The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 2: Trinity College, Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W)

The Piers Plowman Electronic Archive, Vol. 2: Trinity College, Cambridge MS B.15.17 (W) – Passus 15and Color Facsimile of Richard Rolle's <title>Form of Living – Passus 15William LanglandEdited by Thorlac Turville-Petre and Hoyt N. DugganAssociate Editors: M. Gail Duggan and Catherine A. Farley Graduate Research Assistants Michael Blum, Stephen C. Martin, and John Ivor Carlson. Computer Consultants and ProgrammersOludotun Akinola, Karen Dietz, Susan Gants, Kirk V. Hastings, Susan Munson, Beth Nowviskie, Daniel Pitti, John Price-Wilkin, Thornton Staples, and John Unsworth.University of Michigan Press Ann Arbor, Mich. ISBN: 0-472-00275-9

Commercially available:

2000 Trinity College, Cambridge, MS B.15.17

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

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LatinFrenchGerman2000 cataloger Jackie Shieh New header created Passus .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 .xvus.quindecimus &c finit do-wel & incipit do-bet AC after my wakynge . it was wonder longe Er I koude kyndely . knowe what was dowel And so my wit weex and wanyed . til I a fool weere And some lakkede my lif . allowed it fewe And lete me for a lorel . and looþ to reuerencen Lordes or ladies . or any lif ellis As persons in pelure . wiþ pendauntz of siluer To sergeauntz ne to swiche . seide I noȝt ones God loke yow lordes . ne loutede faire That folk helden me a fool . and in þat folie I raued Til reson hadde ruþe on me . and rokked me a-slepe Til I seiȝ as it sorcerie were . a sotil þyng wiþ-alle Oon wiþ-outen tonge and teeþ . tolde me whider I sholde And wher-of I cam & of what kynde . I coniured hym at þe laste If he were cristes creature . anoon me to tellen ¶ I am cristes creature quod he . and cristene in many a place In cristes court yknowe wel . and of his kyn a party Is neiþer Peter þe Porter . ne Poul wiþ his fauchon That wole defende me þe dore . dynge I neuer so late At mydnyght at mydday . my vois so is knowe That ech a creature of his court . welcomeþ me faire What are ye called quod I in þat court . among cristes pepleW.15.22: A smudged What are ye cald is written in a later hand in the space between this line and the next. ¶ The whiles I quykne þe cors quod he . called am I anima And whan I wilne . and wolde animus ich hatte And for þat I kan knoweW.15.25: W alone reads kan knowe; other manuscripts have can and knowe. . called am I mens And whan I make mone to god . memoria is my name And whan I deme domes . and do as truþe techeþ Thanne is Racio my riȝte name . reson on englissh And whan I feele þat folk telleþ . my firste name is sensus And þat is wit and wisdom . þe welle of alle craftes And whan I chalange or chalange noȝt . chepe or refuse Thanne am I Conscience ycalled . goddes clerk and his Notarie And whan I loue leelly . oure lord and alle oþere Thanne is lele loue my name . and in latyn Amor And whan I flee fro þe flessh . and forsake þe careyne Thanne am I a spirit spechelees . Spiritus þanne ich hatte Austyn and Ysodorus . eiþer of hem boþe Nempnede me þus to name . andW.15.38: W alone has and before now. now þow myȝt chese How þow coueitest to calle me . forW.15.39: W alone has for, which is omitted by other manuscripts. now þow knowest my names W.15.40: Another hand has inserted in black ink in the left margin inside a box the following note: nota . quod anima habet ix nomina ¶ Anima pro diuersis accionibus diuersa nomina sortitur : dum viuificat corpus . anima est  dum vult . animus est . dum scit . mens est  dum recolit . memoria est . dum iudicat . racio est  dum sentit . sensus est  dum amat . Amor est  dum negat vel consentit . consciencia est dum spirat . spiritus est ¶ Ye ben as a bisshop quod I . al bourdynge þat tyme For bisshopes yblessed . þei bereþ manye names Presul and Pontifex . and Metropolitanus And oþere names anheepan heep . Episcopus and PastorW.15.44: Between this line and the next a fifteenth-century hand (the same as on folios 1r and 147v) has written Jon Ryc. ¶ That is sooþ seide he . now I se þi wille Thow woldest knowe and konne . þe cause of alle my names And of meW.15.47: W alone has me; other manuscripts have myne. if þow myȝtest . me þynkeþ by þi speche ¶ Ye sire I seide . by so no man were greued Alle þe sciences vnder sonne . and alle þe sotile craftes I wolde I knewe and kouþe . kyndely in myn herte ¶ Thanne artow inparfit quod he . and oon of prides knyȝtes For swich a lust and likyng . Lucifer fel from heuene Ponam pedem meum in aquilone & similis ero altissimo ¶ It were ayeins kynde quod he . and alle kynnes reson That any creature sholde konne al . except crist oone Ayein swiche Salomon spekeþ . and despiseþ hir wittes And seiþ . Sicut qui mel comedit multum non est ei bonum Sic qui scrutator est maiestatis . opprimitur a gloria ¶ To englisshe men þis is to mene . þat mowen speke and here The man þat muche hony eteþ . his mawe it engleymeþ And þe moore þat a man . of good matere . hereþ But he do þer-after . it dooþ hym double scaþe Beatus est seiþ Seint Bernard . qui scripturas legit Et verba vertit in opera . fulliche to his power Coueitise to konne . and to knowe sciences Putte out of Paradis . Adam and Eue Sciencie appetitus hominem inmortalitatis gloria spoliauit ¶ And riȝt as hony is yuel to defie . and engleymeþ þe mawe ¶ Right so he þat þoruȝ reson . wolde þe roote knowe Of god and of hise grete myȝtes . hise graces it letteþ For in þe likynge liþ a pride . and licames coueitise Ayein cristes counseil . and alle clerkes techynge That is Non plus sapere quam oportet sapere ¶ Freres and fele oþere maistres . þat to lewed men prechen Ye moeuen materes vnmesurable . to tellen of þe Trinite That ofte-tymes þe lewed peple . of hir bileue doute Bettre it were to manye doctours . to leuen swich techyngW.15.77: The variants are complex, and W's version of the line is unique. M is closest with Bettre were many doctours . bileue suche techinge. Most other manuscripts have bettre to leyve were many doctovrs seyche teychyng (in the spelling of G). And tellen men of þe ten comaundementz . and touchen þe seuene synnes And of þe braunches þat burioneþ of hem . and bryngen men to helle And how þat folk in folies . mysspenden hir fyue wittes As wel freres as ooþer folk . foliliche spenden In housynge / in haterynge . and in to heigh clergie shewynge Moore for pompe þan for pure charite . þe peple woot þe soþe That I lye noȝt loo . for lordes ye plesen And reuerencen þe riche . þe raþer for hir siluer ¶ Confundantur omnes qui adorant sculptilia / Et alibi Vt quid diligitis vanitatem & queritis mendacium ¶ Gooþ to þe glose of þise vers . ye grete clerkes If I lye on yow to my lewed wit . ledeþ me to brennyng For as it semeþ ye forsakeþ . no mannes almesse Of vsurers of hoores . of Auarouse chapmen And louten to þise lordes . þat mowen lene yow nobles Ayein youre rule and Religion . I take record at Iesus That seide to hise disciples . Ne sitis personarum acceptores Of þis matere I myȝte . make a long bible Ac of curatours of cristen peple . as clerkes bereþ witnesse I shal tellen it for truþes sake . take hede who-so likeþ ¶ As holynesse and honeste . out of holy chirche spredeþ Thoruȝ lele libbynge men . þat goddes lawe techen Right so out of holi chirche . alle yueles spryngeþW.15.100: W alone has spryngeþ; all other manuscripts have spredeth. There inparfit preesthode is . prechours and techeris I se it by ensaumple . in somer tyme on trowes Ther some bowes ben leued . and some bereþ none Ther is a meschief in þe more . of swiche manere bowes ¶ Right so biW.15.105: All other manuscripts omit bi, added above the line in W. persons and preestes . and prechours of holi chirche That aren roote of þe right feiþ . to rule þe peple And þer þe roote is roten . reson woot þe soþe Shal neuere flour ne fruyt . ne fair leef be grene For-þi wolde ye lettrede leue . þe lecherie of cloþyng And be kynde as bifel for clerkes . and curteise of cristes goodes Trewe of youre tonge . and of youre tail boþe And hatien to here harlotrie . and noȝt to vnderfonge Tiþes but of trewe þyng . ytilied or chaffared Loþe were lewed men . but þei youre loore folwede And amendeden hem þat mysdoon . moore for youre ensaumples Than for to prechen and preuen it noȝt . ypocrisie it semeþ The whichW.15.117: W alone has The which; all other manuscripts have For ypocrisie. in latyn . is likned to a dongehille That were bisnewed wiþ snow . and snakes wiþ-Inne Or to a wal þat were whitlymed . and were foul wiþ-Inne ¶ Right so manye preestes . prechours and prelates Ye aren enblaunched wiþ bele paroles . and wiþ cloþes also Ac youre werkes and youre wordes þer-vnder . aren ful vnloueliche Iohannes Crisostomus . of clerkes spekeþ and preestes ¶ Sicut de templo omne bonum progreditur . sic de temploW.15.124: A later fifteenth-century hand has written nota in the right margin, as on fol. 56r. omne malum procedit  Si sacerdocium integrum fuerit tota floret ecclesia  Si autem corruptum fuerit omnium fides mar- cida est  Si sacerdocium fuerit in peccatis . totus popu- lus conuertitur ad peccandum . Sicut cum videris arborem pallidam & marcidam / intelligis quod vicium habet in radice . Ita cum videris populum indisciplinatum & irre- ligiosum sine dubio sacerdocium eius non est sanum ¶ If lewed men wiste . what þis latyn meneþ And who was myn Auctour . muche wonder me þinkeþ But if many a preest beere . for hir baselardes and hir broches A peire of bedes in hir hand . and a book vnder hir arme Sire Iohan and sire Geffrey . haþ a girdel of siluer A baselard or a ballokknyf . wiþ botons ouer-gilte Ac a Porthors þat sholde be his Plow . Placebo to sigge Hadde he neuere seruice to saue siluer þer-to . seiþ it with ydel wille ¶ Allas ye lewed men . muche lese ye on preestes Ac þing þat wikkedly is wonne . and wiþ false sleightes Wolde neuere þe wit of witty god . but wikkede men it hadde The whiche arn preestes inparfite . and prechours after siluer Executours and Sodenes . Somonours and hir lemmannes That þat wiþ gile was geten . vngraciousliche is despendedW.15.138: W alone has despended. Most other manuscripts have spended. So harlotes and hores . arn holpe wiþ swiche goodes And goddes folk for defaute þer-of . forfaren and spillen ¶ Curatours of holy kirke . as clerkes þat ben auarouse Lightliche þat þei leuen . losels it habbeþ Or deieþ intestate . and þanne þe bisshop entreþ And makeþ murþe þer-myd . and hise men boþe And seyen he was a nygard . þat no good myȝte aspare To frend ne to fremmed . þe fend haue his soule For a wrecchede hous held heW.15.147: W alone has held he; most other manuscripts have he held. . al his lif-tyme And þat he spared and bisperede . dispendeW.15.148: W alone has dispende. Other manuscripts have spende or spene. we in murþe By lered / by lewed . þat looþ is to despendeW.15.149: W alone reads despende; most other manuscripts have spende. Thus goon hire goodes . be þe goost faren Ac for goode men god woot . greet doel men maken And bymeneþ goode mete-ȝyueres . and in mynde haueþ In preieres and in penaunces . and in parfit charite .What is charite What is charite quod I þo . a childissh þyng he seide W.15.155-156: The scribe has added in the left margin boxed in red the words quid est caritas. Nisi efficiamini sicut paruuli . non intrabitis in regnum celorum Wiþ-outen fauntelte or folie . a fre liberal wille ¶ Where sholde men fynde swich a frend . wiþ so fre an herte I haue lyued in londe quod heW.15.158: WHmCr1 have he; all other manuscripts read I. . my name is longe wille And fond I neuere ful charite . bifore ne bihynde Men beþ merciable . to mendinauntz and to poore And wollen lene þer þei leue . lelly to ben paied Ac charite þat Poul preiseþ best . and moost plesaunt to oure lord Is Non inflatur . non est ambiciosa . non querit que sua sunt &cW.15.163: W alone has &c. ¶ I seiȝ neuere swich a man . so me god helpe That he ne wolde aske after his . and ouþerwhile coueite Thyng þat neded hym noȝt . and nyme it if he myȝte ¶ Clerkes kenne me . þat crist is in alle places Ac I seiȝ hym neuere sooþly . but as my-self in a Mirour In enigmate tunc facie ad faciem And so I trowe trewely . by þat men telleþ of charite It is noȝt chaumpions fight . ne chaffare as I trowe ¶ Charite quod he ne chaffareþ noȝt . ne chalangeþ ne craueþ As proud of a peny . as of a pound of golde And is as glad of a gowne . of a gray russet As of a tunycle of tarse . or of trie scarlet He is glad wiþ alle glade . and good til alle wikkede And leneþW.15.177: The word could, of course, be leueþ, the reading chosen by Skeat. Modern editors have chosen leneþ. and loueþ alle . þat oure lord made Corseþ he no creature . ne he kan bere no wraþe Ne no likynge haþ to lye . ne laughe men to scorne Al þat men seyn he leet it sooþ . and in solace takeþ And alle manere meschiefs . in myldenesse he suffreþ Coueiteþ he noon erþely good . but heuene-riche blisse Haþ he anye rentes or richesse . or any riche frendes ¶ Of rentes norW.15.184: W alone has nor; other manuscripts have ne. of richesse . ne rekkeþ he neuere For a frend þat fyndeþ hym . failed hym neuere at nede Fiat voluntas tua . fynt hym euere-moore And if he soupeþ eteþ but a sop . of Spera in deo He kan portreye wel þe Pater noster . and peynte it with Aues And ouþerwhile he is woned . to wenden on pilgrymages Ther poore men and prisons liggeþ . hir pardon to haue Thouȝ he bere hem no breed . he bereþ hem swetter liflode Loueþ hem as oure lord biddeþ . and lokeþ how þei fare ¶ And whan he is wery of þat werk . þan wole he somtyme Labouren in lauendrye . wel þe lengþe of a Mile And yerne in-to youþe . and yepeliche speke Pride wiþ al þe appurtenaunces . and pakken hem togideres And bouken hem at his brest . and beten hem clene And leggen on longe . wiþ Laboraui in gemitu meo And wiþ warm water at hise eiȝen . wasshen hem after And þanne he syngeþ whan he doþ so . and som-tyme seiþ wepynge Cor contritum & humiliatum deus non despicies ¶ By crist I wolde þat I knewe hym quod I . no creature leuere ¶ Wiþ-outen help of Piers Plowman quod he . his persone sestow neuere ¶ Wheiþer clerkes knowen hym quod I . þat kepen holikirke ¶ Clerkes haue no knowyng quod he . but by werkes and by wordes Ac Piers þe Plowman . parceyueþ moore depper What is þe wille and wher-fore . þat many wight suffreþ Et vidit deus cogitaciones eorum For þer are ful proude-herted men . pacient of tonge And buxome as of berynge . to burgeises and to lordes ¶ And to poore peple . han pepir in þe nose And as a lyoun he lokeþ . þer men lakken hise werkes ¶ For þer are beggeris and bidderis . bedemen as it were Loken as lambren . and semen fulW.15.214: W alone has ful; all other witnesses have lif. holy Ac it is moore to haue hir mete . wiþ swich an esy manere Than for penaunce and parfitnesse . þe pouerte þat swiche takeþ ¶ Ther-fore by colour ne by clergie . knowe shaltow neuere Neiþer þoruȝ wordes ne werkes . but þoruȝ wil oone And þat knoweþ no clerk . ne creature on erþe But Piers þe Plowman . Petrus .id est. christus For he nys noȝt in lolleris . ne in lond-leperis heremytes Ne at Ancres þere a box hangeþ . alle swiche þei faiten Fy on faitours . and in fautores suos For charite is goddes champion . and as a good child hende And þe murieste of mouþ . at mete where he sitteþ The loue þat liþ in his herte . makeþ hym liȝt of speche And is compaignable and confortatif . as crist bit hym-selue Nolite fieri sicut ypocrite tristes &c For I haue seyen hym in silk . and somtyme in russet Boþe in grey and in grys . and in gilt harneis And as gladliche he it gaf . to gomes þat it neded ¶ Edmond and Edward . boþe were kynges And seintes yset . for charite hem folwede ¶ I haue yseyen charite also . syngen and reden Riden and rennen . in raggede wedes Ac biddynge as beggeris . biheld I hym neuere Ac in riche robes raþest he walkeþ . Ycalled and ycrymyled . and his crowne yshaue And in a freres frokke . he was yfounden ones Ac it is fern ago . in Seint Fraunceis tyme In þat secte siþþe . to selde haþ he ben foundeW.15.241: W alone reads founde; all other manuscripts have knowe(n). ¶ Riche men he recomendeþ . and of hir robes takeþ That wiþ-outen wiles . ledeþ hir lyues Beatus est diues qui &c ¶ In kynges court he comeþ ofte . þer þe counseil is trewe Ac if coueitise be of þe counseil . he wol noȝt come þer-Inne ¶ In court amonges Iaperis . he comeþ noȝt but selde For braulynge and bakbitynge . and berynge of fals witnesse ¶ In þe Consistorie bifore þe Commissarie . he comeþ noȝt ful ofte For hir lawe dureþ ouer-longe . but if þei lacchen siluer And matrimoyne for moneie . maken and vnmaken And þat Conscience and crist . haþ yknyt faste Thei vndoon it vnworþily . þo doctours of lawe ¶ Ac I ne lakke no lif . but lord amende vs alle And gyue vs grace goode god . charite to folwe For who-so myȝte meete mydW.15.256: W alone has myd; other manuscripts have wiþ. hym . swiche maneres hym eileþ Neiþer he blameþ ne banneþ . bosteþ ne preiseþ Lakkeþ ne loseþ . ne lokeþ vp sterne Craueþ ne coueiteþ . ne crieþ after moore In pace in id-ipsum dormiam &c ¶ The mooste liflode þat he lyueþ by . is loue in goddes passion Neiþer he biddeþ ne beggeþ . ne borweþ to yelde Misdooþ he no man . ne wiþ his mouþ greueþ ¶ Amonges cristene men . þis myldenesse sholde laste In alle manere angres . haue þis at herte That þeiȝ þei suffrede al þis . god suffrede for vs moore In ensample we sholde do so . and take no vengeaunce Of oure foes þat dooþ vs falsnesse . þat is oure fadres wille ¶ For wel may euery man wite . if god hadde wold hym-selue Sholde neuere Iudas ne Iew . haue Iesu doon on roode Ne han martired Peter ne Poul . ne in prison holden Ac he suffrede in ensample . þat we sholde suffren also And seide to swiche þat suffre wolde . þat Pacientes vincunt ¶ Verbi gracia quod he . and verray ensamples manye In legenda sanctorum . þe lif of holy Seintes What penaunce and pouerte . and passion þei suffrede In hunger / in hete . in alle manere angres ¶ Antony and Egidie . and oþere holy fadres Woneden in wildernesse . among wilde beestes Monkes and mendinauntz . men by hem-selue In spekes and in spelonkes . selde speken togideres ¶ Ac neiþer Antony ne Egidie . ne heremyte þat tyme Of leons ne of leopardes . no liflode ne toke But of foweles þat fleeþ . þus fyndeþ men in bokes Except þat Egidie . after an hynde cride And þoruȝ þe mylk of þat mylde beest . þe man was sustened And day bi day hadde he hire noȝt . his hunger for to slake But selden and sondry tymes . as seiþ þe book and techeþ ¶ Antony a-dayes . aboute noon-tyme Hadde a brid þat brouȝte hym breed . þat he by lyuede And þouȝ þe gome hadde a gest . god fond hem boþe ¶ Poul primus heremita . hadde parroked hym-selue That no man myȝte hym se . for mosse and for leues Foweles hym fedde . fele wyntres wiþ-alle Til he foundede freres . of Austynes ordre Poul after his prechyng . paniers he made And wan wiþ hise hondes . þat his wombe neded ¶ Peter fisshed for his foode . and his felawe Andrew Som þei solde and som þei soden . and so þei lyued boþe ¶ And also Marie Maudeleyne . by mores lyuede and dewes Ac moost þoruȝ deuocion . and mynde of god almyghty I sholde noȝt þise seuen daies . siggen hem alle That lyueden þus for oure lordes loue . many longe yeres ¶ Ac þer ne was leoun ne leopard . þat on laundes wenten Neiþer bere ne boor . ne ooþer beest wilde That ne fil to hir feet . and fawned wiþ þe tailles And if þei kouþe han ycarped . by crist as I trowe Thei wolde haue yfed þat folk . bifore wilde foweles Ac god sente hem foode by foweles . and by no fierse beestes In menynge þat meke þyng . mylde þyng sholde fede ¶ As who seiþ Religiouses . rightfulle men sholde fede And lawefulle men to lifholy men . liflode sholde brynge And þanne wolde lordes and ladies . be looþ to agulte And to taken of hir tenauntz . moore þan trouþe wolde Founde þei þat freres . wolde forsake hir almesses And bidden hem bere it . þere it was yborwed For we ben goddes foweles . and abiden alwey Til briddes brynge vs . þat we sholde lyue by For hadde ye potage and payn ynogh . and peny ale to drynke And a mees þer-myd . of o maner kynde Ye hadde riȝt ynoȝ ye Religiouse . and so youre rule me tolde ¶ Numquam dicit Iob rugit onager cum herbam habuerit aut mugiet bos cum ante plenum presepe steterit . brutorum animalium natura te condempnat . quia cum eis pabulum commune sufficiat ex adipe prodijt iniquitas tua ¶ If lewed men knewe þis latyn . þei wolde loke whom þei yeueW.15.323-329: A rough decorative line runs down the left margin from 15.323-329. And auisen hem bifore . a fyue dayes or sixe Er þei amortisede . to monkes or Chanons hir renteW.15.325: W alone has rente; all other manuscripts have plural rentes. Allas lordes and ladies . lewed counseil haue ye To ȝyue from youre heires . þat youre Aiels yow lefte And ȝyueþ it to bidde for yow . to swiche þat ben riche And ben founded and feffed ek . to bidde for oþere ¶ Who parfourneþ þis prophecie . of þe peple þat now libbeþ Dispersit dedit pauperibus ¶ If any peple parfourne þat text . it are þise poore freres For þat þei beggen aboute . in buyldynge þei spende it And on hem-self som . and swiche as ben hir laborers And of hem þat habbeþ þei taken . and ȝyueþ hem þat habbeþ ¶ Ac clerkes and knyȝtes . and communers þat ben riche Fele of yow fareþ . as if I a forest hadde That were ful of faire trees . and I fondede and caste How I myȝte mo þer-Inne . amonges hem sette ¶ Right so ye riche . ye robeþ þat ben riche And helpeþ hem þat helpeþ yow . and ȝyueþ þer no nede is As who-so filled a tonne . of a fressh ryuer And wente forþ wiþ þat water . to woke wiþ Temese Right so ye riche . ye robeþ and fedeþ Hem þat han as ye han . hem ye make ateseat ese ¶ Ac Religiouse þat riche ben . sholde raþer feeste beggeris Than burgeises þat riche ben . as þe book techeþ Quia sacrilegium est res pauperum non pauperibus dare W.15.348: A later hand has written nota in the right margin. Item peccatoribus dare est demonibus immolare Item monache si indiges & accipis pocius das quam accipis Si autem non eges & accipis rapis Porro non indiget monachus si habeat quod nature sufficit ¶ For-þi I counseille alle cristene . to conformen hem to charite For charite wiþ-outen chalangynge . vnchargeþ þe soule And many a prison fram purgatorie . þoruȝ hise preieres he deliuereþ Ac þer is a defaute in þe folk . þat þe feiþ kepeþ Wher-fore folk is þe febler . and noȝt ferm of bileue As in lussheburwes is a luþer alay . and yet lokeþ he lik a sterlyng The merk of þat monee is good . ac þe metal is feble ¶ And so it fareþ by som folk now . þei han a fair speche Crowne and cristendom . þe kynges mark of heuene Ac þe metal þat is mannes soule . wiþ synne is foule alayed Boþe lettred and lewed . beþ alayed now wiþ synne That no lif loueþ ooþer . ne oure lord as it semeþ For þoruȝ werre and wikkede werkes . and wederes vnresonable Wederwise shipmen . and witty clerkes also Han no bileue to þe lifte . ne to þe loore of Philosofres ¶ Astronomiens alday . in hir Art faillen That whilom warned bifore . what sholde falle after ¶ Shipmen and shepherdes . þat wiþ ship and sheep wenten Wisten by þe walkne . what sholde bitide As of wedres and wyndes . þei warned men ofte ¶ Tilieris þat tiled þe erþe . tolden hir maistres By þe seed þat þei sewe . what þei seldeW.15.374: W alone has selde; other manuscripts have selle. myȝte And what to leue and what to lyue by . þe lond was so trewe ¶ Now faileþ þe folk of þe flood . and of þe lond boþe Shepherdes and shipmen . and so do þise tilieris Neiþer þei konneþ ne knoweþ . oon cours bifore anoþer ¶ Astronomyens also . aren at hir wittes ende Of þat was calculed of þe element . þe contrarie þei fynde Grammer þe ground of al . bigileþ now children For is noon of þise newe clerkes . who-so nymeþ hedeW.15.382: WHmCr omit the following line attested by other witnesses: Þat can versifye faire . ne formalich enditen (in the spelling of L). Nauȝt oon among anhundredan hundred . þat an Auctour kan construwe Ne rede a lettre in any langage . but in latyn or in englissh ¶ Go now to any degree . and but if gile be maister And Flaterere his felawe . vnder hym to fourmen Muche wonder me þynkeþ . amonges vs alle Doctours of decrees . and of diuinite maistres That sholde konne and knowe . alle kynnes clergie And answere to Argumentz . and also to a Quodlibet I dar noȝt siggen it for shame . if swiche were apposed Thei sholde faillen of hir Philosophie . and in Phisik boþe ¶ Wher-fore I am afered . of folk of holy kirke Lest þei ouerhuppen as ooþere doon . in office and in houres And if þei ouerhuppe as I hope noȝt . oure bileue suffiseþ As clerkes in Corpus Christi feeste . syngen and reden That sola fides sufficit . to saue wiþ lewed peple And so may Sarzens be saued . Scribes and Iewes ¶ Allas þanne but oure looresmen . lyue as þei leren vs And for hir lyuynge þat lewed men . be þe loþer god agulten For Sarzens han somwhat . semynge to oure bileue For þei loue and bileue . in o persone almyghty And we lered and lewed . in oon god almyȝty And oon Makometh a man . in mysbileue brouȝte Sarzens of Surree . and see in what manere ¶ This Makometh was a cristene . and for he moste noȝt ben a pope In-to Surrie he souȝte . and þoruȝ hise sotile wittes He daunted a dowue . and day and nyȝt hire fedde The corn þat she croppede . he caste it in his ere And if he among þe peple preched . or in places come Thanne wolde þe coluere come . to þe clerkes ere Menynge as after mete . þus Makometh hire enchauntede And dide folk þanne falle on knees . for he swoor in his prechyng That þe coluere þat com so . com from god of heuene As messager to Makometh . men for to teche And þus þoruȝ wiles of his wit . and a whit Dowue Makometh in mysbileue . men and wommen brouȝte That lyued þo þere and lyue ȝit . leeue..nW.15.418: Letters have been erased between leeue and on, with <n> added to leeue and followed by a dash, probably in the scribal hand. on hise lawes ¶ And siþþe oure Saueour suffred . þe Sarzens so bigiled Thoruȝ a cristene clerk . acorsed in his soule For drede of þe deeþ . I dar noȝt telle truþe How englisshe clerkes a coluere fede . þat coueitise hiȝte And ben manered after Makometh . þat no man vseþ trouþe ¶ Ancres and heremytes . and Monkes and freres Peeren to þe Apostles . þoruȝ hire parfit lyuynge Wolde neuere þe feiþful fader . þat hise Ministres sholde Of tirauntz þat teneþ trewe men . taken any almesse But doon as Antony dide . dominyk and Fraunceys Beneit and Bernard . þe whiche hem first tauȝte To lyue by litel and in lowe houses . by lele mennes almesse Grace sholde growe and be grene . þoruȝ hir goode lyuynge And folkes sholden fareW.15.432: W alone has fare, though Hm has faren with the last four letters written over an erasure in a different ink. Other manuscripts have fynde. . þat ben in diuerse siknesse The bettre for hir biddynges . in body and in soule Hir preieres and hir penaunces . to pees sholde brynge Alle þat ben at debaat . and bedemen were trewe Petite & accipietis &c Salt saueþ þe catel . siggen þise wyues Vos estis sal terre &c ¶ The heuedes of holy chirche . and þei holy were Crist calleþ hem salt . for cristene soules Et si sal euanuerit in quo salietur &c ¶ For fressh flessh ouþer fissh . whan it salt failleþ It is vnsauory for-soþe . ysoden or ybake So is mannes soule sooþly . þat seeþ no goode ensamplesW.15.444: W alone has plural ensamples. Other manuscripts have the singular. Of hem of holi chirche . þat þe heighe wey sholde teche And be gide and go bifore . as a good Banyer And hardie hem þat bihynde ben . and ȝyue hem good euidence ¶ Elleuene holy men . al þe world tornede In-to lele bileue . þe lightloker me þinkeþ Sholde alle maner men . we han so manye maistres Preestes and prechours . and a pope aboue That goddes salt sholde be . to saue mannes soule ¶ Al was hethynesse somtyme . Engelond and Walis Til Gregory garte clerkes . to go here and preche Austyn at Caunterbury . cristnede þe kyng And þoruȝ miracles as men mow rede . al þat marche he tornede To crist and to cristendom . and cros to honoure And follede folk faste . and þe feiþ tauȝte Moore þoruȝ miracles . þan þoruȝ muche prechyng As wel þoruȝ hise werkes . as wiþ hise holy wordes And seide hem . what fullynge and feiþ was to mene ¶ Clooþ þat comeþ fro þe weuyng . is noȝt comly to were Til it be fulled vnder foot . or in fullyng stokkes Wasshen wel wiþ water . and wiþ taseles cracched Ytouked and yteynted . and vnder taillours hande RightW.15.466: W alone reads Right. All other manuscripts have And. so it fareþ by a barn . þat born is of a wombe Til it be cristned in cristes name . and confermed of þe bisshop It is heþene as to heueneward . and helplees to þe soule ¶ Heþen is to mene after heeþ . and vntiled erþe As in wilde wildernesse . wexeþ wilde beestes Rude and vnresonable . rennynge wiþ-outen cropiersW.15.471: W alone has the spelling cropiers, "cruppers, straps" (French cropiere). R alone has the probably correct keperes, while other manuscripts have variations on creperes (GC2LYO) and cropers (HmCrCBM). ¶ Ye mynnen wel how Mathew seiþ . how a man made a feste He fedde hem wiþ no venyson . ne fesauntz ybake But wiþ foweles þat fram hym nolde . but folwede his whistlyng Ecce altilia mea & omnia parata sunt And wiþ calues flessh he fedde . þe folk þat he louede ¶ The calf bitokneþ clennesse . in hem þat kepeþ lawes For as þe Cow þoruȝ kynde mylk . þe calf norisseþ til an Oxe So loue and leaute . lele men susteneþ And maidenes and mylde men . mercy desiren Right as þe cow calf . coueiteþ melk sweteW.15.481: W alone reads melk swete. Other manuscripts have swete mylke (in the spelling of L). So doon riȝtfulle men . mercy and truþe ¶ Ac who beþ þat excuseþ hem . þat ben persons and preestes That heuedes of holy chirche ben . þat han hir wil here Wiþ-outen trauaille þe tiþe deel . þat trewe men biswynken They wol be wrooþ for I write þus . ac to witnesse I take Boþe Mathew and Marc . and Memento domine dauid ¶ What pope or prelat now . parfourneþ þat crist highte Ite in vniuersum mundum & predicate &c ¶ Allas þat men so longe . on Makometh sholde bileue So manye prelates to preche . as þe Pope makeþ Of Nazareth of Nynyue . of Neptalym and Damaske That þei ne wente as crist wisseþ . siþen þei wille haue name To be pastours and preche . þe passion of Iesus And as hym-self seide . to lyue and toW.15.495: W alone has to which is omitted by the other witnesses. dye Bonus pastor animam suam ponit &c And seide it in saluacion . of Sarzens and oþere For cristene and vncristene . crist seide to prechours Ite vos in vineam meam &c ¶ And siþ þat þise Sarzens . Scribes and Iewes Han a lippe of oure bileue . þe lightlier me þynkeþ Thei sholde turne who-so trauailed . to teche hem of þe Trinite Querite & inuenietis &c ¶ It is ruþe to rede . how riȝtwise men lyuede How þei defouled hir flessh . forsoke hir owene wille Fer fro kyth and fro kyn . yuele ycloþed yeden Baddely ybedded . no book but conscience Ne no richesse but þe roode . to reioisse hem Inne Absit nobis gloriari nisi in cruce domini nostri &c ¶ And þo was plentee and pees . amonges poore and riche And now is rouþe to rede . how þe rede noble Is reuerenced er þe Roode . and receyued for worþierW.15.512: W alone omits þe before worþier. Than cristes cros þat ouercam . deeþ and dedly synne And now is werre and wo . and who-so why askeþ For coueitise after cros . þe croune stant in golde Boþe riche and Religious . þat roode þei honoure That in grotes is ygraue . and in gold nobles For coueitise of þat cros . men of holy kirke Shul torne as templers dide . þe tyme approcheþ faste ¶ Wite ye noȝt ye wise men . how þo men honoured Moore tresor þan trouþe . I dar noȝt telle þe soþe Reson and rightful doom . þe Religiouse demede ¶ Right so ye clerkes . for youre coueitise er longe Shal þei demen dos ecclesie . and youre pride depose Deposuit potentes de sede &c ¶ If knyghthod and kynde wit . and þeW.15.526: W alone reads þe, which is omitted in other manuscripts. In many manuscripts the b-verse reads and comune conscience (in the spelling of L). commune by conscience Togideres loue leelly . leueþ it wel ye bisshopes The lordshipe of youreW.15.528: W alone has youre; other manuscripts omit it. londes . for euere shul ye lese And lyuen as Leuitici . as oure lordW.15.529: W alone omits yow after lord. techeþ Per primicias & decimas &c ¶ Whan Costantyn of curteisie . holy kirke dowed Wiþ londes and ledes . lordshipes and rentes An Aungel men herden . an heigh at Rome crye Dos ecclesie þis day . haþ ydronke venym And þo þat han Petres power . arn apoisoned alle ¶ A medicyne moot þer-to . þat may amende prelates That sholden preie for þe pees . possession hem letteþ Takeþ hire landes ye lordes . and leteþ hem lyue by dymes ¶ If possession be poison . and inparfite hem make Good were to deschargen hem . for holy chirches sake And purgen hem of poison . er moore peril falle ¶ If preesthode were parfit . þe peple sholde amende That contrarien cristes lawe . and cristendom dispise For alle paynymes preieþ . and parfitly bileueþ In þe holy grete god . and his grace þei asken And make hir mone to Makometh . hir message to shewe Thus in a feiþ leue þat folk . and in a fals mene And þat is rouþe for riȝtful men . þat in þe Reawme wonyen And a peril to þe pope . and prelates þat he makeþ That bere bisshopes names . of Bethleem and Babiloigne That huppe aboute in Engelond . to halwe mennes Auteres And crepe amonges curatours . and confessen ageyn þe lawe Nolite mittere falsem in messem alienam &c ¶ Many man for cristes loue . was martired in Romayne Er any cristendom was knowe þere . or any cros honoured ¶ Euery bisshop þat bereþ cros . by þat he is holden Thoruȝ his prouince to passe . and to his peple to shewe hym Tellen hem and techen hem . on þe Trinite to bileue And feden hem wiþ goostly foode . and gyue þere it nedeþ In domo mea non est panis neque vestimentum et ideo nolite constituere me Regem ¶ Ozias seiþ for swiche . þat sike ben and feble Inferte omnesW.15.562: W alone omits decimas after omnes. in orreum meum vt cibus in domo mea ¶ Ac we cristene creatures . þat on þe cros bileuen Arn ferme as in þe feiþ . goddes forbode ellis And han clerkes to kepen vs þer-Inne . & hem þat shul come after vs ¶ And Iewes lyuen in lele lawe . oure lord wroot it hym-selue In stoon for it stedefast was . and stonde sholde euere Dilige deum & proximum . is parfit Iewen lawe And took it Moyses to teche men . til Messie coome And on þat lawe þei lyue ȝit . and leten it þe beste And ȝit knewe þei crist . þat cristendom tauȝte For a parfit prophete . þat muche peple sauede Of selkouþe sores . þei seiȝen it ofte Boþe of miracles and merueilles . and how he men festede Wiþ two fisshes and fyue loues . fyue þousand peple And by þat mangerie men myȝte wel se . þat Messie he semede And whan he lifte vp Lazar . þat leid was in graue And vnder stoon deed and stank . wiþ stif vois hym callede Lazare veni foras . Dide hym rise and rome . riȝt bifore þe Iewes ¶ Ac þei seiden and sworen . wiþ sorcerie he wrouȝte And studieden to struyen hym . and struyden hem-selue . And þoruȝ his pacience hir power . to pure noȝt he brouȝte Pacientes vincunt . ¶ Daniel of hire vndoynge . deuyned and seide Cum sanctus sanctorum veniat cessabit vnxio vestra And wenen þo wrecches . þat he were pseudo propheta And þat his loore be lesynges . and lakken it alle And hopen þat he be to come . þat shal hem releue Moyses eft or Messie . hir maistres ȝit deuyneþ ¶ Ac pharisees and Sarzens . Scribes and Iewes Arn folk of oon feiþ . þe fader god þei honouren And siþen þat þe Sarzens . and also þe Iewes Konne þe firste clause of oure bileue . Credo in deum patrem omnipotentem Prelates of cristene prouinces . sholde preue if þei myȝte To lere hem litlum and litlum . et in Iesum Christum filium Til þei kouþe speke and spelle . et in Spiritum sanctum And reden it and recorden it . wiþ remissionem peccatorum Carnis resurreccionem . et vitam eternam amen