The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 2: Trinity College, Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W) – Passus 14and Color Facsimile of Richard Rolle's <title>Form of Living – Passus 14William LanglandEdited by Thorlac Turville-Petre and Hoyt N. DugganAssociate Editors: M. Gail Duggan and Catherine A. Farley Graduate Research Assistants Michael Blum, Stephen C. Martin, and John Ivor Carlson. Computer Consultants and ProgrammersOludotun Akinola, Karen Dietz, Susan Gants, Kirk V. Hastings, Susan Munson, Beth Nowviskie, Daniel Pitti, John Price-Wilkin, Thornton Staples, and John Unsworth.University of Michigan Press Ann Arbor, Mich. ISBN: 0-472-00275-9

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copyright 2000, by SEENET

2000 Trinity College, Cambridge, MS B.15.17

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

Attribute Values brown ink anglicana bastarda italic Lombard Cap ornamented capital, N lines high rubricated touched in red textura underlined underlined in red green ink blue ink

LatinFrenchGerman2000 cataloger Jackie Shieh New header created Passus .vijus.septimus de visione vt supra TReuþe herde telle her-of . and to Piers he sente To maken his teme . and tilien þe erþe And purchaced hym a pardoun . a pena & a culpa For hym and for hise heires . for euere-moore after And bad hym holde hym at home . and erien hise leyes And alle þat holpen hym to erye . to sette or to sowe Or any ooþer mestier . þat myȝte Piers auaille Pardon wiþ Piers Plowman . truþe haþ ygraunted Kynges and knyȝtes . þat kepen holy chirche And riȝtfully in Remes . rulen þe peple Han pardon þoruȝ purgatorie . to passen ful liȝtly Wiþ Patriarkes and prophetes . in paradis to be felawe Bysshopes yblessed . if þei ben as þei sholde Legistres of boþe lawes . þe lewed þer-wiþ to preche And in as muche as þei mowe . amenden alle synfulle Arn peres wiþ þe Apostles . þis pardon Piers sheweþ And at þe day of dome . at þe heiȝe deys sitte Marchauntz in þe margyne . hadde manye yeres Ac noon A pena & a culpa . þe pope nolde hem graunte For þei holde noȝt hir halidayes . as holy chirche techeþ And for þei swere by hir soule . and so god moste hem helpe Ayein clene Conscience . hir catel to selle Ac vnder his secret seel . truþe sente hem a lettre That þei sholde buggen boldely . þat hem best liked And siþenes selle it ayein . and saue þe wynnyng And amende Mesondieux þer-myd . and myseise folk helpe And wikkede weyes . wightly amende And do boote to brugges . þat tobroke were Marien maydenes . or maken hem Nonnes Pouere peple and prisons . fynden hem hir foode And sette Scolers to scole . or to som oþere craftes Releue Religion . and renten hem bettre And I shal sende yow my-selue . Seint Michel myn Archangel That no deuel shal yow dere . ne fere yow in youre deying And witen yow fro wanhope . if ye wol þus werche And sende youre soules in saufte . to my Seintes in Ioye Thanne were Marchauntz murie . manye wepten for ioye And preiseden Piers þe Plowman . þat purchaced þis bulle Men of lawe leest pardon hadde . þat pleteden for Mede For þe Sauter saueþ hem noȝt . swiche as take ȝiftes And nameliche of Innocentz . þat noon yuel ne konneþ Super innocentem munera non accipies Pledours sholde peynen hem . to plede for swiche and helpe Princes and prelates . sholde paie for hire trauaille A Regibus & principibus erit merces eorum Ac many a Iustice and Iurour . wolde for Iohan do moore Than pro dei pietate . leue þow noon ooþer Ac he þat spendeþ his speche . and spekeþ for þe pouere           W.7.48:nota That is Innocent and nedy . and no man apeireþ           W.7.49: nota Conforteþ hym in þat caas . wiþ-outen coueitise of ȝiftes           W.7.50: nota And sheweþ lawe for oure lordes loue . as he it haþ ylerned           W.7.51: nota Shal no deuel at his deeþ-day . deren hym a myte That he ne worþ saaf and his soule . þe Sauter bereþ witnesse Domine quis habitabit in tabernaculo tuo Ac to bugge water ne wynd . ne wit ne fir þe ferþe Thise foure þe fader of heuene . made to þis foold in commune Thise ben truþes tresores . trewe folk to helpe That neuere shul wexe ne wanye . wiþ-outen god hym-selue Whan þei drawen on to deye . and Indulgences wolde haue Hir pardon is ful petit . at hir partyng hennes That any Mede of mene men . for hir motyng takeþ Ye legistres and lawieres . holdeþ þis for truþe That if þat I lye . Mathew is to blame For he bad me make yow þis . and þis prouerbe me tolde Quodcumque vultis vt faciant vobis homines . facite eis           W.7.65:nota Alle libbynge laborers . þat lyuen wiþ hir hondesW.7.66-69: A vertical pen mark appears at the end of this line and the three following lines, which we take to represent nota.           W.7.66:nota That treweliche taken . and treweliche wynnen           W.7.67: nota And lyuen in loue and in lawe . for hir lowe hertes           W.7.68: nota Haueþ þe same absolucion . þat sent was to Piers           W.7.69: nota Beggeres ne bidderes . ne beþ noȝt in þe bulle But if þe suggestion be sooþ . þat shapeþ hem to begge For he þat beggeþ or bit . but if he haue nede           W.7.72:nota He is fals wiþ þe feend . and defraudeþ þe nedy           W.7.73:nota And also he bigileþ þe gyuere . ageynes his wille For if he wiste he were noȝt nedy . he wolde ȝyue þat anoþer That were moore nedy þan he . so þe nedieste sholde be holpe Caton kenneþ me þus . and þe clerc of stories Cui des videto . is Catons techyng           W.7.78:nota And in þe stories he techeþ . to bistowe þyn almesse Sit elemosina tua in manu tua donec studes cui des           W.7.80: The nota appears inside the box to the right of the line. Ac Gregory was a good man . and bad vs gyuen alle           W.7.81:nota That askeþ for his loue . þat vs al leneþ           W.7.82:nota Non eligas cui miseriaris nefortene forte pretereas illum qui meretur accipereW.7.83: The end of the box is cropped in the right margin, though no text appears to have been lost. Quia incertum est pro quo deo magis placeas           W.7.84:nota For wite ye neuere who is worþi . ac god woot who haþ nede           W.7.85:nota In hym þat takeþ is þe trecherie . if any treson walke           W.7.86:nota For he þat yeueþ yeldeþ . and yarkeþ hym to reste And he þat biddeþ borweþ . and bryngeþ hym-self in dette For beggeres borwen euere-mo . and hir borgh is god almyȝty To yelden hem þat yeueþ hem . and yet vsure moore Quare non dedisti pecuniam meam ad mensam vt ego veniam cum vsuris exigere For-þi biddeþ noȝt ye beggeres . but if ye haue gret nede For who-so haþ to buggen hym breed . þe book bereþ witnesse He haþ ynouȝ þat haþ breed ynouȝ . þouȝ he haue noȝt ellis Satis diues est qui non indiget pane           W.7.95:nota Lat vsage be youre solas . of seintes lyues redyng The book banneþ beggerie . and blameþ hem in þis manere Iunior fui etenim senui & non vidi iustum derelictum nene[c]W.7.98: W alone reads ne. Other B manuscripts have nec. semen eius &c For ye lyue in no loue . ne no lawe holde Manye of yow ne wedde noȝt . þe womman þat ye wiþ deele But as wilde bestes with wehee . worþen vppe and werchen And bryngen forþ barnes . þat bastardes men calleþ Or þe bak or som boon . he brekeþ in his youþe And siþþe goon faiten with youre fauntes . for euere-moore after Ther is moore mysshapen peple . amonges þise beggeres           W.7.105:nota Than of alle manere men . þat on þis moolde walkeþ           W.7.106: nota And þei þat lyue þus hir lif . mowe loþe þe tyme           W.7.107:nota That euere þei were men wroȝt . whan þei shal hennes fare           W.7.108: nota Ac olde men and hore . þat helplees ben of strengþe And wommen wiþ childe . þat werche ne mowe Blynde and bedreden . and broken hire membres That taken þise myschiefs mekeliche . as Mesels and oþere Han as pleyn pardon . as þe Plowman hym-selue For loue of hir lowe hertes . oure lord haþ hem graunted Hir penaunce and hir Purgatorie . here on þis erþe Piers quod a preest þoo . þi pardon moste I rede For I wol construe ech clause . and kenne it þee on englissh And Piers at his preiere . þe pardon vnfoldeþ And I bihynde hem boþe . biheld al þe bulle And in two lynes it lay . and noȝt a leef moore And was writen riȝt þus . in witnesse of truþe Et qui bona egerunt ibunt in vitam eternam           W.7.122:nota Qui vero mala in ignem eternumW.7.123: To the right of this line is a smudged scribble.          W.7.123:nota Peter quod þe preest þoo . I kan no pardon fynde But dowel and haue wel . and god shal haue þi soule           W.7.125:nota And do yuel and haue yuel . hope þow noon ooþer           W.7.126:nota But after þi deeþ-day . þe deuel shal haue þi soule           W.7.127:nota And Piers for pure tene . pulled it atweyne And seide Si ambulauero in medio vmbre mortis           W.7.129:nota non timebo mala quoniam tu mecum es I shal cessen of my sowyng quod Piers . & swynke noȝt so harde Ne aboute my bely ioye . so bisy be namoore Of preieres and of penaunce . my plouȝ shal ben her-after And wepen whan I sholde slepe . þouȝ whete breed me faille The prophete his payn eet . in penaunce and in sorwe By þat þe Sauter seith . so dide othere manye That loueþ god lelly . his liflode is ful esy Fuerunt michi lacrime mee panes die ac nocte           W.7.137:nota And but if luc lye . he lereþ vs by foweles We sholde noȝt be to bisy . aboute þe worldes blisse Ne soliciti sitis  he seiþ in þe gospel And sheweþ vs by ensamples . vs-selue to wisse The foweles in þe feld . who fynt hem mete at wynter           W.7.142:nota Haue þei no gerner to go to . but god fynt hem alle           W.7.143:nota What quod þe preest to Perkyn . Peter as me þynkeþ Thow art lettred alitela litel . who lerned þee on boke Abstynence þe Abbesse quod Piers . myn / a / . b / . c . / me tauȝte And Conscience cam afterward . and kenned me muche moore Were þow a preest quod he . þou myȝtest preche where þou sholdest As diuinour in diuinite . wiþ Dixit insipiens to þi teme Lewed lorel quod Piers . litel lokestow on þe bible On Salomons sawes . selden þow biholdest Ecce derisores & iurgia cum eis ne crescant &c The preest and Perkyn . opposeden eiþer ooþer And I þoruȝ hir wordes awook . and waited aboute And seiȝ þe sonne in þe South . sitte þat tyme Metelees and moneilees . on Maluerne hulles Musynge on þis metels . and my wey ich yede MAny tyme þis metels . haþ maked me to studie Of þat I seiȝ slepynge . if it so be myȝte And also for Piers þe Plowman . ful pencif in herte And which a pardon Piers hadde . al þe peple to conforte And how þe preest inpugned it . wiþ two propre wordes Ac I haue no sauour in Songewarie . for I se it ofte faille Caton and Canonistres . counseillen vs to leue To sette sadnesse in Songewarie . for sompnia ne cures Ac for þe book bible . bereþ witnesse How Daniel diuined . þe dreem of a kyng That was Nabugodonosor . nempned of clerkes Daniel . seide sire kyng . þi dremels bitokneþ That vnkouþe knyȝtes shul come . þi kyngdom to cleyme Amonges lower lordes . þi lond shal be departed And as Daniel diuined . in dede it fel after The kyng lees his lordshipe . and lower men it hadde And Ioseph mette merueillously . how þe moone and þe sonne And þe elleuene sterres . hailsed hym alle Thanne Iacob iugged . Iosephes sweuene Beau fitz quod his fader . for defaute we shullen I my-self and my sones . seche þee for nede It bifel as his fader seide . in Pharaoes tyme That Ioseph was Iustice . Egipte to loke It bifel as his fader tolde . hise frendes þere hym souȝte And al þis makeþ me . on þis metels to þynke And how þe preest preued . no pardon to dowel And demed þat dowel . Indulgences passed Biennals and triennals . and Bisshopes lettres And how dowel at þe day of dome . is digneliche vnderfongen And passeþ al þe pardon . of Seint Petres cherche Now haþ þe pope power . pardon to graunte þe peple Wiþ-outen any penaunce . to passen in-to heuene This is oure bileue . as lettred men vs techeþ Quodcumque ligaueris super terram . erit ligatum & in celis &c And so I leue leelly . lordes forbode ellis That pardon and penaunce . and preieres doon saue Soules þat haue synned . seuen siþes dedly Ac to truste to þise triennals . trewely me þynkeþ Is noȝt so siker for þe soule . certes as is dowel For-þi I rede yow renkes . þat riche ben on þis erþe Vp-on trust of youre tresor . triennals to haue Be ye neuer þe bolder . to breke þe .x.ten hestes And namely ye maistres . Meires and Iugges That haue þe welþe of þis world . and for wise men ben holden To purchace yow pardon . and þe popes bulles At þe dredful dome . whan dede shulle rise And comen alle tofore crist . acountes to yelde How þow laddest þi lif here . and hise lawes keptest And how þow didest day by day . þe doom wole reherce A poke-ful of pardon þere . ne prouincials lettres Theiȝ ye be founde in þe fraternite . of alle þe foure ordres And haue Indulgences double-fold . but if dowel yow helpe I sette youre patentes and youre pardon . at one pies hele For-þi I counseille alle cristene . to crie god mercy . And Marie his moder . be oure meene bitwene That god gyue vs grace here . er we go hennes Swiche werkes to werche . while we ben here That after oure deeþ-day . dowel reherce At þe day of dome . we dide as he hiȝtePassus viijusoctauus de visione & primus de Dowel Thus yrobed in russet . I romed aboute Al a somer seson . for to seke dowel And frayned ful ofte . of folk þat I mette If any wiȝt wiste . wher dowel was at Inne And what man he myȝte be . of many man I asked Was neuere wiȝt as I wente . þat me wisse kouþe Where þis leode lenged . lasse ne moore Til it bifel on a Friday . two freres I mette Maistres of þe Menours . men of grete witte I hailsed hem hendely . as I hadde y-lerned And preide hem par charite . er þei passed ferþer If þei knewe any contree . or costes as þei wente Where þat dowel dwelleþ . dooþ me to witene For þei be men of þis moolde . þat moost wide walken And knowen contrees and courtes . and many kynnes places Boþe princes paleises . and pouere mennes cotes And dowel and doyuele . wher þei dwelle boþe Amonges vs quod þe Menours . þat man is dwellynge And euere haþ as I hope . and euere shal her-after Contra quod I as a clerc . and comsed to disputen And seide hem sooþly . Sepcies in die cadit Iustus           W.8.21:nota Seuene siþes seiþ þe book . synneþ þe rightfulle And who-so synneþ I seide . dooþ yuele as me þynkeþ And dowel and doyuele . mowe noȝt dwelle togideres Ergo he nys noȝt alwey . amonges yow freres He is ouþerwhile ellis-where . to wisse þe peple I shal seye þee my sone . seide þe frere þanne How seuen siþes þe sadde man . on a day synneþ By a forbisne quod þe frere . I shal þee faire shewe Lat brynge a man in a boot . amydde þe brode watre           W.8.30:nota The wynd and þe water . and þe boot waggyng           W.8.31:nota Makeþ þe man many a tyme . to falle and to stonde           W.8.32:nota For stonde he neuer so stif . he stumbleþ if he meue           W.8.33:nota Ac yet is he saaf and sound . and so hym bihoueþ           W.8.34:nota For if he ne arise þe raþer . and rauȝte to þe steere           W.8.35:nota The wynd wolde wiþ þe water . þe boot ouer-þrowe           W.8.36:nota And þanne were his lif lost . þoruȝ lachesse of hym-selue           W.8.37:nota And þus it falleþ quod þe frere . by folk here on erþe           W.8.38:nota The water is likned to þe world . þat wanyeþ and wexeþ           W.8.39:nota The goodes of þis grounde arn lik . to þe grete wawes           W.8.40:nota That as wyndes and wedres . walkeþ aboute           W.8.41:nota The boot is likned to oure body . þat brotel is of kynde           W.8.42:nota That þoruȝ þe fend and þe flessh . and þe frele worlde           W.8.43:nota Synneþ þe sadde man . a day seuen siþes           W.8.44:nota Ac dedly synne doþ he noȝt . for dowel hym kepeþ And þat is charite þe champion . chief help ayein synne For he strengþeþ menW.8.47: W alone reads men; other B manuscripts have man. to stonde . and steereþ mannes soule And þouȝ þe body bowe . as boot dooþ in þe watre           W.8.48:nota Ay is þi soule saaf . but if þow wole þi-selueW.8.49:W alone reads þow wole þi-selue; most other B manuscripts read thiself woll, although CrS have thou wylt thyselfe and M has þou þiseluen wole.           W.8.49:nota Do a deedly synne . and drenche so þi soule God wole suffre wel þi sleuþe . if þi-self likeþ For he yaf þee a yeresȝyue . to yeme wel þi-selue           W.8.52:nota And þat is wit and free wil . to euery wiȝt a porcion           W.8.53:nota To fleynge foweles . to fisshes and to beestes           W.8.54:nota Ac man haþ moost þer-of . and moost is to blame           W.8.55:nota But if he werche wel þer-wiþ . as dowel hym techeþ           W.8.56:nota I haue no kynde knowyng quod I . to conceyuen alle youre wordes Ac if I may lyue and loke . I shal go lerne bettre I bikenne þee crist quod he . þat on cros deyde And I seide þe same . saue yow fro myschaunce And ȝyue yow grace on þis grounde . goode men to worþe ANd þus I wente wide-wher . walkyng myn one By a wilde wildernesse . and by a wodes side Blisse of þe briddes . brouȝte me aslepe           W.8.64:nota And vnder a lynde vp-on a launde . lened I a stounde To lyþe þe layes . þo louely foweles made Murþe of hire mouþes . made me þer to slepleslepe           W.8.67:nota The merueillouseste metels . mette me þanne That euer dremed wiȝt . in world as I wene A muche man as me þouȝte . and lik to my-selue Cam and called me . by my kynde name What artow quod I þo . þat þow my name knowest That þow woost wel quod he . and no wiȝt bettre Woot I what þow art . þouȝt seide he þanne I haue sued þee þis seuen yeer . seye þow me no raþer Artow þouȝt quod I þoo . þow koudest me wisse Where þat dowel dwelleþ . and do me þat to knowe Dowel and dobet . and dobest þe þridde quod he           W.8.78:nota Arn þre faire vertues . and ben noȝt fer to fynde           W.8.79:nota Who-so is trewe of his tunge . and of his two handes           W.8.80:nota And þoruȝ his labour . or þoruȝ his land . his liflode wynneþ           W.8.81:nota And is trusty of his tailende . takeþ but his owene           W.8.82:nota And is noȝt dronkelewe ne dedeynous . dowel hym folweþ           W.8.83:nota Dobet dooþ riȝt þus . ac he dooþ muche moore He is as lowe as a lomb . and louelich of speche           W.8.85:nota And helpeþ alle men . after þat hem nedeþ The bagges and þe bigirdles . he haþ to-broke hem alle That þe Erl Auarous . heeld and hise heires And þus wiþ Mammonaes moneie . he haþ maad hym frendes And is ronne to Religion . and haþ rendred þe bible And precheþ to þe peple . Seint Poules wordes Libenter suffertis insipientes . cum sitis ipsi sapientes And suffreþ þe vnwise . wiþ yow for to libbe           W.8.93:nota And wiþ glad wille dooþ hem good . for so god yow hoteþ Dobest is aboue boþe . and bereþ a bisshopes crosse Is hoked on þat oon ende . to halie men fro helle A pik is on þat potente . to putte adown þe wikked That waiten any wikkednesse . dowel to tene And dowel and dobet . amonges hem han ordeyned To crowne oon to be kyng . to rulen hem boþe That if dowel or dobet . dide ayein dobest Thanne shal þe kyng come . and casten hem in Irens And but if dobest bede for hem . þei to be þer for euere Thus dowel and dobet . and dobest þe þridde Crouned oon to be kyng . to kepen hem alle And to rule þe Reme . by hire þre wittes And noon ooþer wise . but as þei þre assented I þonked þoȝt þo . þat he me þus tauȝte Ac yet sauoreþ me noȝt þi seying . I coueite to lerne How dowel . dobet . and dobest . doon among þe peple But wit konne wisse þee quod þoȝt . where þo þre dwelle Ellis woot I noon þat kan . þat now is alyue Thoȝt and I þus . þre daies we yeden Disputyng vp-on dowel . day after ooþer And er we were war . wiþ wit gonne we mete He was long and lene . lik to noon ooþer Was no pride on his apparaille . ne pouerte neiþer           W.8.117:nota Sad of his semblaunt . and of softe chere           W.8.118:nota I dorste meue no matere . to maken hym to Iangle But as I bad þoȝt þoo . be mene bitwene And pute forþ som purpos . to preuen hise wittes What was Dowel fro dobet . and dobest from hem boþe Thanne þoȝt in þat tyme . seide þise wordes Where dowel . dobet . and dobest ben in londe Here is wil wolde wite . if wit koude teche hym And wheiþer he be man or womman . þis man fayn wolde aspie And werchen as þei þre wolde . thus is his ententePassus xiiijusquartus decimus &c I haue but oon hool hater quod haukyn . I am þe lasse to blame Thouȝ it be soiled and selde clene . I slepe þer-Inne o nyȝtes And also I haue an houswif . hewen and children Vxorem duxi & ideo non possum venire That wollen bymolen it many tyme . maugree my chekes It haþ be laued in lente . and out of lente boþe Wiþ þe sope of siknesse . þat sekeþ wonder depe And wiþ þe losse of catel . looþ for to agulte God or any good man . by aught þat I wiste And was shryuen of þe preest . þat gaf me for my synnes To penaunce pacience . and pouere men to fede Al for coueitise of my cristendom . in clennesse to kepen it And kouþe I neuere by crist . kepen it clene an houre That I ne soiled it wiþ siȝte . or som ydel speche Or þoruȝ werk or þoruȝ word . or wille of myn herte That I ne flobre it foule . fro morwe til euen And I shal kenne þee quod Conscience . of Contricion to make That shal clawe þi cote . of alle kynnes filþe Cordis contricio &c Dowel shal wasshen it and wryngen it . þoruȝ a wis confessour Oris confessio &c Dobet shal beten it and bouken it . as bright as any scarlet And engreynen it wiþ good wille . and goddes grace to amende þe And siþen sende þee to Satisfaccion . for to sowen it after Satisfaccio dobest Shal neuere cheeste bymolen it . ne moþe after biten it Ne fend ne fals man . defoulen it in þi lyue Shal noon heraud ne harpour . haue a fairer garnement Than Haukyn þe Actif man . and þow do by my techyng Ne no Mynstralle be moore worþ . amonges pouere and riche Than Haukyns wif þe wafrer . with his Actiua vita And I shal purueie þee paast quod Pacience . þouȝ no plouȝ erye And flour to fede folk wiþ . as best be for þe soule Thouȝ neuere greyn growed . ne grape vp-on vyne ToW.14.35: W alone reads To; other manuscripts omit it. alle þat lyueþ and lokeþ . liflode wolde I fynde And þat ynogh shal noon faille . of þyng þat hem nedeþ We sholde noȝt be to bisy . abouten oure liflode Ne soliciti sitis &c / Volucres celi deus pascit &c pacientes vincunt &c Thanne laughed haukyn alitela litel . and lightly gan swerye Who-so leueþ yow by oure lord . I leue noȝt he be blessed No quod Pacience paciently . and out of his poke hente Vitailles of grete vertues . for alle manere beestes And seide . lo here liflode ynogh . if oure bileue be treweFor lent neuere For lent neuere was lif . but liflode were shapen Wher-of or wher-fore . or wher-by to libbe First þe wilde worm . vnder weet erþe Fissh to lyue in þe flood . and in þe fir þe Criket The Corlew by kynde of þe Eyr . moost clennest flessh of briddes And bestes by gras and by greyn . and by grene rootes In menynge þat alle men . myȝte þe same Lyue þoruȝ leel bileue . and loue . as god witnesseþ Quodcumque pecieritis a patre in nomine meo &c Et alibi  Non in solo pane viuit homo set in omni verbo quod procedit de ore dei But I lokede what liflode it was . þat pacience so preisede And þanne was it a pece of þe Pater noster . fiat voluntas tua Haue haukyn quod Pacience . and et þis whan þe hungreþ Or whan þow clomsest for cold . or clyngest for drye Shul neuere gyues þee greue . ne gret lordes wraþe Prison ne peyne . for pacientes vincunt By so þat þow be sobre . of siȝte and of tonge . In etynge and in handlynge . and in alle þi fyue wittes Darstow neuere care for corn . ne lynnen cloþ ne wollen Ne for drynke ne deeþ drede . but deye as god likeþ Or þoruȝ hunger or þoruȝ hete . at his wille be it For if þow lyue after his loore . þe shorter lif þe bettre Si quis amat christum . mundum non diligit istum For þoruȝ his breeþ beestes woxen . and abrood yeden Dixit & facta sunt &c Crgo[E]rgoW.14.68: The W scribe has miswritten Ergo, the reading supported by all other manuscripts. . þoruȝ his breeþ mowen . men and beestes lyuen As holy writ witnesseþ . whan men seye hir graces Aperis tu manum tuam & imples omne animal benediccione It is founden þat fourty wynter . folk lyuede with-outen tulying And out of þe flynt sprong þe flood . þat folk and beestes dronken And in Elyes tyme . heuene was yclosed That no reyn ne roon . þus rede men in bokes That manye wyntres men lyueden . and no mete ne tulieden Seuene slepe as seiþ þe book . seuene hundred wynter And lyueden wiþ-outen liflode . and at þe laste þei woken And if men lyuede as mesure wolde . sholde neuere moore be defaute Amonges cristene creatures . if cristes wordes ben trewe Ac vnkyndenesse caristiam makeþ . amonges cristen peple And ouer-plentee makeþ pryde . amonges poore and riche Ther-fore mesure is mucheW.14.82: W alone omits so before muche. worþ . it may noȝt be to deere For þe meschief and þe meschaunce . amonges men of Sodome Weex þoruȝ plentee of payn . and of pure sleuþe Ociositas & habundancia panis peccatum turpissimum nutriuit For þei mesured noȝt hem-self . of þat þei ete and dronke Thei diden dedly synne . þat þe deuel liked So vengeaunce fil vp-on hem . for hir vile synnes Thei sonken in-to helle . þe Citees echone For-þi mesure we vs wel . and make oure feiþ oure sheltrom And þoruȝ feiþ comeþ contricion . conscience woot wel Which dryueþ awey dedly synne . and dooþ it to be venial And þouȝ a man myȝte noȝt speke . contricion myȝte hym saue And brynge his soule to blisse . for so þat feiþ bere witnesse That whiles he lyuede he bileuede . in þe loore of holy chirche Ergo contricion . feiþ . and conscience . is kyndeliche dowel And surgiens for dedly synnes . whan shrift of mouþe failleþ Ac shrift of mouþ moore worþi is . if man be yliche contrit For shrift of mouþe sleeþ synne . be it neuer so dedly Per confessionem . to a preest . peccata occiduntur Ther contricion dooþ but dryueþ it doun . in-to a venial synne As Dauid seiþ in þe Sauter . et quorum tecta sunt peccata Ac satisfaccion sekeþ out þe roote . and boþe sleeþ and voideþ And as it neuere hadde ybe . to noȝte bryngeþ dedly synne That it neuere eft is sene ne soor . but semeþ a wounde yheeled Where wonyeþ Charite quod Haukyn . I wiste neuere in my lyue Man þat wiþ hym spak . as wide as I haue passed Ther parfit truþe and poore herte is . and pacience of tonge There is Charite þe chief chaumbrere . for god hym-selue Wheiþer paciente pouerte quod Haukyn . be moore plesaunt to oure driȝteW.14.110: The word has been cropped after <d>. Most B manuscripts read driȝte or driȝten, but CB have sight, C2 has saueoure, and GR have lorde. Than richesse riȝtfulliche wonne . and resonably despended Ye quis est ille quod Pacience . quik laudabimus eum Thouȝ men rede of richesse . riȝt to þe worldes ende I wiste neuere renk þat riche was . þat whan he rekene sholde Whan he drogh to his deeþ-day . þat he ne dredde hym soore And þat at þe rekenyng in Arrerage fel . raþer þan out of dette Ther þe poore dar plede . and preue by pure reson To haue allowaunce of his lord . by þe lawe he it cleymeþ Ioye þat neuere ioye hadde . of riȝtful Iugge he askeþ And seiþ lo . briddes and beestes . þat no blisse ne knoweþ And wilde wormes in wodes . þoruȝ wyntres þow hem greuest And makest hem wel neiȝ meke . and mylde for defaute And after þow sendest hem somer . þat is hir souereyn ioye And blisse to alle þat ben . boþe wilde and tame Thanne may beggeris as beestes . after boote waiten That al hir lif han lyued . in langour and in defaute But god sente hem som-tyme . som manere Ioye Ouþer here or ellis-where . kynde wolde it neuere For to wroþerhele was he wroȝt . þat neuere was Ioye shapen Aungeles þat in helle now ben . hadden ioye som-tyme And diues in deyntees lyuede . and in douce vie Right so reson sheweþ . þat þe men þat were riche And hir makes also . lyuede hir lif in murþe Ac god is of wonderW.14.134: W alone omits a before wonder. wille . by þat kynde wit sheweþ To ȝyue many man his medeW.14.135: W alone reads mede; most other manuscripts have mercy monye. . er he it haue deserued Riȝt so fareþ god by som riche . ruþe me it þynkeþ For þei han hir hire heer . and heuene as it were And greet likynge to lyue . wiþ-outen labour of bodye And whan he dyeþ ben disalowed . as Dauid seiþ in þe Sauter Dormierunt & nichil inuenerunt And in anoþer stede also . velud sompnum surgencium domine in Ciuitate tua et ad nichilum rediges &c Allas þat richesse shal reue . and robbe mannes soule Fram þe loue of oure lord . at his laste ende Hewen þat han hir hire afore . arn euere-moore nedy And selden deyeþ he out of dette . þat dyneþ er he deserue it And til he haue doon his deuoir . and his dayes iournee For whan a werkman haþ wroȝt . þan may men se þe soþe What he were worþi for his werk . and what he haþ deserued And noȝt to fonge bifore . for drede of disalowyng So I seye by yow riche . it semeþ noȝt þat ye shulle Haue heuene in youre here dwellyngW.14.151: W alone reads dwellyng; other manuscripts have beryng or beyng. . and heuene alsoW.14.151: W alone reads also; other manuscripts omit it. þerafter Riȝt soW.14.152: W alone reads so; other manuscripts omit it. as a seruaunt takeþ his salarie bifore . & siþþe wolde clayme moore As he þat noon hadde . and haþ hire at þe laste It may noȝt be ye riche men . or Mathew on god lyeþ De delicijs ad delicias difficile est transire Ac if ye riche haue ruþe . and rewarde wel þe poore And lyuen as lawe techeþ . and doon leaute to hem alle Crist of his curteisie . shal conforte yow at þe laste And rewarden alle double richesse . þat rewful hertes habbeþ And as an hyne þat hadde . his hire er he bigonne And whan he haþ doon his deuoir wel . men dooþ hym ooþer bountee Ȝyueþ hym a cote aboue his couenaunt . riȝt so crist ȝyueþ heuene Boþe to riche and to noȝt riche . þat rewfulliche libbeþ And alle þat doon hir deuoir wel . han double hire for hir trauaille Here forȝifnesse of hir synnes . and heuene blisse after Ac it is but selde yseien . as by holy seintes bokes That god rewarded double reste . to any riche wye For muche murþe is amonges riche . as in mete and cloþyng And muche murþe in May is . amonges wilde beestes And so forþ while somer lasteþ . hir solace dureþ Ac beggeris aboute Midsomer . bredlees þei slepeW.14.171: W alone reads slepe; other manuscripts have soupe. And yet is wynter for hem worse . for weet-shoed þei gone Afurst soore and afyngred . and foule yrebuked And arated of riche men . þat ruþe is to here Now lord sende hem somer . and som maner ioye Heuene after hir hennes goyng . þat here han swich defaute For alle myȝtestow haue maad . noon mener þan ooþer And yliche witty and wise . if þee wel hadde liked But lordW.14.179: W alone reads But lord; other manuscripts have And. haue ruþe on þise riche men . þat rewarde noȝt þi prisoners Of þe good þat þow hem gyuest . ingrati ben manye Ac god of þi goodnesse . gyue hem grace to amende For may no derþe be hem deere . droghte ne weet hem greue Ne neiþer hete ne Haylle . haue þei hir heele Of þat þei wilne and wolde . wanteþ hem noȝt here Ac poore peple þi prisoners . lord in þe put of meschief Conforte þo creatures . þat muche care suffren Thoruȝ derþe þoruȝ droghte . alle hir dayes here Wo in wynter tymes . for wantynge of cloþes And in somer tyme selde . soupen to þe fulle Conforte þi carefulle . crist in þi richesse For how þow confortest alle creatures . clerkes bereþ witnesse Conuertimini ad me & salui eritis Thus in genere of gentries . Iesu crist seide To robberis and to Reueris . to riche and to poore Thou tauȝtest hem in þe Trinite . to taken bapteme And to be clene þoruȝ þat cristnyng . of alle kynnes synne And if vs fille þoruȝ folie . to falle in synne after Confession and knowlichynge . inW.14.198: W alone reads in; all other manuscripts have and. crauynge þi mercy Shulde amenden vs as manye siþes . as man wolde desire And if þe pope wolde plede her-ayein . and punysshe vs in conscience He sholde take þe Acquitaunce as quyk . and to þe queed shewen it Pateat &c Per passionem domini And putten of so þe pouke . and preuen vs vnder borwe Ac þe parchemyn of þis patente . of pouerte be moste And of pure pacience . and parfit bileue Of pompe and of pride . þe parchemyn decourreþ And principalliche of al þe peple . but þei be poore of herte Ellis is al on ydel . al þat euere writenW.14.208: W alone reads writen; other manuscripts have we wryten. Pater nostres and penaunce . and Pilgrymages to Rome But oure spences and spendynge . sprynge of a trewe wille Ellis is al oure labour lost . lo how men writeþ In fenestres at þe freres . if fals be þe foundement For-þi cristene sholde be in commune riche . noon coueitous for hym-selue For seuene synnes þer ben . þat assaillen vs euere The fend folweþ hem alle . and fondeþ hem to helpe Ac wiþ richesse þat Ribaud . he raþest men bigileþ For þer þat richesse regneþ . reuerence folweþ And þat is plesaunt to pride . in poore and in riche And þe riche is reuerenced . by reson of his richesse Ther þe poore is put bihynde . and parauenture kan moore Of wit and of wisdom . þat fer awey is bettre Than richesse or reautee . and raþer yherd in heuene For þe riche haþ muche to rekene . and many tyme hym þatW.14.223: W alone reads many tyme hym þat though Cr reads right ofte him þat and S ofte him that. Other manuscripts have riȝt softe. walkeþ The heiȝe wey to heueneward . Richesse hym letteþ Ita inpossibile diuiti &c Ther þe poore preesseþ bifore þe riche . wiþ a pak at his rugge Opera enim illorum sequntur illos Batauntliche as beggeris doon . and boldeliche he craueþ For his pouerte and his pacience . a perpetuel blisse Beati pauperes quoniam ipsorum est regnum celorum And pride in richesse regneþ . raþer þan in pouerte Arst in þe maister þan in þe man . som mansion he haueþ Ac in pouerte þer pacience is . pride haþ no myȝte Ne none of þe seuene synnes . sitten ne mowe þer longe Ne haue power in pouerte . if pacienceW.14.235: W alone omits it after pacience. folwe For þe poore is ay prest . to plese þe riche And buxom at hise biddyngesW.14.237: W alone reads hise biddynges; all other manuscripts have the singular. . for his broke loues And buxomnesse and boost . arn euere-moore at werre And eiþer hateþ ooþer . in alle maner werkes If wraþe wrastle wiþ þe poore . he haþ þe worse ende And if þei boþe pleyne . þe poore is but feble And if he chide or chatre . hym cheueþ þe worse And if Coueitise cacche þe poore . þei may noȝt come togideres And by þe nekke namely . hir noon may hente ooþer For men knowen wel þat Coueitise . is of kene wille And haþ hondes and armes . of ful greetW.14.246: W alone reads ful greet; most other manuscripts have a long. lengþe And Pouerte nys but a petit þyng . apereþ noȝt to his nauele And louely layk was it neuere . bitwene þe longe and þe shorte And þouȝ Auarice wolde angre þe poore . he haþ but litel myȝte For pouerte haþ but pokes . to putten in hise goodes Ther Auarice haþ Almaries . and yren bounden cofres And wheiþer be liȝter to breke . and lasse boost makeþ A beggeris bagge . þan an yren bounde cofre Lecherie loueþ hym noȝt . for he ȝyueþ but litel siluer Ne dooþ hym noȝt dyne delicatly . ne drynke wyn ofte A Straw for þe Stuwes . þeiW.14.256: W alone reads þei; all other manuscripts have it. stoode noȝt I trowe Hadde þei no þyng but of poore men . hir houses stoode vntyled And þouȝ Sleuþe suwe pouerte . and serue noȝt god to paie Meschief is his maister . and makeþ hym to þynke That god is his grettest help . and no gome ellis And he his seruaunt as he seiþ . and of his sute boþe And wheiþer he be or be noȝt . he bereþ þe signe of pouerte And in þat secte oure saueour . saued al mankynde For-þi eueryW.14.264: W alone reads euery; all other manuscripts have al. poore þat pacient is . may cleymen and asken After hir endynge here . heuene-riche blisse Muche hardier may he asken . þat here myȝte haue his wille In lond and in lordshipe . and likynge of bodie And for goddes loue leueþ al . and lyueþ as a beggere And as a mayde for mannes loue . hire moder forsakeþ Hir fader and alle hire frendes . and folweþ hir make Muche moore is to loue . of hym þat swich oon takeþ Than is þat maidenW.14.272: W alone reads is þat maiden; other manuscripts have a maiden is. . þat is maried þoruȝ brocage As by assent of sondry parties . and siluer to boote Moore for coueitise of good . þan kynde loue of boþe So it fareþ by ech a persone . þat possession forsakeþ And put hym to be pacient . and pouerte weddeþ The which is sib to god hym-self . and so to hise seintes Haue god my trouþe quod Haukyn . ye preise faste pouerte What is Pouerte wiþ pacience quod he . proprely to mene Paupertas quod Pacience . est odibile bonum / Remocio curarum . possessio sine calumpnia . donum dei . sanitas ma- ter . absque sollicitudine semita . sapiencie temperatrix . ne- gocium sine dampno / Incerta fortuna . absque sollicitudine felicitas I kan noȝt construe al þis quod haukyn . ye moste kenne me þis on englissh In englissh quod Pacience . it is wel hard wel to expounen Ac som-deel I shal seyen it . by so þow vnderstonde Pouerte is þe firste point . þat pride moost hateþ Thanne is it good by good skile . al þat agasteþ pride Riȝt as contricion is confortable þyng . conscience woot wel And a sorwe of hym-self . and a solace to þe soule So pouerte propreliche . penaunce and Ioye Is to þe body . pure spiritual helþe Ergo paupertas est odibile bonum And Contricion confort . and cura animarum Selde sit pouerte . þe soþe to declare For as Iustice to Iugge men . enioyned is no poore Ne to be Mair aboue men . ne Mynystre vnder kynges Selde is any poore yput . to punysshen any peple Remocio curarum Ergo pouerte and poore men . parfournen þe comaundement Nolite iudicare quemquam . þe þridde Selde is any poore riche . but of riȝtful heritage Wynneþ he noȝt wiþ wiȝtes false . ne wiþ vnseled mesures Ne borweþ of hise neighebores . but þat he may wel paie Possessio sine calumpnia The ferþe is a fortune . þat florissheþ þe soule Wiþ sobretee fram alle synne . and also ȝit moore It afaiteþ þe flessh . fram folies ful manye A collateral confort . cristes owene ȝifte Donum dei The fifte is moder of helþe . a frend in alle fondynges And for þe land euere a leche . a lemman of alle clennesse Sanitas mater The sixte is a path of pees . ye þoruȝ þe paas of Aultoun Pouerte myȝte passe . wiþ-outen peril of robbyng For þer þat Pouerte passeþ . pees folweþ after And euer þe lasse þat he bereþ . þe hardier he is of herte For-þi seiþ Seneca . Paupertas est absque sollicitudine semita And an hardy man of herte . among an heep of þeues Cantabit paupertas coram latrone viatore The seuenþe is welle of wisedom . and fewe wordes sheweþ Ther-fore lordes alloweþ hym litel . or listneþ to his reson For he tempreþ þe tonge to truþeward . and no tresor coueiteþ Sapiencie temperatrix The eighteþe is a lele labour . and looþ to take moore Than he may wel deserue . in somer or in wynter And if he chaffareþ he chargeþ no losse . mowe he charite wynne Negocium sine dampno The nynþe is swete to þe soule . no sugre is swetter For pacience is payn . for pouerte hym-selue And sobretee swete drynke . and good leche in siknesse Thus lered me a lettred man . for oure lordes loue of heuene Seint Austyn a blessed lif . wiþ-outen bisynesse ladde For body and for soule . Absque sollicitudine felicitas Now god þat alle good gyueþ . graunte his soule reste That þis first wroot to wissen men . what Pouerte was to mene Allas quod Haukyn þe Actif man þo . þat after my cristendom I ne hadde be deed and doluen . for dowelis sake So hard it is quod haukyn . to lyue and to do synne Synne seweþ vs euere quod he . and sory gan wexe And wepte water wiþ hise eighen . and weyled þe tyme That he euereW.14.339: W alone reads he euere; other manuscripts have euere he. dide dede . þat deere god displesed Swouned and sobbed . and siked ful ofte That euere he hadde lond ouþerW.14.341: W alone reads ouþer; other manuscripts have or. lordshipe . lasse oþer moore Or maistrie ouer any man . mo þan of hym-selue I were noȝt worþi woot god quod haukyn . to werien any cloþes Ne neiþer sherte ne shoon . saue for shame one To couere my careyne quod he . and cride mercy faste And wepte and wailede . and þer-wiþ I awakede