The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 2: Trinity College, Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W) – Passus 3and Color Facsimile of Richard Rolle's <title>Form of Living – Passus 3William 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

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LatinFrenchGerman2000 cataloger Jackie Shieh New header created Passus tercius de visione vt supra NOw is Mede þe mayde . and namo of hem alle Wiþ Bedeles and with baillies . brouȝt bifore þe kyng The kyng called a clerk . kan I noȝt his name To take Mede þe maide . and maken hire ateseat ese I shal assayen hire my-self . and sooþliche appose What man of þis moolde . þat hire were leuest And if she werche bi wit . and my wil folwe I wol forgyuen hire þis gilt . so me god helpe Curteisly þe clerk þanne . as þe kyng hiȝte Took Mede bi þe myddel . and broȝte hire in-to chambre And þer was murþe & Mynstralcie . Mede to plese They þat wonyeþ in westmynstre . worshipeþ hire alle Gentilliche wiþ ioye . þe Iustices somme Busked hem to þe bour . þer þe burde dwellede To conforten hire kyndely . by clergies leue And seiden mourne noȝt Mede . ne make þow no sorwe For we wol wisse þe kyng . and þi wey shape To be wedded at þi wille . and wher þee leef likeþ For al Consciences cast . or craft as I trowe Mildely Mede þanne . merciede hem alle Of hire grete goodnesse . and gaf hem echone Coupes of clene gold . and coppes of siluer Rynges wiþ Rubies . and richesses manye The leeste man of hire meynee . a moton of golde Thanne lauȝte þei leue . þise lordes at Mede Wiþ þat comen clerkes . to conforten hire þe same And beden hire be bliþe . for we beþ þyne owene For to werche þi wille . þe while þow myȝt laste Hendiliche heo þanne . bihiȝte hem þe same To louen hem lelly . and lordes to make And in þe Consistorie at þe court . do callen hire names Shal no lewednesse lette . þe leode þat I louye That he ne worþ first auaunced . for I am biknowen Ther konnynge clerkes . shul clokke bihynde Thanne cam þer a Confessour . coped as a frere To mede þe mayde . he mened þise wordes And seide ful softely . in shrift as it were Theiȝ lewed men and lered men . hadde leyen by þee boþe And Falsnesse hadde yfolwed þee . alle þise fifty wynter I shal assoille þee my-self . for a seem of whete And also be þi bedeman . and bere wel þi message Amonges knyȝtes and clerkes . Conscience to torne Thanne Mede for hire mysdedes . to þat man kneled And shrof hire of hire sherewednesse . shamelees I trowe Tolde hym a tale . and took hym a noble For to ben hire Bedeman . and hire brocour als Thanne he assoiled hire soone . and siþen he seide We haue a wyndow in werchynge . wole sitten vs ful hye Woldestow glaze þat gable . & graue þer-Inne þy name Syker sholde þi soule be . heuene to haue Wiste I þat quod þat womman . I wolde noȝt spare For to be youre frend frere . and faile yow neuere While ye loue lordes . þat lecherie haunten And lakkeþ noȝt ladies . þat louen wel þe same It is a freletee of flessh . ye fynden it in bokes And a cours of kynde . wher-of we comen alle Who may scape sclaundreW.3.57: W alone reads sclaundre. All other B manuscripts read þe/that sclaundre. . þe scaþe is soone amended It is synne of þe seuene . sonnest relessed Haue mercy quod Mede . of men þat it haunteþ And I shal couere youre kirk . youre cloistre do maken Wowes do whiten . and wyndowes glazen Do peynten and portraye . and paie for þe makynge That euery segge shal seye . I am suster of youre house Ac god to alle good folk . swich grauynge defendeþ To writen in wyndowes . of hir wel-dedes AnauentureAn auenture pride be peynted þere . and pomp of þe world For crist knoweþ þi conscience . and þi kynde wille And þi cost and þi coueitise . and who þe catel ouȝte For-þi I lere yow lordes . leueþ swiche werkes To writen in wyndowes . of youre wel-dedes Or to greden after goddesmengoddes men . whan ye dele doles On auenture ye haue youre hire here . and youre heuene als Nesciat sinistra quid faciat dextra Lat noȝt þi left half . late ne raþe Wite what þow werchest . wiþ þi riȝt syde For þus byW.3.76: W alone reads by. All other B manuscripts read byddeþ or bit. þe gospel . goode men doon hir almesse Maires and Maceres . þat menes ben bitwene The kyng and þe comune . to kepe þe lawes To punysshe on Pillories . and pynynge stooles Brewesters and Baksters . Bochiers and Cokes For þise are men on þis molde . þat moost harm wercheþ To þe pouere peple . þat parcelmele buggen For þei enpoisoneW.3.83: W alone reads enpoisone. All other B manuscripts read poisone, except OC2 which have punyschen. þe peple . pryueliche and ofte Thei richen þoruȝ regratrie . and rentes hem biggen Wiþ þat þe pouere peple . sholde putte in hire wombe For toke þei on trewely . þei tymbred nouȝt so heiȝe Ne bouȝte none burgages . be ye ful certeyne Ac Mede þe mayde . þe Mair haþ bisouȝt Of alle swiche Selleris . siluer to take Or presentz wiþ-outen pens . as pieces of siluer Rynges or ooþer richesse . þe Regratiers to mayntene For my loue quod þat lady . loue hem echone And suffre hem to selle . somdel ayeins reson Salomon þe sage a sermon . he made For to amenden Maires . and men þat kepen lawes And tolde hem þis teme . þat I telle þynke Ignis deuorabit tabernacula eorum qui libenter accipiunt munera &c Among þise lettrede leodes . þis latyn is to mene That fir shal falle & brenne . al to bloo askes The houses and homes . of hem þat desireþ Yiftes or yeresyeues . by-cause of hire Offices The kyng fro þe conseil cam . and called after Mede And ofsente hire as swiþe . wiþ sergeauntz manye AndW.3.104: W alone reads And. All other B manuscripts read That. brouȝte hire to boure . wiþ blisse and wiþ ioye Curteisly þe kyng þanne . comsed to telle To Mede þe mayde . he meneþW.3.106: W alone reads he meneþ. OCrYC2CBLMR read melleþ, while other B manuscripts read he meled F, he menyd H, and meneth Hm, and mouthed G. þise wordes Vnwittily womman . wroȝt hastow ofte Ac worse wroȝtestow neuere . þan þo þow Fals toke But I forgyue þee þat gilt . and graunte þee my grace Hennes to þi deeþ-day . do so namoore I haue a knyȝt Conscience . cam late fro biyonde If he wilneþ þee to wif . wiltow hym haue Ye lord quod þat lady . lord forbede it ellis But I be holly at youre heste . lat hange me soone And þanne was Conscience called . to come and appere Bifore þe kyng and his conseil . as clerkes and oþere Knelynge Conscience . to þe kyng louted To wite what his wille were . and what he do woldeW.3.118: W alone reads wolde. All other B manuscripts read sholde. Woltow wedde þis womman quod þe kyng . if I wole assente For she is fayn of þi felaweshipe . for to be þi make Quod Conscience to þe kyng . crist it me forbede Er I wedde swich a wif . wo me bitide For she is frele of hire feiþ . fikel of hire speche And makeþ men mysdo . many score tymes Trust of hire tresor . bitrayeþ ful manye           W.3.125:nota Wyues and widewes . wantounes she techeþ And lereþ hem lecherie . þat loueþ hire ȝiftes Youre fader she felled . þoruȝ false biheste And haþ enpoisonedW.3.129: W alone reads enpoisoned. All other B manuscripts read (a)poisoned or (y)poysoned. popes . and peired holy chirche Is noȝt a bettre baude . by hym þat me made Bitwene heuene and helle . in erþe þouȝ men souȝte For she is tikel of hire tail . and talewis of hire tonge           W.3.132:nota As commune as a Cartwey . to ech a knaue þat walkeþ           W.3.133:nota To Monkes to Mynstrales . to Meseles in hegges Sisours and Somonours . swiche men hire preiseþ Sherreues of Shires . were shent if she ne were For she dooþ men lese hire lond . and hire lif boþe She leteþ passe prisoners . and paieþ for hem ofte And gyueþ þe Gailers gold . and grotes togidres To vnfettre þe fals . fle where hym likeþ           W.3.140:nota And takeþ þe trewe bi þe top . and tieþ hem faste And hangeþ hem for hatrede . þat harm dide neuere To be corsed in Consistorie . she counteþ noȝt a bene For she copeþ þe Commissarie . and coteþ hise clerkes           W.3.144:nota She is assoiled as soone . as hire-self likeþ And may neiȝ as muche do . in a Monþe one As youre secret seel . in sixe score dayes For she is pryuee wiþ þe pope . prouisours it knoweþ For Sire Symonie and hir-selue . seleþ hire bulles She blesseþ þise Bisshopes . þeiȝ þei be lewed Prouendreþ persones . and preestes maynteneþ To haue lemmans and lotebies . alle hire lif-daies And bryngeþ forþ barnes . ayein forbode lawes Ther she is wel wiþ þe kyng . wo is þe Reaume For she is fauourable to fals . and defouleþ truþe ofte By Iesus . wiþ hire Ieweles . youre Iustices she shendeþ And liþ ayein þe lawe . and letteþ hym þe gate That feiþ may noȝt haue his forþ . hire floryns go so þikke She ledeþ þe lawe as hire list . and louedaies makeþ And doþ men lese þoruȝ hire loue . þat lawe myȝte wynne The maze for a mene man . þouȝ he mote hire euere Lawe is so lordlich . and looþ to maken ende Wiþ-outen presentz or pens . she pleseþ wel fewe Barons and Burgeises . she bryngeþ in sorwe And al þe comune in care . þat coueiten lyue in truþe           W.3.165:nota For clergie and coueitise . she coupleþ togidres This is þe lif of þat lady . now lord ȝyue hire sorwe And alle þat maynteneþ hire men . meschaunce hem bitide For pouere men may haue no power . to pleyne hem þouȝ þei smerte Swich a maister is Mede . among men of goode Thanne mournede Mede . and mened hire to þe kynge To haue space to speke . spede if she myȝte The kyng graunted hire grace . wiþ a good wille Excuse þee if þow kanst . I kan namoore seggen For Conscience accuseþ þee . to congeien þee for euere Nay lord quod þat lady . leueþ hym þe werse Whan ye witen witterly . wher þe wrong liggeþ Ther þat meschief is gret . Mede may helpe           W.3.178:nota And þow knowest Conscience . I kam noȝt to chide Ne depraue þi persone . wiþ a proud herte Wel þow woost wernard . but if þow wolt gabbe Thow hast hanged on myn half . elleuene tymes And also griped my gold . gyue it where þee liked And whi þow wraþest þee now . wonder me þynkeþ Yet I may as I myȝte . menske þee wiþ ȝiftes And mayntene þi manhode . moore þan þow knowest Ac þow hast famed me foule . bifore þe kyng here For killed I neuere no kyng . ne counseiled þer-after Ne dide as þow demest . I do it on þe kynge In Normandie was he noȝt . noyed for my sake Ac þow þi-self sooþly . shamedest hym ofte Crope in-to a Cabane . for cold of þi nayles Wendest þat wynter . wolde han ylasted euere And dreddest to be ded . for a dym cloude And hyedest homward . for hunger of þi wombe Wiþ-outen pite Pilour . pouere men þow robbedest And bere hire bras at þi bak . to Caleis to selle Ther I lafte wiþ my lord . his lif for to saue I made his men murye . and mournynge lette I batred hem on þe bak . and boldede hire hertes And dide hem hoppe for hope . to haue me at wille Hadde I ben Marchal of his men . by Marie of heuene I dorste haue leyd my lif . and no lasse wedde He sholde haue be lord of þat lond . in lengþe and in brede And also kyng of þat kiþ . his kyn for to helpe The leeste brol of his blood . a Barones piere Cowardly þow Conscience . conseiledest hym þennes To leuen his lordshipe . for a litel siluer That is þe richeste Reaume . þat reyn ouer-houeþ It bicomeþ to a kyng . þat kepeþ a Reaume           W.3.210:nota To yeue mede to men . þat mekely hym serueþ To aliens and to alle men . to honouren hem with ȝiftes Mede makeþ hym biloued . and for a man holden Emperours and Erles . and alle manere lordes For ȝiftes han yonge men . to renne and to ryde The Pope and alle þe prelates . presentz vnderfongen And medeþ men hem-seluen . to mayntene hir lawes Sergeauntz for hire seruyce . we seeþ wel þe soþe Taken Mede of hir maistres . as þei mowe acorde Beggeres for hir biddynge . bidden men MedeMynstrales for Mynstrales for hir myrþe . Mede þei aske The kyng haþ mede of his men . to make pees in londe           W.3.222:nota Men þat teche children . crauen after Mede           W.3.223:nota Preestes þat prechen þe peple . to goode . asken Mede           W.3.224:nota And massepens and hire mete . at þe meeltymes Alle kynne craftes men . crauen Mede for hir Prentices           W.3.226:nota Marchauntz and Mede . mote nede go togideres No wiȝt as I wene . wiþ-outen Mede may libbe Quod þe kyng to Conscience . by crist as me þynkeþ Mede is wel worþi . þe maistrie to haue Nay quod Conscience to þe kyng . and kneled to þe erþe Ther are two manere of Medes . my lord wiþ youre leue That oon god of his grace . graunteþ in his blisse To þo þat wel werchen . while þei ben here The prophete precheþ þer-of . and putte it in þe Sauter Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo Lord who shal wonye in þi wones . and wiþ þyne holy seintes Or resten in þyne holy hilles . þis askeþ Dauid And Dauid assoileþ it hym-self . as þe Sauter telleþ Qui ingreditur sine macula & operatur Iusticiam Tho þat entren of o colour . and of one wille And han ywroght werkes . wiþ right and wiþ reson AndW.3.243: There is an elaborate version of top-line decoration on <A>. he þat vseþ noȝt . þe lyf of vsurie And enformeþ pouere men . and pursueþ truþe Qui pecuniam suam non dedit ad vsuram . et munera super Innocentem &c And alle þat helpen þe Innocent . and holden with þe riȝtfulle Wiþ-outen Mede doþ hem good . and þe truþe helpeþ Swiche manere men my lord . shul haue þis firste Mede Of god at a gret nede . whan þei gon hennes Ther is anoþer Mede mesurelees . þat maistres desireþ To mayntene mysdoers . Mede þei take And þer-of seiþ þe Sauter . in a Salmes ende In quorum manibus iniquitates sunt . dextra eorum repleta est muneribus And he þat gripeþ hir gold . so me god helpe Shal abien it bittre . or þe book lieþ Preestes and persons . þat plesynge desireþ That taken Mede and moneie . for masses þat þei syngeþ Taken hire Mede here . as Mathew vs techeþ Amen amen . Recipiebant mercedem suam That laborers and lowe folk . taken of hire maistres It is no manere Mede . but a mesurable hire           W.3.261:nota In marchaundise is no Mede . I may it wel auowe It is a permutacion apertly . a penyworþ for anoþer Ac reddestow neuere Regum . þow recrayed Mede Whi þe vengeaunce fel . on Saul and on his children God sente to Saul . by Samuel þe prophete That Agag of Amalec . and al his peple after Sholden deye for a dede . þat doon hadde hire eldres For-þi seide Samuel to Saul . god hym-self hoteþ Thee . be buxom at his biddynge . his wil to fulfille Weend to Amalec with þyn oost . & what þow fyndest þere sle it Burnes and beestes . bren hem to deþe Widwes and wyues . wommen and children Moebles and vnmoebles . and al þow myȝt fynde Bren it . bere it noȝt awey . be it neuer so riche For Mede ne for monee . loke þow destruye it Spille it and spare it noȝt . þow shalt spede þe bettre And for he coueited hir catel . and þe kyng spared Forbar hym and his beestes boþe . as þe bible witnesseþ Ooþer-wise þan he was . warned of þe prophete God seide to Samuel . þat Saul sholde deye And al his seed for þat synne . shenfulliche ende Swich a meschief Mede made . Saul þe kyng to haue That god hated hym for euere . and alle hise heires after The culorum of þis cas . kepe I noȝt to telle On auenture it noyed men . noon ende wol I make For so is þis world went . wiþ hem þat han power           W.3.287:nota That who-so seiþ hem soþest . is sonnest yblamed I Conscience knowe þis . for kynde wit it me tauȝte That Reson shal regne . and Reaumes gouerne And riȝt as Agag hadde . happe shul somme Samuel shal sleen hym . and Saul shal be blamed And Dauid shal be diademed . and daunten hem alle And oon cristene kyng . kepen hem alle . Shal namoore Mede be maister . as she is nouþe Ac loue and lowenesse . and leautee togideres Thise shul ben Maistres on moolde . truþe to saue And who-so trespaseþ ayein truþe . or takeþ ayein his wille Leaute shal don hym lawe . and no lif ellis Shal no sergeant for his seruice . were a silk howue Ne no pelure in his cloke . for pledynge at þe barre Mede of mysdoeres . makeþ manye lordes           W.3.302:nota And ouer lordes lawes . ruleþ þe Reaumes Ac kynde loue shal come ȝit . and Conscience togideres And make of lawe a laborer . swich loue shal arise And swich a pees among þe peple . and a parfit truþe That Iewes shul wene in hire wit . and wexen wonder glade That Moyses or Messie . be come in-to þis erþe And haue wonder in hire hertes . þat men beþ so trewe Alle þat beren baselard . brood swerd or launce Ax ouþer hachet . or any wepene ellis Shal be demed to þe deeþ . but if he do it smyþye In-to sikel or to siþe . to shaar or to kultour Conflabunt gladios suos in vomeres &c Ech man to pleye with a plow . Pykoise or spade Spynne or sprede donge . or spille hym-self with sleuþe Preestes and persons . wiþ Placebo to hunte And dyngen vp-on Dauid . eche day til eue Huntynge or haukynge . if any of hem vse His boost of his benefice . worþ bynomen hym after Shal neiþer kyng ne knyght . Constable ne Meire Ouerlede þe commune . ne to þe Court sompne Ne putte hem in panel . to doon hem pliȝte hir truþe But after þe dede þat is doon . oon doom shal rewarde Mercy or no mercy . as Truthe wole acorde           W.3.325:nota Kynges Court and commune Court . Consistorie and Chapitle Al shal be but oon court . and oon baron be Iustice Thanne worþ Trewe tonge a tidy man . þat tened me neuere Batailles shul none be . ne no man bere wepene And what smyth þat any smyþeþ . be smyte þerwiþ to deþe Non leuabit gens contra gentem gladium &c And er þis fortune falle . fynde men shul þe worste By sixe sonnes and a ship . and half a shef of Arwes And þe myddel of a Moone . shal make þe Iewes to torne And Sarzynes for þat siȝte . shul synge . Gloria in excelsis &c For Makometh and Mede . myshappe shul þat tyme For Melius est bonum nomen quam diuicie multe           W.3.337:nota Al-so wroþ as þe wynd . weex Mede in a while I kan no latyn quod she . clerkes wite þe soþe Se what Salomon seiþ . in Sapience bokes That þei þat ȝeyuenW.3.341: The scribe has begun by writing an <e> and changed it to a <y>. All other spellings are with ȝyu-. ȝiftes . þe victorie wynneþ And moost worshipe hadde þer-wiþ . as holy writ telleþ Honorem adquiret qui dat munera . &c I leue wel lady quod Conscience . þat þi latyn be trewe Ac þow art lik a lady . þat radde a lesson ones Was omnia probate . and þat plesed hire herte           W.3.346:nota For þat lyne was no lenger . at þe leues ende Hadde she loked þat ooþer half . and þe leef torned She sholde haue founden fele wordes . folwynge þer-after Quod bonum est tenete . truþe þat text made And so ferde ye madame . ye kouþe namoore fynde Tho ye loked on Sapience . sittynge in youre studie This text þat ye han told . were good for lordes Ac yow failed a konnynge clerk . þat kouþe þe leef han torned And if ye seche Sapience eft . fynde shul ye þat folweþ A ful teneful text . to hem þat takeþ Mede And þat is Animam autem aufert accipientium &c And þat is þe tail of þe text . of þat þat she shewed That þeiȝ we wynne worship . and with Mede haue victorie The soule þat þe soude takeþ . by so muche is boundePassus .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