fol. 115v (cont.)I
Passus xixusvndevicesimus / et explicit dobet / et incipit dobest

Thus I awaked and wroot . what I hadde ydremed
And dighte me derely . and dide me to chirche
To here holly þe masse . and to be housled after

W.19.4KD.19.4
In myddes of þe masse . þo men yede to offryng
I fel eft-soones aslepe . and sodeynly me mette
That Piers þe Plowman . was peynted al blody
And com in wiþ a cros . bifore þe comune peple
W.19.8KD.19.8
And riȝt lik in alle þyngesW.19.8: W alone reads þynges; all other manuscripts have lymes. . to oure lord Iesus

And þanne called I Conscience . to kenne me þe soþe
Is þis Iesus þe Iustere quod I . þat Iewes dide to deþe
Or it is Piers þe Plowman . who peynted hym so rede

W.19.12KD.19.12
Quod Conscience and kneled þo . þise arn Piers armes
Hise colours and his cote Armure . ac he þat comeþ so blody
Is crist wiþ his cros . conquerour of cristene

Why calleW.19.15: W alone omits ye after calle. hym crist quod I . siþen Iewes calle hym Iesus
W.19.16KD.19.16
Patriarkes and prophetes . prophecied bifore
That alle kynne creatures . sholden knelen and bowen
Anoon as men nempned . þe name of god Iesu
Ergo is no name . to þe name of Iesus
fol. 116rI
W.19.20KD.19.20
Ne noon so nedeful to nempne . by nyȝte ne by daye
For alle derke deueles . arn adrad to heren it
And synfulle aren solaced . and saued by þat name
And ye callen hym crist . for what cause telleþ me
W.19.24KD.19.24
Is crist moore of myȝt . and moore worþi name
Than Iesu or Iesus . þat al oure Ioye com of

Thow knowest wel quod Conscience . and þow konne reson
That knyght . kyng . conquerour . may be o persone
W.19.28KD.19.28
To be called a knyght is fair . for men shul knele to hym
To be called a kyng is fairer . for he may knyghtes make
Ac to be conquerour called . þat comeþ of special grace
And of hardynesse of herte . and of hendenesse
W.19.32KD.19.32
To make lordes of laddes . of lond þat he wynneþ
And fre men foule þralles . þat folwen noȝt hise lawes

The Iewes þat were gentil men . Iesus þei despised
Boþe his loore and his lawe . now are þei lowe cherles
W.19.36KD.19.36
As wide as þe world is . noon of hem þer wonyeþW.19.36: W alone reads noon of hem þer wonyeþ. Most other manuscripts have wonyeþ þer noon.
But vnder tribut and taillage . as tikes and cherles
And þo þat bicome cristene . bi counseil of þe baptisme
Aren frankeleyns . free men . þoruȝ fullynge þat þei toke
W.19.40KD.19.40
And gentil men wiþ Iesu . for Iesu was yfulled
And vp-on Caluarie on cros . ycrouned kyng of Iewes

It bicomeþ to a kyng . to kepe and to defende
And conquerour of conquest . hise lawes and his large
W.19.44KD.19.44
And so dide Iesus þe Iewes . he Iustified and tauȝte hem
The lawe of lif . þat laste shal euere
And defended from foule yueles . feueres and Fluxes
And from fendes þat in hem were . and false bileue
W.19.48KD.19.48
Tho was he Iesus of Iewes called . gentile prophete
And kyng of hir kyngdom . and croune bar of þornes
fol. 116vI
And þo conquered he on cros . as conquerour noble
Mighte no deeþ hym fordo . ne adoun brynge
W.19.52KD.19.52
That he naroos and regnede . and rauysshed helle
And þo was he conquerour called . of quyke and of dede
For he yaf Adam and Eue . and oþere mo blisse
That longe hadde yleyen bifore . as Luciferis cherles

W.19.56KD.19.60
And siþ he yaf largely . alle hise lele liges
Places in Paradis . at hir partynge hennes
He may wel be called conquerour . and þat is crist to mene

Ac þe cause þat he comeþ þus . wiþ cros of his passion
W.19.60KD.19.64
Is to wissen vs þer-wiþ . þat whan þat we ben temptedW.19.60: A mark (probably for nota) to the right of this line appears to be in the text ink.
Ther-with to fiȝte and defenden vs . fro fallynge toW.19.61: W alone reads to. All other manuscripts have into. Kane-Donaldson's emendation should have read [in]to instead of in[to]. synne
And se bi his sorwe . þat who-so loueþ ioye
To penaunce and to pouerte . he moste puten hym-seluen
W.19.64KD.19.68
And muche wo in þis world . toW.19.64: W alone reads to; all other manuscripts omit it. willen and suffren

Ac to carpe moore of crist . and how he com to þat name
Faithly for to speke . his firste name was Iesus
Tho he was born in Bethleem . as þe book telleþ
W.19.68KD.19.72
And cam to take mankynde . kynges and Aungeles
Reuerenced hym faire . wiþ richessesW.19.69: W alone reads richesses; all other manuscripts have the singular form. of erþe
Aungeles out of heuene . come knelynge and songe
Gloria in excelsis deo &cW.19.71: The dot that follows the text is probably not intentional.

W.19.72KD.19.75
Kynges þatW.19.72: W alone reads þat; all other manuscripts omit it. come after . knelede . and offrede
Mirre and muche gold . wiþ-outen mercy askynge
Or any kynnes catel . but knowelichynge hym souereyn
Boþe of lond . sonne and see . and siþenes þei wente
W.19.76KD.19.79
In-to hir kyngene kiþ . by counseil of Aungeles
And þere was þat word fulfilled . þe which þow of speke
Omnia celestia terrestria flectantur in hoc nomine Iesu
fol. 117rI
For alle þe Aungeles of heuene . at his burþe knelede
W.19.80KD.19.82
And al þe wit of þe world . was in þo þre kynges
Reson and Rightwisnesse . and Ruþe þei offrede
Wher-fore and why . wise men þat tyme
Maistres and lettred men . Magi . hem callede

W.19.84KD.19.86
That o kyng cam wiþ Reson . couered vnder sense

The seconde kyng siþþe . sooþliche offrede
Rightwisnesse vnder reed gold . Resones felawe
ForW.19.87: W alone reads For; all other manuscripts omit it. gold is likned to leautee . þat laste shal euereW.19.87: After this line W omits And resoun to riche golde . to riȝte & to treuthe (in the spelling of L) attested by all other beta witnesses.

W.19.88KD.19.91
The þridde kyng þo kam . knelynge to Iesu
And presented hym wiþ pitee . apperynge by Mirre
For Mirre is mercy to mene . and mylde speche of tonge

Thre yliche honeste þynges . were offred þus atonesat ones
W.19.92KD.19.95
Thoruȝ þre kynne kynges . knelynge to Iesu

Ac for alle þise preciouse presentz . oure lord kyngW.19.93: W alone reads kyng; all other manuscripts have prynce. Iesus
Was neiþer kyng ne conquerour . til he gan to wexe
In þe manere of a man . and þat by muchel sleighte
W.19.96KD.19.99
As it bicomeþ a conquerour . to konne manye sleightes
And manye wiles and wit . þat wole ben a ledere
And so dide Iesu in hise dayes . who-so hadde tyme to telle it

Som-tyme he suffrede . and som-tyme he hidde hym
W.19.100KD.19.103
And som-tyme he fauȝt faste . and fleiȝ ouþer while
And som-tyme he gaf good . and grauntede heele boþe
Lif and lyme . as hym liste he wroȝte
As kynde is of a Conquerour . so comsede Iesu
W.19.104KD.19.107
Til he hadde alle hem . þat he for bledde

In his Iuuentee þis Iesus . at Iewene feeste
fol. 117vI
Water in-to wyn turnede . as holy writ telleþ
And þere bigan god . of his grace to do wel
W.19.108KD.19.111
For wyn is likned to lawe . and lifholynesseW.19.108: W alone reads lifholynesse; all other manuscripts have lyf of holynesse.
And lawe lakkede þo . for men louede noȝt hir enemys
And crist counseileþ þus . and comaundeþ boþe
To lered and to lewede . to louyen oure enemys
W.19.112KD.19.115
So at þat feeste first . as I bifore tolde
Bigan god of his grace . and goodnesse to dowel
And þanne was he called . noȝt holy crist but Iesu
A faunt fyn ful of wit . filius Marie
W.19.116KD.19.119
For bifore his moder Marie . made he þat wonder
That she first and formest . ferme sholde bileue
That he þoruȝ grace was gete . and of no gome ellis
He wroȝte þat by no wit . but þoruȝ word one
W.19.120KD.19.123
After þe kynde þat he cam of . þere comsede he dowel

And whan he woxen was moore . in his moder absence
He made lame to lepe . and yaf light to blynde
And fedde wiþ two fisshes . and with fyue loues
W.19.124KD.19.127
Sore afyngred folk . mo þan fyue þousand

Thus he confortede carefulle . and caughte a gretter name
The which was dobet . where þat he wente
For deue þoruȝ hise doynges to here . and dombe speke he made
W.19.128KD.19.131
And alle he heeled and halp . þat hym of grace askede
And þo was he called in contre . of þe comune peple
For þe dedes þat he dide . Fili dauid Iesus
For dauid was doghtiest . of dedes in his tyme
W.19.132KD.19.135
The burdes þo songe . Saul interfecit mille et dauid decem milia

For-þi þe contree þer Iesu cam called hym fili dauid
And nempned hym of Nazareth . and no man so worþi
To be kaiser or kyng . of þe kyngdom of Iuda
W.19.136KD.19.139
Ne ouer Iewes Iustice . as Iesus was hem þouȝte
fol. 118rI
Wher-of Cayphas hadde enuye . and oþere of þe Iewes
And for to doon hym to deþe . day and nyȝt þei casten
Killeden hym on cros-wise . at Caluarie on Friday
W.19.140KD.19.143
And siþen buriede his body . and beden þat men sholde
Kepen it fro nyght-comeris . wiþ knyghtes y-armed
For no frendes sholde hym fecche . for prophetes hem tolde
That þat blissede body . of burieles risen sholde
W.19.144KD.19.147
And goon in-to Galilee . and gladen hise Apostles
And his moder Marie . þus men bifore demede

The knyghtes þat kepten it . biknewe it hem-seluen
That Aungeles and Archaungeles . er þe day spronge
W.19.148KD.19.151-152
Come knelynge to þe corps . and songen Christus resurgens
Verray menW.19.149: W alone reads men; all other manuscripts have man. bifore hem alle . and forþ wiþ hem he yede

The Iewes preide hem beW.19.150: W alone reads be; all other manuscripts omit it. pees . and bisouȝte þe knyghtes
Telle þe comune þat þer cam . a compaignie of hise Apostles
W.19.152KD.19.156
And biwicched hem as þei woke . and awey stolen it

Ac Marie Maudeleyne . mette hym by þe weye
Goynge toward Galilee . in godhede and manhede
And lyues and lokynge . and she aloud cride
W.19.156KD.19.160
In ech a compaignie.W.19.156: The scribe has neatly lined through a wrongly placed punctus after compaignie. þer she cam . Christus resurgens

Thus cam it out þat crist ouercoom . recouerede and lyuede
Sic oportet Christum pati & intrare &c
For þat . þat wommen witeþ . may noȝt wel be counseille

W.19.160KD.19.163
Peter parceyued al þis . and pursued after
Boþe Iames and Iohan . Iesu for to seke
Thaddee and ten mo . wiþ Thomas of Inde
And as alle þise wise wyes . weren togideres
W.19.164KD.19.167
In an hous al bishet . and hir dore ybarred
Crist cam In and al closed . boþe dore and yates
fol. 118vI
To Peter and to þise Apostles . and seide pax vobis
And took Thomas by þe hand . and tauȝte hym to grope
W.19.168KD.19.171
And feele wiþ hise fyngres . his flesshliche herte

Thomas touched it . and wiþ his tonge seide
Deus meus & dominus meus
Thow art my lord I bileue . my god lordW.19.171: W alone reads my god lord. Most B manuscripts omit my; B reads my lord god. Iesu
W.19.172KD.19.174
Thow deidest and deeþ þoledest . and deme shalt vs alle
And now art lyuynge and lokynge . and laste shalt euere

Crist carpede þanne . and curteisliche seide
Thomas for þow trowest þis . and treweliche bileuest it
W.19.176KD.19.178
Blessed mote þow be . and be shalt for euere
And blessed mote þei alle be . in body and in soule
That neuere shul se me in sighte . as þow doost nowþe
And lelliche bileue al þis . I loue hem and blesse hem
W.19.180KD.19.181α
Beati qui non viderunt &c

And whan þis dede was doon . dobest he tauȝte
And yaf Piers power . and pardon he grauntede
To alle maner men . mercy and forȝifnesse
W.19.184KD.19.184
Hym myght to assoille . of alle manere synne
In couenaunt þat þei come . and kneweliched to paie
To Piers pardon þe Plowman . redde quod debes

Thus haþ Piers power . by his pardon paied
W.19.188KD.19.189
To bynde and vnbynde . boþe here and ellis-where
And assoille men of alle synnes . saue of dette one

Anoon after anheighan heigh . vp in-to heuene
He wente and wonyeþ þere . and wol come at þe laste
W.19.192KD.19.193
And rewarde hym right wel . þat reddit quod debet
Paieþ parfitly . as pure truþe wolde
And what persone paieþ it nouȝt . punysshen he þenkeþ
fol. 119rI
And demen hem at domes-day . boþe quyke and dede
W.19.196KD.19.197
The goode to þe godhede . and to greet Ioye
And wikkede to wonye . in wo wiþ-outen ende

Thus Conscience of crist . and of þe cros carpede
And counseiled me to knele þer-to . and þanne cam me þouȝte
W.19.200KD.19.201
Oon Spiritus paraclitus . to Piers and to hise felawes
In liknesse of a lightnynge . he lighte on hem alle
And made hem konne and knowe . alle kynne langages
I wondred what þat was . and waggede Conscience
W.19.204KD.19.205
And was a-fered of þe light . for in fires lightnesseW.19.204: W alone reads lightnesse; all other manuscripts have liknesse.
Spiritus paraclitus . ouer-spradde hem alle

Quod Conscience and knelede . þis is cristes messager
And comeþ fro þe grete god . and grace is his name
W.19.208KD.19.209
Knele now quod Conscience . and if þow kanst synge
Welcome hym and worshipe hym . wiþ Veni creator Spiritus

Thanne song I þat song . so dide manye hundred
And cride wiþ Conscience . help vs god of grace

W.19.212KD.19.213
And þanne bigan grace . to go wiþ Piers Plowman
And counseillede hym and Conscience . þe comune to sompne
For I wole dele to-day . and ȝyue diuine grace
To alle kynne creatures . þat han hir fyue wittes
W.19.216KD.19.217
Tresour to lyue by . to hir lyues ende
And wepne to fighte wiþ . þat wole neuere faille
For Antecrist and hise . al þe world shul greue
And acombre þee Conscience . but if crist þee helpe

W.19.220KD.19.221
And false prophetes fele . flatereris and gloseris
Shullen come and be curatours . ouer kynges and Erles
And Pride shal be Pope . Prynce of holy chirche
Coueitise and vnkyndenesse . Cardinals hym to lede
fol. 119vI
W.19.224KD.19.225
For-þi quod grace er I go . I wol gyue yow tresor
And wepne to fighte wiþ . whan Antecrist yow assailleþ
And gaf ech man a grace . to gide wiþ hym-seluen
That ydelnesse encombre hym noȝt . enuye ne pride
W.19.228KD.19.228α
Diuisiones graciarum sunt &c

Some he yaf wit . with wordes to shewe
Wit to wynne hir liflode wiþ . as þe world askeþ
As prechours and preestes . and Prentices of lawe
W.19.232KD.19.232
They lelly to lyue . by labour of tonge
And by wit to wissen oþere . as grace hem wolde teche

And some he kennede craft . and konnynge of sighte
Wiþ sellynge and buggynge . hir bilyue to wynne

W.19.236KD.19.236, 237
And some he lered to laboure . a lele lif and a trewe
And some he tauȝte to tilie . to dyche and to thecche
To wynne wiþ hir liflode . bi loore of his techynge

And some to deuyne and diuide . noumbres to kenne
W.19.240KD.19.241
And some to compace craftily . and colours to make
And some to se and to seye . what sholde bifalle
Boþe of wele and of wo . telle it er it felle
As Astronomyens þoruȝ Astronomye . and Philosofres wise

W.19.244KD.19.245
And some to ryde and to recouere . þat wrongfullyW.19.244: W alone reads wrongfully; Hm has riȝtfully while all other manuscripts have vnriȝtfully. was wonne
He wissed hem to wynne it ayein . þoruȝ wightnesse of handes
And fecchen it fro false men . wiþ Foluyles lawes

And some he lered to lyue . in longynge to ben hennes
W.19.248KD.19.249
In pouerte and in penaunce . to preie for alle cristene
And alle he lered to be lele . and ech a craft loue ooþer
And forbad hem alle debat . þat noon were among hem
Thouȝ some be clenner þan some . ye se wel quod Grace
fol. 120rI
W.19.252KD.19.252.1
That he þat vseþ þe faireste craft . to þe fouleste I kouþe haue put hym
Thynkeþ alle quod Grace . þat grace comeþ of my ȝifte
Lokeþ þat no manW.19.254: W alone reads no man; most other manuscripts have noon. lakke ooþer . but loueþ alle as breþeren

And who þat moost maistries kan . be myldest of berynge
W.19.256KD.19.256
And crouneþ Conscience kyng . and makeþ craft youre Stiward
And after craftes conseil . cloþeþ yow and fede
For I make Piers þe Plowman . my procuratour and my reue
And Registrer to receyue . redde quod debes
W.19.260KD.19.260
My prowor and my Plowman . Piers shal ben on erþe
And for to tilie truþe . a teeme shal he haue

Grace gaf Piers a teeme . ofW.19.262: W alone reads of; all other manuscripts omit it. foure grete Oxen
That oon was Luk a large beest . and a lowe-chered
W.19.264KD.19.264
And Mark and Mathew þe þridde . myghty beestes boþe
And Ioyned to hem oon Iohan . moost gentil of alle
The pris neet of Piers plow . passynge alle oþere

And Grace gaf Piers . of his goodnesse foure stottes
W.19.268KD.19.268
Al þat hise oxen eriede . þei to harewen after
Oon highte Austyn . and Ambrose anoþer
Gregori þe grete clerk . and Ierom þe goode
Thise foure þe feiþ to teche . folweþ Piers teme
W.19.272KD.19.272
And harewede in an hand-while . al holy Scripture
Wiþ two harewes þat þei hadde . an oold and a newe
Id est vetus testamentum & nouum

And Grace gaf greynes . þe Cardynal vertues
W.19.276KD.19.275
And sew hem in mannes soule . and siþen he tolde hir names
Spiritus prudencie . þe firste seed highte
And who-so ete þat . ymagynen he sholde
Er he deide any deeþW.19.279: W alone reads deide any deeþ; all other manuscripts have dide any dede. . deuyse wel þe ende
W.19.280KD.19.279
And lerned men a ladel bugge . wiþ a long stele
And caste for to kepe a crokke . to saue þe fatte aboue
fol. 120vI
The seconde seed . highte Spiritus temperancieW.19.282: Immediately following the box is a nota symbol shaped like a punctus elevatus without its point. It appears to be in the text ink.
He þat ete of þat seed . hadde swich a kynde
W.19.284KD.19.283
Sholde neuere mete ne muchel drynke . make hym to swelle
Ne no scornere ne scolde . out of skile hym brynge
Ne wynnynge ne wele . of worldliche richesse
Waste word of ydelnesse . ne wikked speche moeue
W.19.288KD.19.287
Sholde no curious clooþ . comen on his rugge
Ne no mete in his mouþ . þat maister Iohan Spicede

The þridde seed þat Piers sew . was Spiritus fortitudinis
And who eteW.19.291: W alone reads ete; all other manuscripts have so ete of. þat seed . hardy was he euere
W.19.292KD.19.291
To suffren al þat god sente . siknesse and Angres
Mighte no lesynges ne lyere . ne los of worldly catel
Maken hym for any mournynge . þat he nas murie in soule
And bold and abidynge . bismares to suffre
W.19.296KD.19.295
And pleieþ al wiþ pacience . and Parce michi domine
And couered hym vnder conseille . of Caton þe wise
Esto forti animo cum sis dampnatus inique

The ferþe seed þat Piers sew . was Spiritus Iusticie
W.19.300KD.19.298
And he þat ete of þat seed . sholde be euere trewe
Wiþ god . and nauȝt agast . but of gile one
For gile gooþ so pryuely . þat good feiþ ouþer-while
May nouȝt ben espied . for Spiritus Iusticie

W.19.304KD.19.302
Spiritus Iusticie . spareþ noȝt to spille
Hem þat ben gilty . and for to correcte
The kyng if he falle . in gilt or in trespas
For counteþ he no kynges wraþe . whan he in Court sitteþ
W.19.308KD.19.305
To demen as a domes-man . adrad was he neuere
Neiþer of duc ne of deeþ . þat he ne dide lawe
For present or for preiere . or any Prynces lettres
He dide equyte to alle . euene-forþ his power
Thise foure sedes
fol. 121rI
W.19.312KD.19.309
Thise foure sedes Piers sew . and siþþe he dide hem harewe
Wiþ olde lawe and newe lawe . þat loue myȝte wexe
Among þo foure vertues . and vices destruye
For comunliche in contrees . cammokes and wedes
W.19.316KD.19.313
Foulen þe fruyt in þe feld . þer þei growen togideres
And so doon vices . vertues worþi

Quod Piers hareweþ alle þat konneþ kynde wit . by conseil of þise doctoursW.19.318: The right margin is cropped. Other manuscripts here read doctours.
And tilieþ after hir techynge . þe Cardynale vertues

W.19.320KD.19.317
Ayeins þi greynes quod Grace . bigynneþ for to ripe
Ordeigne þee an hous Piers . to herberwe Inne þi cornes

By god Grace quod Piers . ye moten gyue tymber
And ordeyne þat hous . er ye hennes wende

W.19.324KD.19.321
And Grace gaf hym þe cros . wiþ þe croune of þornes
That crist vp-on Caluarie . for mankynde on pyned
And of his baptisme and blood . þat he bledde on roode
He made a manere morter . and mercy it highte
W.19.328KD.19.325
And þer-wiþ Grace bigan . to make a good foundement
And watlede it and walled it . wiþ his peyneW.19.329: W alone reads peyne; all other manuscripts have peynes. and his passion
And of al holy writ . he made a roof after
And called þat hous vnitee . holy chirche on englissh

W.19.332KD.19.329
And whan þis dede was doon . Grace deuysede
A cart highte cristendom . to carie Piers sheues
And gaf hym caples to his carte . contricion and confession
And made preesthod hayward . þe while hym-self wente
W.19.336KD.19.333
As wide as þe world is . wiþ Piers to tilie truþe

Now is Piers to þe plow . and pride it aspide
And gadered hym a greet Oost . for toW.19.338: W alone reads for to; Hm has for, B has hym to, while other beta manuscripts have to. greuen he þynkeþ
Conscience and alle cristene . and Cardinale vertues
fol. 121vI
W.19.340KD.19.338
Blowe hem doun and breke hem . and bite a-two þe mores
And sente forþ Surquidous . his sergeaunt of Armes
And his Spye Spille loue . oon Spek yuel bihynde

Thise two coome to Conscience . and to cristen peple
W.19.344KD.19.342
And tolde hem tidynges . þat tyne þei sholde þe sedes
That Piers þere hadde ysowen . þe Cardynale vertues
And Piers bern worþ ybroke . and þei þat ben in vnitee
Shulle come out . and Conscience . and youre two caples
W.19.348KD.19.346
Confession and Contricion . and youre carte þe bileeue
Shal be coloured so queyntely . and couered vnder Sophistrie
That Conscience shal noȝt . knowe by contricion
Ne by Confession . who is cristene or heþene
W.19.352KD.19.349
Ne no manere marchaunt . þat wiþ moneye deleþ
Wheiþer he wynne wiþ right . wiþ wrong or wiþ vsure

Wiþ swiche colours and queyntise . comeþ pride yarmed
Wiþ þe lord þat lyueþ after . þe lust of his body
W.19.356KD.19.353
To wasten on welfare . and inW.19.356: W alone reads in; HmCrYCBLM have on, and GC2F omit it. wikked lyuyngW.19.356: W alone reads lyuynge; all other beta manuscripts have kepyng.
Al þe world in a while . þoruȝ oure wit quod Pryde

Quod Conscience to alle cristene þo . my counseil is to wende
Hastiliche in-to vnitee . and holde we vs þere
W.19.360KD.19.357
And praye we þat a pees weere . in Piers berne þe Plowman
For witterly I woot wel . we beþ noȝt of strengþe
To goon agayn Pride . but Grace weere wiþ vs

And þanne kam Kynde wit . Conscience to teche
W.19.364KD.19.361
And cryde and comaundede . alle cristene peple
For to deluen a dych . depe aboute vnitee
That holy chirche stode in vnitee . as it a Pyl weere

Conscience comaundede þo . alle cristene to delue
W.19.368KD.19.365
And make a muche moot . þat myghte ben a strengþe
fol. 122rI
To helpe holy chirche . and hem þat it kepeþ

Thanne alle kynne cristene . saue comune wommen
Repenteden and refused synne . saue þei one
W.19.372KD.19.369
And false men flatereris . vsurers and þeues
Lyeris and questemongeres . þat were forsworen ofte
Witynge and wilfully . wiþ þe false helden
And for siluer were forswore . sooþly þei wiste it

W.19.376KD.19.372
Ther nas no cristene creature . þat kynde wit hadde .
Saue sherewes one . swiche as I spak of
That he ne halp a quantite . holynesse to wexe
Some þoruȝ bedes biddynge . and some þoruȝ pilgrymagesW.19.379: W alone reads pilgrymages; all other manuscripts have pilgrymage.
W.19.380KD.19.376
And oþere pryue penauncesW.19.380: WF alone read penaunces; most other manuscripts have penaunce. . and somme þoruȝ penyes delynge

And þanne wellede water . for wikkede werkes
Egreliche ernynge . out of mennes eighen
Clennesse out of comune . and clerkes clene lyuynge
W.19.384KD.19.380
Made vnitee holy chirche . in holynesse to stonde

I care noȝt quod Conscience . þouȝ pride come nouþe
The lord of lust shal be letted . al þis lente I hope
Comeþ quod Conscience . ye cristene and dyneþ
W.19.388KD.19.384
That han laboured lelly . al þis lenten tyme
Here is breed y-blessed . and goddes body þer-vnder
Grace þoruȝ goddes word . yaf Piers power
And myȝtes to maken it . and men to ete it after
W.19.392KD.19.388
In help of hir heele . ones in a Monþe
Or as ofte as þei hadde nede . þo þat hadde y-paied
To Piers pardon þe Plowman . redde quod debes

How quod al þe comune . þow conseillest vs to yelde
W.19.396KD.19.392
Al þat we owen any wight . er we go to housel
fol. 122vI
That is my conseil quod Conscience . and Cardinale vertues
That ech man forȝyue ooþer . and þat wole þe Pater noster
Et dimitte nobis debita nostra &c
W.19.400KD.19.395
And so to ben assoilled . and siþþen ben houseled

Ye baw quod a Brewere . I wol noȝt be ruled
By Iesu for al youre Ianglynge . wiþ Spiritus Iusticie
Ne after Conscience by crist . while I kan selle
W.19.404KD.19.399
Boþe dregges and draf . and drawe it out at oon hole
Thikke ale and þynne ale . for þat is my kynde
And noȝt hakke after holynesse . hold þi tonge Conscience
Of Spiritus Iusticie . þow spekest muche on ydel

W.19.408KD.19.403
Caytif quod Conscience . cursede wrecche
Vnblessed artow Brewere . but if þee god helpe
But þow lyue by loore . of Spiritus Iusticie
The chief seed þat Piers sew . ysaued worstow neuere
W.19.412KD.19.407
But Conscience þe comune fede . and Cardinale vertues
Leue it wel þei ben lost . boþe lif and soule

Thanne is many a man lost . quod a lewed vicory
I am a Curatour of holy kirke . and cam neuere in my tyme
W.19.416KD.19.411
Man to me / þat me kouþe telle . of Cardinale vertues
Or þat acountede Conscience . at a cokkes feþere or an hennes
I knew neuere Cardynal . þat he ne cam fro þe pope
And we clerkes whan þei come . for hir comunes paieþ
W.19.420KD.19.415
For hir pelure and hir palfreyes mete . and pilours þat hem folweþ

The comune clamat cotidie . ech a man til ooþer
The contree is þe corseder . þat Cardinals come Inne
And þer þei ligge and lenge moost . lecherie þere regneþ

W.19.424KD.19.419
For-þi quod þis vicory . by verray god I wolde
That no Cardynal coome . among þe comune peple
fol. 123rI
But in hir holynesse . helden hem stille
At Auynoun among þe Iewes . Cum Sancto Sanctus eris &c
W.19.428KD.19.423
Or in Rome as hir rule wole . þe relikes to kepe
And þow Conscience in kynges court . and sholdest neuere come þennes
And Grace þat þow graddestW.19.430: W alone reads past tense graddest; all other manuscripts have present gredest. Cf. W.2.75 greden with W.16.81 gradde. so of . gyour of alle clerkes
And Piers wiþ his newe plow . and ek wiþ his olde
W.19.432KD.19.427
Emperour of al þe world . þat alle men were cristene

Inparfit is þat pope . þat al þe world sholde helpe
And sendeþ swiche þat sleeþ hem . þatW.19.434: W alone reads swiche þat sleeþ hem þat; all other manuscripts have hem þat sleeþ swiche as. he sholde saue

And wel worþe Piers þe plowman . þat pursueþ god in doynge
W.19.436KD.19.431
Qui pluit super Iustos & iniustos . atonesat ones
And sent þe sonne to saue . a cursed mannes tilþe
As brighte as to þe beste man . or to þe beste womman

Right so Piers þe Plowman . peyneþ hym to tilye
W.19.440KD.19.435
As wel for a wastour . and wenches of þe stewes
As for hym-self and hise seruauntz . saue he is first yserued
And trauailleþ and tilieþ . for a tretour also soore
As for a trewe tidy man . alle tymes ylike
W.19.444KD.19.440
And worshiped be he þat wroȝte al . boþe good and wikke
And suffreþ þat synfulle be ....?...?...W.19.445: The entire b-verse has been erased. Other manuscripts read til some tyme þat þei repente (in the spelling of L).
And god amende þe pope . þat pileþ holy kirke
And cleymeþ bifore þe kyng . to be kepere ouer cristene
W.19.448KD.19.444
And counteþ noȝt þouȝ cristene ben . killed and robbed
And fynt folk to fiȝte . and cristen blood to spille
Ayein þe olde lawe and newe lawe . as Luc þer-of witnesseþ
Non occides . michi vindictam &c

W.19.452KD.19.447
It semeþ bi so . hym-self hadde his wille
That he reccheþ . riȝt noȝt of al þe remenaunt
And crist of his curteisie . þe Cardinals saue
And torne hir wit to wisdom . and to welþe of soule
fol. 123vI
W.19.456KD.19.451
For þe comune quod þis Curatour . counten ful litel
The counseil of Conscience . or Cardinale vertues
But if þei seiȝe as by sighte . som-what to wynnyng
Of gile ne of gabbyng . gyue þei neuere tale
W.19.460KD.19.455
For spiritus prudencie . among þe peple is gyle
And alle þo faire vertues . as vices þei semeþ
Ech man subtileþ a sleiȝte . synne for to hide
And coloureþ it for a konnynge . and a clene lyuynge

W.19.464KD.19.459
Thanne louȝ þer a lord . and by þis light seide
I holde it riȝt and reson . of my Reue to take
Al þat myn Auditour . or ellis my Styward
Counseilleþ me bi hir acounte . and my clerkes writynge
W.19.468KD.19.463
Wiþ Spiritus Intellectus . þei seke þe reues rolles
And wiþ Spiritus fortitudinis . fecche it I wole afterW.19.469: W alone reads after; other witnesses omit it.

And þanne cam þer a kyng . and by his croune seide
I am kyng wiþ croune . þe comune to rule
W.19.472KD.19.467
And holy kirke and clergie . fro cursed men to fendeW.19.472: W alone reads fende; Hm reads fonde, and all other manuscripts have defende.
And if me lakkeþ to lyue by . þe lawe wole I take it
Ther I may hastilokest it haue . for I am heed of lawe
And yeW.19.475: W alone reads And ye; most other manuscripts have For ye. ben but membres . and I aboue alle
W.19.476KD.19.471
And siþ I am youre aller heed . I am youre aller heele
And holy chirches chief help . and Chieftayn of þe comune
And what I take of yow two . I take it at þe techynge
Of Spiritus Iusticie . for I Iugge yow alle
W.19.480KD.19.475
So I may boldely be housled . for I borwe neuere
Ne craue of my comune . but as my kynde askeþ

In condicion quod Conscience . þat þow konne defende
And rule þi reaume in reson . right wel and in truþe
W.19.484KD.19.479
Take þow mayst in reson . as þi lawe askeþ
Omnia tua sunt ad defendendum . set non ad deprehendendum
The viker hadde fer hoom . and faire took his leeue
And I awakned þer-wiþ . and wroot as me mette
MED