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

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 secundus de visione vt supra YEt I courbed on my knees . and cried hire of grace And seide mercy madame . for Marie loue of heuene That bar þat blisful barn . þat bouȝte vs on þe Rode Kenne me by som craft . to knowe þe false Loke vp-on þi left half . and lo where he stondeþ Boþe Fals and Fauel . and hire feeres manye I loked on my left half . as þe lady me tauȝte And was war of a womman . worþiliche y-cloþed W.2.9: The paragraph sign was probably entered in error, since it is not motivated by the syntax, and there is not the usual space separating paragraphs. Purfiled wiþ Pelure . þe fyneste vp-on erþe Ycorouned wiþ a coroune . þe kyng haþ noon bettre Fetisliche hire fyngres . were fretted with gold wyr And þer-on rede Rubies . as rede as any gleedeAnd diamaundes And Diamaundes of derrest pris . and double manere Saphires Orientals and Ewages . enuenymes to destroye Hire Robe was ful riche . of reed scarlet engreyned Wiþ Ribanes of reed gold . and of riche stones Hire array me rauysshed . swich richesse sauȝ I neuere I hadde wonder what she was . and whos wif she were What is þis womman quod I . so worþili atired That is Mede þe mayde quod she . haþ noyed me ful ofte And ylakked my lemman . þat leautee is hoten And bilowen hire to lordes . þat lawes han to kepe In þe popes Paleis . she is pryuee as my-selue But sooþnesse wolde noȝt so . for she is a Bastardnota For Fals was hire fader . þat haþ a fikel tonge And neuere sooþ seide . siþen he com to erþe And Mede is manered after hym . riȝt as kynde askeþnota Qualis pater talis filius . Bonus arbor bonum fructum facit I ouȝte ben hyere þan she . I kam of a bettre My fader þe grete god is . and ground of alle graces Oo god wiþ-outen gynnyng . and I his goode douȝter And haþ yeuen me mercy . to marie wiþ my-selue And what man be merciful . and leelly me loue Shal be my lord and I his leef . in þe heiȝe heuenenota And what man takeþ Mede . myn heed dar I legge That he shal lese for hire loue . a lappe of Caritatis How construeþ Dauid þe kyng . of men þat takeþ Mede And men of þis moolde . þat maynteneþ truþe And how ye shul saue your-self . þe Sauter bereþ witnesse Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo &c And now worþ þis Mede ymaried . vn-to a mansed sherewe To oon fals fikel tonge . a fendes biyetenota Fauel þoruȝ his faire speche . haþ þis folk enchaunted And al is lieres ledynge . þat she is þus ywedded Tomorwe worþ ymaked . þe maydenes bridale And þere myȝtow witen if þow wilt . whiche þei ben alle That longen to þat lordshipe . þe lasse and þe moore Knowe hem þere if þow kanst . and kepe þow þi tonge And lakke hem noȝt but lat hem worþe . til leaute be Iustice And haue power to punysshe hem . þanne put forþ þi reson Now I bikenne þee crist quod she . and his clene modernota And lat no conscience acombre þee . for coueitise of Mede Thus lefte me þat lady . liggynge aslepe And how Mede was ymaried . in Metels me þouȝte That al þe riche retenaunce . þat regneþ with þe false Were boden to þe bridale . on boþe two sides Of alle manere of men . þe meene and þe riche To marien þis mayde . were many men assembled As of knyȝtes and of clerkes . and ooþer commune peple As Sisours and Somonours . Sherreues and hire clerkes Bedelles and baillifs . and Brocours of chaffare Forgoers and vitaillers . and Aduokettes of þe Arches I kan noȝt rekene þe route . þat ran aboute Mede Ac Symonie and Cyuylle . and Sisours of courtes Were moost pryuee with Mede . of any men me þouȝte Ac Fauel was þe firste . þat fette hire out of boure And as a Brocour brouȝte hire . to be wiþ fals enioyned Whan Symonye and Cyuylle . seighe hir boþer wille Thei assented for siluer . to seye as boþe wolde Thanne leep liere forþ . and seide . lo here a chartre That Gile wiþ hise grete oþes . gaf hem togidere And preide Cyuylle to see . and Symonye to rede it Thanne Symonye and Cyuylle . stonden forþ boþe And vnfoldeþ þe feffement . that Fals hath ymaked And þus bigynnen þise gomes . to greden ful heiȝe Sciant presentes & futuri &c Witeþ and witnesseþ . þat wonieþ vp-on þis erþenota That Mede is y-maried . moore for hire goodes Than for any vertue or fairnesse . or any free kynde Falsnesse is fayn of hire . for he woot hire riche And Fauel wiþ his fikel speche . feffeþ by þis chartre To be Princes in pride . and pouerte to despise To bakbite and to bosten . and bere fals witnesse To scorne and to scolde . and sclaundre to make Vnbuxome and bolde . to breke þe ten hestes And þe Erldom of Enuye . and wraþe togideres Wiþ þe Chastilet of cheste . and chaterynge out of reson The Countee of Coueitise . and alle þe costes aboute That is vsure and Auarice . al I hem graunte In bargaynes and in brocages . wiþ al þe Burgh of þefte And al þe lordshipe of leccherie . in lengþe and in brede As in werkes and in wordes . and in waitynges with eiȝes And in wedes and in wisshynges . and wiþ ydel þouȝtesnota There as wil wolde . and werkmanshipe fayleþ Glotonye he gaf hem ek . and grete oþes togidere And al day to drynken . at diuerse Tauernes And þere to Iangle and Iape . and Iugge hir euencristen And in fastynge-dayes to frete . er ful tyme were And þanne to sitten and soupen . til sleep hem assaille And breden as Burgh swyn . and bedden hem esily Til Sleuþe and sleep . sliken hise sydes And þanne wanhope to awaken hem so . wiþ no wil to amende For he leueþ be lost . þis is hir laste ende And þei to haue and to holde . and hire heires after A dwellynge wiþ þe deuel . and dampned be for euere Wiþ alle þe appurtinaunces of Purgatorie . in-to þe pyne of helle Yeldynge for þis þyng . at one dayes tymeW.2.107: W alone reads dayes tyme. All other B manuscripts have yeres ende. Hire soules to Sathan . to suffre with hym peynes And with hym to wonye with wo . while god is in heuene In witnesse of which þyng . wrong was þe firste And Piers þe Pardoner . of Paulynes doctrine Bette þe Bedel . of Bokyngham-shire Reynald þe Reue . of Rutland Sokene Maud þe Millere . and many mo oþere In þe date of þe deuel . þis dede I ensele By siȝte of sire Symonie . and Cyuyles leeue Thanne tened hym Theologie . whan he þis tale herde And seide vn-toW.2.118: W alone reads vn-to. All other B manuscripts have to. Cyuyle . now sorwe mote þow haue Swiche weddynges to werche . to wraþe wiþ truþe And er þis weddynge be wroȝt . wo þee bitide For Mede is muliere . of Amendes engendred And god graunteþ to gyue . Mede to truþe And þow hast gyuen hire to a gilour . now god gyue þee sorwe Thi text telleþ þee noȝt so . Truþe woot þe soþenota For Dignus est operarius . his hire to haue And þow hast fest hire to Fals . fy on þi lawe For al bi lesynges þow lyuest . and lecherouse werkes . Symonye and þi-self . shenden holi chirche The Notaries and ye . noyen þe peple Ye shul abiggen it boþe . by god þat me made Wel ye witen wernardes . but if youre wit faillenota That Fals is feiþlees . and fikel in hise werkes And was a Bastard ybore . of Belsabubbes kynne And Mede is muliere . a maiden of goode And myȝte kisse þe kyng . for cosyn and she wolde For-þi wercheþ by wisdom . and by wit also And ledeþ hire to Londoun . þere it is yshewed If any lawe wol loke . þei ligge togideres And þouȝ Iustices Iuggen hire . to be Ioyned to Fals Yet be war of weddynge . for witty is truþe And Conscience is of his counseil . and knoweþ yow echone And if he fynde yow in defaute . and with þe false holde It shal bisitte youre soules . ful soure at þe laste Her-to assenteþ Cyuyle . ac Symonye ne wolde Til he hadde siluer for his seruice . and also þe Notaries Thanne fette Fauel forþ . floryns ynowe And bad gile to gyuen . gold al aboute And namely to þe Notaries . þat hem noon ne faille And feffe false witnesses . wiþ floryns ynowe For þei may Mede amaistrye . and maken at my wille Tho þis gold was ygyue . gret was þe þonkyng To Fals and to Fauel . for hire faire ȝiftes And comen to conforten . from care þe false And seiden certes sire . cessen shul we neuere Til Mede be þi wedded wif . þoruȝ wittes of vs alle For we haue Mede amaistried . wiþ oure murie speche That she graunteþ to goon . wiþ a good wille To london to loken . if þe lawe wolde Iuggen yow ioyntly . in ioie for euere Thanne was Falsnesse fayn . and Fauel as bliþe And leten somone alle segges . in shires aboute And bad hem alle to be bown . beggers and oþere To wenden wiþ hem to westmynstre . to witnesse þis dede Ac þanne cared þei for caples . to carien hem þider And Fauel fette forþ þanne . foles ynowe And sette Mede vp-on a Sherreue . shoed al newe And Fals sat on a Sisour . þat softeli trotted And Fauel on a Flaterere . fetisly atired Tho hadde Notaries none . anoyed þei were For Symonye and Cyuylle . sholde on hire feet gange Ac þanne swoor Symonye . and Cyuylle boþe That Somonours sholde be Sadeled . and seruen hem echone And late apparaille þise prouisours . in palfreyes wise Sire Symonye hym-self . shal sitte vp-on hir bakkes Denes and Southdenes . drawe yow togideres Erchedekenes and Officials . and alle youre Registrers Lat sadle hem wiþ siluer . oure synne to suffre As Auoutrye and diuorses . and derne vsurie To bere Bisshopes aboute . abrood in visitynge Paulynes pryuees . for pleintes in Consistorie Shul seruen my-self . þat Cyuyle is nempned And Cartsadle þe Commissarie . oure cart shal he lede And fecchen vs vitailles . at Fornicatores And makeþ of lyere a lang cart . to leden alle þise oþere As Freres and Faitours . þat on hire feet rennen . And thus Fals and Fauel . fareþ forþ togideres And Mede in þe myddes . and alle þise men after I haue no tome to telle . þe tail þat hire folwedW.2.188: Following this line, all B manuscripts except WCr1GHm have the line: Of many maner man . þat on þis molde libbeth (in the spelling of L).nota Ac Gyle was Forgoer . and gyed hem alle Sothnesse seiȝ hem wel . and seide but litel And priked his palfrey . and passed hem alle And com to þe kynges court . and Conscience it tolde And Conscience to þe kyng . carped it after Now by crist quod þe kyng . and I cacche myȝte Fals or Fauel . or any of hise feeris I wolde be wroken of þo wrecches . þat wercheþ so ille And doon hem hange by þe hals . and alle þat hem maynteneþ Shal neuere man of þis molde . meynprise þe leeste But riȝt as þe lawe wol loke . lat falle on hem alle And comaunded a Constable . þat com at þe firste To attachen þo Tyrauntz . for any þyng I hote And fettreþ faste Falsnesse . for any kynnes ȝiftes And girdeþ of Gyles heed . and lat hym go no ferþer And if ye lacche lyere . lat hym noȝt ascapen Er he be put on þe Pillory . for any preyere I hote And bryngeþ Mede to me . maugree hem alle Drede at þe dore stood . and þe doom herde And how þe kyng comaunded . Constables and sergeauntz Falsnesse and his felawship . to fettren and to bynden Thanne Drede wente wyȝtliche . and warned þe False And bad hym fle for fere . and hise felawes alle Falsnesse for fere þanne . fleiȝ to þe Freres And Gyle dooþ hym to go . agast for to dye Ac Marchauntz metten with hym . and made hym abyde And bishetten hym in hire shoppes . to shewen hire ware Apparailed hym as Apprentice . þe peple to serue Liȝtliche Lyere . leep awey þanne Lurkynge þoruȝ lanes . tolugged of manye He was nowher welcome . for his manye tales Ouer al yhontedW.2.220: The reading could equally well be yhouted. B manuscripts vary between forms of hunten and houten. . and yhote trusse Til Pardoners hadde pite . and pulled hym in-to house They wesshen hym & wiped hym . & wounden hym in cloutes And senten hym wiþ seles . on Sondayes to chirches And yeuenW.2.224: W alone reads yeuen, while all other B manuscripts have gaf or ȝaf. pardoun for pens . poundemele aboute Thanne lourede leches . and lettres þei sente That he sholde wonye with hem . watres to loke Spycers speken with hym . to spien hire ware For he kouþe of hir craft . and knew manye gommes And Mynstrales and Messagers . mette with hym ones And helden hym an halfyeerhalf yeer . and elleuene dayes Freres wiþ fair speche . fetten hym þennes And for knowynge of comeres . coped hym as a Frere Ac he haþ leue to lepen out . as ofte as hym likeþ And is welcome whan he wile . and woneþ with hem ofte . Alle fledden for fere . and flowen in-to hernes Saue Mede þe mayde . namo dorste abide Ac trewely to telle . she trembled for drede And ek wepte and wrong . whan she was attachedPassus .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 entente