud and hope . and heW.17.54: The scribe has written immediately above he the abbreviation for .id est. Christus. mette atonesat ones Where a man was wounded . and wiþ þeues taken He myȝte neiþer steppe ne stande . ne stere foot ne handes Ne helpe hym-self sooþly . for semyvif he semed And as naked as a nedle . and noon help aboute hym Feiþ hadde first siȝte of hym . ac he fleiȝ aside And nolde noȝt neghen hym . by nyne londes lengþe Hope cam hippynge after . þat hadde so ybosted How he wiþ Moyses maundement . hadde many men yholpe Ac whan he hadde sighte of þat segge . aside he gan hym drawe Dredfully bi þis day . as doke dooþ fram þe faucon Ac so soone so þe Samaritan . hadde siȝte of þis leode He lighte adown of Lyard . and ladde hym in his hande And to þe wye he wente . hise woundes to biholde And parceyued bi his pous . he was in peril to dye And but he hadde recouerer þe rapelierW.17.69: W alone reads rapelier, comparative of rapely, "the sooner, the more quickly"; all other B manuscripts have raþer. . þat rise sholde he neuere Wiþ wyn and with oille . hise woundes he wasshed Enbawmed hym and bond his heed . and in his lappe hym leide And ladde hym so forþ on Lyard . to lex Christi a graunge Wel sixe Mile or seuene . biside þe newe Market Herberwed hym at an hostrie . and to þe hostiler called And seide haue kepe þis man . til I come fro þe Iustes And lo here siluer he seide . for salue to hise woundes And he took hym two pens . to liflode as it weere And seide what he spendeþ moore . I make þee good her-after For I may noȝt lette quod þat Leode . and lyard he bistrideþ And raped hym to Ierusalemward . þe riȝte wey to ryde Feiþ folwede after faste . and fondede to mete hym And Spes spakliche hym spedde . spede if he myȝte To ouer-taken hym and talke to hym . er þei to towne coome And whan I seiȝ þis I soiourned noȝt . but shoop me to renne And suwed þat Samaritan . þat was so ful of pite And graunted hym to ben his groom . graunt mercy he seide Ac þi frend and þi felawe quod he . þow fyndest me at nede And I þanked hym þo . and siþþe I hym tolde How þat feiþ fleiȝ awey . and Spes his felawe boþe For sighte of þat sorweful man . þat robbed was with þeues Haue hem excused quod he . hir help may litel auaille May no medicyne on molde . þe man to heele brynge Neiþer Feiþ ne fyn hope . so festred be hise woundes Wiþ-outen þe blood of a barn . born of a mayde And be he baþed in þat blood . baptised as it were And þanne plastred wiþ penaunce . and passion of þat baby He sholde stonde and steppe . ac stalworþe worþ he neuere Til he haue eten al þe barn . and his blood ydronke For wente neuere wye in þis world . þoruȝ þat wildernesse That he ne was robbed or rifled . rood he þere or yede Saue feiþ and his felawe . Spes and my-selue And þi-self now . and swiche as suwen oure werkes For Outlawes in þe wode . and vnder bank lotieþ And mowen ech man see . and good mark take Who is bihynde and who bifore . and who ben on horse For he halt hym hardier on horse . þan he þat is foote[on] footeW.17.106: W alone omits on before foote. For he seigh me þat am Samaritan . suwen Feiþ & his felawe On my Capul þat highte caro . of mankynde I took it He was vnhardy þat harlot . and hidde hym in Inferno Ac er þis day þre daies . I dar vnder-taken That he worþ fettred þat feloun . faste wiþ Cheynes And neuere eft greue gome . þat gooþ þis ilke gate And þanne shal Feiþ be forster here . and in þis Fryth walke And kennen out comune men . þat knowen noȝt þe contree Which is þe wey þat I wente . and wher forþ to Ierusalem And Hope þe Hostilers man shal be . þer þe man lith anhelyngan helyng And alle þat feble and feynte be . þat Feiþ may noȝt teche Hope shal lede hem forþ with loue . as his lettre telleþ And hostele hem and heele . þoruȝ holy chirche bileue Til I haue salue for alle sike . and þanne shal I turne And come ayein bi þis contree . and conforten alle sike That craueþ it and coueiteþ it . or crieþW.17.122: W alone reads and coueiteþ it or crieþ; all other B manuscripts reverse the order of and ... or. þer-after For þe barn was born in Bethleem . þat with his blood shal saue Alle þat lyuen in Feiþ . and folwen his felawes techynge A swete sire I seide þo . wher I shal bileue As Feiþ and his felawe . enformed me boþe In þre persones departable . þat perpetuele were euere And alle þre but o god . þus Abraham me tauȝte And Hope afterward . he bad me to louye O god wiþ al my good . and alle gomes after Louye hem lik my-selue . ac oure lord abouen alle After Abraham quod he . þat heraud of armes Sette fully þi feiþ . and ferme bileue And as hope highte þee . I hote þat þow louye Thyn euenecristene euere-moore . euene-forþ with þi-selue And if Conscience carpe þer-ayein . or kynde wit eyþer Or Eretikes wiþ argumentz . þyn hond þow hem shewe For god is after an hand . yheer now and knowe it The fader was first as a fust . wiþ o fynger foldynge Til hym louede and liste . to vnlosen his fynger And profre it forþ as with a pawme . to what place it sholde The pawme is purely þe hand . and profreþ forþ þe fyngres To ministren and to make . þat myȝt of hand knoweþ And bitokneþ trewely . telle who-so likeþ The holy goost of heuene . he is as þe pawme The fyngres þat fre ben . to folde and to serue Bitoknen sooþly þe sone . þat sent was til erþe That touched and tastede . at techynge of þe pawme Seinte Marie a mayde . and mankynde lauȝte Qui conceptus est de spiritu sancto &c The fader is pawmeW.17.151: W alone reads pawme; most other B manuscripts have þanne, omitted by F. as a fust . wiþ fynger to touche Quia omnia traham ad me ipsum &c Al þat þe pawme parceyueþ . profitable to feele Thus are þei alle but oon . as it an hand weere And þre sondry sightes . in oon shewynge The paume for it putteþ forþ fyngres . and þe fust boþe Right so redily . Reson it sheweth How he þat is holy goost . sire and sone preueþ And as þe hand halt harde . and alle þyng faste Thoruȝ foure fyngres and a thombe . forþ with þe pawme Right so þe fader and þe sone . and Seint Spirit þe þridde Al þe wide world . wiþ-Inne hem þre holdenW.17.162: The word-order of the line varies in the B manuscripts, but most have Halt al þe wyde worlde . with-in hem thre (as in L). Boþe wolkne and þe wynd . water and erþe Heuene and helle . and al þat is þer-Inne Thus it is / nedeþ no man . trowe noon ooþer That þre þynges bilongeþ . in oure lord of heuene And aren serelopes by hem-self . a-sondry were þei neuere Namoore þan myn hand may . meue wiþ-oute my fyngres And as my fust is ful hand . yholdenW.17.169: All B manuscripts with the exception of W and Hm have a form of folden. togideres So is þe fader a ful god . formour and shappere Tu fabricator omnium &c And al þe myȝt myd hym is . in makynge of þynges The fyngres formen a ful hand . to portreye or peynten Keruynge and compasynge . as craft of þe fyngres Right so is þe sone . þe Science of þe fader And ful god as is þe fader . no febler ne no bettre The pawme is pureliche þe hand . and haþ power by hym-selue Oþer-wise þan þe wriþen fust . or werkmanshipe of fyngres For he haþ power . to putte out alle þe ioyntes And to vnfolde þe folden fust . at þe fyngres wille So is þe holy goost god . neiþer gretter ne lasseThan is þe sire . Than is þe sire and þe sone . and in þe same myghte And alle are þei but o god . as is myn hand and my fyngres Vnfolden or folden . my fust and my pawme Al is but an hand . euene in þe myddes He may receyue riȝt noȝt . reson it sheweþ For þe fyngres þat folde sholde . and þe fust make For peyne of þe pawme . power hem failleþ To clucche or to clawe . to clippe or to holde Were þe myddel of myn hand . ymaymed or yperissed I sholde receyue riȝt noȝt . of þat I reche myghte Ac þouȝ my þombe and my fyngres . boþe were to-shullen And þe myddel of myn hand . wiþ-oute male-ese In many kynnes maneres . I myghte my-self helpe Boþe meue and amende . þouȝ alle my fyngres oke By þis skile me þynkeþ . I se an euidence That who-so synneþ in þe Seint Spirit . assoilled worþ he neuere Neiþer here ne ellis-where . as I herde telle Qui peccat in Spiritu Sancto &c For he prikeþ god as in þe pawme . þat peccat in Spiritu Sancto For god þe fader is as a fust . þe sone is as a fynger The holy goost of heuene . is as it were þe pawme So who-so synneþ in þe Seint Spirit . it semeþ þat he greueþ God þat he grypeþ wiþ . and wolde his grace quenche And to a torche or a tapur . þe Trinite is likned As wex and a weke . were twyned to-gideres And þanne a fir flawmynge . forþ out of boþe And as wex and weke . and hoot fir togideres Fostren forþ a flawmbe . and a fair leye So dooþ þe Sire and þe sone . and also Spiritus SanctusW.17.210: The following line, omitted in WHm, appears in all other B witnesses: Fostren forth amonges folke . loue & bileue (as in L). That alle kynne cristene . clenseþ of synnes And as þow seest som-tyme . sodeynliche a torche The blase þer-of yblowe out . yet brenneþ þe weke Wiþ-outen leye or light . þat þe macche brenneþ So is holyW.17.215: W alone omits þe before holy. goost god . and grace wiþ-oute mercy To alle vnkynde creatures . þat coueite to destruye Lele loue or lif . þat oure lord shapte And as glowynge gledes . gladeþ noȝt þise werkmen That werchen and waken . in wyntres nyȝtes As dooþ a kex or a candle . þat caught haþ fir and blaseþ Namoore dooþ sire ne sone . ne seint spirit togidres Graunte no grace . ne forȝifnesse of synnes Til þe holy goost gynne . to glowe and to blase So þat þe holy goost . gloweþ but as a gladegl[e]deW.17.224: W alone reads glade; all other B manuscripts have glede. Til þat lele loue . ligge on hym and blowe And þanne flawmeþ he as fir . on fader and on filius And melteþ hire myȝt in-to mercy . as men may se in wyntre Ysekeles in euesynges . þoruȝ hete of þe sonne Melte in a Mynut while . to myst and to watre So grace of þe holy goost . þe grete myȝt of þe Trinite Melteþ to mercy . to merciable and to oþere And as wex wiþ-outen moore . on a warm glede Wol brennen and blasen . be þei togideres And solacen hem þat mowe se . þat sitten in derknesse So wol þe fader forȝyue . folk of mylde hertes That rufully repenten . and restitucion make In as muche as þei mowen . amenden and paien And if it suffise noȝt for assetz . þat in swich a wille deyeþ Mercy for his mekenesse . wol maken good þe remenaunt And as þe weke and fir . wol maken a warm flaumbe For to murþen men myd . þat in þe derke sitten So wole crist of his curteisie . and men crye hym mercy Boþe forȝyue and foryete . and ȝit bidde for vs To þe fader of heuene . forȝifnesse to haue Ac hewe fir at a flynt . foure hundred wynter But þow haue tow to take it wiþ . tonder or broches Al þi labour is lost . and al þi long trauaille For may no fir flaumbe make . faille it isW.17.248: W shares the reading is with C and Bo, where other manuscripts have his. W's reading may be a spelling variant or an error. kynde So is þe holi goost god . and grace wiþ-outen mercy To alle vnkynde creatures . crist hym-self witnesseþ Amen dico vobis nescio vos &c Be vnkynde to þyn euene-cristene . and al þat þow kanst bidde Delen and do penaunce . day and nyght euere And purchace al þe pardon . of Pampilon and Rome And Indulgences ynowe . and be ingratus to þi kynde The Holy goost hereþ þee noȝt . ne helpe may þee by reson For vnkyndenesse quencheþ hym . þat he kan noȝt shyne Ne brenne ne blase clere . fofo[r]W.17.258: W alone reads fo; all other manuscripts except Y read for. blowynge of vnkyndenesse Poul þe Apostel . preueþ wheiþer I lye Si linguis hominum loquar &c For-þi beþ war ye wise men . þat wiþ þe world deleþ That riche ben and reson knoweþ . ruleþ wel youre soule Beþ noȝt vnkynde I conseille yow . to youre euene-cristene For manye of yow riche men . by my soule men telleþ Ye brenne but ye blase noȝt . þat is a blynd bekene Non omnis qui dicit domine domine intrabit &c Diues deyde dampned . for his vnkyndenesse Of his mete and of his moneie . to men þat it nedede Ech a riche I rede . reward at hym take And gyueþ youre good to þat god . þat grace of ariseþ For þei þat ben vnkynde to hise . hope I noon ooþer But þei dwelle þer diues is . dayes wiþ-outen ende Thus is vnkyndenesse þe contrarie . þat quencheþ as it were The grace of þe holy goost . goddes owene kynde For þat kynde dooþ vnkynde for-dooþ . as þise corsede þeues Vnkynde cristene men . for coueitise and enuye Sleeþ a man for hise moebles . wiþ mouþ or with handes For þat þe holy goost haþ to kepe . þe harlotes destruyeþ The which is lif and loue . þe leye of mannes body For euery manere good may b[.] be likned to a torche Or ellis to a tapur . to reuerence þe Trinite And who morþereþ a good man . me þynkeþ by myn Inwit He fordooþ þe leuest light . þat oure lord louyeþ And yet in manye mo maneres . men offenden þe holy goost Ac þis is þe worste wise . þat any wight myghte Synnen ayein þe Seint Spirit . assenten to destruye For coueitise of any kynnes þyng . þat crist deere bouȝte That wikkedliche and wilfulliche . wolde mercy aniente Innocence is next god . and nyght and day it crieþ Vengeaunce vengeaunce . forȝyue be it neuere That shente vs and shedde oure blood . for-shapte vs as it were Vindica sanguinem iustorum Thus vengeaunce vengeaunce . verrey charite askeþ And siþ holy chirche and charite . chargeþ þis so soore Leue I neuere þat oure lord . wol loue þat charite lakkeþ Ne haue pite for any preiere . þer þat he pleyneþ I pose I hadde synned so . and sholde now deye And now am I sory þat I so . þe Seint Spirit agulte Confesse me and crye his grace . god þat al made And myldeliche his mercy aske . myghte I noȝt be saued Ȝis seide þe Samaritan . so wel þow myght repente That rightwisnesse þoruȝ repentaunce . to ruþe myȝte turne Ac it is but selden yseiȝe . þer sooþnesse bereþ witnesse Any creature þat is coupable . afore a kynges Iustice Be raunsoned for his repentaunce . þer alle reson hym dampneþ For þer þat partie pursueþ . þe peple is so huge That þe kyng may do no mercy . til boþe men acorde And eyþer haue equyte . as holy writ telleþ Numquam dimittitur peccatum &c Thus it fareþ by swich folk . þat falsly al hire lyues Yuele lyuen and leten noȝt . til lif hem forsake Good hope þat helpe sholde . to wanhope torneþ Noght of þe noun-power of god . þat he ne is myghtful To amende al þat amys is . and his mercy gretter Than alle oure wikkede werkes . as holy writ telleþ Misericordia eius super omnia opera eius Ac er his rightwisnesse to ruþe torne . som restitucion bihoueþ His sorwe is satisfaccion . for hym þat may noȝt paie Thre þynges þer ben . þat doon a man by strengþe For to fleen his oweneW.17.320: W alone omits hous after owene. . as holy writ sheweþ That oon is a wikkede wif . þat wol noȝt be chastised Hir feere fleeþ fro hire . for feere of hir tonge And if his hous be vnhiled . and reyne on his bedde He sekeþ and sekeþ . til he slepe drye And whan smoke and smolder . smyt in his sighte It dooþ hym worse þan his wif . or wete to slepe For smoke and smolder . smyteþ in hise eighen Til he be blereighed or blynd . and hoors in þe þrote Cogheþ and curseþ . þat crist gyue hem sorwe That sholde brynge in bettre wode . or blowe it til it brende Thise þre þat I telle of . ben þus to vnderstonde The wif is oure wikked flessh . þat wol noȝt be chastised For kynde clyueþ on hym euere . to contrarie þe soule And þouȝ it falle it fynt skiles . þat frelete it made And þat is lightly forȝyuen . and forȝeten boþe To man þat mercy askeþ . and amende þenkeþ The reyn þat reyneþ . þer we reste sholde Ben siknesse and sorwes . þat we suffren ofte As Poul þe Apostle . to þe peple tauȝte Virtus in infirmitate perficitur &c And þouȝ þat men make . muche doel in hir angre And ben inpacient in hir penaunce . pure reson knoweþ That þei han cause to contrarie . by kynde of hir siknesse And lightliche oure lord . at hir lyues ende Haþ mercy on swiche men . þat so yuele may suffre Ac þe smoke and þe smolder . þat smyt in oure eighen That is coueitise and vnkyndenesse . þat quencheþ goddes mercy For vnkyndenesse . is þe contrarie . of alle kynnes reson For þer nys sik ne sory . ne noon so muche wrecche That he ne may louye and hym like . and leneW.17.350: The reading could as well be leue, as in Cr. of his herte Good wille and good word . andW.17.351: W alone reads and; all other B manuscripts have boþe. wisshen and willen Alle manere men . mercy and forȝifnesse And louye hem lik hym-self . and his lif amende I may no lenger lette quod he . and lyard he prikede And wente awey as wynd . and þer-wiþ I awakede