The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 2: Trinity College, Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 2: Trinity College, Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W) – Passus 18and Color Facsimile of Richard Rolle's <title>Form of Living – Passus 18William 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

Commercially available:

2000 Trinity College, Cambridge, MS B.15.17

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

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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 xviijusdecimus octauus &c et iijustercius de dobet Wolleward and weetshoed . wente I forþ after As a recchelees renk . þat of no wo roughte And yede forþ lik a lorel . al my lif-tyme Til I weex wery of þe world . and wilned eft to slepe And lened me to a lenten . and longe tyme I slepte And of cristes passion and penaunce . þe peple þat of-rauȝte Reste me þere and rutte faste . til Ramis palmarum Of gerlis and of Gloria laus . gretly me dremed And how Osanna by . Organye . olde folk songen ¶ Oon semblable to þe Samaritan . and som-deel to Piers þe PlowmanW.18.10: The first lobe of <w> is visible; the rest of the word has been cropped. Bare-foot on an Asse bak . bootles cam prikye Wiþ-outen spores oþer spere . spakliche he lokede As is þe kynde of a knyght . þat comeþ to be dubbed To geten hym gilte spores . or galoches y-couped ¶ Thanne was feiþ in a fenestre . and cryde a fili dauid As dooþ an heraud of armes . whan Auentrous comeþ to Iustes Olde Iewes of Ierusalem . for ioye þei songen Benedictus qui venit in nomine domini ¶ Thanne I frayned at Feiþ . what al þat fare bymente And who sholde Iuste in Ierusalem . Iesus he seide And fecche þat þe fend claymeþ . Piers fruyt þe Plowman ¶ Is Piers in þis place quod I . and he preynte on me This Iesus of his gentries . wol Iuste in Piers armes In his helm and in his haubergeon . humana natura That crist be noȝt biknowe here . for consummatus deus In Piers paltok þe Plowman . þis prikiere shal ryde For no dynt shal hym dere . as in deitate patris ¶ Who shal Iuste wiþ Iesus quod I . Iewes or Scrybes ¶ Nay quod he þe foule fend . and fals doom and deeþ Deeþ seiþ he shal fordo . and adoun brynge Al þat lyueþ and lokeþ . in londe andW.18.31: W alone reads and; F has eyþer, and all other manuscripts have or. in watre ¶ Lif seiþ þat he lieþ . and leieþ his lif to wedde That for al þat deeþ kan do . wiþ-Inne þre daies To walke and fecche fro þe fend . Piers fruyt þe Plowman And legge it þer hym likeþ . and Lucifer bynde And forbete and adoun brynge . bale deeþ for euere O mors ero mors tua ¶ Thanne cam Pilatus with muche peple . sedens pro tribunali To se how doghtiliche deeþ sholde do . and deme hir boþeres right ¶ The Iewes and þe Iustice . ayeins Iesu þei weere And al þe court on hym cryde . crucifige sharpe Tho putte hym forþ a pilour . bifore Pilat and seide This Iesus of oure Iewes temple . haþW.18.43: W alone reads haþ; all other manuscripts omit it. Iaped and despised To fordoon it on o day . and in þre dayes after Edifie it eft newe . here he stant þat seide it And ȝit maken it as muche . in alle manere poyntes Boþe as long and as large . bi lofte and by grounde ¶ Crucifige quod a Cachepol . I warante hym a wicche ¶ Tolle tolle quod anoþer . and took of kene þornes And bigan of kene þorn . a garland to make And sette it sore on his heed . and seide in enuye Aue raby quod þat rybaud . and þrew reedes at hym Nailed hym with þre nailes . naked on þe roode And poison on a poole . þei putte vp to hise lippes And beden hym drynken his deeþ yuel . hise daies were ydone And if þat þow sotil be . help now þi-selue If þow be crist and kynges sone . com down of þe roode Thanne shul we leue þat lif þee loueþ . and wol noȝt lete þee deye ¶ Consummatum est quod crist . and comsede for to swoune Pitousliche and pale . as a prison þat deieþ The lord of lif and of light . þo leide hise eighen togideres The day for drede wiþ-drouȝ . and derk bicam þe sonne The wal waggede and cleef . and al þe world quaued Dede men for þat dene . come out of depe graues And tolde why þat tempeste . so longe tyme durede For a bitter bataille . þe dede body seide Lif and deeþ in þis derknesse . hir oon fordooþ hir ooþer Shal no wight wite witterly . who shal haue þe maistrie Er sonday aboute sonne risyng . and sank wiþ þat til erþe ¶ Some seide þat he was goddes sone . þat so faire deide Vere filius dei erat iste And some seide he was a wicche . good is þat we assaye Wher he be deed or noȝt deed . doun er he be taken ¶ Two þeues also . þoled deeþ þat tyme Vp-on a croos bisides crist . so was þe comune lawe A Cachepol cam forþ . and craked boþe hir legges And þe armes after . of eiþer of þo þeues Ac was no body so boold . goddes body to touche For he was knyȝt and kynges sone . kynde foryaf þat tyme That noon harlot were so hardy . to leyen hond vp-on hym ¶ Ac þer cam forþ a knyȝt . wiþ a kene spere ygrounde Highte Longeus as þe lettre telleþ . and longe hadde lore his sight.W.18.82: The leaf has been cropped and <e> may have been lost on sight. Elsewhere the word is twenty-six times spelt sighte or siȝte, and once siȝt. Bifore Pilat and ooþer peple . in þe place he houed Maugree his manye teeþ . he was maad þat tyme To take þe spere in his hond . and Iusten wiþ Iesus For alle þei were vnhardy . þat houed on horse or stode To touchen hym or to tasten hym . or taken doun of roode But þis blynde bacheler . baar hym þoruȝ þe herte The blood sprong doun by þe spere . and vnspered þe knyȝtes eiȝen ¶ Thanne fil þe knyȝt vp-on knees . and cryde hym mercy Ayein my wille it was lord . to wownde yow so soore He sighed and seide . soore it me aþynkeþ For þe dede þat I haue doon . I do me in youre grace Haue on me ruþe riȝtful Iesu . and riȝt wiþ þat he wepte ¶ Thanne gan Feiþ felly . þe false Iewes despise Callede hem caytyues . acorsed for euere For þis foule vileynye . vengeaunce to yow falle To do þe blynde bete hym ybounde . it was a boyes counseille Cursede caytif . knyghthood was it neuere To mysdo a deed body . by daye or by nyȝte The gree ȝit haþ he geten . for al his grete wounde ¶ For youre champion chiualer . chief knyȝt of yow alle Ȝilt hym recreaunt rennyng . riȝt at Iesus wille For be þis derknesse ydo . his deeþ worþ avenged And ye lurdaynes han ylost . for lif shal haue þe maistrye And youre fraunchise þat fre was . fallen is in þraldom And ye cherles and youre children . cheue shulleW.18.107: W alone omits ye after shulle. neuere To haue lordshipe in londe . ne no lond tilye But al barayne be . and vsurie vsen Which is lif þat oure lord . in alle lawes acurseþ Now youre goode dayes arn doon . as daniel prophecied Whan crist cam of hir kyngdom . þe crowne sholde cesse Cum veniat sanctus sanctorum cessabit vnxio vestra ¶ What for feere of þis ferly . and of þe false Iewes I drow me in þat derknesse . to descendit ad inferna And þere I sauȝ sooþly . secundum scripturas Out of þe west coste . a wenche as me þouȝte ¶ Cam walkynge in þe wey . to helleward she loked Mercy highte þat mayde . a meke þyng wiþ-alle A ful benigne burde . and Buxom of speche ¶ Hir suster as it semed . cam sooþly walkynge Euene out of þe Est . and westward she lokede A ful comely creature . truþe she highte For þe vertue þat hire folwede . afered was she neuere ¶ Whan þise maydenes mette . mercy and truþe Eiþer asked ooþer . of þis grete wonder Of þe dyn and of þe derknesse . and how þe day rowed And which a light and a leme . lay bifore helle Ich haue ferly of þis fare . in feiþ seide truþe And am wendynge to wite . what þis wonder meneþ ¶ Haue no merueille quod mercy . murþe it bitokneþ A maiden þat highte Marie . and moder wiþ-outen felyng Of any kynnes creature . conceyued þoruȝ speche And grace of þe holy goost . weex greet wiþ childe Wiþ-outen wem . in-to þis world she broȝte hym And þat my tale be trewe . I take god to witnesse ¶ Siþ þis barn was ybore . ben xxxtiþritti wynter passed Which deide and deeþ þoled . þis day aboute mydday And þat is cause of þis clips . þat closeþ now þe sonne In menynge þat man shal . fro merknesse be drawe The while þis light and þis leme . shal Lucifer ablende For patriarkes and prophetes . han preched her-of ofte That man shal man saue . þoruȝ a maydenes helpe And þat was tynt þoruȝ tree . tree shal it wynne And þat deeþ adownW.18.145: W alone reads adown. All other manuscripts have doun. brouȝte . deeþ shal releue ¶ That þow tellest quod Truþe . is but a tale of waltrot For Adam and Eue . and Abraham wiþ oþere Patriarkes and prophetes . þat in peyne liggen Leue þow neuere þat yon light . hem alofte brynge Ne haue hem out of helle . hold þi tonge mercy It is but a trufle þat þow tellest . I truþe woot þe soþe For he þat is ones in helle . out comeþ he neuere Iob þe prophete patriark . repreueþ þi sawes Quia in Inferno nulla est redempcio ¶ Thanne Mercy ful myldely . mouþed þise wordes Thoruȝ experience quod she . I hope þei shul be saued For venym fordooþ venym . and þat preue I by reson For of alle venymes . foulest is þe scorpion May no medicyne helpe . þe place þer he styngeþ Til he be deed and do þerto . þe yuel he destruyeþ The firste venymouste . þoruȝ venym of hym-selue ¶ So shal þis deeþ fordo . I dar my lif legge Al þat deeþ fordide first . þoruȝ þe deueles entisyng And riȝt as þoruȝ gile . man was bigiled So shal grace þat bigan . make a good sleighte Ars vt artem falleret ¶ Now suffre we seide Truþe . I se as me þynkeþ Out of þe nyppe of þe North . noȝt ful fer hennes Rightwisnesse come rennynge . reste we þe while For he woot moore þan we . he was er we boþe ¶ That is sooþ seide Mercy . and I se here by Sowþe Where pees comeþ pleyinge . in pacience ycloþed Loue haþ coueited hire longe . leue I noon ooþer But he sente hire som lettre . what þis light bymeneþ That ouer-houeþ helle þus . she vs shal telle ¶ Whan Pees in Pacience ycloþed . approched ner hem tweyne Rightwisnesse hire reuerenced . by hir riche cloþyng And preide pees to telle hire . to what place she wolde And in hire gaye garnementz . whom she grete þouȝte ¶ My wil is to wende quod she . and welcome hem alle That many day myȝte I noȝt se . for merknesse of synne Adam and Eue . and oþere mo in helle Moyses and many mo . mercy shul haue And I shal daunce þer-to . do þow so suster For Iesus Iustede wel . Ioye bigynneþ dawe Ad vesperum demorabitur fletus & ad matutinum leticiaW.18.186: The leaf is cropped immediately after the final character, but no text appears to have been lost. ¶ Loue þat is my lemman . swiche lettres me sente That mercy my suster and I . mankynde sholde saue And þat god haþ forgyuen . and graunted me pees & mercy To be mannes meynpernour . for euere-moore after Lo here þe patente quod Pees . In pace in idipsum And þat þis dede shal dure . dormiam & requiescam ¶ What rauestow quod ~~.............~~RightwisnesseW.18.193: Rightwisnesse is written over an erasure. . or þow art right dronke Leuestow þat yond light . vnlouke myȝte helle And saue mannes soule . suster wene it neuere For godW.18.196: W alone reads For god; most other manuscripts have At. þe bigynnereW.18.196: W alone reads bigynnere; other manuscripts have bigynnyng god. . gaf þe doom hym-selue That Adam and Eue . and alle þat hem suwede Sholden deye down-righte . and dwelle in pyne after If þat þei touchede a tree . and þe fruyt eten ¶ Adam afterward . ayeins his defence Freet of þat fruyt . and forsook as it weere The loue of oure lord . and his loore boþe And folwede þat þe fend tauȝte . and his felawes wille Ayeins Reson and rightwisnesse . recorde þus wiþ truþe That hir peyne be perpetuel . and no preiere hem helpe For-þi lat hem chewe as þei chosen . and chide we noȝt sustres For it is botelees bale . þe byte þat þei eten ¶ And I shal preue quod Pees . hir peyne moot haue ende And from wo in-to wele . mowe wenden at þe laste For hadde þei wist of no wo . wele hadde þei noȝt knowen For no wight woot what wele is . þat neuere wo suffrede Ne what is hoot hunger . þat hadde neuere defaute ¶ If no nyȝt ne weere . no man as I leeue Sholde neuere wite witterly . what day is to meene Sholde neuere riȝt riche man . þat lyueþ in reste and ese Wite what wo is . ne were þe deeþ of kynde ¶ So god þat bigan al . of his goode wille Bicam man of a mayde . mankynde to saue And suffrede to be sold . to se þe sorwe of deying The which vnknytteþ alle care . and comsynge is of reste For til modicum mete with vs . I may it wel auowe Woot no wight as I wene . what ynogh is to mene ¶ For-þi god of his goodnesse . þe firste gome Adam Sette hym in solace . and in souereyn murþe And siþþe he suffred hym synne . sorwe to feele To wite what wele was . kyndeliche andW.18.226: W alone reads and; most other manuscripts have to. knowe it And after . god Auntrede hym-self . and took Adames kyndeW.18.227: Kane-Donaldson speculate that the final <e> of kynde is cropped. This is, however, a verso, and the <e> is visible in the gutter (though not in the image). To wite what he haþ suffred . in þre sondry places Boþe in heuene and in erþe . and now til helle he þenkeþ To wite what alle wo is . and what is alle ioye ¶ So it shal fare by þis folk . hir folie and hir synne Shal lere hem what langour is . and lisse wiþ-outen ende Woot no wight what werre is . þer þat pees regneþ Ne what is witterly wele . til weylawey hym teche ¶ Thanne was þer a wight . wiþ two brode eiȝen Book highte þat beaupeere . a bold man of speche By goddes body quod þis book . I wol bere witnesse That þo þis barn was ybore . þer blased a sterre That alle þe wise of þis world . in o wit acorden That swich a barn was ybore . in Bethleem þe Citee That mannes soule sholde saue . and synne destroye And alle þe elementz quod þe book . her-of beren witnesse That he was god þat al wroȝte . þe wolkne first shewed ¶ Tho þat weren in heuene . token stella cometa And tendeden itW.18.245: W alone reads it; other manuscripts have hire. as a torche . to reuerencen his burþe The light folwede þe lord . in-to þe lowe erþe ¶ The water witnessed þat he was god . for he wente on it Peter þe Apostel . parceyued his gate And as he wente on þe water . wel hym knew and seide Iube me venire ad te super aquas ¶ And lo how þe sonne gan louke . hire light in hir-selue Whan she seiȝ hym suffre . þat sonne and see made ¶ The Erþe for heuynesse . þat he wolde suffre Quaked as quyk þyng . and al biquasshed þe roche ¶ Lo helle myȝte nat holde . but opnede þo god þolede And leet out Symondes sone . to seen hym hange on roode And now shal Lucifer leue it . þouȝ hym looþ þynke For gigas þe geaunt . wiþ a gyn haþW.18.258: W alone reads haþ; other manuscripts omit it. engyned To breke and to bete adoun . þat ben ayeins Iesus And I book wole be brent . but Iesus rise to lyue In alle myȝtes of man . and his moder gladie And conforte al his kyn . and out of care brynge And al þe Iewene Ioye . vnioynen and vnlouken And but þei reuersenreuer[en]senW.18.264: WCr1S read reuersen; all other manuscripts have reuerensen. his roode . and his Resurexion And bileue on a newe lawe . be lost lif and soule ¶ Suffre we seide truþe . I here and see boþe How a spirit spekeþ to helle . and biddeþ vnspere þe yates Attollite portas &c ¶ A vois loude in þat light . to lucifer crieþ Prynces of þis place . vnpynneþ and vnloukeþ For here comeþ wiþ crowne . þat kyng is of glorie ¶ Thanne sikede Sathan . and seide to hem alle Swich a light ayeins oure leue . lazar out fette Care and encombraunce . is comen to vs alle If þis kyng come In . mankynde wole he fecche And lede it þer hym likeþ . and lightliche me bynde Patriarkes and prophetes . han parled her-of longe That swich a lord and light . sholde lede hem alle hennes ¶ Listneþ quod lucifer . for I þis lord knowe Boþe þis lord and þis light . is longe ago I knew hym May no deeþ hym dere . ne no deueles queyntise And where he wole is his wey . ac ware hym of þe perils If he reueþ me my riȝt . he robbeþ me by maistrie For by right and by reson . þe renkes þat ben here Body and soule beþ myne . boþe goode and ille For hym-self seide . þat Sire is of heuene If Adam ete þe Appul . alle sholde deye And dwelle wiþ vs deueles . þis þretynge he made And he þat Sooþnesse is . seide þise wordes And siþen I seised . Seuene hundred wynter I leeue þat lawe nyl noȝt . lete hym þe leeste ¶ That is sooþ seide Sathan . but I me soore dredeFor þow gete hem For þow gete hem wiþ gile . and his Gardyn breke And in semblaunce of a serpent . sete vp-on þe Appultree And eggedest hem to ete . Eue by hir-~~.....~~selueW.18.295: selue is written over an erasure. And toldest hire a tale . of treson were þe wordes And so þow haddest hem out . and hider at þe laste It is noȝt graiþly geten . þer gile is þe roote For god wol noȝt be bigiled . quod Gobelyn ne byiaped We haue no trewe title to hem . for þoruȝ treson were þei dampned ¶ Certes I drede me quod þe deuel . lest truþe wol hem fecche Thise þritty wynter as I wene . haþ he gon and preched I haue assailled hym with synne . and som-tyme y-asked Wheiþer he were god or goddes sone . he yaf me short answere And þus haþ he trolled forþ . þise two and þritty wynter And whan I seiȝ it was so . lepynge I wente To warne Pilates wif . what done man was Iesus For Iewes hateden hym . and han doon hym to deþe I wolde haue lengþed his lif . for I leued if he deide That his soule wolde suffre . no synne in his sighte For þe body while it on bones yede . aboute was euere To saue men from synne . if hem-self wolde And now I se wher a soule . comeþ hiderward seillynge Wiþ glorie and with gret light . god it is I woot wel I rede þat we fle quod he . faste alle hennes For vs were bettre noȝt be . þan biden his sighte For þi lesynges Lucifer . lost is al oure praye ¶ First þoruȝ þe we fellen . fro heuene so heiȝe For we leued on þi lesynges . ylorn we haue Adam And al oure lordshipe I leue . a-londe and a-watre Nunc princeps huius mundi eicietur foras ¶ Eft þe light bad vnlouke . and Lucifer answerde What lord artow quod Lucifer . Quis est iste ¶ Rex glorie . þe light soone seide And lord of myght and of man . and alle manere vertues . dominus virtutum Dukes of þis dymme place . anoon vndo þise yates That crist may come In . þe kynges sone of heuene ¶ And wiþ þat breeþ helle brak . with Belialles barres For any wye or warde . wide opned þe yates ¶ Patriarkes and prophetes . Populus in tenebris Songen seint Iohanes song . Ecce agnus dei Lucifer loke ne myȝte . so light hym ablente ¶ And þo þat oure lord louede . in-to his light he laughte And seide to Sathan . lo here my soule to amendes For alle synfulle soules . to saue þo þat ben worþi Myne þei ben and of me . I may þe bet hem cleyme And þouȝ Reson recorde . and riȝt of my-selue That if heW.18.338: WHm alone read he; all other manuscripts have þei. ete þe Appul . alle sholde deye I bihiȝte hem noȝt here . helle for euere For þe dede þat þei dide . þi deceite it made Wiþ gile þow hem gete . ageyn alle reson For in my paleis Paradis . in persone of an Addre Falsliche þow fettest . þyng þat I louede ¶ Thus ylik a Lusard . wiþ a lady visage Thefliche þow me robbedest . andW.18.345: W alone reads and; other manuscripts omit it. þe olde lawe graunteþ That gilours be bigiled . and þat is good reson Dentem pro dente & oculum pro oculo Ergo soule shal soule quyte . and synne to synne wende And al þat man haþ mysdo . I man wole amende Membre for membre . by þe olde lawe was amendes And lif for lif also . and by þat lawe I clayme it Adam and al his issue . at my wille her-after And þat deeþ in hem fordide . my deeþ shal releue And boþe quykne and quyte . þat queynt was þoruȝ synne And þat grace gile destruye . good feiþ it askeþ So leue I noȝt lucifer . ayein þe lawe I fecche hem But by right and by reson . raunsone here my liges Non veni soluere legem . set adimplere ¶ Thow fettest myne in my place . ayeins alle resoun Falsliche and felonliche . good feiþ me it tauȝte To recouere hem þoruȝ raunsoun . and by no reson ellis So þat þoruȝ gile þow gete . þoruȝ grace it is ywonne Thow lucifer in liknesse . of a luþer Addere Getest bi gile . þo þat god louede ¶ And I in liknesse of a leode . þat lord am of heuene Graciousliche þi gile haue quyt . go gile ayein gile And as Adam and alle . þoruȝ a tree deyden Adam and alle þoruȝ a tree . shul turne ayein to lyue And gile is bigiled . and in his gile fallen Et cecidit in foueam quam fecit ¶ Now bigynneþ þi gile . ageyn þee to turne And my grace to growe . ay gretter and widderW.18.372: W alone omits the next line, which reads in beta (in the spelling of L): Þe bitternesse þat þow hast browe . brouke it þi-seluen. That art doctour of deeþ . drynk þat þow madest ¶ For I þat am lord of lif . loue is my drynke And for þat drynke today . I deide vp-on erþe I fauȝt so me þursteþ ȝit . for mannes soule sake May no drynke me moiste . ne my þurst slake Til þe vendage falle . in þe vale of Iosaphat That I drynke riȝt ripe Must . Resureccio mortuorum And þanne shal I come as a kyng . crouned wiþ Aungeles And haue out of helle . alle mennes soules ¶ Fendes and fyndekynes . bifore me shul stande And be at my biddyng . wher-so-euere me likeþ And to be merciable to man . þanne my kynde askeþ For we beþ breþeren of blood . but noȝt in baptisme alle Ac alle þat beþ myne hole breþeren . in blood and in baptisme Shul noȝt be dampned to þe deeþ . þat is wiþ-outen ende Tibi soli peccaui &c ¶ It is noȝt vsed in erþe . to hangen a feloun Ofter þan ones . þouȝ he were a tretour And if þe kyng of þat kyngdom . come in þat tyme ThereW.18.392: W alone omits þe after There. feloun þole sholde . deeþ or ooþer Iuwise Lawe wolde he yeue hym lif . if he loked on hym And I þat am kyng of kynges . shal come swich a tyme Ther doom to þe deeþ . dampneþ alle wikked And if lawe wole I loke on hem . it liþ in my grace Wheiþer þei deye or deye noȝt . for þat þei diden ille Be it any þyng abouȝt . þe boldnesse of hir synnes I do mercy þoruȝ rightwisnesse . and alle my wordes trewe And þouȝ holy writ wole þat I be wroke . of hem þat diden ille Nullum malum impunitum &c Thei shul be clensed clerliche . and wasshen of hir synnes In my prisone Purgatorie . til parce it hote And my mercy shal be shewed . to manye of my breþeren For blood may suffre blood . boþe hungry and a-cale Ac blood may noȝt se blood . blede but hym rewe Audiui archana verba que non licet homini loqui ¶ Ac my rightwisnesse and right . shul rulen al helle And mercy al mankynde . bifore me in heuene For I were an vnkynde kyng . but I my kynde helpe And nameliche at swich a nede . þer nedes help bihoueþ Non intres in Iudicium cum seruo tuo ¶ Thus by lawe quod oure lord . lede I wole fro hennes ¶ Tho þat me louede . and leued in my comynge And for þi lesynge lucifer . þat þow leighe til Eue Thow shalt abyen it bittre . and bond hym wiþ cheynes Astroth and al þe route . hidden hem in hernes They dorste noȝt loke on oure lord . þe boldeste of hem alle But leten hym lede forþ whomW.18.419: W alone reads whom; most other manuscripts have what, though C has who. hym liked . and lete whomW.18.419: W's whom is shared with S; all other manuscripts have what. hym liste ¶ Manye hundred of Aungeles . harpeden and songen Culpat caro purgat caro . regnat deus dei caro ¶ Thanne pipede pees . of Poesie a note Clarior est solito post maxima nebula phebus  Post inimicicias &cW.18.423: The manuscript is cropped after &. The reading &c is supported by HmLM. ¶ After sharpe shoures quod pees . moost shene is þe sonne Is no weder warmer . þan after watry cloudes Ne no loue leuere . ne leuer frendes Than after werre and wo . whan loue and pees ben maistresW.18.427: In the right margin, partly trimmed, is a rough drawing of a true-love plant inside a heart. C. David Benson and Lynne S. Blanchfield, The Manuscripts of Piers Plowman: the B-version (Cambridge: D. S. Brewer, 1997), p. 59 n. 67, suggest a possible connection with the Quatrefoil of Love though there is no evidence to support this. Was neuere werre in þis world . ne wikkednesse so kene That ne loue and hym liste . to laughynge ne brouȝte And Pees þoruȝ pacience . alle perils stoppeþ ¶ Trewes quod Truþe . þow tellest vs sooþ by Iesus Clippe we in couenaunt . and ech of vs clippeW.18.432: W alone reads clippe; other manuscripts have kisse. ooþer And leteþ no peple quod pees . parceyue þat we chidde For inpossible is no þyng . to hym þat is almyghty ¶ Thow seist sooþ quod Rightwisnesse . and reuerentliche hire kiste Pees and pees here . per secula seculorum Misericordia & veritas obuiauerunt sibi Iusticia & pax osculate suntW.18.437: One minim is visible after su, and the remainder is cropped. HmGYOC2C read sunt &c. ¶ Truþe trumpede þo . and song Te deum laudamus And þanne lutedeW.18.439: WHm alone omit loue after lutede. . in a loud note Ecce quam bonum & quam iocundum &c ¶ Til þe day dawed . þise damyseles dauncede That men rongen to þe resurexion . and riȝt wiþ þat I wakede And callede Kytte my wif . and Calote my doghter And bad hem riseW.18.444: W alone reads And bad hem rise; all other manuscripts have an imperative form of Arise. and reuerence . goddes resurexion And crepe to þe cros on knees . and kisse it for a Iuwel For goddes blissede body . it bar for oure boote And it afereþ þe fend . for swich is þe myȝte May no grisly goost . glide þere it walkeþW.18.448: W alone reads walkeþ; most other manuscripts have shadweth, while Hm has schawyþ.