The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 2: Trinity College, Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W) – Passus 20and Color Facsimile of Richard Rolle's <title>Form of Living – Passus 20William 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 .xxus.vicesimus de visione & primus de Dobest Thanne as I wente by þe wey . whan I was thus awaked Heuy chered I yede . and elenge in herte I ne wiste wher to ete . ne at what place And it neghed neiȝ þe noon . and wiþ nede I mette That afrounted me foule . and faitour me called Kanstow noȝt excuse þee . as dide þe kyng and oþere That þow toke to þi bilyue . to cloþes and to sustenaunce And by techynge and by tellynge . of Spiritus temperancie And þow nome namoore . þan nede þee tauȝte And nede ne haþ no lawe . ne neuere shal falle in dette For þre þynges he takeþ . his lif for to saue That is mete whan men hym werneþ . and he no moneye weldeþ Ne wight noon wol ben his boruȝ . ne wed haþ noon to legge And he cauȝte in þat caas . and come þer-to by sleighte He synneþ noȝt sooþliche . þat so wynneþ his foode And þouȝ he come so to a clooþ . and kan no bettre cheuyssaunce Nede anoon righte . nymeþ hym vnder maynprise And if hym list for to lape . þe lawe of kynde wolde That he dronke at ech dych . er he for þurst deide So nede at gret nede . may nymen as for his owene Wiþ-outen conseil of Conscience . or Cardynale vertues So þat he sewe and saue . Spiritus temperancie For is no vertue bi fer . to Spiritus temperancie NeW.20.24: W alone reads Ne; all other manuscripts have Neiþer. Spiritus Iusticie . ne Spiritus fortitudinis For Spiritus fortitudinis . forfeteþ ful ofte He shal do moore þan mesure . many tyme and ofte And bete men ouer bittre . and some of hem to litel And greue men gretter . þan good feiþ it wolde And Spiritus Iusticie . shal Iuggen wole he nel he After þe kynges counseil . and þe comune like And Spiritus prudencie . in many a point shal faille Of þat he weneþ wolde falle . if his wit ne weere Wenynge is no wysdom . ne wys ymaginacion Homo proponit & deus disponit . and gouerneþ alle goode vertues Ac nede is next hym . for anoon he mekeþ And as lowe as a lomb . for lakkyng of þat hym nedeþ Wise men forsoke wele . for þei wolde be nedy And woneden in wildernesse . and wolde noȝt be riche And god al his grete Ioye . goostliche he lefte And cam and took mankynde . and bicam nedy So nedy he was as seiþ þe book . in manye sondry places That he seide in his sorwe . on þe selue roode Boþe fox and fowel . may fle to hole and crepe And þe fissh haþ fyn . to flete wiþ to reste Ther nede haþ ynome me . þat I moot nede abide And suffre sorwes ful soure . þat shal to Ioye torne For-þi be noȝt abasshed . to bide and to be nedy Siþ he þat wroȝte al þe world . was wilfulliche nedy Ne neuere noon so nedy . ne pouerer deide Whan nede haþW.20.50: W alone reads haþ; all other manuscripts have hadde. vndernome me þus . anoon I fil aslepe And mette ful merueillously . þat in mannes forme Antecrist cam þanne . and al þe crop of truþe Torned it vp-so-doun . and ouer-tilte þe roote And fals sprynge and sprede . and spede mennes nedes In ech a contree þer he cam . he kutte awey truþe And gerte gile growe þere . as he a god weere Freres folwede þat fend . for he gaf hem copes And Religiouse reuerenced hym . and rongen hir belles And al þe Couent forþ cam . to welcome þat tyraunt And alle hise as wel as hym . saue oonly fooles Whiche foolis were wel leuere . to deye þan to lyue Lenger siþ Lenten . was so rebuked And asW.20.63: W alone reads as; all other manuscripts omit it. a fals fend Antecrist . ouer alle folk regnede SaueW.20.64: W alone reads Saue; all other manuscripts have And. þat were mylde men and holye . þat no meschief dradden Defyed alle falsnesse . and folk þat it vsede And what kyng þat hem conforted . knowynge hem any while They cursed and hir conseil . were it clerk or lewed Antecrist hadde þus soone . hundredes at his baner And pride it bar . boldely aboute Wiþ a lord þat lyueþ . after likyng of body That kam ayein conscience . þat kepere was and gyour Ouer kynde cristene . and Cardynale vertues I conseille quod Conscience þo . comeþ wiþ me ye fooles In-to vnite holy chirche . and holde we vs þere And crye we to kynde . þat he come and defende vs Fooles . fro þise fendes lymes . for Piers loue þe Plowman And crye we to al þe comune . þat þei come to vnitee And þere abide and bikere . ayeins Beliales children Kynde / Conscience þo herde . and cam out of þe planetes And sente forþ his forreyours . Feueres and Fluxes Coughes and Cardiacles . Crampes and tooþaches Rewmes and Radegundes . and roynouse scabbesW.20.82: W alone reads scabbes; all other manuscripts have scalles. Biles and bocches . and brennynge Agues Frenesies and foule yueles . forageres of kynde Hadde ypriked and prayed . polles of peple That largeliche a legion . loste hir lif soone There was harrow and help . here comeþ kynde Wiþ deeþ þat is dredful . to vndo vs alle The lord þat lyued after lust . þo aloud cryde After Confort a knyght . to come and bere his baner A-larme a-larme quod þat lord . ech lif kepe his owene And þanne mette þise men . er Mynstrals myȝte pipe And er heraudes of Armes . hadden discryued lordes Elde þe hoore . þatW.20.94: W alone reads þat; all other manuscripts have he. was in þe vauntwarde And bar þe baner bifore deeþ . bi riȝt he it cleymede Kynde cam after . wiþ many kene soores As pokkes and pestilences . and muche peple shente So kynde þoruȝ corrupcions . kilde ful manye Deeþ cam dryuynge after . and al to duste passhed Kynges and knyghtes . kaysers and popes Lered and lewed . he leet no man stonde That he hitte euene . þat euere stired after Manye a louely lady . and lemmans of knyȝtes Swowned and swelted . for sorwe of hiseW.20.104: W alone reads hise; most other manuscripts have deþes. dyntes Conscience of his curteisie . to kynde he bisouȝte To cesse and suffre . and see wher þei wolde Leue pride pryuely . and be parfite cristene And kynde cessede þo . to se þe peple amende Fortune gan flatere þanne . þo fewe þat were alyue And bihighte hem long lif . and lecherie he sente Amonges alle manere men . wedded and vnwedded And gaderede a greet hoost . al agayn Conscience This lecherie leide on . wiþ a Ianglynge chiere And wiþ pryuee speche . and peyntede wordes And armede hym in ydelnesse . and in heigh berynge He bar a bowe in his hand . and manye brode arewes Weren feþered wiþ fair biheste . and many a fals truþe Wiþ hise vntidy tales . he tened ful ofte Conscience and his compaignye . of holy chirche þe techeris Thanne cam Coueitise . and caste how he myȝte Ouer-come Conscience . and Cardinale vertues And armed hym in Auarice . and hungriliche lyuede His wepne was al wiles . to wynnen and to hiden Wiþ glosynges and wiþ gabbynges . he giled þe peple Symonye hym sente . to assaille Conscience And preched to þe peple . and prelates þei hem maden To holden wiþ Antecrist . hir temporaltees to saue And cam to þe kynges counseille . as a kene baroun And kneled to Conscience . in Court afore hem alle And garte good feiþ flee . and fals to abide And boldeliche bar adoun . wiþ many a bright Noble Muche of þe wit and wisdom . of westmynstre halle He IoggedW.20.133: W alone reads Iogged to, a nonce usage which apparently means "spurred his horse towards" (MED jaggen v. 2(b)). Most other scribes wrote Iug(g)ed til, presumably understanding the phrase to mean "condemned" (MED jugen, v. 2(b)). to a Iustice . and Iusted in his eere And ouer-tilte al his truþe . wiþ tak þis vp amendement AnAn[d]W.20.135: W alone reads An; all other manuscripts have And. The W scribe nowhere else uses this form for And. to þe Arches in haste . he yede anoon after And tornede Cyuyle in-to Symonye . and siþþe he took þe Official For a Mantel of Meneuer . andW.20.137: W alone reads and; all other manuscripts have he. made lele matrymoyne Departen er deeþ cam . and deuors shapte Allas quod Conscience and cryde þo . wolde crist of his grace That Coueitise were cristene . þat is so kene a fightere And boold and bidynge . while his bagge lasteþ And þanne lough lyf . and leet daggen hise cloþes And armed hym anhastean haste . wiþW.20.143: W alone reads anhaste wiþ; all other manuscripts have in haste in. harlotes wordes And heeld holynesse a Iape . and hendenesse a wastour And leet leautee a cherl . and lyere a fre man Conscience and hisW.20.146: W alone reads his, which is inserted above the line; all other manuscripts omit it. counseil . he counted at a flyeW.20.146: W alone reads at a flye; all other manuscripts have it (or it a/it but/at) folye. Thus relyede lif . for a litel fortune And prikeþW.20.148: W alone reads prikeþ; all other manuscripts have priked. forþ wiþ pride . preiseþ he no vertue Ne careþ noȝt how Kynde slow . and shal come at þe laste And kille alle erþely creatures . saue conscience oone Lyf lepte aside . and lauȝte hym a lemman Heele and I quod he . and heighnesse of herte Shal do þee noȝt drede . neiþer deeþ ne elde And to forȝyte sorwe . and ȝyue noȝt of synne This likede lif . and his lemman fortune And geten in hir glorie . a gadelyng at þe laste Oon þat muche wo wroȝte . Sleuþe was his name Sleuþe wax wonder yerne . and soone was of age And wedded oon wanhope . a wenche of þe Stuwes Hir sire was a Sysour . þat neuere swoor truþe Oon Tomme two tonge . atteynt at ech enquesteW.20.161: W alone reads enqueste; all other manuscripts save F have a queste. This Sleuþe was war of werre . and a slynge made And threw drede of dispair . a dozeyne myle aboute For care Conscience þo . cryde vp-on Elde And bad hym fonde to fighte . and afere wanhope And Elde hente good hope . and hastiliche he shifte hym And wayued awey wanhope . and wiþ lif he fighteþ And lif fleiȝ for feere . to phisik after helpe And bisouȝte hym of socour . and of his salue he hadde HeW.20.170: W alone reads He; all other manuscripts have And. gaf hym gold good woon . þat gladede his herte And þei gyuen hym ageyn . a glazene howue Lyf leeued þat lechecraft . lette sholde Elde And dryuen awey deeþ . wiþ Dyas and droggesW.20.173: W alone reads drogges, "drugs"; most other manuscripts have dragges, "sweet medicines." Scribes are apt to confuse the two words (e.g. Chaucer, Canterbury Tales Prologue 426). And Elde auntred hym on lyf . and at þe laste he hitte A Phisicien wiþ a furred hood . þat he fel in a palsie And þere dyed þat doctour . er þre dayes after Now I se seide lif . þat Surgerie ne phisik . May noȝt a myte auaille . to medeW.20.178: W alone reads mede, "bribe, reward"; other manuscripts have medle, "take action." ayein Elde And in hope of his heele . good herte he hente And rood forþ to aW.20.180: W alone reads forþ to a; all other manuscripts have so to. reuel . a ryche place and a murye The compaignye of confort . men cleped it som-tyme And Elde anoon after me . and ouer myn heed yede And made me balled bifore . and bare on þe croune So harde he yede ouer myn heed . it wole be sene euere Sire yuele ytauȝt Elde quod . I . vnhende go wiþ þe Siþ whanne whasW.20.186: The scribe has begun by writing an <h> and changed it to an <a>. þe wey . ouer mennes heddes Haddestow be hende quod . I . þow woldest haue asked leeue Ye leue lurdeyn quod he . and leyde on me wiþ Age And hitte me vnder þe ere . vnneþe myȝteW.20.189: W alone reads myȝte; all other manuscripts have may. ich here He buffetted me soW.20.190: W alone reads so; all other manuscripts omit it. aboute þe mouþ . þat out my teeþ he betteW.20.190: W alone reads þat out my teeþ he bette; most manuscripts have either and bet out my teth or & bett me on þe teth. And gyued me in goutes . I may noȝt goon at large And of þe wo þat I was Inne . my wif hadde ruþe And wisshed ful witterly . þat I were in heuene For þe lyme þat she loued me fore . and leef was to feele On nyghtes namely . whan we naked weere I ne myghte in no manere . maken it at hir wille So Elde and she sooþly . hadden it forbeten And as I seet in þis sorwe . I sauȝ how kynde passede And deeþ drogh neiȝ me . for drede gan I quake And cryde to kynde . out of care me brynge Lo Elde þe hoore . haþ me biseye Awreke me if youre wille be . for I wolde ben hennes If þow wolt be wroken . wend in-to vnitee And hold þee þere euere . til I sende for þee And loke þow konne som craft . er þow come þennes Counseille me kynde quod I . what craft is best to lerne Lerne to loue quod kynde . and leef of alle oþere How shal I come to catel so . to cloþe me and to feede And þow loue lelly quod he . lakke shal þee neuere Mete ne worldly weede . while þi lif lasteþ And þere by conseil of kynde . I comsed to rome Thoruȝ Contricion and Confession . til I cam to vnitee And þere was Conscience Conestable . cristene to saue And bisegede sooþly . wiþ seuene grete geauntz That wiþ Antecrist helden . harde ayein Conscience Sleuþe wiþ his slynge . an hard assaut he made Proude preestes coome with hym . mo þan a þousand In paltokes and pyked shoes . and pisseris longe knyues Coomen ayein Conscience . wiþ Coueitise þei helden By Marie quod a mansed preest . of þe March of walysW.20.220: W alone reads walys; all other manuscripts have Irlonde. An Irish manuscript of the C-Text, Douce 104, fol. 109v, also has the reading Wales. See the comment by Derek Pearsall in Piers Plowman: A Facsimile of Bodleian Library, Oxford, MS Douce 104 (Cambridge: D.S. Brewer, 1992), p. xiv. I counte namoore Conscience . by so I cacche siluer Than I do to drynke . a drauȝte of good ale And so seiden sixty . of þe same contree And shotten ayein wiþ shot . many a sheef of oþes And brode hoked arwes . goddes herte and hise nayles And hadden almoost vnitee . and holynesse adown Conscience cryede help Clergie . or ellis I falle Thoruȝ inparfite preestes . and prelates of holy chirche Freres herden hym crye . and comen hym to helpe Ac for þei kouþe noȝt wel hir craft . Conscience forsook hem Nede neghede þo neer . and Conscience he tolde That þei come for coueitise . to haue cure of soules And for þei are pouere parauenture . for patrymoyne þei faille They wol flatere and fare wel . wiþW.20.234: W alone reads and fare wel wiþ. Hm has and fare wel; most other manuscripts have to fare wel. folk þat ben riche And siþen þei chosen chele . and cheitiftee pouerte Lat hem chewe as þei chose . and charge hem with no cure For lomere he lyeþ . þat liflode moot begge Than he þat laboureþ for liflode . and leneþW.20.238: The reading could as well be leueþ. it beggeris And siþen freres forsoke . þe felicite of erþe Lat hem be as beggeris . or lyue by Aungeles foode Conscience of þis counseil þo . comsede for to laughe And curteisliche conforted hem . and called in alle freres And seide sires sooþly . welcome be ye alle To vnitee and holy chirche . ac o þyng I yow preye Holdeþ yow in vnitee . and haueþ noon enuye To lered ne to lewed . but lyueþ after youre reule And I wol be youre boruȝ . ye shal haue breed and cloþes And oþere necessaries ynowe . yow shal no þyng faille Wiþ þat ye leue logik . and lerneþ for to louye For loue lafte þei lordshipe . boþe lond and scole Frere Fraunceys and Domynyk . for loue to be holye And if ye coueite cure . kynde wol yow teche That in mesure god made . alle manere þynges And sette hem at a certein . and a siker nombre And nempnede names newe . and noumbrede þe sterres Qui numerat multitudinem stellarum . et omnibus eis &c Kynges and knyghtes . þat kepen and defenden Han Officers vnder hem . and ech of hem a certein And if þei wage men to werre . þei write hem in noumbre Alle oþere in bataille . ben yholde Brybours Pylours and Pykeharneys . in ech a place y-cursed Wol no man tresoreW.20.262: W alone reads no man tresore; most other manuscripts have no tresorer. hem paie . trauaille þei neuer so sooreW.20.262: Apart from WHmB, the other scribes copied this line after W.20.259. Monkes and Moniales . and alle men of Religion Hir ordre and hir reule wole . to han a certein noumbre Of lewed and of lered . þe lawe wole and askeþ A certein for a certein . saue oonliche of freres For-þi quod Conscience by crist . kynde wit me telleþ It is wikked to wage yow . ye wexen out of noumbre Heuene haþ euene noumbre . and helle is wiþ-oute noumbre For-þi I wolde witterly . þat ye were in þe Registre And youre noumbre vnder Notaries signe . and neiþer mo ne lasse Enuye herde þis . and heet freres to go to scole And lerne logyk and lawe . and ek contemplacion And preche men of Plato . and preue it by Seneca That alle þynges vnder heuene . ouȝte to ben in comune And yet he lyeþ as I leue . þat to þe lewed so precheþ For god made to men a lawe . and Moyses it tauȝte Non concupisces rem proximi tui And yuele is þis yholde . in parisshes of Engelonde For persons and parissh preestes . þat sholde þe peple shryue Ben Curatours called . to knowe and to hele Alle þat ben hir parisshens . penaunce to enioigne And sholden ashamed[be] ashamedW.20.283: W alone reads ashamed; most other manuscripts read be ashamed. in hir shrift . ac shame makeþ hem wende And fleen to þe freres . as fals folk to westmynstre That borweþ and bereþ it þider . and þanne biddeþ frendes Yerne of forȝifnesse . or lenger yeres looneAc while he is Ac while he is in westmynstre . he wol be bifore And maken hym murie . wiþ ooþer mennes goodes And so it fareþ with muche folk . þat to þe freres hem shryueþ As Sisours and executours . þei wol ȝyue þe freres A parcel to preye for hem . and make hem-self murye Wiþ þe residue and þe remenaunt . þat oþere men biswonke And suffre þe dede in dette . to þe day of doome Enuye herfore . hatede Conscience And freres to philosophie . he fond þanneW.20.295: W alone reads þanne; most other manuscripts read hem. to scole The while coueitise and vnkyndenesse . Conscience assaillede In vnitee holy chirche . Conscience held hym And made pees porter . to pynne þe yates Of alle tale-telleris . and titeleris in ydel Ypocrisie and he . an hard assaut þei madeW.20.300: Following this line, all other manuscripts have Ypocrysie atte ȝate . hard gan fiȝte (in the spelling of L). And woundede wel wikkedly . many a wys techere That wiþ Conscience acordede . and Cardynale vertues Conscience called a leche . þat koude wel shryue To goW.20.304: W alone reads To go; HmCrGYOLMR omit To. C2CBF omit go. salue þo þat sike ben . and þoruȝ synne ywounded Shrift shoop sharp salue . and made men do penaunce For hir mysdedes . þat þei wroȝt hadde And þat Piers were ypayed . redde quod debes Some liked noȝt þis leche . and lettres þei sente If any surgien were þe segge . þat softer koude plastre Sire leef to lyue in lecherie . lay þere and gronede For fastynge of a fryday . he ferde as he wolde deye Ther is a Surgien in þis sege . þat softe kan handle And moore of phisik bi fer . and fairer he plastreþ Oon frere Flaterere . is phisicien and surgien Quod Contricion to Conscience . do hym come to Vnitee For here is many a man . hurt þoruȝ ypocrisye We han no nede quod Conscience . I woot no bettre leche Than person or parisshe preest . penitauncer or bisshop Saue Piers þe Plowman . þat haþ power ouer hem alle And Indulgence may do . but if dette lette it I may wel suffre seide Conscience . syn ye desiren That frere flaterere be fet . and phisike yow sike The frere her-of herde . and hiede faste To a lord for a lettre . leue to haue to curen As a Curatour he were . and cam with hise lettres Boldely to þe bisshop . and his brief hadde In contrees þer he coome . confessions to here And cam þere Conscience was . and knokked at þe yate Pees vnpynned it . was Porter of vnitee And in haste askede . what his wille were In faiþ quod þis frere . for profit and for helþe Carpe I wolde wiþ contricion . and þer-fore cam I hider He is sik seide Pees . and so are manye oþere Ypocrisie haþ hurt hem . ful hard is if þei keuere I am a Surgien seide þe segge . and salues kan make Conscience knoweþ me wel . and what I kan do boþe I praye þee quod Pees þo . er þow passe ferþer What hattestow I praye þee . hele noȝt þi name Certes seide his felawe . sire Penetrans domos Ye go þi gate quod Pees . by god for al þi phisik But þow konne som ooþerW.20.341: W alone reads ooþer; other manuscripts omit it. craft . þow comest nouȝt her-Inne I knew swich oon ones . noȝt eighte wynter hennes Coom in þus ycoped . at a Court þere I dwelde And was my lordes leche . and my ladies boþe And at þe laste þis lymytour . þo my lord was oute He saluede so oure wommen . til some were wiþ childe Hende speche heet . Pees . opene þe yates Lat in þe frere and his felawe . and make hem fair cheere He may se and here . so it may bifalle That lif þoruȝ his loore . shal leue coueitise And be adrad of deeþ . and wiþ-drawe hym fram pryde And acorde wiþ Conscience . and kisse hir eiþer ooþer Thus þoruȝ hende speche . entred þe frere And cam in to Conscience . and curteisly hym grette Thow art welcome quod Conscience . kanstow heele þe sike Here is Contricion quod Conscience . my cosyn ywounded Conforte hym quod Conscience . and tak kepe to hise soores The plastres of þe person . and poudres biten to soore He lat hem ligge ouer-longe . and looþ is to chaunge hem Fro lenten to lenten . he lat hise plastres bite That is ouer-longe quod þis Lymytour . I leue I shal amende it And gooþ and gropeþ Contricion . and gaf hym a plastre Of a pryuee paiement . and I shal praye for yow For al þat ye ben holden to . al my lif-tyme And make yow my lady . in masse and in matyns As frere of oure Fraternytee . for a litel siluer Thus he gooþ and gadereþ . and gloseþ þere he shryueþ Til Contricion hadde clene foryeten . to crye and to wepe And wake for hise wikked werkes . as he was wont to doone For confort of his confessour . Contricion he lafte That is þe souerayneste salue . for alle kynne synnes Sleuþe seigh þat . and so dide pryde And comen wiþ a kene wille . Conscience to assaille Conscience cryed eft . and bad Clergie helpe hym And also Contricion . for to kepe þe yate He lyþ and dremeþ seide Pees . and so do manye oþere The frere wiþ his phisyk . þis folk haþ enchaunted And plastred hem so esily . þei drede no synne By crist quod Conscience þo . I wole bicome a pilgrym And walken as wide . as þe world lasteþ To seken Piers þe Plowman . þat pryde may destruye And þat freres hadde a fyndyng . þat for nede flateren And countrepledeþ me Conscience . now kynde me avenge And sende me hap and heele . til I haue Piers þe Plowman And siþþe he gradde after Grace . til I gan awakeW.20.385: A final, formal nota abbreviation ends the text. We have ordinarily taken this form to represent a flourish. The explicit is written in ornamented letters touched in red and about twice normal size.Explicit hic Dialogus Petri Plowman