The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 2: Trinity College, Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W) – Passus 5and Color Facsimile of Richard Rolle's <title>Form of Living – Passus 5William 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 quintus de visione vt supra The kyng and hise knyȝtes . to þe kirke wente To here matyns of þe day . and þe masse after Thanne waked I of my wynkyng . and wo was with-alle That I ne hadde slept sadder . and yseiȝen moore Ac er I hadde faren a furlong . feyntise me hente That I ne myȝte ferþer a foot . for defaute of slepynge And sat softely adoun . and seide my bileue And so I bablede on my bedes . þei brouȝte me aslepe And þanne sauȝ I muche moore . þan I bifore of tolde For I seiȝ þe feld ful of folk . þat I bifore of seide And how Reson gan arayen hym . al þe Reaume to preche And wiþ a cros afore þe kyng . comsede þus to techen He preued þat þise pestilences . were for pure synne And þe Southwestrene wynd . on Saterday at euen Was pertliche for pure pride . and for no point ellis Pyries and Plumtrees . were puffed to þe erþe In ensample þat ye segges . sholden do þe bettre Beches and brode okes . were blowen to þe grounde Turned vpward hire tailes . in tokenynge of drede That dedly synne er domes-day . shal for-doon hem alle Of þis matere I myȝte . mamelen ful longe Ac I shal seye as I sauȝ . so me god helpe How pertly afore þe peple . Reson bigan to preche He bad wastour go werche . what he best kouþe And wynnen his wastyng . wiþ som maner crafte He preide Pernele . hir purfil to lete And kepe it in hire cofre . for catel at hire nede Tomme Stowue he tauȝte . to take two staues And fecche Felice hom . fro þe wyuen pyne He warnede watte . his wif was to blame For hire heed was worþ half marc . & his hood noȝt worþ a groteW.5.31: worþ a grote is in a darker ink though in the scribal hand, and perhaps written later. And bad Bette kutte . a bouȝ ouþer tweye And bete Beton þer-with . but if she wolde werche And þanne he chargede Chapmen . to chastizen hir children Late no wynnyng hem forwanye . while þei be yonge Ne for no poustee of pestilence . plese hem noȝt out of reson My sire seide so to me . and so dide my dame That þe leuere child . þe moore loore bihoueþ And Salomon seide þe same . þat Sapience made Qui parcit virge odit filium The englissh of þis latyn is . who-so wole it knowe Who-so spareþ þe spryng . spilleþ hise children And siþen he prechedeW.5.43: W alone reads prechede. Other B manuscripts have prayed. prelates . and preestes togideres That ye prechen to þe peple . preue it on yow-selue And dooþ it in dede . it shal drawe yow to goode If ye leuen as ye leren vs . we shul leue yow þe bettre And siþen he radde Religion . hir rule to holde Lest þe kyng and his conseil . youre comunes apeireW.5.48: A nota to the right of this line appears to be in the text ink. And be Stywardes of youre stedes . til ye be ruled bettre And siþen he counseiled þe kyng . his commune to louye It is þi trewe tresorW.5.51: W alone reads trewe tresor. Other B manuscripts have tresore if treson ne were. . and tryacle at þy nede And siþen he preide þe pope . haue pite on holy chirche And er he gyue any grace . gouerne first hym-selue And ye þat han lawes to kepe . lat truþe be youre coueitise           W.5.54:nota Moore þan gold ouþer giftes . if ye wol god plese           W.5.55:nota For who-so contrarieþ truþe . he telleþ in þe gospel That god knoweþ hym noȝt . ne no Seynt of heuene Amen dico vobis . nescio vos And ye þat seke Seynt Iames . and Seyntes of Rome Sekeþ Seynt Truþe . for he may saue yow alle Qui cum patre & filio . þat faire hem bifalle That seweþ my sermon . and þus seyde Resoun Thanne ran Repentaunce . and reherced his teme And garte wille to wepe . water wiþ hise eiȝen W.5.65: The scribe has written superbia in the left margin inside a red box. Pernele proudherte . platte hire to þe erþe And lay longe er she loked . and lord mercy cryde And bihiȝte to hym . þat vs alle made She sholde vnsowen hir serk . and sette þere an heyre To affaiten hire flessh . þat fiers was to synne Shal neuere heiȝ herte me hente . but holde I woleW.5.70: W alone reads I wole, which is omitted by other B manuscripts. me lowe And suffre to be mysseyd . and so dide I neuere But now I woleW.5.72: W alone reads I wole. Other B manuscripts have woll y. meke me . and mercy biseche For al þis I haue . hated in myn herte W.5.74: The scribe wrote Luxuria inside a red box in the left margin. The page is cropped, so the first letters are lost. Thanne lechour seide allas . and on oure lady he cryde To maken mercy for hise mysdedes . bitwene god and his soule Wiþ þat he sholde þe Saterday . seuen yer þer-after Drynke but myd þe doke . and dyne but ones W.5.78: The scribe wrote Inuidia inside a red box in the left margin. The page is cropped, so the first letters are lost. Enuye wiþ heuy herte . asked after shrifte And carefully mea culpa . he comsed to shewe He was as pale as a pelet . in þe palsy he semed And cloþed in a kaurymaury . I kouþe it nouȝt discryue In kirtel and Courtepy . and a knyf by his syde Of a Freres frokke . were þe foresleues And as a leek þat hadde yleye . longe in þe sonne So loked he wiþ lene chekes . lourynge foule His body was to-bollen for wraþe . þat he boot hise lippes And wryngynge he yede with þe fust . to wreke hym-self he þouȝte With werkes or wiþ wordes . whan he seyȝe his tyme Ech a word þat he warp . was of a Neddres tonge Of chidynge and of chalangynge . was his chief liflode Wiþ bakbitynge and bismere . and berynge of fals witnesseW.5.91: W alone omits the following line which appears in all the other B witnesses except F (which has an entirely different line): Þis was al his curteisye . where þat euere he shewed hym (spelling of L). I wolde ben yshryue quod þis sherewe . and I for shame dorste I wolde be gladder by god . þat Gybbe hadde meschaunce Than þouȝ I hadde þis wouke ywonne . a weye of Essex chese I haue a neȝebore by me . I haue anoyed hym ofte And lowen on hym to lordes . to doon hym lese his siluer And maad his frendes be his foon . þoruȝ my false tonge His grace and his goode happes . greuen me ful sooreBitwene manye Bitwene manye and manye . I make debate ofte           W.5.99:nota That boþe lif and lyme . is lost þoruȝ my speche And whan I mete hym in Market . þat I moost hate I hailse hym hendely . as I his frend were For he is douȝtier þan I . I dar do noon ooþer Ac hadde I maistrie and myȝt . god woot my wille And whan I come to þe kirk . and sholde knele to þe Roode And preye for þe peple . as þe preest techeþ For Pilgrymes and for Palmeres . for al þe peple after Thanne I crye on my knees . þat crist ȝyue hem sorwe That berenW.5.109: W alone reads beren. Other B manuscripts have bar. awey my bolle . and my broke shete Awey fro þe Auter þanne . turne I myne eiȝen And biholdeW.5.111: W alone reads biholde. Other B manuscripts have biholde how. Eleyne . haþ a newe cote I wisshe þanne it were myn . and al þe web after And of mennes lesyngeW.5.113: The scribe wrote per dicere above the line. I lauȝe . þat likeþ myn herte And for hir wynnynge I wepe . and waille þe tyme And deme þat þei doon ille . þere I do wel werse           W.5.115:nota Who-so vndernymeþ me her-of . I hate hym dedly after I wolde þat ech a wight . were my knaue For who-so haþ moore þan I . þat angreþ me soore And þus I lyue louelees . lik a luþer dogge That al my body bolneþ . for bitter of my galle I myȝte noȝt ete many yeres . as a man ouȝte For enuye and yuel wil . is yuel to defie May no sugre ne swete þyng . aswage my swellyng Ne no Diapenidion . dryue it fro myn herte Ne neiþer shrifte ne shame . but who-so shrape my mawe Ȝis redily quod Repentaunce . and radde hym to þe beste Sorwe of synnes . is sauacion of soules I am sory quod þat segge . I am but selde ooþer And þat makeþ me þus megre . for I ne may me venge Amonges Burgeises haue I be . dwellyng at Londoun And gart bakbityng be a brocour . to blame mennes ware Whan he solde and I nouȝt . þanne was I redy To lye and to loure on my neȝebore . and to lakke his chaffare I wole amende þis if I may . þoruȝ myȝt of god almyȝty W.5.135: The scribe wrote Ira inside a red box in the left margin. The page is cropped, so the first two letters are lost. Now awakeþ Wraþe . wiþ two white eiȝen           W.5.135:nota And neuelynge wiþ þe nose . and his nekke hangyng I am wraþe quod he . I was som-tyme a frere And þe Couentes Gardyner . for to graffen Impes On lymitours and listres . lesynges I ymped Til þei beere leues of lowe speche . lordes to plese And siþen þei blosmede abrood . in boure to here shriftes And now is fallen þer-of a fruyt . þat folk han wel leuere Shewen hire shriftes to hem . þan shryue hem to hir persons And now persons han parceyued . þat freres parte wiþ hem Thise possessioners preche . and depraue freres And freres fyndeþ hem in defaute . as folk bereþ witnesse That whan þei preche þe peple . in many places aboute I wraþe walke wiþ hem . and wisse hem of my bokes Thus þei speken of my spiritualte . þat eiþer despiseþ ooþer Til þei be boþe beggers . and by my spiritualte libben Or ellis al riche . and ryden aboute I wraþe reste neuere . þat I ne moste folwe This wikked folk . for swich is my grace I haue an Aunte to Nonne . and an Abbesse boþe Hir hadde leuere swowe or swelte . þan suffre any peyne I haue be cook in hir kichene . and þe Couent serued Manye Monþes wiþ hem . and wiþ Monkes boþe I was þe Prioresse potager . and oþere pouere ladies And maad hem Ioutes of Ianglyng . þat dame Iohane was a bastard And Dame Clarice a knyȝtes douȝter . ac a cokewold was hir sire And Dame Pernele a preestes fyle . Prioresse worþ she neuere For she hadde child in chirietyme . al oure Chapitre it wiste Of wikkede wordes . I wraþe hire wortes made Til þow lixt and þow lixt . lopen out atonesat ones And eiþer hitehit[t]eW.5.165: W alone reads hite; most other B manuscripts have hitte. ooþer . vnder þe cheke Hadde þei had knyues by crist . hir eiþer hadde kild ooþer Seint Gregory was a good pope . and hadde a good forwit That no Prioresse were preest . for þat he ordeyned They hadde þanne ben Infamis þe firste day . þei kan so yuele hele counseilW.5.169: The right margin is cropped after <co> plus one minim, losing the rest of the word. Other B witnesses read conseil. Among Monkes I myȝte be . ac many tyme I shonye itW.5.170: W alone reads it, which is omitted by other B witnesses. For þere ben manye felle frekes . my feeris to aspie Boþe Priour and Suppriour . and oure Pater Abbas And if I telle any tales . þei taken hem togideres And doon me faste frydayes . to breed and to watre And am chalanged in þe Chapitre-hous . as I a child were And baleised on þe bare ers . and no brech bitwene For-þi haue I no likyng . wiþ þo leodes to wonye I ete þere vnþende fissh . and feble ale drynke Ac ouþer while whan wyn comeþ . þanneW.5.179: W alone reads þanne. LGMR have whan. Other B manuscripts have and. I drynke wyn at eue AndW.5.180: W alone reads And. Other B manuscripts have I. haue a flux of a foul mouþ . wel fyue dayes after Al þe wikkednesse þat I woot . by any of oure breþeren I couþe it in oure Cloistre . þat al oure Couent woot it Now repente þee quod Repentaunce . and reherce þow neuere Counseil þat þow knowest . by contenaunce ne by riȝt And drynk nat ouer-delicatly . ne to depe neiþer           W.5.185:nota That þi wille by cause þer-of . to wraþe myȝte turne           W.5.186:nota Esto sobrius he seide . and assoiled me after And bad me wilne to wepe . my wikkednesse to amende W.5.189: The scribe wrote Auaricia inside a red box in the left margin. The page is cropped, so the first letters are lost. And þanne cam Coueitise . kan I hym naȝt discryue So hungrily and holwe . sire heruy hym loked He was bitelbrowed . and baberlipped also Wiþ two blered eiȝen . as a blynd hagge And as a leþeren purs . lolled hise chekes Wel sidder þan his chyn . þei chyueled for elde And as a bonde-man of his bacon . his berd was bidraueled Wiþ an hood on his heed . a lousy hat aboue And in a tawny tabard . of twelf wynter age Al to-torn and baudy . and ful of lys crepyng But if þat a lous couþe . han lopen þe bettre           W.5.199:nota She sholde noȝt han walked on þat welþe . so was it þredbare           W.5.200:nota I haue ben coueitous quod þis caytif . I biknowe it here For som-tyme I serued . Symme atte Style And was his prentice ypliȝt . his profit to wayte First I lerned to lye . a leef ouþer tweyne           W.5.204:nota Wikkedly to weye . was my firste lesson           W.5.205:nota To wy and to wynchestre . I wente to þe Feyre Wiþ many manere marchaundise . as my maister me hiȝte Ne hadde þe grace of gyle ygo . amonges my chaffare It hadde ben vnsold þis seuen yer . so me god helpe Thanne drouȝ I me among drapiers . my donet to lerne To drawe þe liser along . þe lenger it semed Among þe riche Rayes . I rendred a lesson To broche hem wiþ a paknedle . and playteW.5.213: W alone reads playte (infin.), while HmCr2 have plyte which is perhaps merely a spelling variant. However, the majority of B manuscripts unambiguously have the past tense playted or plytid. hem togideres And putte hem in a presse . and pyneW.5.214: W reads pyne, while Cr23 have pynnen. Other B manuscripts have the past tense pynned. hem þer-Inne Til ten yerdes or twelue . hadde tolled out þrittene My wif was a webbe . and wollen cloþ made She spak to Spynnesteres . to spynnen it oute Ac þe pound þat she paied by . peised a quartron moore Than myn owene Auncer . who-so weyed truþe I bouȝte hire barly malt . she brew it to selle Peny ale and puddyng ale . she poured togideres For laborers and for lowe folk . þat lay by hym-selue The beste ale lay in my bour . or in my bedchambre And who-so bummed þer-of . bouȝte it þer-after A galon for a grote . god woot no lesse And yet it cam In cuppemele . þis craft my wif vsed Rose þe Regrater . was hir riȝte name She haþ holden hukkerye . al hire lif-tyme Ac I swere now so thee ik . þat synne wol I lete And neuere wikkedly weye . ne wikke chaffare vse But wenden to walsyngham . and my wif als And bidde þe Roode of Bromholm . brynge me out of dette Repentedestow euere quod Repentaunce . or restitucion madest Ȝis ones I was yherberwed quod he . wiþ an heep of chapmen I roos whan þei were areste . and riflede hire males That was no restitucion quod Repentaunce . but a robberis þefte Thow haddest be þeW.5.237: W alone reads þe, which is omitted by other B witnesses. bettre worþi . ben hanged þer-fore Than for al þat . þat þow hast here shewed I wende riflynge were restitucion quod he . for I lerned neuere rede on boke And I kan no frenssh in feiþ . but of þe ferþest ende of Northfolk Vsedestow euere vsurie quod Repentaunce . in al þi lif-tyme Nay soþly he seide . saue in my youþe I lerned among lumbardes . and Iewes a lesson To weye pens wiþ a peis . and pare þe heuyeste And lene it for loue of þe cros . to legge a wed and lese it Swiche dedes I dide write . if he his day breke I haue mo Manoirs þoruȝ Rerages . þan þoruȝ Miseretur & comodat I haue lent lordes . and ladies my chaffare And ben hire brocour after . and bouȝt it my-selue Eschaunges and cheuysaunces . wiþ swich chaffare I dele And lene folk þat lese wole . a lippe at euery noble And wiþ lumbardes lettres . I ladde gold to Rome And took it by tale here . and tolde hem þere lasse Lentestow euere lordes . for loue of hire mayntenaunce Ye I haue lent toW.5.255: W alone reads to, which is omitted by the other B manuscripts. lordes . loued me neuere after           W.5.255:nota And haue ymaad many a knyȝt . boþe Mercer and draper That payed neuere for his prentishode . noȝt a peire gloues Hastow pite on pouere men . þat mote nedes borwe I haue as muche pite of pouere men . as pedlere haþ of cattes           W.5.259:nota That wolde kille hem if he cacche hem myȝte . for coueitise of hir skynnes           W.5.260:nota Artow manlich among þi neȝebores . of þi mete and drynke I am holden quod he as hende . as hound is in kichene Amonges my neȝebores namely . swich a name ich haue Now god lene þee neuere quod Repentaunce . bubu[t] þow repente þe raþer The grace on þis grounde . þi good wel to bisette Ne þyne heires after þee . haue ioie of þat þow wynnest Ne þyne executours wel bisette . þe siluer þat þow hem leuest And þat was wonne wiþ wrong . wiþ wikked men be despended           W.5.268:nota For were I frere of þat hous . þer good feiþ and charite is I nolde cope vs wiþ þi catel . ne oure kirk amende Ne haue a peny to my pitaunce . so god my soule saueW.5.271: W alone reads so god my soule saue. GHmCr have helpe for saue. Other B manuscripts have of þyne bi my soule hele. For þe beste book in oure hous . þeiȝ brent gold were þe leues And I wiste witterly . þow were swich as þow tellest Seruus es alterius . dumW.5.274: W alone reads dum; all other B manuscripts have cum. fercula pinguia queris Pane tuo pocius . vescere . liber eris Thow art an vnkynde creature . I kan þee noȝt assoille Til þow make restitucion . and rekene wiþ hem alle And siþen þat Reson rolle it . in þe Registre of heuene That þow hast maad ech man good . I may þee noȝt assoille Non dimittitur peccatum . donec restituatur oblatum For alle þat han of þi good . haue god my trouþe Ben holden at þe heiȝe doom . to helpe þee to restitue And who-so leueþ noȝt þis be sooþ . loke in þe Sauter glose In Miserere mei deus . wher I mene truþe Ecce enim veritatem dilexisti &c Shal neuere werkman in þis world . þryue with þat þow wynnest           W.5.286:nota Cum sancto sanctus eris . construwe me þis on englissh Thanne weex þat sherewe in wanhope . & wolde han hanged hym-selfeW.5.288: The manuscript is cropped after hym. Other B manuscripts have hym-self. Ne hadde repentaunce þe raþer . reconforted hym in þis manere Haue mercy in þi mynde . and wiþ þi mouþ biseche it For goddes mercy is moore . þan alle hise oþere werkes And al þe wikkednesse in þis world . þat man myȝte werche or þynke           W.5.292:nota Nis namoore to þe mercy of god . þan in þe see a gleede           W.5.293:nota Omnis iniquitas quantum ad misericordiam dei . est quasi sintilla in medio marisW.5.294: The right margin is cropped with the lobes of the <a> just visible after an <m>. Other B manuscripts have maris.W.5.294: The first two words of W.5.290, haue mercy, are repeated at the foot of the page in another hand. For-þi haue mercy in þy mynde . and marchaundise leue it For þow hast no good ground . to gete þee wiþ a wastel But if it were wiþ þi tonge . or ellis wiþ þi two hondes For þe good þat þow hast geten . bigan al wiþ falshede           W.5.298:nota And as longe as þow lyuest þer-with . þow yeldest noȝt but borwest And if þow wite neuere to whiche . ne whom to restitue Ber it to þe Bisshop . and bid hym of his grace Bisette it hym-self . as best is for þi soule For he shal answere for þee . at þe heiȝe dome For þee and for many mo . þat man shal yeue a rekenyng What he lerned yow in lente . leue þow noon ooþer And what he lente yow of oure lordes good . to lette yow fro synne W.5.307: The scribe has written Gula in a red box in the left margin. Its graphies are ornamented with touches of red ink. Now bigynneþ Gloton . for to go to shrifte And karieþ hym to kirkeward . his coupe to shewe And Beton þe Brewestere . bad hym good morwe And asked atW.5.310: W alone reads at. Other B manuscripts have of. hym wiþ þat . whiderward he wolde To holy chirche quod he . for to here masse And siþen I wole be shryuen . and synne namoore I haue good Ale gossib quod she . Gloton woltow assaye Hastow ouȝt in þi purs quod he . any hote spices I haue pepir and piones quod she . and a pound of garleek And a ferþyngworþ of fenel seed . for fastynge-dayes Thanne goþ Gloton In . and grete oþes after Cesse þe Souteresse . sat on þe benche Watte þe warner . and his wif boþe Tymme þe Tynkere . and tweyne of his prentices Hikke þe hakeneyman . and hugh þe Nedlere Clarice of Cokkeslane . and þe Clerk of þe chirche Dawe þe dykere . and a dozeyne oþere Sire Piers of Pridie . and Pernele of Flaundres A Ribibour a Ratoner . a Rakiere of Chepe A Ropere a Redyngkyng . and Rose þe dyssheres Godefray of Garlekhiþe . and Griffyn þe walshe And vpholderes an heep . erly by þe morwe Geue Gloton wiþ glad chere . good ale to hanselle Clement þe Cobelere . caste of his cloke And at þe newe feire . he nempned it to selle Hikke þe Hakeneyman . hitte his hood after And bad Bette þe Bocher . ben on his syde Ther were chapmen ychose . þis chaffare to preise ThatW.5.335: W alone reads That, omitted by other B manuscripts. who-so hadde þe hood . sholde han amendes of þe cloke Two risen vp in Rape . and rouned togideres And preised þise penyworþes . a-part by hem-selue Thei kouþe noȝt by hir Conscience . acorden in truþe Til Robyn þe Ropere . aroos by þe Southe And nempned hym for a nounpere . þat no debat nere Hikke þe hostiler . hadde þe cloke In couenaunt þat Clement . sholde þe cuppe fille And haue Hikkes hood hostiler . and holden hym yserued And who-so repented raþest . sholde aryse after And greten sire Gloton . wiþ a Galon ale There was lauȝynge and lourynge . and lat go þe cuppe And seten so til euensong . and songen vmwhile Til Gloton hadde yglubbed . a galon and a gille Hise guttes bigonne to goþelen . as two gredy sowes He pissed a potel . in a pater noster while And blew his rounde ruwet . at his ruggebones ende That alle þat herde þat horn . helde hir noses after And wisshed it hadde ben wexed . wiþ a wispe of firses He myȝte neiþer steppe ne stonde . er he his staf hadde And þanne gan he to go . lik a glemannes bicche           W.5.355:nota Som-tyme aside . and som-tyme arere As who-so leiþ lynes . for to lacche foweles And whan he drouȝ to þe dore . þanne dymmed hise eiȝen He stumbled on þe þresshfold . and þrew to þe erþe Clement þe Cobelere . kauȝte hym by þe myddel For to liften hym olofte . and leyde hym on his knowes Ac Gloton was a gret cherl . and a grym in þe liftyng And kouȝed vp a cawdel . in Clementes lappe Is noon so hungry hound . in hertford-shire Dorste lape of þat leuynges . so vnlouely þei smauȝte Wiþ al þe wo of þis world . his wif and his wencheW.5.366: The red ink partially obscuring wenche is transferred from Accidia on the opposite page. Baren hym hom to his bed . and brouȝte hym þer-Inne And after al þis excesse . he hadde an Accidie That he sleep Saterday . and Sonday . til sonne yede to reste Thanne waked he of his wynkyng . and wiped hise eiȝen The firste word þat he warp . was where is þe bolle His wif gan edwyte hym þo . how wikkedly he lyuede And Repentaunce riȝt so . rebuked hym þat tyme As þow wiþ wordes & werkes . hast wroȝt yuele in þi lyue Shryue þee and be shamed þer-of . and shewe it with þi mouþe I Gloton quod þe grom . gilty me yelde That I haue trespased with my tonge . I kan noȝt telle how ofte Sworen goddes soule . and so me god helpeW.5.378: W alone reads me god helpe. Most other B witnesses have god me helpe & (þe) holidome with minor variation. There no nede was . nyne hundred tymes And ouerseyen me at my soper . and som-tyme at Nones That I Gloton girte it vp . er I hadde gon a myle And yspilt þat myȝte be spared . and spended on som hungry Ouer-delicatly on fastyng-dayes . dronken and eten boþe And sat som-tyme so longe þere . þat I sleep and eet atonesat ones For loue of tales in Tauernes . and forW.5.385: W alone reads and for. Other B manuscripts have to. drynke . þe moore I dyned And hyed to þe mete er noon . whan fastyng-dayes were This shewynge shrift quod Repentaunce . shal be meryt to þe And þanne gan Gloton greete . and gret doel to make For his luþer lif . þat he lyued hadde And auowed to faste . for hunger or for þurste Shal neuere fyssh on Fryday . defyen in my wombe Til Abstinence myn Aunte . haue ȝyue me leeue And yet haue I hated hire . al my lif-tyme W.5.394: The scribe wrote Accidia inside a red box in the left margin. Thanne cam Sleuþe al bislabered . wiþ two slymy eiȝen I moste sitte seide þe segge . or ellis sholde I nappe I may noȝt stonde ne stoupe . ne wiþ-oute a stool knele Were I brouȝt abedde . but if my tail-endeW.5.397: The spacing is ambiguous, and this could be read as two words. Cf. W.8.82 (fol. 46r) where the word is clearly written as one word, in the sense "tallying" but with a pun on tail-ende. it made Sholde no ryngynge do me ryse . er I were ripe to dyne He bigan Benedicite with a bolk . and his brest knokked And raxed and rored . and rutte at þe laste What awake renk quod Repentaunce . and rape þee to shryfte If I sholde deye bi þis day . me list nouȝt to loke I kan noȝt parfitly my Pater noster . as þe preest it syngeþ But I kan rymes of RobynhoodRobyn hood . and Randolf Erl of Chestre Ac neiþer of oure lord ne of oure lady . þe leeste þat euere was maked I haue maad auowes fourty . and foryete hem on þe morwe I parfournede neuere penaunce . as þe preest me hiȝte Ne riȝt sory for my synnes . yet was I neuere And if I bidde any bedes . but if it be in wraþe That I telle wiþ my tonge . is two myle fro myn herte           W.5.410:nota I am ocupied eche day . haly-day and ooþer Wiþ ydel tales at þe Ale . and ouþer-while atW.5.412: W alone reads at. Other B manuscripts have yn. chirche Goddes peyne and his passion . ful selde þenke I on it I visited neuere feble men . ne fettred folk in puttes I haue leuere here an harlotrye . or a Somer game of Souters Or lesyngeW.5.416: W alone has singular lesynge. Other B manuscripts have lesynges. to lauȝen at . and bilye my neȝebores Than al þat euere Marc made . Mathew Iohan . and Lucas And vigilies and fastyngdayes . alle þise late I passe And ligge abedde in lenten . and my lemman in myne armes Til matyns and masse be do . and þanne go to þe freres Come I to Ite missa est . I holde me yserued I nam noȝt shryuen som-tyme . but if siknesse it make Nouȝt twyes in two yer . and þanne vp gesse I shryue me I haue be preest and person . passynge þritty wynter And yet kan I neyþer solue ne synge . ne seintes lyues rede But I kan fynden in a feld . or in a furlang an hare Bettre þan in Beatus vir . or in Beati omnes Construe oon clause wel . and kenne it to my parisshens I kan holde loue-dayes . and here a Reues rekenyng Ac in Canoun nor in decretals . I kan noȝt rede a lyne If I bigge and borwe auȝt . but if it be ytailed I foryete it as yerne . and if men me it axe Sixe siþes or seuene . I forsake it wiþ oþes And þus tene I trewe men . ten hundred tymes And my seruauntz som-tyme . hir salarie is bihynde Ruþe it is to here þe rekenyng . whan we shul rede acountes So wiþ wikked wil and wraþe . my werkmen I paye If any man dooþ me a bienfait . or helpeþ me at nede I am vnkynde ayeins curteisieW.5.439: W alone omits his before curteisie. . and kan nouȝt vnderstonden it           W.5.439:nota For I haue and haue had . som-del haukes maneres I am noȝt lured wiþ loue . but þer ligge auȝt vnder þe þombe The kyndenesse þat myn euencristene . kidde me fernyere Sixty siþes I Sleuþe . haue foryete it siþþe In speche and in sparynge of speche . yspilt many a tyme Boþe flessh and fissh . and manye oþere vitailles Boþ bred and ale . buttre / melk and chese Forsleuþed in my seruice . til it myȝte serue no man I ran aboute in youþe . and yaf me nauȝt to lerne And euere siþþe haue I be beggere . for my foule sleuþe Heu michi quia sterilem vitam duxi Iuuenilem Repentedestow noȝt quod Repentaunce . & riȝt wiþ þat he swowned Til vigilate þe veille . fette water at hise eiȝen And flatte it on his face . and faste on hym cryde And seide ware þee . for wanhope wolde þee bitraye I am sory for my synnes . seye to þi-selue And beet þi-self on þe brest . and bidde hym of grace For is no gilt here so gret . þat his goodnesse nys moore Thanne sat Sleuþe vp . and seyned hym swiþe And made auow tofore god . for his foule sleuþe Shal no Sonday be þis seuen yer . but siknesse it lette That I ne shal do me er day . to þe deere chirche And here matyns and masse . as I a monk were Shal noon ale after mete . holde me þennes Til I haue euen-song herd . I bihote to þe Roode And yet wole I yelde ayein . if I so muche haue Al þat I wikkedly wan . siþen I wit hadde And þouȝ my liflode lakke . leten I nelle That ech man ne shal haue his . er I hennes wende And wiþ þe residue and þe remenaunt . bi þe Rode of Chestre I shal seken truþe erst . er I se Rome Roberd þe Robbere . on Reddite loked And for þer was noȝt wher-of . he wepte swiþe soore Ac yet þe synfulle sherewe . seide to hym-selue Crist þat on Caluarie . vp-on þe cros deidest Tho Dysmas my broþer . bisouȝte yow of grace And haddest mercy on þat man . for Memento sake So rewe on þis Robbere . þat Reddere ne haue Ne neuere wene to wynne . wiþ craft þat I owe But for þi muchel mercy . mitigacion I biseche Ne dampne me noȝt at domes-day . for þat I dide so ille What bifel of þis feloun . I kan noȝt faire shewe Wel I woot he wepte faste . water wiþ boþe hise eiȝen And knoweliched his gilt . to crist yet eft-soones That penitencia his pik . he sholde polshe newe And lepe wiþ hym ouer lond . al his lif-tyme For he hadde leyen by Latro . luciferis Aunte And þanne hadde Repentaunce ruþe . and redde hem alle to knele For I shal biseche for alle synfulle . oure Saueour of grace To amenden vs of oure mysdedes . and do mercy to vs alle Now god quod he þat of þi goodnesse . bigonneW.5.490: W alone reads bigonne. Other B manuscripts read gonne. þe world to make And of nauȝt madest auȝt . and man moost lik to þi-selue And siþen suffredest for to synne . a siknesse to vs alle And al for þe beste as I bileue . what-euere þe book telleþ O felix culpa . o necessarium peccatum Ade &c W.5.494: A second hand has inserted just below the original Latin line the following: o felex Culpa o necessarium peccatum ade &c For þoruȝ þat synne þi sone . sent was to þis erþe And bicam man of a maide . mankynde to saue And madest þi-self wiþ þi sone . and vs synfulle yliche Faciamus hominem ad ymaginemW.5.498: W alone omits et similitudinem after ymaginem. nostram Et alibi . / Qui manet in caritate in deo manet & deus in eo And siþþe wiþ þi selue sone . in oure secteW.5.500: W alone reads secte. Other B witnesses read sute. deidest On goodfrydaygood fryday for mannes sake . at ful tyme of þe daye Ther þi-self ne þi sone . no sorwe in deeþ feledest But in oure secte was þe sorwe . and þi sone it ladde Captiuam duxit captiuitatem The sonne for sorwe þer-of . lees liȝt ofW.5.505: W alone reads of. Other B manuscripts have for. a tyme Aboute mydday whan moost liȝt is . and meel-tyme of Seintes Feddest wiþ þi fresshe blood . oure fore-fadres in derknesse Populus qui ambulabat in tenebris . vidit lucem magnam And þoruȝ þe liȝt þat lepe out of þee . Lucifer was blent And blewe alle þi blessed . in-to þe blisse of Paradys The þridde day after . þow yedest in oure sute A synful Marie þe seiȝ . er seynte Marie þi dame And al to solace synfulle . þow suffredest it so were Non veni vocare iustos . set peccatores ad penitenciam And al þat Marc . haþ ymaad . Mathew / Iohan / and Lucas Of þyne douȝty dedes . wasW.5.516: W alone reads was. Other B witnesses have were. doon in oure armes Verbum caro factum est & habitauit in nobis And by so muche me semeþ . þe sikerer we mowe Bidde and biseche . if it be þi wille That art oure fader and oure broþer . be merciable to vs And haue ruþe on þise Ribaudes . þat repenten hem here soore That euere þei wraþed þee in þis world . in word . þouȝt or dedes Thanne hente hope an horn . of Deus tu conuersus viuificabis And blew it wiþ . Beati quorum . remisse sunt iniquitates That alle Seintes in heuene . songen atonesat ones Homines & iumenta saluabis . quemadmodum multiplicasti misericordiam tuam deus A þousand of men þo . þrungen togideres Cride vpward to Crist . and to his clene moder To haue grace to go wiþ hem . truþe to seke Ac þere was wiȝt noon so wys . þe wey þider kouþe But blustreden forþ as beestes . ouer bankes and hilles Til late was and longe . þat þei a leode mette Apparailled as a paynym . in pilgrymes wise He bar a burdoun ybounde . wiþ a brood liste In a wiþwyndeW.5.535: W alone reads wiþwynde. HmGLRM read wythewyndes. YOC2C have swithe wyndes. wise . ywounden aboute A bolle and a bagge . he bar by his syde An hundred of Ampulles . on his hat seten Signes of Synay . and shelles of Galice And many a crouch on his cloke . and keyes of Rome And þe vernycle bifore . for men sholde knowe And se bi hise signes . whom he souȝt hadde This folk frayned hym first . fro whennes he come Fram Synay he seide . and fram oure lordes SepulcreIn Bethlem and In Bethlem and in Babiloyne . I haue ben in boþe In Armonye in Alisaundre . in manye oþere places Ye may se by my signes . þat sitten on myn hatte That I haue walked ful wide . in weet and in drye And souȝt goode Seintes . for my soules helþe Knowestow auȝt a corsaint . þat men calle truþe Koudestow auȝt wissen vs þe wey . wher þat wye dwelleþ Nay so me god helpe . seide þe gome þanne I seiȝ neuere Palmere . wiþ pyk ne wiþ scrippe Asken after hym er . til now in þis place Peter quod a Plowman . and putte forþ his hed I knowe hym as kyndely . as clerc doþ hise bokes Conscience and kynde wit . kenned me to his place And diden me suren hym sikerly . to seruen hym for euere Boþe to sowe and to sette . þe while I swynke myȝte I haue ben his folwere . al þis fifty wynter Boþe ysowen his seed . and suwed hise beestes Wiþ-Inne and wiþ-outen . waited his profit I dyke and I delue . I do þat truþe hoteþ Som-tyme I sowe . and som-tyme I þresshe In taillours craft and tynkeris craft . what truþe kan deuyse I weue and I wynde . and do what truþe hoteþ For þouȝ I seye it my-self . I serue hym to paye I haue myn hire wel . and ouþer-whiles moore He is þe presteste paiere . þat pouere men knoweþ He ne wiþhalt noon hewe his hire . þat he ne haþ it at euen He is as lowe as a lomb . and louelich of speche And if ye wilneþ to wite . where þat he dwelleþ I shal wisse yow witterly . þe wey to his place Ye leue Piers quod þise pilgrimes . and profred hym huyre Forto wende wiþ hem . to truþes dwellyng place Nay by my soules helþe quod Piers . and gan for to swere I nolde fange a ferþyng . for seint Thomas shryne Truþe wolde loue me þe lasse . a long tyme þer-after Ac if yowW.5.578: WCr1 alone read yow, where other B witnesses have ȝe. There are no examples in W of nominative yow, so perhaps wilneþ is here uniquely treated as an impersonal verb. Cf. 5.571 above. wilneþ to wende wel . þis is þe wey þider Ye moten go þoruȝ mekenesse . boþe men and wyues Til ye come in-to Conscience . þat crist wite þe soþe That ye louen oure lord god . leuest of alle þynges And þanne youre neȝebores next . in none wise apeire Oþer-wise þan þow woldest . he wrouȝte to þi-selue And so boweþ forþ by a brook . beþ buxom of speche Til ye fynden a ford . youre fadres honoureþ Honora patrem & matrem &c Wadeþ in þat water . and wasshe yow wel þer-Inne           W.5.587:nota And ye shul lepe þe liȝtloker . al youre lif-tyme           W.5.588:nota And so shaltow se swere noȝt . but if it be for nede And nameliche on ydel . þe name of god almyȝty Thanne shaltow come by a croft . but come þow noȝt þer-Inne That croft hatte Coueite noȝt . mennes catel ne hire wyues Ne noon of hire seruauntz . þat noyen hem myȝte Loke ye breke no bowes þere . but if it be youre owene Two stokkes þer stondeþ . ac stynte ye noȝt þere Thei hiȝte Stele noȝt & Sle noȝt . strik forþ by boþe And leue hem on þi lift half . and loke noȝt þer-after And hold wel þyn haliday . heighe til euen Thanne shaltow blenche at a Bergh . bere no fals witnesse He is fryþed In wiþ floryns . and oþere fees manye Loke þow plukke no plaunte þere . for peril of þi soule Thanne shul ye see seye sooþ . so it be to doone In goodW.5.603: W alone reads good. Other B witnesses have no. manere ellis noȝt . for no mannes biddyng Thanne shaltow come to a court . as cler as þe sonne The moot is of mercy . þe Manoir aboute And alle þe walles ben of wit . to holden wil oute And kerneled wiþ cristendom . mankynde to saue Botrased wiþ bileef so . or þow beest noȝt saued And alle þe houses ben hiled . halles and chambres Wiþ no leed but wiþ loue . and lowe speche as breþeren The brugge is of bidde wel . þe bet may þow spede Ech piler is of penaunce . of preieres to Seyntes Of almes-dedes are þe hokes . þat þe gates hangen on Grace hatte þe gateward . a good man for-soþe His man hatte amende yow . for many men hym knoweþ Telleþ hym þis tokene . þat truþe wite þe soþe I parfourned þe penaunce . þat þe preest me enioyned And am ful sory for my synnes . and so I shal euere Whan I þynke þer-on . þeiȝ I were a Pope Biddeþ amende yow meke hym . til his maister ones To wayuen vp þe wiket . þat þe womman shette Tho Adam and Eue . eten apples vnrosted Per Euam cuntis clausa est . et per Mariam virginem patefacta est For he haþ þe keye and þe cliket . þouȝ þe kyng slepe And if grace graunte þee . to go in þis wise Thow shalt see in þi-selue . truþe in þyn herte In a cheyne of charite . as þow a child were To suffren hym and segge noȝt . ayein þi sires wille And be war þanne of wraþe þee . þat is a wikked sherewe He haþ enuye to hym . þat in þyn herte sitteþ And pokeþ forþ pride . to preise þi-seluen The boldnesse of þi bienfetes . makeþ þee blynd þanne And þanne worstow dryuen out as dew . and þe dore closed Keyed and cliketted . to kepe þee wiþ-outen Happily anhundredan hundred wynter . er þow eft entre Thus myȝtestow lesen his loue . to lete wel by þi-selue And neuere happily eft entre . but grace þow haue And þer are seuen sustren . þat seruen truþe euere And arn porters of þe Posternes . þat to þe place longeþ That oon hatte Abstinence . and humilite anoþer Charite and Chastite . ben hise chief maydenes Pacience and pees . muche peple þei helpeþ Largenesse þe lady . she let in ful manye Heo haþ holpe a þousand out . of þe deueles punfolde And who is sib to þise seuene . so me god helpe He is wonderly welcome . and faire vnderfongen And but if ye be sibbe . to some of þise seuene It is ful hard by myn heed quod Piers . for any of yow alle To geten ingoing at any gate þere . but grace be þe moore Now by crist quod a kutte-purs . I haue no kyn þere Nor I quod an Apeward . by auȝt þat I kan knowe Wite god quod a wafrestere . wiste I þis for soþe Sholde I neuere ferþer a foot . for no freres prechyng Ȝis quod Piers þe Plowman . and poked hem alle to goode Mercy is a maiden þere . haþ myȝt ouer alle And she is sib to alle synfulle . and hire sone also And þoruȝ þe help of hem two . hope þow noon ooþer Thow myȝt gete grace þere . so þow go bityme . Bi seint Poul quod a pardoner . parauenture I be noȝt knowe þere I wol go fecche my box wiþ my breuettes . & a bulle with bisshopes lettres By crist quod a comune womman . þi compaignie wol I folwe Thow shalt seye I am þi Suster . I ne woot where þei bicomePassus .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