O Read me, for I am of great Antiquity.  

¶ I plain Piers 
the Ploughman  which can not flatter  
A plough man men me call  
My speech is fowlle, yet mark the matter  
How things may hap to fall,   
But now another I'll have for me, I think it is as fit say, if any my name do crave, I am the Gran sire of Martin mareprelitte.  
Compiled afore yesterday, for the behoof and overthrow of all Parsons, Vikars, and Curates, who have learned their catechisms, and can not yet understand them, although they be passed their grace.  

Newly corrected, you will say it was by a green head, but I'll tell thee true,  
My head is neither green nor blue,  
You are deceived bum faith,  
My head is either white or grey.   
So Beneado so:  
Printed either of this side, or of that side of some of the Priests.   

To the puissant paltry politanes, bouncing Lord Bishops, Popish parsons, Fickars, and Currats, with all that Romish rabble, Piers, Grandsire of Martin Marprelate, wisheth you better than I think you wish your selves.  
Right revived sirs,  
may it please your worship's fullness to accept and read over this worthy work containing in it very good matter, for that end that it was written for, and surely how so ever some may mislike it, because it toucheth their gross corruptions, yet all those that be of a sincere mind will like it well, because old PIERS goeth sound to work, & useth no flattery, and he saith nothing but he bringeth good proofs for it, therefore I am the more bold to publish it, taking you for my Patrons, under whose wings in this good cause I shroud myself, hoping that you will defend me, from all my persicutors what so ever, for I know that you can keep me harmless if you please, and therefore I make choice of you above any other, which if you do, I shall not only show my gr … mind, these my first labours, which I pray you accept, but in time when I shall be more able, you shall then here oftener from me.  
Therefore hoping of your accustomed clemency and approved protectorship of this book, I cease to trouble you.  
Surpliced Sirs farewell, I can tell, my name full well.   

O Read me for I am the anointed▪  
I Piers ploughman following plough on field my Beasts blowing forbrake my bod●e requiring rest, gaping for the gain my labours 'gan me yield, upon the Plough beam, to sit me thought it best, [again the hail I leaned, my face to Heaven I cast, to that great Lord above, my buckler and my shield, who always after labours, sendeth ease at the last, because I tell you plain, without rest nought can endure, this Lord himself first the dark did frame and made: First of all providing the comfort of his Creature, before that thing earthly his form and shape did take, commanding the night for ever all labours to abate, that weary workmen all their bones might salve and cure, to serve t●●t living God without strife or hate: Then doth he make the light for labours and busy care, the Firmament he framed betwixt the waters twain, the Seas, the earth, the herbs, the trees, the fruits bright and fair, the Sun, the Moon, the Stars for our profit▪ and gain: the fishes in the floods, the birds in the air flowing: all kind of beasts, and man as Lord and ruler, then raiseth he eftsoons an Image to man's doo●ng, he knew full well the labours to man more appointed, though a whiles of good & bad not knowing, m●n lead a careless life in innocency then granted, unto the time unto the time that Eve to the old Serpent assenting brought him into bondage vile labour and travel, which 〈◊〉 night restraineth the body sore tormented, unless the woman's seed be ●ote ●nto our bale. This Seed to Noha than shadowed, relief to no man can find, with comfort of the grape, and ship that saved some even those that him believed, and would not still be blind, all other than were drenched not regarding God's doom by bringing Bull to yoke, ye brought in mikell ease, happy therefore be ●e, a saint he might be shrined, if ever poor ploughman of Pope might get the Keys.  
In the mean season it will be little reason, goods and life to danger aye,  
Let them keep from our houses, & shape us no hoods & take this popish play.  
It is no article of my belief, though the priest hang it on his sleeve & publish it in court an assize.  
It maketh me oft 〈◊〉 to be 〈◊〉, 〈◊〉 I myself 〈◊〉▪  
〈◊〉 would 〈…〉 for my 〈◊〉 〈…〉 that 〈…〉  
.  
But let it go, God 〈…〉 though new beliefs they 〈◊〉,  
Which have all would, in blindness hold, 〈…〉,  
Consider O Kings and Princes, dear for you we toil and labour, consider I say eftsoons, now your flock ●ow that ye le●de you shall made answers, 〈◊〉 all ●e●●es, 〈◊〉 and ill honour, 〈◊〉 might ye … n Christ's side, who is our guide and head, 〈◊〉 else your 〈◊〉 ●●●et, & sharp to maintain p … e 〈◊〉, and how lithely a thing it is a christ●●● Prince, to be antichrist's protector:  
We strive not for the name whom all men hate for shame, for his forged days,  
The priests will him maintain, so long as they have possession,  
Of them did he bring, to him will they bring, what so ever the hand can find,  
Rather than he should perished be, in his decrees and laws cannon.  
Therefore do they put down, 〈◊〉 the course of kind  
Which would do them good, with 〈◊〉 〈…〉, if they could take it so,  
To tell them ●●t off that 〈…〉, that h●●● sinful nation  
To bring them to light that shineth bright, which the Scripture leadeth to.  
I heard a tale of late, how a Captain 〈◊〉 to ma●e, & set a 〈…〉,  
With many 〈…〉 him about, who his consent should ●tter out, an 〈◊〉 of 〈…〉 pride,  
His unclean cage began to speak, ●●● … death open his beak 〈◊〉 I am that. 
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 〈◊〉   
〈◊〉 〈◊〉 knaves standing ●y, so and I, so am I, everyone they cry.  
T … play the priests withouten doubt all that would throughout the Pope to counterfeit,  
Mark their life, m●●ke these learning, mark their order and every thing,  
And young, young Popes they been liche, they lose, they bind,  
They have both sword and keys, after the sa●e kind that old ●afe had of late.  
I thank my Lord God the living Lord for ever, that he hath given me grace to slay the Sodomite, I was long in her lo●e, but I thank my God the giver, I have escaped Sodom, and in God is my delight, I speak it of no rage, but as I will answer make, so their own selves be not judges, in their own cause and matter, for then against the dreadful day, with clear heart I will it undertake.  
All this while me thought I slept, but the boy can prick his be'st.  
Again I take the plough in hand following mine honest labour,  
Till night cometh on, and sun going down causeth me to cease.  
In mean season, I toss many things, as I were of port and haviour,  
When I came home, all that night long, I could not sleep a wink,  
A book therefore I took in hand, myself something to ease.  
Wherein I wrote of sundry rite, as my heart doth judge and think.  
About three years past when I Piers scripture might read,  
And render and report to my wife and to my barns,  
It seemed then a goodly life, a household then to keep and feed,  
Both with broth and bacon, and bread of the Bible,  
To tell forth Christ's trade, and trade of our christening,  
Before we were called christian, & knew of Christ nothing  
Then was I sir, than was I father, than was I shepherd and all,  
Then nothing failed unto my bidding, neither in bower nor hall,  
My wife for my wisdom did count me he head, my children their father,  
My servants their sire, than all did obey me in the fear of the Lord,  
More than for mead or hire, this pleased the Lord.  
I dare record against the popish pries, which clatter in the Kirke,  
And cannot work nothing that good is, which had despite in heart,  
That we to Christ did start, leaving their cumbered riddles,  
And cried as their Fathers did before, out, out alas,  
Therefore all the world followeth him, and his,  
Seeing us of the lewd fee, break into heaven so violently,  
Which they were sorry for, but of the herds they recked nothing,  
Being occupied with other thing, as gentlemen and other,  
For the fleshly fathers could boast that none of the promises,  
Nor the pharisees were found faulty herein, but only the rascal sort,  
That knew not the law, lined sinful and cursed therefore said they plain,  
We will have it in again, from these poor knaves,  
That are so wood, trow these harlots pardy, that Christ would with save to die,  
For such a profane beggarly blood.  
But comfort ye ye plough man, fishers, Tilers, and cobblers.  
Christ our king was a poor man, as Zacharie before prophesied, and he himself saith, that Foxes have dens, & birds of heaven nests, and man's son hath not, where to lodge his head. And he blessed the poor men, so they be poor in spirit, saying that theirs is all ready the Kingdom of high Heaven, and woe be unto the rich, for they have their comfort in this world. Christ saith again in Mark, his words sown in rich men's hearts bringeth forth no fruit, for the deceitfulness of riches, and the business of this world cloggeth it and marketh it fruitless, this knew our Popish prellates full well, when they find that gentleman, and busy occupied merchants are sober, discreet, and wise, they will not rail, they will do no scathe.  
But I will tell you a new tale, go to all ye rich of heaps,  
With all your horned prellates,  
Weep and howie for the mysteries that shall come upon you,  
If there be no other thing to lay in your way,  
This I am sure ye cannot denay,  
That ye have lived in delight & pleasure, you have fed at your hearts liking,  
As against the day of slaughter,  
Ye have condemned & slain the Just, and he hath not resisted you.  
Remember that terrible example of the rich man, and poor Lazarus. And I say again to you poor caitiffs, there is an other world beside this, and we can patiently abide the Lords working, there is no seed can bring great gain but he be deed, this we see plain in our yearly sowing, beside this we patiently abide seven. months long, though we suffer at home much hunger and wrong, our wheat or we can gather why should we not than, Gods working ken in saving us with them: yea hear me dear brethren hogge-herds, sheepeheads, and all your sort despised, hath not God chosen the poor of this world, to be rich in faith, and heirs of the kingdom, which he promised to all them of whom he was loved, that how can your bishops hate then thus poor, and be the Apostles successors, for they did comfort the poor all with these & like words, as they can fall against the rich in towers, are they not the rich that exerciseth their tyranny upon you, and they hail you to their judgement seats, & the same are they that speak evil of that good name which is named upon you. Paul calleth them idolaters only because they gape so much upon goods. And Christ himself saith, no man can serve two masters, both God & riches. And again, it is hard for a rich man to enter into heaven, as a Camill to go through a needells eye, yet doth the priests flatter them, & say that they only may have God's word, which is called his kingdom, that they altogether may play the part of cut my cur, that keepeth my Father safe, which neither will eat any Hay himself, nor suffer any cattle that breaketh lose, to eat any thing thereat: thus do they all conspire against the Lord, and his Christ.  
The bishops giveth bribes, to hold Christ down.  
And up start the knights of the sepulcar.  
This showeth that they have the faith of Christ in vain opinion,  
Or else would they judge Christ's flock a right, without regard of person.  
Alas, do ye not see that Christ will not be kept in grave,  
How long do you strive against the stream and spurn against the prick,  
What have you won this thirty. years, by putting to silence  
The word of God, and the maintainers thereof.  
It springeth and spreadeth by persecution, like the Palm tree, that cannot be overcome with burden, all though you tread it under your feet, and judge it unworthily, at length it shall beat down you and condemn you, both great and small to endless damnation, & lay upon your neck all the innocent blood, that hath been spilled since Stephen the first Martyr, to this day, through your default, & all other that shall follow after to the world's end. Moses, by the mouth of God commanded thus, that we take heed least that we lose our soul, forgetting the wondrous works that he hath wrought in the days heretofore, but that we shall publish them forth still, to our children & posterity for ever. Again he saith, 
Note Deutro. Chapt.  the words that I do command this day, shallbe upon thy heart, thou shalt rehearse them unto thy children, and speak of them when thou sittest in thy house, when thou walkest by the way, when thou goest to sleep, when thou risest again then shalt thou bind them as a sign about thy hand, and they shallbe a remembrance betwixt thine eyes, thou shalt write them upon the posts of thy house, and in thy gates, that thy GOD be at no time forgotten, for all they which counteth it not good to know God, be they priests, be they princes, God giveth them up into a reprobate mind, to do the things that are not comely, filled with all unrightiousnes, fornication, craft, covetousness, etc. But our priests are wiser than Moses, than Christ, 
Note Philip Chapt.  or his Apostles, for they were glad when by any manner of means, the gospel was published, were it by contention or other ways: saith Paul, Philip. and where as john was carnal, 
Note  mark, and saith, we have found a man casting out devils in thy name, but we have forbidden him because he followeth not us, and of that ground perchance forbidden us to name Christ in his word, Christ himself answereth plain: forbidden him not, for no man that worketh any thing in my name, can strait speak evil of me: but our prelates clean contrary, to hinder God's word will not stick to die, because it uttereth their hypocrisy, and destroyeth their papistry, & the Antichristian Idolatry: Hear ye therefore, O ye Princes, and understand ye that judge the earth, hear I say & fear, for you being officers of his kingdom, have not executed true judgement now of late, you have not kept the law of righteousness, nor called after the will of God: horrible, & that right soon therefore, shall he appear unto you, for an hard judgement shall they have that bear rule. Mercy is granted unto the poor, but they that be in authority, shallbe sore punished, wherefore set your